Disclaimer: This is a not for profit Pride and Prejudice fanfic, dialogs and such maybe borrowed from the masterpiece.
Summary: Mr Darcy tired of being fawned at for being rich switches place with his amiable but not so rich cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam. What drama will unfold when Elizabeth and the others are greeted in the Merton assembly not by the proud disagreeable man but his cousin? Will Lizzy see through the switch?
A/N : This is my first Pride and Prejudice fan-fiction. I hope you will be kind to me. I had not planned to post it until I was finished with my other projects but … here I am
Also I'm looking for a beta. You'll know why soon enough.
Prologue
Fitzwilliam Darcy of Derbyshire was all that a man would want to have. He was well connected: the Earl of – was his Uncle, rich: earning 10,000 a year and a member of landowning gentry.
He had a splendid estate in Pemberley, a town house in London and in addition to that a house in Ramsgate where Georgiana Darcy resided. Georgiana Darcy was 15 years old, and was Darcy's much younger, beloved sister.
Darcy visited her often in Ramsgate, sometimes quite unexpectedly. She was one of the few people, he loved and cared about. It was in one of these unexpected visits did Georgiana come to him in his study, her clear blue eyes shining with unshed tears.
He had not been surprised to see her thus, but he was moved none the less. Darcy had studied her behaviour since morning and had noticed that although Georgiana tried to look excited and pleased to see him she clearly did not, instead she looked shifty as if she was trying to hide something from him. Knowing his sister as he did, Darcy did question her immediately, he was kind and generous as always for he knew that sooner or later she would come to him and confide.
"Brother I wish to confess," said Georgiana timidly, her head bowed, "I am in love with George Wickham and I cannot live without him."
Georgiana, then quickly, stole a glance at her brother's face. Finding him clam she continued, "We were planning to go to Gretna Green on the morrow, only I did not have the courage to deceive you."
There was a short pause where Darcy collected his thought, and then he proceeded to ask her about all that went between her and Wickham. Georgiana told him about the entire affair truthfully. She told him about her first meeting and then the subsequent once. Darcy breathed a sigh of relief as the tale concluded.
'Her virtue is intact,' was Darcy's only thought.
"I'm sure what happened between George and yourself, was a misunderstanding of grand proportions," Georgiana added to her concluding remarks, "surely if you hear his side of the strory, you will understand."
"Is your love true," asked Darcy seriously.
"Yes, I cannot live without him," said Georgiana, "I shall marry only him."
"Then you may," said Darcy softly, "But on one condition."
"I'll do anything," said Georgiana.
"Write down on a sheet that you forfeit the claim on your fortune of thirty thousand pounds."
She did that, almost immediately; blinded by the love she had, for the man she thought George was. She didn't care for money, and she was sure George didn't either. She was sure he loved her for her own self. Her brother didn't trust George and so he is testing him, but he will soon see that George is not all bad.
With such happy thoughts in mind, Georgiana wrote to Wickham about Darcy's consent, and that he was to meet them in the church the following morning. A footman was quickly dispatched with a note and Georgiana watched him go.
~The Switch~
George Wickham didn't come; weeks had passed since Georgiana has written him the note. Each day she died a little. She had waited for him for a fortnight. She was sure some business must have taken him away, and he would return soon. Perhaps he was scared of her brother, although he shouldn't be, since they were doing nothing wrong.
As days passed, stories of Mr Wickham's debts and debauchery spread. Some of these came to Georgiana's hearing. She was truly depressed. How could she have doubted her brother!
Darcy was disturbed. He was glad that Wickham had fled, that the matter between that cad and Georgiana was as good as resolved. At the same time, it pained him to see his beloved sister so heartbroken. He tried his best to cheer her up. When all failed he wrote to his cousin Col. Fitzwilliam. Apart from being their favourite cousin, the Colonel also shared Georgiana's guardianship with Darcy.
The Colonel was prompt in his reply stating that he would come as soon as he would be able to. Then he wrote again to give his date of expected arrival. And almost two weeks after the incident, he had arrived.
Darcy was quick to tell Fitzwilliam all the details of the matter.
"I will call Georgiana now," said Darcy, "So you may talk to her. I'm sure seeing you will cheer her up."
"Why don't you send one of the footmen to fetch her," said Fitzwilliam.
"Georgiana will simply dismiss any servant away," said Darcy, "I don't know why but she seems to shun the finer things in life."
"And where is Mrs Young," asked Fitzwilliam, "She is her companion."
"Mrs Young was in league with Mr Wickham," said Darcy, "She betrayed herself by fleeing a few days after he did."
"She was caught, I believe."
"Caught and dismissed in disgrace."
With that Darcy left and Fitzwilliam helped himself to the fine Scotch that Darcy kept in his study. He reclined in the plush velvet covered chairs and sighed. 'This is the life', he though. As he sipped the fine golden liquid and washed the after taste of the awful food he had taken in the last few months. The door of the study opened and a servant brought a large freshly baked pie. Fitzwilliam was quick to sample a slice. It was delicious, as expected of the Darcy household. How good it would be to be Darcy thought Fitzwilliam.
~The Switch~
Colonel Fitzwilliam had already devoured half of the pie brought to them. It was then Georgiana Darcy entered in the study with her brother following her closely. Fitzwilliam gasped when he looked at her. Georgiana was pale and thin, clearly not eating properly, underneath her eyes were big dark circles indicating trouble in sleeping.
He also noticed that she wasn't comfortable besides her brother, her tiny form trembled and her head was down cast. 'I must talk to her alone,' thought the colonel.
Aloud he said, "Darcy could you check after my horse in the stables."
Darcy protested, "But Richard surely-
"Now," said the Colonel cutting him off, giving him a meaningful look.
"Very well then," Darcy said as he left the two alone. And Colonel Fitzwilliam wasted no time in his attempts to cheer his cousin up. Various tales were regaled from the awful food in army to the public flogging. He even told her stories of his childhood.
Georgiana was impassive to begin with but soon Fitzwilliam was able to crack these walls and finally gain a small smile.
"And then I was flogged, even thought it was Darcy's fault simply because Aunt Catherine liked him more," Fitzwilliam completed another tale, "I still find it so unfair."
He had said the last line with such feeling that Georgiana could help but giggle. And these giggles soon turn into a fit of laugh. Colonel was starting to feel relieved but then suddenly Georgiana hugged him and started sobbing. Fitzwilliam patted her soothingly, while he waited for the sobs to subside.
"That's alright," he said as she blew her nose in his hanky. There was an awkward silence, and then Georgiana started hiccupping. Fitzwilliam searched around for some water or wine, unable to find any close by he offered her a sip from his glass of Scotch, praying to the lord above that Darcy would never come to know of this.
The Scotch steadied Georgiana, and she was able to finally speak out all she had bottled up inside her these weeks. Fitzwilliam listened to her without interrupting and when she finally had let it all out he soothed her with kind words, that nobody would know and it wasn't her fault.
"Surely Darcy didn't scold you," he added.
"Oh no, he has been the kindest and the sweetest brother," said Georgiana, "I do not deserve him."
Just then Darcy entered.
"I think you deserve much more than me dear sister," he said, "I have failed you."
"Well, let us all forgive and forget," said Colonel Fitzwilliam, "And have some dinner. The pie was great but it alone cannot suffice."
The cousins had a hearty laugh and then Miss Darcy excused herself to get ready for dinner.
"We must leave for London as soon as possible," said Darcy.
"But before that we must find Georgiana another companion," said Fitzwilliam.
"Do you have someone in mind?"
"Mrs Annesley, she was Cousin Suzan's companion."
"The one who recently married and became Lady Grey."
"The very same."
"Then we must write to her, at once."
~The Switch~
It took a week for Mrs Annesley to arrive. She was interviewed and her letters of recommendation reviewed. Finding her suitable for the role, Darcy installed her to the position post haste. With this done preparation for their removal from Ramsgate and for their arrival at London were made.
Darcy wrote many letters, both to the housekeepers at his town house in London and in Pemberley. The original plan spend the rest of the summer in Pemberley was abandoned in light of what happened to Georgiana.
As everything was proceeding smoothly Darcy was in a good mood. Dinner was served at the fashionable hour of half past four. And for Georgiana's sake Colonel Fitzwilliam took it upon himself to make it lively.
Since the house was going to be closed, the table set wasn't as elegant as before. It consisted of a simple meal of cold meat, cheese, bread and some wine. Fitzwilliam teased Darcy mercilessly for it.
"Now I feel more at home," he began, "the food is comparable to the best meals we are served there."
"You speak as if you live in a poorhouse and they starve you," said Darcy.
"Admit it Darcy, my life cannot compare to yours," said Fitzwilliam, "For what do you know of struggles and hardships."
"I see you are hale and hearty, and I fail to see why you are so miserable," said Darcy gravely, "Although I look like I have no care in the world, I too have many responsibilities and my own struggles."
"And pray what are they?"
"I certainly have not the talent which you possess," said Darcy, "of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I find am ill-qualified to recommend myself to strangers."
"But women flock around you dime a dozen, I for all my amiability am never the centre of attention when you around."
"That is not because of me but my money," said Darcy, "I sometimes wish I was born in your stead. Then I would be able to discover true love."
"And what would you do of that love Darcy," said Fitzwilliam, "if you were in my place, YOU too would only have eyes for an heiress who would be able to support your lavish lifestyle with her dowry."
"I think Georgiana with agree with me," Fitzwilliam added.
"I agree with brother," said Georgiana timidly, "I don't think of your hardships any less but to know that someone only pretended to love you for your money is heart wrenching."
"Et tu Brute," said Fitzwilliam, his face holding an expression of exaggerated hurt.
"I think that settles it," said Darcy haughtily.
"It certainly does not!" Colonel now sounded a tad bit indignant, "Miss Darcy, being Darcy cannot possible has any idea of my sufferings."
"And you have no idea of ours," said Darcy, "They only way to resolve it would be for us to switch our lives and places in society."
"You know very well that you can never take my place in the regiment," said the Colonel sombrely.
"And you in turn cannot be allowed to fool about with my estate," said Darcy.
"Perhaps we can switch place in some ball," suggested Fitzwilliam.
"Disguise of any kind is my aberrance," said Mr Darcy, grimly, "Moreover the most of the London recognises us."
"By name yes, but thanks to your aloof nature not everybody is well acquainted with you and as for me, the second son of an earl is hardly spared a glance."
"That may be so, but I am reluctant in participating in this act."
"Surely you are not afraid, Darcy?"
"No I am not," said Darcy his nature struggling against accepting the challenge. Ultimately, the young man in Darcy triumphed, egged by the thrill of the challenge and his cousin's goading.
"I agree to this 'switch', on one condition," said Mr Darcy, "The time and place must be of my choosing."
"Agreed," said Fitzwilliam adding, "But it must be a social event with a lot of ladies."
Thus the terms and condition of 'the switch' was worked out.
Next up: Enter the Bingleys
A/N: By now you must have gathered my grammar is not great and spell checks have failed to help me. Hence, the need for a beta.
So tell me how you found it so far. Review Review Review!