This Pride and Prejudice AU was written for wicked_thirteen, RegallyWickedThirteen on Ao3 for Love from OQ 2020! Happy Valentine's Day, hope you enjoy the first few chapters of this!
The entire Mills family was seated around the table at breakfast, sunlight coming in through the room's windows that faced the front lawn. Regina and her sisters, Emma, Malvina (whom the family always called Mal), Kelly, and Mary, were eating their oatmeal when her mother, Cora, addressed her husband. "Mr. Mills, have you heard? The old mansion whose owners live in England will finally have some occupants! And I hear one of them is a fine, handsome gentleman too."
"I have indeed, Mrs. Mills," he answered her. "But I do not understand the import of such news, nor do I have a desire to make their acquaintance."
Cora was appalled, her left hand coming up to cover her mouth. "Do you not? When you die, which may in fact be very soon, our girls will be left without a roof over their heads or a penny to their names. Therefore, the owner must marry one of our girls, or they will be ruined upon your death. You must go and make yourself known to him at once, so that in turn we might have the pleasure of making his acquaintance."
Regina sighed and shared a glance with her sister Emma, both of their eyebrows raised. They both knew that while all their father wanted was to be left alone, their mother thrived on being both seen and heard throughout the neighborhood, Kelly and Mary always in tow. The three of them were a spectacle, the laughingstock of those with any amount of class. They were an embarrassment to Emma, Mal, Regina, and their father, and while Henry had given up long ago, Emma, Mal, and Regina were constantly trying to put out the fires that the three more ridiculous members of their family left in their wake with their careless words and actions.
Regina was brought out of her musings by her father's next words. "There is no need, I already have. And I believe that he will be at the ball at the Chambers' this evening."
What followed was a crescendo of sound as all six Mills women rose from the table, eager to prepare for the ball that they had been invited to that evening. Cries of "Mal, can I borrow your ribbons?" and "Kelly, can I wear your bracelet?" were heard throughout the Mills house, with interjections from their mother as she made her opinion known. It was universally understood that each of the women would wear white, as they did not have the funds for fabrics with rich colors, but each sister would accent their dress with unique accessories.
As they left the room, Emma pulled Regina into one of the smaller hallways in their home, one with scarcely enough room to move, while their sisters and mother forged ahead like an army going into battle. "What do you think? Our mother will do everything in her power to have one of us marry him, but which of us will it be?"
"It will be you, there is no doubt in my mind," Regina informed her. "Not only does she always remind us that you are the true beauty of the family, but your disposition is far too kind for your own good. All the world is agreeable in your eyes. She always claims that I am far too cynical to find a partner, and she may be right - but that does spare me from many of her matchmaking schemes, for which I am eternally grateful."
"As you should be," Emma told her. "I dread other people's remarks when she makes a spectacle of herself this evening, particularly if she drags me into it."
"Well, we will see, will we not?" Regina commented. And with that, the two sisters made their way to their room to prepare for the ball.
That night, Regina decided to forget about the embarrassments that were her mother and sisters and enjoy herself. So she, Emma, and Mal joined their friends Ella and Ursula in conversation while her mother and the youngest members of the family gallivanted off, likely in pursuit of dance partners, which gave Regina a moment to admire the opulence of the room. As one who was fond of dancing on occasion, but thrived on conversation, on the weaving of words into a beautiful tapestry, she found that she was perfectly content to stand along the edge of the ballroom and converse with her friends as she looked out at the mahogany panels on the walls that were illuminated by countless torches and candelabras.
That plan was torn to shreds when her mother came up to her. "Come, Regina, Mal, Emma, we must go introduce ourselves to Mr. Booth."
The three sisters exchanged glances full of dread before wordlessly following their mother to the far side of the room, where three men of varying heights and appearances and a strikingly beautiful woman were set apart from the crowd.
"Gentlemen, lady, allow me to introduce Mrs. Cora MIlls, Miss Emma Mills, Miss Regina Mills, and Miss Malvina Mills," Regina heard her father say in a disinterested voice. She guessed that he was eager to complete the introductions of his family to the newcomers so that once the obligation was complete, he could go indulge in a game of cards. After they had each curtsied as they were introduced, he addressed them. "Ladies, I present to you Mr. Booth, Mr. Booth, MIss Booth, and Mr. Locksley."
"It is a pleasure," Cora rushed to say before anyone else could say a word. "I have two others, but they are already dancing. It is a beautiful room that the Chambers have, isn't it? I always tell Mr. Chambers…"
Regina tuned her mother out as she took a moment to observe the men they had come to meet. One Mr. Booth was older, likely the father of his younger counterpart, bald with some white hair, a mustache, a beard, and a hint of color in the burgundy on his cravat that hinted at his wealth.
The younger Mr. Booth was dressed similarly to his father, with a blue cravat in place of his father's burgundy one. However, despite how similarly they were dressed, they were nothing alike in appearance. The son was taller than his father, with a darker complexion, complete with darker hair and eyes, that he must have inherited from his mother. She noticed that his gaze was fixed on Emma, and hers on him. Regina made a note to keep an eye on that situation. Her sister, while wise in her own right, would see the best in Booth and be unaware if anyone tried to sabotage their courtship, if indeed Booth pursued one. Emma was guarded about her feelings, which would prove to be detrimental if the rumors were true about how many women were trying to obtain Mr. Booth's hand. Regina loved her sister dearly, and vowed then and there to help her in any way she could.
His friend was his opposite: pale, but without the appearance of being ill, with dark blonde hair and sapphire blue eyes. Regina noticed that he was looking at her with an intense scrutiny that she matched, taking in the blue of his cravat that she couldn't help noticing matched his eyes and how his black waistcoat was fitted to his form in a way that she couldn't help admiring silently. She knew that it would be far too inappropriate for her to voice her admiration, but as long as her face was a mask, shielding her true intentions, she didn't see a problem with admiring his form from the top of his hairline to the toe of his black boots, which were polished so thoroughly that they shone.
She heard Miss Booth clear her throat. Caught, she turned her attention to the only female visitor. She had auburn hair and a slim figure that matched that of her brother and father. Her red dress highlighted her hair in such a way that Regina could instantly discern that not only was she beautiful, but she was far too aware of that fact and used it to her advantage.
As they turned to leave, she heard the younger Mr. Booth call out, "Miss Emma? Might I have this dance?"
Regina gave her older sister a knowing smile, putting a hand on the small of her back "Go," she whispered.
With a dreamy look in her eye, Emma took Mr. Booth's hand and walked away. Regina smiled at their retreating backs before following Mal to where Ella and Ursula were waiting for them.
"Well? How did it go, darlings?" Ella asked. "Are they well-mannered, or do I need to teach them some proper manners?"
Regina laughed. "See for yourself." She gestured toward the middle of the room, where couples, including Emma and Mr. Booth, were lined up as the music of the orchestra started to play.
"He moves fast," Ella muttered. "If he hurts her…"
"The four of us will teach him a lesson," Regina finished. "I decided that from the moment I noticed the furtive glances between them as my mother was talking."
Ursula scoffed. "And what exactly did that woman have to say? I cannot imagine that her words endeared the Booths or Mr. Locksley to your family."
"I do not know," Regina admitted as she shifted her gaze to Mr. Locksley. "I was spending my time in a far more productive and pleasurable way."
Mal scoffed as her eyes followed Regina's, "Mr. Locksley? Pleasurable? He seemed anything but. You may not have been paying attention, older sister, but I was, and a more aloof man you'll never meet. He said not a word while the two Mr. Booths entertained our mother, and while normally I would never vouch for the woman who gave birth to us, it was rather rude of him. Unless he is as shy as Emma, there is no acceptable excuse for such rudeness."
As their conversation progressed, turning from their visitors and venturing toward topics that were closer to home, Regina watched Emma and Mr. Booth. They were a handsome couple, her thick blonde hair contrasting his darker appearance. They danced together for so long that Regina finally had to look away, aware that she was observing something that her sister would hopefully tell her about as they lay in bed together that night after the light of all the candles had been put out.
At last, for a short time Emma rejoined them, asking Regina to accompany her as they walked toward the hallway where a wide selection of refreshments were arranged for guests to enjoy. After getting drinks, they walked back toward the ballroom, when the sound of the voices of the younger Mr. Booth and Mr. Locksley caught Regina's attention. She quickly put out a hand to stop Emma, waiting with bated breath to learn what these two gentlemen would say when they thought no one was listening.
"I have never seen so many handsome ladies in one room," Mr. Booth complimented, his tone full of admiration.
"You were dancing with the only handsome woman in the room," Mr. Locksley declared, and Regina's temper flared. How dare he? While she knew that her sister was far more lovely in both appearance and personality than many of the other women in the area, it was so rude for him to say so that she did not comprehend how he dared to say such a thing when he could so easily be overheard. Ever the collector of reliable information within their group of friends, Ella had informed Regina, Ursula and Mal that Mr. Locksley owned half of Alexandria, the next town over from their home in Arlington, and in addition to that earned ten thousand dollars a year, which in Regina's opinion was an exorbitant sum. But despite what others may let him say or do because of his wealth, to Regina, his salary didn't excuse his rude behavior, not in a country just freed from England's grasp where all men were created equal.
Her attention returned to eavesdropping when she heard Mr. Booth gush, "She is the most beautiful creature I have ever beheld, a true angel among men in both appearance and disposition. But her sister Regina is very agreeable."
Regina smiled. While it was clear that Booth had feelings only for her sister, it was right of him to correct his friend that Emma was not the only beautiful woman in attendance, whether his example was Regina or not.
Her smile immediately disappeared, however, when Mr. Locksley spoke. "Barely tolerable. But not handsome enough to tempt me."
Why, that arrogant, rude man! How dare he say such a thing where anyone could overhear it! And he should get to know her before judging her at all! While she did readily acknowledge that Emma was beautiful, his saying that Regina was only "tolerable" was unforgivable. She vowed then and there to show him what she thought of him by the end of the night regardless of the consequences.
The Mills sisters had returned to their friends, telling them what Mr. Locksley had said.
"Well, think of it this way, Gina," Ursula pointed out, "If he liked you, you'd have to talk to him."
"Precisely," Regina laughed. "As it is, I don't think the offer of all Alexandria could convince me to talk to him in a civil manner, let alone the miserable half."
The five friends chatted, accepting few offers to dance, with the exception of Emma, who was swept away by Mr. Booth shortly after they returned from the fiasco that had been obtaining refreshments. At the end of the night, their father came to collect them, commenting in an undertone that Cora was so drunk that he did not dare to tolerate her alone.
Regina, Emma, and Mal followed their father to where Cora, Mary and Kelly were standing in front of the Booths and Mr. Locksley. They were engaged in conversation by the Booths, further proving to Regina that Mr. Locksley was nothing but a vile, rude man that she hoped never to see again, when the conversation turned to poetry.
Poetry! Regina loved the written word, and while she favored fantastical tales, particularly myths and legends, she also held poetry in all its forms close to her heart. The way feelings could be expressed through words that were at once descriptive and beautiful, painting a picture with the stroke of a pen, was an art form that she admired, and indeed had aspired to attempt herself. The various styles of poetry fascinated her to an enormous degree, and if Mr. Locksley and his companions favored poetry, perhaps she could forgive him the degrading comment that had so rattled her.
But then the power of poetry in regards to love was introduced to the discussion, and Mr. Locksley claimed that he thought that poetry was the food of love, and she was swift in her efforts to correct him. "Of a fine, stout love it may. But feeding a new courtship with poetry will kill it stone dead. My sister," she gestured to Emma, "was the object of such advances once upon a time. They were pretty verses, but far too expressive given the length of the acquaintance. It was then that we first discovered the power of poetry in driving away love."
"So then what do you recommend to encourage affection?" Mr. Locksley asked sharply, clearly perturbed that she so fervently disagreed with what he saw as his superior opinion.
Seeing an opportunity for revenge within her grasp, she smirked. "Dancing. But only if one's partner is 'barely tolerable.'"
With that, she turned and walked toward the main entrance. Before she had turned, she had seen the shocked expression on his face, and if she was pleased with herself for catching him unawares, who could blame her?
Later that night, she and Emma were laying in their bed, hair down from the elaborate updos they had worn for the ball and soft chemises replacing corsets.
As always on the nights when they attended a social event, they were discussing what had transpired that evening. Naturally, with the arrival of the Booths and Mr. Locksley, there was more to entertain than they normally would.
"Mr. Booth seemed besotted with you," Regina teased her sister, causing Emma to blush, which she had consistently been doing since she met the man they were discussing.
"He is- truly the most kind man I've ever had the pleasure to meet. We talked all evening, and I think you'd really like him, Gina. He's a writer, like you."
Now it was Regina's turn to have flaming cheeks. "Be careful, Emma. You don't know him well yet, and he didn't make any indication that he would continue the acquaintance, did he?"
"Actually…" Emma admitted slowly, "he did. He asked me to call him August. So I imagine that we will see more of each other in the very near future. I must say it again, Gina, you must give him a chance. He's nothing like his friend, that Mr. Locksley. I still can't believe what he said about you!"
"Nor can I," Regina admitted. "But that gives me all the more reason to avoid him. I will only tolerate his presence, dearest Emma, for you."
Emma reached out and stroked her cheek, squeezing her shoulder affectionately. "Thank you, Gina. No matter what happens, I will not be able to do it without you."
With those words, silence fell between the siblings, each sister lost in her own thoughts. Regina swore to herself that she would not allow any harm to come to Emma. No matter what events transpired, she would see to it that her sister's goodness was protected from the evils of the world around them.