Reversed Fortune Chapter 1 - Netherfield is let, a pride and prejudice fanfic

Hi, I'm back.

This time I had an idea about how things would play out if Lady Anne was still alive, and instead of Lady Catherine, we get to deal with Sir Lewis de Bourgh instead. And we have the added complication of two children, who were accidentally switched at birth.

As always, constructive criticism is welcome.

Posting might be a bit slow as I only just started writing.

~~CC~~

Netherfield Park is let

Mrs Bennet, like any other sensible woman of her time, had one major goal… to see all her daughters married to men who could afford to support them in comfort.

Unlike most women, Mrs Bennet had a somewhat more difficult job since she had five daughters but no son. Under ordinary circumstances this should not have presented too big a problem, except that their family estate was entailed to the male line.

Mrs Bennet was greatly concerned because the heir presumptive was a distant cousin of her husband. The father of the current Mr Collins, whose demeanour had caused the rift in the family, had been an exceptionally unpleasant man, which caused Mrs Bennet to fear that he would throw her and her daughters into the hedgerows to starve, the moment Mr Bennet quit this earthly life.

Even though the man had died about five years earlier, she considered that the apple did not fall far from the tree and therefore the son had to be as bad if not worse than his father.

Therefore, Mrs Bennet's mission in life was to see all her daughters married as soon as possible. For that reason, she had allowed even her youngest daughter, who was barely fifteen years of age, to come out into society. Her oldest daughter was the most beautiful of them all, but despite the fact she had been out for six years, she was still unwed. As a result, Mrs Bennet was getting ever more desperate and shrill, which in turn caused gentlemen to flee.

In her youth, Mrs Bennet had been an exceptionally beautiful and lively young woman, which had caused her husband to propose to her. Based on her own experience, she encouraged all her daughters to be lively and flirtatious.

Lydia, her youngest daughter, and to a lesser but still noticeable degree her second youngest, Kitty, followed their mother's instructions enthusiastically. The oldest two, Jane and Elizabeth, eschewed their mother's teaching and behaved with propriety. Mary, the middle daughter, had an interest in scriptures and moral texts, which caused her to reject almost any kind of frivolity.

Considering their circumstances, Mrs Bennet was delighted when she discovered that their neighbouring estate, Netherfield Park, had been let. Not only that, but it had been let to a young single man of great fortune.

She was certain that the young man must be in need of a wife, and the best possible candidate for that role was her most beautiful daughter, Jane.

All she needed to do now was to convince her husband to call on the young man to ensure that Mr Bennet could introduce their daughters to this most eligible bachelor.

Mr Bennet, who had two decades to regret his choice of wife, responded to his wife's lack of intelligence, understanding and propriety, not by educating her but by making sport of her foibles. Instead of agreeing to visit the new tenant at Netherfield, he pretended a complete disinterest in the gentleman.

~~RF~~

In London Mr Charles Bingley was excited. He had gone to inspect an estate which was located but four and twenty miles from the city, near the small town of Meryton. Netherfield Park was just what he had been looking for.

His father had been a successful businessman who had hoped to raise his family's status to landed gentry. When he died before realising his dream, he left his considerable fortune to his son to purchase an estate. Bingley, on the advice of his friend Fitzwilliam Darcy, had decided to lease an estate before committing to the purchase to ensure that he would be capable of dealing with the responsibilities of being a landowner.

Netherfield Park was just the right size of property and in excellent condition. It also benefitted from the proximity to London where his sisters preferred to spend their time. Particularly his younger sister Caroline, who was still in the market for a husband.

His older sister Louisa had married Mr Phillip Hurst the previous year, although the couple lived with Mr Bingley while they waited for Mr Hurst to inherit his estate. Theirs was a marriage founded on love… He loved her dowry, and she loved his status as a gentleman.

Now that he had found the estate, Bingley went to see his friend to request his assistance in learning to manage his estate.

As soon as he was shown into Darcy's study, Bingley exclaimed, 'I have found the perfect estate.'

'Congratulations, Bingley,' Darcy responded with a smile. 'When will you take possession?'

'At Michaelmas and I hope that you will make good your promise to teach me how to manage it.'

Fitzwilliam Darcy had been raised to be the master of Pemberley, the largest estate in Derbyshire. His father had been an excellent manager and had taught his son all that he knew from an early age. Unfortunately, Mr Darcy had been killed in an accident when young Darcy was but fifteen years of age.

Darcy's mother, Lady Anne Darcy, had been his guardian and regent until he reached his majority at the age of five and twenty, just over a year ago. Fortunately, their long-time steward, Mr Wickham had been on hand to supervise the day-to-day operations of Pemberley and was able to advise Lady Anne. She also had the support of her brother, Andrew Fitzwilliam, the Earl of Matlock, whose estate was also located in Derbyshire.

When Darcy reached his majority, the responsibility for the estate had descended onto his shoulders, although Lady Anne was still advising him when he felt out of his depth, which was quite frequently.

While Darcy was not the best manager of an estate, he was conscientious about his duties. To teach his friend how to be a gentleman would be a welcome break from the obligations at Pemberley since Netherfield was significantly smaller. Although he rarely admitted it even to himself, sometimes he wished for an estate of a more manageable size. Having the responsibility for more than one thousand people on his shoulders was enervating, to say the least.

The answer to Bingley's request was therefore easy. 'I would be pleased to teach you all that I can.'

'Thank you, Darcy. I knew that I could rely on you. Now I must rush to tell Caroline. I am hoping that she will be willing to act as my hostess.'

'Why do you not come to dinner, and we can work out the details.'

~~RF~~

Lady Anne was in two minds about Darcy's sojourn to Netherfield Park. While she was grateful to Mr Bingley who had helped Darcy pass his courses at Cambridge, where they had met and become friends, she was less anguine about Mr Bingley's sister. Miss Bingley was determined to become Mrs Darcy, and the Mistress of Pemberley, a position for which Lady Anne thought the young woman was quite unsuitable.

Although Lady Anne did not share a close bond with Darcy, due to an incident shortly after his birth, the lady always had his best interest at heart. On the other hand, she was extremely close to her daughter Georgiana, who was only fifteen. Lady Anne had hoped for more than two children, but she had miscarried time and again. By the time her daughter was born, the doctor had advised her never to try again, as another child would kill her.

Her husband had loved her enough to put her welfare above his own desires, which was fortuitous, otherwise Fitzwilliam and Georgiana would have been orphaned eleven years ago.

When Lady Anne raised her concerns about Miss Bingley with Darcy, he suggested, 'why do not you and Georgiana join us? I am certain that Bingley and his sister would be delighted to have your company.'

~~RF~~

It turned out that Darcy knew his friends well. Bingley, being a sociable creature was happy to increase the size of the party. Miss Bingley, of course, could barely contain her glee to have a titled houseguest.

'And while we are there, I can teach Miss Bingley what it takes to be the mistress of an estate,' Lady Anne offered with a smile, which was just a hairsbreadth away from being malicious.

If the young woman was determined to snare a husband from the gentry, or, heaven forefend, from the nobility, she had better learn that there was more to the role than hosting balls and dinners or socialising. It required a lot of hard work.

Caroline Bingley, as expected, was thrilled at the prospect of having Lady Anne as her mentor. She would be taught how to arrange the best functions by a lady who was renowned for her organisational abilities.

She thought that perhaps Lady Anne was giving her a chance to prove to her that she would make the perfect mistress of Pemberley. She might yet become Mrs Darcy and be the niece to an Earl.

'I would be honoured to learn from you, Lady Anne,' was the immediate and enthusiastic reply.

~~RF~~

Mr Bingley had gone ahead to ensure the house was ready for his family and honoured guests.

He was pleased to see that the housekeeper, Mrs Nicholls, had prepared the best guest suites for Lady Anne and Darcy. Another suite which had two bedchambers and a shared sitting room was to be occupied by Miss Darcy and her companion, Mrs Annesley.

He was charmed by the appointments in the family wing, where he was to occupy the master suite, while Caroline, as his hostess, had been assigned the mistress' suite. He hoped that his sister would not find the accommodation too rustic for her taste, as it was not decorated in the latest fashion.

He felt that his sister Louisa would be pleased that the suite she was to share with her husband had two bedchambers, as Phillip Hurst was reputed to snore loudly when in his cups, which was a regular occurrence.

When the rest of their party arrived, their reactions were just as Bingley expected. What he did not expect was that Caroline's complaints were cut short when Lady Anne declared herself delighted with the appointments and decoration of the house.

'This is so much more congenial than the ostentation displayed by so many people in London,' she declared quite honestly. 'You have chosen well, Mr Bingley.'

Their host was thrilled by the approbation of his most honoured guest. 'Thank you, Lady Anne. It was most fortuitous that Netherfield became available just now. And your arrival was timed to perfection. Several of our neighbours have already called on me, including Sir William Lucas, who invited us to tonight's assembly. It will be a perfect opportunity to meet the majority of our neighbours. I hope that you are not too fatigued by your journey so that we can all attend.'

Although Lady Anne would have preferred a quiet evening, she agreed with Bingley's assessment about meeting the neighbours. 'I believe an hour's rest will set me right to enjoy the festivities. At what time does Sir William expect us?'

Bingley informed her that the assembly was to start at eight.

Lady Anne turned to her daughter. 'I am sorry, my dear, but I think it best if you remain here with Mrs Annesley. Perhaps if other young ladies attend tonight's event, I might permit you to attend the next function.'

Caroline, who was not enamoured with the idea of a country dance, offered, 'I would be most happy to remain here with Miss Darcy. After all, as your hostess I cannot neglect you.'

'On the contrary, Miss Bingley, as your brother's hostess it is incumbent on you to accompany him and meet your neighbours. Although I thank you for the offer, Georgiana will do very well with Mrs Annesley as company,' Lady Anne disagreed.

Caroline schooled her features into a pleasant smile despite being thwarted in her designs. 'Of course, Lady Anne. I will be guided by you. Although it seems a shame to waste my latest ballgown on such a backwater.'

Lady Anne, who knew Caroline Bingley's taste, or lack thereof, in clothes suggested sweetly, 'as you say. Do not trouble yourself with appearing too fashionable, after all, this introduction is meant to show you in a good light. It would not do to outshine all the local ladies. That would create a bad impression. Your second or third best gown should do nicely. And remember that we shall leave at half past seven.'

Miss Bingley gritted her teeth and agreed.

~~RF~~

btw in case you have not yet read it, my P&P Christmas Carol is available on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited.

~~CC~~