Reversed Fortune Chapter 3, a pride and prejudice fanfic

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The day after the assembly, Elizabeth and Jane escaped from Longbourn to visit Charlotte Lucas, who was helping her sister mend a when they arrived.

'I cannot bear any more of Mama's effusions about Mr Bingley,' announced Jane after the exchange of greetings.

'But Jane, it is only natural that your mother should be excited. After all, you were the only lady Mr Bingley singled out for two sets,' Charlotte teased her friend.

'That may be so, but he danced with you first.'

'Only because Father introduced him to us first. If we had been introduced at the same time, I doubt that he would have asked me at all.'

'Shame on you, Charlotte. Are you fishing for compliments?' Elizabeth smiled at their friend. 'Very well, I shall oblige you. You are perfectly lovely. As beautiful as any lady in Meryton, with the exception of Jane. None of us can compete with her in beauty. Certainly not since I am only tolerable but not beautiful enough to tempt.'

'Lizzy, I am certain that Mr Darcy did not mean to say that. Mr Bingley told me that his friend does not like social functions but is perfectly amiable amongst close friends and family.'

'If he did not mean it, he should not have said it.' Elizabeth was adamant in her dislike of the man. 'I cannot understand how Mr Bingley could be friends with such a man.'

Charlotte chuckled. 'I believe Mr Bingley is inured to such behaviour due his younger sister. Did you notice how hard she tried to mask her disdain for all of us?'

'At least she tried to mask it, however unsuccessful she was,' Lizzy responded.

Jane looked shocked. 'I thought her perfectly amiable and very elegant.'

'Oh Jane. You always see the best in people.'

'Perhaps, but I find that preferable to always seeing the worst.'

'You two are lucky to have me as a friend since I have a balanced view,' teased Charlotte, who was quite familiar with the gentle bickering amongst her friends.

Both laughed at the jibe. 'You are quite right. But now tell me what do you think of Mr Bingley? Is he as charming as Jane thinks him to be?'

The friends chatted comfortably until they were interrupted by Lady Lucas who escorted visitors into the parlour.

~~RF~~

As Lady Anne was tired after half a day spent in a carriage, followed by an assembly, she wanted a leisurely morning and therefore took pity on Miss Bingley and let her sleep in as well.

Eventually, she rose and joined the family in the dining room where she informed her daughter that they had been invited to tea at Lucas Lodge.

Georgiana, who was still rather shy, was in two minds about the invitation. 'I have never met Miss Maria Lucas. Do you think she will like me, or will she think it an imposition of me to visit?'

'She is looking forward to meeting a young lady of similar age whom she does not already know. You will be fine, dear.'

While Georgiana was reassured, she could not help but wonder, 'are all the young ladies here allowed to come out at such an early age?"

'Just as at Lambton, the families hereabouts allow their daughters to come out earlier than in London. Lady Lucas suggested that in the country it is safer for girls since they know all the young men, having grown up with them.'

'But I do not know them.'

'Not yet. But I have been assured that you will be completely safe.'

'Are you certain, Lady Anne?' asked Miss Bingley. 'I thought last night that the manners of the locals leave a lot to be desired.'

'Miss Bingley, in my experience manners have very little to do with character. Some of the worst rakes in town have the best manners. That is one of their tools to ingratiate themselves with the ladies.'

~~RF~~

After their breakfast, Bingley and Darcy went to meet with the steward to discuss and inspect the estate, while Miss Bingley and the Hursts declared themselves too fatigued to leave the house.

Lady Anne and Georgiana took the carriage to Lucas Lodge where Lady Lucas greeted them warmly.

'Please come in. Your timing is impeccable. Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth are visiting with my daughters,' Lady Lucas informed them.

During the introductions Jane immediately realised that Miss Darcy was quite shy. She put on her best comforting smile and assured Georgiana, 'Miss Darcy, please do not be afraid that you have landed in a village of savages. Even Lizzy has not eaten anyone lately.'

'Not even a little nibble,' confirmed Elizabeth with twinkling eyes, even as she attempted to keep a straight face.

The idea that these genteel looking ladies could bite anyone was so incongruous that a small laugh escaped Georgiana. 'I am most grateful to hear this, as I have no wish for you to become ill,' she responded hoping that they would not mind a tease in return.

'Well said, Miss Darcy,' laughed Maria. 'You must be the first person who had a ready answer for one of Lizzy's teases. Please come and sit with me.'

As Lady Anne watched, Maria, who was thrilled to have company of her own age, happily chattered with Georgiana, who in return found the cheerful girl irresistible. Maria in turn felt delighted not to be overshadowed by a boisterous personality like Lydia's.

'Now that your daughter is safe, shall we have some tea?' asked Lady Lucas.

'Forgive me for being concerned. Georgiana does not make friends easily. It is a pleasure to see her so comfortable.'

'She seems to be a lovely girl.'

'I admit to being very proud of her. Her ability on the pianoforte is excellent. I believe it is natural ability, enhanced by diligent practice.'

The three older young ladies had joined the two Ladies at the table to partake of tea.

'Did you hear that, Eliza? Diligent practice will make you even better.'

'You know perfectly well that we only have one instrument and Mary has laid claim to it.'

Before the teasing could get out of hand, Lady Anne turned to Lizzy.

'Miss Elizabeth, I am glad to have the opportunity to speak to you today. Please allow me to apologise for the ghastly comment my son made last night. Like Georgiana, he is not overly comfortable in social situations and often says the wrong thing.'

'Perhaps, like your daughter, he should practice?' suggested Lizzy impertinently, before she became serious. 'Lady Anne, while I appreciate your defence of your son, I have to say that he did not make a good impression on our neighbours.'

The lady sighed. 'I do not know what has happened to him in recent years. He was always a little awkward, but lately I wonder if the arrogance he displays it too keep people at bay.'

'If that is his objective, he is doing exceedingly well.' The words slipped out before Elizabeth could censor them. She blushed as she said, 'my apologies, it was most impolite of me to say so.'

'Unfortunately, in this case it is also true, while Fitzwilliam's words could not be further from the truth.' Lady Anne smiled and turned to Lady Lucas. 'Is there something in the air or the water hereabouts, but I have rarely seen so many lovely young ladies.'

Now it was Elizabeth's turn to tell Charlotte, 'I told you so.'

Having taken care of apologies, the ladies spent the next half hour in pleasant conversation getting to know each other. Everyone was favourably impressed with their new acquaintances.

~~RF~~

Shortly after the ladies arrived back at Netherfield, Darcy and Bingley returned from their tour of the estate. The timing of the gentlemen's arrival was deliberate since both of them found that Miss Bingley's demeanour improved with the presence of Lady Anne.

Over tea they discussed what conditions they had found. Darcy commented, 'the estate is in a surprisingly good state considering that in recent years they rarely had a master in residence and they desperately need a lady to take on the mistress' duties.'

'Is there any particular problem?'

'Not as much of a problem but Mrs Wainwright could use some assistance as she is expecting her third child.'

Lady Anne smiled. Even though they did not share a close bond, she did respect Darcy for the conscientious master he was. 'You may leave it with me. We will look into it tomorrow.'

He bowed his head in acknowledgement. 'I know she will be in good hands.'

Conversation drifted to general topics until it was time to change for dinner.

~~RF~~

That evening, before going to her room, Lady Anne said to her hostess, 'if it is agreeable to you, we will start your lessons regarding the duties of a mistress immediately after breakfast tomorrow.'

Caroline Bingley beamed. 'I eagerly anticipate learning all that you can teach me.'

'I shall see you at breakfast then.'

~~RF~~

It was seven o'clock when Lady Anne came down for breakfast. Within a few minutes she was joined at the table by her children and a few minutes later a sleepy looking Bingley wandered into the dining room.

'I had not believed you when you said that people in the country rise at dawn,' he mumbled as he poured himself a cup of coffee.

'The sun rose an hour ago, Bingley,' Darcy told his friend with a grin. 'Normally I would have been out riding at this time of day.'

Bingley was carefully sipping his hot beverage before he replied, 'you may call this day. For me it is the middle of the night.'

'I find the fresh air in the morning to be quite invigorating.'

'Please do not be so cheerful. It makes my head hurt,' Bingley said mournfully. 'Perhaps I am not cut out to be a country gentleman after all.'

'I am certain that with a little practice you will become quite accustomed to rising at dawn,' suggested Lady Anne with an encouraging smile.

'I certainly hope so,' murmured Bingley as he finished his cup and went to pour himself another. He eyed the food on the sideboard and sniffed appreciatively. 'There is something to be said for freshly prepared food though.' The coffee seemed to have done its job waking him up sufficiently to fix himself a plate which he tucked into with gusto.

When fifteen minutes later Miss Bingley had not put in an appearance, Lady Anne asked a maid, 'where is Miss Bingley?'

'She is still abed, my lady,' came the nervous reply.

Lady Anne suppressed her glee when she requested, 'would you please send her maid to wake the lady and inform her that we are at breakfast.'

The maid bobbed a curtsy and went to see her order carried out.

As Lady Anne was finishing the last of her tea, Caroline's maid entered the room and curtsied to Lady Anne. 'I am sorry, my lady. Miss Bingley is not yet ready to rise.'

The Lady noticed a handprint on the maid's cheek. 'I gather Miss Bingley was rather vehement in her refusal to wake?'

'Yes, my lady.'

'I am sorry that you had to bear the brunt of her displeasure. Will you please take me to her?'

~~RF~~

'Miss Bingley, it is time to rise,' announced Lady Anne to her hostess, who had pulled a pillow over her head.

Miss Bingley was barely awake when she hissed, 'go away, you useless baggage. Do I have to beat you black and blue before you learn to obey my orders?'

'It has been years since I obeyed anyone's orders and I was never a useless baggage.'

The soft voice cut through Caroline's sleep fogged mind, and she sat up as if stung.

'Lady Anne! Forgive me, I thought my maid was pestering me again after being given strict instructions not to wake me.'

'I had sent her to wake you since you have kept me waiting for an hour.'

'An hour? But it is barely dawn.'

'You had agreed to meet me for breakfast, after which I was going to give you your first lesson in how to be the mistress of an estate.'

'But breakfast is not for three hours yet.'

'In town maybe, but we are now in the country.'

'You cannot expect me to sink to the level of those country bumpkins.'

'Miss Bingley, let me ask you some questions. Do you wish to learn how to be the mistress of an estate?'

'Yes, of course I do.'

'Very good. Next question. Where do you think that estates are located?'

'Ah… in the country.'

'Excellent. Where do you think the mistress of an estate lives?'

'In London.'

'Why do you think the mistress of an estate lives in London?'

'All the best people live in Town.'

Lady Anne shook her head in disbelief. 'Whom do you consider to be all the best people?'

'Members of the first circle.'

'While that is debateable, I can see what you are thinking but I must disabuse you of your notions. The majority of members of the first circle own estates. While they usually spend the season in London, the rest of their time they live on their estate… in the country. In the country where they keep to country hours. Which means they generally get up at dawn.'

'Why should the mistress get up at dawn?'

'To get through all the work that needs to be done.'

'Why would the mistress be expected to work? That is why you hire servants. To do the work.'

'What do you think the mistress does all day?'

'Plan events and dinners, receive callers or make calls.'

'That sort of life is what the wife of a tradesman in town might do if he is exceedingly well off. There is considerably more to being the mistress of an estate than running a household.'

'Oh…'

'Do you still wish to learn?'

'Yes, Lady Anne,' replied Caroline although she was suddenly having second thoughts.

'Very well. Meet me downstairs in half an hour.'

'Yes, Lady Anne. Thank you.'

Lady Anne nodded and headed for the door. Just before she exited, she said over her shoulder, 'Miss Bingley, lesson number one. It is bad form to abuse your staff, physically or verbally.'

~~RF~~

By the time Caroline arrived in the dining room, thirty-five minutes later, Darcy and Bingley were gone. By the sounds coming from the music room, Georgiana was at her lessons with Mrs Annesley.

'I am sorry that I am late. My maid was all thumbs this morning.'

'Servants who are afraid of being abused cannot work efficiently.'

Caroline quickly turned to the sideboard to fix herself a plate, while hiding her blushes. When she had herself under control again, she sat and started to eat.

As Caroline spread preserve on her toast, Lady Anne pushed a piece of paper towards her.

'Here is the basic list of topics we will have to cover,' she explained. 'Some of the topics will of course only be theoretical since you do not have children.'

While chewing on her toast, Caroline started to read the list.

Managing the household budget and accounts

Procurement – food, clothing and everything else for family and staff

Make whatever possible, purchase as a last resort

Food – raise and preserve as much as possible, collect receipts, check purchases

Raise children

Care for sick family members.

Servants – hiring and training of the staff, supervision.

Also care for their needs in case of illness of them or their family

Community – charitable contributions, advice in treating the sick and injured, education of village children, care for the poor

Entertaining

If intelligent, assist husband with overall estate business

At the first item Miss Bingley already had a question. 'Why should I worry about budgets? My husband will simply pay for whatever we need in the same way that Charles does now.'

'Most husbands do not like to waste money,' suggested Lady Anne. Privately she thought it would be a long visit.

~~RF~~

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