Madam and Missy — A Pride and Prejudice Variation
This is dedicated to all the writers both here and on KU who've released their stories for free! As I enjoy reading them so much, I thought that I'd have a go, and here it is.
[Note that I'm a Brit, so have written with British spelling, punctuation and terminology 😏]
In which too many things happen at once
Shropshire
Elizabeth
After they bid farewell to their guests, Elizabeth turned to Darcy. "Would you introduce the other members of our new household to me, please? I have met Mrs. Reynolds and her daughter, but no-one else."
"Of course, though, until we hire a couple of maids to help, there is only one other."
He went to call for them to come in, but Elizabeth forestalled him, saying, "Perhaps introductions could be combined with a tour of the ground floor." I must assert myself else I be too timid — they all know each other and I am the stranger amongst them.
He took her through to the kitchen and introduced the servants to her.
"I am pleased to meet you formally, Mrs. Reynolds. I remember first meeting you when you came to N— " seeing the housekeeper's look of alarm, she continued, "to the nearby estate. You were so kind to an inquisitive young girl."
"It was nothing, madam."
"I do believe that you are to address me as 'Missy'." Did William stiffen? Is that disapproval?
"Oh, that would not be proper," demurred Mrs. Reynolds looking towards her master.
"Proper or not, you ought. While we are bound by this," she made a helpless gesture, "strange secrecy, I am not to know my new married name and if you were to call me 'Mrs. William's Surname' by accident, then I should find out who am I." She turned to Darcy, raised her eyebrows and said, "'What a tangled web we weave', though we are caught in others' practice of deceit."
Taking Sarah's hands, she said, "Thank you for supporting me, earlier, Sarah."
"Thank you, mistress, sorry, Missy."
"And the redoubtable Stevens! I have heard so much about you!" Stevens bowed, but straightened with a slight smile when she continued, "Go on, you are permitted to say it, Stevens— "
"I have heard much about you, too, Missy."
"Well done! I should like to thank you all for making me so welcome and for taking care of our breakfast. Would it be convenient to have some lunch and a drink in a basket? Mr. Adam and I shall go for a long walk and leave you to yourselves until dinner time." She turned to Darcy and asked, "Will you be ready to leave in fifteen minutes?"
"Yes, of course." He looks a bit startled, like a hind in the sights of a gun!
Darcy
It was closer to thirty minutes later that they left the house, Darcy carrying the basket of food.
They walked for some time in silence, before Elizabeth said, "I can tell that you wish to say something, Mr. Adam. I have the feeling that you are going to be very severe."
"I am not going to be severe." He paused. "It is just that I am not accustomed to being so very familiar with the servants."
"I understand, but should like you to consider two things: firstly, you carry yourself as one with authority, your mother is titled, your uncle is a bishop and your cousin is a cavalier. And, although I am a gentleman's daughter, you and I come from very different households, mine smaller and less formal than yours. Secondly, that you and your servants know each other well and I am a stranger, so we need to get to know each other quickly."
"Mmm, I had not thought of that," he replied.
"Did your mother give you the same advice as she gave me a few weeks ago: that we should learn to compromise?"
"Indeed."
"So how should we compromise now? You have the advantage of being with people that you have known for years; since your childhood in Mrs. Reynolds' case. I am left with three people who I do not know at all. I should prefer that their first impressions of me are favourable."
He sighed and acknowledged that she was correct. "I had not thought of that, either. I am sorry if I upset you."
"You did not upset me, but I should prefer it if you spoke with me rather leaving me on tenterhooks awaiting your disapproval."
"I was surprised, not disapproving," he protested.
"It looked like disapproval, but I shall compromise and allow it to be surprise." She smiled up at him. "Now, where shall we aim to have our picnic?"
How does she disarm me like that?
Spotting an oak tree in the distance, they agreed to walk in its direction.
"This must be a good sign, our first meal under an oak tree," said Darcy as they spread a blanket and sat down. "I still do not understand why it is your favourite tree."
She laughed. "Is it not strange that we have corresponded for five years, sharing many things without telling each other anything?"
"Indeed; but we shared thoughts and hopes if not a great many facts." He passed her the flask of tea.
"Thank you." Taking a sip, she said, "There is a very old oak tree on our estate, growing at the top of a small hill. We have no idea how old it is, but it must be hundreds of years ago that an acorn sprouted in a crack in the large rock at the top of the hill and the oak has grown there. Its roots wrap around the rock forming cosy spaces in which to sit out of the wind. My family climb the mount often; our father has taught us to speak the history of our land while we sit there looking over it."
Wonderful!
She continued. "It was there that I read your first letter and unpacked the stamp and the chain with the silver shapes." She held out her wrist to him. "Look, I am wearing the first chain now."
He held her hand to examine the chain and its shapes of silver. "This was my mother's idea; I do hope that you like it."
"'Like it'? I love it! I love that every shape that you sent has meaning to us both."
"You were not disappointed not to receive a shape with every letter?"
"No! Not at all! Much as I love the shapes, I would not have had them in lieu of your letters. They are very, very precious to me — I reread them often!"
"As I do yours."
"Even those that I sent when I was but eleven?"
"Yes, even those; they still bring a smile to my face!" He chuckled and continued, "I treasure your excuse for not being able to draw a horse!"
"What? I do not recall that."
"You wrote that you could not draw a horse as it would not lie still on the table!"
She joined in his laughter.
What a lovely sound!
Elizabeth
They sat and chatted for some hours. As they prepared to repack the basket to leave, Elizabeth noticed Darcy becoming stiff and reserved again. "Do tell me what is on your mind."
"There is one more thing that I need to tell you before we return to the lodge."
She looked at him and waited.
"As you saw, it is not a large dwelling."
She nodded.
"There are not sufficient rooms for you and me to have separate chambers. I shall honour the promise that I made earlier, but, unless I sleep in Stevens' cot and resign him to sleeping in the stables, we shall have to share a bed."
Her eyes widened and she managed to say, without shaking too much, "That would not be fair to Stevens." I am uncomfortable to share, but must become accustomed to it.
He took her hands and said, "I mean it; I do not intend to dishonour you. Sarah will be your maid, and I shall not enter the room until bidden."
"I am prepared to compromise — unless you snore, in which case you will be resigned to the stables!"
He teased in return, "And, if you snore, it will be you who sleeps in the stables!"
Darcy
Darcy woke relieved that they had navigated their first night. It will become less awkward. Then, he became aware of crying. Missy?
He swung out of the bed and walked to the screen concealing the small dressing corner.
"Missy? What is wrong?"
He could not hear her replies well as she was sobbing, "You promised!", " —said it would hurt, but not this much— " and " —why is there so much blood?"
"Can I—?"
"Leave me alone! You promised!"
Not knowing what else to do, he rushed to the door to call for Stevens. "Go, go; fetch Mrs. Gardiner!" As Stevens ran down the stairs, he added, "And send Mrs. Reynolds!"
He stood floundering as Mrs. Reynolds climbed the stairs. "I do not know what to do! I do not know what is wrong!" She edged past him into the bedchamber and firmly closed the door leaving him outside. Almost immediately, she reappeared and called to her daughter to bring hot water and some rags.
"What is it?" he asked only to find the door closed again. Sarah came up the stairs followed shortly by a red-faced Mrs. Gardiner. They both swept past him and closed the door. He sat on the top stair unable to make sense of it. I know that I did not do anything in the night, so what promise have I broken?
Mr. Gardiner appeared at the bottom of the stairs. "Do not worry, Mr. Adam, the ladies will put things to rights."
Unable to speak sense, Darcy answered with a nod. I hope that you are correct.
Some time later, Mrs. Gardiner came to the door. "Let us talk downstairs, shall we?"
"Is she—?" He stood.
"She is not hurt; let us discuss it downstairs."
He nodded numbly and led the way down to the small parlour. Mr. Gardiner closed the door after them. His wife took Darcy's hands in her own and said, "My niece has had a life-changing two days. Yesterday she had her sixteenth birthday and was married. This morning she became a woman."
"But I— "
"I know. What I mean is that she has started her monthly courses."
"Her mon—? Is not she used to them by now?"
"This is her very first one. Each woman starts at a different age; she may be later than many, but that is quite normal."
"Her first one?"
"Yes, her first one. She is feeling overwhelmed and, like many other women, is in some discomfort. Mrs. Reynolds, Sarah and I have helped to clean her and have shown her what to do. The pain is often alleviated with warmth."
"Oh." He sank onto a chair.
"If you do not mind me saying so, I think that you should care for her."
"Me? What should I do? I know nothing of this."
"Surely you know what it is to feel distress and pain."
He nodded.
"What would you like someone to do for you at those times?" she asked.
He stood. "Thank you very much, Mrs. Gardiner." He kissed her cheek. "I must go to care for my wife, but look forward to seeing you later perhaps."
"Send word when you are ready for visitors."
Darcy ran upstairs and knocked gently on the door to their bedchamber. At Mrs. Reynolds' invitation, he entered and looked around the room. He dragged a comfortable chair to face the window and turned to the women. "Thank you, Mrs. Reynolds. Thank you, Miss Reynolds. I shall look after my wife now." He picked Elizabeth up, walked to the chair and sat with her on his lap. Then, he said to Mrs. Reynolds, "Would you be so kind as to bring us some tea and a light meal in half an hour? And Mrs. Gardiner said something about warmth for the pain— "
"I shall return with a hot stone, sir."
"Thank you!"
Elizabeth sat rigidly in his lap, weeping quietly with her face hidden in her hands. Mrs. Reynolds knocked and came in with a hot stone wrapped in a cloth. She indicated where he should hold it on Elizabeth's abdomen.
When she had left, Elizabeth sniffed. "You must think that I am very silly."
"Why should I think that?" he asked, gently.
"Getting so upset and blaming you," she mumbled.
"Far from thinking you silly, I am in admiration," he said.
"No! You cannot be!" she exclaimed.
"But I am. In just a day, you have had your birthday, been wed to a strange man, been left with strange people and your, um, you have entered womanhood. Many women would have called for smelling salts and a physician."
"But I blamed you!"
"A natural reaction to such turmoil. Now, will you allow me to comfort my wife who is not at all silly?" She did not resist, but allowed him to pull her closer against his chest.
After a few minutes of silence, she spoke, "When others spoke of these courses, I did not expect it to be so painful. Both Mrs. Reynolds and my aunt assure me that it should last no more than two or three days."
"I am aggrieved that I cannot remove the pain, but can hold you while you feel it. I put the chair here by the window so that we could look out together and plan a walk on the hills for as soon as you are well."
She removed her hands from her face and turned to look out of the window. "I cannot see the oak tree."
"I believe that the church hides it from our view. Shall we go there first?"
She nodded. "I thank you; I should like that."
"We shall look forward to revisiting it together." Stroking her hair, he continued, "Now, my not-silly wife, I am going to kiss your head and you shall not blush."
She did, but kissed his cheek in return. "Thank you for caring for me."
"It is my privilege." Did he blush too? Or was it the effect of the previous day's sun?
Please don't copy, but please do let me have comments/corrections 😏
Q: do you want me to spell out the importance of a bloodied sheet?