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 George and Lady Anne Darcy meet the Gardiners

London

Lady Anne

Lady Anne had some shopping to do before she journeyed back to Netherfield. She wished to take a gift for her prospective daughter and had decided that perhaps a book and some writing paper would be perfect. Wandering around a bookshop, she bumped into another customer. As they apologised to each other, their faces brightened with recognition.

"Miss Grey! How long is it since we last met?"

The other woman curtseyed and replied, "Not these ten years, I think, Lady Anne."

"I did not know that you would come to London when your father died. Do you live here now?"

"Yes, my lady. I came here to live with my mother's cousins and then, two years ago, met and married my husband."

"Am I too late to congratulate you? No, surely it can never be too late to offer congratulations! Do tell me about your husband."

"I thank you, my lady. I am married to Edward Gardiner. He hails from a small town called Meryton in Hertfordshire where his father was the local attorney. He came to London when he came of age and now runs an import and export business."

Her interest caught, Lady Anne asked, keenly, "Does he still have family in Hertfordshire?"

"Yes, he does, my lady. He has a sister married to their father's successor and a widowed brother-in-law, a local landowner."

Lady Anne thought for a moment. "Would you care to join me for refreshments? I should very much like to hear more." And might have a request to ask of you.

"I should be delighted, thank you," Mrs. Gardiner replied with a curtsey.

Mr. George Darcy

Mr. Darcy was not at all surprised to hear that his dear wife had found a solution to the problem of William and Missy's correspondence. Engaging the assistance of the former Miss Grey, the daughter of Lambton's previous rector, was an inspiration. He remembered Miss Grey well and considered her perfect for the role of an intermediary. How lucky I am to have married Anne!

His wife had also found out from Mrs. Gardiner that she and her husband planned to visit Hertfordshire the following week. Thinking that he would like a peep at little Missy, even if he could not meet her, he wrote to Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner asking them to meet with him at Netherfield while there. He had no objections to visiting them at their house or to inviting them to his, but wished their meeting to be kept from prying eyes and ears.

He had a reply from Mr. Gardiner the next morning, agreeing to the scheme.

Netherfield

Mrs. Gardiner

Mrs. Madeline Gardiner née Grey had been embarrassed to bump into Lady Anne Darcy at the bookshop and rather relieved that her ladyship had reassured her that any blame was to be shared. On returning to her house on Gracechurch Street, she realised that Lady Anne had, very skilfully, found out quite a lot about her family in Hertfordshire. Therefore, she had not been much surprised by Mr. Darcy's invitation to meet with him there.

She and her husband had arrived at Netherfield to meet with Mr. George Darcy to find Lady Anne there too. As their hosts bid them welcome, she wondered what the request that Lady Anne had mentioned was to be. They were polite to her husband, a tradesman, but for what would they ask them?

Mrs. Gardiner's eyes widened to see Mrs. Reynolds entering the parlour with a tray. They acknowledged each other with small smiles, but did not speak. She watched Lady Anne dismiss Mrs. Reynolds with a knowing nod after she had poured the tea. Mrs. Reynolds curtseyed and left the room, closing the door behind her.

Lady Anne smiled at Mrs. Gardiner and said, "I rely on Mrs. Reynolds to make sure that we are neither overheard nor interrupted."

Mr. Darcy cleared his throat and turned to address the Gardiners, "I must thank you for coming to meet with us here."

Mr. Gardiner replied, "It is of no trouble, sir. We are honoured to be invited."

Mrs. Gardiner noticed that Mr. Darcy and his wife exchanged small nods, before he leaned forward. Nothing could have prepared her for what Mr. Darcy then told them — Fitzwilliam Darcy to be betrothed to her husband's second niece.

Lizzy? She is so very young.

She and her husband looked at each other in astonishment, while Lady Anne reached over to hold her hand, saying, "'Tis true."

"I must not tell you how or why this has come about, but I can assure you that it is all entirely honourable," Mr. Darcy explained.

"What would you like us to do, sir?" asked her husband.

"Though William and Missy will not yet meet, they are permitted to write to each other. Since you are known to both us and your niece, we should like you to be intermediaries for their correspondence. Through her chance encounter with you last week, Mrs. Gardiner, my clever wife has found out the identity of Missy. As far as we are aware, her family have not yet discovered who we are."

I would be surprised if my brother Bennet does not already know!

"Would you be willing to assist us in this?" continued Mr. Darcy. "If so, I thought that my son could address his letters to your place of business, Mr. Gardiner, while your niece sends hers to you, Mrs. Gardiner."

Mrs. Gardiner nodded at her husband when he looked at her for her acquiescence.

"We should be both honoured and delighted— "

" —and, of course, understand the need for secrecy," she added.

Her husband shared smiles with her.

"We are grateful to you, to you both, for agreeing to this," said Lady Anne. "Would it offend you to ask if it will cause any financial difficulties?"

Mr. Gardiner shook his head and replied, "Not at all. Unless they send expresses to each other daily, it will cause no difficulties at all."

"Very well, but please do write to me if it becomes a burden to you," said Mr. Darcy. "Now, let us decide upon how this will work."

The four of them reached an easy agreement that the couple would conceal their letters to each other within letters to Mr. or Mrs. Gardiner and mark the outer letter discreetly so that the Gardiners would recognise them. Then the Gardiners would re-enclose the inner letters to forward them on. Thus satisfied, the men talked about Mr. Gardiner's business and the ladies strolled around the room comparing news from Lambton. When it was time to leave, the Gardiners thanked their hosts for their hospitality, bowed and curtseyed, and boarded their carriage to continue to Longbourn. They would have to work hard to conceal this from Thomas Bennet.

"Oh my!" said her husband as the carriage left Netherfield.

"Oh my!" she echoed. Oh my, indeed!

The following day, Mrs. Gardiner found an opportunity to take Jane, Elizabeth and Mary into Meryton. As they walked past a carriage, she caught the eye of the gentleman therein and indicated Elizabeth. Mr. Darcy mouthed, "Thank you," in return.

Please don't copy, but please do let me have comments/corrections 😏