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 William steps into his father's shoes, and the Fitzwilliam family feuds

Pemberley

Lady Anne

At Easter, following a short illness, George Darcy died. William became Mr. Darcy, the new Master of Pemberley.

Lady Anne's relatives arrived for the funeral. Her older brother, Hugh Fitzwilliam, the Earl of Matlock, arrived first, bringing his wife, Lady Harriet, their two sons, Robert, the Viscount Cromford, and Major Richard Fitzwilliam, and their daughter, Lady Charity.

Her younger brother, Bishop Richard Fitzwilliam, followed alone. Last to arrive was their widowed older sister, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, with her frail daughter, Anne.

Lady Anne sighed. As if we are not sad enough about George's death, here comes Catherine; she will be sure to try to force William to marry Anne.

Just as she expected, the haranguing started as the men left to attend the funeral.

"Anne, let us agree on a date for Anne's wedding to William. If we have it all arranged before they return, the men will not have to worry about it."

"I have told you many times, Catherine, that William is not betrothed to Anne and will not be marrying her."

"Nonsense, he needs Anne by his side as the Mistress of Pemberley."

"No."

Lady Catherine ploughed on, "Anne is ready to marry and to take on the role. There is no need to wait. They can marry in three months; that is plenty of time to observe mourning."

"Three months?" I shall mourn George for the rest of my life.

"Then we are agreed," Lady Catherine announced.

"We are not agreed. No amount of bullying will force William to marry Anne!"

"Matlock will agree with me."

"I care not. William is his own man and has decided not to marry Anne." Not quite true.

"Hmph! I have not been in the habit of brooking disappointment."

"Neither William nor I shall submit to your whims."

"I shall now know how to act! I will carry my point!" shouted Lady Catherine as she stormed from the parlour.

Lady Anne had to conceal a smile when that display of petulance was spoilt as Lady Catherine came back in to collect her daughter. Thank you for a smile on this day, sister.

Much later, after the men had returned and all of the guests had left, Lady Anne found her younger brother in the orangery. He stood and took her hands in his. "How are you coping today, dear sister?"

"It has not been quite as dreadful as I had expected; many people were kind enough to share fond memories of George," she replied.

"Come; sit with me." He led her to a bench and they sat. "I must apologise, again, that my wife and sons have not accompanied me."

"There is no need to apologise; the birth of your first grandchild is the very best reason to not attend a funeral. I am sorry that you are missing them."

"And there is no need for you to apologise, dear sister. I delegated James to escort Eleanor to his brother's side so that I could be here with you."

"I am certain that John and his wife will be glad to have them both there." She paused. "Richard, I should like— no, I need to ask you for a favour."

"You may ask me anything, Anne."

"Excuse me for a minute." She went to the door and asked the footman there to send Stevens to her.

"My lady?" Stevens arrived quickly.

"Would you prevent eavesdroppers, please, Stevens?"

"Yes, my lady."

As she closed the door behind Stevens and re-joined her brother, he asked, "Are you expecting to be overheard?" At her nod, he continued, "Ah, Catherine!"

Yes, Catherine.

Taking a deep breath, Lady Anne said, "I am not sure how much to tell you — not because I do not trust you, but because if you know little then you can tell little."

"True." He nodded in acknowledgement.

"As you are aware, Catherine wants William to marry Anne." She paused and leaned closer to her brother, to whisper, "William is already betrothed."

"Really?"

"It was decreed." She mouthed the final word.

"Oh," he replied, wide eyed.

"I have met the young gentlewoman and found her to be delightful. She and William have not yet met, but are corresponding."

"I do not know what to say, except that I hope that they will be happy together."

"As do I, as do I."

"I think that I have anticipated your request. You wish for the wedding to be as soon as possible in order to thwart our headstrong sister."

"You are correct. But the marriage cannot yet be made public — that is also part of the decree."

"This might be tricky. They would need to wed somewhere out of the way, where they are unlikely to be spotted."

"Yes." She nodded. "That is a fine idea."

"Mmm. My namesake is to inherit his grandmother's estate in Shropshire. Would that be suitable?"

"Young Richard is to inherit Tenston? That is good news."

"The steward is running it until Richard resigns from the Cavaliers. I am sure that he would not mind if we were to stay there in — when might it be?"

"Missy will— "

"'Missy'?"

"They are using pseudonyms. Missy will be sixteen at the beginning of June."

"June it is. Would you like me to arrange for the licence and to talk with the local clergyman?"

She smiled at him in relief, "I should be very grateful if you would, and— "

"May I conduct the ceremony, too?"

" —would you like to conduct the ceremony?" She smiled and raised her eyebrows at him.

"I thank you for sharing this excellent news with me."

"And I thank you for sharing the load with me." Tears came to her eyes. Oh, George.

"I know that you miss George very much." He put an arm around her and waited as she wept.

After a few minutes, Stevens knocked on the door and interrupted, calling, "Mistress!"

"Why does—?"

"It is our signal for 'beware eavesdroppers'," Lady Anne hastily explained, wiping her tears.

A minute later, Lady Catherine stormed in. "Anne! Anne! Why are you crying? When Lewis died, I had him interred and carried on managing my estate."

"His estate," corrected her brother.

"My estate, now."

"Anne's when she comes of age."

"She will have no need of it as she will be Mistress of Pemberley."

My poor niece cannot walk without support, let alone run an estate.

"Have you no compassion, Catherine? Our sister was Pemberley's mistress until but a few days ago."

"She is mistress no longer and must remove to the dower house so that Anne can take her place."

What?

Lady Catherine's siblings stared at her, aghast.

"You do know that William will not marry Anne, do you not?" Bishop Fitzwilliam tried to reason with her.

"It is arranged. It will be in three months; long enough for you to move out, sister. Hugh agrees with me."

"I did not agree with you, Catty!" Lord Matlock boomed his denial as he marched into the orangery with his wife.

"You most certainly did!"

"I did not!"

"Do you require a hearing trumpet, Catherine," asked Lady Harriet Matlock, mischievously. "It seems that people speak and you do not hear them correctly."

"There is nothing amiss with my hearing! I have ever been celebrated for my excellent hearing!"

"Then why do you not hear when my husband says 'no'?"

Is mine the only family to have a screaming argument on the day of a funeral? wondered Lady Anne.

"It is not my hearing that is amiss, but your thinking."

Matlock chuckled. "So, if we disagree with you, we are wrong?"

"Exactly, brother. You have the right of it at last." Lady Catherine nodded with satisfaction.

"You were obstinate as a child, Catty, and are more so now."

"Are you renowned for your obstinacy, too?" quipped Lady Harriet.

"I am not obstinate! I am celebrated for not being obstinate!"

Lady Anne spotted her son at the door. His cousin Anne's hand was on his arm. Lady Catherine spun round to see them and cried, "There; they are together. We shall announce the engagement straightaway. I shall send an express to The Times."

"Lady Catherine," said William. "I have discussed this with Cousin Anne. She and I are in agreement that we shall not marry."

"Nonsense! Anne, you do not know what you are saying. Go; you must rest."

"Catty! Catty! How can you possibly imagine that young Anne is fit to run an estate when she can barely stay on her feet without aid?" argued Matlock.

"She has William's support. That is all that she needs."

"I am the head of this family and William, nay, Darcy, is the head of his. Neither of us wishes him to marry Anne!" Matlock roared.

"Did you hear that, Catherine; renowned as you are for your excellent hearing?"

Lady Catherine stomped from the orangery, muttering, "I shall carry my point."

"Come, Anne and Anne," said Matlock, offering his arms to his sister and niece. "Let us rest before dinner."

The bishop offered his arm to his sister-in-law and they followed them out.

Darcy

Left alone, William Darcy sighed. I must send an express to The Times warning them not to publish such an announcement.

A little later, as he was staring blankly out of one of the windows, his cousin, Major Richard Fitzwilliam, came into the orangery. Darcy heard him approach and felt a companionable arm put around his shoulders.

"I cannot tell you how sorry I was to hear of your father's death. You know, I hope, that I shall do what I can to help you."

"I thank you, Richard," replied Darcy. "Do you know what is in his will?"

"No. I assume that he has left Pemberley to you and has guaranteed security for your mother and Georgiana."

"Yes, but there is more. I have been appointed guardian to Georgi— "

"That is obvious," Richard interrupted.

" —as have you," Darcy finished.

"Me?"

"Yes, you, although Mother will be her guardian in all but name."

"Me?" repeated Richard. "What do I know about raising young women?"

"You will not have to raise her, but protect her," said Darcy.

Richard stood to attention. "That I can do!"

They stood in silence for some minutes looking out of the window.

"Was that an argument that I missed earlier?" asked Richard.

"Yes, the Fitzwilliam siblings," Darcy answered with a sigh.

"Just the one sibling, me thinks."

"Indeed."

"How are you going to avoid her machinations?"

Darcy did not immediately answer. Do I tell him about Missy?

"I shall not be marrying Anne," he declared.

"Our aunt will not be pleased," remarked Richard.

"Indeed," agreed Darcy.

"Now, Cousin," Richard cried as he slapped Darcy on the back. "Let us do something. I shall allow you the choice: a gallop or billiards."

Darcy nodded and swallowed apprehensively. "Let us gallop, as I have something else to tell you."

Longbourn

Mr. Bennet

Opening a letter from his brother Gardiner, Mr. Bennet found a second inside. He deciphered the latter, to read:

'Internecine squabbling following bereavement makes immediate union advisable. Suggest early June in Salop. Brother will assist. — Lady E'

Hmph, on Lizzy's sixteenth birthday at, let me see, which estates do the Darcys own in Shropshire? Ah, Matlock's wife's family own Tenston.

Hmph.

He thought for some time about the implications of Elizabeth marrying at such a young age. Will she go to live with her new family immediately, come home as Mrs. Darcy, or come home as Lizzy Bennet?

Hmph.

If she is to marry in Shropshire, shall I be able to give her away, or must I leave the honour to another?

Hmph! I am not ready to part with her yet.

He allowed himself half an hour of slight self-pity, trying to soothe himself with thoughts of the Darcys' respectability and reputation, and of the kindness and thoughtfulness of the young man's letters.

Hmph. I requested this.

But not so soon.

Putting pen to paper, using the same cipher, he replied to 'Lady E'.

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