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 Lydia's education reaps rewards
Longbourn
Mr. Bennet
Though he put on a great display of being outnumbered by women and girls, Mr. Bennet enjoyed having his daughters and granddaughters returned to him. He expected that it would not be too long before the need for secrecy would be removed and they left him to join their husbands' households.
He had hired a wet nurse to feed Beatrice, and Melissa and Martha were crawling and stumbling into everything. Both toddlers enjoyed sitting on his lap to hear stories and to tug his sideburns.
Mrs. Stevens was, as ever, very useful around the house.
And Miss Gina Prout — Gina Prout! — joined in all activities; it was as if he had a sixth daughter. He noticed how well she maintained her new identity, noticing only one slip when she mentioned Derbyshire instead of Shropshire. Only Lydia seemed to have noticed what she had said. Mmm, methinks that I have taught her too well to think.
When it was Lydia's turn to visit their tenants with him, he found the opportunity to ask what was on her mind.
"I do not believe that Melissa, Phoebe and Beatrice are my cousins," she answered as they rode side-by-side.
"Who are they, then?"
"Apart from their eyes, Melissa and Phoebe look so much like Lizzy, they must be her daughters. Mary is so attendant upon Beatrice, that I believe that she is her daughter."
"If this is the case, what else have you surmised?"
"As you have accepted them so readily into your household, they are not natural daughters, thus Lizzy and Mary are both married." She brought her horse to a halt, forcing him to do the same. "Am I correct, Pappa?"
"If I agreed, what would you do?"
"Nothing! Apart from being pleased with myself for being correct!" She grinned at him.
Still my effervescent Lydia!
"Is there anything else that you would like to surmise?"
"Gina is not Miss Prout. She has tried very well to deceive us, but is from Derbyshire not Shropshire. I grant that she covered it well by saying that her home was on the border of the counties, though the two counties are not neighbours." Lydia looked away and back to face her father. "Melissa has her eyes, so she is the sister of Lizzy's husband, or another close relative. There! That is what I have surmised; mock me if you will!"
"I shall not mock you, I shall not mock you, at all. Let us continue our visits and then sit at the top under the oak, where I shall answer some of your questions."
A couple of hours later, they sat together under the oak at the top of Oakham Mount.
"I am very proud of you, Lydia. Not only have you deciphered our family puzzle, but you have kept quiet." Mr. Bennet put his arm around her to pull her close enough to bestow a kiss on her head.
"I have two more questions, Pappa."
He indicated that she was welcome to ask them.
"How do poor Lizzy and Mary bear being apart from their husbands?"
He shook his head. "I do not know. They have the small consolation of their children, but I think that Lizzy's spirit will be crushed if she is not united with her husband soon."
"I agree. Although I can see how much she loves Melly and Phebes, sometimes she looks so very sad and alone."
"My second question is: are Jane, Kitty and I to have secret husbands too?"
"I know not." He paused. "I have had a letter from the representative of a wealthy tradesman in the north. He is to choose a wife for the man's son. I have made enquiries about this tradesman and the son, and am awaiting replies." He stopped and stood up.
Thinking for moment, Mr. Bennet came to a decision. I shall enlist Lydia and her keen mind.
"Lydia, how would you like to be my assistant? Like Lizzy, you have a quick mind and are observant."
She nodded eagerly.
"There are two big problems that I am grappling with at the moment — two facets of the same problem, perhaps. Finding the solutions will allow Lizzy and Mary to leave us." Ah, perhaps we should leave them unsolved. "If you stay behind when your sisters leave to visit the ladies at Lucas Lodge this afternoon, I shall share them with you. Would that suit you?"
"Yes, Pappa. It would!"
Some weeks later, Lydia knocked on his book-room door and announced, "The Romans had it wrong, Pappa. All roads lead to Hertfordshire not to Rome."
"What have you discovered?"
She closed the door behind her and said, "A company of militia are coming here next month. Kitty and Maria Lucas are in flutters of excitement about men in red coats!"
He waited; she had more to tell.
She pulled together ciphers and notes. "Look, this 'Godson' will be 'hidden wearing uniform half-a-day's ride from London'. And—, there was something about—, here it is: FZWZ coming to Meryton. This 'Fizzwizz' appears to be of great interest to 'Godson' and his patron 'Lynx'. Another, see, mentions 'Fizzwizz' being in the company of someone called 'Rot'."
"Reeks of trade, R-O-T." Mr. Bennet leaned back in his chair and thought.
Lydia waited, silently sifting through their notes looking for other references to Hertfordshire.
Eventually, he spoke. "Excellent, child, that is excellent. Can you identify the players?"
"You have told me who 'Godson' and 'Lynx' are. From your notes on the 'Fitzwilliam Family Feuds', 'FZWZ' is probably one of that family."
"Go on."
"'Godson' hates him, yet 'Lynx' wishes him to marry her daughter so that she can assume his estate."
"Mmm, go on, Lydia."
"The most prosperous estate in that family is Pemberley in Derbyshire, where — oh — Miss Gina Prout is not from! Oh, I see it, Pappa. 'Fizzwizz' is Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. 'GAD', who was kidnapped in the summer, is his sister, Georgiana, who is hiding safely here. And so," she looked into the distance and raised a finger to forestall an interruption. "And so, since Miss Prout is Melissa and Phoebe's aunt, Mr. Darcy, to whom Gina refers as 'William', is Lizzy's husband."
"Brava! Excellent reasoning!"
"We do not know, yet, when Mr. Darcy and his tradesman friend are to come here." She banged her hand on the desk. "Ha! Do you know the tradesman's name? Is he, by any chance, coming to meet Jane?"
"I do and he is. I cannot tell you how very proud am I of you, but shall, instead, ask you what we must do now."
"Nothing. No — we must send Gina away."
He nodded.
"As soon as the militia arrive, we must identify Mr. Wickham. And, as soon as Mr. Darcy arrives, you must reunite him with Lizzy and her daughters."
Mr. Bennet stood and saluted her — not in mockery, but to acknowledge her plans.
"I shall write to her mother, who is— ?"
"Lady Anne Darcy," supplied Lydia.
" —asking her to arrange to collect Gina. Then, while we await the new arrivals, you must return to being the social butterfly so that you can listen out for more gossip!"
"Yes, sir!" She saluted him in return before leaving the book-room.
Marvellous!
Please don't copy, but please do let me have comments/corrections 😏