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 Mr. Bennet meets Netherfield's new tenants
Longbourn
Mr. Bennet
"Mr. Bennet! Mr. Bennet! Have you heard the news?"
"No, Mrs. Phillips, but I have no objection to hearing it," Mr. Bennet sighed, put down his book and greeted his sister-in-law.
"Netherfield has been let at last! To a young man from the north with four or five thousand a year!"
Taking the wind from her sails, he reminded her, "He may have five thousand or fifty thousand, but if he is not worthy, then I shall not welcome him."
"If he is single, he might marry one of your girls! Oh, it is sure to be Jane; I am sure that she cannot be so beautiful for nothing!"
"If I deem him worthy, then he will be welcome to meet my daughters. And, only if one of them likes him, shall I allow him to pay court."
"Oh, yes, Pappa. We heard that he has a blue coat, so must be worthy. Will you not visit him?" Kitty had followed in her aunt's wake.
Mr. Bennet spotted Lydia standing behind Kitty and understood her pointed look.
He checked his pocket watch. "Very well; I shall go now." If only to beat Sir William!
Netherfield
Mr. Bennet rode to Netherfield remembering the trips he had made there several years earlier with his daughters. He wondered what the new tenant would be like. Mrs. Phillips had been thrilled to hear of his wealth, but Mr. Bennet was more interested in his worthiness.
Arriving, he passed the reins of his horse to the lad who had run round from the stables, and climbed the steps to the opening front door.
"Good morning, Mr. Bennet," said Mrs. Nicholls.
"Good morning to you, Mrs. Nicholls. I am come to meet your new master if he is at home."
"Please, sir, if you would not mind waiting, I shall enquire." Mrs. Nicholls bustled away.
Mr. Bennet looked around the foyer. His reverie was disturbed by the entrance of two young men.
The shorter, fair haired young man came forward to greet him. "Hello, Mr. Bennet. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Charles Bingley and," indicating the taller, dark haired man, "this is my good friend Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire."
Mr. Bennet bowed, "Thomas Bennet of Longbourn." 'Reeks of trade' and Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy! Lydia was correct!
The young men returned his courtesy and Mr. Bingley asked if he would like to join them in his study.
"Lead on," replied Mr. Bennet, affably. As Lizzy has not visited the study, I shall be able to describe it to her!
Before doing so, Mr. Bingley turned to Mrs. Nicholls and asked her to bring them some refreshments. "Would you prefer tea or coffee, Mr. Bennet?"
"Coffee, please," he replied, smiling at Mr. Bingley and nodding to the housekeeper.
Mr. Bingley led him to the study; Darcy followed behind.
"Do come in!" cried his host. "I have been hoping to meet my new neighbours and you are most welcome."
When he entered the study, Mr. Bennet paused to look around. Lizzy will want every detail! He saw the tall windows overlooking the drive up to the house. He saw dark red curtains and chairs and sofas to match. He saw a couple of shelves of ledgers and, on the desk, rolls of paper, one unrolled with its corners weighed down with an inkwell, a decanter, a paperweight and a book. He made sure that he examined the inkwell and the paperweight so that he could tell Elizabeth — no, all of the girls — later. The book appeared to be Townshend's on crop rotation; he smiled.
Mr. Bingley noticed his interest in the desk and explained, "Darcy and I have been looking at the map of Netherfield and he has started to explain to me what I shall need to know to run this estate."
"Ah, I see. Starting with the map and the current crops is a good idea. May I take a look?"
"Yes, yes, please do," said Mr. Bingley, inviting him over to the desk.
As the three men stood in silence looking at the map, Mrs. Nicholls knocked and entered with a tray of coffee and cakes. "Would you like me to pour, sir?" she asked Mr. Bingley.
"Yes, yes, please do," said Mr. Bingley.
Does he always say that?
The housekeeper handed them their cups and excused herself with a small curtsey. Mr. Bingley said, "We have just started to look at the map and— "
"Would you mind if I turned it so that north is north?" interjected Mr. Bennet.
"And that will be why I can make neither head nor tail of it!" laughed his host. "Yes, yes, please do."
He does always say that!
Mr. Bennet removed the weights, rotated the map and replaced them. He noticed Darcy watching him so looked up, caught his eye and asked, "Does that suit you better, Mr. Darcy?"
"Indeed." Darcy nodded to him in acknowledgement. Mr. Bennet continued to regard the younger man for a few moments, and then half smiled and turned back to the map. His object had not shifted under his scrutiny. Interesting.
"Would you like me to point out some of the features around Netherfield and its neighbours?"
"Yes, yes, please do," replied Mr. Bingley, eyes wide and keen.
Pointing at the map, Mr. Bennet showed them Netherfield's boundaries and the various tenant farms.
"Along the eastern edge is the boundary with Longbourn; see, over here. You can see that our shared boundary mostly follows this stream and skirts our woodland. This small hill is on our property, but can be reached from Netherfield and Goulding Park to the south as well." He noticed that both of the younger men were paying attention. "You might have noticed that the farms are mostly arable here, though we do have some sheep, and most farms have a cow or two. And chickens and pigs, of course!"
He thought for a minute and turned to Darcy, "And if you are from Derbyshire, sir, am I right in thinking that you have more sheep and less arable on your estate?"
Again, Darcy did not shift when Mr. Bennet fixed his gaze on him.
"You are, indeed, correct."
This young man has a great deal of self-control.
Mr. Bennet continued to study Darcy; Darcy regarded him in return.
"Well, I have almost outstayed my welcome, so shall take my leave. If you would accompany me to the door, I shall point out some of the landmarks shown on the map."
"Please do. I should appreciate that," said Mr. Bingley.
They walked through to the foyer, to hear a shriek from above them. Mr. Bennet noticed an interesting change in each of the younger men — Mr. Bingley smiled half-ruefully while Darcy stiffened. Is he angry?
A woman swept down the stairs to the ground floor. "Charles, Charles, you really must do something about these lazy servants," she shrieked at Mr. Bingley. Her expression and manner swiftly changed, Mr. Bennet observed, as she caught sight of Darcy. Suddenly walking with studied gracefulness, she descended the last few stairs and glided to his side. Now amused, Mr. Bennet saw her prey clasp his hands behind his back and stiffen further.
"Mr. Bennet, may I introduce my younger sister to you?" At Mr. Bennet's nod, he continued, "Mr. Bennet, this is my sister, Miss Bingley. Caroline, this is Mr. Bennet of Longbourn — he is our neighbour to the east."
Mr. Bennet and Miss Bingley exchanged courtesies, though hers was rather perfunctory as she still appeared to be attempting to gain Darcy's attention and to take hold of his arm.
"Caroline, Mr. Bennet has offered to point out some of the local landmarks. You are welcome to join us— "
"Really, Charles, I am sure that Darcy has better things to do than look around this pitiful excuse for an estate."
Mr. Bennet found that he had to turn away slightly so that he did not laugh aloud at this ridiculous and rather offensive statement. He turned back when Darcy started to respond.
"Miss Bingley. The only reason that I am here is to help your brother learn about this 'pitiful excuse for an estate' and how to manage it. Excuse me." Darcy strode to the door.
"Really, Charles, it can hardly be compared to Pemberley, can it?"
Mr. Bennet bowed to Miss Bingley, who was ignoring him, and followed Darcy through the front door. There, he watched as Darcy pulled something from his pocket and hid a grin when he saw what it was. The younger man appeared both preoccupied and calmed by this token. Lizzy's acorns!
"Would you prefer me to point from here, or would you like to ride out along the boundaries?" he asked as Mr. Bingley joined them. If I can but talk with him a little longer — too late, that looks like Sir William coming to introduce himself. "Ah, here is another of your neighbours come to welcome you to Meryton."
Sir William Lucas brought his horse to a halt and dismounted. The lad returning Mr. Bennet's horse took the reins of Sir William's.
"Beat me to it, eh, Bennet!" laughed Sir William. "Capital! Capital! I have come to greet our new neighbours and you have got here before me!" He reached to shake Mr. Bennet's hand.
"I have, indeed. Allow me to introduce you." He did so and the men bowed to each other in greeting.
Mr. Bingley said, "Welcome, Sir William. Do join us." Turning to Mr. Bennet, he asked, "Would you like to come back in?"
"No, no, lad, thank you all the same. I must away." He shook hands with Mr. Bingley saying, "Welcome to Meryton." Then, as Mr. Bingley started to walk towards the house with Sir William, he turned to Darcy.
"I see that you are holding an acorn." Again, observing Darcy closely, he was impressed that the other man did not attempt to hide the acorn but stood in silence waiting for him to continue.
"Are you an early riser, Mr. Darcy?"
"I fail to see how an acorn would arouse your curiosity about my waking habits, but, yes, I am."
"You might enjoy the view from our small hill at dawn."
"I shall bear it in mind."
"You might find it interesting to hear that there is a magnificent, ancient oak growing at its peak."
"An ancient oak, you say?" Darcy's head whipped around to face Mr. Bennet.
"Yes, an ancient oak — its roots growing through and around a huge rock; worth a look if you like oak trees." He shook hands with Darcy, looking directly into his eyes. "And the view is magnificent at dawn, son."
Mr. Bennet managed to keep his expression impassive as he mounted his horse and started to ride away, but then could not help but grin broadly.
Please don't copy, but please do let me have comments/corrections 😏