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 Darcy meets Elizabeth's father and the Darcy family is reunited
Longbourn
Mr. Bennet
He had not intended to meet Elizabeth as he had hoped that Darcy would do so. But, when she had not returned after almost three hours, Mr. Bennet felt that he ought to go to find her. He closed and locked the door to his book-room, asked Mary and Georgiana to join him, took his leave from his other daughters and granddaughters, and set off along the path to Oakham Mount.
Climbing through the woods, they spotted a rather fine horse. Is this Mr. Darcy's? Gathering the horse's reins, they continued up the hill. Mary pointed out a rather fine hat. Is this Mr. Darcy's too? Reaching the summit, they saw two figures in a close embrace. He hoped that that was Darcy with Elizabeth. The figures turned at the sound of the horse; one sat bolt upright, while the other smiled and beckoned him towards them.
"Lizzy," he called out. "I have found this old nag and Mary has found this shabby old hat. Do you know to whom they belong?"
"Pappa!" his daughter replied. "Come; meet my husband! Mary! Come!"
Darcy had stood and looked a little discomposed, but, seeing Georgiana running towards him, he smiled and held his arms open wide. After swirling his sister around, he greeted Mary fondly with clasped hands and kisses to the cheeks.
Aha, he is not always so self-controlled.
"Pappa, I was just hearing the tale of Mr. Bingley's valiant quest to become a landed gentleman. We were almost at the scene where the heroine's father met her husband." She looked at the two men and added, mischievously, "Could I persuade you both to re-enact it?"
Mr. Bennet was relieved to see that Darcy took this in good spirit even though he appeared reluctant to indulge in play-acting. He decided that he would oblige his daughter, so bowed to the other man and said, "Mr. Thomas Bennet of Longbourn, sir."
"Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley, sir." Darcy bowed, most correctly.
"Now, now, sir," said Elizabeth, teasingly, her arm through Mary's, as Georgiana giggled. "I thought that we had agreed that to replace that Fitzwilliam fellow with William."
Mr. Bennet was amused to see Darcy's reaction; he teased Elizabeth in return. "Had you given me but a moment, I should have supplied my pseudonym too."
"Did you give your pseudonym when you met my father yesterday?"
"Again, you are muddling my tale. How is Bingley to succeed in his quest for 'gentlemanship', if you persist in interrupting me?"
Mr. Bennet felt a sharp pang of jealousy. His reason told him to be glad that his beloved daughter shared such an affectionate relationship with her husband, but his heart felt sorrow at his own loss. "I should like to hear of this quest for, what did you call it, 'gentlemanship'? But while we are still in the part of the narrative where Lizzy is my daughter, I should like her to pin up her hair." He looked at her significantly. Turning to Darcy, he continued, "When we reach the part where Lizzy is your wife, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley, you may decide if you wish other men to see her thus."
"I should not. I shall join your father in asking you to pin your hair back up."
"Hmph," said Elizabeth, feigning outrage. "I was not the one to remove the pins."
The gentlemen watched as Mary rearranged her sister's hair, both with regret — one for losing his daughter, the other for losing sight of his wife's hair. When Mary had finished and Elizabeth had reclaimed her bonnet, they sat amongst the oak's roots.
"We had reached the part in the tale, Pappa, Mary, Gina, where William was telling me of Bingley's other houseguests."
"I do believe that I met one of them as I was leaving," said Mr. Bennet.
"Indeed: Miss Caroline Bingley, the younger sister," said Mr. Darcy. "Also amongst his party are his older sister and her husband, Mr. Hurst."
Mr. Bennet watched the couple exchange glances; his daughter giving her husband a comforting smile. "You ought to inform my father," she said.
Maintaining his composure rather well, Mr. Bennet thought, Darcy spoke of Miss Bingley's aspirations and attempts to enter his chambers.
Mary gasped while Georgiana's jaw dropped.
"I must confess that I am not surprised," said Mr. Bennet. "Having had that very short meeting with her yesterday, and seeing her every attempt to draw your attention, I am not surprised at all. It will be easier for the two of you when your marriage can be made common knowledge."
Pensively, he added softly, "I think that you might be able to help me to facilitate this." The others turned curious faces to him. "Mmm, I must think first. Now, while I do so, we must plan for the next few days. There is the assembly tomorrow evening, and I am sure that the Netherfield party will attend."
Darcy nodded. "Indeed."
"You know that you will have to be introduced and must behave as strangers to each other." He noticed their shared look of disappointed understanding. "Mr. Darcy, I suspect that Lizzy has not seen your 'Master of Pemberley' mien — the one that you wore yesterday."
"I hope that you will be relieved to hear that she has not, sir."
"I might have seen it," interrupted Elizabeth. "Is it your stern face?"
"Oh, I know that face!" cried Georgiana.
"I regret to inform you that she has seen it." Darcy acknowledged, ruefully.
"Well, you must wear that face when you are in this local society." Seeing his daughter's dismay, he said, "You must be lively and playful Lizzy Bennet and your husband must be the haughty, reserved and fastidious Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley.
"When you have been here for a few days," he said to Darcy, "come to Longbourn to call upon me — as I do not attend assemblies — and, in the privacy of my book-room, we shall plan for how you two are to meet — ah, let me think, the dower house comes to mind — and I hope that you will be able to help me to determine how to lift this veil of secrecy.
"Are we in agreement; even if it is reluctant agreement?" They nodded. "In the meantime, I see no reason why you should not meet here at dawn, but, young man, I expect my daughter to return un— , er, unruffled."
"Yes sir, I shall look forward to calling on you in a few days."
"Now, Miss Lizzy, Miss Mary, Miss Prout, we should return home. Say farewell to your beau, Lizzy, while we attempt to determine to whom this old nag might belong." They turned away until he heard Darcy's footsteps coming towards him.
"I think that you will find that that old nag belongs to me, sir. I shall lay claim to that shabby old hat that your daughter has ruined, too."
Elizabeth chuckled.
Mr. Bennet said, "I must be careful to not call you 'son' again, least I become too accustomed to doing so."
"I should not mind at all; I should be honoured."
"Soon, son. Soon." The gentlemen shook hands and Darcy embraced his sister, kissed Mary's cheek. As they prepared to part, Mr. Bennet added, "I find myself wondering what Miss Bingley would say should she find out who owns the 'pitiful excuse for an estate' that her brother is renting."
He was satisfied to see Darcy's eyes widen in slight surprise.
Elizabeth
The following morning, leading Melissa by the hand and carrying Phoebe on her hip, Elizabeth strolled along the path to Oakham Mount. Ruing that she could not carry them both and thus walk faster, she rounded a corner and jumped a little to find Darcy and Ajax standing waiting for them. She clapped her hand to her breast and laughed as Melissa pulled free and toddled towards her father.
"Dadda!"
"Hello, my little honey bee," he said, lifting her and kissing her in welcome. He bent down to bestow kisses on Elizabeth and Phoebe too.
"Dadda! Look 'Cup."
Elizabeth laughed, "Yes, it is Buttercup!" She started to cry.
"What is it, Missy?" He put his free arm around her and she pressed her face into his chest.
"You will think me silly, but I have missed you so very, very much. Seeing Melissa returned to your care— "
"How can I think you silly, especially as I have had three of you to miss so very, very much?"
They stood in silence, he stroking his wife's back, until Melissa started to protest. Darcy put her back on the ground, then took Elizabeth around the waist and lifted her onto Ajax's back. He passed Melissa up and swung up onto the saddle behind them.
Elizabeth said, "Two mornings in a row; this is becoming a habit."
"You rode Ajax yesterday?" he asked in mock puzzlement.
Clapping her hands together with delight, she said, "There, Mr. Darcy can tease almost as well as Mr. Adam!"
"He is learning, my dearest and only wife, he is learning." He started to steer Ajax towards Oakham Mount and said, "I am assuming that you would like to return to your favourite oak, but we are at your service should you prefer another destination."
"I should like nothing but to show you all of Longbourn, but am aware that we must not been seen together."
"Then let us be quercus-bound!"
She looked thoughtful for a moment, then asked, "Is 'quercus' the Latin for 'oak'?"
"My cleverest and only wife, it is, indeed." He nudged her bonnet out of the way and kissed her temple. "Now I await the witty word game that you make from it."
"You may be waiting some time; I shall have to consider this as nothing comes readily to my mind."
"Oh," he sighed. "Do not tell me that you are my most disappointing and only wife."
She elbowed him in the ribs. "I am also your least disappointing wife!"
Please don't copy 😏