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 is devastated and Miss Bingley is nosey
Netherfield
Darcy
Darcy arrived at Netherfield, instructed his coachmen and caught James as he was preparing to depart. Drawing his cousin away from eavesdroppers, he quickly explained what had happened earlier that morning. James was appalled, but said that he would go to Longbourn when Darcy pointed out that the remaining Bennet sisters would be alone there when their father left for Rosings.
"It would not be appropriate for me to stay there," James said.
"Bennet might prefer that you do so rather than leave our sisters and daughters alone. You can but ask."
"Very well. I shall leave Lizzy's care to you, Mary and Aunt Anne, and shall offer my assistance to Bennet," James agreed and they parted.
Lady Anne
Lady Anne was relieved to see her son, saying, "Mary is helping Lizzy into some clean clothing." She took his hands, and asked, "Have you found out what— who has done this to her?" She watched as mixture of grief and rage flowed over his face. How will they cope with this?
"It was that despicable parson of Lady Catherine," he growled. "According to Bennet, he espied Lizzy returning at dawn with Mary and thought to force his attentions on her. He had wedged the door closed." He clenched his jaw. "Bennet and Miss Lydia entered through the kitchen to stop him."
"It was brutal; she is scratched and bruised all over." She squeezed his hands. "You must be prepared, William; not only has she been beaten, I think that he was trying to, er— " She nodded significantly and watched his face turn grim.
"I found Bennet in their stables. He and his men had tied — that animal up, and I could see that he had been preparing to do just that." He sank into a chair and, close to sobbing, cried, "Mother, how could anybody hurt my dearest Missy?"
She could not answer.
The door to the dressing room opened to reveal Mary; she beckoned them over to her. "William, please come for Lizzy."
Lady Anne followed him into the dressing room and watched him tenderly, so tenderly, pick up Elizabeth and carry her to the sofa by the fire in his bedchamber where he sat and held her closely on his lap. She pulled the eiderdown from the bed and tucked it around her daughter; then, sitting on a nearby chair, watched as Mary stroked her sister's legs and feet.
She thanked Mr. Stevens as he came in quietly with a tray of tea things. After she had poured tea for them all, they all sat in silence watching the flames, trying not to stare at Elizabeth's dazed and battered face.
Their caring silence was interrupted by a peremptory knock at the sitting room door followed by the rattle of the handle. It can be none other than Miss Bingley! Lady Anne was sorely tempted to swear. "I shall deal with our hostess."
Miss Bingley
Despite the late night, Miss Bingley had woken early hoping to leave Netherfield that morning. She had shown the provincial peasants who lived around the pitiful excuse for an estate her spectacularly breath-taking ball and was ready to return to London and to civilisation.
She had recognised Darcy's approval for the grandeur of the ball as he had asked her to dance. Resentfully, she acknowledged that he had had to dance with his mother first, but he had asked her next. If only that Eliza Bonnet had not caught him for the supper set. She had not been pleased to see Eliza sitting with the Darcys. The hoyden must have tricked them.
What was that fuss with their cousin? And where did Darcy disappear to after supper?
Her brother, the colonel and Darcy had ridden out earlier that morning. Her maid reported that hot water for bathing had been ordered for Darcy but then the Bonnets' carriage had driven away with Darcy on top with the driver. Later, Darcy had come back on Apollo alone.
What is going on?
She crept up to Darcy's room and, pressing her ear against the door, could hear quiet voices within. Standing still, she heard the room go silent. Darcy must be there on his own. She would gain entrance and affect a compromise. Knocking at the door, she turned the handle and found that the door was locked. She had retaken the chatelaine from the housekeeper and had the key ready. Unlocking the door, she pushed it open only to hear the sound of bottles clinking and rolling on the wooden floor.
Darcy must have been drowning his sorrows. I shall comfort him. Her anticipatory glee turned to horror as she looked up to see Lady Anne Darcy's irate face.
"My— Lady Anne." She curtseyed. Lady Anne did not return the courtesy.
"I have come to see if Dar— Mr. Darcy has everything that he needs."
Lady Anne did not reply.
"Er," she gulped, "my maid told me that Mr. Darcy had requested hot water for a bath."
Lady Anne's expression hardened further.
"Is there anything that you require, my lady?"
When Lady Anne still offered no response, Miss Bingley, curtseyed again and backed from the room. She stumbled as her foot caught on one of the fallen bottles.
Thwarted and furious, Miss Bingley fled to her own rooms. Her fury did not last long as she consoled herself with the thought that, when she was Mistress of Pemberley, Lady Anne would be shipped off to the dower house. Why is the woman not living there already? Miss Bingley was determined that Lady Anne would be out of Pemberley as soon as her betrothal to Darcy was announced.
Lady Anne
Lady Anne closed and locked the door, and replaced the bottles. Returning to the bedchamber, she saw that Elizabeth had started to cry. Silent tears trickled down her cheeks.
Darcy and Mary had stayed still; calmly holding and stroking her.
Awareness came to Elizabeth's face. She turned to cling to Darcy and sobbed into his neck. His arms tightened around her, while Mary continued her gentle caresses. Lady Anne resumed her seat by the fire. Oh, the poor girl.
She had no idea of how long they sat there. Now and then, Stevens came in to add logs to the fire or with snacks and more tea.
Eventually, the sobbing slowed and ceased. Darcy loosened his hold slightly and stroked her head. Kissing her hair, he asked, "Could you manage a sip of tea?" She shook her head slightly. "Here," he coaxed her, "have a small sip of mine. Then perhaps we should excuse Mother and Mary and lie on the bed together."
Lady Anne caught Mary's eye and indicated that they would retire to the sitting room. Seeing Mary's reluctance to abandon her sister, she said, "We shall be but in the next room and shall leave the door ajar. William will call if Lizzy needs us."
The sobbing started again. Lady Anne and Mary barely heard it as they had sat closely together and were weeping too.
Longbourn
Sarah
It was not until Mary returned from Netherfield that Sarah found out what had happened to her mistress and wished to go directly to care for her. Seeing Mary's distress and hearing that her husband and the master and Lady Anne were looking after Missy, she reluctantly agreed to remain at Longbourn to care for Melissa and Phoebe, but was determined to walk there the following day.
Please don't copy!