Andrea's Kitchen - Pride and Prejudice

Tauna's Plot

What…Andrea stared at herself. She was wearing a long, dark-purple dress. Her hair - which she had been allowing to grow long - was now done neatly up in a French braid. Glancing down at her feet, the dance shoes looked familiar. And what on earth was she doing riding in a marquess' coach?

The wheels stopped and the door opened. "Lady Andrea." An all too familiar, unwelcome voice reached her ears. "I must ask, why is it you consented to come to Pemberley for a ball, but could not come to my illustrious home of Rosings Park for an evening of conversation and cards? Surely you do not think yourself above me, or too good for the hospitality of your cousin, Mr. Collins? I am most displeased with your chosen course of action and I expect an explanation for this slight." Lady Catherine's haughty tone and piercing gaze cemented why Andrea had never - other than a few times - been able to stomach this lady.

"I owe you nothing, Lady Catherine." Andrea found herself, silently aghast, at using a very sarcastic tone so openly on the well-known lady. And yet Andrea continued. "You are an arrogant old crone, who struts around as if everyone should bow down and kiss your feet. I refuse to do so, as did my late husband." With that, Andrea hurried up the stairs, leaving Mr. Darcy's aunt shocked at such a bold response, not to mention Andrea's own mind reeling as she wondered what had possessed her to speak so rudely.

Andrea found herself standing in a ballroom full of lights, people, and music, still attempting to figure out what was going on. "Lady Andrea, I am delighted to see you, though…" Mr. Bennet chuckled. "I dare say some of your peers think you made a mistake by stooping so low as to allow someone of the landed gentry to court you."

"What care I for the opinions of those who have nothing better to do than to meddle in the affairs of others? However, what I do care about is…have you seen either Mrs. MacDonald or Miss Peterson? Surely, one of those has chosen to attend tonight's ball rather than I?"

"I do not think Mrs. MacDonald cares to dance on English soil." Thomas chuckled. "However…" He turned around and nodded towards the other side of the room. "Apparently, Miss Peterson is having the time of her life with Colonel Fitzwilliam."

"Would you be insulted if I went and talked to her before dancing?"

"No, of course not." Thomas watched as Andrea might as well floated over to Jan, as gracefully as she walked.

"Excuse me, Colonel, but Miss Peterson and I need to talk."

"Of course, Lady Andrea."

It was only when Andrea and her friend were alone that she hissed, "Okay, Jan, what is going on? What did you plot? Why did I ride up in a coach with a marquess's emblem on it? Why is everyone calling me Lady Andrea? And what in the blue blazes are you doing on the arms of Colonel Fitzwilliam?"

"My vote is that since your late husband was a tad older than you and was...comfortable when it came to money...even if he was not exactly rich, your sister simply intertwined and exaggerated those facts into a deceased marquess and had you married to him here. As for me?" Jan grinned wider. "Apparently, I am a very rich heiress of an estate not far from Rosings Park. And I have now caught the eye of Richard."

"Hold it, Tauna's writing this? How? She knows nothing about Pride and Prejudice1, her English is horrible; how are these people even speaking correctly? And both her computer and laptop are broken."

"I gave your sister a crash course on Pride and Prejudice; Tauna's a fast learner, by the way, and your laptop was open." Jan laughed as Andrea groaned, knowing she had forgotten to put a password back on; no wonder she had told Lady Catherine off.

"Now, I am going back to Richard; he is far more inviting company than you are." Andrea, true to her word, was quickly back dancing with the colonel.

'Better watch what you type, sis. Now that I know what is going on, I will fight you if I do not like your plot.'

'Fine.' Tauna's voice came back. 'You are still spending the evening with Mr. Bennet.'

As if on cue, Thomas walked up, asked for a dance, and held out his hand. Andrea smiled, told her sister - and Jan - off in her head as she accepted Mr. Bennet's hand and went out onto the dance floor.