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crack_van2012-01-30 09:13 pm
malabud.livejournal.com) wrote in crack_van2012-01-30 09:13 pm
Entry tags:
A Mother's Favorite Wish by Linnea Eileen (PG-13-ish)
Fandom: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
Pairing:Anne de Bourgh ????/Fitzwilliam Darcy
Length: 123,700 words
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Desert Musings
Why this must be read:
Do not let the pairing deceive you! All is not as it appears! (I know I started the previous entry the same way, and it's for pretty much the same reason. Once you read the prologue and chapter one, you will understand.)
This particular story has a reverse kidnapped/switched-at-birth conceit. Instead of the wealthy Elizabeth growing up in more humble (but still gentry) circumstances with the Bennets, it is quite the opposite.
The story begins with Lady Catherine de Bourgh née Fitzwilliam newly married, and she finds her husband's attentions to her at night to be uncomfortable at best. Thus, she hatches a plot to make herself appear pregnant and then produce a child (by fair means or foul) at the appropriate time.
So begins this story, which covers around thirty to forty years of time. We begin with Lady Catherine's plot, then the story switches to Anne's (??) point of view. This Anne butts heads with her mother over almost everything, and is unafraid to speak her mind. She is also witty and lively and growing into a beautiful young woman. Add to that her immense fortune and Rosings Park as her inheritance, and she is the most eligible young lady for her first (and probably only) season in London. It could go to her head. Waiting in the wings is her serious-minded cousin Darcy, whom she had declared, at the tender age of twelve, she would never marry!
Of course, the truth must come out eventually....
The premise of this story is quite improbable, but that does not take away from the quality of the writing or the just plain fun to be had in reading it. Highly recommended.
* * *
Well, if Providence would not help her, she was willing to give it a hand. And so she hatched a scheme that, if it worked, would solve her greatest problem. First, she enlisted the aid of a few servants placed in strategic positions in her household. They would be well paid for their work, and then sent off someplace where they could not betray her secret.
The first servant thus approached was her own lady's maid, Maggie Stuart. Lady Catherine had little doubt that Stuart would object, but she was a little surprised at the young woman's audacity.
"I will help you, your ladyship, in exchange for the position of your housekeeper here at Rosings."
That earned Maggie a raised eyebrow from her mistress. Lady Catherine took a moment to observe the young woman before her. Her maid was nearly the same age, and although she was just a servant, appeared unintimidated.
"Well, well. You are shrewder than I would have guessed. I like that in a servant, Stuart, as long as you keep your place. How do I know you will not betray me to my husband?"
"Pay me well and do not ask too many questions and you have my unswerving loyalty, my lady."
"Deceive me and I will see you ruined. Do you understand?"
Maggie squared her shoulders and dared look her employer in the eye.
"As long as you remember that such threats go both ways. I will help you and I will keep your secret and see that the others do as well. Do we have a bargain?"
A smile threatened to escape onto Lday Catherine’s face. Stuart had the nerves needed to play the gambit. "And you will enlist the aid of others?"
"Only as absolutely necessary for success. I assume they will not be in residence long?"
"Of course not! I will see to it that they end up far away from here when the time comes."
"Then I accept."
"Choose well; you have as much to lose as I do."
"No, not nearly as much. Then again, I have not nearly as much to gain. Very well, I will see to it that certain items are obtained without them being traced back to you and begin to make other preparations for the time ahead. You do realize, don’t you, that the greatest difficulty will lie in finding a midwife to agree to this?"
"Money will persuade the matter."
"As you wish, your ladyship."
A Mother's Favorite Wish
Pairing:
Length: 123,700 words
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Desert Musings
Why this must be read:
Do not let the pairing deceive you! All is not as it appears! (I know I started the previous entry the same way, and it's for pretty much the same reason. Once you read the prologue and chapter one, you will understand.)
This particular story has a reverse kidnapped/switched-at-birth conceit. Instead of the wealthy Elizabeth growing up in more humble (but still gentry) circumstances with the Bennets, it is quite the opposite.
The story begins with Lady Catherine de Bourgh née Fitzwilliam newly married, and she finds her husband's attentions to her at night to be uncomfortable at best. Thus, she hatches a plot to make herself appear pregnant and then produce a child (by fair means or foul) at the appropriate time.
So begins this story, which covers around thirty to forty years of time. We begin with Lady Catherine's plot, then the story switches to Anne's (??) point of view. This Anne butts heads with her mother over almost everything, and is unafraid to speak her mind. She is also witty and lively and growing into a beautiful young woman. Add to that her immense fortune and Rosings Park as her inheritance, and she is the most eligible young lady for her first (and probably only) season in London. It could go to her head. Waiting in the wings is her serious-minded cousin Darcy, whom she had declared, at the tender age of twelve, she would never marry!
Of course, the truth must come out eventually....
The premise of this story is quite improbable, but that does not take away from the quality of the writing or the just plain fun to be had in reading it. Highly recommended.
* * *
Well, if Providence would not help her, she was willing to give it a hand. And so she hatched a scheme that, if it worked, would solve her greatest problem. First, she enlisted the aid of a few servants placed in strategic positions in her household. They would be well paid for their work, and then sent off someplace where they could not betray her secret.
The first servant thus approached was her own lady's maid, Maggie Stuart. Lady Catherine had little doubt that Stuart would object, but she was a little surprised at the young woman's audacity.
"I will help you, your ladyship, in exchange for the position of your housekeeper here at Rosings."
That earned Maggie a raised eyebrow from her mistress. Lady Catherine took a moment to observe the young woman before her. Her maid was nearly the same age, and although she was just a servant, appeared unintimidated.
"Well, well. You are shrewder than I would have guessed. I like that in a servant, Stuart, as long as you keep your place. How do I know you will not betray me to my husband?"
"Pay me well and do not ask too many questions and you have my unswerving loyalty, my lady."
"Deceive me and I will see you ruined. Do you understand?"
Maggie squared her shoulders and dared look her employer in the eye.
"As long as you remember that such threats go both ways. I will help you and I will keep your secret and see that the others do as well. Do we have a bargain?"
A smile threatened to escape onto Lday Catherine’s face. Stuart had the nerves needed to play the gambit. "And you will enlist the aid of others?"
"Only as absolutely necessary for success. I assume they will not be in residence long?"
"Of course not! I will see to it that they end up far away from here when the time comes."
"Then I accept."
"Choose well; you have as much to lose as I do."
"No, not nearly as much. Then again, I have not nearly as much to gain. Very well, I will see to it that certain items are obtained without them being traced back to you and begin to make other preparations for the time ahead. You do realize, don’t you, that the greatest difficulty will lie in finding a midwife to agree to this?"
"Money will persuade the matter."
"As you wish, your ladyship."
A Mother's Favorite Wish
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