For those new…Part 3
WELCOME to my Blog and my vision of Jane Austen’s world.
If A Proper Darcy Christmas is your first foray into my Austen World, you might need a few introductions to characters new to the Austen canon that were introduced in the trilogy.
The third one is
Annie Fletcher
Annie Fletcher began her literary life as Annie Garlick in the Trilogy. One of the maids at Longbourn, she helped dress the young ladies and was learning to do their hair. When not tending to them, she was about the house and garden performing any of a variety of tasks that Mrs. Bennet or Mrs. Hill, the housekeeper, might assign her. Her hope in life was that someday she might become a real lady’s maid, a position at the top of the service hierarchy after the housekeeper.
A comely young woman herself, she attracted some attention from the local boys and one hulking brute of a footman in particular. His persistence caught the notice of Elizabeth Bennet, who would do what she could to keep Annie safe and out of his way, but she was not entirely successful.
When Bingley takes possession of Netherfield at Michaelmas, he arrives with his friend Darcy for an unspecified stay, their valets in tow. Fletcher, Darcy’s valet, is not impressed with the “quality” who live in Meryton’s vicinity and despairs of anything interesting that would call forth his inspiration. Then, shortly after their arrival, he sees Annie at church services, and the man who lived only for his art and sartorial reputation is smitten.
Through the servants’ gossip channels, Fletcher learns who this lovely woman is and where she is employed. Some “chance” meetings are devised and a secret courtship ensued.
Then, one Sunday after services, the local brute tries to detain Annie and force his attentions upon her. Having seen more than enough, Fletcher confronts him. The stir this caused among those gathered was enough to attract Miss Binley’s attention and she alerted Darcy that something was amiss with his valet. Darcy’s disapproving frown caused the footman to think better of his future and he withdrew. Fletcher was to hear about it later.
Annie Garlick and Fletcher’s quiet courtship shadowed that of Darcy and Elizabeth, both doing what they could to bring to a happy conclusion what they knew to be in their master and mistress’s best interests. By mutual consent, their own nuptials also depended upon it. So, when Elizabeth and Darcy had their wedding day, Annie and Fletcher did just before and the now Annie Fletcher joined the Darcy household as her beloved mistress’s lady’s maid and an integral part of Elizabeth’s new life at Pemberley.
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