Sneak Peek of Body and Soul

Good Morning, Janeites!

I am so excited to share the first chapter of Body and Soul with you today! This is a Freaky Friday/Body Swap variation. The plot bunny was suggested by a reader, and I think it turned out very well. Here’s the blurb:

She’s in her mother’s body. He’s in her father’s body.
Elizabeth Bennet’s tolerance for her mother’s poor behavior has reached its peak. When Mrs. Bennet enumerates the benefits of her second daughter marrying Mr. Collins, Elizabeth confronts her, declaring a disinclination for the match and pleading with her mother to show sense. Unsurprisingly, Mrs. Bennet does not comply, and the pair go their separate ways for the rest of the evening. Resolved to face the matter on the morrow, Elizabeth is shocked to awaken in the mistress’s chambers—trapped in her mother’s body!

Darcy returned to

 Netherfield Park with his friend Charles Bingley, hoping his presence will prevent the gentleman from making any rash decisions regarding his latest angel. Instead, his attention is once again seized by Elizabeth Bennet, the entirely unsuitable miss with fine eyes and pert opinions. Finally resolved to pursue the lady, he is dismayed to awaken in her father’s body, and to learn the lady he had courted for the past few weeks was not herself.

The two couples must resolve their differences in hopes of restoring their souls to their respective bodies. As time passes, worry the situation will never be rectified presses each party to repair all that is broken.

In this Darcy and Elizabeth low angst Pride and Prejudice variation, two couples must overcome their past misunderstandings 

whilst in search of their happily ever after. All MJ Stratton’s books are clean Pride and Prejudice variations, and appropriate for all ages.

Well, what do you think? The idea of Mrs. Bennet swapping with Elizabeth was intriguing, and it brought up many potential situations they would find themselves in. And then adding Mr. Bennet and Mr. Darcy to the mix! So much fun to write! Anyway, here’s chapter one:

Elizabeth Bennet stayed in her chair, her smile frozen on her face as she watched the guests file back into the ballroom. Mama and Lady Lucas lingered, gossiping as matrons are wont to do, and she wished them gone so that she might have a moment to compose herself. How could anyone have misinterpreted her family’s actions this night? From Kitty and Lydia’s wild behavior to Mary’s ill-timed and ghastly performance on the pianoforte, almost every Bennet had left themselves open to the derision of their neighbors. It was appalling!

She could not blame her father for stepping in to remove Mary from the instrument, though Elizabeth thought he could have handled the situation better. Then again, if Mr. Bennet had taken an active interest in his daughters, Mary might have known that monopolizing the instrument showed ill-breeding. Not only had she claimed her spot on the bench before their hostess had invited her—the most oft-forgotten Bennet sister’s performance was wanting, her weak voice warbling as she attempted to present beyond her capabilities. And then, to make matters worse, the polite applause spurred Mary to begin a second piece!

It was, in every way, dreadful. Mr. Darcy, stationed on a wall directly in Elizabeth’s line of sight, had scowled disapprovingly. The minute shake of his head as Mr. Bennet urged his daughter away from the pianoforte told Elizabeth all she needed to know about the gentleman’s feelings. He disdained her and all her family; of that, she felt certain.

And why is it I care so much for what the proud, disdainful Mr. Darcy thinks? she wondered. She knew the answer, even as she asked herself the question. He was quite the handsomest man she had ever met, and the wealthiest—if she could not win his good opinion, what chance did she have with a lesser mortal? His position in society meant he was destined to marry far above the penniless daughter of a country gentleman, even if he had the funds to do so. And if he could not bother with Miss Elizabeth Bennet, then what gentleman would?

Elizabeth smothered a shuddering sigh. This evening could not be over soon enough.

“Lizzy, why are you still in here? Why are you sitting there, looking as though the world has come to an end? No, you had much better go dance.” Mrs. Bennet bustled up to her second daughter. She tapped Elizabeth’s shoulder with her fan. “Come, now. Let us go in together.”

“I thank you, no, Mama, I am not yet ready to return to the others.” Elizabeth spoke evenly and hoped that her mother would accept the reply and go. It was not to be.

“Not ready?” she repeated. “What can you mean by that? The room has been empty for almost five minutes now. Goodness, I have never met a more missish girl in all my life. Let us go immediately. Mr. Collins is waiting for you. He may even ask you for another set!” Mrs. Bennet concluded her speech with a motherly grin and held out her hand to her daughter.

Elizabeth ignored it, shaking her head. “I have no interest in Mr. Collins, Mama,” she said stiffly. “I do not wish to dance with him again tonight, nor do I wish to be his wife. If he proposes, I shall decline.”

Mrs. Bennet’s face went red. “You will do no such thing, Miss Lizzy! Mr. Collins is the heir to your father’s estate. In marrying him, you will save us all if Mr. Bennet meets an untimely death. And he is the best you can hope for. You have not Jane’s beauty or Lydia’s liveliness. Why, even Mary is more accomplished! You had much better accept Mr. Collins when he asks, for you will get no other offers.”

“How can you be so cruel?” Elizabeth stood. “Am I worth so little to you that you would barter me away in exchange for security? Trade my future for a home when your husband dies? I think not! I would not have him even if Papa was already gone. He is nonsensical and sycophantic. That you think he is the best I can do is insulting! Nothing you can say will induce me to accept his offer when it comes—even the risk of being thrown to the hedgerows when my father meets his end.”

“Unfeeling, selfish girl!” Mrs. Bennet came forward, standing toe to toe with her second daughter. “You only think of yourself when you make these pronouncements! How can you consign me and all your sisters to a life of genteel poverty when your father dies? Have you no compassion?”

“I mean only to act in a way that ensures my long-lasting happiness.” Elizabeth huffed in irritation. “If that means that you and my sisters will need to be more circumspect in your spending when my father dies, then so be it. Besides, what have you to worry about? There is every indication that Mr. Bingley will propose to Jane. Then your future will be secure, for he is far too amiable to see you suffer.” And he was. Mr. Bingley had a heart as big as Jane’s and would allow none of his relations to suffer needlessly.

“We cannot rely solely on that chance!” Mrs. Bennet’s shrill voice echoed around the drawing room. “What if he does not marry her? Jane is beautiful, and it is clear that he likes her a great deal, but so have others! She is two-and-twenty and has never had an offer. It is possible that she will not get one from Mr. Bingley.”

“He is besotted! Any fool can see that!”

“And many a besotted man has played with a lady’s affections, only to abandon her later.” Mrs. Bennet looked stricken, as if the statement applied to her personally. “It is best not to play with chance. Nothing is final until the register is signed. And even then, disaster might strike.”

“How can you live your life seeing doom around every corner?” Elizabeth sighed, exasperated. “Can you not find pleasure in anything?”

Mrs. Bennet swatted her daughter with her fan. “Enough! You will come to the ballroom and use your wiles to secure Mr. Collins. I shall have nothing less from you!”

“Never! You cannot make me, and I refuse to oblige you in this manner. It is my life—my future—and I will not spend it tied to a hapless fool!”

Her mother reached out and wrapped a hand around her wrist. “Enough,” she hissed. “Come with me now!”

Before she could make a reply, thunder rocked the entire house. The candles flickered in the room and Elizabeth feared they would be plunged into darkness. The rumble continued for an immeasurable amount of time, and when it concluded, she felt off kilter. Mrs. Bennet had released her at some point and blinked fearfully as the room stopped swaying and rocking in time with the thunder.

Mrs. Bennet shook her head in disappointment. “Whatever happens, be on your head, child,” she murmured sadly. She turned on her heel and left the room, leaving Elizabeth alone at last.

Sighing, she dropped into a chair and covered her face with her hands. Elizabeth felt strangely nauseous, but anyone would feel ill after arguing so fiercely. Mama will never see things my way, she thought mournfully. And though she hated to disappoint the woman who had given birth to her, Elizabeth refused to exchange her happiness for security. She wanted more in a marriage than what her parents could boast. Papa barely tolerated his wife, and Mama tried her best to vex her husband regularly. No, Elizabeth wanted a marriage of mutual accord, affection, and respect. She would not have that with Mr. Collins.

Her father’s cousin was not an intelligent man. He displayed a strange mix of servility and superiority. His pomposity and overt arrogance made him all the more objectionable. And he could not be called handsome, either. A man of five-and-twenty ought to take better care with his appearance. She could overlook his lack of physical attributes if he took better care with his ablutions and cleanliness. Mr. Collins’ brown hair often lay plastered to his head due to too long between washings. He was tall, too, but heavier about his middle than he ought to be. With an active profession such as a clergyman, it should not have been so. Then again, his enthusiasm for his food explained that.

None of it mattered. Every natural feeling rebelled against the thought of uniting herself with so objectionable a person. She would much rather have to make her own way in the world than succumb to her mother’s wishes. Elizabeth had every reason to expect her father to refuse his consent. She knew herself to be his favorite child, and he would do nothing to force her into a marriage she did not want.

Finally, she stood. She could hear the orchestra playing a reel. Thankfully, no one had been promised this set, so she could avoid sitting out the rest of the evening as a result of staying in the drawing room. Elizabeth wobbled as she made for the door. The feeling of being off-kilter had not waned whilst she sat in contemplation. She felt as though she could trip over a flat surface. The feeling of vertigo made her uncertain that she could walk and not collapse, but she made the attempt, anyway.

The lights reflecting off the mirrors in the ballroom did little to ease her discomfort. Determined to enjoy the rest of the evening, she ignored how the flickering candles made the sensation worse. Adding to her discomfort, she watched Lydia prance around the room, holding Mr. Denny’s saber high over her head. Kitty followed along as she always did, laughing and giggling with Mr. Sanderson. She even pecked the man on the cheek in full view of the entire party.

Jane and Mr. Bingley were happily oblivious to the spectacle, though Mr. Darcy was not. He glowered at the entire assemblage and she wondered why he bothered to attend if the thought of dancing through the night so displeased him. His company did not add to the evening, for he had not danced more than a few sets. He had, of course, stood up with Mr. Bingley’s sisters, and only one other set after; that set he had danced with her. Why he had bothered, she knew not. Perhaps he had done so only to assure himself of his superiority. Whatever the cause, she felt certain his presence lessened other’s enjoyment of the event. How could anyone take pleasure in the evening when a foreboding man glared at them as they made merry?

Elizabeth looked around for the rest of her family. Mr. Bennet spoke with Sir William Lucas and Mr. Goulding in a far corner. He seemed completely at ease and unaware of the impropriety displayed by his wife and younger daughters. Papa’s disinterest had always bothered her, but in her present state, Elizabeth felt his lack of concern even more acutely. She wished she had the power to make him see the folly that his behavior could bring upon them. Their neighbors already judged them, though they remained tolerant given the Bennets’ standing in the neighborhood.

Mr. Denny came to solicit a dance then, his saber returned to his side and Lydia nowhere in sight. Elizabeth accepted gratefully, desperate for some other occupation and hoping to turn her thoughts in a happier direction.

“This evening has been quite the treat,” Mr. Denny said as they began the steps for their dance. “I have been an officer in the militia for two years now and private balls are a rare occurrence.”

“Mr. Bingley is everything polite and amiable to have extended an invitation to the officers,” she replied. “Having more gentleman at a ball is always preferable to having too few.”

“A situation I understand has occurred far too often in Hertfordshire of late, or so I have been told.” He smiled amiably, and she chuckled in reply.

“Yes, there has been a dearth of dancing partners for some time. Many of our young men have gone away for some reason or another. The war on the continent has drawn more than our fair share.” Elizabeth shook her head. “Whilst I appreciate their patriotism, they are very missed.”

“I am happy that we—my fellow militiamen and I—could provide some relief in that quarter. I have never met with such a welcoming community.” The steps of the dance separated them, and it was a few moments before they could resume their conversation.

“I shall tell our mutual friend how much we missed his presence tonight,” Mr. Denny said when the conversation resumed. “Wickham loves a ball and was sorry that our colonel sent him to London.”

“Duty must come before pleasure, of course. I have no doubt I shall be able to enjoy Mr. Wickham’s company again soon. There will be many opportunities for revelry with the holy season approaching.” Elizabeth imagined pairing with the handsome lieutenant. He had singled her out from the first moments of their acquaintance, and she wished to know him better.

Another strike against Mr. Darcy’s character, she thought acidly. How horribly that man had treated Mr. Wickham! No one deserved to have their future utterly stolen from them! Her head spun and Elizabeth shook it minutely to disperse the dizziness.

“Wickham is a handsome devil,” Mr. Denny agreed. “I only hope he will leave us less well-favored men some ladies to woo.”

Something about Mr. Denny’s reply unsettled Elizabeth. She could not say what it was, but she sensed some other meaning to his statement than what could be readily discerned. The feeling persisted, and her nausea grew with each step of the dance. She tried valiantly to continue making conversation with Mr. Denny, but it grew increasingly difficult as the set went on.

Finally, the music ceased. She curtseyed unsteadily and then allowed him to lead her from the floor. Elizabeth leaned heavily against his arm, unsure if her feet would hold her or not. Mr. Denny thanked her for the dance and she sank into a chair. I must have had too much punch, she thought. Nothing else could explain her complete inability to be steady on her feet. She believed no one had noticed, but still she felt mortified. Never had she over indulged to the point where she could not maintain a standing position. Resolved to dance no more that night, Elizabeth moved unsteadily to another chair partially hidden behind a large potted plant. No one would disturb her there.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur. Guests trickled away one by one, yet still the Bennet carriage had not been called. Finally, just before dawn, their conveyance awaited them. It was all that Elizabeth could do to get herself into their coach without stumbling. Exhausted, she leaned against the squabs, praying that their journey would be quick so she could find her bed.

***

What do you think about this first chapter? How do you think Elizabeth and Mrs. Bennet will react when they wake up in the morning? Drop your thoughts in the comments! This book will be available just in time for Mother’s Day (in the US) and the preorder is up now. You can get it here: Body and Soul

Thanks for reading!

~MJ