Ok because it's TBC fanworks month, how would you do a Regency AU of The Blue Castle?
I’m so tickled. I hadn’t thought of it before but I love it!
So my first thought was how little would have to change to make it work as is… But then I was thinking about a more AU approach in which it’s (a very small) part Emma and part Jane Eyre (admittedly not regency but walk with me here)
Picture Valancy in a Jane Fairfax style siuatation but without the benefit of a Colonel Cambell
Her family (Amelia and Cousin Stickles) is poor but they’ve decided that Valancy is too sickly to work. (Uncle Benjamin and Olive’s family would be like the Kohls? Wealthy enough through trade but not gentry?)
Barney has let a local estate(cottage?) There’s a lot of mystery and speculation around who he is or where his money came from: Is he a gentleman, an upstart, an escaped criminal? He also has a young ward who everyone assumes is his illegitimate child (either Cissy’s son or an aged down Cissy?) He puts out a listing for governess (do boys have male tutors?)
Valancy learns she doesn’t have long to live and convinces Barney to hire her…
There are a lot of details to iron out, but I’m sort of loving the concept!
