PROLOGUE:
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a gentleman's wife with five daughters and no natural heir will force them into any eligible and unfitting match. Such was the case with Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
When news arrived of an unmarried Mr. Bingley arriving to a nearby estate with a significant income Mrs. Bennet was eager to get to work. As there were but months until such an age, for meddling in her neighbor's affairs was her favorite pastime, second only to securing her safety through her daughter's marriages.
Her Eldest Jane, the county beauty, was beginning to age; for no woman should reach three and twenty without a marriage. As there were but months until such an age came to pass, her actions needed to be swift and forceful if there were to come into effect. Elizabeth, full of wit and conversation was currently twenty, but convincing a man she would be a respectable wife would prove to be a challenge indeed. Mary was too plain, she never knew what to say, when she spoke it always came from passage of scripture. She could learn a bit from Lydia whose liveliness charmed all the militia around. Kitty was somewhat forgotten.
In the days leading up to his imminent arrival the house of Longbourn was quite a sight. Mrs. Bennet had lost all sense, Mr. Bennet instead of easing his wife's comfort found humor in it and made sport of her nonsense. Such was the case for days. Eventually Mrs. Bennet declared,
"I have heard enough of Mr. Bingley. I shall hear of him no more."
Following her outburst, her husband declared that he had in fact met with Mr. Bingley that very morning. Suddenly all of her spirits were risen and she was in full support of Mr. Bingley once more.
Shortly after Mr. Bingley's arrival, there was an assembly held in the nearest town of Meryton. When the party from Netherfield arrived, Elizabeth noticed and make acquaintance with Mr. Bingley, Mr. Hurst, Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley. She found them to be all polite, yet she saw through Miss Bingley's act of false regard. Other than Mr. Bingley's notice of Jane, nothing particular happened at the assembly.
A few days passed, Jane received a letter from Netherfield inviting her to tea with Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst. Mrs. Bennet used this opportunity to form a sort of cunning, forcing her loveliest of daughters out on horseback in the rain. Jane Bennet caught a chill.
After receiving a letter from her sister, Elizabeth set out on foot for Netherfield to ensure her sister's care. Receiving censure for her appearance after walking three miles. She nursed her sister back to health, while Jane slept, Elizabeth retreated downstairs to where her hosts congregated, yet she found her time to be quite lonesome. The superior sisters were welcoming, but Elizabeth believed it not to be genuine. Whilst her sister slept, she mostly read in the library. The selection was not the greatest, but was sufficient for her short time there.
After two days, Mrs. Bennet and her daughters came to look into Jane's health where she declared her too ill to be moved. While the Bennets were at the house the youngest Miss Lydia pleaded for a ball at Netherfield. Mr. Bingley full of gentlemanly hospitality gave in to her wishes and requested that she choose the day of the ball.
Once Jane had recovered, the two eldest Bennet sisters returned to Longbourn where their father made an announcement.
"I hope my dear that you have ordered a good dinner, for we are to expect an addition to our family party. My cousin, Mr. Collins. When I pass, he will take this house and throw you out as soon as would please him. But he does write that he would indeed like to 'heal the breach' I pray one of you may be handsome enough to tempt him."
The arrival of Mr. William Collins became quite the shock to the family. He was a clergymen in Kent. His patroness was a Lady Catherine de Bourgh. He spoke as he chewed and swallowed as he spoke. He made all the quests at Longbourn feel uncomfortable save Mrs. Bennet and Miss Mary. Mary happened to be similar to him, not in the ways of table manners, but with respect to the church and their topics of conversation.
The day of the Netherfield Ball was heavily anticipated indeed. Mr. Collins requested the first two dances with Miss Elizabeth herself, she felt much forced into accepting. She was not looking forward to the evening save Mr. George Wickham. A new member in the militia who had made their acquaintance.
Mr. Wickham was all things gentlemanly and polite. When their paths had first crossed she couldn't help but blush. His mannerisms were quite capital indeed and his face was quite handsome. When he spoke there seemed to be a light of honesty in his eyes. He was handsome indeed and spoke of everyone in the county ever so kindly. He had good breeding. She hoped he would attend and perhaps ask for her card, yet all the other girls in the county were hoping for the same. What were her chances?
After her first two with Mr. Collins, she wanted to leave. He simply danced terribly. He walked in the wrong directions and stepped on her feet several times. Even worse she had found Mr. Wickham was unable to attend because of business in town. She thought the night could not get any worse, and then it did.
Lydia and Kitty could not contain themselves or exhibit any sense of propriety. They were flirting openly with the officers and making complete fools of their family. Then Mary decided her time would be best spent displaying her talents. Her singing and playing were both equally horrible. Mr. Bennet deciding he had heard enough of her "talents" put a stop to it in the most horrific way imaginable.