AU: How would things at the Bennet household be different if Elizabeth had a twin brother: Edward?
Disclaimer: I do not own Pride and Prejudice or any of the characters. This is just a story that I am writing for fun.
Mrs. Bennet was ecstatic as the family left church and went back to Longbourn. She babbled on about a Mr. Bingley who had five thousand a year moving into Netherfield. He was a single man of large fortune coming to Netherfield, and he would make a fine match for any of her daughters.
"Mother, why must you always be trying to marry off my sisters," asked Edward.
"You do not want to be caring for your sisters once you finally decide to marry, young man," she replied matter-of-factly. She turned to Mr. Bennet. "Mr. Bennet, you must visit him immediately. He will most likely go to the ball at Meryton, and we cannot introduce ourselves, you know." Kitty and Lydia, the youngest two Bennet girls giggled. Mary, the middle girl rolled her eyes.
"If you wish for him to meet our daughters, why do you not go and visit him yourself, or yet, send them to him by themselves, it will expedite the process greatly," replied Mr. Bennet.
"By themselves?" asked Mrs. Bennet in a tone of surprise. "That would not do at all. Oh, Mr. Bennet, must you always vex me?" Elizabeth, who was the same age as Edward, and Jane, who was the oldest, smiled at each other. They were used to their father jesting with their mother.
Mrs. Bennet continued to try and convince Mr. Bennet to go and visit Mr. Bingley as they entered Longbourn. Mr. Bennet seemed that we would not be swayed. Mr. Bennet only escaped his wife's badgering by going into his library and shutting the door before she could come in. Mr. Bennet gave a meaningful look to Elizabeth and Edward before he shut the door.
Mrs. Bennet tried to talk to Mr. Bennet through the door as the brother and sisters went to the sitting room. Mrs. Bennet, crestfallen, soon joined them.
"Edward, Elizabeth, please go to your father and try to convince him to visit Mr. Bingley. He must go visit him if any of you girls are to be married well," she said.
"I am sure that father will go and visit Mr. Bingley, as he would visit any new neighbor," said Jane as Elizabeth and Edward were leaving the room. Mrs. Bennet started saying that he would not care to have his daughters married well, but Elizabeth and Edward were out of earshot soon enough to not have to hear the entire soliloquy. They went to Mr. Bennet's library and knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" Mr. Bennet asked. He was not about to let Mrs. Bennet come in and continue to talk to him about Mr. Bingley.
"It is Elizabeth and Edward," replied Edward.
"Come in," said Mr. Bennet with hint of relief in his voice. He smiled as they came in. Did she send you to try and convince me to go?"
"Yes," replied Elizabeth, smiling.
"She knows that you listen to us more than anyone else, so she sent us in to try and convince you."
"You know that I will go and visit," said Mr. Bennet quietly, making sure that Mrs. Bennet did not hear him.
"Yes, we know," replied Edward. "When do you intend to go?"
"I plan on calling soon after he arrives, when your mother has gone to Meryton. Would you like to go, Edward? You will have that responsibility one day, you might as well go with me."
"I would, sir. Thank you."
"I would take you as well, Lizzy, if it were acceptable. I would wish to take you over any of your sisters, but it is not."
"I understand, father. I will meet him soon enough anyway. Mother will want to introduce all of her daughters to Mr. Bingley as soon as she learns that you have called."
"Indeed," replied Mr. Bennet. They then went on to talk about the books that they were currently reading. On occasion, Mary would join them in these conversations, but they would try, for the most part, to hold them when they knew that she was practicing her music. Her views were usually not in line with the rest of their views.