Mrs Francesca Bennet was one of those women who have a perfectly organised, and perfectly immovable, plan for their lives. She had already ticked off the first few tasks with only one hiccup. She'd got a nice sociable job as a receptionist, met someone suitable, bought a detached house in a pleasant little market town, been able to give up that nice sociable job as her husband got promoted and they started a family. But, this was when the little hiccup happened, they had four, instead of the planned for three, children. Remaining on the list was paying off the mortgage, or rather, her husband paying off the mortgage, and seeing all of her daughters' weddings and the subsequent grandchildren.
Her daughters were all too well aware that this was their mother's plan as she took every opportunity to question them about finding boyfriends and trying to match them up with, it seemed to the daughters at least, any available young male. But they reasoned that as Francesca Bennet had coped with her plan's wobble with the birth of Lydia - she loved her daughter and took great pleasure in spoiling her - she would cope with any future wobbles their lives were likely to cause to her perfect plan, although none of them believed she would do so quietly.
As it was, Jane did not need to worry about such eventualities as she was well on her way to realising both their mothers' ideal future as well as her own hopes for love. The charming Dr Chand Bansal had been enthusiastically dating Jane for some months and had just taken up a position at the local GP so as to start his career, and more importantly, to be closer to Jane. Chand had the very unusual honour of being liked by the whole Bennet family, which could only add to Jane's happiness. He was moving into his new house in a few short days and the Bennets and their neighbours were planning on how to welcome him.
'Really Ian,' cried Francesca to her husband, 'I don't see why you can't borrow the company car, it's got a far larger boot than ours and so we could get him all the essentials in -'
'Ah, but one person's essentials are not another's,' her husband philosophised.
'Don't be daft. This is his first house, he won't know what the essentials are!' Her husband's not responding didn't deter her and she went on, 'the Goulding's are planning on taking round a bottle of wine, much help that'll be-'
'I imagine it'll be very helpful,' Ian interjected.
'I'm sure it'll be appreciated, he is a very polite, nice young man after all. But just some breakfast things and basic toiletries so he doesn't have to rush off to the shops will be far better. Then he'll be able to properly relax-'
'I don't see why you need the company car for that,' Ian told his wife, 'which is good because I have no intension of getting it.'
'Really Ian, you should put in the effort – for Jane's sake,' Fran chastised. 'Is this how you're going to treat all the boys our girls bring home?'
'Don't worry, dear, when all our girls have boyfriends I'll borrow the company van.'
'Oh don't be ridiculous,' Fran dismissed before carrying on, 'I'll have to check the shopping list. I know I've got the toilet rolls and washing up liquid already, but he'll need milk and bread, and – oh, I don't know what his favourite cereals are, I'll have to ask Jane-'
'Fran,' Ian sighed, 'I don't think smothering our daughters boyfriends will help anyone.' And with that he retreated to the computer room at the back of the house.
Ian Bennet often secluded himself in this room although he rarely used the old box computer - they all had laptops these days – the lure was being able to quietly enjoy his red wine, books and Radio 4.
It was here that his second eldest, Elizabeth, found him half way through a Radio 4 documentary on William Wilberforce. As she was his favourite, a fact he had no scruples about sharing, he turned down the volume to talk to her.
'Has your mum cleared out half the supermarket yet?'
'Not yet,' Elizabeth smiled.
'No, well I suppose she needs to check to see if Chand prefers Sainsbury's or Morrisons.'
'Dad,' Elizabeth said shaking her head as she laughed.
'Come on Lizzie. We both know she only wants the company car as it's a better make than ours.'
She laughed. 'You just don't want to be seen as a BMW driver.'
'Ah, I'm afraid you've got me,' her dad sighed.
'We can only hope he won't be too shocked by a second hand car then,' Lizzie joked.
The second hand car was one of the few examples of economy that Ian had insisted upon, much to Fran's chagrin. The Bennets were hardly poor, in fact they were decidedly middle class, but their expenditure was high. Their new-build detached house, all-inclusive holiday's, fashionable clothes, the newest technology, a supply of good wine, a change in furnishing's whenever Fran grew bored, and cupboards of food that were destined to go off or only be half eaten all came out of Ian's salary as an accountant (an irony that gave him no end of amusement).
As it was, they had no real pressing monetary concerns assuming nothing went wrong. And nothing was going wrong, Jane had established herself nicely. She had a job and boyfriend she loved and none of them saw any reason why the younger Bennet girls wouldn't do just as well for themselves.
With such happy prospects for her sister Elizabeth was looking forward to Chand moving into Meryton, and she knew her dad was too despite his show of nonchalance.
'Jane thinks we should go round at lunchtime,' Lizzie told him.
'Well in that case, Lizzie, we're just going to have to depend on the Goulding's bringing enough wine.'
With a final smile for Elizabeth, Ian turned the volume back up just in time for Book at Bedtime. Rolling her eyes fondly Elizabeth left him to settle down with his programme.
Authors note: I hope you enjoyed the read, it's an idea that has been rattling around in my head for a while now. Apologies for any questionable grammar, I've tried to fix it as best I can but it is something I struggle with. I know the title doesn't make much sense yet but it should do in the coming chapters. Any reviews will be much appreciated :)
