Note: After reading tons of fabulous P&P fan fiction on this and other platforms, I decided to stop lurking in the shadows and publish my first own piece of work. I am very curious what you will think of it. It starts with a rather short chapter which merely serves the purpose to explain the deviation from canon storyline. Please excuse any grammar and spelling errors, since English is not my native language. I am doing my very best and will be happy if you have any proposals for improvement.


"If you were aware," said Elizabeth, "of the very great disadvantage to us all, which must arise from the public notice of Lydia's unguarded and imprudent manner; nay, which has already arisen from it, I am sure you would judge differently in the affair."

"Already arisen!" repeated Mr. Bennet. "What, has she frightened away some of your lovers? Poor little Lizzy! But do not be cast down. Such squeamish youths as cannot bear to be connected with a little absurdity, are not worth a regret. Come, let me see the list of the pitiful fellows who have been kept aloof by Lydia's folly."

"Indeed you are mistaken. I have no such injuries to resent. It is not of peculiar, but of general evils, which I am now complaining. Our importance, our respectability in the world, must be affected by the wild volatility, the assurance and disdain of all restraint which mark Lydia's character. Excuse me—for I must speak plainly. If you, my dear father, will not take the trouble of checking her exuberant spirits, and of teaching her that her present pursuits are not to be the business of her life, she will soon be beyond the reach of amendment. Her character will be fixed, and she will, at sixteen, be the most determined flirt that ever made herself and her family ridiculous. A flirt too, in the worst and meanest degree of flirtation; without any attraction beyond youth and a tolerable person; and from the ignorance and emptiness of her mind, wholly unable to ward off any portion of that universal contempt which her rage for admiration will excite. In this danger Kitty is also comprehended. She will follow wherever Lydia leads. Vain, ignorant, idle, and absolutely uncontrolled! Oh, my dear father, can you suppose it possible that they will not be censured and despised wherever they are known, and that their sisters will not be often involved in the disgrace?"

Mr. Bennet saw that her whole heart was in the subject; and affectionately taking her hand, said in reply,

"Do not make yourself uneasy, my love. Wherever you and Jane are known, you must be respected and valued; and you will not appear to less advantage for having a couple of—or I may say, three very silly sisters. We shall have no peace at Longbourn if Lydia does not go to Brighton. Let her go then. Colonel Forster is a sensible man, and will keep her out of any real mischief; and she is luckily too poor to be an object of prey to anybody. At Brighton she will be of less importance even as a common flirt than she has been here. The officers will find women better worth their notice. Let us hope, therefore, that her being there may teach her her own insignificance. At any rate, she cannot grow many degrees worse, without authorizing us to lock her up for the rest of her life."*

Elizabeth could hardly believe how irresponsible her father was acting. Well – did she really? He rarely displayed the due diligence a father of five unmarried daughters should possess. "In that case I ask you for permission to accompany her." To avoid the worst, she added to herself. Mr. Bennet sighed and shrugged. "If Colonel Forster is willing to extend the invitation, there is but one reason to object – if I remember correctly you agreed to join your Aunt and Uncle Gardiner during their trip to the lakes." Though Elizabeth regretted that she would not be able to attend and would have preferred it by far in comparison to the trip to Brighton, she persisted: "Whether I spend the summer in Brighton or at the lakes does not matter to me at all. It pains me to disappoint the Gardiners, but it cannot be helped."

And thus it was settled. Colonel Forster was easily persuaded to include Elizabeth in the party, as the small favour did not come with additional effort for him. The days until their departure passed quickly. Lydia's resentment against being chaperoned by her older sister was soon overcome and was replaced by raptures about the enjoyments to be expected in Brighton, while Kitty's complaints that the invitation should have been extended for her instead of Lizzy proofed to be of more lasting nature. Elizabeth herself didn't muse long about the lost opportunity to travel the lakes with the Gardiners, since it didn't match her happy disposition to brood on things which could not be changed. How could she have known that this small and rather selfless decision was a branch point for several people's roads of life?


*Quotation from Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice", Volume II, Chapter 18