Hello fellow P&P readers! This is my first writing a classical type of story so be patient if I make mistakes about the time period. (~l~) I'll look up as much as I can to get this story as accurate as possible. Thanks for reading!(^l^) And sorry if my translations are horrible I'm not the best at Spanish.

Disclaimer:I do no own anything familiar to you.

The year was 1812 and at this very moment a commotion was going on at Ashburton Estate, home of the Nunez-Radcliffe's. Ashburton was a handsome Elizabethan manor, reddish brown in color, with two towers protruding on both sides of the house. It was a great estate with many tenants and land that seemed to spread out in every direction. The family was made up of four siblings who lost their parents in a shipwreck on the way to America. Since that time the estate was to be parted equally among the brothers and sisters impartial to the sex of said sisters. Three years have passed since that fateful day when a young girl of thirteen with dark hair, dark eyes, and olive skin waved farewell to the ship that was carrying more precious cargo then any of the trade vessels they owned. It was their only ship that ever sank.

"Jewel!" "Jewel where are you?" A young woman of sixteen swiftly ran by her captor evading them by rushing down the grand stair case and into the drawing room. Flushed from running Jewel Nunez Radcliffe, the youngest of the Nunez-Radcliffes sat herself at the piano forte and began to play an allegro(Italian: fast) battle march. A petite woman with similar features to Jewel flounced inside the drawing room out of breath. Holding up a shaking finger she was opening her mouth to lecture the poor girl when another occupant of the room gently spoke.

"By my word what has gotten my two lovely sisters fighting again?" This inquiry came from none other than their eldest brother James. Both sisters turned to gaze at their brother who's appearance was so different from their own. Where their hair was dark brown his hair was a dark blonde, where their eyes were shades of brown his eyes were a watery blue, and where their complexion was olive his was a light bronze. This diversity among the siblings owes its due to their sires, father being English while mother being Spanish.

"What is it about this time?" Robert the second eldest brother waltzed in and sat adjacent to James who discarded the paper he was reading to focus on his squabbling younger sisters.

Barbara the twin sister to Robert exasperatedly told the tale of Jewel, who this morning deliberately got up early to miss getting her hair put up.

"You're not a child anymore Jewel, girls younger than you always have their hair up, it is the proper way at this age."

Jewel scoffed at this remark and gazed at dark haired Robert, the twin she got along with better. "Barbara you know it matters not to me what others think. I will most likely become a spinster anyway so why not leave my hair down."

Robert's green eyes twinkled with mirth as he replied for his twin. "You will have a less chance of becoming an old maid with it down than you do up. Leave it up joya(Jewel) to fend off some of the suitors."

James chuckled at the display of Barbara's grin and Jewel's huffing.

Jewel reluctantly let her sister pull her hair up into a high bun leaving wisps of hair free to frame her face.

Barbara hoping to make peace sincerely asked, "Why are you so untroubled about the idea of spinsterhood?"

Jewel sighed thoughtfully. "Well.. we are all heirs and I believe that since no one will have me that I shall be able to live comfortably until I pass on."

James glancing up from his paper, directed his gaze towards his younger sister. "Por que crees que nadie se casara con ti?" (Why do you believe no one will marry you?)

Jewel responded back to James in their mother's native tongue. "Es simple. (It's simple.) Due to my being impertinent, independent, intelligent, intractable,and everything else that I'm lacking in as a proper lady, no sane man would want me."

Robert smirked at this declaration. "In that case shall we visit an asylum to find you a fiancée? For you did say no sane man well what about an insane man?"

"Don't be ridiculous. No man, mad or sane would want a girl with no breasts." Barbara teased Jewel and her lack of bosom.

All of the audience in the room laughed heartily at this until a maid announced that an express had came.

The letter was given to Jewel who stared at it curiously before opening it. She started reading, showing a blank expression before a smile spread across her face.

Barbara smiled hopefully. "Good news I take."

Jewel nodded vigorously. "Indeed. It is from our good friend Elizabeth Bennet. Here she writes about Lydia's marriage to Mr. Wickham and that all is well with their family now. Um let's see... oh dear!"

"What is wrong? Did something else happen?" James attention now fully on his sister encouraged her to continue.

"Well... Lizzie writes that both Jane and her are engaged and to be married within the month!"

Barbara snatched the letter quickly from Jewel and read it herself and cried out in joy. "Tis true! They have invited all of us to come to their wedding which shall be a joint ceremony. Oh how beautiful a winter wedding shall be!"

All of the room burst into celebration which took some time to quiet down. Finally Barbara asked a very important question.

"Wait! Who are the bridegrooms?" The siblings instantly grew quiet as no one knew.

"Blast it all! Shouldn't the letter say? Find the bloody letter!" Robert began looking fervently for the misplaced letter. James searched among the couches while Barbara gazed at the floor. Jewel examined the area around the windows and finally the eldest found it under the piano forte.

Fishing out his half moon shaped spectacles from his pocket he delicately reviewed the message. "It is written here that the intended bridegrooms are the respectable gentlemens, Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley."

Silence ensued the room, all occupants pondering upon the subject.

Barbara broke the heavy air. "Are you acquainted with either of these gentlemen James? Or you Robert?"

James shook his head no, but Robert answered. "I vaguely recall someone mentioning a Mr. Darcy. Apparently he is of the highest social circle and has a large estate in Derbyshire although I'm not sure if that is this gentleman."

Jewel spoke up next. "Should I hope that we are accepting their invitation?"

James smiled brightly. "Indeed joya(Jewel) we shall leave within the week."

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Dear Lizzie,

I am so happy to hear about your upcoming nuptials. The gentlemen in question must be very fine and respectable to have caught Jane's and your eye so I will not worry about their histories. Lydia is well settled with Mr. Wickham is she? I pray hope that man stays in the north and out of our vision. Lydia I think shall learn her lesson when he does not present her with the amount of pin money she desires. I am sorry for writing such dreadful things but will now move onto happier events. My eldest brother James has agreed to all of us coming to your wedding. I am so very glad that you invited us. We were just thinking of coming to Hertfordshire to visit you when low and behold your express arrived. Barbara and I still quarrel over petty things but truthfully I enjoy distressing her. I believe it lifts her spirits which have been quite low lately ever since her and Robert's last birthday. She is now twenty and three which unfortunately in our society means that she is on the road to spinsterhood. I admittedly confess Lizzie that I detest being our sex when it comes to marriage standards. James has been well. He is twenty and six and still remains a bachelor which I think the rest of the household breathes a sigh of relief for. It is not that do we not wish for a new mistress of Ashburton but we have yet to come across someone who is the better half of my brother. Robert is as always a comic and sharpens his wit daily, most likely preparing for battle in case he comes across you. I laugh whenever the thought of Robert and you matching wits intrudes into my head. My own health is perfectly fine and my riding has gotten better since last I wrote you. We shall come by carriage to Longbourn within the week so I hope this letter shall arrive before I do. I hope the rest of your family is in good health and please send my regards to them.

Your friend,

Jewel Nunez Radcliffe

Thank you for reading if you have any questions or comments please feel free to PM me or review. (^l^) Next chapter should be about the carriage ride to Longbourn and reminiscing with old friends.