DISCLAIMER Start
This Fanfiction is not an identical copy to Pride and Prejudice. If you're looking for that, I'd suggest buying the book and enjoying words directly from Jane Austen instead of I, the Unpredictable Muse, or this site. This fanfiction is a work of art created by the Unpredictable Muse for her entertainment, posted to for the enjoyment of others for free. Any alterations the Unpredictable Muse makes to the Canon material is of her choice and will not be fully disclosed unless absolutely necessary, as it will ruin the story being told.
For those of you who are new, I have other stories that you may like to read. For those of you who do not like my work, you are under no obligation to continue reading.
Please remember I am not British and therefore will not be 100% accurate all the time on a time period I did not grow up in or in a country that I have never experienced in person.
HEA for Elizabeth B. and Fitzwilliam D. Non-canon compliant, but general world compliant.
Disclaimer End
*Not Compliant with Canon*
Once upon a time, in a 'kingdom' known as Hertfordshire, a gentleman known as Mr. Loftus Bennet inherited Longbourn estate. From living on the mercy of his father to living off of 2,000 per annum, he saw fit to marry a woman he'd love and cherish the rest of his life. Miss Sarah Tuttlehoss walked into his life, a simple lady with a simple desire to lead a happy life. Two weeks into their acquaintance, he offered his hand and she accepted it. The first four months of their marriage passed in a blink of an eye. Thirteen months later, Mr. Bennet welcomed Baby Simon into Longbourn.
Mrs. Bennet died hours after a wet nurse rocked Simon to sleep on her breast.
Nearly a year passed. Mr. Bennet watched his baby boy grow from helpless bundle of joy to a teetering tottering toddler always on the brink of exploring dangerously. His heart healed, and he acknowledged that he needed a mother for his baby boy. Miss Hester Gardiner marched into his life with purpose.
Her beauty turned his head and chased away his common sense. He offered marriage four weeks into their acquaintance. Hester Bennet met Simon the day after their marriage tour to London. Loving and kind whenever her husband inhabited the same room as them, she turned ugly the second the nanny left her alone with Simon. Sixteen months old, Hester smacked Simon for spilling her tea. The witness, Mrs. Long, reported the abuse to Mr. Long and Mr. Long relayed it to Mr. Bennet the following afternoon in a face to face meeting rare for the anti-social man.
Meryton and all of Hertfordshire heard not a peep from Mrs. Hester Bennet or Longbourn for three months.
Soon after Jane was conceived. Simon 'disappeared' as his half sister entered Longbourn by storm - literally. Born in the middle of a thunderstorm, Jane Bennet inherited all the beauty Hester Bennet paraded as the key to her rise in wealth. Hopeful for a boy, Mrs. Bennet ignored Simon's existence, doted on Jane, and became pregnant with her second child a month after Jane's birth.
A separate wet nurse was hired to tend to Jane, as Mrs. Bennet wanted the breastmilk untainted for her darling Jane.
Raised by two different standards, Mrs. Bennet spared the rod with Jane only. Simon learned to fear and hate his step mother. His hatred for Jane seeded from the favoritism Mrs. Bennet boasted of despite the open disapproval of her acquaintances and family.
Two years later, he held his second sister in his arms a brief moment before his father announced Little Lizzy looked just like him. Simon snuck into the nursery of his evil stepmother's second born child, a girl, and reached his little hand to the sleeping infant swaddled in the warm blanket handmade by Mrs. Hill. His finger fit perfectly in her curled tiny hand. From that moment forward, Simon understood in his young heart that no adult heart ever could. You can't hate the baby for being born. You can only be the best big brother a little sister needed.
When Mary, Catherine, and Lydia were born, Simon hovered near them and showed them how to find trouble - trouble he was always blamed for regardless of who initiated the search for it.
Mrs. Bennet turned wholly evil once the midwife informed Mr. Bennet if she bore another child the birth would kill her and the child. Mr. Bennet, pleased with one son and five daughters, accepted the fact that only one son would continue the bloodline. Mrs. Bennet declared war on Simon for one day usurping her position of power in the house.
The efforts to marry the girls doubled with the troubling proclamation. Unable to avoid attending schooling, Simon departed Longbourn expecting to find Jane sold off to the richest man to enter Hertfordshire at the tender age of 15.
Graduating early, Simon claimed if it weren't for his stepmother's attention to his studies, he may have graduated on the same slow schedule as his classmates. Mrs. Bennet denounced his education as 'purchased' and privately informed him that he'd remove her from the house over her lifeless body.
"With all due respect, Mrs. Bennet, I'd have more respect for you than to throw you to the cold." Simon replied in kind, loathing the woman with every part of his being.
Soon the nightmare became a reality for Jane. Unknown to Jane, Mrs. Bennet encouraged Mr. Robinson, a man of moderate income and a promising future, to pursue her beautiful angel. Jane received his attentions mutely, as she received most male appreciation. Keeping an eye on the 'courtship' from a distance, Simon harbored his distrust of the situation lest he turn his father's mockery onto himself. Encouraged by her non-refusal, Mr. Robinson offered his hand in marriage a year into the courtship. Jane refused.
Two nights after the refusal, Mr. Robinson, half drunk, confronted Jane at a public assembly in Meryton.
Half his punch spilled down her dress, and Simon's hand stilled his from touching Jane.
"I thought you were a gentleman, Mr. Robinson, not an honorless drunk."
Elizabeth pulled Jane out of the firing range.
"You have no right to intervene, Simon."
"We were classmates, Mr. Robinson, not confidantes." Simon released his peer's wrist.
Mr. Robinson tossed the rest of the punch in Simon's face. "Bennets are all the same - greedy and heartless w-"
The rest of the sentence was never finished. Simon broke his hand in the punch that knocked out Mr. Robinson. The ballroom fell silent, it seemed, and for a brief second in time, Meryton didn't know how to respond. The next week, Simon departed for London to work with his Uncle Gardiner, Jane and Elizabeth hid at Longbourn, and Mrs. Bennet called upon the Robinsons to beg their forgiveness for Simon's thoughtless actions.
Simon never expected a man of exception wealth to enter Hertfordshire, especially while he stayed in London until the scandal of the Public Assembly passed into short term memory of its residents.