Be kind this is my first Pride and Prejudice fanfiction. I wasn't attempting to make the whole thing feel Regency but I don't think I succeeded very well. It came and went from me and eventually I did simply give up. I hope you enjoy it nonetheless. I do not own anything. The characters belong to Jane Austen and some scenes belong in the BBC TV series. Just to let you know as well I have edited the ages a bit. Jane is 23, Elizabeth 21, Bingley 22 and Darcy 25 just to make a few things a bit more realistic
As was often the case, Longbourne was a hum of activity – with five unmarried daughters between the ages of five and ten and three and twenty it was to be expected. Shrieks of laughter and giggles of delight would often be heard from the estate though they would repeatedly be replaced by the exclamations of nerves tried. The estate being rather dreary, bringing in only two thousand a year and being entitled to the male line was often a cause. However the daughter's rarely allowed that to both them.
The eldest Jane is considered the beauty of the county with blonde hair and blue eyes. She was the epitome of all things good and agreeable, seeing the best in everyone she knew though despite this only second favourite with both of her parents.
The second eldest is Mr Bennet's favourite: Elizabeth who delighted in all things ridiculous and dearly loved to laugh. Full of wit and laughter, she's a lively, intelligent young woman though the child that Mrs Bennet is least fond off. Yes indeed, she was too impertinent for Mrs Bennet's poor nerves.
Mary follows next, and the first of what Mr Bennett calls 'the three silliest girls in England'. She's considered the only Bennet girl but is studious and accomplished though perhaps a little conceited.
Younger than her is Catherine, who is more commonly referred to as Kitty, but she follows the example of the youngest Bennet sister and is rather flirtatious.
Lydia, the youngest however, is far worse in this regard and is a giggling, ignorant girl who fails to see any consequences for her actions. Mrs Bennet's favourite, she is bold, rash and spoiled.
Lydia and Kitty were the source of most the noise on the day that we join Longbourne as they excitedly get ready for the evenings ball. Though Lydia was only five and ten all the Bennet girls were out in society.
"Lydia, that is mine!" Kitty complained loudly fighting over a yellow ribbon with her youngest sister.
"No it is not, Kitty! Even if it was, it would look much better in my hair," Lydia gave a smug smile to her sister as she danced around the bedroom.
With a glare, Kitty turned to Mrs Bennet, "Mama, tell her..!"
"Just let her have the ribbon, Kitty," Mrs Bennet waved a hand – our first sign of her favouritism for Lydia.
"You always let her have what's mine!" Kitty cried and it was true: just yesterday Mrs Bennett had let Lydia have Kitty's favourite bonnet even though she knew perfectly well to whom it belonged. Kitty ran out of the room in tears.
"Do you really think Mr Bingley will take an interest in one us?" Lydia giggled as quick fingers threaded the ribbon into her hair.
Mrs Bennet giggled with her in a highly girlish way for a woman of her age.
"Of course he will! There are no handsomer girls in all of Hertfordshire! Yes, I am sure he will fall for one of you. Perhaps Jane – he has 5,000 a year and Jane cannot be nearly so beautiful for nothing! Yes my dear Jane will do perfectly for him…."
Mrs Bennet was a woman of speeches and was often in raptures about her girls making advantageous marriages.
The Mr Bingley that they speak of had just rented the grander estate of Netherfield, some three miles from Longbourne, and had promised to attend the assembly that evening. The village of Meryton was delighted but none more than Mrs Bennet who at once pronounced that he must marry one of the girls simply for his wealth.
In the room of the eldest and more refined young ladies, Jane and Elizabeth were preparing in a much quieter attitude than their youngest sisters and mother though they could hear the voices and giggling from down the hall. They were already attired and Jane was just fixing the last pearl in Lizzy's hair. Though the talk too was of Mr Bingley.
"I do hope Mama does not embarrass us this evening, what with Mr Bingley about," Elizabeth sighed.
"Oh, Lizzy, Mama means well! She just wants to see us happily married –!"
"and herself rescued from the hedgerows of course!" Elizabeth laughed and teased Mrs Bennet. "Besides, if Mr Bingley does not end the evening in love with you then he has no judge of beauty!"
The eldest Miss Bennet laughed at once, "I'm sure Mr Bingley will be most agreeable, as will the guests he brings with him, but we do not know his character as on yet and should make no wishes of his admiration until then! It will do us no good and you don't want to end up like Mama – matching making and wishing affection that isn't there!"
"Well do not think that not knowing his character will stop Mama," Elizabeth smiled, "she'll be begging for us to be introduced to him within seconds of them arriving and you are the one she has pinned her hopes on, I hope you know! For 'why else should you be so beautiful?'" The imitation of Mrs Bennett was not ill at all.
"Oh, Lizzy!" Jane's cheeks became stained and Elizabeth laughed gaily.
It was not about an hour later that the Bennett family were climbing into their carriage and making their way into Meryton for the assembly; the younger girls never stopping with their excitable chatter for the evening of frivolities that would soon greet them.