It is a truth universally acknowledged that a British novel, beloved for centuries, can only be improved upon by the addition of a body, or several. What follows is a series of murder mysteries that occur over the course of the events of Pride and Prejudice. It is a convention of fan fiction to eschew ownership of the characters contained within. But don't we all own Elizabeth and Darcy? Regardless, if you are not intimately familiar with their creation, close your computer, smartphone or tablet and get thee to a bookstore or library and read some real Jane Austen immediately. Or keep your tablet open and buy an e-copy. Pride and Prejudice is free.
Everyone was in high hopes of what the new party to the neighborhood would bring, and as a result, when the party in question entered the Assembly Ballrooms all fell silent and turned to see the newcomers. Elizabeth Bennet was standing beside her good friend Charlotte Lucas, and after some quick calculations whispered to her friend, "only four gentlemen and two ladies, after all?" In the days preceding the Assembly the supposed numbers of the expected party had swelled to contain just under a dozen ladies and half as many men.
"Yes," said Charlotte, who had the advantage of Elizabeth in having been introduced to at least some of the party previously. "The fair man is Mr. Bingley and the two ladies are his sisters. The eldest is married to Mr. Hurst who is one of the other men."
"The tall man?" asked Elizabeth quickly.
"No," Charlotte responded, and as Elizabeth smiled, said "Mr. Hurst is the shortest of the men." She continued explaining the occupants of the party, "the tall lady is Miss Bingley and will keep house for her brother. One of the other men is supposed to be a very close friend of Mr. Bingley's. A Mr. Darcy from the north. However, I had not heard of a sixth member of the party, and I am not certain which one he is, or who another man could be."
At this point, Elizabeth's mother was waving her second eldest daughter over without a care for subtlety, and Elizabeth gladly went, understanding that though Mrs. Bennet had spent the entirety of the last fortnight bemoaning her state of ignorance when it had come to their new neighbors, she was now no doubt in possession of the best intelligence gossip could afford within five minutes of the Bingley party's entrance.
Elizabeth expected to hear more news of the illustrious Mr. Bingley, but it was the Mr. Darcy from the north who her mother was currently most concerned with. "£10,000 a year, and look how tall he is!"
"Oh, so Mr. Darcy is the tall gentleman?"
"Oh yes, Lizzy, have you not been listening to anything I have been telling you."
"But who is the other man, the sixth member of the party?"
"Mr. Hurst?"
"No, the man with the short hair."
"Oh, I haven't any idea. He cannot be so important if I have not heard of him, but it wouldn't do to be rude to him. Perhaps he is a wealthy man of trade like your uncle. Come now Lizzy, they are coming over, and you must look your best. Oh, now where are your sisters?"