Chapter One: Lizzie

"Elizabeth Ann Bennet! Remove yourself from that bathroom at once, Jane needs to get ready for the ceremony!" My mother's shrill cries carry through the whole house.

I swear under my breath and scowl at my reflection in the mirror. So much of me wanting right now to shout back 'it's my bloody graduation ceremony, not Jane's.' Instead I find myself counting to ten and answering in a calm sweet expected voice, "five minutes mum and I'm done. Sorry Jane."

"Its fine Lizzie, I'll use mum and dads en-suite."

My sister Jane, always the peace keeper.

"No you can't Jane! Lydia and Kitty have already taken over in there. Just get Lizzie to come out and you can go in."

I pick my head up looking back at my reflection. Let's be honest, nothing I could possibly do in this bathroom to myself was going to make any improvement. I may as well give up now.

"But Mum…" Jane begins.

"It's ok Jane." I say, stomping down the stairs. She is sat neatly on the bottom step looking gorgeous already in a simple dressing gown. "I'm done, it's all yours."

"About time young lady." Mum comes bustling past us at full speed. "Jane shout me when you're ready for your hair doing."

"Okay mum." Jane shuts her eyes tight and flinches. I'm sure at twenty three she had no intention of letting our mother loose on that gorgeous mane of blonde hair flowing down to her waist in effortless perfect waves.

Now at this point it may seem I have some on-going hidden jealousy issues with my big sister Jane, but I will end that nonsense right here.

Jane was incredibly beautiful.

Out of the five of us Bennet girls she was the prettiest. To tell the truth, she was Super model worthy. And yes, usually this would encourage some sort of sibling rivalry between us. But honestly, other than my dad, Jane was my saviour in this house, keeping me calm against the madness, like a bubble surrounding me.

The thing with Jane is, she was just as beautiful on the inside, as the out. Probably a lot more. My mother idolised Jane. Setting her on a pedestal above all us other daughters. Strangely none of us minded. Expect maybe Lydia, but we'll come to her in a bit. Jane could do no wrong in my mother's eyes. Don't get me wrong Jane never did try to do any wrong, but even if she did, my mum would forgive her. Despite this, Jane had disappointed my mother once, and boy was she paying for it, possibly for the rest of her life. You see, Jane had had one dream her whole life and much to my mother's dismay it did not involve a catwalk. Jane was a teacher.

She loved her job, loved her kids and was amazing at it. Mum had definitely come around and realised there were worse things in this world that your amazingly gifted daughter answering her call to help children learn and grow into better people. But this did not stop the fact every time there was any event, even if one where Jane was not supposed to be centre of attention, it gave my mum a chance to push her starlet into the light and wait for some handsome prince to snap her up. Yes, my mum's one true obsession in life was to get Jane married off. To be truthful, to get us all married off. She was convinced that any man of wealth must be in want of wife to spend it on, and her five daughters were just the wives. Despite protests from myself and my other siblings, that we should be allowed to make our own choices and live as independent women, we were shot down and match made with any eligible bachelor that had the unfortunate opportunity to give my mother a 'yes', to the question every young person dreads: "are you single?"

I enter the kitchen looking for my cap and gown to go over my plain but well fitted dress. I didn't really see the point in dressing up, seeing as my clothes would be hidden beneath this big black monstrosity. When Jane had graduated she managed to make it look like the whole ensemble had been tailored just for her. Me..? I looked like I was wearing a black bin bag.

I sat down at the kitchen table slipping my foot into one of my uncomfortable heels, another thing I would not be wearing by choice. I hear a chuckle coming from behind the newspaper opposite me. My dad's caring face peeps around the front page and gives me a knowing wink.

"Eight minutes."

"Eight minutes? What does that mean?" I grimace sliding the other shoe on.

"Eight minutes is all I'm giving you in those shoes, after you have left that stage before those heels come off." He chuckled again.

He knows me so well, too well. I am a daddy's girl. I don't mind admitting it. My dad and I sort of go together, not only do I look like him, but we have the same sense of humour, something that earns neither of us brownie points with my mother.

"JAMES BENNET!" Speak of the devil. And what was with all the full naming around here today? Or come to think about it, was that just reserved for my dad and I? I don't remember her referring to Jane that way.

"Coming my dear." Dad gets up and shuffles off. Sometimes I wonder how those two ever got together, they're so far apart. Yet, I only had to see the way he looks at mum to know he wouldn't be happy with anyone else. That was what I wanted. Not some young doctor helping out at dad's practice, who my mother had decided should come round for a bite to eat and possibly a life partner.

Knowing I had approximately thirty minutes before all hell broke loose, I decided to catch a few breaths of fresh air and went for a walk outside. Our cottage, well more like two cottages knocked into one really, stood on the edge of - in my opinion - one of the most beautiful villages in England. Meryton, Hertfordshire, was the picture postcard English village, we had climbing roses, a village green, post office, pub, church, school where Jane taught and my Dads surgery. Actually, scrap that last part. What used to be my dad's surgery would be more accurate.

My dad had been the family doctor since we moved here, before I was born. Originally there had been Doctor Fisher, he had lived in the house that accompanied the surgery. I looked over the lush grass of the green, above the heads of the boys playing cricket, to the dilapidated 'Netherfield House.' Since Doctor Fisher had lived there when my mum and dad moved to Meryton, dad had bought a little cottage affectionately known as 'Longbourn.' As our family grew, so did the cottage, resulting in dad having to purchase the one next door and knocking through. That was after daughter number four made an appearance, but my mum wasn't done and two years later, Lydia was born.

Now dad had retired and a new doctor was supposedly moving to take over my dad's practice, a Doctor Collins. We didn't know much about him, apart from the fact he had worked his way up on a scholarship as part of the Rosings Park foundation, picked out by the benefactor Lady Catherine herself no less. We were all very excited to meet the mysterious Mr Collins. My mother especially! We knew two things for sure about Mr Collins: one he had a flat near the university in town, so 'Netherfield' would remain in its lonely state; and second, he was single. I felt a sense of melancholy looking at the old place that would surely turn to ruin before long.

"Lizzie! Lizzie!" My name flowed from an upstairs open window.

"No you don't Kitty. I'm going to ask her first! I saw them first!" Now what?

"Get out the way Lydia, I'm the oldest!"

I let out a long sigh, what were those two bickering about now? Kitty was the oldest, by two years. At seventeen, she was a miniature Jane, or should that be miniature mum. Because all the Bennet girls took after the busty blonde bombshell that was my mother. All the Bennet girls, except one. At forty-seven she was still very much the looker even now, but when she had been our age she had been the belle of the ball. The doctors ball in fact, and my dad had snapped her up and never let her go since. That was the story we had had repeated to us over and over.

Jane, as I mentioned earlier was the model, Kitty was a close second. She also had the long blonde naturally wavy hair, big blue eyes and gorgeous figure. Legs that went on for days, cleavage to die for and a tiny waist, hips and bum. I hate her, I hate them all - only joking of course. Kitty had just started college and had no idea what she wanted to do with her life, but it involved either being - or dating - someone rich and famous.

Lydia despite only being fifteen - the baby - was heading the exact same way. She was so much like Kitty to look at, people assumed they were twins. This helped Lydia break the rules repeatedly when it came to going out on the town with her big sisters. Now Mary, bless her, she was a blip on the radar as much as me. She, the middle sister at nineteen, is just starting an arts degree at Uni. She is amazingly talented, I can't even begin to understand what goes on that head of hers, but what comes out in her different mediums of art, design and sculpture is out of this world. The kid was going places. But not today! Slap bang in the middle of her goth stage where everything was depressing unless it involved death, she dyed her platinum blonde hair black, had it cut into a pixy bob, painted her lips and nails black and had thick black eyeliner outlining her ice blue eyes. The effect had overcome my mother who had promptly fainted, only to be revived by smelling salts and my dad joking that at least we didn't have tattoos and piercing. Secretly I think that was only a matter of time.

Back to present day, mum had told Mary that unless she changed her appearance she would not be allowed to accompany us to my graduation ceremony. I felt bad for Mary, but proud of the way she stood her ground apologised to me mumbling something about a system and how she wouldn't bow down. She was upstairs with her ipod in destroying her ear drums a decibel at a time. My mums words, not mine.

Now picture if you will, the sight of these four gorgeous blonde princess being led by their queen mother, and then there's this somewhat awkward misfit shoved in the middle with dark brown hair and eyes. Average height and way too many freckles, and you've got me. I had inherited the tiny waist, bum and hips, but let's be honest when you're flanked by four angels, no one really gets that far. I did wonder for a fleeting second that I could be the result of some scandalous affair involving my mother and the milkman, but one look at my dad and you know exactly who I take after. Two peas in a pod, my dad's mum would call us. I loved my gran. I still miss her. I guess that's why my dad and I are so close.

I look up at the sound of the bedroom window opening, to see Jane's beaming face looking down on me, she looks gorgeous. Like she's ready for a photo shoot or something, how does she do it? "Lizzie, you'd better get in, its world war three in here. Something about a red belt?"

Yeah, that would be my red belt. My brand new - not worn yet, keeping for a special occasion - red belt. I hate having little sisters! Jane I cope with, Jane would never go into my room - well our room, since we share - and steal my brand new belt, out of the box in the bottom of my wardrobe. I rush inside. "Kitty! Lydia! If either of you have my new red belt I swear to God…"

Mum catches me. "Oh leave them be Lizzie, it's not like you were ever going to wear it, is it?"

"Mother! That's not the point, I work. I have a job so I can buy nice things, not so my annoying little sisters can take my stuff!" I say the last part loud enough so the whole house can hear.

"Alright, alright, now come on or we are going to be late." She bustles past me, I bite my tongue to prevent myself snapping back at my mother, that I have been ready for my gradation for the past hour and will probably be late do to the fact this mad house can't get its act together.

My dad comes down the stairs wearing a suit and pulling at his tie, he hates wearing a suit, even when he was the doctor he never wore a tie. I smile at him, he's done that for me. I knew deep down that it would be my dad most proud of me today. It was his dream and mine. When I was child I wanted to grow up and become a doctor and take over his practice. Alas, my shocking tolerance for the sight of blood and all things hospital related put stop to that. So here I was on my exciting adventure through life becoming a … wait for it… Legal secretary! I wasn't proud, it wasn't my dream job. To be honest I wasn't even sure what that was. I know at twenty one I should at least have an idea, but I never got the calling like Jane did. Maybe I was too engrossed in reading a book at the time and I missed it. So here I was about to graduate with honours I would probably never get a chance to use to their full potential, and start my new job at Rosings Park, the world renowned legal firm. I'm ashamed to admit I was only given this position through my dad. He had a friend who worked there and he got me a way in. I know I should have done the hard slog and worked my way in, but hey, it's not what you know... Right?

Somehow, the six of us finally make it to my ceremony. I walk on stage collect my scroll, pose for photographs, throw up my cap, and just like that, I'm no longer a kid. I mean I obviously have been a grown up for a while now. But this was real. I would be moving out of my beloved family home, going to live in a flat owned by my aunt and uncle, who prefer to spend their retirement at their house in the country rather than in the city. I was starting my new job in three days' time. But more than anything I would be alone. Not one of the Bennet girls, not just a sister, 'you know the brunette?' but Elizabeth Bennet, legal secretary, completely alone. I was so scared but that immense feeling was over whelmed by something much more. Excitement.

As we made our way into the beautiful marquee set up for friends and family to congratulate their loved one, or in my mother's case, parade us round like dogs at 'Crufts,' I caught the eye of three people that seemed completely out of place. Neither students nor family as far as I could see. They were just stood together in a corner. The man at the front had a warm smile and a sparkle in his eye, as I followed his line of sight I immediately understood why. Jane. He was completely enthralled by her. Couldn't take his eyes off her, I sighed, she's done it again. How does she get all these guys to fall in love with her without even trying? I mean she isn't even acknowledging him, she chatting to my best friend from Uni, Charlotte Lucas.

Jane's admirer was about five' ten", had strawberry blonde hair and lovely warm green eyes. He was good looking, in that boy next door kind of way, and had the poise and manners to suggest he was from a middle class back ground. Not so haughty he was looking down on others, but thought enough of himself to stand out in a crowd. Behind him was an attractive woman, probably a bit older than Jane and I. I'd say late twenties if I had to guess. She was tall and slender and had her flaming red hair swept up in some complicated twist. Despite it being an informal setting, she had on a sharp business trouser suit in the palest pink you'd think it was white. I've always thought pink to look bad on red heads, but boy did I get that wrong. She had more than one male eye on her. She seemed to be taking in the room through her cold green eyes and whispering feverously to the tall dark man beside her.

He had his back to everyone, seeming to be taking in the scenery outside instead of what was going on in the room. He chuckled once or twice at something 'Green Eyes' said. Even hunched over he looked big built. Long strong arms sheathed in a black suit, startling white shirt collar poking out at the base of his neck. His dark hair was cut to a precision finish. Everything about this man screamed designer, perfection money and power. He hadn't even turned round. I was dying to know who he was, who all three of them were. I wasn't about to pull a 'Mrs Bennet' and resort to gossip. I did the thing I always did in these situations. I went to my dad.

I found him wandering around near to the buffet table obviously wanting to be first in line once it was open. His brown eyes lit up as soon as he found mine and he pulled me into a big dad hug. Making me feel special and protected all at once. Who needs a man when my dad can make me feel like this with one hug? Answer? Me, pretty much - though I'd never admit it to my mother. I'd been on plenty of dates in my time, don't get me wrong and I had had a relationship while at Uni that lasted about six months before I realised it was going nowhere. Now I was making a fresh start and realised that if someone should enter my life, I was willing to take a chance, a leap of faith and fall in love.

"What's up Lizzie?"

"Nothing dad, except I wondered if you knew who they were," I pointed with my chin. "That little group at the back?" To my mortification he stretched on his tip toes angling to get a better view of them, he seemed to break Jane's admirer away from her face and on to his, recognition followed and the mystery man gave my dad a huge smile and made his way over. Thankfully not accompanied by the other two.

"Dad!" I hissed into his shoulder, "I didn't mean I wanted to talk to him, I just wanted to know who he, who they, were!" My dad shrugged as it was the most natural thing in the world to address a complete stranger at a party.

"This Lizzie, is Mr Charles Bingley." My dad shook Mr Bingley's hand and gestured towards me, "meet my second eldest daughter Elizabeth, Mr Bingley."

Mr Bingley smiled and took my hand, "charmed I'm sure Elizabeth."