Authors note: Standard disclaimer: Any characters you recognise here are the creation of Jane Austen. I'm just borrowing them for a bit to weave my little tale. I'm assuming that if you're reading this, you must be as intimately familiar with the characters of P&P as I am. Given that assumption, I haven't dwelt on the character development and description as much as I ordinarily would. You all have your own perception of Elizabeth and Darcy, and I'm not about to interfere with that! I just imagined a different life for my own version of Elizabeth Bennet and thought I'd share with others. Hope you enjoy!
Frances Bennet smiled as she watched the snow falling softly on the grounds. Seated near the fireplace, her face was flushed with both warmth and happiness. And why should she not be happy?! As she glanced back into the room, her eyes swept over the Christmas decorations, and she reflected that the year had indeed been good.
She had begun the year as Frances Gardiner, the daughter of an attorney, living alongside her father's practice in Meryton with her parents and younger brother and sister. She had little but her charm to recommend her once she became of marriageable age, due to the fact her father worked for his living and this living was meagre. The family was well-respected in the small but bustling town of Meryton, but the proximity of the grand estate Netherfield, and even the Longbourn manor would always serve to remind Frances Gardiner that she was not of the landed class. Early on in life, Miss Gardiner had determined that one day she would live in a manor such as Longbourn or Netherfield, despite her less than favourable family situation. It was fortunate for Miss Gardiner, that she was not a defeatist sort of character. Stubborn and determined, Frances Gardiner exuded a degree of self confidence that bordered on arrogance. If it wasn't for the girl's lively manners and enjoyment of a good joke in every situation, many probably would decree that Miss Gardiner had a vast degree of mislaid pride. Instead, Miss Gardiner was never without admirers and friends, who prized her tendency to laugh, dismiss the serious nature of things, and who always spoke her mind.
In addition to her effervescent personality, Miss Gardiner was easily the most beautiful girl in Meryton, if not the entire county of Hertfordshire. Fair of skin and hair, her eyes were clear blue, and her cheeks naturally rosy. Her pretty face was complimented by the near constant smile she wore, crinkling her lovely eyes, and showing two slight dimples and a row of straight, pearly teeth. Hers was a face that many could not tear their eyes from. As she grew into adulthood, Miss Gardiner began to become aware of the great asset her looks had provided her. She had never outgrown her aspiration to move up the social sphere to the landed gentry, and realised that despite her lowly connections, she had several charms which might work in her favour to catch a fine husband.
The summer that Frances Bennet turned eighteen years old was the summer that Thomas Bennet of Longbourn estate returned to Hertfordshire upon completion of his studies at Cambridge. His own father had recently died, and whilst his uncle lived and attempted to provide assistance to his young nephew, Thomas Bennet was determined to be his own master. Of marriageable age and in possession of his fortune, Thomas Bennet knew that he would be a target for match-making mothers far and wide. He groaned audibly at this prospect. He was never one for flattery and womanly arts to try and lure a husband. Indeed, it was exactly these flat kind of characters that both bored and irritated him. He wished for a wife who was lively, and someone with whom he could banter with. It would be exceedingly fortunate if she was good humoured enough to take on his light teasing ways, which he was accustomed to displaying. Thomas Bennet felt that he'd drawn up for himself a nearly impossible list of characteristics for a woman to behold. He was certain that if he searched long and hard enough, he may be able to find such a woman, but the trouble with Thomas Bennet was that he was not inclined to try.
How fortunate it was for Thomas Bennet, that the very creature he believed he desired resided in the very neighbouring village to his estate. As Thomas Bennet rode into the town of Meryton, he spied the young girl arguing with a young sales clerk over a length of ribbon. Apparently, the clerk had cut the ribbon too short, and the young miss was refusing to pay the full amount. Taken in by the passionate argument the young girl, and chuckling at the confidence that such a young thing had to be defending herself like that, Thomas had to admit he was intrigued. It was only when he himself interjected and offered to pay the balance owing for the mis-cut ribbon that the young lady turned, and Mr Thomas Bennet of Longbourn fell in love.
Much to his surprise, Thomas Bennet realised that the young woman before him was the Meryton attorney's eldest child. He knew of her, but scarce paid her attention, as she was several years younger than he. It was only now as a grown man that he'd begun to appreciate the opposite sex, and as Miss Gardiner was now certainly no longer a girl, he most definitely appreciated her.
The pair quickly announced their betrothal, to the joy of her family, and the dismay of his. For despite all her charms to recommend her, the fact remained that in marrying Frances Gardiner, Thomas Bennet would be marrying beneath him. Upper levels of society - including his own uncle- shunned him for his choice of bride, which to many men would be a loss indeed, but was a blessing in disguise for the unsociable young man from Hertfordshire. The new Mrs Bennet was initially displeased with her husbands disinclination to have a season in town (not realising the very reason for retreating from society was due to herself), but quickly rallied her spirits as the opportunity to ready her new home for Christmas became apparent. Happily, the Bennets were still favourable with all Meryton society so they did not find themselves alone for the Christmas season.
As Frances Bennet turned back to the window, she was struck with the thought that next Christmas would be very different indeed. It was still very early days, but Mrs Bennet had a strong suspicion that she was with child. In the space of a year, Frances Gardiner had become Wife of a Gentleman, Mistress of Longbourn and was soon to be providing the heir to the estate. Yes, the year indeed had been good. As Frances reflected on her good fortune, the subject of her reverie strode into the parlour where she sat.
"Ahh, Mrs Bennet. I find you in your usual position, no doubt admiring your own beauty in the window glass. You do indeed have a handsome face, so I can somewhat understand your preoccupation."
Frances Bennet was used to her husband's teasing, and did not react to it at all. She merely smiled at him and replied that she hoped the baby did indeed inherit his mother's good looks.
"I'm sure he shall my dear, I'm sure he shall. Such a blessing he will be- providing Hertfordshire with another handsome face to look upon, and securing his mothers peace in never having to be with child again. For as you know, Longbourn's future depends upon us providing a son to inherit, and I am well aware of how much being with child has already affected your health. I can imagine it is not an experience you wish to have repeated." Mr Bennet finished his speech with a twinkle in his eye, and his wife knew again that she'd been the brunt of his teasing.
" It is true, how i have suffered already, and what more lies ahead of me! Still Mr Bennet, resigning ourselves to a single child is not a wise choice at all- how you take delight in teasing me! It is my cross to bear, and yet whilst i long for a son to secure our family's continuation at Longbourn, i find myself longing for a daughter, for what am I to offer a son?!" Here Mrs Bennet sniffed. In truth, she was not an intelligent woman, and much of her day was spent in prettying both her home and her appearance. Both interests, she knew, held little value with a son. A daughter, at least, might look up to her.
"Ahh, yes, this is true. But since the estate can only be passed to a son of ours, let us hope that this one is a boy. Then you can have all the daughters you like, Mrs Bennet."
What Mrs Bennet had not realised upon marrying Mr Bennet, was that his estate was entailed, in such a way that only male heirs could inherit. This did not bother Mrs. Bennet, who was certain that her good fortune would continue, and that she would provide Mr Bennet with an entire brood of sons, thus ensuring the continuation of the Bennets at Longbourn. But even with this incentive, Mrs Bennet could not shake the desire to have a daughter of her very own, whom in her head she'd already named Jane, after her own mother.
Frances Bennet's desire for a daughter evaporated the moment she held her healthy first born child in her arms.
Her son. Henry Thomas Bennet.