A/N: Thank you for those who have read this story till the 10th chapter. I have been giving this story a lot of thought and because of some comments from trolls and the rushed work I did post, I decided to take a break before coming back to fix this one. I needed a clear head. So if you have started this story before this new update, I would suggest a revisit to the beginning because I change quite a bit. Scenes have been added and deleted and relationships aren't as bad.
If you started this 12/11/2017 then everything is up to date
The sound of the early robins waking up and singing their greetings to their neighbors was accompanied by humming.
Lizzie had gotten up that morning before breakfast with the intent on a quick ride. She crossed the front yard and walked over to the stables where the horses were waking up. Her horse, Sal, was waiting for her.
"Mornin' Sal. Ready to fly today?" Lizzie smiled as she stroked the long nose of her horse. The horse blew out of his nose and made a happy noise as Lizzie went over to grab her saddle.
Five minutes later Lizzie was riding across her father's land. Her hair flew behind her as Sal increased his speed. He jumped over fallen trees and the little stream that was at the border of the Bennet property. When Lizzie finally pulled the reins she was out of breath along with her faithful friend.
Chest heaving, she looked across the level plains, to the old Netherfield property, and past that to the unknown.
Sal moved under her and she patted his neck.
"Someday," she whispered.
Dismounting, she let Sal graze on the tall grass while she found a spot to collapse onto her back and look up at the brightening sky. The grass tickled her face as it moved with the wind. She closed her eyes, imagining to be one of the birds, flying in the headwinds.
Lizzie stayed like this for twenty minutes, not wanting to lose that freedom before having to go back to the house. When she finally did sit up, she noticed a ladybug had landed on her pants leg. She extended a finger, trying to get it to crawl on it. When it did, she brought the bug closer to look at.
The insect didn't linger for long before finally off.
"Someday," she murmured again before getting to her feet.
Sal had wandered a few yards away, but staying relatively close to her.
Putting her foot in the stirrup, she hoisted herself up into the saddle once more and road at a slower pace towards home.
The Bennet family was among the most prominent families in the small town of Hertfordshire with a family of five daughters. They were all grown, ranging from twenty-two to fifteen. They were all beautiful and had an intelligence about them that was unique in their parts. Their father was a school teacher and wanted his children to have brains as well as their beauty. His wife didn't encourage it, not wanting them to appear too smart that they would put off any suitor by appearing more intelligent than the man. Mr. Bennet was fine with this though, finding the young men in their area not worth any of his daughters, not even Lydia who was his most troublesome student.
Jane was the eldest at twenty-two. She was kind to a fault and thought well of everyone. Her features were perfect even with the scorching heat overhead on some of the hotter days. Mrs. Bennet did her best to keep all her daughters inside to maintain their beautiful pale skin. However, her second eldest would not be kept indoors.
Elizabeth, who was twenty was lively and adventurous, was the opposite of Jane. Her features were tanner from riding and spending hours outdoors. Her laugh was infectious and her eyes were breathtaking, daring any man to guess what secrets they held. Her hair was like Mary's a dark brunette, taking after her father.
Mary followed two years after her older sister and wore glasses. She had a great interest in reading like Elizabeth but found scriptures more appealing. When she wasn't reading, she practice playing on the piano, her skilled slender fingers running fluidly across the keys. She was pretty but never exerted herself of trying to look nice, a thing she shared with Elizabeth as well.
Kitty and Lydia were sixteen and fifteen, both boisterous and always looking for fun. They loved dancing and spent most of their time talking and laughing with one another or with friends. Though their volume left little to desire, they, like their sisters were intelligent if you could get them to utilize what they had learned. Unfortunately, they were their mother's favorites, and as such, they followed her teachings, which meant dumbing themselves down a little to make men feel smart.
Mr. and Mrs. Bennet were two completely different creatures and with different goals for their daughters. Mr. Bennet was quiet and intelligent, content to be with his books for companionship when he wasn't overseeing his land. He wanted his daughters to succeed in life and wanted to offer them other options if marriage wasn't what they were looking for, or if they never found anyone. Mrs. Bennet was boisterous and often feigned illness when she should not have her way in the matter. She was considered silly, but that was because she rarely applied her smarts, though they appeared on occasion.
The town called Hertfordshire was located in the Midwest of the United States, earning its name after the town in England.
The west had been a place for seeking new opportunities and many had traveled to the area. Some families had come and gone, but many of the founders, like the Bennet family, had stayed. Among them were the Lucas family, the Gouldings, the Longs, the Kings and a few more. The town was lively and had many town social events where the locals would gather and have dances and food. Games were provided for the younger children and everyone was happy in the comfort of their town.
Everything was easy here with nothing ever really changing.
That was what bothered Elizabeth Bennet the most.
Returning home, Lizzie put Sal into his stall and removed the saddle and brushed him down. She made sure he had food and water before making her way to the house.
As she walked, she picked the pieces of grass from her hair and tried to right her appearance before facing her mother.
Mrs. Bennet was unwavering in her efforts to get her second eldest daughter to take better care of her features and complexion which was getting tanner each day according to her mother. Among the older woman's complaints, was the fact that Lizzie spent most of her days in a pair of men's trousers instead of a dress.
It was a battle that had went on for years with neither backing down.
She entered the house, greeting Mrs. Hill who worked for them with her husband and two sons. She went over to the water basin and washed her hands and face before drying them off.
"Miss Elizabeth, your father wanted to see you after you returned from your ride." said the older woman.
"Thank you, Mrs. Hill." Lizzie nodded and picked up an apple along the way to her father's study. It was lined with books and she had read all of them at least once if not twice. She knocked before entering and found her father looking over the account books.
"You wanted to see me?"
Mr. Bennet wore a bemused smile as he took in his favorite daughter. A girl after his own heart, bringing back memories of his similar youth.
"I believe your mother is needing some things ordered from the butchers and picked up from the general store. She's been scheming something no doubt, but I shall not ask until later."
Lizzie sat down in the chair across from her father's desk and rolled her eyes in exasperation, "No doubt another matchmaking attempt, but we know everyone who is in town."
"Believe me, child, your mother has the nose of a bloodhound. She can sense when a new target is coming."
The two laughed and Mr. Bennet handed his own list of things he needed in town before dismissing her.
As she went up to her room on the second floor, she heard her mother getting ready in her room. No doubt she was talking to Lydia this early.
Stepping into the bedroom she shared with Jane, she saw that her older sister was looking tired already.
"You look like you're in need of an escape." Lizzie chuckled as she sat down on the bed.
Jane sighed and came over with a hairbrush. She began brushing Lizzie's long locks as she voiced her thoughts.
"Mother's been up for an hour already, talking about officers with Lydia."
"Officers?" Elizabeth frowned and looked up at her sister.
"Apparently ma has gotten a letter from her sister in Meryton, Aunt Phillips. She says there is a regiment of soldiers who are encamped near there. She's inviting us over to spend time and meet them."
"Five miles for men in uniform?" Elizabeth wanted to burst out laughing, but calmed herself, "You know, I'm heading into town in a half an hour to pick up some things for our parents. Would you like to come along?"
"That would be great. I don't want to be rude, and I love the others, but-"
"Having to deal with their silliness this early isn't appealing?" Elizabeth offered.
Jane finished doing Elizabeth's hair, putting it into a french braid.
The two came downstairs and when they told their mother of their plans, they were met with disbelief.
"Why on earth would you want to spend time in Hertfordshire instead of meeting the officers. There's no one here worth your time!"
"That may be, but pa wants us to pick up somethings from town and you also gave him a list of things you want to be done. By the time you get back, we'd have everything completed and you can share with us what happened at Aunt Phillips." Lizzie explained. Though she didn't have any doubt that her mother and sisters would tell them regardless if they asked.
Mrs. Bennet seemed to accept this, with the condition of them telling her any news they got from town that was of any significance.
After Jane and Lizzie promised, the two girls set out.
As they rode the half mile to Hertfordshire, Lizzie began to think out loud.
"You know Jane, I think we should ask pa if it weren't better to move to another town, or maybe to a big city."
"Why?"
"Well, here we are surrounded by all sorts of nonsense and grew up with the same families. The men here have their good qualities I guess, but I cannot see myself marrying Jim Goulding if he were to ask."
Jim Goulding had grown up alongside the Bennets with his five siblings. He had had a crush on Lizzie when they were younger and when she had surprised everyone and knocked him out when they were both seven. The next day he said he'd marry her one day because 'Ain't no girl like you who can hit like that. I'm man enough to see it and when I get older, I'm gonna ask to marry ya.'
Seven-year-old Lizzie, of course, hit him again and said she'd never marry any man she didn't completely love, and then, of course, she took off.
"Come on Lizzie." Jane laughed.
"I'm serious. Pickings are slim and being a woman, our choices of a better life are scarce, and I can't be a teacher."
"No more following in pa's footsteps?" Jane rose a perfect eyebrow with a smile playing at her lips.
Lizzie pulled her hat on, putting her hair up so it sat right. The sun was beginning to make her frown to see, "I want to go places. Have adventures. Be a bounty hunter!"
"That was only funny when we were younger, Liz."
"I'm serious though. Since nothing but the deepest feelings of love will ever take me to the altar, I've consoled myself on the idea of never marrying and just become a bounty hunter."
"Just don't speak too loud for any of the ladies in town to hear." Jane warned, "The news would be back home long before we are."
The two made it into town and walked their horses to the hitching post. Elizabeth held her sister's horse by the reins while she dismounted. Honestly, Elizabeth couldn't see why anyone would ride side saddle. Astride seemed more practical. Another reason why she liked her trousers.
Jane ran the errands for their mother while Lizzie hurried off to collect the letters for her father and any telegrams for their family. To her surprise, she found a letter addressed to her mother without a name of the sender. She frowned but put it in her bag before going off to find Jane. The two met and continued to walk through town, enjoying the afternoon without having the need to supervise their younger sisters.
While they had just ascended the boardwalk again, the girls watched as a stagecoach came in with a team of speckled grays.
"What's this? Fresh news for all the housewives to gossip over." Lizzie chuckled, "Surely no one coming in on that stagecoach is actually here to stay above a quarter of an hour."
Jane just smiled, shaking her head at her sister's teasing.
The door to the stagecoach opened and a tall man stepped out and looked around at his surroundings. He was blond and handsome, an easy expression on his face. His clothes were nice and clean, devoid of the mud and grime that was usually seen on the bottom of the pants of the locals who traveled either on horseback or even walked.
Their eyes met his. The man's gaze lingering on Jane the longest as he tried to climb the stairs of the boardwalk to go inside the restaurant. He stumbled, tripping before he caught himself and he had to finally look away to see where he was going.
"Why Jane, not having been here for even two minutes and you have the poor man falling in love with you. Actually falling." Lizzie laughed.
He sister, however, didn't comment.
"Hello, Jane? Are you with us?"
"Yes?"
"Jane, are you okay? Seem to have lost you there for a minute."
"Of course." Her sister smiled, clearing her throat and the two continued their walk.
Lizzie couldn't help herself from asking, "Do you think him handsome? I thought he did. And to recognize your beauty, it shows great intelligence. He has my blessing."
"What are you talking about?" Jane blushed.
"True, I guess a man could be handsome for other reasons; money, character and of course intelligence."
"Stop joking around. He may be married for all we know."
"He better not be, especially if he's looking at you!" Elizabeth frowned at the thought of a husband being unfaithful. There were so many reasons not to get married and just stay single. Even after marriage, some women weren't safe. "There is still the possibility that he is entirely stupid. A man who just saw your pretty face. There wouldn't be much loss in that case."
"You're just as pretty, Lizzie."
Elizabeth shook her head, "I will have to disagree with you on that account. You are all things good and always forgiving with such ease. If someone should offend me, I would retaliate and if not, find some way to have humor in their ignorance."
"Lizzie, you are all things good too. You are beautiful and my most beloved sister."
"Don't let Kitty or dare I say Lydia hear you say that." Elizabeth chuckled.
After about an hour of socializing with friends in town and neighbors, the girls felt they had enough information gathered to satisfy their mother's curiosity about the going on's in town. They were returning to their awaiting horses when they spotted the handsome man again.
"Odd. Jane, I do believe that handsome gentleman must've been left behind by the stagecoach when it left." Elizabeth joked.
The gentleman made his way across the street and when he met their gaze, he walked over to them, breaking from his doubt original destination to greet them.
He looked at both of the girls with a warm smile and offered them a slight bow, "Afternoon ladies."
"Afternoon sir." Jane smiled shyly with a curtsy.
Elizabeth wasn't sure if she should bow or curtsy while wearing pants, so she just stood there with a good-humored smile, "I believe we had seen you come off the stagecoach sir, I hope you were not left here by accident."
"No of course not. I'm actually here to look at some property on the means of possibly renting it." he chuckled.
"It is always nice to receive new neighbors," Jane offered.
The man's eyes seemed to be incapable of looking away from Jane's.
"My name is Elizabeth Bennet, and this is my older sister Jane." Elizabeth offered, bringing the man's attention back.
"I beg your pardon for my bad manners. My name is Charles Bingley."
"Let me be the first to congratulate you Mr. Bingley for having the distinction that not many men around here have." Elizabeth smiled with one eyebrow lifted slightly.
"Oh, and what may I ask is this distinction. Nothing bad I hope." He smiled, good-naturedly.
"You sir, have excellent observational skills. There are not many who could tell that I am a girl in these clothes."
"Really?" he looked surprised at this, "I mean, I myself have been called anything but observant, which I am aware of being true. I do, however, have several sisters and know a lady when I see one." he offered her a sweet smile with his own raised eyebrow, "Even if she is in disguise."
"I wouldn't call it a disguise."
"Would it be rude of me to ask the reason for your choice in apparel then?"
"I find it considerably easier to get things done when you don't have to worry about tripping on extra material around your legs."
"Well, allow me to say they look very well on you. And is the hat also not apart of the disguise?"
Lizzie removed her hat to allow her now loose french braid to fall down her back.
"No, not a disguise, just shielding my eyes from the sun."
"Does the sun not bother you, Ms. Bennet?"
"It can, but I'm hardly outside to warrant anything other than a bonnet."
The little group talked a bit longer, the girls showing Bingley around the town before making their way back to their horses again. He said his goodbyes and bowed once more, helping Jane onto her horse before they set out.
"Well, Jane," Lizzie turned in her seat to grin over at her sister, "I give you leave to like him. He is all things good and has more sense about him than any man I know. However, not enough to make me your rival for his affection. You are safe from me."
"Dear Lizzie, I should never want a man to ever be the reason we were at odds."
"Then it is settled. You shall marry Mr. Bingley and I shall continuously be over there to read his collection of books."
"I thought you weren't entirely impressed by what he said about his collection. It didn't seem like he had many."
"No, that's true, but he will have ones I have not read before which is all that matters."
Their sisters and mother arrived an hour after them and spoke all through dinner about the people they saw, what was new in the shops, and of course the officers.
Jane and Elizabeth decided to hold off on telling their mother about the perspective neighbor until later. The woman would hardly rest from excitement if she knew a single man had moved into their town and had taken interest in Jane. No, best to keep the peace as long as possible.
After dinner, they all retired to the living room to their individual activities. Mrs. Bennet would, of course, be talking to the youngest before lamenting on the fact that none of her daughters were married or even engaged. Jane she still had high hopes for. Elizabeth, well Lizzie was her father's daughter and in her husband's eyes, she was free to remain single forever.