Author Notes: Here's Chapter 1 (finally), hope you like it.
Chapter 1: A shock to the system
There were faint whispers coming from above where Sophia was laying, thinking that she were imagining it she opened one of her eyes. Though winced as the bright light sent a shot of pain up to her head, this seemed to not go unnoticed from the people above her as a feminine voice observed,
''Mama, I think she moved.''
Attempting again to move she opened both her eyes simultaneously to be greeted with the site of a plain girl sitting at the end of her bed looking at her excitedly, while an older woman stood beside her bed looking down concernedly. Though the thing that shocked her the most was their attire, both of them were adorned in simple Regency styled dresses, the older of the two wearing a white bonnet.
Inquiring in a raspy voice while looking between her two companions nervously, ''W-where…am I?''
The young girl and stout woman shared a glance, though the elder woman was the first to answer,
''You are at Longbourn, my dear.''
Blanching Sophia stuttered, ''L…Longbourn, where is that?''
The older woman sent her a comforting look and replied,
''We are in Hertfordshire, dear. I'm Mrs Bennet, by the way and this is my daughter Mary Bennet.'' The bonneted woman annunciated indicating to the young girl sitting at the end of the bed who was sending her a shrewd look. ''And what is your name dear, if you remember?''
Blinking rapidly to remain calm Sophia answered in a quiet voice,
'' My name is Sophia, Sophia Prescott.''
Gaining some confidence she inquired in a stronger voice,
''How did I come to be here?''
Mrs Bennet kept her concerned gaze on the bedridden girl explained in a soft voice,
''Kitty and Lydia; my two younger daughters, found you out in the front garden, they came running in exclaiming there was a girl on the front lawn, when I went out you were unconscious dear, you were in a very bad state. We didn't know how you got there and you were wearing the strangest clothing I have ever seen.''
Looking down at herself Sophia noted that she was still wearing her baggy pyjamas, though in comparison to the other room's occupants it was easily the most revealing, turning her gaze back up to the woman indicating for her to continue.
''Anyhow we called for the gardener to help us carry you up here. Jane; my eldest daughter, and I have been nursing you for the past four days dear, we were starting to think the worst when you wouldn't wake up, but at last you have.''
She finished sending her a relieved look.
Swallowing and attempting to regulate her breathing Sophia looked between her two companions and asked,
''Mrs Bennet, may I ask what date it is presently?''
''Certainly dear, it's 27th May 1811. Are you feeling okay, Miss Prescott?''
Feeling nearly ready to faint she gave a vague nod and answered in the positive.
Desiring some solitude she asked if Mary and Mrs Bennet could leave the bedroom, the latter doing so with more indisposition than the former. When both had exited the room, Sophia let her eyes scan the room.
The bedroom was medium in size and modestly furnished. Besides the bed that she was currently seated on, there was a vanity at the far side of the room, a smallish chest of drawers stood contiguous to the vanity, a worn but comfy armchair in the far corner, a teetering stack of books sat atop of a side desk with an unlit candle beside her bed, a painted picture of a lake was hanging on the far wall and a vase of lilies sat on top of a desk in the corner. The walls themselves were of a light blue and the wooden floors were rather faded and the only natural light was coming through a small window on the right wall. The bedroom wasn't very new but the overall ambiance was an appealing one.
Standing up shakily Sophia meandered over to the window and opened it to let in some air, in an attempt to alleviate the confusion that she felt. Looking out through the window she was greeted with the sight of green hills and trees instead of the familiar modern buildings, winding streets, and laughing gaggles of students.
Taking in a shaky breath to stem the inevitable tears Sophia walked back to her bed to steady herself, though sitting innocuously on the recently occupied bed was her rose locket. Raising an eyebrow at the trinket she reached over and cradled it in her hands for a few seconds before she attempted to wrench it open. Once again the locket would not comply and remained tenaciously shut.
Giving up she dropped the locket down on her lap and rested her head in her hands.
Somehow the locket had transported her to this time, and she be damned if she wouldn't try to go back to her own time. Before she could continue in her contemplations a faint knock came for the bedroom's door, lifting her head from her hands saying in a barely audible voice,
''Come in.''
The person in the other side of the door must have heard the invitation none the less because the handle hesitantly turned and a blonde woman around her own age walked into the room, as she walked over to the bed she said in a soft comforting voice,
''My name is Jane. Mama said you had finally woken, so I thought it best if I came to see you, how are you feeling Sophia?''
On closer inspection she found the woman to be very beautiful, though instead of having a conceited aura she radiated innocence and naivety.
Turning her head round to the pretty woman,
''Thank you, for coming to see me, really appreciate it. I'm fine just a bit… ''
Breaking off to find the right words-'' Disorientated and slightly confused.''
This was completely true, because she didn't know if she were dreaming or just going senile.
Sending a smile at Jane in a hope to convince her of her health, seeming convinced the sweet women returned the gesture suggesting,
''If you wanted we could go for a walk, the fresh air could help you.''
Sophia was just about to decline, when she decided that a walk would afford her some time to ponder over her predicament. Instead she slightly smiled at Jane replying,
''Actually Jane, I think a walk could do me some good.''
The next four months went by in a blur. Sophia had met the rest of the Bennets. She got on amiably with Jane and Mary; the former more so than the latter, though the same could not be said about Kitty and Lydia as she found them immature and often obstreperous, nevertheless they could be good company on occasion.
For the first few weeks she had spent most of her time in her bedroom often just starring at the locket or attempting to open it, willing it to send her back home to her own time. Choosing to skip meals and refusing to leave the confinement of her bedroom, the strange behaviour worried the Bennets immensely though they left Sophia in peace thinking it best to give the strange girl some space to recover from her traumatic experience.
She was plagued with nightmares, the most habitually occurring one being where she would be standing in the forest that her parents used to take her as a child. Both her parents and her best friend Emily would be standing at a distance beckoning her over, though every time she would get closer they would just slip out of her grasp.
Jane would usually come in the middle of the night and attempt to console her friend, letting her cry into her shoulder while embracing her and whispering comfortingly into her ear. Jane assuming that Sophia was suffering side-effects due to her traumatic experience, having Jane their comforted her greatly, as her presence diverted her thoughts.
After a while Sophia became more social and stayed with the family for meals and joining Jane for walks around the grounds, her favourite spot being beside the lake where they generally just sat admiring nature and conversed.
Though she found the most comfort in painting and drawing; something she hadn't done since she was in her teens. Mrs Bennet herself commented upon her 'uncommonly gifted hand'. This brightened her mood even further.
The family thankfully didn't press Sophia into explaining where she had come from, deciding just that she had went through a traumatic experience and leaving it at that; much to Sophia's immense gratitude. Though they had fabricated the story of that she was a distant relative whose parents had recently passed away, and that they had charitably taken Sophia in till she eventually got married; which if Sophia had her way wouldn't be anytime soon. A story that was told to any town's person that was curious enough to ask where she had turned up from; thankfully though few inquired.
As August rolled by it seemed to the Bennets as though Sophia's despondency had dissipated, which it had as she smiled more, spent very little time in the solitude of her bedroom and could often be seen walking, reading or painting in her free time. She wasn't used to having so much free time in 2014 due to her studies and work but in 1811 she had time to burn; figuratively of course.
In late August she met Charlotte Lucas for the first time, when Jane and she were walking to Meryton on a message for Mrs Bennet. Sophia took an instant liking to the amusing woman. In turn Charlotte took to Sophia whom she thought to be: Highly intelligent, if not rather eccentric. Though she had also taken a liking to her friend's wild mass of curls.
One of the things that vexed Sophia greatly though was when Mrs Bennet had encouraged the girls to marry well, which incensed Sophia into vociferating 'that women didn't need to get married if they so choose, least of all for money instead of love.' This did not bode well with Mrs Bennet as she had called her a 'headstrong and senseless girl.' The argument had not ceased until Jane had mediated. Though Sophia didn't want to be disrespectful to the woman who had been so obliging as to take her into her home, so she apologised, which was coldly received in turn, thankfully though they had not sparred since then and the whole squabble was soon forgotten.
There were times though when Sophia would become slightly disconsolate, when she missed things from the future; especially her quirky friend Emily. Jane and Charlotte though took it upon themselves to divert her thoughts, which generally worked. (Both of whom she had developed a close attachment with.)
Jane and Charlotte had also taken it upon themselves to teach Sophia the etiquette of the time (so that she wouldn't make a complete fool of herself.) And they also taught her a few dances; it was the complete opposite of what she was accustomed to, as instead of the fist pumping and grinding, the dancing was intricate and often difficult to learn. Nevertheless Sophia had come to like it.
One morning in late September as Sophia was walking in through the front door with her Latin book under her arm; as she had been reading by the lake earlier that morning, she was greeted with the site of Mary, Jane, Kitty and Lydia eavesdropping outside Mr Bennet's study.
Rolling her eyes at their antics, though smiling none the less, she joked,
''What's so interesting, may I ask?''
Though before any of the girls answered Mrs Bennet's high voice exclaimed in a jubilant tone,
''Netherfield Park is let at last!''
Author Notes: Chapter 2 will incorporate the Meryton Ball, by the way I just wanted to let you know that Sophia is some what similar to Elizabeth though there are still differences in them to change the plot.
For example Sophia is less prejudiced, taller and has wilder hair than that of Eliza's. She would also have more of an hourglass figure, instead of a light one. And maybe even slightly smarter;)
