Thanks for all of your wonderful comments! Sorry about the delay in posting! I will try to post once a week...probably Mondays! I hope you enjoy the chapter. It's unbeta'd so all mistakes are mine! We've got to get ODG to England. So without further adue...

Oh, and as much as I wish it, I don't own P&P :(

Chapter 1

November 1813

Elizabeth Bennet finally made it to English soil. After a seemingly endless journey, rifled with running from blockades and battleships, thankfully her father knew this might happen and made provisions for their passage. The ship had been one of her father's, a trade ship. The captain had been a very welcome companion and a very savvy seaman, no wonder her father had entrusted them to his care while on board. He was to see them safely to England, more specifically to Mr. Thomas Bennet. Apparently the two men had known each other for some time, probably since her father had come to America. He used everything in his power to keep them from being imprisoned. How he did it, Elizabeth could only wonder. However, there was one time she noticed that the ship's flag was different. She could have sworn that when she boarded an American flag had been flying atop its mast; that day, however, the Union Jack was waving in the breeze for all to see. She knew better than to ask any questions, she possibly did not want to know the answer.

Never in her life did she think she would be so happy to see England. The land her father had told her about since she was a child. She hoped her life would almost the same as it was back home. However she knew that that was going to be difficult. She had one thing working against her. She was an American, an American on English soil during wartime. She knew her reception could possibly be…unpleasant. She was nervous, though she would never let anyone be aware of it, only Simi could see that she indeed was nervous.

The captain had told them to remain were they were, so he could find her uncle. Elizabeth and Simi were standing on the deck of the ship that brought them to this country. They had become used to not seeing land anywhere and while Charleston was a big city, it was not like this. People were everywhere; it made the city look like a giant anthill.

"Miss Lizzie, I ain't ever seen anything like this before." Simi stood there with a few bags alternately looking at Elizabeth and then Portsmouth.

"No Simi, I have not. Amazing though, if Portsmouth looks like this I wonder what London would be like?" Elizabeth bit her lip and looked around the bustling port with childish glee. Her dark brown eyes, her grandmother's eyes, were sparkling.

After a few minutes of gawking Elizabeth saw a familiar face coming toward her. Even though she had never been introduced to this man she knew it was her uncle. The resemblance between her father and this man was extraordinary, they could have been twins. As he worked his way through the people she finally caught sight of his eyes. She gasped at the uncanny resemblance. They were a bluish-green color, like the color of sea in the tropics. They were her father's eyes.

Suddenly the man was standing in front of the two of them.

"Are you Miss Bennet from America?" The older gentleman asked.

Elizabeth continued to study him for a few more seconds and Simi was about to nudge her to reply when she laughed and said, "Elizabeth Anne Bennet, sir, formerly of Oak Grove, a few miles southwest of Charleston, South Carolina. Sir, would it be considered too presumptuous of me to assume that you are my uncle?"

At this Thomas Bennet laughed with abandon. Yes she truly is like mother.

"Not at all Miss Bennet, for I am your uncle. Your father was my younger brother and would be honored if you would call me Uncle Thomas."

Elizabeth bit her lip and smiled.

"Only if you agree to call me Lizzie, sir, and this Uncle Thomas," Elizabeth said while patting Simi's arm, "is Simi. She has been with me my whole life and I do not think I could be without her."

She leveled her gaze at her uncle in silent communication. Elizabeth would not put up with anyone treating Simi with anything less than respect she deserved as a person and her friend. Thomas Bennet understood her look perfectly. He knew where her loyalties were and he would not begrudge her the one person she had left from her old life.

"Well, Miss Simi, it is a pleasure to meet you. I hope you and Lizzie find England to your liking. The weather here can be a bit difficult at times, but other than that it is wonderful. After all this is where your family is from Lizzie." Mr. Bennet finished his sentence with a small, sad smile. He wanted to ask about his brother but was afraid of the answer.

Elizabeth smiled in reply and Simi began looking up at the sky. It was cloudy. She wondered if that meant it was always cloudy. It would not be good if Miss Lizzie had to forgo her usual walks because of the weather.

As if Lizzie was reading her mind, "Does that mean it always rains here Uncle Thomas?"

"Not always Lizzie, but it does rain a good amount here. Hopefully, you are not the outdoorsy type, and if you are, I hope you do not mind a bit of mud." Thomas began chuckling to himself, if she is anything like her father, then she will be covered in mud constantly.

Elizabeth laughed and said, "A little bit of mud never hurt anybody!"

"Now ladies I believe it is time we departed this chaos and head to your new home." Mr. Bennet held out his arm to Elizabeth and with a quick look to her, he held out his other arm for Simi.

"Thank you sir, you are very kind."She smiled at Mr. Bennet and decided that she was going to like England very much.

Elizabeth looked up to her uncle and bestowed a beautiful smile. Yes, it may not be South Carolina, but it was going to be her new home. She vowed that she would look at this as a grand adventure, one she would embrace with open arms.

He handed them both into the carriage and began to tell them about Longbourne. He hoped that Elizabeth would love the house and lands as much as she obviously loved Oak Grove.

A few hours later, Elizabeth and Simi were lulled into sleep and Thomas began wondering about his niece's life prior to coming here. He knew from the documents that his brother had provided that Jonathan had done extremely well for himself. He also knew that Elizabeth was a very wealthy woman. She probably was the wealthiest woman, well person, in all of England. He would have to be vigilant; fortune hunters were not limited to women. He knew Jonathan would have his head served up on a silver platter if anything happened to her, at that he smiled. He truly missed his brother, but Elizabeth was the closest thing to having his brother there. He then began to think about his family, his wife and youngest daughter in particular. Oh Lord! Heaven help us all! The two of them were enough to make his sensible mind spin. Maybe Elizabeth, and possibly Simi, can bring some much needed peace to Longbourne. Just then the women began to stir, finally, with a wipe of her eyes, Elizabeth removed the last of her sleepy fog.

"Uncle Thomas, how much longer until we reach Longbourne?"

"A few more hours. There is an inn a few miles from here we will use to change horses and stretch our legs a bit. How does that sound Lizzie?"

"Oh wonderful, I could use a good walk, but a stroll will do all the same." She said with a twitch of her lips, trying to suppress the smile that wanted to come.

"Well, since we have time I thought I could tell you about your aunt and cousins."

"Yes, please, I cannot wait to meet them!" At the talk of cousins, Elizabeth became more animated; she truly did love meeting new people.

"Jane is my eldest, at one and twenty. She is very calm and sees the world in rose colored glasses." Mr. Bennet chuckled a bit then continues, "I honestly believe she would defend a criminal if she believed why he committed his crime, and with Jane being Jane, well the criminal would have a staunch supporter."

Elizabeth laughed at his description of Jane. She sounds sweet, too sweet. I wonder if she could be as good as Uncle Thomas is making her out to be.

"Next is Mary. She is very quiet, and then comes Lydia." Thomas Bennet let out an exasperated breath he always seemed to have when talking about Lydia or his wife. "Lydia and my wife are like two pieces of the same cloth. They are flighty, loud and gossipy. We can only pray that the militia has not come to Meryton since I left Longbourne. I do not think my ears, nor my head, could take the overtures about men and red coats!"

"My goodness Uncle!"

Elizabeth and Simi shared a look; these two could make life difficult.

"Oh before I forget, my wife's younger brother, Edward Gardiner, has invited you and the rest of the family to come to London. I figured that you might need to procure some things, so I went ahead and replied in the affirmative. Is that alright?"

"London? Thank you! Papa told me all about London and I have wanted to see it since I was a little girl. Thank you so much." Elizabeth threw her arms around Thomas's neck and gave him a heartfelt hug.

Mr. Bennet was overwhelmed, he thanked God everyday for bring his niece and by extension his brother back into his life.

With tears in his eyes he said, "My word! Where has the time gone? Look Lizzie, this is Meryton. We are almost to Longbourne."

They reached Longbourne at dusk. Once the carriage had stopped it took all the reserve they could muster to not rush out of the carriage. Mr. Bennet felt his age as he tried to quickly get out of the carriage. Once he was out he handed out Simi and then a glowing Lizzie.

"It is beautiful here. Father's descriptions did not do it justice," Elizabeth could not help keep the awe out of her voice.

Sure, Longbourne was on the small side, but it was old. Elizabeth was an American; therefore most of the buildings were new, well newer. She had never, in her recollection, been to a home that was over one hundred years old.

"How old is the estate uncle?"

At first Mr. Bennet thought she was critiquing her new home, and then he saw the look of wonderment on her face. He looked around himself to see what had her so entranced. He did not notice anything in particular.

"Well over three hundred years. It has been in the Bennet family for almost as long."

Elizabeth and Simi looked at each other, then back to the house. Softly, almost unheard, Elizabeth said to no one in particular, "three hundred years."

"Simi have you seen the like?"

"No ma'am. I don't know anyone who has." Simi was just as awed. It was beautiful in her eyes. Yes, I am glad I went with Miss Lizzie. I would have never seen anything like this.

"What has the two of you looking like you have just seen the Crown Jewels?" Mr. Bennet tried to hide his mirth, but failed miserably.

"Uncle, none of the buildings in America are this old. This is truly wonderful to me and Simi, I am sure."

"Truly? How fascinating. Perhaps while you are here the two of you could tell us stuffy English about the wilds of America?"

"I would enjoy that." Elizabeth was happy to know that maybe her new family would not be prejudiced against her because she was American.

"How about you Simi?" Mr. Bennet asked Simi and smiled at her while waitng her reply.

"Oh, well, yes, yes I would." Simi had never had anyone, besides Mr. Jonathan and Miss Lizzie, treat her with such kindness. Their kindness was what had saved her when she was barely fourteen and she had vowed never to forget it.

"Well then come on. Let's go meet some of the silliest women in all of England," Mr. Bennet said with a smile and led them into the house.

Mrs. Bennet, Jane, Mary and Lydia were in the sitting room looking ever so much the typical well-bred English gentlewomen.

Mr. Bennet and the ladies walked in to the sitting room and then the ladies of the house stood.

Mr. Bennet looked at Lizzie and Simi and with a smile he began the introductions.

"Ladies may I introduce you to my family. My eldest, Jane, and standing next her is Mary. Over by the window is my youngest, Lydia. Last, but not least, is my wife, your aunt, Elizabeth, Fanny."

Each lady curtsied when their name was called, and Jane, Mary and Elizabeth exchanged bright, warm smiles.

"Ladies, this is your cousin, Elizabeth. And the young lady next to her is her companion, Simi."

The two ladies curtsied. Elizabeth was ecstatic; she always wanted siblings, now she had three new cousins. Simi, on the other hand, was confounded. She did not expect for Mr. Bennet to introduce her, much less call her a lady.

Though Mr. Bennet did not know it, with his introduction he had earned Simi's unyielding loyalty and incurred Mrs. Bennet's wrath.

"Aunt, cousins, I hope we all get to know each other very well and I hope for us to be as close as sisters."

Mrs. Bennet just raised her eyebrow at this, this thing, which had the nerve to smile at her! Her niece, indeed, that was hogwash and she knew it. She knew that her marriage was a sham and she knew he found his pleasure elsewhere, thank Heavens for that! I do not think I could stand to have him sweating on top of my anymore. But if he thinks he can bring his whore into my house! Well…he better think again!

"My niece, Mr. Bennet? I was unaware that you had any siblings." Mrs. Bennet didn't even try to take the coldness out of her voice. There that little whore and that man will know that I know what they have been doing.

Elizabeth was taken aback by her aunt's unvoiced meaning. Never in her life had Elizabeth Anne Bennet been so angry.

"Yes, Mrs. Bennet, I do or I did," Mr. Bennet's voiced cracked with his pronouncement. He never talked about his brother to anyone except Jane and Mary. He knew Mrs. Bennet would have never understood their connection, and if he did tell her about Nate, she probably would have written him asking how much money he had. Clearing his constricting voice he continued, "I had a younger brother, Jonathan, Nate to me; he left for America not too long before we were introduced. And I was ensnared, he thought bitterly.

"Oh, well then, I guess you are welcome to stay Eliza. Your darkie can stay with the servants."

Jane and Mary were mortified, Lydia was laughing at her mother's comments. Anyone could see that Simi was more than a companion to Lizzie.

"Mother," Jane whispered urgently.

"Mrs. Bennet!" Mr. Bennet was angry and everyone knew it, he never raised his voice. His wife had insulted his niece and her companion. "You will see that your niece and Simi are situated, and then you will come to see me in my study. Do you understand Madam?" His tone made his request an undisputed order.

Mrs. Bennet knew that she had to watch herself. She had pushed her husband too far. Usually, Mr. Bennet never cared what she did or said, so now with that woman here, his change of manner meant one thing; she was his whore.

"Of course, yes, Mr. Bennet. Right this way ladies, HILL!"

Mrs. Hill came walking into the room with some trepidation; she had never heard Mr. Bennet yell before. She guessed it had to do with Jonathan Bennet's daughter.

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Show this…"she shot a look at Mr. Bennet's darkened countenance, "my niece and her companion to their rooms."

"Of course, follow me, if you please."

Please tell me what you think...it keeps the muse going!

~Liz~