Chapter 3
Is that the sound of a cockerel? What on earth would a cockerel be doing in the middle of Surrey? In fact what would it be doing, so close to my bedroom? Mrs Halliday used to own chickens but that was years ago, and they live at least five houses away. I bury my head in my pillow as the blasted animal cries out again.
"What do you want from me?" I shout as I sit up in bed and rub my eyes. As I look around the unfamiliar room it dawns on me. It was not a dream. And I am not mad. Well probably not. I am living the life of Elizabeth Bennet.
"Isabella, Isabella get up, it is nearly ten" a squawking worse than the cockerel, in my opinion, started drowning me and the almost peacefulness of someone else's room.
"Miss Bennet will you get out of bed this instant" I recognised the woman as Mrs Bennet as she strode in and yanked the covers away from me, exposing me to the frosty morning breeze.
"I am not Miss Bennet, please go away" I snapped back and laid back down on the bed whilst Mrs Bennet simply stared in disbelief.
"Izzy if you don't get out of that bed so help me I will scream" the woman persisted and I was forced to get out of bed. "Now get dressed for I have exciting news" Mrs Bennet continued before bustling out the room.
The sun is already streaming through the small window of my room and as I draw the curtains, I glimpse the beautiful gardens of the Bennet house and feel lightheaded at the thought. Me, in the Bennet's house. Me, Isabella Hartwell, part of the Bennet family. Perhaps I've died and gone to Heaven. Either that or I am definitely mad. Maybe something terrible has happened to me. Maybe I am in a coma or maybe this is simply some beautiful dream, just like Elizabeth said it was.
And where is Elizabeth? If this is real and I am stuck here, is she stuck in my old house? Is she living the life of a modern woman whilst I must live the life of a woman without TV, mobiles, fast food, tampons, paracetamol, toothbrushes, running water, decent hygiene, makeup, the internet, and good chocolate – oh fuck.
I take several deep breaths as I approach the dressing table and sit down. Again I am slightly comforted to see that I am still the person who stares back at me. Now that I look at myself, I look pretty good. My long hair looks as if it hasn't been abused by straighteners and hair dryers for ten years. The dark circles under my eyes are almost completely gone and there is not a single blemish across my whole face. Maybe the air is cleaner here, or maybe I'm just imagining it as usual. I now notice that my long hair is plaited even though I have no memory of doing it myself and it is just as mysterious as the strange nightgown that I wear.
"Oh bollocks" the words escape my mouth as something occurs to me. With trembling lips I bare my teeth to the mirror and am relieved to see that they are how I left them and not a rotting brown colour.
"Hhhmmm" I frowned as I looked at the clothes that had been set out on the end of my bed, presumably by a servant as I could not imagine Mrs Bennet doing anything like this herself. There were some baggy pant thingies which I got on quite easily. Then some kind of thin undergarment dress which was simple enough.
"Oh" I muttered quietly as I spotted the strange corset like device and began to struggle with it for several minutes.
"Do you need some help Miss?" I turned to see a young servant girl looking rather worried at my efforts to something clearly impossible by myself.
"If you don't mind" I indicated to the laces which waited to be done up. I caught a glimpse of the girl's skilled hands as they worked swiftly down the length of my back. "Thanks, you're a life saver" I smiled before continuing with a pair of incredibly long white socks.
"Umm will you be needing help with your dress madam?" the nervous girl asked again and I looked over at the dress in confusion.
"Now that you mention it, those buttons do look pretty tricky" I admitted and she helped me to get it on securely.
"Thanks again but I think I can handle the rest myself. What's your name?" I asked curiously as the hovered in the doorway, obviously unsure whether she was allowed to leave.
"Agnes miss" the girl looked terrified now as I approached her.
"Cheers Agnes" I smiled before closing the door, with her on the other side.
Descending the staircase, I walk towards the sound of voices behind a slightly open door.
"What a fine thing for our girls" I heard Mrs Bennet say happily before Mr Bennet replied "How so? How can it affect them?" "My dear Mr Bennet" his wife began but I stepped in before she had finished.
"Sorry to butt in but I think I probably have some explaining to do on behalf of Elizabeth" I smiled uncomfortably.
"Of who?" Mrs Bennet almost shouted in confusion.
"Of Elizabeth Bennet" I tried to explain but their faces were still blank.
"Mr Bennet do we have a relation by the name of Elizabeth" Mrs Bennet asked suspiciously and I felt like screaming.
"No I don't believe we do" the man replied with a similar look of bewilderment.
"Elizabeth Bennet, your second daughter" I almost exploded at how stupid this was becoming. They stared at me before starting to laugh like madmen.
"You quite had us there dear Isabella, but perhaps you could come up with someone other than yourself next time" Mr Bennet chuckled with amusement whilst Mrs Bennet had quickly grown tired of it.
"But I'm not your daughter" I protest but Mrs Bennet is having none of it.
"Oh Izzy, I grow tiresome of you, excuse yourself" she pushed me through the door then abruptly closed it behind me.
"Well they are just charming" I mumbled sarcastically to myself. Wondering through the house I find Mary playing the piano in rather painful enthusiasm, Kitty and Lydia giggling like five year olds and lastly Jane sitting amongst the madness with a calm, almost happy expression.
"Izzy" she exclaimed and rose from her chair with grace like a swan.
"Jane" I tried to act as if I weren't surprised by her delighted greeting. "Are we sisters?" I quickly ask as we both sit down and she nods amusedly.
"And my name's Isabella, not Elizabeth?" I check again and again she smiles and nods. "Describe my face to me, just in case my mirror is lying to me" I order anxiously and Jane frowns.
"You are quite out of sorts, are you well?" she asks gently taking my hand.
"Yes I'm fine, everything is fine" I try to assure both her and myself.
"Good, now describe your appearance you say. Well you have green eyes that sparkle with life, like emeralds and long hair that I could only dream of. It is the colour of sweet honey and has gentle waves that remind me of the seaside. You have skin as fair as any and cheeks that blush like roses in summer" Jane finished her poetic speech and I stood up.
"Thank you Jane, that was … lovely but now you must excuse me, for I intend to take a walk" I stood up and sprinted out into the garden in a most unladylike way I'm sure.
