This prequel is a revision of the story I posted a few months ago, which has a substantial amount of new content and an expanded ending. For details on why it is rated "M" see the explanatory notes. It is a WIP only because I am still tweaking the last few chapters. Because it is largely done, it will be up to you how often I post updates. After the first three chapters (starting with this one, which I am posting simultaneously), I will post at least weekly. However, if you all are really enjoying the story, I will move up the next posting date and post a new chapter for every ten reviews (at least until I've gotten through all the material that is already ready to go).

I did not follow fan tradition on Mr. Bennet's and the future Mrs. Bennet's first names. They are Horace Bennet and Jane Gardiner. You will see other familiar names, but don't get confused, we are staying with the parents and grandparents and the repetition of names is because all of the Bennet daughters are named for their mother's and father's relatives. Additionally, you will see familiar family names as many of the inhabitants of Meryton have been there for generations.

Chapter 1

"It is as easy to fall in love with a rich man as a poor one," said Jane's mother, Mary Gardiner, a sensible and practical woman, as she sat on the side of her daughters' bed, rubbing her oldest daughter's back as she sobbed into her pillow.

"In each generation a woman ought to marry up if she can. I did well to marry your father, as a man with a reasonably profitable trade is preferable to one that is a house servant. If I had married one of them, I would have forever been an upstairs maid."

Jane Gardiner was not listening. She was mourning the loss of Colonel Millar's regiment. She sobbed louder to show her mother how truly upset she was.

Mrs. Gardiner paused in the rubbing of Jane's back. She really ought to check on whether their maid of all trade, Jenny, was being diligent at her work; she tended to slow down when unobserved. Mrs. Gardiner also needed to give some attention to Lydia who was also sobbing from her location on the other side of the bed.

"Keep rubbing," Jane urged, "it helps a little."

Mrs. Gardiner resumed her efforts. "There is a good future prospect for either of you girls. Horace Bennet will be back from Cambridge in about a fortnight. When he returns home to Longbourn, or within a few years of that time, he is sure to be seeking a bride. It would behoove you both to consider how to attract him. He may not look as handsome as a man in a red coat, but he will be able to afford the things my daughters deserve."

"Horace is ugly," Lydia commented, looking up at her mother, "he frowns too much."

"Any man will be more attractive if he smiles," Mrs. Gardiner replied. "If you can put a smile upon young Mr. Bennet's face, it means he has noticed you. And I know that if there is one thing my daughters excel at, it is attracting the notice of men."

Lydia smiled for just a moment at this, before lowering her head back to her pillow and attempting to think sad thoughts to generate more tears.

"Go ahead and mourn for Colonel Millar's regiment. I know our assemblies will be quieter without those men. However, by tomorrow I will have no more of that. You must begin to be more practical. The life of an army bride is not one to be envied, never settled in one place for long if you wish to be by your husband, or continually missing him if you settle in one location."

As she rubbed Jane's back, Mary Gardiner considered whether perhaps Lydia's brightened mood related to the fact that Mr. Phillips, her husband's clerk, would be dining with the family on the morrow. While Lydia was still too young to wed and not even out, though she was perhaps old enough at age sixteen, Mrs. Gardiner had noticed that the last time Mr. Phillips dined with them, a month earlier, by the end of the evening he was finally returning Lydia's glances and smiles.

Mrs. Gardiner was a firm believer in waiting until the older daughter wed before allowing the younger daughter out. However, Mr. Phillips was almost family. He would not be a step up in status for Lydia, but if they were to wed, she could preserve her status.

Although her husband hoped their son Ernest Edward could build upon the Gardiner law practice as he had, Mrs. Gardiner did not think that likely, given Earnest's lack of interest. However, he was yet young so his father might still hope. Perhaps Mr. Phillips, if wed to Lydia, could succeed to the business.

Having sorted out the future course of Lydia's life, Mrs. Gardiner decided to match Jane with Horace Bennet. Although Jane had snubbed the other local men most vigorously in favor of the officers, Mr. Horace had not seen that. If Jane could be encouraged to attract him when he first returned home, she might indeed land him when the other goose cap girls were still thinking of the absent officers.

While Horace Bennet was a scholar, and Jane was not that well-read, it did not signify much. Men did not expect their wives to be learned like themselves. And after all, Horace was a man like any other and her Jane was certainly beautiful, with her dark eyes and dark hair paired with porcelain skin. She was also well endowed in the aspects that men seemed to find attractive, ripe and ready for marriage at almost nineteen. Yes, Horace was certainly the best prospect for her Jane.

"I would be well pleased if both my daughters married well and settled near me," Mrs. Gardiner commented, "Horace Bennet would certainly do for you, Jane." Giving Jane's back one last rub, she arose to check on their maid.