I again apologize for the late update. College started, and I've been working on a BTS series on AO3 and Tumblr. I added this message to the last chapter, but just so I know you guys will see it, I'm going to put it here. I will be referring to everyone with their first names, (except for the married people), unless they are being talked about or to by another character. Obviously siblings will still call each other by their first names.


Mr. Bennet's property consisted almost entirely in an estate of two thousand a year, which, unfortunately for his daughters, was entailed (4), because of the lack of a male heir, on a distant relation; and their mother's fortune, though ample for her situation in life, couldn't supply the deficiency of his. Her father had been an attorney in Meryton, and had left her four thousand pounds.

She had a sister married to a Mr. Phillips, who had been a clerk to their father and succeeded him in the business, and a brother settled in London in a respectable line of trade.

The village of Longbourn was only one mile from Meryton; a most convenient distance for the young ladies, who usually walked there three or four times a week, to pay a visit to their aunt and to a hat shop just over the way. The two youngest of the family, Lovina and Felicia, did this particularly frequently; their minds were more vacant than their sisters', and when nothing better was offered, a walk to Meryton was necessary to amuse their morning hours and provide conversation for the evening; and however bare of news the country in general might be, they were always able to learn some from their aunt. At present, indeed, they were well supplied both with news and happiness by the recent arrival of a militia regiment in the neighborhood; it was to remain the whole winter, and Meryton was the headquarters.

Their visits to Mrs. Phillips were now productive of the most interesting intelligence. Every day added something to their knowledge of the officers' names and connections. Their lodgings were not long a secret, and at length they began to know the officers themselves. Mr. Phillips visited them all, and this opened to his nieces a store of happiness unknown before. They could talk of nothing but officers; and Alfred's large fortune, the mention of which excited their mother, was worthless in their eyes when opposed to the regimentals of an ensign (5).

After listening one morning to their effusions on this subject, Mr. Bennet coolly observed:

"From what I gather by your way of talking, you must be two of the silliest girls in the country. I have suspected it for some time, but I am now convinced."

Lovina was disconcerted, and made no answer; but Felicia, with perfect indifference, continued to express her admiration of Captain Carter, and her hope of seeing him in the course of the day, as he was going the next morning to London.

"I am astonished, my dear," said Mrs. Bennet, "that you should be so ready to think your own children silly. If I wished to insult of anybody's children, it should not be my own."

"If my children are silly, I must hope to always be aware of it."

"Yes—but as it happens, they are all very clever."

"This is the only point, and I flatter myself with saying so, on which we do not agree. I had hoped that our thoughts were the same in everything, but I must differ from you very much, since I think our two youngest daughters are uncommonly foolish."

"My dear Mr. Bennet, you must not expect such girls to have the sense of their father and mother. When they get to be our age, I dare say they will not think about officers any more than we do. I remember the time when I liked a red coat myself very well—and, indeed, so I do still at heart; and if a smart young colonel, with five or six thousand a year, should want one of my girls I shall not say no to him; and I thought Colonel Forster looked very becoming the other night at Sir William's in his uniform."

"Mamma," cried Felicia, "my aunt says that Colonel Forster and Captain Carter do not go as often to Miss Watson's as they did when they first came; she sees them standing in Clarke's library quite often now."

Mrs. Bennet was not able to reply, for the family was interrupted by the entrance of the footman with a note for Sakura; it came from Netherfield, and the servant waited for an answer. Mrs. Bennet's eyes sparkled with pleasure, and she was eagerly calling out, while her daughter read,

"Well, Sakura, who is it from? What is it about? What does he say? Well, Sakura, hurry and tell us; hurry, my love."

"It is from Miss Jones," said Jane, and then read it aloud.

"My dear friend,—

If you are not so compassionate as to dine today with Louisa and me, we shall be in danger of hating each other for the rest of our lives, for a whole day's conversation between two women can never end without a quarrel. Come as soon as you can once you receive this. My brother and the gentlemen are to dine with the officers.

—Yours ever,

Caroline Jones"

"With the officers!" cried Felicia. "I wonder why our aunt did not tell us of that."

"Dining out," said Mrs. Bennet, "that is very unlucky."

"Can I have the carriage?" said Sakura.

"No, my dear, you had better go on horseback, because it seems likely to rain; and then you must stay all night."

"That would be a good scheme," said (Y/N), "if you were sure that they would not offer to send her home."

"Oh, but the gentlemen will have Mr. Jones' chaise in Meryton, and the Hursts have no horses for theirs."

"I had much rather go in the coach."

"But, my dear, your father cannot spare the horses, I am sure. They are wanted in the farm, Mr. Bennet, are they not?"

"They are wanted in the farm much oftener than I can get them."

"But if you have got them today," said (Y/N), "mother's scheme will work."

She did at last gain from her father an acknowledgment that the horses were needed. Sakura was therefore forced to go on horseback, and her mother walked her to the door with many cheerful predictions of a bad day. Her hopes were answered; Sakura had not been gone long before it rained hard. Her sisters were uneasy for her, but her mother was delighted. The rain continued the whole evening without intermission; Sakura certainly could not come back.

"This was a lucky idea of mine, indeed!" said Mrs. Bennet more than once, as if the credit of making it rain were all her own. Till the next morning, however, she was not aware of all the happiness her plan would give her. Breakfast was scarcely over when a servant from Netherfield brought the following note for (Y/N):

"My dearest (N/N),—

"I find myself very unwell this morning, which, I suppose, is because I got wet through yesterday. My kind friends will not hear of my returning till I am better. They insist also on me seeing the doctor—therefore do not be alarmed if you should hear of him visiting me—and, ignoring a sore throat and headache, there is not much wrong with me.

—Yours, etc."

"Well, my dear," said Mr. Bennet, when (Y/N) had read the note aloud, "if your daughter should have a dangerous fit of illness—if she should die, it would be a comfort to know that it was all in pursuit of Mr. Jones, and under your orders."

"Oh, I am not afraid of her dying. People do not die of little trifling colds. She will be taken good care of. As long as she stays there, it is all very well. I would go and see her if I could have the carriage."

(Y/N), feeling really anxious, was determined to go to her, though the carriage was not available; and as she was no horsewoman, walking was her only alternative. She stated her decision.

"How can you be so silly," cried her mother, "as to think of such a thing, in all this mud! You will not be fit to be seen when you get there."

"I shall be very fit to see Sakura—which is all I want."

"Is this a hint to me, (N/N)," said her father, "to send for the horses?"

"No, indeed, I do not wish to avoid the walk. The distance is nothing when one has a motive; only three miles. I shall be back by dinner."

"I admire your benevolence," observed Lili, "but every impulsive action should be guided by reason; and, in my opinion, the effort put in should always be equal to what is needed."

"We will go as far as Meryton with you," said Lovina and Felicia. (Y/N) accepted their company, and the three young ladies set off together.

"If we hutty," said Felicia, as they walked along, "perhaps we may see Captain Carter before he goes."

In Meryton they parted; the two youngest went to the lodgings of one of the officers' wives, and (Y/N) continued her walk alone, crossing field after field at a quick pace, jumping over stiles (6) and springing over puddles with impatience, and finding herself at last within view of the house, with weary ankles, dirty stockings, and a face glowing with the warmth of exercise.

She was shown into the breakfast parlor, where everyone but Sakura were assembled, and where her appearance created a great deal of surprise. The fact that she walked three miles so early in the day, in such dirty weather, and by herself, was almost incredible to Mrs. Hurst and Miss Jones; and (Y/N) was convinced that they despised her for it. She was received, however, very politely by them; and their brother was better than polite; he treated her with good humour and kindness. Arthur said very little, and Mr. Hurst nothing at all. The former was divided between admiration of the brilliancy which exercise had given to her complexion, and doubt as to the occasion justifying her coming so far alone. The latter was thinking only of his breakfast.

Her questions about her sister were not very favorably answered. Sakura had slept terribly, and although she was up, she was very feverish, and not well enough to leave her room. (Y/N) was glad to be taken to her immediately; and Sakura, who had only been withheld by the fear of alarming or inconveniencing her family from expressing in her note how much she longed for such a visit, was delighted to see her sister. She was not well enough, however, for much conversation, and when Caroline left them together, could attempt little besides expressions of gratitude for the extraordinary kindness she was treated with. (Y/N) silently took care of her.

When breakfast was over they were joined by the sisters; and (Y/N) began to like them herself, when she saw how much affection and care they showed for Sakura. The apothecary came, and having examined his patient, said, as might be supposed, that she had caught a violent cold, and that they must endeavor to get the better of it; advised her to return to bed, and promised her some medicine to help with the symptoms. The advice was followed readily, for the feverish symptoms increased, and her head ached terribly. (Y/N) did not leave her room for a moment; nor did the other ladies leave very often; the gentlemen were out, and they had, in fact, nothing to do elsewhere.

When the clock struck three, (Y/N) felt that she must go, and very unwillingly said so. Caroline offered her the carriage, and she only needed a little pressing to accept it, when Sakura testified such concern in parting with her, that Caroline was compelled to convert the offer of the carriage to an invitation to remain at Netherfield for the present. (Y/N) most thankfully consented, and a servant was sent to Longbourn to tell the family of her stay and bring back a supply of clothes.


(4) In English common law, an entail is a form of trust established by deed or settlement which restricts the sale or inheritance of an estate in real property and prevents the property from being sold, devised by will, or otherwise alienated by the tenant-in-possession, and instead causes it to pass automatically by operation of law to an heir pre-determined by the settlement deed. Basically women were not allowed to inherit the family fortune (unless they were high enough in social status, as we'll see later in the book), so the family fortune was left to the closest living male relative.

(5) A junior officer in the infantry or navy.

(6) An arrangement of steps that allows people but not animals to climb over a fence or wall.

Elizabeth Bennet - Reader

Mr. Darcy - Arthur Kirkland (England)

Mr. Bingley - Alfred F. Jones (America)

Jane Bennet - Sakura (Fem!Japan)

Mary Bennet - Lili (Liechtenstein)

Kitty Bennet - Lovina (Fem!Romano)

Lydia Bennet - Felicia (Fem!Italy)

Mr. Wickham - Francis Bonnefoy (France)

Mr. Collins - Roderich Edelstein (Austria)

Charlotte Lucas - Elizabeta (Hungary)

Georgiana Darcy - Madeline (Fem!Canada)

Colonel Fitzwilliam - Allistor Kirkland (Scotland)

Relationships between Hetalia characters are changed to fit the story.