The family of Bennet had long been settled in Longbourn – for how long exactly, Mr Bennet could not possibly say, as with a book he was regardless of time…

Mr Bennet, married for four-and-twenty years now, had spent approximately the same amount of time ensconced in the library at Longbourn. Indeed, most believed him either exceedingly industrious or else his books excessively diverting, though the truth was neither of those.

Something more substantial, such as the improvement of his mind through extensive reading, was not that which he sought; far be it from him to do so, though he was indeed rather quick-witted and indulged his mirth for the most part at the expense of his dim-witted wife.

His books were his refuge; solace, from the dreaded machinations of wife and daughter–and atonement for his own failings in that measure. The guise of diligence soothed the–admittedly very slight–unease he felt at his own inaction, both past and present. He knew his family's sufferings to be his own doing, or lack thereof; he simply had not the inclination to temper his youngest daughter, and lifelong unhappiness for her must be the result. Wife of Mr Wickham! And yet even so, he was not overpowered by the impression of responsibility–for his usual disinterested lethargy ensured guilt was but a fleeting figure.

After all, it was not really his fault that his youngest had turned out so wild; that must be attributed wholly to Fanny–Lydia took after her mother in more ways than one. He shuddered at the very thought; how vacant the unlearned mind and how shrill the untamed voice! It was simply unbearable. Honestly, it was their behaviour that had driven him to negligence and their subsequent undoing–the blame must perforce rest with themselves. Indeed, the only tolerable person in the house was Lizzy; even Jane, gentle soul that she was, was rather too placid, too complacent of spirit to commiserate with Mr Bennet's woes.

And woe on him indeed! Not only had he put up with a squadron of silly women for the past quarter-century but he now had the added burden of guilt, however minute, at his past behaviour–for his entire life, he had abdicated from duty.

He had lately wished that instead of spending his whole income he had laid by an annual sum for the better provision of his wife and children, but given the marriages of his two eldest there no longer seemed any cause–and naturally he reverted to all his former indolence.

And now it shamed him. For his two son-in-laws to offer so easily what he could not in all his lifetime; their generosity made pittance of his trifling exertions. Yet even as he contemplated preserving his pride he knew he could not refuse their goodwill in building his daughters' dowries; if he ever did something in this lifetime to help them, let this be it–for Mary and Kitty, he would.

A/N: Sorry I missed an update last week! Title for this chapter stolen from another P&P fanfic. And now - well, that's all, folks! Hope you enjoyed the story. Thank you everyone for sticking with me, especially faithful reviewers phyloxena and Deanna27, and let me know if you wish to see more of any of the characters!