AU: How would things at the Bennet household be different if Elizabeth had a twin brother: Edward?
Disclaimer: I do not own Pride and Prejudice or any of the characters. This is just a story that I am writing for fun.
Apology: I am sorry that it has been such a long time since I have posted. Having mid-terms and being sick at the same time put a damper on my writing, but I am hoping to get back on a good schedule. I am also sorry that this chapter is a bit shorter than usual. I wanted to go ahead and post so that you would now that I have not forgotten. Enjoy!
At Longbourn, Mrs. Bennet was waiting next to the window to see when her three eldest children would return from Netherfield. She was confident that, since Jane had spent the whole afternoon with Mr. Bingley, there was a fair chance of her marrying him. When she saw the carriage coming up the drive, she went immediately to the door to meet them. The carriage had just pulled up when Mrs. Bennet got to the door. Edward got out first, and helped his sisters down out of the carriage.
"Hello," said Mrs. Bennet from the door. "Come into the drawing room and tell me all about your afternoon!" said Mrs. Bennet excitedly to Jane. Mrs. Bennet took Jane's hand and lead her into the house. Elizabeth was glad that her mother had focused on Jane; she did not want her mother getting over-excited about Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth did not even know what he was to her yet, other than a nice man. Mr. Darcy had given Mrs. Bennet a bad impression at the Meryton Ball when he did not dance with any of the Bennet daughters, and Mrs. Bennet was upset with him for it, though she often took it out of proportion.
As Mrs. Bennet lead Jane away to the drawing room, Elizabeth and Edward went toward Mr. Bennet's library.
"What do you think of Mr. Darcy now that you have spent more time with him?" asked Edward. He had stopped outside of Mr. Bennet's library. He wanted to talk to Elizabeth before they went tin to talk to their father.
"I found him much more agreeable than I first thought. I would not mind getting to know him better; he seems a good man," replied Elizabeth. "But I would ask that we not talk about him around our mother; I fear that she will blow things out of proportion."
"I understand." Edward knocked on the door of the library.
"Come in," came Mr. Bennet's muffled voice from inside the library. Elizabeth and Edward went in and sat down.
"You mother is talking to Jane now?" asked Mr. Bennet jovially.
"Yes, she met us at the door and went straight to Jane," replied Elizabeth.
"I assume that she will come seek us out when she feels that she can get no more information from Jane," commented Edward. Elizabeth froze up slightly; she did not want to talk to her mother about tea at Netherfield. Her mother might ask what she did. She did not want to talk about spending time with Mr. Darcy. Her mother would take it to the extreme.
Edward noticed Elizabeth's stiffening at his comment, but Mr. Bennet did not seem to take notice. Edward told Mr. Bennet about the tea, omitting the part about Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy going to the library. Edward artfully added Elizabeth's name into the activities of the afternoon. After they finished talking to Mr. Bennet, they left the library. They tried to avoid the sitting room where Mrs. Bennet would be with Jane, but Mrs. Bennet was waiting for them and brought them into the sitting room, smiling at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth realized that she had not asked Jane to not mention Mr. Darcy.
"So, Lizzy, Jane says that you think that Mr. Bingley is attracted to her, though she does not see it herself," said Mrs. Bennet. Elizabeth was relieved that Mrs. Bennet did not ask about Mr. Darcy; she tried not to be too visibly relieved so that Mrs. Bennet would not expect anything.
"I think he likes her, but we do not know him very well," replied Elizabeth carefully; she wanted to try and keep her mother from overreacting. "I think that we should let them get to know each other better." Mrs. Bennet was disappointed with Elizabeth's answers. She was hoping to get a better answer out of Elizabeth.
"And you, Edward?" asked Mrs. Bennet, turning to Edward hopefully. "What do you think?"
"I think the same as Lizzy," replied Edward. Mrs. Bennet was frustrated with them. She tried to get more answers out of them, but they would not give her more information than they already had. After a few minutes of fruitless questioning, Mrs. Bennet left the room to see if she could get information that Elizabeth and Edward might have told Mr. Bennet.
"Thank you," said Jane after Mrs. Bennet had closed the door behind her.
"Siblings are supposed to take care of each other," said Elizabeth, smiling at Jane. They sat in silence for a minute before Mary came in and began practicing the piano. Elizabeth, Edward, and Jane left the room. Elizabeth and Jane went to their room, and Edward to his.