Part 1 – Ingénue - Chapter 11

Mr and Mrs Bennet's argument turned to a discussion, which came to an agreement and finally, a collaboration between the two. Eventually concluding after nearly two hours, it left Mr Bennet with a short list of potential husbands for his wayward daughter for him to visit in order of desirability, thanks to his wife's extensive knowledge of all the potential suitors in the local area. Given time was short, he left immediately afterwards to the distasteful task of somehow convincing one of them to consider marrying his Lizzie.

The first two he visited Mrs Bennet had stressed were very desirable and Mr Bennet should go as far as begging them on bended knee to consider his proposal. Mr Bennet's pride was not going to bend quite that far, but he did make an impassioned plea on Elizabeth's behalf. But it was pointed out to him, after he tried to list his daughter's good points that it would be very foolish to marry a woman that was known to be unfaithful before marriage and also to risk their heir being the natural son of another, unknown man. After the second such rebuff, Mr Bennet felt a great deal of mortification, but as marriage would restore some of his daughter's tattered reputation, so her persevered.

He was not able to talk to the third person or even their father, but was able to get an "I'll think about it" from Mr Prescott, the fourth on his list. Mr Bennet thought Prescott would come around if, after giving him a few days to think on it, Mr Bennet the substantially increased Elizabeth's portion, as it was well known Prescott needed money to improve his farm and he already had an heir from his previous marriage. While taking money from the other girl's portions was not desirable, as their portions were not large to start with, Mr Bennet resigned himself to it because if Elizabeth did not get married, none of the others would likely marry and need theirs at all.

Thinking his job was done, or damn near to it, Mr Bennet felt he could return home and try to reconcile Elizabeth to the possibility of becoming Mrs John Prescott. As the wife of a well off farmer, she would not have an easy life, but it would come with a modicum of respectability. And, Mr Prescott was no Mr Hunt, something he would take pains to point out to her. So, sore from being in the saddle all afternoon, and discombobulated from having to grovel to those somewhat beneath him, Mr Bennet went upstairs to talk to Elizabeth. When he found that she was had not stayed in her room as she had been instructed, he became angry. After being told that not only was Miss Lizzie not to be found anywhere in the house, her bandbox and some of her clothes and shoes were gone, Mr Bennet flew into a rage. How dare the daughter, whose reputation he had spent a very wearisome afternoon trying to salvage, disobey him and run off.

When a very meek Hannah came to see him to tell him about a letter that Elizabeth had been told about so she could take it prior to Mr Bennet being given all the mail, Hannah got such a dressing down she feared for her job. Hannah was questioned extensively about the letter, and was able to remember that the it came from London, but she didn't recognise the handwriting. Hannah agreed, when asked, that it might have been masculine hand. At this point Mr Bennet was no longer in any mood to indulge his eldest daughter's silence on the matter, so Jane was summoned to attend him in the library, at once!

This time, Mr Bennet informed Jane that it appeared that Elizabeth had run away – her lack of surprise confirmed that she knew already and probably helped – and that event meant his promise not to ask her any more questions was no longer valid. He now insisted on Jane telling him everything, but most specifically the name of the baby's father. Mrs Bennet had entered the Library by this stage, drawn by Mr Bennet's shouting. When Jane refused to tell him again, he gave her such a lecture that she was tears and visibly shaken before he was more than half way through it. But the threat of caning (something he had never done before, thinking it too barbaric to inflict on a female), did not work, and nothing else he threaten did either. Then Mr Bennet's had a sudden stroke of inspiration, if Jane would not say who the father was so that her father could force him to marry Elizabeth, even after such threats, Jane must dislike him as intensely as Elizabeth appeared to have done. There was only one person he could think of that fit that bill – Viscount Sumerville!

Changing tact, he told Jane he knew it was the Viscount Sumerville. Jane was a naturally honest person, so was not able to hide her reaction when Mr Bennet mentioned his name. With Jane's reaction appearing to confirm his suspicions he carried on to ask about the letter. Once again Jane did not tell him anything. Not realising that she actually knew nothing, he concluded the letter was from Viscount Sumerville. Mr Benne then assumed the Viscount had made up to Lizzie after whatever lover's spat caused the pair of them to give him the cut direct (assuming jealousy of Elizabeth's success the reason behind Jane's dislike of him). That the letter could be offering marriage was discarded given he was a peer and she was now a fallen woman. So it was an offer of carte-blanche, i.e. she would be installed in a house as his mistress. The offer was probably sweetened with offers of money, jewellery and fine clothes. Jane was once again asked for the address on the letter, or the address written in it as Mr Bennet was convinced that must be the address that Elizabeth had run off to. Unless Jane could deny it?

Jane could not think of any way to counter her father's erroneous conclusion, as she herself did not know who had sent the letter or its content. Bringing up that Elizabeth had been corresponding with their Aunt for weeks before either her mother or father found out and her Aunt was looking for a solution that would have prevented her parents finding out at all, would only get herself and then by implication her Aunt Gardener in a lot of trouble. Mrs Bennet, who was already on the way to believe the worst of Elizabeth, agreed with this conclusion, and add a number of embellishments on Elizabeth's probable actions as a confirmed courtesan.

Jane tried to defend Elizabeth's character against such slander, but was harshly silenced by her father. Mr Bennet by this stage was wishing Elizabeth, who had been his favourite daughter up until a few days ago, to the devil. Jane felt completely helpless against such a profession of hate and loathing. Mrs Bennet then twisted the knife further by commenting that Jane's beauty would not save her this time, and that she will remember her eldest's treachery for a long time. When Mr Bennet nodded in agreement, Jane felt completely abandoned. Discovering that nothing could make Jane be forthcoming about the address Elizabeth was heading for, Mr Bennet stated that he would have to go to London to sort it out with the Viscount himself. Jane was ordered to her room to stay there for at least the time he was away, and after that she was unlikely to participate in any form of social activity for the foreseeable future.

As Jane left to go upstairs to start her punishment, she heard Mrs Bennet plead with Mr. Bennet not to go and fight Viscount Sumerville. She wailed that they will meet in a field and then he will be killed, and what would then to become of us that are left? Mr Collins will turn us out before Mr Bennet is cold in his grave, and it will be all that Lizzie's fault.


So for the second time that day Mr Bennet found himself travelling on the road between Longbourn and London in a hired carriage, just in the opposite direction. A hired couch with jobbing horses could not make the journey at the same speed of a Mail Coach, so he was once again force to spend the night in an inn, before continuing his trip in the morning. He left Longbourn in a foul mood, and the trip just added to his feeling of being ill-used by both of his ungrateful and stubborn daughters. Thus he arrived in London in the foulest mood he had even been in.

Leaving the hired carriage at the depot, he hailed a hansom cab to take him to the Earl of Matlock's residence. On arrival, he brooked no impediment to his admittance and demanded to talk with the Viscount Sumerville. The butler and footmen were attempting to keep him from going up the stairs to the private part of the house when the Viscount appeared.

Mr Bennet was ushered into a public parlour, just off from the entrance hall. He wasted no time in demanding to see his daughter, who Mr Bennet informed the Viscount, was hiding on the premises. Viscount Sumerville, not having met Mr Bennet, had no idea who his daughter was and so stated "I am only too happy to have Haversham call all the maids to assemble in the back hall so that you can see there are no fugitives on the Matlock staff."

Sumerville's caviller treatment made Mr Bennet even more irate, and yelled back, "I will not be treated in such a manner. Do you know who I am?"

To which Sumerville could honestly reply "No, not in the slightest. Are sure you want the Matlock residence? Could your daughter be in service in another house?"

"I will not be spoken to in this way. I am Mr Bennet. I am a gentleman with an estate in Hertfordshire. I know you are harbouring my daughter Elizabeth Bennet, and if she is not here, you've set her up with your carte-blanche somewhere else in London."

"Well I certainly couldn't tell you were a gentleman from the way you have been acting."

Mr Bennet bristled at this off-hand insult, but was too wound up to reply immediately, so Sumerville was able to continue to rub salt in the wound. "I remember your daughter, she and her sister cut me at the Fenwick ball. She my lady-bird, not on your life! She's too plain and sharp tongued for me." Sumerville leaned against the fireplace, enjoying the sport Mr Bennet was providing. Mr Bennet was incandescent with rage and more or less incapable of speech. This allowed the Viscount to inflame the situation further; "Although if you are offering daughters, your eldest is beautiful enough to consider offering carte-blanche to, is she free?"

Thankfully for both men the Earl of Matlock, who had been in his study, was informed of the visitor to his son, heard their interchange as he walked from his study into the parlour and so hurried somewhat. Mr Bennet looked about ready to assault his son. With a commanding "What in heaven's name is going on in here!" the Earl was able to stop both Mr Bennet attacking his son and his son from provoking his visitor further.

Both protagonists tried to answer at once, but the Earl silenced his son with a look. Starting again, he turned to his sons 'guest' and said "I am the Earl of Matlock. Who are you and why have you entered my house to cause such a ruckus?"

"I am Mr Bennet, esquire, of Longbourn, Hertfordshire. Your son has offered my daughter his carte-blanche and that convinced her to run away to London. Elizabeth is either hiding here, or he has already put her up elsewhere, as she is carrying his natural child. I demand that he make an honest woman out of her."

"So is this true, son?"

"Of course not, I could give this man the names of several men who have sampled the charms of his daughter, any one of which would be the father, but I will not give him the satisfaction since he accused ME of it." But he did not look that sincere in his denials.

Mr Bennet gave a bitter laugh, "Listen to your young pup try to brazenly lie his way out of his responsibility, he won't give the other names because there are no others, my daughters actions at the Fenwick ball prove it – obviously the result of a lover's tiff. But son, you play the tune, you have to pay the piper, and I have come to collect the dues."

Sumerville was about to refute this, but was once again silenced by a glare from his father. The Earl turned to Mr Bennet again. "I sympathise with a father who has found his daughter in her situation. If my son is the cause of her misfortune, I will not have it said that the Matlock's will not act honourably. But all I have heard is words, what proof do you have that my son and your daughter are lovers, let alone the child being his."

"Your son wrote my daughter a letter recently, setting up their reconciliation. That is what bought her to London, and he is hiding her from her family."

"I will be the judge of that." Turning to his son, he asked. "Did you write this letter?"

Sumerville looked unaware of a letter, "No of course not, I had little to do with the younger sister. I admit I had a pleasant flirtation with Jane, the elder sister, but she took more out of it than I offered. When I let her know it was just flirtation, she and her sister took a pet and cut me at Fenwick's ball, very bad ton by them, their mother should have schooled them better."

"Enough of that son. Just the facts." Turning back towards Mr Bennet, the Earl continued, "There my son denies it. Let me see this letter and I will be the judge of whether or not my son wrote it."

"I cannot, she took it with her when she quit the house."

Sumerville laughed and started walking out of the room. He tried to have the last word "So, old man, on the basis of nothing but unfounded accusations, you think I will marry your hoyden of a daughter. If this is how well you mind your daughters, are you sure your other daughter is not with child as well?"

Mr Bennet started to reply, but the Earl held up his hand, and said to the Viscount. "That is enough, apologise to Mr Bennet."

Sumerville smirked, "Mr Bennet, I am truly sorry some rake knocked up your slut of a daughter."

"What!" Mr Bennet, stepped towards the Viscount.

"Henry! That is more than enough! Apologise. Now. Properly." The Earl glared, sending the unspoken message that he had stepped well over the live with that comment.

"Sorry father." He turned, bowed and then grudgingly said, "Mr Bennet I apologise unreservedly, it must be a difficult time for you, but I cannot help you in this case."

Mr Bennet accepted this apology with a nod. The Earl then put the other question to his son, "Thank you Henry. Now to the other matter, is his daughter in our house?"

"No father, nor do I have any idea where she is, I have not seen or communicated with her since she caused that disaster at the Fenwick's ball, on my honour as a gentleman." At that point Sumerville made his escape.

The Earl then gestured to Mr Bennet to sit, and then did so himself. "I also apologise for my son's comments, I will deal with him later. But I am in a difficult position. I also need to protect my son from those that would think of trapping such an eligible gentleman into marriage. I hear your accusations, but you talk of a letter my son denies writing and you cannot produce it... No, no, let me finish... You say your daughter is with child, but she did not come with you to press her case, with your support. While I do not believe you to be lying, a girl that is sly enough to land in this trouble without her parents being able to intervene in time, could easily lie about the father of the child as well. Examine all you know, she may have deceived you as to who her actual lover is, by misdirection, but there will a clue there somewhere. So until you have more substantial proof I shall have to leave."

"I will get that proof and return."

"I will instruct the butler to admit you to my study if you return, but I truly believe that your daughter has played you false. But hear me well. If these accusations are made public without you bringing proof to me first, I will sue you for slander, and ask in enough in damages to send you into debtor's prison for the rest of your life. Good day, sir."

Knowing he was dismissed, and unable to prove his case in any way, a very angry, but dejected Mr Bennet left. Thinking back on the whole sequence of events, Mr Bennet's experience told him that the Viscount denials of being the father were insincere, but he was genuine when he said he did not know where she was at the moment or even the Elizabeth was in London at all. But that did not mean the letter did not say where to go. As for swearing on his honour, Mr Bennet could tell he was no gentleman, so his oath meant nothing. He was sure the Viscount said it that way intending the same. If Elizabeth had not gone directly to the Viscount's love nest, she could have only gone to the Gardener's, probably spinning some tale to allow them to let her stay while she let her lover know she was in London – inadvertently Mr Bennet realised he had done it himself – so he could make the arrangements he had suggested in his letter. Catching another hansom cab, Mr Bennet set off to the Gardener's, sure to find his wayward daughter there.

After Mr Bennet was escorted out, the Earl went back to his study and summoned his son. When Sumerville arrived, the Earl confronted his son. Not giving him pause, as he closes the door, the Earl takes the offensive, "Do not deny it, whatever you said to Mr Bennet, I know you are the father. I know you too well. And that excuse for the cut direct will not hold water. Young ladies, given the opportunity to take part in events well above them socially do not ruin it all over a petty quarrel, you must have severely injured them. Making up to one while seducing the other would be more than enough provocation. Your reputation, while never being too bad, took a real hit with that – those that think have come to the same conclusion I have, you must have done something really bad to have caused it"

Sumerville replied, "Whatever Mr Bennet and his daughter said they cannot prove it. Mr Bennet cannot even prove I was the only one that lay with her. Given her adventurous nature, while I was the first, she surrendered her virtue only after a very few encounters, so I doubt I was the last. I do not think I am the father."

"Whether you doubt you were her only liaison, you have admitted you were her first. I am not so sure she would lain with others as you are. While we will not do anything on unproven accusations, if he brings her here, and in my presence she confirms you are the father, that to me will be proof enough, and you will marry her. Swear on our good name you will do so. Now!"

"But father..."

"No Henry, you will accede to my conditions and swear to them or I will cut off your allowance for good, starting from today. I will accept no refusal."

Sumerville looked at his father, but did nothing, testing the Earl's resolve.

"I am waiting..."

Sumerville conceded and swore as his father had asked. Acting blasé like this was another ordinary day, he thanked his father and backed out of the library. An anything but blasé Viscount Sumerville was found a few minutes later swearing like a sailor and frantically packing, having decided to rusticate in Norfolk. Out of sight thus out of mind was his best option for dealing with his father for the next few weeks.


Mr Bennet strode forcefully up the front stairs of the Gardener's and went in without waiting for someone to answer the door. Mr Gardener was the first into the hallway, as his was study close to the front door, followed only a few moments later when Mrs Gardener and Elizabeth exited from the parlour.

"Lizzie, I've been to see your lover. He's not the shining knight you take him for. In fact he was callous and unfeeling, called you a hoyden and a slut."

His audience was shocked at this incredibly rude entrance. Mr Gardener gestured for Mr Bennet to at least go into the semi-privacy of the parlour, but Mr Bennet was not having a moment of it.

"Well Lizzie? Cat got your tongue? Hand me his letter and that proof will at least get you a husband out of this disaster, even one that has only contempt for you. But I suppose you will see his wealth and position as fair compensation."

For Elizabeth, already very upset from her father's opening statement, this vitriolic attack was too much. She fled crying back into the parlour.

"Thomas, what cause have you to enter my house and fling such disgusting accusations at your own daughter? Who is this lover? What is this letter you talk about?" Mr Gardener moved to protect his wife. Mrs Gardener had moved to block the door to the parlour and by implication her niece as well.

"The letter from her lover, the Viscount Sumerville that arrived only yesterday, offering her carte-blanche and summoning her to London. Don't tell me she has fooled you with a pack of lies, disguising her true purpose."

Mr Gardener looked puzzled, but his wife touched him on his back, letting him know that she would be able to deal with this. She stood up to an irate Mr Bennet and calmly and evenly said, "Thomas, I will not let you continue this in the hall. If you want to know the true story, not whatever maggot you have got in your brain, you will calm down and come into the parlour like the civilised person I know you are." She gestured for him to follow and went into the parlour herself. Mr Bennet stood there a moment, before taking a few deep breaths and following. Mr Gardener came in last and shut the door behind him.

Mrs Gardener went over to Elizabeth, and hugging her in comfort, said quietly. "Lizzie, dear, can you give me the Carmichael's letter?"

Elizabeth nodded, fumbled in her pocket and pulled out the letter in question.

Mrs Gardener handed the letter to Mr Bennet. "Here is the letter Lizzie received yesterday. She had not read it until she arrived here, late last night. She fled Longbourn because you choose to inform her that you intend to force her into marriage, very likely to a man that possibly murdered his first wife, or at the least caused her to take her own life."

Mr Bennet took the letter and examined it. While he was doing this, Mrs Gardener continued, "Elizabeth has made a very foolish mistake, but we had been working to provide the best solution possible for her. That letter is from friends of ours, willing to have Elizabeth stay with them through her confinement and a while after the birth. Yet all you have done is compound a foolish decision on her part with a disastrous one of your own. Then when your plans seem to fall apart all you do is race to London to accuse your own daughter of all manner of evil. You should be ashamed of yourself."

Seeing that everything his sister-in-law had said about the letter was true, Mr Bennet realised there would be no written proof, and knowing Elizabeth's nature she would deny Viscount Sumerville was the father to the Earl. He would be made a laughing stock. His desires, his plans thwarted, his relationship with his favourite daughter forever ruined. Mr Bennet was incapable of seeing that a great deal of the blame could be his own actions. Thus he lashed out at those that he thought had contributed to Elizabeth's actions.

He castigated his sister-in-law from hiding her assistance of his daughter from him, not accepting that she had only done so reluctantly since Elizabeth had begged her not to, and had been made to promise to tell him, but in her own time. He then even turned their hospitality to him on its head, accusing his sister-in-law of keeping him in London so Elizabeth could hide from him. At this point, Mr Gardener stepped in to defend his wife, and the argument between the two men grew ever more acrimonious. Mr Bennet started including old grievances, long consider resolved into his arguments, while continuing to fling unsubstantiated accusations about the two ladies.

Before too long Mr Bennet was yelling at his brother-in-law and Mr Gardener was slowly losing his composure. Mr Bennet looked close to resorting to physical violence to make his point. Elizabeth was terrified, she had never seen these two men at the height of their temper before. Mrs Gardener noticed that Mr Bennet was totally focused on her husband at the moment and prudently hustled Elizabeth out of the parlour. While the argument continued, Mrs Gardener gestured from behind Mr Bennet that she and Elizabeth were going out and will not be back until Mr Bennet had gone.

Mr Gardener then antagonised Mr Bennet deliberately so he would not notice their departure. Once he thought he had given his wife and niece enough time to leave the vicinity, he stopped arguing and just stood there saying nothing until Mr Bennet ran out of steam. Once they had reached that point Mr Gardener told Mr Bennet, in no uncertain terms, that he desired him to leave his house forthwith. Mr Bennet refused to go without his daughter, but as Mr Gardener said that she had already left, he better leave quickly otherwise he would not be able to find her.


Thwarted at every turn a very angry but also dejected Mr Bennet, once again made the trip from London to Longbourn. Although this time he left early enough that he got back home without having to stay in an inn for the night. When he returned without his daughter, Mrs Bennet abused him for his inadequacies as a father. Unsurprising, this caused a ferocious argument that led to the two of them refusing to speak to each other for weeks. In fact about the only thing that they seemed to agree on over that time was imposing harsh punishment on Jane for her role in the recent events. Jane accepted every punishment imposed on her with her usual good grace, which only antagonised Mrs Bennet more. But when Mrs Phillips started mentioning that their treatment of Jane was being gossiped about in Meryton, she had to accept that Jane had been more than punished for even the imagined sins.

As Elizabeth's actions had pretty much destroyed Mrs Bennet dreams of making good marriages for all her daughters, she was extremely bitter. Her letters to Elizabeth were full of vitriol. The worst of it was particularly vicious and designed specifically to provoke guilt as Mrs Bennet enumerated in each letter all the punishments that she wanted to impose on Elizabeth for her sins, but inflicted on Jane due to Elizabeth's absence. Elizabeth kept reading these hoping that there could be some reconciliation with her mother, but they kept getting worse not better, reducing her to tears each and every time.

The younger Bennet sisters were also being poisoned against Elizabeth and against Jane by implication. This also came out in the sisters frequent letters. Mrs Bennet ensured they wrote regularly, but as it was as a punishment and any letter written had to be repeated until Mrs Bennet was happy with the content, this explained the nature of the contents. After several month of these the Gardener's started returning, unopened any letter from Longbourn not from Jane. In retaliation, Mrs Bennet prevented Jane from writing to Elizabeth. Correspondence between the Bennets and the Gardeners effectively ended. Mr Bennet seemed to have put the entire events behind him and carried on as if nothing had happened, and ceased to have any interest in his family's day to day activities.


With the everything that had gone on, and her current situation so unresolved, Elizabeth had an unsettled pregnancy and suffered bouts of depression and hopelessness. Thankfully, her physical health remained good, and even in the depths of depression, she could always be convinced to eat, if only for the sake of the unborn child. She accepted a chaperone on her frequent long walks, but the maid was also a fast walker, who enjoyed the time from having to do chores, they were not the unpleasant experience from her first time in London.

She stayed with the Gardeners the entire time. The Carmichaels stood behind their invitation, but understood the need for it was over, but did take particular interest in their adopted neice, her health and emotional wellbeing.

Towards the end of her pregnancy, Jane was given a small amount of freedom, and was able to send and receive letters via Charlotte, which gave Elizabeth enormous comfort. Jane's letters were always uplifting and made no mention of any of the tribulations that had been inflicted on her by her mother. Jan appear completely free of bitterness or recriminations on how Elizabeth's actions had affected Jane now and her future.


Amy-Jane Charlotte was born early February 1807. Elizabeth's choice of the names Jane and Charlotte were obvious. Amy or 'ami' was Latin for beloved, so Amy-Jane Charlotte meant 'Beloved Jane, Charlotte", something Elizabeth felt was very appropriate for her daughter. Charlotte had been able to come to London, supposedly for an unrelated reason, but in all reality to be with Elizabeth during her labour. Thus Charlotte was able to stand as godmother to her namesake and a very proud godmother she was too. Mr Carmichael was asked and accepted, with alacrity, the role of godfather.

Elizabeth took to being mother extremely well. Her whole future was wrapped up in this small baby, and the love for Amy-Jane was able to drive out any of negative emotions towards her parents and sisters that had been gaining a foothold in her heart. When Amy-Jane was 6 months old, and the most dangerous period over, Elizabeth moved to Ramsgate to live with Mrs Carter, Mrs Gardener's mother, who retired there from Lambton, when Mr Carter passed away in 1802.

Mr Bennet was coerced to provide Elizabeth's portion of one thousand pounds, but in return he required her to cease to use the name Bennet before he would agree. Paying Elizabeth set back the fragile truce between Mr and Mrs Bennet a good deal as she did not want Elizabeth to get anything, ever. The potion was to provide a barely adequate annual income of fifty pounds when invested in the consuls at five percent. However as Mr Gardener took on 'investing it' on her behalf, she was always able to receive at least double the usual rate of return. She knew that the Gardeners were topping it up with money of their own, but chose not to make a big deal of it.


Thus 'Miss Smith' and her daughter came to live in a small seaside town in the south east coast of England. Elizabeth chose to identify herself as an unmarried mother rather than pretending to be a widow, as she felt she had to take responsibility for her actions. The stigmatism of being an unmarried mother was part of that. It also meant Amy-Jane did not grow up with her mother living a lie or hold false hopes about her father.

Elizabeth recovered emotionally over time, having a baby that was totally dependent on her certainly sped up this recovery, and her sociable nature and quick wit reappeared. Elizabeth, even though often a bit ruffled and sometimes looking fairly haggard, was still an attractive woman, and she had her share of admirers. However, she did not every feel anything other than friendship towards any of them. She even received several offers of marriage, but refused each as they were obviously based on friendship and comfort not love. The most tempting offer she turned down was from Mr Hawker, the local farrier. A friend before his offer, became a very good friend after being refused gently.

There were those that thought an acknowledged unmarried mother was obviously available for liaisons, but they were put firmly in their place. A couple of times when the 'gentleman' refused to accept no as an answer, Mr Hawker, who was an extremely imposing figure, was able to show them the error of their ways.

Within a few years, the locals thought nothing of Elizabeth's supposed improper status, and she was treated as a gentlewoman, if an impoverished one. It was common for Elizabeth to find extra food or other items in her purchases, or small things left on Mrs Carter's doorstep. Initially she tried to either return or pay for them, but as the shopkeepers denied ever placing the extra items in her shopping and no one owned up to delivering the items left at the door, Elizabeth ended up having to accept the kindness of her neighbours.


End of Part One.


.

As with any author I love to read your reviews.

To help me improve my writing, now you've finished all of Part 1, could you answer:
- What parts did you most enjoy?
- Was there any parts you didnt like, or think out of place?
- Was there any parts you thought "what was that about"?
- Do the various characters seem to be as you imgine them to be from P&P?

Plus one to answer for Part 2:
- How do you think Darcy and Elizabeth will meet?