A/N: This is the first fanfic of this length that I have ever written, so I would appreciate any comments that you have! I know this is a really short chapter, but the second one is already in the works and will be published shortly. I am just really interested in what everyone thinks so let me know! Thanks, guys!

Chapter 1: Regretfully Heard

Mary Bennet found herself yet again sitting at the piano on a Thursday morning while everyone else in her family seemed to run around mindlessly squawking about some trivial matter or another. She could never seem to understand what was so important that one must clomp around the entire house as if they were a horse and scream at the top of their lungs. Well, in this case, she could clearly hear what seemed to be so important. Her younger sister Kitty was sparing no one from the news of the new family in town.

"They have 3 sons and all are set to inherit grand estates and fortunes. Oh, Papa, please tell me you plan on inviting them for dinner. It would appear odd if we didn't."

Mary rolled her eyes at Kitty's cajoling tones, imagining the doe eyes that were certainly accompanying the sugared words. She didn't want to have these 3 boys over for dinner. If they were to inherit such grand estates then she was sure they would be just like the rest of the gentry that came to their country town: pretentious and entitled. Mary considered all of the men that had expected all the girls to prance and preen before them all so they could select the best of the bunch and consider her for a wife… or a mistress. Mary herself had never been one to prance or preen and therefore had never been a contender for any of the previous peacocks and the last thing that she wanted was to become a contender for one of these three. Her spirits sank when she heard her father's resonant answer:

"Of course I have invited them to dinner, Kitty, now quiet your chatter and go find some useful employment."

She resumed her Chopin piece, devoting her entire attention to the small ivory keys so she didn't have to think about what was coming. 3 boys at their house for dinner? What was her father thinking? He knew what a flirt Kitty was. She would never leave the poor boys alone… not that they wouldn't deserve it knowing their type. She was sure that they would no doubt bask in the glow of such mindless worship. Her sister was a ninny. Plain and simple. Mary was determined not to be one of those girls. She would wait for a husband who cared about real things like music and books, the things that she loved most in the world.

"Mary… what are you thinking about?"

Mary jumped as she heard Kitty's voice right behind her. She realized that she had been so engrossed in her thoughts that she had completely stopped playing.

"Oh, nothing really. I was just considering what I might wear to dinner tonight if the Bradford sons are coming."

Kitty's eyes grew wide and she started to grin. It was then that Mary realized what a terrible mistake she had just made. She never put special attentions into getting herself prepared unless she absolutely had to. This dinner did not fall under that category. Kitty thought that her sister was finally coming around to the idea of being fully female, which in her mind, included caring about all sorts of frilly things like new dresses, curling irons, and ribbons. Mary hated ribbons… or frills of any kind really. She wanted to scream as she realized that her sister would be completely dejected if she did not accept her inevitable invitation to get ready with her, so she held her breath hoping that this one time, Kitty would just drop the subject and leave.

"Oh Mary, how exciting it is going to be! I can hardly wait! Of course we shall get dressed together! We can go to town and buy ribbons for our dresses… well, my dresses I should say since I will have to lend you one of mine since yours have no color whatsoever."

Mary felt her shoulders drooping under the weight of Kitty's new expectations. She thought to herself that she might as well go with it now that she had gotten the girl started. This was Kitty's great love, and Mary was loath to disappoint her family. So, off to town they went.