Hey y'all.
*PLEASE READ* Some of y'all have commented on the name of Elizabeth's twin and I started to realize that you were right. So, from now on her name is going to be Amelia. I might go back and change her name in the other chapters, but I don't want to mess up and screw up the chapters.
Some of you also commented on the fact that I got my geography wrong. I apologize for that and while I realize I got some places wrong I won't be changing what I wrote. I am sorry if it offends you but it works with my story and I suck with geographical areas.
Another note: I don't fully know what a governess does or how one would teach a group of kids. So I'm going how I think it would work.
There is a small jump in time.
Disclaimer: I don't own the book.
Elizabeth Bennet entered her home after her morning walk to see her family sitting down to break their fast. She apparently had stayed out longer than she thought. Quickly sitting down, she smiled shyly at the look her father shot her. Her father shook his head, "Lizzie we almost sent Thorn after you." She blushed a bit, "Sorry Papa. I got lost in my book." He simply shook his head and started to eat.
After finishing their morning meal their father addressed them, "Girls, before you go to your lessons, I have something to tell you. Your Aunt and Uncle Besser are coming for a visit. They should be here tomorrow. I would have told you sooner, but their letter only arrived this morning. It appears it was lost and redirected. Also, you each have letters as well. You may read them after your morning lessons." Each girl nodded and showed their excitement. They loved their Aunt and Uncle Besser!
Quickly all six Bennet girls moved towards the back parlor that was used as their classroom. They used to use the nursery but as the older girls grew and aged, their governess realized they needed a bigger room. Walking in they noticed that their governess was finishing up her set up for the morning. They spent the morning with Miss Lowell, learning proper etiquette for young women and then the afternoon either with their father or practicing their skills.
Miss Isabelle Lowell looked up hearing someone enter the room to find her charges waiting for her. She smiled at the six girls, "Everything is set up girls. Jane you are going to work on your embroidery, Elizabeth you are going to work on advanced sums, Amelia you are working on your sketching, Mary you are going to be working on your French, Kitty you are going to be working on Latin, and Lydia you are going to be starting your Latin lessons today. After a while we will switch and it will continue like that until it is time for the midday meal."
Each girl nodded before moving to their assigned area of the room. Amelia decided to sketch her sister Lydia as she worked on her letters. Lydia, in all of her eight-year-old excitement was nearly bursting at being able to start Latin. Their father had decided that the girls would start with Latin at eight. He wanted them to have a very strong grip on English before moving onto a new language. Their progress through Latin was up to them. After they became proficient in Latin, their father let them choose their next language.
Throughout the morning the girls switched what they were doing when Miss Lowell told them to. When it was time for midday meal, Miss Lowell addressed the girls, "You did very well today girls. Your father told me about your Aunt and Uncle visiting. While they are here, we will not have lessons. So, this afternoon we will be working on your pianoforte skills and your singing. We will also be practicing your dancing. Your father also mentioned that you all had letters, so we will not be starting right after the meal. I will give you one hour to read your letters and write a reply. We will meet in the music room." The girls simply nodded and walked towards their dining room. Though they did not voice it, they were excited to be playing the pianoforte in the afternoon. The mornings when they practiced the pianoforte with Miss Lowell were their favorite. She let them play any song they wished towards the end and they were able to sing the silliest songs.
After their midday meal, their father handed out their letters and each girl moved towards their father's study where they store their writing desks. After grabbing their desks, they moved into the parlor to read their letters and respond. Jane read over the letter from Louisa Bingley. The young woman had recently come out and was describing the latest ball she had attended. Louisa had met a young man named George Hurst at the ball and she found him charming. She was cautious because she did not want to raise her expectations and believe that he had enjoyed their dance like she had. Lady Matlock had sponsored her coming out and she was considering asking if the Countess would make some inquiries about him. Jane made sure to tell her that he may like her and not care that she came from trade.
Louisa had also written to Elizabeth and Amelia about the ball and they were quick to write that she should definitely ask Lady Matlock to make inquiries, with Amelia going a step farther and telling her she should ask either her brother or the Darcy brothers what they knew of the man. Louisa also told the Bennet twins a story about how the Darcy brothers had hid from her younger sisters at the last dinner they attended at Darcy House. Both young men had used their mother to hide from the young women by sticking to her side, knowing that the girls could not get them alone with their mother present.
At the end of the allotted hour the girls entered the music room to discover that while they had been writing their letters, Charlotte Lucas had arrived at the house. When Isabelle Lowell had first become a governess to the girls, she had found that their friend Charlotte Lucas was not taught much at her home Lucas Lodge. Her parents had decided that she was too plain for them to worry about and had not taught her much of anything. She had spoken with Mr. Bennet and he agreed with her, so it became normal for Charlotte to join the girls in the afternoon and Miss Lowell would teach her, while the girls were with their father or practicing their skills. After a few weeks, she began making leaps in her education and now she was on par with a young woman of her age. She had recently come out and was nervous about dancing at her first assembly the next week.
The girls spent the rest of the afternoon practicing their different skills. They told Charlotte about their relatives coming for a visit and that they would not have lessons while they were here. Charlotte looked nervous since that meant she would not be able to practice her dance skills again before the assembly. Before she left for the day, Mr. Bennet entered the music room and mentioned that he would be at the assembly and if she needed to take a quick break, he would help.
That night before bed the girls met in the nursery with their father. After he told them goodnight and left, they each said good night to each other and the oldest four Bennet girls moved towards their rooms for the night. Each girl was excited for their Aunt and Uncle to arrive the next day.
Don't forget to review and tell me what you think please!