Chapter One
Eden Bennet walked hand-in-hand with her twin sister, Lizzie through the acres of Longbourn. They were giggling together, Lizzie murmuring quietly. Eden's twin jumped onto the stone wall around a moat. Eden laughed quietly as Lizzie balanced on the wall carefully before jumping down. She followed Lizzie across a wooden duck board before heading into the house.
Their sister Mary was playing at the piano while their two other sisters, Kitty and Lydia listened to the door of a library. "Liddy! Kitty!" Eden scolded.
"What I have told you about listening at—" Lydia was quick to shush her as Lizzie leaned close to the door as well. Eden stomped her foot slightly, arms crossing across her chest in frustration.
"Never mind that, Eden, there's a Mr. Bingley arrived from the North!"
"With more than one chaise," Kitty gushed.
"And five thousand a year!" Lydia asked.
"Really?" Lizzie asked.
"And he's single!"
From behind Eden, the last of the Bennet sisters appeared. She gripped Eden's elbow lightly.
"Who's single?"
"A Mr. Bingley, apparently," Eden answered.
"Shhh!" Kitty snapped.
Refusing to take part in her sisters' spying, Eden moved into the drawing room, sitting beside Mary at the piano. Her sister's eyes lit up, begging to play a duet. Eden smiled in answer, joining in the music.
At the hurried bustle of her family rushing into the drawing room, Eden missed a note, throwing off the entire song. She looked up when Mrs. Bennet, her mother, sat down with a loud sigh.
"How can you tease me, Mr. Bennet? Have you no compassion for my poor nerves?"
"You mistake me, my dear," Mr. Bennet replied. "I have a high respect for them; they have been my constant companions these twenty years."
"Is he amiable?" Mrs. Bennet asked.
"Who?" Mary asked. She was ignored as the rest of the sisters tried to ask questions.
"Is he handsome?" asked Kitty.
"He's sure to be handsome," Lydia gushed.
"With five thousand a year, would not matter if he had warts and a leer," Lizzie muttered.
"I will give my hearty consent to his marrying whichever of the girls he chooses. Warts and all."
"Who's got warts?" Mary asked.
"So, will he come to the ball tomorrow?" Lydia asked.
Mary sighed when everyone ignored her, and Eden leaned in close.
"I believe that they are talking of a Mr. Bingley. He has five-thousand a year, apparently and has recently come from the North."
"Oh," Mary said. She nodded sharply and looked back to her music. Unlike the rest of her siblings, Eden was gentle and soft to Mary. She knew that Mary needed a different type of conversation. The girl could not be bothered with talks of love or men. She was quite content with her music and books.
Gushing about the ball, Kitty and Lydia ushered Jane out of the room, begging to use some of her finer garments. Eden and Lizzie exchanged matching eye rolls. They were not fond of balls… Well, more accurately, Lizzie was not fond of balls. Eden was not fond of people and conversation, but she did not mind dancing if one's partner was desirable.
She stood from the piano bench, moving to Lizzie's side.
"Green or white, Papa?" she asked quietly.
"My dear?"
"Dress color." Her father gazed at her slightly. They had always been close, them and Lizzie. It was rare in their day and age for a father to spend time with his daughters, but Mr. Bennet could often be found with either Eden or Lizzie.
"Green," Mr. Bennet said finally. She smiled, leaning down to kiss the top of his head. Lizzie looked to her.
"Are you excited about the ball, Eden?"
"I am excited to dance, but not necessarily the rest of it."
"As long as you return home safely," Mr. Bennet cautioned. "No broken hearts."
"There is no one to break my heart, Papa," Eden reminded him. He nodded and the twins walked out of the room.
There was much to do for the ball. Dresses must be pressed, shoes polished, gloves collected. Hair had to be put in rags to help form curls. Lizzie grimaced when she saw the bag of rags.
"Must I?" she complained. Eden nodded, pointing at the vanity stool.
"I'll do them for you, so it doesn't hurt as much."
"Oh, Eden, you are most caring." Eden gripped Lizzie's shoulders slightly.
"My darling sister, I am caring, but only if you save me from unwanted conversation."
"Always, Eden. Always. But you must keep the dancing away from me." The two sisters smiled at each other in the mirror as Eden began on Lizzie's hair.
Eden and Elizabeth Bennet. The first with a pale complexion and long dark hair, the second with chestnut hair and a complexation that many women wished for. They were far from similar, but they were quite alike at the same time. Whilst gentle, Eden was just as witted as her twin.
The elder twin had yet to fall in love, yet from the sadness that echoed in Lizzie's eyes, she hoped she never did. A few short years ago, a man by the name of Fitzwilliam had taken Lizzie's interest and it was thought he would propose, but he had enlisted in the militia, yet to return. But from what she gathered from their constant, secret, correspondence, Eden was sure that Fitzwilliam, newly named Colonel, would return for Lizzie's hand in time.
From the mirror, Lizzie caught Eden's eye.
"Maybe Mr. Bingley will fall for you," she teased lightly.
"Myself over Jane? He will be caught up in her looks and sweet soul and I will hardly be a glimpse."
"You put yourself down far too much, Eden," Lizzie told her. "One would think you indifferent to love."
"Much like you were?"
"Touché. But I am sure that if I was able to find love that you will be able as well."
"Ah, so Mama would like me to think." Lizzie laughed in agreement. Eden hid her smile, busily working on her hair. Tomorrow night had to be perfect, but not for the two of them. But for Jane. The eldest Bennet sister was so gentle-hearted and deserved the best. She was shy, too shy to speak her head and she wore her heart on her sleeve. It was strange that she had yet to find a suitor, but Eden and Lizzie speculated that it was because she was too shy to express her affections.
It worried Eden. It worried Eden that Jane had yet to find love and Lizzie had found it but could lose it at any moment with the looming war in France. Love was such a fickle thing. And like what was stated before, Eden was practically indifferent. She didn't want to be hurt. She couldn't let herself be hurt.
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