So I decided that I should explain a bit.
YES, Mrs. Bennet will not be in this fic. Of course she'll be mentioned and referenced and I HATE Lydia so she won't be in here either. I'd like to expand more on the family and the relationships there in. I especially want to focus and expand on James, and his relationship with the characters we all know and love. I'd really like to give Mary and Kitty some limelight. I feel like without Lydia's influence Kitty would mold into a different person. I'd like to give Mary some attention as well. Never fear Darcy and the rest shall make an appearance and I'll give them some time too. I got asked how many chapters I'm planning on, that's a good question. I don't really have a plan on how many chapters I plan on doing. But when I do know I'll put it on a chapter as an update.
Now some of you might worry that it'll just be a Pride and Prejudice copy and paste but with a son in the mix. It won't. I will probably have things from the original P&P but I don't plan on copy and pasting anything from that story to this. (I may have some similar dialogue but that's ok.)
Wow! I can't tell you enough how much I appreciate all your Reviews and the crazy awesome response to a Preface. I wasn't planning on putting this out for a few days but since you guys are so awesome I decided to let it out.
Chapter 1: What News!
It was many years since the Bennet twins were born. And both were in relatively perfect health. Elizabeth, being the smaller of the two in birth sometimes, when overexerting herself, suffered from shortness of breath and sometimes a severe headache.
But both were loved and among the favorite children of their father. Of course being different in many ways they were their father's favorite for different reasons;
James Bennet was the heir to his father's estate, to all of Longbourn and the property surrounding it. But not only was he the son his father had hoped for but he was very kind, intelligent and, to the neighborhood girl's and mothers amusement, a very handsome young man.
Elizabeth or Lizzy Bennet was her father's favorite daughter. For he had four daughters. Lizzy was, as she was constantly reminded by her aunt, not as pretty as her elder sister Jane, not as energetic as her youngest sister Catherine or Kitty. And was not as accomplished at the pianoforte as her other younger sister Mary. But, as her father boasted, she was intelligent, quick witted, had a quick tongue and was excellent company.
As Elizabeth and James were the only twins in Hertfordshire and since society was somewhat unvaried, they were quite infamous. Everywhere they went the young man was met with deep curtsies by young ladies and for the young miss, deep bows from the men. For twins where both had survived, living past infancy and where the mother had not perished in delivery is quite rare indeed.
Unfortunately after the birth of a fifth daughter both mother and child became ill and after a sickness of some duration both mother and child departed this world.
So Mr. Bennet was to raise his five children on his own while maintaining the estate. Fortunately his eldest was eleven and he was able to acquire the help of his wife's brother in London and her sister in Meryton
Mr. and Mrs. Gardner took the younger girls and tried to instruct them in manners and educate. Mrs. Gardner helped to curb the improper behavior that had been imparted on them by their mother before she passed. And the Gardner's returned the girls back to their father's house at the age of 11 and 9.
As for the elder three Jane took it upon herself to become the lady of the house. At the age of eleven she took instructions from her Aunt Phillips in Meryton on how to run a household. She insured that the house was cared for and the servants in constant use. She ensured that meals where planned and that her sister did not want for company.
James maintained his lessons with his father in managing an estate while practicing manners and etiquette with his sisters at their Aunt Phillips. He also found friends in the neighbor boys; William (the younger), Robert and John. All four boys were very adventurous and were often called the 'four scalawags'
Elizabeth would, as well, attend lessons from her aunt but also sit in on part of her brothers lessons with their father. She loved to read her father's books on all kinds of subjects and walk about the countryside. Though she did have a tendency to be out of breath she was determined to enjoy the outdoors as much as possible.
Jane and Elizabeth were as frequent visitors to Lucas Lodge as their brother, for both girls made a friend in Charlotte Lucas and eventually young Kitty gained a friend in young Maria Lucas.
By the time Kitty was 15 and introduced into society, the Bennet children were happily situated in their day to day lives. So it was no big surprise when Mrs. Phillips came down the drive of Longbourn in her carriage.
Jane and Elizabeth greeted her at the door. "Dear girls!" Mrs. Phillips said being helped out of the carriage, "Oh the news I have had. Come let me inside. For I shall tell you and your father of the new news in Meryton."
As soon as all were seated in the parlor and Mr. Bennet had entered the room Mrs. Phillips began to speak. "Oh Brother! What news I have. I suppose it is for young James as well as the girls."
"Well pray tell, what is this news?"
Mrs. Phillips, so much like her dearly departed younger sister, loved to gossip. No doubt her news was something that they had not heard of that all the ladies were talking of. Of course that the news would apply to both James and his sisters was a different type of gossip all together.
Elizabeth and James eyes met and both saw the spark of curiosity that was often shared between brother and sister.
"I have heard from Mrs. Long that Netherfeild Park is let at last. It is taken by a young man of large fortune."
Mr. Bennet sighed, "Mrs. Phillips, I see no significance in this news."
She likewise sighed, "Why Mr. Bennet, What if he were to fall in love with one of your girls. And he might be an interesting acquaintance for my nephew."
Mr. Bennet nodded thoughtfully, "And what, might I ask, am I to do with this circulated information?"
"Why visit him directly he comes and make his acquaintance. You may mention that you have four beautiful, eligible, single daughters and one intelligent son that would make fine company. And so that way if he does not visit for the girls he shall call on, and make friends with James." She took a breath, "And so as he spends time with him, he shall hear of his sisters and may likely fall in love with one of them."
"I see." Mr. Bennet said sitting in an arm chair, "Perhaps I shall ponder the information which you so speedily delivered to us and I shall contemplate on whether I should throw my children at this young man. Or perhaps my children and I shall have the pleasure of watching the neighborhood women flit around trying to secure this poor young man."
Elizabeth pursed her lips trying to hold back a smile.
"Papa!" Kitty said, "Of course you should call on him. Even if he does not marry one of us surely he will have rich friends that shall visit and they may also be eligible bachelors of large fortune."
Mr. Bennet looked at his youngest daughter, "When did you acquire the mind of your mother?"
Kitty blushed and looked down at her hands realizing she had spoken out of turn, "I just meant that he could be an interesting acquaintance."
"And did I mention he had five thousand a year?"
"Why that is a great fortune." James said glancing from his aunt to his sister who was holding back her laughter.
"It is indeed." Mr. Bennet said standing, "Well I must be off for I have business to tend to and a visit to think on." And with that Mr. Bennet left.
Mrs. Phillips sighed relaxing into her chair, "Oh if your mother were here she would convince your father of the importance in such a visit."
"I would think," Elizabeth said smiling, "That he would probably be more inclined to tease her than to comply with her wishes."
"I suppose so." She said, "But I do hope that he visits because it will not do to keep you girls here under the shelter of Longbourn till you become old maids. James may seek a bride but you girls must be sought after if you are to secure a man."
James, at hearing his aunt talk of his marriage prospects, grimaced, "Forgive me aunt." He said standing, "There is something I must speak to my father about." And he quitted the room.
Elizabeth sighed as her aunt continued, "I believe I must take it upon myself to nurture you into society and to help you all secure husbands of fortune and consequence."
"Please don't trouble yourself aunt." Jane said, "For I believe our father will indeed visit our new neighbor, directly he comes and all will be well."
"Oh you think so Jane. Well I can only deliver news and hope that your father does right by his girls."
Then the rest of her talk with the girls was filled with lace, ribbons and bonnet designs. At least until Lizzy acquitted the room in favor of the blue sky and green grass outside.
Wow! I can't tell you enough how much I appreciate all your Reviews and the crazy awesome response to a Preface. I wasn't planning on putting this out for a few days but since you guys are so awesome I decided to let it out. Keep leaving reviews, I love them and they inspire me to get things out faster. And Thanks.
I'm a HUGE fan of the Kira Knightly version (2005) of the movie but I'm even more of a fan of the Colin Firth version(1995). I also read lost of other P&P fanfic's. So I kinda molded the characters in my mind of appearance and facial expression from a mixture of both movies. I'm more inclined to think I took the looks of the 2005 version and the attitude of the 1995 version.
