Thanks for reading and reviewing. I can't believe I've gotten this many fallowers.
A few things before you start reading: I know Mr. Bennet doesn't have a name in the book I just decided to make one up. Though I may not use it a whole lot. I know that their name is spelled Bennet but I decided to spell it with two T's. I think it looks cool. I know how Georgiana is described in the book but I decided to describe her after the 2005 version but I didn't copy and paste her from the movie to this story, I promise.
Chapter 4: Mr. Bennet's Decision
Mr. Thomas Bennet was a practical man. He read many different types of books and encouraged learning to all of his children. But when it came to his children he was slow to be learning himself. It had been hard to see his children growing and even harder when he'd lost his wife. Even though she had been a rather silly woman he had come to love her, if not only for the bearing of his children. It had been the most hard to see his son leave for school and his daughters mature in the ways of women. He had been dreading the day that he would have to have men into his study asking to court or, heaven forbid, marry his daughters.
It was therefore with a heavy heart that he had allowed his children out in society. He knew Jane to be sweet and very much a county beauty, so it was for her that his concern was focused. It was not till he accompanied his children to a private ball at Lucas Lodge did he really start to fear. For all of his daughters, not just Jane, had been asked to dance on more than one occasion. And it was with those fears in mind that he retired to his study after the news of a wealthy young single man of five thousand a year coming to the neighborhood.
Jane was two and twenty and Kitty would be turning six and ten in a few months time. His children were not getting any younger in years. It would be nice too that James have some acquaintance with other young men around his age that he had not known his whole life. James had been quite the favorite in school, so his headmaster had written, such a pleasant young man and very gentlemanly. Mary and Kitty where young but they were growing so fast. Yes, as a father he must think of his children.
Mr. Bennet was not a social man, he much preferred the society of his books and family rather than any persons in popular society. It was many hours, and the house had grown dark before Mr. Bennet left his study for the dining hall.
All the children were settled there and waiting for him. He sat down at the head of the table and they all joined hands and said grace. It took a moment and for everyone to have at least one thing on their plate for Kitty to speak.
"Papa. You will never guess what happened while Lizzie, James and I were in town." She said excitedly.
"I'm sure, that if you say I shall not guess it, then I shall not even try." Mr. Bennet said beginning to cut his meat.
"Lizzie saved a young boy from being trampled!" Kitty said taking a roll as they were passed to her by Mary. "And when she was about to be hurt herself, a man swept her out from danger!"
Mr. Bennet turned to look at Elizabeth.
"I am quite alright Father." She said anticipating his question.
"She was quite brave, and the boy came to no harm." James said, "We saw him later and spoke to him concerning the certain evils of running into the street. We also informed his mother."
"That's good." Mr. Bennet said.
"The man that saved Lizzie was quite handsome." Kitty said.
Elizabeth's hand slipped, cutting into a piece of potato instead of the chicken that had been the target.
"Was he now?"
"Yes. And he was dressed rather well." Kitty continued.
"But he was with someone." Elizabeth said curtly, "It was clear by the way he addressed her."
"Oh I do not know about that Lizzie." James said, "If you were to ask me I would have said they were siblings."
Elizabeth looked at him, "How could you tell?"
James smiled, "Why he had the same look on his face as I do when I look at any of my sisters."
Elizabeth's cheeks pinked, "I had not noticed."
Mr. Bennet looked at his daughter. "Well Lizzie I'm glad that you arrived home safe. I dare say I would hardly know what to do with all the books in your corner had you not returned."
Elizabeth smiled, "I still have many books to read. A horse could not stop me."
"Perhaps we should have a picnic tomorrow." Jane said changing the topic, "For the weather is to be bright and clear. I think some sun would do us all a world of good."
"Excellent idea my dear Jane. And let it be a time for the five of you to spend with each other. For I have some business to attend to." Mr. Bennet said casually.
James looked up from his food, "Father, should I accompany you?"
He shook his head, "No son. I think it a good idea that you accompany your sisters on their picnic. For who shall Kitty grab onto when she sees a bee?"
Kitty blushed, "Papa, that was years ago."
"But you get all skittish when there is any sort of buzzing." Mary said taking a drink.
"Mary." Kitty said giggling.
"Then it is settled." Jane said. "We shall go for a picnic. I shall make all the arrangements."
The rest of dinner was idle talk about the ribbons and lace that Kitty had just had to have from the shops and the talk of some new book that James had begun to read. After dinner they all went to the music room where they sat and listened to Mary play a few songs before they went up to bed.
Lizzie was brushing out her hair when Jane knocked, and then after Lizzie allowed her to enter she walked over to the chair where Lizzie was sitting.
"Lizzie. I wondered if I might speak with you."
"Of course Jane." Lizzie said smiling.
Jane grabbed the brush from her sister and began brushing. "I am very glad you were not hurt this afternoon. I was very concerned when Kitty told me." Elizabeth closed her eyes feeling the brush against her scalp, "But I wondered at dinner, about the young man. I should like to thank him for the service he gave by saving you. Did you not get his name?"
Elizabeth opened her eyes. She hadn't thought of that. She had never seen him before, and the unpleasant feeling she got when she'd thought the man had been with the girl, had been too uncomfortable for her to want to say anything more. "No." she said sadly, "I did not. Though I should have thanked him properly by asking his name and giving mine in return. Though I had never seen him before today."
Jane sighed, "Oh well, if you should see him again, then find his name out. I should dearly like to at least know the name of the man who saved my sister." She hugged Lizzie placing her head on one of Lizzie's shoulders. "And I'm sure that little boy and his mother were very thankful that you saved him as well. It must have been very frightening."
Elizabeth smiled, "Yes, I suppose it was. If I were to think about it I suppose I could have been very frightened. But as I had not thought of the danger, merely thinking about the boy. I confess I was not frightened at all until I was the one in danger."
"Then the nice man helped you out." Jane said resuming the brushing of her sister's hair.
"Yes. He did." Elizabeth said remembering the man's eyes and his smile. "I saw such kindness in his eyes. And concern for me. And, I confess, I may have had tender feeling towards my rescuer. For it felt as though I had swallowed a grove of butterflies."
"Well," Jane said kissing the top of her sister's head, "I hope you are able to meet him again someday."
That night as Elizabeth lay in her bed, the last thing she thought of before sleep claimed her mind was the feel of the man's arms around her.
Mr. Bennet called for the carriage before his children had set off for their picnic. James asked once more if he should go with him but Mr. Bennet was firm, he would have been glad to not go at all, or better yet go with his children. But he had decided it last night that whether or not this young Netherfield Master would marry one of his daughters or not, he might as well be a good neighbor and welcome him to the neighborhood. Lord knows everyone else will, but on orders by their wife.
Mr. Bennet's thoughts wondered to his dearly departed wife as the carriage sauntered down the road. Franny Gardner had been a vision of loveliness they day they had met at a ball in London. It had been a meeting of chance. A friend from his days at University had invited him to his London home and had let him accompany his friend to a ball.
The laughter of a group of girls had drawn his attention and, looking over; he had spied the girl with dark blonde hair in a pink dress that looked to be made of mostly lace and ribbons. She was looking at him from behind a fan; her light blue eyes alight with energy and flirtation.
He had felt a bit warm at that moment but nothing so very different; the ballroom was full of people after all. The more the night drew on, the more and more he noticed the young lady in pink. Finally he decided he must investigate this lovely creature, so he asked her for a dance.
The dance, Mr. Beveridge's Maggot, was not significant enough to satisfy his curiosity and it was many months before he considered her as a marriage prospect. And it was not till his father fell ill that he seriously considered marriage. After he had purposed and she had accepted it had only been a few weeks before he introduced her as the new Mistress of Longbourn.When she had born him a daughter he had been happy yet concerned for if he had no heir he would be leaving his family in destitution. No matter how silly Franny Bennet had been, Mr. Bennet could not think ill of his wife. She had been a companion on long winter nights and had been a good mother to his children.
The carriage turned down the drive to Netherfield. Mr. Bennet took a few deep breaths to steady his resolve. For my children. This is for them. He repeated to himself. And he kept thinking of his children as he was ushered threw the house into the drawing room.
The room was very bright with the sun coming through the window on the far wall. There were paintings, a sofa, a table for cards with four chairs, two cushioned chairs and a writing desk. There was a certain comfortable glamor in the light cream color mixed with a certain golden yellow color about the room.
"A Mr. Bennet of Longbourn sir." The servant said bowing and closing the door.
A young man stood, "Mr. Bennet, welcome to my home. I am Charles Bingley."
Both men bowed, "A pleasure Mr. Bingley."
Charles motioned as the others in the room stood, "This is my sister." Caroline curtsied, "And my good friend Mr. Darcy." Darcy nodded
Mr. Bennet bowed to each.
"And this is my sister." Mr. Darcy said as Georgiana curtsied.
"It's an honor Miss. Bingley, Miss Darcy, Mr. Darcy."
"Will you sit?" Bingley asked.
"Thank you."
They all sat.
"So, Mr. Bennet, do you have children?" Mr. Bingley asked.
"Yes sir." Mr. Bennet said, glad to be talking on a subject he was comfortable with. "I have one son and four daughters."
"How old is your son?" Bingley asked as Caroline rang for tea.
"He is but one and twenty sir." Mr. Bennet said then smiled, "You may hear of him by others in society. For I am the father of the famous Bennet twins. They are much respected and admired in Meryton. My son, James and my daughter Elizabeth are quite infamous indeed."
Bingley smiled, "I should very much like to meet them some day. Pray tell me, what are the names of your other daughters?"
"My eldest, Jane, is two and twenty, my twins, then I have my Mary who is seven and ten and my youngest, Catherine who is five and ten." Mr. Bennet said relaxing into the chair.
"Why Miss. Darcy," Bingley said, "I do believe that there are young ladies your age around here after all."
Mr. Bennet turned to Georgiana, "Oh, Are you so young Miss. Darcy?"
Georgiana smiled, "Y… Yes S… Sir. I am five and t… ten." She said stuttering.
Mr. Bennet smiled, this young miss was shy, he sympathized. "Then you are in good company. For there is my Kitty and Sir. William Lucas, my neighbor, has one who is about your age as well."
Georgiana smiled and nodded. "I sh… should like to m… meet them both."
"Miss. Darcy is very accomplished at the pianoforte, do any of your girls play?" Caroline asked with a slightly bored tone in her voice.
"Why yes, Miss. Bingley. My Mary is quite accomplished at the instrument, though my Elizabeth plays a little as well." Mr. Bennet said.
"Has your son gone to University sir?" Darcy asked.
"Yes Sir." Mr. Bennet said as the servants came in with tea.
"Darcy and I attended Cambridge together." Bingley said.
"Cambridge, I hear, is a good University."
"It is sir." Darcy said.
After a few comments on the weather Mr. Bennet took his leave. "I have no doubt sir that you shall get many visitors for your arrival was much talked of."
Mr. Bingley smiled and thanked his guest.
"That was strange. He didn't have much to say except that he had four daughters and a son." Caroline said stiffly after the gentleman had left.
"I should very much like to meet others my own age brother." Georgiana said smiling, her nervousness melting away as she was among familiars again. For while she was around those she knew well she would talk with no reservation but the propriety of a young lady. But whilst in the mists of strangers and new acquaintances she would become shy and reserved.
"Perhaps we should pay him a visit to meet them then." Darcy said looking from Georgiana to Bingley.
Darcy was suddenly struck with a sudden feeling that he was missing something. He thought back over the past visit and then it came to him. The name James sounded familiar. It had been the name of the brother of the girl he had saved the other day. He took a quick breath in surprise, could he find and see the girl again? Could she be this other twin…. Elizabeth Bennet?
"Perhaps we should. I should like to make Mr. Bennet's children's acquaintance." Bingley said sitting in a chair.
"It is unfortunate that not all of his daughters could play the pianoforte." Caroline said smirking "I suppose they…."
But she was cut off by a knock on the door. It was another visitor.
Mr. Bennet sat himself in a chair in the drawing room. It was still early in the day and he suspected that his children would not be back for some time, so he moved himself to his study where he opened the latest book he'd been reading. He lost himself in the pages till his servant, Mrs. Hill, brought him lunch and then returned to his book until he heard the laughter of his children.
Thank you for reading, make sure to leave a review.
Again I apologize for any mistakes (Cultural, spelling or grammar) that may occur. I'm trying to minimize as many as possible but some may slip through the cracks of the editing process.
And I'm aware that some, or quite a few, would like my chapters to be bigger and I try to make them at least 2,000 words. But if they are short, I shall try to update closer together.
By the way 'Mr. Beveridge's Maggot' is the dance that Elizabeth and Darcy do at the Netherfield ball. I looked it up. And I'm trying to learn it cause it looks like fun.
