AN: Fanny and Robert are siblings (NOT married) and it has been mentioned multiple times. I had one character who is fairly new to the neighborhood that doesn't know that, spread gossip to Darcy and Bingley, it is important for later. I didn't expect so many people to not understand that the innkeepers don't know what they are talking about. They said multiple things wrong along with Robert being married to Fanny, Lucy died in a carriage accident (she died in childbirth) and they don't know how many Bennet daughters one of them said 5. I thought readers would understand, and not take the gossip as fact. As for the gossip about Mr. Bennet and Alex it may or may not be true, we will find out later. Moving forward...

Longbourn

September 29th 1811

"My dear, Brother Bennet," said his sister said to him one day, "have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?"

Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.

"But it is," returned she; "for my sister Mrs. Phillips has just been here, and she told me all about it."

Mr. Bennet did not reply

"Do you not want to know who has taken it?" cried his sister impatiently.

"You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it."

"It is a man by the name of Bingley! He has four or five thousand a year! Oh what a fine thing for our girls!"

"How so? Is he single?"

"Yes my sister Philips, said that Mrs. Hodges hosted him and his friend, who are both single, at the Inn."

"Mrs. Hodges?" Robert responded giving his sister puzzled look.

"Yes, she is the innkeepers wife, she moved here when you refused to let us go to social engagements for 6 months!"

"Yes unfortunately you overspent your pin money and on the accounts and lied about it."

Fanny ignored him and continued on about Mr. Bingley "It is very likely that he may fall in love with one of the girls, and therefore you must visit him as soon as he comes."

"I see no occasion for that. Jane, Lizzy and Mary will be going to town soon, and they do not need to be paraded to the new neighbor"

"Jane, Lizzy and Mary! What about Kitty and my dear Lydia."

"They are not out yet and do not need to meet Mr. Bingley."

"They were out in Dorset, so they should be out Hertfordshire."

"They are too silly to be out. I did not let Jane, Lizzy and recently Mary, out until they were 18."

"You just will not let my girls out because it will take all the attention away from your plain daughters. You know that my girls are the real Jewels of Hertfordshire." Fanny yelled and stomped off.

Mr. Bennet sat in his study contemplating on whether or not his should visit his new neighbor, even though he had his daughters back for sensible conversation, being in a house full of women was starting to wear on him.

"I'll just go." Mr. Bennet said to himself

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Netherfield Park

September 29th, 1811

Mr. Bingley was in his study settling into Netherfield's accounts, when he got bored and started to pace his study.

"I have never been in a place where I am completely alone before. I know no one here, maybe my time would be better spent calling on the gentlemen of the neighborhood, and making new acquaintances. I know, I shall leave the state business until Darcy gets here to walk me through it." Mr. Bingley said to himself. Just as he was about to exit his study, Mr. White knocked on the door and announced he had a visitor by the name of Mr. Bennet

"Send him in please." Replied Bingley thinking of the story that the innkeepers told him about Mr. Bennet.

"Mr. Bennet a pleasure to meet you." Bingley said bowing to Mr. Bennet

"Likewise Mr. Bingley, Welcome to the neighborhood." Bennet returned to bow

"I thank you sir, please do be seated." Mr. Bingley responded pointing to the chair in front of his desk

"Where are you from Mr. Bingley?"

"I hail from Yorkshire."

"The textile business there is going strong."

"Yes it is I hope to sell the warehouses soon."

"Oh you have businesses there? What brings you to Hertfordshire?"

"I am looking to buy an estate and become landed gentry and my friend Darcy recommended that I lease on to learn how to run an estate."

"Ahh this Darcy sounds like a wise man." Bennet responded thinking of the advice he gave to Gardiner all those years ago to let Ashley House.

"He is. I would be lost without him."

"Is he to join you? This is a large house for one person."

"Oh yes he is along with my sisters and brother in-law."

"Ahh yes a good mix of company is important. I live with all females and it drives me to bedlam sometimes."

"How many?"

"Six, I hide away in my study to get solitude."

Mr. Bingley laughed

Their conversation lasted a half hour and then Mr. Bennet left Mr. Bingley with the promise of inviting him and his party to Dinner once they were settled.

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Longbourn

October 5th 1811

A few days later, back at Longbourn Lizzy and Mary were headed off to deliver a basket of clothes and treats to some tenants who just had a babe. Jane decided to stay behind and work on the garden. As Lizzy and Mary were walking, Mary inquired about Lizzy's lost locket.

"Lizzy, did Mrs. White ever find your locket?"

"No and I dare say, she probably will not. We think it fell behind the bed, which is the only place she could not check because the bed is too heavy to move alone. Mr. Bingley is in residence now, and she cannot have footmen move the bed without causing suspicion."

"Oh that is terrible. What shall you do?"

"Mr. Bingley should go to Town or on a trip soon enough and Mrs. White can check after they leave."

"Did you read your letter from mamma?"

"Yes, but I don't understand." Mary replied shyly, looking at the ground

"Do you have it with you?" inquired Lizzy.

Mary nodded.

"May I read it?"

Mary nodded again.

Dearest Mary,

I am days away from giving birth to a new sibling for you and your sisters. I hope it is a boy for your father shall get driven to bedlam if we have all daughters. By now your Aunt Gardiner should have given you your Lockets with an inscription on it. You girls have such strong personalities, and each of the words I picked for your lockets describe on of your best characteristics. You are so diligent in you studies and becoming an accomplished woman that I do not want you to forget to enjoy life. I do not want you to grow up and think that you have to be the best at everything and your value is in what you do and how well you accomplish it. While I am indisposed I want you to go out and enjoy walking with Lizzy or drawing with Jane. Try new activities and tell me about them, once am better.

Love,

Mamma

"Why did Aunt Gardiner wait so long to give us the letters and lockets?" Mary asked Lizzy as, she looked up from reading the letter.

"Our aunt did not think it was a good idea to give the lockets to us so young, especially since mamma had passed and this was our final gift from her."

"Oh I feel as though I may have spent too much time trying to be accomplished on the pianoforte. I like it, but I cannot play the way you do."

"Oh Mary do not trouble yourself, you can try new things and we can try to play a duet together, so that we may learn from each other."

"I think I shall like that very much."

At this point in time the girls had arrived to the tenant's house and presented them with the basket full of clothes and baked goods for their family. They visited with the tenants for a quarter hour and then made their way back to Longbourn, when Mary stopped along the path about half way home.

"Lizzy, I cannot help but wonder what your letter and Jane's letter from mamma said." Lizzy stopped walking and turned to her sister and placed her arm around Mary's shoulder.

"My letter said that I should take time to examine ones character, before judging them. Jane's letter said that she sees the good and overlooks the flaws. Jane and I now take care and compare our opinions. We have found that the true character of someone often lies in between our judgements."

"Well we shall have to see if you both are correct about our new neighbor."

"Mr. Bingley!" Lizzy said mocking the voice of her aunt.

Mary laughed and the two sisters walked arm and arm back to Longbourn. When the girls arrived Jane was still in the garden and a nice carriage was leaving the driveway of Longbourn.

"Jane, whose carriage is that?" Lizzy said pointing to the carriage making its way around the bend to leave Longbourn.

"Mr. Bingley's."

"Mr. Bingley!" Lizzy said mocking the voice of her aunt again.

"Lizzy!" Jane said in a reprimanding voice

"Well did you meet the gentleman?" asked Mary

"No I am quite sure father did not want us to, they went straight to his study and closed the door."

Mary and Lizzy asked "Is he handsome?"

"I did not see him, just his blue coat." Jane responded

"Well at least I still have a chance with Mr. Bingley, for once he sees how beautiful and sweet you are dear Jane, he will not look at me." Lizzy responded

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Meryton

October 15th 1811

The day of the assembly arrived with chaos, a plethora of lace and a new face at Longbourn. Mrs. Govern the girls' new companion arrived the morning of the assembly. When Mrs. Govern arrived Mr. Bennet took the liberty of introducing her to the family. Jane, Lizzy and Mary were happy to have someone to accompany them besides, Mrs. Bennett. Kitty and Lydia were not thrilled at the idea of having a companion. They preferred having the freedom to do as they pleased.

"Why should we need a companion? My mother is quite capable of her duties." Kitty asked.

"Yes dare say she is quite useless to us." Lydia agreed

"You both are the two silliest girls in all of England, she is here mostly for you, to teach you how to be ladies. If you can behave like a lady for the rest of the day, you both may attend the assembly, but only dancing with me or your Uncle Philips." Replied Mr. Bennet

Lydia pouted and walked away calling Kitty to come with her to call on Maria Lucas. Mr. Bennet sent Mrs. Govern along with the girls.

Later that day, right before the girls started preparing for the assembly, Jane and Lizzy presented Mary with one of her old dresses that they retrimmed together. It was a pale yellow half dress with lace trim around the bottom of the sleeves, the waistline and at the hem of the dress and a neckline lower than what Mary was used to.

"Thank You, Lizzy and Jane. It is so beautiful" Mary squealed twirling around the room with her dress.

Just then, Lydia and Kitty along with Mrs. Govern walked in the room. Lydia eyed Mary's dress as soon as she walked in the room.

"Oh Mary, that is a very pretty dress." Lydia said

"Thank you Lydia." Mary replied wondering why her cousin had said something nice to her.

"Mary I think there are some ivory flowers outside, which will look well in your hair with that dress." Lydia said giving Kitty a look.

"Aye Mary they will make you look very becoming." Kitty added

"Kitty let us go put our gowns on." Lydia said leaving the room with Kitty following close behind.

"That was unusual." Jane said looking at Lizzy

"Unusual? That was most astonishing thing I have ever seen. Lydia and Kitty said something nice to Mary? Without ridicule or mocking? I did not think that they were capable. Cannot help but think that was a ploy to get something, later" Lizzy said with a look of disbelief.

"Well, maybe having a companion will help them learn how to be proper gentlewomen. Our Aunt is not the best example on how to conduct one's self properly." Replied Jane to Lizzy who was frowning.

"Let me put the dress in my room, and then we can go out and gather some flowers for my hair. Will you help me style it?" asked Mary to Lizzy and Jane

"Certainly Mary." Jane and Lizzy responded

After Mary placed the dress in her and Lizzy's room the girls went outside and picked some ivory flowers for Mary's Hair. When the girls returned inside Mary's dress was no longer in the room.

"Where is my dress?" Mary cried

"Lydia." Lizzy said starting to walk towards Lydia's room to confront her, but Jane stopped her.

"Let us ask Marie did she move it before we make any accusations." Jane rang for Marie and Mrs. Hill to inquire if either of them moved Mary's dress. Both denied moving it.

"Now may I ask Lydia?" Lizzy said to Jane. But before she could respond Lydia burst into the room in the dress in question, laughing along with Kitty. Mrs. Hill and Marie quickly exited knowing that this would not end well.

"Oh wonderful you picked the flowers for my hair. I dare say that Mr. Bingley will not take a second look at Jane when he sees me."

"Lydia, take off Mary's dress right now." Lizzy said angrily

"No, such a beautiful dress does not deserve to be worn by such a plain thing."

"Lydia! Apologize!" cried Jane

Mary was on the verge of tears and Jane wrapped her arms around youngest sister.

"Lydia give Mary back her dress." Lizzy yelled, but Lydia ignored her and started to place flowers in her hair. Lizzy walked up to Lydia and ripped one of the sleeves off the dress.

"Lizzy!" cried Lydia. Lizzy ripped the other sleeve of the dress. And Lydia started to wail.

Mr. Bennet burst in the room along with Mrs. Hill. "WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE?" roared Mr. Bennet.

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He looked at Lizzy and Lydia who were in the middle of the chaos and knew he could not ask either of them, then to Kitty who would just side with Lydia, then to Jane who wouldn't want to get anyone in trouble and finally settled on Mary, who looked very distraught.

"Mary what happened here?"

"L-l-ydia too-k m-m-y dress-s-s." Mary stuttered through her tears

"Why is it ripped?"

"L-l-li-izzy."

Lizzy interrupted his inquiry. "Lydia took Mary's dress that Jane and I made it for Mary to wear tonight, she would not take it off, so I ripped it so Lydia could not wear it tonight."

"Is this true Mary?" Mr. Bennet asked

Mary nodded

"Lydia and Kitty you cannot attend the assembly tonight and are not allowed to make or receive calls, everyday excluding Sunday, you are required to get lessons from Mrs. Govern, until she tells me that you can behave in society."

"But I did not take the dress Lydia did! Kitty whined.

"Did you know of her plan to steal the dress?"

Kitty nodded.

"Did you tell anyone?"

Kitty shook her head and hung her head down.

"You may not have taken the dress, but you did not stop her, when you knew it was wrong."

AN: Next up the assembly. I'll try to have it up this weekend since it took me so long to post this chapter. Please Review