Author's note: my apologies to the Guest who hated the names of the Gardiner children! Those were the names used in the 1995 BBC version :)

Chapter 4

Several days after the assembly, the ladies of Longbourn made a call on those who resided at Netherfield, and the visit was soon returned. It was clear that Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst had little desire to interact with anyone but the eldest Miss Bennet. They took to her side almost immediately upon their arrival, and they spoke with no one else.

Mrs. Bennet watched the exchange with great pleasure, certain that these particular attentions were the result of the ladies viewing Jane as their future sister.

Elizabeth, on the other hand, felt nothing but trepidation. True, it was almost impossible to not be affected by Jane's simple goodness. Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst were continually disarmed by Jane's happy manners and unassuming nature. Elizabeth heard them say as they left, "I've never met a more delightful girl in all my life!"

But what would they think when they realized that her gentle nature was all there was to Jane?

Elizabeth, being only one year younger than Jane (their parents eager for an heir to end the entail), was raised alongside her elder sister. It was very clear by the time Elizabeth was a year old herself that her skills were far beyond those of her sister.

No one realized how different Jane was until Elizabeth learned to walk first.

After that, everything about the two was compared. Elizabeth was reading words by the time she was five, whereas Jane still struggled as an adult with words of more than two syllables.

Jane's embroidery was all tangled - even though she practiced daily - whereas Elizabeth could hold her own with the other ladies of the neighborhood.

Elizabeth's piano playing was passable, but Jane still could not remember which key was a C and which was an F.

When Mrs. Bennet's brother, Mr. Gardiner, married his wife, the newly-named Mrs. Gardiner recommended a specialist from London come see the nine-year-old Jane.

The man took one look at Jane's features and immediately asked, "How old was she when she first could sit by herself?"

Upon hearing that it was a month after Elizabeth's birth, he frowned and said, "I'm afraid your daughter is an idiot, and she will always be one. You had best send her to the workhouse and forget she existed, for the sake of your other daughters."

Elizabeth was only eight years old, and even then she was her sister's staunchest protector. She had stormed into the room through the door from which she had been eavesdropping and kicked the man in the shins.

"How dare you tell my parents to give up Jane!" And she kicked him again.

The doctor roared in pain and lifted a hand to smack her. Mr. Bennet, with rare agility, launched himself from his chair and grabbed the man's hand.

"I suggest you leave before I kick you myself." His voice was deep and menacing.

Mrs. Bennet had swooned on the sofa, weak from having given birth to their fifth child. When she came to, the doctor was gone, and Mr. Bennet was comforting a sobbing Elizabeth.

"I will not allow anyone to take her from us," he vowed to both his wife and daughter.

Since that day, Elizabeth had done all she could to protect Jane. She was well aware of her sister's differences, and the older the girls grew, the more worried she became.

Mrs. Bennet had the natural ability of ignoring things that were unpleasant to her. Jane's beauty was enhanced by the small ears, large eyes, and strong jaw that were so commonly lauded in society, and Mrs. Bennet became convinced that Jane would be able to make a good match.

It was only when one looked more closely that you could see the hints of upturned eyes spaced further apart and flat face. But as the Bennets treated Jane as though nothing was amiss, the rest of the neighborhood's twenty-four families had become accustomed to her unique appearance.

The fact that most children weren't seen by neighbors, or even by their own parents, until they were older also contributed to Jane's acceptance. The Bennets were fond of their daughters, but they did not have much to do with the daily care of their children as babies. Wet-nurses, maids, and nannies were hired for that purpose.

None of the hired staff were paid well enough - nor had the courage - to care about the eldest Bennet's development. It was only when Elizabeth came along that any delays in Jane's development was noticed, but Mrs. Gardiner was the only one who encouraged the indolent Bennet parents to do anything about it.

Since then, Mrs. Bennet had been determined that Jane would marry well - by which was meant that Jane would marry someone with significant wealth. Not only would that ensure the care of any of Jane's family after Mr. Bennet's death, but Jane would be

The lack of gentlemen in Hertfordshire meant that Jane at twenty-one and Elizabeth at twenty were still unmarried. In desperation, Mrs. Bennet had allowed her younger daughters to come out before the elder were wed in an attempt to entice the few young men in the area. The Bennet daughters, while amiable and with many charms, did not possess a dowry that would tempt the young men of the area.

Bingley's arrival was - in Mrs. Bennet's mind - a direct answer to her prayers. The fact that he seemed besotted with Jane's beauty and unique looks completely washed away any trepidation she may have had over her daughter's unique characteristics and simple mind.

After all, Mrs. Bennet possessed a rather simple mind herself.

It was with great delight, therefore, that a note soon arrived from Netherfield from Miss Bingley. It contained an invitation to dine while the gentlemen were out to dinner with the new officers that had arrived in Meryton.

"My d-d-dear f-f-f… Lizzy, what is this word?" Jane asked, showing her sister the letter.

"Oh, give it here girl!" Mrs. Bennet, impatient with her eldest daughter's inability to read the elaborate cursive of the missive, snatched the paper from her daughter's hand.

"Why, it's an invitation to spend the afternoon at Netherfield and dine with them! What excellent news!" Mrs. Bennet skimmed over the page. "Oh, of all the rotten luck. The gentlemen will be dining with the new officers…"

Mrs. Bennet's voice trailed off as her eyes scanned the sheet again. "Well, there's nothing for it. You must go by horseback, Jane!"

"But it looks like it might rain, Mama," protested Elizabeth. "Besides, Jane can't go by herself. You know she'll get lost."

"Nonsense," Mrs. Bennet sniffed. "I daresay Jane can manage the road to Netherfield. It's not that far, after all."

"And the rain?" she inquired with a raised eyebrow.

"Why, she'll have to stay the night, of course!"

Even Lydia and Kitty gasped at the idea before giggling. "Imagine, staying the night in the house of a single gentleman!" cried Lydia.

"Nonsense," Mrs. Bennet said again, "Mrs. Hurst is there, so the situation would be entirely respectable."

"Let me go, too!" Lydia cried. "I want to see Mr. Darcy!"

"But you weren't invited!" Elizabeth exclaimed, horrified. "It would be a serious breach of etiquette!"

Mrs. Bennet looked at her youngest daughter, torn between propriety and matchmaking.

"Mr. Bingley's sisters might get a poor impression of us," added Elizabeth hopefully.

For once, reason prevailed, and Mrs. Bennet shook her head. "I'm sorry, Lydia, dearest."

Lydia let out an angry screech. "I hate you, Lizzy!" she screamed, stomping her foot. She then ran up the stairs and slammed the door to her room, her sobs echoing through the hallway.

Her absence was hardly noticed as Elizabeth turned her attention back to her mother.

"Mama, I still don't think it's a good idea -"

Elizabeth's words were cut off when Jane said, "But I want to see Mr. Bingley, Lizzy."

The stubborn look on Jane's face caused Elizabeth to sigh slightly. With Mrs. Bennet's approval and Jane's simple obstinacy, Elizabeth knew she would be wasting her breath.

Jane would go to Netherfield. On horseback. Alone.

What could go wrong?