1804 (Jane 15; Lizzy 13; Mary 12; Kitty 10; Lydia 8)

Jane sat in the corner of a window seat from which she could see the flowers in the sunny garden. She was doing some mending. Yesterday had been her 15th birthday and they had had a small celebration with the neighbours. This was unusual and Jane had been surprised her mother had organised it, as the family did not usually celebrate birthdays, but she had enjoyed the day. But now she was still a little worn out from all the activity and was happy just to sit for a while.

"Jane" said Mrs Bennet, entering the room, "I have a surprise for you!"

Jane looked up with a smile. "What is it, mamma?"

"We are going to the dressmaker" the last word coming out almost as if she sang.

Jane sat up straighter and the smile left her face. "But mamma" she protested, "I have just received a new dress for my birthday. It is not yet my turn again – Mary needs a new dress! She has grown 2 inches!"

"Well," Mrs Bennet hesitated, seeing Jane's confused expression, but then continued "well, I was thinking that now that you are fifteen, it is time you came out. Time to get you married! You will need new dresses and I am sure you will find a husband quickly! I'm sure you could not be so beautiful for nothing! Just think how lovely it will be for you to be a married woman!"

Jane's face went blank. This was not her plan, she was in no hurry to marry. She knew all the young men in the Meryton area and none of them were marriageable. Either already married, too old or too young or too… smelly. This would not do.

"No, mamma, no", Jane shook her head. "I am in no rush to come out. I am but fifteen. I do not need to marry in a hurry" if at all she thought to herself but knew that would be too much for her mamma.

"But my love", cried her mother, "you must marry! There must be an heir for Longbourn!"

"I am sure some of my sisters will marry at some point, or perhaps I will, but I do not need to. We have Longbourn." She paused and looked at her dear mamma, "Mamma, there are no eligible men in the area, despite the four and twenty families we dine with, and I am happy at home. There will be plenty of time for young men - I am still busy learning how to manage my estate. Please do not try and take that away from me."

As Jane looked at her mother seriously and Mrs Bennet returned her gaze with a look of despair, Lydia and Kitty ran into the room. The display was predictable.

"It is mine!" cried Kitty, "Give it back!"

"Ha ha" laughed Lydia, "You left your dolly on the shelf - she is mine now!"

"Oh Kitty" cried her mother, "do leave it alone. Let Lydia have the doll! My nerves will not take this noise! You know you haven't played with dolls in months!". Mrs Bennet left the room, headed towards the kitchen, the matter settled as far as she was concerned.

"But mamma!" wailed Kitty to her departing back, "She is my doll! She is my favourite! It is not fair!"

Jane stood up. She could be firm where she felt herself to be right. "Lydia! Give your sister back her doll!"

Lydia pouted and sullenly handed the doll back to her sister. Kitty hugged the doll, tears in her eyes and turned to leave the room.

Jane looked at Lydia who kept her eyes on the ground "Come with me and we will talk".

Jane took the eight-year-old Lydia by the hand and led her out of the drawing room and into the music room where they could have a little more privacy. She shut the door and they seated themselves on the sofa.

"Now Liddy," Jane looked at Lydia a little sternly. "Why did you take Kitty's doll?"

A mumble was all the reply she got. Lydia's eyes were fixed on the ground.

"I cannot hear you" said Jane gently.

"Because I can!" burst out of Lydia, her bottom lip stuck out, "I am the best daughter! Mamma lets me do anything I want! If I want Kitty's dolly then I shall have it!" She got up and flounced out of the room.

Jane sat back, shocked. Lydia had been a little spoiled for a long time but how could her behaviour have gotten to such a point? She got up and went to find her mother. Eventually, she found her in the kitchen discussing the evening's menu with Hill.

She waited patiently until they finished, then caught her mother's attention.

"Mamma, did you know Lydia thinks she can do anything she wants because she is the best daughter?"

"What?" Mrs Bennet looked a little shifty, "no, that's ridiculous. Why would you think such a thing?" and started to walk away.

Jane followed. "I just asked her why she took Kitty's doll, and she said it was because she could".

He mother stopped. "I… well, I may have told her that. But she is the baby! The youngest always has more leeway! It is perfectly natural".

"Mamma, this must stop. Lydia will end up hung for theft if she believes she can do anything she wants. Or at best a social pariah. No one will want to associate with us, with a child who cannot be trusted around other people because she thinks she can do anything she wants. Do you want Lydia hung? Or our social life cut off?"

Mrs Bennet looked at Jane, aghast. Being cut off socially and being dead were not much different in her mind "But... it is not like that! Lydia knows how to behave!"

"Then why does she find nothing wrong with taking other people's things without asking?"

Mrs Bennet had no answer to that.

Jane tiredly put her hands on her face and then looked up.

"Very well," she said. "You and papa will talk to Lydia and tell her firmly that she is not the best daughter, she is an equal daughter, and she is not to take things. I will speak to papa".

Jane went quickly to her father's study.

~~ HoL ~~

That evening, at the dinner table after the meal was complete, Mr Bennet addressed Lydia.

"Lydia, we need to have a talk. Your sister tells me you have been taking things because you believe you have the right. Is this true?"

Lydia looked sullen and didn't say anything.

"Lydia? I asked you a question".

Lydia frowned and then burst out "Yes! I am the best daughter! Everything should be mine! Mamma said so!"

"Oh dear!" cried her mamma.

"No Lydia", said her father, "you have misunderstood your mother. You are an equal daughter – all our daughters are our best daughter. You are not entitled to take other people's things. Do you understand me?"

Lydia looked shocked. "But… mamma said!"

Mrs Bennet's face crumpled "All my daughters are loved Lydia. I did not mean you were the best, I just meant that you were the babe in my arms, and I loved you very much in that moment."

Their father continued "I am sorry, my child. You have misunderstood. How you thought it made sense that you should have things and others should not, I cannot imagine. Did you not see Kitty was given her doll to herself? Does Mary not regularly get new dresses and sheet music? Has Lizzy ever been known to want for books? And Jane! As the eldest, Jane is the heiress! She will have charge of all this house and estate when I am gone. All of you are equal in my sight. You are not the least of my daughters, despite being the youngest, but nor are you the greatest. All of my daughters here are equal, and I love you all the same."

"Nonetheless, this needs to go beyond talking. Your punishment will be you will stay in the school room unless you are explicitly being supervised by myself or Jane or Lizzy for the next two months. When I have had no bad reports about your behaviour, we will talk about changes. This is a consequence of your poor choices. You are not to take other people's things! Do you understand?"

Lydia looked at him, tears in her eyes, but she nodded slowly then she burst into tears and ran from the room.

Jane looked at her father while he looked worriedly back at her. They both knew they would be talking more about this.

~~ HoL ~~

Later that evening, Jane joined her father in his library where he was playing chess with Elizabeth. Jane smiled and kissed the top of her sister's head just before seeing her move a piece and look up to her father jubilantly. "Ha! Checkmate! I won and you did not let me win this time!" cried Elizabeth. Her father smiled gently and replied "yes, you did!". He had gotten away with it again, but not for much longer - soon she really would be able to beat him.

Jane sat down beside them and sighed. "What are we to do about Lydia, Papa? Thank you for speaking to her, but somehow, I don't think it will be enough. I love mamma, and we seem to have managed to raise proper young ladies for your first 4, or maybe 3, daughters, but Lydia is a force of nature!"

Elizabeth interjected "Mamma says I am unruly, but I know that I am nothing compared to Liddy, and mamma encourages her!"

Mr Bennet sighed "I know. I have avoided the expense of a governess all these years but… it seems if Lydia is not to be spoiled beyond belief by your mother, then we need extra supervision for her. I will enquire around."

Jane nodded, relieved. She knew that if she could get her father to agree to some action then he would follow through, even though he could be a little slip shod if unprompted.

~~ HoL ~~

The following day saw Mr Bennet out visiting his neighbours, enquiring if anyone knew of a lady who was available to take a position as a governess. He had little joy, no one knew of an appropriate lady who was available. He came back to Longbourn and wrote to his brother in London. Mr Edward Gardiner was a useful fellow, he thought, who knew many people. He might have a contact who would be helpful. It was only a couple of days until the reply came - yes, Edward did know of a widow of good breeding who was looking for a position. Not an older lady, instead this lady's husband had been a military man and had died in action a year ago and she found herself without means. On Edward's recommendation Mr Bennet wrote back to seek a date when he should send his carriage for the lady to come to be interviewed. He informed his wife of what he was doing. She was not particularly pleased but didn't loudly object either. He felt she had been surprised by Lydia too.

The following week saw the Bennet carriage go to London and back, bringing its charge of Mrs Piper to Longbourn. The interview went well. Jane suggested she should act as governess to all of them, as she was sure they could all use some polishing, although her main role would be for the two youngest girls.

Mrs Piper settled in well - most of the girls appreciated her input.

Mary desperately needed guidance with her piano playing, although it took surprisingly little advice from Mrs Piper to sort out what she was doing wrong. She had a genuine talent, but she had been mostly self-taught, so her idea of fingering was a little off and she needed guidance on taste on what to play when. The daily morning practice became much more bearable to the rest of the family. In addition, a little guidance broadened Mary's reading which had started to focus too much on religious tracts. Mrs Piper also encouraged Mary in attention to her personal appearance and care. "If God hadn't wanted us to appear at our best then he wouldn't have made us able to change", she advised. The difference was remarkable. Possibly Mary was indeed the plainest of the sisters - but, once she wasn't dressed drably and didn't have her hair pulled back hard, this still put her head and shoulders above most of their neighbours.

Kitty was included in Lydia's lessons and drank the attention like a thirst crazed man - it was everything she had ever wanted so far, simply someone who would listen to her and help her understand. Mrs Piper identified her as having some artistic talent, and with Lydia being stopped from belittling another for what she had not the talent at, Kitty suddenly flourished.

Elizabeth didn't particularly appreciate having it pointed out where the gaps in her education were, but eventually realised she could fill in the gaps without much difficulty and in the longer term appreciated the greater breadth it gave her. Her playing also improved with much less fudging on the harder pieces when she was required to practice regularly.

Jane realised she had concentrated too much on estate management and now added more feminine pursuits to her repertoire - she started learning the harp and finally buckled down to the academic work she had been avoiding for so long.

Lydia was the major resister, convinced she didn't need a governess, and it took major effort on Mrs Piper's part to bring her into line. No one was surprised by this, as Lydia was the real reason they finally had a governess. It also helped that her mother was no longer spoiling her quite so outrageously. The larger portion of each of Mrs Piper's days was spent supervising Lydia. Fortunately, at eight she was still young enough that she was not really set in her ways and with time her behaviour improved drastically, and she started becoming a laudable young woman.

A/N I don't know about you, but I had echoes in my head of Newt in Alien II going "That's why I'm the best" with Lydia's lines, lol.