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Prologue - Part One

Posted on Tuesday, 14 September 1999

Mr. Bennet was a gentleman of some lineage in England. His father had married well, to the daughter of a baronet, but it had been a love match rather than a sensible, business arrangement. For the lady, like her husband, had excellent relations but little money. Her name was Alicia deBourgh.

Alicia and her husband, James, were happy although they had but one child, a son, Thomas. Young Thomas did not grow up alone, though, as his cousin Lewis came to live with the Bennets as a young boy. Lewis' parents had tragically died when he was but three-years-old, so he had been raised by his aunt and uncle Bennet.

The boys grew up happy, often burying their noses in books. Thomas knew that his parents' marriage had not been what the gentry would call smart, either one of his parents ought to have married money, but they impressed upon him that love was more important than gossip. When he married, he promised himself, he would do so for love not profit.

Unfortunately, he had spent a bit too much time reading and too little time learning the ways of the world. So, he did not realize that what he felt for Fanny Gardiner was not love, but attraction. His parents, of course, having gone against society themselves, could not use the fact that her family was in trade as a barrier to the match.

Besides, all the Bennets knew her brother Edward to be a proper sort of man, and surely Fanny was just like him.

James and Alicia unfortunately died in a carriage accident soon after their son's marriage and, thankfully, never knew what a misery it had turned out to be.

Lewis, however, saw everything. Lewis was heir to Rosings, rather a larger estate than Thomas's Longbourn, and he was very aware of how difficult it would be to keep an estate that large profitable. Formal education had not been a priority for Thomas, who learned what he thought he needed directly from books, but Lewis needed to attend Cambridge.

At Cambridge, Lewis knew he would do more than learn -- he would meet other gentlemen, and be able to move in the best circles. To make an estate as large as Rosings prosper, Lewis would need all the friends he could find.

Lewis was among the first to realize the folly of Thomas's marriage, and he vowed never to repeat his cousin's and dear friend's mistake. No, Lewis would not look for love, it was too rare to be found. Certainly his aunt and uncle had found it, but happy as they were Longbourn did no more than keep itself afloat, there was nothing extra to invest. And Rosings was even larger.

Lewis was certain, certainly one of his new friends at Cambridge would have a sister he could marry. A rich one who would like being the wife of a baronet. His title had been unimportant for most of his youth, neither he nor the Bennets had much cared. Of course, he was always addressed by his proper title, but at times he almost forgot he was a baronet.

In due time, Lewis met and married Lady Catherine Fitzwilliam. She had a hefty dowry, which was his primary concern, and was the daughter of an earl. She most definitely knew the importance of being a baronet. Although she would have preferred to marry someone of equal rank, somehow none of the titled gentlemen saw her worth.

All their heads were turned by pretty little Anne, who had turned them all down for untitled George Darcy. As for Catherine, her less than beautiful looks and lack of ability to be pleasant turned nearly every young titled gentleman away. There were other young ladies of good family or with large dowries, if not both, and nobody wanted to be alone with Catherine for the time it took to dance, much less marry her.

Finally, a marriage was arranged for her, sight unseen, to her brother's Cambridge friend Sir Lewis de Bourgh. Lewis had no interest in love, so he did not care to meet his bride.

Besides, her brother was friendly and proper enough, surely the sister was just like him.

He hadn't been married a month before he realized that, although he hadn't taken the same path, he'd ended up just as miserable as his cousin.

Prologue - Part Two

Posted on Wednesday, 15 September 1999

The years passed and the cousins remained close, through letters for neither could bear the other's wife. And if the word "shrew" appeared in their most confidential correspondence it is no one's business but their own.

Thomas and Fanny had five children, all daughters. First came Jane, then Elizabeth, Mary, Catherine and Lydia.

Lewis and Catherine had but one child, a daughter.

Unfortunately, because Longbourn was entailed along the male line -- Thomas needed to produce a son.

But, Anne deBourgh's femininity was not a problem, as Rosings was not entailed away.

Jane Bennet's beauty pleased both Thomas and Fanny, and her sweetness reminded Thomas of his mother. Elizabeth was intelligent and a joy to her father but a bane to her mother.

When Jane was 12, Fanny's begging finally wore down Mr. Bennet's resolve. He decided to accede to his wife's request that beautiful Jane be sent to visit his cousins Lewis and Catherine, as they were rich and it was never too soon to look for a rich husband.

Jane and Lizzy were inseparable and, though it pained him to send both of his favorite daughters away, he knew both would be miserable without the other.

At age 11 Elizabeth already had developed a quick wit and a tongue to match, but she already knew she would never match her sister Jane, age 12, in beauty or sweetness of disposition. But, two closer sisters there never had been.

Jane's beauty and Elizabeth's wit enchanted Lewis, who kept them with him as much as possible. The girls were happy. Some of the time. Lady Catherine was somewhat less impressed. Her Anne, 12 like Jane, was overshadowed by Jane's looks and Elizabeth's vivacity.

As the end of the visit loomed near, Elizabeth and Jane were ambivalent about leaving. They would miss Sir Lewis terribly and Anne, too, who really was pleasant when she managed to leave her mother's sight.

But fate intervened and leaving was not to be. Only a week before their scheduled departure, a letter arrived from a Mr. Phillips in Meryton -- their uncle -- explaining that a terrible disease had struck Longbourn and all who lived there had died. Thomas, Fanny, Mary, Kitty and Lydia were all gone.

Lewis was horrified and grieved. He too had lost his parents, but no siblings. And he had been barely more than a baby, whereas these girls were much older.

He knew that he had to repay the kindness of James and Alicia Bennet, he would raise Jane and Elizabeth Bennet alongside his own Anne.

But, it was not to be. Perhaps it was the loss of his cousin and only confidant, perhaps it was just bad luck, but before twelve months were out, Lewis deBourgh himself succumbed to an illness. Leaving Jane and Elizabeth at the mercy of Lady Catherine.

Chapter One

Posted on Monday, 20 September 1999

Lady Catherine was incensed at the reading of her late husband's will. Though the whole of his estate was left to her in trust for Anne, as she always had known, she was required to act as guardian for those two brats from Hertfordshire.

Besides their guardianship, the Bennet girls did not inherit anything from Sir Lewis. Though, had he lived longer he would have improved their financial future considerably. He had invested the small annuities -- 50 a year -- their father had left them, knowing his greater knowledge of finance would allow the money to grow. Unfortunately he died before that came to pass. Now the money would only sit in a bank.

Lady Catherine did not have to think too long before she decided what to do with Jane and Elizabeth. They certainly were not appropriate companions for Anne, but they were daughters of a gentleman and nieces to Sir Lewis.

They would be sent away to school, she supposed, where they would be educated well enough to secure positions as governess.

And so it was. If Lady Catherine had any sympathy for the two young girls who had lost both parents, three sisters, a loving guardian and two homes within a year, she never shared it with a soul.

Jane and Elizabeth spent the next five years primarily at school, but did return to Rosings for one month each year during the summer. If this month was when Lady Catherine would have no other visitors and be in need of amusement, it was of no concern to Jane or Elizabeth.

Surely, the only amusement the Bennets provided Lady Catherine was the opportunity to see for herself how they were growing and to criticise them, usually Elizabeth, for lack of attention to their studies. If you would only practice more, Miss Elizabeth, you would be a proficient at the ____Ó Lady Catherine often was heard to say.

When Jane was 16 and Elizabeth 15, Lady Catherine decided she had devoted enough time to their education, they were quite old enough to find governess positions. Or, perhaps, Miss Bennet might find a suitable husband.

Chapter Two

Posted on Wednesday, 22 September 1999

At Hunsford Parsonage

Hunsford Parsonage was located across the lane from Rosings Park. Its master was one Rev. Joseph Collins. Visiting Rev. Collins were his older brother William Collins, master of Longbourn, and his wife Charlotte, nee Lucas.

William Collins always had expected to enter the church, but Mr. Thomas Bennet had died in a timely manner, allowing Collins to inherit Longbourn much earlier than he had anticipated. Being a fair sort of man, he always had intended to take one of Mr. Bennet's five daughters as a bride, but they were too young when he took possession of the estate. Instead he married the daughter of a local landowner, Sir William Lucas.

Then 17 years of age, Charlotte already realized that she was not beautiful and if she were not careful she would never marry. As she did not want to be a burden on her family, she made sure Mr. Collins noticed her, despite his disagreeableness. And, when he offered for her she accepted him. If all her deeply hidden dreams of romance died that day it was no one's concern but her own.

In the five years that had passed, Mrs. Collins had made quite a few changes to Longbourn. The dark room that Mr. Bennet had used as a library had been converted into a sitting room for her, allowing Mr. Collins to use the front parlor, with its full-west windows, as his office. If Mrs. Collins' visitors wondered about the dark sitting room, she simply explained that she preferred it for its fewer drafts. And, if she saw her husband only at mealtime, it certainly was a coincidence.

Make haste, make haste, was the cry she heard ringing out through the parsonage. Which Mr. Collins was speaking made no difference. They were too similar for her to notice the difference. And as she had borne her husband two sons, neither came to her chamber at night. Yes, Mr. Collins, she replied, and reached for her pelisse. It was time to go to Rosings Park for tea.

Charlotte of course had heard a great deal of Rosings and its most condescending mistress - Lady Catherine deBourgh - as her husband was as enraptured with his brother's patroness as was Rev. Collins himself. Indeed, every word of Joseph's verbose descriptions of his life in Kent in his letters to his brother was repeated to Charlotte across the dinner table. Mostly, she smiled politely and nodded, thinking it was preferable to have a letter read to her than a sermon her would-have-been-a-minister husband wrote for solely her benefit.

As she fingered her pelisse, making sure it was hanging properly, Mr. Joseph Collins thought she felt uncomfortable with her attire, and reminded her that my patroness Lady Catherine deBourgh likes to have the distinction of rank preserved. Charlotte supposed that was supposed to make her feel better about her country gentleman's wife attire.

She was looking forward to seeing Jane and Lizzy Bennet again, though they had been but girls when she had last seen them, before their visit into Kent. They had been nervous about going, she remembered, but that visit surely had spared their lives.

What Charlotte did not realize was that she was the only one who knew of her connection to the Bennets. Lady Catherine never had paid any attention to the affairs of her wards, and Collins was a common-enough name that Jane and Elizabeth never made the connection. They knew a Mr. Collins had inherited their childhood home. They knew Rev. Collins' brother resided in Hertfordshire, but they assumed it was in another part of the county. The elder Collins and his wife had arrived in Kent since the last Sunday, and this was to be their first visit to Rosings.

Chapter Three

Posted on Monday, 27 September 1999

Rosings

Lady Catherine was enjoying the unforeseen company that had come her way the previous afternoon. Mr. Darcy was her favorite nephew. His estate, Pemberley, was indeed impressive and, although his family was not titled they were very, very rich. Had Lady Catherine not made her sister realize - on poor Anne's deathbed - that the best match for young Fitzwilliam would be dear Little Anne?

Yes, Lady Catherine had been envious of her younger sister. Envious of her beauty and kind and pleasant disposition. More than anything, though she'd shown disdain for her sister's choice, she had been envious of George Darcy. And she would get her revenge at last. she'd forced Anne to promise that their children would wed. Their final conversation had been a heated one, Anne had finally died only a few hours later, but that was of no concern to Lady Catherine.

Lady Catherine was pressing Darcy to announce his engagement to Anne, and becoming annoyed at his continually cryptic answers, when the butler announced that the Collins had arrived for tea. The clock struck just as the butler finished speaking - her parson certainly was punctual.

Lady Catherine unfortunately had forgotten about the invitation in the aftermath of her unexpected visitors.

She could simply send them home again, but -- wait. It was time Mr. Collins was wed, there was no question about that. And Lady Catherine had enough good thoughts about Jane to wish her wed rather than a governess and Mr. Collins would be perfect. Yes. Jane would continue to wait on Lady Catherine, which she even admitted to herself was something she had missed whenever she would send the girls back to school. That Elizabeth was horrid, but Jane, Jane was a treasure despite her golden hair and blue eyes.

Lady Catherine knew Jane's beauty made her Anne look even sicklier than usual, but that would be balanced by the idea of such beauty being forever linked with Mr. Collins.

And besides, Darcy's friend Bingley was spending too much time talking with the girl. When he wasn't talking to her, he was looking at her. And, while Lady Catherine did not really approve of Darcy's friendship with that Bingley boy - his fortune had been made in trade after all - an alliance between any friend of Darcy's and one of her wards was simply out of the question.

"Send them in," Lady Catherine said to the butler.

Chapter Four

Posted on Wednesday, 6 October 1999

Bowing deeply and often Rev. Collins introduced his brother, Mr. William Collins, to "My noble patroness Lady Catherine deBourgh." Mr. Collins' bows were equally frequent and possibly deeper than those of his younger brother - perhaps owing to William's to additional years of practice. Rev. Collins then introduced his sister-in-law.

Mrs. Collins curtsied simply, and told Lady Catherine how happy she was to make her ladyship's acquaintance, noting how generous Lady Catherine had been to her husband's family.

"Yes. Yes. Of course. I bestowed this living -- a rather rich living -- upon your brother immediately upon his taking orders. Few in my position would have taken such a chance, but I am blessed with the ability to read character instantly," Lady Catherine replied. "Miss Elizabeth, you must play more softly or do not play at all," her ladyship said, turning her attention to the pianoforte. She then introduced the guests to the rest of the room.

After all the proper niceties had been said, Charlotte smiled at Jane and Elizabeth and said that she had had the pleasure of making their acquaintance before, in Hertfordshire. The Bennets looked at her more closely, and Charlotte added, "You were quite young at the time, and I was Miss Lucas."

"Oh yes, Mrs. Lucas was a great friend of my late mother," Jane said, smiling at the memory.

"Lady Lucas is a frequent guest at Longbourn," the elder Mr. Collins said, with an odd mixture of deference and pride. "Sir William Lucas was made a knight last year."

Jane was about to congratulate the family on Sir William's good fortune, but Elizabeth gasped and spoke first, "You are that Collins."

Lady Catherine was angry. Now it looked like her parson was related to her wards and she had not been told. "Why did you not tell me this?" She asked though to whom she was speaking was not clear.

Reverend Collins started to speak, but her ladyship silenced him before more than a syllable escaped his mouth. This was not going according to her plan at all.

Anne coughed.

Lady Catherine immediately had Mrs. Jenkinson escort Anne to her chamber and sent the Collinses away. Tea was out of the question now with Anne so ill. Reverend Collins, hoping to somehow remain in her ladyship's good graces, asked for and received permission to fetch a physician for Miss deBourgh.

Lady Catherine followed Mrs. Jenkinson and Anne upstairs immediately, claiming a headache, leaving the three houseguests and the Bennets alone in the music room.

The five were silent at first, as nobody was quite sure what to say. In Jane's mind two sides were warring: As the eldest resident present it was her duty to act as hostess, but would Lady Catherine deem it inappropriate? Finally, etiquette won out over fear of Lady Catherine, "Elizabeth, will you play for us while I ask Mrs. Smith for tea?"

Relieved to have an end to the tension, Elizabeth quickly moved to the pianoforte and began to play. Her mind was in turmoil. That horrid reverend was her cousin, brother to the man who had inherited her family home. And Elizabeth, ever observant, was quite aware of what Lady Catherine had in mind for Jane.

But, happy as her memories of her first home were and as desirous as she was of again seeing Longbourn, she could not countenance the possibility of Jane marrying that horrid man.

Tea was served, and conversation commenced. Mercifully, the meal passed quickly, and soon all had departed to various parts of the estate, grateful they no longer had to entertain one another.

Chapter Five

Posted on Wednesday, 13 October 1999

Later the same day
The woods around Rosings

"Finally," Elizabeth thought. Usually, she could not get away from the stifling company of Rosings except early in the morning when breakfast would not be served for another hour. Owing to the tea debacle, she found herself with a free afternoon, a rare pleasure. Those few minutes each morning were Elizabeth's favorite part of the day, for it was the only time she could truly enjoy the outdoors, a favorite pastime, alone.

Throughout the day, she was compelled to attend Lady Catherine, though why her ladyship should want Elizabeth's company was a mystery to the girl. "She only takes time to criticize my actions," thought Elizabeth. "If my company is so distasteful, I cannot imagine why she should seek me out so."

But, so it was, and Elizabeth knew better than to dwell on what might have been. There was no use in it. She had a positive outlook on life, and her years away at school had showed her not to be jealous of others, but to treasure what she had been given.

As a nearly year-round boarder, the other such girls were the ones with whom she and her sister had been closest. There were girls there who had rarely seen their parents even when they had been at home. Lizzy learned to be grateful for the time she'd had with a loving father and later a loving cousin. Though Lady Catherine could not be described even as caring, much less loving, Elizabeth knew that she had more than some girls ever would.

And now she had been taken from school, told the expense of educating such a headstrong girl was frivolous. She must find her own way now. But - who would hire a 15-year-old girl as a governess?

Had not Lady Catherine just hired Mrs. Jenkinson as a companion for Anne, a year OLDER than herself? If a 16-year-old young lady required a companion, how would a 15-year-old young lady become one?

Elizabeth knew she could be sure of good recommendations from her teachers at school, she had been well liked. Though her disposition was less sweet than her sister's Elizabeth's liveliness had served her well.

"Oh, what is to be done? I know very well that nothing can be done!" she said aloud.

And then, to her horror, she turned around to see none other than her ladyship's favorite nephew, Mr. Darcy, standing there!

"Forgive me. I did not mean to overhear," he said quickly.

"Oh? Then why did you not make your presence known?"

Too embarrassed to reply, Darcy said nothing. He looked around in confusion, normally he would have walked toward a window, but he already was outside and had no place to go to escape his mortification.

"You are a Darcy," he thought to himself, "Fitzwilliam Darcy, heir to Pemberley. Be a man!" But those thoughts brought sadness to his heart and his face. Sadness so profound that Elizabeth could not help but see.

She looked at him quizzically. What had made the proud man suddenly appear about to cry?

She could not have known that the pressures of being Fitzwilliam were weighing heavily indeed upon the man. The man who had no mother to turn to and whose broken-hearted father was not likely to live out the year.

He remembered himself and did what had to be done. "If I may impose a bit more upon your solitude, what is the matter? Perhaps I can offer some assistance."

Elizabeth chucked and said, "I doubt that sir. Unless you are in need of a governess."

"Oh. Well then..." Darcy again was at a loss of what to say.

"Good day to you sir," she said, smilingly and walked in another direction, never seeing the look upon Darcy's face.

Darcy himself hurried to the house, going immediately to his chamber where he undertook to write a letter.

Chapter Six

Posted on Friday, 22 October 1999

Two days later
Rosings

Habitually an early riser, Elizabeth was awake, but surprised nevertheless when she heard a timid knocking at her chamber door.

But, as surprising as the knock itself was, Elizabeth was truly astonished to see her cousin Anne at the door.

"May I come in?" The timid girl asked.

"Certainly," Elizabeth replied, trying to hide her confusion. She knew her situation was precarious enough without worrying about offending Lady Catherine's daughter. And how did Anne leave her mother's eyesight anyway. Elizabeth didn't think she could remember the last time she saw Anne without her mother, or more recently, her mother and Mrs. Jenkinson.

Anne took a seat in the sitting area of the chamber, which was nowhere near as large as her own chamber. She shook her head slightly, ashamed of her mother's actions. Jane and Elizabeth were members of the family and certainly should have been given better rooms than this.

The silence was growing somewhat uncomfortable, especially for Elizabeth, so she spoke. "What? Would? How? What can I do for you Miss de Bourgh?" she finally said, embarrassed, but this visit had her totally out of sorts.

Anne sighed, then said, "My mother is not here, please call me Anne. We ought to be like sisters."

"Anne," Elizabeth said, slowly.

"Thank you, Elizabeth," Anne said and smiled. "For reasons I cannot begin to fathom, my mother would not approve, but while we are out of sight, I thank you. My mother, or rather, your sister, is really why I am here.

"As you know, my mother has not left her room. Apparently, she is still in a great deal of shock over your being a cousin to our parson." Anne smiled again, wryly. Elizabeth was more in shock than ever, having just realized that her cousin Anne had a sense of humour and could see through her mother's overbearing ways.

There was still a great deal of time before breakfast, but this was turning into a fascinating day.

Anne continued, "Mr. Collins has been to see her several times a day, brimming with bows and apologies. I had wondered why Mother accepted his visits, but yesterday afternoon I overheard a portion of their conversation."

Anne paused. "I do not usually eavesdrop Elizabeth, please do not think ill of me. But what I heard was not about myself, but about your sister."

Elizabeth's eyes opened wide. Anne went on, "My mother had taken you both from school with the idea that you both would find positions as governesses. But of late she has become loath to let Jane go too far. In truth, she wished Jane to marry Mr. Collins. I heard her arranging the match with him yesterday afternoon."

Elizabeth was dumbfounded. "But surely Jane would never do such a thing."

"I do not think my mother will give her much of a choice," Anne said.

"My poor sister, I must go to her," Elizabeth said, standing up and moving to the door.

"Wait," said Anne. Elizabeth turned. "I have an idea."