In a pure fan-fic manner, it's good to explore such situations Peter, because although some people see
Pride and Prejudice as a classic love story, it, for me is anything but, as in almost all the other Austen novels, (
Persuasion apart) love is almost incidental against its pitfalls and hazards. P&P is without a doubt a classic tale, (indeed I can almost claim it my favourite book generally, because I've read it so many times) and Jane Austen used it to highlight ( and poke fun at) social differences and an unlikely meeting of two such people and how both changed their views on what matters in life ( with, as you said, emphasis on the ways of the times, of course).
Living rurally as she did, and given her situation, Lizzie was exceedingly fortunate to meet Darcy, as indeed was Jane with Bingley. She could indeed have finished up ( Heaven forbid) selling fish and poultry on Meryton market and Darcy banished to a life of misery driving his spooky wife around Rosing's pathways in a phaeton and pony. Jane could end up running the local library and married to Mr Phillip's clerk whilst Bingley would wait until one of Caroline's French-speaking friends who had perfect teeth and a decided manner of walking was considered good enough for him to marry. On Mr Bennet's sad demise, Longbourne would be sold because Reverend Collins could not bear to leave his beloved patroness lonely and condescending in Kent. Mary would marry a local cleric and be church organist, whilst Kitty ran of with a sailor and became a famouse female bucaneer.
And they all lived happily ever after.....(-:
