Elizabeth Bennet Read online

  Elizabeth Bennet

  A Pride and Prejudice Retelling

  by

  Eliza Gordon

  &

  Jane Austen

  Elizabeth Bennet © 2012 Eliza Gordon

  Also in published in LARGE print.

  Ramsgate Press

  All rights reserved. No part of this story may be used, reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the copyright holder, except in the case of brief quotations embodied within critical reviews and articles.

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  The author has asserted her rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book.

  This book is written in British English.

  Table of Contents

  Copyright Page

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Chapter 55

  Chapter 56

  Chapter 57

  Chapter 58

  Chapter 1

  It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.

  However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.

  Suddenly, Mr. Bennet addressed her directly. "I hope Mr. Bingley will like it, Lizzy." He referred to the hat she was employed in trimming.

  "We are not in a way to know what Mr. Bingley likes, since we are not to visit him at Netherfield." Mrs. Bennet sounded resentful.

  Kitty coughed. "Mamma, Mrs. Long promised to introduce him."

  "I do not believe Mrs. Long will do any such thing. She has two nieces of her own. She is a selfish, hypocritical woman, and I have no opinion of her." The sharp severe tone to Mrs Bennet return shook Elizabeth.

  "No more have I, and I am glad to find that you do not depend on her serving you." Mr. Bennet said whilst nodding in agreement.

  Mrs. Bennet did not reply. Instead, she scolded one of her daughters. "Do not keep coughing so, Kitty, for Heaven's sake! Have a little compassion on my nerves. You tear them to pieces."

  "Kitty has no discretion in her coughs, she times them ill." Mr. Bennet complained.

  "I do not cough for my own amusement," replied Kitty fretfully. "When is your next ball to be, Lizzy?"

  Elizabeth was aware of their gaze upon her.

  "In two weeks tomorrow," Mrs. Bennet answered when Elizabeth did not. "And Mrs. Long will not know him herself. She does not come back till the day before; so it will be impossible for her to introduce him."

  "Then, my dear, you may have the advantage of your friend, and introduce Mr. Bingley to her."

  "Impossible, Mr. Bennet, impossible. I cannot do the introductions when I am not acquainted with him myself. How can you be so teasing?"

  "Indeed, two week's acquaintance is certainly very little. One needs to know a man longer than that if one is to know him at all." Reclining backwards, Mr. Bennet stretched his arms open wide and smiled. "And if we do not venture to know him, somebody else will. All of the mothers are seeking the best marriage for their daughters."

  All the Bennet women in the room stared at the man. There must be some point for him to state as a matter of fact that which they all knew. Every mother was indeed seeking the very best match for their daughters, and eligible gentlemen seemed in short supply.

  After a minute of suspense, Mr. Bennet leaned forward. "What do you say, young Mary? For you are a young lady of deep reflection, I know, I'd like to hear your thoughts."

  At eighteen years, in order of age, Mary was the middle of the five Bennet daughters. Seemingly struck silent, she wished to say something sensible but knew not how.

  "While Mary collects her ideas let us return to Mr. Bingley," Mr. Bennet continued.

  "I am sick of Mr. Bingley." Mrs. Bennet sighed with a shrug of her shoulders.

  "I am sorry to hear that; but why did not you tell me that before? If I had known as much this morning, I certainly would not have called on him. It is very unlucky; but as I have actually paid the visit, we cannot escape the acquaintance now."

  The take of breath was audible, the astonishment, palpable.

  It took a good minute or two before anyone spoke and Mrs. Bennet did so with a smile. "I knew it. I had expected it all the while. I was sure you loved your girls too well to neglect such an important acquaintance. Well, how pleased I am. And it is such a good joke, too, that you should have gone this morning and never said a word about it till now."

  Elizabeth thought she detected a hint of insincerity in Mrs. Bennet's words. The mother wanted to be in control of the daughters' fates. Mrs. Bennet did not appear content to leave their fates in the hands of her husband.

  With a broad smile on his face, Mr. Bennet rose from his chair and walked towards the door. "Now, Kitty, you may cough as much as you choose," he said as he left the room.

  "What an excellent father you have, girls! For your sakes, girls, your father and I would do anything. Lydia, my love, though you are the youngest, I dare say Mr. Bingley will dance with you at the next ball."

  "Oh!" said Lydia stoutly, "I am not afraid; for though I am the youngest, I am the tallest." Lydia was a proper fearless fifteen-year-old.

  They spent the rest of the evening in conjecture. How soon would Mr. Bingley return Mr. Bennet's visit? When should they ask him to join them for dinner at their home in the village of Longbourn?

  Every woman and girl joined in this conversation.

  Chapter 2

  Over the coming days, Mr. Bennet said nothing about Mr. Bingley. No matter how much his wife and daughters asked, they could not draw further comment from him.

  According to the second-hand intelligence of their neighbour, Lady Lucas, they heard Mr. Bingley was quite young, wonderfully handsome, and extremely agreeable. To crown the whole, he intended to be at the next assembly with a group of friends.

  All the ladies agreed that to be fond of dancing was a certain step towar
ds falling in love. They entertained very lively hopes of Mr. Bingley's heart.

  "If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield with Mr. Bingley, and all the others equally well married, I shall have nothing to wish for," Mrs. Bennet often said to the girls.

  After a few days, Mr. Bingley visited the Bennet's household.

  From an upper window, the curious ladies caught a glimpse of him. He wore a blue coat and rode a black horse. That was all they saw of him as he disappeared into Mr. Bennet's library.

  A meeting of minds between father and prospective groom were the way things were done in these parts.

  Clearly unhappy leaving her daughters' fates in the hands of men, Mrs. Bennet seemed constantly engaged with plans to assure a secure future for the girls. Elizabeth could understand a respect that even though she wanted to marry for love.

  When Mr. Bingley was obliged to be in town and so declined the first invitation to dinner, Mrs. Bennet was beside herself with disappointment. It would have been the first opportunity for him to meet her daughters.

  Muttering for all her daughter to hear, Mrs. Bennet complained that he might always be flying about from one place to another, and never settle at Netherfield as he ought. She could not imagine what business he could have in town so soon after his arrival in Hertfordshire.

  In time for the local society gathering, the handsome Mr. Bingley returned from London with four others. The two ladies turned out to be his sisters, Mrs. Louisa Hurst and Miss Caroline Bingley. As for the gentlemen, one was Louisa's husband, the other was a dashingly handsome Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.

  They made their entrance at the ball. Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of the room. The details of his wealth emerged and circulated swiftly among all in society. The gentlemen pronounced him to be a fine figure of a man. The ladies declared he was much more handsome than the younger Mr. Bingley.

  For about half the evening Mr. Darcy was greatly admired. For the second half of the evening, his local standing fell into decline.

  The reserved Mr. Darcy spoke only with those in his own party. He danced only twice, and that was with Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley. And worse, he declined introductions to any other lady. His ill manners turned the tide of his popularity. He was proud, but not in a good way. He apparently thought himself above his company, and above being pleased by the local people.

  He may have had wealth and good looks and a large estate in Derbyshire, but the man lacked common curtsey. He had no class.

  There was a great contrast between Mr. Darcy and the lively and unreserved Charles Bingley. The latter soon made himself acquainted with all the principal people in the room. He danced every dance. He mentioned throwing a ball at his Netherfield home.

  Elizabeth heard the muttering around the room indicating the shifting consensus of opinion on Mr. Darcy.

  Due to the scarcity of gentlemen, Elizabeth had been obliged to sit down for two dances, and during part of that time, Mr. Darcy stood near her.

  Seeing Darcy on the edge of things, Mr. Bingley left the dance for a few minutes, to press his friend to join it. "Come, Darcy, I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You would do better joining the dance."

  "I certainly shall not. You know how I detest dancing unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner. Your sisters are engaged, and it would be a punishment to me to stand up with another woman in the room."

  "I would not be so critical as you are." Mr. Bingley threw his hands up in obvious despair of his friend. "I do not understand you. I've never met with so many pleasant girls in my life as I have this evening. Many of them are exceedingly pretty."

  "You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room," said Mr. Darcy, looking at Jane the eldest of the Bennet sisters.

  "Oh! She is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld!" Mr. Bingley said with a cheerful smile. "But there is one of her sisters sitting down just behind you; she is very pretty, and I dare say very agreeable. Do let me ask my Jane Bennet to introduce you."

  Elizabeth heard all of this, of course. She was careful to observe the men from the corner of her eye, least they noticed her eavesdropping.

  "Which do you mean?" Turning around, he looked for a moment at Elizabeth. Upon catching her eye, he withdrew his own. He coldly said, "She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me. I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me."

  Mr. Bingley followed his advice.

  As if unaware that Elizabeth had heard all he said, Mr. Darcy walked off. Or perhaps he did not care.

  Holding no warm feelings towards him, Elizabeth glanced around. She could at once tell that Mrs. Bennet had also overheard the conversation. The mother's dislike of his general behaviour was undoubtedly sharpened into particular resentment when he slighted one of her daughters.

  The evening altogether passed off pleasantly to the whole family. They returned in good spirits to the village of Longbourn. On the journey, Mrs. Bennet and her daughters recounted the best parts of the evening, to Elizabeth's great amusement.

  "Jane was so admired. Everybody said how well she looked, and Mr. Bingley thought her quite beautiful, and danced with her twice!"

  And they found energy flavoured with bitterness, to comment on Mr. Darcy. "He is a most disagreeable, horrid man, not at all worth pleasing. So high and so conceited that there was no enduring him! He walked here, and he walked there, fancying himself so very great! Not handsome enough to dance with!"

  Later when they were alone and talking about Mr. Bingley, Jane said to Elizabeth, "He is just what a young man ought to be. He's sensible, good-humoured, lively; and I never saw such happy manners—so much ease, with such perfect good breeding."

  Elizabeth winked at her sister. "He is also handsome, which goes well with a man of his standing."

  A pink flush rose on Jane's cheeks as she smiled a little more broadly. "I was very much flattered by his asking me to dance a second time. I did not expect such a compliment."

  "You did not expect a second dance? I did. What could be more natural? He has two eyes. He must have seen that you were about five times as pretty as every other woman in the room."

  "Dear Lizzy!"

  "I speak my mind."

  "I know you do, and it is that which makes the wonder. With your good sense, do you like this man's sisters, too? Their manners are not equal to his. And should I marry him, I will marry into his family."

  "I spoke with them, and they are very pleasant women."

  They were rather attractive and had been educated in one of the first private seminaries in town. They also had a fortune, which permitted frivolous spending. They had mixed with the top echelons of society. They could too easily think well of themselves, and meanly of others.

  Miss Bingley was willing to preside at her brother's table.

  Mrs. Hurst had married a man of more fashion than fortune. She was also disposed to consider her brother's house as her home when it suited her.

  Chapter 3

  The eldest of Sir William Lucas and Lady Lucas's children, Charlotte, was a sensible, intelligent young woman. The Lucas family were close neighbours of the Bennet's.

  It was absolutely necessary that the

  Miss Lucases and the Miss Bennets should meet after a social occasion to discuss it in fine detail. The morning after the assembly the Lucas ladies visited Longbourn to chatter.

  "You began the evening well, Charlotte. You were Mr. Bingley's first choice," said Mrs. Bennet.

  "Yes; but he seemed to like his second better."

  "Oh! you mean Jane, I suppose, because he danced with her twice."

  "Mr. Robinson asked him how he liked our Meryton assemblies, and whether he did not think there were a great many pretty women in the room, and which he thought the prettiest?" Lady Lucas said. "He immediately answered
the last question: 'Oh! the eldest Miss Bennet, beyond a doubt; there cannot be two opinions on that point.'"

  Gushing with pride at hearing such words about her eldest daughter, Mrs. Bennet said, "Upon my word! Well, that is very decided indeed—that does seem as if—however, it may all come to nothing, you know." Elizabeth could see the excitement on her face.

  "My, what I over heard. That despicable Mr. Darcy. There is a man not worth listening to," said Charlotte. She placed her hand over Elizabeth's. "To be only just tolerable."

  "I beg you do not put it into Lizzy's head that she should be vexed by his ill-treatment. He is such a disagreeable man, that to be liked by him would be quite a misfortune. Mrs. Long told me last night that he sat close to her for half-an-hour without once opening his lips."

  "Are you quite sure, ma'am?—is not there a little mistake? I certainly saw Mr. Darcy speaking to her," said Jane.

  "He only spoke when he had to. She asked him at last how he liked Netherfield. He could not help answering, but she said he seemed quite angry at being spoken to."

  "Miss Bingley told me that he never speaks much, unless among his intimate acquaintances. With them, he is remarkably agreeable," said Jane.

  That could be a sign of shyness, Elizabeth thought; yet, Mr. Darcy did not seem shy. Perhaps he was discerning about the company he kept.

  "I do not believe a word of it, my dear. If he had been so very agreeable, he would have talked to Mrs. Long."

  Squeezing Elizabeth's hand, Charlotte said, "I do not mind his not talking to Mrs. Long, but I wish he had danced with Eliza."

  Lady Lucas shook her head. "Another time, Lizzy, I would not dance with him if I were you."

  Elizabeth agreed with that. She had not liked him any more than the other women. "I believe, ma'am, I may safely promise you that I will never dance with him."

  "His pride does not offend me so much as pride often does because there is an excuse for it," said Charlotte. "One cannot wonder that so very fine a young man should think highly of himself. Such a high opinion must follow from his family, fortune, and everything in his favour. If I may so express it, he has a right to be proud."

  "That is very true, and I could easily forgive his pride. His lack of consideration for others, but. no." Elizabeth shook her head. “I would be fine with his pride if he had, in turn, respected my sense of pride."