The estate of Pemberley, England
January of 1860
"Her feelings were not uncommon."
"What some people do not understand is that this is the only real occupation available to us. When a woman is born a gentleman's daughter, she either marries or spends her life being taken care of by others. We are not permitted the 'luxury' of outside financial independence and if we dare seek it, we become the scorn of society. I mean...it is not as if the last one hundred years have not brought our sex some relief, but there are still the social expectations in place that hold us in such constraint. I do not know if they will change anytime soon."
Elizabeth paused for a moment before giving her sister a warm smile in an attempt to lighten the mood. She fully understood her sister's apprehension. It was not but a year ago when Elizabeth found herself asking the same questions.
"Unless, of course, we are gifted enough to be uniquely ridiculous. Then one could find their self the toast of the town. At least for a while until the newness wore off."
"Occupation?" Jane replied quietly, all but ignoring her sister's attempt at humor. The seriousness of their conversation was of a nature she could not brush aside.
"Is it really like that? Marriage?"
"That depends, Jane. In some ways, yes it is. There are certain duties a woman must fulfill once she becomes mistress of a household. Do not misunderstand, I am not talking about the private marital duties between a husband and wife, for that is a different subject. But I am referring to our obligation to set an example in all areas. As you will soon know, those people under your husband's employ watch us closely for direction on right and wrong. If we are too often caught 'out of turn' or promiscuous in any sense, if can be taken as permission for others to behave likewise. Then there is our society in general...."
"My..." Jane sighed. "Why am I so nervous? Tell me Mother gave us the tools necessary for this feat."
"Oh Jane!" Elizabeth exclaimed, taking her sister's hands into her own. "I am not explaining myself well. You, my dear, should have no problems associated with adjustment. Look at you...you are all that I could never be. You are patience and goodness wrapped into the most beautiful person I know. Everyone loves you, Jane. They can not help it."
Tilting her head, Jane studied her sister a moment. In her eyes, it was Elizabeth who was far superior and could not fail. It was her brave sister who could speak her opinion so artfully that people could not take offense. Elizabeth who stood for her principals and defended those she cared for.
Growing up it was always her younger sister in whom Jane turned to for advice and confidence. She believed her to be not only more intelligent, but wiser in her decisions. It was not as if Jane totally lacked faith in her own ability to gage right from wrong, but she called on Elizabeth's judgment when it came to dealing with life's more difficult situations.
There was a weakness in Jane that could easily be detected by anyone in her presence for more than ten minutes. Although she was well aware of it, she was unable and unwilling to change.
Jane could only see the good in people.
She was not completely naive nor was she stupid, but Jane was too tender-hearted. Individuals could easily prey on her empathy if they felt the need, and there were times when this left her open to being taken advantage of and misled by those cleverer. She went through her daily life without the defenses needed to protect her self from manipulation. Jane simply could not believe that people could be bad in nature. Yet this one obvious flaw was also what made her so beloved.
Jane was an individual that attracted attention everywhere she went. This was due to the fact that the inner beauty she possessed was also reflected on the outside. She was born with every advantage a young woman could hope for.
Fair in complexion and small boned, all of the days fashions looked as if they were specifically designed for her. Her golden locks only completed the angelic illusion. She was graceful and passive, but not dull or without conversation. Jane had just learned at an early age when to speak and when to stay silent.
She knew she was pretty because people had told her so, but when Jane looked in the mirror she could not find anything out of the norm that her other four sisters did not have. Still, she was by far the most handsome whether she was aware of it or not.
So what was the lovely gentleman's daughter doing unwed at the age of twenty-two? Surely if her younger sister had found a suitable match, she could have also. The answer was simple. Although quite comfortable, the Bennet family was not wealthy. They could support a higher standard of living complete with a small estate and servants, but their daughter's dowries were pitiful at best.
In a day and age when people still married for money, or at least people within their own realm, the girls had little to offer a perspective groom in terms of monetary gain. In the case of Elizabeth, she had been fortunate enough to fall in love with a man who did not need her financial support. In fact, she had married one of the wealthiest men in the southern region.
William Darcy had been a bachelor for twenty-eight years, determined to not marry until he had found a woman he could look upon as an equal. This qualification he found in Elizabeth Bennet, much to the delight of her mother.
Perhaps fate did have something to do with their being introduced to each other. He was visiting his Aunt Kathryn's estate at the same time Elizabeth was staying with her dear friend, the wife of parson to Lady Kathryn. Being that Lady Kathryn liked to appear condescending, she had the parson and his guest over many times during William's stay. At the end of his scheduled two-week visit he extended it another week simply to get spend more time with the raven-haired woman he had grown fond of.
The attraction was mutual and for this woman she found her kindred soul. Together William and Elizabeth braved those pitted against their union; namely his Aunt Kathryn who felt Elizabeth was too far below her nephew's station in life. But in the end the lovers prevailed and now eleven months after the happy day Elizabeth was expecting their first child within the month.
Inadvertently, Jane had also benefited from the match. Her sister's society had changed when she married William Darcy. The people he had grown in the midst of were by far wealthier and better connected. Shortly after the wedding, Elizabeth sent for Jane to join her and everything changed for her in the blink of an eye.
Educated gentlemen were showing interest in Jane and as the words of her mother echoed through her mind 'you must marry well,' she accepted the attention. But Jane did not like it. In her opinion, the ritual of finding a mate felt too calculated and more closely aligned to a chess match. Every move seemed pre-planned as the participants positioned themselves for the greatest advantage. The pressure was immense not to make a misstep, not to say a word out of context.
The Darcy family had traveled to London for the holiday season and Jane had never been so thankful as the day they left the city for William's country estate. It would be here, inside the home named Pemberley where she would find solace and a proposal of marriage from a man who had recently made a fortune in Jamaica.
He was a good sort of man, strong but with a fairness of mind that Jane appreciated. There were no obvious character defects she could perceive and with the recommendation from her brother-in-law, she accepted his offer of matrimony.
It was that easy.
Perhaps this is why Jane found herself the day after her engagement sitting on the bed in her room at Pemberley holding tight to her sister's hands. A thousand questions ran through her mind and she prayed that Elizabeth could take away her fear of making a decision so final.
"Jane, I believe all future brides feel like you do now. I did, and you know how much I cherished William. It is normal to second-guess when facing something as life altering as marriage. But dearest, you will not be alone. I will help you in every way possible."
Those were the words Jane needed to hear. A sense of relief coursed through her veins and slowly her rigid body began to relax and she released her sister from her grasp.
"Thank you" expressed her gratitude and after promises of future conversations to aid Jane in the transition from daughter to wife, the ladies went downstairs to join the gentlemen for breakfast. Later in the afternoon William and Elizabeth were expecting company from London and there were still chores to be done in preparation and little time to spare.
Generally, a woman so far into motherhood as Elizabeth was would not be accepting guests, but this was an old friend of her husband's and an exception was made.
Entering the breakfast room, Jane shyly peered down the long mahogany table and locked eyes with her future groom. He was indeed handsome and very much the living definition of 'dark and handsome' as far as she was concerned. This realization did bring a sense of pride to Jane.
There was simply something about the way he looked at her. It was if he had been waiting for her all of his life. Yes, Jane had made the right decision. He would take good care of her.
Cordially, Jane greeted all assembled for their morning meal.
"Good morning, Colonel Fitzwilliam."
He stood and bowed in her direction before helping her into the chair positioned next to his. In a tone as to not draw too much attention, but audible enough to be heard, he spoke.
"Miss Bennet, considering the events of last night, would it not be fitting if we allowed ourselves the luxury of addressing each other by our Christian names? After all, it will not be long before we call each other husband and wife."
His response was both friendly yet firm at the same time. The Colonel had been anticipating the time when he and Jane could become more relaxed in each other's company. Courtship was a necessary evil in his mind, an impediment if you will, to a time when the lovely creature standing before his would be his bride.
"Yes, if course." A small smile crossed her lips as she easily saw the logic in his request.
"Good morning, Jane." The Colonel began.
"Good morning, Eric." She corrected herself.