Page 2 of Such Persuasions as These (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

CHAPTER ONE

“ F or a single man in possession of a large fortune must be in want of a wife,” Elizabeth Bennet exclaimed, laughing with her elder sister, Jane, as they listened to their mother rave about the incoming tenant of Netherfield Park.

The woman, it seemed, had no doubt that whoever this man was, he would soon be upon her doorstep begging for the hand of one of her five daughters.

“Yes, he must,” Mrs Bennet proclaimed, turning her attention to Mr Bennet, “which is why you must visit him directly when he comes.” Haranguing her husband had scarcely moved the man to action before, but his lady never failed to try the tactic.

It seemed her nagging was commensurate with her nerves, and in the matter of her daughters finding husbands, Mrs Bennet suffered no little anxiety.

Elizabeth had put forth much effort to understand this constant state of preoccupation. As a girl, she had not been able to puzzle out why her dear mama was so worried about her daughters’ marriage prospects; were there not many years before they would even be out in society?

As time went by and no heir appeared, however, the answer became clear to the perceptive second daughter of Thomas and Frances Bennet.

As the family’s estate, Longbourn, was entailed upon Mr Bennet’s nearest male relative, having no son meant her home would pass from Mrs Bennet and her daughters upon her husband’s demise.

Elizabeth’s keen understanding of the cause of her mother’s relentless concern had allowed her to endure it with grace these last several years.

It only made sense that a mother of so many unmarried females would be industrious in arranging how she was going to dispose of each of them as they came of age.

As to her hopes of immediate action on Mr Bennet’s part, however, she was to be disappointed.

They had heard reports of their new neighbours from family and friends, but Mr Bennet was keen on tormenting his wife and thus chose to put his visit off till another day.

By the time he was ready to importune Mr Bingley and his sisters, however, an unceasing rain had descended upon their shire, preventing him from meeting the gentleman at all.

Thus, the entire Bennet family would have to wait until the upcoming public assembly to be introduced, which was an interminable three days hence.

As the Meryton Assembly approached, the five Bennet daughters could do naught but newly trim old gowns and entertain themselves the best they knew how.

Soon enough, as each pastime lost its lustre, Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia began taking turns watching the great drops of water race down the windows, sighing and wishing for a break in the weather.

At length, Papa announced that he had just received the latest Navy List. He knew his daughters adored dreaming up stories about the officers and ships found therein.

As there were two cousins on her father’s side and one dear friend of the family who were now seeking to make names for themselves in His Majesty’s fleet, it was incumbent upon them to always keep a current Navy List at hand.

Elizabeth smiled at the thought of that particular friend, his constancy in kind attentions to herself and her family, and how well he was doing in his profession.

Lately, however, instead of seeing the list of gallant men and imagining the battles in which they procured their frigates or sloops, the youngest Bennets had turned this game into one focused on romance and fantasy.

After having dismissed a great many names of officers as sounding stodgy or cruel, or indeed far too French, Kitty settled on an entry of which she approved.

“Ooh, the honourable A. Maitland of the captured French frigate, the Pique . How fine that sounds—Catherine Bennet Maitland, wife of Captain Alastair Maitland, late of Sussex, now residing at Burbank Hall in Somersetshire after having brought home twenty thousand pounds in prize money.”

“Well, I have been receiving letters from…” the youngest, Lydia, eagerly read over the names, “Lieutenant…” she had to imagine a first name, for only an initial was supplied, “Jefferson Harvey of the HMS Haughty . He has already brought in thirty thousand pounds in prize money and intends to double that by the time he makes admiral.” Lydia beamed triumphantly.

“ Pique ? Haughty ? I much prefer Mr Clay and his command of the Raisonnable ,” Mary added in an ineffectual effort to teach her younger sisters some prudence.

“But I suppose you could have chosen the Insolence , or the Nimrod …” She relented as she let the booklet slip carelessly fr om her hand.

Jane and Elizabeth exchanged a glance, though neither of them noted aloud how Mary, as censorious as she was of her younger sisters, had joined in the diversion.

Evidently, there was a romantic fancy smouldering beneath her pragmatic exterior.

Lydia eagerly retrieved the booklet and began perusing it again. A gasp from her direction claimed their attention.

“Lizzy, look here—Freddie has finally got his own ship!”