A lady in the country - Prologue

Lord Thomas Bennet of Longbourn, second son of the Duke of Kenilworth married Lady Francisca Gardiner in the spring of 1768. Being a mild mannered couple with little use for the society and the Ton's scheming, they happily retired to Bennet's estate of Longbourn, outside of the village of Meryton in Hertfordshire.

The unassuming couple happily gave up the use of titles and enjoyed the anonymity of country neighbours.

Over the years, Mrs. Franny Bennet, as she came to be known in Hertfordshire, grew close to several ladies of the neighbourhood. Mrs. Bennet's gentle nature endeared her to many a lady and pretences were dropped resulting in many cousins to the Bennet family.

It must be understood that Mr. and Mrs. Bennet enjoyed the rare privilege of being married for love when most marriages were arranged. Mrs. Bennet's father, Lord Gardiner, the Earl of Bainbridge wanted nothing but love and happiness for his beloved offspring. Becoming a widower shortly after the birth of Mrs. Bennet left Lord Gardiner to dote on his two children, Edward Gardiner, Viscount Ladlaw and Lady Francisca.

Mrs. Bennet's brother, Viscount Ladlaw married a gentlewoman from Derbyshire, Miss Madeleine Anne of Lambton in Derbyshire. The Viscount and his charming wife enjoyed London society and often spent many months in town, annually enjoying the season. They were blessed in making honest and genuine friends and were never in want of a ball.

The differences between Edward and Francisca were as evident as their love for each other. The Gardiners always enjoyed the season of Christmastide with the Bennets. It must be acknowledged that a certain degree of anonymity was desirable to all family members during this special season.

Mrs. Franny Bennet gave birth to her first daughter, Jane Anne Bennet in the summer of 1770. A girl with silky golden hair and eyes as blue as the sky, little Jane Anne was as docile as her mother and social as her dearest Aunt Gardiner. Jane was followed by her sister, Elizabeth Victoria Bennet in the winter of 1771. Elizabeth was clearly Jane's opposite upon birth; blessed with unruly raven locks and eyes of melting cocoa. She was by far the most inquisitive child anyone had ever seen. While her hair would never tame, Elizabeth would grow into one of the most demure maidens in Hertfordshire with a strong passion for increasing her intellect. Happiest curled up with a book in her father's library, after a morning walk with Jane, Elizabeth developed a sharp mind and an even more caustic wit. Jane and Elizabeth grew up sharing everything and were the best of friends sisters could be.

The Bennet family was blessed with two more additions in the winter of 1778; Franny gave birth to a healthy Mary Madeleine and Henry Thomas Bennet to everyone's absolutely joy and pleasure. While both babies wailed a hearty cry at birth, they were by far the quietest children ever born, until they discovered the pianoforte. The first notes ever heard from the twins could not be described as melodious but as the years progressed, there was no doubt of their natural talent.

Robert Darcy passed outside his wife's room worrying his young son Fitzwilliam. Anne Darcy had been wailing in pain as the contractions came closer together, but the silence of the last few minutes had a crushing pain in them not even the screams could match.

"Father, what is wrong with Mother?"

Robert Darcy was about to answer his son's question when Anne let out a screech and the vilest curse she knew, "Son of a half-eaten toad!"

Robert would have laughed at his wife's attempt at profanity, but at the moment, it was what he needed. It brought him out of his haze of anxiety over the birth of his child and his wife's safety. A moment later the wail of a newborn was heard with Anne's tears.

Robert Darcy could not have been a prouder husband at that moment. Opening the door his wife's chambers he was greeted with a delightful sight. Close on his heels followed his ten-year-old son curious what had his father so agitated. He was happy to see his mother but less pleased to see that her arms were occupied with someone other than him. Fitzwilliam Darcy was a child used to getting his own way, except with his father. Fitzwilliam was showered with attention and love; if one chose to ignore that fateful incident when his father had forced to muck stables for a week in punishment.

As Fitzwilliam moved over to get onto his mother's bed, he was startled by the sight of a tiny baby wrapped in a soft white cotton embroidered with pink roses. She was the most gorgeous and gentle person he had ever seen, except for his mother.

"May I hold her Mama?"

Anne Darcy smiled down at her son; Fitzwilliam had looked so upset until he saw Georgianna Felicia Darcy. At that moment, she knew that her family would always be safe for both Robert and Fitzwilliam would guard her and Georgianna with their lives.