Prologue: A misconception

There seems to be some misconception that all heroines must be astonishingly beautiful with perfect characters and hearts of gold. What most fail to see is that heroines are people like everyone else, what makes them heroines is simply a combination of luck and some good nature. What exactly makes a heroine is up to debate however, as they are typically only heroines because some men of importance admire them, and therefore whether or not a young woman is a heroine is completely up to the judgement of said men. And, as it so happens, the heroine of this novel was no extraordinary beauty. Elizabeth Bennet was very pretty. She had light skin, dark wavy hair, dark thoughtful eyes, a bright smile, and a pleasing figure. She was by no means, however, shockingly beautiful. And while she was amiable, clever, witty, kind, and lively, she also did not have a perfect character or a heart of gold. That fell to her sister Jane's lot. She had a great deal of pride, and had a tendency to misjudge people and be rather prejudiced. And with this warning I shall proceed; Elizabeth Gardenia Bennet was as flawed as any other person, so do not be too shocked when she makes mistakes, for it happens to the best of us.

Elizabeth Bennet was the second of five girls. The eldest, Jane, was a lovely and sweet little thing with golden hair and blue eyes that seemed to always be smiling warmly. She was a tall slim creature that refused to think badly of anyone, and therefore was rather gullible and innocent as a result of her benevolence. Despite her determination to think well of everyone, she refused to allow anyone to compliment her beauty or sweet character. After Elizabeth was Mary, a solemn girl who thought that the answers to life's problems and mysteries could be found in Fordyce's Sermons. Coincidentally, A Vindication of the Rights of Women was a favorite of Elizabeth's. She wasn't plain per se, she just didn't take care of her outside appearance, focusing instead on her accomplishments. Lydia and Catherine were possibly the silliest girls in all of England. Kitty had light brown hair and eyes and rather soft features, she was actually a very sweet girl but she was naïve and easily influenced by the youngest Miss Bennet; Lydia. Lydia had blonde hair and dark eyes, but they didn't have the same intelligent expression that rendered Elizabeth's uncommonly beautiful. They were vain and vulgar and cared not for propriety. Sense and proper behavior were nothing to them, and all they cared for were officers in dashing red coats and the latest fashions. The two youngest Bennets would be perfectly content to flirt with officers at balls in lace and silk for the rest of their lives. Mrs. Bennet was quite like Lydia and Kitty; she was very silly, all she had talked of for the past 20 years was getting her daughters married and complaining about her poor nerves. After all, at age of 16 Jane would've certainly make Sir Reginald, a man who was, at the time, about 9 and 20, a good bride. Mr. Bennet had long ago learned to stop caring about his wife's ridiculous behavior as well as his daughters'. Rather than correcting their behavior, he let them do as they pleased. He was a sensible man who took great delight in vexing his wife and in all things silly. Frustrated with his wife, who he stopped having any affection for a long time ago, and frustrated with his younger daughters, he took refuge in his study and retreated into his books. He found solace in his daughter Lizzy, as she was the only one of his daughters who had inherited his sense, sarcasm, and humor. Little did he know that by not taking care of his younger daughters he made them the silliest girls in England, which was the reason that he never cared for them. Oh the irony of it. With no sensible role model they looked to their mother for guidance at a young age, and their fates were sealed. But I digress.

Elizabeth was not the heiress of some large fortune, nor was she youngest of a family of poor servants. Her life was plain and simple. That is until the day a Mr. Bingley came to Meryton, bringing with him two men who would change her life forever.

It was a fine day in Autumn when Elizabeth woke up to the screams of Mrs. Bennet, her shrill voice piercing the silence, waking all the inhabitants of Longbourn, perhaps even all the inhabitants of London as well. The sun had not yet risen, but that did not deter dear Mrs. Bennet. She had barged into her husband's study with news of great importance.

"My dear Mr. Bennet, have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?!"

Mr. Bennet noticed an excited gleam in her eyes when he glanced up from his novel to answer her. With a bemused expression, he said, "I have not. I take it that you have a particular interest in the tenants of this estate?"

"Do you not wish to know who has taken it," Mrs. Bennet squealed in excitement. Not waiting for him to respond, she crowed, "A Mr. Bingley! An eligible bachelor of large fortune!"

"And how does this affect us Mrs. Bennet?"

"Why think of our girls! I am sure that he will admire my Jane! I have often said that Jane was not so beautiful for nothing! And I have been informed by Mrs. Long that he brings his friends Mr. Darcy of Pemberley and the earl of C-!" "Three daughters married! 4,000 a year," was all the Bennets heard for the rest of the day. The Meryton assembly was the next day, and then they would finally meet the famous tenant of Netherfield, as well as his esteemed guests.