Author's Note: So, I think I might be slightly crazy for attempting this, but there it is. I adore Jane Austen, and this idea just wouldn't leave me alone. While the plot is essentially the same, I have obviously adapted the characters slightly, and the language is a bit more modern. As always, please review! : ) Many thanks to my wonderful beta, lastincurableromantic.

The Tyler household was a flurry of excitement. Life in the country, filled with the quiet pastimes of rambling walks, everyday chores and familiar conversation, tended to fly into a frenzy at the slightest hint of gossip. And today's news was of no small moment.

The revelation was this... the Torchwood estate had found a tenant. And, the lessee was reputed to be a rich and quite dashing young bachelor. Such a man, of course, would be looking for a wife. At least this was the thought that had consumed Jacqueline Tyler's mind since first hearing the news. (And you may rest assured that she was not remotely alone in this assumption.)

As a mother of five daughters, Jackie Tyler was no stranger to worry. How could it be helped? The world was a hard place for women, and marriage was the best, most respectable, most sensible option, if not always the happiest. Indeed, it was the only proper path, in most minds, unless one wanted to die alone and penniless. And with five girls - count them, five - to marry off and with no male heir... well, Jackie felt it was her duty to be on the lookout.

Their life in the village of Powell was comfortable and happy; certainly there were many who were much less fortunate than they. But it all rested on the shoulders of Peter Tyler, a man who, at the moment, was displaying a marked lack of sympathy for their situation.

"I don't know why you won't just go see the man!" Jackie exclaimed, her voice sharp with frustration.

"And why should I?" answered Pete, quite reasonably, he thought.

"Surely you've heard something of him - handsome, friendly, and rich, and taking a house nearby. He'd be a fine catch for one of our girls!" she replied, her delight at the prospect tamping down her ill temper. The daughters in question, who had been engaged in various tasks about the room, listened intently.

"Well, if that's the case, why not go with the girls yourself? You're much better suited to the task, although he might take a shine to you instead," he added, a twinkle of humor in his eye. Pete Tyler loved his wife, despite her sometimes volatile temper and incessant meddling. Their marriage was not always easy, though he admitted his fault in this, as he often enjoyed getting a rise out of her (as he was now). They fought often and rarely saw eye-to-eye. Sometimes he longed for a retreat, a break from his wife's complaints and his daughters' silliness. Yet even though she sometimes drove him to distraction, she was a passionate, strong woman, and they were devoted to each other. His mouth twitched into a small smile at the sharp yet loving look she gave him.

"Oh, you..." she replied, humor tinging the exasperation in her tone. "Wouldn't be proper for us to go first, without any sort of introduction!"

"Well, that's easily fixed. I'll send you with a note saying that he's more than welcome to court any of my silly girls." He winked at Rose, his second eldest, who was watching their exchange with amusement. "Rosie is a bit clever, though. He might take a fancy to her."'

"Yes, yes... and Donna is lovely and Lucy delightful; but we'll never know what Mr. Harkness likes if we never get to meet him," she bit back. She railed for a moment at Lynda, who was suffering from an unfortunately timed bout of coughing, before she continued. "Oh, let's talk of something else. I can't bear to think about him any more."

"That is unfortunate," Pete replied, his face admirably solemn, "as I visited him just this morning. Oh, well. I'm afraid you shall just have to make the best of it, for we can't avoid him now."

The room erupted with surprised movement and happy exclamations. Jackie flew to her husband's side, pressing a hard kiss to his cheek before rounding on her daughters. "See what a wonderful father you have! Teasing us like that! Now, I wonder how soon he'll come 'round?"

Rose padded quietly down the steps, through the darkened hall, and out the side door that led into the gardens. The Tyler house was blessedly quiet, its inhabitants having worn themselves out with the day's exciting news. The air had a slight chill in it that she embraced, taking a deep breath of the crisp night air even as she pulled her dressing gown more snugly about her.

The moon was nearly full, casting a pale light over the stone path and gardens spread out around her. Rose gazed up into the inky darkness pierced by countless pinpricks of light. Her heart always soared at the sight, feeling at once so very small and yet so fortunate. Standing here on this tiny little planet, breathing its air, witnessing its beauty... so very alive. She liked to lose herself this way sometimes, to remember that life was so much more than this small village, than the society that at times seemed to wall her in. Though she would always find joy in life, no matter her situation, Rose longed to do more, to see more. To marry whom she chose, and only for the deepest love.

The soft grass tickled her bare feet, the stars twinkled silently up above, and Rose Tyler dreamed.