1. Chapter 1 (1/2)

so, i have a few stories i am currently writing. many of them are several chapters in, but i am not ready to start posting them yet. i am still working on love for mary, i just have a couple of directions it could go and i want to be sure before i finish it. this is one i have been working on for a couple of weeks, and i actually have several chapters finished that i will post every few days. until i have no new ones to post. i am just excited about this particular story. this one will be extremely long and will be include all you favorite characters. i make no promises of any couple. if you are a die hard lizzy/darcy, this might not be for you. i don't know how that will play out just yet. i hope you enjoy it. jane and my oc will be the main characters, but as the story progresses, we'll venture into the lives of all of the others.

jane smiled at her cousins antics. the boys were not pleased with their sisters' attempts to use their toy soldiers as grooms for their dolls. the past few weeks had been a bit rough on her, and it was a relief to feel anything other than heartache. when caroline bingley had finally come to call, with her visit came many harsh realities. jane was not unintelligent, but years of working as a peacemaker in her family home had conditioned her to see the best in all situations and people. it had served her well, until she met the bingley's. she was now forced to concede that lizzy had been correct in her estimation of mr. bingley's sisters. they saw her as quite below themselves, and obviously considered her unsuitable for their

other. mr. bingley, himself, was now a very painful subject.

lizzy was sure that he loved her, and he had given every indication that he had. so, why then did he leave? sure, she had no fortune, but her family had been landed gentry for many generations. their estate, though entailed and not as grand as netherfield, was taken care of and far from unprofitable. she knew her relations were an issue, but she saw nothing negative there, either. her uncle gardiner was very wealthy,

inging in almost as much as mr. bingley. they simply loved their home and wanted to save their money for their children's futures. if either john or percy wanted to take on an estate, they would be able to. eleanor and madalene would be able to marry whomever they chose. she wished her own father had done the same for her sisters and herself. her uncle phillips had been the fifth son born into an estate not unlike longbourn. he was a very successful attorney, considering where he had decided to settle, and made almost as much as her own family.

in comparison, the bingley's had been in trade for generations and had been lucky enough to have mr. darcy take notice of them. according to mr. bingley, they had met shortly after his father had passed, and mr. darcy, having been left to manage his family's affairs at a young age himself, took the young man under his wing.

she sighed. there was no use in lying to herself. despite all that she knew to be truth, her circumstances would never improve her standing in the matter of matrimony. her uncles were in trade and she had only the promise of one thousand pounds upon her father's death, and one hundred pounds a year until that event took place. her mother hoped for her to attract a wealthy gentleman with her beauty, saying it would raise her sisters' fortunes. jane now thought that perhaps she and her sisters should see to their own survival. their world was changing. money seemed to mean more than titles and status. the bingley's were not the first to climb the social ladder. a tradesman would not be a bad match for her, or any of her sisters. any man in a respectable occupation would make a suitable match. she could see herself settled happily with an attorney.

her thoughts were interrupted when the maid announced the arrival of her uncle.

"margret, i do not wish to inconvenience you, but i have

ought a guest home for lunch. he shouldn't be too hard to please, as he is simply using his acquaintance with us to avoid the lovely ladies his mother was trying to introduce him to."

"thank you, edward. it is a comfort to know that my plight entertains you," said deep, unfamiliar voice. jane was soon able to put a face to the voice. her aunt went forward to greet a tall, dark haired man. he was attractive and his attire appeared as fine as mr. darcy's.