PROLOGUE

Absolute silence descended on Longbourne. Master Bennet was dead at the hands of Mr Wickham and Lydia was not recovered. Mrs Bennet fainted as soon as she heard the dreaded news, Kitty and Mary started weeping, while Jane rushed to Elizabeth's side, who had turned white as a sheet after reading out the letter from her Uncle Gardiner to all, which then slipped from her grasp.

What was to become of them now? They had always known about the entail but knew nothing about the man who was to now inherit Longbourne. Their mother's lifelong fears of being thrown away in the hedgegrows which used to seemed very much real. They had no suitors, no fortunes. Not many eligible men had come to Hertfordshire. These thoughts crossed Elizabeth's mind and for the first time in her life she felt real fear.

Jane, on the other hand, could not believe that such absolute wickedness existed in the world. She had been hoping all this time that somehow Lydia and Wickham would be married and forgiven for eloping and all could go back to normal. Instead her worldview seemed to be collapsing. Wickham had ravished Lydia, abandoned her to death or even a more worse fate which they had no idea about. Her dear Papa was dead. And, she, the eldest daughter, at 20, was still unmarried. For the first time, Jane accepted the harshness of the reality facing them.

The night passed but was not noticed by any of the inhabitant of Longbourne. All anxiously awaited the arrival of Mr. Gardiner and the Lawyer who would spell out conditions of their bleak future.