A Modern Pride and Prejudice

This is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in modern times. I did NOT write this, Mrs.LindsayCullen of fanfiction.net did. The link of the story is below 

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4734847/1/A_Modern_Day_Pride_and_Prejudice

The story is not complete. This is merely the first 23 chapters of the story. For updates keep checking the link above. I will upload the rest of the story when shes finished.

Chapter One

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.

"Did you know that the new neighbours will be moving in tomorrow? You know the house on Netherfield Road, that big mansion of a house?"

However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood-

"No I didn't know."

-this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families-

"Yes, well I just found out from Mrs. Long; the sweet little old lady next door and she told me all about it. Do you know who is moving in?"

-that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.

"I have no idea and I'm sure you'll tell me whether I do or do not want to hear it" sighed my father flipping a page of his newspaper.

"The family's name is Bingley and they have three children, a son and two daughters, and another boy staying with them and they're very rich doctors and they're planning to attend the neighbour charity party event next week after they're all moved in and settled and possibly make a donation! Imagine such a respected family living in the small town of Meryton!" gushed my mother with enthusiasm.

I heaved a sigh and folded over the top corner of Pride and Prejudice. My mother's voice was too loud and distracting to ignore so I decided to give up reading and focus on their conversation.

"Do you know how old the kids are?" my mother asked with excitement in her blue eyes.

"Hmm? No I'm afraid I don't, why don't you just tell me instead of having me guess?" said my father patiently. He also laid his reading material with a sigh and gave me a 'this might take a while' look accompanied with a roll of his brown eyes. I smiled back knowingly. Once my mother got going, it was difficult to keep her from saying what she wanted to say.

"Well," continued my mother oblivious to our exchange, "One daughter is nineteen, the other is seventeen, the son is eighteen and the boy living with them is eighteen as well!"

"And why do you think I care how old the children are?" asked my father in a bored voice, tired of the subject, "What do you suppose their ages mean to me?"

"Dear!" my mother exclaimed exasperated, "Don't you think it would be nice if our girls became friends with their girls! And maybe Jane or Mary would be interested in their son and the other boy! It would be lovely to see Mary with a boyfriend instead of locking herself in her room and playing that piano all day!" I rolled my eyes at this.

"I see you have this all planned out my Dear. Tell me, don't you think the girls should have a say in this? And you never know, maybe one of the boys will take an interest in you." teased my father.

"Of course I don't plan these sorts of things! And you know very well I'm not interested in younger men!" my mother said flustered. "I just don't think we should let this opportunity go to waste. Maybe we could send Jane over with a plate of cookies or something to welcome them to the neighbourhood. She is the prettiest by far."

"Why not send Lizzie over? I'm sure they will find her pleasing, she is witty and she won't drop the plate on the way over unlike the other girls, they are much sillier than Lizzie." argued my father smiling at me. I was the daddy's girl in the family for sure.

"You annoy me so! Just leave this up to me!" my mother said ending the conversation by standing up and walking out of the family room with her charity planning clipboard and notes tucked under her arm. My father gave me another eye roll and picked up his paper, reading where he left off. I decided that the only placed I was to have any peace to read was up in my room with the door closed.

As I sat on my bed and began reading again I considered the possibilities the new neighbours would bring. Of course the boys would be interested in Jane; she was the prettiest and eldest of us five Bennett daughters. At age eighteen with her long golden waving hair, fair complexion, sapphire eyes and polite to a fault personality, she was admired by many boys at our school. She was always happy, courteous and pleasant to be around. Maybe she would date one of the boys or become best friends with the two daughters.