This is a modernization of Pride and Prejudice that I wrote back in college (so some of the writing is a little cringey, but I've tried to improve it). I've found it recently and reworked and added in some racy scenes. I'll post chapters as I edit. Constructive comments are appreciated! Enjoy!
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a man in charge of a great fortune must be in want of a wife.
Jack Bennett was not a stupid man. He was in fact considered to be one of the wisest men in Willow Springs, New York, but even the smartest men make mistakes. And Jack Bennett had made two. The first was his marriage. Jack was seduced by the beauty and charisma of a woman ten years his junior and had proposed hastily. Twenty seven years and five children later Margaret Bennett was not the stunning beauty she once was, nor was she as vivacious. Years of being spoiled by her husband who insisted that she not work, but stay home with five daughters had left Margaret a selfish, vain woman. Though Jack knew that he had rushed into a silly marriage to Margaret, he never regretted it because it had brought him five beautiful daughters who he loved more than the world.
Jack Bennett's second great mistake cost him much more and in the opinion of most of the citizens of Willow Springs actually cost him his life. Jack was a partner in one of America's leading importers of fine French wine. For nearly thirty years Jack was a careful businessman and he made a great living for his family. But a year before his death Jack signed an exclusive deal with an old French vineyard family and invested quite a bit of money into the partnership.
Only three months later a letter arrived for Mr. Bennett. He took it directly to his office. His second daughter found him there that evening dead, slumped over his desk. The letter said he'd lost his entire investment, meaning the family was almost bankrupt. He left behind a small amount of life insurance which was used up in funeral arrangements and legal settlements.
When the dust settled Margaret Bennett was left alone with five daughters and the only hope for redemption, in Margaret's mind, was five fine marriages.
Laurel Bennett sat in her father's office running numbers for the thirtieth time. She knew they would come out the same, but she had to try once more. Laurel was the second oldest Bennett daughter at twenty-five. She had her master's degree in international business and had always planned to take over the wine import business from her father, but hadn't planned on it being so soon. Like most days when she worked from home, Laurel had on her thick glasses and her hair was wild around her head, glowing like a lion's mane in the light from the window.
The numbers came out the same as the first twenty-nine times. Laurel had no idea how they would pay for her younger twin sister's final year of college. 'They may not really mind' she thought. 'They went more for the socializing than anything else.' Laurel looked up from her calculations when she heard her sisters come into the house. The youngest at twenty-one, Cydalia and Katarina had been out shopping, not so much for clothes as for dates.
Laurel shut down her computer and tried to push the money issues out of her mind. She grabbed her mug of tea and headed out into the hallway hearing her sister's voices getting more and more robust as she neared.
"Rachel said he makes fifty million a year!" Katarina squealed.
"Monica said sixty!" Cydalia corrected.
Laurel chuckled as she refilled her mug and grabbed a new tea bag. Her youngest sisters were extremely similar. Identical twins, Cyd and Kat were best friends. Most people couldn't tell them apart at all. Laurel knew however that Cyd was the real leader of the twosome. Born 16 minutes before Katarina, Cyd never let her forget it and usually made all the decisions.
Laurel sipped her tea as she watched her sisters explaining the exciting news to their mother and Heidi. Heidi was the middle sister of the Bennett girls, and many times lived up to the stereotypes of the role. She had shoulder length mouse-brown hair and almost always wore it up in a tight bun at the back of her neck. Heidi was a written word specialist and technician as she said but most would say she was a librarian. She also taught piano to children in town.
The eldest Bennett girl came down the stairs as Cyd and Kat took a break for air. Jennifer was twenty-six and pursuing her doctorate in veterinary science. Her long chestnut hair was brushed to the side in a long braid.
"What's so exciting girls?" Jennifer asked.
"Someone bought the Janeway mansion!" Katarina exclaimed.
"Not just anyone!" added Cydalia. "David Miller!"
"Should we know who that is?" asked Laurel.
"Well yeah!...okay maybe not. I'd never heard of him until this morning either."
Jennifer interrupted, "The Janeway Mansion? Isn't that the horrid looking house at the end of Baker Street?"
"Yes!" responded Kat. "But it won't be horrid looking for long. David Miller will make sure of that. He's worth millions!"
"What does he do?" asked Heidi.
"He's a video game distributor. He works with companies all over the world, but he's based out of Tokyo. He's good friends with the president of Nintendo Gaming!"
"That is pretty impressive," Laurel agreed as she walked past her sisters and down to her room.
"Wait! Don't' you want to hear the rest?" Cydalia yelled after her.
"I'm sure I'll hear nothing but it for weeks!" Laurel yelled back shutting her door.
The girls kept giggling in the kitchen. "When is he moving in?" asked Margaret.
"Two weeks! Just in time for the Willow Springs fall harvest festival."
"What a way to welcome him to town." mumbled Heidi, who also left the kitchen.
"Is he going to live in that big old house all by himself?" Jennifer asked.
"I heard he's bringing his sister along," Kat answered.
"I sure hope it's just his sister."
The next two weeks were a blur in town. Between preparations for the Fall Harvest Festival and buzz about the new millionaire in town Laurel somehow kept her family afloat. The night before the festival Jennifer, Cyd, and Kat came home from decorating the town square with exciting news. David Miller had arrived.
Cyd and Kat squealed out the story to their mother while Jennifer and Laurel went to their room for a calmer version of the story.
"He's even more attractive than they described him, Laurel." Jennifer started. "He and his friend drove through the square on their motorcycles. They just hovered for a moment to say hello and ask what time the festival starts tomorrow night. Mr. Miller was so polite and asked Mrs. Danielson if there was anything he could do to help."
"Was Brittney there?" Laurel interrupted.
"Yes, she was there with her mother. You should ask her about it, she was closer to them. Maybe she could tell you more about the other guy."
"What other guy?"
"Mr. Miller wasn't alone. There was another man also on a motorcycle, but he didn't say a word and he didn't take off his sunglasses. A little late for sunglasses this evening if you ask me...but he was very mysterious. I have no idea who he was."
"Maybe I will give Brittney a call, but first tell me everything about David Miller!"
"Oh, Laurel! He's beautiful." She said flopping onto her bed. Laurel laughed. Jennifer wasn't prone to exaggeration like Cyd and Kat, so this man must be quite handsome. "What a smile! He has the most amazing dimples. He must be 32 or 33 and-brace yourself-he was wearing earrings!"
"An older man and a rebel!"
"I was near the back of the square when they drove up. I didn't say anything to them but he looked at me once. He smiled."
"I'm sure he'll be looking for you tomorrow night then!"
"Don't get my hopes up!"
"I'm not. I'm just making a logical assumption that this 'beautiful' man would seek out the prettiest girl in the county?"
"Like I'm anything compared to the women he meets in New York City and all over the world!"
"We'll have to see tomorrow night then! Now, let's pick out what you're going to wear!"
The Bennetts were among the first to arrive at the town square. Heidi immediately found a corner table to sit at; she wasn't one for dancing and drinking. Cydalia and Katarina were immediately taken to the dance floor with other young men waiting for them on the sidelines. Jennifer and Laurel found Brittney. Brittney Danielson was their best friend and had been for years although she was two years older than Jennifer. Her mother was the head of the Willow Springs Social Society.
The square was done up in a grand country style. Hay bales lined the middle that had become a dance floor. Leaves were strung between poles like streamers and a local band was set up and performing at one end of the pavilion.
"So when can we expect our exciting new citizens?" Laurel asked.
"Very soon I'm sure." Brittney answered. "David promised my mother that he would be here with his sister."
"What about that other guy?" Jennifer asked.
"That, my friend, is Urs Buhler. He's David's best friend and worth twice as much. He's the head of Harley Davidson Switzerland. Rumor has it he's also romantically attached to David's sister, Maryann Miller."
"Is he coming along tonight as well?"
"We'll see."
Laurel, Brittney, and Jennifer grabbed some drinks and found a table near the dance floor. They were enjoying their time when they heard two motorcycles pulling up to the square. The music and dancing came to a standstill as everyone in Willow Springs stared at the new arrivals: David Miller, his sister Maryann, and his friend Urs Buhler.
"Well, if they weren't scared of us already, they sure will be now," Laurel whispered to her friends. The crowd continued to stare until finally Mrs. Danielson stepped forward to welcome the group.
David shook her hand and the crowd took a collective sigh of relief as the music started back up and the festival continued as usual.
"What in the world was that all about?" Laurel asked Brittney and Jen.
