“We are saved!”cried Mrs.Bennet when the mark was complete.Everyone knew that marks bore some connection to the wearers, and the sight of a grand house had Mrs.Bennet sure Jane’s future husband was a wealthy man.
They knew Jane’s soul mate was only two years older than her, so Mr.and Mrs.Bennet decided it would be best to wait for Jane to come out until she was eighteen, though Mrs.Bennet argued for seventeen.Mr.Bennet stated that if the young man was a property owner, he would likely go to university, and if Jane went husband hunting too early, she would miss him for he would be in Oxford or Cambridge, and Jane would be left disheartened and disappointed.
Mrs.Bennet reluctantly agreed and began watching her other daughters like a hawk.With any luck, they would all be marked early and her prayers would be answered.
To everyone’s surprise, the next Bennet daughter to show a mark was seven-year-old Kitty.She was sitting on a blanket on the south lawn of Longbourn, playing happily with a doll while Jane and Elizabeth attempted croquet nearby, when five-year old Lydia pointed to her sister’s leg and said, “Horsey!”
Sure enough, on Kitty’s left leg, just above her stocking, was the faint outline of a horse.The image was incomplete, but it was clear it had been growing for some time.An angry Mrs.Bennet asked the nurse why she had not been told about her daughter’s mark, and the young woman had shrugged and said she thought Mrs.Bennet knew.
While the adults were arguing, the sisters gathered together and looked at Kitty’s mark, their curiosity piqued.
“Perhaps your husband will be a soldier in the cavalry,” said Jane.
“Or he could have a very large stable,” added Elizabeth.
Kitty frowned at the mark on her leg, not sure whether or not she liked it.
That night, Elizabeth stole into Jane’s bed and snuggled beside her sister.
“Janie,” she whispered, “do you think I will ever get a mark?”
“Of course you will!You are but ten years old.Perhaps your husband is younger than you.Mrs.Long is six months older than her husband, and they are very happy together.And there is still time before your thirteenth birthday.”
Elizabeth sighed and stared at the ceiling.“I suppose.Though…Kitty is three years younger than me and she has a mark.”
Jane squeezed her hand.“Do not fret, Lizzy.Fate does not make mistakes.”
Elizabeth nodded, feeling better already.“You are right.I will trust Fate.”
The ensuing years saw Elizabeth becoming more romantic instead of less.Kitty’s mark had come in beautifully, and the detail of the horse’s mane and eyes showed great artistry.She was the envy of several of the younger girls whose marks had not yet come in, and of those who had, Kitty’s was by far the most intricate.
Mrs.Bennet insisted on horse riding lessons for Kitty, as she would clearly need them, and the regular instruction in combination with the admiration of her neighbors made Kitty more confident than she otherwise would have been, a fact that made Fate smile smugly.Why all these silly humans thought they knew better than anyone else, she did not know, but Fate spent an inordinate amount of time cleaning up their messes.
As Elizabeth’s thirteenth birthday approached, she still had no mark.Her little sister—a full three years younger than she!—had a mark, but Elizabeth’s body remained woefully bare.Every morning she would look herself over in the mirror, searching for even the smallest change, but nothing was ever there.
In an odd moment of motherly affection—for Elizabeth often felt that her mother was not particularly fond of her—Mrs.Bennet sat Elizabeth down for a serious talk.
“Elizabeth, have you thought about whether or not you will take a mark next month?”
“I have thought about it, but I have not decided,” she answered hesitantly.
Mrs.Bennet nodded.“You are a vivacious girl, Lizzy.Strong.Lively.I do not think you would be happy with a man who did not love you completely.Mary could, and even Jane, I think, but not you.”She took Elizabeth’s chin in her hand and looked her in the eye.“I advise you to get the mark, Elizabeth.For a girl like you, no husband is better than one who does not truly want you.”
Elizabeth could only stare at her mother, not comprehending everything that was being said or why her mother was telling her such things, but she understood that her mother was being very serious, and that a mark would likely mean a happy marriage or life as an old maid.Either choice was better than an unhappy union.
As she lay in bed that night, Elizabeth made her decision.She would get the mark.She would rather have a great love or no love at all.Her mother was right.She could never live with someone who merely tolerated her.There was risk inherent with getting a mark, but she was willing to take it.It would be better than the alternative.
As her thirteenth birthday loomed closer, Elizabeth was again sat down by one of her parents, but this time it was her father.
“Do you plan to take a mark, Elizabeth?”he asked, his features carefully neutral.
“I do, sir.”
Mr.Bennet swallowed and looked around the room, searching for answers in corners that remained silent.
“I advise you to be careful, my dear.”
“What do you mean?”asked Elizabeth.
