Chapter Text
Evelyn Carter adjusted her oversized cardigan and poured herself a second cup of tea. The rain outside pattered against her apartment windows, creating the perfect ambiance for her favorite pastime—losing herself in the world of Jane Austen. She had spent years adoring the wit and charm of Pride and Prejudice after discovering her late mother’s copy when she had been but a little girl, memorizing passages and falling in love with the romance between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy.
She had consumed the media with voracity as well, the BBC’s 1995 tv series where a must watch every 3 months for the usual marathon and the 2005 film adaptation every week she could cram it into her schedule.
Today, though, the well-loved book in her hands felt oddly heavier than usual. The pages seemed thicker, and as her fingers flipped through them, she noticed an odd glimmer under the words. Frowning, she held the book closer to the light.
“What on earth—” she murmured, as the text on the page seemed to ripple like water. Before she could react, a bright flash blinded her.
Evelyn barely had time to gasp before she felt herself falling—not through air but something softer, like silk or mist. Her stomach flipped, and the next thing she knew, she was sprawled on the ground hard, taking the air off her lungs, her body aching as though she’d just been dropped from a height.
The smell of grass and wildflowers filled her nose. Evelyn blinked rapidly, adjusting to the sunlight streaming through a canopy of clouds. Groggily, she pushed herself to her feet, taking in her surroundings. Rolling hills stretched as far as she could see, bordered by carefully maintained hedges and dirt paths. It wasn’t just picturesque—it was familiar.
“No way,” she whispered, her voice trembling. Her stomach twisted with the early signs of a well known panic attack.
In the distance, she spotted a modest yet stately manor house, its windows glinting in the sunlight. A flutter of recognition filled her chest. Longbourn. The Bennet family home.
“This can’t be real, i...i must have passed out, had an aneurism or somethin'..yeah” Evelyn said, brushing off her gown—wait, gown?
Gone were her comfortable jeans and sweater. In their place was a pale muslin dress with a high empire waist and delicate lace trim. Her hair, previously tied in a messy bun, had been swept into an elegant yet unfamiliar style, pinned with pearl combs. She touched her face, her breath quickening. This wasn’t just a dream—everything felt too vivid.
“I’ve gone insane,” she muttered, but the cool breeze on her skin, the distant chirping of birds, and the faint chatter of voices told her otherwise.
The voices grew louder, accompanied by the crunch of footsteps on gravel. Two women emerged from a bend in the path, both dressed in Regency-style clothing that matched Evelyn’s. She recognized them immediately—Jane Bennet, with her serene beauty and kind smile, blonde hair in soft curls, and Elizabeth Bennet, whose intelligent eyes studied Evelyn with curiosity.
“Are you well, madam?” Jane asked, her tone gentle. “You appear...lost.”
Evelyn struggled to form a coherent response. She knew these characters inside out, but standing before them made her feel exposed, as though they could see through her modern sensibilities.
“I...I’m fine,” Evelyn stammered, her accent—a stark contrast to their refined English—catching their attention. “Just a little disoriented.”
Elizabeth’s brow furrowed. “You’re not from around here, are you? your accent, pardon my asumption but are you from the newly reformed colonies..? what do they call them now? the americas?”
Before Evelyn could answer, a third figure approached. He was tall, very handsome with the dark, unruly hair of the Bennet family and a sharpness to his features that hinted at both intelligence and mischief. His blue hazel-ish eyes assessed her with a mix of concern and curiosity. She had thought until recently that Mr. Darcy, Mr. Tilney, Edward Ferrars, even Colonel Brandon played by the magnificent Alan Rickman had been the most handsome men she had ever seen, but this specimen in front of her seemed straight out of a fantasy. The perfect gentleman.
“Who is this, Lizzy?” he asked, his voice deep but warm.
Elizabeth gestured toward Evelyn. “We were just about to ask her that ourselves.”
The man stepped forward, offering a slight bow. “Samuel Bennet, at your service. You appear to have had some misfortune. Can we assist you? Miss..? have you a companion or chaperone nearby we can call upon?”
Evelyn stared at him, her mind racing. Samuel Bennet? There was no Samuel Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. No cousin, no brother..? for what she could see, both sisters seemed at ease with him, like one would do a sibling, but it coudn’t be...Yet here he was, as real as Jane and Elizabeth.
“I.....uh, ¡yes! yes thank you,” she said, attempting to curtsy—a gesture she immediately regretted when her unfamiliar gown nearly tripped her. Samuel steadied her as he quickly moved forward and held her with a hand on her arm, his touch firm but respectful. “Thank you, and i...i am alone. No chaperone or companion.” she confessed with burning cheeks almost regretting it inmediately as she caught the expression on the male Bennet’s face.
“Come,” he said. “It’s not safe to linger on the road. Our home is nearby. We can offer you shelter until we understand what has happened.”
Evelyn hesitated but nodded. What choice did she have? If this truly was the world of Pride and Prejudice, she would need to stay close to the Bennets to survive—and, perhaps, to find a way back home.
---
The walk to Longbourn was surreal. Evelyn struggled to process the reality of her situation while simultaneously marveling at the details that matched Austen’s descriptions perfectly. The gravel path, the distant chatter of servants, even the faint scent of baking bread wafting from the kitchen—all of it was exactly as she had imagined.
Inside the house, Mrs. Bennet greeted her with an enthusiastic flurry of questions as soon as they crossed the threshold. “And who might you be, my dear? A relative, perhaps? Or a friend of the Lucases?”
Evelyn quickly realized she needed a plausible story. “I...I’m Evelyn Carter,” she said, using her real name but adopting a softer tone to match the Bennets’ speech. “A distant relation of Mr. Bennet’s, though we’ve never met before, i..i came here to meet him, but i met trouble on the way, my belongings where stolen from me i am afraid.”
“Oh, how delightful!” Mrs. Bennet exclaimed, clapping her hands before realizing her words. “Not in regards of your unfortunate events my dear! heavens no! curse those rufians that dared take a womans property! but another young lady in the house—what a boon for us all! Perhaps you might even catch the eye of Mr. Bingley or another fine gentleman.”
Mr. Bennet, who had been quietly observing from his armchair, chuckled. “Let us not overwhelm the poor girl, my dear. She looks as though she’s been through an ordeal, be welcome here, and rest assured you will not lack comfort.”
Evelyn smiled gratefully at him, already appreciating his dry humor and calm demeanor.
Samuel, however, remained close, his gaze lingering on Evelyn as though he were trying to solve a puzzle. “You’re welcome here for as long as you need as my father says, those whom dared to lay hands on a ladies’ property will surely suffer the consecuences” he said. “Though I must admit, your arrival is rather...peculiar.”
Evelyn nodded, unsure of what to say. Peculiar didn’t even begin to describe it. Elizabeth was besides her in seconds. “Let us not stir more unfortune upon our guest’s thoughts today, if you would Miss Carter, would you care to share some sweet apple cider with me and my sister Jane to cool off the midday heat? mayhaps to meet my other sisters as well.” Evelyn didnt even answer, nodding before being dragged away by her beloved heroine.
---
That evening, Evelyn was given a modest but comfortable guest room, which was more than what she would have expected if she was being honest. As she lay in the canopy bed, staring at the embroidered drapes, her mind churned with questions. How had she ended up here? A vivid hallucination? Magic? Destiny? Isekai? Was it possible to return to her world? And, most pressing of all, what was she supposed to do now?
Hang around and live vicariously through the Bennets? maybe.
If you had asked her last week if she would have loved to be part of her favorite book, she would have most definetly said yes! in a heartbeat, but being here, it took things into perspective, no more modern medicine, no femenine products, no wifi, no fatty, sugary processed foods, no skin care products, and definetly no equal rights.
It was enough to keep her frightened and stock still in the bed.
Her thoughts also kept drifting back to Samuel. His presence was a complication she hadn’t anticipated. He was charming, intelligent, and undeniably attractive—but he wasn’t part of the original story she knew and loved. Why was he here? And why did he seem so...attuned to her? There was something in his eyes, so inquisitive. Maybe she was just going crazy...after all, she was in a reality written by a dead woman 200 years ago.
“God...i am so scre–, no..no more miss potty mouth, one word like that and Mrs. Bennet’s nerves might finally do her in to an early grave.”
She closed her eyes, groaning, exhaustion finally overtaking her. Tomorrow, tomorrow she would figure out her next move.
Little did she know, her presence in Longbourn was about to change everything.
Please let me know how you guys find this chapter! :')