Alison asked Jo Baker:

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Jo Baker It emerged from a couple of things - a set of diaries by a gentleman of this period, who was engaged in an ongoing affair with his housekeeper which caused him considerable guilt but which he didn't quite manage to break off. And a question, really, about that Bennet marriage - Mr Bennet was a good bit older than his wife (I can't quote directly because I am away from my books) and he had a good while as a bachelor; and that situation of a servant and master relationship was not uncommon amongst longer-term bachelors. Alongside this, the Bennet marriage is so dysfunctional - the way he speaks to her is so unkind; it's lucky that she is not bright enough to realise. And so perhaps there is more to that unhappiness of his than meets the eye. Although it's not directly suggested within P&P it is plausible within the period, and, I think, possible within that unhappy marriage.

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