Elizabeth smiled at her reflection as she brushed her hair, her spirits buoyed by the evening's good cheer. The months prior had consisted of little save misery for the Bennet girls; Lydia had become a fallen woman by eloping with Mr. Wickham for a wedding that never occurred, Mr. Bennet was trampled to death by his own horse returning from London on a fruitless search for Lydia. Mrs. Bennet never needed to fear the hedgerows for she took to her own bed upon receiving the news of Mr. Bennet's demise and Lydia's seemingly permanent disappearance; she would never leave that bed alive again. For a short time the remaining four Bennet girls grieved in their childhood home, their cousin Mr. Collins at the persuasion of his wife and their dear friend Charlotte Collins was persuaded to provide them with two weeks to grieve before they were sent to live with their Aunt and Uncle Gardiner in London. Though Mr. Collins wished to appease Charlotte and provide the women with a minimum of two months it was not to be for he valued the opinion of Lady Catherine de Bourgh more than his wife, they may have even found themselves removed earlier had Lady Catherine not deemed it necessary that Collins provide her with two weeks notice to find a suitable replacement for his position. In London it was determined that the Bennet sisters could not remain within the Gardiner home, it was a heartrending decision made to protect the nearly out Gardiner twins as well as Mr. Gardiner's business from the stain Lydia had placed upon the Bennet sisters' reputations. A separate residence was established for the girls; struggling with the added added expenses the Gardiners' could not afford to place a companion or governess in the residence with the girls and so their standing as gentlewomen was further diminished.

Three months passed and a ray of sunshine broke through the dark clouds of their lives; Mr. Gardiner informed the girls that they were to attend his house for tea on a Saturday for his newest and largest investor Colonel Fitzwilliam wished to greet them all. Elizabeth was surprised that the Colonel was able to invest such a large sum, as he had mentioned that he was constrained by financial considerations in his choice of marriage partner during their time in Kent. To briefly pretend that their circumstances had not changed so drastically was a delight to Elizabeth though the night after the tea she wished that Colonel Fitzwilliam might have asked his cousin, Mr. Darcy, to attend as well and she might attempt to sketch his character once again as her first attempt was so deeply flawed. Had Lydia not run off with Mr. Wickham she might have had the opportunity in Derbyshire rather than having her uncle send a hastily written apology that they had "business" to attend to that required their immediate departure, one more day and she might have been able to enjoy Mr. Darcy's attentions and to respond in kind. Now, she would never know if Mr. Darcy's feelings remained constant from his spring proposal at Rosings though she knew his demeanor was inestimably better when they last met and she would never be able to express her increased sentiment towards him. Elizabeth laughed many times at her wool-gathering, in the unlikely event that Mr. Darcy's feelings were the same it would matter little for what use could a man of his consequence have for a woman with as little dowry and abysmal connections as herself?

Colonel Fitzwilliam became a regular caller at the Gardiner household, his visits increased the frequency with which the Bennets were able to visit their Uncle's home for the neighborhood of tradesmen opinion was worth very little on a scale as opposed to the wishes of one's largest investor who also happened to be the son of an earl.

Colonel Fitzwilliam paid special attention to Elizabeth's needs, she briefly entertained the fantasy that he would offer for her though every time he began to propose his light blue eyes became dark and slowly all of his features morphed into his cousin's. Colonel Fitzwilliam apologetically burst that bubble by pointedly mentioning his intention to marry for financial stability and wishing he could do more to help Elizabeth in her current situation.

"Miss Elizabeth, I am sure that my pointed attentions may cause speculation but I wish you to know that I care for you deeply as a friend. My matrimonial ambitions though remain firmly set upon financial stability though I do wish I could provide you with more than sitting room niceties."

Elizabeth's facial muscles quickly distorted into a grimace before she recovered with an impish smile. "Colonel, I do appreciate your friendship greatly and it pains me that you would consider me simple enough to believe that you wished for more than amiable companionship from someone as lowly connected and pecuniarily deficient as myself. I may be low and poor but I do have some remaining vanity. Please do not consider me stupid." Inspired by the evening's wine and her irritation with Colonel Fitzwilliam for destroying her pleasant though impossible daydream she childishly stuck her tongue out at him. The wine further eliminating Elizabeth's inhibitions she continued "I am aware that the highest rank I could hope to obtain within your illustrious society is that of mistress though if I am to be so labeled I would rather wish it to be in your handsome cousin Darcy's bed."

Elizabeth briefly worried that she had offended the Colonel's masculine pride or disgusted him with her vulgar speech, her worry was cut short by a broad smile and loud guffaw from the Colonel "Never have I been set in my place so! That was a most excellent barb! Even better than the insults I received during my officer's training!" Elizabeth was gratified that she had not lost a friend and had even to a small degree admitted her heart's truest desires.

Darcy House

"Darce! Darce! I have news!" Colonel Richard Fitzwilliams' bombastic voice carried through the halls.

"Yes? I was merely standing next to the fire warming my hands, did you not think to search the room? Georgiana may be sleeping."

"That girl? No, I would imagine she's practicing a sonata in her head before I believed she was asleep this earlier."

"Nevermind, what is your news?"

"It regards a certain down on her luck enchanting brunette from Hertfordshire…"

"Yes! And?"

"Do you not wish to offer your favorite drink?"

Darcy groaned as he walked over to the rarely touched crystal decanter containing a fine vintage port and poured a snifter full, smiling for he knew it was good news if Richard wished to prolong the telling of it. He handed Richard who drank the port in one swallow knowing the irritation it would cause Darcy that he had not savored the delicious liquid.

"I was concerned that her reduced circumstances and my increased attentions at your request might raise her expectations I therefore so fit to inform her that I would not offer for her." Richard paused and held out his glass, Darcy quickly refilled it.

"And?"

She asked me not to think her stupid, for it was something she already knew." Richard held out his glass again, irritated yet relieved Darcy took a long pull from the decanter before handing it to Richard.

"So she has no interest in you?"

"None, whatsoever… though it would appear she has an interest in you."

"Whatever do you mean?"

"She brought you up without any prompting. I for one hear enough of you in any ballroom I step into, I do not need it in the Gardiner's residence as well…"An irritated glance from Darcy prompted his continuation "After she asked that I not think her stupid, she told me that she was aware that her low connections and poverty meant that the highest position she could obtain with the ton was that of mistress."

Irritated Darcy growled "How did I enter into a conversation of that sort!"

"She said that if she was to warm anyone's bed that she would prefer it to be yours!" Richard laughed loudly at the amusing picture Darcy's shocked face presented upon receipt of such an acknowledgement.

Darcy gripped the back of the leather wingback chair overwhelmed by conflicting emotions of joy, lust and shame. To have his dreams actualized and find Elizabeth in his bed… could he disgrace her with giving her the position of mistress? Should he? He could provide and protect her even more than he was able to by funding Richard's investment in her uncle's business. Yet to disgrace her and never able to present her to his family or embrace their children as his legitimate heirs, it was too steep a cost. Alternately if Elizabeth was his wife it would be Georgiana who would pay, her marriage prospects would be dashed by becoming sisters with someone as unfortunate as Lydia. No, no he needed to stay the course.

"Richard, have you any news from the bow street runners regarding the whereabouts of Wickham or Miss Lydia Bennet?"