Summary: What if Mr. Bennet passed away before Mr. Darcy's first proposal and the Bennets were suffering from a dire financial crisis? What if they needed Elizabeth to accept Darcy's first proposal. Without her rejection, would Darcy ever need to explain himself? Would she ever love him?

Setting: Takes place while Lizzy is visiting charlotte and Mr. Darcy first declares his love for her.

Disclaimer: I own nothing!!! I used a lot of the original text in this first chapter, but subsequent chapters will be all uniquely mine.

WHEN they were gone, Elizabeth, as if intending to exasperate herself as much as possible against Mr. Darcy, chose for her employment the examination of all the letters which Jane had written to her since her being in Kent. They contained no actual complaint, nor was there any revival of past occurrences, or any communication of present suffering. But in all, and in almost every line of each, there was a want of that cheerfulness which had been used to characterize her style, and which, proceeding from the serenity of a mind at ease with itself, and kindly disposed towards every one, had been scarcely ever clouded. However, as she was perusing these previous letters she noticed upon her desk an unopened letter clearly addressed to her in Jane's elegant handwriting.

Dearest Lizzy,

As we have long suspected, our cousin, Mr. Collins, has seized upon our property and our departed father's income. While he has deigned to permit us continued residence on the property, I am sure that Mother's insubstantial annual income of two hundred pounds will do naught to satisfy even our most basic needs. I write not to worry you, dear sister, but to inform you, though I'm sure you must have caught wind of this news considering your current dwelling arrangements with Mr. and Mrs. Collins. I'm aware that it is a great deal to ask of you, but if you could petition your hosts to be lenient on our poor family…five unwedded daughters and widow. I am sure they will find it within their gracious natures to offer us a reasonable portion of our father's previous income.

Sincerely,

Your adoring sister,

Jane.

OH the misery! Elizabeth could only imagine her fretful mother's current complaints regarding her nerves and the disaster this would heap upon her daughter's chances of an advantageous marriage. While the loss of their dearly loved father had been a loss of the acutest kind, their suffering would not cease with their loss of his company. Now they were destitute, destined to be old maids starving on their meager allowances. Surely Charlotte and Mr. Collins would rectify this situation immediately.

Elizabeth was suddenly roused by the doorbell, and her spirits were a little fluttered by the idea of its being Colonel Fitzwilliam himself, who had once before called late in the evening, and might now come and lift her spirits after this latest revelation. But this idea was soon banished, and her spirits were very differently affected, when, to her utter amazement, she saw Mr. Darcy walk into the room. In a hurried manner he immediately began an enquiry after her health, imputing his visit to a wish of hearing that she were better. She answered him with cold civility. He sat down for a few moments, and then getting up, walked about the room. Elizabeth was surprised, but said not a word. After a silence of several minutes, he came towards her in an agitated manner, and thus began,

"In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."

Elizabeth was at a loss for words for once in her life. She blushed and stared as he continued, informing her that his attachment was so deep and so strong that he could overlook her inferiority, her family's impropriety, and his sense of obligation, if only she would accept his hand.

Mr. Darcy's speech quickly dashed her original shock, only to replace it with anger. She tried to compose herself so that she would speak with patience and eloquence and retain a sense of propriety that he seemed to think unnecessary when addressing her. His arrogant manner and stance of complete self-assurance however were testing her nerves.

When Darcy finished his proposal and gazed upon her expectantly, she said

"In such cases as this, it is, I believe, the established mode to express a sense of obligation for the sentiments avowed –" she paused, Jane's letter suddenly flashing through her mind.

Mother's insubstantial annual income of two hundred pounds will do naught to satisfy even our most basic needs.

Income of ten thousand pounds…

Mr. Darcy's sharp voice broke through the current foggy state of her mind.

"Are you rejecting me?"

Elizabeth collected herself quickly. She had already subjected her family to hardship by refusing Mr. Collins…she could not allow them to suffer because of her choices any longer.

"You misunderstand me, receiving the compliment of such a man as your self's affection has left me rather at a loss of words." Elizabeth struggled for anything to say, yet Mr. Darcy's countenance had visibly relaxed upon her statement. His self-assurance once again drove her to anger.

"Might I enquire though, with so evident a design of offending and insulting me, you chose to tell me that you liked me against your will, against your reason, and even against your character?" she snapped before she could think to hold her tongue.

Darcy's astonishment returned once again, "perhaps, my lady, you would not be so angry with me had your pride not been hurt by my honest confession of the scruples that had long prevented my forming any serious design. Perhaps I would receive a straightforward answer from you had I with greater policy concealed my struggles, and flattered you into the belief of my being impelled by unqualified, unalloyed inclination -- by reason, by reflection, by every thing. But disguise of every sort is my abhorrence. Nor am I ashamed of the feelings I related. They were natural and just. Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your connections? To congratulate myself on the hope of relations, whose condition in life is so decidedly beneath my own?''

Elizabeth felt herself growing angrier by the moment, yet she forced herself to think of her family before speaking next,

"I understand your scruples with our relationship and I appreciate your honesty regarding your concerns. I must admit that I could not ever hope to receive the attentions of a man as great as you. I am not in the habit of giving people what they want, but Mr. Darcy, you are the sort of man that I could not deny giving whatever he deigned to ask for."

All shreds of anger disappeared at once from Darcy's countenance. Elizabeth thought she saw a smile alight his face before he turned serious and began speaking of preparations. Elizabeth attempted to smile through out this ordeal yet she could not bring herself to listen as an overwhelming sense of disappointment tugged at her heart. Papa would be horrified.

Darcy, sensing Elizabeth's lack of focus excused himself, as he was sure she was just as overwhelmed as he.

As soon as she was alone, Elizabeth began a return letter to Jane.

Dearest Jane,

I shall not appeal to the Collins' for this is my mistake and I shall be the one to rectify it. Please let Mama and our sisters know of my current engagement to Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. We are saved.

Your sister,

Elizabeth

A/N: Worth continuing? I promise there will be no more direct text from the novel after this chapter. Let me know what you think.