CHAPTER ONE

Elizabeth Bennet ex-college student, jobless and according to her Mother without hope of ever finding a potential mate; had finally given up on other people's expectations of her. She had been coerced into going to college for nursing, she had been told to keep her hair long because it was more attractive, no tattoos or piercings because it was unprofessional and no one would take her seriously. Elizabeth had done all this, because it was easier than arguing with her Mother, and her family in general, but when she had been dropped from the Nursing program because her grades were not meeting expectation; Elizabeth had given up. After she left the Nursing director's office, she walked into the nearest hair salon told them to cut it into a spikey pixie. She almost screamed in excitement as she watched her chest length auburn locks drift into a pool at her feet. Her next stop was the tattoo parlor where her friend Charlotte was apprenticing.

Charlotte took one look at Elizabeth; when she entered, grinned wolfishly and called for her boss and mentor Blaze to fire up the tattoo gun. Elizabeth had left with a second piercing in both ears, a hoop in her lip, and tattoo of the words I am and my fear with a greater than symbol between I am and my fear.

After thanking Blaze and Charlotte for setting her up, her final stop was the apartment she shared with her sister Jane. Elizabeth walked through the bright, eclectic apartment with a determined expression on her face, and entered into her bedroom, she strode over to the closet took all the classy, expensive clothes, her Mother had convinced her to buy along with the scrubs and comfortable shoes and threw them into the fireplace in the living room and started a fire to stave out the chill of January.

Jane Bennet's first thought when she walked in the living room and saw her sister Lizzie, was that some sort of runaway hipster girl had broken into their apartment. Her second thought was that Lizzie finally looked like herself.

"Well this is new." Jane said with a knowing look, as she took a seat beside her sister in front of the fireplace.

Lizzie didn't even bother turning her head. "I got kicked out of nursing school."

Jane hid the smile from her face, but didn't bother with the one in her voice; "I figured," she took a deep breath, "and I'm glad."

Elizabeth's head whipped around in disbelief. Jane was one of the most responsible people Lizzie knew, she was always putting other things before herself. Lizzie had expected her to be disappointed or at least resigned, but not thrilled.

"Lizzie, it wasn't right for you, and even if you hadn't been dropped; I was coming home to suggest you quit. We both know it wasn't right for you. You've always wanted to work with kids, and before you had to quit your job, to make time for all your nursing classes, you were great at working at the daycare."

Elizabeth sighed resting her head on her knees. "I hated nursing so much; it was boring and too much stress." she paused a moment and then turned her head so she was looking at Jane. "so what do you think Mom is going to say about my new look?" Lizzie asked a sadistic smile playing on her lips.

Jane grinned, "she's going to cluck and fuss, and Dad's going to hide in his study, while she complains of her nerves."

Lizzie laughed loudly. "Good, and what do you think she will say when she realizes I burned all my clothes."

It was Jane's turn to be surprised, she had been so focused on Lizzie's new dramatic appearance she hadn't noticed the smell of burnt rubber that was filling the house. "Lizzie-you burned all your clothes?" Jane asked slowly.

Lizzie grinned at her sister broadly, "everything except what I'm wearing, and my pajamas."

"What-" Jane started and then broke off, shaking her head resignedly. "Come on I'll take you shopping, your going to have to have something to wear when you go job hunting."

Mrs Bell, had expected been extremely put out, when Mr Darcy had showed up out of the blue and informed her to be expecting females to show up applying for the position of nanny for his two children. Flynnella and Sterling, their mother had apparently decided she was no longer obligated to care for her children while her ex-husband trapezed all over Europe and the United States touring with his band. So she was leaving the children with him until further noticed; which meant they were Mrs Bell's problem until a proper nanny was found.

The poor chits looked something awful when their father had dropped them off at his Scottish estate Tempest Glen. Both were pale with their father's pitch colored hair, and his odd silvery eyes, neither smiled or chattered as normal children did. Mrs Bell had never liked William's ex-wife Leila; she was an unnatural sort all pale angles, and frosty behavior. She was never happy with anything, always complaining that the castle was too drafty and they practically in the jungle. That was the only thing Leila and Mrs Bell had agreed on; the estate Tempest Glen, did look more like a jungle than a well manicured estate with it's exotic trees, ponds, mazes and massive amount of gardens, but Mrs Bell had been the house keeper at Tempest Glen for a long while and the wooded estate was home.

The children had been at Tempest Glen for going on a month, when Mrs Bell received a call from William. He informed her that his American cousin Blaze, had a friend who was in need of a job, and she was to be expected that very afternoon. Georgiana was to help conduct the interview, along with Mrs Bell and decide if this girl was fit to watch over the children. Georgiana was William's sister, and had taken leave from the university she attended to watch over the children until a nanny was found.

After Mrs Bell got off the phone with her employer, she had to admit she hoped this woman would be suitable so the matter would be over and done with, but deep down she knew that it was highly unlikely. The Darcy family, along with their employers all held a dark secret that was highly protected, and it was impossible for just anyone to just waltz in and take this position, especially when it had been remained to be seen whether this dark secret had affected either one of the children especially the boy.

With this in mind Mrs Bell had expected the woman in question to be of middling years, with a serious demeanor and a no nonsense personality, but when a girl that couldn't possibly be over sixteen, with short auburn hair, and a mischievous face entered the room; Mrs Bell felt hope for the Darcy family for the first time in a long while.