My first Pride and Prejudice Fan Fiction so please be nice. In this story, Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy do not leave Netherfield and Darcy does not interfere with Jane's relationship with Bingley.

The Consequences of Misunderstanding.

Elizabeth Bennet sat in front of her mirror trying to calm her hair. She could hear Mary playing the pianoforte downstairs and Kitty and Lydia giggling as they raced down the stairs. Elizabeth knew that Jane would not be joining them for breakfast, for she had spent the entire night dancing with Mr Bingley at the Netherfield ball. She could not possibly understand how the rest of her siblings were so lively as they too had had their fair share of dancing. All of them had except Mary and her father. Elizabeth had not told any of her sisters about her dance with Mr Darcy for fear that they would laugh at her admiration for such a pompous person as himself. Mrs Bennet had gone straight to her room and Elizabeth knew that they would not see her either at the breakfast table. She decided that she could not tame her hair anymore and left her room in hope of some breakfast. Elizabeth was quite surprised that she was the last one in the dining hall, even her mother and Jane were there.

'Dearest Mama, Jane I did not expect to see you up this early.' Elizabeth said as she walked to her seat.

'Whatever gave you that impression?' Mrs Bennet asked her second eldest. Jane laughed.

'Well Mama, I spent all night dancing with Mr Bingley and you spent all night and a bit of the morning talking! It is a wonder how we are not tired.' She explained. Mr Bennet looked up from his paper.

'Not gossiping were we my dear?' He asked Mrs Bennet who looked at him sternly.

'Of course not Mr Bennet! Whatever gave you that impression?' She replied, looking innocent.

'Well it didn't escape my ears but I heard some talk in the ballroom of Mr Bingley proposing to Jane. I asked them who told them and they told me that a short woman in a white dress did. I cannot imagine who that could be, can you?' Mr Bennet continued.

'As I said, I have no idea what you are talking about Mr Bennet.' Jane and Elizabeth started to laugh. A cough from the doorway bought them back to reality. :It was Mr Collins.

'May I have the pleasure of speaking to Miss Elizabeth on her own?' he asked. Elizabeth's heart stopped. She knew where this was going and she didn't like it. She tried to stop Jane from going but her mother would not allow it.

Elizabeth stood through Mr Collins proposal of marriage and did not enjoy it one bit. When he finally got the message that she did not want to marry him she left the room swiftly to await her mother's wrath. She was relieved when her father did not force her to marry and spent the rest of the day on a walk, not returning until supper time.

Dinner was hard to bare. Kitty and Lydia kept going on about how she had rejected Mr Collins, who had left to visit Lady Catherine. Her mother kept going on about how ungrateful she was and her father said nothing. Mary was feeling ill so she had retired to her room and Jane was the only one who didn't say anything about Mr Collins. Elizabeth was grateful for that.

'Lizzie, may I speak to in your room?' Jane whispered after they left for bed.

'Yes dear Jane but we must be quiet so Mama does not over hear.'

Elizabeth climbed into her bed and awaited Jane's arrival. She had not been waiting five minutes before the door opened to reveal Jane, who looked excited.

'Jane! Whatever are you so pleased about?' Elizabeth asked as Jane jumped on her bed.

'Oh Lizzie! Why did you turn down Mr Collins?' Jane asked. Elizabeth rolled her eyes.

'For the same reason any of us would have done. I am not one to speak ill of a respectable man but he is ridiculous!' Elizabeth replied.

'There's someone else isn't there?' Jane whispered.

'Excuse me?'

'Lizzie don't pretend to be so innocent! I saw you at the ball with Mr Darcy! You like him and by the looks of it, you like him to!' Jane giggled. 'Oh Lizzie just imagine! 10 thousand a year! You'll be rich!'

'My dear Jane if i married Mr Darcy it would be for love and not money.'

'You like him!' Jane cried.
'I do not! I simply stated that that is the real reason to marry.' Lizzie replied. Now it was Jane's turn to roll her eyes.

'Elizabeth I can tell and so can Mama. Now, she does not know who you like but she knows you like someone.'

'I beg you please not to tell her it is Mr Darcy!' Elizabeth pleaded and then put a hand to her mouth.

'I knew it!' Jane squealed.

'Hush! Someone will hear!'

'I will not tell a soul! My lips are sealed. But I trust you not to get under Mama's grasp. She will interrogate you and trust me it is not a pleasant experience. Good night dear Lizzie'

'Good night dearest Jane' Elizabeth replied as Jane left her room. She lay back on her pillows and smiled. It was good to get something off her chest.

That good feeling was not going to last though.

Elizabeth rushed down to breakfast that morning, eager to speak with Jane. She found that Jane was not yet down when he entered but the others were. Mr Bennet was at the head of the table waiting for his paper. Mrs Bennet was applying butter to her toast and Mary was looking around.

'Good morning Papa, Mama' Elizabeth greeted and sat down.

'Good morning Lizzie, have you seen Jane?' Mrs Bennet asked.

'No not yet but she may just have slept in'

'I hope so, the last thing we need is for her to be ill.' Mrs Bennet said and with that Jane entered the room.

'Sorry I'm late, I overslept' she chimed.

'That quite alright dear' Mrs Bennet replied. A servant then came in with the morning paper. This delighted Mr Bennet as he had become very bored with waiting for his daughters to appear. They all ate in silence until Mr Bennet cried out:

'Good heavens woman! What have you done now?' Mrs Bennet hurried over to him.

'What are you on about dear?' She questioned until she saw the paper and her face fell.

'Was this of your doing?' Mr Bennet challenged.

'Mr Bennet! I assure you I did not do it! Do you think I am the type of woman who would do this to their daughter?' Mr Bennet looked quite ashamed of himself.

'I'm sorry my dear.'

'Here let me have a look' Lydia giggled and snatched the paper from Mrs Bennet. Lyidia's eyes scanned the paper for a few moments before her mouth fell open.

'Oh my goodness!' She cried and Kitty grabbed the paper from her. Lydia showed her what to looked at.

'Goodness me!'

'You two let me have a look' Jane said and took the paper from Kitty's outstretched hands. Jane's mouth fell open as well.

'Jane let me see' Elizabeth asked for she was growing impatient. Jane was hesitant in giving it to her but let her have it in the end. Elizabeth looked at the paper and stared at it in horror. For there in the bottom corner were the words:

Mr Collins and Miss Elizabeth Bennet to be wed.

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