Chapter 1

It had been generally agreed upon by her nearest relations that Charlotte Collins had married well and was indeed quite fortunate in her choice of husband, even if there was a time that he had fancied another. Indeed, Mr. William Collins had a history of fancying not only one but two other young misses before proposing marriage to Charlotte, who just so happened to be her lifelong friends, Elizabeth and Jane Bennet. Jane had been spared his lasting attentions, but Elizabeth had felt the degree of his determination to take a wife and declared it impossible for her to tolerate such a ridiculous creature. In truth, she very much doubted that any other woman could find happiness with him either, and had expressed such opinions to her closest friend, Charlotte.

To say that Elizabeth had been surprised when Mr. Collins turned his affections to Charlotte and found them encouraged enough to merit a proposal of marriage, would be an understatement. The wedding had occurred in all haste and, although Charlotte and Elizabeth had never exchanged cross words on the matter, it was clear to Elizabeth that her friend felt the weight of her disapproval of the match, causing a distance to grow between them. It was this distance that concerned Elizabeth the most.

"Charlotte has not written again, now that we have accepted her invitation to come to Hunsford for her birthday," Elizabeth groused to her husband, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, as he moved about their shared room. "I find myself beset with nerves upon the thought of seeing her again. In part I am excited, of course, but I also find myself to be the slightest bit anxious. What if she has not yet forgiven my disapproval of her match? I only want for her happiness but find it very hard to believe that she could attain the same level of delight with Mr. Collins as I have found with you, my love."

"I find that it is best to perform a deed, and simply get it done with. Lamenting over suppositions and baseless assumption does nothing for the situation, Lizzy," Darcy said to his wife. For she had been talking about her conflict over the visit to the Collins all through dinner and now as they readied for bed, had yet to give up on the subject. "I am certain that she holds nothing against you and is looking forward to our visit with a hundred times the excitement that you feel. Indeed, I would if the only company I had was Collins."

Elizabeth laughed at her husband's humor as she looked in the mirror, brushing her long, dark hair with a silver gilded brush. "Yes, that is true. But I find that my thinking on the subject is not lamenting, but merely preparing myself for the worst."

Darcy raised an eyebrow at her uncharacteristic gloom, only to be rewarded with a wink from his lovely wife.

"I suggest you do the same. Or have you learned to enjoy your conversations with Mr. Collins on the subject of the many glazed windows of your aunt's estate?" Lizzy asked, teasing her husband.

He turned to her with a smile as he untied the cream-colored cravat at his neck, allowing it to drape loosely while he came to stand behind her. Brushing his fingers over the smooth column of her throat, he gave a small noise of approval as she shivered beneath his touch. Settling his hands on her shoulders, he gave pressed a kiss on her head. "Maybe you should take up conversation with Collins, and I will sit in the parlor with Charlotte."

Lizzy gave another delighted laugh. She loved anything ridiculous and imagining the very notion that he suggested was worthy amusement. Placing her hand over his, she beamed at their reflection in the mirror.

We do make a fine couple, she thought. And to think there was a time when she hated the very sight of this gorgeous, intelligent man. That seemed like a world away now, but indeed it had only been seven months since their marriage. She was still learning new things about him daily, much to her delight. She did not want her new husband to be all figured out just yet, as she found the mystery of him to be as interesting as learning about his life on this grand estate.

Still becoming accustomed to being the mistress of Pemberley, Elizabeth had thrown herself into learning how to manage such a grand household and as such, not had time to fully acclimate herself to every room of their home. While she was fairly certain that she had visited each room at least once, she still could not tell one what they were all for, or even list them all off if asked. The house had been well maintained beneath Darcy's watchful eye, but it needed a touch that only a mistress could give it, and Elizabeth was still trying to figure out just what hers was.

In her heart, Elizabeth knew that this was also contributing to her anxiety over their journey, even though she had not told her husband those particular fears.

She sighed. "It is Charlotte's birthday and she has asked us to come. Once she found out that we were visiting my parents at Longbourn . . ."

"Visiting, only," Darcy interrupted. "Please, tell me that you made it clear in your correspondence that we will be residing at Netherfield." While he had grown to tolerate, and even occasionally enjoy, her family, Darcy felt that he should ensure they did not get cajoled into staying with Elizabeth's excitable mother.

"Yes, of course. As much as I miss everyone, I do not think that I could compel myself to stay at Longbourn except under the most dire of circumstances. Even then, it is most difficult to picture you in my old room," she replied with a giggle. "Just think, you laying your head right where Jane and I laid as we gossiped about your atrocious behavior at the Meryton assembly."

Darcy lifted an eyebrow at her teasing. "You must be mistaken, as I never misbehave."

Elizabeth laughed. "Of course, my love, of course. You are correct, I misheard you entirely when you said that Jane was the only suitable miss in the room, and the rest of us were simply intolerable."

His face flushed with embarrassment. "Harsher and untruer words I have never spoken. Why do you bring it up now? Does my wife wish me to make it up to her, again?"

"Mmm, perhaps, if you're feeling amiable toward it," Elizabeth replied with a quick glance at their bed. Darcy's face cleared to an expression of desire as he came back to her and pulled her to her feet. Wrapping his arms around her, he pressed kisses along her brow.

"I am feeling quite amiable, indeed," he whispered, his voice husky with want.

"And I as well, but that is not why I brought it up. I was merely teasing you, husband, and apologize if my reminder caused you any discomfort," Elizabeth said as she returned his embrace, pressing her cheek against his chest. "I suppose I was only trying to distract myself."

He held her out at arm's length. "Is this business with Charlotte truly causing you so much concern?"

"It is not just that," she murmured, burying her face against him. "Once she discovered that we were planning a journey south, she begged us to extend our travels by a week and come to Hunsford as well. It is her first birthday away from her family, and I daresay she is afraid that it will be lonely with just Mr. Collins to keep her company. I could not say no to my dearest friend."

"Yes, as you have said, are you repeating this out loud for yourself, or for my ears alone?" Darcy said.

"For my mind, as to try to find peace with the situation or I shall never get any sleep," Lizzy replied.

"I confess that I do not see what it is about that which is causing you such distress. It is your friend's birthday. Do you need to purchase her a gift? I know you had something commissioned, but if you do not like it anymore, we can procure a replacement," Darcy said. "I know you think your friend should be married to another, but it was her choice and you must learn not to put your feelings in her situations. I am certain that she has accepted her position and is thankful for it. As you should be thankful for her happiness and security, as well."

Elizabeth sighed. "It is not just that," she said with apprehension

"I suspected as much. What is truly bothering you?"

Lizzy moved in front of him and looked up into his gorgeous chiseled face. A lock of hair hung low over his brow. She pushed it back into place. "It is just that that we will be so close to . . ."

"My aunt. Rosings Park. You can say it," he said bluntly.

"Does that not worry you? You know how she feels about our marriage. Do you not think that she will do . . . something if she hears we are so near? As my cousin Collins has always repeated over and over— his home is only separated by the grandeur of Rosings Park by a mere lane," Lizzy worried. "I am not a little astonished by your easy agreement to stay with the Collinses, instead of your relations. Are we to then conceal our visit until it has passed? I feel it impossible, as Mr. Collins tells his patroness nearly every thought which enters his mind. I would be surprised if she did not already know of our coming."

"No, of course we are not concealing ourselves, Lizzy. It will be nothing so cloak and dagger as that. My Aunt Catherine already knows of our plans and has written a letter asking me to visit. I plan to do so whenever we have a moment of peace, that you may stay with your friend and I can slip away."

"What?" Elizabeth pulled back to look into Darcy's face, astonished. "She has written? Why did you not say?"

"Because I know how you feel about her and did not think it was necessary to bring it up. I know that you and she do not get along and I did not want to cause you undue concern over it," he said in the nonchalant way that Lizzy had grown fond of, but was also a source of frustration.

"So, what were you planning to do? Steal away to Rosings Park during our visit without telling me?" Lizzy gave him a frown as she stepped back, putting distance between them. Lady Catherine de Bourgh was already causing havoc between them. Elizabeth could only imagine that she would be thrilled to know it.

"Truthfully I had not thought on the matter other than it was a conversation to be had in Kent," Darcy replied. "I knew that you were feeling trepidation over the journey, and you have only just now revealed its true cause. Perhaps if you had spoken of it sooner, I would have also told you of the letter."

"Are you saying it is my own fault that you kept this from me?" Elizabeth was astonished at his thinking.

Darcy shook his head, sensing too late that he had misspoken. "Of course not. I was not keeping anything from you, my love. It is not as dramatic as all of that."

"Dramatic?!" Elizabeth set her hands upon her hips in anger. "I am not being dramatic! I have said nothing of nerves, or called for the salts, or anything as dramatic as all of that."

Darcy bit his lips to keep from laughing, unsure if she was teasing him or not.

"I am well-taught in ways of drama, sir, and believe me when I tell you, this is not close."

Darcy did laugh this time. Holding his arms out, he went to her and pulled her stiff form back against his chest, surprised when she resisted him.

"I will admit that I was teasing just now, but do not think that means that all is well. I am still very upset that you would choose to keep anything of importance from me, especially when it comes to family."

"But I did not think it important."

She pulled away with a sigh and got ready for bed. "Perhaps next time, you will think to ask if I do."