Author's Note: All Jane Austen characters belong to her. (Thanks, Jane!) All story is canon, right up until just before Elizabeth visits Pemberley. Please note, this story is rated M for Mature – without revealing too many spoilers, the story contains: some profanity, some steamy scenes, quite a bit of arguing (it is Pride and Prejudice, after all!), cruel jibes, a few calamities, and some brief descriptions of physical violence. I published the first 9 chapters on 6/22, then published edited versions of those chapters on 6/28. (I just cleaned up some grammar/word choices – nothing substantial changed in the plot).

All questions, comments, and critiques are welcome. We join the story as a dream begins . . .

Chapter One: Dream the First

It was a Sunday afternoon, the rain was pouring, and there was absolutely nothing for Fitzwilliam Darcy to do.

Well, that wasn't quite right – there was one thing, one extremely pleasurable thing he could be doing. If Miss Elizabeth could be persuaded, that was. And now that he had finally obtained her acceptance of his suit, perhaps he could persuade her. He went to find her, looking for her in all the places she was likely to be hiding.

She was alone in the Netherfield library, contemplating the tomes. Perfect. He closed the door, then came padding up behind her with careful silence. He found that sensitive spot of bare skin between her neck and shoulder and gently pressed his lips to it. She jumped, but he held her fast by her waist. "Relax, my darling Elizabeth, it is I and I have you."

"Hmm, you'll have to remind me – which lover are you, again?"

He growled at her teasing as he kissed his way up her neck to her ear and enjoyed the squirming as he used his tongue to great effect. "Miss Elizabeth, I happen to know a passage in this room that leads to a very lonely bedchamber," he whispered in her ear.

"Do you not think it should stay lonely, sir?" She said, laughing. "The date has not even been set yet. You have only just obtained my acceptance and my father's approval. I do not think you would like to be called out before we are wed."

"If it pleases my lady, I will marry her this moment," he replied, kissing his way back down the other side of her neck. "Or any other moment she chooses – so long as the moment is soon."

"In truth, I cannot say I desire an overlong engagement period. Enough time for the clothes to be made and to read the banns is all I ask."

"I had thought to get a common license and skip the banns. They must need be read at Rosings and I do not have faith in Lady Catherine's ability to hold her tongue on her unfounded objections."

Elizabeth sighed. Until he began kissing his way down her décolletage. She laughed again, finally managing to turn in his arms to meet him, all but insisted on kissing him when she had done so. He was more than happy to oblige her. "Darcy, this is dangerous," she said, having ceased her laughter for a moment.

"Yes, it is, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, soon to be Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy. But I dare say this is more so." And with that, Darcy lifted her in his arms as if she was nothing. Against very halfhearted protests, he used the passageway to carry her to his bed and placed her there. For a moment, he simply stood back, not touching her, in awe of her charm and his good fortune to have won her at last. "You are so incredibly beautiful," he murmured, his hand bringing up her chin as he used his thumb to trace her cheek.

She gave him his favorite arch smile and pulled him close. "Am I indeed tolerable enough to tempt you, Fitzwilliam Darcy?"