Dear-

I wish I knew what name to put here but my parents refuse to give away that information. It is strange given that they are prepared to given me away in marriage to a man have never met but are completely fine with the fact I cannot know who he is. I'm sorry if this letter offends you I just think we should get to know each other before we spend the rest of our lives with a stranger. I am also forbidden to put my real name down on paper but you can call me Emma until I come up with a better...well let's say alias for lack of a better term. I hope you write back and we can form a rapport. I have to go my sister is calling.

Yours&c.

'Emma'

Sigh. Elizabeth walked towards the door with one last look at her letter to her future husband. She was mad at her parents but knew there was nothing she could do to change this as the marriage had been set up many years before by her parents as well as the parents of her fiancée.

"Elizabeth, mamma's waiting!"

With one last sigh she walked towards the front hall where her family was waiting to go to church.

Darcy through his coat at the footman waiting by the door though he knew this was not acceptable behavior for a gentleman.

He had learned today that his father and a distant friend of his arranged a marriage between himself and the second eldest daughter of the gentleman, the second appeared to be the favorite of the father's even if she was only one at the time. Later the deal was confirmed by his mother before she had died.

If Darcy was someone who looked on the bright side of things he would at least be glad that there was now no way for Aunt Catherine to be his mother in law as she so heartily wished but his friends were right when they told him he was a pessimist to the end. The chit he was marring was only 16 now for god's sake! Granted he would not marry her immediately but it still made him think he was going to have one of those 'child brides' that barbarians in places like India (no offence intended) had.

"Mr. Darcy, excuse me but you have correspondence" said Favell, his loyal valet.

Darcy looked at the pile and riffled through until he came upon a hand writing he had never seen before. It was sloped and pretty, distinctly feminine but not overly embellished like many young ladies tended to do. His curiosity piqued he opened the letter and read its contents.

Well, Darcy thought, it is a good idea even if she is impertinent to suggest it. Darcy reached over to his stack of paper and began to start a letter of his own trying to find out more about this woman now that she had baited his curiosity.

Dear 'Emma'

Your suggestion is a good one; we best make the most of this situation that we have been thrust in together. Through these letters we should get to know one another better and see if we are compatible. I'll start in this letter, I am a gentleman of wealth- let's call me 'Walter', I was going to take my father's name and say George but I know another George myself and do not wish to taint myself or you with this acquaintance- I have a younger sister who is only 12 right now but she is learning to play the pianoforte beautifully. Do you play Emma? You mentioned you had a sister. How many are you? I love to ride and read. I was one of the best in my class at the university but now must apply that knowledge to tending my estate since father is sick but we are hoping he is on the mend and will be up and fishing in no time. I must go as the doctor is coming to see father soon but I hope to continue this correspondence with you over time.

Yours&c.

'Walter'