A/N: This is my new story I'm working on. I hope you guys like it. It's a bit controversial like Arranged Marriage, but I promise ODC will have a HEA, but it will take a long time, many trials, and set backs. This is going to be rated mature because it deals with marital affairs and stuff that goes on in the bedroom. I'm already about half way done but if anyone has any suggestions I'd be open to hearing them.

Thanks! Please review!

Chapter 1

Elizabeth Bennet stared at the man before her, contemplating the predicament she found herself in. Mr. Collins was not only her cousin, but the heir to Longbourn, her home, and who could, upon the death of her Father, remove herself and her Mother and sisters from the house indefinitely, a fact which Mrs. Bennet was wont to declare at least once a week. And he was kneeling before her, asking for her hand in marriage.

Mr. Collins wasn't a repulsive man, per se. He was shorter than average, and a bit wider, but there was nothing untoward in his speech or manners, other than being overly solicitous and at times pompous. He also had an irritating habit of bringing up his Patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, into every day conversation and expound on that Lady's many virtues at every opportunity.

Though none of these things in particular, or together, made him an undesirable match, especially to one in Elizabeth's circumstance, she at once wanted to refuse him. She was still quite young, and was prone to believe there was a great love somewhere out there for her, and was willing to give up potential future security for potential future felicity. Oh, how she longed for someone to make her heart palpitate in such a way that she would swoon. To hear her name pass through the lips of a lover and perhaps have him steal a kiss or two! All these things she wished and knew in her heart that Mr. Collins would never evoke from her.

She was even on the verge of rejecting him as politely as possible, when a memory came unbidden to her. It had happened shortly after Mr. Collins came to Longbourn. Her Aunt Phillips had invited the Bennet women to her house for a card party. Mr. Collins had expressed a desire to attend, to which Elizabeth used all her cunning into persuading him to not accept. To her chagrin, Mr. Collins managed to declare any respectable entertainment hosted by a gentlewoman as Mrs. Phillips would be respectable enough for him.

So, together the party from Longbourn traveled the road to Meryton. Elizabeth had been looking forward to making a better acquaintance of one Mr. Wickham who had just joined the local Militia. Though she didn't have her younger sisters' proclivity to thinking all men in uniform were undeniably handsome, and therefore earned a woman's admiration, Elizabeth had to admit that Mr. Wickham cut quite a dashing figure in his red coat. They had just entered Meryton when Mr. Collins proclaimed that he hoped he could count on his cousin Elizabeth to introduce him to all her friends and teach him the various games they were to play that night.

What horror! Elizabeth had expected to spend the evening in the pursuit of her own happiness and entertainment, but to be prevailed upon by Mr. Collins was dashing her hopes. Mrs. Bennet chose at that moment to walk beside her daughter, and give her side such a pinch.

"Ow!" Elizabeth exclaimed, stopping the group so that they all looked to her. "I must have caught a rock in my shoe." She smiled wanly, bade the company to walk ahead of her, and she would right herself and meet them at her Aunt's.

Mrs. Bennet gave her daughter such a look that Elizabeth felt dreadful. She knew her Mama was trying to promote the match between herself and Mr. Collins at every turn. This evening was sure to be a bore, what with Mr. Collins always in company, and her Mother making sure they were. She could not, nay would not do it. She decided then and there to make her way home and send a message claiming a headache. Even the thought of seeing Mr. Wickham could not alleviate her feelings on the matter.

She had just entered Longbourn's estate when the sun began to set from the sky. She contemplated her evening ahead and debated on whether she should stay up long enough to ask Jane if anything of interest had happened, or to retire early. Then as she came to the front door she saw Mr. Barrow, the Physician, exit their house.

"Good evening," Mr. Barrow tipped his hat to her, but gave no further conversation, and headed towards Meryton.

Confused, Elizabeth entered the house. The Physician was rarely called for, and only for when her Mother had one of her episodes. The Apothecary was always present for when a servant or tenant was suffering from some ailment, or needed a bone mended, but a Physician?

Cautiously she made her way through the house and to her Father's study, where she found his door slightly ajar. She peeked through and could see Mr. Bennet's bare chest. He began to don his shirt, cravat and waistcoat when she cleared her throat, and knocked.

Mr. Bennet quickly turned around, startled by the sound, then wondered at seeing Elizabeth. "What are you doing here, child?" He asked, finishing his dressing.

"I had a headache and came home," was Elizabeth's lame excuse. "Father, what was Mr. Barrow doing here?"

Mr. Bennet attempted to laugh the matter off, but Elizabeth saw through his show. She fully entered the room and all but demanded an explanation. Finally, Mr. Bennet sighed and offered the chair to his daughter.

"I have been feeling a bit under the weather lately and thought it couldn't hurt to have Mr. Barrow examine me," he explained.

"And?" Elizabeth dared to ask, anxious for the answer.

Mr. Bennet sighed again, more deeply, "I am dying."

Elizabeth's eyes widened as her hand came over her mouth to silent the cries that were surely to come. Mr. Bennet came around the desk and took his daughter in his arms to comfort her.

"There, there, my dear, I won't drop this evening." But the images that one sentence conjured sent Elizabeth into further hysterics that would have made her Mother proud.

Mr. Bennet went to his cabinet where he kept his liquor and poured his daughter a strong drink. He urged her to drink, for at first she refused, but then Mr. Bennet prevailed. She took the drink and felt it burn all the way down her throat until it rested her stomach.

Mr. Bennet then explained his symptoms to her; fatigue, chest pains, headaches and the such. Mr. Barrow gave his diagnosis and said with the proper diet and care of his body he could live up to a year longer, perhaps more. A list of foods and drinks that he was to abstain from was to be delivered on the morrow.

"Lizzy, the man says I must abstain from alcohol!" He declared, as if the world's ending had been the diagnosis, and not just his death. "Please, do not alarm your Mother and sisters. Allow me to find the right time to give them the news."

This was the memory that floated to the surface right before Elizabeth opened her mouth and said, "I accept."