Chapter One: Tidings

Fitzwilliam Darcy's attorney entered his study. It had been a long year; Bingley had persuaded him to go to Hertfordshire, and there he had met his match. The proud, untouchable Mr. Darcy, had fallen in love. He of course, did not intend to. Who ever does? However, not only did he fall in love, he fell in love with a woman of an improper family, with little fortune and no connections. To any man but him, this would not have mattered. But, alas, he was a man of fortune, family, and title. This would not allow such an alliance made. But, this, was all about to change, due to the single statement that was about to be made.

Fitzwilliam Darcy's attorney entered his study. Darcy, looking up from his papers, stood and made his customary greeting of a stiff bow. Mr. Bowen made his own courtesy, and seated himself across from Mr. Darcy. As was typical for them both, they appeared grave; an extremely gloomy bunch, which, was atypical for all men who had bills and business matters to attend to. However, this meeting was more than solemn. Unbeknownst to Darcy, his entire world was to be turned upside down. Literally. From top to bottom. From the upper crust to the dregs.

"Mr. Darcy, I have extremely unfortunate tidings, and am the extremely unfortunate person to bring them. However, you will be the most unfortunate of all, having to bear the," Mr. Bowen began. With anxious anticipation, Mr. Darcy awaited his news. After a few moments of uncomfortable and tense silence, Mr. Darcy inquired, "What are these ill tidings that you bring to me?" Mr. Bowen looked up from his lap where he had previously been gazing, and began with, "Mr. Darcy, I am afraid to tell you that… that you are ruined. Due to a miscalculation that your father made years ago, an allowance of £10,000 per year had been spent in full. This miscalculation that has been looked over by me and yourself, has left you with only a remainder of £8,000 left. This is hardly enough to support servants, grounds keeping, the house in London, the carriages, the stables, the horses, the tenants, the clothing, the parties, or Pemberley! You are going to have to part with a great deal, sir. Not even your house will be spared if you sold all its contents. Your only option is to…sell Pemberley, the house in Town, and all the furniture, livestock, and carriages." There was a long pause between the two men. When Darcy finally spoke, he was incredulous. "Surely there is some bad kind of joke! You cannot be serious! That is simply not possible! No, not at all!" When Bowen didn't speak, Darcy continued. "How am I to support Georgiana with only £8,000? It indeed cannot be done! What should I do otherwise?" Again, Bowen did not speak for a long time. Then he interrupted the great reticence with, "Mr. Darcy, there is nothing, nothing else to be done. I have no idea how you will support yourself, not the faintest clue. Perhaps it would be best to stay with some friends for awhile, and try to get your feet underneath yourself again. Mr. Darcy, I fear I must go. Good day, and good luck." Mr. Bowen rose, and wearily exited the room. And thus is how Mr. Darcy, of Pemberley, became a man with no fortune, almost no family to speak of, and no title.

AN: What do you think? I am always getting new story ideas, so I write them out, and post them, and then I have fifteen bazillion stories to update and write. Bit of poor planiing on my part, eh? Hope you enjoy this one!!! I don't think anyone's written one like this before. I promise it gets better. I already have two more chapters written, and when I am more concious, I hope to write more. Love, Lady Annabelle