Chapter 1 - Entrance

She took a deep breath in, then out, then in, then out, and tried to calm herself. The huge oak double doors opened revealing a large open staircase leading onto the ballroom. She counted to five and then stepped forwards.

First she spotted the young eligible bachelors at the front of the crowd, all clamouring for a glimpse of the illusive princess Elizabeth, named after her grandmother, the queen. Then there were the interested friends and relatives of those bachelors who all wanted a piece of her too. Further back there were the usual suspects who attended all of these sorts of gatherings. Then there were the newbie's; the people who hadn't been to these parties before for one reason or the other.

All in all, this was the usual deal, and Lizzy had been attending these parties for most of her life. And yet they never seemed to get any easier. She was basically shy, and being 9th in line to the throne didn't help. Sure being illusive helped excuse her from many of the usual parties, a princess like her didn't just show up to any event, but still, it was a common occurrence to have to glide into a ballroom and impress the paparazzi.

But that was her duty. That was the life she was born into. And it would have been almost unbearable if it hadn't been for Jane Long. Jane was Lizzy's best friend. Jane's mother had, had some royal contacts and had sent her to work at the palace several years ago, Jane and Lizzy had just clicked. It was like they had known each other forever, they told each other everything, and although Jane technically worked for Lizzy, she was treated as an honoured guest and even had a guest room made up so she could stay near her friend.

So when Jane met her at the bottom of the stairs, positively glowing on the arm of an important businessman who was well known for being honest and sweet, Lizzy was over the moon.

"Jane" Lizzy greeted her friend. "Would you care to introduce us?"

Charles Bingly, who was the business man in question, looked like someone had just told him the tooth fairy was real... and standing in front of him. Which wasn't all that far from the truth.

Jane and Lizzy had decided early on in their friendship, that Jane wouldn't mention Lizzy to any men who showed interest in her, as they tended to use Jane to get to Lizzy. So Charles was standing open mouthed staring into the face of a woman who was barely seen in public. He was so surprised it was comical, but Lizzy kept her composure and didn't give in to the temptation to laugh at his ridicules expression of shock.

Jane smiled.

"Lizzy, this is Charlie. Charlie, this is my best friend Princess Elizabeth Bennet."

"Pleased to meet you Charlie" She said politely. Charlie seemed to snap out of it.

"Um... Pleased to meet you too... um... your majesty?" Charlie stuttered.

"You can call me Lizzy" she smiled.

"Thanks, so Jane didn't say you were the friend she was so excited for me to meet." Charlie said looking fondly at Jane. Lizzy smiled, this man seemed perfect for Jane, she hoped they would be happy together.

"Jane doesn't like to brag." She said simply. Charlie smiled.

"I need to do the rounds so I'll see you both later." Lizzy told them. "And Jane... I like him." She turned to walk away hearing Jane's tinkling laugh behind her, she was truly happy for her friend. But how long before I lose her? She wondered, Jane can't work in the palace forever.

She sighed as she made her way around the room, welcoming guests and talking to them. Jane's sister Mary came past with a tray of Champaign and she smiled at her as she took some.

Lizzy didn't drink as a rule, but having a glass in your hand was classy, she had learnt from her governess who had drummed many such things into her head. Madeline Gardener had been her nanny, her governess, and by extension, she was like a mother to Lizzy.

Growing up as an orphan with only servants to keep you company, you end up making friends were you can, and so Lizzy was the only royal who knew all of the servants by name. They practically raised her after all. The servants had taught her to be down to earth and not so royally proud.

The servants taught her to treat everyone with respect and as a result Lizzy treated every servant and guest and member of the royal family the same. This bothered many of the society people, who liked to think they were much more deserving of her attentions and good manners than the servants, but Lizzy always treated everyone with respect.

When she had finished speaking to all the guests she went back to look for Jane. She saw a flash of silver from Jane's dress and made her way towards it. As she approached she saw Jane and Charlie looking out towards the entrance to the room, they seemed to be waiting for someone.

"Jane?" she called as she reached them.

"Lizzy, Charlie's best friend Will was supposed to meet us here; he wanted me to meet him. He had some business to attend to first but he should be here any time now." Jane said twisting her fingers in front of her. Lizzy took hold of her friend's hands to still them.

"Why are you nervous Jane, he will love you." She asked knowing at once what was bothering her.

"I hope so." Jane replied.

"I know so" she stated firmly.

Just then the doors swung open revealing two people Lizzy really didn't want to see: Caroline Bingly and Louisa Hurst. They were well known social climbers who had been trying to get an invitation to one of these balls for years now. Lizzy sighed and she noticed Charlie looked a little pale.

"What is it Charlie?" She asked seeing his discomfort.

"My sisters" Charlie said quietly as the two women made their way towards them.

"Charlieeee" screeched Caroline. "How good to see you! It has been too long."

"It has been three days Caroline." Charlie muttered.

"Oh and this must be that sweet little servant you like." She said, turning her beady eyes to Jane. Suddenly she noticed Lizzy.

"And who is this." She shrieked giving Lizzy a once over, and seeming satisfied that she didn't seem too much more important than Caroline herself. She smirked smugly. Her sister stared vacantly into space as they talked, but she glanced over to see what was happening now.

"This is Prin..." Charlie began.

"I'm Lizzy" she interrupted holding out her hand for Caroline to shake. Caroline looked at her hand and smirked. Louisa copied her sister's smug expression.

"How nice to meet you!" she cried, not sounding that excited at all. "And who exactly are you?" she asked condescendingly. Louisa giggled.

"Jane's friend." She answered automatically.

"How sweet, I didn't know the servants were allowed to bring guests." Caroline snickered.

"Caroline" Charlie warned.

"Come along Louisa we want to meet some of the actual guests while we're here." She said grabbing her sister's arm.

"When dear William gets here, do let me know. He seemed so anxious to see Me." she simpered.

"Anxious to see you dead maybe." Charlie muttered as she scuttled away, dragging her sister behind her. "I am so sorry about Caroline; she doesn't have a clue about behaving in public." Charlie apologised.

"Don't worry Charlie" Lizzy smiled. "I prefer most people not to know who I am, they tend to treat me differently." Charlie grinned.

Just then, the doors swung open again and there stood the most handsome man Lizzy had ever seen. He was tall, probably over six feet. He had grey blue eyes and curly black hair that fell across his forehead. He was muscular and big, but not so much that it was intimidating, and he looked about twenty five.

Lizzy stared, her fiery brown eyes boring into his blue ones, and her ringlets of brown hair falling across the back of her green dress. Lizzy knew that Jane was much prettier than her, with her slim body and delicate features and white blond hair and Pale blue Bambi eyes. Lizzy was curvier and slightly shorter and all in all, not as fairy princess like as Jane.

But she was never jealous of her best friend. She was only happy for her. But what she wouldn't give now to have that man look at her the way Charlie looked at Jane. Then he began walking towards them.

"Will" Charlie called the man. "There you are." Lizzy mentally groaned. Now she would have to put on her public mask and not trip over her words. Damn she hadn't had a crush this bad since she was sixteen. She was twenty now.

"Charles" he said, and his voice was deep and musical.

"Will Darcy, I would like to introduce you to Jane, my angel." He said motioning to Jane.

"Pleased to meet you." He said without smiling. Oh well, thought Lizzy, he can't be beautiful and polite, the world isn't that perfect.

"And this is her best friend Lizzy." He said motioning to Elizabeth. He didn't even attempt to speak to her, he just nodded once and turned to Charlie.

"You didn't invite Caroline did you Charles. Because I'm really not in the mood to..."

"William Sweetheart." Caroline shrieked as she stalked towards them. Will sighed. Caroline latched herself onto his arm and Lizzy took that as her queue to run away. She excused herself and walked across the ballroom towards a group of business men who were talking about politics. Well this was a subject she could talk about.

She could hear Caroline as she walked away she seemed to be sucking up to the rude and handsome Will Darcy, who seemed to be trying to ignore her.

"And that was Jane's little friend Lizzy, did you know servants could invite a plus one?" Caroline cried. Lizzy giggled to herself as she approached the new conversation.

The night progressed easily for Lizzy, Jane danced almost ever dance with Charlie. They stared into each other's eyes and sat at one of the tables talking quietly. Lizzy did the rounds and spent time talking to all the guests; she was a most gracious host. And Caroline stuck to Darcy's arm, chattering away in his ear all night, while Louisa got drunk and fell asleep at the table she was sitting at.

Near the end of the night Charlie left Jane's side to get a drink and Lizzy made her way towards her friend to get a word in edge ways while Charlie was otherwise occupied. As she passed the bar she heard Charlie talking to Darcy who had escaped Caroline who was powdering her nose.

"Why don't you dance with someone? Maybe then my sister would leave you alone?" asked Charlie.

"Who would I dance with, I don't know anyone except you and Jane." He muttered.

"Jane is such an angel isn't she." Charlie sighed fondly. Lizzy smiled, her friend deserved someone who thought the world of her, like Charlie. She wondered if she should walk away now but she really wanted to hear if they said anything else about Jane. Didn't she?

"What about The princess?" asked Charlie, obviously forgetting his friend didn't know who she was.

"Princess Elizabeth? I haven't met her yet, although that is not particularly surprising since she is supposed to be hard to find. But I doubt I'm losing out on good company. The girl is probably a stick thin, self obsessed society whore, with too much makeup and not enough dress to cover her boob job. These royal girls are all the same Charles. I don't know how your angel puts up with them."

"Will, you are such a snob sometimes." Charlie didn't look like he could decide whether to laugh, or punch his friend.

"What about Jane's friend Lizzy, she seems nice, she isn't a society whore, as you so delicately put it."

"No Charlie, she is a servant. I mean really, your dating a royal servant."

"Jane is an angel why can't you just be happy with me and stop looking down your nose at people."

"I'm sorry, yes Jane seems lovely but her friend is just tagging along and using her to get into the party. I hate to say it but Caroline was right. People like her are just looking for rich husbands and good opportunities to find them. She is pretty enough I suppose, but she barely spoke to me. She probably hasn't even heard of Shakespeare let alone string a sentence together."

"You are being totally unfair, she is a lovely girl and I think she would surprise you. Anyway you weren't exactly talking her ears off either. Sometimes I wonder why you don't give I and marry my sister. You seem perfect for each other." Charlie was not happy he shook his head at his friend and turned to leave.

Lizzy made her way through the crowd back on her previous course to find Jane. How dare he say that about her, how dare he even think that. She couldn't believe she ever found him handsome. She suddenly saw the ridiculousness of it all and chuckled, just as she was passing Charlie and Will. Both of them turned to face her as they heard her laugh and Will Darcy's face fell.

Lizzy made her way towards Jane just in time to see Charlotte Lucus society lady and best friend of both girls appear by her side.

"Did you hear who Jane's new boyfriend was talking to?" she asked. "Did you hear what they said?" Lizzy nodded.

"I can't believe that man Liz, ignore him, he doesn't know what he's talking about, or who he's talking about obviously." Charlotte cried passionately.

"Calm down Lottie, it doesn't matter, after all what are friends there for if we can't laugh at them?" Lizzy giggled feeling better all ready.

"Well he isn't my friend." Charlotte grumbled. Charlotte had been friends with Lizzy and Jane since Maddy Gardener had introduced them when Lizzy was sixteen, she had needed someone to help her cope with society and learn how to avoid the paparazzi properly. Charlotte was in her thirties, much older than Lizzy, but all three of the friends had hit it off.

The three friends talked about what Charlotte and Lizzy had overheard and decided, with the exception of Jane who always liked to think the best of everyone. That William Darcy was a thoroughly unpleasant man.