Will Darcy's eyes took in the cluster of school buildings. Built in the early 1900s, the Hampden School was a brick monstrosity covered in ivy. He had never heard of it until the headmaster had approached him last month asking for a sizable donation at one of Caroline's parties. According to the information gathered by his assistant, the Hampden School had been established by descendants of the town's founder to provide an exemplary education not only for the children of wealthy families in town but also to those students who come from less than fortunate circumstances. The school had recently fallen on hard times due to a slump in the economy. Well off families were still able to send their children to the school, but the scholarship fund that allowed half of the student body to be from an underprivileged background had severely dwindled.

Will did not usually visit the places that his organization donated to, but he had made an exception for the Hampden School. Shortly after agreeing to donate funds to the school, Will had learned that Elizabeth Bennet was a member of the faculty. She was currently the Junior and Senior English teacher. Elizabeth Bennet. Lizzy Bennet. It had been years since he had seen her, but he would never forget her. A gorgeous brunette, slightly less attractive than her older sister, Lizzy had the wit and vivacity of no other woman he had ever met with eyes that still haunted him in his sleep.

They had met six summers ago on a trip he had taken with his friend Charles and his family to Bar Harbor. Both men had just finished law school and were in need of a much deserved vacation. Their first weekend in town they had been invited to a cookout thrown by some of the locals. The people of Maine could be a little rustic for his taste. Hell, most of them bought their entire wardrobe from L.L. Bean. The most refined of people they were not. But although Will had not been impressed by Lizzy at their first meeting, she had still managed to make an impact on him. A week later when he saw her again he attempted to rectify the mess he had made of their first interaction, but it was to no avail. Her bad opinion of him had been set in stone which had made what had happened at the end of the summer all the more surprising.

After three months of bickering and obvious disdain for each other, it had all come to a head one evening. His friend Charles and her sister Jane had just broken up while still being clearly in love. Lizzy, of course, had blamed him for it. It hadn't been all his idea. Charles's sisters had been in on it too. But that didn't matter to Lizzy. She'd been looking for a fight and man, did they ever have one. They argued for hours. She, claiming that he was stuck up and an elitist. And he, saying that she was prejudiced and never allowed anyone a second chance. In the end, he ended up admitting his feelings for her. Overcome with the intensity of the moment, he had grabbed her and kissed her. Much to his shock and pleasure, she had returned the kiss. It had felt so good that he hadn't wanted it to stop and it didn't until the next morning when they had woken up next to each other, naked.

The night he had spent with Lizzy Bennet had been perfection. It had been the first time in his then 26 years that he'd made love to someone that he was actually in love with. He had woken with a smile on his face and had gently kissed her awake. It was just the beginning of their relationship for him and he did not intend for it to end after only one night. He wanted her to move into his Manhattan apartment and he planned on helping her transfer to Columbia so she could finish her senior year. He told her he knew things were moving fast but there was no reason to put off being together. She was it for him.

He had told her all these things and more, only to feel like a complete idiot when he discovered that Lizzy did not return his affections in any way, had no desire to move in with him and would never even dream of moving to a big city like New York. She was quite content with where she was she had told him. She didn't regret their night together but she didn't plan on repeating the experience.

Will had gone back to New York with his heart in shambles. He had moved on since that summer. He was even engaged now to his friend Charles's sister, Caroline. But for some inexplicable reason, he wanted to see Lizzy, see how she was doing. And on some subliminal level he wanted to show her that he was fine, that he had moved on without her, that any chance she had with him was completely gone.

Lizzy Bennet sat at her desk grading her AP English Language students' essays. Some were quite well written, most were average, and only a few that were truly terrible. She was hoping to finish early because she had plans that evening.

She lifted her head when she heard a knock on her door and immediately caught sight of her principal, Mr. Lucas, and a man she had not seen in a very long time, Will Darcy.

As her eyes roved over his person, Lizzy tried her best to stave the fear in her heart. Everything is going to be all right she told herself. Everything is going to be OK. Plastering a fake smile on her face, Lizzy greeted the two men. "Hello, can I help you Mr. Lucas?"

"I was just giving our new donor a tour of our school. I'm sure you remember Will Darcy, Lizzy."

"Yes. I think we met a few summers ago," Lizzy replied nonchalantly as if meeting him hadn't changed her entire life. As if she hadn't most unwillingly fallen in love with him. As if he hadn't given her the one thing in the world that was most precious to her.

A frown burrowed Will's features for a moment but was quickly wiped away and replaced with his usual unreadable expression. He was in his early 30s now, but was still as handsome and brooding as ever. She literally struggled to breathe when he was near.

"It's good to see you again, Miss Bennet. It is still Miss Bennet, isn't it?"

A buzzing sound went off as Mr. Lucas took his phone out of his pocket. "Drat, there's a parent who needs to speak to me in the office. Lizzy, do you think you could finish the tour for me?"

"Well, I, um..." Lizzy struggled in vain to find a way to refuse. In the end, she replied with a simple "Yes, of course."

"I appreciate this Lizzy dear. I'll cover your lunch duty tomorrow to return the favor. Well, I must be off. Can't keep parents waiting, you know," Mr. Lucas said before rushing out the door.

"Mr. Darcy, if you'll follow me..."

Lizzy began a tour of the building showing Will the library, gymnasium, and the state of the art auditorium.

"As you can see we offer the best technology and resources money can buy for our students. It is not only the rich who benefit but also those who without the funding of private donors would never receive an opportunity such as this. In the five years that I have worked here, I have seen countless deserving students graduate and receive scholarships from colleges all around the U.S. We believe in changing lives here. We are, after all, educating our future leaders."

"You never answered my question," Will said out of the blue, completely ignoring her over-rehearsed sales pitch.

"I'm sorry what question was that?"

"Are you still Miss Bennet?"

"I don't believe that's any concern of yours," Lizzy snapped. "Now, if you'll look over here, you'll see our technology resource room. Each student receives an iPad to complete class work."

"I do not understand your sudden hostility," Will said in a soft, but intimidating voice. "Considering our past, if anyone should be holding a grudge, it should be me."

She was hostile? She was holding a grudge? Well, if she was, she was certainly within her rights. What kind of man didn't respond to a woman's urgent phone calls and messages? Especially after he had confessed just weeks prior his undying love and affection for that woman. Yes, she was mad and had every right to be.

"I'm sorry if you think I'm being hostile. We can conclude the tour any time you like," she replied.

"Not so fast. I still haven't seen the elementary building. Mr. Lucas told me they recently installed an aquarium."

"Follow me and I'll take you there."

Will walked the hallway of the Hampden Elementary School. The walls were covered with student work. It was far more colorful than the high school had been. It seemed like such a bright and happy place yet when they'd stepped through the door a noticeable change had fallen over Lizzy. She was far less talkative and she seemed to rush through the tour.

In the end, he chalked it up to nervousness at seeing him. It wasn't like the last time they had seen each other was all fun and games. It had been awkward and painful, at least for him.

"And this is the kindergarten wing," Lizzy quickly mentioned as her steps flew even faster down the hall. "If you'll follow me this way, I'll show you the cafeteria."

As he followed after her, his eyes flickered on the name above a door. Ms. J. Bennnet it read. "Wait a minute, Lizzy, does your sister Jane work here too?"

"Yes, but I think she's already left to go home," Lizzy answered, a slight note of panic in her voice.

Just at that moment, the door swung open and a small boy in a navy blue uniform walked out. Looking at Lizzy, he smiled, "Mama, I thought I heard you. We gonna go get ice cream now like you promised?"

Will couldn't help but stare at the young child whose features looked so decidedly like his own.