A/N: Greetings,

Here is chapter two, please bear with me, there is a scattered plan with this, but it will work.

A big thank-you to those who have reviewed Chapter One. Thank-you to mgtiff for pointing out the mistake with Fordyce's Sermons didn't pick it up. Which is another reason I am asking is anyone would care to be a beta for me. I fear for the integrity of this without one.

In addition, as I forgot to say in the last chapter Pride and Prejudice remains the property of Jane Austen. I am just an obsessed fan who has a dream!

Now, on, on with the story!

Chapter 2: A Swirl and Dash

The sun had already sunk below the townhouses plunging the room in shadows that seemed to reflect the master of the house's mind. The lone light that continued in the library was beginning to waver, but he would not hurry to light a candle. A servant would come in soon enough and light them. Even if they didn't, would it matter? Fitzwilliam Darcy didn't care, dark or light, there was no difference to him anymore. The light of his life was gone. She had made it clear she didn't want him. All the changes he had made for her were for naught. His love would never be returned by his Elizabeth.

"Let the darkness consume me", he mused. "Perhaps one of these days it will blacken the thought of her out". He pulled the decanter closer and poured another brandy. He had no idea how much he had consumed, but he felt the ache there numbed the more he poured. The amber of the liquid swirled and stilled. At first he had enjoyed just staring at the glass as the light caught the liquid inside, reminding him of how the light danced on her hair.

Three hundred and sixty-five days had elapsed since he had last visited her, felt the comfort her presence brought to him. Eight thousand seven hundred and sixty hours, since he left her side to go after his boyhood friend and her sister in hopes of preventing any more pain upon her. She hadn't wanted him there, he could not comfort her, wipe the tears that fell from her once brilliant eyes. How he had longed to cast off the propriety of society, pull her into his embrace and never let go. He knew that by so doing he would compromise her, and he knew her well enough to know she would hate him further for exposing more scandal upon her and her kin.

The events of that afternoon still played fresh in his mind…

Darcy held high hopes for that beautiful summer's day, he would offer to personally escort Elizabeth, her aunt and uncle to Pemberley for Georgiana's afternoon tea invite. After tea was served, Georgiana would suggest a walk around the south lawn, making sure to distract the ever vigilant Miss Bingley, just long enough for him to escort Elizabeth.

He wanted to show her his mother's rose garden, to become lost amongst the red roses his mother had planted for her first anniversary of wedded life with his father as had his grandmother before her. It was where his father and grandfather before him had proposed to the love of their lives. Though their marriages had been socially expected, they were both love matches. While he had always wanted a love match for himself, he had never expected to find that love in Hertfordshire.

He had gone the previous autumn to fulfil his promise to view the estate his good friend Charles Bingley had lately leased near Meryton, nothing more. While Charles' sisters and brother in-law's company was barely tolerable, he expected the society to be found in Meryton would be worse. Women socially below him would be fawning over his ten thousand a year.

But this remote county is where he encountered his beautiful, loveliest Elizabeth. She had heard his ill-tempered remark of her beauty at an assembly Charles had forced him to attend and laughed outwardly, but she had also taken umbrage. Unknowing of the slight, he now believed that to be the moment his heart opened to her. She did not fawn over him like most women of his acquaintance, but dared to reproach him in every matter. At first he thought his feelings for her were because of this defiance. But the more he gazed upon her, heard her express her opinion on politics and farming rotations the more he began to fall. As he fell, he was at war with himself, knowing the obligations he owed to his family while wanting to ignore her want of connections or position. Society be damned! But, on the other hand, he knew if he did consider her he could further hurt his sister.

Georgiana was still recovering from that cad Wickham's deceit, he would not do anything to hurt her further. But maybe, just maybe, Elizabeth's lively spirit would bring out his sister's shy one. Those hopes had first been shattered the night of the Netherfield Ball. He had overcome his warring emotions and asked her to dance in the belief that perhaps this would quell the desire he felt for her. It had begun innocently enough. She was exquisite in her ivory gown. He delighted in the way she gracefully moved, the light catching the pearls in her lustrous chestnut hair. He was so distracted he missed most of what she said. Then she spoke of Wickham, defended the cad, believed his lies, blamed Darcy. It was as if the world became dark once more. As soon as the dance ended, he fled from her, not wanting to express fury in this new truth. He feared what he would tell her, and he did not trust the wagging ears and tongues of these people.

Darcy knew he must leave Netherfield, leave Hertfordshire and the siren that was pulling at his heart. He found Charles' sisters and planned their party's removal to the city. It would be for the best, he would protect his friend from a loveless marriage and never have to see Miss Elizabeth Bennet again. He soon found that it did not matter if she was not physically there. She had been in his thoughts more often than he wished. He dreamed of what life with her would be like, the world once grey full of more colour than the mind can make.

When he learned of her plans to visit Kent that spring, he led himself to believe that she had chosen to visit his aunt's parson, Elizabeth's cousin William Collins and his new wife at the same time Darcy was visiting his aunt. Why else would she visit that simpering toad of a man? He had heard from his aunt that Collins had asked for his Elizabeth's hand and was proud to learn that she had declined. It strengthened his belief she was there for him. This arrogance had led Darcy to think that she would accept him at Huntford. What a fool he had been!

He had left the day after that disastrous proposal. But not before he had written a letter and gave it to her in a self-righteous attempt for her to see he had been justified in his actions and dealings with Bingley and Wickham. Although he was may have been incorrect in his opinion of Bingley and Miss Bennet's feelings, he was justified with Wickham. She would see, she had to. The thought of her alive in the world and thinking ill of him shattered his heart. But he would change, he would overcome his "ungentlemanly" behaviour, his pride and selfishness. She had humbled him and showed him how insufficient were all his pretensions to please a woman worthy of being pleased. It would take time, but he would improve for her, for him. But this would take time so once again he fled from her presence, returning to a greyscale life. There would be no colour yet.

And now finding her at Pemberley was the last thing he had expected. She was more beautiful than he remembered. He found himself acting the love-struck fool despite all that had transpired between them. While he had long ago lost hope, she reminded him of the light in his life he had lost. She acted so differently towards him, he again allowed himself to hope. She still did not fawn over him, but when she caught his blue eyes with hers, he could see in their emerald depths a light that was beckoning him. She was to only remain in Derbyshire a few days, he needed to find out once and for all if her feelings towards him had changed, if she would return light and colour to his life.

So he made a plan with Georgiana, organised the staff in the hopes of a private conversation with his Elizabeth. He could not bare for anyone to witness a second refusal. He had arrived at the Inn where her party was staying an hour before he knew they were planning to depart for afternoon tea with his sister. His heart was full of hope, no matter the outcome of today he would know. The sight he walked in on changed everything.

….

A/N: All characters belong to Jane Austen, but the story belongs to me.

I leave you here. Please review