He rode up to Bingley's modest leased estate without really seeing much. He handed the reins to a stable boy and the housekeeper led him and Travis to what he assumed was a sitting room. He did not expect so many people but there were a great many unknown faces turned towards him as he entered.

"Devonshire!" Bingley yelled as he leapt to his feet to greet him with a big smile on his face.

The duke schooled his features as he approached. He was not here for a social call. He needed answers, he thought as he looked around the room. Bingley's sisters, Hurst, four young ladies, and an older one stood at once.

"I thought you would never make it" he continued jovially as he shook his hand.

"Yes, Your Grace," Caroline Bingley, Bingley's youngest, most annoying sister sang out loudly as she stalked toward him like a predator.

"We quite despaired of you. Where is the lovely Georgiana?" she simpered as she batted her eyes at him while trying to latch on to his arm.

He was in no mood for her fawning and stepped back from her as he answered icily to belay her attempts to make it seem as if they had a close relationship to the rest of the room.

"Lady Georgiana" he stressed his sister's title, "is unable to make it and unfortunately Bingley, our stay has to be canceled or postponed due to some urgent business. We received a message in route urging my return and I rode ahead to deliver the news, partake in tea, and maybe look around for you before I depart."

Miss Bingley, still stinging a little in embarrassment at the Duke calling her out for her informality to someone she bragged about being close with to the very people in this room, tried to salvage some of her dignity.

"Oh what a shame. I hope tis nothing distressing, Your Grace. We were quite looking forward to having your exalted company here in the backwoods where no one of our sphere can be found. How dreadful the society is here."

Before Bingley could protest, the duke sufficiently put an end to her charade with four words.

"Our sphere, Miss Bingley?" he asked brashly.

He tried tolerating her company for the sake of his friendship with her brother but he was in no mood to play into her first circle delusions while she insulted a room full of people that were guest in their home.

Miss Bingley was a tradesman's daughter who foolishly believed she was above anyone with less money than herself regardless of their actual standing in society. She insulted and belittled almost everyone she met while trying to give an impression to the ton and any of the ladies who threw themselves at the duke, that they had or were close to an understanding and she was already the next Duchess of Devonshire.

The only way she would become the Duchess of Devonshire is if his distant cousin and current heir's wife died and he married her once he acceded to the title if the duke never had an heir. That was as likely as her suddenly becoming the queen or him ever marrying her and allowing her anywhere near his person. Her rudeness knew no bounds and her visions of grandeur never ceased to amaze him.

Miss Bingley blanched and turned scarlet at the subtle barb from the only man she ever deemed to marry. She had been lauding his name over those awful Bennets and now a room full of them witnessed his little set down about her station in life which was nowhere near where she claimed.

He was obviously trying to negate the impression that they were as close as they were and she was confused. Everyone knew he was moments from declaring himself to her. Why was he now acting differently?

Trying to salvage a little of her sister's pride Louisa Hurst spoke up.

"Welcome to Netherfield, Your Grace" she said a little too brightly while glancing at her guests, hoping the duke would ask to be introduced to them to break the tension.

After Caroline's little show she did not want to further breech propriety by initiating it without his permission.

Fortunately for her, the duke needed answers and felt the more people of this neighborhood he met the more likely he was to find out about Elizabeth. He never dreamed his answers would be in the first place he looked or that they would be so horrific.

"Thank you, Mrs. Hurst" he said cordially.

"Would you mind introducing me to your guests?"

With an audible sigh of relief and a fake smile she turned to the other five women in the room who were ogling him with pounds and shillings in their eyes.

"Of course, Your Grace. May I introduce you to Mrs. Bennet and her daughters, Miss Jane, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia Bennet? They are our nearest neighbors at an estate called Longbourn."

At this the duke's head snapped up to attention as he eyed what was potentially a link to Elizabeth.

"Ladies," she continued, unaware of his reaction to the name of the estate. "This is His Grace, Fitzwilliam Darcy, the Duke of Devonshire & Derbyshire, Marquess of Pemberley, Earl of Lambton, & Viscount Devon." she finished in a self-congratulatory flare, not realizing how much the duke hated being introduced by all his titles in an informal setting such as this.

Mrs. Bennet's eyes bulged and mouth dropped open as his titles were announced, Mary Bennet blinked rapidly repeatedly, Kydia & Litty or whatever their names were, giggled outrageously, and Miss Bennet blushed profusely while eyeing him like candy and subtly pulling down the neckline of her gown. He was at once disgusted and repulsed.

Mr. Bingley merrily called for everyone to take their seats as Miss Bingley, who had recovered her wits, ordered more tea. One of the giggly twins, he forgot or did not care which one, immediately pounced.

"So, Mr. Darcy, where are you from?" she asked as she furiously batted her lashes and leaned forward, putting her cleavage on display.

He pushed back in his seat, insulted by the brash young lady who could not be much older than his Georgiana. The rest of the room gasped in horror and Miss Bingley leapt to her feet.

"Miss Lydia, how dare you?" she asked outraged as if she had been insulted.

Which, in her mind, she had. This was her future husband after all, and she would not let some dumb country chit insult her future status so.

"His Grace holds the title to two dukedoms, an earldom, and other lessor holdings. You do NOT address him by his name. He is Your Grace not Mr. Darcy! I realize in such a salvage society as this, one does not usually come across one of His Grace's status, but even you must have been taught basic protocol of rank" she finished insultingly and in a huff sat down.

The two younger Bennets giggled loudly again and Miss Lydia opened her mouth to retort when her mother literally put her hand over her mouth to shut her up. The impropriety was thus complete and everyone besides the Bennets and Bingley, for some odd reason, were horrified.

"Your Grace," Mrs. Bennet shrilled.

"Please do forgive my dear Lydia. She meant no disrespect I assure you. Her lively nature sometimes causes her to speak out but she is so lovely that of course that can be overlooked, can it not? She would make an excellent duchess and quite take the ton by storm with her beauty, liveliness, and womanly charms.

"She would be a credit to the peerage as would my other daughters Jane and Kitty. I am sure they will one day be the grand and wealthy ladies they were born to be, so any sensible peer or man of fortune would do well to snatch them up while he can" she said with a wink as she tittered and flirted, oblivious to how vulgar her statement was.

The duke said nothing because after all, what does one say to such a statement? If it were not for Elizabeth he would have cut the whole room immediately and left but, alas, he needed answers. He searched the faces of the Bennets to see if he could detect any likeness to Elizabeth but her face had been so marred it was hard to really tell.

The quiet one seem to have her coloring but he could not be sure. Then he stopped and looked back at the quiet one more thoroughly. Her head was down in mortification and her cheeks were blushed in embarrassment at her mother's uncouth statement.

'At least one of them has the sense to be embarrassed about this display' thought the duke as he examined her further.

She bore a striking resemblance to what he assumed Elizabeth looked like under her bruises. They had the same dark coloring and delicate features, same body type and height. He could not see her eyes because she held her head down at all times, but he could now plainly see she was hiding her light under a bushel.

Her comportment and manner of dress showed a young lady who was trying not to draw any undue attention to herself, but she was a quiet beauty indeed. Still, she was nothing to Elizabeth even with the bruises, but he could not understand why her mother was not promoting her obvious beauty which was miles above that of her vulgar sisters that Mrs. Bennet was throwing at him and his friend Bingley. Her mother obviously overlooked and belittled her beauty while she seemed to be trying to hide it. Singular.

Miss Bennet, who was all but glaring at the quiet one as he examined her face, caught his eye and licked her lips and pushed out her bosom as she sent him what he guess she thought were flirty looks but only caused him to wince. She was a beautiful woman in a sense but her pinched face when she thought no one was looking, her fake blushes, and jealous glares she sent to her younger sister ruined her look. She was not worth a second glance. Ignoring Mrs. Bennet's remark completely, he tried to get a conversation going that may divulge information he needed.

"So Bingley I see you have settled in nicely. How goes the neighborhood?" he asked with false levity.

Bingley sighed and looked dreamily at Miss Bennet who did not see his admiration because she was too busy violating the duke with her eyes to notice his friend's attentions.

"Capital, Devonshire!" he beamed. "I never met such friendly people or pretty ladies."

Miss Bingley let out an unladylike snort and promptly covered her mouth in horror as he continued while glaring at her.

"I must say I think I am quite settled for a while" he added, once again glancing adoringly at Miss Bennet.

This time she noticed and gave him a simpering smile and a fake blush while eyeing the duke under her lashes. The duke shook his head in disgust. If Bingley was infatuated with her she had best set her cap back on him as she had clearly done before he got here or she would be severely disappointed.

"Oh Mr. Bingley" gushed Mrs. Bennet.

"You do honor our town so! What an amiable young man" she said tartly while cutting her eyes at the duke.

He almost let out a snort like Miss Bingley. She may be vulgar but she took the hint rather quickly where he was concerned. He smiled to himself as she continued her indirect insults to him.

"Such lovely manners and never acting above your company. Yes indeed our neighborhood of four and twenty families are lucky indeed."

'Four and twenty' thought the duke. 'If I do not get answers here today that is not a big number for my investigators to go through. Maybe I shall have answers by the end of the week.'

His reverie was broken by another guest being announced.

"Mr. Collins" said the housekeeper as she led the portly man sweating profusely and bowing lowly into the room. Everyone except Mrs. Bennet rolled their eyes at his arrival.

"Mr. Bingley, please forgive my intrusion, but when I returned from Meryton and was informed by my future housekeeper that my future family was here I thought it would not be an imposition to join them due to the nature of my status" he said while bowing all the while.

'Who is this oddity?' thought he Duke.

"Not a problem, Mr. Collins. You are always welcomed. Let me introduce you to my good friend, His Grace, the duke of Devonsh…"

"Your Grace!" Mr. Collins exclaimed, cutting off Bingley and performing a very low bow in front of the duke.

"Forgive me! Had I known I would have made myself known to you immediately. I am pleased to tell you your aunt, my esteemed patroness Lady Catherine de Bourgh and her lovely daughter Miss Anne were in fine health when I left them eight and ten days ago. Had I known your exalted presence was nearby I would have immediately come to make my ac..."

"Thank you, Mr. Collins, please do be seated" Miss Bingley thankfully interrupted while the duke took a minute to catch his breath and try to assimilate everything the weird little creature threw at him.

He vaguely heard him thanking Hurst and Bingley for something as he shook his head at one more ridiculous example of his aunt being completely out of her mind by giving a living to such a buffoon, one whose fawning fits her style perfectly.

He was jolted back into the room when one of the young Bennets said the word Lizzy in between giggles. He immediately snapped to attention and turned toward the conversation that apparently caught Miss Bingley's fancy as well.

"What was that you said about Miss Eliza?" she simpered nastily. "We have not seen her scampering around the country for a while now" she said all fake concern and spite.

He noticed how the two eldest Bennets turned up their noses with their faces distorted in disgust at the mention of her name.

"We were discussing my upcoming nuptials with my fair cousin, Miss Bingley. As the heir to her father's estate, my coveted position as rector of Hunsford Park, and the many manifold benefits I enjoy under the condescension of my esteem patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, I am sure you can see why I make such an excellent choice as the future husband of one with little to recommend her besides her face. I am sure my dear Elizabeth is eagerly awaiting the day I lead her down the aisle ere long."

The duke felt sick!

'Is this imbecile talking about MY Elizabeth?' he wondered darkly. 'Is he actually stupid enough to think he deserved her? Walk her down the aisle indeed!'

Mr. Hurst, who he did not think he had heard a full sentence from ever, jumped drunkenly into the conversation.

"With a face like that she does not require anything else to recommend her, eh Collins?" he laughed leeringly making the duke's hand itch with the need to punch him in the face for his rude and disrespectful comment of a young gentlewoman. Especially HIS gentlewoman.

He looked at her family to gauge their reactions to his lecherous comment and Collin's insult. Miss Bennet's face was flushed red with fury and her hands balled the fabric of her gown in her fist. Mrs. Bennet looked as though she could strike Hurst which was he assumed, the right reaction from a mother whose daughter had been spoken of so in company, but his assumptions were wrong.

"What is that supposed to mean Mr. Hurst?" she said angrily.

"That Miss Elizabeth is one of the most beautiful women I have ever had the pleasure of laying my eyes on, Mrs. Bennet. You should be very proud of her rare beauty." he said distractedly as if he could picture her in front of him.

"I THINK NOT" yelled one of the youngest Bennets, her silly giggles instantly turned into jealous rage.

"Not anymore" the other one whispered snidely, obviously thinking no one but her sister heard her.

The duke let out an involuntary gasp at that statement and eyed her with disgust as he learned that not only did they apparently know about Elizabeth's injuries, they gloried in them.

'What is going on here?' he wondered to himself while trying to deny her family could be the culprits.

"You cannot be serious, Mr. Hurst" said Mrs. Bennet with her nose in the air.

"Lizzy is nothing to my other girls. Especially to my dear Jane and lively Lydia!"

Lydia tittered at the comment and Miss Bennet still shot daggers at Mr. Hurst.

"She is good enough for Mr. Collins and nothing more" she finished spitefully.

At that moment the duke got a glimpse into Elizabeth's life. Mrs. Bennet looked as if she was beating her in her mind as she balled her fist and struck her thighs repeatedly.

'Wait, a compliment on her beauty causes this reaction?' thought the duke incredulously. 'Is this what this is about? Has my Elizabeth endured unimaginable sufferings due to jealously of her beauty? Impossible! There has to be something more sinister at work here...right?'

"You cannot be serious, Mrs. Bennet" Mr. Hurst replied in a surprisingly mocking tone. No one has ever seen him behave so.

"Miss Elizabeth is not only the most handsome of your daughters, she is one of the most handsome women in England." he finished with a laugh as he returned to his usual slouched position seemingly now bored with the conversation.

Every woman in the room, except the quiet one, who had a faint smile on her pretty face, looked outraged at his statement. Their beauty had just been degraded by a common drunk and they struggled to withhold their tempers.

"In all of England, Mr. Hurst?" Miss Bingley replied to her brother in law in unhidden disgust.

"Have you seen every woman in England? I for one was shocked that she was known as a local beauty for I can see very little beauty in her features."

"Caroline, you cannot be serious" cried Bingley in surprise.

"Yes, even you cannot be that delusional" retorted Hurst.

He was on a role with shocking statements. Never has he participated in a conversation more.

"I am perfectly serious, Charles" replied Miss Bingley, ignoring Mr. Hurst altogether.

"She may have a cheap sort of prettiness about her, but true beauty? No, definitely not. Her complexion is too brown, her cheeks are too thin, her nose is too small, her lips are too red, and her eyes are too shrewish. Add to that her unladylike impertinence and a sort of conceited independence that borders on impropriety, I can see no reason why she should be called 'the finest jewel in the county'" she finished with jealous spite that the Bennets obviously agreed with.

The whole room was silent with heavy tension which Bingley tried to break.

"I think Miss Elizabeth is rather lovely as are all your daughters, Mrs. Bennet. I have never seen such handsome girls all in one family. They are a credit to your own beauty" he added charmingly.

She blushed and tittered at the compliment and relaxed her fist but her eyes still held anger.

"Thank you, Mr. Bingley. They are all nothing to my Jane. Wherever she goes she is admired for her beauty and grace. Miss Lizzy certainly does not compare."

The duke noticed Bingley and Mrs. Hurst eyes bulge at that statement in disbelief. Clearly Elizabeth was the beauty of the family and they could not understand Mrs. Bennet's apparent blindness and lack of motherly affection towards her. They understood Caroline's spiteful jealousy but could not imagine why her family reacted thusly about what was obvious to any sensible person. Miss Elizabeth was truly remarkably handsome.

Miss Bingley clearly had a point to make, so she brought the conversation back around to Elizabeth with undisguised spiteful glee.

"You never said where Miss Eliza was, Miss Bennet. Is she somewhere with her nose in a book and petticoats six inches deep in mud?" she tittered meanly and looked toward her sister and winked.

Mrs. Hurst immediately dropped her eyes and started uncomfortably playing with her beads. Wherever Caroline was going she clearly wanted no part of it.

"She is at home tending to our farther, Miss Bingley" Miss Bennet grounded out with her teeth clenched as if even talking about her was a chore.

"My lovely intended is a most devoted daughter indeed." Mr. Collins chimed in.

"She spends hours on end attending to his care. Why there are times I go days without seeing her, so devoted is she. It is an admirable quality that Lady Catherine will surely admire in the companion to my future life. Though my esteemed cousin Mr. Bennet may as well be dead, she still sits with him and cares for him as if it still matters."

Everyone let out horrified gasps at his insensitive comment. The duke could hardly fathom what he was hearing.

'Who are these people?!' he wondered as he fought for control of his emotions.

Is this the life Elizabeth has to endure? He vowed then and there these people would never see her again and if they did she would be so far above them they would not even deserve to kiss her feet! If that fool called her his betrothed one more time he may give in to the urge to choke him. As if she would ever be lowered to his standards!

In Caroline's mind it could not get any better. The duke was getting the full assault of the Bennet vulgarity and she was sure he would help her drag Charles away from this dreadful place and out of Jane Bennet's trap before making a fool out of himself and aligning them with this awful family. Even better that Miss Eliza will never meet the duke because in her moments of honesty, when she was not insulting the hoyden, she had to admit that she was a stunning beauty and she had never seen her equal.

The whole neighborhood was in love with her and according to the stories she heard from her gossiping, vulgar Aunt Phillips of the times before Mr. Bennet was ill, she frequently went to London and blew them away, never coming home without turning down offers of marriage from desirable suitors.

That is if that uncouth woman could even be believed. Miss Eliza probably went to visit her Cheapside relations and had tradesmen wanting to marry a gentlewoman and nothing more.

Besides, no one ever caught the Duke's attention no matter how beautiful, rich, or connected she may be so that little country chit did not stand a chance. That can only mean he had already decided on Caroline to be his next Duchess and she would not have the awful Bennets connected to her in any way when she made her debut in the ton as the next Duchess of Devonshire.

Regardless, according to her ladies' maid the servants are all abuzz about Mrs. Bennet and her daughters doing their utter best to ruin any beauty Miss Eliza ever had now that her father, who always played favorites, could no longer protect her. If her sources were correct, Miss Eliza was laying at Longbourn not by her father's side, but in a servant's room tied to a bed bleeding for daring to be beautiful, witty, accomplished, intelligent, and declining Mr. Collin's offer of marriage again.

La! Apparently the priest was obsessed with her and has purposed to her over ten times. He had been rejected by her and her father, but now that she was unprotected with her father on his deathbed, Mrs. Bennet was determined to break the beautiful Bennet and make her marry Mr. Collins. Oh what deliciousness! She was determined to make them speak about it or give themselves away in front of the duke. She delightfully continued the conversation.

"She really does sound like a devoted daughter, Mr. Collins. Do you ever go and sit with her as she tends to her father? Do you visit with your cousin regularly on his sick bed?" she led, hardly containing her smirk as she saw the Bennets look at each other warily.

"Um, my father does not tolerate company well, Miss Bingley." Jane quickly cut in while darting her eyes toward her mother.

"He gets agitated if he senses others in the room besides his beloved Elizabeth" she added spitefully.

"Really?" asked Carline in mock surprise. "But my dear Jane is not your father unconscious? How can he know who sits with him?"

"He senses it Miss Bingley" she replied unconvincingly.

The Duke narrowed his eyes as he watched the faces of the Bennets and Miss Bingley. He was thinking that Miss Bingley definitely knows something and is determined to bring it to light. The duke was determined to help her although he thought he had a pretty good grasp of what was actually happening to Elizabeth daily.

"That is rather singular, Miss Bennet." the duke chimed in. "They must be uncommonly close."

Jane actually startled when he spoke up. Her jealous rage over that interloper tied to the bed at Longbourn and the strain of trying to keep the family secret safe made her forget the handsome, single, rich, titled duke was in the room.

He was the answer to all her prayers. Mr. Bingley with his annoying joviality was nothing to his striking friend. Yes he would be better than Mr. Collins who that dreadful Lizzy was being made to marry, which was her goal in life, to beat Lizzy, but again, he was nothing to the Duke of Devonshire.

She now wished she had not basically compromised Mr. Bingley into a courtship. He was nearly half in love with Lizzy after their first dance during an assembly her mother was ignorant enough to still let Lizzy attend (she thought putting Lizzy in an old ball gown and making her go in front of the town would embarrass her or detract from her beauty but that backfired as she doubt anyone even gave her dress a second look) but Jane would have none of it. If he wanted Lizzy then Jane must have him and his 5000 pounds a year.

Having worn out her welcome in London with no hopes of being invited back by her aunt, Mr. Bingley seemed like the best she could do in dreadful Meryton. It took little more than a few suggestions and a few kisses to convince Mr. Bingley he was in love with her instead of Lizzy.

She was livid when he confessed that her sister was too smart for him, would never let him kiss her without an understanding, and clearly not attracted to him, but she quickly forgot that and told herself she stole him from Lizzy.

As soon as the duke walked in she regretted it and started planning on what to say when she jilted Charles Bingley after the duke asked her to be his duchess. After years of reading society pages and dreaming of seasons in London among the rich and titled, she had a vast knowledge of the English peerage and the Duke of Devonshire was not just any duke.

He was the most esteemed and wealthiest man in England. He had more money than the monarch and with close family ties to royalty, his bride would truly be the luckiest woman in the world. She sat up straighter, pushed her bosom up higher, and leaned forward as she answered him.

"Why yes, Your Grace" she simpered.

She still could not hide all her spite when talking about Lizzy but she wanted to come across as an ideal big sister. He was famous for his devotion to Lady Georgiana and she wanted to make a favorable impression until she could ship that brat off from her mansions.

"They were, um are, very close. Like her betrothed said, Lizzy spends days sitting with Papa. She hardly ever leaves his side."

"But my dear Jane, when we first arrived here all anyone could talk about was Miss Eliza and her daily walks through nature, going about tending to tenants for some odd reason, and helping the elderly. I myself saw her on numerous occasions walking about the countryside wildly and reading a book no less. How can you account for her absences this past week?" asked Miss Bingley.

All the Bennet ladies eyed each other nervously. Mr. Collins was clueless, Bingley looked between everyone with a confused expression, and Louisa tried to get her sister's attention to warn her to stop. The duke saw it all and missed nothing. Most glaring and interesting was the quiet Bennet, Martha? Marsha?

She held her head down and stealthily wiped tears from her eyes. In a room where she was basically forgotten she tried to make herself even smaller so no one could see her anguish.

She chanced a glance up and her eyes locked with his. She blanched and immediately held her head back down but not before he saw a dimmer, less brilliant version of Elizabeth's green eyes looking back at him with the same fear he saw in her sister's earlier that day.

He knew at once, he had to talk to…Mary, that is correct, Mary Bennet. She had all the answers and something he saw in no other Bennet; compassion and concern for the beautiful Elizabeth.

"Miss Bingley," Jane said tartly hoping to end the discussion. "Lizzy usually goes for walks for a half hour when she is not with Papa but recently she has had a trifling cold and has kept to her rooms. I am sure you shall see her walking around soon."

Turning to the duke and changing the subject as well as her body language she simpered.

"Your Grace, how long do you plan on being in the area? Mr. Bingley said he expected you to visit for at least a fortnight" she flushed as she rubbed her fingers against her lips to draw his attention to what she had been told was one of her best features.

'Good Lord she may as well throw her handkerchief at my feet' the duke thought while trying not to roll his eyes at her obvious tricks.

'Simper, fawn, and flirt, Miss Bennet but you will never hold a candle to my Elizabeth' the duke thought to himself with a private smile.

He was not sure when he started thinking of her as his but nothing had ever felt so right as calling Elizabeth thus. Caroline pointing out her habits as if they were distasteful only helped raise Elizabeth's status in his eyes.

Walking for pleasure among nature, reading, tending to tenants and the elderly, and being devoted to those she loved? His definition of a true Duchess. His ideal Duchess! He just had to get her better and make her feel the same about him.

"That was my original plan, Miss Bennet, but as I stated earlier, business has called me away and the full visit must be postponed."

"Oh but do say you will join us at a later time, Your Grace." Caroline simpered.

She did not like the way that Jane was looking at her duke and wanted the attention back on her.

"We are absolutely starved for your and dear Geor…I mean Lady Georgiana's company" she fumbled remembering his earlier set down.

"I can guarantee you I will be back to this neighborhood as soon as may be, Miss Bingley" the duke said ambiguously, making Miss Bingley and Bennet think he would be rushing back to the neighborhood on her behalf.

Actually, he was holding in the rage built up from all that he had learned and not giving those two young ladies a second thought. He would definitely be back and the Bennets would not know what hit them when he did. No one mistreated a Devonshire Darcy and for all intents and purposes in his mind, that is what his Elizabeth now was; one of them. His aunt's idiot parson's labored voice interrupted his musings.

"I am sure being the nephew of my esteem patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, you would love to do us the honor of attending the nuptials between me and my beloved Elizabeth."

He had no idea how much those words enraged the duke.

"You could not but agree with me, I am sure, that an event such as this will not be beneath your exalted notice and once you have beheld the beauty that is my betrothed I flatter myself to think you could only but condescend to congratulate me on my great fortune in my choice of a wife, which could only come second to your magnificent betrothed, Miss Anne de Bourgh whose fine features mark the bearings of truly superior breeding" finished the long winded tyrant who had no idea how close he was to being choked out by the duke's 'exalted' person.

"Mr. Collins" the duke bellowed to the shock of the room.

"Have we ever met before today, sir?" he asked threateningly.

"Um no, no sir, that is to say, no sir, Your Grace" he stumbled as he wondered what he did to upset the great man.

"Then how can you assume to have knowledge of whether I am betrothed or not?"

"That, that is, that, that is to say, your esteem aunt has touted your engagement since the cradle to your magnificent cousin that would unite the great estates of your holdings and Rosings when you take her as your Duchess" the clergyman answered nervously.

"Although my matrimonial state is entirely out of your purview and not fodder for drawing rooms, let me make myself perfectly clear. I am not nor have I ever been betrothed to my cousin or anyone else for that matter. No one can 'tout' my engagement except for me when I make an announcement of whom I have chosen as my Duchess, and the ravings of a delusional aunt should not be taken as gospel and spread by small minded people who have no right to know my dearest concerns. Have I made myself perfectly clear, sir?" he asked with a thunderous expression that gave pause to more than one person in the room.

How dare this imbecile think he has the right to speculate on his personal business?! He made a mental note to take a quick trip to Rosings as soon as possible to put his aunt in her place once and for all. He could not believe she was still harping on that nonsense to all and sundry!

His aunt always declared that his mother planned his marriage from birth to his sickly, overbearing cousin and her declarations reached a fevered pitch when his father, then known only as the Duke of Derbyshire, inherited the Devonshire dukedom as a distant cousin to the last Duke of Devonshire of the Cavendish Devonshires whose line died out due to a lack of male heirs.

The Derbyshire dukedom was not as ancient as Devonshire as it had only been somewhat recently created when Darcy's great grandfather did a service to the crown that earned him the title. Until then, the Darcys were still an ancient and wealthy family though they were untitled.

With the prestige of Devonshire added to the Darcy's equally prestigious heritage and wealth, she would stop at nothing to make her daughter the most powerful duchess in England, but he would not be made to marry anyone against his wishes and the thought of the ridiculous rumor reaching Elizabeth's ears caused him more upset and concern than it reasonably should at this juncture. They have barely even spoken to each other but yet the thought of her mistaken his intentions caused no little amount of heartache.

As Collins bowed, humbled himself, and apologized profusely over and over again for his ignorance, he could not believe that halfwit of a mother was trying to give his Elizabeth to this idiot. He needed to get away from these people and his concern about Elizabeth's condition was never far from his mind.

What if the fever took her while he was gone? What if she was getting no better or she needed him to calm her if another seizure took a hold of her? How was Georgie holding up under the stress? What would they do if they lost her?

How he wished he did not have to leave her but he knew he needed answers in order to help the broken creature and he knew they would be found here. He was pretty sure he knew how and why Elizabeth was in the state that she was in as unbelievable and unexpected as it had been.

Never in a million years could he have imagined a house full of bitter harpies had caused her such pain. Her family no less! Her voice begging to die and her marred face flashed through his mind and it was all he could do to control his rage. Again, he thought, he had to get away from these people.

Travis, who had been inconspicuously standing in a corner watching over his master and trying to mask his own horror and rage at what can only be the hurt young miss' family, saw his master was at the end of the rope and about to explode. He silently made his way over to the duke and whispered loud enough for his host to hear him advise the duke it was time to leave if he wanted to make it to town before dark.

With a grateful nod the duke cleared his throat and apologized to Bingley for not being able to tour the grounds, promised to be in touch with a later time he could visit, and requested a song before he left, which shocked everyone in the room.

"Miss Mary" he said to the startled girl obviously not use to being addressed in public as she lifted her head shyly barely making eye contact with him.

"You are about my dear sister's age and she loves playing the pianoforte. Do you happen to play?"

"Yes, Your Grace," she replied softly. "Eliza...Lizzy taught me to play."

As the other Bennets rolled their eyes the duke caught the slip she made by almost saying Elizabeth before quickly darting her eyes to her mother and changing it to Lizzy. It made him remember Elizabeth's request not to call her Lizzy. He definitely needed to speak with her.

"Wonderful," he replied with false cheerfulness as he walked to her and held an arm out to the astonished girl and shocking the whole room into silence.

"Do you mind playing me a few songs to tide me over until I can hear my dear sister play again?"

Miss Bingley immediately jumped in to try and intercept the duke's unprecedented request.

"Why, Your Grace, I would love to be of service to you. Surely you prefer..."

"Miss Mary?" he interrupted her and looked down at the shy girl.

His patience and manners were at an end and he had no time for Miss Bingley's machinations.

"Of course, Your Grace" she replied softly as she hesitantly took his arm as he led her to a far corner of the room to the pianoforte.

"Thank you. How about I turn pages for you?" he said kindly, trying to put her at ease.

Miss Mary stopped and looked into his eyes for a long moment uncannily like her sister did when he asked her to trust him. She seemed to find her answer rather quickly and gave him a quick nod. She sat on the bench and pretended to look through the music as he joined her. With her head still down she whispered.

"You know?"

Those two words shocked him to his core although his gut told him he should not have been so surprised. The same look that told him he needed to speak to her had apparently showed her something as well.

"Yes, Miss Mary."

At that she broke down in silent tears. Sobs were wracking her body but this was clearly a girl who knew how to be quiet. Not a sound left her lips. He slipped her a handkerchief as she cried what felt to him, tears of relief. After getting herself under control she went back to looking through sheet music as if nothing happened.

"Can you help her? Get her away from there?" she pleaded softly, never looking his way.

She confirmed his suspicions that no one knew Elizabeth had left home.

"No one else can help her. Not since Papa took ill. He was her protector and now he is her cross to bear because he preferred her company. As soon as he collapsed, her world did too. She never saw it coming, Your Grace, but I did" she whimpered as she started to play the piano.

"I knew if Papa left us before she came of age, they would attack. I never imagined it to be this bad. I thought she would no longer be allowed to wear pretty clothes, go to balls, to London, or to be seen next to them taking their much beloved attention away from them, but never did I expect this. The abuse..." she stopped and start crying again.

"When she refused Collins again I thought they would kill her. She is tied up, they will not allow anyone to tend to her. Mama fired all of our personal staff that has been with us since we were born and anyone in the house that loved us so no one could help us. I sneak and try to help with herbs but I cannot fix her this time."

Again she broke down but this valiant young lady never stopped playing the piano. Keeping up appearances seems to come second nature to her.

"Miss Mary, she is safe" said the duke as he reassuringly squeezed her arm.

She missed a note and they both looked up to see if anyone noticed and of course the whole room was watching them. Her sisters and Miss Bingley looked on with confusion and jealousy while their mother looked as if she was barely containing her rage again. He blocked her to make sure they could not see her as he pretended to turn a page. Her shoulders were shaking violently now but still not a sound.

"How?" she asked in a voice full of anguish as they glanced around again.

"I cannot talk about it here. There is much I need to know about her situation so that I can truly help her, but know that she is safe. She is at a nearby establishment under physician care. I will not hedge, Miss Mary, she is gravely ill and the doctors do not hold out much hope, but I believe Miss Elizabeth can pull through this."

She nodded her head as she tried to bring her crying under control.

"She got loose! I never thought it would work because they always send someone with me when I beg to tend to her. I snuck down sometimes but did not dare stay too long. I sawed at the ropes bit by bit so no one would notice when they came to check. Elizabeth was hardly conscious when I did it but I knew she was smart enough to realize.

"This time was horrible. They were trying to disfigure her. They are all jealous of her beauty, even mama. You cannot tell it now, but oh Your Grace, how lovely she is! And her artlessness and caring soul makes her even more beautiful. They hate her for it but she is never vain. She grew up with mama telling her she would never be as pretty as Jane or as lively as Lydia so she doubts her beauty but oh how can she?"

"I can tell, Miss Mary. Even after their brutality, I can tell" he said wistfully.

Mary glanced up locking eyes with him and giving a shy smile.

'Another one lost' she thought happily. 'Even in her condition. She could not have been strong enough to talk to him and her face is surely marred right now but he felt it too! Oh wait until he talks to her and learns about the type of person she really is! He is sure to love her! Maybe this is her salvation.'

She quickly sobered as she heard her mother screeching at Mr. Bingley in the background.

"She does not come of age for four months, Your Grace. Please hide her until then and keep her safe. Make sure they cannot find her and drag her back to abuse her until they make her marry Mr. Collins. The banns are supposed to start this Sunday but if she is not here they cannot read them and try to force her into the marriage by making it public or ruining her reputation. Thank goodness she got away at just the right time. Please keep her away" she begged.

"Our mother's family is on the continent at the moment or else they would surely step in, but they do not even know that papa has fallen ill."

The duke was shocked and taken aback by her last statement.

'Their mother's family? Does she mean Mrs. Bennet's family or is something else going on here?'

"Your mother's family, Miss Mary?"

"Oh, yes I am sorry for the confusion, Your Grace. Mrs. Bennet is not our, mine and Elizabeth's, mother" she said shocking the duke to his core.

"She is papa's second wife. Our mother died giving birth to our brother and less than a month later papa married the local solicitor's widow, bringing her and her three daughters to live with us. I was too young to remember much but papa says he was grief stricken at his loss and did not know where to turn. There was also talk about her possibly compromising papa in some way to make him marry her but I do not know what to believe. Papa always said it no longer matters and we had to make the best of our family, but it is in every way horrible" she finished while trembling violently.

The duke was reeling in shock. That explained why only Miss Mary resembled Elizabeth, why she tried to hide her own beauty, and how a family could hate one of their own so much, but it did not excuse their behavior. Even if she was not her natural child, Mrs. Bennet was still considered Elizabeth's mother and no mother should abuse their child so.

He did derive some pleasure at the fact that she was not really related to his Elizabeth and once everything was settled he did not have to have mercy on Mrs. Bennet and her daughters because they were his beloved's 'family'.

He also did not think Mrs. Bennet had the right to force Elizabeth to marry anyone or do anything else for that matter, which also made things easier but she could be very well considered as her legal guardian or God forbid when their father died, Mr. Collins would then have authority over them. He needed to protect Elizabeth as well as Miss Mary, who was now in his mind, his family too.

"So Mrs. Bennet is not your mother and her daughters are not really your sisters? Why are they called the Miss Bennets?"

"When mama married papa she declared her daughters were Bennets and gentlewomen. Even though papa never agreed to legally adopt them or give them his name, mama insisted that everyone called her daughters Bennet and that is how they have been known ever since."

"But legally they are not Bennets and their father was not a gentleman?"

"No, Your Grace. Legally they are the Misses Lewis, daughters of a country solicitor, but if anyone dares to point that out mama gets livid and lashes out. She badgered papa for years to adopt them but he was adamant he would not and he refused to call them Bennets after a few months into his marriage."

The duke definitely did not fault him if their behavior today was anything to go by. If he were in his shoes he would not give the jealous harpies his name to destroy as they threw themselves at all and sundry.

Mr. Bennet sounded like an intelligent man and loving father. How on earth did he find himself married to such a woman and did he even know what sort of monster she really is?

"So Miss Bennet is actually Miss Lewis?"

"Yes and to her and mama's horror, papa still called her that. No one really likes them, Your Grace. Their behavior renders them unlikeable. They go around with their nose in the air as the daughters of one of the most prominent gentlemen in the neighborhood instead of being grateful for their current situations. They constantly belittle our neighbors as being beneath them. If the neighborhood knew of their treatment of Elizabeth they would storm Longbourn because she is universally loved, but I could not bear to risk her safety any further by telling anyone.

"Do you think, Miss Bingley knows something? I got the impression today that she was hinting at the truth as if she had some information. If it were anyone else I would have been relieved that they knew, but as you could probably guess by now, she hates Elizabeth as much as my family does, although she has never done anything to provoke her. Elizabeth does talk circles around her and answers her rude barbs with wit and a sweet archness that renders Miss Bingley a fool during most of their conversations, but not many can keep up with my sister in discourse" she said with another little smile on her face.

This was a young lady that admired her sister greatly and it warmed the duke's heart towards her.

"Yes, Miss Mary. I definitely think Miss Bingley and possibly Mrs. Hurst knows at least something if not the whole truth. She was trying to needle your sister into revealing it."

"Oh, Your Grace," she cried worriedly. "Miss Bingley would surely use anything she found out to try and hurt Elizabeth. She has never been able to get one up on her and is always looking for ways to degrade her. She will probably try and turn everything on Elizabeth as if it is her fault and ruin her reputation. My sister does not deserve that. I definitely do not want anything getting back to town that may damage her or ruin her future chance at happiness if she does indeed escape her fate as Mrs. Collins."

"Miss Mary, trust me! She will never be Mrs. Collins! I can assure you of that. And if Miss Bingley tries to make trouble for her in town, the only one who would be ruined is her and definitely not Miss Elizabeth. Believe me, she is under my protection now and I will let no further harm come to her or her reputation."

Mary ducked her head to hide her smile. Looks like her supposition may be correct. The duke was obviously taken with her sister already and she thanked God for it.

"So your birth mother's family is out of the country?"

She nodded yes.

"Do you have any idea when they are to return? Do you know who your father named as your legal guardians in case of his death?"

"No, Your Grace I know not, but I am sure Elizabeth does. She and papa are really close and he trusts her to help him with estate business as well as his finances. Elizabeth is uncommonly intelligent, sir" she said with another smile.

"She has been practically running Longbourn since he collapsed. She is not allowed to do much of anything anymore but mama makes sure Elizabeth still keeps her living as she is accustomed to."

Everything the duke was hearing about Elizabeth drew him further under her spell. She was exactly what he was looking for in a wife. Now that he knew she was a gentlewoman there was nothing stopping him for making her his wife. Those in society that will grumble about him marrying beneath him be damned.

He did not need more wealth or connections through his wife's family. What he needed and desired above all was to be loved for himself and not what he has. He was half in love with Elizabeth without really even knowing her and now he prayed that she would grow to love him too. He still had many unanswered questions about her situation in life, but for now he had to do all he could to protect her.

"I promise you I will protect her, Miss Mary. I know I can trust you not to relay this conversation to anyone. But when they discover Miss Elizabeth missing, will you be well?"

Mary gasped and abruptly stopped playing the pianoforte. Obviously she had not thought about that, which showed how selfless she was and how much she worried for her sister even over her own wellbeing. The duke knocked over the sheet music to distract attention from her.

"I apologize Miss Mary," he said loud enough to be heard by the others. "I am usually better at this job when my sister plays for me."

He picked the sheets up slowly to give her a minute to come to terms with his question.

"Yes, Your Grace I will be blamed for Elizabeth's escape even if I had nothing to do with it. She often shields me from Mama's notice when she starts on me and they know how close we are. But fear not, I have never been abused physically as I am of no concern. I expect to receive a tongue lashing but hopefully nothing worse."

"We have to get Miss Elizabeth stable and work out a plan to help her. I am sure you would be a great comfort to your sister. As soon as I work out everything I will come for you. I will get word to you when all is ready, but if you run into any trouble or start being abused contact me immediately" he urged as he pressed his card into her hand.

"I also need you to strike up a correspondence with my sister. We can relay news to each other through your letters. I know you worry for your sister and I am also worried about you and your father and any repercussions you may face. Send her letters to the address on my card. Can you safely receive correspondence?"

"No sir they read or confiscate all of our letters now but I can get help from Charlotte Lucas. She is Elizabeth's dearest friend and always tries to help us. Your sister can safely send letters to Lucas Lodge and she will get them to me and send any letters I may write in return. Please let me know how Elizabeth fares, Your Grace" she pleaded one last time.

He rose and offered her a hand up and whispered all will be well before returning her to her family. He bid his farewell, peeled Miss Bingley and Miss Bennet from his person, and rode back to the inn as fast as possible.

He had been away from Elizabeth too long and he was worried sick. He tried to push everything he just learned to the back of his mind until he could think more clearly. This had been a long gruesome day and only a pair of brilliant green eyes could comfort him now.