A/N: So this is chapter 2. I have edited this chapter a little since I first posted this, as I discovered a couple of missing words upon rereading this chapter, hence this rather sudden update.

I would like to acknowledge that I have borrowed some (mainly the first dialogue between Darcy and Bingley) from Jane Austen's original Pride and Prejudice. The rest of the chapter comes entirely from my imagination. Enjoy!

Chapter 2

"Come, Darcy. I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had much better dance."

"I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with."

"I would not be so fastidious as you are for a kingdom! Upon my honour, I never met with so many pleasant girls in my life as I have this evening; and there are several of them that are uncommonly pretty."

"You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room."

"Oh! She is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld! But there is one of her sisters sitting down just behind you, who is very pretty, and I dare say very agreeable. Do let me ask my partner to introduce you."

"Which do you mean? She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me; I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me."

It was after Lizzy had declined a dance with a gentleman from a neighbouring estate to Longbourn and was sitting with her sister Mary to rest her poor overused feet when she overhead this interesting snippet of conversation between a certain amiable gentleman and his not-so-amiable friend. Had Darcy known that the subject of their conversation had perfect hearing and was well within earshot, he would have thought twice before opening his mouth, but alas, the thought did not occur to him, and his rude slight left Elizabeth with no very cordial feelings towards him.

She told the story, however, with great spirit among her friends, for she delighted in anything ridiculous. She had no malicious intentions, as she was only enjoying a good laugh. Soon, however, he was known throughout hall of matchmaking mamas as the most 'arrogant, disagreeable, horrid man to ever have walked this Earth, and not at all worth pleasing', despite his very great wealth.

A shrill sharp voice cut through the din of the Assembly hall like a sharp knife.

"Lizzy! Lizzy! Oh you wretched girl! How you try my nerves! Look what you have done girl! You with your hoyden ways and impertinent attitude, you have frightened away all the rich young men and now they will not have you, or any of the other girls. And it is all your fault! Oh! My nerves! You will have us all living in the hedgerows, I am sure!"

"Mama! Please, lower your voice!" Lizzy whispered as the matron pushed and wove her way through the crowd to reach her. She could not understand why her mother had to make such a scene in public, when the comfort of their own home and no audience would suit her needs far better than the assembly hall. She tried futilely to will her blush to go away, but she felt the warmth spread from her neck to the tips of her ears.

"Don't you tell me what to do missy!" Mrs Bennet shrieked. She so angered (and also a little bit drunk from consuming one too many cups of punch) that she had quite forgotten all about their audience, a crowd that was now nearly silent as they watched on, as if they were at the theatre, and Lizzy and Mrs Bennet the actors on the stage. Some grimaced slightly in sympathy for Lizzy, but none made a move to help diffuse what was rapidly becoming a very awkward situation.

"Mama!"

Ignoring her daughter's low warning, she continued with her monologue.

"How could you! How dare you spread such vile untruths around this assembly hall about our honoured guests?! Do you not know how rich and influential they are? Mr Darcy may not like your looks, but that should not be surprising to you! You will never be as pretty as Jane! Why would a nice, rich man like Mr Darcy want to dance with you? You should have taken your rejection with grace, rather than spreading the word of your disgrace yourself! You wretched, stupid girl! Now we are ruined for sure, for I am sure now Mr Darcy is highly offended at your behaviour, and will never deign to dine with us! And how would he marry one of my girls when you have disgraced yourself, and by relation, your sisters also? You, madam, will come with me right now. I have sent for the carriage. You will go straight home, and you are not to attend another ball until Jane is married."

Lizzy could feel herself burning up with shame. To avoid further conflict, she obediently allowed her mother to pull her to the coatroom to collect her things, then meekly boarded the Bennet carriage and went home without a fight.

That night, when everyone else had returned from the ball and Jane and Elizabeth were alone, the former expressed her great admiration of Mr Bingley, while the latter silently evaluated the manners of his richer, not so charming friend. She shivered as she thought about what he must think of her now. And her family. Her mother's drunken misconceptions and her own extremely conspicuous and embarrassing expulsion from the assembly hall had most likely caused her to fall further down in his estimation. He must be congratulating himself on his lucky escape, she thought. His prejudiced statement felt like a knife to her stomach. She knew that she was not as pretty as Jane. Her mother had told her so numerous times. But to hear a stranger confirm it without batting an eye or even closely examining her features was more humiliating and hurtful than any of her mother's previous taunts.

Her mother's words had hurt her, even though she had heard it all before, but never had she been so humiliated in public! She could speak half a dozen languages fluently, was well read, accomplished on the pianoforte and her needlework was nothing to be sneezed at, she could shoot better than the next man, and had been able to double Longbourn's yearly income in the years that she had managed their estate, but she still could not gain her mother's approval!

It seemed that she would never be able to accomplish that feat. But to be able to save them all from the hedgerows through marriage to a wealthy man like Mr Darcy could very well help to sooth the waters between her mother and herself. She was not doing this to gain her mother's approval. No, it was Lizzy's duty to look after her family. And if that meant sacrificing herself to marriage, then so be it.

As the night passed and Jane drifted off to sleep, Lizzy came to the conclusion that a man such as Mr Darcy was surely accustomed to females fawning over him and hanging on to his every word as if it were law. So she decided that she must act the very opposite of the 'norm' so as to better gain his attention, using her sharp wit, rather than simpering falsehoods, to draw his eye. Her character also, would not allow her to stoop so low as to grovel and scrape to court his favour. Not even her duty could convince her to embarrass herself in such a way. It would be, in his words, insupportable.

Lizzy had made the decision not to include her dearest sister in her scheme, for she would surely try to talk her out of it, and she would be in very great danger of succeeding, for Lizzy had barely convinced herself that this was the right thing to do. Oh Jane! Such a sweet girl and such an innocent to the ways of the world. Both girls had, in their younger years, vowed to marry for love, or not marry at all. But now, Lizzy understood how marriage worked in the real world, even as Jane clung to her childish ideals of marrying for love. Jane deserved a happy ending with a prince on a white horse, a fitting match for the angel that she was. A cold, loveless marriage would kill her sister's gentle spirit, but she was by far more resilient. Duty and honour had been drilled into her from birth. Saving her family was her duty, and her honour demanded that she try any means she could to help her sisters and mother. So she would do right by her family, and marry for money.

I'd appreciate any feedback :)