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The Thorntons of Twickenham were a fine family of four children, two boys and two girls, and it was generally agreed in the neighbourhood that Eleanor and Robert couldn't have done much better.

Patrick, Stephen, Isabella and Katherine were the best children any mother, aunt or governess could ask for, well mannered and good-looking into the bargain. Patrick had discovered early on that it fell to him to carry on the family line but as he'd jokingly told his mother and his aunt Irene, if he failed at his duty, they could always look to Stephen to take his place.

Mrs. Denham, Aunt Irene, was their mother's sister. She had married well but her husband had died before they had children. Being wealthy with no children of her own, she had taken it upon herself to see her sister's children well settled, and to that end she had taken Isabella and Katherine for their coming out. She was often heard saying that it was such a triumph to see her nieces so suitably married before they were 19.

Her attention had naturally turned to Patrick and Stephen. Luckily for Patrick, Stephen was more easygoing and charming than he was, and wherever they went, young ladies were more drawn to him; that is, until they discovered that Patrick was the one going to inherit the title.

Lady Eleanor and Aunt Irene obviously saw this as a hindrance to poor Patrick's chances, and they resolved to have Stephen married, or engaged at least, to give his poor brother a chance.

It was actually through one of those 'engagement meetings,' as Patrick thought of them, that Patrick and Darcy had met. Aunt Irene had met Elizabeth, the Duchess of Matlock when they were little girls, they had met again a few years ago and when Irene heard that the Duchess had a young niece, Georgiana Darcy, who was a nice young lady from all accounts; she had taken Stephen and Patrick to Matlock to meet her.

Georgiana and Stephen had met and would always be friends, but she was too shy for his tastes while she found him too lively.

The real winners from that meeting were Patrick and Darcy, who found that while not quite alike in taste and temperament, they liked each other well enough and being that they were both clever, well educated men of the world, formed a strong bond. Patrick became a frequent visitor at Pemberley and when he met Bingley, the bond was solidified.

Stephen Thornton finally met a young lady and his engagement announced a few months later. It was at this point that Patrick's aunt and mother started speaking of a young lady, the Hon. Miss Grayson, with twenty thousand pounds as his bride who was to visit Twickenham soon. Patrick knew that he would marry at some point but when he did he wanted to choose his own bride, not have some suitable person chosen for him by his mother and aunt so he did the only thing that he could do; he left Twickenham as soon as he could. Luckily for him, Bingley had recently acquired a home, Netherfield Park, which he had yet to visit. He would stay with his friends for a few weeks until Miss Grayson went back home.

Then he had met Mary Bennet.

Patrick couldn't put his finger on what it was about her, exactly, but he found her the most fascinating person he'd ever met.

True, she wasn't as beautiful as her sisters. She couldn't play or sing very well, but she was witty. The twenty or so minutes he'd spent talking to her at the ball were the most fun he'd had since coming to Netherfield.

Darcy and Bingley had teased him about running away from yet another heiress; they had never had that problem, having no parents trying to marry them off, so they found it extremely funny that a grown man would be running away from an arranged marriage.

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Mrs. Bennet was happy. She felt sure that Jane would soon receive an offer of marriage from Mr. Bingley; they had spent a lot of time together at the ball, so she was confident her beautiful daughter would receive an announcement soon.

However, the main reason for Mrs. Bennet's happiness this morning wasn't her dear Jane, it was rather the fact that Mr. Collins had spoken to her about asking for Elizabeth's hand in marriage. Mrs. Bennet's worries were now over; with Elizabeth taking her place as the mistress of Longbourn, Mrs. Bennet would be assured of having a home when Mr. Bennet died.

She went in search of Elizabeth immediately; they would get this marriage business sorted at once. Mrs. Bennet could already picture it, Elizabeth and Mr. Collins; she would the envy of her neighbours, especially Lady Lucas, having a daughter married so well.

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Mary was sitting in the room reading when Kitty and Lydia burst in. "You have to come quick," Lydia urged Mary. "Mr. Collins wants to talk to Elizabeth."

Although, normally, Mary would have joined her younger sisters in listening at the keyhole, she shook her head and declined the offer. Kitty and Lydia were shocked, but they decided to go downstairs and listen in on Mr. Collins and Elizabeth's conversation.

Mary took her book and, grabbing her shawl, decided to take a walk.

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"I think I'll take a walk," Patrick told his friends. He had told them about meeting Mary Bennet the night before and although they were surprised at his interest in her, they both agreed, even Darcy, that the Miss Bennets were lovely girls. Bingley would have joined him, indeed he was on his way out, but he was reminded of some business he had to attend to. Darcy, on the other hand, knew that he was in very great danger of falling in love with Elizabeth Bennet and he decided that some time away from her would do him very well indeed, not that he voiced any of these thoughts aloud; he merely told his friend that he was still recovering from the ball.

So Patrick found himself walking alone. He knew that he couldn't just call at Longbourn, he could see Aunt Irene frowning at the mere thought, but he would take a walk to clear his head.

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Mary was sitting under a tree reading her book when she looked up and saw Mr. Thornton walking towards her.

"Mr. Thornton," she said to him.

"Miss Bennet," he replied, "I didn't mean to disturb you."

Mary smiled at him thinking to herself that this was the second time she had sought solicitude only to have it interrupted by Mr. Thornton.

"I was just walking," he told her. "This area is very beautiful."

"Yes, it is," Mary agreed.

Find a topic, Patrick told himself, say something or she'll think you're wasting her time and stand up and leave. He looked at Mary again and noticed the book that she had put down on her laps.

"Is that book any good?" Patrick asked.

"Fordyce's sermons," Mary replied. "Have you read it?"

"No," Patrick replied, "I prefer to read books about horses and the Law. Although I must say that I am surprised that you are not reading a novel."

"So the women of your acquaintance only read novels, then?"

"No," he smiled, "most of them don't read at all. They are more interested in dancing, flirting, and talking about the latest fashions."

"Really?"

"Well, my sisters and their friends are more interested in those things," he replied.

"So you have sisters?" she asked him.

"Isabella and Katherine," he replied with warmth, "and a brother Stephen."

"Your mother must be very happy," Mary said.

"At having four children?" he was puzzled.

"She has two sons," Mary replied and without knowing why she found herself telling about Mr. Collins and the house being entailed away.

"He says that he thinks it prudent that he should marry one of us," Mary concluded laughing. "When I left the house, he was going to talk to Elizabeth."

"So he wants to marry your sister Elizabeth?" Patrick asked.

"He thinks it his Christian duty."

"And your sister?" Patrick asked. "Do you think she'll accept?"

Mary shook her head; she couldn't see Elizabeth agreeing to marry Mr. Collins, not even to keep a roof over their heads.

They began to talk of other things and to Mary's surprise she found that they had even read the same books. They walked together, and Mary pointed out to him her favourite walks.

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