A/N: This is a little longer than I anticipated. I just loved writing about Darcy and Fitz. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them.

I honestly cannot tell you where this story is going. I am a firm Darcy / Elizabeth believer, but already this story has taken turns I was not expecting.

For all those who have followed, favourite and reviewed. Thank you, so much. You guys are awesome! :-)

Chapter 3 – London

"Please Fitz, I implore you. She will need as many supporters for tomorrow as I can possible obtain." Darcy was sitting in his study having the usual post dinner port with his cousin.

They had come down to London that afternoon and Fitzwilliam had been invited to remain with them until the following day.

"Come now Darcy, you know better than I that the faces Mrs Darcy needs surrounding her are those that carry weight. I cannot help you in that regard." He paused, swirling his glass in his hand, watching as the brown liquid became caught in a circular motion "a point on which I truly regret cousin." Fitzwilliam could not look at Darcy for fear that his cousin would indeed see the level of regret he felt regarding his inability to help Elizabeth. "I could always pass your request on to my brother? As the first born and heir to my father's estate, he would be a far better choice to aid you in presenting Mrs Darcy to society."

"Elizabeth will want those that she holds dear around her on her first foray into London society." Darcy's voice was steady in his conviction of his wife's desires. "She is not particularly acquainted with William; his presence would not bring her peace of mind."

"And mine would?" The unexpected admission of Elizabeth's affections caused Fitzwilliam to show more interest than perhaps was acceptable regarding his cousin's wife.

"Of course you dolt!" came Darcy's reply "why it was in some part to your meddling that the events regarding myself and Elizabeth unfolded as they did." He leant in towards his cousin, a look of satisfaction crossing his features. "We, both of us, thank you daily for such meddling. I will happily oblige you in the continuance of such behaviour, if such future meddling produces similar results."

Lest Darcy see the warring emotions that Fitzwilliam felt were horrendously too close to the surface, he stood suddenly, forcing his cousin to sit back in his chair for fear of being thumped.

"Cousin!" Darcy exclaimed, raising his hands in defeat "I mean you no insult. I merely meant to suggest that your meddling was indeed fortuitous."

"I know cousin" came Fitzwilliam's stiff response. "Please do not misunderstand my actions." He paused, looking around the room. "I merely stand…I mean to say, I stood only because…drat and blast it man, my foot must have fallen asleep, the tingles are excruciating." Seeing Darcy's right eyebrow raised in amusement, Fitzwilliam continued on with his rant. "Can a man not stand suddenly without such accusations of feelings being hurt lobbied at him?" Grabbing Darcy's half-filled glass he moved to the drinks table, creating a rather amusing picture of an irate gentleman with a limp. "As I am up, would you care for a refill Darcy?"

"it would seem Fitz, you have already made my decision for me" Darcy joked, gesturing to his half-filled glass already in his cousin's hand.

"Oh bother it Darcy, I cannot fathom what help you think I can offer. I am a Colonel in his Majesty's army. I am not proficient at society. I am too coarse for the intricate and gentle mannerisms…"

The highly ungentlemanly snort that arose from his host had Fitzwilliam stop mid-sentence. He looked askance at his cousin as Darcy began to laugh helplessly.

"Gentle mannerisms?" Darcy wiped away the few tears that threatened to spill. "Cousin, have you ever met the ton? Gentle mannerisms do not do them credit." He looked directly at Fitzwilliam "Ruthless, calculating, cold, ambitious…" Darcy said, listing characteristics off on his left hand "these are more realistic descriptions of the ton." He paused, grinning evilly at his cousin. "and that is just the men, the women are infinitely worse."

Shaking his head in conciliatory amusement, Fitzwilliam turned from pouring the drinks. "And you don't believe Mrs Darcy can stand against this nest of vipers?" he asked.

Darcy's face soften at the mention of his wife. "Elizabeth has the confidence, fortitude and wit to not only survive such a destructive force, but to bend it to her will."

"Then why in hell's bells do you need me Darcy?" asked Fitzwilliam in exasperation.

"Because Elizabeth doesn't think so. My wife needs support from those she considers friends Fitz and" Darcy paused to make his point "we consider you a good friend damn you. Therefore, I shall repeat my earlier plea. I implore you to join us tomorrow night."

By this time Fitzwilliam had re-joined Darcy and had resituated himself opposite his cousin. Passing Darcy's glass back to its original owner, he sighed heavily. "Let me think about it old chap. A night of music is truly not an ideal past time for one in my career."

"That is all I ask cousin. We can happily revisit this tomorrow morning. It will give you the remainder of the evening to think it over."

"You are all kindness Darcy, truly." Fitzwilliam answered, glowering at his grinning cousin. "I am sure…"

A knock at the door prevented either one of them from continuing the conversation. After a respectable pause Mr Reynolds, Darcy's butler, walked in.

Looking from the grinning face of his master to the glowering one of his master's cousin, Mr Reynolds could only assume that they had once again been involved in a, passionate, debate.

"The ladies have been enquiring as to your whereabouts Sirs, I believe they wish for your presence in the music room."

"What say you Fitz?" Darcy asked, turning to his cousin. "Shall we finish these and present ourselves to the fairer sex?"

Fitzwilliam merely shrugged, finding he feared the loss of this relative safe harbour. "I am at your command."

"Please can you inform the ladies that we will join them shortly" Darcy watched his cousin from the corner of his eye as he gave Reynolds their answer. Something had changed. Fitzwilliam had gone from a difficult but talkative companion to a sullen and silent one within a blink of an eye.

Once Reynolds had departed Darcy turned back to Fitzwilliam. "If you do not wish to join the ladies, I am sure we can make our excuses."

Looking up in surprise, not realising how easily his emotions were being read, he forced a grin on to his face. "It is no bother Darcy, I am happy to remove to the music room, if only to postpone this tedious topic of conversation." He proceeded to down his freshly filled glass challenging Darcy to do the same.

"Ladies, I can only apologise." Darcy announced upon their arrival into the music room. The sight that beheld him made him once again thank the fates that brought him into the sphere of one Elizabeth Bennet. His wife and sister were sitting on one of the couches; their heads close as if sharing a secret. The joy they each had in the company of the other was evident on their faces as they turned to look at the two gentleman.

"Brother" Exclaimed Georgiana, "Where have you been? We have been entertaining ourselves for the good part of an hour."

"I lay the blame completely at the feet of our cousin sister." Darcy replied smoothly, finding his preferred place next to his wife and situating himself there quite comfortably. "If he had just agreed to what I proposed, we would not have had to waste an hour discussing…"

"Bickering." Interjected Elizabeth smiling at her husband. "I believe it would most likely have been bickering." Taking her husband's resulting smirk as confirmation she turned to Fitwilliam who had found a comfortable chair the other side of the fireplace. "So tell me Colonel, what is my husband trying to convince you to do this time?"

"Culture Mrs Darcy. The blaggard is trying to drag me to this blasted music evening at the Argyll Rooms tomorrow night." He grimaced in jest at Georgiana, causing the younger girl to giggle.

"Do you not want to go cousin?" asked Georgiana. "The inaugural concert of the Philharmonic Society is supposed to be delightful." Turning to Elizabeth "The pianist is Muzio Clementi."

"So I have heard Georgiana. I am looking forward to it immensely." Smiling at her sister she turned back to Fitzwilliam. "And yet you do not wish to attend?"

"I did not know until now that Muzio Clementi would be the pianist present" Fitzwilliam replied, acknowledging his young cousin with a small nod.

"and now that you do?" Elizabeth pressed.

"I still have no inclination to go…Darcy is forcing me for…" seeing Darcy's eyes go wide, Fitzwilliam realised, just in time, that Elizabeth had no idea what Darcy had been up to.

"Darcy is forcing you for…?" Elizabeth's eyes narrowed, her mind already deducing what the Colonel was about to say. Seeing both men squirm, Elizabeth focused solely on the Colonel, if there is was weak link she knew it lay there. "Darcy is forcing you for…?"

"For…you see…Darcy is now married." Stuttered Fitzwilliam.

"Indeed he is. A fact that all here are well acquainted with. That does not explain his desire to have you join us tomorrow." Elizabeth stated.

"Yes, well you see Mrs Darcy…" Fitzwilliam searched the room for even a flicker of inspiration when his eyes landed on Darcy himself. Seeing his cousin so unsettled he knew he had to find a way to mend his faux pas. "Darcy is extremely happy, now that he is married."

"I should hope so." came Elizabeth's response.

"He feels that such delights should be experienced by all those dearest to him." Fitzwilliam continued, warming up to his story.

"Indeed."

"Of course. How could he feel anything but? What with such a sympathetic and loving wife as yourself." Fitzwilliam almost grimaced at his words, but seeing the irritation that had marred Elizabeth's face start to melt into amusement he ground his teeth and continued.

"He does not however, believe I am, as yet, a suitable match for any such lady. Being that I have been raised in the army Mrs Darcy" Fitzwilliam watched as all vestiges of irritation left Elizabeth's features, to be replaced solely by amused anticipation.

"Really Colonel Fitzwilliam? Pray; tell us why my husband does not believe you ready for such blessed nuptials."

"The army does not raise a gentleman Mrs Darcy…"

"That is not true cousin" came Georgiana's soft voice, interceding on her cousin's behalf "there is not a truer gentleman in my acquaintance."

Fitzwilliam acknowledged the compliment with a smile but deigned not to comment after hearing Darcy clear his throat. "The army teaches one how to survive Georgiana. It does not teach one how to socialise among their peers."

"So this will be a teaching lesson or something akin to it?" asked Elizabeth laughing.

"Indeed Mrs Darcy. Your husband believes I will have a better chance of finding a wife if I can talk of the inane particulars that society demands."

"If you take the time to review what I have said, you will find that…"

Elizabeth put her hands up. "Enough, I surrender gentlemen. Though I do not believe a word of what the Colonel has just sprouted, his ability to spin a tale so convincingly at the same time as insulting himself so thoroughly has entertained me greatly." She smiled at the Colonel. "You sir are 'off the hook' as they say." She turned slowly to her husband. Her smile growing slightly more serious. "You however husband dearest will not survive so well intact. We will talk about this later."

Darcy nodded, realising that his wife would not be so easily fooled. "Thank you Cousin." He said, turning to Fitzwilliam. "It was an admirable attempt old chap."

"If you had informed me that our conversation was for the study only, I would have monitored my speech. But if I am to attend this blasted evening, I will not pretend to feel remorse at what lies in your immediate future." He grinned at Darcy but held out his hand to his younger cousin. "Georgiana, I was led in here with the promise of entertainment. Pray would you play something to end this growingly awkward conversation."

"I had thought cousin you had come to entertain us, for surely that would explain the past few minutes." Georgiana looked at her cousin as she allowed him to lead her to the piano.

"For you Georgiana, anything." Looking down at the piano and the assortment of papers lying on top he begin to sort through them. "So cousin, my dear girl, what will you play for us this evening?"