Thanks for reading and reviewing.

Thanks Miriam1, for all your help. Thank you very much.

000

Patrick read through the letter for the second time, guilt washing over him. He knew it wasn't really his fault; his father had had an accident while he was out riding a few days earlier, but he couldn't stop the guilt. He should have been at home helping with the running of the estate instead of hiding out with his friends.

He made his mind; he would go back to Twickenham in the morning.

Darcy knew that he was being selfish, but he really wanted the residents (and somewhat permanent visitor) of Netherfield to leave as soon as possible; otherwise, he felt sure that he wouldn't be able to keep his emotions in check. Caroline, Louisa and Mr. Hurst, he knew, would be willing to go back to London at a moment's notice but Bingley and Patrick wouldn't be as easy to convince.

Darcy was in the middle of pointing out to Bingley the unsuitability of his thinking of having a relationship with Jane Bennet; that a match between them would never work out, not with a family like hers. Caroline was agreeing with his every word, when Patrick joined them in the sitting room.

"Patrick, what is it?" Darcy asked.

"It's my father," Patrick replied, and explained the contents of the letter he had received and his plans to leave in the morning.

Darcy was glad, although he would never admit it; they had a legitimate - although distressing reason to leave Netherfield Park. He was safe.

000

"This just arrived for you."

Mary looked up from her book at Hill who was holding out a letter to her. She couldn't imagine who would be writing to her.

Dear Miss Mary, she read,

I know it is not proper that I should be writing to you like this, especially when we hardly know each other. Indeed if my Aunt Irene knew that I was doing this she would be truly cross with me, but I couldn't leave without saying Good-bye.

My father has been taken ill and I am needed at home. You have no idea how distressing this news is, my father being sick and having to cut short the time that we've had together.

I can't honestly remember the last time I enjoyed myself as much as I have spending time with you.

Yours sincerely,

Patrick Thornton

000

Mrs. Bennet was unhappy. In fact, she couldn't think of a time when she had been unhappier. Elizabeth had rejected Mr. Collins, and the silly man on whom their having a home depended had gone and got himself engaged to Charlotte Lucas.

Charlotte Lucas.

Mrs. Bennet had never thought that Charlotte Lucas would ever marry but to have her become the mistress of Longbourn and take her place that was enough to make her almost tear her hair out in distress.

In addition to that, Mr. Bingley had left Netherfield Park. He had gone back to London and without so much as a promise to Jane. He didn't think he was ever coming back to Longbourn, or so his sister had written.

Mrs. Bennet knew it was irrational, but she couldn't help but blame Elizabeth. The silly girl had actually received a proposal of marriage and she had refused; poor Jane hadn't had the choice, and Mrs. Bennet knew Jane wouldn't refuse.

000

"So did your Mr. Thornton write to you to tell you they were leaving?"

Mary looked at her sister in shock and was thankful that she and Elizabeth were alone in the small sitting room.

"Yes he did," Mary replied.

"I suspect Mr. Darcy and Bingley's sisters made them leave," Elizabeth said.

"No," Mary replied. She wouldn't want to betray a confidence but it wasn't as if Patrick's father's illness was a secret so she added. "Patrick's … Mr. Thornton's father is sick."

"Poor Mr. Thornton," Elizabeth sympathized. She had never had a chance to speak to Mr. Thornton, but the fact he had written to Mary to explain why they had to leave so suddenly meant that Mary and Mr. Thornton had become quite friendly. "So, Patrick…" she teased her sister.

If it had been any other of her sisters and not Elizabeth, Mary would never have even admitted to talking to Patrick Thornton let alone receiving a letter from him, but she told her sister, "I met him the other day when I was walking in the fields."

"Really." Elizabeth would have wanted to know more about this and even the contents of the letter but they heard their mother's voice in the corridor. "Just be happy Mama knows nothing about this, otherwise you'd be a disappointment too."

Mary was very glad her mother knew nothing about Mr. Thornton; she could imagine her shock that such a fine looking gentleman was even looking at Mary.

000

Lady Eleanor and her sister were happy to see Patrick return home. He took care of some of the more strenuous work involved in running the estate and Lord Robert was happy to see that the people under his care would be well taken care of when the title passed down to Patrick.

Patrick was happy to find that all the matchmaking business had been put aside; everyone was more concerned about seeing Robert back in good health.

"So there were no young ladies good enough to interest you in Longbourn?" Stephen asked his brother.

"Not you, too."

"I just want you to be as happy as I am," Stephen said.

"I wasn't there long enough," Patrick replied.

"Which tells me that you met someone," Stephen surmised.

"How does that tell you that I met someone?"

"You talked about the length of your stay not the fact that there were no eligible young ladies," Stephen told him. "So who is she?"

"Her name was Mary Bennet," Patrick replied. But it's been two months, she hasn't done anything more than simply respond to me, so she's probably moved on, he silently added.

000