AUTHOR'S NOTE

I did not truly intend on keeping up with this story and then I had the hiatus, but I have decided to come back along with that I am further changes the ages, and I will give a list of ages and families. I hope you all still read this and enjoy the story, thank-you.

RECAP:

Darcys:

Catherine "Rin" Darcy – Daughter of Wickham and Lydia, 21st birthday approaching

Edward Darcy – 19 looks just like Darcy

Jonathan and Joanna -18 twins birthday in four months

John dark eyes dark hair

Nan dark hair green eyes

Angela and Anna Maria – just had seventeenth Birthday

Angela looks just like old Mrs. Darcy

Anna pale with dark skin

Josephine – youngest 15

Devons:

Darien – looks just like Thomas Devon his father 18

Lucy looks like her mother 15

Fitzwilliams: (Kitty and Richard)

Benjamin – just 19

Richard and Arthur – 17

Delia and Suzanne – 16

Lois- 15

Lord Matlock has one son – Howard Fitzwilliam 18

Bingleys:

Bethany – 18

Diana and Natalie – 17

Mary – 16

Charles II - 15

………………………………………………………………………………………

Richard Fitzwilliam, had in his opinion, led a colorful life. He had romped his younger years away, enjoying at he had pleased, and then had unexpectedly become heir to a vast fortune, not only did he marry the woman of his dreams. And so, as he looked at his son, he wished all these upon him. He wished it upon of his children of course, Ben, he had something to him.

Looking at his clasped hand, he looked at the hand he held, it was his wife. Squeezing her hand gently to great her attention.

Kitty, or Lady DeBourgh looked at her husband. The years had been kind to them both, Kitty had few grays, her skin still beautiful, as well her frame, though after having so many children it wasn't perfect, but it was her eyes that always caught Richard, something in them.

When he had been young, and he had experienced his fancy with Elizabeth he had noticed there was something in her eye, but hers had been more prominent, a more domineering point of personality. While Kitty's hers seem to hold a deep secret, that just as you thought you may have stumbled upon it, it disappeared from your grasp. Smiling warmly at his wife, he turned back to the scenery.

Kitty loved her husband; he was everything she had wanted. He fit every part of her personality. When he had heard the takes of Kitty's ill spent youth, of her pining for redcoats he laughed saying it had been destiny. And then when Kitty had become refined, so had he. He said they had been fated for this each changing, so they would eventually meet the other, claiming if Kitty turned into a pauper so would he. Richard, himself could not complain about anything, he was still young at heart and that's all that mattered.

Ben looked enviously at his parents, he was glad they were happy. He was happy that he could grow up in such a loving and prosperous environment, but he envied that they had never had to decided, it had just been them.

He had to decide who to marry, which of his cousins…for intensive purposes he wished to marry Joanna or Nan, but another side of him, a side he didn't quite like, offered another suggestion….another cousin….she would be more suited for the society of any Lady DeBourgh…he wouldn't love her like he loved Nan, but could he marry….

………………………………………………..

Delia sat next to her brother, Ben across from her parents. She wore a green gown, her mother claimed brought out her eyes, with her light brown hair swept up. She was exceptionally pretty, at sixteen. She could hardly wait to arrive at Pemberly, it was her second favorite place in the world, the first of course being Rosings. She wasn't exactly tall, she was about the same height as her mother, who wasn't quite tall at all. Her twin Suzanne was quite taller than her, which irked her to end seeing as she was older.

She dearly wished her sister, Suzanne was coming with them to Pemberly, yet she was in town with her friends and would be arriving the day before Rin's ball. Suzanne, was not only taller than Delia, but she was wild as well. Being very much like their two older brothers, the twins. Delia could hardly believe her parents had let Suzanne go, yet they had saying she had gone with a respectable family, and had nothing to worry.

Kitty stared out the window, pondering thoughts quite similar to Delia's, had it been wrong sending Suzanne to town without them. Was she repeating the same mistakes her parents had made with Lydia? Glancing at Delia, she thought of herself, how wrong they had been when they were young.

Kitty was glad though, the secrets of her and her sisters were well kept. Few knew of their true origins. Their husbands, Mrs. Meriwether and Mrs. Reynolds were entrusted with the secret, along with the old lawyer from Countess Chavanne. None of their children knew, especially not Rin. For she was the product of something that would ruin, the lovely, sophisticate lady she had become. Kitty could see, that if ever a day Rin should find out, what had been well hidden and swept under the carpet, it would drive the girl apart. Putting an irreparable spike within Rin's heart and perhaps destroying the niece she loved like her own daughter.

"Mother, when shall we be arriving at Pemberly?" Delia asked in her sweet voice that seemed so sophisticated, everything a lady should sound like. Her question though received ungentlemanly like groan from Ben, who was quickly eyeballed by his father.

"Soon Delia…" she stopped short, suddenly she shouted, "Stop the carriage!"

The driver slowed, and when Kitty stomped out the carriage without help she glared daggers at her son Arthur.

Arthur stood smiling wildly, standing atop the two horses pulling their carriage. Both Richard and Lois were hanging out the windows laughing at their brother, Art. Art's light brown hair shaded his eyes, which were a dark black brown. He was tall, handsome and debonair. He was a risk, a rather rich risk, for any young lady, and thus many were kept out of Art's sight.

"Arthur!!! Fitzwilliam!!! You will get off the top of that damn horse, before I knock you off," Kitty yelled infuriated, her face boiling red with anger.

Art knew his mother would hold true to her threat, for in fact once he challenged her, saying she wouldn't truly punish him, and boy did she ever, so when she said to get down, he jumped down and quickly returned to his seat in the carriage.

"Lois!" Kitty said turning her attention to he youngest who was most influence by her brothers' poor behavior, "Get in that carriage and sit like a lady, so your cousins wont mock you."

Lois mumbled something, but quickly righted herself in her seat.

When they were once again on their way, Richard or Dick, leaned forward to his brother and sister in a conspiratorial manner saying, "This is going to be quite a little trip at Pemberly, because I have it on good word, that not only are the Devons coming, but a good friend of Darien's, Vincent Mac Duff is coming as well. His mother was some Italian woman and his father is a rather large landowner in Ireland. He is coming to ask, you won't believe who to marry him…he claims they only had to meet once, when we all visited Trilan in the summer…do you have any ideas?" Dick grinned.

"I say, I don't care who he is marrying, but lets have some fun with him first, show 'em the ropes of the family right?" Art grinned as well sharing a secret look, which could only mean trouble between Fitzwilliams.

Lois then said in a reproachable manner, "I couldn't care which of our cousins or sisters he marries just as long as it isn't Nan, for Ben's been set on her since they were kids," she finished holding her head high and nodding. Both her brothers nodded back, knowing she spoke truth.

"Well it's not her Lois," Dick then prodded, "Can you guess anyone else…"

……………………………………………………………………………….

"Where is it," Rin mumbled as she rummaged through the wing of the attic, Nan said she had found the book in. Pushing over several boxes, and having several plumes of dust to engulf her she saw a box, with the engraving, Bennet, on it.

Grabbing the box she picked it up, it wasn't exactly heavy but she could tell by the way the box had been sealed, what it held had more weight in words and meaning. Carefully undoing a hair pin, she brought it to the lock. After several minutes of turning and working the lock, she heard a soft click, and opened it.

Inside there were several books, diaries possibly or a journal, not only that but there were small miniatures. Looking back to the place where she had pulled the box from, she saw something, it was rather large, with a drape over it. Walking closer she pulled the drape off to reveal a painting. It was perhaps the most beautiful painting she had ever seen.

The painting contained four young women, each a beauty, and one held a tiny babe in her arms. There was something about them though that was familiar. Looking at the date it could be assumed, that the one was her mother, then her Aunts: Kitty and Jane, but the other woman, she was like something from a dream. Rin's face twisted in thought, a bad dream.

Her mother though, Elizabeth, she looked every bit as beautiful, in the painting as ever, but there was something funny about her dress, something about the picture in general that irked her.

Picking up her skirts, and stepping around the scattered boxes and trunks, and finally to behind the old painting she read the date.

The Countess Dearesta de la Chavanne,

And her sisters: Madame Jane, Mary and Catherine Chavanne

Along with her niece, Catherine…

Florence, Italy 1799

Rin stared at the flowing script, but one thought jumped out at her above all others…she was the only Catherine, her mother had no nieces Catherine….and million others raced as well…who was Mary…perhaps Catherine was her child…where was Mary now…and when had her mother or Aunts been Chavannes…what had they been at all before being married, and then suddenly she stopped…in the year 1799, she had been born…What if she was that child…wasn't she the daughter of Mr. Bennet of Trilan, raised and adopted by Fitzwilliam Darcy…she was Catherine Darcy…if the Countess was Elizabeth ….then which of the sisters there was her mother…was this Mary her mother?

Frightened she rushed from the attic, practically tripping down the stairs, racing to find Nan…shouting frantically for her, she did not realize it when she ran into the west parlor looking for Nan, it was her mother an father instead.

Looking at them, not in horror, but in puzzlement she asked, "What was that?" asking as if they knew what she was talking about. Seeing their awestruck faces she continued, "The painting…that bloody painting," then turning to look at Elizabeth she asked, "Who are you? Who am I?"

Elizabeth stared at Rin in horror, whispering, "Please…please my darling let me explain," Elizabeth begged in a whisper.

Rin was horrified, her face contorted in such a manner that it seemed as if she was looking at them like they were strangers, "You mean there is something to explain," Rin asked bereft of any thoughts.

"There is so much," Elizabeth looked at Darcy, and when he nodded she went on, "Rin, you must know that I love you, you are mine and mine alone…but I did not bring you into this world…it was my sister.."

"Mary," Rin cut in.

"Rin," Darcy said, "You are and forever will be my daughter," Darcy swallowed, "You must know that whatever you learn…whatever you think once you know what we thought we had hidden, you must promise that you will not change or run off thinking you do not belong."

Rin was shocked, "You mean there is reason for such from me, you mean that I do not belong here in this house in Pemberly," turning to look at Elizabeth, "Do I belong at Trilan, mother?" she asked stuttering out the mother part.

Elizabeth smiled easily trying to lighten the mood, "You most definitely belong to Trilan, for I never belonged at Trilan either…it was a gift from a kind woman, who bestowed it upon a penniless girl whose family reputation had been soiled by her youngest sister. Trilan is mine, Rin, and I believe that you belong there, even more so than me. You shall never be tarnished by what my sister did, you must always remember, like your father said…You are Catherine Darcy and my heir," Elizabeth finished with a confidence that swallowed Rin.

Rin calmed herself and took on a nonchalant exterior, "I want to know the truth."

Darcy who had walked over to the window and was staring out asked, "I don't think you truly want to, Rin. It shall hurt more than the lies you have been told."

"You can not stop me…you can not keep me in the dark of all this," Rin said quickly losing her calm momentarily.

"Rin…you are right I can't keep you in the dark or put you on a pedestal so that nothing can hurt you, but I'd like to be able to protect you like when you were a child… Please Rin, if you walk away right now, you can put this behind you, you can marry whomever you choose…you have good sense and beauty…you can live your life…and when you die an old woman long after we are gone, with many children and grandchildren…you're past will die too, and no one will ever hurt you like this will…and all will be forgotten…this is why I beg you, Rin that you not make your mother and I tell you this…let it die with us and our generation," Darcy pleaded rationally with Rin.

Looking to her mother, she saw her imploring eyes, begging her just as much as her father's, but several things in his words caught her…that it was her past…and that their generation meant her aunts and uncles knew of whatever it was to know.

Tears now filled her eyes, and Rin looked at them, "You have already said enough then…but just tell me, who my birth parents are?"

Darcy seemed even more aggravated them before, but it was Elizabeth who came out with the answer first, "My family, we weren't rich but my sisters and I we were daughters of a gentlemen, Edward Bennet. Our mother was quite silly and my youngest sister, Lydia was allowed too much freedom and soon she eloped with a man, George Wickham. They were never found, and we were ruined…my father died of the stress and our cousin inherited Longbourne from us, mother died…how I can't say for I do not know…and I went to work for a woman, she was dying…she was the Countess Dearesta de la Chavanne. When I was in her services I received one brief note of my sister, she was dead, from childbirth…she had a daughter whom she named after her favorite sister, Catherine…we looked quite similar in coloring, so when I was told that Wickham was to send you away to some orphanage or some other awful thing…I took you and eventually by the time you were three…I claimed you were my own daughter, but by then we were in Ireland, and I said my husband Mr. Bennet was dead," Elizabeth finished reminiscently.

"My father he didn't not want me?" Rin asked with tears in her eyes.

Darcy stomped across the room, and knelt down in front of where Rin sat on the sofa. Looking into her tearful eyes he said, "George Wickham was a scoundrel, and you are of no such lot, you are my daughter in everything but blood…your children will be my grandchildren…and I shall promise you that George Wickham will never haunt you…he won't unless you let him, Catherine."

"He is right, Rin," Elizabeth interjected, "I am sorry, that you ever had to have this come about…even more that you are not truly my daughter, for your parents have truly missed, because you have become such a wonderful woman. I envy that you were born to my silly sister and not to me, so that I could say that I brought this beautiful creature into the world," Elizabeth said through her tears.

Rin threw herself at Elizabeth, sobbing onto her shoulder, "You are my mother…I am sorry…" she repeated.

Then she turned to Darcy and hugged him as if her life depended upon it saying, "You are my father…and you are right."

………………………………………………………………

Jo, having gone up to her room after her encounter with Lord Matlock and his son, was sitting on her window sit staring aimlessly out at the grounds of Pemberly. For you see at any moment her favorite cousin, might be coming, rounding over the hill just beyond Pemberly's great gates. That would be of course Lois Fitzwilliam. Ever since they were girls they had been the closest of confidant, along with that Art would be coming as well. Since she could remember, she had had a secret crush on her infamous cousin Arthur Fitzwilliam.

Sighing dreamily, she wished that such a man as her daring and courageous cousin would sweep her off her feet, or even Arthur. Knowing Arthur though, she knew he'd run off with the first heiress to come his way.

Her attention though was quickly caught though, by the carriage which cam rolling over Pemberly's hill. It was a single carriage so she immediately knew it wouldn't be the Fitzwilliams, but perhaps it was the Bingleys. Scowling she thought of her wretched cousin, Mary.

…………………………………………………………….

Darien sat across from his parents, with his long time friend, Vincent Thatcher. Vincent Thatcher was quite charming, with brown eyes and his shoulder length wavy brown hair. His mother had been of Italian descent, marrying his very English father. He was a lord in his own right, with his parents long dead and being an only child. His reasoning for coming had been simply to see the lovely Catherine once more.

She had bewitched him last summer when he saw her at the Trilan Ball. He had never seen such beauty and wits, she had elegance draped about her. He had never been so enraptured.

Darien smiled at his mother, who sat across from him, she was still quite beautiful after all the years, his father and she had been married. His father, Thomas, has pampered her to no end, giving Georgiana everything she could ever have need to desire.

Lucy his younger sister sat next to his mother on the other side, at sixteen she was just like their mother. In fact for in every physical feature he was just like their father and she just like their mother. She adored him to no end, and he protected her like none other.

He could see the smile that began to light up his mother's features as they progressed in the grounds of Pemberly, many months of his own youth had been spent at his mother's childhood home with his cousins.

Darien glanced at his companion, Vincent who was in awe of the splendor of Pemberly. Though only Darien knew the true reason Vincent had come, and it wasn't for Pemberly's magical grounds.

No sooner had the carriage stopped and occupants out then they were swarmed. Darcy hugged his sister, practically picking her up, then giving a warm brotherly handshake to Thomas. Elizabeth as well, gave Georgiana a warm hug, along with giving one to Thomas, as well her niece and nephew, but that's when she stopped.

Staring intently at the man in front of her, for he had to be a several years older than her eighteen year old nephew.

He stared straight back at her like a deer caught in the headlights, and it seemed that at that very moment Darcy also caught in his vision.

"And who are you?" Elizabeth asked kindly, though her smile seemed to put him on edge, for it wasn't rude or angry, it was more intimidating and sly.

"I am Lord Vincent Thatcher, I am a friend of your nephew, Darien Devon," he finished with a bow.

Smiling again she said, "Well I will have to see to it that another room is prepared."

As the Darcy and the Devon cousin intermingled, welcoming each other warmly, it was only Vincent Thatcher that noticed the one person missing. Catherine. Scanning the multitude of faces he could not find her.

Georgiana had already went inside to find Mrs. Reynolds and Elizabeth, but what caught Vincent's eye was when Mr. Darcy leaned in whispering something that seemed quite distressing to Lord Devon, not only that but their immediate departure into the house.

He was taken from his train of thought when Darien began the introductions. Though he had met the Darcys the past summer, he still needed the refresher course. They were all so different, and yet each was refined and as courteous as the other.

Angela looked intently at Lord Thatcher, 'oh how wonderful it would be to marry a Lord' she thought to herself. Though her smile may have had the same shape as her mother's, it was of deviousness and viciousness. She realized in those moments that if she married Lord Thatcher she could finally best her sister, Rin. For Rin may one day be lady of Trilan, but truly who would ever want to marry Rin, she was opinionated and so …so well all she knew was that she was going to marry Lord Thatcher whether it took every breath in her body.

Traipsing right up to Lord Thatcher, she hooked her arm with his, "May I escort you into the house?"

"Yes, please Miss Angela."

Joanna knew what her sister was up to, but neither her parents or their siblings ever truly corrected Angela, that is except for Rin, who quite often gave Angela a piece of her mind. Poor Thatcher, Nan thought sadly, well it was a good thing Rin wasn't here for she would have scolded Angie by now. But again poor Thatcher, he was going to loose his mind with Angie hooked on him. Sighing she walked up to her brother, John.

"John" Nan whispered to get his attention, "listen I wont tell Nat, if you just go and get poor Thatcher away from Angie."

"But Nan I was quite enjoying the show, Angie being so darn right ridiculous," he smiled laughingly, "But I will give it up if you promise to what you just said."

"Yes…yes, now go."

"Lord Thatcher, may I just call you Thatcher I was wondering if you would like to come see are stables?" John as he asked gave a slight gesture to Angie and rolled his eyes.

Smiling thankfully, "Yes I would be delighted to," turning to Angela he said, "I am sorry Miss Angie, but perhaps you may escort me some other time."

Before she could say different Thatcher, Darien, and John were gone. Fuming she marched inside Pemberly.

……………………………………………..

Howard sat quite secluded in some far off room of Pemberly, when he heard footsteps. Though they were soft, and the owner trying to be quiet. Quietly getting up from his chair by the window, he peaked out the door. There just down the hall was Josephine Darcy, but what intrigued him more was where she was going.

Josephine had just seen her father and Uncle Tom come in, neither had noticed her, but by the look on their faces she knew whatever it was that was wrong must be serious. Curious to know what they were speaking up she had quickly scaled the stairs to the third floor and ran down the north corridor as fast and as quietly as she could. Then after passing the right amount of doors, she found it, behind the old tapestry of England.

Pulling it back she was in the door and the Tapestry flat like nothing had ever happened.

Howard immediately went to follow her, seeing the old doors behind the tapestry he went in.

Along the wall were several windows, though light shown in it was distorted by the muck on the windows. How long had this wing not been in use, he couldn't know, but it must have once been very beautiful.

Calling out to Josephine, "Jo, wait."

Jo stopped dead in her tracks, turning slowly, leaving swirls in the dusty floors.

"Good Heavens, Howie, what the bloody are you doing here?"

"Is that any way for a lady to talk," he asked mockingly, "and furthermore I followed you. What is this place?"

"Well you have to leave," she stated as a matter of factly.

"Jo, what are you doing? Please tell me, I promise I wont let it out?"

Glaring at him, "Fine but you had better keep up and be quiet when told."

After walking for a minute in silence he asked, "How did you find this place?"

"I followed my parents once, they come up here once in a while to do work or something of that sort in one of these older rooms."

"There's a flight of old steps up here, once were down you mustn't make any noise or father will know." Jo warned.

In front of them were a set of old wooden oak doors, ever so carefully Jo reached out and opened one of the doors, and right in front was a bookcase. The bookcase was filled to the brim, but on the other side she could hear her father and uncle talking, and she could also hear Rin occasionally chime in.

Both Howard and Jo were shocked by the information, which was crossing their ears. It was shocking and terrifying, for they spoke of the true origins of Rin. They heard of the man, Wickham, of Florence and Trilan, and of a woman Lydia.

After hearing so much, Jo jetted off down another hall, running as fast as she could. She knocked open one of the doors and flopped onto an old sofa. She wanted to cry, her most beloved and adored sister, was not hers. That the man who was Rin's father was determined to hurt their family. Howard walked cautiously up to the silent Jo. Carefully he sat down next to her and began to rub her back in slow circles like a mother does to her crying child. Soon Jo was leaning into Howard's embrace and silent tears were smeared on his lapels.

REWIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-earthia