Lizzy Bennet called Charlotte Lucas, and was pleased to hear that her friend was not otherwise engaged for lunch. The two girls met up at a local café, and chatted over their pizza.

After a short pause in their conversation, Charlotte finally uttered the question that had been on her mind since two days ago: "Lizzy, what was going on at Mr. Darcy's party?"

Liz was about to brush off the question and change the subject, but saw the demanding inquiry in Charlotte's steady gaze, sighed, and recounted the entire story of her interactions with Mr. Darcy over the past three days. Charlotte did not interject a single word, though her facial expressions displayed a flurry of emotion. She was curious when she heard about Mr. Darcy's attentions at the soiree, contemplative when Lizzy mentioned his kiss with Caroline Bingley, perplexed by the insistent bouquets and the accompanying notes, saddened by the recounting of last night's dinner, and at last tenderly smiling when she heard about the heartfelt conversation Lizzy had shared with Fitzwilliam only half and hour before. As Liz finished her story with the fact that Fitzwilliam Darcy was currently tidying her living room, Charlotte's emotions gave way to undisguised shock, and, a few seconds later, merry laughter.

"Oh Lizzy, the man is besotted by you!" She exclaimed pleasantly. Charlotte was happy for her friend. She loved Liz dearly, almost as a younger sister, and she had always wished the best for Liz, just as Liz did for her. The attentions that Fitzwilliam Darcy bestowed on her friend were impressive, to say the least. They spoke clearly of his deep affection for Elizabeth, and Charlotte was excited to think what a union to such a wealthy, powerful man could do for her friend.

She was surprised, however, to find no excitement in Liz's face. Only chagrin.

"Besotted indeed…" Lizzy mumbled quietly.

"Why Liz, aren't you happy about it?"

Lizzy gave her the strangest look. "Oh Charlotte, how can you even ask that? I have always despised that man! Never have I asked for his attention, nor have I ever desired it."

"I know you've disliked him, but he seems to be genuinely willing to change. That must mean a lot, coming from such a reserved and proud man as Fitzwilliam Darcy."

Lizzy gave her a gentle smile. "Dear Charlotte, no matter how much he changes I could never fully forgive him. He has made several mistakes with me, but those I can overlook. For what he had done to you, though, I could never forget."

At this unexpected admission, Charlotte could not help but laugh. "Are you serious Lizzy? You are holding a grudge against him for my silly crush from nine years ago?!"

Lizzy regarded her friend quizzically. "He was heartless, Charlotte. Cruel, heartless. I love you as a sister; I could never forgive the pain he caused you." Her tone was earnest and serious, and her friend could not help but continue laughing.

"Oh Lizzy, what a silly, impressionable child you were. It was a teenage crush, for God's sake! And it was nine years ago!"

Lizzy looked pensive. "Have you truly forgiven him, Char?"

Charlotte nodded. "Long ago. Truly, there was not much to forgive. He and I both acted as immature teenagers. I gave way to my fantasies; he succumbed to his pride. I am embarrassed to remember my own silliness. I would much rather forget the whole thing than hold a grudge for it."

"But… but the way you acted afterwards. You were never the same, Charlotte! You have grown cynical, and I blame him for that. He has extinguished your romantic side!"

Charlotte smiled indulgently at her passionate friend. "Oh Lizzy, he has done no more than countless other young men have done with countless other girls. Silly goose, don't you realize that it is in the nature of fifteen-year-old girls to grow unhealthy infatuations and subsequently develop broken hearts?" She laughed shrilly. "If there was no Fitzwilliam Darcy, I would have found another man to pine over, and another way to be crossed in love. Perhaps the reason why you have grown so indignant over it, is because you are that rare girl who managed to escape untouched: that unusual female who had never been crossed in love in her teenage years! I am quite amazed at you, Lizzy," she finished light-heartedly.

Lizzy's brows furrowed. "You forgive too easily, Charlotte."

"And you are far too resentful, Elizabeth."

After a heavy silence, Charlotte patted Elizabeth's arm. "Come now, Lizzy. Let go of the grudge. Trust me when I say that he has done nothing quite so abominable as to merit your despising for a decade. You were eleven back then; you were astute and impressionable. You saw your friend suffer, and, never having been in love yourself, you grew angry. I appreciate your care, dear Lizzy, but truly – the man is not so bad." She winked, "And he is dead gorgeous. Come on, give him a chance."

Lizzy sighed. "Very well, I will be gentler with him. As for giving him a chance, though, I have never been interested in him, Charlotte, and I am not about to start now." She thought for a moment, then smiled and added, "Besides, there is someone else…"

Lizzy animatedly told her friend about her budding romance with Greg, and the girls chatted pleasantly for another half-hour before heading to heir respective homes.

As she approached her house, Elizabeth cringed at the sight of her mother's Honda parked outside. 'Oh God, Mama's come home! What will she think when she sees William?' Liz's heart raced as she braced herself for the uncomfortable encounter, and the explanation she would inevitably have to give to her mother. She had not failed to notice how angry Mrs. Bennet had been with her the night before.

And Mrs. Bennet's anger was understandable, to be sure. The woman noticed the unlikely attentions that Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy (ideal son-in-law indeed!) was paying to her second-eldest daughter, and was certainly shocked. But she was an animated woman whose only passion in life was to procure grand and wealthy husbands for her daughters. Her imagination was wild, and it was not difficult for her mother's partiality to come to terms with the potential match between the wealthiest man in the state and one of her daughters, as unexpected as that was. She was elated for her daughter's good fortune, and was ready to promote the match with all the means at her disposal. Great indeed was her shock at discovering that her daughter felt no excitement at Mr. Darcy's attentions! Quite to the contrary, Elizabeth seemed reluctant to accept his dinner invitation, and when she did… oh, Mrs. Bennet could hardly stand still when she thought of what her daughter did! That ungrateful child brought another man to their date! She slighted Fitzwilliam Darcy, and what was worth – the other man was no more than a college boy of twenty-one, with no great fortune or exceptional connections. He was handsome, to be sure, but nothing to Fitzwilliam Darcy!

Elizabeth understood all of her mother's concerns, and it was with great trepidation that she now approached the front door of her house. For she could only imagine her mother's ire at finding the worthy Fitzwilliam Darcy tidying up their house. Liz hardly dared to think what her mother would say about such outrageous scorn of such a great and illustrious man. Liz sighed, stretched her shoulders, and bravely entered the house.