A/N - I wanted to bring you these next few chapters as a bulk. You'll understand why. Things are about to get worse for ODC. also up until now the two versions of this story have been the same, things will start to change. I want to keep chapters matching from one to the other so I apologise if version 1 readers find my chapters shorter than usual.

A note on my chapter length. I am still having difficulty uploading longer sections of text so they are all short. I am sorry if this is frustrating, it is for me too!

And for the reviewer mentioning Miss King, she crops up soon. There was a reason he didn't pursue her.

Chapter 12

Darcy found himself thwarted at every turn on his quest.

First, on arrival in the neighbourhood he heard of her official engagement. This would make things more complicated as for a lady to break an engagement was bordering on scandalous, and the injured party could claim compensation. A broken engagement could be detrimental to the reputations of the other sisters and Elizabeth would have to consider this. He doubted Bingley would walk away on so slight a concern, but Elizabeth may not know this and would almost certainly consider the consequences for Jane and her other sisters.

He tried to talk to Mr Bennet but he was not interested in striking up a conversation about much at all and did not allow him to start on so delicate a subject as his daughter.

He tried again to talk to Elizabeth but found that she was avoiding him. Given that Wickham was often at Longborn he rarely found the opportunity of being in her company, and was never alone.

Darcy was wondering if he should send for reinforcements, maybe the colonel could talk some sense in to the headstrong woman who commandeered his thoughts.

It was in this state of mind that Wickham was announced.

"Wickham, what brings you here?"

"Darcy, good to see you old friend"

Darcy merely looked at him. If he had been anything other than concerned about Elizabeth, he would not have even let Wickham through the door.

"No idle conversation eh? Alright then I shall get to the point. I have a proposition for you."

"How much do you want Wickham?"

"Why must you assume that all I want is money?" After a short pause Wickham nodded "well I guess that is pretty accurate, so I want to talk to you about money, but I want to sell you something"

Darcy looked confused "you don't have anything of value"

Wickham smirked, a look Darcy had come to loathe "ah but I do own something of value to you, well I will own her soon."

Darcy realised what Wickham was referring to and his face became a mask of disgust "you can't seriously be talking about Miss Elizabeth? She is not something to sell!"

Wickham's smirk never faltered "not her no, but her virtue is mine to do with what I will"

Darcy recoiled in horror "you want to sell me her virtue?"

Wickham shrugged "you, Lord Hervey, Mr Woolson. There are many gentlemen of means who value a woman's virtue."

Darcy was horrified. He knew these gentlemen by reputation and was not surprised that Wickham knew of them, they were the sort of low life's one would encounter in the gaming halls of London. He took a deep breath trying to push away the image of Elizabeth being subject to the whims of one of these men.

"Do you think you can get away with selling her virtue. Do you think she would accept such a fate?"

"Darcy" Wickham looked at him in mock sympathy "she would have little choice in the matter. She will have sworn to obey me and I will tell her this is what she must do"