The following story has characters acting very OOC - if you don't like that then don't read ahead! What if Mr. Darcy had already been 'at home' when Elizabeth and Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner pay an unexpected visit to Pemberley. A rather naughty version of what could have happened if Lizzie Bennet had spied Mr. Darcy in his bedchamber after just getting out of the bath.

Darcy's past hardships alter his views of love and marriage so much that he makes choices none who knew him would have anticipated.

The winter of 1811 was perilously and unexpectedly cold. The roads became impassable and neighbors leaned on each other to bear the barren winter. The Winter of 1811 found Netherfield Park occupied for Christmas. Holiday fic 2012.

"If only I had learnt to be a lady," Elizabeth whispered, "then perhaps I might be fit to marry, but as it is, I am not." Is it possible for a man, even one such as Fitzwilliam Darcy, to change her mind?

Elizabeth Bennet marries an Earl 2 years before Bingley lets Netherfield. While in London for the winter, Darcy makes her acquaintance, & discovers that her marriage is not a happy one, causing him to form and offer her a desperate resolution. Beta'd 16/10/15

Elizabeth Bennet marries an Earl two years before P&P begins. Now widowed, wealthy and a peer of the realm, she has been abused by her love, a shadow of her former self. With Ramsgate in his mind, Darcy seeks to restore her to liveliness, & her love. This has been beta'd 3/5/13.

The curate's words haunt Darcy, "So, perhaps, young master, you were born a Darcy because you were not strong enough to be born a farmer." These words ringing in his ears Pemberley's young master struggles to act on the good principles he has been given.

Not being able to breath the air at Longbourn after Mr. Collins' longwinded and insincere proposal, Elizabeth heads for the woods where she runs into an injured Mr. Darcy.