Author's Note: This is really short. But the cliffhanger I'm about to leave you on was really just too perfect and I wanted to see what it felt like to be Steven Moffat or the Russo Brothers. I promise I'm writing the next chapter as quickly as my fingers will allow. Will update ASAP.


Fitzwilliam Darcy

My face burned in shame as I waited for my friend to speak.

"I... I don't understand," Charles said, pacing back and forth before the fireplace, running his hand through his hair.

"Last year when-" I began again.

"No, no. I heard you. I heard what you said and what you and my sisters did. I don't understand... why? And why you're telling me this now, when God. It's too late man! I left her. When she loved me, I left and I-"

"I've spoken to her," I cut him off at the beginning of his rambling. "Yesterday."

"You... you saw her yesterday?"

"Yes and Jane-"

"Jane?!" He sputtered.

"Oh God. You're telling me now so that I don't raise a fuss when you start courting her."

"When I..."

"And that's why you did it. You're in love with Jane too and-"

"Good God man, don't be ridiculous. Of course not."

"You called her Jane. I can count the women you are so familiar with on a single hand, Darcy." He shook his head angrily. "I cannot believe I have been so blind as to not see-"

"I am in love with Elizabeth. Her sister." My interruption did stop his sentence in its tracks, but it seemed to cause more confusion than clarification.

"Is she not currently-"

"Married to my aunt's steward, and expecting a child forthwith. Yes." I sunk down into a chair. I have been in love with her since the moment I laid eyes on her at that ball we went to, the night we arrived at Netherfield. And if I had not been such a coward, she would never have had to wed that absolute monster."

"Come now, I understand why you do not like the man, but he is a man of the cloth, and he-"

"He is a monster of the worst degree. He will spend all of eternity rotting in the deepest pits of hell and if I had my way I would have already sent him there."

"Christ," Bingley swore. He sat down beside me.

"What can I do?"

"Pardon?" He shrugged awkwardly at my question.

"I understand that this is a lot deeper than just matters of the heart. I appreciate you telling me about Jane and it is my wish to run off to Hertfordshire at first light tomorrow morning, but I have a feeling you are here for more than just to apologize to me. You wouldn't be this upset if Mrs. Collins weren't in trouble, and as Jane's favorite sister I... what can I do, Darcy?"


It had been a productive day yesterday, despite my only making it to London at half noon. I had filed the paperwork, the townhouse that had formerly been property of the Fitzwilliam family was now the property of one Mr. Bennet, separately from his estate, and was to be inherited by his eldest child. Lizzy would be happy with that, that whatever Jane decided in regards to Bingley, she had security for the future. I had met with my uncle, and he was perfectly happy to bring the issues I had requested to the House of Lords, and begin the work his sister and I were so passionately asking for, though what he thought about my sudden alliance with Aunt Catherine was evident upon his face. My aunt Lady Matlock looked much pleased at my request, and seemed much less phased about the situation as a whole. Though the letter I had passed on to her from Richard may have had something to do with that if my suspicions were correct. Bingley was assisting to tie up a few loose ends this morning and then he would be on love's light wings to Hertfordshire in an attempt to win back Jane. I had a full day of work, ahead of me, ensuring that the balls I had gotten rolling continued swiftly in the correct direction before I could return to Kent. Firstly, meeting with my solicitor.

I was nearly out the door when a footman with my Aunt Catherine's livery crashed past my butler, Mr. Kelly, and into the entryway.

"Sir!" Kelly sputtered indignantly. "I am more than capable of delivering a simple message when convenient for my master!"

"I don't have time for this." The footman snarled. His eyes found mine and he held out a slightly crumpled letter. "Mr. Darcy. Anne wrote. It is an emergency. I am to deliver it into your hands immediately."

"Anne?" I asked. It was then that I noticed the man's hands shaking, his pale countenance. I recognized him, I realized after a moment's consideration. He had helped... oh God. He had helped carry Lizzy to her room the night when...

"Please, sir. You need to come immediately."