A/N: Sorry for the long dely. I was writing this in my down time between clients at work. I was put on a different shift and at a different location. Then for a curve ball my department head decided we were no longer permitted to have our personal computers at work. So I have been writing this longhand and then having to try to find time to type it out for publishing. The drive to do this wasn't really helped lately when the upteenth person who I know irl refused to read this. So thank you so much for your comments. When no one I know will even read a single chapter hearing that you all love it and even reread it has been the only drive that keeps it going. It means the world to me. Chapter 21: A discovery took place It was like a strange case of deja vu. Mary Crawford was struck by the man sitting in her sister's drawing room. It was nothing in their appearance that brought Edmund to mind when meeting Mr. Ferrars. Mr. Edward Ferrars was nothing to draw notice, his looks just the type that would make the eyes pass over him in a crowd. Whereas Mr. Bertram was tall and striking, immediately drawing the eye. It was something deeper than that, their mannerisms and way of speaking, even their thoughts, were closer than those of brothers. The only real difference was that Mr. Ferrars manners were more polished. He was not so demanding of attention, or set in his opinions it seemed. He listened more. It was as if someone took Mr. Bertram and put him to a polishing wheel, grinding off his rough edges but along with them his striking notice

Mrs. Grant seemed to be much won over by his warmth, and his willingness to continue his visit with the ladies when finding Doctor Grant not at home for the introduction. "Will you be settling long at Southerton Parish, or is it just a stepping stone in your career?" Mrs Grant asked of him.

"I hope to settle there. I am not really cut out for the higher offices of the Church. That is I would serve if asked to. But I find a season here or there to be enough of London. I always preferred the country. The company is more to the speed that I prefer, if you understand. I would like to be able to have a personal, deeper relationship with my parishioners. I could never imagine myself as interesting enough to command the pulpits in London or our other larger cities. Though I do enjoy the culture very much." Edward responded finally managing to relax a little in their company.

Mrs Grant gave Mary a loaded look she very much did not like. Her sister was already plotting it seemed, turning back to Edward "So if the opportunity arose you would take an appointment in the city?"

"Um, well that would depend. Now when I am just starting out I feel that would be a bit much. But later if opportunities presented, I would feel I owed it to my family to take the promotion. I mean if I had one that is." Blushing a little at how quickly his mind still envisioned Miss Dashwood in such a position. After having spent too much time making decisions in her pursuit.

Mrs. Grant taking this embarrassment to be more to being in the company of a pretty young woman was quite gleeful. Mary knew she would have to sort her sister out quickly once he left. Changing the subject she asked. "So do you have a connection to the Rushworths? Is that what brought you to Southerton." It was a little forward to ask how one comes across a living, but if he was to live in the small society of the country Mary figured he better get used to nosey people and impertinent questions.

Ferrars managed to look a little embarrassed at this. "Well not directly. My younger brother and his new wife are good friends of the Rushworths. Connections were made through them."

Ah, so a purchased living. Good enough for a younger son. Though Mary was thrown having only heard of two Ferrars sons in town. When she heard Ferrars was taking the living at Southerton she assumed it was some relation of the snobbish former Miss Elliot she had to deal with when visiting Maria in the spring. The airs that Elizabeth Ferrars had put on in Mary's presence, had led her to believe that her husband was the eldest. But if this Mr. Ferrars was saying younger brother there must be a third. Well she was already being impertinent. "Younger brother, I must have misunderstood, I thought the Mr. Ferrars I encountered at the Rushworths in town to be the eldest, do you have another brother?"

Edward looked positively mortified at this. "There was no mistake in terms of there being only two sons. Just my brother and I, though we share a sister who is older than us both. Robert is however my younger brother. Though much more suited to what being the eldest would have entailed."

Oh. Well that was quite interesting. Shocking to be honest. Mary would have to think on that later. "Such as it sometimes is." Mary said soothingly. "I was always quite glad to have only one brother. Should there have been another he would have been expected to go into the navy, whether it suited him or not. It is good that you were able to choose your own vocation despite your birth order."

"Quite so." Edward responded, smiling at her for letting him off the hook and demanding further explanation.

After some more small talk Mr. Ferrars made his excuses of needing to pay his respects at the park with time to return to Southerton in the light. Once he was shown out Mrs. Grant returned to the drawing room a wicked smile upon her face.

"Do not even think it sister." Mary responded exhausted at the mere thought of what her sister was plotting.

"So he is not as attractive as Mr. Bertram, he is much more flexible to a lady's wishes. But still a man of class and sense. An intelligent man who is interesting but will let his wife have say is a rarity in our class." Mrs. Grant stated

Mary cringed at the thought. "No sister, I have learned my lesson. A more accommodating imitation of Mr. Bertram is not what I want. I understand what you are saying, but good enough will not make me happy. If I needed to marry I would most definitely consider him. I am independent though. I would like a family of my own but if not I will be a fabulous Aunt to Fanny and Henry's brood. I do not wish to settle for a man who I have to drive like a mule team. I may be asking too much, but I want a man who is his own man. Who has his own ambitions to be and do something without me having to force him. To want that while finding a man who will respect that I am my own person and have my own wants and will not bow to his every whim, well it may be too much to ask, but it is what I am asking. No demand. I will not settle for a more accommodating copy. I want him to want me not something I am not, I also want to want him for himself not what I could shape him into."

Mrs. Grant sighed. "I very much want that for you as well, I always thought you deserved the best. Though I fear it may be a rare commodity indeed you seek. It also saddens me to admit that you cannot remain here with me and likely find it. It would have been very nice to have you settled so close to me."

Taking her sisters hand and giving a quick squeeze Mary responded "I would have liked that as well. Though there is one thing we can at least agree on."

"What is that?" Mrs. Grant asked

Mary picking up her tea to hide the smirk growing on her face replied. "Henry should be very glad Mr. Ferrars did not come to the neighborhood before he snagged Fanny."

"Like he could compete with our Henry." Mrs. Grant's response however did not sound so confident as she had hoped.

Mary just laughed. Yes, Henry would have had a run for his money if a more receptive quiet clergyman had been about to notice his Fanny. He was lucky that he found her first in general. Fanny was truly one in a million and Henry would have had quite a fight for her if there had been more men of sense about. Mary hoped he continued to understand and appreciate her value once the shine of winning her wore off.


The trip with the Gardiners had been liberating. Elizabeth had always loved the merriment of her family home. The noise and the bustle of it all. At least she thought she had. Time with her Aunt and Uncle alone was a balm to a weariness she had not known she suffered from. She had never taken notice of how much of her time and energy was spent helping ease conflict and steer the strong personalities of her family toward peace. The earliest leg of the trip had left Elizabeth bored, unsure what to do with herself. Her book had been finished in the first few days of travel. She had company anytime she wished, both her Aunt and Uncle made for wonderful and intelligent conversation. Just as engaging as her father, but much more willing to set aside their book or work to spend time with her.

Elizabeth had time to herself on her rambles at home, but had never really been able to pursue independent endeavors at home, there were always other demands on her time. To read a book she could hide in her fathers library with him. That offer of sanctuary did not extend to other activities though. Her Aunt had always stood as a fine example of a lady, for Elizbeth and Jane to follow. This trip was reinforcing those lessons. Elizabeth was able to devote quiet time on more traditionally feminine pursuits. Ones her father would have judged her as silly for, and her mother would have seen her as doing nothing and available to help her should she have tried.

Keeping a journal and maintaining meaningful correspondence two such focuses. Spending time each day sorting and analyzing her thoughts left her feeling like the person she had been in the spring was a stranger to her. Each day she seemed to be learning more of herself, like a reintroduction to a friend who had long been away. Elizabeth was finding her correspondence even more showing of how much everything and everyone was changing. She was a little ashamed, though how much of this change had truly been her misunderstanding those she cared for.

The changes in Jane were amazing to Elizabeth. Jane had blossomed under Tom's love, even more so in her role as a wife. The plight of their future must have been a greater weight on her sister than Elizabeth had realized. Jane was like a different woman, it hurt Elizabeth to realize she had underestimated Jane. Hearing about Jane and Tom's work for Mansfield even while on their wedding trip, and their plans for when they returned gave Elizabeth hope for her own future. That she may too make a match with an intelligent gentleman who respected her input and wanted her help as a partner in their lives.

Mary and Kitty, or Catherine as she had begun to sign her letters, were like the work of strangers as well. Her sisters were growing up in leaps and bounds. For the first time she was able to converse with them as one adult to another. They were finally her peers and it took being away to notice the change. Elizabeth was sure their lessons were helping them grow, but more so helping them show their growth to others.

Charlotte's letters were the most changed, with the least having changed in her. Elizabeth had never realized how much of Charlotte's sadness and hurt was brushed aside by a wish not to be a burden on those around her. Time away, with only an empty page to fill had not allowed Charlotte to deflect as much. Her honesty showed Elizabeth how she had failed as a friend. Elizabeth promised herself she would do better in the future. It was the same pitfall that Elizabeth had fallen into over and over again. Ascribing her own perspective and assumptions onto those around her. She hoped when she returned to Hertfordshire she could bridge that gap. To learn to disagree with Charlotte without disregarding her view and perspective because it was different than her own.

Her thoughts when she considered how she misjudged so many were in the forefront of her mind today especially. Their party had arrived in Lampton yesterday morning and by the afternoon Georgianna had paid a visit to welcome them. A note had followed this morning inviting Elizabeth and her Aunt to return the visit and remain for tea. Elizabeth knew she had been two harsh in her assessment of Mr. Darcy. Her friendship with Georgianna had shown her that much. She still often saw two very different men, and it was hard put to reconcile them. The changes the last few weeks had brought over herself and those she knew had her wondering what Mr. Darcy she would find here in Derbyshire. It was this worry that had her extending her morning ramble through when she should have been having breakfast with her Aunt.

Careful to keep Lampton in view she sought a small rise at the edge of the sightline from town. She had been standing atop it for several minutes scanning the view from it when the silence was broken.

"You seek the best views in an area with a near supernatural skill. Tell me Miss Bennet do the trees themselves confess such secrets." Elizabeth's thoughts had been so absorbed she did not see the object of them approach from below.

"You must whisper to the same spirits, to find your feet along the same paths." Elizabeth turned smiling to greet Darcy. Her breath caught in her chest at the sight of him and it was all she could do to keep the surprise from showing on her face.

Her theory on the two different Darcy's was thrown into sharp light this morning. She would not have recognized the man before her had she only known him from that first assembly in Merryton. Gone was the stiff harsh lines. It was as if the burst of warmth and happiness he had shown once he was in Georgianna's presence had bloomed. The tension was gone from his form. His countenance had an open friendliness that Elizabeth couldn't reconcile at all with the sneer of the stony cold man that had been introduced to her. Seeing him here in Derbyshire, it was like summer had come to his form. Melting away the man she thought she knew.

His manner of dress was more relaxed as well. He stood before her in the sturdy work clothes of a country gentleman. They were still elegant, clearly expensive in their materials and tailoring. But he looked more like the gentleman of her own neighborhood than a stiff London elite.

"Not at all Miss Eliz...Miss Bennet '' he paused for a second seeming to have forgotten for a moment her elevation at Jane's marriage. Though a quick flash of a frown, a crease between his brows showed he disliked losing the ability to say her name. "This land was more guarded with her secrets in my presence. I had to learn her secrets the hard way over time. I hope she has warmed to me though. I only found this particular haunt, this last year. Though you seem to be making a better use of it than my solitary brooding. He gestured toward the direction of the village, where her eyes had been before his approach.

"Yes, the town, the people it is like a dance. From up here everything looks so fluid, so planned. Every piece just where it must be." Elizabeth answered the employed question of how she was putting the prospective to use.

He nodded "So different than my views of London from up high. London always reminded me of the time I saw a hornets nest fall as a branch broke. Wild frenzied movement, there must have been a pattern to it, but none that I could see.

Elizabeth took in his proud and affectionate gaze as he took in the town. "It is clear which you prefer. And from here, I cannot help but agree." she paused for a moment. "It suits you."

He seemed thrown by her approval, but pleased. "My wanderings were toward Lampton, if you're headed that way I can offer you an arm. Darcy gestured with his crooked arm out. Elizabeth laughed. "Certainly, we are at the inn, if you are headed that way."

"What a coincidence. I was headed there as well. I heard from a reliable source that a certain Mr. Gardiner would possibly be available for me to abscond with as a fishing partner. As said source was stealing away his wife and niece." Darcy delivered with mock solemnity.

Elizabeth laughed openly, all reserve forgotten. "We may never get him back, if you offer him such educements." They walked along in silence for a while, enjoying the comfortable welcome of the shady path. Elizabeth reflecting on the many Darcys realized she could not give his home and Georgianna all the credit. He had come back to Netherfield the second time different, even before Georgianna's arrival.

"What changed?" The question had slipped from her mouth without her really deciding to ask it.

"Excuse me?" Darcy asked, caught off guard by the unprompted question.

As it was already out Elizabeth decided she might as well continue. "Something happened from the time you first left Netherfield until you came back. I know I was prejudiced against you because of…" Elizabeth paused her embarrassment showing, remembering he would not know she had heard his dismissal of her. "Well I was. But there was also a change in you as well. When you came back you were not so harsh."

Darcy seemed to almost roll the words aver in his mouth, looking to get a feel for them. To know how to explain. "You have never had the pleasure of meeting my Aunt, Lady Catherine, have you?" He paused allowing her a small shake of the head and a confused look. " She is an interesting character to put it kindly. Which few would. Well to be blunt, she is what happened. Though it was Fitzwilliam that helped me put it into perspective. He made me realize how harshly I was judging others. That I was not only judging people, but for actions that were completely out of their control. It occurred to me while there that had my parents passed when I was younger, while my other Uncle was not in a position to take us, Georgianna and I would have passed into the care of Lady Catherine. I would not have wished to be judged by her actions and opinions. I also had the um.." Darcy paused here seeming to weigh his words again.

He seemed to be questioning if he should continue, seeing Elizabeth attentively waiting for him to do so he continued "Pleasure of encountering your cousin while I was there. He spoke rather openly of your family and the situation they would find themselves in should your father pass. What it would mean for you and your sisters should this happen before you are settled in life. I was ashamed to realize I had not thought of that in regards to your mother's actions. I took her meddling to be mercenary, like the social climbers I have dealt with in London. Once I took the time to look at things from her perspective, I saw that her actions came from a place of fear and love for her daughters. A well timed snide comment from my Aunt reminded me that even in my superior situation your mother was not pushing you towards me. In fact she was rather disgusted with my presence. It showed that she would not have meddled had she thought Jane would not be happy."

Elizabeth thought he might have been giving her mother a little too much credit, her mothers focus was for the whole family to be happy and would have sacrificed one of them to make the rest safe. But he didn't need to have that corrected "I am glad you were brought to a better understanding of us. Your return gave us the chance to see that we were too harsh in our view of you as well. I did not take the time to view things from your perspective as I should have. You were a stranger to us and clearly outside of your comfort zone. It also had not occurred to me the way you and your cousin are often treated as meat thrown to hungry dogs by mothers, until Charlotte pointed it out."

Darcy smiled as they were approaching the inn at last. "I am glad we got the chance to start again. I have enjoyed getting to know you for real this time. Enjoy your day with Georgie." He bowed slightly to her.

"Thank you, try not to be too alarmed if my uncle tried to move in after seeing your lake." Elizabeth stated turning to head inside. Everyone seemed to be changing, but as much as it left her struggling to keep up, Elizabeth could not help but be glad as the changes all seemed to be for the better.


Eliza had always known her life as Mrs. Owens was too good to be true. Eliza Owens was happy. She had left behind most of her anger and hatred with the name Beth. The girl that was foolish enough to think she would be Beth Willoughby. To her guardian Brandon she had always been Eliza, or Elizabeth. So when she went off to school she wanted to be known as Beth. Beth had sounded so much more mature to her. Just another foolish idea she had learned to set aside to become Eliza Owens. Eliza Owens the "widow" and Jamie's mother.

The life she had made in this village was the happiest she had ever been. There were days she wished she could forget the lie, to truly believe that the Owens were her family. That she had been loved by the wonderful man they spoke of. The son her new parents had to teach her about should anyone ask. It was horrible to come to know such a wonderful man after he was gone, gone before she could ever know him. What a wonderful thing it would have been to have met James Owens that day in Bath instead of John Willoughby. She might have still been here, her and Jamie, but she would not wake everyday fearing it was the day everything fell apart.

Eliza had imagined them being caught out in a thousand different ways. She had never imagined it would come in the form of a young man with the kindest and bluest eyes she had ever seen. The hand that Mrs. Norris had played in it was less surprising. Mrs. Norris had always been a risk, but her well meaning, busy meddling was endearing to Eliza. Not remembering her own mother, and then dealing with the cold authoritarian nature of school matrons made her crave the meddling. Mrs. Owens had taken her in as a daughter, but Mrs. Norris next door was like the well intentioned but overbearing fairy godmother from a storybook.

Mrs. Norris for all her care loved to gossip and had a great acquaintance. As such the Owens knew she presented a danger to their story, but never had the heart to exclude her for it. The danger when it did come was not malicious, but in her telling her visiting nephew all about the poor young widow next door. John Price had come to Mansfield to visit and celebrate his promotion to lieutenant.

It was such a farfetched chance, that the young sailor had happened to be part of the crew that had brought supplies and reinforcements to the army unit that James Owens would die fighting with. That James Owens often unable to sleep on the voyage would and would talk to the young Midshipman Price who had pulled the night watch. That the same midshipman would be ashore when Owens was brought into camp with the wound that would see him sent home. The midshipman who was with him when he did not make it through the voyage back home.

When John Price heard from his Aunt that James Owens parents were in the Village near Mansfield of course he had to visit them. His curiosity made the visit even more important to him when his Aunt mentioned James's widow and son. He knew James Owen had died having never married, he did not even have a sweetheart at home in mind. John Price however was smart enough to not say as much in front of his Aunt. Or to even mention how well he knew James when his Aunt first introduced them after Church that week.

Eliza had listened to the kind young man's story with growing trepidation. Mr and Mrs. Owens were tearful and grateful in the memory of losing their son, in knowing that they were his last thought. They had not yet remembered Eliza and the danger this young man was to them. But it was there in John Price's kind but confused and curious glances.

When his visit was ending he turned to the elder Mrs. Owens "I have never visited Mansfield before, I am unsure of the surrounding areas. Perhaps if Mrs. Owens" a small gesture of his head toward Eliza "might be willing to walk a small way with me and give me an overview.

Eliza's stomach dropped. The Owens still reeling from hearing of James's last moments seemed to think nothing of it. Mrs. Owens encouraged the young people out the door. Eliza obligated, wishing to save the Owens anymore pain today. She was the one at fault for their lie, she would take the consequences. She was concerned that he wanted to speak with her alone. Knowing her secret put her in his power. Now after Willoughby and finally hearing the true story of her mother, having seen what some do with that power she did not like the feeling.

They had barely hit the wider lane when he stopped, turning to her so fast Eliza's had fell from the arm he had offered at the door. "Do they know?" he asked, tensed his voice was low and clipped.

"Excuse me?" Eliza asked. Not expecting this particular question. Her voice small, shoulders curled in, expecting some sort of verbal blow.

"Do they know? Mr. and Mrs. Owens. Did you present yourself to them as their son's widow or are they a part of this knowingly? I was with James Owens when he was dying. I asked about his family. About a wife, he didn't even have a particular girl he was interested in. So again. Do. They. Know." John's voice was truly harsh for the first time.

Eliza was shaking by this point. Unused to such confrontation. A part of her was also relieved, the other shoe had dropped finally. Dread would no longer hover just out of sight. "They know" she raised her face. Lifting her gaze to his face. "They chose this, but do not be angry at them. This was my mistake, they were just being kind."

John seemed to deflate relief rushing through him with an exhaled breath. The sunny kindness coming back to his face like the sun emerging from the clouds. "Well that is all I need to know." John picked up Eliza's hand placing it back on his arm, turning them to continue the walk. "So long as they chose you and Jamie that is their business. Now would you like to hear about your son's namesake and what he was like when he was away from home and hearth?" John asked this last wiggling his eyebrows in a suggestive manner.

A laugh just this side of a sob burst from Eliza. This was completely opposite the reaction she expected to have from someone finding out the truth. "I would like that very much, I only ever hear of him young."

The walk was short but delightful. It was wonderful for Eliza to have someone to talk to nearer her age. Lieutenant Price told her quite a few wonderful and slightly scandalous stories of James Owen before returning her to the Owens gate.