Chapter 1

Elizabeth Bennett was enjoying herself. The monthly assembly was looked forward too by one and all. This one was even more so. Netherfield had been let at last and by a single man with his own fortune. Mother's through out the community rejoiced but none quite as loudly as Mrs. Bennett. She had five unmarried daughters and with their family home entailed upon her husband's passing, she felt sure that this was an answered prayer.

For Elizabeth, it was a mixed blessing. It gave her mother something else to focus on other than how undeserving and how she would never be as good as her sisters. She had left the house just this evening with her mama's reproaches in her ear. She knew that she would never be as pretty as Jane but why did mama have to keep reminding her.

She smiled as she exchanged greetings with he best friend Charlotte Lucas once more. The found two seats together and began talking about the evening. Unfortunately they were sitting near to where Mr. Darcy was standing trying to hide from the world. Mr. Darcy was the friend of Mr. Charles Bingley who had let Netherfield. He seemed unfriendly and proud. What hide behind that the neighbors could only guess not that they really wanted to know.

As Mr. Darcy stood watching the people dancing he barely noticed his friend approach him nor did he notice the ladies sitting near him.

"Come now, Darcy, I must have you dance." The tall red headed young man said jovial.

"I should think not. Your sisters are both engaged in the pursuit and you know I despise dancing with whom I'm not acquainted with. " Mr.Darcy said running his hand over his dark hair.

"I wouldn't be as fastidious as you for a kingdom. I've met some very pleasant and beautiful people. Let me introduce you to my partner Miss Bennett's sister Miss Elizabeth. "

"She is tolerable I suppose but not enough to tempt me. Go back to your partners and leave me to my own devices. " Mr. Darcy answered with just a passing glance at Elizabeth. Shaking his head Bingley walked back to the dance floor.

Charlotte could feel Elizabeth slight tremble. She tried to console her friend. She sighed sadly as Elizabeth quickly rose and started rushing out of the room. She recognized the pain behind her friends humorous reply she half heartedly gave. Charlotte knew that Mrs. Bennett often was unkind to her daughter. She'd heard her tell Elizabeth that she would never catch a husband and that being alone was what she deserved. Charlotte always tried along with Jane to make Elizabeth see that her mother was wrong. But deep down Charlotte knew that Elizabeth believed her mother.

Jane Bennett was enjoying her dance with Mr. Bingley emencly. If she hadn't looked up at just that moment she would have missed seeing her sister obviously upset walking out onto a balcony. The dance could not end soon enough.

"Would you care for a glass of punch?" Mr Bingley asked.

"No thank you. I must go see to my sister. She rushed out to the balcony so quickly that I'm sure something has happened. " she answered sweetly.

Charles escorted her as close to the door as propriety would allow and left her with the request that she let him know if there was anything he could do to help.

Jane stepped outside slowly looking for her sister. What she found broke her heart. Elizabeth stood by the railing weeping softly. Gently Jane put her arms around her sister. Elizabeth slowly calmed down enough to speak.

"I'm tolerable but not enough to tempt. Mama is right. Even Mr. Darcy agrees."

"Lizzy, please dear I don't understand. "

Elizabeth explained what had happened. Jane looked at her sister with sad knowing eyes.

"Lizzy, Mama is wrong and so is Mr. Darcy. Your beautiful inside and out. And if they can't see that then they are fools."

"Jane, that's the most unforgiving thing I've ever heard you say. "

"it just makes me angry to hear people saying such unkind things to you."

The two sister talked a little while until Elizabeth chased Jane back inside. Jane had been inside for just a few minutes when Charles approached her.

"is your sister alright? "

"she is calmer now. But no Mr. Bingley she definitely not alright. " Jane said. She didn't know why she was being so open with a gentleman but she was still so angry that she struggled keeping her own counsel.

"My word, what happened? "

"My sister overheard an uncharitable comment said about herself. "

"she heard Darcy?" he asked in shock.

"Yes and unfortunately because our mother often tells her that kind of thing she now believes that Mr. Darcy has confirmed what she has been told. " Jane answered.

"I'm so sorry. That was poorly done. But if it's any consolation I do not believe that Darcy even took the time to look at her properly. I believe he was only trying to get me to leave him alone."

"That is a comfort to me to know that he did not truly mean what he said but it does nothing to help me with how to make her see the truth. "

The pair sat in silence for quite a while until Jane's next dance partner came to claim her hand. Bingley was at a loss. He knew he would need to speak to Darcy but how he would go about it he didn't know. But he knew that it couldn't wait til morning.