The storyline, new character development, new events, and new characters are my intellectual property. Glorioux

A/n in this story, the Bingley sisters like Elizabeth, for those confuse hang in there, all will become clearer as time goes on.

Darcy's Regrets

William Darcy's heart ached, marrying Meredith, Aunt Catherine's godchild, the substitute for her dead daughter, had been a mistake. He remembered...

Meredith 's perfect manners, sophisticated behavior, her polished looks, and ardent kisses, convinced him. She allowed him liberties that he thought were all for him, catching him in a snare of falsehoods.

Meredith was ardent with him and with many others. She hadn't saved herself for marriage; hence, the marriage didn't change anything. During the last year her behavior worsened, always trying the new drugs available. If that were not enough, Meredith detested Georgiana. Georgiana was but a shadow, a sad girl, wilting under Meredith's presence. Probably the reason she had gone with George.

Three months ago, Meredith traveled to Italy with a group of her friends that William despised. Meredith was the bell of the ball, easily appearing like a perfect lady; even so, she had so many faults, he couldn't start to count them. Rumors had reached aunt Catherine, who, unfairly, blamed him for not keeping a tight reign on her. Meredith had just returned, when she came into his room, naked. When he saw her, he stood from his bed and asked her to leave. As soon as she left, he locked the door between the rooms.

Richard had told him to stay away from her bed. He heard two of her friends were diseased. Yes, he had made a great mistake. Looking at the tempting Miss Elizabeth made his heart hungry for what could never be his. He knew deep in his heart she was the one for him; the knowledge made him sad. He followed Richard's advice, maybe there was a way out.

He also realized if he were free, Charles and he might have been able to be with Miss Elizabeth, but this was no longer possible. He remembered Charles telling him that he didn't like Meredith; he should have listened.

Lydia's Sorrow

Elizabeth was deep in thought… she wished for her mother's health. Although she had tried, her mother still wanted to die, Lydia's terrible outcome broke her mother's heart. Poor her little sister, it was so tragic.

After Lydia ran away with the scoundrel, Elizabeth had looked in a mirror and saw where Lydia was. Too bad she couldn't see what Lydia was doing. If she had, she would have gone to her uncle instead. Now, her father stayed in his study, after rescuing Lydia from a boarding house, where she lived with Wickham.

He blamed his wife as he often did, treating her as if she were inferior. As usual, her father said his wife wasn't smart, only a simple countrywoman, a daughter of a nobody who pushed Lydia into Wickham's arms. Wickham sold Lydia's body to others, and her father found out. After her father paid Wickham to marry his child, his mind split from reality.

Everything had a price; Jane had been lucky with Peter; he adored her. But with Jane, all Elizabeth had wished was for Jane, was to stop hurting.

Charles and the bad friend-

She stopped thinking when she felt Charles looking at her, intensely. His eyes showed his desire for her. Lizzie blushed, his looks were making her lower abdomen ache. She knew it was desire, she knew a lot of things. When they turned dancing, she felt the long hardness against her. So she allowed him to get closer during the next turns.

Charles knew the wedding had to be soon. Otherwise, he would damage her. He closed his eyes to submerge in the feeling. Gods, it feels good, Charles thought.

She looked at Charles again, who seemed to be elsewhere, "You didn't answer my question."

"I did; it doesn't matter my dear, does it? Let's just dance." Charles pressed her, slightly closer. Darcy saw it, and he knew looking at Charles' face; Charles was aroused. Jealousy twisted his guts. He wanted to talk to Elizabeth, to make her dislike Charles.

After dancing, Mr. Darcy approached her, "Miss Bennet, I need to talk to you, privately. It is of the upmost importance." Elizabeth suspected he was the bad friend; indeed, he was the one.

She didn't answer and walked away.

Caroline and Louisa called her aside, holding her arm, "Dearest, don't pay attention to Mr. Darcy, if he talks to you. He is a proud man who has an unhappy marriage and wishes misery for others; ignore him."

Caroline confessed. "I met Mr. Darcy when I turned 18 and was crazy about him. But he thinks he is too good for someone like me, because of his wealth. Funny, I am glad he didn't like me; life without Albert would had been miserable."

"After Caroline married, I wanted what she had, their closeness; I have it now. I am glad she gave up on Mr. Darcy and married Albert; it changed me. Don't pay attention to Mr. Darcy, dearest Lizzie." Louisa held her hand in affection. The three of them walked linking arms.

Elizabeth noticed the new footman, someone just there. He kept looking at her. It made her aware. She wasn't sure how she felt, maybe concerned. Later she saw the new footman following her; thus, she made sure she was never alone.

That night, her father, the one with no name, appeared in her room, "My beloved child, someone follows you; I hoped this wouldn't come to pass. I don't know how it could have happened. When your friend, Charles, hired someone with mixed heritage, not a bad sort, maybe he called the attention of an undesirable. There are several new hires, so be aware because I cannot tell where he is, or his identity. Be careful and call me, but a whisper, you will know my name. Just touch your chest, you will feel the medallion I hung on you. Remember, undesirables are attractive and dangerous."

"I will be careful; I have a request, my mother is sick, missing my sister. Can you do something to help her? Please do so," Lizzie begged.

"I can, but you might not like it." Her no-name father caressed her face.

"I will, as long as she doesn't die. Do something for father as well; he is lost, just sits, no longer reads, or has lively discussions." Elizabeth begged.

"I will do it, but you cannot be angry with me afterwards." He looked at her, sounding hesitant and apprehensive.

"I won't, I promise. Is the undesirable a Mr. Darcy?" Elizabeth asked.

Her father laughed raucously, "He is a proud fool. I have a secret, he was meant for you, but he married the wrong person. His pride would have blinded him; he would have turned you down. His friend is a good choice; he is a good fellow. But be careful; if the one I fear is around and should find out who you are; he will want to take you." He saw Elizabeth's fear, but he had to warn her.

"My child, you are a prize to behold. He will lock you away in a place I cannot enter and will yield power over me. His children would be a danger to this world. It cannot happen. He is not a demon, but he is one of the fallen; one who supported the rebels."

As usual, he hugged her and disappeared.

The Proposal

The next morning, Charles came to walk with her. She had dressed with special care, hoping he would ask to court her. When she saw him, looking so handsome, her heart accelerated.

While they walked thru a wooded area, Charles invited her to sit on a bench. "My dear, could you remove your bonnet? I want to see your eyes." He sat as close to her as possible. He could feel her body's warmth, oh dear, how he wanted her.

Lizzie's entire body was tense with expectation. She could feel her heartbeat on her throat. Charles admired her; she looked so lovely wearing the embroidered batiste spring dress; the blue color suited her. He wished she would let her glorious rebel hair down. He smiled, looking at her trying to tuck the wild curls; she caught his looks and let her hair go.

Two different people had followed them; William Darcy was one of them. Earlier, he saw Charles whispering to Caroline, and in turn, Caroline gave Darcy a nasty look; her former like for him had changed into a profound dislike. He knew why; it was over the country beauty; she had devoted friends. They were ready to protect her and probably prepared to defend her with their lives.

Darcy knew something was up; he shouldn't spy, yet, he did it. He was behaving poorly and knew it. What he saw tore his insides with jealousy and envy. Darcy could see Charles; he was in love, making Darcy feel like crying. This could have been him. He had cried more than once since he first saw her; he hadn't know love could hurt so much.

In a blink of an eye, Charles was on one knee. He held her hand, "Miss Bennet..."

She corrected him, "Call me Lizzie; I have, repeatedly, asked you that before. After all, your sisters and everyone else in your family use my name; everyone dies, all the Hurst do as well."

"Lizzie," Charles grinned; his smile made her warm all over, "Would you do me the honor of being my wife?" He pressed her hand against his chest; she could feel the loud beat of his heart.

a/n What will she say? I wonder. Poor Mr. Darcy for listening to Aunt Catherine, tsk, tsk.

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