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

a/n Romantic Interlude, such gentleman…Lucky Lizzie…but…Thanks for the reviews, food for my muse, really.

Richard's dream lady

Richard looked at Caroline with disdain and answered curtly, "Good evening, madam; I am on my way to the dance floor, excuse us." He was irritated; her presence wasn't welcomed; the pretentious, dislikable woman had interrupted him when he was about to ask the biggest question of his life.

Lizzie liked him even more for ignoring Miss Bingley. When he moved closer to her, protectively, she could feel his larger body near her, making her feel safe. Yes, without a doubt, she liked to be with him; besides, he looked and smelled divine. She was more aware of many guests looking at both; she knew how handsome he was in his formalwear. Never mind his tousled, glossy blond hair, not shinny with oils like most everyone else's. He, and to her dismay, Mr. Proud, were the best-looking men she had ever seen. Let Miss Bingley eat her well-earned sour grapes. Lizzie thought.

"Ah, you are with the country maiden. Her sister married the host after my brother rejected her; Charles knew better." Caroline couldn't let it go. She looked down on Lizzie, sneering. Many had stopped what they were doing, trying to listen.

Lizzie controlled her temper, keeping her mouth closed. Not Richard, he wanted to slap her, how did the woman dare to insult his Elizabeth, "You are insolent; you owe respect to Lady Elizabeth. " He remembered his brother's fiancee was the daughter of a viscount or was it an earl? He raised his voice. Richard was a nice person with a fiery temper. "Perhaps you should watch what you say and find out who she is before opening your mouth. So you know, she is above your station." Richard, not looking at her, said, "Excuse us," and walked away, leaving Miss Bingley standing, looking dejected, and others gossiping about her set down.

On the dance floor, he saw Bingley with a rather unpleasant-looking lady. Richard just bowed. Lizzie pretended she hadn't seen them. Jane was so much better without him. She remembered Jane's love story, how Peter had walked with her and loaned her his handkerchief to dry her tears. Peter detested Charles for treating Jane so shabbily. He knew Charles was at home because he was on his way to see him.

"When is the other sister, the one married to Hurst?" Richard asked. After Bingley saw them, Richard saw how Bingley left the dance floor, leaving the lady standing alone, he looked angry, when his sister tried to stop him, he pushed her and walked away from her as well. It wasn't his concern.

"Ah, she's not around. Mr. Hurst left with her for their estate after his father passed. I heard they're quite happy away from Miss Bingley." Lizzie grinned. Her smile made him dizzy and want her desperately.

Lizzie's heart beat furiously, wondering what he was going to ask. "Thanks for what you did. I wanted, err, well, to give her the cut direct." She had also wished to tell Miss Bingley a few choice words.

"That was nothing. I would do that and more; you deserve her respect." They were at the dance floor when he held her in his arms, the world around didn't have any meaning. He admonished himself for his thoughts but didn't stop them. Her body felt perfect next to his; he wished he could get closer. What he really wanted was to take her to a dark corner and kiss her mouth, her graceful neck, her half-bare shoulders, moving his lips…

"Lord Fitzwilliams," her voice broke thru the fog of his improper yet delightful thoughts.

"Yes?" He asked, his voice husky with desire. Richard wanted to kiss her and more, did he ever. His eyelids felt heavy.; if she was an innocent, she would be able to tell how he felt.

"You said you wanted to ask me something. What was it?" As soon as Lizzie said it, she blushed. Her tongue was always speaking her thoughts; it was difficult to control it. Her tongue got her in trouble more than once. But it was useful at times, like at Kent, when she told the odious, proud man, Lord Fitzwilliams' relative, what he could do with his awful proposal.

"I will wait till I am sure we won't be interrupted." He held her hand a little tighter; Richard's hand on her waist pressed harder. Dear God, he wanted her badly. All those years dreaming and thinking about her were making it worse..

She nodded, feeling warm all over. She wanted to be kissed like in her dreams; maybe, as Jane had told her, Peter kissed her. She had often thought about the Colonel, wondering why he had not wanted to see her after that ball. She remembered wishing he had been the one proposing instead of his proud cousin. With the dowry her father assigned her, they would have made a fine living. Her father had assigned property for all his daughters, making sure they would be provided.

She made a rushed decision; she would ask a couple of questions; she wanted to know more but the dance was over, much soon for both. He asked, "Do you know of a place where we could talk, and you won't be compromised?" He kept his eyes on her.

Lizzie was glad he asked before she volunteered the information, curious to hear what he had to say. He would have thought her a wanton, what was precisely what she felt like it. Of course, it couldn't be that he would ask her to be his wife; but she wished it would be so. "Yes, we can go to he family library, a couple of elderly relatives are always there; both are hard of hearing." She spoke softly and smiled shyly.

"I will follow you." Richard offered. He wanted to add, to wherever you wish. He hoped he could control himself; his mind was racing, and frissons of desire ran along his body. Never before had he wanted someone so much; he was sure.

Soon they were at the well-lit library; Lizzie had failed to explain the relatives were asleep most of the time. That was the reason why couples were often seen at the library. Richard saw the old couple sitting on the comfortable divans. Even better, they sat as far away from the sleeping pair as they could.

Richard sat close to her and took her hand on his. She held her breath, her heart beating loudly. She worried he might hear it.

"My dear lady, as I was saying," he nearly jumped, letting go of her hand, when he heard a horrible groan. Lizzie noticed and smiled; she knew the pair snored quite loud. Richard realized those were snoring sounds and also grinned. Goodness, she was prettier than he remembered. Why was she still unmarried, he meant before his brother's proposal? He wasn't complaining because she was free.

He was going to ask her. He knew he should do it. He was still an officer and knew one had to take risks to win the battle. This was the battle to win Elizabeth.

"Yes, I will ask you. I thought about it since we danced that night." Richard smiled; he knew that life was full of possibilities. Just look at him, about to propose before someone else could steal her from him.

Something told him that someone was just around the corner, wanting her, and might be able to get her. His intuition never failed; it had kept him alive. His cousin could get them a license, and they could marry in a couple of days. They would have a quiet wedding because of his mourning, and his other dream, the less than chaste dreams, would come true.

He held her hand again, took her glove off, stood up, and went on his knee. He pressed her hand to his lips, opening them. Then pulled her hand and placed it over his heart. Elizabeth knew what he was going to ask, and she already knew her answer. She smiled, letting him know she was listening. Now, she was sure he would kiss he Jane had described; she couldn't wait.

Life was full of possibilities.

William Darcy

Indeed, life was full of possibilities; for some less than for others, take Fitzwilliam Darcy. Darcy could never forget Elizabeth Bennet and how ridiculous he had been. Anne was a huge mistake; she didn't want to marry nor have children. But sad, he allowed Anne to compromise her as planned by his Aunt.

He was with her twice, both times very drunk. Predictably, she cried both times, then was sick during the entire pregnancy. Aunt Catherine was no longer talking to him, accusing him of 'killing' her daughter. In her own words, "You couldn't control your carnal desires and killed her with your child."

Maybe it was time he went back and found Elizabeth; he should have tried before. Yes, he would try to win her. They would be back in a few days, when back, he would ask Peter about Elizabeth. That was a start if he were not too late.

A/N Oops, what is going on here? My muse likes to pull fast ones. I shake my head. J -) Me.