CHAPTER 1 – More than Tolerable

"She is tolerable, I suppose, but not handsome enough to tempt me" Elizabeth flinched as she heard the words come out of HIS mouth. He was by far the most handsome man she had ever seen; Tall, with broad shoulders, muscular arm visible despite his jacket, a well tapered waist and muscular legs that even his breeches could not hide, his almost black curly hair set off the ice blue eyes that had caught her attention the moment he walked in the door. Her pain at the insult was almost physical, she knew she was not beautiful like her sister, Jane and constantly being compared to Jane by her mother did nothing to help her sense of worth but she knew that she was pretty in her own way, and a lot of her appeal lay with her wit and sense of humour but then he had not even bothered to be properly introduced, let alone actually have a conversation with her.

"Seriously Darcy? That is the best you can come up with? Be honest, for once don't avoid your feelings!" His friend Charles exclaimed as he moved his friend away from the crowds, until they were exactly in front of the pillar she was sitting behind.

"Okay, she is beautiful, so much so I feel like I cannot breathe when I look at her, I am terrified to go speak to her because I am afraid of what will come out of my mouth, you know what I am like in situations like this, I never come across well to strangers, I end up sounding like a total snob and offending people. I really do not want to do that to her or myself"

Elizabeth felt like she had stopped breathing, no-one had ever said that about her before, nor had she ever heard anyone being that vulnerable before. He thought she was beautiful? No-one thought she was beautiful, pretty yes, but never beautiful! His earlier insult forgot in light of this revelation. He was afraid to talk to her?

"Why don't you imagine you are talking to Georgie? You never have a problem when you are with her" His friend tried to help.

"That is my sister, I basically raised her, we are so familiar with each other. I doubt thinking of Georgie will help in this situation, especially after this last summer" His voice grew wretched as he spoke about his sister, his affection for her obvious, as well as the pain as he spoke about the last summer. She wondered what had happened to cause him such pain when talking about his sister.

She waited for them to walk away before she went in search of her friend Charlotte; it was no use trying to find Jane, Charles Bingley had already found her and was walking her to the dance floor, again.

"Elizabeth, where have you been? It is strange to see you not on the dance floor" Charlotte teased her friend.

"There is such a shortage of men, unless I am prepared to dance with the officers all night, I must stand a few out" Elizabeth had nothing against soldiers but her younger sister's blatant obsession with them made her feel like at least someone in her family had to show some restraint.

Feeling as if she was being watched, Elizabeth glanced around the room, her eyes met with a pair of ice blue ones, she smiled slightly and turned her attention to Charlotte again, who was telling her how her brothers had made her mother so angry, they were too afraid to show their faces at the assemble. Elizabeth laughed, Charlottes two brothers were a few years older than her, and were like brothers to her as well. It would have been nice if they had attended the assemble, then at least there was more chance of dancing.

William felt drained after his conversation with Charles, he felt isolated most of the times but at events like this even more so, his social awkwardness made it virtually impossible for him to relax and enjoy it like everyone else. He could not help but follow Elizabeth Bennet around the room with his eyes, as he had told Charles, she was beautiful. Yes, her sister Jane was classically beautiful but he had noticed Elizabeth the moment he walked into the room, her brown eyes were almost golden, radiant with intelligence and life, brighter than the candles in the room; her dark brown hair, curls escaping her pins, framing her face and accentuating her eyes, her cute button nose that crinkled slightly when she laughed, her full lush lips that begged to be kissed, her smooth skin, not sickly and pasty looking like most of the other women there, the slight tan hinted at time spent outdoors, her figure was not plank thin as was the fashion, she had generous breasts that her green gown could not hide, a narrow waist with slightly flared hips, but there was not an ounce of fat to be seen, she was almost muscular but in a pleasingly feminine way. His arousal was in agreement, Elizabeth Bennet was a visually pleasing woman.

Damn, where did that come from? Think of Caroline Bingley, think of Caroline Bingley, William was desperate to get his body under control, it would not do to be caught staring at Elizabeth Bennett with his body's approval so proudly on display!

Just as he was about to walk over to Elizabeth, in the hopes of finding the courage to ask her to dance he felt a hand curl itself around his arm, Caroline Bingley! "How tedious is this evening Mr Darcy?" Caroline cooed in his ear. Any ardour he felt was instantly gone, his normal mask of indifference fell across his face. "Not at all, Miss Bingley, this reminds me pleasantly of the gatherings we have back home at Pemberley" he replied, hoping she would get the hint. "Oh, but the class of people at Pemberley is so much more refined, Mr Darcy" she parried back.

"No Miss Bingley, they are the same kind of genteel folk you find here tonight, we country people are much the same wherever you go" surely, she would get the message now!

"I wonder if Charles is ready to leave yet? We have barely seen him at all; it seems that one of the local ladies has gotten her claws into him" Caroline droned in his ear.

He looked around for Charles, he was standing a little way off, making conversation with a group of happy looking people, Jane Bennett at his side laughing at whatever he had just said. There were two other men and another lady standing with them and Charles looked totally at ease. He was so envious of Charles's easy way when it came to making new acquaintances. He found it easier when he was with family and friends of long standing but making small talk with strangers' struck fear into his heart. He was not even comfortable talking to Miss Bingley and her sister, although that was hardly the same, he felt hunted by them.