Chapter 2

"Brother," Georgiana Darcy said timidly. "What is wrong? I am sorry."

"No, no poppet," Fitzwilliam Darcy rushed to reassure his sister. "You have done nothing wrong. My own black mood is my own fault."

"I am sorry," Georgiana said again, ducking her head to hide her tear filled eyes. She wished that she dared be brave enough to write to Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Hertfordshire unintroduced. She was positive her brother's meloncaholy was related to her. His letters had been full of her witticisims and endeavors. She had been quite surprised when her elder brother arrived home early Tuesday in such a despondent mood. One that had not lifted and only seemed to deepen with each day that had passed. It was only Thursday but the last two days had seen her brother's mood dip considerably. Something surprising since it had been so bleak already on his arrival at Darcy House.

Despite his assurance that he was glad to be back in London and with her, she could not help but believe that where he truly wished to be was in Hertfordshire with Elizabeth. After his letters, Georgiana thought sadly, she wished she were in Hertfordshire with Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Miss Caroline Bingley though made Georgiana uncomfortable so her brother had insisted she not come to Hertfordshire while he resided under his friend Charles Bingly's roof, where Miss Bingley was the hostess. His duty to protect her from the social climber and to spend time with her was keeping him from being in Hertfordshire to court his love, Georgiana belived, and she was very sorry for that.

As his sister left the room, Darcy closed his eyes and attempted to steel his heart agaisnt the longing he felt for Elizabeth Bennet. His heart whispered to him that if he married Elizabeth she would know how to help his sister. That under the care of one such as her, his sister would blossom. The thought of going to society events and having ladies that were not his Elizabeth attempt to capture his attention made him feel ill. The thought of marrying anyone other than her left him feeling entirely nauseaus. He pounded his desk in frustration. He could not countance marrying any but Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Hertfordhsire but at the same time he knew she was entirely unsuitable, no matter how much he had realized he loved her after their dance Monday night at Bingley's ball. He had awoken as soon as it was light, roused Bingley and announced it was time they depart for London since otherwise he knew he would be tempted to call on Elizabeth that day and claim her hand in marriage, utterly ruining his family name. It was with thoughts of wishing Elizabeth was his that his aunt found him.

"Has Richard indicated to you when he expects to be back?" Lady Matlock demanded as she swept into her nephew's study behind his butler that had just announced her.

"Last I heard he anticipates being in London in a day or two at the most," Darcy said, quirking an eyebrow at his aunt in silent question.

"Good, I am planning a dinner for Saturday that he will be able to attend then. I think I have found the perfect wife for him this time," Lady Matlock said with satisfaction.

"Again? Need I remind you of the last one? And what she attempted with me? Or the one before that? Or before that? Another heiress for him to consider, I will save you the time and him the aggravation. He isn't interested," Darcy said with a scowl. His aunt, in a campaign to see her youngest son out of the military, was determined to see him married off so he would retire. Unfortunately for her, his cousin Col. Richard Fitzwilliam, shared his disgust of the insipid debutants the ton attempted to foist off on its eligible bachelors. Some of the woman his aunt had brought forth had been harmless and uninteresting, but a few of them had been conniving schemers that used a supposed interest in his cousin to attempt to ensare him instead. Just thinking of it made his scowl deepen. He found it to be grossly unfair that those scheming women were considered an appropriate match by society while his Elizabeth, the woman he truly wanted to marry was considered unsuitable. She who was everything lovley and good. It was not to be born.

"This time she isn't an heiress and I have no fears of her being a fortune hunter, she has already refused the heir to her father's estate. She is charming and witty," Lady Matlock said recalling his attention.

"What's this? Not an heiress?" Darcy said surprised, knowing the state of his cousin's finances and that his cousin refused to accept what he considered charity.

"A young lady I have been eager to meet for years. It recently occurred to me that she perhaps could be the solution to Richard's problem."

"I do not believe he considers his single state to be a problem, Aunt Susan," Darcy said, but she ignored him.

"He might think he needs to marry an heires, but if he where to meet a gentlewoman and fall in love, I am confident his father can be persuaded to assist him. It is time one of my sons, or you, married. My aunt left me a small bequest that with the release of the doweries set aside for a daughter that never materialized, a small estate could be purchased or perhaps they could live off the intrest. He would not be to proud to accept our assistance if he had a wife. His attitude about depleting his brother's estate is ridiculous. Matlock is fully solvent."

"And who is the lucky young lady this time?" Darcy asked sarcastically.

"No one you would know. She is completely unknown in the ton. Her dowry is negligible, I imagine. She is a gentlewoman though and that is good enough. Richard will get along with her splendidly."

"You would advocate a match between Richard and a lady unknown in society that brings no fortune or connections to the marriage?" Darcy asked cautiously, an idea beginning to form in his mind.

"The right young woman is her own dowry. If Richard takes a fancy to her and can be persuaded to leave the army for her sake, she is more priceless than any monetary dowry. Between your consequence and that of the House of Matlock, we can assure she is accepted by society."

"Your right," Darcy said a wide smile breaking out across his face.

"Good William. I knew I could count on you to support your cousin. This girl is different from the others. Just one more thing, for Richard's sake please refrain from looking down your nose at her. She cannot help what station in life she was born to. If things go according to plan, she will be your cousin someday."

Darcy, no longer paying attention to his aunt began to wave her away, thinking about what her words meant for his future. He could marry his Elizabeth, no one need ever find out about her unsavory connections. He would see about having settlement papers drawn up and Monday he would head to Hertfordshire to claim his bride. He would naturally have to keep the news from Bingley until his friend found a new angel, but that should not take to long given his friend's history, Darcy thought to himself.

"I shall see you at dinner at the end of the week, Darcy," his aunt informed him as she left. "I have invited her and her relations to dine. A small intimate affiar. Your attendance is expected, as is a welcoming attitude."

…

Collins frowned at the plain woman across from him. He knew he could offer Miss Charlotte Lucas the position as his wife and she would gratefully accept, but the image of his beautiful cousin and her spirited manner intruded into his thoughts. He deserved better then a plain wife, he thought to himself. He deserved a spirited wife that he could break and bend to his will. He had noticed his cousin's spirit right away but felt it only proper he offer for her serene elder sister due to precedence. He had hoped that she would be persuaded to bring her younger sister to their home and that her parents would be grateful to have the burden of another daughter removed, ensuring his acess to Elizabeth. Then Mrs. Bennet had indicated that her eldest was unavailable, but that a marriage with her second eldest would be welcome. He had done his best to conceal his glee that his first choice was to be his afterall with no subterfuge. Then the insolent beauty had refused him. Her mother had suggested a late night rendezvous in her room would ensure Elizabeth became his wife, but the stupid woman had not given him keys and her daughter's door had been locked against him. And then before he could act elsewhere, she was sent off to London by her father. Perhaps there was yet a way, he thought to himself.

Authour's Note: This is the apology for all the typos, missed spellings, grammatical errors, etc. I'm like Bingley, sometimes my ideas just flow to quickly leaving my page covered in unsightly blots. For those of you offended by that, I recommend not reading onward and instead finding a better edited free reading or purchase a book that as gone through a professional editing process. Those of you undeterred, read onward. Feel free to point out my mistakes, a la Lady Catherine, Caroline Bingley, Mary Bennet, Mr. Bennet or Jane Bennet style (I assume Jane would do so kindly, Mr. Bennet mockingly, Mary judgy, well you get the idea).I make no immediate promises to fix them, but perhaps someday I will if I ever go back an edit.