Mr. Bennet having just shut the front gate took Phillip's reigns and walked up the drive, finding a beautiful house at least five times the size of Longbourn, not that his estate was small by any means. This building was very great in stature. He noticed a large tower at one end of the house with a single window at the peak. He assumed the view from the tower was spectacular spanning over mountains and valleys. While amidst this solitary reverie he felt one raindrop hit the center of his forehead. He touched it with his finger and suddenly torrential downpour erupted, he quickly mounted once more and ran up the drive.

Once he reached the house his clothes were soaked through, he turned back and saw a lightning bolt light up the dark sky. A few moments later he heard the crack of thunder. He hoped that he would be welcome even for just a night. He knocked on the door and it opened. He turned to thank the person who had assisted him, but there was no one. Confused, but slightly delirious he thought his long day was causing him to see things which were not truly there. Treading into the house, he entered a dark but large entryway with a grand staircase leading two seperate directions, this was by far the most ornate room he had ever visited. He decided to make himself known.

"Hello, I know this is very untoward, but I was on my way from Manchester and have found myself quite lost while on my back to my estate. I was wondering if you could please house me for the night? The storm is too grave to return on horseback." Then he heard two quiet voices one was not an Englishman. Mr. Bennet could not quite pick out the accent of the man.

"Oh look at the poor man, wet to the bone. Perhaps we should take him in for the night."

"No, I will not have it. What will the master say?"

"What the master is indeed in ignorance of, will not hurt him I dare say."

"No, no! I will not be moved on the subject Lumiere!" Mr. Bennet followed the voices, but saw no one. He turned to a table which sat against a wall. On it, sat a candelabra and a mantle clock. Picking up the candlestick he asked into the dark void of a house.

"Is anyone there? I thought I heard two men speaking with one another." As he furthered into the house, he saw a quaint sitting room with a fireplace already lit. He sat himself in a comfortable chair next to the fire in ignorance of the creature lurking in the shadows.

Meanwhile a young woman sat in her tall tower. She had lived there all her life. Sitting in her favorite chair she braided her long beautiful blonde hair while she awaited her mother's return. The familiar movement of her fingers was not only relaxing and soothing to her nerves, but allowed her joints rest from playing her pianoforte all day. She glanced out her window in hopes of soon seeing her mother as it always worried her for her mother to be out during a storm.

She sang a tune which she had known all her life, but had never heard sung by her mother. As she had always lived in the tower, she knew not where she heard it, but it's melody was permanently impregnated in her brain.

Two little dickie birds, Sitting on a wall;

One named Peter,

One named Paul.

Fly away Peter!

Fly away Paul!

Come Back Peter!

Come Back Paul!

How nice it must be for the birds to fly away from their wall. To leave the safe space which they had known, but how anxious they must be for the same reason. Once she completed braiding her hair which was longer than she, as it had been for a few months now. Her mother never allowed her to cut or trim it, she knew not why. There were no sharp objects allowed in their home, therefore her hair continued to grow at an accelerating rate.

After the first crack of thunder, she worried for her mother's safety. She looked out the window and out into the clearing and her heart worried no more. But was quickly eased when a familiar voice came into her hearing and her mother came into view. Upon hearing her name, the young woman waved. As her mother approached the base of their tower, she snapped her fingers and walked through the door which had appeared eager to meet the girl who awaited her at the top of the spiral staircase.

Mr. Bennet found himself salivating at the delicious smell in the room which adjoined the room which he had seated himself. Upon entering the spacious dining room which possessed a table large enough to seat forty, he sat in a comfortable seat which was surrounded by various foods. His senses were overrun by the smells and tastes, as he was about to reach for his cup. The cup moved by its own accord, and then it spoke.

"I'm sorry sir, my mama instructed me not to move. But I was too excited." The last past came out as a whisper. Mr. Bennet startled and afraid, not of the teacup, but of what else might be lurking in this enormous house. He did his best to assure the cup that he was fine and bolted out of the house as quickly as his aging legs could take him.

He found Phillip just where he'd left him at the stables and saddled up. While he backed out he found a rather large rose brush and was reminded of Elizabeth's request of a rose. Reaching his hand out he picked the most beautiful rose closest to his present position. Its petals full and rich in color. While he cut the flower from the plant, the thorns on the stem cut his hand, causing him to draw back. Looking at his hand a large gash mark lay across his palm. Once he successfully pulled the flower off, Mr. Bennet was about to move Phillip into action but found himself blocked by a monstrous beast. He heard a loud roar and saw the beast approach before his vision went black.

Elizabeth awoke with the dawn well rested and eager to take on the events of the day. She decided to go on her favorite walk to Oakham mount to think over the events of yesterday after which she would visit with her sisters.

As she furthered down the path she considered her decision to object to Wickham's proposal. But she worried that there might be a time when she might have to marry for convenience for her younger sisters. Having a spinster sister might also hurt their chances of a good marriage and she could not do that to them. She thought over Jane's words from the day before. She promised her sister that she would do all in her power to be open to love, but she knew very well that she could never marry a man such as Wickham. There needed to be warmth in the man's heart. A desire to gain knowledge and a love of the world. While Wickham loved the world, he loved the temptations and evil of the world, which was not what she had in mind. He needed to be one with whom she could debate with, if at all possible.

As she reached the top of Oakham mount, she looked at the beauty that was Derbyshire. She loved this county and if she could only settle near it she would be content. But love and happiness were what she truly desired and those would be more difficult to obtain than just marrying the first man who came along who lived in the area. Lizzy walked back to Longbourn with these thoughts continuing in the same direction. When she reached the house a carriage pulled up the drive.

She looked to see who it was, her aunt Gardiner, with a very distressed look cast upon her face. When her aunt exited the carriage and saw her niece, however, her countenance changed. Madeline Gardiner's face brightened.

"Lizzy, how are you this morning?"

"I am well aunt. How was father when you saw him?"

"I saw him yesterday, but he left Manchester after the discovery of the destroyed ships and ruined cotton. He wanted to return home to his own bed. He is not here?" Her face and voice filled with worry.

"Oh no, papa! The cotton is all ruined! Wait if he left and he is not here, where is he? I must go and find him!" Elizabeth's entire body filled with confidence and protection over her father whom she loved so dearly. "But where am I to begin the search? Manchester is quite far from here and he could have ended up in a number of places. How I worry for him. I should have gone with him, this would not have happened had I gone." Filling herself with guilt, she placed her hands in her face.

"Elizabeth" her aunt started, "you know as well as I that this is not your fault. I'm sure he stopped at an inn once the weather turned for the worst and will be home shortly. It is possible Lizzy, we must not assume the worst." Looking to her aunt who had placed her hands in hers and gave her a reassuring squeeze Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner walked into the house.

Mr. Thomas Bennet awoke in a cold stone cell. Waking in a startle, cold and confusion came over him. There was nothing to keep him warm but the cold clothes on his back and the hay on the stone floor. As the recollections of the previous night came to view, he began to fear the lives of his children. What were they to do without him? Where were they to go? How would they live? His head clouded as his senses overwhelmed with emotion. He chanced a look out the one window to calm them. What he saw was the most magnificent view, the golden sun reached to every hill and valley within sight. The peaks were simply beautiful while the light danced upon them. He assumed this was the tower which he saw upon his entry. The loud steps of the master of the estate became increasingly louder as the beast walked up the spiraling staircase which lead up to this prison.

"You are now forever my prisoner, if you ever attempt to escape, you will be killed." His voice coarse. There was little to no emotion in the words which he spoke, the only emotion being pure hatred and perhaps a bit of envy.

"I have daughters who all rely on my presence. Our estate is entailed away and my wife was never able to bear sons. If I am forced to live here, what will happen to them. I implore you to reconsider. I am truly sorry for my misdeed sir, but I ask-nay beg- you to allow me to return home for my daughter's sake." His eyes watered at the thought of his girls being forced from their home by William and Charlotte Collins, the heir and future owner to the estate.

"That is not my problem, you should have thought of the consequences of your actions before you stole from another man's house."

The words were not spoken but Mr. Bennet's thoughts hung in the air. "You are no man, no gentleman. You are a hideous and atrocious beast!"

Feeling satisfied by his intimidation to the prisoner the beast left. He was Fitzwilliam Darcy no longer, that man had died many years ago. Instead he was replaced with the empty shell of a man who he once was, if he was ever a man at all. Daily he pondered over the enchantresses' words that night. He knew he would never break the curse. Even if he came in contact with a woman, there would be no logical reason for her to ever fall in love with him. He was an unlovable monster doomed to live out the rest of his days as such.

These reflections put him in an exasperated mood, he decided to retire to his room in the Family Wing-or the West Wing as the servants called it, for the master no longer had any family. He ran up to his room and found some curtains which had not yet been ripped apart and soothed his anger. Once the fabric was left to shreds he found an old wooden cabinet and sharpened his claws along the side of it.

Elizabeth found herself enjoying her time with her aunt and sisters when the sound of hooves upon the drive caught their attention, believing it to be their father they all hurried out to greet him. But seeing Phillip his horse without the rider, the Bennet daughters began to fill with worry. Elizabeth felt it most of all.

She ran to the horse and saw the desperation in his eyes. She was determined to find him. She readied the horse and put a loaf of bread in her bag. As she said goodbye to her family the moment touched her as they did not want her to leave them. Nor did she want to leave them, but it was necessary to bring their father home before word reached Mr. Collins of a missing Mr. Bennet. Elizabeth, riding astride for her own safety kicked Phillip into a gallop and they set off to find her father.

Author's Note: Hey y'all! So to any other Americans out there I hope you had a wonderful Independence Day blowing up stuff! To everyone else, well now you know I'm American. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. We are now getting into it, soon our leads will meet and we know them both to be quite prolific...So its going to get exciting. Have an awesome day guys. Love yourself!

-Camille