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

A/n Warning, this might be a triad; no slash. Don't judge Mr. Darcy until you read more. I have written 20,000 words, but have not decided how it will go. Much love, take care-

Regrets- Too Late-

At the Netherfield ball, Mr. Darcy's heart stopped for a second; he had made a mistake two years ago when he married his wife. He looked at the sprite dancing with Charles and felt sick; he wanted to cry, not for the first time. She was the lady of last year; the one he had seen at his Aunt Catherine. He remembered.

The sprite was visiting the Vicar and his wife. Though Aunt Catherine had praised her, she had made a scathing remark about her being country gentry. Since the first moment he saw her, he could only think about her. At Kent, he had followed her a few times, okay not a few, many. Luckily she hadn't noticed him; he had been careful.

She dressed simply, but her gowns were of quality. She wore the latest fashions; the empire-cut dresses clung to her slender body, making relentless desire run thru him. As soon as she saw that she was alone, she took off her bonnet, undid her braided bun, and let her glorious glossy hair down, a wild, wondrous mess, all the way down to her waist. Then she raised her dress; she did it so she could run like a happy child. She sat by the water to take her socks off and walked in the stream.

He could see her shapely calves; she raised the dress a little more to go deeper; he could see over her knees; her legs were perfection. He wanted to touch himself, desire made him weak. Since nobody was looking, he unbuttoned the trousers' placket, held his hard cock, and slid his hand. It was fast, and he nearly fell. He only did it that time since it felt wrong.

She sang, skipped, and laughed; often she stopped to look at the wildlife. Once in a while she picked up flowers, to put in her hair, she looked like one of the fairy folk. He had seen squirrels jump onto her hand; same with other animals. They came from their hidey-holes to be touched by her; small deer came for her caresses; all kinds of birds, pheasants, you name it, they all came to her. Even at the water, frogs jumped onto her hand, as well as other animals. He saw a mama badger with two young ones; they sat byher feet looking at her; she squatted, bent, and kissed them, not one bit afraid. He heard her said the same to all, "You shall never be hunted, not you, nor your babies." She was magical, if such thing existed.

Once, she was allowed to pick up wild piglets. He saw when she held one, while the ferocious mother watched. When the fairy put the baby pig back down, the mama pushed another her way, and the fairy laughed joyously. She picked up the piglet, scratched its head, and rubbed her cheek against it; the piglet grunted in pleasure. The mama sent four piglets her way, one by one. Out her pocket she pulled two apples, fed the mama when she came near her, and lowered her head for a scratch; "You will never be hunted, not you, nor your babies." She told the mama pig, that rubbed her head on the beauty's hand, grunting happily. Then, they were gone. Once it was time to walk back, she would braid her hair and hide it under the bonnet.

He smiled every time, calling her a wood fairy. She was delightful, a joy to be had. Since then; he often dreamed about her. Since then, he stayed away from his wife. Just being close to her made him ill.

He understood, the fairy was for him had he waited.

She had made him wish he was free; and now, here she was, with Charles; it wasn't fair. Her beauty was without an equal, to him. She wore an embroidered batiste gown; her dress décolletage was not too low, but enough to drive him wild. Her hair was done in an elegant coiffure. Nobody was like her.

"She is a country girl, you want better." William told Charles when he was done dancing. He didn't want anyone else to have her. If she couldn't be his, Charles would not have her either. It would kill him to see her with another. That was the dilemma, Charles was his best friend, and he couldn't give him up.

Charles looked at him angrily, "No, I am done with your advice, last year when you didn't come, I wrote to you about her sister, and you said the same. I left, hiding from her, breaking her heart; but our friend Peter, who saw her leaving my home, where I also hid, followed her. Look at them, happy as they could be. Peter is a titled noble, with large holdings, larger than mine, maybe from commerce. They just had their heir, and his family adores her; moreover her manners and comportment are polished; she is a lady. Save your advice; you are not fit to give it. Just see how happy you are with your heiress; one tainted by scandal. Ha, scat, let me be!" Charles was upset with William Darcy and wanted to walk away.

Caroline overheard them; she was dressed in light green silk, looking lovely; no more orange for her. She called Charles and whispered, "Charles, follow your heart. I nearly lost my beloved Albert, over my foolishness about the Ton." She patted her slightly, showing belly, "Thank goodness I changed when I saw your misery. I am beyond happy; Albert loves me; he is the best for me. Excuse me, my husband is calling me."

Caroline went to her dark knight, Lord Albert Hurst, the country Lord who cared nothing for society. He was here to keep his brother company. When Caroline reached her husband; Charles could sense their physical closeness. Yes, they were happy; he had seen them lost in their embrace, their mouths feasting on each other's; and they shared bedrooms. Moreover, Charles had heard their love sounds when walking near their bedroom; Charles wanted the same for himself.

"William, I must take my leave; I need to join Caroline; we are sitting with the Bennet family," Charles said, looking at Lizzie. She was so pretty in the latest fashion gown she had just bought during her trip to London. He touched his heart, tapping it lightly, and closed his eyes.

When Elizabeth grinned at Charles' flirting, she saw Jane winking at her. Jane no longer mourned Charles; it had been an infatuation. Lizzie could benefit from Charles' light heart, Jane'd told her. Peter waggled his eyebrows, joking around. Charles caught them making faces at Lizzie, and Peter grinned. Peter, was a catch aspired by many debutants, the one with a reputation like William's, proud and aloof before his wife. But look at him, Charles thought, Peter was absolutely smitten with the one Charles had rejected. He saw them kissing passionately, right before the ball; Peter had his wife against the wall; Charles wanted the same, indeed.

"Your brooding friend made rude comments about my barely good looks. He was talking to his cousin, the Colonel." Lizzie told Charles.

"Ignore him. Will you join me for a walk tomorrow? I really enjoyed the one this morning." Charles looked at her. Her proximity made him all too aware of her allure. When they danced the waltz, he thought she was going to feel his aroused body. Doubtful, but worrisome, though he didn't care. All he wanted was to be on her arms, to feel her body under his. Charles had to bite his lips to control a moan thinking about it. He had been seeing her for forty-eight and one-half days now; he had counted them. He had Frank, his footman, on the lookout. It was easy for him. As soon as Frank saw her, he would advise Charles.

"I can only go for a short while, as you know, my mother is ill. After my sister Lydia died, mother's health has not been the same. My sisters have some visits to do, so I must be home. Besides, the baby's nurse is out, and I need to help," Lizzie told him. She was hoping he was going to propose; he made her want more, more than looks.

Charles only needed a few minutes. He was going to propose. She was so pretty and smart; she made his heart beat faster, much. Three weeks ago, she shared, with him and his sisters, information about an investment she had recommended to her father. It seemed that the Bennet increased fortunes were a result of her advice. They were rumored to have made over one-half of their now 500,000 sterling worth during the last year. Peter and her uncle also invested; Peter had said her father had an account for Elizabeth, with half their money.

The Bennet were wealthy. Peter had told him about Jane's dowry, 20,000 sterling. It had come as a surprise; only revealed when he went to see her father, though he would have married her anyway. The Bennet family was unassuming and didn't flaunt their good fortune.

Lizzie had shared the investment information with close friends and her mother's family, hence many had benefited and looked out for her.

Her uncle Gardiner collected the funds to invest, they could join if they wished, he said. Her aunts, the Lucas, and their son-in-law, Reverend Collins, also invested. Even the Hill, the older couple working for the Bennet invested their life savings. His sisters invested 15,000 each, regretting not doing more. Everyone gained tenfold, and everyone was over the moon; her sisters were too. Albert}, who was in the import business, needed more funds at the time of the investment, so the money had insured their future.

The son-in-law, Reverend Collins, who once courted Elizabeth, had invested Charlotte Lucas's dowry and all his savings; afterwards, he quit his job as a vicar. Indeed, Elizabeth had many looking after her.

Yes, she was not only beautiful, but clever; she was for him. He looked at William who was ignoring his wife and staring at Elizabeth, with contempt. Charles was disappointed with William, remembering when they shared mistresses. It had been a thrill for Charles since he had a secret; one, he was nearly certain that William also shared; Charles was a voyeur.

Since William was the richest, the plan was for William to marry their choice, and Charles would live with them. That way, they could indulge in their secret fantasies in the privacy of their homes. But when William made his choice, Charles forgot about the plans. William had begged, but Charles didn't like William's wife.

Caroline whispered, "Why is Mr. Darcy looking at Lizzie with such contempt. You should tell him to stop it. Do you want his behavior to endanger your relationship with her? He is, after all, your best friend, or was. Don't let him poison your relationship; Albert says Lizzie is a prize to be had. He says she will be gone in the blink of an eye. His cousin, Tobias, the recent Earl, has stepped aside out his respect for you, so you know. But, he told Albert, the moment you step down, he will be courting Lizzie the next day; he laughed, he said maybe later that day; he is not the only one."

Charles nodded. "I will talk to him after dinner. You're right; it is intolerable."

Elizabeth worried. She had feelings for Charles, She had already fixed her sister's life. She got Mr. Wickham to marry Lydia, at what cost? At a steep price, it cost Lydia's life. She didn't want to make Charles and her happen, but she didn't want the proud man ruin her chances. Forcing outcomes wasn't always the best thing. She remembered...the day of her 18th birthday.

She was out for a daily walk when a man appeared from nowhere. He was attired in odd clothes, looking like someone from old books, wearing a heavy hooded cloak. He was the biggest man she had ever seen. He lowered the hood, "Elizabeth do not fear me." He talked as he walked towards her. When he was closer, he reached for her before she could move and touched her head. At once, Lizzie felt as if she was on fire, whimpering and thinking she was about to die.

"What have you done?" She asked when she was able to talk.

"I opened your eyes, think, close your eyes." The stranger's voice soothed her; it was hard to describe.

Elizabeth obeyed against her will. She saw her young mother, coming back from Mrs. Phillips, a little tipsy. She was a younger Jane; her mother married at 16 and had Jane before her 17th birthday. She was sitting on a bench, when she saw a handsome stranger walking towards her. She talked to him, and when he embraced her, she allowed it. She saw her mother offering her mouth to the stranger.

Next, Elizabeth saw her mother holding a baby, it was her. Her mother looked with horror at her baby's hair, the odd multi-red strands of the stranger's, a full head of hair standing up. The ears were a little off. Her slender face, was unnaturally white, the color of fine alabaster. The babe's huge lilac colored eyes, already knowing, made her more alien. She failed to see the babe's beauty, so perfectly symmetrical.

The midwife was frozen in mid-action. Many unseen were there; every one of them looked delighted. They were gathered to see Elizabeth. They were smiling and drinking mead, celebrating the birth. It was a joyous occasion. They waited for their turn to see the baby closer; invisible fingers touched her, marveling and rejoicing. Each one leaned to breathe her baby scent. Many laughed joyously after touching her. Others applauded when streams of light flowed from each one who came to see the newborn. They all gifted the child since the light streams enveloped the baby every time.

The stranger materialized, kissed the baby, then touched the infant's head. And just like that, like in fairy tales, she looked like many of the other babies she had seen, blond and almost hairless, with grey-blue eyes. "Call her Elizabeth. Thank you, a child is a gift, a daughter is to treasure. Treat her well; I wish you would come with me my beauty; I will ask again. Know you are special, don't listen to him." He kissed her mother's forehead, then her lips, and, tenderly, traced her face with his finger; her mother blinked. She looked at her baby, unsure of her feelings, but not sure why.

Elizabeth understood after looking at the stranger's hair and skin. He touched Elizabeth again. When she looked at her hands, they were alabaster white, spotted with forest colors, then back to her regular self.

"My beloved child, my magic flows thru you, also the magic of all my people. Knowledge will come little by little. You can live here for a while, but one day I will call you, when you are ready. Meanwhile, learn to disguise your age as years go by. I will come back when you have children, they also must be disguised; the one you choose can share your youth and much more."

He came closer and put a necklace around her neck. He moved too fast, Lizzie reached to pull it off, but there was nothing around her neck.

"You abandoned me? My mother has been hard with me, why? My life has been difficult; don't leave me here." She hugged him, and he held her, filling her with love and peace.

"I haven't, I wouldn't leave my beloved child alone. You just haven't seen me. You are never alone, someone is always with you. I love you, how could I not? I have waited for a child for a very long time, looking for the right woman. Your mother was the one; maybe she will like me again. I must leave, I endanger you by being here; bye my sweet love..."

She cried and begged him not to leave her, but when he asked if she were ready to leave her life behind, she said no. She couldn't leave her family.

Now, she wasn't sure what to do.