Author's Note: Thanks my lovely reviewers for the reviews, I always love to receive them. It feels my heart with warm fuzziness and encourages me to write more.

Chapter 4

Mrs. Bennet was sitting in the parlor, finishing a book that she was unable to read last evening. She enjoyed reading with her husband even more. Sometimes he would let he come and join him in the library and they would read side by side. Since they shared the same taste, they would read the same book and then discuss it. That was her favorite part, she could always convince him to see her side of things, whether it was her good persuasion skills, or he just gave into her, she never found out. At last she was completed, it took all her strength to put the book down and go to bed. Stretching, she headed to the library to see what her husband was doing. He was sitting in his chair behind his desk, smiling.

"What is so amusing, Mr. Bennet?" looking up he beckoned his wife to come closer, before revealing his entertainment.

"I have just received a letter, that has me very much amused," stated the gentleman.

"Are you not going to tell me who it is from or do I have to guess?" asked his wife.

"No no my dear, I will not keep you in suspense," reopening the letter, and adjusting his reading glasses he preceded to tell her, "It is from Mr. Collins, he has just informed me of his up coming nuptials. He has found a wife, probably some senseless girl like him, in town. Which I say is all for the better."

Laughing, "Did he not try to come here, and marry one of our daughters?"

"Indeed he did, he claimed that it would be only right, in case our son would parish, and then you will not have to worry because the estate would remain in the family." Mr. Bennet shook his head in amusement. "I think he was very saddened that I refused him his request to come and visit our family, and even more so when he heard that he would no longer inherit Longbourn."

"I see your amusement, I am glad that I will never have to meet that odious man," finished Mrs. Bennet,

"Meet who mama?" Rachel just walked by to hear the last part of their conversation.

"Mr. Collins, my dear, "answered Mr. Bennet, for his wife. Rachel made a face, like she was eating something sour. "He is not trying to come and marry one of us again is he?"

Chuckling to herself, Mrs. Bennet shook her head no, "He has not threatened to come again, but has just informed us of his upcoming marriage. I wish him the best of blessings, with all my heart. For I am sure he could not have found a better match."

They all laughed at that.

"Jane, Lizzy and I are headed into town, would you like anything Mama?" inquired Rachel,

"No my dear, you three have fun,"

With that, Rachel bounded upstairs to collect her older sisters.

The three sisters enjoyed walking to town together. They could always find the most amusing things to discuss.

"I hope the new Mrs. Collins knows a lot about Rosing Park, and Lady Catherine De Burgh. I think I would have died had Mr. Collins sent us one more letter about his noble patroness." Snicker Rachel, she just finished telling her sisters the good news about their cousin. Lizzy laughed, "Yes, I wonder what sort of girl the future Mrs. Collins is, she must not be right in the head to have married such a man. I do not know anyone who would marry him."

"Oh, Lizzy, perhaps Mr. Collins is not as bad as we think, maybe he is just bad at writing letters. And they just don't sound to smart." Said Jane, not too happy about teasing a man they had never met.

"Oh Jane, you are too good. I wish I could be more like you." stated Elizabeth, Just then Denny was seen across the way with another gentleman. Denny was a favorite among the ladies, and he had been paying particular attention to Rachel. Although Rachel showed about as much attention to him as she did all the officers. Once the two men saw the Bennet girls they waved and headed over.

"Good morning, what a pleasant surprise, what brings you into town?" asked Denny, his eyes lingering just a little longer on Rachel.

"We have just come for pleasure, sir." Responded Jane for the whole group.

"Allow me to introduce my friend Mr. Wickham." Continued Denny, "He has just arrived and is going to be in the regiment. This is Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and Miss Rachel Bennet."

"It is a pleasure to meet you fine ladies," Mr. Wickham bowed, eyes locking briefly with Elizabeth's. She shifted uneasily in his gaze.

The approach of some horses drew the attention of the small group. They all turned to see that Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy riding up. Bingley upon seeing Jane practically leaped off his horse just to be by her.

"We were just on our way to call on you all at Longbourn," Mr. Bingley said smiling like a school boy.

Elizabeth turned slightly to see if Mr. Darcy was going to get off his horse and join their party. He looked like he was just getting off his horse when he froze. His face turned cold and hateful, she followed his gaze to Wickham. Wickham looked like he had seen a ghost, and would rather be far away from this spot. Darcy, much to the disappointment to Lizzy rode off, without even acknowledging her. She was slightly offended, and hurt that he would ignore her. But most of all she was curious, she wanted to know what was going on between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham. It was several days before her curiosity would be settled.

Mrs. Phillips their aunt from their deceased mother was having a party. Although they don't go to too many of her parties they still attend occasionally. None of the Longbourn ladies can stand their Aunt, their father tells them that Mrs. Phillips is quite like their mother when she was alive. Lizzy thanks god that they have their mother now, although she never tells Jane what she is grateful for because she would think she is cruel, and she would be right.

The officers were at this party, Elizabeth was hoping that Mr. Darcy would be there but they weren't. She was sitting on a couch enjoying relaxing when Wickham approached her. He seemed like a very cordial person.

"May I join you, Miss Bennet," he said pleasantly, happy for the company Lizzy nodded her head. "This is was very nice of your aunt to invite the officers to her home; I must say that I am enjoying myself immensely here."

"I am glad to here that Mr. Wickham," she said smiling.

"Is the Netherfield party not going to attend this lovely evening?" he inquired. Lizzy was hoping he would bring up that subject, "I think some would think that this company was beneath them." This was true she thought, although she did not want to slander Darcy in any way, she felt shunned and this was her way of getting back at him.

"Oh and how long have they been in the country?" he asked innocently, "but a month sir."

"And what is your opinion of Mr. Darcy?" Elizabeth was surprised that he asked such a direct question; she would have thought that he would beat around the bush for a while.

"I do not know him very well sir." She was curious to what ever Wickham had to say, so she was remaining neutral to find out what was behind the look they had given each other.

"I have known him all my life," Mr. Wickham paused to see her reaction, she gasped, how that could be so.

"I can see your surprise, Miss Bennet, upon seeing the cold manner in which we greeted each other the other day." Elizabeth nodded her head in agreement.

"I am not qualified to give an opinion of him, myself. I have known him too long. I suppose that the general consensus is much pleased with him." He said cautiously.

"I think there are few who are," she stated, a slight smiling on her face. Pleased with that answer he continued,

"I can't pretend to be sorry for that. The world is often blind by is wealth or frightened or intimidated by his high and imposing manner."

Elizabeth couldn't help but agree, "I suppose that is true, but I am not afraid of Mr. Darcy, nor impressed by his fortune."

Mr. Wickham seemed to be digesting what she had just said, "I do wonder is he plans to stay in the county much longer."

"I do not know sir, but I hope that his presence will not affect you plans to stay."

"Oh no! If he does not want to see me than it is he that must go. I will not be frightened by Mr. Darcy" Wickham cried.

Curiosity winning the better over her judgment, Elizabeth knew she was being impertinent but she had to ask. "Why would you be frightened away by Mr. Darcy?"

"The Militia was not always my chose of profession. The church is what I ought to have been my living but because of Mr. Darcy I have to make my own way in the world."

"Really?" she was very much surprised.

"Yes, Mr. Darcy's father, he was the best of men who ever lived. He was my Godfather, he wished me to have the best life. He wanted me to join the church, but his son flatly refused to honor his father's wish."

"My goodness!" Elizabeth cried, she didn't know what to think. "It is quite shocking."

She dearly wished to hear Mr. Darcy's side of the story, and didn't want to believe one word Mr. Wickham said. She knew deep down inside that he would not have acted so without good reason.

"I never thought Mr. Darcy as bad as this. It is true that I have seen that he has some pride, and may think that some people here are below his company, but to deny his father's wish." She shook her head again, not wanting to believe what he said.

"I am sorry that I shocked you, Miss Bennet. But I can not be a fair judge of him. Until I can forget his father I could never slander the son."

Lizzy's head sprang up at this last statement. What had Wickham just done if not slander the son, she was confused. More so than before. Mr. Wickham seemed a nice gentleman; she could not imagine that under his amiable countenance hide a liar and a deceiver. But she couldn't believe that Mr. Darcy, the man she had come to admire could do such a thing. She did not know what to think, she went to sleep that night with many thoughts swimming thru her head.

Sorry it took me forever with this chapter, it was not too fun too write. I don't like Wickham, he should be burned, but I had to write it and so now that is done I can move on. Also I am moving into my room at college and getting ready for that and stuff so I might take longer than normal to update, but I will try not to keep you suspense long. Because I did promise quicker updates.

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