Big shout out to my pestering reviewers, it really does lay on the guilt and gets my backside back to my laptop. I have actually written further than this chapter, but I haven't finished the next scene which I was hoping to post with this. BUT it's been months and you amazing people all deserve something now.

Few story notes: Please note I'm writing this off the bat. I get a few questions on the legalities of losing longbourn, Mr Bennet's debt etc. I do have it worked out (she says confidently), with research into entails and legal documents. I'm considering an epistolary chapter. However…. I don't want to get bogged down with all that, I (like you lot probably) want to get to Lizzy and Darcy. Poke holes and ask questions, I don't mind that, but please remember this is essentially a draft, I have not written a full novel all shiny and polished, I will most definitely have to go back and change things as I go. Always point stuff out if you notice something odd, very handy when readers spot inconsistencies but bare with me if it's not perfect :D

On to the chapter!

A Gentleman Calls

"I have found myself feeling exceptionally welcomed here in Hertfordshire," Mr Henton spoke gently while tucking Elizabeth's hand under his arm. The corner of his mouth slid upwards as he looked over at the group of the other Bennet sisters, Kitty laughing gaily with Lydia as she pointed to something in the pond, Mary in typical fashion was complaining to Jane about the chill in the air and being taken away from her pianoforte. "I think I've spoken to more families in the surrounding area than I have in the past five years at my brother's estate," he stated almost to himself, though he began grinning cheekily when he looked back at Elizabeth, "and I was under the misconception I was sociable over there."

Elizabeth was surprised to hear herself laugh. She had been dreading having to put on a performance, expecting to simply bide her time, present a pretence of normality until she could make her excuses to speak to her father. Now, instead of counting down the seconds, she found herself slowing down her strides as they strolled around the Longbourn estate. However limited it may be in the long term, she found herself feeling significantly grateful for Mr Henton's current presence, his familiar light humour successfully casting over her oncoming clouds.

"You sound surprised," Elizabeth smiled gently, his jovial nature helping her re-find her somewhat stolen spirit, "were you expecting the people Hertfordshire to dislike you? Is there something especially dislikeable that we should know about you Mr Henton?" she asked in a mock stern tone, fully undertaking the spirit to enjoy their time together. He in turn took on the expected affronted expression then broke the act with a wry smile.

"No no, not at all, it's not that I promise. I have no dislikeable traits at all, something my mother will attest to, especially to pretty young ladies of my acquaintance," he gave her a teasing smile receiving a satisfying blush in return, "No it's just, my family estate is in Lincolnshire and well," he stopped, looking a bit abashed.

"Well?" echoed Elizabeth trying to encourage him.

"I'll admit my northern tendency was that the closer to London you are…the less friendly people are," Mr Henton admitted guiltily looking away from her to the treeline. Elizabeth let out a responding chuckle, giving the gentleman an amused look as he explained, "Yes yes I know, somewhat narrow-minded of me. But you see, my experience in London, and with Londoners themselves," he clarified with a side glance, "has simply, shall we say, reaffirmed this. I suppose with the people here being so close to town, I had expected them to be rather less than welcoming."

Elizabeth raised a brow, "We are close to town sir, but we are not town," giving Mr Henton a heavy affronted look, "and I think the Hertfordshire community are quite proud of that," she finished, keeping her tone steady until she, likewise, broke her act to give the gentleman a teasing smile.

"And rightly so Miss Elizabeth, rightly so," he laughed softly at her teasing, patting her arm, while in truth being somewhat relieved not to have caused offence.

"Do you spend much time in London sir?" she inquired, leading him to the tree edge. The autumn had been kind to the estate and the garden that had enjoyed such rich greens but a few months ago was now gifted an equally pleasant dusting of crisp warmth. Herefordshire for all its proximity to London, was beautiful.

"Yes," Mr Henton nodded, admiring the crunching leaves underfoot, "a fair portion of the year, unfortunately. I have a limited fondness of London, but my family have always been very politically involved and so even as children, my brothers and I were dragged to London for the season most years. For young lads, the fine dining and endless society held very little appeal, especially when there were fields, forests, and trouble to be found at home. And now as a gentleman, society holds even less and less appeal," he let on with a boyish grin. "My eldest brother, however, has come to relish the politics and has betrayed me with his insistence on now thoroughly enjoying London and all of its vapid treasures. Alas, my affection for him succeeds in dragging my presence there far too frequently for my liking."

"How trying for you," Elizabeth commented, a bit tongue in cheek. He gave out a single laugh, more than a little amused at her honesty.

"It is rather," he sighed, "I have succeeded in being a disappointment to my family, despite their efforts, I find politics and its people tiring, and my hearth and home more than enticing enough. As for towns other entertainments they have such little appeal, the people there always seem so on edge, unwelcoming, always wanting something," he seemed to scowl a bit, as if remembering some unpleasant occurrence or other.

"I would admit some degree of agreement I suppose," Elizabeth spoke as she considered his words, "I haven't sprouted up any easy friendships with new acquaintances in London," although she somewhat counteracted her words by smiling fondly thinking of her extended family there, "but my uncle has always said that there is a talent for making acquaintances in London," she paused trying to recollect the words to perform them adequately, "people there are unable to connect to one another unless there is a strident purpose to do so, and if a purpose does not arise apparent, well, then logically," she looked at Mr Henton to see if she had caught his interest, "they will become suspicious of the new acquaintance and cut off any further relations."

Mr Henton gave a rather dark appreciating chuckle at that description. "How very accurate. He sounds like an astute man this uncle of yours,"

"On the majority, I would agree with you, except the gentleman himself resides in London, and has insistently demurred that he is the exception to his very own rule."

"Of course he has." They shared a smile. "Well, London hasn't got a touch on the peaceful harmony that has blessed Hertfordshire. Even being so close to London, I fear my brother will struggle further to drag me to town. Do you yourself get to town often?" he inquired of his companion.

"Oh no, my Father hates town, to my mother's infuriation," she gave him a wry look, before smiling softly to continue, "but my uncle, aunt and their children are very dear to me, I wish I could see them more often."

"I had thought not. It is rather unfortunate though that we had not had the means to become acquainted sooner, I believe my dislike for the season would have been lessoned somewhat among your lively presence."

"It was probably for the best, it would not have done for us to fuel each other's sharp tongues as we drew witness to the peculiarities of the London society."

"My dear Miss Elizabeth, you are harsh on me, I for one believe I would simply be an innocent bystander unable to curb my laugh at your delightful wit," Mr Henton declared with a grin.

She rolled her eyes but Elizabeth couldn't help but be flattered. The words were turned in humour, but she felt the genuine appreciation for her personality underneath. She knew she was not immune to the gentleman's words and countenance.

There was an ease to Mr Henton's presence that Elizabeth found familiar, but she had surprised herself at her own willingness to relax into his presence, especially after the turmoil of the morning. Mr Henton's swift arrival had rather halted her intentions, but she found herself glad of the small respite having little hope that the rest of the day would follow suit.

She had of course planned to head downstairs and go straight to her father's office after getting dressed, but on reaching the ground floor she had found her mother looking somewhat agitated, loitering at the bottom of the stairwell. She had looked towards her father's door when her mother had grasped her hand firmly and pulled her attention. It seemed that Mr Henton had just arrived and while he was currently speaking to her sisters; she, that being Elizabeth, must not dally and was to go to him at once.

There was a gravity in her mother's tone that was the antithesis of her usual behaviour, she wondered if she was not the only Bennet to eavesdrop that day, it certainly wouldn't be a unprecedented performance in the Longbourn household. Her father had still been in his study, and while he must have heard the exchange, he made no presence to interfere with his wife's mechanisms.

All withstanding, she had little chance to question either one of her parents as she was forcefully ushered into the drawing room where Jane and somewhat her younger sisters with little attention, were entertaining their guest.

As if sensing something in the air at Longbourn it was actually Mr Henton himself who suggested the stroll around the garden, before any of the Bennet daughters had a chance to respond her Mother had declared it a marvellous idea and swiftly waved all of them out of the room.

Jane, with the subtlety of their mother, took her younger sisters over to the pond leaving Elizabeth alone, or at least with the illusion of being alone, with Mr Henton.

"I was worried," Mr Henton broke through Elizabeth's thoughts, "that I would be visiting too early, even for country hours, but on my way here I happened to pass the gentleman your family introduced me to last night, Mr Darcy I believe?" Whatever illusion of peace Elizabeth had experienced in the past half hour seemed to drain away.

"Ah yes, Mr Darcy," she attempted a smile but was almost certain she hadn't been convincing, "He is an old acquaintance revisiting the area, he is here, was here," she corrected herself, "to speak to my father regarding some business. I believe that they spoke at the ball last night but they must have had something further to discuss."

"Business. Here for business," he sounded relieved. Elizabeth knew right then that she should push him, give him more of a reason to reveal himself. Here was a good man, kind, lively, so similar in personality to herself that her heart should have been reaching out in joy at his clear indication of affection. He would make an easy companion, a partner she could respect and she even expected she would care for. A happy match. She was frustrated at her own nature, unsure as to why she wasn't more attached to this man. Could she find it within herself to push for something she didn't even know she wanted.

Still over the way, Lydia and Kitty were squabbling over something and Jane was trying her best to calm them down. Her young sisters were acting like children, because that's what they were still, children who haven't had the chance to become ladies. If she didn't do something for her family they would never get that chance.

"Mr Henton, I just wanted to-"

"Lizzy!" Jane called out while sounding regretful; Elizabeth only had to look over to see she was still having trouble with the girls. What had begun in laughter now had turned to squabbling, as was often the case between siblings. She let out a sigh, unsure exactly what her feelings behind it were.

"I may not have a sister, but I can recognise a cry for help when I hear it," Mr Henton was also looking over to other girls, with more than a little amusement, "I find myself feeling like I missed out on something, squabbles between brothers are rather less verbal."

"If I was confident all you would witness would be a verbal exchange I would continue our walk sir, as it is…I think I'd better head over there," replied Elizabeth. Mr Henton raised an amused brow at that, looking over at the collection of petite young women.

"Shall we go into battle once more then Miss Bennet," he offered her his arm, "At least on this occasion I believe your toes will escape the throws."

"You sir, are clearly not acquainted with younger sisters," she looked over to her family, feeling the embarrassment start to seep when Lydia managed to sidestep around Jane to throw leaves at Mary, missing her intended target completely setting an affronted Kitty to retaliate. "While I have enjoyed your visit Sir, I think it might be best," Elizabeth trailed off with no little amount of embarrassment. She regretted asking the gentleman to leave but, frankly, she preferred to keep her family in some level of dignity in his eyes. The almost unavoidable scuffle that was going to take place between her younger sisters was she suspected a stretch one too far, even for a kind and understanding gentleman such as Mr Henton.

Mr Henton took the dismissal in his stride, "In that case, I shall simply guide you to them, and then flee the scene. Think me a coward if you shall Miss Elizabeth but with such insightful knowledge of your sisters, I'm afraid I cannot help but fear greatly for my own welfare," he teased, trying to soothe her embarrassment, "Go help your sister, I fear her kind nature will do little against the oncoming war."

"Unfortunately I think you might be right," she paused looking away from the family scene to meet his attention, "Thank you for calling Mr Henton,"

"It has been my pleasure."

The two sisters finally succeeded in bringing a level of serenity to their younger squabbling counterparts, sending the girls off in separate groups to make the peace. With her sisters occupied outside Elizabeth beseeches Jane who somewhat reluctantly agrees to stay outside and keep watching over the young Bennets should they return. Elizabeth knew she had no further excuse to delay and with a last grateful look to Jane, slipped away inside. She needed to speak with her father.

However on re-entering Longbourn it seemed she wasn't the only Bennet seeking out the patriarch. Her father's door, that had remained noticeably shut since Mr Darcy's departure, was now wide open and the raised voices of Elizabeth's parents could be heard down the hall.

"Tell her she must do it, she must do it Mr Bennet. If Mr Henton doesn't propose this very minute, she must do this for us," her mother beseeched, her words coated in panic.

Elizabeth chastised herself once again as she loitered before her father's study, it seemed that despite Elizabeth's good intentions it was turning out to be a day of ill manners.

"Out of the question!" cried her father, "Absolutely unacceptable."

"But Mr Bennet-" her mother tried again.

"It is not her job to save this family," stated Mr Bennet firmly.

"Who's job is it Mr Bennet? Yours?" Mrs Bennet let out a disparaging laugh, "You caused this!"

"I know that," he lashed back furiously, "I know full well what I have done madam, I know where my sins lie, I do not need you to remind me. I will not have our Lizzy degrade herself, simply to keep us in comfort."

"Comfort! You think this is about comfort, this is a far cry from losing a few silk scarfs Mr Bennet," Mrs Bennet's voice cut through the air but drained away as she continued, "this is, this is everything. You've lost us everything," her fresh sobs vibrated out of the study and seemed to sink into her daughter. Elizabeth closed her eyes and leaned against the wall.

Elizabeth wanted to go into the room tell her parents that she will do everything she can for her family, she wanted to flee back to the garden, chase after Mr Henton who was long gone by now and beg him to make her his wife, she wanted to hide in her room, until the sun turned back and the ball she was preparing to get ready for never happened. Even more, she would go back months, a year even, before she ever met Mr Darcy.

She couldn't do any of these things so instead, she just stood there, listened to her mother cry, matching tears threatening her own eyes.

"I know my dear I know," Mr Bennet murmured soothingly, "But I will find a way, there will be a way. We might just have to-"

"This is a way," Mrs Bennet pleaded with her husband softly, "This is a way and you're just too stubborn, too proud to even consider it."

"I can't, we can't," Mr Bennet sounded close to tears himself.

"What is your plan then?" Mrs Bennet pushed back.

"We will manage," he reassured his wife, "The Gardeners have agreed to take Jane, Lizzie as well if they can afford to, and you…you will go to your sister's and hopefully with a little persuasion, they will be able to take the younger girls too, if not, well I- I," he collected himself, "we will manage."

"That's it? Do you simply hope my brother and sister will take us in? My relations being all that stand between us and the hedgerows? That- that is not a plan," her mother's voice rising, more at her usual vigour as sounds of pacing movements came from the room, "You think that the girls will have any kind of future here? Everyone will know. They will know that we have nothing. What sort of future will the girls have, marriage, prospects?" Mrs Bennet scoffed hysterically, "You're a fool John," she whispered cruelly.

Elizabeth hated that she agreed with her mother. Hated that her father's kind protective words sounded so fruitless and delusional. It was not often that her mother could be the voice of reason, and this miraculous timing did nothing but flame the hurt she felt at her mother seemingly all too willing to sacrifice her.

"And Lizzy," her father pushed back, "should she lose everything instead? She is our child too or have you forgotten."

"I know that!" Mrs Bennet snapped back.

"You think" he pushed forward, "we should just cast all our misery upon her, cast her off to this man we barely know, to a life of being," he stuttered tearing off into a temporary abyss as his mind tried to verbalise his daughter's looming future, "To a life she was not meant to have," he finished weakly.

"That is gone already. We can only protect the future of the other girls. Lizzy is not a child anymore."

"But this is my fault, my responsibility," said Mr Bennet. His ownership of their ruin cut even deeper than any of her mother's comments. Elizabeth would have to tell him, to correct him otherwise the guilt would consume her. Her father had no idea of the history between her and Mr Darcy, how her rejection had most likely brought this to their door. Elizabeth knew that she should go in there, never should have been standing outside in the first place, but her heart was pounding painfully in her chest and her body had no intention of moving anywhere right then.

"And sending her of to this man will have to be your penance. If you see another way to fix this, then tell me, because you seemed very clear before," Her mother clarified, "He owns everything we have, he owns our land, and he owns this house. We own no more than the poor souls in the poor house. Now I don't know how Lizzie has managed it, maybe that child has finally shown some feminine initiative," Elizabeth flinched strongly at her mother's implications, "but without her we will have nothing. She may not like it, you may not like it, but Mr Darcy wants her. Are you so foolish not to realise that I would tell her to accept this arrangement even if the rest of us were still condemned? She will be with a man of significant means, so great that he has been able to purchase a whole spare estate to keep our family. It is quite evident husband, that he is more than desirous of the girl and she will damn well let him take her. She will do this, she will do this for herself, and she will do this for our family."

"Do you even comprehend-" Mr Bennet cut himself off, disgust filling his tone, "what sort of Mother would-"

The sound of books hitting the floor made Elizabeth jump.

"Don't you dare," her mother's voice wavered, "Don't you dare put my practicality to shame why you cast to me empty pipedreams. Do you think I want this? My daughter a- a play thing for that haughty man. As much as I berate that wild girl, she is my child! I wanted my children safely married, established in homes greater than this one. You did this, you have brought this to our door. This is the only way out for our other children. Lizzie is smart, she will understand that even if you refuse to."

It was Mr Bennets turn to scoff, "She does not even like the man!"

"What does that matter," Mrs Bennet exclaimed, "He is handsome and rich enough, she does not need to like the man. She just needs to abide him and make some effort to keep his interest."

He father let out a sound of disgust, "She was smart enough to turn down that fool Collins, she'll do the same here."

"You have no understanding of the girl if you don't think she will see the difference. And if she doesn't, I will damn well explain it to her."

"There is more to this than an arrangement," he spat out the term, "I do not trust his intentions in regards to her safety. He is aware of her dislike, and has pursued this avenue anyway."

Mrs Bennet scoffed, "It is probably that dislike that has attracted the man. He wants to prove he can get anything he wants regardless of those involved. Well it turns out he's right, and we should accept that." There was a pause before Mrs Bennet calmed her tone, sounding like she was reassuring herself, "As long as Lizzy complies it is unlikely that he would hurt her, he seems the proper sort."

"You don't know that!" Mr Bennet rebuked.

Outside Elizabeth wrapped her arms around her. In truth Elisabeth hadn't considered physical harm beyond the obvious expectations of a mistress. Not that particular aspect wasn't of concern. It was, of a rather large uncomfortable magnitude both in concept and reality, and something she knew she would have to face at some point. But safety, brutality? She was aware that a darker side of society exists where husbands beat their wives and the world turned a blind eye to those blackened. She rather expected that mistresses would unlikely be exempt from the violent hand of man. But she truly hadn't considered it. She envisioned degradation, discomfort certainly, discontent and misery most definitely, but danger? True physical danger? No she had not considered Mr Darcy being a violent man. The fact of the matter remained that in truth she knew very little of his true character and placing herself under the control of practically a stranger, a man who she had less than positive interactions with made the possibilities more likely.

"Well you don't know that with any man. We wouldn't even be having this conversation if he was offering marriage. It's the risk a woman takes. A ring can be as much a noose, you should be glad she won't have to suffer one if you distrust the man. As his mistress she can leave him, if he hurts her she can leave him and come back to us. But Lizzy is strong, she is smart, I believe she will endure."

Elizabeth let out a breath, her mother was right at least in this it wasn't forever. She wouldn't belong to him. He wouldn't own her. Not in law.

"Stop, just stop Madam. I will hear no more from you. Go, just go." There was a few beats of silence where nobody made any movement, Mrs Bennet obviously not keen to leave the matter unsettled.

"I will go fetch Elizabeth then, she will make you see reason." Mrs Bennet declared breaking the silence.

"No! Enough, I told you she is not to-"

"You can't keep this from her," Mrs Bennet scathed, "And she would not want you to."

The sound of a hand slapping wood made Elizabeth jump.

"I will not ask my daughter," Mr Bennet spat out, "to become a whore."

A loud gasp escaped her lips. Too loud to go unnoticed in the silence of the room that followed the slanderous term.

And it was damning.