Hello Everyone, this is only my second story. Please be kind enough to be constructive in your criticism. Thanks for taking the time to read. I appreciate you.

It helps to have a familiarity with cannon. I don't mean to copy large sections of the original.

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Please don't steal from me: Though the original work is by Jane Austen, I retain all rights to my own written work. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, contact me.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO POINT OUT TYPOS & GRAMMER ISSUES.

Chapter 1

Upon excusing herself from Colonel Fitzwilliam's company, Elizabeth Bennet returned to the Huntsford Parsonage with her sensibilities in such an uproar she knew not whether rage or despair was the driving force for the immovable disapprobation and disgust that she currently felt for Mr. Darcy. Little enough had his conduct warranted her good opinion even prior to this afternoon's revelation.

The colonel had confirmed it; Elizabeth could well believe it - Darcy had been the driving force in removing Mr. Bingley from Jane. He had ruined, perhaps forever, every hope of happiness for the most affectionate, generous heart in the world. To think that he congratulated himself on his achievement; separating two people who loved one another to the detriment of both.

Her mind raced to every evidence of his civil disdain, and on occasion, his complete lack of civility exhibited while he was in Hertfordshire. She refreshed her memory on every accusation of deplorable conduct that had reached her ears. Elizabeth thought him devoid of every proper feeling; utterly without every basic human instinct of decency, compassion, or consideration of others that would naturally limit one's behavior to conduct that was, at the very least, not dishonorable, unkind, or ungenerous.

He had proved his selfish disdain for the feelings of others by bragging about his odious accomplishment as though it were some sort of enviable achievement to damage someone so profoundly, forever changing their life for ill, and then congratulate himself on having wrought so much devastation. He had exposed his friend to the derision of the world for caprice and her sister to derision for disappointed hopes. Society was not kind, there was much talk of why Bingley had abandoned Jane. It was unlikely that any suitor it was known to would try to win her regard. Bingley's departure had unjustly cast a shade on Jane's character; some in society would think her to be continuing to pine for him, or worse, speculate on what was a matter with her to prompt such an infamous abandonment.

To be proud of such an evil action; even to the point of boasting of it, was dastardly, even for the man that had already ruined the hopes of his childhood friend, Mr. Wickham. As cruel as his dealings with that gentleman were; this was worse still. Mr. Wickham was a man, thus he was free to make his own way in the world; Jane was not. As a woman, society required her to be dependent. The additional evil of having a small portion meant that matrimony was more than an expectation, it was a necessity to maintain a respectable standard of living. By removing the man she loved, Mr. Darcy had damned her to either marriage without affection, or worse, spinsterhood that meant employment upon their father's death. For someone as trusting and kind as Jane; she would have little defense against the evils of the world in such circumstances. Someone as beautiful and defenseless as Jane would prove easy prey; employment would thrust her into a world that she was ill-equipped to live in.

What manner of person could congratulate themselves on such an achievement? How does one learn to enjoy the disappointment and pain of others? Were his vanity and pride such that it was an offense to him if his friend did not further elevate his station through matrimony? Did women truly hold such little value beyond their doweries to such a man? Surely nothing in Jane's person or manners could give him just cause for complaint. She could only believe it to be her sister's lack of fortune and relations in trade that Mr. Darcy found to be such an affront. He had disclosed to his cousin, as his rationale for interfering, strong objections to the lady. Strong objections indeed! Perhaps to someone who little valued affection and kindness; setting their covetous sights instead on a more mercenary and status advantages in a match.

The agitation and tears brought on such a headache; and it grew so much worse towards the evening that, added to her unwillingness to see Mr. Darcy, it had almost caused her to remain at the parsonage. She was, however, too determined that he should suffer the same officious interference her sister had, in this she was decided. She was determined that she shall not neglect her defense of Jane for the sake of her own comfort. Elizabeth was decided, it would hardly materially harm him as much as it had Jane. As a gentleman, Mr. Darcy may make his own decisions, his officious interference was naturally of far more consequence than hers would be; Jane had no such benefit, she was not free to move in the world as freely. If Mr. Darcy suffered the same interference it could hardly cause near as much evil; this decided it, irritation and mocking would be his reward. Elizabeth was not made for spite, she would never cause the sort of harm he had, but in this, she prayed the irritation would cause him to understand the offense.

Should I continue with this one? I wasn't sure if enough people would be interested in this type of variation.