They met at St. James Court

She was there to witness her father's investiture. He was there in place of a father whose health was failing. They each needed a friend at the moment.

AN: For DarkLordTom. I hope that this meets your expectations

AN2: It you are a die-hard E&D fan, this is not the story for you. Both of our beloved characters will have their own happy ending, however.

St. James Court, 1906

Charlotte sniffled and swiped at a tear on her cheek. She kept silent so as not to attract attention to the dark corner she had found.

A hand reached past her with a man's handkerchief, "Here. This might help."

Charlotte jumped and shrank sideways at discovering this man behind her chair, but the sincere concern in the tall young man's face reassured her. She nodded her thanks and took the handkerchief, unable to speak.

"I apologize for not intervening when those two verbally attacked you, but it would have only caused a greater scene and Lady Mirabel is the daughter of a Duke. Nothing short or a set down from the Queen herself would even scratch the surface of her self-importance."

Charlotte wiped her eyes and found her voice, "It does not matter, truly. My father is a tradesman. My mother is loud. I am plain and my dress does not even begin to compare to the fashions in this great mausoleum."

"Your father, as I understand it, was just knighted by the King on his own merits. Her father inherited his title from someone who chose the right side in the Jacobean conflict centuries ago. Since then each generation has done less to be worthy of the title and this current Duke is as dissolute a man as ever walked these halls and simpered to the King.

"Your mother is little different than many of the other mothers in this place in wanting to find a husband for her daughter. Her own mother is much worse, believe me. Your dress is respectable and it suits you... and you seem to be a charming and attractive young lady to me. Hers are the kind of features which will suffer with age... once again you only have to look at her mother to know this."

Charlotte blushed at his kind words and felt better. She could only conclude that the young man had observed her family together and her father's knighting ceremony, along with more than a dozen others. A movement across the vast room caught her attention and raised her alarm, "Sir, could you step further into the shadow?" At his raised eyebrow, Charlotte explained, "My mother is coming this direction. She is a kind and generous woman, but she is also a mother with single daughters."

He faded into the shadows as he said, "I see your point."

Charlotte cringed as her mother neared, but then her father intercepted his wife to introduce her to another of his new acquaintances. Charlotte breathed a sigh of relief and then curiosity got the better of her. "May I ask... why are you here?"

"Here at St. James or here in this dark corner?"

"Either. Both."

"My grandfather on my mother's side, the Earl of Matlock, has just recently passed, elevating my uncle to that position. Due to the uncertain political climate, the Crown has deemed it fit to commemorate the occasion. The Matlocks have always been firm supporters of this current dynasty and they wish to ensure their continued support. My father, the new earl's brother-in-law, is too unwell to attend, so I have been sent in his place to witness my uncle's ceremony. Naturally that includes remaining for the ball."

Charlotte laughed softly at his disgruntled tone, covering her mouthed to muffle the sound, "And I take it that dancing is not your entertainment of choice?"

"I do not despise the exercise itself, only the expectations that accompany it. If I ask a young maiden to dance, then her mother begins planning our nuptials. It is ridiculous."

Charlotte wondered who the young man was if mother's reacted so quickly to one dance. Was he a high noble? Incredibly rich perhaps? He was undeniably handsome, but he could not be more than a year of two older than herself. She decided to change the subject, "I am sorry that your father could not attend. But what of your mother?"

The young man's face displayed just a moment of deep sorrow, then it vanished. This was a person who had learned to wear a mask quite well. "My mother passed shortly after giving birth to my sister, eleven years ago."

"Oh, I am so sorry for making you..."

"It is of no matter. Many years have passed since then. It has been very difficult for my father, however... and my sister will never know what a wonderful woman our mother was."

They spoke for another quarter hour, with Charlotte offering the young man her own unique brand of wisdom. Neither wanted their private moment to end. But it could not continue in such a public forum.

"I hope, then, that your father recovers soon and that your family... oh, my mother beckons. I must go. Thank you most sincerely for your kindness. Your sister is quite blessed to have a brother like you."

Meryton Assembly Room, 1811

"...tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me..." Elizabeth Bennet laughingly related the insult to her person that she had just overheard. Her tone was amused, but her eyes told Charlotte a different story. Charlotte reached into her reticule and touched the object that was never far away from her. She could not explain why she had retained the man's handkerchief. She was not a romantic, after all.

Shortly afterwards, Elizabeth's next partner collected her.

As soon as she was certain that her young friend's attention was diverted, Charlotte walked directly over the the tall man in his dark corner. When she stopped in front of him, he appeared startled, but she was undeterred, "The kind young man that I met at St. James Court five years ago would never have uttered such ungentlemanly words as you did this very evening. All of this time, Sir, I have held you up in my estimation as one of the very best of men. It pains me to learn that I was wrong."

Fitzwilliam Darcy stiffened, startled, and prepared to deliver a scathing set-down to this upstart country... and then the tickle of familiarity which had plagued him throughout the evening finally settled into firm recognition. His haughty face did not turn to pleasure, but to pain. He took a deep breath, his eyes closed, and when he opened them Charlotte saw something different in his expression, the same profound sorrow he had shown for his the memory of his mother. "Please forgive me... but I do not remember your name? I am afraid that I have allowed other influences to sour my mood and cloud my mind this evening."

Charlotte continued to regard him silently for a minute longer, "My name is Charlotte Lucas. I wondered if you were paying attention when my father made his introductions. I still see the kind young man in there, Mr. Darcy. What could have so overset that good man?"

Darcy could not explain why, but ever since their brief encounter half a decade ago, this seemingly unremarkable young woman had remained in his memory. Now that he had pushed away his own angst for his sister and irritation with the Bingleys, he was shocked that he had not recognized her immediately. "On the same night we met, my father passed. Life has not been... simple ever since. But that is no excuse for the way I have behaved. Would you... do I ask too much in requesting that you introduce me to the young lady I insulted so that I might apologize?"

"Eliza is almost certainly engaged for every dance for the remainder of the evening. She is well-liked and respected in this community. She is also quite kind. She chose to forego the last set so that another young lady would have at least one set tonight."

Darcy closed his eyes and groaned. "I am a fool as well as a cad. I hope that she will allow me to apologize." Then he looked into Charlotte's eyes, "Are you engaged for the next set?"

Charlotte startled, then blushed, "I hope that you do not think that I came this way to seek out a dance partner, Mr. Darcy?"

"I know that you did not. You came in defense of your friend and to deliver a much-needed scolding. But perhaps now you might show your own forgiveness by allowing me this dance?"

The entire room watched in amazement when the haughty Mr. Darcy led the spinster Miss Lucas out onto the dance floor. Their shock only doubled when he retained her company for another dance. Then Charlotte led the tall man over to her pretty friend and obligated Elizabeth to hear the man's apology. Since they had spent a portion of their first dance discussing how best to make that apology, Darcy was able to earn the young woman's grudging forgiveness. With Charlotte's continued support, he was also able to redeem himself among the other attendees.

Over the following weeks Mr. Darcy and Charlotte seemed to find themselves in private company often. Their intentions were respectable, but their meetings bordered on the inappropriate. Charlotte would mention that she would be in a certain place and Mr. Darcy would arrive there. Mr. Darcy would mention that her found a particularly pleasing view, and Charlotte would happen to walk there. Elizabeth Bennet became their amused proxy by pointing out that she was the only person who regularly ventured to the top of Oakham Mount. She also became their psuedo-chaperone.

They talked. They spoke of many things. Darcy told of all that happened in the past five years; of the heavy press of his inherited duties; of the false expectations of his aunt in Kent; and even of the attempted elopement scheme just the last summer. Charlotte spoke of how her father's pride on his new status caused him to abandon his thriving business to become "landed poor." She spoke of how her brother, who was three years her junior, had become arrogant and difficult in his position as heir. And she even spoke... with implied indifference... of her own life "on the shelf."

Other truths came out which altered the way events might have played out for the residents of Meryton: Because Charlotte knew the truth about George Wickham, she convinced Darcy to speak with Elizabeth. Together the three were able to discredit the vile man before he could do any damage or rack up any debt. Darcy learned from Charlotte that Jane Bennet had her own mask, so he encouraged rather than discouraged his friend to pursue the beautiful young woman.

Darcy was also able to use his own influence to turn Mr. Collins away from the Bennet daughters altogether. He knew enough of the man's character that he knew none of the sisters would enjoy such a marriage.

As soon as Wickham was driven out of the area, Darcy sent for his little sister. Georgiana liked Charlotte right away and also developed a deep friendship with several of the Bennet ladies. Using the same wisdom and care that had so endeared Elizabeth to her older friend, Charlotte was able to work with Mrs. Annesley to restore Georgiana's self-confidence.

It was the final piece of the puzzle in Darcy's mind. After they shared the first set at the Netherfield Ball, Fitzwilliam Darcy asked Charlotte for her hand. She had long since insisted that she was not made for romance. She lied to herself. When Darcy proposed, her heart was close to exploding with love for the tall man who had first offered her a little kindness.

The lamentations and cries of Mrs. Bennet were loud and many when her rival Lady Lucas secured a wealthier spouse for her Charlotte than her dear Jane, but almost everyone ignored her. In fact, all but the eldest and youngest Bennet spent at least one extended holiday at Pemberley... where they were thrown into the paths of good rich men.

Elizabeth Fitzwilliam settled with her husband Richard on his horse farm only an hour's travel from her dear friend. He had returned from war with a serious wound and an unexpected inheritance. Elizabeth who had been making an extended visit at the time, had spent many hours sitting with the man in the Pemberley drawing room as he recovered. When he was mobile again they added many long walks. He proposed on the very day he was able to kneel for the first time. Mrs. Bennet liked to brag that her son-in-law was the son of an earl, but Elizabeth never cared about that.

And since her husband was Mr. Darcy's cousin and closest friend, the two couples were often together over the years. Loud and fervent were some of the political and philosophical debates between Mr. Darcy and Mrs. Fitzwilliam, they both being people of strong opinions and supreme confidence in their own rectitude, but their spouses merely sat back and enjoyed the entertainment.

Charlotte Darcy gave her husband two sons and two daughters. She also gave him her deep love and wise support. Together they kept their family and estate safe and prosperous through all of the ups and downs of a tumultuous new century, and never once did either repine the day they met and talked at St. James Court.

AN: I hope that this story presented a believable scenario in which Darcy and Charlotte might meet and open their hearts to each other.

I have not ignored the other requests. Some I have attempted and failed. Others still have ideas percolating. Some I just will not entertain because my mind cannot accept the idea. Still, please keep the requests coming... and thank you as always for reading my stories.