One of the best parts of writing a story as I post is that I get feedback as I'm writing and I'm able to fill in the gaps and answer the questions in a way that the story is more complete and for that, I thank all of you :)

I often go back and edit chapters as I'm getting reviews so chapter 2 has been edited accordingly.

I saw two comments on why Lizzy approaching Darcy is different than the stories where Jane does it. I think the main difference is the timing and how this doesn't really go OOC for either of them. Let me explain: Mr. Darcy has already proposed to Lizzy. She KNOWS that he LOVES (or at least, LOVED) her very very much, so much so that he was willing to overlook her family and lack of connections. Now its been a year and Lizzy is in a horrible predicament. Her sister has had a baby out of wedlock, they are not particularly wealthy, and when mr bennet dies they will all be kicked out of longbourn (which honestly, considering lydia having a baby, its not so crazy for lizzy not to think the stress might kill her father!). Lizzy, a doer, is stuck. She now will have no marriage proposals, which back then marriage was a safety net. she can't work. they are excluded from society. they have no friends, everyone has turned their back on them, and desperate ppl do desperate things. in a moment of desperation (try to imagine the baby wailing, lydia being lydia, mrs bennet have a mental breakdown, her father ignoring the problem) she decides to do SOMETHING, and having seen how mr darcy was right about wickham and also about her family (namely lydia and her parents), her opinion of him during this past year has softened. So she goes to derbyshire, with very little money, and with no plan, very impulsive (which lets face it, lizzy is kinda impulsive, I actually picture her being a sagitarius, dont know if there is an actual birthday that jane austen provides us with? lol)

So that is why this scenario, in my mind, doesnt seem SO crazy. I think darcy, who truly loved her, would be soft when he sees her, specially in such a bad place, and so our story is born.

I really struggled with Anne because austen doesnt really give us much, BUT im going to take the approach that she really was a weak mind and that her mother really fed her a lot of her own opinions and therefore this Anne, though not in love with her cousin, expected something much more than perhaps he was willing to give...

And now, we continue...

Chapter 3:

"Hello Anne" said Mr. Darcy, walking into the room that was once his mother's. Even though his room had a connecting door to hers, he never used that entrance, it will felt too intimate. He had knocked by the official door of Mrs. Darcy and waited for Anne to whisper, "Come in."

He stood by the entrance, looking around the room, feeling the longing for his mother even more acutely after tonight. He once dared to imagine Elizabeth sitting in that very spot where Anne now sat….

"Fitzwilliam", she said, looking up at him. She was in her nightgown, a fancy robe tightly wrapped on top, and she was sitting by the desk by the window, reading a letter from her mother. "Mama said she would like to visit us this season, oh how I wish I could go to London" she added, in between coughs. "I have been feeling better since I've moved here" she offered with a weak smile.

"Indeed" said Mr. Darcy, taking another step forward. He opened his mouth as if to speak but could not find the right words. He knew she had most likely heard of their visitor, for her lady's maid would surely have informed her, and as he was not used to speaking with Anne on such terms, he was at a loss. They often conversed lightly over supper, which was the only meal they usually shared, and even then, it was as cousins, not as equals.

"We have a visitor" he said, to which she acknowledged by nodding. So she had heard, he thought wryly. "You might remember Miss Elizabeth Bennet from her visit to Rosings last year" he added, waiting for her response.

"I do" said Anne, her pale face looking paler than usual. How could anyone forget her? she wanted to add. Have you? But she was not as brave as Miss Elizabeth Bennet and so she remained quiet.

"She called on Georgiana tonight and because of the rain, got sick. She will stay here for the week" he said, more as a statement, rather than a question.

Anne simply nodded, wanting to say more but never having develop that gift of speaking her mind. Living with her mother would do that to anyone, she thought wryly.

"Well then" said Darcy, still standing far away from his wife, "I shall retire now. Will I see you for breakfast? I do not believe our guest will be dining with us by then. The doctor recommend she stay in bed for a few days."

"I shall see how I am feeling" said Anne, her tone more monotone than usual. Mr. Darcy nodded and left the room, shutting the door without glancing back. For if he had, he would have seen that his wife did not take the news lightly and he would have seen a tear or two, streaming down her face...

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Elizabeth did not know what time it was when she awoke, though it did take a few moments for her eyes to adjust and for her to remember where she was and how she got there. She immediately blushed, a habit she hated and felt would not cease as long as she was still in Pemberley. She felt an impulse to get up and run away, but she calmed herself down and decided to be more practical, to be more like Jane. Oh poor, poor Jane, thought Lizzy, wanting to cry. Practical had not worked out for her. Or perhaps it had? Lizzy did not know. She wanted to cry, again. But she had cried enough. They all had cried enough and had spent a year in mourning for the life that once was. She had to use this time to really think about the future she could build.

She sat herself up and felt the pain on her forehead, she was warm to the touch and knew her fever was still going. Her internal time was off and she did not know what time it was but she felt like it was late afternoon—meaning she had slept for almost an entire day! She wanted to regret her decision of coming but what was done was done and she would now make the best of it. Her parents thought she went to visit her Aunt and Uncle in London—they did not know where she really was, not that she would think they would worry. Her father seemed to have become even more reclusive and care less, and her mother, though happy with her first grandson, felt acutely their being ostracized from the family. Even the Lucases would not longer welcome them.

Lizzy stretched her arms and rang for the maid. Her nightgown was wet, covered in sweat, and she could use some tea or warm liquid.

To her surprise, a mere minutes later, a maid did walk in, accompanied by a tall young lady, dressed in fine muslin dress, and with a shy expression but beautiful and welcoming eyes.

"Miss Elizabeth" said Georgiana Darcy sweetly, her voice more in a whisper. Lizzy smiled as warmly as she could, pretending she too was dressed in finery and not confined in a bed, covered in sweat, with a burning fever. She could see she was shy and was very touched that she had called on her. "Oh, you do not look well. Mary" she said, turning to the maid, "Could you set up a warm bath for Miss Elizabeth?"

"Yes, ma'am" said the maid and scurried away.

"Can I get you some tea?" she said kindly, reaching for the tray that the maid had left on the bedside.

"I thank you" said Lizzy, graciously accepting the tea and drinking it slowly. "I apologize—I fear I have apologized more in the last day than in my whole life" she added with a smile.

Georgiana laughed and appreciated how she broke the tension with humor. Her brother was right, she would really like her, she thought sadly. If only things had been different, she thought to herself, frowning slightly. Lizzy did not know how to interpret the frown and merely concentrated on her tea.

"My brother has told me so much about you" said Georgiana, really forcing herself to speak first. She was often waiting for others to lead but she felt that Miss Elizabeth really needed her and so she pushed herself, out of her comfort zone. "I thank you for coming to call on me, I heard your family went back to Longbourn" she said slowly, hoping Lizzy was following along, for she knew that servants were always listening, "When you are better, we shall send you there in a carriage."

"Yes" said Lizzy, understanding, "I thank you."

"I brought you a book" said Georgiana softly, handing her a small and very used book, "It is one of my favorites, my mother used to read it to Fitzwilliam."

"I shall love it—I love books and will welcome the distraction while I am confined to a bed" said Lizzy.

"Oh, Mary is here with the water" said Georgiana, thankful for the distraction for it was not easy for her to converse lightly. She smiled widely, "I shall leave you, perhaps tomorrow you will feel better and I could show you the gardens. I hear you like to walk."

"Yes, very much so, thank you, Miss Darcy" said Elizabeth, smiling weakly, feeling her head warming up again.

"Oh, please call me Georgiana" she added in a whisper, "I will visit you tomorrow then."

Elizabeth watched her go, pushing away the ache of regret that seemed to surface since she had arrived at Pemberley, and so she gladly accepted the warm bath, new robe, a weak soup, and very easily went back to bed.

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