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Elizabeth awoke with a start to the sound of loud voices coming through the floorboards from downstairs. After a moment of confusion, she recognised her mother's voice and that of Jane and her Aunt Gardiner trying to calm her. But what time was it? She looked at the small clock in the room and rushed to get ready as fast as possible. She had managed to oversleep yet again!

After throwing on the first thing to hand, she quickly pinned her hair up and rushed out her room, racing so fast down the stairs that she was surprised that she had not fallen and broken something. Elizabeth followed the voices to the sitting room, shooting past her Aunt as she was leaving and flew straight into Jane's arms.

"Oh Lizzy! I have missed you!" They stayed hugging for a minute or so before Mrs Bennet's voice cut through the moment.

"But of course, you shall marry Mr Wickham, Lydia. And what a wedding you shall have! I have always loved a man in regimentals, you lucky girl." said Mrs Bennet, although her voice sounded flat, most likely, she was exhausted from the journey as well as emotionally exhausted.

"Oh Mama, I am so glad you are here. Everybody has wanted is to put a stop to this wedding, I am glad you are on my side, I hate being in this house."

"Lydia!" Elizabeth and Jane admonished together.

"Be reasonable Lydia and mind your words. Do not forget yourself and be so ungrateful, you are a guest in this house." warned Jane. Elizabeth looked to her eldest sister; she had never heard her so cross.

"None of you will change my mind! Do not waste your breath."

"You father is lying unconscious down the hallway due to your inconsiderate actions, foolish child." said Uncle Gardiner, standing in the doorway. "I am deeply saddened by your words and actions young lady. Well if you wish to marry Mr Wickham, then so you shall. But there is no reason for such appalling behaviour. Had we discussed this as adults, we would have reached the same conclusion, only I would be more certain you are not doing this simply because we have advised you that you should not." Silence descended upon the room before he left them.

"He obviously doesn't understand what it is to be in love," muttered Lydia churlishly.

"Enough Lydia, you will have your wedding, there is no need to be so hurtful." Elizabeth said reaching the end of her tether.

"I would be nice to me if I were you Lizzy, or I shall not let you be my bridesmaid." she said with a tilt of her nose.

"Oh, of course, all of your sisters shall be bridesmaids, silly girl, now enough of all this nonsense, my poor nerves can't take much more." Elizabeth looked to her mother noticing something was amiss. She did not seem to be her usual self. She looked up at Elizabeth then and quickly averted her gaze. Was that embarrassment or even shame she saw in her eyes? Shock ran through Elizabeth, their mother had always doted on Lydia, the most. Jane was her prettiest daughter, Elizabeth was her father's favourite, Kitty was the most biddable, Lydia was her favourite and most like their mother and Mary the most musically talented of her daughters, in Mrs Bennet's opinion.

Just then, Lydia rose, "Lizzy, Jane please do not be upset with me or for me. I know I did not do things the most conventional way, but we are in love and with love we can overcome anything. We acted impulsively but in the moments we have shared alone, I have seen that he is so much more than you know. He is funny and daring, everyone wants to be his friend."

"I do not disagree that you are in love. But you owe your Aunt and Uncle an apology for your attitude and rudeness as a guest in their house, as well as your sisters for your selfish actions." said Mrs Bennet quietly from behind them. All three of her daughters looked at her in shock.

Mrs Bennet still kept her head bowed, but Elizabeth could sense her growing despair as she sat wringing her handkerchief in her hands. Lydia turned quickly and knelt on the floor before Mrs Bennet taking her hands in hers.

"But Mama, you were so happy with me a moment ago and…" Mrs Bennet gave Lydia a look that stopped her short.

"My dear, I am happy that you are marrying the man you love, and you say cares for you just as deeply, but I shall never forgive you for the risk you have taken. My poor Mr Bennet is lying unconscious and if he dies, your Mr Wickham will not be able to support us as an officer, will he? And, we shall be removed from Longbourn and left with nothing." She sobbed into her handkerchief, sniffling loudly.

"Mama, I - "

"No Lydia, I shall not listen to any more excuses! I have said my piece and now we shall continue and be excited with the wedding preparations as it should be. I love you unconditionally my daughter, and I will give you a wonderful wedding." She said placing her hand on her daughter's cheek and wiping the tears. Elizabeth and Jane looked at each other and went to sit on either side of their mother in an effort to comfort her as she began to sob. A few minutes later, when she had regained control of her emotions Mrs Bennet spoke once more.

"Jane, I should like to go and see your father. Lizzy, will you please fetch my salts from my bag, I believe it has been taken up to my room already," Elizabeth nodded watching her mother, Jane and Lydia leave the room.

She rose and leaving the room but had only made it part of the way up the stairs, when she heard a loud commotion. She turned back to see Jane at the bottom of the staircase, breathless.

"Papa is awake!" said Jane, before running back to Mr Bennet's room.

Elizabeth collapsed on the stairs completely overwhelmed. She decided it would be best to give her mother and sister's some time with him before she went to see him. After a short while, she peered around the door to Mr Bennet's room and found him sitting up and telling everyone to stop fussing over him. Including Kitty and Mary! Elizabeth had not even thought to ask after them, rushing over to them giving both a long hug before turning her attention to her Papa.

"Oh Papa," Elizabeth said, her eyes brimming with tears as she moved to his bedside. Upon seeing his favourite daughter Mr Bennett opened his arms to her. Elizabeth needed no further encouragement and embraced him, tears silently streaming down her face whilst he gently stroked her hair whispering reassurances to her.

"Come now dearest, no more of this. We have much to be happy about after all!" said Mr Bennet after a few minutes.

"That we do Papa, do not worry these are happy tears to see that you are awake at last!" Elizabeth looked around only to discover that they had been left alone for their reunion.

"I know, I am sorry to have worried everyone so." He said, looking troubled.

"To tell you the truth, I wish I had thought of your methods first." she teased, in order to lift her father's spirits.

He chuckled, "I believe it to be one of my best strategies to gain some solitude yet." he said with a waggle of his bushy brows, although the humour did not quite reach his eyes.

"Indeed, I can just see it now. Every time you were left alone, you were up choosing a new book and dancing a jig!" they both laughed this time, wiping the tears of mirth from their eyes until they finally fell into a companionable silence.

"I can always rely on you, my sweet child, to cheer me up." He said gently as he became sombre once more.

"Papa, is something amiss?" she said full of concern.

"I fear I have been more preoccupied with my own solitude and have taken for granted that we live in a small part of the world where nothing of great excitement or importance takes place, I have been an inadequate father. Can you forgive me Lizzy? I fear that you and your sisters will now have to bear the shame of Lydia's actions." Her father said his voice cracking as he found it difficult to continue.

"No Papa, you mustn't do that. You are an excellent father!"

"No, no, Lizzy, I am not. You warned me what might happen should Lydia go to Brighton, and I did not heed your warning. I chose the easier option for the sake of some quiet. I am to blame; it is plain for anyone to see."

"Papa, you are too severe upon yourself. Lydia is far too stubborn and would have done something like this whether she had been allowed to go to Brighton or not."

"My dear, you are taking pity on your poor Papa, but your kindness is misplaced, when surely I have earned your censure on this occasion."

"You are not wrong; you do merit censure, but you only deserve a small portion of the blame. Had not Mr Darcy treated Mr Wickham callously and left him with nothing, then maybe he would not have gone about this in such a way. I believe, Mr Darcy is too high handed and cruel to those he deems beneath him and even those he calls friends. I still hold, that he is the true villain in all this as he cast the first stone."

"Come now, Lizzy! We all know Mr Darcy to be a proud and imposing fellow. I will agree he is not the easiest to get to know given that he is not the type of man to carry on long conversations with; well, anyone. His situation in life has meant he is used to things going his way, but this is not reason enough to condemn the man, is it? I for one feel as though I have misjudged Mr Darcy. Forgetting all that he has done to assist us with Lydia and Wickham, he is a highly intelligent and witty fellow. From what I have heard about him and this situation from your Uncle Gardiner we are greatly indebted to the man." said her father.

"Forgive me Papa, but I cannot help but wonder if Mr Wickham might have been a different sort of man if he had been granted that which was left to him in his godfather's will." Elizabeth looked away biting her lower lip. She felt so conflicted by Mr Darcy, there were so many sides to his personality. Elizabeth had experienced kindness from him that made the version of his character harder to believe but for some reason it was far easier to dislike the man. "I understand everything you have said, but if I am right, then surely, he was just correcting that which he is responsible for and conveniently playing the hero!"

"My dear, please do not upset yourself. I have always loved your loyalty towards your family and friends but do not let that blind you to other possibilities. I know not what to believe, and I doubt that we shall ever know the truth of the matter. I am sure Mr Darcy heard of the gossip surrounding him and Wickham in Hertfordshire, and he hadn't felt the need to acknowledge them-"

"Exactly, Papa! Surely that proves that he is the guilty party?"

"It proves no such thing. It could equally speak of his innocence! Besides, a man who complains of his misfortunes in the presence of ladies after only being in their company no more than an hour or so, does not inspire a great deal of respect. Such a contradicting man he was, he claimed to not want to speak badly about his late godfather's family and yet that is all he ever did. To speak plainly, my dear, he came across to me as quite obsessed with Mr Darcy. I believe in this one instance we shall be of different minds on this matter. But, regardless of his character, I will be forever grateful to him for acting as he did when I could not." said Mr Bennet. His eyes glazing slightly as he became lost in his thoughts.

"You are looking fatigued, Papa; I shall leave you now to rest." she said, kissing his forehead. "I shall come by later to sit with you." Mr Bennet merely nodded his agreement, but did not say anything too preoccupied with his own thoughts.


The next day, the family dynamic was much as it ever was before, with everyone bickering as they would, were they back home at Longbourn. Elizabeth sighed with contentment as she sat at the vanity table late in the afternoon, having her hair fixed for the gathering they were to attend for Lydia and Wickham to be introduced to society before their wedding. They had acquired a special license and were due to be married in three days, unless, any 'complications' from their elopement arise.

As she watched her Aunt Gardiner's maid adorn her hair with her favourite pearl hair pins. You could not tell they were made from paste, and they always cast such a lovely contrast against her dark hair. As she sat watching the maid work, Elizabeth could feel nerves fluttering within her stomach. She could not rid herself of the unsettling feeling, that everything was not as it should be...

"Did I hurt you, Miss Elizabeth?"

Startled from her reverie, Elizabeth realised she had been watching the maid in the reflection of the looking glass with a stern frown.

"No! Forgive me, I was just thinking, please continue." She said with a smile of encourage that the maid returned warmly. Elizabeth could not put her finger upon what in her conversation with her father had disturbed her so. She had spent more enjoyable times in Mr Wickham's company than she had Mr Darcy's... he could not be such a good actor as that, all his looks had been genuine. Though she considered Mr Wickham a handsome man, Elizabeth had truly not felt anything more than friendship towards him, and he had never made his affection for her sister a secret, although Elizabeth had thought it no more than a flirtation.

Perhaps, even though she did not return Wickham's attentions in that way, she had been fanciful at the time in thinking his looks towards her were something more...

"There you are, all done Miss Elizabeth. Do you need my assistance with anything else?" asked the maid.

"I thank you, my hair looks lovely. Please do go and see if you can assist the bride-to-be. This night is to be for Lydia, and I wish it to be wonderful for her." She said smiling happily.

Elizabeth paused to check her reflection, feeling happy with her appearance. She was excited to have a pleasant evening, and she vowed she would not entertain any thoughts of Mr Darcy on this night! As they were due to leave soon, Elizabeth went to visit with her father.

True to her vow, Elizabeth passed the evening in pleasant company with a smile upon her lips. She had worried they might be little overdressed, for what had been described to her as a small party. But, her Aunt Gardiner had been correct, in that there were not many occasions where society in London did not dress in their finest. She had been a little saddened that Charlotte were not here, they always had such fun gossiping at parties. This was not a party with the upper echelons, but it was a party hosted by a good client of her Uncle Gardiner. Though they did not know many of those in attendance, there were a few faces she recognised from visiting her relatives in London over the years. Mr Wickham met them at the venue and had brought Captain Denny, as well as Colonel Forster and his wife.

Elizabeth had watched Wickham and Lydia carefully this evening, and she had never seen her sister happier, but there was still something Elizabeth couldn't quite put her finger on in Wickham's expressions and gestures. She couldn't decide if it was the doubt planted by her father of his character or something more in her instincts... Elizabeth had just been about to go in search of Jane, when she looked around at the sound of her name being called.

"Lizzy, Lizzy, there you are! I have been looking for you. Would you accompany me out onto the balcony?" said Lydia, after reaching her side.

"Of course, dearest, is everything all right?" Said Elizabeth full of concern.

"Of course! I just have something I would like to discuss with you," Her younger sister explained, her cheeks flushed with happiness and her exertions from the last dance.

When they had made their way out onto the balcony, facing out onto the gardens, Lydia took a moment to ensure they were alone and closed the doors. She then marched up to Elizabeth and hugged her. Caught off guard, it took Elizabeth a second before she could respond and hug her youngest sister back.

"Oh Lizzy, I hope you are not still cross with me? I never thought you really liked Wickham that much and if I had thought you really liked him I would not have - that is I wouldn't take someone from you if you liked them - I, um," Elizabeth pulled away from her embrace to hold her at arm's length assessing her in the light that was coming from the room they had just vacated.

"Oh, Lydia, do not be silly I am not upset! Far from it," She said, smiling at her sister genuinely, "I have seen you both together tonight and the happiness in you is clear for all to witness."

"But Lizzy, you are not dancing, and you do so love to dance! I feel as though you are cross with me still. I cannot regret what I did completely as I truly have never been happier, but it hurts when I think of all the trouble I have caused everyone. If I had ever compromised any of my sister's reputations, I would never have been able to forgive myself. You have to believe me; I would never have done it if I had thought it through properly. I know I am a selfish being, but I love my family more than anything -" Elizabeth muffled her sisters last words as she hugged her again tightly.

"No more of this! It is forgotten, I am happy for you and nothing more. I am not dancing because it has been nice to stand back and enjoy this night." She said after giving her little sister a soft kiss on the cheek. "Come, let us go back inside and I shall find a partner to join you if there is another dance to be had."

"What about Denny?" Lydia giggled.

Elizabeth had been about to respond when they heard voices below floating up to where they stood on the balcony.

"You have escaped then? I never thought I would see you marrying an impoverished child, Wickham!"

At the mention of Mr Wickham, both ladies moved closer to the ledge of the balcony. They edged closer recognising the two men to be Wickham and Denny.

"Shut it, Denny!" they heard Wickham sneer.

"Oh, come now, you have to admit it is funny. You talked incessantly of how you would use your irresistible charm to catch some heiress and instead you get Lydia Bennet!" He said laughing loudly. Wickham said nothing, he just took a swig of his drink.

"Well?"

"Well what?" Snapped Wickham.

"Does this mean Miss Elizabeth is free for me to have some fun with?"

"If you think you can manage it! I thought your fancy ran more towards Miss Jane Bennet?"

"She is far too sensible and probably too frigid to bother wasting my energy on. I had always fancied dallying with Miss Lydia myself. I cannot imagine there is much she would say no to is there?"

"No, there is not," Said, Wickham snickering as Denny clapped him on the back.

"As you have not called me out for the slur on your soon to be wife's honour, does that mean you would lend her out to me once married?"

"For the right price." he drawled. "If I am to be leg shackled, then I intend to make some monetary gain from her." Lydia gasped and Elizabeth's hand covered her mouth in shock. She could not believe what they were hearing. She wanted to move away from the balcony and not hear anymore, but she couldn't step away.

"I thought you said you were getting money from her Uncle Gardiner and that Darcy fellow?"

"Yes, well, Darcy has given me plenty of hoops to jump through, and I am not even certain it is worth it! He is going to make it difficult for us to enjoy our marriage. He had not made it a secret that he would have preferred for this marriage not to happen. Darcy has made it so that I will not see a penny until we are married. Bastard!"

"Well, then he should have made it more enticing for you to jilt the chit!"

"Why would he, he lives to make me suffer and now he thinks he has me completely under his thumb." he snarled. "At least, I can bend the annoying creature to my will... I have noticed Miss Elizabeth staring at me this evening and something seems off."

"She is probably wanting you to warm her bed. I say why not? While I enjoy your wife, you can enjoy her sister." they both laughed and shook hands as though a deal had been struck.

"This is all Darcy's fault, why did he have to get involved," he whined. "It is because of him I am no better off than a street beggar! If I had been given what was promised to me, none of this would be happening. I deserve the Darcy name more than he!" Said, Wickham his voice rising in anger.

"I know, friend, I know, but unfortunately that is the way of the world. The least deserving of men always have the wealth and wield the most power. Come, your drink is empty, and it is still early. What say you to staying here until the drink is gone and then finishing our evening with a few buxom wenches from that pleasure house you spoke of earlier?"

Both men disappeared inside snickering and making lewd gestures in front of their chests. Both women remained frozen, unable to digest all that they had heard and breathing heavily. Lydia fell to the floor in a heap, loud sobs wracking her body. Elizabeth, still unable to move stood looking down upon her young sister, whose head was bowed as she cried in shock. Elizabeth's vision blurred as tears fell from her unblinking eyes.

Then, Lydia was clutching at the hem of Elizabeth's dress and looking up at her desperately, "I cannot marry him Lizzy, I will not!" she sobbed "He is a heartless MONSTER! Please Lizzy, you must help me, I do not wish to marry him! Please, please, please..." she broke off crying once more, her sobs turning into gasps as she started to panic.

Elizabeth was next to her on the floor in a flash, "Please Lydia, try to calm yourself."

Her sister's wide eyes held hers, "I cannot breathe!" She gasped, reaching to clutch at her sister.

"Yes, you can!" Elizabeth assured her, "Just take deep breaths, you do not have to do anything you do not wish to do. Lydia, hear me, you are safe, you are not married to him. We will support whatever you want!" Elizabeth let her words sink in as her sister's breathing began to even out. She stilled, leaning her head upon Elizabeth's shoulder and Elizabeth rested her head atop hers while they sat calming each other, when the balcony doors swung open.

Elizabeth looked up to see Jane, accompanied by her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner, step out onto the balcony.

"There you are we have been looking everywhere for you both. Is everything all right? Lizzy?" their Aunt Gardiner questioned coming towards them. They rose to their feet, Elizabeth supporting Lydia. She opened her mouth to speak, but her voice caught in her throat at the sight of Mr Wickham behind her Uncle Gardiner, smiling jovially. His smile dropped when he saw her, and Lydia's expressions and confusion worried his features. He made to move forwards, but Elizabeth stopped him by tilting her head towards the gardens below, following her gesture realisation hit him hard. Wickham's jaw dropped, and he paled. He knew then, they had heard everything.

"Lizzy, Lydia," Said Jane, looking concerned at Lydia. "Did you faint dearest?" When Lydia failed to speak, she turned back to Elizabeth. "Lizzy?!" She said in a slight panic her eyes searching Elizabeth's.

"Elizabeth, tell me, what is the matter this instant; you are worrying us." Aunt Gardiner demanded agitated.

"I," Elizabeth began at the same time as Lydia.

"The wedding is off." Lydia said, cutting Elizabeth's answer short and walking over to her Uncle Gardiner, where he stood beside Mr Wickham. She did not acknowledge Mr Wickham as she asked her uncle to take them home. Wickham moved to reach for Lydia, but she flinched away from him, stepping backwards. She levelled him with a look of disgust, before cutting her eyes at him. As Lydia was walking back towards the room, she paused on the threshold and turned her head but did not look at Wickham.

"I release you from our engagement. Do not ever come near my sisters or myself again. I never want to see or hear from you ever again!" And with her head held high, she walked back inside.


It was later in the evening than intended, before Darcy and Georgiana returned home after taking dinner with his relatives, the Matlocks. He glanced down to his pocket watch, the time was almost midnight. He had agreed to meet with Richard at their club after dropping Georgie home, but he did not feel inclined to go now that he was here. He continued looking down at his watch, which now served as constant reminder of his time alone with Elizabeth in his study. Only a fool would look back on that morning with a fond memory, clearly he was one, for he cherished those few minutes spent in such close proximity to her tending to her nose. My God I need to get a hold of myself! thought Darcy harshly. Looking up noticed Jarvis had been speaking to him and gesturing towards his study.

He nodded and made for his study, he had probably received another letter from Wickham in application to revise their agreement and give him more money. Imbecile! With a small groan he remembered that he had better finish the letter to Lady Catherine he had been putting off and he would send an express note to Richard to say he would not be attending White's tonight.

He knew that if he didn't respond to Aunt Catherine soon, it would result in her condescending to travel to London in her Barouche! He rolled his eyes, she never had been very practical. Just because one has a Barouche does not mean one should use it always, at least not for long distances as the open roof was hardly suitable for the journey to London. Although knowing his Aunt Catherine, she would make the servants bring it and freeze to death just in case she might decide to use it during her stay. Now, how to answer her incredibly rude and intrusive letter on the positives to marriage to his cousin Anne down to her physical attributes, honestly the woman had no limits!

When would she understand that he and her daughter, Anne, had no desire to marry? His Aunt would most certainly be shocked to learn that Anne was not so meek and submissive as she thought her to be. It suited her for now to behave thus, but Anne had secrets of her own…

With a sigh Darcy entered his study shrugging out of his dark green coat and flinging it over the first chair he came to. He made his way over to the window behind his desk, reaching for the latch on the window, a movement in the corner of his eye startled him.

His body tensed prepared for a fight, when he swung around to find Elizabeth standing in the centre of the room. He blinked several times to be sure she was really there before allowing his body to relax. God she was beautiful! Her rich chestnut tresses were elegantly tumbled up high upon her head. He wondered how soft it would feel, his fingers itching at the thought. She wore a simple white muslin gown with lace on the short cuffs of the sleeves and white silk gloves. Darcy straightened slowly as he assessed the lady's countenance. If it were anyone else, he would have thought she were here to confess her admiration of him, but this was Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and unless he was mistaken, he could see that there was anger glittering in the depths of her dark eyes.

"Miss Bennet, is everything all right?" he asked, keeping his tone as neutral as possible.