Fitzwilliam Darcy…

A few hours later…

There were people milling all over his house and Darcy felt the sudden need to yell. One more excited squeal from Caroline and Stephanie over a dress design and Darcy was going to throw the book they were looking at out the window. He felt like a damned caged tiger. What was wrong with him?

"If I didn't know you so well, I'd think you were thinking about homicide." His cousin said suddenly from behind him and Darcy turned to face the fairly young colonel with a smile. Now, this was one man he had always felt comfortable with, almost as comfortable as he felt with Charles. For one, they shared a similar personality along with their name. Colonel Fitzwilliam and he had always been amused by that. He shrugged.

"I'm just a little on edge, that's all." Will announced as he watched Stephanie's young, twenty-two year old blonde brother talking animatedly with Charles. He was an idealistic man, going to school to study science and history. And then Will's eyes narrowed as he saw Georgiana watching him almost fondly from the side of the room. At twenty, she had the luxury of being attracted to every attractive man without worrying about settling down as of yet, but Georgiana had a history of making mistakes when it came to men. And it made Darcy worry. The colonel noticed.

"I wouldn't worry about young Lord Devon over there. He's too absorbed in his dissertation at school to look twice at anything female." The colonel pointed out as Darcy chuckled. He remembered being that way himself at that age—too caught up in making a success of himself and his family name to care too much about female company. The Colonel glanced at Stephanie and then over at Darcy.

"So, old boy, you really know what you are doing deciding to walk into the matrimony trap?" The colonel asked as Darcy sighed. No, he really didn't.

"At this point, I'm in a daze." Darcy answered honestly as the colonel laughed and offered him a small glass of scotch. Darcy took it and swallowed the liqueur with a flourish. Lady Stephanie squealed again as the butler appeared suddenly at the door of the room.

"You seem to have more guests, sir." The butler announced in a tired tone as Georgiana glanced curiously at Darcy and Charles' face grew pale. Darcy and Bingley looked over at each other as if the two of them were now thinking the same thing. They probably were. She wouldn't! They wouldn't! Oh, hell! It was Jane and Elizabeth for God's sake. Of course they would. Darcy sighed.

"Show them into the foyer, Jenkins. I'll meet with them there." Darcy answered as he swigged down the rest of the scotch in one large gulp before handing the glass to the Colonel and heading toward the door. Georgiana followed closely behind.

"Don't even think about discouraging me, brother. I suddenly have the feeling that I am about to get the answers to all of my unanswered questions." She stated in an amused manner as Darcy took a deep breath before stepping into the hall. His heart nearly stopped. He should have known Ms. Bennet wouldn't take kindly to being left behind because now his little fiery vixen was standing before him in all of her Italian glory. Elizabeth Bennet nodded respectfully. Darcy's new manager stood beside her.

"Mr. Darcy? How good of you to invite us here while I try to look over the records dealing with your Italian business!" Mr. Collins gushed as he stepped forward with an outstretched hand. But Darcy's eyes were only for Elizabeth.

"Invited you?" Darcy asked as Elizabeth smiled and nodded her head innocently.

"Surely you remember, sir. You were very adamant about making your new employee quite welcome if I recall the last time that we spoke." Elizabeth Bennet proclaimed as Darcy clenched his teeth together soundly. She had challenged his hospitality knowing that he wouldn't refuse. The conniving little…

"It's a pleasure to receive you here." Darcy said quietly to Mr. Collins as he paled even more when Lizzie's confounded family as well as Jane and a woman he didn't know suddenly walked into the door. She had to be kidding him! This was not happening. Georgiana chuckled lightly as she stepped up next to her brother.

"Oh, I like her!" Georgie whispered to him confidently as Darcy groaned. That was it! He was going to fire her! Looking once again up into Lizzie's eyes, he suddenly realized that it didn't matter if he did. She wouldn't care. Oh, two could play this game.

"Welcome!" He commented suddenly as he smiled forcefully at Elizabeth's entire family as he approached her.

"I see you took the 'let's put family first' memo rather seriously, huh Ms. Bennet?" He asked with clenched teeth as she grinned.

"You betcha!"

Author's Note: Just wanted to add a quick good luck wish to aragorn is mine. Good luck on your yearly exams and thank you for reading and reviewing despite your need to study. Wonderful wishes!