Will threw himself onto his bed and covered his face with his arm. That was probably the worst attempt at conversation I ever.

When he entered the little house he expecting to see the Collins family and Charlotte. He was differently affected when he saw the last person he thought he would ever see in this part of the country. Lizzie sat in front of him surprised to see him as well. Questions began to flood his mind and it clear when Lizzie greeted him; he made a noise he couldn't even discern and found salvation at a window. Will wanted to return her greeting but his tongue was tied and he couldn't trust himself to answer coherently.

Richard jumped into the conversation that his cousins left, "Don't mind him, Will is usually awkward. I'm Richard, I was at the Bingley's party, but I guess you were busy with others to notice. Will is my cousin if you can believe it."

Lizzie began to talk to Will's cousin which irritated him as he could do nothing but look out the window.

"How is your trip so far? Enjoying the country?"

"Yes, I like the city, but it can never beat the natural beauty of the country. I've had several walks so far and was pleased with the view."

"I'm glad. I usually take a walk through the park each year, maybe you would like to come with me?"

"I'd like that."

Will colored. Was Richard making a move on Lizzie? He gathered enough courage to ask after her family which he instantly dreaded.

"They're fine. My sister Jane however seems a little depressed. Apparently something happened between her and Charles. Do you know?"

He had to lie, "No I don't."

Lizzie looked into his eyes and he held his breath hoping she couldn't tell. Her eyes were pulled away by Richard who seemed to want all her attention on himself. Will was annoyed. Even if her eyes were trying to pierce his soul, he would rather have them on himself. The way her eyes would light up always made his heart skip.

Soon after Richard said that they should return to their aunt and they got up and left. Will wasn't able to speak to Lizzie after talking about her family. His cousin had monopolized her the rest of the visit while he could do nothing but stare out the window.

"I never thought you'd be so eager to go back to our aunt." Quipped Will.

"What? Oh gosh no. I only said that so we can have time to ourselves. Our aunt would become too suspicious if we spent too much time over there, especially you."

"That reminds me, our aunt seems to have this idea that there is something between Lizzie and me. It would be best not to mention her name to her, maybe call her something else."

"Eliza?"

"No."

"Beth."

"Too close."

"Elise! I knew a girl named Elizabeth who goes by Elise."

"Okay, Elise it is."

"But won't her friend call her Lizzie?"

"I'll tell her tomorrow."

The two walked in silence till Richard broke it, "I think she is really pretty."

"What?"

"You can't be serious that you haven't noticed."

"It's not that I haven't noticed."

"Then what?"

Will couldn't think of an answer. "Well if you don't act soon someone else will take her."

Will looked at his cousin trying to see if this was a challenge saying that he liked her.


The cousins agreed that Richard should tell the girls of the plan. Will waited patiently for his cousin to return but he didn't come back until an hour passed and was accompanied by the whole Collins party.

Their aunt spoke first to the visitors.

"It is so good that you were able to come. I think company most important in every occasion. Your companion is a pretty girl, Charlotte."

"This isn't my companion so much as she is my best friend. This is Elise, she's a grade younger than me."

Charlotte did a brief pause during the introduction, but his aunt didn't seem to notice. Will stole a glance at Lizzie who seemed to have spaced out since the beginning of the visit. He wished he could read her mind to know what she was thinking.

"Elise is a good name and suits you well. Tell me Elise, do you have any siblings?"

Lizzie didn't answer and Will started to panic inside. If she didn't accept Richard's plan then his aunt would learn who she really is.

She looked up at his aunt with a smile playing at the corners of her mouth and a sparkle in her eye.

"Yes I do, I am the second of five girls. Elise is only a nickname," No, don't say it! "My real name is Elizabeth." Will was shocked that his aunt didn't make the connection. She was too busy talking about Lizzie's parents having five daughters.

"That must be really unfortunate for your father."

"Yes," Lizzie grinned, "but my father finds humor in the chaos, and we are pretty close too."

His aunt nodded, "I was one of three girls. Do you play an instrument?"

"Piano, but I'm pretty bad at it. I like sports better and run cross-country."

"I think exercise is very important in maintaining a healthy body and figure. It should never be neglected."

Will hid a smile. If his aunt knew this was the girl she spoke so badly about just months ago, how would she act?

"You don't seem a day over thirteen. How old are you exactly?"

"Sixteen. I have a summer birthday so I'm younger than most of the people in my class."

"To be able to look younger than your age can be a blessing in life. I remember when I looked like I in my early teens when I was twenty."

Lady Catherine turned to Ricky and his family; speaking of the days when she was referred to as a golden girl. Will drowned out his aunt's stories and watched suspiciously as Richard sat down beside Lizzie whispering something in her ear. She smiled and walked out of the room with him. Will felt he should watch his cousin to make sure he didn't do something reckless.

The couple walked to the music room and sat down together at the piano. Will watched in undisguised jealousy. She played for him a few songs and Will took a few steps closer. She looked up when he was next to her and his chest constricted as she smiled.

"Did you follow us here to make fun of me? You will be disappointed to hear that I don't intimidate easily."

"No, but I know you enough to understand you like to saying things you don't believe yourself."

Lizzie looked surprised and she stopped playing.

"Apparently I'm shallow, Richard. So you can't take anything I say serious." She looked Will up and down, "So when I say that your cousin is cute..." Richard couldn't keep laughing and shaking his head at Will.

"What else do you have to say about him? I would love to hear how he acts around strangers." Richard pleaded, "Though I can guess apart of it."

"Ready yourself for something pathetic. I first met your Will at a museum where he told me to shut up. Apparently art can come alive if you speak too loud."

"I remember seeing you there, but I didn't hear that part of the story."

"Next was when we were all at the Bingley's house where we played chess and only spoke twice to me. But I won the bet he issued so I was fine."

"Really? What kind of bet?"

"who ever won the game has to do the other person a favor."

"I never saw Will lose before in that game." Richard raised an eyebrow.

"I don't make a habit of to lose." Will said gruffly.

"I'm pretty sure he wasn't playing to lose as chivalry, or at least I hope not." Spoke to Richard ignoring Will, "I do have to ask, why place a bet if you didn't expect to win?" She said turning to look at Will. "What were your plans if you did win? It must've been something great."

"Since I lost, I see no point in saying it."

"So have you used your favor?" Asked Richard.

"No, I'm still wondering what I should have him do."

"Maybe a date?" He suggested while sneaking a look at Will.

"No we already went on one. Talk about horrible. He actually tried to leave me behind and made fun of my sense of direction."

Richard shook his head in disappointment.

"I think that requires a redo without using the bet."

"Oh no, don't torture me with such an idea. We had better not attempt another."

Suddenly they heard the booming voice of their aunt at the doorway.

"What are you all about? You should not leave unless told to, it is rude to go off on your own and abandon Anne, William."

Will let out a sigh and followed, he almost missed Lizzie's smile. What did she find so funny?

Their visitors left a few minutes later, leaving the boys with their aunt and Anne. Will excused himself claiming he was tired from the drive. Free now, he laid on his bed and let his mind wander which it liked to do when thinking about Lizzie.


The next morning Will set off on a walk. There he could be certain of being at ease. He walked in no particular direction till he suddenly found that he was five minutes from the Collins' house. Since he was close by he figured he should visit. The heat had made him eager to get indoors and he knocked on the door.

Lizzie opened the door and he walked in, now regretting that he came. He felt all the awkwardness by finding out that she was alone in the house. She gave him a glass of lemonade and they sat down in silence. This was a bad idea. Maybe I should leave, or would that be too weird to just come and then go. Will was lost in what to do when Lizzie started up.

"So how was your Christmas in London?"

"Fine, thank you."

"Did you spend it with your British friends? I hear Charles is quite popular there."

"He is." Will wished he had phrased that differently. It was meant as a question.

Charles was popular and had many friends, but who had told her? Not Charles, surely. It must have been Caroline. Will decided to change the subject.

"I was surprised to hear of your friend's relationship with Collins."

"You aren't the only one."

"I thought him to be looking at someone else."

"Yes well men can be frivolous in their attachments."

"Not all guys are the same."

"Maybe it's just the guys I've met so far, but really, it's been a recurring theme."

Will lost the opportunity to respond as the Collins family and Charlotte just returned. The adults were surprised but held their tongues till Will escaped. He was sure his aunt would hear about this so he went into his room and didn't emerge until lunch.

Will spent his mornings taking long walks through the woods. Occasionally he would see Lizzie playing by the river. When he saw her he would usually walk the other way, but this time he went to meet her.

She was definitely surprised to see him.

"I didn't know you went this way."

"I don't have a general route when I walk." Talk about lying, Darcy.

"I found this place on a previous walk and often come and read here."

Was she inviting him to come again and meet her there?

The following two mornings Will would walk to the river and find Lizzie. He asked her about her trip so far and her love of walks. The third day he found Richard sitting with her by the river. Will was irritated by his cousin and he left as they jumped into the river and began splashing one another.

Will decided to accept that he did like Lizzie and decided he should claim her before his cousin did. When Richard returned he didn't say anything about it so he must not have asked her. He only needed to find time alone with her to ask. He tried walking to the river but she wasn't there, and was uneasy when he heard later that evening when the Collins family and Charlotte came for dinner that Lizzie had stayed behind because she wasn't feeling well.

After dinner Will snuck out of the house and walked to the Collins' house. He didn't have any words planned out so he figured it would be best to let his heart and mind do it for him.


A/N: I really don't know what to say. I finally got my computer and was able to post the last one and the earlier ones from my brother's computer. Hopefully things will go faster now that I'm not typing on my iPod. So my brother was doing some beta work on my earlier chapters and there is a lot wrong. I know I've rushed these out, but hopefully he'll continue to help. The first chapter is already three times as funny now. I will update those when they're done, but until then it's going to be a bumpy ride with misspellings and such. Review, what do you think Will is going to say? How will Lizzie react? Stay tune for more!