I gasped in a breath as I re-surfaced, the greenish water trickling from my hair. Darcy was already out, wringing out his Mr. Public Schoolboy tailored jacket. Tearing my eyes away from him, I swam gracefully towards the side of the lake and tried pulling myself out, but only succeeding in tearing my dress slightly, "Oi. Darcy, over here! Goodness, where're gallant gentlemen when you need them?" I called, expecting him to send Holmes, but it appeared that he had also somehow managed to end up in the lake. I suspected that he had jumped in.

Darcy looked over at me, water dripping off his darkened hair and past his icy blue eyes- I caught myself and looked away as he approached, extending a hand, "So, we have a winner and a new reigning champion!" He said, pulling me easily out of the murky water. I stared at him in mock horror, "Are you quite alright, Mr. Darcy?" I gently touched his forehead as if to check to for a fever, but a tingle met my hand instead, so I drew it away, "Why, I do believe the sun has gone to your head! Being gallant and admitting you lost to a girl, me, to be precise? Very odd indeed!" I said, feigning shock. Darcy's face had clouded over to his old doom and gloom expression of woe, "I can assure you, Miss Bennet, that I have been raised to be the perfect gentleman. If I do not meet your critique, then I apologize profoundly." He said, helping me onto solid ground again, then he bowed and turned to go back inside, striding across the perfect lawn towards the huge house.

Holmes had managed to drag himself out on his own and was now sunbathing on the grass, "Nice one, Ella." He said, standing up and stretching. I glowered at him, my temper flaring, "Don't criticize me for not bowing to his every need and fancy! Darcy is supposed to be a man, he can handle me insulting him, after all, I'm just a lowly singer that won't submit to his supposed greatness!" I cried, brushing water from my hair.

Holmes clenched his jaw and looked away, trying to control himself, then he looked back at me, "Darcy has a tough life, Ella, just because he seems arrogant and biased, it doesn't mean he is. I know you pride yourself on being able to judge people's characters, but you can't be right every time!" These final words hung in the air as we glared at each other in mounting fury. Of course, it was me who broke the silence, "You know what? I'm sick of this place, I'm sick of Darcy messing with my life and I am sick of you telling me what I can and can't do!" I shouted at him, curling my fists and then walking away before I did anything that I would regret.


I didn't speak to Holmes or Darcy for the rest of the day. In fact, I didn't speak to anyone at all.

There was a pretty forest a mile or so away from Lady C's house (if you could call it that) and I wasted the day just wandering through it, enjoying just being on my own, not having everybody breathing down my neck, challenging my every thought and action. Why was I surrounded by such infuriating people? Except Dad, I loved my father, with his kind, crinkling eyes and snow white hair. He always listened, always had time for me- I was his favourite, after all, the only one that could hold an intellectual debate for longer than 10 seconds. I missed him, I had never liked being away from him, but with my family, sometimes it was necessary.

I looked up and realised I had come to a tiny clearing, a swimming hole with dappled sunlight glinting invitingly off the surface.

What the smurf.

I dove in, dress and all, not caring about the consequences.


Darcy was confused. Very, very confused.

He had thought that the ice between him and Ella had finally begun to melt. Then again, he had thought that they had warmed to each other three times before. Sighing, he strode through the forest, leaves and twigs crackling underfoot.

Then he paused, someone was singing. The voice was ethereal, unlike anything he had ever heard before, it enchanted him and made him want to listen to more. The voice seemed to be coming from Browning's Pond, so he walked towards a small clump of trees to hid behind.

The vision that met his eyes shocked him.

Ella Bennet was swimming in Browning's Pond, her long brown hair floating behind her and her lovely voice filling the clearing. He didn't even know what she was singing, all he knew was Ella Bennet was beautiful.

He swallowed, his mouth dry as he watched her get out of the pond, wishing that she had worn something other than a light dress. Darcy knew he should look away, but he couldn't. She was smiling ironically to herself, her green eyes twinkling in the way that he had never seen prior to their meeting. she should have such an effect on him, it would ruin his career, but still he couldn't help the way that she was.

He wished he could.


I squeezed out the water that had made my dress cling to me like a second skin. I hated it when that happened, it felt so uncomfortable... Almost as uncomfortable as talking with Darcy or Lady Catherine.

Actually, not quite as bad as that.

Smiling to myself at this thought, I walked up the bank and stopped, hearing twigs crack. Turning around slowly, I scanned the trees for something. Satisfied that it was probably just an animal, I started belting out Queen's Don't Stop Me Now. How music had declined since the good old days.

"IF YOU WANNA HAVE A GOOD TIME, JUST GIVE ME A CALL..." I trailed off as I spotted Darcy stopping in his tracks, watching me with a shocked look on his face. My cheeks felt warm and I knew I was blushing. I can bet that you'll never guess what I decide would be appropriate to break the ice.

"Except for you." I said, then blushed a brighter shade of pink. Darcy looked perplexed, "Excuse me?"

"You can't give me a call when you want a good time." I clapped a hand over my mouth, trying to shut in any more embarrassing comments. I swear I saw a twinkle of amusement in his sea-blue eyes as he slipped his hands into his pockets, "And you think I would?" He asked, raising an eyebrow, but still looking completely impassive. Apart from a light, light flush spreading over his high cheekbones. I could have been imagining it.

I hoped I was.

I frowned, but ignored this comment, "Did I hear something?" I asked, walking past him, "Oh, no, it must be the wind." Then I broke into an awkward run, hopping nimbly over a few fallen trees.

Before my foot caught the third one and I fell flat on my face.

Total idiot. I know.

Darcy had been watching me with an amused smirk on his face as I had been hopping daintily over the trees and now, he immediately rushed to my side.

"Ella, seriously, I'm not a monster." He said, as he checked my head for any injuries. I stuck out my bottom lip and pointed to my ankle, where he immediately started checking, "Prove it. And- OW! Do you really have to do that?!" I said as he twisted my ankle this way and that, "You're not helping that image."

Darcy glanced up at me, "You want me to leave you?" He asked, dropping my foot and sending a bolt of pain up my leg, "DAR-CYYY!" I shrieked, clutching it and then yelping again as my fingers poked my sore ankle. Of course, Darcy was just kneeling there, still looking impassive, "So do you want me to leave and you can walk back, or do you want me to take you back?"

I harrumphed, crossing my arms. I was very glad that I had packed my angry face.

"Fine. Do what you like."

Darcy got up and began walking away, "Thank you!" He called over his shoulder. My cheeks flamed, "Darcy." I said, trying to keep the embarrassment from y voice, "Can you please come back here?"

He didn't stop, "Did I hear something? Ah, no, it must be the wind..." My fists clenched and the throbbing in my ankle increased, "Darcy, would you please come back and help me back to the house?" Only then did he turn, still smirking, "Well, since you asked so nicely, I will."

Darcy slipped his arms around me, picking me up swiftly and beginning to carry me back to the house. I folded my arms, "You're no fun." I said, sullenly, poking him, "Why's that, Darce?"

Darcy looked down at me, cocking an eyebrow, "Who ever said I wasn't? I do believe we just had a swordfight with wooden swords, or am I mistaken?" Smurfity smurfs, this guy had no idea of true fun, "Why don't you ever smile?" I asked suddenly, studying his face, but still not letting my guard down. Darcy was genuinely surprised at this question, "I do!"

"Do not."

"Do!"

"You smirk, but you definitely don't smile." I said, touching the corner of his mouth and tried to make him smile. The effect it had on him was quite different to what I had expected. He froze and I felt his heart quicken, "I do smile..." He said, his voice husky. And the he did.

Wow.

It was a soft smile and I noticed that he had dimples... My heart sped up the tiniest bit. I mean, I had seen him smile a few times before on the very rare occasion, but this one was different. It was a real, genuine, sweet smile.

Whoa.

"OK. I get the idea." I snapped, frowning and looking away quickly. Then I heard him laugh, "I get the feeling that you don't like me very much."

I looked at him, disbelief written all across my face, "Really? How on earth did you sense that?" I asked, looking away again. Darcy leant closer to me, "It didn't seem like that when I kissed you on the beach." He said, his voice soft and deep.

Hitting him, I squirmed out of his arms and walked (hobbled) back to the Castle of Doom (Lady C's house) on my own.

A/N: GUYS, I AM SO SORRY THAT THIS HAS TAKEN SO LONG AND THAT IT'S SO SHORT, BUT I HAD WRITER'S BLOCK WITH THIS CHAPTER AND I KNOW IT'S RUBBISH, BUT IT'S GUNNA SPEED UP THE NEXT CHAPTERS :D :D Also, sorry for the rubbish ending xD