Hello! It's weekend and that means a new chapter. ;)

A lot of thanks to Jen and Carmalee for their help.

I hope you will like it.

Just a note - I did not tell the first name of Miss Bingley in the next chapter and you will find out why in this one ;)

Chapter 3

Darcy was about to enter the drawing room when he heard her voice. "Have you seen it sister?" Mrs Caroline Robbins screeched. "Six inches deep in mud!"

He closed his eyes and wearily rubbed his temples. That woman was only adding to his already splitting headache. What possessed him to agree to come with Bingley again?

"Mr Darcy is quickly adapting to the life of a country savage." The screeching continued. "He appeared positively wild this morning. Why would he need to go out so early for a ride? Imagine, he returned with that woman, and his expensive boots were completely ruined. I tell you sister, six inches of mud!" Darcy thanked God for the three seconds of silence while she was trying to catch her breath. "Even Miss Eliza did not get any mud on her, but Mr Darcy!"

Mrs Caroline Robbins, nee Bingley, gave up her hunt on Fitzwilliam Darcy last summer. After five years of compliments, simpering and arranging compromising positions, nothing seemed to work. Realizing that she was getting closer to celebrating her twenty-fifth birthday still unwed, Caroline finally decided to set her sights on a lesser prize.

Unfortunately, Caroline's reputation had preceeded her in higher society. She was considered by many members of the ton to be a spiteful shrew who wished to elevate her own station in life by marrying a man of great importance. With her character being so well-known, it was not surprising that even her dowry of twenty thousand pounds could not attract a worthy suitor.

Nevertheless, as the season progressed, there was one man who began to take notice of Miss Bingley. Almost by twenty years older General Robbins, motivated by the size of her dowry, had no qualms in paying her attention. He was the second son of the Earl of - and was delighted with the thought of winning a wealthy bride. Though General Robbins was not the noble Lord she had planned to capture, he was superior to any suitor who had approached her from the trade community. Knowing that he was the best she could hope for, Miss Bingley quickly grabbed her prize. After all, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

If Darcy thought that Caroline's wedding would bring him some kind of respite, he was wrong. Although she was no longer after the title, Mistress of the Pemberley, she was still on the hunt. Because of Caroline's constant nagging, General Robbins had become tired of his wife and resorted to spending more time with friends at his club. Mrs Robbins did not care if she saw her husband or not. On the other hand, finding that her marital duties did not have to be completely disgusting or unpleasant, she chose to redirect her wants towards Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy, with the intention of becoming his mistress. Not only would her physical desires be met, but as his mistress, she would be showered with priceless jewels and gifts, thus making her the envy of every woman.

Darcy avoided Mrs Robbins at all costs, but unfortunately, when he promised to come and help Charles, that horrible woman invited herself along with the party under the pretence that she would l be the hostess. Bingley would never say no to his beloved twin sister.

From the very beginning of Caroline's tirade, Darcy quickly came to understand that his plan on reading in peace and quiet in the same room as Mrs Robbins was doomed to failure. Instead, he hurried out the front door toward the stables, hoping that a ride on his stallion would make him forget this whole disaster for a while. In his mind, everything was crumbling down around him and he had no idea how to recover from all the punches that fate had dealt him.

His father, Wickham, Georgiana, his mother's letter, Lady Catherine's constant nagging, Anne's antics, Bingley and his sisters... He did not know where to begin. Just when he thought he could take no more, she appeared. Elizabeth with her sparkling eyes, exquisite features and tempting figure was the one woman who would plague his dreams and take away the last piece of sanity he possessed. Darcy closed his eyes and leaned against the stable wall, absentmindedly scratching Hermes between his ears. He remembered the evening when he first saw her, the evening when Elizabeth Bennet bewitched him.

Meryton Assembly

One Week Prior

Darcy, Bingley and his sister, Louisa, arrived at the Meryton Assembly just in time for the first dance. Mr and Mrs Robbins were a bit delayed, as Mrs Robbins preferred to make a grand entrance. In her opinion, it would not take much to render the country savages speechless with her fashionable ensemble. As the wife of the retired General Robbins, she saw herself being the leading lady in this society.

Darcy was in an extremely bad mood that evening, the latest letter from Georgiana saw to that. He was disgusted that Charles had tricked him into attending the assembly with unfamiliar, loud people who gossiped about his wealth and pushed their daughters at him.

While hiding behind a pillar in order to avoid introductions, Darcy heard the most beautiful laugh. It was musical, tinkling like a small bird with deep, underling tones, not pretentious, but open and honest. He discretely looked around the room to find the source. What he saw rendered him speechless. She was a goddess sent to earth for the sole purpose of tempting mere mortals. From where he stood, he observed her every move. Dark, rich curls tried to escape their hairpins, refusing to be bound. Red lips, begging to be kissed, upturned in a beautiful smile. So small and delicate, he wanted nothing more than to take her into his arms and protect her from the entire world. Without warning, she turned his way. Her friend had pointed to something near where he stood. When the goddess looked towards him, Darcy forgot to breathe. She was even more beautiful face to face. One look into her mischievous eyes and he was hers.

Not able to resist, his eyes slowly wandered the length of her body causing him to react physically to her presence. It was then that Darcy knew that he was in trouble. For his entire life, he had executed perfect control when it came to women. He refused to succumb to his baser needs and found it distasteful knowing that his fellow man could so easily loose himself to lust. His father's lectures about diseases and bastard children scared him from exploring the pleasures of body with anyone but himself.

When young men reached a certain age, wealthy gentlemen usually took their sons into Lady Sophie's salon to initiate them into the intimacies of a physical relationship between a man and a woman. This was not the case with George Darcy. Noticing that his son had become overly interested in a pretty young maid, Mr Darcy felt it was time to give Fitzwilliam his own initiation. First they went to St. Barbara's, a small hospital in Scotland where patients in the final stages of the French disease were situated. The putrid smell, screaming, crying, moaning, madmen screeching, horrible ulcers and rashes, had remained as Darcy's nightmares, nearly thirteen years later.

At that time, he ran out of the building and promptly emptied his stomach. Young Darcy hoped they would go home, but his father had one more point to make first. Their next destination was an orphanage in the outskirts of London. Little children who had been abandoned were living in horrible conditions, sleeping for the most part on the floor. Their clothes were torn and too thin for winter, while their food consisted of no more than one bowl of a horrible smelling mash each day. "Here ends the lives of children born of loose women who can no longer take care of them. It only takes one act of pleasure to make you a father. You do not want Darcy blood to suffer here." His father told him.

Darcy's lifelong desire for his father's approbation and his own iron will had served him well in this task of self-control. That is, until he was challenged with the beautiful country miss whom he wanted to grab like a savage, throw her over his shoulder and run away her.

"I will overcome this," he said to himself. "I will! She does not tempt me. This is merely a result of my tired mind. Yes, that is it."

While Darcy continued to wrestle with his own thoughts, another set had begun. He was relieved that Mr and Mrs Robbins had not yet arrived, as that would be one less set he would need to avoid Caroline. That woman was like a hound on the scent and it made him shudder to think that she would once again be in pursuit of his company.

These unpleasant thoughts were soon exchanged for something far worse, when Darcy spied Charles leading his goddess to begin the dance. No! He cannot have her! She is mine. Watching the dance like a hawk, he wondered where these possessive thoughts came from. Though Darcy did not like Charles' careless habit, he had never begrudged him of his angels. Even from this distance, he could see that Charles was his usual charismatic self, winking and flirting. What was her reaction? It did not look like she was swooning over him, or was he just wishfully thinking. Argh! This has to stop.

When Darcy saw Bingley wink again at the woman, he nearly lost his composure. Leave her alone, he mentally ranted. Clenching and unclenching his fist, he tried to prevent himself from storming onto the dance floor and causing bodily harm to Charles.

What is her name? Is she a gentleman daughter? Certainly her clothes suggested that she was from one of the finest families in this country. What if she is a daughter of tradesman? Why did I not go with Charles to introduce myself? Out of frustration, Darcy was mentally beating himself. What had that little miss done to him? He was now ready to hurt his long-time friend for her smile.

Fortunately, for Darcy's mental health and Bingley's physical well-being, the set ended. Darcy noted with relief that his goddess did not seem very impressed by Charles. Breathing a bit easier, Darcy sagged back into the shadows, hoping that Charles would not notice him and come around badgering him to be more sociable.

Luckily, Bingley was still recovering from his disappointment with Elizabeth and did not see Darcy standing there. Looking for another angel to impress, he quickly found Jane Bennet who had openly admired him when they met, providing the perfect bandage at his bruised ego. Darcy just shook his head indulgently when he saw him flirting with another woman five minutes later. Typical Bingley!

Just when he thought that the evening could not get any worse, it did. Darcy groaned internally. Halfway through the set, Mr and Mrs Robbins finally arrived. Fortunately, Caroline did not notice him yet, and he intended on keeping it that way. Even her sister, Louisa, would not be of any help because she was sulking by the punch bowl, angered that nobody asked her to dance. Darcy thought if Miss Louisa Bingley would smile and put forth a little more effort, somebody might take a pity on her.

When the set ended, Darcy's luck on avoiding Charles finally ran out. Startled, he nearly jumped out of his skin when his friend started talking from behind him.

"Come, Darcy," said Bingley, "I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had much better dance."

"I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this, it would be insupportable."

"I would not be as fastidious as you are," cried Bingley, "for a kingdom! Upon my honour I never met with so many pleasant girls in my life, as I have this evening; and there are several of them, you see, uncommonly beautiful."

"Bingley, you know that yours and my opinions differ on beauty. Do not try to persuade me, you will not succeed." Darcy stubbornly deflected all of his tactics—he wouldn't be persuaded to dance with anyone that night.

"Oh, have you seen Miss Elizabeth Bennet? She is the most beautiful woman my eyes have ever beheld. Unfortunately, she is rather cold." Bingley was clearly still bitter that she did not fall to his feet. "Maybe you will suit her nicely." When his pride was hurt, he did not pay attention to his words.

Darcy just shook his head. "Bingley, go back to dancing and leave me be." Internally, he was celebrating that she seemed immune to Bingley's patented charm. Good for her, she must be very intelligent if she can deflect him so quickly.

"No." Bingley was clearly determined. He would not see his friend standing in the corner, moping. "Look, there is Miss Elizabeth with Miss Charlotte Lucas." He pointed his finger. "Let us go to them, I will introduce you."

Elizabeth. Her name is Elizabeth. Hmm, Lizzy or Beth? Which one she would prefer after I kiss her and take her to- Oh, but this is not to be borne. This spell must be lifted, I am the Master of the Pemberley, and I shall conquer this.

"Do I see a blush, Darcy? Tempting, isn't she?" Bingley teased. "Come, she does not bite, just ask her to dance, it is not a proposal of marriage."

Little did Bingley know that these thoughts were not far away from Darcy's mind. Marriage, wedding, wedding night… Darcy was battling with himself. On top of that, he had to immediately get rid of Bingley before he noticed the strong physical reaction which was becoming apparent when thinking of Elizabeth in his bed. The teasing would never stop. "Bingley, your badgering is getting intolerable. She does not tempt me. You really need to leave me alone." With that, he turned around and set out to the punch table when he realized that Miss Bingley had already abandoned it and gossiped with her sister at the other side of the room.

Thank goodness Bingley finally conceded his defeat and went looking for Jane to ask her for another dance.

The Present

Hiding away at Netherfield, Darcy though that he was safe from Elizabeth. Oh, how wrong he was. For several days, Charles and the general had been enjoying the hunting that the nearby woods had to offer. Before the week was over, they were joined by Miss Bingley's fiancé, Mr Hurst, making them a merry party. Though the responsibility of overseeing repairs on the tenant's properties fell to Bingley, it was Darcy who was overseeing the work.

With all of the men out of the house, the Bingley sisters became quickly bored. After four days of bickering with each other over whose husband or fiancée was of better consequence, the second son of an Earl or the only son of a gentleman, Jane Bennet was invited in order to diffuse the stifling atmosphere in the house.

Smiling and unassuming Miss Bennet managed to charm even these two harpies who immediately invited her to spend the entire week. What they did not count on was Jane missing her beloved sister. After mentioning this in front of Bingley, the invitation was immediately issued for Elizabeth to come.

The sisters were not happy, for now they were stuck with Elizabeth, an impertinent woman who was practically laughing at them. They were never sure, but something in her eyes told them that they were often mocked, and they did not like it one bit.

Darcy felt like banging his head on the wall out of frustration when he first heard that Elizabeth, or Lizzy, as he now called her, would be staying in the same house. He thought that he would go crazy with desire, knowing that she would be so close for an entire week. After two days of seeing her, his desires grew more intense. Lizzy was not only beautiful, but she was witty and intelligent, well-educated and capable of a debate which challenged him in every possible way. Darcy was falling in love and he did not know how to stop it.

I hope you liked it. Please review. ;)

See you next week.