A/N: Hey, I'm doing great progress in this story, so proud of myself I am! :)

7. Your integrity could be for sale.

"Treat you like a door mat Expecting you to fail Says right across your forehead Integrity for sale"

I just stood there, behind everyone, eyeing my cousin's finger as if it was a nightmare. What it was, obviously. Amanda would never marry anyone, let aside that creepy thing Collins. I could hear Mrs Bennett crying in the kitchen, but who minded?

"So who here lacks acquaintance? Mr Bingley, let me present Mr Collins." Bingers bowed to Creepman, until a figure I knew only too well appeared at the door. Oh bugger!

"And you sir are...?" The gorgeous bloody seducer, you idiot!

"Papa, this is our saviour, Captain Wickham." Yeah, right, do that again and Darcy eats your eyes!

"Very well, our saviour! Captain Wickham, this gentleman is Mr Darcy." George bowed, but of course no reply. No way! Darcy even turned around and faced the wall. Charming!

Mr Bennet then gestured towards Mary so that she would play the piano. It took her a while to understand. "Mr Bennet, may I have your permission to play the piano?"

He fainted surprise perfectly. "At this hour? What would Lady Catherine say Mr Collins?"

"Her Ladyship is possessed of impeccable manners, she would merely pretend not to notice." Well, if she really was that boring, we wouldn't get along very well, her Ladyship and I.

"Do it Mary." Right, can I go upstairs and die please?

Lydia literally assaulted George and started a boring conversation with him, while Amanda turned to Darcy and Bingley to Collins. Right, I was left alone again. Perfect.

"Mr Bennett, I'm sorry to ask, but can I go outside and take a breath of fresh air, all this society really is exhausting." I nearly winked at him, but I knew he wouldn't mind. He would run away with me if he could.

"By all means, Miss Johnson, by all means. Don't get lost, however, I would lack some sensible company."

I curtsied and winked this time, before heading outside, followed by a pair of brown eyes. Yeah, follow me, George, you would host a searching party that would last two weeks before you would find me...

After a while, and after George eyed the whole garden in search for me, not even minding to raise his gaze to see me in a tree, Amanda got out of the house, looking so much troubled, before her husband-to-be (lemme vomit at the thought) joined her. I eavesdropped but kept my eyes on George.

"My dear! You are not chatty!"

"No!"

"The company of the Bennetts is indeed demeaning, but when we are conjoined in matrimony, with my exalted patronage and your...income, we can turn our face towards more distinguished liaisons."

Then George started walking towards Am' when she saw him standing not far from her. If he was hitting on her, I swear I would eat this tree!

"I confess it Miss Price, you fascinate me. I think you've injured great heartship in your life, as have I." Oh please, don't! I rolled my eyes and nearly fell off. C'mon Angie, get a grip! He is that crap who seduced little Darcy girl, not a bloody Olympian God!

"Come on, get it over with, give me the shtick! Tell me all about Darcy robbing you what was right for yours." Amanda 1 – Wickham 0.

"So you have heard about this?"

"I read about it. Take my tip, Wickham, don't waste your time with this lot, especially Lydia, because I'm watching you. Every time you try to pull a stroke, I'll be right behind you with a big neon sign saying "Don't trust this guy!"" Neon? C'mon Am', he may be handsome, but he lives in the 1800s nonetheless!

"What is neon?"

"Wait and see!"

He started leaning in really dangerously, provoking me to grip the branch I was sitting in even more. Calm down hormones! "Miss Price, I fear that your life with Mr Collins may be short of gaiety. If you find yourself nonplussed by the anticipated pleasures of married life, call upon me, and I shall redress the deficit." Oh God! Tell me he didn't propose that to my cousin? Facepalming myself might not be enough to translate my surprise.

"Full marks for trying, George, but I wouldn't have my deficit redressed by you if you were the last man on Earth!" Yeah, right, turn him down, Amanda, he's mine! Wait, did I think that? Erase that!

Then, Darcy and Bingers got out of the house, most probably leaving. Amanda walked in and took Charles' hand, pulling him towards the garden with Jane. I turned back towards George and nearly fell off. He was looking straight at me.

"Is it considered proper to climb in a tree in a white dress and eavesdrop on someone's conversation?"

I started getting down but of course got my dress stuck under my foot. George took my waist and pulled me to the ground, keeping me an unneeded second against his chest.

"I wasn't eavesdropping. I was admiring the scenery when you two came under my tree and started talking nonsense."

"Oh, I've hit a point. Are you jealous, Miss Johnson?"

"Jealous of whom? Amanda, perhaps? Oh yes, how I would love to be fiancée to Creepy Collins!" I wasn't lying...much.

"You know what I was talking about."

"I do. And you're mistaken. I do not need my deficit to be redressed by anyone. It's perfectly well where it stands." Have I said that? Please, tell me I haven't!

Well, apparently I did, seeing how George's smirk showed soon after. "Will you take a walk with me, Miss Johnson?"

I sighed, but to lie to? I dreamt of walking with him! "If I must."

And that's how we started taking a turn of the park, talking about things that didn't matter. Those things being me.

What did you think? ;)