A/N: Alright, done editing the whole story, I'll post a few chapters today and a few more tomorrow. Thanks again for reading and reviewing! I write because I get great enjoyment creating new worlds and to have others appreciate them as much as I do is wonderful. You guys are the best!

Chapter 24

The cottage was as deserted as it had been before. To Elizabeth's shame, she had visited it on a few occasions, to what purpose, she did not know. She had heard from Mrs. Shaw, who knew a footman at Rosings, who had it from the gardener that the land was still fallow and would most likely remain so for a few more years. The cottage had been whitewashed twice a year, and swept throughout, but no other alterations had been made.

Mr. Darcy was waiting for her by the back door, a candle in hand. He led her through the house to "their" room. Only one other candle sat upon an otherwise empty table, giving off very little light, or warmth. Elizabeth tightened her shawl around her shoulders, to keep out the cold or protect herself from Darcy, she did not know.

"I would offer for you to sit, but," Darcy waved his arm around the empty room.

"I am here," Elizabeth stated, "speak."

"Felicia Coleman is the daughter of a friend of my Aunt, Lady Matlock," he began. "They met in town at Matlock House. They got along well, and so enjoyed each others company that Georgiana was asked to visit the Coleman's estate during the Summer. A few months later we returned the invitation and had them stay at Pemberley.

"I did not know this at the time, but the Coleman family coffers were nearly empty due to an ancestors abuse of funds, and much needed repairs through the estate. They kept their secret well, no other families of Society having lived near them to divine such. To the world they were a wealthy family, but in truth they faced certain poverty. It was decided by her parents that she would set her cap at me. During their Season together I was not a frequent participant in the balls and parties, leaving that to Mrs. Annesley and Lady Matlock. They invited myself and Georgiana to their estate in June, but I declined. Geogiana begged me to allow Felicia to stay at Pemberley, so both her parents and she came in late October. Desperate for funds, they ordered their only child to entrap me during their stay at Pemberley." Elizabeth gasped.

Darcy paused in his narration and began to pace the room as if he could outrun his demons. "I was asleep, dreaming of you, when she sneaked into my room. I did not lock my door, feeling no threat," he scoffed. "She climbed into my bed and began...I was dreaming of us, Elizabeth, here in this cottage. She took advantage of me, and yet I could not let scandal touch her. Her parents demanded satisfaction, either monetary compensation or marriage would do. They made it clear, Elizabeth, that either would do." He raked his hands through his hair, "I could not understand how they could use their daughter thus. She cried, Elizabeth, begged my forgiveness, promised she would be a good wife. God, she was only seventeen!"

Elizabeth reached out to Darcy, her Darcy, and placed her soft palm on his cheek, stroking her thumb along his grizzled skin. "You are a good man," she whispered.

He laughed, "I am not finished. I was angry, angrier than I had ever been before. I took my wife, forbade her to correspond with her family, promised that once their property passed into my hands via Felicia, I would level their house to the ground and sow their fields with salt."

Elizabeth dropped her hand, shock etched into her features. She looked questioningly at him, unable to speak.

"I had promised to wait for you," he explained. "I told myself I would come to Hunsford every year to be with you, until one of us died. I had vowed to stay true to you, and she, her parents, forced me to break my promise."

"Will," she called to him, and in an instant he was in her arms, unable to determine who was pulling on the other tighter.

Darcy nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck, hoping he could bury himself there forever. Elizabeth ran her fingers through his hair, feeling his strength and warmth pressed against her figure. He kissed her, gently, on her neck, and in that moment a coldness entered her body. She pushed herself away.

"I cannot do this," she said in a hushed voice. "I vowed to never betray his trust again."

Darcy looked solemnly at her and nodded his head once. "Goodbye then," he said, then turned to leave.

Elizabeth reached out for his arm, stopping him in his tracks.

"Will," she said, her heart breaking, "go home to your wife. Make amends. Do not let the crimes of her parents taint what the two of you can have together."

Darcy stiffened, his fists clenching and unclenching. "I shall try," and with that, he walked out of the cottage, and quite possibly out of her life, forever.