When Elizabeth's trip to the lake country was postponed by an imminent problem in London with one of Mr. Gardiner's investors Elizabeth had a few days to consider all that had happened over the past few weeks. She had returned to Longbourn after an intriguing trip to Rosings not only affected by the actions of Lady Catherine and Mr. Collins, that were almost comedic enough to be roles in one of Shakespeare's comedies, but also by Mr. Darcy confession about his actions that interfered with Jane's engagement to Mr. Bingley and that Mr. Wickham claimed ruined his fortunes and chances for a life as a clergyman of a wealthy parish. The days of relation silence without either the Gardner children or Lydia to break her attention she was able to think about how her own actions did not portray her in the best light and how she was finally able to understand how Mr. Darcy could get the wrong idea from her family from the actions that he was able to observe.

After all like Charlotte said, there was plenty of time to get to know each other after the marriage. Once the marriage was complete the truth often came out about what kind of life partner you had chosen and then you were unable to make a different decision. Mr. Darcy was only trying to protect his friend while she knew Jane was as incredible as she seemed. Without that history it would be quite likely that Elizabeth herself would run as far away as she could from her mother and younger sisters if she was a man looking for a wife.

Unfortunately since Mr. Bingley had left the neighborhood she would be unable to talk with Mr. Darcy and apologize for her harsh response to his proposal. He was only looking out for his friend, if Jane had been in the same situation Elizabeth would have done anything and everything in her power to keep Jane from entering into a marriage that would both shame her family and guarantee Jane a loveless marriage. Although Mr. Darcy had apologized in his letter he was not the only one that had behaved badly. If only there was something that Elizabeth could do so she could run into Mr. Darcy maybe they could try to get to know each other a little better. Not to mention that Mr. Darcy had given his word that he would reconcile Mr. Bingley and Jane's relationship. The two gentle people could easily fall back in love and live happily ever after. Elizabeth sighed as she watched the sun move across the sky as she sat on Ockham Mount by her favorite tree. There were so many things that she was now regretting and hopefully one day she would get the chance to resolve her regrets.

The business that had put off Mr. And Mrs. Gardiner's trip with Lizzy to Lake Country was not very unusual but it was a serious situation. One of his investors had pulled out of a new business venture that would provide enough money to expand his business and hopefully allow his family to move out of London and open another shop in the country where he could be closer to his sister Mrs. Bennett and her darling oldest daughters.

His nieces were so dear to him that he almost considered them to be his children and took great pleasure introducing them to his associates. They were good girls that always gave a good impression while they were in town and were excellent role models to his own children that he also loved with all his heart. This venture that he was involved in was in the trading of valuable gemstones from the new world. It was very expensive to start up but if the jewels that he had already been sent for his small investment was any indication it would be lucrative enough that he could run the trading business without having to raise his family in the dirty streets of London. He might also be able to hire someone to take the jewels and make them into extravagant jewelry for the upper classes to increase his profit margin even further.

None of these dreams could become reality however until he found a new investor and he didn't know where he was going to find someone who would have at least 5000 pounds to invest into his business. It was also a time sensitive deal. Where was he going to find a man that was able to invest that much money by the end of the week he wasn't sure. He was standing in his modest shop that imported wine and chocolates from the mainland when to his surprise an officer, a colonel specifically, stepped into his shop with a nobleman with a serious demeanor.