The morning of the Christmas party was hectic for Lizzie because Mrs. Bennet insisted on taking her to get her hair and make-up done. Lizzie thought all the fuss was ridiculous for one evening and barely tolerated all of the attention. It was Mrs. Bennet's intention that Will Darcy would be proud to have her daughter on his arm. Elizabeth was appalled that her mother had bought a new dress for her because it was a necessity that Lizzie be well dressed for her date.

Will called Lizzie that morning and told her that he was picking her up an hour early because since she was his date she would need to stand with him as they received the guests. It was only a tiny white lie.

Bingley had been exasperated when he had found out what Darcy was planning to do, "You should have just taken out a full page ad in the paper." He had told his boss, "The gossips will have a field day with this and they will have you married to the girl before the night is over."

Will had only laughed and replied, "By the end of the night, she will be my fiancée and I've told you that before."

When Darcy picked up Elizabeth, he was stunned to see how beautiful she looked. Her hair was up and she was wearing a silky white dress that clung to her body in all the right places and which sent his pulses racing.

"You look lovely." His voice was husky with need as he kissed her on the cheek.

"Thank you."

"This is for you." He said as he pulled out a gift box.

With all of her family watching, she opening the present and a gasp escaped her lips as she saw the gorgeous emerald necklace which matched the bracelet he had given her for her birthday.

"Lizzie," Her mother's voice was grating as she gushed, "Isn't that beautiful and so expensive. You need to thank Mr. Darcy for his thoughtful gift."

"Thank you." She said quietly, she leaned forward to hug him quickly but he caught her and held her tightly.

He pulled the necklace out of the box and placed it on her neck. He ran his fingers across the soft skin of her neck before he secured the clasp and turned her to face him. It looked beautiful against her pale skin and the darks curls which had escaped her hair style and were bouncing against her neck.

He whispered, "I will expect a real thank you later, when we're alone." To Mr. and Mrs. Bennet and Jane, he said, "We have to be going now but we'll see you later at the party."

He put his arm around her waist and escorted her to the car. Once he was seated, he turned to her and captured her lips with his and kissed her until she was breathless.

"My mother paid a lot for all of this war paint on my face and you've ruined it within minutes." Lizzie laughed as she gave him a light slap on the arm.

"You are so damn sexy tonight, I can't myself." There was a wolfish glint in his eyes.

When they had arrived at the Darcy home, Will said, "Georgie's in her room and she wants to see you before the party."

"She's not coming?"

"No, not until she's older." He smiled at her, "Let's go up before she comes down to find us."

Georgie was thrilled to see them, "Wow Lizzie, you look fantastic."

"You don't think I look good?" Will said with a sulky smile.

"You always look good," Georgie countered his attack, "and you know it. I don't think your ego needs any more inflating by my telling you how incredible you look."

He turned to Lizzie, "I blame you for this." He pulled her to him, "She would have never been this insolent before so how are you going to make it up to me?" His eyes sparkled with humor as he waited for her reply.

"I'm with Georgie on this one." She said slyly, "If your ego expands any more you could explode and nobody would be safe."

"You wound me and I will get my revenge." He winked at Elizabeth, "Soon."

The doorbell sounded, "I'm saved by the bell." Lizzie chuckled as Will ushered her downstairs.

While the guests arrived, Will kept Elizabeth by his side and his arm around her waist. Mrs. Bennet was effusive about her daughter's good fortune at securing the attention of Will Darcy and was acting like the queen of the ball. She was overheard telling a number of people all about Darcy's courtship of Elizabeth. Jane tried to stop her mother but once she started nobody could stop this woman.

Will began to work the room with Elizabeth by his side. He was so proud of the way she interacted with his guests. Her sparkling personality and wit endeared her to everyone present. Will couldn't help but notice the attention she was receiving from most of the men. In an effort to mark his claim, he would possessively pull her closer and run his hand along her hip in an intimate gesture.

When it was time, Will pulled her out onto the floor to start the dancing. He had requested that the band play a waltz for the first dance. They moved together across the room in perfect harmony and he asked, "Are you having a good time?"

"Yes." She looked at him and asked, "Is it always like this for you? I don't know if I could ever get used to all these people kissing my ass."

"No not always." He laughed at her choice of words, "You're just new and everyone wants to get to know you."

"My mother's not helping." She shook her head in shame, "I'm sorry about that."

He dropped her into a dip and couldn't help but kiss her. Unfortunately Mrs. Bennet walked by and crowed, "Just can't keep your hands off my daughter but what a cute couple you make."

"Mama, please." Elizabeth begged as Will walked her off the dance floor.

They danced a few more times and Lizzie even got him to dance to a rock song, "Can't believe you actually, let me think, how did your generation put it, 'Shook your groove thing.' Hope you didn't break a hip"

"I'm not that old and you know it." Will was smiling as he kissed her hand, "You're a tease."

Not one of the guests at the party could have missed the obvious affection between the very unlikely couple. They were impressed to see the marked difference in the personality of their boss. She seemed to have a very good effect on the man.

Will asked the band to play a ballad and was delighted when he walked Elizabeth onto the floor and she slipped naturally into his arms and he moved seductively against her. She feels so good and soon she will be wearing my ring. His thoughts took an intimate turn as he imagined the feel of her naked skin against his as he made love to her. His body's reaction was immediate and he was in danger of losing control. With every ounce of will power he could manage he finally got his response under control.

At the end of the dance, he led Elizabeth off the dance floor and upstairs to the family wing where they could find some privacy. He stopped and opened a door that Lizzie didn't know. He pulled her inside, turned on the light and locked the door behind them.

She eyed him suspiciously when she saw the large bed at the center of the room and asked, "Who's room is this?"

"Mine." He saw the blood drain out of Elizabeth's face and he realized the reason for her distress, "I didn't bring you here to make love to you."

"What did you bring me here for then?"

"I have something I want to ask you." He smiled at her.

He had been planning this moment for weeks and when she said 'Yes', they would go and tell Georgie before making the official announcement at the party. He was sure that they would be the happiest couple ever to live.

He pulled the ring from his jacket and got down on one knee. "Elizabeth, I love you. Please say that'll you'll consent to be wife and it'll make me the happiest man in the world."

She just looked at him with an uncomprehending stare for a couple of minutes. He thought he understood the reason for her silence, "I know you're still in school and much younger than I am but I've got everything planned, we'll get married after you graduate in June." He watched for her reaction, "You don't have to worry about me pressuring you to make our relationship intimate; I'll respect your wishes and wait until our wedding night." He took her hands in his and laughed, "It won't be easy but I'll manage as long as you'll let me hold and kiss you."

When she still didn't say anything he started to move nervously from side to side, "No." Her voice was determined and he looked at her with unseeing, disbelieving eyes, "I don't love you and I would never marry you." Her anger was growing by the moment, "For the last month you have coerced me into dating you on the threat of going to my parents. How could you ever believe that I would marry you." He just stood there glued to the spot and she finished, "You are an egotistical arrogant ass who thinks that everything revolves around you. You are the last man in the world that I would ever marry."

He was stunned by her words and all he could think was that he had a desperate need to hold her. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her with a passion that he couldn't control. His hands pulled the zipper on the back of her dress down and lovingly caressed the soft skin of her back. He pushed the top of the dress down passed her shoulder and kissed her neck and shoulders until she moaned with pleasure and arched her back so that he had more access to the tender places on her body. He reached down between her breasts and cupped one hand over the bare round breast. He heard her gasp in pleasure and he released her breast as he took her nipple into his hot mouth and suckled her softly as he heard her moan in delight.

He picked her up and laid her down on his bed and as he pressed her back upon the covers, he heard a strangled cry and she pushed at him. "Let me go."

Once he rolled off her, she jumped up, tugged at her dress and pulled it back into place. She moved away from the bed and tried to pull the zipper into place but her hands were shaking and she was unsuccessful.

Will got off the bed and moved to her, she tried to push him away but he pulled her back toward him and tugged the zipper into position, "Get away from me." She yelled and bolted from the room.

She didn't know where she was going but when she saw Georgie's room, she knocked on the door.

"Come in." Georgie called and Elizabeth struggled to compose herself before she entered the room.

Will just sat on his bed with his head buried in his hands. He couldn't believe what just happened. How could everything have gone so wrong. He had been so sure that she would accept his proposal. When he realized she was refusing him, he had gone crazy with his need for her and he had scared the hell out of her. He couldn't believe that he had let it go that far and he wasn't certain that if she hadn't stopped him that he would have been able to stop on his own. He was disgusted with himself but he had to find Elizabeth and talk to her, he couldn't bear to lose her now.

He left his bedroom and walked down the hall. He heard voices coming from Georgie's room. He knocked on the door and opened the door at her "Come in."

Elizabeth was sitting with Georgie on her bed and she looked up at him when he entered. He was glad that she didn't seem so panicked anymore.

"How's the party going?" His sister asked.

"Great." He told her, "Elizabeth we need to go back downstairs and say goodbye to our guests."

Elizabeth looked from Georgie to Will and because she didn't want to upset Georgie she said, "Okay." She stood to go with him.

He felt relieved, put his arm around her shoulder and walked her into the hall.

"By the way, they're not my guests." She hissed at him obviously still upset.

He leaned down and said, "We'll talk after the party."

She somehow managed to stand at the door with Will's arm around her waist and make pleasant conversation as everyone took their leave of the party.

When her parents came to say goodbye, Elizabeth said, "Mama, I'm going to ride home with you."

Her mother dismissed her words, "Oh no, Mr. Darcy will bring you home." She turned to Will, "Don't worry about getting Lizzie home too soon, we trust you." She winked at him and said, "You may have something very important to ask her."

When everyone had gone she turned to Will and demanded, "I want you to take me home now."

His voice was soft as he replied, "I'm sorry about what happened earlier, you were right to stop me. I'm also sorry that I distressed you." There was pain in his eyes, "I thought you felt the same about me as I do about you."

His heart ached when she didn't speak to him and he told her, "I'm not giving up so easily. I know you're attracted to me even if your heart doesn't have feelings for me your body does. I will take my chances that I can win your love." His heart cried out, "You fit in with my family." You and Georgie are my family and my world. "Georgie loves you like a sister and I think you feel the same." He eyes were begging her, "I love you so please give me another chance."

"Please take me home." Elizabeth couldn't look at him because her emotions were overwhelming her.

"Elizabeth."

"Please." She couldn't control the tears any longer and they fell down her face as she swiped at them angrily.

"Okay"

After Elizabeth said goodbye to Georgie, Will drove her home and as he walked her to the door, she wouldn't even look him in the eyes as she fumbled with the lock on the door. Without a backward glance she entered the house and closed the door on him.

That night he didn't sleep at all and he felt as if his world had come crashing down around him. He couldn't lose Elizabeth. He loved her, he needed her and he couldn't let her go.