Chapter 4

Thank you all for reviewing!

I get that Lizzy's character is OOC, but I'm going to contribute it to Mr. Darcy being the one to "save her" per say. Mr. Darcy as we know is already pretty much in love with her, but he hasn't quite figured it all out yet. As for the grammar, I'm not an English major, I mix up present and past all the time despite how many time I proof read. I apologize for the last chapter, it was a little confusing. From now on the chapters will switch points of view, because the story would be way to long without it. I hope it doesn't get too confusing! Enjoy!

She watched as he shivered as a wind blew through the caves. They had been stuck sitting in silence for almost an hour.

"Please, take your coat sir" She went to take it off, to hand it back to him, but he stopped her.

"Miss Bennett, please, you are soaked through. Keep it." The same could have been said about him, but she chose not to comment. Her dress was sticking quite scandalously to her figure. She figured she might as well wrap the coat tighter.

"Thank you Mr. Darcy, for everything" She told him. It was quite possibly the 15th time she had thanked him.

"Miss Bennett, I do not need any more gratitude. You have sufficiently thanked me many a time," He told her. It was true; he had no wish for her gratitude. He had the childlike need for her approval instead, for her friendship, for her love. "Now, perhaps you can tell me why you are so nervous to go home." She blushed, he had noticed her distress.

"My mother is prone to hysterics Mr. Darcy surely you have noticed her uncouth behavior. I do not wish to encourage her further. I am in no position to handle her nerves at the moment" She told him.

"I believe you are correct" He was well aware of Mrs. Bennett's indecorous remarks. "However, I am certain it is only because she wishes the best for you and your sisters. She is surely worried about where you are right now" He found himself saying. He was unsure of where that thought had came from, but it seemed to be an epiphany of sorts. He was unclear of where his thoughts where going from there though. She spoke before he could think upon it any longer.

"The estate is entailed to Mr. Collin's." She revealed. He was shocked for a moment, but without any male heirs, an estate would have to be passed to the closest living male. Unfortunately, that happened to be Mr. Collins. " She had hoped that one of her daughters would marry him, to procure a future for the rest of us. He was settled on Jane, but she is already in love with another. She never even noticed Mr. Collin's flatteries. I am thankful that Jane was not subject to his advances; she is much to naïve and sweet. So he settled on me. Mama was so encouraging of the match, she must be hysterical now"

"Miss Jane is in love with another?" Mr. Darcy, unable to help himself. He almost groaned at his lack of decorum. Miss Bennett turned to him and arched a brow.

"Surely you must know. Mr. Bingley is your best friend, is he not?" Ah, Miss Jane loved Charles?

"Are you quite certain?" He asked. Miss Jane seemed to like everyone.

"As certain as the sky is blue. Oh, please, tell me he is sincere is his attention towards her?" Lizzy felt a sense of dread in the pit of her stomach. If Mr. Bingley's best friend didn't know that Jane loved Mr. Bingley, then surely Mr. Bingley didn't know either, or did not care.

"He is very much in love with Miss Jane, however, he is wary of her own emotions, and therefore hides his" Darcy did not mention that it was his idea to let Miss Jane make the first move. "He has been scorned in love too many times"

"They are much too alike" Lizzy smiled. Her lively eyes again unsettled Mr. Darcy. He was happy that he was able to put a smile on her face, however brief. As she stared off into the rain, the smile fell from her face, and a shadow crept across her eyes. Silence fell over the cave.

He took a breath. He could not stand to see this woman in any more pain.

"May I tell you a story Miss Bennett?" He asked. She looked up, intrigue written all over her face. She nodded.

She watched him take a steadying breath.

"I have a younger cousin, a girl of 16 years last month. She has a disposition quite similar to your sister" Elizabeth interrupted.

"I have four sisters Mr. Darcy," She reminded him. He nodded.

"To Miss Jane. She is everything kind and gentle in the world. Under the supervision of a companion, she traveled to Ramsgate over the summer for a vacation. Unbeknownst to her guardian, the companion was in cahoots with an unsavory soldier. Upon arriving at Ramsgate, the companion pushed my younger relative towards the soldier, in hopes of forming a love match. At fifteen years of age, the young girl quickly fancied herself in love with the man, and agreed to elope to Gretna Green."

He stopped to take another deep breath.

"It was pure coincidence that the young girls guardian happened to show up for a surprise visit. Upon seeing her guardian, the secrets of the affair came pouring out. The guardian knew the solider very well, and knew that the solider was not truly in love with the young girl. He confronted the solider the day. Neither man knew that the young girl was watching. The solider taunted the guardian, admitting that he was only pretending to love the young girl to enact vengeance on the guardian, and that he only wanted her dowry."

Another breath, he steeled himself for the last part.

"Later, without the guardian's knowledge, the young girl went to see the solider, thinking that he was lying. The solider lashed out, and struck the young girl. He was halfway in his cups, and the truth came spilling from him. The young girl managed to escape his grip, for he was trying to compromise her, to force a wedding, when the guardian arrived yet again, looking for the girl." He paused there. He was unsure how to continue without revealing that his story was his sister's own unfortunate romance.

"The poor girl" Miss Bennett looked truly sincere. She didn't even know who the girl was, and yet she still felt for her. "What happened after?"

"The young girl was but 15 Miss Bennett. She was emotionally distraught. I tell you this story because I remember seeing the look in her young eyes, the same look that now haunts your own. Miss Bennett, I will tell you what I told her, it is not your fault. It was Mr. Collins, not you. Do not berate yourself for this"

Lizzy was shocked by the conversation she was now having with Mr. Darcy. Clearly he is very close to the young girl of which he speaks.

"While I never fancied myself in love with Mr. Collins, I admit to being distraught at his actions. He is my cousin, and a parson! The way he acted has left me feeling confused. I had judged him to be a silly, pompous, but harmless man. His change in character leaves me feeling vulnerable." She admitted to him.

She was not sure as to why she was telling Mr. Darcy of all people her innermost feeling, but there was something natural about the way they could converse. Perhaps they could be friends now.

"The rain is letting up Miss Bennett, perhaps we should be getting ready to leave" Mr. Darcy suggested.

She looked outside and saw the sun was just barely shining through. She nodded. He stood and offered her his hand. The horse was still tired, so they walked on. They were both aware of what frightful sights they made. Each was covered in mud, scrapes, and wet to the bone.

As Longbourne came into view in the distance, Lizzy's steps grew smaller. Darcy offered her his arm, which she gladly took. Together they crossed the still high ravine, and approached the house. Before they even reached the steps, the door burst open, and several people filed out. Mr. Bennett of course, was in the front, behind him stood Sir Lucas, Mr. Hill, Mr. Collins, and Mr. Henry, the magistrate.

"Elizabeth!" Mr. Bennett called, running forth to embrace his daughter. Lizzy returned his embrace with a small smile. To her chagrin, tears fell from her eyes.

"Papa, why is everyone here?" She asked, confused. Mr. Bennett withdrew from the embrace and glared at Mr. Darcy, who looked confused as well.

"Lizzy, Mr. Collins returned hours ago, without you. He brought with him the magistrate, claiming that someone had kidnapped you in the woods" Mr. Bennett told her.