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"No need to apologize. I just wanted some peace and quite. I can leave if you want."

"That would be very impolite of me. Forcing a young Lady to leave the room even though she was in said room long before me." he smiled at me and came closer, which surprised me, because he was still looking at me. Usually people lost interest after a few short moments. Maybe the light was far more faint than I had thought.

"What are you reading?" he asked interested and sat down across from me, crossing his long legs. I was at a loss for words, because of that I just raised the book, so he could read the title.

"Ah… a very good choice! Though I myself like Hamlet far better."

"You have read Hamlet?" I couldn't keep myself from asking, men who looked like him were usually like Wickham, not very smart or interested in books, they relied on their looks and nothing else.

"As a matter of fact, I have read all of his plays." he explained and that surprised me even more, though the smile he gave me made my heart flutter. That was weird, something like that had never happened before, probably because no man had taken his time to talk to me before, or at least not more than a few sentences.

"Shakespeare is one of my favorite authors." I said unsure if he wanted to continue this conversation, though I was desperately hoping he wanted, because I enjoyed this conversation, or more his attention, very much.

"So I take you read a lot."

"Yes I do. Whenever my time allows it." I answered honestly, that made him smile again, his eyes never leaving my face, as if he was looking at something he really liked, which was of course an absolute ridiculous thing to think. But it was what I wanted most in life, someone who loved me for who I was. Someone who loved me unconditionally despite of all my faults and someone I could love with all my heart. But I was realistic enough not to think that this handsome man could be the person I was dreaming about. He was a man who could have every woman, so why should he settle for someone like me?

"And how do you know Mr. Darcy?" he asked me and I sighed, when I told him the truth, he would run as fast as he could, because judging by his looks, my mother and also Kitty had been all over him as soon as their eyes fell on him.

"I am here with my mother and my younger sister to visit my older sister Elisabeth. She is Mr. Darcy's wife."

I could see the realization in his blue eyes but instead of excusing himself, a smirk appeared on his lips.

"I have met her and also your mother and your younger sister… they were… quite interesting." I looked at him for a long moment, but then I couldn't take it anymore I started laughing, which obviously amused AND confused him.

"What is so entertaining about my words?"

"Quite interesting is the nicest description I have ever heard for my family." I answered, gasping for air, I hadn't laughed that much in ages.

Now he smiled again and like the last time my heart stopped for a short moment before it started to beat faster in my chest.

"I just didn't want to offend you."

"That is very nice of you, but you should consider, as they are my family I know them better than anyone else."

"You are right! I should have considered that. But then I don't have to explain their behavior in the ball room, you probably know it already."

I nodded at his words, of course I knew how they would behave, like they always did, embarrassing themselves and the rest of the family.

"Then you maybe understand why I decided to stay as far away from them as possible." I said honestly and he nodded, then as if he just remembered his manners, he got up from his chair and bowed before me:

"It is a pleasure to meet you Miss Bennet. My name is Henry Charles Howard." As courtesy demanded I rose too and curtsied in front of him.

"The pleasure is all mine Mr. Howard."

"Can I be honest with you?" he asked and made a step forward, so there were only inches between us. My heart did not only flutter this time, it was racing and my knees felt like they would give in under me any minute now.

"Of course…" I answered, not sure what to expect.

"I really enjoyed our conversation. I would like to see you again. How long are you staying with the Darcy's?" His words took me by surprise. He wanted to see me again? Why? I had no answer to that but I had the feeling that there was some hidden motive he didn't tell me about.

"We are staying over the winter, then we will return to Hertfordshire." Again, this amazing smile appeared on his face, before he said:

"Very well then, would it be alright with you, if I visit you tomorrow at noon, we could walk through the parks of Pemberley."

I was still too much in shock, to say anything at all, so I just nodded.

"Then I will see you tomorrow and retire for today. Have a good night." He bowed again, then he left the salon. I stayed behind utterly confused. What was this man up to? I didn't believe his intentions at all, he couldn't be really interested in me, that didn't make sense, I was neither pretty nor rich, so he had no reason to spend more time with me.

I closed my book carefully and decided that it was also for me time to retire to my room, I was interested if he would really show up the next day. Maybe he and some friends were just making fun of me by trying to make me believe he was interested in me though he was not and it was all a game.

This had already happened to me once. The boys in Hertfordshire thought it was so funny, I had been fourteen then, it had happened three years ago and since then I always questioned the motives of men. Because as those boys told me, I was ugly and boring and poor, who would want to spend time with me anyway. I felt tears in my eyes remembering the horrible days three years ago. But I wouldn't cry. I would not give them the satisfaction of making me cry even after all these years.

Quickly I made my way upstairs and to my room, standing in front of my room, I took a deep breath and walked inside. Exhausted and confused I shrugged off my dress and opened my hair, it now fell loosely over my shoulders almost down to my waist. I pulled a plain cotton nightgown over my head and crawled into my bed. Even though I was tired, it took some time for me to fall asleep.

That's it for now, I hope you all liked it and don't forget to review, please ^^