Sooooo after one month of attempting to write a chapter, I finally just did the only thing that seems to work and locked myself in my room until I finished this chapter. Bunches of thanks to all those who have reviewed (i'm trying to update as soon as possible so I can't pull up your names) you guys mean the world to me! Hope to review soon but no promises :P Happy Christmas!

Disclaimer: I own no characters from Pride and Prejudice

Eleanor walked out of the breakfast room an hour later white faced and silent. Her mind, filled with haze from her anger, slowly cleared as she drifted up the stairs. The maids cleaning the gallery on the second floor passed each other quick curious glances before starting their work. They could hardly hear her footsteps; her breathing seemed too slow for one who had just shouted her lungs out. Gossip would be filling the kitchen tonight.

The door closed with a slight thunk and the rustling of sheets and blankets came next. Eleanor let out one last breath before miniature re-enactments of the trauma she had just suffered through bombarded her mind.

"You are going to marry him."

"There is no other option, our family needs the money."

"You are poor; you have nothing."

"He will provide for you and your family."

"You should be thankful that someone will offer to marry you for so little money."

Eleanor screamed into her pillow, not caring who heard. At this point, she wanted the whole world to know of her suffering. To know the cruelty and injustice that fate dealt in only one single blow. She screamed again and hit the bed next to the pillow. Her legs kicked the bed madly, her anger trying desperately to vent out from her body. Sitting up, tears streaming down her face, the door opened with a creak.

"Eleanor?"

"Get OUT!" She threw her pillow wildly at the door, which slammed it shut. It wouldn't be for another 3 and a half hours before her mind finally cleared for good and the regret of her action washed over her with dread. Mentally and physically exhausted, all she could accomplish was swinging her lags onto the bed passing out almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.

She could feel a warm, gentle hand on her back, slowly stroking it in a calming motion. Without opening her eyes she whispered "I'm sorry." The body sitting next to her on the edge of the bed got up and knelt on the floor. Eleanor opened her eyes hesitantly, never looking higher than the edge of her bed. Arms came into her view and rested where her eyes were looking. Georgiana's head came to rest on top, her crystal blue eyes locking with Eleanor's. Eleanor was overwhelmed with the emotion she saw there. Without even saying a word, Georgiana managed to grasp the entirety of her friends suffering. Neither of them said anything or moved.

The afternoon sun began to sink below the horizon and Eleanor's stomach began to hurt. Even if all she wanted to do was hide away from the rest of the world, apparently her stomach still kept to its regular schedule. Georgiana lifted her head up from where she was laying it on her forearm. Her eyes crinkled with silent laughter.

"Hungry?" she asked with a tilt of her head.

All Eleanor did was nod, ashamed of her need to keep to her typical daily meal times.

"Wait here." Georgiana slowly stood, wincing from the pain of the feeling returning to her legs.

Eleanor waited until Georgiana left the room and then turned her head back into her pillow. She dozed for what seemed like only a few seconds, waking when faint steps could be heard entering the room.

"That didn't take you that long –"

She started when she lifted her eyes at the end of the sentence. "Who are you?"

"I'm so sorry to be intruding, but it seems that you may need my help. Georgiana told me to come up to talk to you." The mysterious woman pulled the chair from Eleanor's vanity to the bed and sat in it delicately, her pale blue dress made a light sweeping sound. She leaned forward. "I'm Elizabeth Darcy. You must be Eleanor?"

Eleanor nodded slowly, suddenly becoming self conscience of her no doubt blotchy face and mused up clothes. The past few hours undid all the work that her maid had spent making her presentable. She pulled herself up and leaned against the pillows, staring at the beautiful woman. Dark brown curls framed the sides of her porcelain face. Her light brown eyes were filled with concern. She took Eleanor's hand with both of her own, and held it tightly. Looking down, Eleanor noticed a small but intricately cut diamond that brightly sparkled, even in the dim light, on her left hand. It took just a few more seconds for this woman's name to make a connection.

"Oh! You're Georgiana's sister," Eleanor exclaimed, her eyes growing big at the realization.

Mrs. Darcy laughed, "Yes I am. The last name should have given you that indication."

"Yes, well," Eleanor looked down to the side in embarrassment, "logic isn't really working at this point."

"I can empathize with that statement," the older woman replied gravely, no amusement lighting her eyes.

Eleanor looked at Mrs. Darcy hopefully. "You understand?"

"A few years ago I was placed in a very similar situation to yours. Well, I think the family pressure was similar. For all I know, the two men are very different." Her eyes grew dark. "I hope that there are no men in this world like Mr. Collins." She said this last remark under her breath.

"I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that last statement."

"That was the point, my dear. Now," she straitened in her chair, "how are you going to deal with this turn of events?"

"Well, what happened to you?"

"I refused, stood my ground, and eventually things worked out. He made a very well matched marriage shortly after and I was free to marry for love. This is how I came to be your friend's sister-in-law. However, through our situations may be similar, the way we confront these situations may be different. So I will repeat the question – what will you decide to do?"

"I- I don't know. There is really one option."

"Which is?" Elizabeth cued.

The girl took a shaky breath. "I have to marry him."

"Urrggg!" Eleanor jumped at the sound of frustration that Mrs. Darcy gave. She grew even more scared when the older woman jumped from her seat and began pacing the room.

"When in that entire conversation did I give the impression that I supported that outcome?"

"Umm, well I didn't really get the impression of any indication of feeling toward my situation," Eleanor admitted, more than a little confused.

"I seem to accomplish nothing if I only distance myself," Elizabeth said with a laugh. "Truth is," she knelt down by Eleanor's side, "don't be forced into this marriage. You will only end up unhappy and wishing your entire life that you had fought against all those who attempt to oppress you."

"You can't know that," Eleanor said with a small shake of her head.

"Yes dear, yes I can. I can't make you do anything, that would be hypocritical, but please promise me that you will give this decision some thought." Eleanor nodded. "No; more than just a simple agreement. This is not for me, but for you. I would hate to see such a beautiful young lady make one wrong step that could endanger her happiness forever."

"But this won't just affect my life. This marriage will secure my brother's fortune as well."

"Your brother can take care of himself. He can always find some way to secure his own money. Men have the ability to change their fortunes, but women have a much harder time. Though this Lord Brunwin may be rich, you may not be better off if you marry him. Riches do not bring happiness."

"You certainly have ample amounts of both," Eleanor replied with a little skepticism.

Mrs. Darcy reddened. "Hadn't thought of that actually but I will promise you that Mr. Darcy's wealth did not cross my mind when I accepted him."

"But it did make him more attractive at one point, did it not?" Eleanor asked with a glint in her eye.

"You little imp," Mrs. Darcy said with another laugh. "Aye, it did - at one point," she hastily added. "I am only here for a few days but you can come to talk to me or write anytime." She got up from the floor as if to leave. At the door she turned around. "I have no worry for you, Eleanor. You certainly have enough strength to take good care of yourself, now use it." With that last statement, Mrs. Darcy disappeared from the door.

Shortly after Georgiana's bright head popped in the doorway.

"So?" she questioned, "How did you find my sister?" She fell on the bed next to Eleanor.

"She was very inspiration, that I for certain."

"How so?"

"Well, for one thing, I'm no longer going to marry Lord Brunwin."

Georgiana's eyes grew wide in alarm. "I had a feeling that you would come to that decision, but no so soon!"

"Yes, your sister had a dramatic affect on that decision." Eleanor paused for a few moments, as if wrestling with a challenging thought. Finally, "Georgiana, I have a strange request."

"What could you request of me?"

"Might I borrow 100 pounds? I promise to pay it back within the year, but my allowance is used up and I could not ask my Grandmother."

"I have some saved up that you could have but why would you need so much money now?"

Eleanor rose from her bed and walked to the window, filled with a new found confidence and oddly passionate feeling of rebellion. She turned to Georgiana. "I am going to London, alone."

Her friend gave a slight gasp. "But you can't do that! Not without a chaperone and your grandmother will never allow it."

"I don't care a whit what she thinks. She brought on this trouble herself when she thought she had immutable power over me. Well she was wrong. I can go by myself and I will."

The next day Eleanor was enjoying her morning to herself. For an entire morning, there were no people to cloud her thinking. Peace was blessing in her life that was being horribly ignored. Feigning illness, she convinced her maid that all she could do was lie in her bed, saving her from a dreary two hours of church, but more importantly, the reverend. Rev. Collins was, to put it nicely, a self-important bore. His company was almost as unbearable as that man's.

"Sitting alone in an empty house is not safe, Miss Riddell. You can't know what sort of character will enter into this house unannounced."

Eleanor's blood chilled. "You are quite mistaken Lord Alistair, I know exactly what kind of, how did you say it – character? - will enter. You have proven your own point."

"I see you haven't lost you charm." He said with a smirk, entering the room, consequently breaking her fragile sanctuary.

"One doesn't lose that very easily. You never had a likable feature, and I see that you obviously have not lost that bit of your personality."

"Easy vixen. Believe me or not, I came with the intention of having a civil conversation with you."

"Seems we are off to a pleasant start," Eleanor retorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"As I assumed we would. This visit is not for my sake but for your brothers. He sent me from Scotland when he was told about your prospective marriage proposal."

"So now you take orders from my brother? Really Darius, I thought you were bigger than that."

"And I really thought that you had a bigger respect for yourself then to obey the Duchesses edicts!"

Eleanor choked back a sob, startled more at the Lords thunderous Scottish accent. Her head fell onto her chest; unexplained guilt filled her entire body. All the events of yesterday were conflicting within her head and she couldn't sort out right from wrong. But however strong that feeling was, the desire to fight back pervaded the gloom. Anger gathered inside of her. Finally she snapped.

"Whatever you may think, I am strong enough to fight my grandmother!" She yelled, jumping out of her seat. "I will prove it to the world, and-" stepping close to Darius and stabbing a figure in his chest, she whispered with intensity, "I will prove it to you."