A/N: Check out the previous chapter, because I do not thing you have read it. It is one of my favourites. Do not forget to tell me what you thought.

Chapter fourteen: Someone is going to stay

Breakfast was a pleasant affair, Georgiana most of the time engaged Elizabeth to conversation, ignoring Darcy completely. But in fact, he did not care at all. Seeing his sister enjoying herself with his love, was fullifiling. Afterall, there was too much time left, Elizabeth was about to go home soon and he did not know what the future hold for them. Even though he promised her that he will find a way, he was not sure if he could, but at least he was willing to try.

"Fitzwilliam, stop staring" Georgiana yelled "It is frightening!"

He laughed "I did not know that my look, could scare you." He paused "You never mentioned that before"

"It is not me, who is scared. It is Elizabeth"

Darcy immediately looked at her, only just to see her looking naively on her plate. "I am sorry, Miss Bennet"

And then, she turned her face and looked at him directly in the eyes, Darcy almost forgot to breathe "Tell me, have I done something to offend you?"

He shook his head negatively. Seeing her there, so close to him, but not able to touch her was a real torture to him. But, the most difficult thing was that they had to act indifferently,as civil acquaintances and not like they should act when they were near to each other, like lovers -platonic at least.

"Richard is coming today at last"

"Richard?" Elizabeth asked with curiosity.

"Our cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam"

As Elizabeth heard the name Fitzwilliam, she immediately tought of Darcy and looked st him once more. "Yes, I have met him when I was in Rosings Park"

"He is the loveliest cousin that someone could have" Georgiana commented.

"His company is very pleasant, indeed" Elizabeth replied and touched her hand

"Pray excuse me. I will go for shooting, but I will be back before dinner" Darcy interrupted and bowed before he left.

It was after dinner, almost eight o clock when Colonel Fitzwilliam arrived in Pemberley and as he stepped in the drawing room, when the rest of the party was seated, he found Georgiana already hugging him. And after couple of minutes later, Darcy was next to him, welcoming him. As he sat on the couch, he asked to know about Elizabeth's health and insisted upon hearing her opinion about this part of the country.

"Has the war changed you?" Elizabeth asked Colonel and all the eyes were upon her.

"I suppose yes. When you see all those people dying in front of you and you cannot do anything to help them, just to stare at them blankly, wishing God to spare you that torture. Yes, then it is a lifetime experience. But if you ask me, I would honestly reply to you that if there was a way of not going back there, I would gladly seize it. It is only the reason I am looking for."

"Yes, I understand your reasons, but if brave men like you decide not to defend us, who else is going to do it?" They both laughed.

"I admire the way you compliment someone, it is like you never take time to think about them, like you truly believe the things you say. You mention them with the most unstudied way possible"

"But, I do believe everything I say but I am not yet aware if that is a virtue or a vice"

"It is a virtue to those you love and vice to those you dispise, I believe." He paused "I am thankful that I have done something proper to earn our appreciation."

She laughed. "You have done nothing, that is why I esteem you so much."

"What can you possibly mean?" he paused and looked Darcy, who kept staring at them "Women are so complicated creautures, dont you think Darce?"

He nodded. "...and manipulative, I dare say, when they want to"

Elizabeth gave him a severe look. "I protest." She paused. "We may be a lot of things, but manipulation is not on our character. The circumstances are those, which force us to act so" she looked at Darcy again "We want things to happen in our own way, but you cannot blame us. Who does not want that?"

Georgiana stood up and sat on the pianoforte, starting to play a new piece she was practicing for days now and Darcy was gravily silent, drinking his branch and staring from the opposite sit his cousin talking to Elizabeth. She looked at Darcy, just to see him looking intensively at her and without speaking, she stood up and remained close to Georgiana, turning the pages for her. The two men, approached each other and sat on the same couch, looking at the ladies. It took them couple of seconds to start talking.

"It is a pleasant surprise for me to find Miss Bennet here, is it not?" Colonel asked.

"Yes, I was surprised too. She came about a week ago, keeping Georgiana company, while I was away" he simply replied

"I see."

"How was your trip?"

"Boring." he paused. "Is Anne well?"

Darcy turned to look at him surprised, but then he remembered that his question was perfectly normal. He was engaged to her afterall, he should be aware of her condition. The truth was that he did not care at all, but that was unknown to everyone, including Richard, except from his sister and Elizabeth of course. Not to mention, Anne, who was well aware that he had not the slightest esteem towards her. "She is fine"

"Darcy, lucky man. I thought that you were not going to marry at all"

Darcy got pale. No, the only thing that he was not, was that. Luck was definitely not on his side. "Let us not talk of this." He paused trying to find another subject that they could discuss "Will you come with me for shooting tomorrow?"

Colonel just nodded, as Georgiana finished her performance and everyone gave her congratulations. Darcy begged her to play something more cheerful and she of course obeyed. But, just as Elizabeth left her side and moved towards the couch, she found Colonel Fitzwilliam in front of her.

"Seize this opportunity, Miss Bennet and join me for a reel"

She smiled. "I cannot believe that you have already found my wickness, Colonel. Dancing is one of the things I love the most."

Colonel smiled and gave her his arm, leading her into the middle of the room. As they danced, Darcy's eyes were upon Elizabeth the whole time. He was observing her elegant form, which was moving slowly, in a very tempting way. Her hands were touching his cousin's and the way she laughed, while they were dancing, made Darcy mad with desire. The desire to claim her as his, to touch her, lock her in a towel and never let her go. That kind of desire that made him unable to think, or breathe or move.

Thank you once more for your lovely reviews and I am very glad to know that I have your support. Thank you for the love you keep sending me. If the reviews continue raising tremendously, I will update the next chapter this afternoon. But, you should check the story out, because sometimes it does not go on the top of the achive. Do not forget to review. Love you all!

Next chapter: A misfortune