AN: I want to start by thanking everyone for the kind comments, you all make my day. Now the rest of you who feel the need to rage about my grammar and the discrepancies I have created from the original story line, I recommend you get a life.
For the grammar complaints, I apologize, I write on my phone in the app, so sometime autocorrect gets the best of me. I also write for my own personal pleasure not to strive to be a professional author, so your aggravation only affects you, as I read it, roll my eyes, and move on. If it annoys you, it will not hurt my feelings if you decide not to continue reading.
For the complaints about the deviations from the original, all I can do is remind you that this is FAN-FICTION. This story is not meant to follow the original story line. It is meant to look at how a story could progress if details were changed.
Again, to those with positive feed back and constructive criticism, I thank you whole heartedly, and hope you continue to find enjoyment in my story. I also want to put out there that if you have ideas you would like to see happen, and I think they would work well with the story, please feel free to voice them, and if I can, I will work them in.
Elizabeth was not surprised, nor was she disappointed the following morning when she exited the house for her morning walk, and saw Mr Darcy waiting for her along her usual path, leaning against a tree. Having heard his conversation with Mr Bingley a few days prior she had been expecting him to join her any moment to issue his apology, though beyond that she didn't know what to expect.
"Miss Bennet, would it trouble you if I were to join you for your walk this morning?" The gentleman asked, and was given consent. The two walked in silence a short distance as she could see he was trying to organize his thoughts, but finally he spoke. "Miss Bennet, it has come to my attention that untruths I spoke in a fit of pique have made it to your ears, and indeed all around the neighborhood."
"I confess I heard these words spoken, but the fault is mine for them being spread around the neighborhood." She couldn't have contained her blush had she tried.
"But had I not spoken the words they would not have existed to be spread. I take full responsibility for my words and what was brought about through them." He looked earnestly at her, and she had no trouble forgiving him.
"It is forgiven then, though I can not promise to forget it, as I find the human mind likes to remember most that which we wish to forget." She felt her heart flutter at the relief and joy on his face, and was pleasantly surprised to find he had dimples when he smiled. "I confess the subject of my beauty has always been a sore spot for me, as well as my other two middle sister. I fear being compared and constantly found wanting when it comes to Jane has made us more sensitive in regards to our darker traits." She blushed even as she said it, though it did feel good to get it off her chest.
"I myself have never understood the concept of fashionable beauty, as peoples taste are so different. Bingley tastes run towards the fashionable trends, however I have always preferred those with darker traits, as has my cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam." He stumbled over his next words as of his brain caught up to what he had just confessed, and she took pity on him.
"I know it was rather unseemly of me, but I confess to having heard you conversation with Mr Bingley a few days ago." She was not able all surprised to see his face alight with color, though she found she enjoyed seeing spread to the tips of his ears.
"Then you know how I feel about you?" He asked, and she could hear the nerves in his voice.
"I believe I do, and until recently, I would have told you there was no way I would ever return your feelings." She saw the devastation take up residence in his face, so she was quick to continue. "However, that was before I came to see you for the man I now believe you truly are. A man who is kind to servants, bears all of his responsibilities with dignity and grace, can still be proud at times, though is overly kind to those he considers friends, but most importantly loves and cares for his sister with such zealousness you can't help but admire him."
"This is how you see me? I can not help but feel I have done nothing to deserve such praise. Especially with how I treated you and your family when I first arrived. You all have humbled me with your kindness and compassion, I can not help but feel forever in your debt." She felt her heart flutter at his next words, "If I were to believe you would accept it this moment I would offer you my hand right here and now. However, I believe you deserve time to get to know me further before tying your life to mine, so am hopeful you will consent to a courtship."
"I do confess that while I think very highly of you, I do not believe it to be love...yet. Having made a pact with Jane years ago that we would only marry for the deepest love, and am relieved to hear you are not asking for my hand, and overjoyed to consent to a courtship with you." The way her answer lit up his face made her even more sure of her response.
The two spoke of trivial things as they continued to walk, though she couldn't help but be surprised by the amount of interest he took in the houses in the area and her opinions on different ones. She indulged his curiosity, telling what she liked and disliked of each one, and if they were inhabited. When they had exhausted that topic they moved onto books, and were pleasantly surprised to find how similar their tastes ran. Had hunger not reared it's ugly head, neither were sure of how long they would have walked.
"Mama, do you have a moment to speak privately?" Elizabeth asked her mother quietly when talk between sisters turned to walking out to Meryton. Her mother looked at her in surprise, but asked her to give her just one moment.
"Kitty, Georgie, Lydia my love, I am afraid I am going to have to refuse you permission to walk to town." Elizabeth was sure her shock was mirrored in the faces of all the siblings. "It is just that I have recently learned the true financial situation of officers in the regiment, and while they remain nice to look at, they are in no way suitable husbands for any of my girls. This means any flirtatious you receive from them are likely to come to nothing, wether the feelings behind them are true and honest." She continued before Lydia could release a tantrum of epic proportions, which Elizabeth could see she was gearing up for. "What's more, is that with Georgie's dowry, she would be a real target for fortune hunters who would treat her horribly once they attained what they wanted. Even worse, is that with you two having no fortune, you are more susceptible to rakes."
Her mother was beginning to work herself up into a frenzy, but calmed when Elizabeth took her hand in a show of comfort. "No, I insist that while the regiment is in the area you take one footman for every two of you girls, so if three of you go, you take two footmen, if all six of you go, you take three with you. This is also whenever you leave the house whenever you leave the house. You younger girls are not to walk out without myself, Mrs Annesley, or one of your two oldest sisters."
They were all shocked to the core, but what their mother said next shocked them even more. "I plan to talk to your father, and tell him to take the funds for the extra men we need to hire out of my pin money. The safety of my girls, my six most precious treasures, is more important than any lace or new dress." The look of pleasure on her sisters' faces could not compare to the delight in Georgiana's at being included in the set of treasures.
"There is no need to deprive yourself of lace and new gowns Mrs Bennet, I will ensure the men are hired." Her father's voice came from the doorway, where he stood with Mr Darcy, both unnoticed by the room's inhabitants.
"That will not be necessary sir, I left some of my men at Netherfield. I had brought some with me to help train some of Bingley's staff brought with him from town, and show them the different requirements a country estate holds. I shall be happy to have them removed and replaced here." Mr Darcy spoke. "After all, I too have a vested interest in seeing to the ladies' safety."
"That would be most ideal, perhaps they could even teach my men a thing or two when it comes to protection. I would be much relieved to know my women are well protected." Her father said with a grin, then turned to her mother, "My dear, I believe Lizzy has something she would talk to us about, and Mr Darcy had been kind enough to offer to entertain the rest of the girls." The twinkle in his eyes said her young man agreed to nothing of the sort. "You had all best be here when we return, or I will be withholding all of your pin money this next quarter, wether you go or not."
Elizabeth and her mother followed her father into his study, but to her surprise, instead of sitting behind the desk he sat with her mother on the little settee Elizabeth herself enjoyed reading in. Taking a seat in the arm chair that had been placed in front of it, she took a moment to study her parents. Her father seemed to have an almost protective mean to him, and she couldn't help but wonder who it was he meant to protect. "Now Lizzy, why don't you share your good news with your mother?" Though the words were meant to be positive, they sounded anything but with the guarded manner in which they were spoken.
"Mama, Mr Darcy has apologized for his unkind words at the assembly. Indeed, given what we found out he and Georgiana had suffered this past summer, who could blame him for being out of sorts." She spoke, and her mother's face lite up.
"Well, of course he did! He is such a good gentleman, and intelligent too. Surly he could not deny that while not as handsome as Jane, you are very pretty yourself!" The words stung, but she tried to hide it.
"I assure you my dear, that while our eldest daughter would be considered more fashionably handsome, you will find some men's tastes tend to run towards a darker bend. For these men, Lizzy, Kitty, or even Mary would be considered more handsome, especially if their personalities appealed to these gentlemen." This was the most gentle she had ever seen her father when speaking with her mother.
"I see..." Though it was clear her mother did not understand what her father was saying.
"Yes, well, it would appear Mr Darcy is one such man, as he has asked and has been given permission to court our Lizzy." Her father spoke gently, and she understood why when her mother reacted to the news.
"Please tell me this is another one of your jokes, Mr Bennet!" The fury in her mother's eyes was the likes of which she had never seen. "While it is not a funny joke, it had best be a joke all the same.
"Now my dear, you know he is a good man, and genuinely seems to care for our daughter." Her father tried to placate his wife, but this just infuriated her more.
"Oh, I know he is a good man, and were he in trade or had an estate or three or four thousand a year, I would be dancing for joy, for they would be or little notice to the ton. However, he has a grand estate, and is the nephew of an Earl. He is also an active member of the ton and I will not have my daughter subjected to their vicious ways." Elizabeth felt like her world had just been turned in its axis. She thought for sure her mother would have been excited, and her father more leery of losing her as she was his favorite, anger had never been an emotion she considered.
"Fanny, surly you know Mr Darcy would never allow anything to happen to our Lizzy." Her father spoke gently, taking both of her mother's hands in his own. "Besides, with his wealth and connections comes a level of added protection. Should this courtship go further and turn into marriage, Lizzy would have a level of consequence that we had never even dreamt of having. There wouldn't be many who would dream of hurting her for fear of the consequences he and his family would reign down on them."
"But would he..." Her mother trailed off, fear strong in her voice.
"If it comes to the point where it is warranted, we will make sure Lizzy or any of our girls know what they need to in order to protect themselves." Her father promised earnestly. "I have also told Mr Darcy of the specifics, and he has agreed to do what he can to ensure you and the girls are well protected."
He then looked at his confused daughter, "Now, let us congratulate Lizzy, and go share the good news with her sisters." He then smiled at his wife, "Just think, if this all plays out well, you will be able to claim Georgiana as an official member of the family."