A/N- Lauramari, your review gave me ideas that I simply have to include now. There are another five or six chapters to go, and I am trying to make them some of the best of this story.

Elizabeth Bennet sat happily with her sister Mary Collins, in the parlor of her new house, replaying the day's events in her mind and wishing that Jane was around to confide in. Today was, without a doubt, one if the happiest days of her life, and she was dying to share the happiness.

'You're positively beaming, Lizzy.', commented Mary casually.

'Hmm', was the only response she received.

'I do believe there is a reason behind this that is deeper than Kitty's engagement and Lydia's amusingly plaintive letter on the subject.'

'Indeed.'

Mary leapt up from her chair in frustration.

'Lizzy! Something is up and I demand that you explain.'

Elizabeth grinned.

'Oh Mary! Today is a wonderful, lovely, beautiful day!', she cried, hugging her sister.

Mary shook her head in confusion.

'I must confess that I hardly understand you, Lizzy. For a whole fortnight you have refused to leave the house, except when Mr Collins insisted that we must visit Lady Catherine for tea, and even then you have been unusually quiet and despondent, quite unlike yourself, making me wonder whatever had happened. And now...', she trailed off gesturing wildly towards her grinning sister.

'Oh, Mary, I cannot hold it in any longer!'

'Then don't! Tell me all about it.', said Mary, almost trembling with anticipation.

Elizabeth took a deep breath.

'I'm engaged. To Mr Darcy.'

'What? But he's already engaged...'

'He is not.'

'But...'

'Listen now, dearest sister, and don't interrupt if you can help it.'

Mary resumed her seat, and waited patiently for Elizabeth to begin.

'At the day of you wedding, Mr Darcy proposed to me. I refused because I did not love him. None but Jane and I knew of this. Soon after he left Netherfields. And then your letter arrived. And you said that he was already engaged to Lady Anne de Bourgh. You can imagine how I might have felt.'

'Oh, you poor dear. You must have been furious.'

'I was. Even more so when I realised that I did love him. And I thought that I had entirely mistaken his character. I came here to demand an answer, and to learn the truth.'

Mary looked outraged.

'Goodness. Whatever did he have to say in his defence? He's been engaged for years! That cheat...'

'Mary! I entreat you to be kinder about my husband to be.'

'But Lizzy...'

'Hush!', commanded Elizabeth.

Mary didn't look too happy, but she complied.

Elizabeth smiled at the recollection of the day's proceedings. She had been rereading Lydia's letter when it happened. It had been in the Collins' garden, and she was feeling altogether miserable. Mary was happily married, Jane was being courted by the gentleman of her dreams, and now Kitty was engaged to the man she had had a secret crush on for years. It was wrong to feel envious, but she couldn't help being unhappy with her fate nevertheless.

That was when she had sensed a presence over her shoulder and looked up to see Mr Darcy, who didn't seem to be any happier than she was.

'Elizabeth?', he had said softly.

Elizabeth had felt that she was choking. Seeing him had made her feel as though she would never be over him.

'Mr Darcy.', she had curtsied politely.

And then something surprising had occurred. Mr Darcy kissed her, only for a second before drawing back abruptly.

'Ms Elizabeth! I'm so sorry! I hadn't meant to...'

He had looked utterly horrified.

Elizabeth had had tears in her eyes as she replied bitterly.

'Of course you hadn't. You are engaged, are you not? To a woman worthy of you, approved by society. Why would you want to kiss me, marry me? I am nothing but your entertainment whilst you are in the country, am I not? To be toyed with as you like.

Darcy had looked shocked.

'Elizabeth! How could you possibly...'

Elizabeth had replied in the same cold, bitter tone as before.

'Are you not engaged to Anne de Bourgh? Would you deny that you never meant anything you said to me outside the Church after my sister's wedding? Are you attempting to tell me that you have not meant to marry another all along?'

'Elizabeth, my dearest Elizabeth, will you not at least hear me out? I could not imagine whatever made you ignore me, and everyone else, so completely these two weeks, but now maybe I can guess. I entreat you to only hear me out.'

'Very well, say what you will.'

'Lady Catherine has long wished me to marry cousin Anne, but no understanding exists between us except in my Aunt's imagination. She will talk of it to everyone she sees, and I presume it is one of those sources that told you that I am already engaged.'

'It was my sister Mary.', Elizabeth had said, her tone softening.

'Mrs Collins probably did not have the pleasure of hearing my mother contradict it.'

'How is Anne? I am sorry I could not speak to her during this visit.'

'She missed you as well. In fact, it was mother's idea that I speak to you about what has caused you to be so distant, I had already convinced myself that it was my proposal that so upset you.'

'Mr Darcy... I must confess that your proposal did unsettle me, but it did not affect my friendly feelings towards you in the least.'

William had looked almost disappointed.

'Ms Elizabeth, when I saw you just now you did not appear at all happy. I apologize for intruding, but is something wrong?'

Elizabeth had shook her head and handed over the letter to Mr Darcy, who had read it aloud.

Dear Lizzy,

Life is so drastically unfair! You would not believe it! Kitty is engaged to John Lucas. Is that not so wrong? I can only hope that they do not get married till I am. Kitty is so very selfish and inconsiderate. She and Mary were meant to be the last Bennet sisters to get married, and Jane and I were meant to be the first.

Now Jane is being courted by Mr Bingley and that is wonderful, of course. In fact, I wouldn't mind if you went and got engaged too. And I could hardly grudge Mary her married status, for being married to Mr Collins is no small hardship. But Kitty? She simply can't get engaged like this. And that too to John Lucas, who isn't even ugly or ridiculous. She just shouldn't be allowed to marry before me.

My only consolation is that they will have a very long engagement only to break it off when she is too old to attract another suitor and then she can be an old maid, for there must be at least one in the family and I am quite determined that it won't be me.

I'm pretty sure you can sympathize.

Yours, Lydia.

Darcy had shook his head.

'I beg your pardon, Ms Elizabeth, but you have a remarkably silly sister.'

'It is quite all right, Mr Darcy.'

'Many congratulations on your sister's engagement.'

'Thank you,'

A nervous look had suddenly appeared on Mr Darcy's face as he had said the next sentence.

'I had resolved not to say a word again, but I must ask just once, my dearest loveliest Lizzy, if you could not, would not make me the happiest of men. I love you so, my dear.'

The words were spoken with a quiet sort of reverence that touched Elizabeth's heart. Tears had slipped down her eyes as she replied.

'I love you, Mr Darcy, and I was a fool to not realize this before.'

William had been overcome with emotion, and he had kissed her again, slowly and lovingly.

Elizabeth smiled to herself. She had a lot of explaining to do to Mary.

A/N- I loved writing this chapter, and I hope you loved reading it too. Do review and let me know how you liked this chapter, I love hearing from you all.