Fitzwilliam was struggling. He hadn't slept properly since the ball. Not since he saw that girl, Miss Elizabeth Bennett. He couldn't believe how much she resembled his Lizzie, even in name. More unnerving still, was her reaction to him. When their eyes met he was sure that she was as surprised, shocked and scared as he. But that was insanity! Lizzie, his Lizzie, wasn't real. Yet he couldn't keep his eyes off her. And then when the ball was over, and he had finally shaken off Caroline, he'd climbed into bed and slept. Just slept.

No dreams.

No Pemberley.

No Lizzie.

He had forgotten what that was like. The nights passed, and still no Lizzie, or any other dreams in her stead. He wasn't designed for this. And to add to it all when they had returned home from dining out last night, they found the elder Miss Bennett ill and in residence. This inevitably brought his mind back to Miss Elizabeth. Now, as he sat at the desk desperately trying to pen a letter to his sister, it occurred to him. Lizzie had an older sister too, Janey. And younger sisters, the coincidences were starting to become increasingly disturbing.

"Miss Elizabeth Bennett" A Footman announced. Fitzwilliam leapt to his feet. Perhaps she doesn't look like Lizzie at all, a small similarity in the dark of a ballroom might easily have been exaggerated in his mind.

"I've come to enquire after my sister"

Well, that shot that theory out of the water. Even her voice was the same. He lost himself to thought again. Bingley spoke with her and she soon turned to leave. Her movements, her manner, it was all the same. The only noticeable difference was her refusal to look at him. Her eye fell everywhere but on him. Was she as afraid as he? Could it be possible? Could Lizzie be real? Will couldn't resist any longer and found himself hurrying from the room, Caroline wittering nonsense behind him. She was halfway up the staircase before he caught up with her. He called out from the bottom.

"Lizzie" she stopped mid step. He could see the tension radiating off of her. Even though her back was to him, he knew her eyes were scrunched in indecision.

"Will?" She sounded so small, so unsure.

"Yes" he climbed the first two stairs but she again continued up the staircase.

"No! You're not real!"

He watched her until she reached the top, watched her until she was out of sight.

Lizzie was avoiding him. He knew that, she took her evening meals with them, but never once looked in his direction. He wasn't sure if that was easier or not. He found it all so confusing and hard. Especially now as he couldn't talk to his night time friend, he relied heavily on that it turned out. This whole experience had made him come to realise it.

On the third evening, much does the surprise of Fitzwilliam and Charles, Miss Elizabeth joined them in the library

" Good evening Sirs" she greeted as she crossed the room and collected a book from the rather bare shelves.

"How does your sister fair Miss Elizabeth?" Charles was fast to enquire.

"She is sleeping now, I thank you. Though, I do feel some better colour is returning to her, sir"

Charles seemed overjoyed at the report, and Lizzie allowed herself to sink into a comfortable chair.

Will returned to his letter. He was still yet to finish his missive to his dear Georgiana.

Lizzie sat in pure joy, she forced away the stress and confusion of the last few days, and gave herself over to the written word. Sinking deeper and deeper into the novel upon her knee her surroundings faded away. The only, and increasingly grating, anchor to reality, was the incessant tapping of Wills pen on the desktop. An old habit of his when unsure how to transfer his thoughts to paper. Still half absorbed in her book and acting on instinct alone, she huffed loudly in irritation.

"Do stop that Will!" She barked " Before I find it in myself to hurl this fine book at you"

"Remember last time Lizzie" he chuckled " If you aim for me, it's poor Bingley who needs to duck" the two of them both looked up across at each other laughter in their eyes. Until there wasn't. Realisation and horror soon took mirths place.

"Ahhhh, Mr Darcy, there you are" Miss Bingleys voice broke through the room.

"Excuse me" Lizzie leapt from her chair, refusing to look at either the stunned Will, or confused Mr Bingley " I really must attend to my sister. Good night. Miss Bingley"

And she was gone