The next few days were spent getting to truly know the man she was courting, as well as trying to help her mother come around to the idea. She knew Mr Darcy had spoken at length to her mother regarding his hopes for their relationship, as well as telling what he was capable of when it came to protecting the people he cared for. Elizabeth had asked him, her father, as well as her mother what had happened in the past to make her parents so distrusting of the ton, but her parents told her it was not for a maiden's ears and sensibilities. Mr Darcy said his silence in the matter was one of the conditions her father required for his consent to the courtship. They all did promise to inform her should the courtship turn to marriage.

Her sisters, Georgiana included, could not contain their excitement at the news, and she found herself with three, sometimes four young girls following her around like little ducklings. Georgiana took every moments she could to praise her brother and their estate, clearly hoping she could convince Elizabeth to marry her brother on those two things a lone. While the girl was pleased to her accounts of the former were likely to have the desired affect, she was confused to hear the latter would play no part in her decision at all.

All of the women were in a state of shock when later that afternoon, the day she had agreed to her courtship, two of the largest men they had ever seen were led by Mr Darcy and her father into the sitting room, along with a much smaller man, who had a crippled arm. While her mother and sisters stared at the larger men in awe, there was something about the smaller man that held her attention. While he appeared largely unassuming, there was something in his demeanor that screamed danger.

"Ladies, please allow me to introduce Simon and Samuel Apple, they are here to protect the younger girls and Miss and Mrs Bennett." Mr Darcy said, motioning to the two large men. "And this is Rodger Smythers, he has agreed to guard Miss Elizabeth." He said motioning to the smaller man.

Before she even had a chance to extend a greeting to the three men, her mother's voice rang out. "Mr Darcy, I don't mean to doubt your judgement...but Mr Smythers...is he able to...I mean will Lizzy be..."

All were surprised when the man crossed the room and took a knee in front of their mother, taking her hand in his good one. "I promise you madam, your daughter will absolutely be safe with me. I know I do not look it, but I am more than capable of protecting her." Seeing her fear he gave her a gentle smile, "Would it surprise to know that even right now, I am more heavily armed than any member of this household combined?"

Seeing her curiosity, he pulled the gun off the belt at his waist, which they had all seen, however what followed next shocked them all. Apparently their was a holster along his back, for a pistol came from there, followed by three ladies pistols from different pockets, some hidden. A large hunting knife was pulled from the sleeve of this crippled arm, and another from his boot.

While the women all watched this in shock, the two larger men were clearing a space in the middle of the room. Once he was completely unarmed, Simon rushed him without any warning, but Mr Smythers grabbed him, using the man's momentum against him. No sooner was he on the ground than Samuel entered the fray. It was but a few minutes before both men were on the floor gasping for air, while Smythers had barely broken a sweat. "Mr Darcy has also mentioned that you and some, if not all, of your daughters might be interested in learning to shoot as well as some self defense.

"Oh...would you be willing to teach them sir?" Her mother looked hopeful. "I know for a face that my Lydia and Lizzy would love to learn. As for my other girls, they are gentle spirits, but it is so important they learn as well, especially if they are one day going to be interacting with members of the ton. Yes, it is important the four of them learn as well as Lizzy and Lydia."

"Mama, I believe we would enjoy it all the more if you joined us as well." Elizabeth said, hoping to that if her mother could learn to protect herself, she would not have to carry so much fear around with her.

"Oh, I never was one who learned things easily." Her mother fretted, "I would only slow you girls down, and the. Where would you be."

"What is this nonsense about you not learning?" Elizabeth strived to keep from sounding admonishing as she spoke to her mother. "I have found you had some rather interesting insights when we have discussed our book. Indeed, our discussions have become a treasured part of my day. I dare say, a woman incapable of learning, would not be able to keep up with me in such discussions." She saw the way her words affected her mother, how she sat up just a bit straighter, and how her eyes seemed to light up.

"Oh please mama, at least try a few of the lessons with us, if you find them too much then you can stop, but I would feel better knowing you were there." Jane spoke from her spot on the other side of their mother, taking her hand.

"I would too!"

"As would I!"

Georgiana and Kitty chimed in, and their mother softened. "Well, if it will be a comfort to my girls, then I shall join, though I can't say it will be a permanent thing."

True to her words she did join the girls, and to the surprise of all, she was one of the better students, keeping up with Lydia, Elizabeth, and surprisingly Mary. While all four excelled at hand to hand defense, she and Lydia turned out to be excellent marksmen, while Elizabeth and Mary were better at the physical aspects of fighting. Many believed this to be because of their smaller statures. Her concerns with leaving Smythers only as Elizabeth's protector also diminished as time went, seeing what all he was capable of teaching them. Even Mr Bennet began joining the lessons, never having been much of a fighter himself.

This had also led husband and wife to have more conversations, as they now had something in common. Remembering Elizabeth's comment about her mother discussing a book with her, also led to them discussing it as well. When she had finished reading it, she passed it on to the younger girls, and gladly accepted the novel her husband recommended. Hearing the lively debates about the two books now in play coming from the sitting room, drew Mr Bennet out of his library, eager to be a part of it. To find Lydia on his side of the debate more often then not had been a shock, and made him more eager to encourage her to read than she actually was with the idea of reading.

It had taken Elizabeth taking him to task about his desire to push Lydia to read that had him backing off. She had pointed out to him that the more he pushed the girl, the more his most rebellious daughter was likely to stop doing so just because she didn't want be "forced" into it. Instead, she told him he should split his focus between the four younger girls, counting Georgiana, for their views were enlightening, and had led to some interesting debates. To his delight she had been correct, and his Library door remained open more often throughout the day, allowing the girls in for discussions whenever his and their time permitted it.

However, as they saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and so too did this new found peace at Longbourn, though all residents hoped it would be of a short duration. The news of the arrival of his cousin Mr Collins had taken all of the ladies by surprise, though they had all expressed hopes that maybe the cousin would be a sensible man. He surprisingly only took a little pleasure in being able to dash these hopes, and wondered if maybe he was losing his touch.

He knew that to not be the case upon meeting Mr Collins, for he found just as much humor at the expense of the other man as ever, and realized it was just his wife and daughters his teasing was becoming less fun with, though still enjoyable.

The man's fawning over Mr Darcy was by far the most enjoyable sight he had ever seen. That is, until it provoked the richer man's ire.

"I must say Mrs Bennet, your daughters are by far some of the loveliest ladies I have ever beheld." The man spoke on his first evening with them, causing all of the girls to blush in embarrassment. It was the first time Mr Bennet couldn't help but wonder if the youngest two sometimes giggled to hide the fact they were uncomfortable.

"Thank you, they are sweet girls, though I do say so myself." The loving smile she bestowed upon his girls stirred something deep within him that he had long thought dead.

"The eldest is especially beautiful. I dare say though, her next younger sister is very pretty as well. I am sure it would be a great relief should one of them become the next mistress of Longbourn." The man then puffed out his chest, "Why, my esteemed patroness said herself that a man in a position such as mine could do nought but take one of them as my bride. Indeed, with so little to offer in the way of dowries..."

"Mr Collins, I must insist you desist this line of conversation with my daughters in the room." He snapped at the man, surprising his wife and daughters, and earning a look of approval from Mr Darcy.

"Indeed, I believe you will find that men worthy of ladies such as your cousins will find them worth more than any dowry brought by the ladies of the ton." Mr Darcy spoke up, a soft look directed at Elizabeth.

"Yes, well, it is easy to say that when you are betrothed to Rosings most decorative rose." The clergyman spoke, not noticing the effect his words had on the room. "Why when your aunt found out you had moved to my cousin's she urged me to remind you of your duty to her daughter and indeed, your own mother's memory. She also urged me to encourage you to break with your sister, lest you taint your reputation and by extension Miss de Bourgh's. While she laments the need to cut Miss Darcy, she appreciates the need to preserve rank as well as family name. Indeed, your sister seems happy and well settled here, I dare say my cousin will be happy to continue her care. And I too shall be happy to care for her when my cousin passes on to his final rewards. Why, Miss Bennet and I shall treat her as our own sister once we are married. You shall never have to think of her again, though supplementing our income for her upkeep would not go amiss..."

Having ignored the numerous attempts to stop the horribly offensive speech from many members of the room the man was rather startled when Mr Darcy had finally had enough, slammed his hand against the side table next to him and surged to his feet. "Mr Collins..." he practically growled, "Let me make myself clear. I am not now, nor have I ever been engaged to my cousin. This notion my aunt cooked up upon my father's death has never held me honor bound, and never will. While I have nothing against my cousin, I have known for years that she and I would not suit. In fact I am currently courting your cousin Miss Elizabeth."

His glare then turned icy, "What's more, the Darcy name is the one I seek to preserve, and it is nothing to me without my sister. Yes she made a mistake, but then so did I. She trusted the companion I hired for her, the companion my aunt recommended to me."

"She is young, and still learning the ins and outs of society. I will not allow an innocent girl to be condemned for being deceived by someone I myself was deceived by." With that the man stood and followed Fanny and Elizabeth who had chased Georgiana when she had fled the room during Mr Collins unforgivable speech.