Richard's Chance

Elizabeth, crying after Mr. Darcy's awful proposal, went for a walk, but tears clouded her vision. Unfortunately, she fell, not looking where she was going; when she tried to stand up, her foot and ankle hurt too much. So, afraid, she started to call for help.

Richard Fitzwilliam was riding to his aunt's home when he heard the call for help. Not hesitating, he rode his horse to help whoever was calling. The moon was full, making it easier to see. To his surprise, he saw the lady at the Netherfield's ball. At that time, he was in bad shape, back from the war, and not wanting to socialize.

Notwithstanding his dark mood, he recalled wanting her at Netherfield and wishing he had the means to support her. Though his father was generous and gave him 1,800 a year, it was insufficient to support a fine wife like her.

"My lady, what happened?" He asked, solicitous, as he helped the lady from the ground. Elizabeth explained she fell when her foot caught on a tree's root. Perhaps, but he sensed she was upset. He saw, helped by his perfect night vision and the full moon's light, her red eyes as if she had been crying. He offered his arm for support, though limped, obviously in pain. He thought of picking her up in his arms, but dismissed the idea, for his own sake.

They sat on a bench, and she said her foot hurt. "My lady, please allow me to look at it; on the battlefield, we all learn to recognize injuries." Elizabeth nodded, trusting him; something about him reminded her of a chivalrous knight, considerate and respectful to women.

Richard helped her take her sock and shoe off the injured foot because she was unable to do it since it hurt too much. Unfortunately, touching her foot and ankle, set his body on fire; and the arousal hazed his mind with desire. He had to fight himself because all he wanted was to lie with her and kiss her all over; he wanted to sink his body deep into hers, helping him forget the horrors of war.

He nearly moaned; it surprised him, this was more than desire. He had never felt like this before, not with a touch, and that moment wasn't the time or the place. Every step he took, he had to restrain himself; no, he wasn't about to damage her. Richard, the gentleman he was, helped her to walk back to the Vicar's cottage, said goodbye, and air-kissed her ungloved hand. He left in a hurry as fast as possible; he understood why. Lizzie thought he would kiss her, but she guessed she was wrong.

That night, drinking with William, Richard noticed that his cousin wasn't doing well, but he didn't ask what was troubling him. William barely talked, and both drank too much, trying to forget whatever pain they felt. Little did Richard know both were mourning the same lady.

A couple of months later, when his cousin announced his marriage to the lady, Richard had already left. When Richard received the news of William's wedding to Miss Elizabeth Bennet, he cried bitter tears of regret. For days, he couldn't sleep or eat and could only call.

Nearly two years went by when William started to write frequently. He mostly complained about his wife's family, saying he made a mistake by marrying Elizabeth. The truth was that his pride ruled him. Richard believed it. His brother, Bartlett, wrote Elizabeth looked sad, and he wished he had married her instead of marrying his wife. He told Richard he had seen her before she married William, but he was already engaged. He added that his parents often said they wished she was their daughter.

William wrote announcing his heir, but Richard did not get the letter already on his way back to England. His maternal grandfather, who had no sons, had made Richard his heir. Though Richard was a wealthy earl, he wasn't as rich as Fitzwilliam Darcy

Richard was in bad shape since the wars had taken a toll. He would wake screaming after a bad dream, covered in cold sweat. The dead talked to him; he could see them, recalling how they had died. A few had messages for their families and those they loved. He wrote letters to them, and often they wrote back thanking him. Regardless, the horrors wouldn't leave him, so he decided to go to Pemberley to see his cousin and best friend; it was a visit he had postponed, not wanting to see Elizabeth.

Meanwhile, at Pemberley, Darcy caught Wickham trying to break into the safe. After a struggle, Wickham told William he was sorry, but he was in a desperate situation and begged for help, saying his baby was sick and they often went hungry. Darcy, unfeeling, didn't listen and shot him, but he was shot by Wickham before he died. But Fitzwilliam Darcy didn't die and lingered for a few days.

Richard arrived and went to sit by his cousin, "My brother," William asked him, "look after my son." He also told Richard he was sorry he treated his wife poorly, but bringing Wickham to Pemberley was her fault. So, she was at fault he was shot, because she wanted to help her sister. He added he wanted Lydia and her twin children gone. He said more, mostly that his wife was a mistake. He died that evening.

His wife's heart broke after she heard her husband's awful words. She stood by the door, listening to everything he said.

Darcy left Richard a letter asking him to marry because he wanted someone he knew and trusted to raise his son. He also wrote he didn't want her family around.

The Bennet sisters had not fared well in their marriages. Lizzie was sad thinking she might be pregnant again by someone who thought she was a mistake. As for Jane, she married Charles, the one she thought she loved, but she also had problems and was unhappy.

The Proposal

Days after the funeral, Richard asked Elizabeth to meet him in the library. Richard thought she looked dead on life, wearing an austere black wool dress, pale with dark circles under her eyes. He sighed, thinking she looked lovely, nonetheless.

Richard cleared his throat, "Mrs. Darcy," he started.

But Lizzie raised her hand, interrupting him, "Please call me Lizzie. We are related, after all."

Richard could barely hear her, "Okay, Elizabeth, I mean Lizzie, I have a letter from William," He cleared his throat again. "I am unsure how to tell you, but he wished we would marry as soon as possible. He had already written a will to that effect. I have a special license to marry you as soon as you wish. He was concerned about his child and the fortune seekers looking for you. Whereas I understand you're sad that he died, life must go on. You must not forget you have a baby and perhaps another one on the way." Richard exhaled; he was relieved after telling her William's stipulations.

Lizzie shed tears, "No, I don't want to get married again."

Richard said compassionately, "I am so sorry, but if you don't marry me, you will lose the rights over your child, and I will be his guardian and the guardian of the next child; that is if you are increasing. I want you to know that I think what he asked is wrong. Moreover, though I think it's reproachable, and I disagree with it, it is what William decided. It was in his will since you announced you were increasing the first time. Please believe me when I promise that I will be a good husband. You are a woman I could have never aspired to since I didn't have the means to take care of you."

He moved closer, wanting her to understand how he felt about her, and this was the time. He looked at her intently, controlling his desire to hold her, "When I saw you that time in Kent, I would have liked you to be mine, but I had nothing to offer. I was in the Army, and my mind wasn't well. I was broken. Besides, I had just enough for myself, being the second son. Later, when I heard you married my cousin, I must confess that my heart ached. I was not well for weeks afterward. Wanting to stop hurting, I took many chances on the battlefield. But since this chance is here with us, you will honor me if you accept me as your husband. I don't consider it an obligation, not whatsoever." He looked at her, hoping she would see he wasn't lying.

"I believe if I had returned after William's death, there is no question in my mind I would have courted you. My family knew about you, and everyone wrote me how sorry they were for the way William treated you. They all knew about it and disliked it; even Georgie wrote telling me the same. Please don't think I am like my cousin. I loved William and knew his pride was his sin."

Elizabeth looked at him while drying runaway tears. Lord Richard Fitzwilliam was a little taller than her husband. Otherwise, they could have been twins, though the coloring was different. He had light brown hair streaked with platinum blond, and his eyes were sky blue. This day, Richard dressed to be at home with family. He wore leather breeches with black hessians and a heavy black cardigan; he was dressed to be at home, not like William, who never allowed himself to be perfectly dressed. Though he looked haunted, he was very handsome and would be highly sought after by every debutant. Georgie had assured her.

There were worse fates than marrying him; Lizzie thought and remembered his kindness in Kent and how she felt. That night, Lizzie had believed that he would kiss her, and she would have welcomed his kisses; possibly, she was a wanton, if not why did she allow and enjoy William's touches and kisses, when he treated her so bad?

"Richard, you should know that William liked nothing about me. The only reason I married him was because my father was sick at the time, and we were to be thrown in the street since our property was entailed. William said that he loved me, and he couldn't help it. Even though he professed his love, he always treated me like I was no more than a servant. He gave me fine clothes and slept on my bed. We shared the bedroom, but he was neither kind nor loving. He often said that he hated himself for loving me so much. As to why he said that I have no idea because he didn't act like it. Instead, he treated me contemptuously and looked down upon me."

Though she blushed, she told Richard, "I am sorry for being so frank, but the only time he was caring was in the marriage bed."

Richard knew she was telling the truth; William had often written as much in most of the letters he sent him.

"He hated my parents; no, correction, he hated my mother; he said she was a fishmonger and more. My father inherited a title when an uncle died. Sadly, my father came into the title and money three months after I married William. I confess I would not have married him had my father inherited at the time he proposed. My father is not as rich as my husband but is quite wealthy; his estate is not very far from here. However, he refused to allow Lydia to live with them. Father despised Lydia's husband because of the circumstances. Lydia's dowry went to pay numerous gambling debts, so I begged William to help them. I think they had a hard life, but I was forbidden to visit them or help them." Lizzie sounded and looked very sad.

The Ghosts

They didn't see the two ghostly figures listening to them, Fitzwilliam (William) Darcy and another man who kept shaking his head. Neither Richard nor Lizzie heard when one ghost told the other, "You did very wrong to your wife and to George. I told you not to be so proud, and now you are being punished. Since I'm your father, I'd like to help you, but I have no idea how."

William Darcy answered, as arrogant as ever, "Maybe I did, but her family is detestable. Besides, she is a Bennet as well, isn't she?"

a/n I started this story elsewhere but will continue only here.