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Chapter 5

After the dancing, Elizabeth sat watching her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner, her Mama, Papa, Jane, and Hugo, as they were playing a card game. Growing bored she glanced about the room and spied Ella and Georgiana chatting animatedly with Mr Bingley, who was making rather large gestures with his hands and arms. She smiled slightly to herself when she saw Ella wiping tears from her eyes from laughing so hard as Georgiana clapped her hands together in joy.

The mood had definitely become easier when Miss Bingley had taken her leave early, complaining of a headache. Coincidently, it came on suddenly, when she had become upset at not being able to have her share of the declared himself not ready to leave and so, the Hurst's had departed with her not half an hour ago and the mood had relaxed instantly. Mr Darcyhad yet to return after seeing his guests out. He must have had some matter to attend to or was simply exorcising his power as the master of this house and was not intending to re-join them at all.

"You look to be deep in concentration, Lizzy." said Ella, surprising her. Elizabeth had not even noticed her approachbut smiled when she took her hand and pulled her up from her seat. "Now, I remember you expressing a desire to view our library! Would you care to have a look now? I will not attempt to show you the gallery as it is too dark to do it justice. But the Library is my favourite at this time, as it is always perfectly cosy in the evenings." she finished.

"I would enjoy that very much, thank you." she turned to Mr and Mrs Bennet, who nodded their approval. "Papa, would you like to accompany me?" she asked, she did after all, inherit her love of literature from her father.

"Not this time my child, I am quite involved in this play here." Mr Bennet smiled. But Elizabeth could see he did not think it best to leave her mother, who appeared to be turning a little green!Oh dear!

Once she and Ella had left the room, Ella laced her arm through hers. Comfortably, they made their way through the large town house.

"Are you all right Lizzy? After your dance, you became awfully quiet. I fear my brother might have offended you." she chuckled. "He does improve upon further acquaintance, I promise. Once you learn his character, he is the best of men. But then of course I am totally biased!" Ella exclaimed proudly.

"I am just a little homesick is all. I do enjoy London, but I am a country girl and feel as though my wings are clipped when I cannot go for long walks in solitude, as I enjoy. I find it is the best way to organise one's thoughts. It is how I usually start my days in Hertfordshire. It is nothing more than that I assure you. I am sorry if I caused any unnecessary concern." Elizabeth added, as she did not want Ella to think she was displeased with the company this evening.

"Good, we shall talk no more of it then! Ah, here we , I present to you the Darcy HouseLibrary," she said, with a dramatic flourish leading her into the centre of the room.

Elizabeth gave a small chuckle before her mouth dropped open in awe, as she walked into the immense library, turning in a full circle. The lamps had been lit in the room and a warm glow came from the fire burning in the grate illuminating row upon row, of floor to ceiling bookshelves; expanding out from where she stood in the main seating area. But in-between the rows she spied a few more chairs dotted around, and ladders rested against the shelves so one could reach the top shelves with ease. This library was magnificent, and smelled comfortingly of paper and ink, and a hint of leather. The flickering light dancing across the embossed spines of the books.

"This is where we always all end up together most evenings. My brother had a piano placed in here for when Georgie wishes to show us a new piece she has learnt or composed. Hugo and I, are not copious readers but when we were little, our brother would sit for hours with us, teaching and even on occasion acting out plays and poetry with us, but you did not hear that from me," she said conspiratorially, smiling fondly at the memories, "And then, there would be a mutiny! We would all begin to play fight andFitzwilliamwould always allow us to feel as though we were winning until we took it too far... and then he would overpower us easily. He has always been so strong, but incredibly gentle too. We always called him a gentle giant when we were younger." she looked up a moment around the room seeming to forget Elizabeth was there.

"They are wonderful memories; it is a shame when we grow up and those things disappear. I find I am curious to hear how you might'take things too far?'and I am a little shocked as your brother seems so serious all the time." there was no insult in the way she said it, just curiosity. Ella smiled gently.

"Yes, he does, doesn't he? … as for how we might'take things too far?'I shall leave that story for another time, perhaps whenFitzwilliam is present.I do love to tease him." she giggled, her love for her brother shining in her eyes. "For now, I shall leave you to explore the shelves and come back for you shortly… unless you would like company?"

"Not at all! Please return to your other guests. I am quite in my element here!" she said, pleased to be able to look through the volumes at her leisure and with her full attention.

"I shall come and find you in a half hour." Ella said, as she was making her way towards the door. "Oh, and Lizzy, please feel free to pick out anything you or your father might wish to read. You can borrow anything you like."

Elizabeth turned to reply her thanks, but Ella had already swept from the room, leaving the door slightly ajar in her wake.

"Where to start!" Elizabeth whispered excitedly to herself, when a thud from across the room drew her attention. She moved in the direction of the noise and heard voices permeating through the bookshelves on the far side.How curious…thought Elizabeth, slowly recognising one of the voices to beMr Darcy' once again getting the best of her, she quietly placed her feet upon the ladder before her and began to stealthily climb upwards. By the time she had gone a few steps up the ladder she realised the voices had grown quieter.

Perhaps if she was a touch further to the right, she might hear a bit clearer…

Looking down form her position she did not wish to climb all the way back down to move the ladder across... Stretching her arm out she attempted to use to use the books to pull herself with the ladder along slightly, however, the book she had chosen pushed into the shelf with a click and to her horror the entire shelving unit swung inward. With a squeak she screwed her eyes shut and clung onto the ladder her knuckles white.

"Miss Bennet?" she heardMr Darcysay, his surprise evident in his tone.

"Wake up Lizzy, wake up!" she hissed to herself.

"Hudson, leave us please."Fitzwilliaminstructed his butler.

Elizabeth heard a door click shut and then silence. Nearly jumping out of her skin when she heardMr Darcy clear his opened one eye to peer down at him. He stood level with her waist; his hand held out expectantly waiting for her to take it.

Refusing to take the hand he offered, she looked resolutely down at her feet as she descended the ladder, only looking back to him when she had her feet firmly planted upon the floor in the secret doorway, between what appeared to be Mr Darcy's study and the library.

"I knew you had something that was bothering you with regards to me. But I did not think you would go to these lengths to speak to me, Miss Elizabeth." he said, lips twitching with mirth. "You are quite the menace are you not? Stomping on toes, standing up to Miss Bingley, and your surprise entrance into my study…"

"Well, as you have brought it up… May I be frank with youMr Darcy?" she asked, embarrassed and her patience at its end, wanting to deliver her message and be done with him.

He simply nodded his ascent. Taking a deep breath, she paused looking him over once more. Ella had spoken of a man which she had not seen in him, and she doubted existed if you did not have familial bias. She allowed herself to think that the scar marring his eye might not have been acquired in a trivial boyish pursuit of his youth, but maybe something more sinister to have altered his personality to such a degree, or was she being fanciful and he was just an unlikeable person. The instant the thought occurred to her that something tragic might have happened to him in his life, it offered a vulnerability in him. In this moment there was softness in his gaze, maybe even a slightly self-consciousness about him; however, when she blinked it had once more become an expression of boredom and impatience.

"Are you going to continue gaping at my scar? or will you tell me what I have done to be deserving of your anger?" he snapped impatiently.

Her intelligent emerald eyes moved to clash with his for a few seconds longer before she spoke. "I do not think you are a suitable match for my sister." she said, watching his reaction to her statement, unblinkingly.

"What?" he had not expected that.

"You think because of your name, your wealth and position in society, that you can take whom or what you want regardless of the affect it has on them or those around you? There are some things money simply cannot buy," Elizabeth snapped, her anger getting the better of her.

"Is that so?" he said, his voice becoming flatter and his mood darker.

"Yes." she said, refusing to back down.

"And why, after so short an acquaintance is it that you believe your assumptions of my character are accurate?" askedMr Darcy.

"Because I overheard your conversation with Hugo, when I was last here." she practically hissed at him.Try and talk your way out of that! She thought with a small victory.

"So?"

"So?!" she repeated back incredulously.

"I do not think that gives you the right to decide who your sister should marry. Does she not have a say?" he countered.

"I have her best interests at heart! You, do no not, Mr Darcy!" she snapped.

"So, you snoop around my property on two occasions, listening into conversations that were not meant for you, and burst into my study uninvited to warn me off your sister?" he said moving away from her to lean back against his desk.

"I beg your pardon!" she said walking further into the room. "I did not snoop! Of course, I have come to warn you off. You would do the same had you heard such comments comparing one sister to another. And very unflatteringly words, I might add."

"I am beginning to tire of this situation. So, is that it then? You are jealous because I voiced a preference of your sister over you?"

Elizabeth choked out a laugh! "You think very highly of yourself!" she laughed. "Jane will marry for no less than the love she deserves. And you, most definitely will not adore her or love her! You have no idea how to court a lady!And what'smore, you are not good enough for her!" she said, her chest heaving with her emotions.

There was a long moment of silence before he pushed away from his desk and stood once more towering above her. "I do not wish to marry your sister."

"No?" she replied archly.

"No."

"Well, that makes no sense at all!"

"Do not feel embarrassed for jumping to conclusions. If you had simply asked me what my intensions were, you wouldn't have had to go through all this." he said gesturing to the bookcase. "I have not shown your sister any preferential treatment this evening, have I?"

His words threw Elizabeth, she should not have been so blinded by what she heard and drawn this conclusion herself. "Well, what is it you want? You say you have shown no preferential treatment towards Jane, but you had her seated beside you during dinner." she stated, her earlier boldness slipping away.

"I was not in charge of the seating arrangements. Ella believed your sister shyer than you and thought she might be more comfortable near her and your parents, and that you would be able to coax Georgiana out of her shell." When she could think of nothing to say he spoke once more. "You are seeing now that you have made a grave mistake in thinking you can manage me."

"I do not wish to manage anyone!I only wish to ensure Jane's future happiness."

"And it is you who is gets to ultimately decide who should make her happy?" He asked.

"Of course, I am not!" she replied, grinding her teeth.

"You overheard a conversation out of context and decided that you knew my thoughts and feelings. But you do not know my character well enough to make such a quick judgement. I think you did not like my slight of you." she glared at him seething with rage and it was all Mr Darcy could do not to laugh and instead arched raised both brows at her.

"Please! I heard your slight of my sister!'She will not talk too much nor demand too much!'or words to that effect. When you do not know her character enough and are equally guilty of making a quick judgement yourself!" she said mimicking him. "Those are the attributes you look for in your futurewife?" she jibed.

He threw his head back and laughed. "Do not think I did not notice your appraisal of my person when first we met." he said, taking a step closer. "Now, it is time for me to be frank with you, Miss Elizabeth. I would be lying if I said I was not attracted to you." he was now stood toe to toe with her and could see the pulse beating fast at the base of her neck. Her lips were plump and begging to be kissed.

Fitzwilliam'seyes dropped to her lips and she unconsciously licked her them, as his head dipped a little lower. He glanced up once more and saw the desire roaring in her eyes and a shudder coursed through her as he knew it would, when he ran his thumb over her bottom lip parting her lips slightly. He groaned a quiet, rough sound at the temptation she presented, he knew he should not sample it. This was not a woman he could dally with. She was an innocent and he most assuredly had no intentions of marrying, but she was giving herself over to him willingly. It was only a kiss; no harm could come of a kiss, could it?

Elizabeth felt the deep timber of his voice in the small sound he had made. It sent shockwaves of sensation through her. The woodsy, masculine scent and the heat of him surrounded her making her short of breath. He cocked his head to the side, was he waiting for her to make the first move? But she had never been kissed before? Well, not in a romantic way! She thought with a frown feeling unsure of herself. Elizabeth had never thought she would marry, not that she did not want to, but in her sister's shadow no gentleman had ever shown any preference for her.

At the same moment thatMr Darcy, had thought better of his actions and that he would escort her back to the library and shut the secret door, when Elizabeth, had decided this was to be the moment she stole for herself where she would have her first kiss. Taking a deep breath, she raised herself onto her toes, with her hands clasped tightly before her, she puckered her lips just when he took a step backwards.

She blushed crimson, and her cheeks felt hot to touch.

He saw the rejection and embarrassment blaze in her emerald eyes as her nostrils flared and her right hand swiftly came up to strike him across the her hand just in time, before it connected with his face. The next look she gave him was almost feral, she gasped her indignation as her left hand came up to strike the other cheek, which again, he caught effortlessly. Pinning both of her hands behind her back in one of his large hands he pushed her back against the shelves and brought his hand to cradle her head, crushing his lips to hers. She smelled enticingly of citrus and something sweet he could not define.

He punished her with his lips in an explosion of anger and desire. He was unrelenting in staking his claim and dominating her mouth, applying pressure to urge her to open up to him. He moved his hand around, so it rested upon her neck with his thumb stroking her jaw, as he swept his tongue across the seal of her lips. She gasped against his mouth, which he quickly took advantage of by sliding his tongue between her lips.

She stiffened at the shock of his tongue caressing hers, a sensation she did not understand throbbed at her centre, being completely innocent she did not recognise these to be the first prickles of desire. He let go of her hands that he had held prisoner behind her back, she had just been about to touch him and run her fingers through his rich unruly hair, when he stepped back from her. He placed his hand upon her shoulder to steady her and looked down at her with such an intensity it felt as though he were looking into the depths of her soul.

"Forgive me, I do not know what came over me." He said softly, his expression concerned and apologetic.

The realisation of what they had done, what she had allowed him to do and of the liberties she had given him, engulfed her. Elizabeth reacted without thought, wrenching herself free and made to run away from him. Her legs however, still felt as though they were made of jelly.

In a flurry of movements, gasps and groans, Elizabeth stumbled back into the library, losing her balance that she was falling and made to grab for her but caught his foot on the edge of the ladder and fell forwards with Elizabeth. Managing to catch her mid-air, he twisted so as not to crush her landing on his back with Elizabeth laying across his front. It took a moment for both to register what had just happened and he opened his eyes to find Elizabeth with her hands braced on his chest and her face a breath away from his, looking down at him intently.

"ELIZABETH BENNET! WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!" Roared the unmistakeable voice of her father.

Both Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam's heads whipped around to find Ella and Jane standing aghast next to a purple faced Mr Bennet in the doorway or the library, demanding answers.