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D arcy was relieved. They were to be quitting Netherfield that morning, and he would be safe.

Away from Elizabeth Bennet and her eyes.

He would soon be able to forget that she had ever existed.

Bingley would forget her older sister when the next pretty girl smiled at him.

It was for the best. He would try not to think about her, he would focus on getting Bingley over his liking for Miss Bennet.

And there would be Georgiana to take care of.

He smiled to himself as he came down the stairs at Netherfield, Bingley and Caroline Bingley were by the door walking back into the house. Bingley, surprisingly, was smiling broadly but she looked less than pleased.

“But what about what we talked about?” she exclaimed, “I thought you agreed with us that it would be better to stay in town for the rest of the winter? ”

“I’ve changed my mind,” Bingley replied. “Ah, Darcy there you are. You have just this minute missed the Miss Bennets. The eldest two came to call on Caroline.”

“Indeed, I am sorry that I missed them, they did not stay long then?” Darcy was not particularly surprised that they had called, but he was surprised that Bingley had changed his mind; he had thought the matter was settled.

Bingley had owned that he was not at all sure of Miss Bennet’s regard for him and that any offer he made to her, she would accept him, for the sake of her family no matter what her own feelings might be towards him.

Bingley had even admitted that he was worried that he was forcing attentions on her which she did not wish, but that she was too polite to reject him altogether.

“Mr Darcy, you must assist me,” Caroline Bingley turned to him with the smile she saved for him alone. “My brother is determined that we shall return to Netherfield even after everything we had talked of this morning.”

“You may remain in town if you choose, Caroline,” Bingley opened the door to the sitting room for her. “I, however, shall be returning as soon as my business is done.”

“What has changed your mind?” Darcy said following Bingley into the room, “surely one brief visit from two young ladies could not work such a change as this?”

“I never truly wished to stay away,” Bingley smiled broadly, “their visit simply reminded me that I do very much enjoy country manners.”

Darcy found that Bingley’s mind was quite made up on this subject, something which he had never encountered in him before.

He might complain bitterly when made to do something which he did not want, but he had always taken Darcy’s advice and trusted his judgement.

Their conversation was cut short by the arrival of the carriage.

Darcy hardly knew how to act; his friend had never disregarded his opinion before. His mind was chiefly engaged by what could have been said during the sisters’ brief visit to work such a change.

* * *

Sunday 1st of December 1811

London - Darcy

Caroline and Mrs Hurst chose to remain in town at Mr Hurst’s house near Portman Square. Darcy and Bingley, however, went to Darcy’s house on Barker Street. Darcy had decided to return to Netherfield with Bingley, ostensibly to keep an eye on him.

Georgiana was delighted to see them both, when she discovered that their stay would not be a long one, she insisted that they go to see a concert that she had heard a good report on.

He found that his plan of trying to keep Miss Elizabeth Bennet from his thoughts was failing miserably, he found that whenever he caught sight of a woman with similar hair to her or a laugh like hers, he could not suppress the hope that she had come to town as well.

Bingley had mentioned that some of the Bennets would be coming to London very soon.

As much as his rational mind told him she could not be here so quickly even if she was to make the journey, and even if she had the chance of her being here this evening was laughable.

This realisation did not stop him from keeping a very close eye on the door and the ladies who entered the room.

She did not appear. He swore under his breath at himself for being so weak to be disappointed that she had not.

Bingley was busy for a few days with his business, as well as some of his acquaintances, the Middletons.

Darcy had met Mr Middleton once or twice and he seemed like a very pleasant sort of man, quite the gentleman.

Mr Darcy had also met his wife once, but there was something about her that he did not like, though he could not put his finger on what it was.

Bingley returned to the house with news of a ball that the Middletons’ were having in the new year, which he and Georgiana were invited to.

She was very excited by the news, having only been to one ball so far at their uncle, the earl’s house, and this ball was to be in town. It was to be a great affair.

Darcy had the decided feeling that she would have liked to go with them to Netherfield when they returned, however Mr Wickham’s being in the area made Darcy decide not to take her.

But he did promise her that they would go together to spend some of the summer at Pemberley.

They did not stay long, but he enjoyed seeing Georgiana in better spirits and hoped that she would continue to improve. Bingley too seemed in a very good mood.

* * *

Tuesday 10th of December 1811

Longbourn - Darcy

When they returned to Netherfield the house was very welcoming, as the weather that winter was particularly cold and wet.

Darcy was relieved that he was free for a while of Caroline Bingley.

He did not allow himself to think that there might be another reason for his good mood on returning to the county.

They took their horses out when the weather was not too cold and a few days after their return an invitation arrived from Longbourn inviting them to dinner.

Bingley was delighted to accept. A few evenings later Darcy found himself in the drawing room at Longbourn trying not to look at Elizabeth Bennet.

She was even prettier then he remembered, although she seemed rather distracted by something, when she laughed or smiled it did not quite reach her eyes the way that it had before.

He noticed that she kept glancing at her father, who said little and was sitting by the fire with one of the younger girls, he had forgotten her name. Maria? – no, Mary, that was it. Mr Bennet had aged since he had last seen him, and there was a strange colour in his cheeks.

Darcy was relieved that the family’s guest had returned to Kent and had been replaced by much more agreeable guests.

He discovered much to his astonishment that Mr Gardiner was Mrs Bennet’s brother.

Mrs Gardiner he discovered was from the same part of Derbyshire as himself and he talked more freely to her than was generally his habit.

He hardly noticed that Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Gardiner were standing close by while he was conversing with Mrs Gardiner, he glanced at her and saw that she was watching him in some surprise.

He tried to turn his attention back to her aunt.

Mrs Gardiner turned to her husband, “My dear do you think we could stop in Lambton on our way to the lakes?”

“I don’t see why not,” he turned to Elizabeth, “we have not spoken of the lakes since we heard your news, you must set a date my dear so that we will know if you can come with us.” He had just that moment taken a sip of wine. He was slightly confused - what could she need to set a date for?

“Yes indeed we must,” was her gentle reply. “Mr Collins will be returning in the spring and I believe we are to set a date then.”

Time seemed to stand still.

He must have misheard her .

Or misunderstood her.

No, she would never have engaged herself to that ridiculous little clergyman.

No, she had more sense than that.

He had seen with some horror the distasteful man hovering around Elizabeth but she had always been trying to escape, and that he had watched in some amusement.

A sharp pain drew him back to reality. He had forgotten his mouthful of wine and it had gone down his windpipe.

He was coughing hard, struggling to breathe, and then he was being led out of the room.

Through the pain he saw that it was Elizabeth, she led him by the arm and was leading him into a quieter room.

She was gone for a moment, then she returned with a glass of water, concern written in her beautiful face.

The image of Mr Collins touching her cheeks, looking longingly into her fine eyes, was more than he could stand. He had not realised just how lost he was until that moment, how much he was under her spell.

He took the glass she handed him and drank from it, she turned to go. He had to know, he had to. He called after her, he had to be careful not to call her Elizabeth. “Miss Bennet?”

She stopped at the door and looked back at him, it was there again. The concern for him in her eyes gave them a more wonderful expression then he could have imagined. It almost made his heart stop.

He was hers, heart, mind, and soul. He would never be able to love another.

“Yes Mr Darcy? Is there something else you require?” She said with an emotion Darcy could not place. She did not normally speak to him in such a manner.

But he had to know, “Miss Bennet, did I hear correctly just then? ”

“I am not sure what you heard sir,” she spoke slowly, she looked suddenly worried.

He spoke carefully trying not to let the emotion overwhelm him “that I am to congratulate you - on-” he paused, he could hardly think it, let alone say it, “on your engagement to Mr Collins?”

She was surprised that he should take an interest in the news, “I er- I thank you” said she.

The silence that followed these words was pronounced.

Darcy took a deep breath, trying to control himself.

She turned and returned to the room with the rest, he followed her slowly, not sure how he was to carry on.

He wanted nothing more than to stay in this quiet room and he knew not what.

He watched quietly for the rest of the evening, studying her anew.

He heard Bingley telling Miss Bennet about the Middletons’ ball.

And he was able to answer when a question was asked of him.

But beyond that he was not able to join in any conversation.

He was lost in his own thoughts and in the knowledge that the woman he loved, so deeply, was engaged to another.

And there was nothing he could do about it.