Chapter Two

Posted on: 2011-08-01

Darcy was replying to some correspondence in his study when there came a gentle knock at the door. He bid the knocker entrance and looked up to see his land steward standing sheepishly looking up at him.

"Ah, Roberts. Come in and take a seat" He instructed with a wave of his arm. Roberts swiftly paced across the grand study and slipped into the chair Darcy had indicated to. "What can I do for you?"

"It's about Miss. Bennet" Robert's told him rapidly. He wanted to convey the message and leave as soon as possible. He didn't want to be on the receiving end of an angry Darcy - or a distraught one for that matter. Darcy's face instantly fell; he had wished the news was on a more welcoming topic.

"I did not know that Thomas had returned" He muttered as he fidgeted in his seat, trying in vain to get comfortable. Robert could only mutely nod as he watched the colour drain from his masters' face. "What is the news?" Darcy already knew by the grave look on his land steward's face that the news did not bring joyous feelings.

"Thomas arrived mere minutes ago. He informed me that he found the carriage overturned on the direct road through Northamptonshire. It was causing quite a scene amongst travellers" Darcy sat forward in his chair and rested both hands clasped together on the oak desk.

"What of the driver and Mary?"

"The driver was found crushed under the carriage. He must have died right away; Thomas said there were so much blood and a massive wound"

"And Mary?" Darcy continued impatiently as he jumped up and started to pace. He gripped his hands behind his back just so that he had something to occupy them with. Robert's looked up at his master who looked in the brink of insanity in that one moment. He swallowed hard before continuing.

"There was no sign of Miss. Bennet. Thomas dismounted and searched the surrounding area. Nothing was too be seen. He knew it was the carriage because her case was still locked in the back"

"Still there?" Darcy was puzzled. His first assumption that they had both died in a crash was now invalid. His second thought was that some great robbery had taken place. The Bennet's had little, but the small worthwhile items would have been stored in her case. To leave them untouched worried him.

"Yes, the case was still locked and the key gone. I am sorry I could not bring you more joyous news, sir" Darcy turned to him and gave him a gentle smile. It was barely present but when Darcy told him that he was grateful, Robert's knew it was sincere. Robert soon took his leave when he sensed the gentleman's want to be alone with his thoughts. He left quickly and mentally wished Darcy luck in telling his wife of the news.

Darcy did tell his wife the news as soon as he felt collected enough to do so, it was very fortunate that she had been sitting down at the time. He tried to comfort her as best as his abilities could before he found himself in a whirl of emotions and tasks.

He was instructed by his heartbroken wife - whose hands wouldn't stop shaking - to pen a note to Longbourn and Netherfield requesting assistance and to explain the matter as fully as possible. Darcy quickly had the equipment brought to him as he couldn't bear to be parted from his wife in her present state. He held onto her form forcefully as she sobbed into his chest. After ten minutes of dreadful sobbing she collected herself long enough to look up at him.

"I am so sorry Fitzwilliam" She managed to gasp out, trying at the same time to fill her lungs with the fresh air she was lacking. He looked down at her tenderly and started to dedicatedly wipe away her fast flowing tears. Even with her red face and eyes she was the most beautiful woman he had ever beheld.

"What for, my love? None of this is your doing" He whispered to her before he felt one of her shaking hands on his face.

"For concerning you with my family matters. And oh, this is my entire fault. If I hadn't invited…" She tried to shake her face free of his hands as the end of her sentence demolished into incomplete slurs. She didn't want Fitzwilliam to see her distressed. She didn't want to worry him. He had enough on his plate with all the estate affairs already. How could she expect him to deal with this as well? Darcy refused to allow her to slip from his grip. Instead he engulfed her in his arms. He rested his forehead into the curve of her neck and felt her hands clasp his shirt and yank on it tightly with desperation. Elizabeth's crying had escalated into great sobs, each one wrenching something out of her soul. Darcy had never heard anything quite as awful as this before. All he could do was uselessly hold her tight in his arms as she descended into utter despair. He allowed a few tears of his own to seep down his cheeks as he buried his face further into her soft neck.

Please make this stop, oh God please.

Harriet awoke to the sound of birds, which had become the custom over the past week. She stretched and shook off her sleep before opening her eyes. Memories of her past week flooded easily to her attention as her brain was not cluttered with thoughts stretching back to her infancy. Then there were her flashbacks. As the Earl had suggested, Harriet had taken up the task of writing any sort of memory or feeling down. She had had a few over the past few days, but they were all much the same. She rubbed the bridge of her nose as she thought about them. They all seemed to be centred on certain characters. Four other young women, a gossip bag and a sterner, quieter gentleman. Sometimes they featured other people, but more often than not they didn't. Another thing which vexed Harriet was that none of them seemed to be very interesting memories. What an exciting life mine is shaping up to be.

When she ventured into the breakfast room The Earl and Dowager Countess were already seated at the table waiting for her. She greeted them with a small smile before sitting opposite Rebecca and pouring herself a cup of jasmine tea. She discovered the tea quite early on and now was on a strict diet of it. She sipped her tea peacefully letting the gorgeous taste roll around her body.

"How did you sleep, Harriet?" Rebecca asked her while buttering a roll.

"Very well, I thank you. And yourself?"

"I think I had a most peculiar dream, but I cannot remember it" Rebecca pondered, taking a bite from her roll.

"I have heard that happens when one gets old" Came Daniel's voice from behind his freshly pressed newssheet. The dry comment was accompanied with a whoosh as he turned the page. Harriet hid her smile behind her cup and watched Rebecca's expression change. She threw a dirty look towards her son hiding behind his paper before remarking:

"Age is how we determine how valuable one is" Harriet heard Daniel scoff from behind his paper. She placed down her cup silently before selecting the biggest roll she could see and pulling it apart with her fingers.

"What about you, what did you dream?" Daniel heard his mother say. From behind his paper the smile slipped off his face. He folded down the top of his paper, and first looked at his mother's teasing eyes then into the woman's that he dreamt about. He recognised that his mother knew full well what his dreams had been; this was just revenge for calling her old. He tried to speak but found he couldn't. His mind whirled and he had to say the first thing that came to his mind.

"Cows" He said suddenly. Both women looked at him inquisitively. For the few moments it took them to recover he felt like he had jumped out of his skin and stared at himself to.

"Cows?" Harriet repeated, holding some of her breakfast midway between the plate and her mouth. Daniel swallowed again, not before wondering what on earth had possessed him to say it.

"Yes" He captured an amused gaze from his mother. "I… I dreamt about cows. I was - I - I was milking them, and then they…" He stopped himself and desperately fought for the attention to be turned from him. "Sang to me?" He finished with a wince. Rebecca and Harriet turned to look at each other once before they both said:

"Was the cow called Dorothy?" Daniel joined in their laughter sarcastically before pulling his paper back to cover his face.

"You can't choose your dreams" He muttered once before diving back into his reading. Harriet gave him a small smirk before returning back to her breakfast.

Later on that morning Sophie Greene called upon the trio once more. She greeted them with open arms and addressed them with her favourite nickname; the three musketeers. Sophie and Harriet wondered around the flowerbeds for a half hour or so discussing their likes and dislikes and other trivial matters. Sometimes Sophie told her a story or two about her childhood and they often involved Daniel.

As Harriet listened to the stories, she wondered if he had broken her heart considerably. The way Sophie spoke of the Earl with such tenderness was the same way his mother spoke to him. She was no blind to believe that Sophie only harboured sisterly affection for him. She saw the way Sophie looked at him so unguardedly when her thoughts slipped away from her. Also the solemn almost painful way she had admitted that Daniel liked Harriet. Which Harriet believed with still impossible. She was impossibly plain, and the Earl was impossibly handsome. They would not be seen as a couple, not in a million years. There looks were as different as chalk and cheese.

Once Harriet and Sophie had returned to the house, Rebecca claimed Harriet's attention and Daniel came and settled himself beside Sophie. The young Lady watched him stare after his mother and her new friend with flickering emotions.

"Are you serious?" She asked him quite suddenly, she had not realized she had spoken aloud until it was done with. Daniel snapped his head back towards her and pouted his lips slightly in confusion. Oh how Sophie wanted to kiss those lips.

"About what exactly?" He enquired, looking deep into her fiercely blue eyes.

"Harriet"

"I still don't understand" His heart instinctively leaped up in his chest at her name. He still didn't understand this feeling; it was so new; so sudden.

"I have known you since you were three and I was born. That's twenty years; I know when you take a fancy to someone. And you most certainly have with Harriet" As if his heart and Sophie had made some secret pact without his heads permission he found himself nodding. He fought back for reality.

"I barely know the girl. She barely knows herself"

"What does that matter? Love is blind, remember?" Sophie certainly remembered that. It was all she had dreamed of for years now. Just one chance, just one kiss from Daniel would settle everything. Just some consolation for all those nights.

"Humph. I don't know, Soph" Daniel rubbed the back of his neck with one of his hands and looked towards the door.

"You don't find girls like her every other day. She's lovely, and extremely smart. You will never be in want of conversation. I readily give you my blessing" Sophie finished off in quite a small voice.

"Do I need your blessing?" He asked her with an eye brow raised in amusement. Sophie tilted her chin up to meet his gaze straight on.

"You would never proceed without it" They then lapsed into silence, until suddenly Daniel held out his hand to her. She looked at it for a few minutes before looking at him with wide eyes.

"I am sorry, Sophie" His eyes were soft and concerning. She had never seen him look at her like this before. It was as if he was almost in pain over something. If not that, then fighting some internal battle with his feelings.

"About what?" She asked and watched in horror as her hand snaked into his and his fingers interlaced them together. Her breath hitched quickly. She never thought she would experience something like this with Daniel. Not in a million years. At least, not in reality. Daniel could hear her heavy breathing and felt shoddier for it. It wasn't like he chose to make her so attracted to him. Or that he didn't find her so.

"Us. I am sorry I could never love you how you love me" A tear threatened to form in Sophie's eye, she batted her lashes quickly willing it to go away. She went to speak at first, but her voice came out as a dry rasp. She shook her head and tried again.

"It does not matter, Daniel. It was just never meant to be. Besides, there is a young handsome gentleman who just bought up Twicken House" Her voice was forcefully light and contented. And she was glad to feel that her words were true. Henry Windsor was turning out to be a perfect man. Sophie felt it deep inside her that soon all feelings for Daniel will be put to rest.

"Oh, how fascinating. Pray, tell me about this 'young handsome gentleman' then" Daniel replied half in jest and half in earnest.

She took a deep breath before telling Daniel all she knew about her new neighbour. Daniel listened with a ready ear and only teased her when he saw appropriate to do so. They spoke on the matter for some time, and Daniel's mind was put at ease that soon Sophie would come to love him as a brother, and only as a brother.

"I must go attend some land with my steward. I think you will find mother and Harriet by the lake, it is quite a favourite spot of theirs" He finally admitted after checking his pocket watch and realized that he was in fact terribly late. He hated to keep his steward waiting, but Harrison was so very fond of Sophie that he would not mind.

"Thank you" Daniel stood and paced towards the door, before stopping a few feet short and taking a deep breath.

"Oh and Sophie"

"Yes?" She looked up at him with her remarkable crystal eyes. She stood quickly. To her surprise Daniel stepped back towards her quite determined. He took her face in his hands. Swallowed down a lump in his throat hard before leaning towards her and giving her one chaste kiss to her lips. When he drew out instantly he continued to hold her face close to his allowing her time to process the last few seconds. Sophie could barely believe what had happened. She wanted to smile, cry and collapse into a heap all at the same time.

"I hope this new young gentleman teats you better then I" He told her softly and sincerely before making his way towards the stables with a confused look on his face. If only that had been Harriet. No, if that had been Harriet the kiss would not have been in any way uncorrupted.

Henry Winsor sat in his library at Twicken that evening when a sharp rasp interrupted his reading. He called for the knocker to enter and his father strode into the room holding out a letter.

"Henry, dear boy. This has just arrived from Frayton Abbey" Henry looked at the letter in his father's hand curiously before taking it and pacing towards the fire so he could best read its contents. Old Mr. Windsor watched his son, snatching the arm chair he had just left and settled back contented. Henry stood stooped towards the fire slightly as he skimmed the contents quickly.

"Who is it from?" His father's gruff voice asked. Henry turned his eyes back towards him with a slight smile on his face.

"It is from the Earl of Greycote" The elder Window scratched his chin in wonderment. He had known the late Earl some years ago, and heard a lot about the new earl. All of it in praise, he was happy to say. Apparently he was quite the gentleman and a most kind landowner. He had not realized how close Frayton Abbey was until his son purchased Twicken.

"And what says he?"

"He invites us to dine with him on Tuesday. And also, invites us to attend his summer ball in two weeks' time" Henry informed his father quickly, searching his eyes for any sign of further input. "I suppose I must accept him, father?"

"You may. You would not want to displease the Earl" Henry smiled as he paced over to the other armchair situated by the fire.

"It would not matter if I displeased the Earl"

"But I hear he is great friends with Lady Sophie Greene" His father coaxed one of his grey eyes brows up on his forehead.

"Oh Hush father, she must think nothing of me" His son replied with a blush as he returned his attention once more to the fire.

The next day Daniel approached his mother's party by the lake. They all sat together on three blankets with a delicious spread - courtesy of the Earl's generous cook - scattered around them. The day was lovely. The sun spewed its rays down onto the earth, and basked everything in a good light, however evil it originally was. Rebecca had invited some of her closest friends, Lady Holland, Mrs. Ferrington, Both Mrs. Williams' and the Lord and Lady Twinning. Then of course there was Harriet.

"Oh mother" Daniel called when he was a few metres away.

"Yes, my dear?" She looked up from her conversation and smiled at her son. She peered up at him using her arm to block out the son.

"I have invited Henry Winsor and his father to dine with us tomorrow. So take care not to eat all the cake" There was a small ripple of laughter from the party. Everyone within miles knew how much Lady Greycote enjoyed her cake.

"But you know I am so decidedly against cake" She jested with him lightly, brushing his comment to the side. "But I am very much looking forward to meeting them"

"You look forward to meeting everyone" Came Daniel's quick reply. Oh, he is a lively one today, isn't he? His mother asked herself with a wide beam. It was a blessing that Harriet looked exceptionally fine today, and Daniel was in a particularly good mood.

"That is beside the point. Also, Daniel. Now that you are here, come and join us. I am sure Harriet is getting fed up with talking to a bunch of old biddies." Harriet looked up from her book and rolled her eyes, but replied only with a smile. Daniel nodded his head before settling himself down next to Harriet on the blanket. Rebecca watched as they started to converse and a small smile crept across her lips. Everything was going as planned. Daniel settled himself down and tilted his head in Harriet's direction. He found himself then gazing at her face, taking every inch of it. His carefully trained days had long gone. She shut her book slowly and handed him an extra-large slice of cake with a smirk. He accepted it with a wide beam and took a bite. He shrugged off his coat after a few minutes; the sun was heating him up considerably. He also leant backwards so he propped himself up on his elbows and looked up at Harriet. He was squinting slightly. Harriet smiled down at him, his squinting added a few extra lines to his forehead and Harriet found she liked them considerably. Daniel tilted his head to the side and smiled slowly.

"Why do you smile at me like that?"

Harriet blushed slightly before replying. "I was thinking how much like your mother you look" Daniel rolled his eyes. People were always telling him how much like his mother he looked. He did get fed up with the comment, but it seemed especially complimentary coming from Harriet.

"You seem to be a keen reader, Harriet" He told her after a few minutes of silence, in which the purely regarded at each other.

"I find I am, yes. It is a great diversion"

"I find that also. Tell me" He lowered his voice for the next. "Have you remembered anymore?" Immediately Harriet dropped her gaze from his face and found great interest in her hands.

"A little, yes. It is very hard to process. But I guess it is a beginning at least. Hopefully more will come, and I can find out who I truly am" Daniel watched as she played with her fingers, pulling on each one in turn. This too, he noted and found endearing. He was beginning to learn her body movements and how well he could judge her character by them.

"I don't want to pry into your personal business, but what exactly do you remember?" He leant himself slightly forward towards her, so that she wouldn't have to raise her voice and chance the rest of the party hearing. He knew that they would be trying to. He had caught his mother's eyes on them for a brief moment a couple of minutes ago.

"I remember quite a lot. There are the women from that time at dinner where I had the first one. Then there is an elderly man, he is really reserved, but I think he is kind. I see a piano sometimes and people laughing. I don't think I was a very good player" She smiled slightly at herself in admittance. "That other gentleman, he is tall and dark. But he often looks proud. There is a smaller snivelling man as well. He and the taller proud man are always hovering around that beautiful brunette"

"Perhaps she is married to one of the gentleman"

"I doubt it, she always looks at them in disgust and avoids their presence" Not all marriages are happy, Daniel admitted to himself, but didn't tell her that. She was probably right about the woman. He looked up into her deep eyes and imagined what his life would be if they were married. He could sit like this with her every day and have no reason stopping him from taking her hand or pulling her down beside him. He sighed out slowly and suddenly realized that he was in fact falling for her. It bemused him slightly; he wondered what attracted him to her. She wasn't the prettiest woman of his acquaintance or the easiest going, but he loved her for that. Harriet looked down into his warm eyes and allowed herself to take in every aspect of his face. Oh how she wanted it all to be hers.

Lord Twinning turned towards Rebecca and lifted his eyebrow with a knowing smile. Rebecca nodded slowly. He had watched the whole conversation which passed between Daniel and Harriet, including the small smile which tempted to creep across Daniel's unguarded features as he looked into Harriet's eyes. His casual attire and warm looks would almost lead him to believe some sort of agreement had formed between them. But he knew better then to think otherwise.

"Yes, I know. Utterly excellent is it not?" Rebecca asked him with a smile. She had waited all her life for Daniel to find someone to love. It had been very fortunate that it was he who had rescued Harriet from her carriage crash.

"I do not know Miss. Harriet terribly well, but I dare say they would be a very fine pair"

"Let's just hope she doesn't remember up some rich husband" Rebecca said with a smile. The smile was indeed forced. Deep down Rebecca was worried that Harriet would do just that. The thought plagued her sometimes; she could only imagine how it would affect Daniel. He had never been in love before and her mind conjured up the worst situation and reflexes possible.

A church, the alter, the vicar. She sat there in her seat and watched with wide eyes at the scene around her. Everyone was fussing around her. The gossiping woman's voice was there. Along with the calm collected one of the other man. From the back of the church she noticed the proud man stood with a fiery red head. The ginger man was pacing and muttering to himself. The prouder man wrung his hands together with nerves but looked slightly more collected. Then someone pushed them both down the aisle. She sat there collected. Joy now brimming up in her chest, she allowed a small smile to spread across her lips. Thank God it was not her wedding, what would Daniel have thought? There was music now, the colours of her memory swirled around but she could definitely see two figures in white. Was there two, or was her memory splitting up her ideas? Then something changed, the whole picture seemed to whip around her until she felt her self-falling, and falling, and falling and…

Harriet awake with a start. Her dark limp hair was plastered to her face with a fine sheet of sweat. Her breath was irregular and ragged. She clutched onto the bed sheets until the room stopped spinning. She took a deep breath and tried to comfort herself quickly. She determined that it was a memory not a dream. Everything had been far too vivid for a dream, and she felt far too sick for it to be a dream. She flopped back to the pillows and listened to the silence of the house. Her room was still dark and she unable to determine the time.

She rolled around in her bed for a while before deciding there was no hope of sleep. She took up a candle which was slowly dying on the sideboard and exited her room silently not wanting to wake the house. She headed down the deserted hallways towards the library. It had become a useful sanctuary for her mind when her memories became too strong and threatened to overwhelm her. She pushed open the door and let out a small gasp when the warmth of a fire hit her smack in the face and she found herself face to face with the Earl himself.

Chapter Three

Posted on: 2012-07-29

"Oh. I am sorry, my lord. Excuse me" Harriet dipped her head quickly before turning to leave. Daniel - after being too stunned to say anything up until now - jumped up and reached out an arm towards her.

"Please, say if you wish" He told her, a desperate tone in his voice. Harriet turned back towards him and pulled the top of her nightgown firmly back up onto her shoulder. She nodded swiftly, noting his casual attire before pacing towards the midst of the bookshelves and coming to rest where he would not see her. Her face was scorching red now. Why hadn't she thought to put anything more appropriate on? She hadn't dreamed that anyone would be awake. Let alone the Earl. She closed her eyes but all she could see was his memory lurking in her mind. His cravat had been discarded long ago, his loose cotton shirt allowed her to see all the way down his neck, and the beginnings of what she imagined to be a very muscly chest. She rested against a shelf for a few minutes, pondering over what she should do.

Daniel stood there in the centre of the room sheepishly; he had red cheeks and didn't think he would be able to look at Harriet for some time. He was not naïve to the shapes of a woman's body but something about Harriet's slight form affected him more than usual. He fell back into his arm chair and closed his eyes. He pictured her in his mind in her loose nightgown which showed him her figure slightly through the material. Her long dark hair and fallen around her shoulders and he would have given anything to be able to run his hands through the dark tresses. But then why couldn't he do just that? Before the thought got any further into his mind he set up a barricade. Propriety. That is why.

After ten minutes when Daniel had drifted back to reading his book, Harriet felt able enough to go back and face him. Turning around with her candle she picked a hard leather backed copy off the shelf - making sure not to set the place alight with the candle - and returned to the arm chair opposite his by the fire. He didn't look up at her from his copy of Pluto when he approached so she settled herself down and tucked her feet underneath her, so as to hide her exposed ankles. She still felt rather embarrassed about the whole thing, especially as it was Daniel who had seen her. The two of them sat there for some time. Harriet found herself wrapped up in her own thoughts and it took her a few minutes to realize she was holding a book in her hand. She turned over the front cover and noticed it was Shakespeare's Hamlet. Something immediately told her that she enjoyed it. Because of that, she was rather satisfied with her choice.

A while later Daniel leant forward to stoke the fire once more, and turned his head in her direction. He watched her glare at the pages in concentration before addressing her.

"You could not sleep then?" Harriet looked up from the play and stared at him blankly for a few moments.

"What? Oh, no, I couldn't" She finally stuttered out when she realized what he was referring to. This made him smile slowly.

"Me neither" He admitted settling himself back into the soft red chair.

"I had another dream" Harriet offered.

"Pray, continue" He placed down his book, and took up his brandy glass again. He swirled the contents gently before taking another drink.

"I was at church. But it was a wedding" She paused collecting her thoughts. Daniel almost dropped his glass in shock. It wasn't…hers was it? "It was the proud man's wedding. I think it was a double wedding with this other exceedingly nervous gentleman. I was sat at the front of the church and the music started up. Now I think about it, it was two figures that I saw. One was blonde and one was brunette. Then I…" She racked her brain and failed to notice the look of obvious relief on Daniel's face. "And then I…forgot" She finished in a mere whisper. She frowned at her lack of memory and rubbed the bridge of her nose with two fingers.

"Am I right to presume that it wasn't your wedding?" Daniel pressed gently, hiding his obvious beam behind his brandy glass. He thought he had never been happier. Well, not in a few days at least. He always seemed happy in Harriet's company.

"You are correct. I am now starting to think that I am not married" she smiled timidly and looked at him. She took a sharp breath in. In the flickering light of the fire his hair shone and his face lit up a warm orange colour. She looked in his warm eyes and tried to stop her heart from flipping out of her chest.

"I am glad. I would have felt sorry for your husband if you had forgotten him" He said with a teasing look in his eyes. Harriet saw beyond the look there was a real seriousness there.

"As would I" She replied in much the same way. She glanced at the fire and fought to crawl out of the deep waters "How come you could not sleep?"

"I always find the master bedchamber to become overly hot in summer. Especially July" She threw another glance at the roaring fire and raised an eyebrow.

"Could you not reside in another chamber?"

"I am" She turned her head back to him shocked.

"You cannot tell me that you sleep here"

"Sometimes." He nodded slowly "I find a library to be a very calming place" He remembered suddenly a very similar conversation they had had on the matter. Actually, that was a dream. Yes, of course it was because it was just before I…

"That is ridiculous" She interrupted his thoughts. Which he was glad about because they were careering off down a very improper path.

"But you agree with me, do you not? That a library is calming for those with a lot on their minds" He saved his thoughts from further trepidation by asking her.

"For thinking yes, but not for sleeping" He rolled his eyes at her before finishing off his glass. He stood before walking over to the drink cabinet. He offered her a drink but she quickly refused.

"Ahh, Hamlet. A favourite of mine" He commented as he was bent down rummaging, trying to find the blasted brandy in the shadow his light was casting on the bottles from the fire.

"And me, I have most recently discovered" She replied absentmindedly, as she tilted her head, admiring him further from behind. When he turned around she quickly diverted her eyes and looked anywhere but at him. He gave her a smug sort of smile before settling back down in his armchair.

"I will not disturb your reading any longer" He swiftly said, feeling the need to hide his smile behind his book.

"Why thank you, my lord" She murmured.

After a while Harriet started to feel the reigns of sleep pulling her into a tighter grip. Her hands were becoming unable to even hold the book steady and her eyes were drooping. She placed down the copy of Hamlet and excused herself quickly, before escaping the library as quick as possible. She was aware that Daniel was watching her as she left, wishing that she had fallen asleep in that chair so he could have carried her to her chambers. Harriet was aware just how good the nightgown was at exposing her figure. She was overly nervous and self-conscious about the way she looked. Having an exceedingly handsome man like Daniel observe her didn't help.

The next day Harriet and Daniel spent apart. Harriet had walked to the village quite early in the morning and after purchasing a new book for her own personal collection she meandered around the country side until mid-afternoon. Once again Amanda helped her get ready and made idle chit chat. She was escorted downstairs by a proud Daniel who once again was very happy with Amanda's work.

"Oh Harriet" Sophie cried as she came up behind her friend and tapping her on the shoulder. Sophie followed her gaze and found her, of course looking in Daniel's direction.

"Hmm?" She replied tilting her head slightly in Sophie's direction but still not looking away from him.

"Has Mr. Winsor arrived yet?" Sophie asked eagerly looking around the room. Harriet looked at her and saw she had taken extra care with her dress. It was a lovely cream colour with a green pattern running down the sides and tied together with a mint sash. Her hair was curled and held loosely by her side. Harriet felt extremely plain by her side.

"Yes, I think so. Ah, yes. He is over there talking with Rebecca. Can you see him?" She pointed towards the corner and saw both Mr. Winsor's talking with Rebecca and Lord Twinning. They were laughing together and Rebecca was the charming hostess, as usual.

"Yes I can. What do you think of him?" Sophie's eyes searched Harriet's plain ones for any hint of a lie.

"He does seem to be extremely kind and handsome" Harriet told her truthfully with a wicked smile playing on her lips. Before Sophie could reply with some smart comment the Earl was standing in front of them obscuring their view.

"Ladies" Daniel bowed in greeting. He took hold of Sophie's outstretched hands with ease and smiled at her slowly.

"Good evening Daniel. Are you well?" She tilted her head to the side, pretending to be curious, but in actual fact looking around him at Henry.

"Especially well, I thank you. I have also been speaking with your Mr. Winsor" Daniel purposely moved out of her way with a laugh and came to rest by Harriet's side. Sophie admired how well the couple fitted together for a brief moment.

"He is not mine" Daniel rolled his eyes and let out a frustrated sigh.

"I came to inform you that dinner is almost served. Harriet" He held his arm out for her which she readily accepted. She felt somehow…safer whilst in his secure grip. Once again, Daniel was able to beam with pride before announcing that the meal was served and walking ahead of his party with Harriet. Everyone watched this for a moment and smiled at each other knowingly. It had all become so obvious.

"Thank you, but I was under the impression I would be sitting with the Dowager Countess once more" Harriet said with a smile when Daniel gestured to the seat to his left from where he sat at head of the table.

"No, you sit with me this evening, my mother has been monopolising your time for long enough" He instructed her, a little sharper than he had originally intended. A young man - perhaps a year or two older than the Earl - settled himself down opposite Harriet and smiled at her briefly.

"Harriet, may I introduce you to my good friend Colonel Johnson. Tom, this is Harriet" Daniel replied absentmindedly after the Colonel had gestured from Daniel to Harriet. He left the pair to become acquainted as he spoke quickly to his butler.

"Ah, the famous Miss. Harriet. Pleasure to meet you. I have heard so much about you from the Dowager Countess" His voice was light and calm, which matched his smile well. Harriet gave him a small smile and could already tell she would quite like this Colonel.

"I must admit I have not heard nearly enough about you" She presently replied as she thanked one of the man servants for pouring her a glass of red wine.

"Then we must rectify that mistake, mustn't we? What story shall I tell you? Come now, Bracken. Which shall it be?" Daniel turned his attention back to his two friends with an exasperated look. He indicated they give him a few more seconds by holding up a finger. He muttered some words to his butler who laughed and then walked off with a smile.

"I hope" Daniel started with dry amusement in his voice. "It is one that I am notthe villain in" Harriet smiled at him quickly, before turning her attention back to the animated Colonel opposite her.

"That narrows it down considerably. I must say that the Earl treats me very ill. Just because I am a second son in the service" Colonel Johnson placed a hand theatrically on his heart and pretended to be saddened by his words.

"Actually, I find I treat you very ill because you are a fool" Daniel smiled. Besides, if his military career fails him, I know a few acting companies that would be happy to have him.

"A fool I may be, but emotionless I am not, my lord" the Colonel replied with a beam. Daniel nodded his head quickly with a smile as he took a drink of his wine - taking a swift glance at Harriet's profile.

"How about the story about that night at Cambridge?" Daniel asked as he raised one of his eyes brows. The Colonel flushed slightly, and Daniel gave him a smug grin. Harriet watched their conversation with joy as she took a sip of her own wine.

"That story is highly inappropriate for a woman's ears" The colonel hissed.

"Come now, just because I was the hero" Daniel told him with a laugh. The Colonel then turned to Harriet's expecting face.

"I will not tell you the full account. But let's just say Bracken here had to bail me out of jail" He told her with a wicked grin. Harriet was pretty sure that she already knew more or less what had happened. She still laughed slightly at the image.

"And you try and tell me the Earl treats you ill?" Harriet asked him with a sly smile. Daniel watched it and was thrilled that she was defending him.

"You can have no idea, Miss. Harriet, for how long the Earl relentlessly teased me afterwards. Actually, come to think of it I can think of a story concerning my friend Colonel Fitzwilliam. Do you know the man, Bracken?"

"I don't say I do. But I am more than interested in knowing the tale. Do tell us?"

"Well. Firstly, I must say that I am sorry Miss. Harriet if you find this story most inappropriate. Blame it on Lord Greycote here, he insisted" Then the Colonel went on to detail a story about him and his friend Colonel Fitzwilliam. They had been drinking in their shared cabin on the way to the West Indies when they ran out of Brandy. So they went below deck to try and sniff some out.

Whilst they were rummaging around two of their fellow sailors came down below deck in order to "reacquaint" themselves with each other. In the end the two Colonels had to sit it out in horror until the morning until the 'selfish' men were bothered to get up and move on. Colonel Fitzwilliam had snatched up the only hammock so Johnson had to sleep spread out across four barrels. He had smelt like gun powder and rum for days after.

All Daniel could do was roll his eyes and Harriet smiled at him deciding she would like to travel abroad.

After that story Daniel and Colonel Johnson fell into a separate conversation which left Harriet the opportunity to watch Henry and Sophie interact. They were sitting next to each other and from what Harriet could gather the conversation seemed to be going well. There were no frowns or awkward blushes. They seemed to be having a lively debate of some sort, but had to be occasionally prompted by Rebecca. All in all, they seemed to be getting along swimmingly.

"It is a glad sight, is it not Harriet?" The Earl asked her as a passing comment. He had his arm rested on the table with his glass in his hand. He seemed so laid back and in control with just one look from his gorgeous eyes. He belonged here as an Earl. Harriet couldn't imagine him anywhere else.

"Hmm" was all she could reply as she turned back to her meal with a small contented smile.

The rest of the meal past smoothly. People talked and laughed. Stories were exchanged. The Earl was sufficiently embarrassed by his mother. She loved to tell childhood stories about her only child and everyone seemed to love to hear them. Today's instalment into Daniel's life was when he and his father had spent an entire afternoon trying to chase a rainbow for the pot of gold that lay at the bottom. Harriet listened as Rebecca told the story with such animation to the whole party, and watched as Daniel's face became redder and redder.

Daniel's appearance wasn't helped by his old friend who added to the list of stories about him. A lot were from their school and university days, and they all -to Harriet's amusement - painted the Earl as the villain.

Talk flowed easily for the rest of the meal, and then afterwards the Colonel led a laughing Harriet to the hall where the men and women split. She had a brief but a lovely conversation about the Colonel with Rebecca, and soon learnt that the Colonel was one of her favourite people in the world. He was almost like a second son in her eyes.
Then the men joined them swiftly afterwards and the smiling Colonel quickly found his way back to Harriet's side with yet more stories and Daniel wasn't trailing far behind begging him to stop at once.

"Harriet" Rebecca was walking towards them with a purposeful look.

"Oh, watch out" Harriet heard the Colonel whisper to Daniel.

"Can you play the pianoforte?" She stopped in front of them with a gleam in her eye.

"I seem to remember I could, but very ill" Harriet was trying to physically back out of the conversation, edging towards Daniel slowly.

"Then please play for us. None of our party are musicians so you will be seen as quite the maestro" She turned around and signalled to the rest of the room. There came a few laughs and a general murmur of agreement in which Harriet stood still trying to form some great excuse.

"Please, I simply couldn't. I seem to remember being laughed at" Rebecca leaned in slightly.

"My dear, we have all had a bit too much wine to care" Harriet heard the Colonel snort slightly before hiding his laughter. Daniel appeared at her side now.

"It will be alright. I shall turn the pages for you" He told her softly, he didn't give her chance to answer he was already guiding her towards the corner with a palm on the small of her back. Harriet tried to turn and give Sophie a desperate look which Sophie understood but pretended she didn't with a quick wink.

Daniel lifted the lid for her and sat down next to her on the long stool. He could have pulled up a chair beside her but he wanted to sit close to her for just a few minutes. He thought after being civil in the library the night before he deserved something for his pains. Harriet sighed before pulling a piece towards her and staring intently at the notes.

At first her hands glided quite smoothly across the keys and the room was surprised. Daniel watched as her fingers moved from muscle memory and her eyes were staring at the manuscript with such determination.

Slight hands on ivory keys. Music filling the room, it seemed to wonderful, so free to small ears.
She sat swinging her legs of the stool as broken scales fell from her fingers.
"Oh stop that playing child! You will wake your sister!"
An older hand came forward and pushed down the lid.
The little hands in front of her were too slow and one palm got caught.
Pain shuddered through her and hit her brain like a blow to the heard. A cry of pain and then nothing.

Harriet's body jumped forward a little and she lost her place. Her eyes searched the page but everything seemed to foreign so wrong. The pause seemed to long now, her cheeks were already flushing.

"Keep pretending you're playing" He whispered in her ear quickly as he batted her hands off the keys and replaced them with his own. The room lapsed into pleasant conversation again after the small stumble. Harriet felt her heart race. She flexed her left hand experimenting with it. The pain had seemed too real to be possible of a memory. She hadn't known pain could flow so strong and be so absent before. She pushed past it and watched as the Earl played with skill the piece in front of her whilst she pretended those were her hands glided across the keys. She followed the movement of his fingers in the air mere centimetres above his own before glancing at his face. He was looking away, out of the window for a few seconds. She marvelled at his skill and acting ability.

"I did not know you could play" She whispered out of the corner of her mouth.

"I do not play very often" He admitted as he pretended to get lost in the music with a nod of his head and a puzzled look. Harriet almost reached forward and pointed out his place before stopping herself.

"But you are excellent"

"Excellent I may be, but committed I am not" He gave a wide grin as if remembering some found memory. Harriet would have asked, but she thought that they Earl would not want to expose another part of his childhood tonight. She had already built up quite a detailed account about him.
Harriet was happy that no one had noticed it wasn't her playing. Daniel finished the piece before clapping himself along with the rest of the room.

Rebecca walked out clapping enthusiastically before resting a hand on the dark lid.

"That was very lovely…Daniel"

"Lizzy!" It was getting dark and the front of the house was dimly lit from the great house's shadow. However, Elizabeth still recognized the site of Jane launching herself up the stone steps and into her arms.

"Jane! Charles! Thank God you arrived safe" Elizabeth said as soon as she had her arms safely around Jane. She had to double check the woman before her was indeed flesh and blood and not some figment of her imagination.

"Are Mama, Papa and Kitty here?" Jane asked holding Elizabeth at arm's length to get a good look at her face. She had been crying; that much was obvious. Charles came beside Elizabeth now and gave her a quick hug while Jane - to Darcy's surprise - pulled the gentleman into an embrace.

"Yes; they arrived a few hours ago"

"Thank God. Oh Lizzy, what are we to do?" She took hold of her sister's arm and held on tightly.

"I don't know Jane"

"First off, I suggest that we return indoors" Darcy proposed as he signalled to the wide open front doors and the heat issuing from inside. The two women passed him and he took Bingley's hand in a firm shake.

"A capital idea. And Darcy, how are you man?"

"As best as I can be. How about you, Charles?" Darcy replied with a sigh as the two gentleman walked into the entrance hall together.

"Much the same" Came the bleak reply.

"I just don't understand it" Started Mr. Bennet into the silence. The whole family had gathered in one of the drawing rooms and clumped together in the chairs scattered around the fire. The room had been avoiding talking for some time. "Such a sensible girl like Mary. She would have written"

"Of course she would have, I am sure. That only means that…" Kitty started in-between sobs. She had realized just how much she missed her only other single sister. She found she had no one with which to make idle comments to. She had found Mary great comfort, especially at night if Kitty couldn't sleep. She used to sneak into her room and Mary would always read to her for hours on end. It was a nice gesture, regardless of whether it was Fordyce or not.

"Oh don't even think that! My poor nerves, they have never been worse! Just thinking about what fate could have befallen poor Mary" Darcy exchanged a swift glance with Bingley. They did not think Mrs. Bennet had ever thought kindly of her middle child.

"No, if something terrible had happened to her, I am sure I would have felt it" Jane started softly as Charles increased his grip around her shoulders. Darcy turned to look at his own silent wife. He held out his hand for hers silently and she threaded their fingers together. As the speculation continued Elizabeth listened with a heavy heart. These were not the circumstances she had wanted everyone to be joined together at Pemberley for. Fitzwilliam and dear Georgiana had been so kind to her, trying to keep her occupied during the day. But there was nothing to stop her thoughts from wondering at night.

"You do not believe the worse, do you Elizabeth?" Darcy whispered in her ear as he gently nudged her with his forehead affectionately.

"I daren't think it, but yet I fear it has happened" Her voice was no more than a whisper. She increased her grip on her husband's hand.

After 'Harriet's' grand performance at the pianoforte, Daniel had drifted away from her company and left her to talk to the Colonel and two other gentleman she could barely remember the names of. They stood in conversation for some time before Harriet felt slightly faint. She excused herself quickly with the intention of heading towards the balcony. The colonel offered to escort her, but she gracefully declined his request.

She leant against the stone wall and looked out over the darkened county side. She imagined what Daniel must feel owning all this land. She sighed out slowly but a lump was fast forming in her throat. She decided she must have eaten too much at the meal and so went to take a walk through the gardens still visible in the light of the house. She turned and started to walk down the stone stops. She didn't get very far before a sensation caused her to grip hold of the stone wall for support.

The dark corridor lit with a single lamp. A child gripping hold of a small blanket listening to the horrid cries of a mother in agony. Hot fat tears rolled down her cheeks and another scream came from her mouth, then fading into black.
But it doesn't end, more cries, harsher, blood curdling this time, accompanied with the cry of girls' names. Five of them, and then one of them repeated over and over again.
"My poor nerves!" Swam around her head in the shrill voice that had issued the scream. Doorways surrounded her; spirits flew around blinding her at every turn. The laughter beginning crescendos as her heart swells and starts to tear its way from her chest.

Harriet gasped for breath, she felt like she was drowning. She tried to tear away the remnants of the memory but her body was already weakened. Her form fell and hit the cold solid stone. It hurt her knees as she fell but she couldn't care about her physical state at the moment. Her head reeled and she leant forward, shutting her eyes tight and willing the pain to stop. A tidal wave of emotions hit the back of her mind and spilled forward through every thought until salty drops pierced her eyes and cheeks.

"Harriet!" It was Daniel, of course. He was striding towards where she sat with a look of wild terror spread across his face. "Are you hurt?"

"No, I am not hurt" She gasped out. He looked down at her concerned. What on earth has happened? He bent down in front of her, his throat dry with fear.

"Did you collapse, shall I send for Doctor Townsend?"

"No, I am quite well. I just felt a little sick" She turned her eyes up to meet his with a lying smile. In the silence which issued Daniel could hear her heavy breaths and see the tears of pain in her eyes. Her face was drained of colour and when a tear slipped down her face he sat down beside her and took her hands in his.

"Are you sure? You can tell me you know, Harriet" He murmured to her softly as he rubbed his thumb up and down her palm. She did not know why, but this gesture coupled with her recently arrived memories made her feel worse.

"I was… I - I just" She didn't managed to get any further before her confusion crushed her and she burst into tears. Within seconds Daniel had her folded against his firm chest. He rested his chin on the top of her head and could smell her rich hair. He closed his eyes and allowed her to grip at the back of his coat. "You're waistcoat" He heard her mumble trying to detach herself from him. Instead of allowing her he only held her tighter.

"Hang the blasted waistcoat" He muttered softly, as he leant his forehead on the side of her head and butted gently against it with fondness. She continued to cry then calm then cry again when the demon of her past shocked her with some unforeseen memory with a jolt. Daniel said nothing, except for occasionally hushing her when something particularly painful came back to her. His hushes were a gentle hum, similar to the reeds blowing gently in a warm summer's breeze around his lake.

The pair remained like this for a few more minutes before Harriet trusted herself to look at him and not cry again. She was utterly mortified about her actions and dreaded what the Earl must have thought. He continued to hold her close and Harriet was glad that he continued to embrace her until the last susurrations of hysteria had gone.

Chapter Four

Posted on: 2013-12-01

The next day Harriet left especially early for her walk. Only the servants were busy around the house and she was able to slip easily out of the balcony without being interfered with. She swung her bonnet in her hand as she picked her way through the slightly rocky countryside. On top of one small rock face she stood looking down at the scenery below. She could see villages dotted about beneath her and she held out her arms in the breeze.

"Miss. Harriet! Do be careful!" A voice called from behind her, making her jump. She whipped around and saw the Colonel and Daniel mounted on their horses about twenty yards away. She immediately flushed a deep red. From all she could remember from last night, she was most mortified about her behaviour in Daniel's company. She was deeply embarrassed that she had lost all strength in front of him and broken down.

"I shall endeavour to!" She called back, looking directly at the Colonel and not daring to meet Daniel's gaze. She stood on her small rock and made no attempt to go closer towards them. Neither gentleman made an attempt to dismount from their horse either.

"We are just headed for Frayton Village" The Colonel called to her again. Daniel remained suitably silent and distant. He had even gone as far to look the other way. It was plain from her countenance and voice that she did not want to be spoken with. If that was how she feels then so be it. The Earl was not in consequence to entertain a person so decidedly set against being entertained.

"I hope you enjoy your ride!" She finally replied before finally turning her back on both men and looking back down the small rock face. She had noticed the cold way Daniel had looked at her and then turned his back on her. She could only imagine he was annoyed and disgusted at the way she acted towards him last night. The Colonel turned a raised eyebrow in Daniel's direction before both of them set off again towards the village. They rode along in apt silence for a few minutes whilst the Colonel gathered his thoughts.

"Did you find something amiss with Miss. Harriet?" Asked Johnson, turning his head to meet his friend's eye. Daniel shrugged off the comment quickly.

"I suspect the last few days have finally caught up with her. My mother has been over working the girl" He said seemingly absentmindedly, but in fact his head was whirling with thoughts. He had no idea what had brought on such a sudden mood change, unless she had remembered something specifically horrifying and vital.

"That may be, but there's something else. Did anything happen after 'her' performance last night?"

"No" Daniel lied swiftly. The Colonel almost had to turn his head to hide the smile threatening to prick up at the corner of his mouth. However much the Earl tried, he would never be a good liar. Daniel was too wrapped up in his own thoughts to notice the look his friend was giving him. It took him the whole of their ride down into the village in order to decide what to do. He decided to give her the time she so obviously craved. After that if something was still amiss then he would find out what was vexing her, in any way he had to.

And thus, this behaviour continued for a couple of days. Rebecca - who had been so delighted over their progress over dinner - was mortified to find the pair's good spirits absent. She had tried in vain to get them to converse with each other, but was never successful. They either spoke a few words then didn't look at each other again or just sat there in an awkward silence. The couple did want to talk to each other. They wanted to speak to each other all the time but were misunderstood by each other's actions. Harriet was too embarrassed to say more than two words put together in the Earl's direction after what had happened out on the balcony. She didn't want the Earl to think her in anyway weak or needy. Daniel had misinterpreted her embarrassment for a want of space and was more than willing to give her that space. He barely spoke to her and wanted her to feel happy to speak to him again in her own time. He didn't want to force her to converse with him in anyway.

Harriet noted his lack of interest and in turn interpreted it as indifference, even at times - annoyance. She had practically thrown herself at the Earl and understood if he now thought her a lesser woman. And if he wanted nothing to do with a lady who could not control her feelings.

Rebecca watched the pair over the next three days and with every hour became more and more concerned. Their hopes were beyond retrievable. Nothing she said would cheer them up. The only thing - she decided - that would put them back to their lively selves would be each other.

"Daniel. What on earth have you said to Harriet? The poor girl is miserable" Was the first thing she said when she stormed into his study that afternoon.

"And I am not miserable, mother?" Daniel didn't look up from a letter, but his face physically dropped. He really didn't want to have to discuss this now.

"Of course you are, but she is too gentle to cause such misery" Daniel threw a dirty look in her direction. Why should he be blamed for something that was not his fault? Daniel could see nothing what he had said or done that would possibly make this mess his doing, he had been the perfect gentleman.

"Far too gentle indeed" He muttered sarcastically, placing down his letter and rising from the chair. "I have said nothing to her mother" If his words had said one thing, his look told her to stop accusing him. Rebecca sighed and tried again.

"Then why is she so out of sorts?" Rebecca could sense Daniel's annoyance and reluctance and instead of trying to calm him, she found herself growing angrier.

"On the contrary I have seen little difference in her mood" He quick fired the lie back as he paced towards the window.

"Do not lie to me, Daniel. For you know as well as I that you are not very good at it" She stared at her sons back irritated. He had inherited his reserve from his father. Rebecca hated it, she just wanted her son to be open with her, for the most part he was, and it was only when it came to emotional matters that he shut himself off from her.

"What do you expect me to confess to you?"

"I just wanted you two to be happy again" Her voice was calming him, the hand that had been clenched at Daniel's side relaxed slightly and Rebecca heard him take a long draw of breath.

"How can I be if she treats me like I am a ghost, or worse still, not even in the room?" He tilted his head towards her, but didn't turn fully. He didn't want to face her. He reckoned it was out of shame.

"Is that a confession? Do you love her?"

"Of course I love her mother" He snapped at her bluntly. He sighed once rubbing his forehead with his thumb and index finger. "Everyone can see that I do. I have been such a fool" He sank to his chair and placed his head in his hands. Rebecca quickly paced to be beside him and held his large hands in hers. She found it hard to believe that such a strong man had once been an innocent radiant baby.

"How are you a fool, my dear?" She asked softly, her voice a mere whisper being carried in a summer's breeze.

"I see now that my feelings are so obvious. I fear I have frightened her" Daniel kept his gaze directed out of the window towards the lake. For the first time in his life he wished things could be simpler, he wished he could have fallen for a woman it would have been simple to love. What reassurance did he have about anything? Something still twisted inside when he thought about what her past could possibly be. What if she was no more than a servant girl, or a common prostitute, what then?

"Of course not. She cares for you as you care for her"

"She does not" He tried to withdraw his hands and shield his face from her. His voice was bleak and blunt and made something momentarily fall in Rebecca's chest. He couldn't stand to see her only child feel this way.

"Don't you dare draw your hands away from me, lord Greycote" He turned to look her in the eye with a small smile. "She feels for you, Daniel. I just do not understand what has occurred"

"If you are sure that she cares for me" He started with trepidation. Letting the words form fully on his tongue before saying them. "I think it is perhaps her memories" Daniel was once more lost in thought again. Since the notion of a low upbringing had formed in her head, he couldn't shake rid of it. I couldn't just walk up to her and ask if she was sure she wasn't a prostitute.

"What have they been?"

"Nothing of interest to you or I, until the dinner party. I found her on the balcony quite shook up over them. Before she could tell me she..." He swallowed down a firm lump at the memory. It pained him to think of her face contorted into torturous pain that she could not get rid of. "Became very upset" No, she couldn't be from anything as low at that. Look at her manners, her way of speech, her humility and love of books.

"You are a fool. Can you not see that that is the source of her depression? You must find out her memories and help her" Rebecca pressed, a concerned look matching that of her sons was spread wide across her face.

"Why must I?" He turned to her, and then pace away from where Rebecca had sunk to sit on the windowsill.

"Because you are the only one she would consider telling" Rebecca stood up quickly and crossed towards the door. She turned and gave her son a wicked smile before saying. "I heard she writes down her thoughts"

I cannot believe I am doing this. Daniel internally thought with a groan. He was leaning up against the wall outside her bed chamber. Rebecca had informed him ten minutes ago that she was out on one of her walks. He was going to take a look at her memory diary. Once his mother had implanted the thought in his head it had taken flight and he had formulated this massive impropriety of a plan.

He closed his eyes took a deep breath and once more told himself he was a mad man. He opened his eyes quickly and looked around him. He opened her door very surreptitiously with a look of inquisitive terror before slipping through the oak frame. He clicked it shut behind him and looked around at her chamber in awe. He had seen the room so many times before, but she had seemed to transform the whole space by just being present in it for some time. He shook his head to get rid of unwanted thoughts that were building up there and quickly located her diary. He walked towards her dressing table and pulled up the manuscript. He opened it with shaky hands and started to read.

He stood there for about five minutes re-reading all memories she had told him of, then to his horror he heard her voice right outside the door. He was frozen to the spot for a moment. His mother had informed him that this would not have happened. But it had. He dropped the loosely bound papers to the desk in panic and launched himself for the bed. He hit the deck just as the door opened and saw no other alternative to sliding himself on his stomach and hiding under the bed.

He clasped a palm over his mouth to stop her from hearing his heavy breathing. His face was flushed crimson and he wanted to die in that moment. This is humiliating; I cannot believe I let Mother talk me into this! I am never going to listen to a jot she says again! It was too late to do anything else now, he would have to just sit - or lay - it out, and pray that she left soon. He watched her, his view half blocked by the bed drapes cascading down around the bed. He watched her sit at her vanity and Harriet pulled a large brush from one of the draws. Daniel could barely resist the temptation to brush her hair for her and had to bite his lip and close his eyes.

Daniel had to lie like that for quite some time. He had his eyes screwed tight and was listening for the smallest sounds of approach. After barely seeing her or speaking to her in two days he had to resist unbelievable urges not to reach forward and touch her. All Daniel could do was pray for strength. He couldn't deny it anymore; he was well and truly lost to her.

Soon after she had entered, Harriet quit the room after hearing Rebecca bustling down the corridor. She slid out of the door quietly and Daniel leapt up, breathing a deep sigh of relief before making his quick escape through a partition door leading into the male chamber. Then slipping out of the door and legged it off down the corridor to the safety of his study.

"Fitzwilliam, please be careful" Elizabeth told her husband as he mounted his horse and placed his hat firmly on his head. He looked down at her and took his hand in hers. Mr. Bennet, Mr. Gardiner (Who had been roped into yet another family tragedy), Darcy and Bingley were all mounting their horses. They had offered to join the search for Mary. A great party of men had been rustled together and it was their job to ride into the neighbouring counties and search for Mary themselves. Kitty, Mrs Bennet, Mrs Gardiner and Jane had all said goodbye to their husbands and family. However, as Darcy had to round up more men, Elizabeth and he had yet to exchange farewells.

"I will my dear, I promise" Darcy was about to bend down at kiss his wife when Mrs. Bennet's shrill cry came from behind them.

"Find my daughter, Mr Darcy! I know you will!" Elizabeth rolled her eyes before quickly blinking back tears. She had been parted from her husband for weeks at a time before, but right now this small parting seemed too much to bear. All she could do was gaze at his husbands face as he tilted his head in Mrs. Bennet's direction. Darcy quickly turned his eyes back to Elizabeth's and looked at her in earnest. He saw that she was blinking back tears and he reached his whole body down and kissed her passionately. Their lips moulded together and neither of them gave a damn about propriety. They broke apart quite breathless and Darcy straightened up on his horse.

"I love you, Elizabeth. I shan't be gone long" He leant down slightly and stroked her cheek lovingly.

"I love you too" Elizabeth managed to choke out before he turned and rode away with the other two men.

The rest of the Bennet family watched the couple's goodbyes. They all knew how much Mr. Darcy cherished his wife, but they still weren't used to seeing the reserved man express his affections physically yet. The whole family stared at Elizabeth's back in a sort of trance until Kitty tactfully cleared her throat loudly and the whole part snapped back into action. Jane stepped forward and took Elizabeth's arm as she led them all back into the house.

The rest of the day past uneventfully, until the arrival of Colonel Fitzwilliam from the north. Elizabeth had been sitting alone and silent in the library scanning the contents of the book in front of her. It was no use, she couldn't concentrate; the book in front of her was one of Mary's favourites. Roberts came forward and introduced the Colonel's arrival with a small wintery smile. The next thing Elizabeth knew was the Colonel's voice booming through the hallways. He stepped in the door and advanced towards Elizabeth.

"Mrs. Darcy!" He walked towards her with outstretched arms. He held out her hands to meet him.

"Fitzwilliam, thank you for your assistance. I am afraid you have just missed the gentleman" She accepted his hands and he planted a soft kiss on both of them.

"Oh drat" Colonel Fitzwilliam muttered. He was always in the mood for a spot of adventure. "That is of no worry, I will endeavour to catch up with them right away" He dropped her hands and went to advance towards the door. Elizabeth quickly grabbed hold of his arm and held him back.

"You mustn't. Not now. You will never find them in the dark. Pray, don't go until tomorrow"

"Alright then. I will stay, but only because you wish it" He nodded with a wicked smile, bringing a glimmer of happiness into Elizabeth's clouded mind and invited him to sit with her. She rang the bell for tea and quickly walked off to round up the rest of her family.

They walked into the room timidly and Colonel Fitzwilliam greeted them one by one.

"Miss Kitty, what a pleasure to see you again" He stood and bowed deeply giving her a warm smile.

"Likewise, Colonel Fitzwilliam. Thank you for assisting us" Kitty replied with a slight blush as she settled herself down by the fire. Colonel Fitzwilliam sat down also and looked at her captivatedly. She immediately pulled up some needlework and busied herself with it. Now that Lydia had been despatched to the north Kitty had discovered herself - not to her dislike - becoming more lady like, and busying herself with more respectable tasks.

"Richard!" He jumped up immediately, and rushed forward to greet his cousin. Georgiana flung herself into his arms and held on tight.

"Georgie. How are you?" the Colonel asked with a wide beam as he planted a light kiss on his cousin's forehead. Kitty noticed the embrace before going back to her work when the Colonel looked in her direction.

"I am well, thank you"

"Then my heart is somewhat at rest" He muttered to her with a smile as he loosened his grip on her.

"Mrs. Bennet. Mrs. Gardiner" A flustered women and a more collected one had just walked into the door wrapping a shawl tight around Mrs. Bennet's shoulders.

"Colonel Fitzwilliam! You are most kind, sir. Most kind!" He held out his arm and led her towards a chaise longue next to Kitty.

"Do not trouble yourself to thank me, it is no trouble" He told her with a smile, before settling himself down again and simply listening.

It became very obvious to the Colonel after listening a while to the Bennet mother's prattle that Mrs. Bennet seemed to be becoming a reformed character. She spoke as she always had, in her high aggravating voice. The type of voice that could cause a priest to swear. But, as he actually listened to her words he noticed that they were tender ones. She admitted that she missed Mary, and that she was always selfishly using the girl. Then she and Kitty with some prompting from Elizabeth detailed their thoughts on how much Mary was there to help and look after them all.

"Where is Mrs. Bingley?" Colonel Fitzwilliam enquired when he noticed the calming presence of the eldest former Bennet missing.

"The pregnant Jane is lying down. I suspect the recent events have drained her of all energy" Elizabeth told him quickly. Trying in vain to steer her mother's attention to a more pleasing subject.

"Pregnant? Well that is joyous news. I shall congratulate both Mr. and Mrs. Bingley when I see them. You must be thrilled Mrs. Bennet, on being a grandparent"

"I find I am still too young to be a grandparent" She jested to the enjoyment of the whole room. Elizabeth was glad the Colonel was here, he was smart enough to avoid certain topics and jest about others. At least for tonight the company will find some joy in conversing with one another.

There came a brief knock at the door and then Robert's head peered in.

"Mrs. Darcy. A Colonel Johnson just arrived at the stables" Fitzwilliam jumped up.

"Well bring him in! I did not realize he would be arriving tonight" Everyone in the room saw the Colonel's countenance become livelier than usual.

With that Robert's bowed and swiftly left, a few minutes later Colonel Johnson strode in, after shaking Fitzwilliam's hand he treaded towards Elizabeth and bowed.

"Mrs. Darcy. Colonel Johnson at your service" He bowed swiftly and she nodded her head with a small smile.

"Colonel Johnson. How kind it is of you to offer your services. Let me introduce you to my family"

The Colonel stood civil during the introduction, even when he intercepted a sly glance coming from Miss. Kitty Bennet. He was itching to speak to his good friend; luckily Elizabeth swiftly noticed and indicated towards where Fitzwilliam stood with a small nod of her head. Johnson thanked her with a look in his eye and went to join his good friend.

"When do we set off, man?" Were his first words to Fitzwilliam as he rung his hands together in anticipation. The elder of the Colonel's had forgotten Johnson's need for adventure was more than his own.

"In the morning. Apparently, we are too late to journey out tonight"

"Hog wash" Johnson muttered under his breath and gave a longing look to the dark skies outside.

"Indeed. But I do not want to upset Mrs. Darcy, especially not at this time" Fitzwilliam glanced at her, she was talking to her aunt but seemed distracted. He knew that she was missing Darcy and Mary most acutely.

"Ah. Of course, then we shall wait"

"I heard you have just come from Frayton Abbey. How is the Earl?" Fitzwilliam pulled himself out of his thoughts and realized he had not seen Johnson in some time.

"He is in excellent health. As well as his mother" Colonel Fitzwilliam gave another wicked smile, oh how he did adore the Dowager Countess. They had only met a few times but he admired her spirit and especially how she teased her son relentlessly. It made London assemblies pass with so much more ease.

"How has he adjusted to his responsibilities?"

"Well, from what I can see. People have always commented on how he was built to be an Earl. They were not wrong"

"It must be a great life" Fitzwilliam commented dryly, of course referring to both Colonels' supply of elder brothers. Johnson nodded gravely before adding a few lines about how Earl's have no time for adventure.

"Before I forget, I must tell you about this woman I met at Frayton"

"Continue" Colonel Fitzwilliam - the lady lover that he was - was immediately interested. He turned to face Colonel Johnson completely which earned him a smile.

"Her name was Harriet. And she was staying with the Earl. A rather odd story, she had memory loss or something similar. That truly doesn't matter. What does is the Earl's attachment to her"

"He is partial to her?"

"More than that, I am sure he is in love with her. Fitzwilliam, you will never see anything more obvious in your life" The younger man raved. He remembered that dinner party well. Especially the envious way Daniel had looked at him when he monopolized Harriet's company for a few minutes. Then there was the piano incident. If Daniel expected Johnson to let that go, he was sorely mistaken.

"I doubt that" Fitzwilliam snorted casting a glance towards Elizabeth with a secret smile. Darcy truly had been a fool a year ago. He still was a fool, come to think of it.

"Even so, I have never seen Lord Greycote act like this with anyone"

"Do you suspect a marriage?"

"That all depends, I hope so. She is such a lovely woman, I am sure they will be suited"

"And if it doesn't work out, maybe you will be in with a chance" Fitzwilliam added slyly. Casting Johnson a roughish grin.

"Perhaps" Johnson grinned widely before both gentleman returned and tried to liven up the rest of the party.

"Who were you two gentleman talking about so feverously over there?" Elizabeth enquired to lighten the whole mood. Colonel Johnson sat by her side and answered readily.

"This young woman I met at Frayton Abbey, Mrs. Darcy" He informed her politely. Elizabeth already knew she would like this Colonel. He seemed so alike to Colonel Fitzwilliam, and even her husband in some sense.

"Pray, tell us, who was the girl?"

"A young lady named Miss. Harriet" Elizabeth nodded slowly. She had only met the Dowager Countess once, but never the Earl.

"Was she pretty?" On the other hand, Georgiana had met the Earl a few times, and knew only a woman of exceptional beauty would be good enough for him. Even the renowned beauty that was Lady Sophie Greene didn't tempt him. She was not a fool, she knew that Johnson's lack of enthusiasm was because he didn't have a chance.

The colonel paused to think for a few moments. "Yes, I suppose she is, but not in the classic way. Even so, she is ever so kind and interesting"

"And will you be pursuing this young lady?" Elizabeth asked with a wicked smile.

"I would, I assure you. However, the Earl has already set his hat at her" Elizabeth's eyes shot up slightly in surprise.

"Now that is worthy news"

Unluckily for Elizabeth nothing more was said on the matter. Unluckily for the Colonel he had no more information to share. Daniel had never even told him how his family had formed an acquaintance with Harriet. Not that that mattered of course, the Colonel thought, she did not possess the same mannerisms one found in a brothel.

Daniel walked slowly with the rest of his shooting party towards the lake. His mother had thought it a marvellous idea to hold a grand picnic by the lake, with all the hunters and there family and friends around them. It was another beautiful day. All the more reason Daniel knew he would never make a clean shot today. He could never be expected to concentrate in this heat and knowing that Harriet is situated somewhere in close proximity. They had barely spoken after he had to hide under her bed. Daniel was far too embarrassed to even look at her for a certain amount of time. He could never be expected to speak to her straight after that. Harriet to, still felt embarrassed for the way she behaved after the dinner. She felt awful for making the Earl bare worries that were not his to bear.

Harriet was seated next to Lady Holland and Lady Twinning. The two ladies were having an in depth conversation over her head about what dress Harriet should have made for the ball. Harriet was left only to sit there, interjecting that she could not trouble the Countess, or when that failed, her colour preferences. Harriet had soon learnt in this strange section of her life that large social gatherings were not something she enjoyed. The only way she could endure them was if Daniel was close at hand, but as she looked around she could not see him. Not like that would have mattered anyway, they were barely acting like acquaintances anymore, let alone friends.

Rebecca sat nearby and could plainly see the distress written on Harriet's face. She pleasantly excused herself away from her companions and walked over towards them.

"Oh Harriet, dear" Harriet looked up quickly to Rebecca's kind smiling face. "Do I ask too much of you if I ask you to run an errand for me?"

"Not at all, only unless Lady Holland and Twinning will not release me from their company"

"Of course we will release her, but perhaps Lady Greycote you will help us decide on Harriet's dress for the ball" Rebecca replied that she would and the two ladies changed places. Harriet stood awaiting her task. Rebecca hadn't thought that far ahead yet.

"Oh yes, your task. Will you please find Harrison and ask him to fetch two more blankets? Once the men arrive I dare say we shall be very crowded" Harriet nodded and started off up the slight bank towards the house.

To her horror the men's party were approaching her down the bank, and she was going to have to acknowledge them as she passed. I would have rather discussed dresses. She saw Daniel at the head of the party. He held his gun over his shoulder and had an unfamiliar black and white dog twisting its self around his legs. Every few seconds Daniel was forced to gently nudge the dog away so he wouldn't trip. He had his head turned back and was in discussion with the other men. As Harriet slowly approached, trying to be as inconspicuous as she could, Daniel turned his head back with a laugh and noticed Harriet approaching them up the lawn. For a second he thought she had come to meet him half way, but she was trying to beeline towards the house and avoid them.

"Miss Harriet!" One of the men called over to her, Daniel's heart leapt and he felt as though he could have punched the man that called her name.

"Good morning" She called back systematically pulling a false smile onto her face.

"Where are you going?" Daniel was shocked at his own voice. The party was slowing down, but he would not allow them to halt. He kept moving but the blasted dog kept tangling it's self between his legs. Harriet looked at him and lost all words for a moment.

"I am on an errand for your mother" She caught his gaze for a fraction of a second before they both blushed and turned away.

Once Harriet had returned back to the party, she could watch the Earl with ease. They had walked around to the other side of the small lake where the grass meets the beginnings of the woods. She could see him talk and laugh with the company and she thought him the perfect land owner. He looked relaxed and calm, but still strong. She imagined what it would be like to the Countess of a place like this. Even more importantly, what it would feel like to wake up beside Daniel every day for the rest of her life. Trying to block that thought out of her mind. She was soon too exhausted to go on and retreated to the shade under a willow tree with a cup of her precious jasmine tea.

"May I sit here?" Harriet had been concentrating so hard on the decoration of her teacup she almost missed the words. She looked up startled to see Daniel loam over her basked in warm light which was flooding behind him.

"Of course, my lord" Daniel inwardly winced. He didn't like when he called him 'my lord' he just wanted them to be equal. He wanted to be Daniel, as she was Harriet. However, he knew not to push the topic, she would never agree to be so informal with him.

"Are you well?" He asked as he spread out his coat on the floor and settled on it.

"Yes, of course" Her commented was light and airy, and not at all satisfying.

"No, Harriet. Are you seriously well" He turned to her, and a darker more serious look passed over his features.

"Yes, my lord. I think I am" Her tone was honest and heavy. He believed her words but still something ate away at him. He wanted so strongly to know what had been bothering her the past few days. After almost being caught in her chambers he hadn't dared return and read the rest of her memories.

"You seem out of sorts"

"Oh" She looked away and blushed. "It's nothing"

"You can tell me" Daniel's heart was starting to race with the depth their conversation was sinking too. He felt his hand reaching forward and he touch her arm gently. Harriet jumped and her startled eyes found his calming grey ones.

"Please, it is nothing" She squeaked out. This was the one conversation she dreaded having with him. It was the one thought that kept her awake at night. She would have to explain her feelings concerning him.

"It's about the dinner party, isn't it?" This was one conversation that Daniel refused to back out of. He removed his fingers away from Harriet. She looked at where they had been and took it as a sign of disgust and trying to distance himself away from her. In that one moment all her fears had been realized. He really was disappointed at my behaviour.

"Yes, a little" She murmured, casting her eyes away from him. She couldn't bear to see the disappointment written on his face.

"Harriet, please tell me. I only want to help" His voice was soft and gentle, it was the same tone that he spoke to her out on the patio with. When he held her and comforted her until she couldn't possibly cry anymore.

"To help? I thought that you were not interested"

"What on earth would give you that impression?"

"I thought you were disgusted at how I behaved with you, how I cried on your shoulder. After that you barely spoke to me" Once again he reached out for her, this time he went for her hand and sandwiches her skin between both of his palms. He held on tight, trying to do any small thing to comfort her.

"I thought you may have liked some time to sort out the memories"

"I did a little, but it has been eating away at me and I must apologize for using you for comfort" Daniel immediately shook his head, and his body turned into something she could have labelled as slight annoyance.

"Never apologize for something like that. I was more than willing to be there" Something unknown flashed in his eyes. Sensing his head unconsciously drawing towards her, he sat back and grasped for another topic. Their hands flew apart as he lent back on them for support.

"How are you enjoying the day?"

"I find it relaxing, and the weather is lovely. But I am afraid I may have realized large social gatherings are not my favoured thing"

"Then I am afraid to tell you that large noisy gatherings are a price to pay for being a favourite of my mother" He gave a wide smile before casting his eyes in the direction of the party.

"I am not a 'favourite'" His smile increased slightly as she rejected the notion.

"I assure you that you are" He gave her a warm smile which she felt she could return. For the first time in the past few days a great weight had lifted off her shoulders and she felt happy to speak to the Earl again.

"I thought Colonel Johnson was a part of your shooting party?" She had not seen him all day, perhaps he had been taken ill was her main way of explaining it.

"He was but I had to let him go. His friend Colonel Fitzwilliam needed some assistance in the north concerning his family"

"Oh, I hope it is nothing serious?" He watched her carefully and her concern - although not directed at him - still warmed him.

"No, I do not believe it would be. A bit of adventure would drive Colonel Johnson anywhere" He explained, clarifying something Harriet had suspected before.

"Will he be attending the ball?" Daniel turned to look at her apprehensively. He frowned slowly and gritted his teeth suddenly. He did not know why her words sparked off that reaction within him. Johnson would never lure Harriet away from him, his attachment was too obvious, and Johnson was too kind hearted. Then perhaps they are better suited. They are both so alike in that respect. They are both extremely kind and concerning, and better aged I suspect. No, I would not let Harriet be with another man without a duel. Even Johnson does not know how good with a sword I really am.

"I suspect so. Why, is the colonel a favourite of yours?"

"He is a kind man, a friend. I would not be sorry to speak with him more is all" She spoke very decidedly and tried to portray with her glance that Johnson was not a favourite of hers.

"Has he requested any of the dances?"

"No, my lord. No one has" Daniel's heart skipped a couple of beats at such an opportunity. There was a chance Johnson would not arrive back to Frayton before the ball, and there were few other eligible men.

"Then may I? The first two" She looked at him slightly surprised before blushing.

"You may, but I do not think I am a very good dancer"

"We shall not know until we try. Besides, practise makes perfect" The words slipped out of his mouth so unguardedly that even his astute expression could not hide his implicated meaning. She looked at him awkwardly for a few seconds before she saw his eyes drop to her lips. Harriet was terrified and joyful both at the same time. However much she wanted to feel the Earl's lips on her own, now was not the right time.

"Are you not going to re-join the hunting party?" She asked in a mere whisper, desperately trying to bring them back to shallow waters.

"In a while perhaps. For now I have had enough hunting" Harriet watched as he trailed a slow path from her lips to her eyes. When his eyes found his she noticed they were clouded with something she realized was yearning.

"You haven't had much success then?"

"Some, not nearly enough as I would like. Besides I would much rather talk with you, we have not spoken much of late. I missed it" Daniel wasn't helping the situation much. So he turned away, blocked out her imagine in his mind and merely listened to her voice.

"As have I, but I must warn you that I promised to chaperone for Sophie and Mr. Winsor"

"Ah, I see. Are they much attached?" for the first time Daniel realized how much of a domestic situation this seemed. He could imagine his future sitting here by the lake, discussing everyone else's love lives with his wife. Perhaps that could one day discuss the prospects of their own children.

"I think they are, he likes her a great deal"

"She likes him too, for that I most certainly am glad"

Before she knew it her conversation with the Earl had been cut off quickly and she was ambling a step behind Henry and Sophie as they walked together through the flower garden. She did not want to act as chaperone but her conversation with the Earl put her in better spirits. She smiled to herself as she bent down and picked up a few flowers, not really paying attention to what they were. Harriet looked up and gave Henry and Sophie a wistful glance. She hoped that she would see her wedding before a monumental memory swept her away God knows where.

Harriet walked a few steps behind them until they were in sight of the house. Then she silently slipped away and walked through the small grove. She continued to walk through part of the estate which had remained unfamiliar to her. She had always preferred the sweeping untamed woods to the pretty little ordered gardens. After walking for a few minutes, taking in the scenery around her, she found a smallish oak tree in the centre of a garden lined with tulips and small shrubberies containing flowers she did not know the name of. Unable to restrain herself she climbed up the oak tree and settled herself out of view in between the lush green leaves.

Harriet had been resting a while in the tree when she heard voices down below.

"Father, what is it? What do you know about her?"

"Shush, keep your voice down"

"What is it?" Mary looked down and saw the top of Henry Winsor's head. He sounded annoyed, probably from being parted from Sophie for any amount of time.

"I have some information, I have been studying it all very closely and she reminds me very much of someone from town"

"Who is it? Do we know the family?" Henry Winsor pressed his father. There had been such hush-hush around the situation he desperately wanted to know what had happened.

"Yes, vaguely. We cannot speak of it here, wait until we return home"

"Okay, father. You better be correct"

"I am certain, I am going to write to Darcy immediately"