Prologue
"Lizzy, hurry up! The carriage is here to take us to Pemberley!"
Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner headed downstairs, excited about the visit to one of the finest properties in Derbyshire. Lizzy sighed, she did not want to go to Pemberley. After all, the Master of Pemberley probably hated her after what she had said to him. But Darcy was not in the country, and she wanted to see what the house and property were like. But now was not a good time. She had just received a letter from Jane, and she wanted to know all the news from home.
"Come, Lizzy, or we will be very late."
Lizzy did not want to keep her uncle and aunt waiting, they had been so kind to her. She looked at the letter again, and decided to take it with her. Maybe she would have time to read it on the trip. She went down and entered the carriage. Mrs. Gardiner smiled at her and started telling her about her best friend whom she had not seen in twenty years. Lizzy did not want to be rude to her aunt, so the letter had to wait.
Chapter 1
Lizzy headed out of Pemberley House into the gardens, her head spinning with what she had heard. The praise of Mrs. Reynolds, the Housekeeper, had overturned all her earlier ideas about Darcy. She found herself thinking very warmly of the Master of Pemberley.
"I've been so silly! Mr. Darcy is a generous master and a good man. I am sure he would be the most caring husband. And he is so handsome. I could have stared at that portrait for hours! I wonder if he could still care for me. But I've been so cruel. I do not deserve him."
Lizzy realized that her thoughts were quite inappropriate, for a man like him would never ask the same woman to marry him twice. And yet she could not help thinking about him, about how she had felt dancing in his arms, looking into his smoldering eyes. But she knew her fantasy could not come true, so she forced herself to think of something else. She remembered Jane's letter, and thought this would be a good time to read it. Her aunt and uncle were still walking about in the garden and they would take some time.
Lizzy found a good spot by the lake and opened the letter. It started happily, but then Jane gave her the bad news. Lydia had run away to Scotland with Wickham.
"Oh no. I figured Lydia would do something stupid like this, but Papa wouldn't listen to me. Now what should we do? I will go find my aunt and uncle. My uncle will help us. Maybe we can stop them."
She got up in a great hurry. Her aunt and uncle were much further along the lake, and she tried to catch up with them. But in her hurry she did not look at where she was going, and she walked directly into someone.
"Good lord, what is the matter?"
Lizzy looked up and saw that Darcy had come home.
Chapter 2
"Good lord, what is the matter?"
Lizzy was so embarrassed. She had walked right into Darcy, and he was soaking wet. Lizzy looked down at her own clothes; she was wearing a thin light colored summer dress and the front was now a little wet. She blushed when she realized that you could see through it now.
She tried to step away, but Darcy was holding on to her. His arms were so strong, so muscular. Lizzy didn't want him ever to let go. She looked into his eyes, but he was staring directly at her, and she had to look away. Her eyes kept going back to Darcy. The wet shirt was clinging to his muscular chest, and he looked so handsome.
"Oh, my God! I knew he was handsome, but I did not know he looked like that. I'm staring right at him, what must he think of me. But I can't help it, he's absolutely gorgeous."
Lizzy's thoughts were interrupted when Darcy spoke to her.
"Eli... Miss Bennet!"
"Mr. Darcy, I'm so sorry. I can't believe I walked right into you like this."
"No, Miss Bennet. It's my fault too. I guess I didn't expect to see anybody here."
"I bet you didn't think I would come here like this."
Darcy blushed, and Lizzy wondered what he was thinking. Actually he was thinking that all his wishes had come true. Lizzy was in Pemberley, and he was holding her in his arms. He realized that he had been holding her for the last ten minutes. But she didn't seem to mind. But he was a gentleman, so he let her go.
"Why did he let me go? It was so nice when he was holding me. But I am sure he does not want me to be here. Why did I remind him of that? Now he will leave me. But he is not leaving, he is speaking to me!"
"Liz... Miss Bennet, you looked unwell earlier. Can I get you something for your relief?"
For a moment Lizzy couldn't understand what he meant, but then she remembered Jane's letter, and became unhappy again.
"No, I am quite well. I was just going to look for my aunt and uncle to tell them the bad news. Lydia ran away with Wickham!"
Chapter 3
"Lydia ran away with Wickham!"
Lizzy wanted to rush towards her uncle and aunt. She was embarrassed, because she did not mean to tell Darcy about Lydia and Wickham. But it was also because of her feelings just now. What would Darcy think if he knew what she was thinking? But now it was all over. Because Darcy would never want to connect himself with her family after Lydia had disgraced them like this. He had not wanted to connect himself to her family even before.
Lizzy blushed and tried to turn away, but once again, Darcy stopped her.
"Even now when I should be thinking of my poor sister I can't stop thinking of Darcy. What is wrong with me? He will never think of me after this. He has probably already put me out of his mind. But then why is he holding me like this? I think I could stay like this forever."
Lizzy realized that Darcy was speaking to her.
"Your sister ran away with Wickham? How is it possible?"
"Lydia was staying with the Forsters in Brighton. Jane says that they ran away together to Gretna Greene. But how can Wickham want to marry her?"
Darcy's hold on Lizzy stiffened and he looked away.
"Oh, no! What have I said? It sounded like I was jealous of Lydia. And after I defended him to Darcy's face. Why, he must think that I still believe Wickham. I must fix this. I cannot make him think well of me now, but he must know that I believe him."
"I mean, Wickham is so unscrupulous. Why would he want to marry Lydia, who has no fortune?"
Darcy looked back at her, his eyes bright.
"She believes me! I thought for sure that she still trusted that blackguard. Does this mean I still have a chance with her? I would do anything for her. How can I tell her that? But how can I be so selfish at a time like this? She is thinking about her family. I have to help her with this somehow."
"Lizzy, is there something the matter?"
Lizzy looked up to see that her aunt and uncle had come back, and found her standing in Darcy's arms.
Chapter 4
"Lizzy, is something the matter?"
Lizzy blushed bright red. She was so embarrassed she just looked down at the ground. But she could still feel Darcy's arms around her. He new she was sad and he wouldn't let her go. She was so grateful that her heart swelled with love for him.
"Omygod! I love him! He is such a good man. When any man would run away, he is here to support me with my relatives. But what will my Aunt and Uncle think, seeing us like this. I hope they do not get the wrong idea."
But then she looked at her Aunt and Uncle, and they looked really mad at Darcy and her. In fact she thought that maybe her Uncle wanted to hit Mister Darcy, and she was very sad.
"Let go of my niece, Sir. Who are you anyway?" her Uncle yelled at him.
Darcy stood up straighter, but he didn't let go of Lizzy. She was sad and he was going to help her. And this Uncle seemed to make her unhappier. She burst out crying.
"I'm Mister Darcy, the Master of Pemberley. Eli... Ms Bennet is sad and I am helping her out. So don't you make her cry again."
"Mister Darcy, its nice to see you, but you can't hold Lizzy like that. And you're all wet and you aren't wearing a coat. What kind of a gentleman are you?"
"I just went for a swim before. I didn't know you folks were here or I would have come and met you straight off. I was going to go change but then I saw Elizabeth and she was all upset."
Mr. Gardiner was quiet impressed. This Darcy seemed like a sensible guy and he really seemed to care about Lizzy. But he was all wet and not even wearing proper clothes. This was his own house and he could go about like this if he wanted to. But he really shouldn't hold Lizzy like that. Now she was wet too, and it just wasn't right. What would her Father think? Maybe if they were married it would be ok. Then he had an idea. Of course they should marry. If Darcy was honest and he really loved Lizzy then he would want to marry Lizzy anyway, and it would be the best thing for them now.
"Look, Darcy, you seem like a nice guy and all. But this just isn't proper, your holding Lizzy like this. I really think you need to marry her."
Chapter 5
"I really think you need to marry here."
Lizzy blushed, but she held on to Darcy even more tightly. "What will he think of me? He will think I came hear just to trap him. He will never marry me now, because my sister is so silly, and even my uncle is being weird. But I love him. And his sister almost did the same thing!"
Darcy looked down at Lizzy. She was blushing shyly, but she hadn't let him go either. "May be she doesn't mind marrying me. I love her so much, and we will be so happy. This could be the best thing that ever happened to me. But how should I know what she really wants?"
Darcy said, "Look Mister ... Sorry, I don't know your name. I love Eli... your niece, and I would be happy to marry her, if that is what she wants. But right now I have to help her. She is very upset."
Lizzy's Uncle replied. "Its ok, Darcy. My name is Gardener. But what is the problem here? You two kids look like you love each other."
Lizzy blushed again as Darcy stared at her.
"Is that true, Lizzy? Do you really love me?"
Lizzy was shy but she could not tell a lie. And she was so happy to here him say her name.
"Yes, Wil... Mister Darcy, I do love you."
"Thanks Lizzy, I love you so much. You will marry me, right."
"Sure I will."
"Great, now you're happy, right, Mr. Gardner?"
"We're thrilled, Darcy. You should call me Uncle now that you're about to join the family."
"Thanks, Uncle Gardner. Call me Darce."
Darcy shook hands with Mister Gardner, and hugged Mrs. Gardiner.
"Congratulations, you two. I know you'll be so happy together. And this is such a great house to live."
Lizzy blushed, but she knows her Aunt didn't mean anything bad. After all, she thought the house was great too.
"You've made me the happiest man ever, Lizzy. I hope you're happy too."
Lizzy was too shy to say anything, so she smiled, and everyone smiled at her. But then she remembered her letter again.
"This is all great, but what about Wickham?"
Chapter 6
"This is all great, but what about Wickham?"
"What about Wickham, honey?" Lizzy's Aunt asked.
"Were you going to marry him instead?" added her Uncle.
Darcy stiffened. He didn't say any thing right away, but Lizzy noticed anyway. "Oh no, we just got engaged. Now what will he think of my relatives, and of me? Could he possibly think that I actually want to marry Wickham? I already told him I think Wickham's a jerk. I'm sure he believes me. But I should tell my aunt and uncle to."
"I would never marry Wickham! See, I didn't tell you guys before, but Wickham's actually kind of a rake. Look at what he's done now!"
Aunt Gardiner reads the letter aloud. "But Lizzy, maybe he really likes Lydia. It's not like she's got any money or anything."
Lizzy started to speak but Darcy interrupted her.
"Look guys, you don't know this Wickham chap like I do. The only thing he wants from marriage is money.
"Then what's he doing with our niece? Surely he doesn't think her dad is some kinda millionaire?"
Darcy hesitated. This Uncle Gardner looked like a smart guy. He didn't want to have to spell this out in front of the ladies. But now he had no choice. "What will Lizzy think if I say this about her sister? But she already knows what kind of a guy Wickham is, right?"
"Err ... I don't think he's planning to marry her, Sir."
Lizzy and Ant Gardiner looked in a different direction, and Darcy blushed. But he looked Mister Gardiner in the eye, and saw that now he understood.
"What are we gonna do? What can be done to recover them? How can such a man be worked on."
"Oh, that's easy. I'll take care of it. I'll just tell Mrs. R to pack us some lunch, and go get changed."
He looked at his wet shirt and blushed again. Lizzy blushed too when she thought of her clothes.
"We have to go back and pack up and everything."
"Look, why don't you guys stay here and enjoy yourself for a few days. I'll just ride down; it's faster that way."
Mr. Gardiner interrupted.
"No way, Mister Darcy. This is our nice, she's our responsibility. If you want to help out that's great, but we can't let you do everything while we vacation at your place. Besides, what will Mr. Bennet think?"
Darcy thought Mr. and Mrs. Bennet would probably be thrilled that they're daughter was marrying him, but he was too smart to say that. "Lizzy won't like it if I badmouth her parents that way."
"Okay, we can all go. You folks go pack up your things, and I'll pick you up from the Inn in an hour. I'll bring so don't worry about that."
"Sounds like a plan, Darce."