Section I, Section II.

Part 13

For a long, long moment, neither of them could say anything. Then a gust of wind kicked up, reminding Maggie that nothing was covering her except her wet hair and about four inches of water at her feet. And that wasn't a good sign.

"It's you," he whispered.

"It's me."

"Where...why..." Without bothering to take off his boots, he ran into the pond and pulled her into a fierce embrace. "Thank God you are alive!"

Maggie couldn't prevent herself from smiling. He had cared. She could feel him shaking. For a moment, she thought it was because of the rapidly dropping temperature, but she soon realized that it was a mixture of relief and anger.

"You need to get inside," he said. "Or you might become ill. There is a small cottage near here--"

"I know."

"You know? And how do you know this?"

"Because I've been living there for two weeks."

Darcy frowned. "We have a great deal to talk about, Maggie Innsbrook. A great deal."

"Yes...I know." Darcy picked up her cape, discarded on the ground, and pulled it around her. She led the way to the cottage, and opened the door for him. When he was inside, she shut it firmly behind them.

"It's nearly as cold in here as it was out there," he said. "And I do not see any fire remains. How have you been staying warm?"

"I bundle myself up," she said. "I couldn't start a fire because you might've seen the smoke. How did you know about this place, anyway?"

"I have seen nearly everything there is to see here at Netherfield. I come to the pond often, for a swim. I...I saw it on my walks."

Maggie was about to undo her cape before she remembered that she wasn't wearing anything under it. She knew that normally, she would be feeling very uncomfortable about being nearly naked in front of a man, especially this man, but she didn't feel too embarrassed at the moment.

"I stumbled into it," she said, sitting on the bed.

Darcy took off his boots, which were chilled, and set out logs for a fire. As he did so, Maggie took off the cape and slipped into her robe, tying the sash firmly. Once there were embers and then flames, he sat at one of the chairs.

"Why?" he said softly. "Why did you leave? Was it because of me?"

Maggie sighed. This was the part she had been dreading, hoping that she wouldn't be discovered until after he had married Elizabeth. But she had to explain. "It was...because...I cannot marry you," she whispered.

"Why?"

"Because...I just...because you are meant for someone else, not me. I've known this for almost all my life, and although now that you say you love me...I can't do it. I can't break another girl's heart."

"You are referring, of course, to my cousin, Miss Anne de Bourgh?"

No, I mean Elizabeth Bennet. But like so many things, Maggie couldn't say what she wanted to say. "Yes."

"Maggie, I am not now nor have I ever been engaged to Miss de Bourgh. It was the wishes of her mother, nothing more."

"But I thought that your mother--"

"No. At least, not after a couple of years. When I was first born, perhaps. And maybe even when Lady Catherine had her daughter. But when I was a child of six, she told me to marry a woman I could respect and love. She told me not to marry for money or duty alone. And I never shall."

"Yet her mother has continued to tell her that you are to be her husband."

"Anne de Bourgh and I have had an understanding for several years. She knows I shall never marry her. She is half in love with an earl's son who lives nearby, but has been afraid to tell her mother for years." Darcy smiled. "Does that put your fears to rest?"

"No, because then there is my cousin. Caroline loves you, if Miss de Bourgh does not."

"I have never loved your cousin, surely you know that. I have never, by thought, action, or word, made her any promises of love or any indications of the same. I have saved all of that for you, my darling."

"Don't call me darling. Please. I still cannot marry you."

"Do you have that much respect and duty toward your cousin? You have no idea what she has sometimes--"

"I know all too well what Caroline says about me behind my back. What am I not guilty of? I've been indiscreet, drunk, foolish, unfashionable, immodest--"

"Immodest? How?" Maggie merely raised her eyebrows at him. "Oh. I suppose that...could be considered immodest."

Could be considered? In this era? Back home, this would definitely be considered immodest!

"You see my meaning."

"And I've told you that I don't care."

"But you might someday. Down the road, we could end up like..." Maggie almost said Like a couple from one of those dreadful Pride and Prejudice sequels that have been written in my time. "Like Mr. and Mrs. Bennet," she finished.

"I have yet to meet Mr. Bennet, so I shall bear in mind your superior knowledge on the subject."

"Then you see that our marriage would be a disaster."

"No. Not if you wanted it to be. It would be...heaven." Darcy had come to sit beside her on the bed. "I love you."

"Why do you love me now? I've left Netherfield, and abandoned you. I've been here the whole time, you know. I've known everything you've done to try and find me, and I haven't cared. I didn't return. I could have at any time."

"I do not care. Does love ever make sense?"

"I suppose it doesn't."

"Do you still love me?" He held her face between his palms and gave her a look to melt the hardest heart. "Do you?"

Maggie sighed. Why should I bother lying now? One way or another, he was going to find me. And he would never give up.

"I do," she whispered, closing her eyes. She only felt his lips on hers, gentle yet firm. As the kiss deepened, Maggie's only thought was that this was the kiss that could never end, because if it did, she would surely die.

It took her several moments to realize that he had untied the sash of her robe, completely exposing her to him. His hand had wandered from her face and gently settled at her waist. She could not prevent her trembling hands from starting to unbutton the shirt he was wearing, grateful that he had removed the coat and vest earlier, before he had found her. Within moments, Maggie had come into contact with his bare skin, warm, smooth, yet solid--he was well-muscled, something she had not noticed before.

"You are so beautiful," he whispered softly, looking at her.

"No one has ever said that to me," she replied, and it was the truth.

"I am glad for it. Not that you did not deserve to be called such, but..."

Maggie quieted him with another kiss, sliding the shirt from his back. He pulled her even more firmly into his arms, and they were slowly falling back onto the bed. Maggie knew that what they were about to do was wrong, that she should stop what was about to happen now, before it would be too late. But she no longer cared. He made her no longer care. And as for what would happen in the morning, she would figure that out when the time came.

"I love you, William," she murmured softly. "I've loved you for so long."

"I know," he said. "Believe me, dearest, most beautiful Maggie, I know."

But conversation stopped altogether when he kissed her again. And again. And again.

Part 14

When Maggie awoke the following day, it was obviously well past sunrise, for bright sunshine was coming through the window above the bed. She was snuggled against Darcy's warm body, her head laying on his chest, one arm possessively holding him close. Of course, he was holding onto her just as possessively. That, she figured, was because she had been gone for so long. But it all pointed to one conclusion.

She had definitely not dreamed last night up. Her body felt too alive and yet exhausted and slightly sore to have dreamed it all.

She disentangled herself from his embrace and sat up, looking down at him as he slept. In sleep, Maggie wasn't sure she recognized him. He seemed so much softer than he normally appeared, his dark hair tousled, his mouth almost smiling, content. She reached to pull a stray curl off of his forehead when his eyes slowly opened.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," Maggie said softly.

Darcy smiled. "Good morning to you as well." He raised himself up to rest on his elbows. "I was hoping that last night had not been a figment of my imagination."

"If it was, we were having the same dream."

"Then tell me...at some point, did you finally agree to marry me?"

"I don't seem to remember you asking me again," Maggie teased.

But Darcy was serious, for he grasped her hand, almost as though he were afraid to let go for fear she would disappear forever. "Miss Innsbrook...Margaret...my beautiful, wonderful Maggie. Would you please do me the honour of becoming my wife and mother to my children? If you think about saying no, remember that you might be..."

"That's blackmail, William." But Maggie's eyes filled with tears as she said, "You have to promise me something before I answer."

Darcy's expression was fearful. "Oh, Lord. We have been through this before. Perhaps I should say no." A moment's silence. "Oh, all right. What?"

"Promise that every day, for the rest of our lives, we'll wake up like this? Not in the cottage--I don't think you'd like to live here forever. But wherever we are, promise me that when I wake up, you'll be holding me in your arms."

"I promise," he said, giving her a long kiss. When they broke apart with reluctance, he said, "Now?"

Maggie smiled. "Yes, of course I'll marry you."

He threw his arms around her. The two remained locked in the embrace until finally he said, "We have to go back."

"Do we really have to? I'm not sure I'm up to facing Caroline and Louisa...and Charles. I've caused them so much worry..."

"Do not fear. I am sure he shall be happy to hear that I am marrying you and putting an end to your hoydenish behaviour."

"And spoil my fun? You wouldn't."

"Of course not. But Charles would worry otherwise."

"I swear, this place is so sexist!"

"So what?"

Maggie blushed. Apparently, sexist wasn't a word used much in the place, either. "I'm just thinking that I don't like the male-dominated society I...was born into."

"Then perhaps you should try to change things for women."

"Do you really think I could?" She looked at him with a playful grin on her face.

"Maggie, you could do anything if you thought about it hard enough." He brought his right hand up to caress her face as his other hand pulled her back into his arms. "Now, you could convince me not to return so quickly..."

"I get the feeling you won't take much persuading." Maggie giggled as she kissed him.

Later in the afternoon, Darcy returned with Maggie. They were first spotted walking past the stables. The groom who greeted them looked with stunned pleasure at the sight of the lady.

"Miss Maggie!" he gasped. "'Tis good to see you, ma'am."

"It's good to see you, too, Sampson," she replied.

"Ye gave us a lot o' grief, ye 'ave."

"I know, and I'm sorry for it. I just needed some time to think things over...and now that I have, I'm home."

"Yea, that I can see."

"Please excuse us, Sampson. We need to get back--"

"Right, o' course, sir! Good t'see ye again, Miss Maggie!"

As Darcy led her back into the house of Netherfield, away from the servant, Maggie whispered, "William, I'm scared."

"Of what?"

"Of what's about to happen. Of facing Caroline and...after this morning, and last night. You haven't been home. They're sure to wonder why. And they're sure to speculate about it."

Darcy stopped short and turned to look at her directly. "You are not ashamed of making--"

"William, hush!"

"You are!"

"No!" she said adamantly. "Of all the things I've done during the time I've been here, I have not been in the least ashamed of what happened last night. I'm just afraid of what they might think...and what they might say."

"No one would dare to say anything to you, Maggie. You are to be my wife, and as such, you shall have great respect. And if someone like your cousin Caroline says anything...who cares? Everyone knows what her object has been, and will treat what she says accordingly."

"I wish I had your confidence," Maggie replied.

"Do not worry. It shall all be fine, and when it is over, you shall wonder why you worried so much."

I somehow doubt that, my dear. Oh, well...

The servants, seeing the two of them from various positions in the house and outdoors, had alerted the family that Mr. Darcy had returned, and that he had Miss Maggie with him. Thus, when the doors were opened to let them in, Charles Bingley was already waiting for them, along with his sisters, Mr. Hurst, Elizabeth, and Jane.

"We have been so worried about you, Maggie dear!" Caroline was the first to say. The others soon echoed her sentiments with far more sincerity.

"I...I am sorry that I caused such trouble. Did you not get my note?" Maggie asked.

"The only note any of us found was the one you left in the library," Charles replied.

"Drat! Then you did not know where I was?" Maggie was enjoying this.

"Where were you? We searched London and Somerset, but there was no indication that you were there," Caroline said.

Well, obviously I wasn't there. "I went to see Danielle. I had heard that she was ill, and I went to her."

Charles frowned, but he did not contradict her.

"When did this communication arrive?" Elizabeth asked.

"It...came very late in the evening. Too late for me to wake anyone else, but I left a note...I'm sorry you didn't get it."

"Is Danielle better?" Louisa asked.

"Much better, I thank you." Maggie smiled.

"However did you find her, Mr. Darcy? It was quite a clever thing, that," Caroline said with a simpering smile.

"It was pure coincidence that I finally found her, I assure you." Darcy looked at Maggie with a private smile, clearly remembering exactly how he had found her.

Caroline didn't like the implications of that smile, for she said in a tight voice, "Well, should we all adjourn to the drawing room for a celebratory tea?"

"If you would forgive me, Caroline, I'm really tired. It's been a long trip since Darcy told me...well, that you didn't know where I'd gone."

"Of course," she said, clearly not happy. Maggie made her excuses and walked upstairs. As she opened the door, it seemed almost as though she were truly home. Granted, Netherfield wasn't her home, and soon, she would no longer be living there. Soon, I am to be the mistress of Pemberley...

Maggie's dreams were soon interrupted by a brusk knock at the door. Darcy walked in without waiting for an answer.

"Should you be in here?" she asked.

"Probably not. But everyone else had retired to the drawing room, and the servants were not noticing...I don't think. Maggie, I want to announce our engagement tonight...and be married within the fortnight."

"But if you do that, then..."

"They shall know? No, they wouldn't. We shall simply say that we were going to announce it before your sister took ill. They might be suspicious, but as I said before, I do not care."

"Then I'll make a point of coming to dinner...for the announcement."

Darcy kissed her. As the kiss deepened, Maggie pulled herself closer to him.

"Mmm...Maggie?" he said, pulling away. "For someone so nervous about being discovered..."

"Yes, I know. You should probably go."

"Right." With one last, quick kiss, he backed out the door.

Maggie wrapped her arms around herself, taking a moment to savor everything. When she finally opened her eyes, she caught a look of her book.

It was very odd. Once again, it had no cover, as it had the time she had tried to show it to Darcy. But that no longer bothered her. It meant she was in the world for good, she knew that now. And she was glad, for this was where she belonged. And the book would no longer allow her to glimpse into the future. She found that she didn't mind that, either. It wasn't fun to know what was going to happen and trying to figure out to avoid it. With a decided gesture, Maggie stuck the book in the bottom dresser drawer. And that's that, she thought. No more.

For a brief moment, though, she wished that the book was still the book. Because she needed some idea of how badly Caroline Bingley was going to react when she was told the news of Maggie's engagement...

Part 15

Maggie dressed with special care that evening. She wore a beautiful peach gown with lace trimmings. She still tended to see herself as a sausage in these fashions, but she was getting used to it. Her maid pulled her hair back into a knot at the top of her head, and instead of leaving it at that, Maggie allowed for two stray curls at each temple to spring loose. She looked at herself in the mirror for a long pause, wondering at the young woman she was seeing. The last time she'd reflected on her reflection, she had seemed a little sad. Now, she was happy. She was content.

She was in love.

Maggie stood up, groaning at the shoes she had had to start wearing again. But, she reasoned, for my William, I'll put up with just about anything.

She walked down the stairs, where she was greeted by Elizabeth.

"I am glad to see Jane looking so well," Maggie said.

"As am I. And I am glad to see you here. There is a great deal to talk about."

"Funny. I was just going to say the same thing to you. Do you think Charles is going to make an offer for Jane soon?"

"That is not what I meant," Elizabeth said, but she smiled when she looked at Maggie. "You seem so pleased with something, I think. And...forgive me for presuming, but it has something to do with Mr. Darcy?"

"I would tell you more if I could. But perhaps tonight will explain everything." Maggie smiled. "Oh, Elizabeth! I'm so happy! Can anyone in the world possibly be as happy as a I am?"

Elizabeth's smile widened. "I believe it may not be possible, Maggie."

"Oh! I just wish you could find someone as wonderful as my...well. Technically, he isn't my anything yet. Do you think I'm bringing myself bad luck?"

"Not at all." Elizabeth took her arm and started leading her for the drawing room, where everyone was waiting. "Have you given any consideration to how your cousin, Miss Bingley, might react to the news?"

"I have. I'll be okay, but Hurricane Caroline can be a terrible thing to deal with."

Elizabeth chuckled. "Hurricane Caroline...I shall have to remember that."

When dinner had been completed, the party retired to the music room. Jane was about to sit at the pianoforte to play when Charles stilled her.

"I have an announcement I would like to make to you all," Darcy said. "I felt it would be appropriate since all of you have been supportive over the past fortnight or so." He walked over to where Maggie was sitting and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I have asked Miss Margaret Innsbrook to marry me...and she has consented to be my wife."

It came as no surprise to Elizabeth, who warmly congratulated her friend immediately after Darcy had finished speaking. Jane gave a small cry of delight and offered her congratulations as well. Charles was beaming, clearly pleased that his closest friend and his cousin were to marry.

But as Maggie looked at the faces of Caroline and Louisa, she knew that she was in trouble. Louisa, as the book had warned when Maggie had first read it, was stunned. And Caroline was stunned, horrified...and furious. If she had had a chance, she would have screamed curses at the woman who had won Darcy's heart forever.

"We are to be wed within the fortnight," Darcy added. He looked very much as though he would like to kiss her, but that would not be prudent.

Charles had the servants open a bottle of the finest wine he had in his cellar and toasted the happy couple. Maggie had always hated wine back home because it tasted a little too much like beer to her, but what Charles gave her had a wonderful taste to it. Maggie savored everything about that night, hoping she didn't seem like she was gloating, not even in front of Caroline Bingley.

Jane played cheerful music for them, as Caroline and Louisa sat talking to themselves at a card table that he been set up. Darcy had immediately written to his sister, informing her of his wedding and requesting her to come home immediately. Charles sat at the pianoforte with Jane as he had for the past two weeks. With Mr. Hurst sprawled in a chair from too much of Charles' good wine, Elizabeth and Maggie were left to talk privately.

"Now it's official," Maggie said. "We're engaged. I can't believe it. Back home, I was always looking for the perfect...well, for...oh, my. I've sort of stuck my foot in my mouth. I sound as though I were chasing after men."

"No, no."

"Yeah, I did. I'd had several...suitors, but not one of them was as wonderful as Mr. Darcy."

"I still have problems reconciling the man who could make such a remark in public with the wonderful man you keep calling him."

"Believe me, Lizzy. He is wonderful."

"I suppose love does that to a man." Elizabeth smiled, and her attention was claimed by Charles for some inconsequential point.

Maggie sighed, and for the first time that day, felt a little guilty. How would everyone back home react to knowing how badly she'd meddled in a great love story? And now that she had, and refused to look back, how was she going to remedy things for Elizabeth? After all, by all rights, Darcy was supposed to be her husband. And by taking her place, Maggie knew that she sent Elizabeth into Wickham's arms...and that was the worst thing. She would have to find a nice young man for Elizabeth...preferably someone rather wealthy.

"I had a letter from my sisters Lydia and Kitty," Elizabeth said. "They say that our cousin, Mr. Collins, is quite dull, and quite captivated by Mary, although neither of them is certain why. If he is as bad as they say, however, I think that he is a good match for her."

"Do they say anything else?" Maggie asked.

"Just that there is a new officer in the regiment...a Mr. Wickham. According to Lydia, I shall be quite interested in--Maggie, what is the matter?"

Maggie could feel blood leaving her face at the mention of Wickham. To Elizabeth, she must have appeared ill.

"You are not coming down with the illness your sister had, are you?"

"No...no. Elizabeth, I would tell you the particulars of why that...that man's name repulses me, but I cannot in such company. We may be overheard."

"Mr. Wickham? Lydia says he has had something to do with Mr. Darcy."

"I don't care what the man's told her, it's a lie. I know the truth about him, and it isn't pretty."

"Perhaps we should discuss this at another time," she said.

"That would be best. Or better yet, let us just say that he is not to be trusted about anything. He is a contemptible man and not worthy of decent society."

Elizabeth's eyebrows were raised at Maggie's strong opinion. "In that case, perhaps it is best if I avoid of the man."

I couldn't have said it better myself. Stay far away from him, Lizzy. "I would suggest that you keep your youngest sister away from him as well," Maggie added. "He has a fondness...for girls of fifteen."

Elizabeth appeared to come to some understanding, for she nodded and said nothing more on the subject.

The party broke up, and headed for separate parts of the house. Maggie, exhausted from the lack of sleep the night before, headed for her bedroom. Before she even reached the stairs, however, she heard voices coming from another part of the house.

"We should never have taken the viper in!" That was Caroline.

"I know, Caroline, but it is too late to do anything now."

"I would like to know where Maggie really was for the past two weeks, for she was not with Danielle! And I would also like to know where Mr. Darcy was last night!"

"As I said before, it is too late."

"I believe that she tricked him into marrying her. That is certainly the only reason he would marry such a girl. That is what happened, Louisa. She tricked him into marrying her."

"Tricked him...how?"

"Come now, you are a married woman! You know the ways of the world. She must have...seduced him. And Mr. Darcy is too honourable not to marry a young lady of...well, dubious quality, but quality nonetheless...if he took her virtue!"

Maggie had known it was coming. She had known that Caroline would be furious, and she knew that the missing evening would be commented on. But it was still embarrassing...and Maggie was just as nervous about being an outcast.

As Caroline and Louisa continued to bemoan the fact that Darcy was lost forever, Maggie headed upstairs to her room. The maid helped her out of her outfit, then excused herself. Maggie put on yet another long nightgown, thinking of how natural it had felt the night before to be wearing nothing at all..to be in William's arms...

Get your mind off of that. After the wedding, there's going to be a lifetime to enjoy that.

Smiling to herself, Maggie curled up in the big bed she unfortunately had to herself and contented herself with dreams of her wedding, and of finding someone for Elizabeth before she married, but mostly of her Darcy...and she swiftly drifted off to sleep.

Part 16

The next several days seemed to run by so quickly that Maggie had trouble remembering much about them. Darcy had lived up to his word--he was determined to get her to the altar before she took off, and two weeks was about all he was willing to wait. In their very few private moments together, Darcy said that two weeks was too long, but it would have to do. Maggie agreed.

Charles had insisted that they be married at Netherfield, and even though Maggie would have preferred Pemberley and thought that it would be more appropriate, Darcy, in a strange quirk in his humour, said that they should be married at Netherfield. "After all, dear," he said with a grin, "this is where we fell in love again, and where you agreed to marry me."

Maggie said, "Fell in love again? It only took one time for me."

"You understand my meaning."

"I get it."

A dressmaker was immediately contracted to create the wedding gown, and was steadily working to have it finished as soon as possible. Maggie's sister had been written to, and was due to arrive three days before the wedding with Georgiana Darcy. Maggie had been startled to hear that the girls were classmates, for Danielle was Georgiana's complete opposite in everything. But, she was glad for it, and the two girls were to be bridesmaids for her.

The only problem was Caroline, of course. She took every opportunity to insult Maggie when Darcy was not present and, she suspected, made sure to list her faults to the gentleman when she herself wasn't. But Maggie had known that she would pay a price for marrying the man she (and Caroline) loved, and let it go over her head. It was all sour grapes now, and nothing could prevent the wedding from taking place. "And anyway, every time she lists your faults, she makes me remember why I love you," Darcy said. After that, Maggie couldn't help laughing every time she overheard the young woman.

On the day Danielle and Georgiana were to arrive at Netherfield, Darcy pulled Maggie into a small room alone and said, "There is something you should know before...well...Edward is escorting the girls here."

Maggie almost asked who Edward was. "Oh, Lord. He...oh, William! I didn't even think about him, this entire time! I didn't even tell him that..."

"I took the liberty. He was at Rosings when I went to inform Lady Catherine."

"I'm so sorry. How did he react?"

"Oddly enough, he was happy."

"Happy? You mean...what do you mean, he was happy?"

"That is what I said. He was sad, of course...but at the same time, he was pleased that I was getting married. He said that he knew it would take someone extraordinary to finally pique my interest."

Maggie sighed. "I wish you'd told me before that he was coming today. I could've prepared..."

"How would you have prepared? There was no way to..."

"But I've been so excited about everything and..." Maggie sighed. Why did I have to say Fitzwilliam? Couldn't I have said something like Jones or Smith? No, I had to say Fitzwilliam. "Well of course, I'll have to talk with him and explain everything."

"I am sure you will find my cousin a very understanding fellow. And a complete gentleman."

"But I haven't been a complete lady about this whole thing. Lord, if I had, we would never have been together in the cottage."

"And I would not have had the most wonderful night of my life. Have no regrets about that, Maggie."

She knew that he was a little perturbed about her guilt over the night they'd spent in the cottage. She couldn't help it. Her happiness over the past week and a half was always overshadowed by her guilt at what she'd done to Elizabeth--even if she didn't know and wouldn't have cared anyway. But still...

The carriage pulled up at about three that afternoon. Maggie was a little afraid to see her sister, wondering if she had changed. And of course, there was Colonel Fitzwilliam.

The carriage came to a stop, and even before the footman could open the door, it flew open and her pretty, petite younger sister rushed into her arms. This is a switch, Maggie thought, as she hugged her. Danielle wouldn't hug me back home if you paid her a hundred bucks. She took a look at her. Yes, it was still Danielle as Maggie knew her.

"I couldn't believe it when Georgiana and I heard about your engagement!" Danielle said. "When she said that her brother was to marry my sister, I said, 'Impossible. Maggie never takes her head out of books long enough to notice men.'"

Maggie blushed. Definitely the same Danielle.

"Danie..." Georgiana said with a giggle as she descended from the carriage.

"Sorry, Maggie. Anyway, since it turned out to be true, we couldn't wait to come to Netherfield! I'm so happy for you!"

"Thank you," Maggie said. "I think."

Danielle winked. "Well, can we get inside and get settled? It's been a long drive, and we have a lot to catch up on!"

"Of course," Darcy said, leading the girls inside and leaving Maggie with his cousin, who had just emerged from the carriage.

"Miss Innsbrook," he said quietly, with a bow.

"Col. Fitzwilliam," Maggie replied. "I must say--"

"Don't." He put his hand up. "You do not have to say anything, Maggie. I quite understand. You..."

"I don't want you to think that I meant for this to happen, Edward," she said. "And I don't want you thinking that I made a choice of him over you. I..."

"I know."

"But...why didn't you write me after my parents died?" Maggie asked, pretending to sound a little hurt.

"Well...see, I didn't...I was afraid that you..."

"Yes?"

"I don't think I...ever really loved you, Maggie. You were a little too unconventional for me. I admired you for your intelligence and spirit, but...I do not think we would have made a good match."

"Edward, please don't say that just to make this go easier."

"I say it because I believe it. If I could find someone who had your intelligence..."

"And spirit. Don't forget that," Maggie said with a chuckle.

"Of course I would not. But someone who was a little less of an Original."

Maggie's smile brightened. "I hope you find that someone. And I hope she has a good fortune."

"Maggie, it is impolite to speak of such things."

"I know. But it's true. And not telling the truth is one of the worst things you can do. You have no idea how bad I've felt this week because..."

"For that, I am sorry."

"Oh, don't be. It wasn't your fault."

Colonel Fitzwilliam escorted Maggie into the house. As she passed by Darcy, she gave him a small wink. A moment later, as she watched the group around her (Caroline was conspicuous by her absence), she got a fine idea, and she was barely able to stop herself from crying out in glee.

Why didn't I think of it before? Of course! Who better for Colonel Fitzwilliam than Elizabeth? And who better for her? She's me without being unconventional, and he's...oh. Well, maybe not. He's not wealthy. Surely there must be a way around that.

Maggie vowed to figure it out...somehow.

That evening, the solution seemed to come to her. While looking for a hair ribbon, she opened the drawer with the book that used to be Pride and Prejudice and wondered about something. If the book had been able to predict what she would do before she did it (or at least give her an idea of what would happen before it happened), would it be possible for her to change some things around? Perhaps...leave the Colonel a nice tidy sum so he could marry Elizabeth?

Maggie found a pen and a small bottle of ink. Setting them on her dresser, she opened the bottle of ink and dipped her pen in it. Before she could write anything, she heard the door open.

"I can't believe it! I simply can't believe this place!" It was Danielle.

"What about it?" Maggie asked, closing her book.

"Everything! Maggie, how did you do it?"

"How did I do what? Become engaged to Mr. Darcy?"

"No...we can talk about that later. What I want to know is, how did we land here? The both of us? You pulled me into this world, and--"

"What are you talking about? You don't like being in the lap of luxury?"

"I don't like being in the nineteenth century! Well, there are some things I don't mind. Being rich, for one thing. But I miss everything back home!"

Back home. Danielle knew about back home. Danielle was real. And that news was so startling that Maggie couldn't find anything to say.

Part 17

"You...you...what do you mean by back home?" Maggie asked, wondering if maybe Danielle meant their home in Somerset.

"You know. Television and movies and makeup and cars that move farther in an hour than these stupid carriages do in a day...maybe even a week!"

"How...how did you get here? And why aren't Mom and Dad here?"

"I don't know. I cried for a day and a half when I found out that they were dead."

"Did any time pass between the time that I..."

"No. We were both...God! How do you say this? This isn't real, you know. I hope you're not too attached to this Darcy character, because that's all he is, Maggie. A character."

"How would you know?"

"I read that book too, you know."

"I didn't think you read anything more than you absolutely had to."

"Well, I had to read this for a class. Don't go thinking I intentionally set out to read it."

"Then you know how it was supposed to end."

"Yeah. And we were never mentioned once. I don't suppose you could find a way to transport me back to the world of reality and leave yourself here, could you?"

"I don't think so. It isn't like The Wizard of Oz here. I can't click my heels and say 'there's no place like home.' Believe me, if I could, I would've done it the first day."

"Then how long are we stuck here?"

"I don't know!"

"Well, this is all good for you. You're marrying a man who has ten thousand...pounds a year, which in this day and age must be like a million in our time. Me, I'm still in boarding school."

"You'll probably make your debut one of these days soon."

"And snag a man like yours?"

"Sure."

"I'd rather be back home. Wouldn't you?"

"Honestly?"

"No. Lie to me."

"I think I prefer here. For all the problems I've had adjusting, I met the man I want to marry here."

"But he isn't real! Maggie, don't you get it? None of this is real!"

"It's all real! Believe me!"

"Okay, okay. It's real. I believe you."

"I love William."

"William who? Oh, you mean Darcy. Yeah, I can see why. He reminds me of someone."

"I could give you a list of a few names."

Danielle laughed. "So, how badly did you freak when you found yourself here?"

"I ended up in William's bedroom."

"You did? That's interesting. And where did things go from there?"

"Swiftly downhill, I assure you." Maggie proceeded to fill her sister in on everything that had happened to her, being sensitive enough to leave out the fact that she had made love with Darcy in the cottage.

Danielle told her about how she had reacted to her situation, which included confusing a lot of girls at the academy when she started crying at the news that her parents had been dead a year, and making a friend in Georgiana Darcy because hers was the only name she recognized.

"Is that your diary?" Danielle asked. "Mind if I read it? I'm sure you've plotted out a lot of fantasies about how you'd like to see Darcy without..."

Maggie blushed. "Danielle, please!"

"Oh, you're such a spoilsport."

"You should probably go to bed."

"Right. Hey, why did what's-his-name, the guy who brought me and Giana here--"

"Giana?"

"Georgiana! I call her Giana and she calls me Danie."

"Everyone called you Danie."

"Not here, they don't. I'm either Miss Innsbrook or Miss Danielle when you're around. Why is that?"

"It has to do with seniority. Don't worry. When I marry William, you'll be Miss Innsbrook to everyone except your closest friends."

"I'd rather be plain Danie and I'd--"

"I know. You've made it more than clear that you'd rather be home. But like it or not, you're stuck here."

"Whatever."

"Just watch yourself, okay?"

"Okay. Anyway, why did..."

"Colonel Fitzwilliam. Edward."

"Right. Why did he seem like he knew you?"

"Because I made something up where I did know him. And it came true." And so what I'm about to make up should also come true! Secretly, Maggie was elated.

"Good! Then make up some aliens to get me back to my own time! Or maybe a telephone booth, like they had in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure."

Maggie groaned. "That's beyond my control."

"I know, I know. Well, off I go to bed. Good night, sister dear."

"Good night. And Danie?"

Danielle was nearly out the door before she stopped. "Yeah?"

"I'm glad you're here...I mean, really here."

"I'm glad you're happy. I'm not."

"Think about having all those men clamouring after you at your debut. You'll have your pick of the lot."

"Will they be cute?"

"Some of them certainly will be. And there won't be any fortune hunters. William will make sure of that."

"You mean like that Wicker guy that I supposedly tried to elope with?"

"It's Wickham. Get it right."

"Sorry. Wickham. I haven't said anything to Giana about it. Didn't he elope with her, too?"

"Yes, and don't you go bringing that up. You're not supposed to know anything about it."

"Okay, okay. I won't. Good night." Danielle left.

Maggie sighed. Her sister's actually being there made things even more confusing. But it was good to have a voice from the future with her, so she knew she wasn't dreaming. This was really happening. She smiled as she picked up her pen, careful to tap away the excess ink, and began writing the sentences which would hopefully make things right for Elizabeth and Colonel Fitzwilliam...thinking even as she did about how friendly they had seemed that evening...and she knew it could not be her imagination.

The following morning, as she was eating breakfast, Darcy strolled into the dining hall and said, "A most peculiar thing happened, Maggie."

"Oh? Did Caroline see the light and stop making snide comments?"

"I didn't say a miracle occurred, dear."

"Drat. I was hoping it would be along those lines."

"No. It concerns Edward, actually."

"It does?" Maggie was barely able to hide her smile.

"Yes. A very distant relative of ours, some great-uncle or other, has left him something of a nice fortune and an estate near Pemberley."

"Really?" The part about it being in Derbyshire had been an inspiration, for she didn't want to lose Elizabeth's friendship due to distance.

"Yes. The relative died some time ago, I understand, and since my cousin travels a great deal, the news has only now reached him. Could have knocked him down with a feather, I believe, when he heard the news. A wonder Lady Catherine did not tell him, but I suspect there was more at work."

"Meaning Lady Catherine was hoping to get him to marry Anne."

"Yes. I sincerely hope Anne gets enough gumption to tell her mother she is in love with the earl's son."

"It's hard to disappoint your parents," Maggie said. "I know that all too well."

Darcy gave her a sympathetic look. "I wish our parents could be here to see us. My mother would just love you, Maggie."

I'm not so sure about that. But my mother would love you! My father, too!

"It's important that we're here," Maggie said. "And we're together. And we'll never be apart." She suddenly frowned. "Does this mean that Edward will miss the wedding? Or do we have to postpone it?"

"No, no. He says he shall stay until after the wedding and then travel to London to meet with the lawyers and everything. As for postponing it...I thought we decided that we should not even consider it."

"Of course. And I wasn't thinking of it. I was just hoping we wouldn't, you know..."

He smiled. "I know. So, I have told you my cousin's news. I hope you are a little happier about him."

"I rejoice in his good fortune," Maggie said. "Have you seen Danielle yet this morning?"

"No, I have not. And I must say something about your sister that should not surprise me, and that is that she has the most creative imagination, my dear. She was telling a story to Georgiana just the other day about two characters named...William and Theodore, I believe."

Maggie nearly laughed. Bill and Ted! Danie, really! "Was there something wrong?"

"No. I just find the idea of time travel a little unusual for a lady to take an interest in."

"Oh...Danielle has a lot of unusual interests."

Darcy gave her a quick peck on the cheek. "Then she takes after her sister in that respect. Now, my dear, if you would excuse me, I have some business with a messenger who has just arrived from Pemberley. If you do not mind."

"Of course not. Go, go." Maggie waved him away, and he left.

She sat back and thought, Now I can marry William with a free conscience. Elizabeth and Edward will be happy, and she'll never give a second thought to George Wickham.

Part 18

The morning of Margaret Christine Innsbrook's wedding to Fitzwilliam George Darcy dawned bright, but cold. Maggie had hardly been able to sleep, thinking of the moment when she would walk down the aisle to her William and be his wife forever. She had heard the servants as they had awakened, preparing everything for the reception which was to be held at Netherfield as soon as the ceremony was over. As the sun rose over the horizon, Maggie gathered her coverlet around her and stood at the window, smiling. The world, she decided, was a wonderful place.

And to think, just a few weeks ago, I didn't even think of getting married. It was just an abstract thought, saying, "Oh, sure. Someday." And now the day has arrived.

Maggie couldn't help feeling a bit of pride in her efforts to bring Elizabeth and the Colonel together. She had noticed them talking together in the park the afternoon before, and things seemed to be promising.

Once, I would have thought that the idea of Elizabeth with anyone other than Darcy was repugnant. Is it selfish of me to think that I could be her replacement? Is what happened totally wrong? No. It can't be. Everything that's happened has happened for a reason. I belonged here, in this world, with William. And if Elizabeth doesn't become the major Cinderella she was supposed to...well, the Colonel has a good fortune now! And according to William, a very nice estate. She'll still be Cinderella.

Best of all was how well Jane and Charles seemed to be getting along. Maggie had to confess to having had a small hand in that as well, telling Jane that her cousin was a very open man who preferred women to be modest, but not too modest, and that Jane should be a little more affectionate with him. It seemed to have worked, for Elizabeth had confided that he seemed to be on the verge of proposing.

"That would be a bee in his sisters' bonnets," Maggie said.

"Yes, but I think the effect has been spoiled by your marrying Mr. Darcy."

Which was true, of course. But she knew that the Bingley sisters were not going to be pleased with the news that their brother was not marrying a great name or fortune, even if he was marrying for love.

There was a quick tap on the door, and without waiting for a response, Danielle walked in.

"I thought you'd be awake," she said without even saying good morning. "Nervous?"

"Not really. Just content."

"Good. I'm glad. You know, Giana was telling me that she has some really cute cousins on her father's side of the family."

"It seems hard to believe that shy, sweet Georgiana Darcy talks about boys like Lydia Bennet."

"She's not normally like that, you know. Just around me. I'm a bad influence on her."

"Yes, I'm beginning to see that. William told me that you've been telling her time travel stories."

Danielle had the grace to look sheepish. "Well, she'll never know that it was a movie."

"You've got to be careful or you're going to ruin a lot of perfectly good movie plots in about a hundred and seventy years."

"Not according to you. According to you, I only watch really silly movies and--"

"Well, you used to!"

Danielle smiled. "I didn't come here to fight, sis. I just came to say, before all the excitement begins, that I'm really happy for you. I hope it lasts as long as you want it to."

"It's going to, Danie. Bet on it."

"Ladies don't wager, except in those romance novels you used to read."

Maggie hugged her sister. "Thank you."

And with that, Maggie' maid came in to wake her mistress, and the preparations were started.

Maggie wished she could carry a tune and write sheet music, because she had really wanted the orchestra Darcy had hired for the occasion to at least play Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" at her wedding, but that was the price one paid for marrying a man from the nineteenth century. Charles gave away the bride, who everyone agreed looked absolutely breathtaking in her beautiful white gown, carrying a small bouquet of violets. They had been difficult to find, but Darcy had scoured the countryside to find them, and finally, he had. ("You smelled of violets, Maggie. I shall never forget that.")

The ceremony itself was a bit of a blur to her--until the moment in which she and William had exchanged vows, and that moment would be with her for all time. In the moment he had said that he would love, honor, and cherish her, Maggie had never felt more complete in her life. And although she had refused to say "obey," causing more than one person to chuckle privately (including the groom), Maggie knew that William felt the same way. There was no kiss at the end of the ceremony, which was a disappointment, but one Maggie could accept because there would be plenty of kisses that evening...and every evening for the rest of her life.

The reception, unfortunately, was just as blurry in her memory as much of the wedding. As Maggie looked at the sea of well-wishers, and some who were not wishing her as much joy, she couldn't help but wonder at it all, and every so often, she pinched herself to make sure it was real.

Finally, William escorted her to a carriage, and as they were driving to a small inn where they would spend the night and then head to Pemberley, Maggie leaned her head on his shoulder and finally slept, thinking, Margaret Darcy...what a strange sound. Maggie Darcy...hmm. Mrs. Darcy...very peculiar...but I'll get used to it, and soon, I suspect...

What finally awakened her was the sensation of falling. It happened to her sometimes while she was sleeping. A former roommate had once told her that you had to wake up if you felt like you were about to fall, or else you had a heart attack and died. Maggie always thought that was complete nonsense.

But when she woke up, her heart was beating much quicker than normal. Maggie wondered for a moment if they had come to a lurch in the road which had caused her to wake up, until she realized that she was sleeping in a bed...and she could smell bacon frying.

What's going on?

Maggie rubbed her eyes and looked around her. Strange as it seemed, but she was back in a room that looked a lot like...

Home!

Her breath caught in her throat, and she whipped her head in a frenzy to take everything in. Small windows with cheap, faded curtains. Green and gold shag carpeting. Lime green walls. The cheap dresser...and laying on top of it, quite innocently, was a dog-eared book. As Maggie grasped it tightly, she saw the title.

Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen.

"No," she whispered in a croak, unable to make a sound any louder. "No, God, please, no!"

She stood up and felt a little dizzy. Fighting the urge to sit back down, she walked to her bedroom door and opened it.

Her father was sitting at his computer, reading something from the Internet. The light was off in the living room, and when Maggie walked over to the couch, she saw her sister sleeping on it, as if nothing had happened. Her mother was cooking, and she called, "I was just about to wake you, Maggie. Your breakfast is almost ready."

"No," she whispered. And then, finally, she burst into long, agonized sobs. "God, no, please don't do this to me!"

"Maggie, what's the matter? My breakfast may not be on the scale of a French chef's, but I've never had any complaints before."

Maggie kept crying, unable to speak. The noise woke up Danielle, who sat up, sleepy and disoriented. It took her only a few seconds to realize where she was...and she was thrilled.

"Mom! Dad! You're..."

"Yes, Danie? We're what?" her father asked absentmindedly.

"Nothing," she said. "Is that breakfast I smell?"

"It's for your sister. She has to be a work earlier than you."

Danie looked at Maggie, whose sobs only grew louder. Without a word, she put her arms around her sister and held her as she cried.

Conclusion

Danie led Maggie back into her bedroom, closing the door.

"You were there, weren't you? It was real, wasn't it?" Maggie sobbed. "You remember? Netherfield and William and...Giana...and..."

"Yeah, I was there. I remember. But it was all a dream."

"It can't be! It's not fair!"

"What can I say? Is the world ever fair? Who knew that last night was going to be so peculiar? Makes me grateful for the here and now, I tell you."

"This isn't some little minor thing you can just sweep under the rug, Danie!"

"Okay, okay. You don't have to get snippy about it. But what can you do? It's over. You woke up."

"It can't be over...he needs me. I need him."

Danie took the book out of Maggie's hand and started to read. "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."

"Stop that!" Maggie snatched it back. She leafed through the pages, trying to find the passages that had been changed because of her presence. But nothing was different. The story was the same. Elizabeth married Darcy, who...

"He never needed you, Maggie, because he had no needs. He was just a character."

Maggie flung the book across the room and buried her face in her pillow. She felt her sister's comforting hands patting her shoulder, but when Maggie didn't respond, Danielle walked out of the room.

A short time later, her mother tapped on the door. "Maggie, are you all right?"

Maggie felt like she was going to be sick. But how could she explain anything to her mother? She would never understand. "I'm fine," she said softly. "I..."

"Well, you'd better hurry up or you're going to be late for work. I'll make you a bacon and egg sandwich for you to eat on the way."

Maggie slowly rose out of bed. She couldn't tell anyone, or they would think she was crazy. God, but this doesn't remind me of being at Netherfield in the beginning...but now, here, there's no William... Maggie felt like dying.

But she couldn't.

Maggie threw herself into her work for the next several days. She normally hated her job, but now it kept her away from home, the scene of her greatest heartbreak. Plus, it kept her fairly busy, which kept her mind temporarily off of Darcy.

"You've got the personality of a wet mop today," her boss, Wayne, told her as she cleared a table at work. "What's wrong? Bad time of the month?"

"I'm not feeling well," Maggie replied, reaching for a glass half-full of Mountain Dew and nearly knocking it over.

"Oh. Well, would you like to lie down for a while?" he asked.

"No...I'll be all right. I just need to keep working."

But in an empty restaurant didn't help matters. At least in work, Maggie could forget her heartache for a short while. Yet every time a tall, dark-haired young man came in, Maggie's heart would skip a beat, and she would hope against hope that it would be him.

Only of course, it wasn't. Danie was right. William was just a character in a story. And although he had seemed real to her, so real that it was killing her to be awake, he hadn't been. Not that sleeping helped, when she could sleep. Her dreams were filled of their one beautiful night together, and of the day she had married him, and the look in his eyes as he had assisted her into the carriage, and how he had reacted to seeing her in Netherfield Park in just a peach dress, loose ponytail, and bare feet...the memories from such a short period of time were endless. Especially since the short time had apparently only lasted until she had awakened the following morning.

Yet how could a dream seem so real? And how could Danielle and I have the same dream?

Maggie sighed. Once she had finished clearing the table, she grabbed a pair of rubber gloves and bleach and said to Wayne, "I'm going to clean the bathrooms."

"That's fine," he said with an absent wave of his hand.

Maggie spent the better part of fifteen minutes, nearly passing out from the bleach fumes in the hot bathrooms. When she was finished, she could hear Wayne calling, "Maggie! Customers waiting to be seated!"

Well, isn't that just peachy. I'm sure they love seeing you doing nothing but yelling that someone should get the door. Maggie opened the door, taking deep breaths and saying, "Just a moment, folks."

Her eyes were so teary that when she returned to the kitchen, she grabbed some napkins and blotted her eyes with them. Then, out of nowhere, it seemed, she heard a familiar voice.

"Dammit, Beth, you're embarrassing me. You're going to make Darcy jealous if you don't cut that out."

"Me, jealous? Because Beth and I couldn't make a go of it and so I suggested she go out with you? Never! I'm happy for you both, Ward, as I've said several times since you told me you two were married."

It was at the name "Darcy" that Maggie looked up. Her vision was slightly blurry, but for a second, she thought she recognized the trio waiting to be seated.

It can't be. This isn't happening.

But as her vision cleared, she noticed that the tallest member of the party was looking at her, almost as stunned as she was.

Maggie slowly came around to the foyer, but didn't ask them if they wanted a table. She just looked at this man, who looked exactly like William, and sounded...well, American, but almost exactly like William as well.

"Maggie," she heard Wayne say in a warning tone behind her. "Seat them."

But she didn't make a move, just stood in stunned disbelief. She knew that she was probably making a fool of herself, but then, he seemed to be staring at her as well.

"It's you," he whispered in much the same way as he...well, as William had that night at the pond.

And for the second time in her life, or perhaps just the first, Maggie fainted.

When she awoke, she was laying in someone's arms, and the someone was sitting on the floor.

"Are you all right?" the stranger asked. "Maggie?"

"I'm...I'm..."

"This is the strangest thing," he said. "You're Maggie...Innsbrook, right?"

"Yes. How did you--"

"I've been having dreams about you for about a week. I don't know why, since I've never met you before today, but...it's strange."

"I know." Maggie sat up slowly.

"Should you be trying to get up? You went out fast."

"Oh, I think I'll be okay."

"My name's Darcy Williamson."

"Darcy?" she said weakly.

"Yeah, I know. Strange name, isn't it? It's what I get for having a mother completely obsessed with Jane Austen. Austen's my middle name, even spelled like the author's."

"I...I think it's a lovely name."

"Really?" He smiled at her--William's smile. "I swear, you're the girl I've been dreaming about."

"Have they been good dreams?"

"Fragments, mostly. Images. Like...were you ever at a pond, without...oh. Maybe you'd be too embarrassed to admit to that one. Well, how about a house out of the Regency era, with a sister named Danielle who liked to tell this shy girl the plotlines of modern movies?"

"Yes," she said. "I mean, no. But I've dreamed about that, too."

"Funny."

"It is, isn't it?"

Neither of them spoke. Finally, he said, "I must admit, you have appeared, in my dreams, to be very unusual. But I kind of like unusual."

"You do?"

"Yeah. I mean, you're smart and funny...kind of like my cousin's wife Beth, but different somehow."

"Beth?" Maggie turned her attention over to the worried-looking couple sitting at a booth. Good God, it's Colonel Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Bennet!

"Yeah, that's her, with Ward."

"Ward? Is that short for Edward?"

"Yeah...how did you know that?"

Maggie smiled. "I think it came to me in a dream. But it was a wonderful dream."

He smiled as well. "Do you...well, do you suppose your boss would be too upset if..."

"Probably not. He'd insist that I go home and get some rest."

"Yes--rest. That would be the best thing, I think."

"Right." Maggie gave in to the urge she felt as he lowered his lips to hers. And when they kissed...

It was William's kiss. Or maybe it was Darcy's kiss, and he'd been William all along.

"Would it sound strange to tell you that I think I'm falling in love with you?" he asked softly.

"Not to me, it wouldn't."

"I had a feeling you were going to say that," he said.

And Maggie knew, in her heart, that she'd found the man for her--a real man--at last.

Epilogue

As for how everything ended...well...

Maggie and Darcy were soon spending a great deal of time together. Maggie couldn't believe that she'd finally found someone like him. He wasn't perfect--he had a tendency to be a bit autocratic, and he was sometimes without a good sense of humour, which a man needed to keep up with her. But they adjusted.

Darcy, she found out, was considered something of a computer nerd--with his own fortune made in the business to prove it. "Back when I was younger," he told her one day, "I was really a geek. You wouldn't believe it, but it's true."

"You could never be a geek," Maggie replied loyally.

Her parents were completely confused at their daughter's transformation. One day, she was completely immersed in her books, the next day, she was deeply involved with a man they'd never met before. Granted, Darcy was a very nice young man, and he would be able to more than provide for Maggie so she wouldn't have to work (which was not a great relief for her father even if it was for Maggie), but for her to become so involved so fast made them dizzy, and her father said as much.

"That's the way love is, Dad," Danielle told him. "It's almost as though they met in a dream."

Maggie couldn't help smiling.

Danielle and Georgiana fell in together as thick as thieves when they "met" for the first time. They were back to Giana and Danie, even though Darcy called his sister Georgie. It turned out that they both loved teen movies, music (even if their tastes ran differently there), and yakking with each other...either in person or on the phone.

Darcy asked Maggie to marry him about three months after they met, insisting that the wedding be held as soon as possible. Maggie agreed--of course. And how could she help but choose a Regency-style wedding as her theme? Everything, from the gown she wore to the flowers she carried was identical to the wedding she had participated in once upon a dream.

Only this time, when Margaret Christine Innsbrook Williamson awoke, she was in her husband's arms. And that was where she would always be.

The End.