So, as promised, this story is now back. Thank you all for your patience, I greatly appreciate it.

Love

Nic

Chapter 1

"I would by no means suspend any pleasure of yours," he coldly replied1.

, and then fell silent once more.

To Elizabeth's relief shortly after the dance ended, and she was led off the dance floor by Mr. Darcy and back to Miss Lucas, who was currently engaged in an animated conversation with, Mr. Collins. Or rather Mr. Collins was animatedly conversing in his usual pompous way while Charlotte listened to him in silence smiling politely, once in a while nodding in agreement.

Suppressing yet another sigh, as she had done so often this evening already, Elizabeth thought of how much the relief of one evil could lead to yet another. Her cousin over the last few days had made it perfectly clear that he intended to make her mistress of his parsonage at Hunsford, and her mother, to no surprise, encouraged him vividly in his efforts. Of course, he had mentioned more than once what a happy union this would be in regards to his noble patroness Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and that the recommendation for him to marry from amongst his cousins had initially stemmed from her.

"… the lane, my dear Miss Lucas, which separates my own humble abode from the most wonderful grounds of Rosings Park is but narrow, nothing really but a footpath. Lady Catherine herself remarked one evening, as I had been invited to tea as she often does in her great kindness, that it does not really count as a separation at all. Not at all. Now is this not kindness indeed?"

Struggling to keep her countenance, Elizabeth watched the couples arrange themselves for another dance. The next would be the supper set as midnight was nearing, and it did not bode well that she had not been asked by any of the gentlemen for this dance. Though perhaps, she smiled to herself, it could just as well be lucky that not even Mr. Collins in his overbearing attentiveness of late had remembered to put himself forward in this way.

"… really, it is such a shame that Miss Anne de Bourgh is of a rather sickly constitution. She is the most elegant of creatures I have ever seen and I have often told her Ladyship that she has deprived the court of its brightest ornament by not introducing her there. But of course, she is of such noble, such prominent position that an introduction is not really necessary in her case..."

Elizabeth could listen no longer. With searching glances she, at last, managed to locate Mary, as usually sitting in a corner all by herself, looking on with a mask of diffidence and contempt.

"I really cannot see what the attraction of a ball is all about!" her sister exclaimed as soon as Elizabeth had reached her taking a seat to her right. "I infinitely prefer a book."

"Well, reading is hardly an acceptable occupation during a ball, Mary. It clearly defies its object."

"It is still better than dancing." Mary insisted. "Dancing is so wild, so animalistic even, it can hardly be deemed proper. Look at how sweaty all these people are and how stuffy this room is despite its size. And just look at Kitty and Lydia how wild they behave - and with how little decorum."

Elizabeth turned around to see for herself and sure enough, even though they were not part of the set, each clung to the arm of an officer flirting wildly, laughing unabashedly and standing far closer to the men than propriety allowed. But before she had a chance to reach and remind them of how to behave with decency, the dance had ended and the bell announcing supper chimed.

As the people piled out of the overly heated ballroom, there Mary certainly had a point, and into the dining-parlour, Elizabeth caught sight of Mr. Darcy again looking intently at her with an expression she could not make out at all. Something like a smile played around his lips and lit up his eyes and she was curious as to what Bingley had just told him to appear so almost cheerful, for surely it could not be the sight of her which could produce such a handsome expression on his otherwise sombre and haughty face.

Settling between Mary and Charlotte Lucas she took nothing but a bit of white soup and an apple afterwards. Hearing her mother speak loudly and for everyone not completely deaf to perceive about Jane's most fortunate prospects of marrying Mr. Bingley, left her with little appetite.

"Five thousand a year!" Mrs. Bennet's shrill voice sounded across the room making many a head turn towards her as she merrily chatted on, addressing Lady Lucas. "Now it is a fine prospect indeed. And with Jane married so well, it will throw her sisters into the paths of men equally rich, I dare say. Lizzy, of course, will be married to Mr. Collins, who has paid her the utmost attention. And really I am so glad that one day one of my own daughters will be mistress of Longbourn. These entailments are such a nuisance and so unbelievably complicated, I can never make up my mind about them."

Being used to her mother's indiscretion, Elizabeth tried her best to ignore it as there was little chance of influencing a topic so dear to her. But when Mr. Collins got up, proclaiming he had just found out that at this very instance a relative, a nephew nonetheless of his noble patroness Lady Catherine de Bourgh, was present among them and that it was absolutely necessary to inform him of her Ladyship's well-being, she had to intervene.

"Do you think it wise to approach a man you have not been introduced to? Surely you must see the impropriety of it, Mr. Collins." she carefully tried to dissuade him.

"Your concern does you credit, Cousin Elizabeth." he began, looking down on her as he had already gotten up from his seat and was about to walk past her. "But in my position as a clergyman and being under the protection of Lady Catherine herself I am sure my advances will be most welcome. I am after all not just somebody."

"But surely..." she once more tried, only to be interrupted.

"I can assure you, my dearest cousin, your advice will always be welcome to me. But as you are by no means as experienced in society as noble as this as I am, I dare say I will follow my own good judgement. Who would object to the assurances of a dear aunt's well being? Pray, excuse me."

The mortification as he approached Mr. Darcy was immense and just when she had thought it could not be surpassed, Mr. Bingley, who till now had been completely engrossed in a conversation with Jane, in an attempt to gain control over the situation which was about to get out of hand due to her own family, suggested a song. His plight had not been finished when Mary had jumped up and hurried towards the pianoforte, nearly knocking over Mrs. Hurst to whom this request had actually been made, and with an air of arrogance which in no way befitted her skill, she began playing and singing. Mary's voice was by no means up to such a challenge and even though her technique was good, her performance generally lacked spirit and emotion.

Elizabeth could take it no longer. Excusing herself from Charlotte she hurried out of the room in quest of finding a commode, or rather of finding solitude.

When she had finished, Elizabeth could not quite bring herself to return straight away and finding the billiard room to be empty she slipped inside, closing the door behind her. Only the muffled sounds of conversation and music reached her now. Silence at last!

Sitting down in one of the comfortable armchairs in front of the fireplace she was surprised to find a book lying on the side table. A magnificent table with an inlaid chess board. Smiling Elizabeth ran her hand along the smooth surface before reaching for the tome. Perhaps Mary was right, after all, perhaps reading was preferable to a ball – at least a ball which held so much potential for embarrassment and so little for true enjoyment.

It was a surprise to find that the book bore no title. It was a pretty little volume though, bound in dark blue leather with a golden floral embossment and gilded leaves. Could it be a diary? And if, whose was it? Curiously Elizabeth flipped through it. It was not a diary, had it been she would have put it back straight away. But it was a printed book as she had hoped. A printed book with coloured copperplate prints. At first, she did not quite realise what she held in her hands, but then it dawned on her as she stared at one of the very detailed prints blushing furiously.

With widening eyes and reddened cheeks Elizabeth Bennet began to read unawares of the figure who had just entered the room as silently as she had done before and for the very same reason.

1Jane Austen in Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 18.