It was at brunch that the course of Lizzy Bennet's life began to unveil itself.

It happened like this.

The tradition of Lizzy's fortnightly brunch with her sister Jane had begun two years ago. The first time, Jane brought news that she'd landed that brilliant job at the PR firm she'd wanted for years. Two weeks later, at a different restaurant, Lizzy announced that she had finally managed to secure funding for her PhD. Nothing amazing happened the next fortnight, or the one after that, but they kept up the brunch schedule, just in case something would.

Something did, five months later. Jane Bennet met her undeniable soulmate in Charlie Bingley, the kind of guy who could come off well on Tinder, although they actually met through Charlie's sister. After half a year, they were living together. Lizzy's life, on the other hand, did not yet have an undeniable soulmate in it, but she did have a cat named Wystan.

The restaurant they were at now, the scene of the turning point in Lizzy Bennet's life, was probably not the venue she would've chosen, had she'd known. "Why did you pick this one? I think I used that font in GCSE Art," she'd told Jane, last night, whilst scrolling through the restaurant's website.

"Well, it'll be a nice reminder," Jane had replied.

Lizzy had got a C.

But now, Jane's face was serious, and she had taken Lizzy's hand. "Lizzy, I want to tell you something."

Lizzy smiled. "And what is that, Jane?"

"Well," said Jane, looking down at the hand she'd placed over Lizzy's and blushing slightly. The ring sparkled in the light of the aggressively trendy overhanging lamps, and Lizzy's face broke into a grin.

"Oh, my God," said Lizzy. "Jane, I'm so happy for you! I'm going to hug you." She jumped up from her seat and flung her arms around her. "So Charlie finally did it then, huh?"

"He did," agreed Jane, as Lizzy released her and sat back down. "Oh, Lizzy, it was so wonderful. I'd not had the best day at work, and then I came home, and there were rose petals. In a trail, leading to our bedroom. And I walked in, and I was still carrying my bag, and a dripping umbrella, and Charlie was just standing there with all these candles around him, looking at me. It was the loveliest moment of my life."

"I'm sure you'll have many more lovely moments ahead," said Lizzy warmly.

"The ring is gorgeous, too," added Jane.

Lizzy looked at it. "Ah, rose gold. Very current."

Jane tried to tilt her head and give Lizzy a disapproving look, but she was smiling too much. "I won't even respond to that," said Jane airily. "I'm too happy."

Just then, the man who was the cause of this happy moment appeared behind Jane.

"Guess who," he said, leaning down to kiss her cheek.

Jane smiled and turned around to hug him. "Charlie," she said, in a voice of such love and joy that Lizzy wondered idly if she should just give up her season of singleness and go on a date.

In a brilliant moment of coincidence, another man, who had appeared with Charlie, spoke to Lizzy.

"Interesting I should find you here," he said.

Lizzy looked away from Jane and Charlie, deep in lovers' conversation, into the annoyingly handsome face of Will Darcy.

"Why's that?" she asked sharply.

He looked surprised at her question.

"I just — I seem to recall that you don't like eggs," he said, hastily. "And this place specialises in them."

Lizzy narrowed her eyes. "And how do you know that?"

Will Darcy opened his mouth to reply, but the universe took pity on him and Jane spoke instead.

"Anyway, Lizzy, what I was going to say, before Charlie interrupted our sisterly chat —" a pause, for an adoring look at her fiancé — "is if you would be willing to be my maid of honour."

Lizzy grinned. "It would really screw you over if I said no, wouldn't it?"

Instantly, Jane's lip quivered. "Please don't. Then I'd have to ask Lydia…"

"I shudder to think," said Lizzy. "Of course I'll be your maid of honour. I hope the best man's hot," she added, as an afterthought.

Charlie cleared his throat. "That would, er, depend on what you thought of Will."

A silence descended over the table, as everyone recalled Lizzy's opinion of Will. They had only met twice before, but the first time Will called her career aspirations 'unbeneficial to society' and Lizzy called him a 'corporate wanker', and the second, Will beat Lizzy at Mario Kart.

"Oh," she said faintly. "Of course."

Jane coughed delicately. "Anyway," she said. "Charlie and I want the wedding to be as soon as possible. I called around this morning, and found some places we were considering for the ceremony and reception. So we wanted to start looking at venues tomorrow. We'd love it if you both came. You know, so Mum wouldn't feel the need to. Please, Lizzy?"

Lizzy reminded herself that Jane's happiness was worth more than a few hours spent with someone she very much disliked. "OK, alright. Whatever you need."

"Will?" asked Charlie.

"Anything," said Will, firmly. "Of course."

"Fantastic," said Charlie. "Well, Jane and I are off to the Tate now."

"I've been dying to see the Alighiero Boetti exhibition," said Jane, and Lizzy and Charlie exchanged doubtful looks.

Will clapped Charlie's shoulder. "Enjoy yourselves. See you tomorrow."

"I'll text you the details," added Charlie.

Goodbyes were exchanged, and Jane and Charlie left. This left Lizzy and Will, and a half-finished mimosa, which Lizzy snatched up, to delay talking.

"So," said Will, and sat down in Jane's seat.

Lizzy sipped her mimosa.

"Can I talk to you?" he asked.

She gave him a look.

"Right," he said, flushing. "I know we don't have the best history —"

"You called my job 'unbeneficial to society'," Lizzy agreed, looking at him over her glass.

"Right," he said again. "I'm sorry. It was in the heat of the moment and I didn't mean it like that. Can we just put all of that behind us? I'll tolerate you, you'll tolerate me. We'll be in each other's lives forever now. We should start to accommodate that."

Lizzy narrowed her eyes. "You've had time to prepare this speech, haven't you?"

"Jesus," said Will. "That doesn't mean it isn't genuine."

Lizzy smiled. "Alright, alright." She held out her hand. "I'll even shake on it."

She was not prepared for the weird electricity that sparked when Will Darcy's hand touched hers.

Shit .

This oughtn't have been a surprise to her. The first time they'd met, at Charlie's birthday party, she'd thought he was cute and been bitterly disappointed when she overheard him telling his sister about how lousy academia was as a career. She had jumped into that conversation, obviously, and it hadn't ended in a way Lizzy was proud of.

"Anyway, I've got to go," she said, standing up, slinging her bag over her shoulder.

"I'll walk you out," said Will.

Unable to think of a polite way to decline, especially after their newly-drawn truce, she nodded. Two painfully silent minutes later, they were at the door.

"I'll see you tomorrow," she said, and dashed out.