When the carriage and ultimately Darcy, arrived back at Netherfield the Colonel was waiting on the steps for him. He tutted and shook his head as he took in the state of his cousin.

'Seriously Darce.. you overdo it.'

'Not now Richard… I've had a somewhat tiring day.'

'Come, let me sneak you past the party to your rooms. Miss Bingley is desperate for your attentions and she will not let you go, even if you were at death's door, which I am not convinced you are not.'

'I appreciate your assistance and unwavering loyalty cousin.' Darcy uttered sardonically.

'I could just as well throw you into the Lion's den Darce.'

'Just get me upstairs, I need to get out of these clothes.'

Richard supported Darcy around the shoulders as they started the climb. 'Have you eaten Darce?' With a start he realised he had not and shook his head. 'I'll get a man to bring up a tray.'

After bathing and changing, Darcy decided that he was much too fatigued to leave his rooms. The Colonel brought Georgiana up after Dinner to Darcy's room as per his request to share the news of his engagement. He'd felt a huge weight would be lifted once he had come clean to his sister.

Georgiana and Richard waited for Darcy in his sitting room with a tray of sweets and tea. When he arrived both were surprised to see him in a dressing gown rather than his normal attire, and it gave them a true indication of just how exhausted he was.

'Are you well Fitz, shall I send for Doctor Taylor?'

'I am well Georgie… just very tired. I will rest soon.' He patted her hand as he sat in a chair and she busied herself by pouring him a tea.

The Colonel sat back and sipped on his while eyeing his Cousin over the rim of his glass. Darcy was still losing weight, he would need to speak with Doctor Taylor himself.

Georgiana handed Darcy his cup and sat back with her own. He thanked her and took a sip of the sweet liquid. After a few moments of silence, Darcy put the cup down and leaned forward towards his sister.

'Georgie, there is something I must share with you, and I hope that you will be pleased.'

Frowning she placed her cup down. 'Is it the illness… have you found a cure?'

'No, no... Something I hope you will agree is infinitely better…. Georgie today I visited Loungbourn for a discussion with Mr Bennett, I am sure you have long suspected my attachment…. Miss Elizabeth Bennett has agreed to become my wife.'

Georgiana sat in stunned silence before launching herself out of her chair and into her brother's arms, almost winding the poor man, her arms so tight around his neck that Darcy face showed the strain.

'Steady on Georgie' the Colonel chuckled before he got up and placed a congratulatory pat on his Cousin's shoulder. 'Well bloody done Darce… well done. Not before time though.'

Georgiana pulled back and sat at his feet. 'I could see that you seemed to have a preference for one another… but how, when… I don't…'

'Perhaps one question at a time. Sit down Georgie and I'll tell you everything.' Darcy was beaming, he wasn't sure when last he'd smiled quite so much as he had today. The party returned to their seats, Georgiana eagerly awaiting the tale of her friend and brother.

'When first I met Miss Bennett, I was abominably rude, I snubbed her at a local ball and quite frankly her first impression of me was not incorrect. Miss Bennett did not think highly of me at all. This was not helped by the arrival of the militia to Meryton, and more specifically of Mr Wickham.'

The Colonel squeezed Georgiana's hand for support.

'Mr Wickham slandered my character, and given her previous encounters with me, Miss Elizabeth had no reason to not believe anything he told her. With every meeting Elizabeth disliked me more, and unaware of here feelings, I started to become more enchanted with her.'

'So I was not wrong to believe as I did that you might offer for her?'

Darcy shook his head. 'Indeed you were shockingly accurate.' He cleared his throat uncomfortably. 'After learning that Miss Elizabeth was visiting the parson's wife at Rosings, Richard and I left earlier than planned for our Easter visit, so that our visits would coincide. When there I realised that my feelings for Miss Elizabeth would not be easily forgotten, I realised that I had gone from admiration to love, and that I could not imagine anyone else for the position of Mrs Darcy.'

'How romantic, but what happened? Why did you not propose?' Georgiana was on the edge of her chair, enthusiastic to hear her brother's love story.

Darcy looked to Richard for help but he simply smirked and took a generous gulp of his cup.

'I did propose Georgie. I was refused.'

Georgiana let out a bark of laughter causing both men to stare wide-eyed at her. 'I am sorry brother, I do not mean to be insensitive, but I can well imagine it, that is so like Lizzie.'

'I'm ashamed of the proposal I made, I condescended and patronised her, mocked and denigrated her connections. She was right to refuse me and I was angry and sorely disappointed at her doing so. I resolved to give her up.'

Georgiana frowned 'By marrying Miss de Vere?'

'That was not my original intention. When I returned to London I visited the family Doctor. I had become increasingly unwell, fatigued and weakened. I felt it might be because I was agitated by Miss Bennet's refusal. It was there that I learned of my health concerns. I decided to press on with my visit to Mr de Vere,hoping that sea air and the country would increase my stamina. While there Miss de Vere did not seem immune to me, she was a handsome and accomplished young lady. You must understand that I was worried about what my failing health might mean for your future Georgie and I needed to secure that.'

'Then that entire affair was for my benefit?'

Darcy shook his head and smiled warmly. 'You are my sister, I did not wish to leave you alone. However I admit that it was mainly about me, my hurt pride and heart and my fear of leaving this world without a legacy or protection for you.'

'Then... does this mean that you did not have feelings for Miss de Vere, Fitz?'

He smiled reassuringly. 'Georgie I assure you that I have only ever had feelings for the future Mrs Darcy.'

Georgiana smiled warmly and nodded, pleased by her brother's admission. Equally eager for the story to continue.

'When I returned, more ill than I had been before I left, I knew time was running short. I had decided to right some wrongs that I had caused, one of those wrongs was being instrumental in the separation Mr Bingley from Miss Jane Bennett.' Georgiana gasped but Mr Darcy held up a hand. 'Another time…. When we returned to Netherfield I was shocked to find out about your acquaintance with Miss Elizabeth, and when I saw her again, when I saw your blooming friendship, I realised that time had not lessened my feelings, and even though I knew it would be danger for my heart for me to do so, I determined to allow you to continue your friendship. The time we passed at Pemberley was enough to convince me that Miss de Vere could never be Mrs Darcy.'

Darcy sighed and sat back. The Colonel got up and poured two whiskeys, handing one to Darcy who smiled in thanks.

'This next part may be hard to hear Georgie but please let me out it… I had the notion that it would be best if I arranged a marriage between you and Richard. That you would be protected after I was gone. When I told Miss Elizabeth she was outraged on your behalf, she called me out on it and I gave her an abominable ultimatum... Miss Elizabeth could marry me or accept that you would marry the Colonel.'

'Fitzwilliam! How could you! How could you do such a thing!' Georgiana had leapt from her chair in outrage and Mr Darcy hung his head, thoroughly rebuked once again.

'I'm not proud of what I did Georgie, and I loathed myself for it you can be assured, but then the most extraordinary thing happened, she agreed to it. Knowing that she was unaware of my continued affections and not knowing her own feelings I was terribly unhappy. After a couple of weeks of not hearing from her I resolved to come here, to find out once and for all her feelings for me and whether she was could still be party to our agreement.'

'But Lizzie loves you… I am sure of it!' Sitting back in her chair, Georgiana grasped her brother's hand and squeezed gently.

Darcy beamed at both family members and nodded with a toothy grin. 'She does, and I her, and all misunderstandings appear to have been resolved. I have Mr Bennett's permission and Miss Elizabeth's love… and despite how badly I have acted in the past, she has agreed to be my wife.'

Georgiana squealed. 'I will have a sister… I will have Elizabeth as a sister! Oh Fitz I am so happy for you, but you must make it up to her, your poor behaviour was very poor indeed.'

The stern look and words from his sister stunned him but he could feel nothing but pride at how fiercely his sister acted for his future wife.

Colonel Fitzwilliam rose and stretched. 'Congratulations again old man…. Now get some rest, you have the rest of Netherfield to break it to tomorrow, come Georgie. Your brother can barely keep his eyes open.'

Georgiana hugged her brother and he pressed a kiss to her forehead before they left Darcy to contemplate his future. Exhausted by the events of the day Darcy made his way to the bed and flopped onto it, wincing at the pain in his bones as he did so.

When the carriage from Longbourn drew up to the front of Netherfield Elizabeth was pleased to see both Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy waiting on the front steps to greet them. The men made their way down towards the ladies who were being handed out of the carriage by the footman, Mr Darcy's gait was slightly slower due to his heavy use of the cane which made Elizabeth frown slightly.

Mr Bingley smiled warmly and greeted them both just as Mr Darcy joined them at the steps of the carriage. Taking Elizabeth's hand, he bowed deeply over it and smiled up at her. 'I am glad you are come.'

Elizabeth blushed gently, Mr Darcy stood up and cleared his throat, suddenly remembering the elder Bennett sister and bowed to her, apologising for his oversight. Jane simply smiled knowingly and took Mr Bingley's arm to ascend the steps to Netherfield. Mr Darcy offered his arm to Elizabeth and they began a somewhat slower ascent.

'Before we meet the rest of the party Elizabeth, there is something I must own to..'

Elizabeth arched an eyebrow. 'So soon into our engagement Mr Darcy?'

'I have not yet had the opportunity to yet speak with Miss Bingley.' He glanced at Elizabeth but her face remained inscrutable. 'I will make it known as soon as possible, yesterday's excitement fatigued me more than I had hoped.'

Elizabeth stopped and turned to him with concern, her eyes searching his face for signs of illness. 'Are you well? Perhaps we should postpone?'

Darcy clutched the hand on his arm and squeezed. 'Absolutely not. Now that I have you here I will not give you up so easily... besides, I must set things right with Miss Bingley. It is long overdue.'

She searched his eyes and face for another long second before nodding reluctantly. 'I do not wish for any secrets between us, if you feel unwell you must tell me.'

He nodded his agreement and they continued their entrance into Netherfield to join the rest of the party.

The drawing room was quiet when the entered, with Miss Bingley watching the entryway very carefully, scrutinising the delay between her brother's arrival with Jane and Mr Darcy's arrival with Elizabeth. She scowled visibly when she noticed Elizabeth clutching Mr Darcy's arm, but the former was still occupied with Mr Darcy's health and she failed to notice.

Miss Bingley immediately rose and started to hurry across the room to greet them. On reaching them, Elizabeth was completely ignored in favour of Mr Darcy. 'Mr Darcy! You are not unwell are you?'

Batting Elizabeth's hand away from his arm, Miss Bingley secured her clutch around it and started to half drag the man into the drawing room, much to his consternation. 'Miss Bingley, I am quite well I assure you.'

'No Mr Darcy, pray forgive me but you must sit down.'

Whilst Elizabeth was part-amused, part-vexed by Miss Bingley's machinations she allowed her fiance to be manoeuvred into a chair, after all sitting down could not do him much harm. As Miss Bingley placed herself next to him she directed a smug glance at Elizabeth before turning her attention to pouring Mr Darcy a cup of tea. So focused on the amusement in front of her, Elizabeth failed to notice Georgiana until the young lady was in front of her and in an almost Miss Bingley-like-manner dragging her to a parlour table in the furthest corner of the room.

Slightly bewildered Elizabeth looked at Georgiana in concern before blushing at the girl's knowing grin. 'We are to be sisters!' Georgiana whispered in an excited manner. 'Oh Lizzie I cannot believe it, I have prayed for this...'

'I cannot believe it myself Georgie. I am the happiest of women.'

They sat at their table and Georgiana made Elizabeth recount her side of the romance, in much detail. Miss Bingley watched them suspiciously from her perch next to Mr Darcy, clearly curious but loathe to give it up.

'I am so happy Lizzie, and so is Fitz... you truly have made him the happiest of men.' Elizabeth blushed and looked over to where Mr Darcy was sitting with Miss Bingley, his stare fixed on them both. 'I have wanted to speak with you all morning. Miss Bingley is not yet aware, Fitz was very late to break his fast this morning, he had not a chance and he asked Richard and I not to speak of it.'

No sooner had she spoken that the Colonel had appeared at their side. 'Miss Bennet. How do you do?'

'I am well Colonel, very well.'

'I have heard your happy news, and I am delighted that any misunderstandings are now behind you. Let me be one of the first to wish you joy.'

'I thank you Colonel.'

'Oh pish posh, you must call me Richard, we are after all going to be family.'

Neither of the party had noticed that Miss Bingley, overcome by her curiosity was now upon them, until she shrieked in false excitement. 'Miss Eliza! I am to congratulate you? And Colonel... I had not realised that you had formed an attachment! You are sly.'

Elizabeth looked helplessly to the Colonel who appeared utterly perplexed. 'I beg your pardon madam... an attachment?'

'Oh come now... you are among friends. You need not hide it from us, I heard you ask Miss Eliza to call you by you Christian name, that you would soon become family.. you have become engaged. And to think that none of us were aware... Georgiana, did you know? I cannot believe you would conceal this from me.'

The Colonel now looked somewhat amused by this exchange and met the eyes of Darcy who was making his way over to the party with a somewhat exasperated expression. 'Much as I would love to own to Miss Elizabeth having accepted my hand Miss Bingley, I am afraid that I cannot, that pleasure is not mine...'

He looked to her meaningfully, but Miss Bingley seemed to be completely confused. 'But you clearly said you were soon to be family. Then whom...'

'That pleasure I believe... is mine.' Miss Bingley spun so quickly that Elizabeth was certain that her body and head were moving independently of one another. 'Miss Elizabeth Bennet has agreed to enter into an engagement... with me.' Mr Darcy's voice was deep but steady. His eyes fixed, over the head of Miss Bingley, on his future bride.

No one could be certain how it happened, but in an instant Miss Bingley, whose face it would seem was completely devoid of colour was in one moment standing, and in the next lying on the floor in a flurry of silk, she had clear fainted. The Colonel swopped down in an instant and picked the lady up from the floor, Mr Darcy called for a maid.

When the lady came to her senses she was laid out on a chaise in the drawing room with Georgiana holding her clammy wrist and a maid fanning her. Mr Bingley stood over the chaise with a slightly concerned expression. 'Caroline? Are you well?'

Miss Bingley once again looked confused, attempting to push herself up from the chaise but finding herself entirely too weak to do so. When she looked across the room to where Mr Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth were standing, and as the events returned to her she quite suddenly summoned the motivation to sit.

Seeing that Miss Bingley was awake once again, the party made their way to her. 'Are you well Miss Bingley? You took quite a fall.' Elizabeth appeared genuinely concerned.

Miss Bingley could not keep the disdain from her voice as she sneered at the younger woman. 'I am quite well I assure you. I must have been mistaken, I had thought that I heard Mr Darcy confirm an understanding between you... I know that it is quite impossible, Mr Darcy is not the type of man to lower himself to such a connection.'

Elizabeth cast her eyes around the room. 'I am happy to confirm it Miss Bingley, Mr Darcy and I are in fact engaged.'

'I can only presume that you have compromised him, Mr Darcy, pray, think again. If you have been compromised we can ensure that no one...'

Mr Darcy straightened at this, to his full imposing height. 'That is quite enough madam! I will not allow the future Mrs Darcy to be spoken to in such an insulting manner, you will desist this instant.'

Elizabeth and Caroline both paled and turned to him, the anger was evident in every fibre of him. His arm shaking where he held the cane in an indignant rage. Bingley looking not quite as enraged, but certainly put out, stepped forward.

'I assure you that Miss Elizabeth's behaviour has been above reproach, even when mine has not. I have long courted the idea of marrying Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and can assure you that I have never, nor will I ever, esteem a lady as much as I esteem the future Mrs Darcy.'

'You will apologise at once Caroline! You are being unforgivably rude to Mr Darcy, and my I add, to your future sister.' Jane blinked slowly, so unused to seeing Mr Bingley display any hint of a temper.

'Sister indeed!' Miss Bingley stood on somewhat shaky legs and left the room hurriedly if not somewhat unsteadily. Bingley turned to Darcy and apologised as Jane made her way to Elizabeth.

'Are you well Lizzie? I am sorry for what Miss Bingley has said, you know that it is simply due to her own disappointed hopes.'

Elizabeth smiled good naturedly. 'Oh Jane, it was never to be an easy conversation. You must not apologise for it, as our sister I am certain that Miss Bingley will have plenty of opportunities to apologise in the future.'

Darcy approached and Jane squeezed her sister's hand and returned to a somewhat annoyed and disgraced Bingley. Mr Darcy took her hands in his. 'It is done. Miss Bingley now knows that she will not be the future Mrs Darcy, I suspect it is not the last outburst we will experience, but at least for now I may defend you without drawing attention to my notice of you.'

'Mr Bingley did not seem surprised.'

Darcy smiled ruefully. 'I could not keep it from Bingley. I told him as we waited for your arrival from Longbourn. He is most happy for us both.'

Elizabeth smiled and lowered her lashes. 'As am I.' As she said it, she also cast a worried glance to the door in which Miss Bingley had just quitted the room. This outburst had been a stark reminder that Miss Bingley was to become her sister very soon, and that she shouldn't make sport of the lady's feelings. As much as she knew that Miss Bingley despised her, she also hoped that she would overcome her disappointment soon.

'Will you stay for dinner?'

She smiled at him generously and nodded. 'If Mr Bingley will have us.'

Darcy turned to where Jane was consoling Mr Bingley who appeared to be cheering from his anger at speed. 'I have no doubt that Mr Bingley would invite you to live here at Netherfield if it would keep your sister near him.'

Smiling contentedly she squeezed his hands again and arched a brow 'Would that be such a bad thing?'

Looking intently into her eyes Mr Darcy allowed a small smile to play on his lips. 'No, indeed it would not. Though I would much prefer your living with me at Pemberley, and not having to visit Mr Bingley to see my own wife.' Elizabeth took comfort in his good humor. 'Perhaps we can take to the gardens later? I fear I will not have any time with you alone.'

'I think I would like that very much Mr Darcy, but... only if you are improved somewhat, you seem weakened since yesterday.'

'I will not hide it. Yesterday was the most wonderful day, but I am much tired from the excitement.' He held a hand to his mouth and gently pressed a kiss, eliciting a very pretty blush from her. 'I promise you that I will overcome this Elizabeth, you have given me a reason to overcome this.'

After joining the rest of the party conversation flowed easily, congratulations were given and the uneasy atmosphere began to lift. Plans for the future were discussed, estates, travels and shopping. No one could have suspected that above stairs, Miss Bingley was desperately plotting how she might separate Mr Darcy from Elizabeth, that her disappointed hopes had not been completely discarded.