I am back with another tale with that I hope you will enjoy. As usual my story is a regency with some modern language which I hope will not turn you steadfast regency readers off ! The story is a WIP and I will be posting a few chapters at a time at least once a week if not more. I look forward to your comments and suggestions. Please enjoy!

Blurb: Mr. Darcy entered Hertfordshire with a hidden identity and no expectations. What happens when an unexpected encounter shocks him into offering for the country nobody he fell in love with against his will? And how will Elizabeth Bennet escape from a bleak future when her father falls ill and everything she thought she knew about her dearest sister and charming new friend turns out to be lie?

Fitzwilliam Darcy was a man in distress. It had been almost two months since the worst day of his life happened, and he had yet to recover. Apparently he had not hidden his sorry state as well as he thought he had, because he was now sitting in his study as his cousin, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, lectured him on his erratic behavior as of late and grilled him for the cause. He had not been able to conquer this as he expected to. Maybe talking to someone about it and unburdening his heart would cause it to lighten. With a sigh and a big swallow of brandy, he began the tale that made him question everything he had ever believed.

"Miss Elizabeth Bennet" he said succinctly.

"I cannot say that I am surprised" said the colonel. "You spoke of her in your letters while you were at Bingley's estate more than I have ever known you to speak of a woman."

"It was unconsciously done, I assure you. I was in the throes of falling in love for the first time in my life, and had no knowledge that I was doing so at the time. She is everything I ever wanted in a woman, minus the wealth and connections my wife is expected to have. Beautiful, intelligent, witty, and utterly charming as she willfully disagreed with everything I said, even if she concurred with me. She has the most inappropriate family I have ever had the displeasure to meet so I, of course, fought against the growing feelings I was developing for her. Despite finding her unacceptable and decidedly beneath me, I could not help but to be drawn to her, and I thought she felt the same for me. That theory all came crashing down on the last day I spent at the estate before hastily quitting the area."

"That sounds dramatic" said the colonel. "What happened?"

"Following my frustrating dance at the Netherfield ball with the beautiful Miss Elizabeth Bennet I needed to get away from the crowd to think over the testy conversation we had about Wickham, of all people, during our set. I went into the library for some solitude, only to discover that Bingley had also sought refuge there after a disturbing conversation of his own with the eldest Miss Bennet. As Bingley began to tell me what had upset him, we heard someone calling my name from outside the door. Bingley, who had apparently recognized the voice immediately, hid himself for reasons I did not understand at the time, and beckoned me to answer the call" he began, as he thought back on the shocking scene.

He opened the door and, to his surprise, found the eldest Miss Bennet on the other side, staring at him with what could only be described as a look of seduction on her face.

"I thought I saw you flee the ballroom after your dance with my sister, and wanted to make sure you were well, Mr. Darcy" she said as she walked into the room and closed the door.

"Thank you for your concern, Miss Bennet. I assure you I am well, and I think we should return to the ball. It would not do for us to be seen thus" he responded as he tried to walk around her and open the door, only for her to block his path.

"I assure you I was very discreet when I left the ballroom. No one shall discover us, my love" she said as she flung herself at him. Mr. Darcy, having the quick reflexes of one who had dodged many attempts to compromise him, swiftly moved out of her reach, causing her to stumble.

"You forget yourself, madam!" he said in shock, never expecting this behavior from her.

"But, Fitzwilliam" said Jane as she recovered from her near fall. "Is this not what you want? Is this not what you have waited for since the moment our eyes met at the assembly? I know it is only the attention your annoying friend paid to me that made you fail to approach me, and I have taken care of that for you. I have told him of our love for each other and rebuffed his advances."

"I do not take your meaning, madam. I have had no such thoughts of you and I have done nothing to make you think otherwise. These conjectures are wild and unfounded, and I beg you not to delay me any further" he said as he again tried to reach for the door, only for her to once again stop him.

"So the madly in love ploy shall not work on you? I thought you were too clever to fall for such a scheme, though it did not hurt to try" she said in a hard, cold voice, all traces of the gentle, innocent maiden now gone.

"So you have decided to show your true self?" asked the flabbergasted man. "I must give you credit, madam, for I was completely taken in by your blushing maiden act, as was my friend. What do you want from me?"

"You mean what have I already achieved? Why marriage of course. Marriage to a handsome man and his 10000 a year. The moment I closed the door it was inevitable, and all the time I have spent perfecting my act of modesty has finally paid off. No one will believe your tale of a planned compromise by one such as the lovely Jane Bennet" she said with a wicked smile on her face. "But everyone will believe an attempted assignation by the proud Mr. Darcy with the prettiest jewel of the county. A jewel you could not resist even if she were all but engaged to your friend."

Never had he been more thankful for Bingley's presence than he was in that moment as he watched her face of pure evil. Knowing that he was safe from her attempted compromise, he used her moment of honesty to find out what she was really about.

"So you have purposefully cultivated this image of yourself entirely for self gain? To unwittingly trap some unsuspecting gentleman that could do naught but marry you when the innocent Miss Bennet spun her tale of woe to the neighborhood? Clever, I must admit" he said nonchalantly as he took a seat. "And what was the reason for playing with Bingley's emotions? Surely he did not deserve such treatment" he continued as she too took a seat, a look of proud success on her face.

"He is an amusing sort of fellow whom I could not shake. He deserved to be slighted for his audacity of pursing me alone. As if a tradesman could ever secure my affections, though he did help me with my plans. I have no choice but to accept the tradesman that is already in my family as a blight on my value, would I be stupid enough to marry the son of one as well? 5000 a year is a mere pittance of my worth. As I have always been told, I cannot be so beautiful for nothing. Of course I deserve a rich husband who can give me the life I was born for."

"And whether he be willing or not is of no concern?" he asked.

"Oh, I would prefer that my husband adores me as everyone has my whole life, but it is of no matter. You shall learn to treasure me. I shall teach you well."

"I fear that is impossible. I assure you, you are not as beautiful as you believe, and you are most certainly not the jewel of this county" he taunted, angering the boastful woman.

"I assume you mean dearest Lizzy?" she said bitterly before laughing harshly. "What a surprise that was! Who would have thought she would be the object of your affection over myself? I could hardly fathom the mooncalf expressions you started looking upon her with. How delighted I was to play on her immediate dislike of you and turn it into hate once I detected your interest in her."

"I do not take your meaning" said the confused man.

"You cannot be unaware of my sister's hatred of you?" she said in amused surprise. "Lizzy always was a vain one. The moment you deemed her tolerable but not enough to tempt you, you had her disfavor. The tale your old friend Wickham wove only deepened her dislike of the very sight of you" she said gleefully to the shocked man.

"But I was not in earnest and knew not that it was she Bingley was referring to" he defended.

"Oh I gathered as much once I detected your admiration of her, but stubborn Lizzy, who thinks herself so clever, has yet to figure it out. When poor, ill used Mr. Wickham told me of the grievances you caused him, I instantly knew he was dissembling. That did not, however, stop me from using his expertise at telling the lie so convincingly to further poison my sister against you. She believed every word. Especially after her beloved sister told her it must be true."

"And the affection that your sister holds for you is of no matter? You would deceive one so devoted to you thus?" asked Mr. Darcy incredulously.

"I care not for Lizzy and her so called devotion. Especially after she caught the eye of the man I deemed to be my future husband. She thinks she is so clever with her witty retorts and impertinent ways that always take attention from me. She always manages to turn the head of men that I fancy with her insufferable intelligence and passable beauty. I care not for her, and we shall not know her once we are wed" she said spitefully.

"I shall never marry one such as yourself" said Mr. Darcy, having heard enough spite for one evening, and growing increasingly disgusted with the woman in front of him.

"I beg to differ" she said in satisfaction.

"So do I" said Mr. Bingley as he came from behind the bookshelf where he had hidden himself.

"What are you doing here?" yelled Jane as she stood abruptly, her plans crumbling before her.

"Listening to the most disturbing conversation I have ever had the displeasure to hear" he replied in disappointment.

"And saving me from a fate worse than death" said Mr. Darcy in amusement as he stood and casually smoothed the wrinkles from his coat.

"You knew he was here?!" she accused.

"Of course I did" he said in amusement. "Do you honestly think I would allow myself to stay in your presence unprotected? You are not the first desperate harpy to throw herself at me, Miss Bennet, and sadly, you shall not be the last. I am only disappointed on your sister's behalf. One such as she does not deserve to have her affections abused so."

"You shall never tell her or anyone else of this" said the girl in defiance.

"Shall I not?" he asked.

"You shall not, and if you attempt to, you shall never succeed. Especially when she hears how you tore your friend, who I am violently in love with, away from me, her most beloved sister, as you deemed her, myself, and my family not good enough for him. And that your inconstant, weak willed friend allowed you to lead him about by the nose and followed you to town. How convenient your planned departure is, Mr. Bingley! I suggest you never say a word about this nor ever return to Hertfordshire" said the enraged Jane as she fled the library, hot tears of failure in her eyes.

"What hubris" said the colonel after he finished his story.

"It gets worse" sighed his cousin. "I was immediately disgusted and repulsed by her, but I could only think of Elizabeth. I knew she would be devastated if she were to ever learn of the truth and I wanted to take her way from there. My concern and love for her had finally overridden my resolve. I called on her as soon as it was acceptable to do so the following morning and offered for her, which she soundly and brutally rejected" he said before telling his cousin the details of his ill received application. The colonel could only stare at him in shock.

"What were you thinking?!" said the colonel in astonishment.

"I could no longer withhold my feelings for her. I wanted to marry her, make her happy, and soothe any pain she may be caused by her family."

"But did not her own sister make you aware of how she felt about you?"

"She was in the middle of trying to trap me into marriage, Richard. Forgive me if I was a bit skeptical about what she had to say during said entrapment attempt" he said sarcastically and emptied his glass. "After the accusations Elizabeth threw at me during her rejection, I knew immediately that her sister had already carried out her threat to spin the events to her advantage. Do you think that bitter harpy lied to Elizabeth about my interest in her sister? After I rebuffed her advances, Miss Bennet said some very hateful things about her. Things I never expected to hear from one that Elizabeth cares so much for. Her concern and treatment of her when she fell ill was something I had never seen before. Her dedication to her beloved sister only endeared her more to me. So when that very sister disparaged her so, I could not fathom the reason for such animosity."

"Apparently her dear sister detected your admiration for her and set out to make her hate you, just as she said. She would have laid worst charges at your door after her attempt to compromise you failed. Would she want you acting on your feelings for her sister after such happenings?"

"No, of course she would not" agreed the agitated man. "What should I do? I am sure her sister has poisoned Elizabeth against me. I was furious after she turned me down and gave no credit to her accusations. But I have come to realize that, while I may be innocent of most of her charges, her disdain for the man that I am can only be called justified. My damnable pride cost me the love of my life" he said despondently as he refilled his glass.

"I would suggest that you tell her of the events that happened at the end of Bingley's ball, but I doubt that she would credit your tale."

"I could never do such a thing. She would be devastated, though I did write her a letter defending myself against her unfounded accusations. Since her sister has already told her side of the story, which I am sure is pure fiction, I cannot believe that she would give credit to anything I would have to say, if indeed she even did me the honor of reading it."

"Would she not believe Bingley? He witnessed the attempt, and anyone who knows him will see how badly he was affected by her sister's actions, which could only feel like a betrayal to him. Maybe he could make her see the truth."

"From what I gathered from Miss Bennet's taunts, she would have made everyone believe that Bingley jilted her as soon as we quit the neighborhood, so his words may be seen as an excuse for his actions."

"So not only has she poisoned your beloved against you, she has made herself seem the victim of the innocent man whose heart she broke? And this is a lass living in the country? Sounds like a scheme straight out of the ton."

"The transformation was a sight to behold. If I had not been the target of her ambitions, I would never have believed it of her. She was thought to be an angel who was just as devoted to her sister as she was to her. Her evil is very well camouflaged."

"And no one in the surrounding environ has the slightest notion of her true character?" asked the colonel.

"I do not believe so, no. That is to say no one but Wickham apparently, her partner in disguise. She said she used him to help turn her sister away from me after she detected my affection for her. I did not believe that Elizabeth would ever give credit to his lies. I thought her too intelligent to fall for his scheme."

"Wickham is a practiced deceiver as we are both aware. He deceived your father for years before his scandalous habits opened his eyes and made him toss him from Pemberley. How would an unsuspecting country girl who had only seen his pleasing manners detect his falsehoods? Especially if her sister is in on the ruse. How did Miss Bennet learn of your connection to Wickham?"

"From the degenerate himself. She said he also told her his tale of woe at my hands but that she immediately knew that he was lying, which I assumed her sister would as well" answered his cousin.

"Well, seeing as how she herself has been deceiving everyone around her for her whole life, maybe she recognized a kindred spirit" suggested the colonel.

"That could very well be the case. She said that Elizabeth already harbored animosity towards me for a lie she overheard me tell Bingley. When she advised Wickham to tell her his tale, it was easy to make one who already looked upon me unfavorably believe such things of me. Never did I expect she actually would."

"What is this lie she heard? You are not one to dissemble, cousin" said the colonel in confusion.

"Bingley was trying to pressure me into dancing and I, of course, had no intention of doing so. When he offered to introduce me to a dance partner, I barely looked in the direction he was indicating and called the woman tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt me. I had not seen who it was and only later did I learn it was Elizabeth and that she had overheard my foolish remark" he confessed causing his cousin to almost fall from his chair in laughter. "Excuse me if I do not see the humor in the situation."

"The one woman that has ever caught your notice heard you call her tolerable but not tempting, and started to hate you that very instant. You must see the ironic humor in this" said the colonel as he reined in his laughter, noticing his cousin's pained expression. "Very well, you are not finding the humor in this. So, what will you do? How will you make one as devoted as you say your Elizabeth is believe you when you tell her about her devious sister?"

"There is nothing for it. She has made her position very clear and I cannot say that I blame her. From the first words she heard me speak, to the selfish disdain for the feelings of others she so glaringly pointed out in me, to my insulting proposal to the woman I love most in the world…is there any wonder she detests me?"

"Well, once she finds out who you really are I am sure she will have a change of heart. What woman would not want to be a duchess? You have a glaring example of why you hid your titles from the locals in her very own sister if you are worried about her being upset at you for withholding the truth."

"She knows who I am" he sighed as he took another drink.

"I do not take your meaning. Did you not appear in the neighborhood as plain Mr. Darcy, a gentleman from the north with 10000 a year?" asked the colonel in confusion.

"I did, but some way or other she found out who I was. 'I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world I could ever be prevailed upon to marry, Your Grace!' she said emphatically. It had not even registered that she called me by my title until hours later. I know not how she came across such knowledge."

"Wickham?" guessed the colonel.

"No. I am sure he was more than happy to go along with the ruse since it would give more credibility to his lies, and no other local knew of my true identity."

"So that is it?" asked colonel. "You will leave affairs in the state they are currently in?"

"What choice do I have, Richard?" the duke said in anguish. "I am sure I shall never even see her again. I must…I will conquer this!"