A/N – I've been around here forever but never posted anything of my own before, but now I felt it was about time! So here is my first attempt. English is not my first language but I have a fair knowledge of it and promise to do my best. Comments are more than welcome!

The story is a "what if" that has always been on my mind since reading Pride & Prejudice, and starts with the conversation that Miss Bingley and Mr Darcy had during a walk at Netherfield. I always felt that Elizabeth could have overheard them and wanted to explore what would have happened if she did.

I have a few chapters written and a general plot line worked out but I have no idea what length this will be and I know sometimes stories can get a life of their own. But I can definitely promise you an E&D HEA. And there will be some slightly more daring behaviour from ODC than what Miss Austen wrote. Rated T for now. Some sections might slide into M and if so I will warn before those chapters and change the rating.

[Miss Bingley] often tried to provoke Darcy into disliking her guest, by talking of their supposed marriage, and planning his happiness in such an alliance.

"I hope," said she, as they were walking together in the shrubbery the next day, "you will give your mother-in-law a few hints, when this desirable event takes place, as to the advantage of holding her tongue; and if you can compass it, do cure the younger girls of running after officers. And, if I may mention so delicate a subject, endeavour to check that little something, bordering on conceit and impertinence, which your lady possesses."

"Have you anything else to propose for my domestic felicity?"

"Oh! yes. Do let the portraits of your uncle and aunt Phillips be placed in the gallery at Pemberley. Put them next to your great-uncle the judge. They are in the same profession, you know, only in different lines. As for your Elizabeth's picture, you must not have it taken, for what painter could do justice to those beautiful eyes?"

"It would not be easy, indeed, to catch their expression, but their colour and shape, and the eyelashes, so remarkably fine, might be copied."

At that moment they were met from another walk by Mrs. Hurst and Elizabeth herself.

"I did not know that you intended to walk," said Miss Bingley, in some confusion, lest they had been overheard.

"You used us abominably ill," answered Mrs. Hurst, "running away without telling us that you were coming out."

Pride and Prejudice, chapter 10

Chapter 1

As Mrs Hurst took Mr Darcy's disengaged arm, Elizabeth was left to walk by herself. Darcy felt the rudeness and suggested they move to a wider path that would fit them all, but Elizabeth was quick to say her goodbyes and run off to seek her own paths in the more untamed nature away from Netherfield.

She did so in what seemed like a gay manner, but as soon as she had put some distance between herself and the party, and reached a little copse of trees she stopped and her countenance turned serious and pensive. For, while Mrs Hurst had prattled on about nothing of consequence, Elizabeth had pretty much ignored listening to her and had not missed the conversation going on between Miss Bingley and Mr Darcy on the other side of the hedge. She was sure she had heard them correctly but she was at a loss for what it could mean.

From the very first moment of making the acquaintance of Mr Darcy and the Bingley sisters Elizabeth was made aware of their sense of superiority and she had no inclination in getting to know any of them better after that. Her opinion had only strengthened after arriving at Netherfield to tend to Jane. So it did not surprise her that Mr Darcy and Miss Bingley would talk to her in a mocking manner.

But why had they made the subject a supposed marriage between Mr Darcy and herself? It was beyond absurdity in every possible way. Maybe that was why Miss Bingley found it a good joke to bring up in conversation with the man in question.

To Elizabeth, it was odd enough to hear Miss Bingley jokingly chatter on about the unlikely couples presumed felicity, but the really shocking part was Mr Darcy's response. Why had he not just ignored such silly remarks? He had even encouraged her to continue by asking what else she proposed. And more importantly, why had he talked about her eyes as if he truly did admire them? His voice had not sounded mocking or superior then. Indeed, in an almost wistful tone he had added his own observation about the expression of her eyes as well as her eye-lashes being "remarkably fine" – that's what he had said.

Elizabeth let her mind wander back to her previous interactions with Mr Darcy. Since their first meeting, she had known how little he thought of her looks – "tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt him". At Lucas lodge he had asked her to dance – but it was because he was being coerced into it by Sir Lucas, even tho he handled it in a galant way. He had stared at her from across the room, and attended to her conversation during a big part of that visit. She had thought it was to find fault with her but the more she thought about it, the more she felt it did not add up.

For while he seemed like a proud and disagreeable man used to looking down on others, it did not make sense that he would single her out so to ridicule. Because although he must be used to women with more sophisticated manners than hers, she had to admit that there was sillier people in Hertfordshire that could amuse him if that was what he was looking for. So why then was he staring at her?

Her mind turned to the events of the evening before. Mr Darcy had been writing his letter and Miss Bingley had tried to get his attention, which he ignored as much as was possible. But as soon as Elizabeth herself started discussing the merits between the speed of ones thoughts versus the carelessness of ones writing style with Mr Bingley, he had put his pen down and been more than willing to enter the conversation.

He had also indirectly asked her to dance – again! She thought it was to get an opportunity to despise her taste, but he had seemed surprised at her rebuff, and now she was wondering if maybe he was serious in his request for a dance. She let out a laugh at the thought – the stern Mr Darcy wanting to dance a reel with her. Then she suddenly remembered that she had in fact noticed that his eyes were fixed on her quite frequently before he came up and suggested that reel. Then she had felt that it was equally strange that he would look at her with admiration, as that the reason was that he disliked her. She could not account for it, but with the new information she had just overheard today she started doubting her theory that he was just looking to find fault. Either way, she had to admit that his character was certainly more complex than she had originally thought.

Elizabeth let her thoughts then wander to Miss Bingley. Now, she was a person whose character was easier to figure out. Elizabeth could not understand how Jane could see any good in her, or her sister for that matter. To Elizabeth, Miss Bingley was everything that was insincere. Her attitude towards the second Bennet sister was almost bordering on hostile. It was like she was feeling threatened by the very presence of Elizabeth. But why? The only thing Miss Bingley really seemed to want was Mr Darcy. And she was really acting in a jealous way, constantly pointing out Elizabeths inferiority and putting herself forward as a good match. Why would she do that if Elizabeth was only a joke to the two of them?

To her, it was quite clear that Mr Darcy was bored with the simpering manner of Miss Bingley, and perhaps Elizabeth's inclination to argue with him and challenge his opinion was a refreshing occurrence to a man who was used to never having his opinion questioned. As a studier of characters, Elizabeth realized that Mr Darcy was a real challenging riddle of a man to figure out, and she decided then and there to pay more attention, and hopefully have him pegged before her visit at Netherfield was up.