Posted on Friday, 24-Jul-98

t is a truth universally acknowledged that a wealthy young man on a luxury cruise must be in want of a wife.

Frances Bennet hurried her five daughters up the gangway onto the Rosings Princess. It had taken every last penny of her small inheritance to book this cruise, but she had heard that cruise ships were the place to find husbands and she was determined to find them for all of her girls.

The three youngest girls were agog at their surroundings. Lydia and Kitty were particularly impressed, nudging each other and giggling at all of the men they passed, raising their eyebrows at the particularly handsome ones. Mary was impressed as well, but did not want it to show, so she straightened her shoulders and looked through her horn-rimmed glasses and down her nose at all the people.

Jane and Elizabeth, the two oldest, were amused at the entire situation, as they usually were at their mother's attempts to marry them off. They were looking forward to eight days of recreation, but were not particularly interested in returning home with an engagement ring.

John Bennet brought up the rear. He had become immune to his wife's flights of fancy over the 25 years of their marriage and now just trailed along behind, making the best of whatever situation he found himself in.

When they reached the top of the gangway they were greeted by a handsome young man made all the more handsome by his crisp, white uniform. Lydia and Kitty elbowed their way to the front to stand by their mother and looked coquettishly at the sailor.

"We are the Bennets from Longbourn, Missouri." Mrs. Bennets voice carried the length of the deck and Elizabeth cringed silently.

The young man glanced at his clipboard and then looked up. He took in the five young women standing before him and, barely looking at their mother, said. "Welcome aboard the Rosings Princess. I am George Wickham, your Cruise Director."

His glance landed on Lizzy and he looked directly at her as he finished his spiel. "I hope you enjoy your cruise. If there is anything I an do to make it more comfortable, please let me know." His eyes lingered on Lizzy a bit longer than necessary as he finished, and he managed to make the word "comfortable" seem most inviting.

Elizabeth smiled openly at him and then turned to Jane. "Perhaps we might have some fun, after all."

Chapter 2 – The Captains Cocktail Party

Posted on Sunday, 26-Jul-98

"Girls, girls! Are you dressed? I'm so excited to be invited to the Captain's Cocktail Party."

Lizzy rolled her eyes. "Mother. Everyone is invited to one of these."

"Oh that's very well for you to say, dear, but you've never been on a cruise before…"

"Mother! I watch television." Jane smiled at her sister and Lydia snorted behind her hand.

Lydia and Kitty were already at the cocktail party when Jane, Elizabeth and Mary arrived with their parents. The two youngest girls had found a group of ship's officers and had carried two of them off to the dance floor.

Mrs. Bennet looked around and zeroed in on person wearing the fanciest uniform. Taking her husband's hand, she hauled him over to the captain.

"Oh Captain. How lovely of you to invite us. We are so honored to be at your little soiree." Mrs. Bennet simpered and drew her husband forward. This is my husband, John and, oh, I'm Frances Bennet.

Captain Catherine de Bourgh looked down her considerable nose at the Bennets and wondered for the 15th time that evening, what had ever possessed her to take this job.

"Mr. Bennet, Mrs. Bennet. I hope you are enjoying yourselves." She scanned the room for a free officer to take them off her hands. "Dr. Collins! Have you met the Bennets?" A young man with thinning hair and an expanding waistline sidled up to the group.

"Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, may I introduce our Ships doctor? Dr. Collins, this is Mr. and Mrs. Bennet and their daughters…" Her voice trailed off as she realized she had no idea what any of them were named. It made no difference, Dr. Collins stepped right in and took over.

"Mr. Bennet, ladies. I am charmed. Please allow me to get you a drink." He almost bowed in his effort to ingratiate himself to Jane and Elizabeth.

Barely suppressing a giggle, Elizabeth nodded politely, and Dr. Collins went off to fetch cocktails. Elizabeth and Jane began to move away, but Mrs. Bennet was determined to hold the captain's attention. As she began to speak, Captain de Bourgh's head snapped up and she stared at the door. Three men in tuxedos accompanied by two elegantly dressed women were standing at the entrance, looking around.

"Excuse me…" Captain de Bourgh barely glanced at Mrs. Bennet as she moved off toward the door.

"Well, how inconsiderate!" Mrs. Bennet looked around for someone to share her outrage. Dr. Collins was returning with a drink for her and she turned to him immediately. "I have never…"

"Please Mrs. Bennet, do not be upset. That is the Captain's nephew and his friend. They are very important gentlemen, and she has not seen them in some time. I am sure she did not mean to leave you so abruptly."

"Important gentlemen?" Mrs. Bennet was suddenly mollified. "And those are their wives?"

"Oh no. Neither Mr. Darcy nor Mr. Bingley are married." Those are Mr. Bingley's sisters and the other gentleman is Louisa Bingley's husband."

"Oh." Mrs. Bennet turned to her two eldest daughters. "Come here girls. We must introduce you to those two men."

"Must we, Mother?" Lizzy sighed and looked toward the group at the doorway. "And who, pray tell, are these men we must be introduced to?"

"Why it's Captain de Bourgh's nephew and his friend. They are very important and not married."

Chapter 2A

Posted on Sunday, 26-Jul-98

Lizzy sighed and turned to Jane. "Well, they are handsome enough. Perhaps they will be entertaining."

Jane smiled serenely. "I like the looks of the Blond."

"Oh Jane. You always like the blonds. You are so predictable."

Just then Dr. Collins appeared between them. "Ladies, may I join you?" He favored Jane with an appreciative smile.

Mrs. Bennet heard him and turned quickly. Dr. Collins, will you introduce to the Captain's nephew and friends?"

Dr. Collins drew his shoulders back and looked immensely pleased to be thought to know the gentlemen. "Certainly, Ma'am. I would be happy to. I am particularly well acquainted with Mr. Darcy." He led them across the floor.

Dr. Collins managed to edge his way into the group and introduce himself to Darcy and Bingley before turning around and doing the honors for the Bennet's. He almost immediately regretted his action when he saw the look Charles Bingley was giving Jane. The woman William Collins had thought might just do for him was being favored by a wide smile and a handshake seemed to go on for several minutes. Collins shrugged and turned with his own mile to Elizabeth.

"And this is Elizabeth Bennet." He took Lizzy's elbow possessively as he completed the introduction. "Elizabeth, this is Charles Bingley and William Darcy. Mr. Darcy is Captain de Bourgh's nephew."

Charles Bingley turned his warm smile on Elizabeth for a moment before turning back to Jane. Darcy nodded coldly at the entire group before him and turned to speak to the others in his party.

"Well, I never." Mrs. Bennets voice carried above the hum of cocktail party conversation. "That young man is every bit as rude as his aunt. Why we ever thought that this would be a good place to meet men, I'll never know."

"Mother, please." Lizzy grabbed her mother's wrist and whispered. "Everyone can hear you."

"And what if they can? Why should I care. If they can be so rude, there is no reason why I can't broadcast it."

Elizabeth blushed and turned away, hoping no one would realize she was with her mother. It was too late, however. Darcy had heard the whole conversation and was inspecting the Bennet family with a good deal of disdain.

Lizzy caught his eye and realized that he thought all of them hardly worth the space they took on this great ship. Well, perhaps he was not so handsome, after all. She allowed Dr. Collins to lead her onto the dance floor.

Chapter 3 - The Pool

Posted on Thursday, 30-Jul-98

Elizabeth emerged from the pool and shook herself off like a wet puppy. Her movements attracted much attention. Her sleek, black bathing suit showed her off to her best advantage, emphasizing her long legs and shapely figure. She ignored all the stares and made her way to where her slimmer, blonder sister was basking in the sun.

Lizzy plopped down on the deck chair next to Jane and picked up her lemonade.

Jane opened one eye and peered at her sister. "You made quite a splash getting out of that pool, Lizzy."

Lizzy grinned at her sister. "Not nearly as much of a splash as you made last night, dear. How many dances did you dance with Charles Bingley and what time did you finally get back to the room."

Jane sat up and Elizabeth could have sworn she saw a blush under Jane's newly acquired tan. "Oh Lizzy. He is so sweet and wonderful and, for your information, a perfect gentleman. I got back to the room at a perfectly respectable hour. You were just too sound asleep to know it."

Jane smiled wickedly. "You were quite engaged with Dr. Collins…"

Lizzy groaned. "Oh my g-d! The man wouldn't leave me alone. Whatever am I going to do with him? He is relentless."

"Poor Lizzy. He didn't give you a chance to dance with anyone else. Charlie's friend William was very handsome, I thought…."

"Please!" Elizabeth sat bolt upright in her deck chair. "Mr. 'I'm-too-good-to-breathe-the-same-air-as-the-Bennet's? I promise you, I wouldn't dance with him if he asked me."

"Shh!" Jane gave Elizabeth a warning glance as the men they had been discussing approached their deck chairs. Charles greeted Jane warmly and William stood back a little, giving Elizabeth's black bathing suit a thorough examination. He apparently liked what he saw and started moving toward her.

Just as he came close enough to speak, George Whickam bounded up, clipboard in hand. "Elizabeth Bennet. Just the person I'm looking for. We are having a belly dancing class on the Lido deck and I just know you are a natural." He gave her a suggestive look which she might have considered offensive if he was not so cute.

She smiled at him. "If you insist." She lifted her hand and allowed him to pull her up from the chair. She looked around to see if Jane was coming, but Jane was entirely caught up in her conversation with Charles. Turning back, she noticed William Darcy glaring at the Cruise Director with a dreadful scowl.

She gave him a puzzled glance before shrugging into her cover-up and, taking Whickams hand, heading off for a round of belly dancing.

William stood for a long moment, watching her retreating back before lowering himself into her deserted deck chair and picking up her lemonade.

Elizabeth was totally surprised to find that the friendly Cruise Director intended to stay and watch the belly dancing class. She tried to ignore him and really enjoyed learning the moves and throwing herself into the spirit of the music. But as soon as she finished, he was there, handing her a towel and complimenting her on her expertise.

"I knew you'd be a natural."

"Please, Mr. Whickam. I was just enjoying the music. But thanks for suggesting it."

"Call me George."

"Very well…. George. Uh. George, I couldn't help but noticing the look the Captain's nephew gave you as we were leaving. Do you know him?

"Darcy? Oh. Yes. We went to college together."

"Really? You didn't even speak."

"It's a long story. I really shouldn't spread it about. He is the Captain's nephew after all and it was a long time ago."

Elizabeth said nothing and George continued. "But since I trust you to keep it confidential, I will say that William Darcy was involved in an cheating scandal at college and that his Aunt made a huge contribution to hush it up."

Elizabeth raised her eyebrows. "Cheating on exams? Somehow he doesn't seem the type."

"Oh, I'm sure he's changed. But I caught him and turned him in and he has never forgiven me for it. We are not the best of friends. I'm sure he is quite upset to find me working on his Aunts' ship."

"Well, your secret is safe with me George." She gave his hand a squeeze before going down to shower and change.

As she was coming out of the shower, her mother bustled into the room. "Lizzy! You will never believe what I just heard. That awful William Darcy was a cheat at college and very nearly didn't graduate. I knew there was something I didn't like about that man."

"Mother! Where did you hear that story?" Elizabeth was stunned. George Whickam had told her not 2 hours ago and her mother had heard it, too. How had it come to be spread beyond her? Had someone overheard their talk?

"Oh. It's all over the ship. But of course, we must not spread it because he is, after all, related to the Captain."

"Yes, Mother. I believe that would be best." Elizabeth continued to towel her hair and went to the closet to choose a dinner dress.