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Chapter 1 By Melissa
'Hello?'
'Darcy, is that you?'
'Yes Bingley, what is going on?'
'Have you ever heard of a city called Meryton?'
'No why?' Darcy asked in a puzzled voice.
'Well it's a small town in Washington State. It is great for hunting, fishing, and hiking. They also have an annual festival there, it will be lots of fun Darcy.' Bingley said in his usual cheery voice.
'It will?'
'Yes. I was hoping that you would come, actually I am requesting that you come.'
'Sure. I don't see why.'
'Okay we'll leave on Friday.'
'Okay see you there, but don't be too shocked small towns are the most uncivil places to go. There won't be anything of interest in a small town.'
'Very funny Darcy see you there.'
'Yes, bye Bingley.'
'Did you hear Thomas? The most wonderful news.'
'What my dear?'
'Netherfield Cottage has been rented at last.'
'Oh and who has rented it.'
'A single man of large fortune, his name is Bingley. He and his party will be here in time for the first ball tomorrow.'
'And why is that wonderful news Fanny?'
'Oh Thomas really, I am hoping that he will fall in love with one of our girls.' Fanny said in her usual matter of fact tone.
'Hmm well you can try Fanny. You can try.' Thomas Bennet said walking into his library.
Elizabeth and Jane just looked at each other and grinned. After witnessing their parents' conversation they just smiled.
'Well Lizzy what do you think?'
'I think mom is going to try and have one of us married before the festival is over.' Liz said rolling her eyes.
'Oh Lizzy really.' Jane said smiling at her younger sister. Jane was the eldest of the 5 famous Bennet girls. She was the prettiest and had the sweetest disposition of them all. Elizabeth was the next eldest and unlike Jane had a mind of her own and always said and acted on what she thought and felt. She was independent and free-spirited, she really didn't mind to all that much her mother said. She like her father just paid as little attention as possible to the ramblings of Mrs. Bennet.
Chapter 2 ~ By Melissa
The night of the first festival came and so did the Bingley party. Everyone turned their heads and saw that there were two ladies and three gentleman. Mr. Bingley, Miss Bingley, Mrs. Hurst, and the Misters Darcy, twins Fitzwilliam and Mark Darcy, people started to talk about them. They all agreed that Mr. Bingley and Mr. Mark Darcy were both pleasant and agreeable, however the eldest Mr. Darcy disgusted everyone, he was rude and unpleasant.
Elizabeth immediately disliked him. He made a very rude comment to Mr. Bingley about her, 'she's tolerable I suppose.' She overheard him saying to Mr. Bingley, 'But she isn't pretty enough for me to dance with, I can't believe you didn't tell me about this. I thought we were only coming her to hunt and hike, not socialize with the town people.'
'Hello, my name is Mark Darcy. How do you do Miss.'
'Elizabeth Bennet. How do you do Mr. Darcy.' Elizabeth extended her hand.
'Please to meet you, and please my name is Mark.'
'Elizabeth. By the way what is up with your brother.'
'Oh him, don't mind him. He is just a pain, don't pay any attention to him. Would you like to dance?'
'I would love to Mark. But are you sure you want to dance with someone that is just tolerable.' Elizabeth said imitating Mr. Darcy.
'Actually, I think that you are very pretty. Shall we?' Mark said grinning at her.
Elizabeth just smiled, and glanced over at Mr. Darcy, who was just standing there listening to what had happen. Elizabeth smirked at him as her and Mark walked on the dance floor. The rest of the evening was enjoyable, Jane and Charles spent the whole night for each other, Mark and Elizabeth had a fun time sharing ideas and laughs, and Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy spent the evening staring at Elizabeth Bennet.
Chapter 3 ~ By Melissa and Melissa D.
The day after the festival was spent in various pursuits that the participants used to unwind after an exhausting yet exciting evening. Mr. Bingley spent the day wandering around Netherfield smiling at anything and everything. Caroline waited in her room for Fitzwilliam Darcy and when he failed to appear she comforted herself in another way. Mark Darcy spent his time in a more dissolute manner, and William Darcy decided he had to get out of the house. Between Bingley's smiles, Caroline's insinuations and Mark's behavior he was on his last nerve. He decided to take a hike in the woods.
Mrs. Bennet spent the day expounding on the beauties of the festival and Bingley's attentions to Jane; her voice often reaching a pitch that caused dogs to whine. You can well imagine the direction of Kitty and Lydia's conversation and Mary's lectures to them. Mr. Bennet escaped to his library where he could hear himself think. Jane was too happy to hear a word that anyone said to her and Lizzy well; the men she had met last evening confused her. Mark Darcy was certainly charming and handsome, but altogether too good to be true. Then there was Fitzwilliam Darcy, the most annoying, rude, stuck up man she had ever laid eyes on and yet she could not get her mind off of him. Perhaps it just bothered her that he would only stare at her as if she had an eye in the middle of her forehead. To escape the craziness of her home and her thoughts she decided to take a hike in the woods also.
Into the Woods
The silence of the woods had a very calming effect on Elizabeth. After only a half an hour, she was back to her normal happy self. Wandering for several miles Elizabeth suddenly got the feeling that she was no longer alone as she came around the bend in the path, she ran smack dab into another human being.
"Oh I am so sorry." Elizabeth cried.
"No it is my fault I wasn't paying attention. Are you okay?"
"Fine, " she said as she realized who she was speaking too. "Mr. Darcy."
"Ms. Bennet."
"What are you doing here?"
"I was trying to clear my head. What are you doing out here all alone?"
"I was walking too. I like to walk alone. It helps me to think."
"Oh. But you must allow me to escort you back it is getting dark and it is too dangerous for a young lady to walk alone at night." William said very concerned.
"You don't have to do that really. I will be fine. I walk out here alone all of the time. I was just getting ready to head back." Elizabeth says as the tries to walk away.
"It is no trouble. Really I insist." William asserts as he falls into step beside Elizabeth.
"All right, if you insist." Elizabeth says as she wonders how she will be able to spend the next hour in Fitzwilliam Darcy's company. Now Mark Darcy that would be another story.
"This is a very beautiful area." William says trying to break the uncomfortable silence.
"Thank you. We share the property with Mr. Bingley."
"Oh. It is nice to get away from the city for a while. All of the people and the noise. Out here it is so much easier to here yourself think."
"Yes. It is very peaceful here." Amazing! He is actually being civil. If I didn't know better I would think I was talking to Mark.
As if Elizabeth's thoughts were wishes, Mark Darcy appears still flushed from his exertions of conquering the undergrowth to find Lizzy.
"Elizabeth!" He shouts as she comes into view.
"Mark, hello! It seems as if both the Darcy's enjoy roaming in the woods after a party.
After a party? More like after…. William's appearance interrupts his thoughts. "William whatever are you doing here?"
"I was out for a walk and I ran into Ms. Bennet." He says with a scowl returning to his face. Of course, he would appear when I am trying to get to know Elizabeth. He gets every other woman we meet. Does he have to get this one too? He will only discard her later.
"I called Longbourn and they said you were walking out here so I came to find you. You know it is much to dangerous for a young woman such as yourself to be out here alone." Ah ha, brother, so you want her too. Well lucky for me your personality has already turned her off. This will make my conquest even sweeter.
"What is it with you two? I have grown up here. I am perfectly capable of walking home alone. But now that you are here perhaps we should get back for dinner." Lizzy says smiling up at Mark.
As Mark and Lizzy walk ahead, William is left alone with his thoughts.
Well she obviously prefers him too me. Please Mark for once in you life treat a woman honorably.
With thoughts like these in his head, William trudged home behind Lizzy and Mark.
Chapter 4 ~ By Melissa and Melissa D.
When the trio emerged from the woods, they found the Bennet house ablaze and a full driveway.
"Looks like my mother decided to have a small gathering of friends tonight." Lizzy says sardonically.
"Small would be exactly how I would put it." Mark answers smiling at Lizzy.
"Why don't you guys stay for dinner?"
"That sounds great Lizzy. Right William."
"Yes, thank you Ms. Bennet." William says quietly with a quick glance at his brother.
The trio made their way into the house, Lizzy unsure of what to make of William Darcy, William unsure of his feelings about Lizzy and Mark sure that Lizzy was going to be his very soon. Dinner at the Bennet house was the usual crazy, zany time. Everyone talking at once and the quiet ones like Mr. Bennet and William sitting back and watching everyone or more precisely William watching Lizzy and Mr. Bennet watching William watch Lizzy.
Now this is interesting. Lizzy clearly prefers one but the other seems to be the one genuinely interested in her. I don't know that there isn't something about William that seems more likable. At least you can tell he is genuine. I wonder why my Lizzy can't see through that one there. I am sure she does, she is too smart for the likes of Mark Darcy. Mr. Bennet shrugged and then looked about the room now was the perfect time to escape to his library.
The dinner proceeded wonderfully. Jane and Charles spent time together and Lizzy and Mark got to talk. Their conversation was a bit stilted because Lizzy could not stop glancing at William who couldn't keep his eyes Lizzy. Mark was a little disturbed but hey, that Lydia looked like she knew how to have a good time too. Besides William would never be able to get away from Caroline. And Lizzy, well, William could stare all he wanted he had already ruined his chances with Lizzy and left the door wide open for Mark, to get a beautiful woman and make his brother writhe with envy.
After the meal was over, William and Mark headed back to the house. Mark was very cheerful and William was down. Lizzy obviously shown that she was interested in Mark. And that bothered William.
Why does that bother me so? Probably because I've seen Mark do this before. I have seen him go through women as if they were nothing. Maybe that is why I don't even try anymore, first they only looked at the money and now all they have to do is meet Mark and they forget about me.
"William! Are you paying attention to me?" Mark said looking at his brother.
"Huh? Oh, what did you say?" William said turning his attention to Mark.
"I was asking how do you like Elizabeth Bennet?" Mark said with a smirk.
"She's lovely. What are you smirking at? I know your games and I'm warning you, you had better treat Ms. Bennet nicely." William said glaring at his brother.
"What does that mean Fitzwilliam? Look all I was asking is what you think of her! And I don't treat women badly, at least I see women. Which is more than I could say of you." Mark walked away with a grin at his brother before his temper got the better of him. Who does he think he is telling me how to treat a woman. At least I date. Well, William you may like her, but that is just too bad. She is going to be my greatest conquest. For the first time William is interested in a girl, I mean interested. Actually, I think he might even be falling in love with this one, at the very least he is completely infatuated with her. And his charming personality turned her off. I can't wait to conquer this one.
As the reached the house, Miss Bingley was waiting for them.
"William! Mark! What took you so long?"
"William drives very slowly." Mark answered grinning at William and glancing slyly at Caroline.
"Dinner with the Bennets, have you ever seen anything so quaint?" Caroline says snickering, "Well, William shall we go in?" Miss Bingley said walking over to William and grabbing his arm.
William just rolled his eyes and frowned when he heard Mark snicker behind them. If there was one woman I wish that Mark would abuse and throw away, it would be Caroline Bingley.