Pride and Prejudice doesn't belong to me.

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Dearest Love

Fitzwilliam Darcy entered the Pemberley Ballroom and looked around for his sister. It was New Year's Eve and as was the tradition, the Darcys' were throwing their annual ball. Georgie was in charge of organizing it, since Darcy usually found that the family business took most of his time and Georgie insisted that the ball, which their parents had started, take place every year.

The room was full – it seemed to Darcy that the number of guests increased every year. But this time, the room was practically bursting at the seams. He wondered where Georgie was. His plan was to spend some time talking to her and then leave before midnight. He was very tired but he'd promised her that he'd at least show his face and he intended to keep his promise despite being dead on his feet.

"Fitz," Georgie shouted, when she saw him, "Come and have a drink."

He shook his head; he couldn't possibly eat a thing. He was too tired for that as well; all he wanted was his bed.

"At least you came," Georgie said, "when you called and said you were still in meetings in Paris, I thought you would not show."

"I told you that I would," Darcy told her. "In fact I distinctly remember you threatening me with bodily harm if I didn't."

Georgie laughed. "Charlie is around somewhere," she told him, "he really wants to talk you about something." Darcy nodded; he hoped that Caroline, Bingley's sister wouldn't try to talk to him. She'd always been a bit of a pest but lately he couldn't stand her at all. She had this idea in her head that he was her property and was always trying to show how well she knew him, but that wasn't the worst of it. She had taken to bringing Elizabeth Bennet into every conversation, talking about how bad her dress sense was, how she wasn't as pretty as everyone had said she was, and how common her family was.

All that talk of Elizabeth reminded him of how she had refused him just a few weeks ago. He had tried to forget her, even before he had proposed to her but he had failed. But now she filled his every waking thought, her smile, her laugh, and the way she walked and talked. He found himself lost in day dreams about her.

As if he had conjured her up, the crowd suddenly parted and Darcy saw Elizabeth Bennet. She was wearing a deep blue evening gown that fitted her well and she was talking and smiling at an older couple. Darcy couldn't believe it.

Elizabeth was here, she was at the Darcy ball.

000

Elizabeth was staring at the room in wonder. She could honestly say she had never seen such splendor in her life. This place was absolutely out-of-this world. She was glad that she'd been persuaded to attend the party.

When her Uncle and Aunt Gardiner had first told her that they were going to attend the annual New Year's Ball hosted by the Darcys, she had refused point blank. There was no way she was going to a party at the Darcys without being invited. She had just turned down the man a few weeks' earlier, what would he think of her?

But her relations had reasoned with her, Mr. Gardiner's law firm was part of the Darcy group so he sort of had to be there, and Elizabeth really wanted to see their house, she'd had so much about it. So she had told herself that she could sneak into his placed without his knowledge – after all she'd been reliably informed that he would not be in attendance – he was out of the country on business and was expected back the next day.

She was of two minds about seeing Darcy again. She both dreaded and wanted to see him. When she'd read his letter, she had gone through a myriad of emotions. She couldn't believe she had misjudged him so completely, that she had ever believed Wickham – who had turned out to be pure slime.

Over the past few weeks, she had considered Darcy's proposal and while she didn't regret turning him down - not really, she wished for a chance to get to know him better. He was one of the most intriguing people she'd ever met. And if the stories were to be believed, one of the best people in the world, Elizabeth could honestly say – to herself, in whispers only, that she now wished she hadn't turned him down. He seemed like the sort of man she could love.

000

Darcy got over his shock and made his way towards Elizabeth fully intending to speak to her, but he kept being waylaid by colleagues and family friends who wanted to talk to him. After finally shaking off, Mrs. Meade, who had insisted on introducing to all her six grand-daughters, he looked around but could no longer see Elizabeth.

She and her companions had left.

000

"I'm sorry I made you leave so early," Mr. Gardiner told his wife and niece. Some urgent business had come up.

"It's fine," Elizabeth replied. "We got to attend part of the ball." She had successfully entered his domain and left without his being any the wiser.

000

Darcy couldn't believe he had missed Elizabeth. He wondered where she was staying. He really wanted to see her. As he walked through the room Martin Thomas, one of his colleagues, called to him to join them. Martin Thomas, Peter Dingle and Warren Trent were accountants.

"Who was that young lady in the deep blue gown, with amazing eyes?" Peter asked, after they had discussed some business. Martin replied immediately. "You mean Elizabeth Bennet?" Martin answered. Peter persisted. "She's a beauty isn't she?"

"She doesn't work with us, does she?" Warren asked. "Surely I would have seen her before."

"No," Martin replied, "she came with a Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. Mr. Gardiner works with Larner and Associates in London." Larner and Associates was a recent acquisition of the Darcy group. "They're staying at the Rose House," Martin continued, "and will be heading home on the day after tomorrow."

The group was joined Darcy and Martin were joined by Bingley and Darcy went off with his friend.

At least he knew where Elizabeth was staying, he told himself, and he would go over in the morning and see her.

He would talk to her.

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