Omg, i am so sorry. life has kinda got the better of me. work, kids, blah blah. totes fell of my diet wagon. sigh.

anyway, ive not been great at keeping up with whats happening on here. sorry if it feels like ive neglected some of you reviewers. didnt mean to.

some of the reviews (lpinney, kiwipride, drmeme, lhatfield to name a few) had me smiling/in stitches. lol thanks for the insight. Love that everyone has slightly different opinions about who suits whom and what counts as a HEA. and (most importantly) who deserves a hea. i mean, we all agree on the main few characters. but some are so happy ive given colonel f one, others not so bothered, some totally gunning for bingley, others want him happy too! i feel a bit sorry for him, a bit wet for my liking. but i do usualy pair him with jane, out of the norm in this one!

i admit, id kinda forgotten to wrap up bingley in this.. so thanks for the reminder guest.

so, any suggestions for my next writing endeavour welcome, otherwise ill just try catching a plot bunny. :)

Chapter 9 - An expected end

The grand announcement of the engagement of one Miss Jane Bennet to one Colonel Fitzwilliam would have been of note at any event of the season. To be accompanied by the announcement of the engagement of one Miss Elizabeth Bennet to the illustrious, and much sought after, Mr Darcy was nothing short of monumental.

Lady Matlcok could not be happier, her ball would be the talk of the season. That her son was to marry Jane, and not Elizabeth, was acceptable. She had long considered Jane to be more suited to her, occasionally troubled, son. That Elizabeth was to be her niece was more than adequate compensation. She had grown fond of the two women and was only satisfied with the change of her son's affections because she knew of Darcy's feelings.

She was warm in her congratulations and her welcome to the two new members of her family.

...

The carriages leaving her event were a mixture of feelings, emotions and outbursts.

Many a lady and their mama were weeping as they left the ball, two eligible gentlemen off the market. Fortunately there were many more who could see the affection held by the couples and could only aspire to such themselves. That year it became fashionable to marry for Love and there were many more happy matches for it. No one could look upon the Fotzwilliams or the Darcys without wishing for such felicity.

...

The Bingley carriage moved silently away from the house of Matlock. One occupant simmered with anger, another with surprise and one with regret. The last occupant snoozed in the corner, dreaming only of food.

Anger, being the stronger of the emotions felt, was the first to bubble over.

"How very ill Eliza Bennet looked. I cannot think how she has trapped poor Mr Darcy. We must think of a way to save him. Her arts and allurements must have drawn him in, she was always so deceitful. If you remember sister, Mr Darcy once compared her beauty to her mother's wit." She tittered at Louisa, not noticing she was not responding to the barb. "I wonder..."

The crack of Mr Bingley's cane hitting the floor was accompanied by a sharp "enough!". Both sounds caused all the occupants of the carriage to jump.

"Enough Caroline. Mr Darcy was never interested in you, he has chosen Miss Elizabeth, and we will have nothing to say about it apart from to congratulate our friends."

He sighed rubbing his hand over his face. "I am not certain I wish to call him friend after his part in separating me from Jane, but you! You, I do wish to hold responsible. She has been in London for months, she even called upon you. Did she ask after me?"

Caroline opened her mouth but Bingley held up his hand. "I do not think I will believe a word you speak, so do not bother to do so. You have been instrumental in my losing a person I cared about dearly and I will not forgive you easily. From now on, things are different. You are no longer in charge of my social timetable or my purse. You will keep to your allowance and I expect you to actively seek a husband or I will do so for you, do I make myself clear?"

Anger, surprise and silence were the occupants of the carriage for the rest of the journey. Accompanied by the occasional snore.

...

The raptures in the Bennet household were a sight to behold.

"Oh my! Ten thousand a year. Oh my, but she gave up an earls son. Oh but my Jane will marry an earls son. Oh how good Elizabeth is, giving up the connection for Jane. I knew how it would be. She could not be so beautiful for nothing. Now take note girls. Your sisters will have jewels and dresses and carriages a plenty. You must make sure to marry well so that you are as wealthy as they are. Oh what fortune, how blessed are we! I must visit Lady Lucas. Charlotte is nothing to my daughters..."

It was a wonder that Mrs Bennet did not pass out, for it did not seem as if she drew breath for a half hour together, so rapid was her speech.

Luckily for the sanity of Mr Bennet, she called for the carriage and went to visit her dear friends. Namely, every lady of the neighbourhood.

Mr Bennet was more sanguine about the engagements. He was curious about the transference of the matches, having been told of Elizabeth's courtship. He was relieved he had not shared that information too widely. A switch of partners may appear embarrassing. Mrs Bennet had only heard the general overview, none of the particulars.

His younger daughters thought only of the dresses and on their return from visiting they were quick to enquire.

"Mama, I must have dresses for my trip to Brighton. Lizzie can pay for them!"

Mr Bennet sighed, his wife and daughters were home. His peace short lived.

"Well of course you shall have new things. But this is nonsense about Brighton. We will be in town!"

"But mama. Mrs Forster invited me! I must go. There will be ever so many officers!"

"Hush child, what are officers to the connections of an earl! Honestly. You must be present at your sister's weddings. One is to marry in three weeks. I will go distracted. I am certain Lizzie does it just to vex me. We will go to London to order her trousseau and then we will be here to host a wedding."

"But mama. I could go to Brighton after her wedding?" Had Lydia thought through her words, she may have been less whiny. But that would not be characteristic of Lydia.

Mrs Bennet had had enough "no. I will not send you on your own to Brighton. What a notion. If you continue like this you will find yourself with no new clothes for either Elizabeth's or Jane's wedding."

Lydia stamped her foot and fled the room.

No one saw her pack her bag the night before the militia left, or saw her sneaking out of the house just before dawn.

Luckily Colonel Forster was a sensible man, and sent her back quietly when she turned up on his doorstep.

She was sent to the nursery for a month.

This author would love to say she learned her lesson and never misbehaved again, but that is too much fiction even for me.

...

The wedding of Mr Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennet was perfect. At least if you asked the couple in question. They did not notice the panic at the flower arrangements, the third row that all seemed to have Spring illnesses and spent the ceremony coughing. The scowling countenance of Mr Collins, the sullen face of Lydia and the muddy puddles quite escaped their notice. Darcy was completely absorbed by the sparkling dark eyes of his bride and she could not keep her eyes away from the upturn of his mouth and the dimple it brought out.

The breakfast was a success, Mrs Bennet was always one who could set a good table and no one had any cause to repine on this day. The couple set off for London from the wedding breakfast. Darcy did not wish to spend his wedding night in an unknown inn. They were to spend three days at Darcy House, before setting off for the Lakes and returning to Pemberley for the summer.

Jane and Colonel (soon to be Mr) Fitzwilliam, were marrying at the beginning of the little season, which Mr and Mrs Darcy would return for. Elizabeth did not envy her sister the size of her wedding, nor the preparation it entailed. The ball following, hosted by Lord and Lady Matlock, would be the launch of the little season and was a coveted event, both for the chance to see the new Mrs Fitzwilliam and the first real look at the new Mrs Darcy.

...

Mr Bingley was not certain of his welcome to the Darcy circle, he was not certain he wished to be friends. he sighed as he sorted his mail at the beginning of the little season. who was he fooling. He loved Darcy like a brother. They had gotten through tough times at university and beyond. He missed his taciturn, clever witty friend. He had met him since the ball, Darcy had apologised for his part in the affair and honestly regretted the hurt he had caused.

There it was, an invitation to the Matlock Ball. In celebration of... her.

Could he brave it?

He stood up straighter, of course he could.

A year later Mrs Darcy was happily inviting Bingley to stay with them at Pemberley. He was happily accepting. The lovely Miss Hastings, a near neighbour of theirs, was a great favourite of Elizabeth, as well as both Georgiana and Kitty who were also living there. As a result she spent a good deal of her time with them. Bingley smiled in anticipation of the chance he could spend time in her company, his angel. Soon to be his wife, if she accepted him.

Her smile when he was announced gave him hope, the sly glances of Elizabeth and her sister's went unnoticed.

...

The news that Mr Wickham had absconded from the militia, and left debts in Meryton, was rather small news in comparison to the weddings of the summer. The news he had been caught and tried for desertion, in a time of war, hit Lydia hard. The punishment for such was well known and carried out swiftly. Lydia was the only person to mourn him, but at least someone did. The Darcys did not hear of it until much later, and the information did not surprise them.

Georgiana merely sighed and closed the book on that chapter of her life, instead looking forward to a more lively and interesting life as the sister of Elizabeth Darcy.

And what a life they all would lead...