So Far From Home ~ Section I

By Anne A.

Section I, Next Section

Epilogue

Posted on Saturday, 18 March 2000

Ashley Norton was only a little older than Lydia Bennet. She possessed the gentle-quietness of Jane Bennet, and the heart of Elizabeth Bennet. With all these amazing qualities, all packed into one girl, the qualities which would have endeared her to Hertfordshire society indefinitely, Ashley lived no where near the Bennets. The irony of the fact was compounded by the fact that Ashley didn't even live in the same time period. She lived in a time of jeans, platform shoes, and tight shirts; the end of the twentieth century, and the beginning of the twenty-first

Ashley dreamed of a romance that would put Romeo and Juliet to shame. She imagined herself in a large, dimly lit ballroom. All eyes would be on her, and her alone, as a handsome man would lock eyes with her. He would walk slowly toward her. Neither would ask for a dance, they would both just know. The two of them would slowly dance for minutes, maybe hours. The rhythm of the music would be forgotten, as they danced to their own theme. Time would not be an element. They would be lost in a world where time no longer existed, and there was only love. Love. Love. Love...

In her real live, however, things were far from this beautifully imagined romance. Dances were not what she imagined. Dances usually had the effect of making her feel like a loser, as she watched all her friends separate into couples, and she herself stood in the middle of the floor, all alone, because she did not have a boyfriend.

It was not because Ashley was "ugly" that she didn't have a boyfriend. Ashley was actually remarkably pretty. She had a rosy complexion, and beautiful blue eyes, and straight, golden-brown hair. Ashley's failing, however, was her shyness. She was very shy. If it hadn't been for her those friends who had known her her whole life, she would probably sit quietly, and alone the whole day at school.

In Ashley's mind, sitting quietly alone at school would not be that horrific, as long as she had a good book. One of her favorite pass-time's was reading. She enjoyed L.M. Montgomery, Mark Twain, Laura Ingles Wilder, and so on, but her absolute favorite author was Jane Austen. The romances Jane Austen had penned so long ago were exactly what she wanted her own romance to be like. But she knew it was quite impossible...

The day our story begins had been a typical, rainy spring day. Thunder had crackled and lightning had flashed across the sky. But, just before school was let out, the sun had finally begun to poke its nose out, between the dark clouds, and the clouds had begun a quick and steady retreat into the northern sky. The world had become lush and damp, just as spring ought to be.

Ashley, who was quite over come by the beauty around her, decided to walk home, rather than taking the bus. After much deliberation, she decided to walk through the parking lot, although it had been deemed the "most dangerous" parking lot in all of Kingston. Most of the kids who walked home walked through the parking lot anyway, and there had only been one or two accidents that whole year.

As Ashley walked, her mind became less and less involved in what was going on in the parking lot around her, as her brain slipped quickly into another dimension. She thought only of the beauty surrounding her. The green greens, the red reds, the small droplets of water covering the weeds growing in the cracks in the middle of the pavement, the yellow dandelions...it was all so splendid, that Ashley didn't notice the car speeding toward her.

Ashley was torn from her dream world by a high pitched screech. She looked toward the sound, and saw a car hurdling toward her. Everything began to move in slow motion. Ashley didn't have enough time to move out of the way of the oncoming car, which was by now only three feet away from her. She looked up into the terrified eyes of the boy behind the wheel. She opened her mouth to scream, but heard nothing. she only heard a crack, then everything went black.

The handsome eyes of the driver of the car that had hit her flashed through Ashley's mind, over and over again, along with the screech of tires on pavement. Soon the eyes began to fade from Ashley's mind, and the continuous screech became entangled with a voice. The world suddenly became very dark again, as the screech came to a halt. Everything was silent and still.

"Wake up!" a concerned voice commanded. Ashley's eyes snapped open, and she found a dark haired girl leaning over her. "You are awake!" the girl cried excitedly.

"What has happened? Where am I?" Ashley asked, attempting to sit up.

"Lie back down!" the girl commanded, then she continued: "I saw the whole
thing. A carriage was speeding down the road over there, and I heard a scream, and saw you laying in its tracks. The carriage must have hit you--although I did not see you in the road before the carriage hit you. I can not believe the rudeness of people! They did not even stop for a moment to see what damage they had done to your person."

"Nothing looks familiar, what is this place?"

"The carriage must have hit your head harder than I thought. You are in Hertfordshire, and in a little village called Longbourn. There, does that not sound familiar?"

"It does, actually, but I don't remember where I've heard it," Ashley admitted.

"Well, I'm sure you don't live here, for I have never seen you before at any of the assemblies or parties, and I don't recognize your accent...and your cloths are very odd."

"What country is this?" Ashley asked.

"Why England--Great Britain--of course!"

"I think I live in America," Ashley said wearily. Some how America seemed to fit where as England did not.

"That is quite a journey, indeed! What is your name, girl?"

"Ashley Norton...what is yours?" Ashley asked.

"Elizabeth Bennet."

Chapter 1

Posted on Saturday, 25 March 2000

The mud covering Ashley's good school jeans and sweater was thick and pasty. Since Ashley was so dirty, it was decided upon that immediately after Ashley re-gained the power of walking with out fainting, they would go to "the house" to find some clean, decent cloths, and a worm bath for Ashley.

In no time at all, Ashley and Elizabeth began to make their way slowly across the lawn toward the huge house looming in front of them.

"Oh!" Ashley cried, gazing at the picturesque scene before her, "It is so beautiful."

"I think the carriage hit your head harder than I had originally thought,"

Elizabeth said, jokingly. Then her face became serious once again, and she said, "But you are right, Miss Norton. It is a beautiful house. I guess I really don't appreciate it as much as I should. What is your house like, Miss Norton?"

"My house?" Ashley said, thoughtfully. She was suddenly struck by an image of a house. It seemed to claim her, but for some reason she couldn't remember anything from her life. She was living in the "here and now", with no past, only a huge future ahead of her.

"Well...?" Elizabeth asked, waking Ashley from her thoughts.

"I-I don't remember... I think it was a small cottage..."

"Then you are not from a wealthy family?" Elizabeth asked.

"I don't believe so, but I know I have been surrounded by a wealth greater than anything money has ever provided. Love." Ashley said.

Elizabeth nodded, and the girls entered the house.

As soon as Ashley was made presentable, she was escorted into the parlor, where she was suddenly faced by Elizabeth's family. To her surprise, after her introduction was made, Elizabeth said, "and she is a bit lost. She is in need of a place to stay for a little while."

"Well! Are we to take in every beggar on the street, Lizzy?!" the enormous, cross looking women seated in the corner asked irritably. "You don't know how my poor nerves suffer already. Imagine! another girl living in this house. I advise you, Mr. Bennet, to say no."

"My dear Mrs. Bennet," Mr. Bennet said, suppressing a smile, "If we were to offer her an invitation, how do we know she wouldn't refuse if? If I were her, I would definitely refuse it. I would never induce myself into being surrounded by so many silly girls by choice!"

"Mr. Bennet!" his lady cried. "Don't say such things about your daughters when we have company."

"I'm talking only of my daughter's, then..." Mr. Bennet muttered. Before anyone could comment, he looked at Ashley, and said, "You may stay with us as long as you can stand, Miss Norton."

Ashley clasped her hands in front of her, a smile covered her face, and she said rapturously, "Oh! Thank you Mr. Bennet. I promise you I will repay you somehow."

"Well, I'm sure if you found five, rich young men for these silly daughters of mine, Mrs. Bennet would consider it all repaid."

Ashley smiled, and said, "I'll work on that."

Mr. Bennet studied Ashley's face for a few seconds, then sat back in his chair. "Welcome to Longbourn, Miss Norton," he said. For some reason he really liked this Ashley girl. She reminded him of his little Lizzy.

Mrs. Norton stood in front of her daughter's hospital room. Through the open door, she could see her daughter's still form. Tears welled up in her eyes. Why did this have to happen to her baby--her only baby...?

"Excuse me..." a voice behind her said. Mrs. Norton turned around, and found herself face-to-face with the boy who had been driving the car that hit her daughter.

"What do you want?" Mrs. Norton asked, trying desperately to keep her cool. She didn't want to crack, and start yelling at the boy. Deep in her heart, she felt like he had already been through so much... but her head always disagreed, saying, "He hasn't gone through half as much as Ashley has!" This time Mrs. Norton was going to follow her head. She consoled her self, by saying to herself, "It's all his fault!"

A single tear fell from his eye, and the cement shell Mrs. Norton had placed around her heart cracked. "I'm sorry," she said, starting her own fresh tears, "I didn't mean to be harsh. It's only that I'm a single parent, and my only child is laying in a hospital bead, in a coma. The doctors have told me she might suffer from severe brain damage, or die, or be perfectly fine. I only pray she doesn't die... but I don't know how to live if she has brain damage... as long as she doesn't die, thought!"

"And I would give anything to be in her place right now... and to have her sitting at home, doing her homework, or reading a book, or talking to you, watching TV. I feel awful. There is no way to justify what has happened. Mrs. Norton, if it is possible, would you someday, somehow find it in your heart to forgive me?"

"Well Matthew. I will have to. You and I... and my daughter in there, have been thrown together, and we are going to have to make the best of it," Mrs. Norton gave him a bitter smile. She looked at him through her tear filled eyes, and took his hand, and said, "Please, don't ever do it again."

"I promise you I won't. I'm to afraid to even get in a car now. I rode my bike here," Matt said.

Mrs. Norton nodded, and said it was "understandable". Then Matt asked if she might permit him to see Ashley.

"Go on in," Mrs. Norton said wearily. "If you need anything, I'll be right here."

Matt walked slowly into the room. He stopped just in the entrance. He flinched. The room was almost like a dead room. Nothing moved. The walls were painted an eerie shade of brown. He remembered when his own mother had been in the hospital after his little brother was born. The walls were white, and there was so much happiness in the room. People from his church had brought in so many baskets and bouquets of flowers for his mother and his baby brother, that the whole room was flooded with color and delight.

Matt had always wanted to keep those memories of the hospital. So many people were afraid of the hospital. The thought of dead things, and medicines, shots, and diseases seemed to scare all his friends. But it didn't scare him! Since his brother's birth, Matt had had a love affair with the hospital, he even dreamed of becoming a doctor him self one day.

Now the hospital seemed to be filled with something more than death, medicines, shots, and disease. It was also filled with pain and fear. He had seen the fear in Mrs. Norton's eyes, but he knew not what to say to her. As his father had told him when he came to the police station, there was no way to "make up" for the loss of something so precious as a life.

Now Matt walked nearer the thin bed. A machine next to him beeped, keeping time with Ashley's heart beat. There were tubes and wires and needles all around her. Matt didn't think this would be a wonderful way to spend what could be the last days, or hours or (God forbid) the minutes of her life. He silently prayed that somehow she would make it out just fine.

He picked up one of her be-wired hands, and held it in his own. "Hi Ashley," He whispered. There was no response from her. "Well, I don't know if you can hear me, but I came here to apologize to you." He almost could have sworn he saw her nod, but he knew it was only wishful thinking. "I'm sorry Ashley."

He pulled a battered book from his backpack, and smoothed the paper cover between his hands. He chuckled, in an attempt to cheer himself up, and said, "I found this at the crash sight. I know it belonged to you, Ashley. I talked to one of your friends about it, and she told me it was your favorite book, 'Pride and Prejudice'. I've never read the book myself." Then Matt took a deep breath. He was going to do something he would have never done two days ago. He was going to read it to her. "If you wake up before we finish this book, we'll read the rest out loud together. Then if there is something I don't understand, you can explain it to me."

Ashley made no negative response, so Matt opened the well worn book, to the first page. first he had considered buying a new book, so it would be a fresh, clean copy, but it felt almost like a sacrilege. Ashley must hear from this book!

Matt cleared his throat, and began, "It is a truth universally acknowledged..."

Chapter 2

Posted on Monday, 27 March 2000

A week had passed since Ashley's mysterious arrival at Longbourn. She had found an incredible confidant with Elizabeth, and sometimes Jane. She had struck Mary from the start as a highly learned young lady, and quickly proved Mary to be correct. She and Mary sometimes spent time after dinner, going over various poems, and histories. And then there were Kitty and Lydia. At the very beginning she had been "unacceptable" to Kitty and Lydia, but by the end of the week, Ashley had been deemed by the two girls as "passable", for it was learned that she could giggle and whisper about the solders just as well as they could. She was, with out a second thought, accepted into their merry society. She had even wormed her way into Mr. Bennet's heart, for, as he told his little Lizzy as she was passing through his library, "she was not as silly as the rest of them!"

Elizabeth watched all this with a keen smile. She was thrilled that Ashley had been able to win the love of her family, and hoped that Ashley need never go back to America.

Ashley's memory still hadn't come back to her. Sometimes things--strange things--would come to mind. The funny thing was, Ashley really didn't think them all that strange, although she felt sure she was supposed to. Once, as she walked along the narrow path through the garden, a song came to mind. It was not exactly a decent song in that day in age, and she was mortified to find it stuck in her head. To ease herself, she began to hum it (it was a very pretty tune, although improper). Mary heard her humming from the other side of a rose bush and asked,

"What is that you are singing, Ashley?"

Ashley said it was just a song she had heard once. When she returned to the house an hour later, she was disconcerted to hear Mary plunking out a ruff version of the tune she had heard Ashley humming.

Late at night, at the moment before Ashley fell asleep, a pair of wonderful eyes would flash through her mind. The eyes were the very eyes she had seen when Elizabeth woke her up after the accident. Ashley did not know where she had seen them before, though. Her whole life seemed to be a huge mystery to her... a huge mystery that would never be solved--or so she though.

On her first week anniversary of living with the Bennets, Elizabeth announced to Ashley that she should be allowed to go to the up coming ball in Meryton.

"It's but a fortnight away, so we must find you a new gown for the occasion. I'm sure papa will not object," Said Elizabeth. Jane, who was also in the room, agreed, and gave Ashley a reassuring smile.

"That is all very well," said Ashley. "But I don't know how to dance."

"Don't know how to dance!" Elizabeth exclaimed, "Why then, Jane and I must teach you to dance."

Ashley didn't want to learn to dance! She wanted to stay in her little room through the whole ball, and read a good book. She was sure Mr. Bennet would agree that that would be a more suitable way to spend a night.

But Elizabeth had hear heart set on teaching Ashley to dance, and Jane seemed just as excited about it. It was decided that the first dance lesson would begin as soon as Mary could be found. Mary would play the piano, and Jane and Elizabeth would take turns dancing with, and giving instructions to Ashley.

Jane, Elizabeth, and Ashley trooped down to the music room, with Mary close at their heals. The room was decidedly big enough, so after Mary had chosen a song, the lesson began.

Mary had, for a chance, chosen a good piece of music. It was a lively Scotch melody, that had the effect of making everyone in the room, or within earshot of the music happy.

Mr. Bennet, who had heretofore been sitting in his library, was drawn up to the room by the melody, and the giggles and stomps of the three dancers. He now stood in the door way, trying his hardest to keep from laughing at or with the girls. Eventually he took a seat in the corner chair to watch the merriment. Normally he wasn't a man who gave into such pleasures, but for this he made an exception.

Finally when he could take it no more, he got up from his seat, and joined the little dance. It had been years since he had danced, and he was greatly surprised and pleased to learn that he still knew how. For some time the four of them danced, going through different dances, and different pieces of music. Ashley had never known dancing could be that much fun, and nor had Mr. Bennet.

As all good things must, however, the dance finally came to a crashing end, when Mrs. Bennet happened to walk into the room, after her visit with Mrs. Long. She had been searching the house for Mr. Bennet, and in desperation, had finally decided to ask the girls in the music room. She had been shocked to find that, not only were her daughters and Ashley dancing, but her husband was as well. All five of the occupants of the room looked happier than they had in a long time.

"Mr. Bennet!" She cried. Really he looked almost wild! And a married man to be taking enjoyment in dancing... well it just didn't happen! And he was so old too!

Mary abruptly stopped playing the piano. The dancers let go of each others hands, and faced Mrs. Bennet to realize their pending doom.

"That is much better!" cried Mrs. Bennet, "You have no idea how nerve-racking that music can be Mary. Mr. Bennet. Sit down. I have come with such news!" The scene which had shocked Mrs. Bennet not a minute earlier seemed all but forgotten, for she had news to tell Mr. Bennet that couldn't wait!

"What is it, My dear?" Mr. Bennet asked, dabbing at his forehead with a handkerchief, as he walked back toward his chair.

"Why! Netherfield Park has let at last," Mrs. Bennet replied, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Oh. That is quite all right," Mr. Bennet said, in an unconcerned voice.

"Well...?" Mrs. Bennet said. She had rather hoped her husband would ask who had let it, for that was the best part of her whole story.

"Well what?" Mr. Bennet asked, still unconcerned.

"Well don't you want to know who has taken it?" Mrs. Bennet asked.

"Not particularly. But I'm sure you want to tell me," Mr. Bennet said, with a heavy sigh.

Mrs. Bennet took this as suitable encouragement, and continued, "A single man of large fortune! Just think of it Mr. Bennet. What a fine thing for our girls."

"How so? How is it going to effect them?"

"You toy with me, Mr. Bennet. You must know that I am thinking of his marring one of them. And you know, a single man must have many single friends--"

"Yes, yes. And some of those friends are, no doubt, single female friends, and are probably plotting to marry him as we speak. You see, my dear, it is a lost cause."

"I'm sure not, Mr. Bennet. Why would providence have brought him to us, if he wasn't to marry one of our girls?"

On this point Mr. Bennet made no reply. He was tiring of the conversation, and felt any talk with his wife was tedious.

"I want you to visit him as soon as he comes," Mrs. Bennet said.

"You may visit him if you like, and take the girls with you, if you please, but leave me out of it!" Mr. Bennet cried. With that, he quit the room, and went to the library, his wife close at his heals.

For the next few days, as Ashley, Elizabeth, Jane, and Mary practiced dancing, Mrs. Bennet begged and pleaded with Mr. Bennet to please, please, please visit this new neighbor when he finally came. Mr. Bennet stood strong on his case, however. He wanted nothing to do with this single man!

"Hey, Matt!" a voice shouted. Matt rolled his eyes. He had been on his way to his bike, so he could get to the hospital. He was on chapter seven of "Pride and Prejudice", and he had to admit he wanted to find out what was going to happen next.

He had told Ashley he would read her a chapter every day, and he wouldn't read any of it without her. Now, when he finally went home again, he found himself gazing at the book. He was dying to open it up, and read on... but he had promised Ashley, and if there was one thing he wasn't, it was a promise breaker.

He turned around, and saw Joe Price, followed by his girlfriend, Kerry Johnson. Joe had been his best friend for years, but at that moment Joe was the last person he wanted to talk to. To make matters worse, Joe's girlfriend obviously had a crush on Matt, and it drove Matt crazy.

"Hey, man. I haven't seen you in a while," Joe said.

"Yeah. We've missed you at lunch... and after school and stuff," Kerry interjected, while bestowing Matt with her biggest, brightest smile.

"Mark told us he saw you hanging out with those neardy-Jesus-freek people," Joe pressed on. He gave Matt a look that read, "you're caught."

"Give me a break, Joe. Those are Ashley's friends. I just want to know who Ashley really is. Did you know that none of the people in this school, except those (what did you call them) 'neardy-Jesus-freek-people', really knows how Ashley is."

"I talked to her once," Kerry said, brightly. She was finally happy that she was able to assist him.

"Oh yeah, and what did you talk about?" Matt asked, raising his eyebrows.

Joe smirked at Matt. Obviously there were other people in the school who knew her. The least Matt could do was keep up his appearances by not talking to those freaks!

"Well, I asked her for a pencil once, and she said, 'sure', or something like that," Kerry said, happily.

"Wow, Kerry. That sure is some conversation you two had," Matt said sarcastically. Then: "I have to go, or I'll be late for an appointment."

"Appointment?" Kerry said. She sounded almost hurt that he was leaving.

"Yeah," Matt said.

"With some girl?" Kerry cried.

Joe gave his girlfriend a severe look. Was she... jealous?

"Yep," Matt said, and he got on his bike, and rode off toward the hospital, leaving a very jealous girl and a confused boy in his wake.

Chapter 3

Posted on Thursday, 13 April 2000

The next few weeks passed rather loudly. There were various emotions for each person involved. Kitty and Lydia were excited, because they would probably dance with every officer, and maybe even Mr. Bingley Elizabeth and Jane both felt a little excitement, although it was very subtle, compared to the emotions of their youngest sisters. Mary, for the first time in her life, was thrilled about the assembly. Ashley and Elizabeth had worked together to make a hair style that fit flattered her face (the knowledge came to Ashley, after years of reading "Seventeen"). They even made a decent looking dress for her. When Mrs. Bennet saw Mary, she was even forced to say Mary looked "almost pretty."

Ashley was worried. She was afraid she would make a mistake in her dancing. What would her partner think of her if she made a mistake? Would her partner think she was stupid? Still worse, what if she didn't have a partner the whole night?

Mrs. Bennet grew increasingly nervous with every day that passed. She was afraid they would be the only family at the assembly who hadn't visited Mr. Bingley. She just KNEW Mr. Bennet would never visit him, and they would be shunned.

One morning, as Ashley walked past the Library, Mr. Bennet called to her. "Ashley, can I trust you to keep a secret?" he asked.

"Of course. What is it, Mr. Bennet?"

"This morning ...I better close the door. I don't want to risk Mrs. Bennet hearing."

Once the door was shut, Mr. Bennet continued. "This morning I'm going to visit Mr. Bingley. I don't want anyone to know I'm gone, or at the very least, that I'm gone. Can I trust you to do that for me?"

"Yes sir," Ashley said.

"Good girl! Now, I'm going to sneak out. Keep the house in an uproar... what ever it takes," he smiled, and snuck out of the room.

Ashley went immediately back to the parlor, where the rest of the ladies were sitting, and began working on her stitching.

Not ten minutes had passed, before Mrs. Bennet got it into her head to find Mr. Bennet, and badger him into visiting Mr. Bingley. However, she couldn't find him anywhere.

"Where could he be?" she asked her daughters, on re-entering the parlor once again.

Ashley knew she had to think fast, before Mrs. Bennet or one of her daughters guessed the truth. She didn't want to let Mr. Bennet down!

"Perhaps he ran away," she blurted out.

Mrs. Bennet and her daughters looked at her in surprise. "Would he...?" Mrs. Bennet asked, as she rang her hands nervously.

"Where I come from, husbands often walk out on their wives and children." She said this with conviction, and was rather surprised that she knew it. She also had the distinct feeling that her own father had walked out on her family... who ever they were.

How dreadful!" Kitty cried fearfully.

"I heard the circus is in town," said Ashley matter-of-factly. She didn't know whether the circus was really in town, but she figured no one else knew either. "Once I heard him say that in another life, he should like to be a clown in a circus."

"We are ruined!" Mrs. Bennet cried.

"He won't get away with it, Mama," Mary comforted her mother.

"Aah, but you drove him to it, girls. If only one of you were married! If only we had a son. Then Mr. Bennet would have stayed here for his sake," Mrs. Bennet whimpered.

The house was a mess of confusion for the next hour. The servants were whispering, because Hill had overheard something about Mr. Bennet joining the circus. "Would the house be taken over by that Collins-man Mrs. Bennet was always crying about? What would happen to them?"

Suddenly, the front door screeched open, and slammed shut. Mr. Bennet's quick step echoed throughout the house. When he entered the parlor, where the ladies were still stationed, Mrs. Bennet cried out, Lydia gasped, Kitty screamed, and Mary ran and gave him a big hug. Elizabeth and Jane just looked on, somewhat relieved.

"So the circus wouldn't take you, I see. It is for the best, Mr. Bennet. Providence has spoken. You are not to be a clown. Don't try again. It's not meant to be," Mrs. Bennet scolded him.

"A clown--" He caught up Ashley's eyes, and danced merrily with them. Really, a clown! "Yes well, I have decided to hold back on that dream for a while yet. Perhaps when I'm older, though--"

"No, no!" Mrs. Bennet interrupted. "No clowns, please. We were looking every where for you, Mr. Bennet."

"And did 'everywhere' include Netherfield?" he asked, pointedly.

"NO, of course not, Mr. Bennet, how can you be so teasing? Since you say you are not to visit Mr. Bingley yourself, we cannot even talk to the man!"

"As you wish, my dear..." he looked at Elizabeth, who was decorating a hat, and said, "I hope Mr. Bingley likes it, Lizzy."

"It makes no difference what he likes, since you are never to visit him. Let's talk no more of Mr. Bingley. I'm sick of hearing of him!" bellowed Mrs. Bennet.

"Well, then I wish you had told me that this morning. Had you, I would not have visited him this morning."

For a few moments, the room was in a stunned silence. Finally Mrs. Bennet cracked the hard, concrete silence, with her high pitched voice. "Oh Mr. Bennet! I knew you would, I just knew it! Girls, what a fine father you have, now you all shall dance with Mr. Bennet."

"Yes, well I leave you to discuss it," Mr. Bennet said, as he got up and left the room.

Although Mrs. Bennet was happy about her husband's visit with Mr. Bingley, there was still, and always would be a dark shadow over the happy event. Because of the shadow, she was never again able to trust her husband around the circus... especially the clowns.

Matt walked slowly toward the door of the school. He was thrilled that the day was finally over. Now all he had to do was hop on his bike, and peddle down to the hospital. Then he'd get to see Ashley again.

He heard a voice shouting his name. "Matt! Wait for me!" Matt turned around. He felt annoyed and disgruntled that someone was bothering him, when he wanted to leave. "Matt Carter! Hang on!" it was Kerry. She was practically tripping over everyone to get to him. Matt rolled his eyes. Out of all the people at school, why did it have to be Kerry Johnson?

By this time Kerry caught up with him. She was panting for breath, but a huge smile covered her face. Matt was waiting for her, and for this she was eternally grateful.

"Kerry, I have to go..." Matt began.

"I need to talk to you, Matt. It's very important," Kerry said. The smile still covered her face.

"I have to go..." Matt repeated. Why couldn't Kerry get it through her thick skull?

"But I really need to ask you something. It's very very important, and I'm very sure you will want to hear it," Kerry went on.

"Then talk to me tomorrow. I really don't have time right now," Matt said, and turned to walk away. Kerry shouted that she would meet him at his locker sometime tomorrow, then she watched him disappear into the crowd of people.

Kerry was very in love with her boyfriend's best friend, Matt Carter. Ever since the day she had been introduced to him, she had been following him around, drooling. Almost everyone noticed this, except her boyfriend. Joe thought she was madly in love with him, and her liked her so much himself, that he was blinded.

For a year and a half Kerry had kept a close eye on Matt. He had had a few girlfriends, but never anything serious. Kerry liked to think Matt was holding off on a serious relationship, just in case she and Joe broke up. Kerry would break up with Joe in a heart beat if she found out Matt had a crush on her.

Chapter 4

Posted on Friday, 21 April 2000

Kerry Johnson walked nervously up to Matt Carter's locker. He was there, taking off his spring coat, and taking out his first hour books. He was there, looking as handsome as ever.

Since it was Friday, everyone was talking loudly. Fridays were always the noisiest day of the week.

Kerry stood directly behind Matt, and cleared her throat. Matt didn't turn, but Kerry thought maybe it was for the best. It would be easier to do what she had to do if she wasn't gazing into his handsome eyes.

"Hey," She began. He still didn't turn, so she continued. "I was just wondering. Well, you know the Prom is coming up soon. I was just wondering if you would want to go with me, Matt." She couldn't believe she had just worked up the nerve to take that fatal plunge!

Matt heard his name, and turned around, in time to see Kerry's blushing face. "Yeah?" he said, or rather asked. He hadn't heard a word Kerry had just said, other than his name. Up until a moment ago, he hadn't even known she was there. He was too busy thinking about Ashley.

"Really?!" Kerry cried. Her eyes bulged out of her head. She realized that she hadn't expected him to say yes, and yet he had. She couldn't believe that she, Kerry Johnson, would be going to the Prom--the biggest dance of the whole year--with Matt Carter. "We'll talk about it more at lunch, then," she grinned, as she turned and swaggered away as if she owned the world.

"What was that all about?" Matt asked himself out loud, as he turned back to his open locker.

"Huh?" a girl a few lockers away from him asked, looking up at him.

"Did you hear what Kerry was saying?"

"No. I just got here," she admitted. "If Kerry was here, I'm glad I missed her."

"I wish I could say the same thing!" Matt agreed. "Kerry is not one of my favorite people. Some how, when ever I'm around her I always feel like she has a crush on me, or something."

The girl nodded. "That's actually not that far from the truth. She is in my geometry class, and she's ALWAYS talking about you."

Matt frowned. This was not exactly good news to him. He didn't want to think about Kerry anymore, so he changed the subject. "What's your name?" he asked feebly.

"Angie.... Colby," she answered. She felt her heart start to pound. Matt Carter, one of the hottest guys in school, was asking HER what her name was.

He nodded, and glanced into her locker, and saw something he would cut off his right arm to see--a school picture of Ashley Norton.

"Are you friends with Ashley," he asked. 'duh,' he mentally kicked himself.

"Yeah. She's in the hospital, you know," Angie said. Had she known how well Matt knew, it would have been Angie's turn to kick herself.

Matt cleared his throat uncomfortably, and excused himself to go to class, leaving a confused Angie Colby in his wake.

The room was crowded and dim. A low roar surrounded Ashley and the Bennets. Everyone was chatting excitedly about the pending arrival of the Netherfield party, who were beginning to look like they would be a no-show.

Suddenly, the noise stopped, as a door slowly creaked open, and five shadows entered the room, followed by five unfamiliar faces. Ashley was taken aback by the haughtiness of four of them--two ladies and two gentlemen--but the fifth looked kind, and seemed determined to take delight in everything around him.

Moments later, the penetrating silence was replaced by whispering. A who was standing next to Ashley whispered, "That tall, handsome gentlemen... he is pronounced to be the most wealthy man in Derbyshire. A Mr. Darcy, I'm told. He is in possession of a large fortune of ten thousand a year."

Ashley nodded. This was indeed a large amount of money, but she felt for Mr. Darcy. She knew in her heart that she would not be happy at all if the first time she met a group of people, they were circulating rumors about her financial status.

"He is definitely the most handsome man I have ever laid my eyes on," the lady continued. "I wonder if he has come to Hertfordshire to chose a wife."

In Ashley's opinion, Mr. Darcy's fate seemed to be growing worse and worse by the minute. 'The poor man,' Ashley thought, irritably. She shook her head.

"He is of more consequence than Mr. Bingley. Mr. Bingley is nothing compared to him," the young lady went on.

'Poor Mr. Bingley!' Ashley cried inwardly for both men. Now Mr. Bingley wasn't as GOOD as Mr. Darcy.

"Moreover, Mr. Darcy, I'm told, has fewer female acquaintances, and is therefore more available." The young lady was beginning to pinch Ashley's nerves. Ashley longed to shout at her, but didn't want to make a scene in front of all those people.

"I like them both," Ashley blurted out, perhaps a little louder than she had planned. Four or five heads turned to give her funny looks. "Sorry," Ashly murmured, as a heavy blush covered her cheeks. She turned to say more to the young lady, but she had already moved away, and was now talking to Elizabeth.

"Mrs. Bennet," Ashley heard Sir William Lucus cry. She sauntered over to where Mrs. Bennet and Sir William were standing. "Mr. Bingley has requested the pleasure of an introduction to yourself and your lovely daughters."

"Ooh! Indeed, indeed, indeed!" Mrs. Bennet cried joyously. She felt incredibly lucky to be thus singled out by Mr. Bingley.

"Mr. Bingley," Sir William said, motioning the young man to come closer. "Allow me to introduce you to Mrs. Bennet."

"Aah," the pleasant young man said. "I have heard much about you and your daughters." Ashley had to clench her teeth to keep from giggling at the emphasis Mr. Bingley put on the DAUGHTERS.

"Indeed! And now you shall meet them," Mrs. Bennet said. She was obviously struggling to contain her happiness. She pointed out all five of her daughters to him.

When she had finished, Ashley caught Mr. Bingley's eye, and he asked who she was. "Oh. Her." Mrs. Bennet said in a less than happy tone of voice. "She is a good friend of my daughters', and lives with us. She is of little consequence, though."

Ashley knew in an instant that she was going to cry. She felt the tears well up in her eyes, and drip over the edges like a waterfall. Suddenly she felt a handkerchief dab at eyes, and a strong arm guided her away from the stunned Mrs. Bennet. "Don't cry." It was not Sir William Lucus's voice, as Ashley had suspected it would be. It was Mr. Bingley!

"I- I'm sorry," Ashley murmured. "I'm usually not like this, but this is my first time out in society here. I came from far, far away. I wanted to make a good impression. Now Mrs. Bennet is making me look bad."

"No, Miss... I'm sorry, I don't believe I ever learned your name..."

"Ashley Norton," Ashley sobbed.

"Well, Miss Norton," He smiled, "You needn't worry about what Mrs. Bennet says about you. I don't believe she could possibly lesson anyone's opinion of you. From the moment I saw you, I thought you were a very amiable young women."

"Thank you, Mr. Bingley. You don't know how much better that makes me feel," Ashley said softly.

Mr. Bingley was obliged to take this as a compliment. He didn't see anything but sweet sincerity in Miss Norton.

"Would you like me to stay here with you?" Mr. Bingley asked.

"No. Everyone is expecting you to dance with their daughters' tonight. You wouldn't want to disappoint them, would you?" Ashley asked, trying to smile.

Mr. Bingley laughed. "You are quite right, Miss Norton. I will be back, though. After you regain your powers of dancing, I'd like to request your hand, if that would be all right."

Ashley let her smile be his answer, and watched him walk away from her, and to Charlotte Lucus.

Mr. Bingley kept his promise, however, and after he danced with Jane, and applied to Ashley for her promised dance.

"You remind me a little of my friend Mr. Darcy," Mr. Bingley said.

Ashley nodded. "I can see how you would think that, Mr. Bingley. I believe both Mr. Darcy and myself are shy around strangers."

"That is indeed a true account of his character. Mr. Darcy is a very wonderful friend, once one gets to know him, but he is shy," Mr. Bingley said.

After a long silence, Ashley said, "A week ago we were expecting your party to be much larger."

"Indeed it was, but in the end, it was settled that there should only be the six of us," Mr. Bingley said absently.

"Six?" Ashley questioned.

"Indeed," Mr. Bingley said, discovering his folly. "My younger brother is expected to arrive tomorrow, if he does not put it off again. Miss Norton, would it be too much to ask, if I introduced my brother to you?"

"No. I would love to meet any relation of yours; that is if they are all as amiable as you," Ashley smiled.

"Good. You should expect an invitation to Netherfield sometime in the next few days, then," Mr. Bingley said, and Ashley agreed.

Before the first half of the ball had ended, the general opinion of Mr. Darcy had drastically changed. The young lady who had told Ashley of his many charms at first, now joined Ashley to complain about his evils. She said Mr. Darcy had actually dared to call Elizabeth Bennet "tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt him". At first this enraged Ashley. She could not imagine the audacity of a man calling the lady who had taken her in "tolerable."

But the words of Mr. Bingley flashed through her mind. Mr. Darcy was only shy. She realized that she herself acted different than she normally would when she was faced by strangers. She remembered herself bursting out in tears in front of Mr. Bingley. 'Perhaps,' she thought, ' Mr. Darcy only said this because he was trying to cover up his shyness.

From that moment on, Ashley was determined not to judge Mr. Darcy too harshly.

When Matt reached his locker after fifth hour, he found his best friend Joe Price waiting for him.

"What's wrong with you!" Joe cried.

Matt looked at him blankly.

"Don't give me that. You stole my girlfriend," Joe continued.

"You mean Kerry?" Matt asked.

"What, do you think I have another girlfriend? Yes Kerry. This morning she comes up to me and breaks up with me. She says she asked you to the Prom, and you said yes."

"She never asked me to the Prom," Matt argued.

"I don't want to hear your whining, Matt. Just shut up and leave me alone."

Matt watched his friend stalk off. He couldn't believe what had just happened. Was it really possible that he and Joe were fighting over the one girl Matt hated the most?

...It was obviously more possible than Matt had ever imagined before in his entire life.

Chapter 5

Posted on Saturday, 22 April 2000

Mrs. Bennet was disgruntled. She watched as Ashley walked around with her head in the clouds every day during the course of a week after the assembly, where Ashley alone had been singled out by Mr. Bingley. Mr. Bingley. The man who SHOULD have been paying closer to her dear Jane, who was, of course, ten times prettier than Ashley Norton was!

Longbourn was practically unbearable for Ashley. Mrs. Bennet would cast an evil look in Ashley's direction when ever possible, and swear to her daughters that she would never speak to Ashley again... although she did on several occasions.

Lydia and Kitty were not the least bit jealous of Ashley, although their mother claimed that they were. Lydia and Kitty had bigger fish to fry. The two girls often took trips into Meryton, to visit their Aunt Phillips, and any solder who might poke his nose around. Before the assembly they always dragged Ashley along with them, but now it seemed like Ashley was "taken". No solder would want to flirt with a girl who was practically married! Who ever heard of such a thing?

Ashley had different ideas, though. She knew she didn't, and never would, "love" Mr. Bingley with any affection other than pure friendship. She also knew Mr. Bingley didn't, and never would, "love" her. It was simple. The only people who didn't seem to get the picture were Mrs. Bennet and her daughters.

Even Jane and Elizabeth seemed to think there was an essence of love between Ashley and Mr. Bingley, and they were both very happy for the two "lovers."

No matter what the feelings around her were, exactly a week after the assembly, Ashley received an elegant invitation from Mr. Bingley. She was invited to come to Netherfield to dine with them, and meet his younger brother.

"May I take the carriage?" Ashley asked Mr. Bennet. Before he could answer, however, Mrs. Bennet burst out,

"NO! You deprive my daughters of everything good for them, then you want to mooch off of us as well? No indeed! I shall not stand for it. Not in my house. You will walk, missy!" And that was the end of it. There was no room for argument. Mr. Bennet sat stunned. He couldn't believe his wife's anger and jealousy, but there was nothing to be said. Ashley would have to walk.

As soon as Ashley left, it began to rain. Soggy mud caked on Ashley's boots. Everything was cold and miserable. Normally Ashley loved a good rain storm. But today, while she was walking to such an important house, it was terrible.

When Matt got to his locker Monday morning, he found Kerry waiting for him. 'Great,' he grumbled. The last thing he wanted to see on a Monday morning was Kerry Johnson's face. He noted that Kerry was all smiles when she saw him. She seemed so happy that she was going with him to the prom. And yet she wasn't going with him. The fact that she was excited about it really bothered him. It would be tough to let poor Kerry down from her artificial high.

"Hi Matt!" She said brightly. Perhaps a little too brightly. It ruined Matt's "let her down easy" philosophy for a moment.

"Kerry," he acknowledged her presence.

"I have to tell you what color my dress for prom is, so we match. It's yellow. I hope that's okay. I mean I know boys probably don't like yellow that much, because sometimes it is kinda a 'girls color', and boys don't like wearing girls colors. But it's not like it's pink or something. It's really a pretty yellow. It's kinda bright, like a sun, or a banana, or something. it looks really cute on me. Anyway, what I was thinking--"

Here Matt realized he needed to cut the poor girl off. She was only embarrassing herself. "I'm sorry Kerry, but I'm not going to the prom with you."

"What?" Kerry said, somewhat baffled. She couldn't didn't think she had heard him right.

"You heard me. I'm not going to the prom with you," Matt said. His eyes became more earnest.

"Not going? But why?" Kerry murmured.

"You broke up with my best friend for this, and now he won't talk to me. And I never said I wanted to go with you." Kerry still looked perplexed, which made Matt angry. Why didn't she get it? Without thinking, Matt cried, "and I don't even like you!"

Kerry read his words loud and clear, and turned mutely away. Matt watched the dejected girl walk slowly down the hall, toward Joe's locker. 'Just as it should have been in the first place,' Matt thought.

"I guess you found out what Kerry said to you Friday," a little voice next to him said. He turned his head, and saw Angie. She smiled wistfully at him.

"Yeah. In the worst way, too. Her boyfriend, who was once my friend, told me," Matt said.

"Mmm-hum," Angie said. She suddenly looked thoughtful.

"What are you thinking?" Matt asked her.

Angie stood still. She suddenly wished she hadn't been thinking at all. "I was just thinking about--something..." Angie's voice trailed off. What kind of lame excuse could she make up. She really had been thinking about how hot Matt was, and how she wished she was the lucky girl who would be going to the prom with him. Prom was only two weeks away. It really was time for him to get a date. Why couldn't it be her? He'd probably say no, Angie realized.

On the other hand, he was one of the most popular guys in school, and he didn't have a date for prom, and he needed to chose fast. He talked to her now, maybe he wouldn't he mind dancing with her... it would just be for one night. Then everything would go back to normal. (or as normal as it could be after going out with the hottest guy in school)

"I was just thinking about the prom, actually," Angie said, shyly.

"Oh yeah?" said Matt. "Do you have a date yet?"

Angie couldn't believe her ears. She could have sworn he was begging her to ask him. "Not yet," Angie admitted shyly. "But there is this one guy I'd really like to go with."

"You're cutting it a little close, then. You should just go right now and ask him," said the clueless Matt.

"Maybe you're right. Matt, will you go to the prom with me?"

Ashley was let into the house, and then into the sitting room, by a servant. All the inhabitants of the house were shocked by Ashley's appearance. Mrs. Bingley noted the mud on her dress, but let it pass, since she greatly enjoyed Ashley Norton's company (since she wasn't from Hertfordshire, she was obviously not one of the "country folks"), and her brother, Charles, really liked her.

"Miss Norton!" Mr. Bingley cried. He didn't notice the mud on Ashley's dress. He only noticed her. "I'd like you to meet my brother, Matthew Bingley."

'Matthew... Matthew... Matt...' the name ran through Ashley's head. It was entirely unfamiliar, and yet so familiar.

Mr. Matthew Bingley stood up, and gallantly kissed her hand. As he looked up, their eyes caught. His eyes... they were so familiar to Ashley. They were the very eyes she had seen before she woke up in Hertfordshire. If she knew those eyes, how come they didn't seem to know her. The only familiarity he seemed to have of her was the description Mr. Bingley had given him of her. And yet Ashley knew those eyes, those handsome eyes, from somewhere. But where?

Suddenly the world grew warm and blurry. Everything around her spun. "What's happening?" Ashley cried.

"Catch her. She's going to faint!" a voice cried, as everything became suddenly very black and cold.

"Matthew Carter. Please come to the main office."

Angie was still gazing at Matt, waiting for his answer.

"I have to go," Matt blurted out. He didn't want to answer Angie's question. If Angie had an ounce of sense in her body, she would know the answer. The only girl he'd go to the prom with was Ashley Norton!

"I'll talk to your about it more at lunch," Angie said, giving him one last hopeful smile. Matt watched her walk away, and then hurried down to the main office. He wondered what the message could be.

Matt walked into the office, and found Principal Von Feldt and two secretaries waiting for him.

"Mr. Carter?" Mr. Von Feldt said. "You need to go to the hospital immediately. Mrs. Norton called. Ashley is worse."

"What do you mean by 'worse'?" asked Matt.

"I mean she may not make it through the day."

Chapter 6

Posted on Thursday, 4 May 2000

Ashley was stuck in an unknown place. She lay in the bleak darkness between her two homes. Everything around her felt cold. Cold like death. She tried to open her eyes, but she could not. It was as if there were heavy bricks on her eyes.

Ashley prayed for light. She prayed for, at the very least, the absence of that cool darkness.

Suddenly, for a brief moment, Ashley's prayers were answered. She heard a rhythmic beeping, and the bricks were removed from her eyes. She got up, and found herself in a room. The walls were gray, and naked. All around her were wires and machines, and things she did not know. Across the room two people sat. Tears moistened their eyes. It was almost as if they cared about her. One of the two people looked up at her. He looked like Matthew Bingley.

"Mr. Bingley," Ashley said, sitting up a little more. He gave no reply. He only offered his hand to the crying women next to him. The women looked distinctly like Ashley; so much so that it was almost scary.

"Where am I?" She asked herself out loud. She got up from the bed she had been laying on, then turned back to look at the bed. As the rhythmic beeping turned into a steady beep, Ashley found herself looking at herself. She was laying on the bed still. "No," Ashley whispered. "I don't want to die. Not until I learn the truth about myself."

Funny looking men, wearing white lab coats rushed in. A man wearing a black shirt with a white collar walked in, and held the hands of the Matthew look-alike, and the Ashley-look alike. "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name..." Ashley found herself saying the prayer with the three of them, as she looked on as the doctors worked on her body.

Ashley was very suddenly tired. She laid down on top of her body, and the beeping magically became rhythmic once again. Then the world went black and cold once again.

The very next moment, Ashley heard a familiar voice calling her name. As her eyes fluttered open, she wondered if it was one of those two nice people from a few moments ago.

It wasn't. It was Jane. Ashley knew she should feel happy to be with Jane once again, but she found herself longing to see those two unfamiliar, familiar people. She longed to discover who they were, and how they were connected to her.

"She's awake?" Elizabeth asked.

"What happened?" Asked Ashley.

"You had a fever, and you fainted," Jane said softly. "But don't worry. You're going to be all right now that you are awake."

"When we received the message, we were all very worried. Mama and papa sent Jane and me to aid in your recovery," Elizabeth stated.

"Yes," agreed Jane, "and Mr. Bingley say you are not to move until you are all recovered. Elizabeth and I are to stay with you until then."

"I don't want to move ever," Ashley murmured drowsily.

"That will soon pass, but for now we'll let you recover before trying to change your opinion," laughed Elizabeth.

There was a sharp knock on the door, and Mr. Bingley's servant entered the room to inquire after Ashley. Moments later, Mr. Matthew Bingley himself came to ask if Ashley had come out of her faint yet. Both Mr. Matthew and the servant walked away happy and relieved.

Matt spent the whole day with Ashley in the hospital. Ashley was still in her coma, but, as Mrs. Norton had somberly said, "At least she's alive."

Matt noticed that Ashley's illness was beginning to wear on Mrs. Norton. He recalled the young, vital women he had met the first time he saw her. She still looked young to the casual observer, but to someone who saw her nearly every day, she looked like she was rapidly aging.

Before he left the hospital, he paused in the doorway. Mrs. Norton sat, leaning in, over Ashley's still body. With her hands on her knees, and eyes closed tight, Matt knew Mrs. Norton was praying. She was giving a silent thanks to God for bringing her safely through the day, and praying that his will be done in the situation.

Mrs. Norton, although she would be upset, seemed like she would be more resigned to Ashley's death, if she died. Matt knew he would never be resigned to Ashley's death. 'If she dies,' Matt thought, through clenched teeth, 'I'll never forgive myself.' He figured God would never forgive him either.

Matt turned from the room, and started down the hall. Normally he would say something to Mrs. Norton, but he didn't want to interrupt her prayers, especially if they would help Ashley.

"Matt!" He heard Mrs. Norton yell after him. He turned, and saw the women running toward him. "Matt, I have something for you." She produced a black book. A bible. "Ashley would want you to have this Matt. Study it, and you'll know a part of Ashley's life you would never have known about otherwise."

Matt turned the worn book over in his hands, and looked up to thank Mrs. Norton, but she was already gone. He could see her figure walking quickly down the hall, back to Ashley's room.

'Okay,' Matt thought as he paged through Ashley's bible, 'I'll read it.'

There was a sharp knock on Ashley's door. "Come in," Ashley said weakly.

Ashley was surprised to see Mr. Matthew Bingley poke his nose through the door. "Are you feeling any better?" he asked. He stood in her door way, with the door half open behind him.

Ashley propped herself up on her elbows. "A little. I just fainted... and had the strangest dream."

Matthew nodded. "Well, take it easy Miss Norton."

"I will, but I refuse to trespass on your hospitality too much longer. Tomorrow we will leave," Ashley murmured.

"No indeed!" cried Matthew. "You must stay at least three days. Now, tell me about this 'strange dream'," he smiled.

Before Matthew left, Ashley was feeling much better. She really liked Mr. Bingley's brother. He was friendly, and charming, and there was something in his eyes. Something that seemed to connect her to him... somehow.

"I must go now," Matthew said, as he rose from his chair, "I will come visit you later, and if you feel better tomorrow, we shall take a stroll in the park so that you might re-gain your strength."

Ashley smiled and nodded. "I'd like that very much."

Matthew gave Ashley one more look--a look full of expression that Ashley could not read, although she knew she wanted to--then he left the room.

Ashley was again alone with her thoughts. Those eyes... those eyes from her dream... they were almost identical, but they were two different people. She knew that much.

Chapter 7

Posted on Friday, 19 May 2000

Matt walked quickly into the school building. It was early, but he hoped to get to his locker, and to his first hour class without running into Angie, a friend of Ashley's who had asked him to the Prom a few days earlier. Matt had managed to steer clear of Angie, with the help of Ashley's illness, of course. He hadn't been to school since he had heard Ashley might die... three days earlier.

Matt had actually given Angie's proposal a lot of serious thought. On one hand, Angie seemed like a nicer person, and she was Ashley's friend. But on the other hand, she wasn't Ashley, and he didn't think he could possibly go out with anyone but her...

"Hey stranger!" Angie was leaning against his locker. "I called Mrs. Norton last night, and she said you said you would probably be coming to school today."

"I can't believe you called Ashley's mother about something so stupid," Matt grumbled. He thought it was very inconsiderate of Angie. Ashely was practically on her death bed, and Angie was wondering if a boy was coming to school.

Matt shoved those thoughts from his mind though. If he was going to break the poor girls heart, he couldn't be mean about it... it's not like she was Kerry!

"Listen, Angie. About the Prom. I--"

"If you're going to say you can't go with me," Angie interrupted, "I understand. I mean you have a lot on your mind right now. Maybe after Ashley gets better."

"No," Matt said. He didn't want to give Angie any ideas. He didn't want to go out with Angie after Ashley got better. Without thinking, Matt said, "I'll go to the Prom with you."

Jane slumped down into the ornate chair next to Ashley's bed. She let out a deep sigh, and gazed stray eyed at the ceiling. Elizabeth followed her into the room, and laughed at her older sister.

"You are so lucky," Jane told Ashley.

"Lucky?" Ashley asked. In her present situation, Ashley could not see any luck.

"Yes, lucky. Every girl in the whole wide world should be envious of you."

Elizabeth laughed again... or rather, she had not stopped laughing since she entered the room.

Jane threw Elizabeth a look of contempt, before she continued. "Mr. Bingley is in love with you. I would give anything... almost... to gain his love."

Ashley was quite surprised, but somehow this seemed like it was as it should be. Jane and Mr. Bingley just seemed to fit, somehow. "Now Jane, Mr. Bingley doesn't love me anymore than I love him. He would be a fool not to fall in love with you."

Jane at first looked surprised by this, but her surprise changed into pleasure. "You don't love him?" Jane asked. Elizabeth, who had stopped laughing by now, had a rather confused look on her face.

"Yes. If you tell your mother for me, I'm sure she shall be able to rest easy the rest of her life," Ashley said.

"If you don't love Mr. Bingley, there must be someone else," Jane said. "For you would have to be blinded by something... or someone else."

Ashley half nodded. Her mind was already drifting--drifting back to those eyes... those tantalizing eyes.

"Who is it," Elizabeth abruptly asked. "Who's the man?"

"The man?" Ashley asked. "There is only the dream of a man."

Matt played with the dark, burnt brown lump of Salisbury stake sitting on his lunch trey. His day so far had not been good. First, he told Angie he would go to the Prom with her, then he saw Kerry making out with Paul Berg in the middle of the hall. It was all his fault that Kerry was with Paul now. If he had only paid more attention, he would have told Kerry he wouldn't go to the Prom with her, and she would still be with Joe, and Joe would still be his friend.

After seeing Kerry and Paul, he literally almost ran into Joe. Joe just glared at him. Obviously Matt still wasn't forgiven.

Now Matt was sitting alone in south commons, with a lump of disgusting good in front of him. 'What a wonderful day!' Matt thought sarcastically, as he stabbed his steak with his plastic spork.

"Is this seat taken," a voice next to him said. Matt looked toward the voice, and saw a several guys standing there, holding treys filled with the grotesque food. Matt shrugged, and the guys sat down.

"I hope you don't mind..." one of the guys said, as he pulled a bible from his backpack, "but we always have a bible study while we eat lunch. If it bothers you, though..."

"oh, no. That's all right," Matt said. Ever since Mrs. Norton gave him Ashley's bible he had felt an every growing interest in religion. Maybe this would be the perfect opportunity to learn.

"Great. I'm Ben, by the way." The other two introduced themselves as James and Jerome, and Matt introduced himself.

The guys began their study, and Matt listened. And Matt began to understand, as the guys talked and read about God's saving grace, and how humans had done nothing to deserve it.

"Let's close in prayer," Jerome said. "Any requests?"

"Actually I have one," Matt said. All three guys looked up in surprise. Matt had been quiet the whole time, and they were starting to think he didn't care about religion or God. "Well, my friend is in the hospital. You may know her, Ashley Norton. Well, if you could just pray that she gets better soon..."

Ben nodded, "God doesn't always work that way, though. Sometimes a person you truly love can die, but it's all in God's perfect plan. I know Ashley. She goes to our church, and I know she is a devout Christian. She loves God, and believes in Jesus's death on the cross. We know she will go to heaven when she dies. For Ashley, 'getting better soon' may be dyeing, and going to heaven to be with her Savior."

"But that doesn't mean she won't come out of her coma," James said. "It just means that we have peace with the fact that Ashley will be going to a better place. We'll pray that God's will be done in this situation."

...And they did.

As the guys were packing up their bibles, Matt was struck by a sudden inspiration. He wanted to learn more about God. "Do you mind if I bring my bible and study with you guys tomorrow?" He asked.

All three guys turned and looked at him, with pleased smiles on their faces. "We wouldn't want it any other way," Ben said.

The next morning, which was the morning after the second night Ashley had spent at Netherfield, Ashley felt much better. She got dressed in the cloths Mrs. Bennet had sent for her, and hurried down the hall to the room Elizabeth and Jane were sharing.

She was just going to knock on the door, when she saw the figure of a man walking down the long hallway toward her. As he loomed closer, Ashley could tell it was Matthew Bingley, and her heart began to race.

"Miss Norton," he said. "I'm surprised to see you out and about so early."

"Yes. Well, I feel much better today. I believe we'll be able to go home this afternoon, if Mr. Bennet will send the carriage, that is."

"No indeed!" cried Mr. Matthew. "I would not have you leave us yet. My family and friends enjoy you company, and that of your fair friends, and we don't want you to leave us too soon. You don't want us to be lonely, do you?"

"No, but I don't want to trespass on your hospitality either."

"Stay one more day, and if you are back to your normal self by tomorrow morning, I will reluctantly let you go. Now, you promised me a walk in the garden. If you are feeling up to it, I was just going to ask you to take it now."

"That would be delightful," Ashley smiled.

Ashley and Matthew walked slowly through the garden. It was a beautiful morning. The dew dampened grass sparkled in the morning sun, and the birds chirped their happy morning song.

"Isn't it beautiful," Matthew asked, as they came to a stop in a clearing. "This is where I come every morning. After standing here for a spell, I know what happiness tastes like, feels like, smells like, and sounds like."

"It's heavenly," Ashley smiled. I could spend my whole life just basking in this one spot. Eventually, of course, it would lose it's novelty, but at the moment it sounds like a wonderful life."

Matthew nodded. Then the two were silent. They were so much more alike than Ashley would have ever imagined, and it was wonderful to have finally found a person who truly understood her.

"If you wake up before the Prom, I promise I won't go with Angie," Matt repeated, for maybe the tenth time, as he leaned over Ashley's bed. It hadn't worked the other ten times, but there was still a glimmer of a hope that it would work this time. It didn't.

It had taken all Matt's courage to come to the hospital that evening. Usually he rode his bike over every day after school, but today he was too afraid too. What if Ashley had woken up. What would she say about him going to the Prom with some other girl?

"I promise you I won't go with Angie. All you need to do, though, is wake up. Otherwise I have to go with her. I'm sorry, Ashley," Matt whispered.

"Matt," It was Mrs. Norton. Matt thought she had left, but she was obviously still there. "What are you doing here so late?"

"What are you doing here so late?" Matt countered. He didn't feel like answering the question.

Mrs. Norton ignored the question. Instead she said, "I was just going down to the cafeteria to get something to eat. I hate eating alone. Would you like to come with me?"

Matt was hungry. He had only picked at his discussing lunch, and hadn't eaten a snack when he got home from school. He shrugged, and rose from his chair.

The two walked down the hall to the elevator in complete silence. Finally, however, after they had bought their food, Mrs. Norton broke the silence, by saying,

"So why are you here so late? Usually you get here around 3:15."

"Well, I-I," Matt stumbled over a few words, before he finally re-gained his speaking skills, and was able to say something in English. "I was afraid to face Ashley," he admitted.

Mrs. Norton raised an eyebrow. "Afraid...?" She asked.

"I'm going to the Prom with another girl, and I think she would be upset with me if she knew--if she knew that SHE is the only girl I would ever really want to go with."

Mrs. Norton didn't look quite as surprised as Matt had expected her to be. It was almost as if she knew how he felt about Ashley; almost like she had known all along.

"I'm glad you told me that, Matt. Now I know I wasn't just imagining things. And it's okay to go out with this other girl. I don't think Ashley will mind," Mrs. Norton winked at him, "As long as you're just going as friends."

And for the first time in weeks, Mrs. Norton smiled.

Chapter 7 1/2

Posted on Wednesday, 24 May 2000

Matt didn't know it, but from the moment he picked up Ashley's beaten up copy of "Pride and Prejudice," and began reading to Ashley, his soul, for the time being, belonged to two worlds. Matt was needed in two places at one time, so he was.

Mrs. Norton needed him. She needed a shoulder to cry on, and an ear to listen to her, and a person who was just as close to the situation as she was... and Matt Carson (A.K.A. Matthew Bingley) was that person.

Ashley had misplaced nearly every last piece of her past memories--except once in a while a picture from the past would flash through her mind, bringing the poor girl to her knees. A "familiar" face was the missing link. It was all that was needed to, over a period of time, bring back her memories, so she could safely be transported back to home with her memories fully in tact.

...Matt, the "popular" guy who hadn't been aware of Ashley's presence until the accident, was chosen to bring Ashley back to the "real world." Why Matt? Perhaps he was chosen because of his closeness to the situation. Perhaps...

Although Ashley had been an undiscovered gold mine to Matt before the accident, he had not been completely unknown to Ashley. Since the first day Ashley saw him, she thought Matt was hot. Perhaps there was more to Matt and Ashley's situation than bringing back Ashley's memories... bringing her love.

It may seem odd that a passing crush would be chosen as the key to unlock Ashley's memories and her heart, but God works in mysterious ways. Ashley had dreamed about romance, and that secret, yet to be revealed "him" who would sweep her off her feet. That "him" was Matt.

Matt had already begun to fall in love with Ashley, but it wasn't quite real yet, because he wasn't actually with Ashley the person. That's where his "other half" came into play. Although he didn't know it yet, in another time, he was going to fall deeply in love with Ashley... and Ashley with him.

Chapter 8

Posted on Thursday, 15 June 2000

Ashley Norton walked slowly down a partly overgrown path on the outskirts of Netherfield Park. The thin trail looked as if it hadn't been used in years, and yet there were two sets of foot prints in the mud. She wondered who the prints belonged to. She had only just stumbled on the path that morning, while taking her farewell tour around the park grounds.

Ashley's health had greatly improved--improved to the point where even Matthew Bingley had to admit she was well enough to go home. Ashley thought it was rather sweet how Matthew didn't seem to want her to leave. 'Of course', Ashley though darkly, 'it's only for his brother's sake.'

Everyone seemed to agree that Charles Bingley was in love with Ashley. She fancied she saw it written across Matthew's face when he looked at her. His eyes seemed to say, "sister." Also, Ashley had overheard Miss Bingley say to Mrs. Hurst that "...the marriage was inevitable, and happily anticipated." (of course, Miss Bingley had used almost the same words when telling Ashley, in a secret conference, that she was in love with Mr. Darcy).

Ashley had to admit, perhaps somewhat reluctantly, that Mr. Bingley's love was not all disagreeable. He was kind, handsome, sweet, good-tempered, and the list went on and on. 'Perhaps a little too perfect,' Ashley thought, and shook her head ever so slightly.

Just as Ashley was deciding that she might be in some danger of falling in love with Mr. Bingley, she noticed that to foot prints lead into a small clearing. She heard a sound coming from the clearing, and peaked in to see. Ashley approached cautiously, and was quite surprised to see Mr. Bingley holding Jane's gloved hand. His eyes were earnest. He mumbled something in her ear, and Jane turned her head and blushed prettily.

Ashley left.

"I can't believe how foolish I was!" She exclaimed, as she kicked at a bit of grass. "I actually believed he might love me, when he was only using me as a smoke screen so his sisters wouldn't realize who he really loved. He knew they would disapprove of Jane because of her crummy family, and that his sisters adore me. Insufferable man!"

Ashley wasn't watching where she was going--her eyes were so narrowed that she could hardly see... not to mention the tears that were clouding her vision--and she ran into... something.

"Pardon me, Miss Norton." It was Mr. Darcy. Ashley was having an awful day!

"Forgive me, Mr. Darcy. I was not watching where I was going," Ashley murmured.

"Or perhaps you could not see...," Mr. Darcy said warmly. He took a handkerchief from his pocket, and awkwardly wiped Ashley's tears away. "Is there something the matter?"

"You read me like a book, Mr. Darcy," Ashley tried to joke, "...it's nothing I want to talk about."

"You are going to make yourself faint again. Please, sit down," Mr. Darcy said gallantly. Not knowing what else to do, Ashley sat. Of course, Ashley knew the Bennets hated Mr. Darcy, and the one man she had heard stand up for him had just proved himself a hateful person to Ashley, but suddenly she decided he wasn't such an awful man after all.

'I think he might actually... care,' Ashley thought, amazed. Without knowing what she was doing, Ashley began to talk. She told him everything about her short lived relationship with Mr. Bingley, and Mr. Darcy listened.

"...and so I thought I was falling in love with him and he was in love with me, and the next moment I found out he loved another," Ashley concluded.

Mr. Darcy got up and paced about in front of her in an agitated manner. "This is always the way of Bingley. He always falls in love with a pretty face for a moment, then he finds another, still prettier face to love. Do not trouble yourself with him, Miss Norton. He is not the man you... deserve." here, Ashley saw Mr. Darcy wince, because he was putting down his closest friend. "Someday you will find a man who will never hurt you, and you'll laugh when you think of this whole situation with Bingley. Till then, I feel your pain." Mr. Darcy winced again, and continued, "For I know what it is like to love someone, but to know it's not meant to be."

"Who do you love, Mr. Darcy," Ashley asked.

"Wouldn't you like to know!" Mr. Darcy laughed. The smiled died on his lips, as he said, "I-I will only tell you if you promise me not to drop a single word of it to anyone. Ever."

"Yes!" cried Ashley.

"Elsbefbent," he mumbled, "Now, shall we go inside?"

Ashley watched as he turned and strode toward the house. Could "Elisbefbent" be... no, it couldn't be, could it?!

Matt ran his hand through his hair, as he walked up to his locker. He was thankful to note that Angie was not at her locker that morning. That meant there wouldn't be a confrontation. He didn't feel like talking to her.

"Well, well," Kerry Johnson said snottily.

Matt turned around, and found himself face-to-face with Kerry. "Hey Kerry. I haven't seen you in a while," he said cheerfully.

"Don't give me that," Kerry said. "I heard you are going to the Prom with Angie Colby."

"Yep," Matt said.

"Yeah, so let me get this straight. You dropped me so you could go out with a nerd-girl. That is really low!"

"And you are really shallow, but that doesn't seem to stop you." Matt slammed his locker, and started to walk away. He turned around, and said, "Hey, see you around, Karry."

"I hate you!" Karry shouted after him. Half the school turned around and gawked at her, and Kerry wished she had never laid eyes on Matt Carter.

Chapter 8

Posted on Thursday, 15 June 2000

That afternoon Ashley, Elizabeth, and Jane returned to Longbourn. The trip was rather uncomfortable, because Ashley was upset with Jane, and couldn't even look at Elizabeth without thinking about what she thought she heard Mr. Darcy say earlier that day.

"What's the matter, Ashley?" Elizabeth asked.

"Matter?" Ashley blurted out.

"Yes matter. You are blushing," Elizabeth said, and Jane nodded. "Did Mr. Bingley say anything to you before we left?" Elizabeth asked slyly.

Ashley glanced at Jane, who was conveniently busy playing with her glove at that moment. "No," Ashley said nonchalantly. "Of course he didn't."

"I think Mr. Bingley is in love with you," Elizabeth pressed.

"No," Ashley gave her a sad smile, "he doesn't love me."

"Matthew. Matthew Bingley. Maaaattheew! Matt--"

"What?" Matthew said. He looked up and saw Mr. Darcy standing next to him. His eyebrow was raised.

"I need to talk to you," Mr. Darcy said.

"What?" Matthew asked again.

"I said I need to talk to you... are you feeling alight?"

"What? Yes, I'm fine. It's just a little... dull with Miss Norton gone." Matthew hadn't meant to say it out loud, but once said, it couldn't be taken back.

Mr. Darcy nodded. "You and Miss Norton seemed to get along well."

"Yes. We have become very good friends."

"That's very nice," said Mr. Darcy carefully. "Is it alight if we talk now?"

"Talk about what?"

"Your brother and Miss Bennet. I received word from a very reliable source that Bingley is 'in love' with Miss Bennet."

"I thought he was in love with Miss Norton," Matthew said. He couldn't help feeling somewhat relieved to learn he wouldn't have to compete with his own brother for Ashley's love.

"Apparently not. Miss Norton caught Bingley confessing his love to Miss Bennet this morning."

"What?! She must have been devastated. How could my own brother do that to such a wonderful lady. He should have more respect for her," Matthew cried. He stood up and began pacing back and fourth in front of Mr. Darcy.

"Yes, she was very upset. I think she has recovered already. I didn't see any symptoms of love in her face or features. I believe she was simply hurt because she believed he loved her, and was trying to force herself to fall in love with him."

Matthew nodded. "Stupid, stupid Charles!" he exclaimed, then sat back down in his chair.

"Yes, and he's going to break another girls heart. You know Bingley as well as I do. He may be in love with Miss Bennet today, but the minute he sees another beautiful woman, Jane will be the last person on his mind."

"That's true. It happens all the time...," Matthew agreed.

"Bingley is planning a ball for next week, and the Bennets are invited. If Miss Bennet shows any symptoms of love for Bingley, I think we should leave. I don't want her to be hurt."

"Darcy, I believe that is the nicest thing you could do for Miss Bennet, but that can't be the only reason for leaving. You knew Charles was 'in love' with Miss Norton, but we didn't leave."

"I know. It's Miss Bennet's family. Can you imagine what a disgrace it would be to your family if your brother formed an alliance with the Bennets? Society would shun you all! No, I cannot watch your family be ruined like that," Mr. Darcy said. His voice was filled with passion, and there was sadness in his eyes.

"I wish this could be done without hurting anyone... but damage has already been done," Matthew sighed.

"We should discuss this with your sisters," Mr. Darcy said, and Matthew sadly agreed.

"Matt!"

"Joe?" Matt couldn't believe his ex-best friend was actually talking to him.

"I heard Kerry hates you now. You must be really upset."

"Nope. The feeling is mutual."

Joe was surprised. Since the day Kerry dumped him for Matt he had believed Matt was madly in love with her. Now it turned out Matt didn't love Kerry. He was amazed. "Hey, are you busy Friday night? I'm having a party, and I thought maybe you'd want to come...," Joe said.

"I can't," Matt said slowly. He couldn't help but feel honored to be invited to the party. He finally felt forgiven!

"Oh, I see," Joe said. He started to walk away, but Matt stopped him.

"I can't go because I have to visit Ashley."

Joe nodded. "You're still into that chick? Is she getting better now?"

Matt looked at his feet. "She's still in a coma. The doctors don't know if she'll ever wake up..."

"Dude, you have to be more positive. Maybe when she wakes up you two can double-date with me and Julie." Joe winked at Matt, and turned and walked away.

Chapter 10

Posted on Sunday, 18 June 2000

Matt was stunned. In a single minute it Joe had forgiven him. Kerry didn't matter to Joe anymore. Matt was happy about that. Joe had finally moved on. He didn't know who Julie was, but he was thrilled his friend had found her ...as long as she didn't have a crush on Matt, of course!

Matt breathed a deep sigh of relief. Angie wasn't at school, and Joe had forgiven him. It was definitely going to be a good day.

Ashley pressed her cheek against the cool glass. It looked like it was going to rain soon. Ashley loved the rain, but since the day she had woke up in that strange country, it had rained.

"Rain, rain, go away. Come again another day," she sang softly, as she ran her pointer finger down the fogged up glass.

"What are you singing, Ashley?" Mary asked as she looked up from her embroidery.

"Just a song I used to sing," she said. "I was thinking about the rain, and it came to mind. I hope the rain doesn't spoil our plan to go for a walk this afternoon."

"You mean Kitty and Lydia's plan to drag us on a walk this afternoon. No, it won't be spoiled. It takes much more than a little rain to stop those two from visiting the infamous 'officers'. Take heart, dear Ashley, and we'll soon take our walk."

Ashley grinned. "Don't sound too excited Mary. Some day you'll find some devilishly handsome man, and you'll drag us all on walks so you can spy on him."

"Catch me!" Mary laughed. "The day I lose my head over a man... well it just won't happen."

Lydia burst into the room, and screeched, "Ashley! There you are. We've been searching for you for over a half an hour--"

"More like two minutes--" Elizabeth interrupted.

"We want to go on a walk."

"And see the officers." Lydia and Kitty giggled.

"Aunt says there are some new officers, and I don't care to miss a single one of them. Come with us, Ashley. Please. Come Mary. You don't want to sit home like this every day. Come. Take a walk into town with us." Lydia said all this without taking a breath. Since she was turning purple by this time, she stopped to catch her breath.

"Fear not, Lydia. Mary and I have every intention of walking with you," said Ashley. She grabbed Mary's arm, and they hurried out of the room to put on their things.

Matt felt like he was on top of the world. He had a great day. After having a good day at school, he went to the hospital to visit Ashley, and the Doctor told him Ashley was moving ahead of schedule. Matt was thrilled.

That was why he was surprised and very upset when he got home and found out his father was moving out.

"Matt, sweetie, we just aren't getting along. You haven't been home the past few months, so you probably haven't noticed it. I don't love him anymore, and he's out with... that women--"

"There was no women!" Matt's father bellowed.

"He was out late every night. We just never saw each other. When you get married, don't do this to your wife. See Sam, I'm raising a son who is going to grow up nothing like you." Matt's mother glared at his father.

Matt couldn't take it anymore. He didn't want to believe it. There was only one person on earth he could talk to, and she never responded. There was only one other place he could go for help.

Matt left his parents to argue his fate out amongst themselves, and biked to the hospital. He had to be with Ashley for "the moment." She was the only person on earth who listened and cared, and it seemed only right to have her present when he was talking to the only one who could help him through this tough time.

"Well, Ashley. I've read your bible, I've talked to other people about God, and now it's time I actually talk to him myself... I need him."

Matt prayed. Matt knew that even though His parents didn't love each other anymore, and Ashley was still in a coma, God would always be there for him.

Mrs. Norton leaned against the white door frame of the hospital room. A tear fell from her eye. 'This is just what Ashley would have wanted,' she thought happily.

"Ladies, I'd like to introduce you to Mr. George Wickham," Captain Denny said. He swept his arm mockingly toward the handsome man next to him.

"I'm pleased to meet you," Lydia giggled.

"The pleasure is all mine," he said as he kissed Lydia's hand. His eyes were not on Lydia though. He was looking at Elizabeth.

Ashley didn't like him. Call it intuition

, but Ashley knew she wasn't supposed to like him. She noticed Mr. Wickham was gazing almost lovingly at Elizabeth, and she was smiling at him. 'No!' Ashley thought, horrified. 'Mr. Darcy loves you!'

Just as Ashley thought of Mr. Darcy, he rode up with Mr. Bingley and Matthew Bingley.

"Miss Bennet!" cried Bingley, forgetting himself for a moment. He had almost forgotten that he and Jane were keeping their love affair a secret, and he was supposed to be pretending to be in love with Miss Norton, "Miss Norton!" he cried, trying to sound more excited about seeing her than he was about seeing Jane... how ever untrue it actually was.

Mr. Darcy shook his head. He couldn't believe a sensible man like Bingley was actually using a women as badly as he was Ashley. Poor Miss Norton! Beautiful Miss Elizabeth!

Thoughts of Miss Norton were almost wiped completely from his mind as his eyes fell on Elizabeth's beautiful face. He saw he was gazing intently at...something...and his eyes followed hers, and landed on a most unwanted, unsuspected sight. His hated enemy, George Wickham.

"We were just going to Longbourn to extend a personal invitation to a ball to be held at Netherfield Tuesday," Bingley said. He forced himself to look only at Ashley. Matthew noticed this. He shook his head. Why did his brother have to do that to Ashley. Matthew was sure he was falling in love with Miss Norton, and he didn't want his brother to be in his way anymore.

"A ball!" cried Lydia, "How perfectly delightful!"

"I for one will find no pleasure in it," Mary said softly so Mr. Bingley wouldn't hear. She didn't want to hurt his feelings.

Denny overheard, and, for the first time ever, really looked at Mary. He didn't really like balls or dancing either, but Lydia did. Denny fancied himself madly in love with Lydia. Maybe he wasn't, though...

"You do not like dancing, Miss Mary?" he asked her softly.

"No. I have never enjoyed the employment. I would much rather read a good book, or do something more productive," Mary said.

"Well, I would have to agree, Miss Mary. There are many things I would rather do too."

Mary smiled at him, and for the first time ever Denny noticed Miss Mary Bennet had a perfect smile.

"Denny. Denny," Lydia said, waking Denny up from his dream world.

"Hummm? Yes Miss Lydia."

"You will dance with me, won't you?" She asked sweetly.

Denny gave Mary a sly smile, and looked back at Lydia, and said, "We'll see."

Chapter 11A

Posted on Thursday, 22 June 2000

Lydia blabbed on and on about the charms of Mr. Wickham the whole way back to Longbourn, and continued to talk of him, without stopping, for the next three days. It was obvious to her sisters that Lydia was "in love" with the poor man. Lydia was always falling in love. A week earlier she pronounced herself madly in love with Denny, and a few weeks before that she had declared she was going to marry Edbourgh. Now she had moved on once again, and Denny was all but forgotten.

Although one of the Bennet sisters no longer cared for Denny, another couldn't stop thinking about him. Mary sat by the window, holding an open book in her lap, but not reading. She was the only one home, but she couldn't concentrate! This was quite odd, for Mary had always been able to read through anything--an attack on her mother's nerves, her father's sarcastic humor, Lydia gushing over the infamous officers, and almost any other distraction thrown at her.

But today was different. Today all she her mind could only focus on an extraordinarily insensible subject: Mr. Denny. Never before in her entire life had Mary paid any heed to a silly officer. Not even the handsomest could tempt her away from her books! But there had been a certain something in his eyes when he looked at her that day in town. It was like for the first time ever he was actually looking at her, Mary Bennet, rather than the shrewish girl sitting in the corner reading.

Elizabeth and Ashley had worked hard at improving Mary's looks, and she now looked quite becoming. Slowly, men started noticing her. However, Mary didn't want to be noticed... not then at least. Now she hoped to gain the notice of one man, and she had no idea why. She could never hope to gain the notice of Mr. Denny. He was too in love with Lydia to notice Mary.

Mary closed her eyes. "Please, God, help Mr. Denny to visit us today," she whispered. When she opened her eyes, she saw a large, black carriage pull up in front of the house. Her unread book dropped from her lap, as she stood. She covered her mouth with her hands, and gawked at the carriage in utter amazement. Could it possibly be?

"Thank y--" Mary began to thank God, but before she could finish, a short, stubby man climbed out of the carriage. he paused dramatically on the last step for a moment, to observe the fine estate, before he tripped, and fell to the ground.

"I'm alight!" Mary heard him shout. His eyes darted about him. He seemed to notice that no one was there to great him.

Mary left the window, and headed downstairs to greet this odd man. She opened the large front door, and found she was the only person outside. Still.

"Aaah!" the man cried happily when he beheld Mary. "To which of Mr. Bennet's lovely daughters do I have the pleasure of speaking?"

"I am Mary Bennet," she answered, somewhat uneasily.

"Very good, Miss Mary. Where might the rest of your family be?" He asked, in a rather impolite manner.

"My other sisters and my mother are in town, and my father is dinning at Netherfield today," Mary said. "I am all alone."

"Strange. To leave a young female home all by herself is highly improper. Let's hope Lady Catherine never gets wind of this!" the man exclaimed with intense warmth..

"Might I be so bold to inquire who you are?" Mary asked cautiously.

"Who I am! Surely your father has mentioned me. Why, I sent him a letter a week ago telling him I would be visiting. It is rather strange than that no one but yourself is home." The man's speech did not answer Mary's question at all.

"But what is your name. If you tell me this, I might be able to tell you if my father has mentioned you before," Mary said sensibly.

"Excellent suggestion, My lady!" Cried the pompous man. "For one so beautiful, you are very intelligent! I heard tell of the great beauties of the Bennets, and, pardon me, I always thought they would be rather... stupid... but you have proven me wrong! What an intelligent girl you are. I'm sure you are accomplished, too."

"It depends on what you mean by 'accomplished,' sir," said Mary cautiously. Who was this man?!

"You can probably sing, play, dance, sew, draw, and whatever young ladies do to employ themselves," said the man.

"I am not very good at most of those things, sir," said Mary honestly.

"And Modesty, too! My dear Miss Bennet, it is not often one sees so many good features all wrapped up in one women."

"Thank you. Might I inquire: what is your name?"

"However you don't listen very well. That is something every lady should do well. Listen carefully, my name is William Collins," said Mr. Collins angrily. He fancied he had said his name to the lady more times than he could count already. The problem with women, so he thought, was that their heads were so full of nonsense that no one could carry on a decent conversation with one.

Earlier that morning, Lydia dragged all her sisters--all but Mary--and Ashley out of bed, and hurried them through breakfast so they could all troop into town in hopes of spying on Mr. Wickham. They did run into Mr. Wickham, but poor Lydia's plan backfired when Mr. Wickham sought out Elizabeth, rather than herself.

Lydia had never been so angry in her life. How come her older sisters got all the good Beaux? The officers were always falling all over Jane, and things for Elizabeth really were no different. However this time Lydia wanted to have the man she wanted. It just wasn't fair!

Ashley noted Mr. Wickham's attention to Elizabeth. She didn't like him from the start, but now she hated him even more. How was Elizabeth going to fall in love with Mr. Darcy with Mr. Wickham trying to make Elizabeth fall in love with him?

There was no easy answer, but Ashley knew she had to try.

It was finally the weekend before the Prom. Angie was excited that it was so soon, because she couldn't wait to dance with Matt Carter. Matt was happy, because he knew the sooner the Prom ended, the sooner he would be able to cut all ties with Angie, and focus on his life and Ashley.

Matt didn't hate Angie. In fact he rather liked her. She was always warm and bubbly no matter what the situation, but she wasn't Ashley.

"This is insane!" Matt muttered as he put his rented, black tux on. "I'm in love with a girl I never talked to." It didn't make any sense to Matt, just like it wouldn't make any sense to anyone else... except Mrs. Norton. He didn't even know if she was nice or not (Mrs. Norton said she was, but it wasn't always the best to take to word of a mother for truth). He was going to the Prom with a perfectly nice girl, but he knew every time he held that girl in his arms he would be thinking about Ashley, and wishing it was Ashley he was holding.

The day of the ball at Netherfield arrived. Everyone, including Mary, was looking forward to the day of the ball. The ladies ran about, making last minute preparations, hemming dresses, having their hair done, and getting dressed, while Mr. Bennet only stood in a corner, and laughed at them.

Soon it was time to leave. All the ladies and the one gentleman squeezed into the carriage, and headed toward Netherfield.

Matt arrived at Angie's house. It was the first time he had driven since the accident. He hadn't wanted to drive, but Angie thought a limousine was too impersonal, or something like that. Angie also didn't want to drive , so Matt had to drive.

Matt got out of his car, and walked slowly up to Angie's door. Before he could ring the door bell, the door was flung open, and Angie jumped out, almost knocking Matt over.

"Sorry!" Angie cried. She was so nervous. This was the first time she had ever been on a date with any boy, and Matt wasn't just any boy.

Matt opened her car door first, then walked around to the driver's side. 'He's such a gentleman!' Angie thought happily. She smoothed her strapless, long black dress. She hoped Matt liked it.

As Matt pulled out of Angie's driveway onto the street, he the scene of the accident kept flashing before his eyes. Matt flinched. Why was he doing this? He didn't want to drive!

The Bennets' and Ashley arrived at the ball. Right away Ashley noticed Elizabeth was looking for someone.

"He's not here," Elizabeth murmured.

"Who?" asked Ashley.

"Mr. Wickham," Elizabeth replied, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Miss Elizabeth!" said Mr. Denny.

Elizabeth turned and looked at him, "Yes?" She asked.

"I have a message from Mr. Wickham. He is not coming to the ball. I believe he wanted to avoid...certain people," Denny said.

"I understand. Thank you for telling me, Denny," Elizabeth smiled at him, then turned back to Ashley.

"Certain people?" asked Ashley.

"Mr. Darcy ruined Mr. Wickham's life. Mr. Wickham can't even look at Mr. Darcy without conjuring up all those awful feelings."

"Mr. Darcy ruined his life? I can't believe that!"

"Believe it. Mr. Darcy doesn't even care. Hateful man!" Elizabeth cried with warmth.

The Prom began. It was truly a beautiful night. Angie couldn't imagine a more perfect date. As the first dance began, Angie pulled herself closer to Matt and whispered, "I think I'm in love with you."

Matt pulled away, and stared at Angie. He couldn't believe his ears. "What?" he asked.

"I think I'm in love with you," she repeated.

"Miss Norton." Ashley turned around, and found Matthew Bingley had walked up to her. "Might I have the honor of the first two dances with you?"

Ashley grinned. "Yes. I would like that."

"Wonderful," said Matthew. The music began, and Matt lead her onto the floor.

As Ashley danced with Matthew, she noticed Elizabeth and Charlotte talking in the corner. From nowhere, Mr. Darcy walked up to the two women, and focused his attention on Elizabeth. Surprise and shock covered Elizabeth's face. Ashley was sure Mr. Darcy had asked her to dance.

At first Ashley was pleased with Mr. Darcy for working up the nerve to ask her, but the pleasure quickly disappeared. Not ten minutes earlier Elizabeth had been declaring her hatred for Mr. Darcy, and now the poor man had to dance with her.

"Mr. Bingley," Ashley said, turning toward her partner, "Is Mr. Darcy much acquainted with Mr. Wickham?"

Chapter 11b

Posted on Saturday, 1 July 2000

"Oh," Matt groaned. Angie had just told him she thought she was in love with him. Matt was in a daze. Angie couldn't be in love with him, they had only known each other a couple weeks.

"Yeah," continued Angie cheerfully. "And I was thinking, umm, I'd like to be your girlfriend."

"Oh." A pained look crossed Matt's face.

"So what do you think?" She asked.

Matt noticed suddenly that they weren't dancing, and the couples around them were starting to get angry. "Ummm,"

"Well?" Angie was starting to worry that Matt was never going to say anything over a monosyllable.

"Well what?" Matt asked, confused.

"What do you think?" Angie repeated. She was starting to get annoyed. She had spilled her heart to Matt, and now he was just going to grunt?

"I-I," Matt glanced at the increasingly upset couples around them, and said, "I think we should go over there." Matt pointed toward two empty chairs across the room.

What was he going to do?

"Miss Norton...," Matthew Bingley began. What was he going to say to her? Ashley had just asked him what he knew about the relationship between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham.

"Mr. Bingley," Ashley said. She sensed the pain her question had caused him, but the sudden rigidness of his face, body, and manner of address, "I'm sorry to have pained you. I was only wondering, because my friend Miss Elizabeth Bennet has been apprised of some misconduct on Mr. Darcy's part. I don't want to believe it's true, though. I believed Mr. Darcy to be a genuinely nice man, and incapable of harming anyone."

"Miss Elizabeth received her information from ...Mr. Wickham?" asked Matthew.

Ashley nodded.

"Come with me, and I will tell you what I know...," Matthew said as he grabbed her wrist and lead her to an empty corner.

Angie felt very frustrated. She wanted Matt to say he thought he was in love with her too. They had been sitting in complete silence for what felt like two hours. Her dream prom was turning into a disaster.

"Aren't you going to say anything?" she asked him.

Matt, who had been deep in thought up until that moment, was dragged from his thoughts by Angie's words. He didn't want to say anything. He didn't want her to say anything either. He wished she could just pretend "it" had never happened.

"Say something!" Angie suddenly exclaimed. "I didn't tell you how I feel just so I could watch you sit there and stair into space."

"Oh," Matt grumbled.

"That's not what I had in mind...," Angie stated honestly. She was pretty sure that Matt didn't return her feelings. If he did, wouldn't he have said something already?

"Angie. Ummm, I guess what I have to say--well I guess you aren't going to want to hear it. I don't love you. I hardly know you." However long Matt could have thought about his situation, he never could have been prepared for what Angie said next.

Angie turned her innocent brown eyes on him, and studied him carefully, before saying, "Is there someone else?"

Matthew had been told of the affairs between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham through his good friend, Colonel Fitzwilliam. Of those affairs, he related only what was necessary to acquit Mr. Darcy from any wrong in his young friends eyes. (of that information, I'm sure my readers are fully aware, so I shall spare the details)

Miss Norton was shocked by the conduct of Mr. Wickham. "I never believed him capable of doing such wrongs!" cried she. "There was something about him I didn't like from the start," she proclaimed honestly. Somehow, the extent of the information did not seem entirely unfamiliar to her.

"Yes. Miss Norton, I beg you to you all precautions in telling this story. I am sure Mr. Darcy would not be at all pleased to hear that this story--this story that pains him so--is all over the streets, and fuel for the gossips."

Ashley agreed. "I do commend Mr. Darcy, however. He is a true gentleman. He is so blameless, and yet he has obtained only a low opinion from Elizabeth."

"Why would Mr. Darcy care about Elizabeth's opinion?" Matthew asked. His eyes danced at the thought. Mr. Darcy who had said Elizabeth was almost as beautiful as Mrs. Bennet was a wit. Mr. Darcy, who had condescended to say Elizabeth was only tolerable (Matthew's brother had informed him of this). "It's quite laughable!" he laughed.

Ashley only blushed, and became suddenly interested with the toes of her shoes.

Matthew's smile died on his lips. "...unless you know something I don't." He looked at her intently, hoping she would tell him what she knew, and confirm his sudden suspicions.

Ashley's suddenly caught sight of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth dancing, and found her self watching in utter amazement. 'So Mr. Darcy convinced her to dance after all!' Ashley thought happily. She didn't dare hope Elizabeth's opinion would be changed by one dance, but at least she would be able to see how amiable he was.

Matthew looked in the direction Ashley was looking, and saw what she was saw. He was shocked. Mr. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth? Could it be true?

"What do you know, Miss Norton?" Matthew asked, leaning closer to her, and rubbing his hands together.

"I'm sorry, Angie...,"

"Matt, you're avoiding the question. Please tell me there is no one else."

"I-I didn't want to say this to you, but...but...," Matt began, but he didn't want to finish. He wished Angie could finish the sentence for him, but she seemed to be completely in the dark. "I'm in love with Ashley Norton." he blurted out quickly.

Angie's eyes narrowed. "Ashley Norton. You say you don't know me well enough, after knowing me a few weeks, and yet you claim to be 'in love' with Ashley, who, to my knowledge as her best friend, you have never actually talked to. Oh, unless you include sitting with her corps at the hospital," Angie said bluntly.

"Corps!" Matt cried. "Ashley may be a lot of things, but she is certainly not dead."

"She's not talking to you, and that's practically the same thing. From what I've heard at the hospital, it's not likely that she will ever wake up if she is out of it any longer. Whatever," Angie said, getting up. She turned around and started walking away. She turned back toward him, and said, "I do wish you all the luck in the world with Ashley. She's shy, so it's not likely that you'll actually get anywhere with her if she wakes up anyway." With that, Angie turned again, and swaggered away from Matt, as if trying to give him a sense of what he had lost.

Matt shook his head. Although Angie had blown a lot of steam at him in her reproof, she had also said something that made him stop and think. How could he be in love with someone he had never actually--really--talked to? He couldn't be. It was impossible.

"Tell me!" Matthew pressed. He grinned at Miss Norton. She looked at the ground, and smiled. Her one dimple, on her left cheek made her look so endearing that Matthew had to turn away, so his emotions wouldn't run away on him.

"I cannot tell you anything," Ashley replied.

"Can't, or won't?" Matthew asked. "Come now, Ash---Miss Norton. You can tell me."

"Tell what?" Mr. Darcy said walking up behind them.

"Mr. Bingley was just begging me to tell him something of my home town," Ashley replied.

"Right. I am quite curious about Stevens Point," Matthew grinned.

"Stevens Point," Ashley replied. How had he known that was her home? How did she know that was her home?

"Where is this 'Stevens Point'?" Mr. Darcy asked, suddenly curious.

"Wisconsin," both Matthew and Ashley said at the same time. They looked at each other in surprise.

"Where is Wisconsin?" Asked Mr. Darcy. Wisconsin was not yet a state, and was completely unknown to him.

"Oh!" cried Ashley, trying to discover a way to amend the rather uncomfortable situation. "It's just a territory in the United States."

"Aah," said Darcy knowingly. He had noticed Miss Norton's harsh, American accent early on. "I knew your accent was... American." He smiled at Ashley. "Someday I'd like to visit the United States."

Ashley was hardly able to acknowledge Mr. Darcy's comment. She was too confused by Matthew. How did he know?

Mrs. Norton sat in a chair next to her daughter. Matt had just come and gone. Obviously the prom had not gone as well as Angie had said it would, but she had been unable to get Matt to open up and tell her what had gone wrong.

She sighed, and looked at Ashley's almost angelic face. She shook her head. "Sometimes, Ash, I wonder what your thinking about."

Chapter 12

Posted on Sunday, 2 July 2000

The Netherfield ball had ended, and the Bennets had finally left. Everything was once again quiet. Quiet for a few, short minutes, that was. Caroline Bingley, after a few minutes of reflection, felt called upon to make her observations of the night to the rest of the party.

"I thought Miss Eliza Bennet in very poor spirits," said she, trying to catch Darcy's eye as she did.

"Really," cried her eldest brother, "I thought her very happy."

"No, dear brother, I believe you are confusing her with Miss Jane Bennet--the women you spent practically the whole night with," said Caroline. The anger rose in her voice.

"What?" Mr. Bingley asked dumbly. "Miss Bennet is a very amiable women. I really like her almost as much as I like Miss Norton."

Mr. Darcy cleared his throat. "I did not have the pleasure of seeing you dance with Miss Norton tonight," said he, raising one eye brow.

Mr. Bingley realized his folly. He had been so preoccupied by Miss Bennet, that he hadn't even thought to look at Miss Norton, let alone dance with her. "Perhaps you were to busy dancing with Miss Elizabeth to notice," Mr. Bingley said, trying to save himself.

"I danced with her once, as a form of civility," Darcy said, while giving Caroline a look, as if to tell her to keep her mouth shut. "You slighted every women in the room, including Miss Norton--a women whom you profess to love."

Mr. Bingley was cornered. The only thing he could do was spill the whole story to the onlookers. "You're right, Darcy. I did only dance with Miss Bennet. When she came here with Miss Elizabeth to take care of Miss Norton while she was sick, I-I fell in love with her. Now I know what you are going to say," Mr. Bingley rushed forward, seeing Mr. Darcy's mouth open to say something, "But this time it is for real, and she returns my feelings. We have been secretly engaged since the day they left."

"Engaged!" Louisa Bingley exclaimed, waking her husband, who had been in a deep drunken slumber since the first half hour of the ball.

"Who--What?" Mr. Hurst sputtered, in his still half drunken stupor.

"Never mind, dear," Louisa whispered, "Go back to sleep."

Mr. Hurst obeyed, and that was the last that was heard from him the rest of the night.

Matt was glad the day after the prom was a Sunday, rather than a Monday. He couldn't help but feel a little (okay, maybe a lot) of apprehension over seeing Angie again. He didn't want to see her for the rest of his life.

He thought about going to the hospital to visit Ashley, but Angie's words kept flashing through his mind.

"Ashley Norton. You say you don't know me well enough, after knowing me a few weeks, and yet you claim to be 'in love' with Ashley, who, to my knowledge as her best friend, you have never actually talked to. Oh, unless you include sitting with her corps at the hospital."

"I can't be in love with her," he said aloud, "I don't even know her."

Somehow, however, Matt felt like he was getting to know Ashley quite well.

Sometimes he dreamed about Ashley. He dreamt that they were it the midst of Pride and Prejudice.

He still remembered the dream he'd had the night after Ashley's had recovered after almost dying. He dreamt that he was sitting in a little room with Ashley, talking to her. She told him about a remarkable dream she had had--with him in it. But she kept calling him "Mr. Bingley." The strangest part was Matt didn't correct her. It seemed natural that, for the time being, she called him Mr. Bingley rather than Mr. Carter, or, preferably, Matt.

Then there was also the dream he'd had last night. He dreamt he and Ashley were talking--perhaps flirting--when another man, Mr. Darcy, asked them what they were talking about. Ashley said they were discussing her hometown, and Matt said her hometown was Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Ashley looked surprised at his knowing this.

"Why should she be?" Matt asked, sitting up on his bed. I live here to. Then suddenly it hit him. She doesn't know! Could it be possible that Ashley didn't remember anything, and somehow he was supposed to help her. Maybe there were two worlds. The dream world, and the real world. Maybe he and Ashley were suddenly a part of both. Perhaps, Matt thought, Ashley and I come together subconsciously, and that's why I feel like I know her so well.

"That's impossible!" he shouted at his ceiling. There was no way that could be true.

Ashley sat alone by a fogged up window. It was early morning, and no one was up yet. Ashley had woken early, hoping to take a long walk before anyone else was up. However, it was raining once again, making a walk almost impossible.

I need to be alone, so I can collect my thoughts thought Ashley. She was confused. She couldn't understand how Mr. Matthew knew she lived in Stevens Point, when she hadn't even know her self. Even stranger was the fact that she knew beyond the shadow of the doubt that Stevens Point was in Wisconsin, a state in the United States of America--a state that didn't even exist, at that.

I always felt like I knew Mr. Matthew from somewhere. And that dream I had when I was sick! Ashley recalled the dream, where she had found herself in a strange room, surrounded by strange people, that she knew she shouldn't have known. But they all looked so familiar to her! She felt like if she pried further back in her memory banks, she could name each one of them.

There was one, however, who she knew by his eyes. It was Matthew Bingley... but it wasn't. It was Matthew...Matt...someone...

Every time she thought of the dream, she recalled a hellish screeching noise, and the flash of those two, strangely familiar eyes through her mind.

"Why do I keep having these memories?" She asked aloud.

No one answered.

Matthew slowly packed his bags. He was reluctant to leave Netherfield. He knew he was going to miss everyone--especially Miss Norton. He wished his brother hadn't been such a fool to enter into such an engagement, but he had, and Mr. Darcy reacted accordingly.

Mr. Darcy had been somewhat out of sorts all morning, and Matthew was pretty sure he knew why. He must be in love with Elizabeth Bennet thought Matthew, and he knew he was right. Why would a man be so upset over leaving a place he had always professed to detest, unless there was love involved?

"What are we going to do about the engagement between Miss Bennet and Charles?" Matthew asked. "We can't just leave, without giving Miss Bennet notification of some kind."

"You are right, Matthew. But perhaps it would make more sense, if you said, 'We can't separate the lovers.' This is a dirty business, and I can't believe I ever let Caroline convince me to do it."

"What?" Matthew cried. "You were the one who said we should separate the two in the first place... remember?"

"Yes, but that was before I learned of their engagement. I feel strongly on the fact that love should not be separated. I moved that we stay here until Bingley and Miss Bennet marry, but your sister had other ideas. She presented a very strong case to me. She said they weren't, in fact, in love, and the moment Bingley sees another pretty face, he will remember Miss Bennet no more."

"How cold!" Matthew exclaimed. "My brother may have 'fallen in love' so many times I've lost count, but he never proposed to any of those women. He must be in love."

"We can't stop our leaving now, though. Even if Bingley is in love," Darcy said sadly.

"What? Why?"

"Your sister had Bingley write Miss Bennet a letter, calling off the engagement, and by now she's already received it, read it, and is crying over it."

"Detestable!" cried Matthew angrily. "How can we do that to this poor girl? I can't believe I'm going along with you and Caroline."

Darcy nodded slowly, and said, "I can't either."

Jane received a letter at breakfast. The moment she saw the handwriting, she snatched it up, and ran off to her room to read it. Elizabeth soon grabbed Ashley's hand and the two followed her to see what the letter was about.

"He's leaving," Jane whispered the moment she saw Elizabeth and Ashley standing before her.

"Who?" asked Elizabeth, who was rather confused. Who was the "he" that could be writing her sister?

"Mr. Bingley," she sniffed through her tears.

Ashley couldn't help but turn away for a moment, so she could re-gain herself. The subject of Mr. Bingley and Jane still hurt her a little.

"We-we were secretly engaged, and he wrote to tell me he was leaving, and-and, the engagement is off." On the last word Jane began to cry loudly, and pathetically. "He doesn't love me after all!" cried the poor, distressed girl.

Elizabeth looked at Ashley, trying to calculate how this was affecting her. For weeks now Elizabeth had believed Mr. Bingley loved Ashley, and that Ashley loved him. Now she learned that Mr. Bingley was in love with Jane. How did Ashley feel about this?

Ashley saw that Elizabeth was taking pity on her, so she said, "Jane, perhaps it is not Mr. Bingley's doing--"

"Oh! But it is. This is Mr. Bingley's hand!" exclaimed Jane.

"Listen, Jane. Maybe a member of his party discovered your engagement, and thought it would hurt me if I found out (you'll remember there was a time when everyone thought he was in love with me, and I with him). I have become quite good friends with Mr. Darcy and Mr. Matthew Bingley, and Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst. Perhaps they were thinking of my well-being, rather than yours."

Jane only cried harder.

"I must conclude," said Jane through her tears, "that Mr. Bingley no longer loves me."

Although it had been a while since he had shown his face around Longbourn after meeting with the rudeness of his fair cousin Mary, William Collins eventually returned, in order to make the acquaintance of all his fair cousins, and possibly find a wife.

From the moment he arrived, he singled Jane out as the lucky women for him. She was handsome, she was pretty, she was beautiful, she was lovely, etc, etc, etc--in short, she was just the women who would make him the happiest man alive!

Although Jane was by far the favorite of Mrs. Bennet's five daughters, she aloud Mr. Collins to woe her. She loved her daughter dearly, but not as much as she loved her house. The house was to be entailed away to Mr. Collins, and Mrs. Bennet longed to enjoy the security of having a daughter married to Mr. Collins.

It was no surprises to anyone, then, that after a weeks stay at Longbourn, Mr. Collins followed Mr. Bennet into his study, where the two of them stayed for some time.

Mrs. Bennet looked quite pleased. She knew nothing of Jane's attachment with Mr. Bingley, and liked Mr. Collins very much.

Finally Mr. Collins and Mr. Bennet emerged from the study. The former was quite pleased with himself, while the latter looked haggard and upset.

"Jane," Mr. Collins pronounced her name lovingly, "Your father has agreed. You need only name the day that you will make me the happiest man alive."

Chapter 13

Posted on Wednesday, 5 July 2000

After Mr. Collins' startling announcement that he and Jane were engaged, the room cleared out rather quickly. Mr. Bennet escaped to his study, with his wife close at his heels (she was hoping to convince him to let them take a trip to town to buy wedding cloths). Lydia and Kitty ran off to go into the village in hopes of running into some of the officers. Mary left to practice her new piano piece, and the two "lovers", as Mr. Collins so eloquently called himself and Jane, left for a walk around Longbourn's park.

Finally Elizabeth and Ashley were left alone in the room. Ashley was still stunned. She knew somehow that this was not how it was supposed to happen. Mr. Bingley and Jane were supposed to get married.

Elizabeth sat scowling, and finally interrupted Ashley's thoughts, by saying, "It's all his fault."

"Whose fault?" Ashley asked cautiously. She already knew who Elizabeth was talking about.

"Mr. Darcy. What a despicable man!" Elizabeth cried. "He never fails to look down on anyone and everyone, and he forces the man who loves my sister, and who my sister loves to move away from her and break their engagement. I hate him."

Ashley knew that if she told Elizabeth the story Matthew had related to her, she would have to do it now. she had to acquit Mr. Darcy.

Matt eventually had to force himself to go to school. He didn't want to. He didn't want to face his friends, and, more importantly, Angie. His mother had allowed him to stay home Monday, thinking it was the divorce issue that made him need to stay home, rather than a bad date. While the divorce was weighing heavily on our hero's mind, his date folly still, for some reason, bothered him more.

Maybe it's because I don't want it to turn out like it did for my parents, Matt thought. Or maybe it's because she really hit home with that crack about Ashley.

It didn't matter what the reason was. He had to go to school either no matter what.

Elizabeth looked both amazed and perplexed after hearing the story. Could it be possible that Mr. Darcy wasn't as bad as Mr. Wickham said he was--and that Mr. Wickham was the bad one. Elizabeth cherished every bit of knowledge she had received that pointed to Mr. Darcy as an evil man, but now it looked like that information was wrong.

Ashley had told her a story that hadn't come from Mr. Darcy. It had come from Matthew Bingley, a very respectable young man who, so it always seemed, didn't lie. To make the story still more believable, it had come from a Colonel Fitzwilliam, who shared in the guardianship of Mr. Darcy's sister, and was their cousin. He was so close to the matter, and yet was not Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth had to believe what Ashley had told her was true.

Ashley, noting that Elizabeth was deep in thought, left her alone to think about what she had said. Elizabeth hadn't even noticed Ashley had left. She was still trying to force herself to hate Mr. Darcy even more, but she found she couldn't. She couldn't even hate him for taking her sister away. How was Mr. Darcy to know Jane's sentiments when even her own family hadn't known? Also, Mr. Bingley's sisters obviously had a hand in the situation. While Mr. Darcy was not altogether blameless, he could not be blamed for the entire situation.

Mr. Collins left Longbourn after two weeks. He could hardly have been expected to leave his bride-to-be, but he was the one to propose the plan. He wanted to go to Rosings Park, the home of his patron, to announce the wedding in person.

"William has the highest opinion of Lady Catherine de Bourgh," said Jane the day after Mr. Collins left them. Elizabeth had just stated the fact that she thought it was strange for the groom to leave the bride four days before the wedding. "I think it's very honorable," Jane continued. She was trying so hard to stand up for her husband-to-be. She didn't love him--she loved Mr. Bingley--but he was going to be her husband, so it didn't matter.

Mr. Darcy brought in his mail. There was a letter from his sister, and one from his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam, several invitations from friends, and a rather long letter from his Aunt Catherine.

Mr. Darcy skimmed that letter over first. Usually her letters were long and boring, and she went on and on about everything. Suddenly, a paragraph caught his eye. It said:

...You remember Mr. Collins, don't you? A month ago I told him I thought he should get married. He is, as you will remember, not very handsome, so it took him quite a while, but he finally found a nice women. I hope she's not flighty, and I hope she is useful. I have no use for an idle women. She must know how to cook, and clean, as Mr. Collins income is not large enough to support a family and a maid. My Anne will not need to be useful that way, however, because she has enough money to have a hundred maids if she wanted...

Mr. Darcy gazed at the paragraph for several minutes. Miss Bennet is getting married, he realized. He felt bad for his friend, for he knew was sure Mr. Bingley still loved Miss Bennet. Mr. Bingley had been restless since the day they left Hertfordshire, and the only thing he could blame it on was Miss Bennet. He's really in love Mr. Darcy realized. He was in love to, but the woman he loved didn't love him back. Mr. Darcy couldn't believe he had taken it away from a man whose love was returned.

The wedding would have made a glorious funeral. All Jane's sisters, and friends sat crying--even Mr. Bennet hid behind a handkerchief for several minutes in the middle of the ceremony.

When the clergyman asked if there was anyone who would object to the wedding, Mr. Collins smiled at his dear bride, as if to say, "No one would object to this!"

Jane looked out into the crowd, silently praying that someone would come forward, ending the nightmare. She wanted to doors to burst open, and her dear Mr. Bingley to stride in, saying, "I have an objection. I love Jane, and she loves me. The wedding cannot go on unless I'm the groom." Then it would be Mr. Bingley who married Jane, and everyone would be happy.

As it was, however, the ceremony went on, and the two were married. That day, marriage, to Jane, became a cruel joke.

Mary Bennet looked at the people around her. She was surprised to see Mr. Denny, sitting a little to her left, in the row in front of her. Suddenly, the thought of her sister marring Mr. Collins was erased from her mind. Mr. Denny she thought, as her pulse quickened. She caught her breath. Mr. Denny heard her, and turned around. Their eyes met. Each saw the admiration in each others eyes, and from that key moment on, there was an understanding between the two of them.

They loved each other.

A month and a half had passed since their removal from Netherfield, and the Bingleys' and Mr. Darcy finally began to settle down. Although he was somewhat pale, and was sometimes out of sorts, Mr. Bingley stopped talking to his friends about Miss Bennet. A casual observer would think she meant nothing to him, but his still constant attachment to her did not escape the eyes of his closest friend and his brother.

One morning, in the middle of the third week from their removal, Mr. Bingley was glancing through the news paper when Mr. Darcy dropped by for a visit. He was lead into the sitting room, where he was met with an awful sight.

Mr. Bingley was gawking at the paper, his eyes and mouth wide open, reading a certain section of the paper over again and again.

"What is it, Bingley?" exclaimed Mr. Darcy, rushing to his friend's side. Mr. Bingley could only point mutely at a section of the paper. Mr. Darcy read it aloud:

December 3, 18--
Mr. William Collins, of Hunsford and Miss Jane Bennet of Hertfordshire
Were married today from Longbourn, where the bride's family resides.
The bride's parents are Mr. Richard Bennet, and Mrs. Frances Bennet (formerly Gardener)
Mr. and Mrs. Collins will live to Hunsford, where Mr. Collins is a pastor.
Mrs. Collins has four unmarried sisters.

Chapter 14

After her sister's wedding, Mary saw much more of Mr. Denny. He visited Longbourn often, where he and Mary sat reading aloud to each other for hours on end. As time passed, the two fell deeper, and deeper in love.

Lydia was jealous of Mary. Why did everyone else always have to get the good things, leaving her with their leavings? Elizabeth had Mr. Wickham (at least Lydia thought Elizabeth was in love with him, although nothing could be further from the truth), Mary had Mr. Denny, and Ashley (she thought) had Mr. Bingley.

"It's not fair," Lydia cried angrily, one day as she was stomping through the garden. Denny and Mary were inside now, reading and making eyes at each other. "Men come around because of me, but find someone else."

Kitty, who had been walking through the garden deep in thought, now saw Lydia, throwing a fit, and walked over to her.

"What's the matter, Lydia?" Kitty asked.

"Mary," Lydia exclaimed. "Mary is always the problem. I hate her. I hate her and Mr. Denny."

"I thought you loved Mr. Denny," Kitty said innocently.

"Never!" cried Lydia. "How could I love a man who was attracted to Mary. Mary is so ugly."

Kitty sighed. She thought it was sweet the way Mr. Denny was always at Longbourn with Mary. She thought it was incredibly romantic.

"I hope they get married soon and move to Spain, or somewhere far, far away. Then I shall never have to look on their faces again."

This was one point on which Kitty agreed with Lydia. "I hope they get married soon too," Kitty declared happily. She then left Lydia alone.

Could it be, thought Lydia, that Kitty isn't going along with what I say? The thought angered Lydia, so she tried not think about it.

Before she left Longbourn, Jane had a private conference with Elizabeth, and invited her to come to Kent for a month or two.

Elizabeth loved her sister dearly, but she couldn't help but think something was wrong with her, because she married Mr. Collins. Elizabeth knew Jane would be unhappy with Mr. Collins, so she agreed to visit Jane that spring, if she could bring Ashley with her. Jane agreed.

"Ashley," Elizabeth greeted her friend. Ashley had been reading in the library, and was startled by the intruding. "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" Ashley said she wasn't, so Elizabeth continued. "Jane just invited the two of us to visit her and Mr. Collins this spring." Here Elizabeth paused. "You are still going to be with us this spring, aren't you?" Ashley nodded. "Good. We would really miss you if you left."

Ashley was touched by this. They loved her... they really did. "I will miss you when I leave too," said Ashley knowingly. "We've really become good friends in the past few months. Not a day goes by that I don't thank God for having you rescue me, rather than someone else. Imagine how different things would be if I had been rescued by Charlotte?"

Elizabeth grinned. "Yes." Here Elizabeth became thoughtful again, then said, "I have been thinking about Mr. Darcy. Could it be that he is not really as bad as I thought he was? It can't be, Ashley. I won't have it that way. Every bit of the hatred I had for him was built up in what Mr. Wickham said. I wanted to believe him. I wanted to have reason to hate him with a passion, and Mr. Wickham gave it to me. Now it's gone. I can't hate Mr. Darcy for removing Mr. Bingley. He didn't know Jane loved him. He probably thought Jane was just marring him for his money. I can't blame him for saying I was not handsome enough, because he's undoubtedly been surrounded by the most beautiful women on earth all his life. Oh Ashley! I don't even wish for a reason anymore. What's wrong with me?"

Elisbefbent.

Ashley knew Mr. Darcy was in love with Elizabeth. He told her himself. Perhaps Elizabeth will fall in love with him Ashley could only hope. Somehow she knew that Mr. Darcy was Elizabeth's destiny.

Matt's school day want as well as could be expected. Angie avoided him, which was fine with Matt. His friends didn't seem to know what happened, but most of her friends shunned him. He had turned from "Hot Matt" to "Bad Matt" in their eyes. Matt didn't mind though. He hated how girls went goo-goo for him.

The rest of the school year went the same way. He became more involved with his old friends, like Joe and Kerry, and less involved with his new friends--mostly because they didn't want to have anything to do with him.

By the end of the school year his parent's divorce was finalized. His parents were forced to share him, which angered both of them. He was with his dad Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and every other weekend, and his mom had the rest of the days.

Matt didn't' spend quite as much time at the hospital. He wanted to be there more, but he forced himself to leave early. Angie's words ran through his mind every time he looked at Ashley. How could he be in love with her, if he didn't even know her? Seeing Ashley, and knowing he couldn't love her made even looking at Ashley painful. Ashley still hadn't woken up, so it didn't' look like Matt was going to get to know he any better for a while.

And so ended Matt's sophomore year of high school.

Chapter 15

Posted on Friday, 14 July 2000

Springtime returned to Hertfordshire. As the snow began to melt away, and the birds returned, the whole world, at least in Hertfordshire, became more beautiful than ever.

On one such beautiful day Ashley and Elizabeth went outside to see what they could find in the way of flowers, to make bouquets to decorate the house.

Both looked up in time to see Denny rounding the bend. Elizabeth looked cynical, and muttered something about "good for nothing men." She had seen the way Mr. Collins ripped apart their family, and she didn't want it to happen again.

Ashley, on the other hand smiled, and said, "I bet he asks her to marry him today."

"Already?" Elizabeth asked. She didn't want to think Ashley was actually right. She had lost one sister to the misfortune of matrimony, and she didn't want to see it happen again. She hoped she and her last three sisters would grow up, and all live in the same house, as pitiful old spinsters.

"Well," said Ashley in a low tone that implied that she had a secret piece of information no one else knew about, "They are in love."

"Love!" exclaimed Elizabeth with warmth. "Love ruins lives."

"In this case it will make two people excessively happy for the rest of their lives. You can hardly call that 'ruin,' can you?"

"It ruined Jane's life."

"But love will win in the end, Elizabeth. You can't just give up like that," cried Ashley. A tear began to fall down her cheek. If Elizabeth doesn't believe in love, she thought, she will never fall in love with Mr. Darcy.

"What are you thinking?" asked Elizabeth.

"Nothing," said Ashley abruptly. "What are you thinking about?" She asked, to move the spotlight from herself, back to Elizabeth.

"Mr. Darcy," said Elizabeth thoughtfully.

Colonel Fitzwilliam was just sitting down to a lonely tea. He wished with all his heart that he had some excuse to drop by the Darcy's, but he couldn't think of anything. Fitzwilliam enjoyed being alone (at least that's what he always told himself). He enjoyed solitude so much that he wasn't married, didn't have a family, and stayed shut up in his quiet house all day.

Or maybe he did all these things because his heart had been stolen by a women who could never, and would never love him. Perhaps he liked to sit at home feeling sorry for himself. Maybe he should just go to the Darcy's and find out for himself.

"No," said he resolutely, as he swallowed down the lump in his throat. "I don't want to see the Darcy's; not today at least."

The good Colonel decided he wanted an excuse to visit his good friend Matthew Bingley.

"At least he understands what it's like to fall in love," said Fitzwilliam, as he thought about the countless letters he had received describing a certain Miss Norton. It appeared to Fitzwilliam that Matthew was quickly falling in love with Miss Norton.

Fitzwilliam had almost resolved to visit Matthew, when there was a sharp knock on the front door. Since Fitzwilliam didn't keep many servants, he rushed to open it himself.

Behind the door stood a short, fat, and very mean looking man. Stubble covered his greasy face, and his wild eyes were very blood shot.

"Express for Colonel Fitzwilliam," the man announced. His voice was thick and groggy.

"That's me!" Fitzwilliam exclaimed. He wondered who it was from. A thousand answers ran through his mind. What if someone was hurt, or even worse, killed!"

Georianna, his mind screamed. His heart pounded so hard against his chest, that Fitzwilliam was sure all of London could hear it.

"Are ye' gonna take it or not?" the man asked. There was a hint of annoyance in his voice.

Fitzwilliam snatched the letter up, and all his fears disappeared when he saw the handwriting. Aunt Catherine, he thought. He breathed a deep sigh of relief, and leaned against the door frame as he let his pulse return to normal.

When he finally returned into his house, and the door was shut firmly behind him, he muttered, "I swear the first chance I get, I'll tell Georgiana how I feel."

Denny was in love, and he knew it. Since the first day he had picked Mary Bennet out of a crowd, he had known she was the one--his soul mate. Now it was time to present his feelings to the lady in question, and hope she didn't laugh in his face.

Before he left for Longbourn, Denny had made sure everything was absolutely perfect. He even bought a new set of cloths, but he knew Mary didn't go for superficial things like other girls did.

He had stood in front of the dingy, full length mirror on the back wall of his room and sized himself up. he looked awful. He hadn't gotten enough sleep all week, and it showed on his face. He wished he was handsome...at least handsome when he presented himself to Mary. Lydia had thought him quite handsome, but her opinion didn't matter to him anymore.

Denny walked into the sitting room where Mary sat alone. Mary looked up, and when she saw him, gasped, "Mr. Denny! Are you all right? You look unwell."

Denny stood across from Mary, and reached out for her hand. Before he could grasp it, however, Mary looked at him with her big brown eyes, and said, "Please, you are unwell, sit down and make your self comfortable."

Denny did so, then again reached for her hand. This time he took it in his own, and patted it lovingly. "I'm fine, Miss Mary," He said softly.

"Are you absolutely certain you are all right?" asked Mary, still unconvinced.

"I will be, if you will give me the answer I hope for."

"Answer? Was there a question."

"Indeed--,"

"What, then?"

"Mary," he pronounced the name with love and affection. "I love you, will you--"

"Yes!" cried Mary enthusiastically. "Yes," she repeated.

Denny pressed her hand to his lips, and stood abruptly. "I must go immediately and ask for your father's permission."

With that and one more loving look, Denny hurried out of the room, almost knocking Lydia over, and into Mr. Bennet's study.

Colonel Fitzwilliam had the excuse, and he now had to make his way to the Darcy's, and tell Darcy the change in plans.

As he walked, he thought about Georgiana. He hadn't known his feelings for her long, but he did know they were quite sincere. He loved her with a passion that would put Romeo and Juliet to shame.

How had he grown to love her? Since the day she was born, she had been "Little cousin Georgiana," and nothing more than that. But a few months after her sixteenth birthday, George Wickham had almost succeeded in eloping with Georgiana. Fitzwilliam, at that moment, realized that she was not a child anymore. She was a young lady. His lady. And he had almost lost her forever.

By this time Fitzwilliam had arrived at the Darcy's house. He was let into the house, and led into the sitting room where Darcy and his sister were just sitting down to tea.

"Fitzwilliam!" Darcy cried. He noticed the distressed look on his cousins face (a look caused mostly by seeing Georgiana again) "What has happened."

Fitzwilliam sighed, and handed Darcy the letter from their aunt. Darcy scanned the letter, and he to sighed in exasperation.

"So we will leave earlier than planned."

"Yes," Fitzwilliam said. "Darcy, since we are staying longer than planned, do you think it would be all right if we brought Matthew Bingley with us. Aunt Catherine gives me such a head ache, and it would be nice to have someone else around..."

Darcy nodded. "I'm sure that would be fine."

"Why can't you bring me along?" asked Georgiana. Fitzwilliam hoped that she wanted to go because he was going, but he highly doubted it.

Darcy looked at Fitzwilliam. "What do you think?" he asked.

Fitzwilliam shrugged, and tried to look casual, as though it didn't effect him one way or the other. "Fine with me," he said.

Georgiana grinned. She was happy to be going with her brother and cousin...especially now that Matthew Bingley was going. She liked being around him. He was much different than George Wickham, and he wasn't anything like her brother and cousin who barely gave her room to breath. Yes, Georgiana was rather happy about this arrangement.

Matt tossed Pride and Prejudice aside. He had almost reached Volume II in his reading to Ashley, and she still wasn't awake.

"Ashley," he whispered. "I will talk you soon, won't I?"

Chapter 16

Posted on Wednesday, 9 August 2000

Shortly after Mary's wedding, Elizabeth and Ashley began their journey to Hunsford with Jane and Mr. Collins.

After arriving, it became evident that there was no love between the two, and, more over, they couldn't stand each other.

One afternoon Ashley decided to take a walk about the grounds.

"Would any of you care to join me?" Ashley asked. Everyone was sitting in the tiny parlor. Jane had been working on her knitting, Elizabeth had been reading, and Mr. Collins had been pacing about the room in an agitated manor.

"Yes!" Mr. Collins cried, jumping at the chance to leave for a little while.

As the two walked slowly along the path in silence, Mr. Collins sighed, "I should have married someone else."

Ashley turned to look on her companion with surprise. "Someone else?" she asked. "Why, Jane is perfect. She's kind and beautiful, and--"

Mr. Collins glanced at her. "She doesn't know how to cook. She doesn't know how to clean properly, and Lady Catherine doesn't like her."

"Is all that important?" Ashley asked slowly.

"Important! Perhaps, Miss Norton, I should have mentioned Lady Catherine first, for she is, by far, the most important of the three. Lady Catherine pulled me aside a few weeks ago, and told me she couldn't stand Mrs. Collins. 'Mrs. Collins is too pretty, and not at all useful. She would make a decent wife to some gentleman of no profession, but a clergyman--it's unheard of!' Those were Lady Catherine's exact words."

"What are you going to do?" Ashley asked.

Mr. Collins shook his head. "That I do not know..."

Several days later there was much fuss around Hunsford. There was an invitation from Lady Catherine herself, inviting all of them to dinner, where they would meet her long awaited nephews, niece, and a friend.

"Hurry!" Mr. Collins cried, as he rushed through the house, making sure all the women were following his orders.

"Miss Norton!" he exclaimed as Ashley emerged from her room, "I will not hear of you wearing that dress . Lady Catherine will not approve."

Meekly, Ashley walked back into her room, and changed.

Finally, when the whole party was dressed to Mr. Collins liking, they walked to Rosings, where they were met by a rather old, cross looking women.

"Good evening," she said condescendingly, as she eyed the women's outfits. "Don't just stand there, Mr. Collins," she cried crossly, "Introduce me to these ladies!"

"Oh! yes, your Ladyship, right away. This is Miss--"

"Elizabeth Bennet..." a voice behind Lady Catherine mumbled, stopping Mr. Collins mid sentence.

"Do you know this lady?" Lady Catherine said, as Mr. Darcy walked toward the little group, gazing intently on Elizabeth.

"We--ah--met in Hertfordshire," Mr. Darcy mumbled.

Elizabeth blushed under his intent gaze, but Lady Catherine didn't notice.

"Hertfordshire, ay?" she said. She glanced at Ashley. "And who is this?"

"Miss Ashley Norton," Mr. Collins said quickly, before anyone could interrupt him.

Lady Catherine only nodded, and began walking wordlessly toward the dinning room.

After they were seated, another gentleman hurried into the room. "Pleas forgive me, Lady Catherine. I was walking, and lost track of the time."

"You are forgiven, Mr. Bingley,"

Jane gazed at him. He gazed at her.

"Charles?" she asked.

"Mrs. Collins, are you acquainted with this man?" Lady Catherine asked.

"Y-yes," she stuttered.

"We were going to bring Matthew," Mr. Darcy said, watching Ashley from the corner of his eye for a reaction. "But he was detained by business."

Charles finally regained his power of speech, and said, "Yes, I was obliged to take his place."

After dinner Mr. Collins to the library, to admire Lady Catherine's many books. Soon after, Anne de Bourgh followed him. Ashley thought this was rather strange, but it gave Jane a few minutes alone, so it didn't bother her too much.

"Mr. Darcy is going to marry Anne, you know," Lady Catherine said to Elizabeth. Mr. Darcy shifted uncomfortably.

"Aunt Catherine, I--"

"You only need tell me the date, Fitzwilliam," Lady Catherine said kindly.

Elizabeth pretended to be suddenly interested in smoothing her dress, so Mr. Darcy wouldn't see the expression on her face. Elizabeth had begun to look on Mr. Darcy in a friendly light. She thought he was very good to have saved his sister from Mr. Wickham, and then (in a matter of speaking) saved herself from him. She was very pleased with him for bringing Mr. Bingley to Rosings, despite the fact that he knew Jane would be there.

Now, as she thought about Mr. Darcy marring Anne de Bourgh, she felt a twinge of something besides friendship for this man. She knew beyond the shadow of the doubt that she didn't hate him. How could she, when she loved him so much?

Fitzwilliam glanced at Georgiana. She had been so quiet since he had told her Matthew was not coming to Rosings with them. Finally, Georgiana got up, and walked into the other room, and began playing the pianoforte. Fitzwilliam followed her.

"What's troubling you, Georgie?" he asked softly.

Georgiana looked up at him with innocent eyes. "Nothing," she said.

"Come now, Georgie, I know you better than that."

Georgiana stopped playing and buried her head in his shoulder. "Matthew Bingley doesn't love me," she cried.

Fitzwilliam knew that. He was sure Matthew loved that Miss Norton-women. "There, there, Georgie," he comforted her. "Do you love him?"

"I believe so," she whispered. She rose her tear stained face to look at him.

"I know what it is like to love in vain too," Fitzwilliam said. He sat down, with Georgiana still in his arms, on the piano bench.

"Who do you love?" Georgiana asked curiously.

Fitzwilliam turned away, embarrassment covered his face.

"Who is it?"

Fitzwilliam cleared his throat. "You," he murmured. He looked away, and it was sometime before he was able to look at Georgiana again. When he did, he saw her eyes brighten with happiness. "But I know you'll never love me."

"I used to dream that you loved me," Georgiana said, silencing him by putting her hand over his lips. "But I never thought it was real."

"You mean you--I thought--What about Matthew?"

Georgiana smiled. "I never cared for him like I do you. Marry me Richard Fitzwilliam!"

He grinned and took her small hand in his. "You don't even let me ask the question?"

"I didn't think you were ever going to get the words out," Georgiana said smilingly.

"I will marry you, Georgiana Darcy," he said, and a big smile covered his face.

Mr. Collins paced slowly about the library, so rapped up in his own thoughts that he didn't notice the figure of a women standing in the doorway until she spoke.

"Mr. Collins," She said sweetly.

Mr. Collins looked at her, "Miss de Bourgh?" he said, shocked that she was actually talking to him.

Anne walked closer to him. Her thin lips curled into a smile. When she was standing close to him, she ran her weak hand down his cheek. She leaned closer to him, and slowly kissed him.

At first Mr. Collins was shocked. Anne de Bourgh... kissing him... Eventually he gave up analyzing it, and kissed her back.

"Mr. Collins, I--"

"Jane," Mr. Collins cried, tearing his lips away from Anne's.

Anne looked at her feet, and said nothing.

"How long as this been going on?" Jane cried.

"About two min--"

"Years," Anne finished.

"Oh," Jane said, walking closer to them. "Why didn't you just marry her then?"

"I--" Mr. Collins couldn't think of a reason. He only had one thing on is mind: Did Anne love him?

"Do you love her?" Jane asked accusingly.

"Yes," Anne said, "He does."

"I do?" Mr. Collins looked questioningly at Anne. She nodded. "I do."

Anne grinned, and wrapped her arms around Mr. Collins. "I love you too, Mr. Collins." she kissed him again.

Jane left the two alone. A wave of relief rushed over her. She would be released from the marriage!

Chapter 17 (Conclusion)

Posted on Saturday, 12 August 2000

Jane rushed into the sitting room, where Lady Catherine, Ashley, Elizabeth, Charles, and Mr. Darcy were all sitting in uncomfortable silence.

Lady Catherine was, perhaps, the first to notice the odd look on Jane's face. It was a cross between happiness and anger. "What is it?" Lady Catherine asked. For a moment Jane thought she saw concern pass across her face.

"My husband and I will be divorcing," she said simply.

Shock. Everyone gawked at her--including Charles, who was probably the happiest man in the world upon hearing those words.

"My ears fail me," Lady Catherine said.

"No, you heard right. I will be divorcing Mr. Collins, and he will be marring your daughter."

If Jane's first sentence shocked the room, her second left them dumbfounded.

"Married--my daughter--Mr. Collins--" Lady Catherine gazed at the ceiling. "Mrs. Jenkinson. Please take me to my room."

Those were the last real words anyone heard from Lady Catherine. The once talkative, condescending busybody had become a closed mouth nut case. She spoke, but her words were slurred and inaudible.

Soon after that evening, Jane and Mr. Collins were divorced. Jane once again found herself a single women. Husbandless, but not loveless. She still carried the torch for Charles Bingley.

After the divorce, Jane returned home to Longbourn. Charles soon followed her to Hertfordshire, and soon after that proposed marriage. Jane accepted him enthusiastically.

With Charles came Mr. Darcy. When he first arrived, he became polite and distant to everyone, including Elizabeth.

"I don't understand why he doesn't talk to me," Elizabeth confided in Ashley, one day as they walked in the garden together. "I love him. I wish there was some way for me to make him love me."

Ashley smiled. She knew Mr. Darcy loved Elizabeth with all his heart. She patted Elizabeth on the back, "Don't worry, Elizabeth."

Elizabeth laughed. "I won't , just because you tell me not to."

"If you need a reason...," Ashley grinned.

"I heard Mr. Collins married that retched Anne-women," Mrs. Bennet said, walking out to join them. "Why Jane couldn't have secured him is beyond me. Well, she will be married to a man twice his consequence, and that is my only consolation. She's lucky any man will take her, though."

"Mama," Elizabeth said softly. "I believe Mr. Bingley always loved her."

"Nonsense! He loved Ashley." Mrs. Bennet eyed Ashley with a look of contempt. "Jane is just so beautiful... Mr. Bingley couldn't help himself."

Elizabeth only shook her head. There was no convincing her mother of anything.

A few weeks past, and Jane's wedding was quickly approaching. The Bennets saw much more of Mr. Darcy during those few weeks. It made Elizabeth's heart ache. She felt his eyes on her, and wondered if it meant something.

"Lizzy," Mrs. Bennet cried one day, running to her second daughter with a panicked expression on her face. "Jane and Bingley want to take a walk, and Mr. Darcy is determined to go with them. Can I not persuade you to go along and keep that vile man company?"

Elizabeth gladly accepted. She just wanted to be with him... if only for a few moments.

Jane and Charles loitered behind Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, and soon were far behind them. Suddenly Elizabeth found herself alone with him. With Mr. Darcy...

The two walked one, wordlessly.

Finally Mr. Darcy broke the silence. "Miss Bennet, there is a matter of great importance which I must speak to you about."

Something about the way he looked at her made Elizabeth's heart hammer against her chest.

"Miss Bennet, This will not due. In vain I have struggled. My feelings will not be repressed. Miss Bennet," he looked deeply into her eyes, "You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."

Elizabeth's eyes shone brightly. "I love you too," she whispered.

Never, in the year he had known her, had Mr. Darcy suspected a mutual affection. "You what?"

"I love you. It's not the money, nor your good looks. It's you."

Mr. Darcy smiled, and kissed Elizabeth. In a few small words, Elizabeth had made him the happiest man alive.

When Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy returned home, Mr. Darcy went immediately to Mr. Bennet's study to ask his permission, and Elizabeth hurried to tell Ashley the good news.

The weddings were beautiful. By the end of the second wedding, after Elizabeth wrapped her arms around her Fitzwilliam and kissed him, everything became very dull quickly.

The guests sat about, each thinking how incredibly dull it was.

"I long to dance," Lydia said suddenly. "Mary, will you play?"

Mary Denny sat down at the piano, and began to play. All the gentlemen in the room paired off with the ladies, leaving one lady out. Ashley sat in the corner, feeling dejected. No man had even asked her to dance! Oh! She wished Elizabeth was there to keep her company.

As Ashley sat musing about her rejection, a handsome gentleman walked in to the room. He surveyed the merriment with a smile, and scanned the crowd of dancers for one lady in particular. His face showed the fact that he couldn't find her.

He slumped in a chair. Late for the wedding. Too late for her.

Ashley looked toward the opposite side of the room, where her eyes landed on him. Her heart began to beat rapidly. him. him. him

At that moment, the gentleman looked up, and looked into her eyes. It was her. She was here. He couldn't believe his eyes.

After composing himself, he walked across the room to where she was sitting. "Would you care to dance?" he asked softly.

"I'd love to, Mr. Bingley," she said smilingly. She had longed to hear his voice for so long.

They began to dance, but something felt different. As Matthew held her hand, everything began to come back to her. Stevens Point, home, Mother, Church< i>Angie, the accident...

"I guess you'll be going home soon," Matthew said.

"What?"

"You had a far away look in you eyes."

"I want to go home," Ashley said. Tears began to line her eyes. Matthew stopped dancing, and wiped them away with his handkerchief.

"I know," he said. "You are needed there."

"How do I get there?"

Matthew smoothed her cheek with his thumb. "Just wish."

"I'll miss you," Ashley whispered.

"You'll always have me," Matthew whispered back. he kissed her cheek softly.

Ashley closed her eyes. The music began to fade into the distance.

"I love you, Ashley Norton," Matthew said. She could still feel his hand on her cheek.

"What?" Ashley murmured. Her lips were suddenly becoming heavy, and her tongue dry.

"I love you," he repeated. His voice was now almost inaudible.

"I love you too," she whispered.

"...had been the means of uniting them." Matthew tossed the book aside. Finished. through. Done. Over. He had read the last line of the last page, of the last chapter.

"Now you have to wake up, Ash," Matt whispered.

Nothing.

"I love you," he murmured. He brushed her cheek with his thumb. he looked away to hide his tears

"I love you too," Ashley whispered.

Epilogue

Lydia Bennet, the youngest of the five Bennet girls, was never married. She became a spinster, but was a terrible flirt till she died at the age of eighty-five.

Her older sister, Kitty, had better luck. She married the handsome, rich elder brother of Mr. Hurst, and became Mrs. Edmund Hurst. They lived happily ever after in love, and a nice comfortable home.

Denny eventually quit the militia, and became a clergyman. He and his lovely wife, Mary settled happily in Brighton. They only had one child, a son, and they named him Henry, after his father.

Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy were happily married, and had many children. Their first son, ironically enough, was named Matthew, and their first daughter, Ashley. Each day they grew more and more in love.

Jane and Charles were the love that almost never happened. That alone made them appreciate each other's company. Every time he looked at his wife, Charles was reminded about how he had almost lost her to that pompous Collins!

And how did Mr. Collins fair, you may ask? After Lady Catherine's death, which occurred shortly after Anne de Bourgh became Anne Collins, Anne inherited her large fortune. However, Anne had always been a sickly women. Without proper care, Anne grew sicker, and within a year died, leaving Mr. Collins with a large fortune and a broken heart. Mr. Collins found he could not live without his Anne, and killed himself. Mr. Collins, the rightful owner of both Rosings and Longbourn, lost everything, including his life for the women he loved.

This tragedy, however, brought much happiness to another couple. Colonel Fitzwilliam was the next in line for inheriting Rosings and, with it, Longbourn. The poor second son of an earl became rich.

And now our last couple: After Ashley woke up, her memories flooded back to her. She and Matt dated all through high school. They broke up just before they headed off to separate colleges, but both found they couldn't live without each other. Six months after graduating from college, they were married.

...and everyone lived happily ever after.

The End

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