Prologue

Posted on Friday, 23 May 2008

She'd been a young twenty two when it happened. A young, bright twenty two year old with the world at her feet and a smile on her face. She had been so close to finishing her journalism degree, her internship of writing obituaries and weddings at the Meryton Gazette national paper had just turned into a full time, full paying job.

Her life had been so good, so promising, especially when she met Will Darcy, business tycoon extraordinaire. He'd been her first real interview and she'd impressed him so much, she was the only reporter he would talk too. She had press passes to all Darcy Inc functions, business and pleasure, she had front row seats at all press conferences and was thrown the occasional exclusive regarding forthcoming projects.

Their professional relationship quickly escalated into something much more pleasurable than question and answer sessions surrounded by lawyers and cameramen. Sexual tension built up over months of business and weeks of secret dates came to head one night, the night before her twenty second birthday, when they went at it like a pair of rabid animals.

Several weeks later saw Elizabeth walking into Will Darcy's office, kneeling at his feet and laying her head on his lap, saying two little words powerful enough to bring him to his knees. He'd stroked her hair and whispered to her for a long time after her confession, telling her he'd be there for her, for them, assuring her they would be fine and it would all work out.

For a while it was fine and it did work out, but the pressures of a difficult pregnancy and the marrying of such a famous man took their toll. She had to give up her beloved job as her colleagues, the same colleagues who had been her friends for the past three years, began to ostracize her and accused her of horrid things. So many sick days due to the pregnancy hadn't helped either, but instead of talking to her new husband of the true reason behind her decision to quit, she told him she wanted to be a mother to their baby.

She hadn't wanted him to be bogged down by more guilt than what he'd already been feeling since world got wind of their thirteen year age gap. He'd been branded half of the cruelest names known to mankind and she the other half, and all had been used in all forms of media.

Her family started treating her like a stranger and stared at her as though she had two heads while her very own sisters had torn her entire life apart, taking public everything they knew about their sister. Her mother had gone along for the ride and had said if fame and fortune were good enough for Elizabeth, then fame and fortune were good enough for her sisters.

Her father had been the most disappointing. He'd brushed it off with a wave of his hand and placed the nail in the coffin with the words, "You know how they can be."

When Elizabeth walked out that very afternoon with all her worldly goods and grandchild did Mr. Bennet realise the damage done by his wife and three daughters. He had immediately attempted to breach the gap, but found himself rewarded with a glossy copy of the gossip rag her defended sisters talked too.

Her father then gave her some months to calm down before he once again tried to patch things up. Unfortunately, those some months coincided with the birth of little Emma Darcy, and more unfortunately, Elizabeth had seen his genuine reconciliation attempt as an out and out manipulation of a highly vulnerable moment.

Mr. Bennet had arrived at the hospital, flowers and cards in one hand, a bag of gifts in the other. When his daughter had first seen him, a smile had briefly appeared and gave him a modicum of hope, then she'd seen the flowers and presents.

"Sold out already, am I?" She asked before she turned away, leaving her father feeling the weight of both his breezy attitude all those months ago.

The only thing which stood between Mr. Bennet and a complete breakdown with his daughter had been Will Darcy, who gave the man a few parting words. "Fathers protect their children from those not to be trusted, no matter the circumstances," he had said as he escorted the older man to his car. "While husbands respect their wives enough to prevent them from making mistakes which carry severe consequences."

He had received no reply for the truth in those words hit harder than any fist.

"I'm now a father, Mr. Bennet, and I will protect my daughter." It didn't need to say who from as it had been painfully clear. "I'm also a husband."

Will Darcy had made it known he would succeed where his father-in-law failed and would see little Emma safe from being a source of entertainment and stop his wife from making the mistake of disowning her family altogether.

Mr. Bennet had given a simple nod of understanding then got in his car and drove away, but not before handing the cards and gifts to Will Darcy, who graciously accepted them despite his better judgment. If it hadn't been for Elizabeth and Emma, those cards and gifts would have seen the business end of the nearest bin.

Will Darcy had stood there, watching his father-in-law leave the hospital grounds and thought about the past year. Thought of his wife having to give up her job because of jealous office bullies, thought of her being sick for the majority of the pregnancy, and thought of the betrayal by her family.

He had vowed right then and there to provide Elizabeth Darcy with anything she needed, no matter what it was.

Now, four years on, he had no idea what she needed.

To Be Continued . . .