'We will buy a house and surprise all our friends by throwing a party to celebrate our marriage,' I said.

I left her then. I had no fear of her changing her mind, for I knew Belle would spend the rest of the day encouraging her in her plans for the future.

29th July 1799

A calamity! I am undone!

I hired the carriage and was just about to set off to collect Georgiana, with our route to Scotland firmly planned in my mind, when who should I see but Belle, hurrying down the road towards me.

I knew at once that something was wrong, and I called out for the coachman to stop.

'Fly!' she said, when she reached the carriage. 'Go! It is Mr Darcy! He has found us out! He called on us not an hour ago, wanting to surprise his sister, and she, poor fool, could not bear to deceive him and told him everything. He is in a towering rage. He is ready to murder you. You must be gone from here before he finds you, or who knows what he will do?'

I could not believe it. To be so near and yet so far.

'Damn!' I said. 'Damn Fitzwilliam Darcy! Was he born to ruin everything for me? First he denies me a living and now he denies me a wife.'

'Do not stay!' Belle begged me. 'Go, now, at once. He is a powerful man. He has friends, influence; he could make things very difficult for you.'

I looked at Belle with her comely face and figure and I thought, Why shouldn't I have some company on my flight.

'Come with me,' I said impulsively, seizing the moment.

'Come with you?' she asked in surprise.

'Yes, come with me, Belle. You cannot stay here. The carriage is waiting. We can go to Scotland together. Oh! Not to marry, but to have an adventure and get away from this dreary place. We will yet grab some pleasure from the day.'

She was undecided and then, suddenly picking up her skirt and climbing into the carriage beside me she said, 'Aye, what do I have to stay for?'

We were soon away, and before very long we had decided that we could be just as happy in London as in Scotland, and for a lot less expense, and so thither we went.

It was not what I expected from today, but what is the use of repining? Something will turn up, I am sure of it, and for now I have Belle to keep me company.

Besides, there is always still Anne de Bourgh.

4th November 1799

Our money has at last run out. Belle has invested what little she had left in a boarding house, and we have reluctantly decided to go our separate ways.

I am thinking of enlisting. One of my acquaintances happened to recommend his regiment to me this morning, and as I have nothing better to do I believe I will join. It will get me away from London, where my creditors are once again pressing me, and take me into Hertfordshire, a place where I am not known. Then I can begin again, and at the very least, run up some new bills.

And at the most... There will be impressionable young women in Meryton, no doubt, and they will all be susceptible to a charming and handsome young man in a red coat.

Who knows? I might meet my heiress in Hertfordshire, and by this time next year I might have eloped!