Requested by sweetnovelteas.
Hope you enjoy! My utmost apologies for taking ages, it was one I did some research on and I was so busy :3
(this is a AU!Benedict)

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1797 - England

[Y/N's POV]

It was one of those preposterous days in which I was pulled into, due to how I was a woman in the 18th century.

My age grew as did my Mother's need for me to find myself a husband.

She had always said that being a wife was the best relationship she had ever been in- I still had to live up to her fantasy.

Tonight was the night of the famous Winterfield dance, a night in which my Mother had plans to make sure that I'd find myself a man.

"Come on [Y/N]!" Mother shuffled through the clothes in my closet. "We must find you something amazing to wear!" She hummed and pulled out a rather sparkly dress.

"Mother no, I don't want to look like a Christmas tree." I snapped and folded my arms.

"Sweetheart... I know that this is a lot for you. But you're our eldest... Your brother and sisters have already found themselves a man. Your father and I want you to find love..." I fiddled with the end of my dress.

"And that means being courted on the one dance I don't want to attend?" My Mother places her hand onto my cheek.

"Please my dear [Y/N]... For me? You're own Mother?" I stood up and nodded, Mother wrapping the corset around me.

She tightly tugged at the strings and with each pull I take a sharp breath.

Finally, a little while later I was tightly squeezed into a dress and prepared myself to go to the dance.

I made my entrance and stepped inside with my Mother and Father.

It was rather extravagant.

I had been to several- courtesy of my Mother. Tonight seemed to be the same as the others. A room filled with men, whom only wish to use our bodies to make heirs and be their slaves.

Throughout the evening, I had spoken to several men.

Each of whom had the most abhorrent personalities- not who I was looking for.

I had offered a drink and stood nervously in the corner.

"Not enjoying the dance?" A man beside me said in a hushed tone.

I turned my head, only to see a man who seemed different to the others I had spoken too.

The band had begun playing and the man beside me had stepped a little closer to me. "Join me, Miss...?"

"[L/N]. [Y/N] [L/N]." He bowed and we took our places.

I had curtseyed as the man bowed at me and we stepped out lightly touching each others hands.

"Who are you exactly?" I asked as we walked round each other.

"I'm Darcy. Benedict Darcy." We then walked around the other people surrounding us, briefly joining in the middle.

"Are you new in town?" I ask and we stood in front of each other again, only to have our backs turned and stepped around each other.

"Yes, I am Miss [L/N]. I thought you looked rather bored and to speak the truth, so am I." Smirking, I returned to  my starting position. We both repeated the movements.

"You don't attend dances at all?"

"I feel as if I should, I am the eldest." He comments.

"As I am..." I respond and our hands touched again.

The violins had stopped playing and everyone in the room applauded.

Myself and Mr Darcy walked beside each other.

"It was... a pleasure, Miss [L/N]." I nodded in acknowledgement.

"Thank you Mr Darcy."

"I hope we see each other in the future." Mr Darcy smiles.

He moved away and my Mother walked up to me.

"Hello dear! Who was that?" I lick my lips and took a deep breath, simpering.

"That was Mr Darcy..."