Elizabeth Bennet was in love with Fitzwilliam Darcy.

She was yet to realize how this transformation from hatred to love took place. All that she knew was that she loved him with all her heart and wanted to be his wife. She felt certain that she could not live without him, yet she had already refused his proposal once. Although he was perfectly civil to her, it would be surprising if he still had any feelings for her.

She felt heart wrenching pain. How could she have refused so kind and good man? How could she have called him proud and heartless? Oh she was foolish, foolish!

He had done so much for her sister Lydia, and done his best to unite her other sister Jane with the one man she truly loved. He was a kind and considerate brother to Georgia. Elizabeth could not imagine how she had misjudged his character so much!

She tried to feel happy for Jane, and of course Mr Bingley, for it was obvious to all that the pair loved each other a lot and would undoubtedly be engaged soon, but that was impossible when her own conflicted emotions made it impossible for her to do more than stop herself from bursting into tears. She could not recall ever having felt more lost.

Elizabeth had never let anything upset her for too long, even the elopement of Lydia she had managed to get over. Yet she found that she could not wish this pain away, nor could she push Mr Darcy out of her thoughts. He was all she thought of when he was away, and his thoughts were her primary concern when he was before her. She felt tempted to confess everything to Jane, but resisted the temptation for she felt certain that her affectionate and sensitive sister would be highly troubled, indeed she would suffer as much as Elizabeth.

She had boldly told Lady Catherine the previous day that she would marry Mr Darcy if she willed, and if he asked her. The former fulfilled, the latter was all they required. How pleased Lady Catherine would have been, had she known Elizabeth's thoughts!

Yet she could not stifle hopes of sorting it out with Mr Darcy. He might still love her, and however unlikely that possibility may be, she kept it in her heart, and it lead her through the unbearable agony of love.

Elizabeth sighed. She had brought this upon herself and she knew she had to bear it, but the thought did not comfort her in any way. There was little choice before her.

Mrs Bennet suddenly called out to her and Elizabeth mechanically rushed to do whatever it was that her mother wanted.