The thunder clapped heavily in his ear. His clothes stuck to him, soaked and dripping onto the stone floor, but he hardly had the attention for it. He could not tell if the shiver running down his spine was his body's natural reaction to the chilling wind that cut through him or if it was induced by the intense glare that came from the most alluring creature he had ever encountered as she stood meekly before him. She was surprised to see him, jumping away from the wall she sought purchase against when she noticed him standing fixed to his place. She had hardly lowered into a short, polite curtsy before he began passionately, "Miss Elizabeth, I have struggled in vain and I can bear it no longer." He swallowed hastily and continued. "These past months have been a torment. I came to Rosings with the single object of seeing you – I had to see you..." he heard his voice trail off, and yet his lips still formed words. The low hum that now came from him was unintelligible. In front of him, her face contorted from one expression to the next – confusion, then shock, and then... a smile peeked from the corner of her mouth. "You have bewitched me body and soul. Just one thought of you and my heart hammers restlessly. To know you would be my utmost joy. To love you is my daily happiness. Please do me the honor of accepting my hand – marry me, Elizabeth." They stood inches apart suddenly. His hand rose slowly to frame her face, the other wrapping gently around her waist. She gazed back at him reverently, a look of gentle sweetness that illuminated her eyes. Her hands rested delicately on his shoulders as she reached up to whisper softly against his ear, "I will."

Just as he was a breath away from her kiss, he awoke in a cold sweat.

Another morning dawned on a restless night, but Darcy could hardly say he was not by now accustomed to it. Elizabeth had been the foremost topic of his dreams over the last pain-staking months and tonight was of no different fate. Though this time, he thought he almost felt her lips crash sweetly against his just as he was forced into consciousness. How cruel could one's own imagination be? Of course, his proposal had not gone so wonderfully in real life as it had in his dream; she had rejected him point blank. And he deserved it, he knew. How could he expect to be responded to with fervor when he so blatantly insulted her? And he actually thought he was doing justice by relating the difficulty of his situation. He would not have this newfound self-awareness had she not called attention to what he would not see – his arrogance and distain were offensive enough traits and, because he absolutely had to continue to insult her by defending his manner of offering, to that arrogance and disdain he only added conceit. If he had any glimmer of hope at all, it was lost when he began his abominable speech. How had he not see her disapproval before? True, he had noticed her apprehension toward him, but being of his rank and position... No, there he caught himself again. His arrogance in assuming she would be honored by his offer, that she would be flattered by a man of his station offering to a girl so beneath him. But in truth, he now believed, he could not be more beneath her. Over and over again, he chastised himself for such poor execution, for single-handedly ruining any chance of winning happiness with her at his side. It had been hard to go on day by day, secretly wanting her, needing her. But now that one chance had been wasted away, and he was unsure how much more his heart could bear.

His anxieties strained further when he remembered his letter. Good God, that letter! The look on her face when she took it from his hand was enough to break his heart. He did not know if she would truly read it and if she did, he was even more unsure of what she would then think of him if she did at all. But in this state of desperation, the sun slowly beginning to peek over the distant horizon, he hoped she had read it and regarded him in some brighter light than she had before. He meditated softly, silently praying she was finding more peace in life than he was currently, then dressed himself in preparation to depart, leaving the rest of his party behind.