I claim nothing, Pride and Prejudice is obviously not mine. I have a hard enough time spelling it.
It was not uncommon for a woman to be well educated in art, music, and conversation. Most uncommon at the time was for a woman to voice her opinions as blatantly as Elizabeth Bennet had just done to Lady Catherine De Bourghs. Elizabeth Bennet could not be expected to compromise her feelings for anyone. Her spirit and determination simply would not allow it. She had great difficulty getting any amount of sleep after she had unceremoniously told Mr. Darcy's aunt that she could be insulted no further. She asked that the horrible woman please leave her home immediately.
Still clad in her night gown Elizabeth grabbed her coat and walked into the crisp morning air. The early morning chill left her feeling more awake than ever. The Jasmine in the field smelled sweet, and the dew on the tall grass glinted and shimmered in the early morning sunrise. Elizabeth stood breathing in the icy air.
"I couldn't sleep either."
Replied a voice some where behind her. She turned to face the intruder.
There stood Mr. Darcy smiling at her as if there was something amusing about standing in a field in ones nightgown at dawn.
"Miss Elizabeth, what is it about you that has bewitched me so?"
He asked
"I have no idea what you are talking about Mr. Darcy." She replied icily.
She turned her back toward him to face the sunrise.
"I will not repeat the sentiments that you found so disgusting, but my feelings have not changed since I last spoke of them."
She frowned. "Mr. Darcy I am sorry to inform you that my sentiments have not changed either."
"Has your heart truly grown so cold." He asked.
"The temperature of my heart has nothing to do with my feelings toward you sir."
"Why, such venom toward me Miss Bennet, please, do tell how I have wronged you."
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes and gave him a look of deep displeasure. "You Mr. Darcy, have wronged me horribly. You have considered me beneath yourself, and warranted me as not so much as an equal. You have let your pride and your arrogance stand in place of your better judgment. Further more you have wronged my family through your prejudices of my class and your judgment of my elder sister Jane." She paused to glare at him and took at breath to renew her protests.
He spoke quietly, "I only did what I felt in my heart to be best at the time. Perhaps I was too quick to judge the feelings your sister had for Mr. Bingley."
"Why did you judge her at all? It was not your place to do so." Elizabeth snapped.
"I consider Mr. Bingley a great friend and near to a brother. I would do most anything to ensure his happiness."
Elizabeth gaped at him. "Then surely you would have seen how happy he and my sister were together and how unnecessary it was for them to go through the pain of their ordeal."
"I admit I was foolish at the time, but can you not forgive my foolishness and find it in your heart to accept me?"
"No" she said her answer barely above a whisper, and a tear rolling down her cheek. "Although I must admit to myself that I do feel deeply for you, I can not accept you. For I fear you will never see me as an equal. I am beneath you."
She turned and ran back to the house leaving Mr. Darcy to contemplate the meaning of her reply.