Chapter Text
“You have to marry him. You must, Lizzie, or we’ll be thrown out onto the street!”
“You cannot make me!”
The dirt felt coarse and grainy beneath her thin slippers. They would certainly be destroyed by the time she stopped. Looking over her shoulder to track her pursuer, she saw her mother was making even ground, and didn’t look like she would be stopping any time soon.
“Damn it all,” Elizabeth said, slowing only to make a dash to the left to avoid splashing right into the lake. The house was out of sight now, sheltered by a clump of oaks. Sunlight glittered on the water as she rushed past.
“Come back here, Elizabeth!!” Her mother yelled.
“You’d have to murder me in my sleep before I married William Collins!” And it wasn’t a lie – she may have been a sensible woman, but Elizabeth could rather throw herself to a pack of hungry wolves than stand next to the man at the altar and sign away her life to his service.
Her mother had to be getting tired, because she herself was. Letting out a scream of frustration, she cut into the trees. The shadows were dark here, cool and silent out of the sun. His proposal had well and truly ruined her breakfast, and she took her meals very seriously. Wiping her sweaty palms on her skirt, she slowed to a walk, closing her eyes and breathing heavily.
“You’ve run nearly a quarter of a mile,” a voice said. “Are you alright?”
With a strangled scream, Elizabeth leapt back, heart pounding. Scanning the trees, she backed away slowly.
“I’ve been watching since you bolted from the house,” Mr. Darcy said, stepping into view. “And I have a proposition for you, Miss. Elizabeth.”