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"It did me good to sleep for a few hours this afternoon," Georgiana said cheerfully.

"Lizzy, after dinner, I wish us to practise a new duet.

I found some new sheet music in the music room.

" Georgiana could not stop talking as she dined with her brother and Elizabeth.

She felt pleased, for dinner had become another opportunity to share conversation with her new friend.

"Of course, but you must be patient with me.

I possess neither your talent nor your ability for music.

" "You are very modest, Lizzy. You have a lovely voice, and I believe that with more practice, you shall play the piano very well.

William, after dinner, Lizzy and I shall sing for you.

" "I am sorry, Georgiana, but I have many unfinished matters to attend to," Mr. Darcy replied and continued eating.

"But you might interrupt your work for twenty minutes or so, and listen to us," Georgiana insisted.

"No, I cannot. I am sorry, Georgiana." Elizabeth noticed that Georgiana became nervous.

Her brother's abrupt and curt reply had clearly unsettled her, so she tried to intervene, with the best intentions, to lighten the conversation.

"Perhaps on another occasion Mr. Darcy might accompany us.

That shall give us time to rehearse. I imagine your brother must be very busy.

.." "That is correct, Miss Bennet. I am busy," Mr. Darcy interrupted.

He believed Elizabeth meant to jest, and he would not allow it.

They were not friends—and never would be.

"I understand… sir," Elizabeth replied nervously.

She did not comprehend why he had spoken in such a manner, but she preferred not to provoke him.

She felt fragile and wished to avoid any form of conflict.

When Mr. Darcy observed that Elizabeth remained silent, he thought it necessary to clarify certain matters.

"Miss Bennet, my family's legacy, the lives of hundreds of tenants, the staff at Pemberley and Darcy House, and many local businesses depend on the land's production and the wool trade.

I am responsible for all this and must frequently make difficult decisions.

For such responsibility, I must be well informed and, above all, diligent in my study.

I take all my duties most seriously, and I understand both my obligations and expectations.

Before any personal consideration, I must always prioritise my commitment to the Darcy legacy, which now rests upon my shoulders.

" Elizabeth did not know how to respond; that speech sounded like a reprimand, and she could not discern what she had done to deserve it.

"You certainly take great pride in your family's legacy, sir.

" "Yes, Miss Bennet. The history of this land is deeply entwined with the history of my family.

The Darcys have always been admired because we have done our duty and acted with honour," Mr. Darcy said, thus concluding the conversation.

As Georgiana listened to her brother, she wondered whether she would ever be worthy of being a Darcy.

She had no particular talents, could scarcely speak to people she did not know well, and had nearly ruined her family's reputation by fleeing with a scoundrel who had merely wished to take advantage of her.

For her part, Elizabeth remained silent.

For some reason, Mr. Darcy was angry, and she did not wish to offer him further cause to express his displeasure.

Moreover, she observed how Georgiana's mood had shifted upon hearing her brother's words—she did not utter another sentence for the remainder of the meal.

When dinner was finally concluded, Georgiana said she had a headache and would retire early to rest. Mr. Darcy withdrew to his study, and Elizabeth found herself uncertain as to what to do.

It was still too early to sleep, and she thought that reading might entertain her until bedtime.

Thus, she decided to visit the library, which housed a vast collection of books from every imaginable genre.

After perusing several shelves, she noticed a two-volume set that looked rather old.

Upon closer inspection, she discovered it concerned the history of the Darcy family.

'If Mr. Darcy is so proud of his family, it must surely be for good reasons,' Elizabeth thought.

She then took the first volume, sat in an armchair in front of the fireplace, and began to read with great interest.

◆◆◆

Elizabeth was so engrossed in her reading that she lost track of time.

The history of the Darcy family proved genuinely fascinating.

In each chapter, the values that Mr. Darcy had so ardently defended at dinner—duty, responsibility, and honour—were ever present.

Each generation had seemingly taken great care to preserve the legacy of Pemberley, not only through the land but also through its service to the surrounding community.

After a while, Elizabeth felt somewhat calmer.

She understood that Mr. Darcy's pride in his name and legacy had deep roots.

However, she could not justify his behaviour towards her.

It seemed that the more kindness he displayed on certain days, the colder and harsher he became the next.

It was exhausting to attempt to understand him.

Mr. Darcy left his study tired and frustrated.

He had attempted to compose a letter to the magistrate regarding a dispute between two of his tenants, but had made little progress.

All he had accomplished was studying the maps and drinking a glass of brandy.

Having slept poorly the night before and feeling fatigued, he resolved that it would be best to rest. The following day, he would rise early and complete his pending work.

However, as he walked out into the corridor, he noticed that the library door was open and several lamps remained lit.

He suspected who might be inside and could not resist the temptation to look.

When he reached the doorway—just as he had supposed—he saw Elizabeth Bennet seated in one of the armchairs before the fireplace, reading a book with great interest. Without realising it, he stood there for over a minute, silently watching her.

Elizabeth was amused as she read the history of the Darcys, particularly the chapter about Eustace D'Arcy.

Apparently, Mr. Darcy's great-great-grandfather had been a far less solemn gentleman than the present Mr. Darcy.

Widowed several times and remarried just as often, he had eventually fathered nearly twenty children.

Suddenly, Elizabeth felt the unmistakable sensation of being observed.

When she turned toward the door, she saw Mr. Darcy standing there, watching her.

"What are you reading, Miss Bennet?" Mr. Darcy asked, attempting to conceal his nervousness.

She had caught him staring, and he felt both foolish and embarrassed.

"It is a book about your family's history, sir.

This evening, you spoke with such pride about the Darcys, and as I was not tired, I wished to learn a little more about.

.." "That book is part of my family's heritage.

In the future, Miss Bennet, please refrain from removing volumes from that section.

Those books are reserved for the use of family members only," Mr. Darcy said, approaching her and extending his hand to take the book.

"I am very sorry, sir… I did not know it was not permitted.

I offer you my sincere apologies, and you have my word that it shall not happen again.

" Mr. Darcy listened to her words in silence.

The moment he had spoken, he regretted it.

He noticed the tremor in Elizabeth's voice and how unsettled she had become.

"If you will excuse me, sir, I believe I should retire for the night.

" Mr. Darcy turned to wish her good night, but Elizabeth was already leaving the library.

He was certain she had walked away quickly so that he would not see the tears rolling down her cheeks.

'I should never have allowed my aunt to convince me…

What shall I do now to prevent this from happening again?

'Mr. Darcy wondered as he sat in the armchair before the fireplace, watching the flames with a heavy heart.

For her part, Elizabeth ran as quickly as she could to her bedroom and threw herself onto the bed, sobbing uncontrollably.

Since her father's death, she had not allowed herself the time to cry, having busied herself instead with all she must do to support her family.

'Georgiana is a lovely girl, but these people are not my family.

I am merely a servant in this house, like Mrs. Reynolds, Mr. Moore, Mr. Turner, Billy, Rose, and all the others…

I must never forget my place here. I am in this house to help my family.

If I think of my mother's and sisters' well-being, I can endure anything'…

Elizabeth thought, as the tears continued to fall.

After nearly an hour of weeping, Elizabeth at last fell asleep, overwhelmed by the quiet despair she must face each day at Pemberley.