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E lizabeth did not know when it started, but she was in the middle of it before she realized she had fallen deeply in love with Darcy.

The moment she met him on the cliff was etched in her memory forever; his handsome face filled with surprise and concern for her.

She owed him her life as he had saved her without even knowing it. Her anger towards him at the bookstore reflected her anger towards herself, as he reminded her of her cowardly act.

Later, when she met him in Ashton Park, she was surprised he did not use his status and friendship with the Ashton family to belittle or ruin her employment.

Every moment she spent in his company, Elizabeth strangely felt comforted by his presence. She hated to admit the same, and the feeling terrified her.

The reason she wanted to avoid him was to safeguard her heart. She admired his affection and care for his sister. As days passed, in his eyes, she could see the same affection towards herself. Elizabeth deemed it impossible for a man of such status to have regard for her.

When she heard her maid’s story about his support for a ruined woman, her thoughts immediately rushed to her mother, and she wished someone like Darcy had supported her.

It took long for her to admit it, but she loved him with all her heart, as she had not seen a man like him.

She fought hard to forget him, but it was impossible when she had to face him so often.

Every night, Elizabeth was in turmoil, and day by day, she felt agitated even when she heard the mention of his name.

She felt the need to disclose the torment she underwent to someone, and the only person who ever knew about her love for Darcy was Mary.

She wrote to Mary, confiding her innermost thoughts and dilemmas. Mary had replied to each of her letters. She was aware of everything happening between them during their acquaintance.

“...Lizzy, why would you say it is wrong for you to love someone like Mr. Darcy? Since when did you care about society in terms of status and wealth? From his conversations with you, I think you may not be alone in your feelings. You say he singled you out and asked for a dance. Help me understand why he would do that unless he wanted you to understand his heart. Why do you want to distance yourself from a respectable man who returns your sentiments? Do you think he cares about society? I do not think so. You deserve to be happy, Lizzy. Please do not let the past ruin your future. You did nothing wrong. Even if Mr. Darcy comes to know of the past, he will stand by you…”

There were several letters from Mary regarding this matter.

Just like Mary, in Elizabeth’s heart, she knew Darcy would never forsake her because of the truth about her past and birth.

Every look, every word, every act of him proved to her that he felt the same way about her. Despite repeatedly insulting and lying to him that she hated him, she could not stop thinking about a life with him.

After the dance, she was certain he would never look at her, but that was not the case.

All she could see in his eyes during the picnic was the same regard she had witnessed all those months.

Elizabeth was glad she would be away from Ashton Park for a month, but she had never expected him to walk in that morning and declare himself in such a way.

Every word he spoke resonated from the depths of his heart.

She was devastated for refusing him in such a way, but it was done to make Darcy believe that she could never accept him. The pain in his eyes was evident after her refusal as he looked aghast. The one look he gave her before he left made her heart hurt like it had never felt before.

Now, she sat in her room crying out of guilt.

She had not cared about her past and the fact that she was born out of wedlock, but now it mattered; she was unable to accept him because of the same.

She loved Darcy deeply and cared about his welfare. It was not just him; Georgiana’s future was also at stake.If at all she accepted him, Elizabeth knew she would subject the man she loved to disgrace and shame. He would marry a governess and a woman with a disgraced birth.

She knew the truth about her past would shame and distress the Darcy family.

Elizabeth did not know how to face him again. She had wounded a man who loved and cared for her without any inhibitions about her status in society. All she wanted was to protect him from misery; she knew she had made the right decision.

She loved him too much to let him suffer after marrying her; she was confident that he would be tormented forever because of her past, by society, and relations.

She promised herself that she would never tell him the truth, the truth that she loved him as much as he loved her.