Hi everyone :) I deleted my old profile almost a year ago and now I'm back, posting new stories and editing old ones. This one was a favorite for many of you, as well as for me. The premise of this story was inspired by one of Julia Quinn's books: "The girl with the make-believe husband". I've obviously taken some liberties with distances and so forth, as this is fiction. I'm not sure what my posting schedule will be. This story is already finished but there was a lot I wanted to edit and hopefully add. I hope to be posting 2-3 times a week, but I will see how it goes. To those who remember the story, hope you enjoy it again, and to those who are new, hope you enjoy it now :)

Chapter 1:

Lizzy woke up with a pounding headache. She reached for her forehead, her eyes still closed, and rubbed the spot between her eyes, for a wishful moment hoping she had imagined yesterday's disastrous proposal but alas, it was wishful thinking. Yesterday had happened and today she felt absolutely dreadful.

She sat up on her bed, finally opened her eyes, and looked around the minimally decorated guest room in Hunsford. She warily got up and crossed the room to where there was a small basin filled with water and splashed her face, letting her eyelids close as the water splashed against them. She could feel the water on her eyelids and eyelashes, as she reached for a towel that laid beside the basin and dried her face.

Lizzy let out a heavy sigh, looked around again and felt as if she were suffocating. The room was dark and dreary, much like this house, and much like her future would have been had she married Mr. Collins. She sensed a warm ray of sunlight precipitating through the windows and she turned to it, seeking out the comfort it brought. The sun was finally rising—the room beginning to lit up with various hues of colors, each bringing life with it.

"I need a walk" she murmured to herself and dressed quickly, wishing to be out before the others rose to break their fast. After donning her morning dress, walking shoes, and a coat, for it was chilly in February in Kent, she wrote a hasty note to Charlotte letting her know she would walk in lady Catherine's gardens and be back by eleven, a time she knew by the position of the sun against the trees.

Lizzy saw one of the maids, gave her the note for the Charlotte, graciously accepted a breakfast muffin and went on her way. She nibbled at the muffin as she walked, lost in her thoughts...

Had Mr. Darcy truly proposed to her? It was unfathomable. She could not help but blush at the compliment, a man like him, had been interested in her, even with all her low connections, she thought bitterly. His words still stung and perhaps if she allowed him some grace, she would see the truth behind them but she did not want to admit that her own family had been responsible for ruining Jane's chances with Mr. Bingley. She had never liked Mr. Darcy and she was inclined to now hate him for the rest of her life.

She stepped over some branches when a sound on the other end of the path startled her. To her utter shock and surprise, Mr. Darcy was standing there, as if waiting for her. She blushed and looked down—-would he propose again? He had nothing else to say, he had insulted her beyond measure. But he had seen her and short of being everything her family was accused off, she could not walk away.

"Miss Elizabeth" said Mr. Darcy his voice cold and harsh, he looked like he had also barely slept, perhaps with a pounding headache like hers. "Do not be alarmed, I have no intentions of renewing the offer which was so offensive to you," he spat.

"Mr Darcy" began Lizzy, not sure what she was going to say, but she could see how pained he looked and thought she could not allow herself to feel pity for the man that had destroyed her sister's happiness, her heart suddenly ached for him. Thankfully he interrupted her.

"Would you do me the honor of reading this letter? It is everything I wished to have responded when you lay your accusations but I was not in control over my emotions yesterday" he said, a faint ripple of the passion he has expressed, seeping out in his last words. She blushed again, remembering the passion with which he had proposed. Had she loved him and had he not insulted her and her family as he spoke, she would have been flattered. But alas, that is not how it occurred.

Lizzy nodded and took the letter, intending to walk away when a sudden sound behind them startled them. Mr. Darcy looked around and seeing the source of the noise, pulled Miss Elizabeth behind him, blocking her with his body.

Lizzy stood behind him confused, she had not seen what had made the noise but she could Mr. Darcy's strong body shielding her. She looked over his shoulders and a frightened gasp left her lips. In a matter of seconds they were surrounded, armed men coming from out of the trees, looking at them as hungry animals would their prey.

"By god" said Lizzy in a terrified whisper. Mr Darcy held his body tense, looking around weighing his options. He knew they would be taken and that he was defenseless to protect miss Elizabeth. He never felt so less like a man in his life. He could not even defend the woman he loved. But he knew he would do everything he could to protect her.

"Do not resist" said a hoarse voice, as an armed man walked over to them, guns still pointing from all direction and put a wet cloth over their nose and mouth. The last thing Lizzie remembered was the world going black.

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