Thank you everyone for your wonderful comments and all the favorites and follows. You make my heart sing :)

Here's Lizzy's POV. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

The Door on the Wall

Part 3

Elizabeth wandered the empty corridors of Netherfield aimlessly.

After a fortnight of readying the once closed house, and an invitation for his sister to play host, Mr. Bingley was finally able to entertain. It was rather odd to find that Mrs. Hurst was the host and not Miss Bingley, but Mr. Bingley said Miss Bingley was visiting their aunt in Scarborough. Yesterday, though, while they were readying themselves for bed, Jane told her the oddest tale about how Miss Bingley was sent to Scarborough.

"Charles," Jane blushed as she said his Christian name, "was telling me a very strange story today."

Only a few days ago Mr. Bingley secured her sister's hand, and since then Elizabeth played as chaperone whenever they walked outside. It was lucky that the weather turned after more than a week of torrential rain, or they all would have been stuck in the drawing room with their mother for company. As she walked a fair distance from her sister and her beau, Elizabeth's head was engaged in other things than the winter's murky landscape. She was thinking about love, wondering if she would ever have one. She thought she was ever content with being an old maid, looking after her numerous nieces and nephews, but her opinion slowly changed. She wanted more, she wanted marriage. Not like her sister's, or heaven forbid like her friend Charlotte's suitor. No, Charles Bingley was everything charming, but too accommodating, too nice. She wanted someone to respect her and challenge her and… something else she couldn't name.

And after hearing Jane's story, which was actually Mr. Bingley's and Mrs. Hurst's story, she couldn't help but wanting to try it. It was clear that this door appeared when someone was in need of a loved one. If she followed it, she may find out if someone loved her. It was exciting and terrifying. What if no one loved her? What if she was to walk and walk and walk in the corridor and reach nowhere? Or maybe the door just wouldn't open?

Today Jane came to visit Netherfield, as the future mistress. Her mother and Elizabeth came with her, each with their reason. Mrs. Bennet was here to help her daughter and boast about the great match her daughter made. They were to tour the house with Mr. Bingley and the housekeeper and to see if there were changes needed to be made. Elizabeth came with two purposes in mind, one was to give support to her sister against her mother and Mrs. Hurst, the other was to investigate the second floor's corridor.

While Mr. Bingley, along with the other ladies, went to tour the kitchens, Elizabeth sneaked up the stairs and moved along the deserted hallway until she found the monk's portrait.

"Well, here goes nothing," she muttered and paced around in circles while thinking about finding her love.

Louisa may have forgotten to tell her brother a few details, and Mr. Bingley's description of the incident to his betrothed wasn't accurate either. Jane was too distracted by her Charles' enchanting eyes to listen carefully as well. And so not all the information passed on to Elizabeth. For example, no one told her how many circles she should make. It didn't signify much, because Elizabeth was willing to pace for as long as needed. It took exactly seven circles for a door to appear. The doorway was a magnificent oak door, carved with a beautiful art depicting nature, a waterfall and a horse grazing nearby. On the top were the words 'I will seek him whom my soul loves', written in red. She wasn't sure if it was blood or rubies, but the writing was even and dignified. It was at those words that Elizabeth paused. She believed before, that the tunnel will lead her to the person who loved her, but the words on the door made her reconsider. Was the door leading her to the one that she loved? Was she willing to open her heart and see it? Up until now she did not even consider the idea of loving anyone. It was unsettling.

She hesitated, and then stubbornly lifted her chin. Her courage always rose with every attempt to intimidate her, even if she was intimidated by her own heart. With a sure hand she turned the handle and opened the door. A long corridor welcomed her, the candelabras light and pleasing, and she walked forward with a sure stride. When the door closed behind her, she did not look back. It did not matter to her anymore, she was too curious to leave the place anyway. She could smell the faint smell of lavender and smiled, it was her favorite perfume. It's funny how both of them liked the same fragrance.

The falling took her by surprise, it was much sooner than she expected. But the fall itself had a rather nice feeling. It was symbolic after all, as she imagined one must take a leap to fall in love. The darkness did not scare her, instead it somehow comforted her to be enveloped in it. When she landed onto the fresh hay she wasn't surprised at all, she somehow knew this mystery man liked simple things. The sweet scent was refreshing and reminded her of her childhood. Eagerly she pressed on until she reached a large room. Whatever she expected, it was not this.

Among the big machines in the room she recognized and counted two English setter puppies, one aged Springer Spaniel, two heavy Bullmastiffs, three sweet Jack Russell, and to her utter surprise, two regal British Shorthair cats. It was sweet, endearing and perplexing all at once. Who did she know that loved dogs and cats so much? Could it be that she entered her own brain? The Lavender, the hay, the cats and dogs… But then there was the horse, she was definitely not a horse woman. No, it must be someone else, someone almost compatible to her. It was then that she noticed the screen in the middle of the room. It was focused on a letter and Elizabeth was surprised to see her future brother's unreadable handwriting, announcing his wedding.

"A wedding!" huffed the orange eyed cat, his stance proud and erect. "I cannot believe he is going to marry Miss Bennet. What about her none existent connections? Her family? Her dowry?"

"Admit it, we envy him," the old spaniel retorted.

"Of course we do," the bigger Bullmastiff said as he calibrated his machine. "If we didn't have our responsibilities, we would offer for Miss Elizabeth on the first opportunity."

"We could have danced at the Netherfield ball as a betrothed couple," a Jack Russell dreamily danced in the middle of the room.

The letter on the screen started to blur, when a knock was heard.

"Come in," a dignified, deep voice vibrated about the room.

The screen, which she realized was her loved one's eyes, showed the door open and a tall young woman entered the room hesitantly.

"Georgiana, my sweet, you slept in today."

It took a moment for Elizabeth to realize what was happening. This was Georgiana! This was Miss Darcy! This meant that she was looking through the eyes of Mr. Darcy! It was all very unsettling. She leaned on the wall in order to keep herself straight. Mr. Darcy loved her? Was going to offer for her? It made no sense.

"No," she told herself. "He wasn't going to offer for me. He might have wanted to but he didn't do it, because of money and politics."

It was very disappointing. Not the fact that Mr. Darcy did not offer, but the fact that he did not love her enough to overcome these objections. What was the point of going through all this trouble to find that her soul mate did not love her enough? Not that she thought he was her soul mate, mind you!

Despite her inclination to walk away, she decided to stay, as she was curious to know more about Miss Darcy. Mr. Wickham said she was proud, but the tall woman with the face of a child and the pink fluffy dressing gown did not look proud at all. In fact, her face looked drawn and sad.

Miss Darcy said nothing, just stood at the door with her head down.

The spaniel muttered "the poor dear" from his perch next to a dashboard with weird looking clocks.

"Come," Mr. Darcy's voice, soft and unrecognizable, whispered. "Did you have nightmares again, my sweet?"

Now all Elizabeth could see was blond hair. It seemed that the staid Mr. Darcy buried his face in his sister's hair.

"Sniff her hair a little more," the blue eyed cat called out. "It'll calm him down."

"Sure," one of the Jack Russells said and pulled hard on a lever to his right.

"What were you doing, brother?" Miss Darcy asked.

Mr. Darcy sighed and the room shook a little. "I was reading a letter from Mr. Bingley, he is getting married, my sweet. To a Miss Bennet from Meryton in Hertfordshire"

"How wonderful!"

Elizabeth smirked. So much for Miss Bingley's aspirations.

"Can I come with you to the wedding, brother?" she asked innocently.

"Who said I'm going?" a hint of coldness was detected in his voice.

Miss Darcy obviously noticed it because she blanched. "I see," she whispered, tears forming in her eyes.

"Damn, she's crying!" yelled the spaniel. "Really Mittens, can we have a little less primness in his voice please? Or do you want to scare the poor dear?"

"Sorry," the orange eyed cat muttered and fiddled with his machine. "Force of habit."

"I don't think you see," Darcy said, his voice soft again.

"I do," his sister cried. "You're ashamed of me, that's why you don't want me to go with you."

"No! no, my sweet, it's not… it's complicated… but it's not you." He hesitated and again his sister caught on it.

"Will you not tell me?"

"Georgiana…"

"You don't trust me, I understand."

Elizabeth was utterly bemused by the conversation. Either Miss Darcy was a queen manipulator like Lydia, or there was a big story behind that she didn't know. For some reason she believed Miss Darcy, she seemed so innocent, there was no guile in her eyes.

"Tell her the truth, Rex," said the spaniel.

The bullmastiff nodded and pushed a lever, then turned to the cat. "Remember Mittens, softly."

"I can't stand to see you hurt, my sweet. Are you sure you want to know?"

"I'm not a little girl anymore, brother."

"You seem like a little girl to me," said the bullmastiff. Elizabeth agreed wholeheartedly.

"While I was in Hertfordshire with Mr. Bingley, I encountered Mr. Wickham."

All the color left on Miss Darcy's face disappeared the moment he said the name. "I promise brother, I will not let him fool me again. I will not let you down again!"

"Oh my darling, my sweet girl," Mr. Darcy said, his face in her hair again. "I don't want him to hurt you. You can never disappoint me, dearest."

Elizabeth stood, shell shocked, in front of the screen. Whatever Mr. Wickham has done, it must have been something horrible. She could no longer think of him as amiable, no, something very wrong happened here.

"Is Miss Bennet the one you wrote me about when you were in Hertfordshire?"

"Did we write about Miss Bennet?" a setter puppy asked, confused.

"No silly," Mittens informed him. "He wrote about Miss Elizabeth. Georgiana got confused."

"No, I wrote about her sister, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. I told you she walked three miles alone to nurse her sister."

Elizabeth was surprised to hear pride in his voice and none of the censure she expected.

"She must be so very brave!" Miss Darcy's eyes opened wide.

"Yes, well, it was her country estate and not London streets. I imagine she is wise enough to refrain from walking alone in a busy city. But the care for her sister is admirable."

"I so long to meet her, brother. Will you permit me to come with you? Please?"

"I thought we weren't going," a puppy asked Mittens.

"I still think it's a bad idea to go," Mittens said. "Being so close to Miss Elizabeth, it's dangerous."

"But it's very impolite to decline Bingley's invitation, Mittens," the blue eyed cat intervened. "We still need to adhere to propriety."

"Besides," the spaniel added, "Bingley would think we hate Miss Bennet and the friendship will suffer. It's not that we can afford to lose a friend."

"It's better than the alternative. Can you imagine? Staying friends with Bingley? Being in close proximity to Miss Elizabeth? Watching her being courted by someone else?" Mitten replied.

"No!" the puppies cried.

For a few moments, there was complete chaos in the room. Puppies yelping, cats mewling loudly, Dogs barking and above all a heavy pounding that shook the room.

"Migraine alert!" a bullmastiff yelled and the pets hurriedly returned to their stations.

But it was too late, the pounding only increased until the noise was so loud Elizabeth had to cover her ears. She stepped backwards and the ground opened below her.

"Lizzy! Are you alright?"

Elizabeth opened her eyes blearily and tried to focus. Jane was shaking her shoulders gently but urgently.

"Where am I? What happened?"

"I think you fainted, dear sister. I was worried and came looking for you, I found you on the floor."

"It was all a dream," Elizabeth muttered. Against all odds, she felt disappointed that her experience wasn't real. This dream Mr. Darcy proved to be very interesting. Slowly, with her sister's help, she stood and started to walk towards the stairs.

"Lizzy, where have you been? Your back is covered with hay! Did you sneak outside?"

Elizabeth touched her back and oddly enough, clasped on a few stalks.

"Can you help me take it off?" Elizabeth asked her sister, and sneaked one stalk into her pocket, a mischievous smile on her face.

She couldn't wait for her sister's wedding to come.