Notes: Half-chapter. Margareth is Mr. Carey's daughter (Elizabeth's cousin).
PPP
Elizabeth was typically a sociable person, but when she needed to reflect, she preferred to be alone with her thoughts. On this particular day, she found herself unable to sleep all night, so she decided to take a walk before sunrise towards Oakham Mount. As Elizabeth walked, she pondered over the conversation she had with Jane after Charlotte's engagement party.
They had spoken about the upcoming wedding, and when Elizabeth commented her uncle's hope to have an heir, she noticed that Jane seemed thoughtful and sad. Concerned, she asked, "Are you feeling well, Jane?"
Jane smiled sadly and replied, "Yes, I am fine. I am just thinking about Margareth's situation?"
Puzzled by Jane's response, she asked, "Margareth? Why?"
"I don't want you to misunderstand me, Lizzy," Jane said with a deep sigh, her eyes brimming with tears. "I love Mama, and I am grateful for everything she has done for me. But sometimes, I think about my real mother and wonder what it would have been if she were still alive."
"I understand you. It is natural you wonder about these things."
Jane added in a low voice, "And I hope your uncle will continue to love Margareth even if he has children with Charlotte…"
Elizabeth looked at Jane with sympathy and embraced her. For years, Jane had felt like an outsider in their family, always craving their father's attention. A few years ago, their father revealed a truth that shook Elizabeth to the core. He told her that she was the heiress of Longbourn, and Jane was not his biological daughter. She had promised her mother that she would keep the truth from Jane.
Elizabeth stood there, holding Jane close to her chest, feeling the tears flowing down her face. Jane did not understand why their father did not love her. Elizabeth could not bear to see her sister in such pain, she loved her dearly and did not want to hurt her, but she wondered if it would be better to tell her the truth.
PPP
Darcy's daily routine started before the sun rose, just like every other morning. However, on that day, he felt an overwhelming sense of sadness. It was the anniversary of his father's death, and even though several years had passed, Darcy still missed him dearly. He wished his father was alive to provide him with guidance and advice, as he had always done.
He was about to turn twenty-eight, and he felt that he needed to make a significant change in his life. His sister was still struggling with the aftermath of her disappointment with Wickham. She had become even more withdrawn than before, and it was clear that she was still hurting. In addition to his responsibilities as Georgiana's guardian, he loved his sister dearly, and he knew she needed his support more than ever.
At times, Darcy experienced a sense of loneliness and isolation. He believed that the best solution to alleviate this feeling was to find a companion in marriage. He thought that his future wife would be someone with whom he could share his worries and joys. Furthermore, he believed his sister would benefit from having a sister-in-law to help her enter society, and he also needed to have an heir to secure his legacy.
During a conversation with Miss Elizabeth, he learned that the best view of the area was from the top of Oakham Mount. Intrigued by this information, he decided to ride to that place.
Upon reaching the hill's summit, he noticed a woman sitting on a flat rock. As he got closer, he realized it was none other than Elizabeth Bennet with her hair blowing gently in the breeze.