Note: The first chapters are contemplative, but things will happen, I swear.
Friday.
Bingley is in Darcy's apartment having a Zoom meeting for work. Bingley is WFH at the moment, his internet connection wasn't good enough.
Late. The sun has set. Darcy's been exiled on the couch, answering emails. Another voice in the apartment, his best friend's voice. It's good.
Darcy is so often alone.
He likes it alone. But it's good to—the silence is oppressive, sometimes.
A pause. Bingley's meeting is over. Darcy is deep down in his emails, and suddenly Elizabeth's voice resonates; Darcy's heart stops. The sensation is brutal, as if he'd been hit. As if he were in pain. For the merest moment, Darcy feels like Elizabeth is here, in his apartment, and he—he has to—to act, but—
Elizabeth is not really here, of course. Bingley called Jane on Zoom, Elizabeth answered. They are chatting and laughing on Bingley's computer. Jane's voice, taking the conversation over, Elizabeth vanishes.
Darcy can't work. He's frozen. In awe of his own reaction.
Doesn't matter. These things, they're fleeting. This dream of her, it will disappear one day, replaced by something else, someone else, he won't even remember her name.