Darcy was having a wonderful morning. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and he'd managed to escape his Aunt Catherine a full hour earlier than he thought possible. Yes, if he was very lucky and very quick he should still be able to encounter the beautiful, wonderful, enchanting Miss Elizabeth before she concluded her walk. If he strolled at a slightly more than leisurely pace towards her favourite grove, or happened to whistle the delightful melody she had played a few nights previously, who could blame him?
While Darcy knew he shouldn't be infatuated with someone so far beneath him socially, he had finally decided he didn't care. After all, she was charming, intelligent, witty, caring, beautiful… perfect. As he was musing on further superlatives to describe his beloved, Darcy rounded a bend in the path and encountered the very woman.
Well, a woman who closely resembled his beloved at any rate... if his Miss Elizabeth was a raging Valkyrie bent on the destruction of any who wronged her. While he had always admired her bright eyes, they now blazed with such righteous fury that he thought they might set his coat ablaze.
Darcy also noticed the slightly huddled figure of Colonel Fitzwilliam beside the avenging goddess. Ah, that explains it, thought Darcy, my poor cousin has said something to offend this paragon of womanly perfection.
Darcy continued to approach, sketched a very proper bow and even managed a small smile while Elizabeth and the Colonel were still frozen in fury and fear, respectively.
It was the smile that broke the spell.
"You!" shouted Elizabeth, glowing with hostility. "You dare smile and act the gallant after all you have done! You disparage the community that welcomes you, throwing your hat in with an arrogant upstart in an ugly dress. You dash my dearest sister's hopes for happiness, destroy your own friend's reputation, and deny the living of your father's favourite. You may perceive yourself above our touch, but in reality you have failed to observe even the most basic civilities required of a gentleman!"