Elizabeth knew that she should not have moved forward. Standing on the edge of an ornately decorated room within Darcy's Pemberley residence, Lizzy gazed longingly at the pianoforte in the centre of the room. It had been gilded around its surface, and almost appeared to shimmer in the sunlight that came bursting through the window adjacent to where she stood. If she closed her eyes and thought hard enough, she could imagine the beautiful notes that might arise out of such an instrument.

She abruptly thought back to that time with Darcy, not so long ago, when Lady Catherine had all but forced her to play the pianoforte for her and her company. She remembered the rush of chagrin that flooded her cheeks, as she felt Darcy's strong gaze on her. His gaze seemed to follow her every step as she unwillingly sat down at the instrument. Lizzy knew her skills at the pianoforte were rather terrible, as she never cared to invest in lessons. However then, with the eyes of Darcy firmly on her, she wished for a brief moment that she had given more thought to the notion.

Still, she had been ordered to play for her company and so play she did. The notes flitted quietly across the room, with Lizzy trying to cover up her severe ineptitude at playing by placing her fingers softly against the keys. Once she began to play, she felt the tension dissipate from her body. The notes that she stumbled over did not appear to bother her anymore either, even after Darcy had approached her and stood stoically before her.

"You mean to frighten me Mr. Darcy by coming in all your state to hear me. But I won't be alarmed, even if you're sister does play so well." She smirked after these words, though Darcy was quick to rebuke her efforts.

"I am well enough acquainted with you Miss Elizabeth to know that I cannot alarm you even if I wish it."

Elizabeth snorted softly and continued to play the melody as it swiftly reached its crescendo. Darcy was so close; Lizzy swore she could see the steady rise and fall of his chest.

Suddenly, she was brought back into the present. She was no longer with Mr. Darcy, but standing alone in his estate, mulling over how she believed her performance was received by him. Not that she would admit to such a fact, but Lizzy had been encouraged to practice the song she had played that night. She had practiced that single tune many times that she now knew it better than any other.

With great caution, Lizzy stepped into the room and closed the door behind her. She sat down at the pianoforte and gently placed her fingertips against the ivory keys. They were cool on her skin, and smoother than any material she had ever felt before.

Her hands glided across the keys with an unmistakable confidence, each note playing perfectly in succession. The music folded together in a perfect sequence as Lizzy smiled to herself. The pianoforte was even more beautiful than she had ever imagined.

Behind her, the sudden sound of footsteps was unmistakable and Lizzy shot up from the pianoforte in terror. Standing before her was a very bewildered Darcy.

"I…I am so sorry to intrude…"

Despite the obvious confusion in his face, Darcy did not seem vexed at her being there. Lizzy swore she saw his eyes soften at the edges as he stepped into the room.

"That piece…you played that for my aunt at Rosings…" He smiled kindly at her, as if his mind temporarily went to another place.

"It sounds beautiful. The song you just played." Lizzy nodded.

"I had no right…"

Darcy was quick to cut her off.

"I have taken no offence. Such an instrument is simply begging to be played."

Lizzy knew there was nothing she could say to salvage the situation. What could she have possibly said to the man she had recently rejected, in the most venomous manner, to justify why she was now intruding in his home.

And so, Lizzy simply fled. She bowed stiffly and before Darcy could say another word she was racing out the doors and back towards the carriage that had taken her to Pemberley in the first place.

You're a coward, she thought. You do not even have the courage to face him.

"Miss Elizabeth!"

Before he could say anything more, she turned to face him.

"They said the house was open for visitors…I had no idea that…" She trailed off, as if her explanation was enough to convince him that she was not totally mad. Perhaps she really was mad, for every time she looked at Darcy, her temperament changed and she felt herself subconsciously orient herself to him.

"Let me accompany you back to the village." He insisted, but Lizzy was already shaking her head before he had finished his sentence.

"I'm very fond of walking." She smiled once more before leaving Darcy in a rather lonesome state.

It was then she knew with absolute certainty, with her back turned towards him, that she had begun to fall for Mr. Darcy.