Pride and Prejudice Novelette. What if Darcy and Elizabeth had come to understanding in very different circumstances and a bit later than in the novel?
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Elizabeth walked back to the desk. Mr Darcy was writing busily, a frown of concentration gracing his forehead.
"Yes, Miss Bennet?" he asked, interrupting his work to look up at her. "Have you changed your mind about keeping my company?"
"The door is closed."
"Closed," he repeated.
She nodded. "Yes. I cannot open it."
"It must have gotten stuck."
"Well, I have no strength to push it open."
Darcy stood up, walked around the desk and straight to the door. After a moment it turned out that he was as unsuccessful at opening the solid oak door as she was.
"What is the meaning of this?" Elizabeth asked.
"It appears that someone must have locked the door from the outside."
Her eyes widened. "Locked it?"
"Yes, I cannot explain it otherwise."
"Why would someone do such a thing?"
"Yes, why would someone do such a thing... why indeed?" Darcy asked, his expression both bewildered and dazed.
"What shall we do now?" she wanted to know, expecting him to find a solution to their dilemma.
"We should wait," he answered quickly.
"Wait?"
"If someone locked it by accident, this person must open it in due time," Darcy stated.
Elizabeth was not convinced with his reasoning. "Perhaps," she said, the tone of her voice doubtful. She stepped to the door and pulled at the handle. She did not know why she did it. The door was closed, after all.
"Should we not cry for help?" she suggested. "Or look for the key? Mr Bingley might keep a spare key in one of the drawers of the desk."
"Are you in any danger, Miss Bennet?" he asked. "Do you not trust me?"
"No, of course not. I mean, I do trust you, sir. Nevertheless, it is all rather strange, will you not agree with me?"
"I am confident that it is nothing more than a simple misunderstanding. As for the key, I have never seen one."
"Could it be a servant? The person who locked the door?"
"Quite possibly."
Elizabeth felt that her confusion was growing. "I do not understand," she whispered.

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• Romance

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