Pride & Prejudice, Unrequited Love, royalty
He was kneeling before her as he had never done in front of any other woman in his life, and the act surprised even him. He would have never suspected himself of being capable of such a plain display of desperation, and especially not in front of much too mouthy and proud for his liking Miss Elizabeth Bennet, but here they were, in her room, with no one to disrupt them, and, somehow, this time the seclusion tasted of hope rather than impropriety.
“What are you doing!” Elizabeth hissed, taken aback. Her cheeks grew even more flushed than usual and she took a step back, her muscles – all tensed.
“I,” began Mr Darcy quite timidly, “am humbly asking you to be ever so kind and consider my apology.” He took a deep breath. “I know my faults, Miss Bennet, do not think I don’t. My actions as well as my words were too arrogant to be excused so easily, but I do regret them truly and I wish you believe me when I say I want to become better... for you.”
Elizabeth huffed and shook her head. “You’re only saying this because you now know I am a princess. Someone on your level. You would have never looked at me and said you’re sorry if it wasn’t for that.”
“You’re wrong about that.” Their eyes met and a surge of emotion flashed through the room. “I had been aware of my- my feelings towards you well before the information came to the light of day. Even if the conditions were less favourable, I would have gone to extraordinary lengths to make it happen because I do not care about anything other than you. That is why I would like to ask you to make me the luckiest of men and become my wife, Miss Bennet...” Mr Darcy cleared his throat, and with a shaky voice added, “Elizabeth.”
There was only one thing she could respond to that, and she did not hesitate to do so. “No.”