#lizzy.

"Do not you feel a great inclination, Miss Bennet, to seize such an opportunity of dancing a reel?"

She smiled, but made no answer. He repeated the question, with some surprise at her silence.

"Oh!" said she, "I heard you before; but I could not immediately determine what to say in reply. You wanted me, I know, to say "Yes," that you might have the pleasure of despising my taste; but I always delight in overthrowing those kind of schemes, and cheating a person of their premeditated contempt. I have therefore made up my mind to tell you that I do not want to dance a reel at all — and now despise me if you dare."

"Indeed I do not dare."

vs:

Elizabeth's spirits were so high on the occasion that, though she did not often speak unnecessarily to Mr. Collins, she could not help asking him whether he intended to accept Mr. Bingley's invitation, and, if he did, whether he would think it proper to join in the evening's amusement; and she was rather surprised to find that he entertained no scruple whatever on that head, and was very far from dreading a rebuke either from the Archbishop, or Lady Catherine de Bourgh, by venturing to dance.

"I am by no means of opinion, I assure you," said he, "that a ball of this kind, given by a young man of character to respectable people, can have any evil tendency; and I am so far from objecting to dancing myself, that I shall hope to be honoured with the hands of all my fair cousins in the course of the evening, and I take this opportunity of soliciting yours, Miss Elizabeth, for the two first dances especially, — a preference which I trust my cousin Jane will attribute to the right cause, and not to any disrespect for her."

Elizabeth felt herself completely taken in. She had fully proposed being engaged by Wickham for those very dances: — and to have Mr. Collins instead! her liveliness had been never worse timed.

Elizabeth: refuses to dance with Darcy because obviously the only reason anyone would suggest dancing is so they could immediately make fun of the person they suggested it to.

it’s a monthly ritual, though she’s tried to argue that she should come out here more. even with her busy life with her two kids and work. but she wants to remember him, even if the people who gave birth to her sadly don’t. a single pink lily rests in her hand, walking towards the grave. her heart drops to the bit of her stomach, but it always does when she visits alex’s grave.

taking a deep breath, she takes a seat in front of the grave. lizzy gently slides the flower into the holder. her breath feels caught in her throat, but she tries to take it in stride. her hands fold over her knees, sitting calmly in front of the gravestone.

the blonde didn’t realize the tears had even started leaving, but once they came there was no stopping them. her chest ached and tears kept coming and coming.’’i miss you.’’ lizzy whimpered out, trying to calm the exploding feeling in her chest.’’it’s been 25 years but i still miss you like it was yesterday.’’ the words leave her lips quietly.