Pride and Prejudice variation. Due to circumstances she cannot control Elizabeth Bennet is forced to accept Mr Darcy as her lawfully wedded husband.
Elizabeth Bennet curled herself in the corner of the carriage, as far from her travelling companion as it was possible. She abandoned her sturdy walking boots carelessly on the carriage floor. Her appearance left much to be desired. She did not care for Mr Darcy to see her stocking-clad feet, or her wild curls unpinned and falling down her back. She had gotten up at dawn and was barely allowed time to tend to her necessities and dress herself before she was unceremoniously put into the carriage.
She stared at the lushly green countryside as the vehicle rolled steadily down the road. She had never been that far north of London. It was only the second day of their journey, and they had already reached Nottingham. Taking into consideration that they had left Kent early afternoon the day before, she suspected that they would reach Scotland the day after tomorrow at the latest.
She felt fatigued, every bone and muscle in her body aching. She was not accustomed to being still for such a long time. The stops they had made were short, not to mention very rare.
She closed her eyes. She dreamed of falling asleep only to wake to the life she had had only two days ago. She could not drift off, though. Troubling thoughts raced through her head. She kept thinking of her current situation. There had to be a way in which it would be possible for her to somehow save herself.
Elizabeth realized that it would be feasible to simply escape from the hands of her captor. She still had ten pounds which her father had given her on the day she had left for Kent together with Sir William Lucas and Maria. It was a sufficient sum to travel back to Hertfordshire on her own. She was fast; she could easily disappear on the busy street. She was small, so her captor would not be able to locate her in the crowd.
How could she return home, though? With her reputation tarnished, unmarried after eloping with a man whom she had always professed to dislike. Her family would have no choice but to send her away to live in solitude. She would be taken care of, but she would be banished from all good society. And what about her sisters? Their chances of a good match, already slim as they were, would become non-existent with a sister who brought disgrace to the family.
Despite the most unfortunate circumstances that Elizabeth was subjected to, she did not give up hope. She had to save herself from a loveless marriage to the man whom she despised, while at the same time keep her reputation intact.