Beginning , Section II
Jump to new as of November 8, 2003
Jump to new as of November 14, 2003
Posted on Wednesday, 25 June 2003
Elizabeth spent her summer as far away from Billy Collins, John Knightly and Will Darcy as possible, she was staying in London with her Aunt and Uncle. Elizabeth had many talents, the two she valued the most were her ability to dance and one which hasn’t as yet been revealed to the reader, Elizabeth had a way with children, as her sister did. Elizabeth won children over in an instant, and their affections would be hers forever. Jane earned their love also but for different reasons, she was their ocean of calm, a lap for them to rest their sleepy heads in once they’d played the day away with Elizabeth.
Elizabeth took dance classes for her aunt’s two children, Gwen and Ruby. Ruby was the youngest, she was incredibly sweet but also quite loud and headstrong. Her older sister, Gwen was practically the opposite, she was very sensible of the feelings of others, she knew things instinctively about how people were feeling, Elizabeth suspected this came from the fact she was deaf and therefore had to consider peoples body language. Elizabeth had discovered Gwen had a talent for dance, especially Ballet, something people hadn’t considered as they thought her not being able to hear the music would be too big an impediment. Elizabeth had overcome this as she had found that if she played the music loud enough, Gwen could feel the vibrations through the floor, enabling her to remain in time with the music. Gwen was especially attached to Elizabeth as she had given her something that could transcend the barriers between her and the rest of the world, dance was a language anyone could understand.
Instructing these two children in various forms of dance reawakened Elizabeth to the more simple pleasure of life, the children allowed her to be part of the innocent wonders of their world, which was unaffected by cynicism and the laws of rational thought. They could fly up into the blue sky and play among the soft clouds if they wanted to, no laws of gravity or knowledge that clouds were merely water vapor could tie down their imaginations, and Elizabeth loved them all the more for it. She was fed up of attempting to explain the ways of the world, she wanted to explain things with a shrug of her shoulders and the words, “because they are”.
Adult emotion was too complicated and Elizabeth had dealt with it at far too early an age, due to her father's withdrawal from her responsibilities as a father and her mother's incompetence at her role as a mother, Jane and Elizabeth had mothered their sisters. With Mary Jane and her had been too strict, in attempting to ensure she attended to her studies, they had unknowingly made her inept at socializing. With Kitty they did somewhat better and other than relying on other people's judgment rather than her own, she had no major faults. Lydia would have been the same had their mother not taken an interest in her youngest daughter, their mother’s favoritism and indulgence of Lydia had undermined any good Jane and Elizabeth managed to do.
Elizabeth’s Aunt and Uncle looked on in pleasure as Elizabeth helped to expand their children’s minds and in doing so surrendered the burden that her three younger sisters had unknowingly loaded onto her shoulders. Her Aunt and Uncle knew she would lift it onto her shoulders again once her visit was over, but any respite they could give her they provided immediately.
Posted on Wednesday, 9 July 2003
This perfect little haven of love and childish laughter that Elizabeth had built around herself was shattered when she saw Darcy and a fragile looking girl with light brown hair at the ballet.
“Can I never be free of him!” Elizabeth thought.
She had almost managed to avoid him at the interval when he caught sight of her.
“Elizabeth!” He said.
She turned to face but could not be bothered to form a reply beyond,
“Hello Will.”
“I hope you’re having a nice evening.” He said not quite believing she was here in the flesh not part of one of his dreams.
“I was.” she said, not forgetting Wickham’s word to her about Darcy, Wickham may have been less than great in his conduct towards her, but she had long since put this down to what Marianne called, “The Elizabeth Effect”.
Darcy was surprised at her response, they had never been the best of friends but that sort of comment was not usually Elizabeth’s style, he was just about to say something else when the bell rang for the second half.
“Well time for the second half, it’s a shame we will never get a chance to see Mr. Wickham on stage with the RAD.”
With these words Elizabeth stalked off leaving a confused Darcy behind her, it seemed to be a talent of Elizabeth’s, confusing Darcy so utterly.
Darcy could no longer focus on the beautiful performance before him, he absent mindedly watched his sisters subtle enjoyment of the piece. He watched her eyes' darting around taking in the steps, fully appreciating the level of skill the dancers possessed, as a non dancer like himself could not. He did all this practically unconsciously as his mind was engaged in replaying the brief conversation between Elizabeth and him.
He shook his head, he had no idea what she was alluding to, he had never been so bewitched or befuddled by anyone as he was Elizabeth. He scanned the crowd from his box and found the face he searched for. Her eyes were sparkling with delight and her lips were slightly parted, he imagined she was following the steps as avidly as Georgina was. He wondered how it was he had become so caught up in her, she had never paid him any attention above the minimum and he was dating someone else for heavens sake!
He considered Emma, he was at a loss to understand how he had managed to end up going out with her, it really mystified him, one minute he was talking to her after he’d seen Elizabeth and John kissing passionately and the next they were an item! He suspected Emma had something to do with this strange and incredibly fast transition.
She’d been fairly distant recently, but then, he thought, he’d been a little preoccupied with a certain some one, who apparently held him in about as high in her esteem as an ant, probably lower. Wickham had something to do with all this, as far as Darcy knew Wickham was the root of all the worlds problems, well certainly all those involving him anyway.
Now his emotions turned to anger, Why was she accusing him? Believing a man who was a complete scoundrel! She was obviously less intelligent than he thought.
“No,” Darcy thought, “Get a hold on yourself, that won't do as an insult to Elizabeth as even a fool could see it was completely ridiculous.”
“Well then you’re lower than a fool, as you didn’t see how amazing she was when you first knew her.” A small voice said inside him. He banished that voice with his anger.
“I’m going to tell her the truth,” he thought, “then she’ll see how stupidly blind she’s been.”
His sister turned to him, but was silenced in what she was about to say by the steely determination in his eyes.
“Elizabeth!” He said as she turned in the opposite direction upon seeing him, reluctantly she turned back round to face him.
“I need to talk to you.” he said his voice cold.
Elizabeth could say nothing in reply, distracted as she was by the heat of his hand on her arm. He took her silence to mean acceptance.
“I’m going to tell you the truth about Mr. Wickham” He held up his hand as Elizabeth made to interrupt. “No, I will say what I’m going to say, uninterrupted, then leave.”
“I don’t know what George has told you, but what I’m about to say is the truth. George’s father was a trusted friend and employee of my father, he took George in when his own father died. He paid for dance classes for him when he expressed an interest in them, my father would give the money to George to give to his teacher every month, all was well until Wickham realised that Dance was something the required hard work and commitment. George, having never been one for hard work, stopped attending his lessons. He still took the money from my father every month, but he spent it on other things. I began to get suspicious after a while, but I had no proof, apparently the teacher was taken in by his story that his mean step father was forcing him to dance and so she sent reports of George’s good progress to my father. By the time I had firm proof of his deceit my father was seriously ill and I could not face revealing to him the bad character of a boy whom he looked on as a son."
“After my father died George took what had been willed to him and disappeared, I don’t know what he did nor where he lived. I was then 16 and he 18. When he ran out of money, he came back to me having decided that dancing could earn him some money, even if not as much as he desired. He demanded that I pay for his dance lessons as my father had until he was of a standard to gain entry into the Royal Academy of Dance and then into one of it’s companies. Naturally I refused and thought I had seen the back of him. Until one day I came to watch what I thought was a late practice of my sisters, what I found was her teaching George ballet, he had apparently convinced her it was what our father would have wanted her to do. He saw me through the window of the studio, he was obviously convinced Georgianna had told me about the lessons which he had sworn her to secrecy about. He threw her to the floor out of the arabesque he was supporting her in, by the time I had run round to the door and into the room Georgianna was lying on the floor cradling her foot and George had disappeared. Georgianna told me he had jumped on her foot, later at the hospital we found out she had some broken bones in her foot an some of her toes were broken.” With this Darcy took a long consuming look at Elizabeth, as if committing her form to memory and walked away.
Elizabeth closed her eyes and let out a shuddering sigh, she would not cry, to Elizabeth crying portrayed weakness, though the rational part of her brain knew this was a ridiculous idea, she couldn’t shake the feeling. So when she felt the hot tears of misery and shame roll down her cheek she couldn’t help feeling that somehow her body had betrayed her.
Posted on Monday, 14 July 2003
Elizabeth’s tears distorted her vision and the various evening dresses became like glittering dragonflies rustling around her. Crimsons and blues merged until they were simply an indescribable colour of drudge. She knew not how long she remained motionless, as the eager ballet goers stood chattering loudly, meaninglessly around her. Slowly the river of tears ceased to flow and she moved her hand to brush the salty trails away.
“How did it g…”Mrs. Gardiner began, but stopped when she caught sight of Elizabeth’s face.
Discreetly she steered her to the ladies toilets, once in there she passed her a tissue with which Elizabeth repaired the damage to her make up and wished it was so easy to repair the rest of her. Mrs. Gardiner didn’t ask and Elizabeth, not used to confiding in parental figures, didn’t offer. The rest of her visit was spent avoiding speaking about that night, whilst it was all Elizabeth could think about.
“Elizabeth! You’re back!” Marianne came rushing into Elizabeth’s room and Elizabeth found herself enveloped in a tight hug.
“Oh Marianne, I’ve missed you! How is everyone?”
“Well Jane and Charles are as sickeningly in love as ever. Lydia is wearing her smallest outfits yet, in an attempt to catch the boys who she knows to be involved in the cadets!” Marianne said.
“Same old then.”
“Yes. Except…” Marianne trailed off.
“What is going on Marianne? Tell me!” Elizabeth cried.
“I’m romantically attached to Brandon.”
“English student Brandon!”
“Yes the very same.” Marianne said blushing a pretty shade of pink.
Elizabeth smiled a sort of defeated smile and said,“I’m happy for you two.”
At this Marianne looked intently at Elizabeth and finding the sparkle in her eyes somewhat diminished, said, “What’s happened Elizabeth?”
“Nothing’s happened, What makes you think something’s happened.” she said entirely too quickly.
“Elizabeth!” Marianne said in a warning tone.
With this Elizabeth explained the whole Darcy, Wickham situation to her and Marianne’s only response was,“Oh.”
“And on top of that I appear to have lost my battle with my attraction to Will.” Elizabeth said nonchalantly.
“Your what?!” Marianne said in astonishment.
“I like Will, the only thing that’s been keeping it in check was my belief in his bad character. Now that’s disappeared and all that’s left is an intelligent, stunning guy, with, as far as I know a good personality. The only thing I can think of is that he’s a little reserved.”
“I’m sure you could break him of that!” Marianne said having regained her faculties.
In all this they had conveniently forgotten the minor obstacles of John and Emma.
Marianne heard strains of the radio coming from upstairs but she was not able discern a word of the content.
‘Pablo Picasso est un artiste très célèbre qui a laissé des milliers d'oeuvres - des peintures et des sculptures. Il est né en Espagne, en 1881, et il a commencé à dessiner quand il était tout petit. A l'âge de 22 ans, Pablo Picasso est arrivé à Paris et s'est installé dans le quartier des artistes, à Montmartre. Il est resté en France le reste sa vie. Pablo Picasso était très original et savait peindre de plusieurs façons différentes. Pendant ce qu'on appelle sa 'période bleue', il a utilisé toute la palette des tons bleus dans ses peintures. Plus tard, il a commencé à représenter ses modèles de face et de profil en même temps, et il a peint des paysages et des personnages avec des formes cubiques, puis des formes rondes. Quand Pablo Picasso est mort en 1973, il avait 91 ans. Aujourd'hui on peut voir ses oeuvres dans les musées du monde entier.’
Once upstairs she discovered Elizabeth lying on her bed listening to a French radio station.
“This is bad.” Marianne thought.
Elizabeth listened to the French language to soothe her because it was such a melodious yet passionate language, exactly suited to Elizabeth. When it got to the French radio stage, which it rarely did, Marianne knew she was in for trouble.
“What’s this about Elizabeth?” She asked.
“This interesting man is telling me about Piccaso’s life.” Elizabeth said, mind fully in French mode.
“Err…in English.” Marianne said not being a French student.
Elizabeth repeated what she had said.
“Elizabeth,” Marianne said whilst rooting through her wardrobe, “We are going out.”
In answer to the mumbling from the bed she pulled out a top and said, “Here put this on it suits you.”
Marianne carried on searching completely unmoved by the French words, which sounded to her untrained ear to be curses, coming from Elizabeth.
30 minutes later saw Elizabeth wearing a scarlet three-quarter sleeved v-neck top and a short, but not too short grey mini. 10 minutes later they were out of the door.
“Where are we going the Elizabeth asked, resentful toward Marianne because she’d done such an efficient job of getting her out of the house.
“My secret.” she replied.
Elizabeth attempted to keep up her resentful stance, but Elizabeth was not formed for ill-humour and she found herself becoming interested in the to-ings and fro-ings of the people in the street. They arrived at their destination, the park, and Marianne took in the view, this was not a little cultured park, but a vast plain filled with trees, rivers and lakes and it was just rugged enough to appeal to her romantic sensibilities. She turned back to engage Elizabeth in conversation about the romantic park, to find that Elizabeth was enrolled as a servant to a little girl who was making an expedition to India, unfortunately the child’s mother called her to go home so the trip was never made.
“If Elizabeth can’t have children,” Marianne thought, “I shall lose my faith in God entirely.”
Later they had lunch at a little café they both loved. At a table near to them a man was obviously checking Elizabeth out.
“Looks like you’ve got a fan!” Marianne said.
Elizabeth looked up and into the eyes of a handsome man, who promptly smiled at her. Marianne did a sort of excited squeal, but quietly so only Elizabeth could hear it.
“Marianne,” Elizabeth said, “Control yourself.”
“But he may be the love of your life, he may have seen you frequenting this café and found himself wondering who you are and only today has he plucked up the courage to make any sort of advances towards you.” Marianne lapsed into a dreamy silence.
“Last I knew you were proclaiming Will as the love of my life, and what about John?” Elizabeth said and got up to refill their coffee cups. Out of the corner of her eye and with a sinking heart she saw the mysterious smiling man approaching her.
“Hi, I’m Frank Churchill.” The man said.
“Hello.” Elizabeth said simply, being, as she was entirely uninterested in him, but then a slightly wicked gleam came in her fine eyes and she said, “I’m Liddy.”
“Liddy?”
“Lydia Bennet.” With that she tossed her hair, smiled and sashayed over to her table.
“I’ve decided Will is still the one for you, forget mystery man and John.” Marianne said to Elizabeth.
“Can I join you?” It was Frank.
“Of course.” Elizabeth said as she saw Marianne was about to object.
“So Liddy.” Frank asked, “Where are you from?”
After this question a rather boring conversation ensued about the merits of various towns, the thing that made it interesting for Frank was the seductive glances he was receiving from ‘Liddy’. At the end of this dull conversation, they found they needed something to eat and so Frank was dispatched to the serving counter.
“Elizabeth what exactly do you think you’re doing?” Marianne asked in a whisper.
“I’m attracting ‘the love of my life’.”
“You’re playing with fire ‘Liddy’. You know the effect you have on men without even trying, need I remind you of Mr. Wickham, he sacrificed his career for you!”
“Ah but you see this man shall not fall under ‘the Elizabeth Effect’ because he is only after one thing.” Elizabeth said with a significant raise of her eyebrow.
“Which is a very good reason to …” But here Marianne was cut of by the arrival of the person they were talking about.
Darcy couldn’t believe his eyes when Elizabeth walked into the very café he’d been waiting to see in day after day. Now though he was sure that he must be dreaming because Elizabeth was attracted to that random man and was making it plainly obvious.
Elizabeth was making it blatantly obvious, she had slipped her foot out of her shoe and was very slowly stroking it up Frank’s calf, and he looked up at her quickly. She widened her eyes innocently, but then arched one eyebrow and gave a small sultry smile. Marianne noticed this little exchange of smiles and promising looks and also its source and couldn’t believe what Elizabeth was doing this was not like her at all. She kicked Elizabeth who managed to school her features effectively and quickly enough that Frank didn’t notice.
“We really need to be getting back.” Marianne said pointedly.
“Yes,” Darcy thought, “Leave and get rid of this man.”
Elizabeth pouted and Frank lent forward and kissed her. Elizabeth’s eyes widened in surprise, but considering her actions she really should have expected something like that.
“I quite agree.” she said hurriedly and her and Marianne practically ran out of the café leaving behind a rather confused Frank Churchill.
When they were far enough away Marianne said, “Elizabeth Bennet, What was that all about?”
“I’m fed up of pinning after him. My love life is such a mess, I have a boyfriend who I prefer to have as a friend, if anything! I’m pinning over another guy who has every reason in the world to hate me after how I treated him and I was just kissed by a random man, of whom I know nothing beyond his name!”
“What do you want Elizabeth?”
“I want to be sitting in the sunshine in the park with Will Darcy’s arm around me.”
Although Darcy had no qualms about hiding behind bushes and watching Elizabeth, he could not condone following her, so he had heard none of this exchange which would have brought so much joy to him.
Marianne stored this conversation away in her mind and decided that the only way to ensure her friend’s happiness was to arrange a clandestine meeting between herself and Darcy.
Posted on Friday, 8 August 2003, at 9
"Marianne asked me to give this to you.” Said a rather confused Bingley who was sure Darcy was going out with Emma, but then considering his preoccupation with Jane Darcy could even be going out with Caroline for all he knew.
Darcy equally confused unfolded the note and saw Marianne’s beautiful flowing script conveying the following message:
Meet me at 4:30pm in the Rose café near the park.
All will be revealed. M x
To say that Darcy was curious would be an understatement, the only thing he and Marianne ever talked about was Elizabeth. He was extremely agitated all day and could find nothing to hold his attention for long, at four o’clock he practically ran out of the house and eagerly awaited Marianne’s arrival at the café.
“Marianne.” He said, “What’s this all about?”
“Elizabeth, what else? First of all you can buy me a coffee.”
This was speedily done and Marianne took a leisurely sip.
“Marianne!” Darcy said dangerously.
“The reason for this little conference is Elizabeth’s happiness. So I’m going to recount a conversation to you that, without it ever being said, I’d imagine Elizabeth wouldn’t want me to tell anyone, especially you.”
Darcy kept quiet, he was quiet aware that really he should be urging her not to break a confidence, but his interest in its content overrode his moral capabilities.
“Last week Elizabeth and I went to the park.”
“Yes I know.” Darcy said before he realised it.
“You know?”
“I saw you two at this café, with a guy.”
“Uh oh.” Marianne said, “I’m guessing you saw Elizabeth’s behaviour towards him.” Darcy nodded and Marianne continued, “That was Elizabeth engaging in a simple interaction that she could predict, with no consequences. But this conversation is nothing to do with that really. Elizabeth likes you, she likes you a lot.”
Marianne smiled at Darcy’s stunned look and related exactly what Elizabeth had said to her.
All Darcy could say in wonderment was, “Elizabeth likes me, I thought she hated me.”
“For being so clever you’re slow to catch on.” Marianne said showing the effect that years of friendship with Elizabeth had had on her sense of humour.
“But John.” Darcy said.
“Personally I think John and Emma would be a better couple, no offence; though I don’t imagine you’ll be taking any considering what I just told you!”
“No, no not at all.” Darcy said still in shock
“You’d better treat her right Mister!”
“Marianne Elizabeth may like me but I love her, like I’ve never loved a girl in my life, I will never hurt her intentionally. I just can’t believe that she, I mean, I never thought she…” at this point he sat back and smiled in happiness.
Marianne took a satisfied sip of coffee.
Bingley rang the Bennet’s doorbell, looking eager as ever, Darcy hung back behind him, still not quite believing he was stood on her doorstep as though nothing had happened. Elizabeth opened the door, “Jane’s in the lounge.” She said immediately, Bingley smiled his thanks and disappeared to find her.
It was then Elizabeth spotted Darcy.
“I'm sorry I didn’t…I mean I didn’t see.” here Elizabeth gave up.
He felt like such a fool just staring into her eyes, but the fact was they were so magnetic he couldn’t look away, with every second he was losing more of himself in her eyes. The eyes themselves were beautiful, they were golden brown, but it was not their beauty that he couldn’t escape from, it was the personality they were a window to.
Elizabeth could feel a slight blush steal into her cheeks, as she felt Darcy was stripping her of her defenses and revealing her inner soul. They had been staring into each other’s eyes for so long that neither was quiet sure what to do next, Darcy didn’t know if he’d ever be able to tear his eyes away from hers. Before they realised what had happened, the gap between them had shrunk, neither knew who had taken the all important step forward, but now they were so close that they could hear each other breathe. Had Elizabeth been master enough of herself to form coherent thoughts, she would have described the sensation of being this close to Darcy as exquisite tension, every part of her ached for him.
Then, neither of them could stand it any longer, with shallow breaths they lent in towards each other, closing the distance left between them. At last breaking the eye contact by closing their eyes to better enjoy the sensation of their lips touching and making good the prophesy of many of their dreams. The kiss was just about to deepen when the metallic ringing of the doorbell screeched into their brains causing them to pull guiltily apart and Darcy fled the house as a confused John entered.
Posted on Wednesday, 13 August 2003
Elizabeth looked around the room, it was filled with people from her year whom she would not have seen before the beginning of the new term in September had it not been for this impromptu get together. There was no space for her to lie how she wanted to, Marianne’s house was comfy but no Netherfield Hall. She was about to move to sit instead of lie down when she spied a place next to Will Darcy; she blushed remembering the elicit kiss they had shared, John had been so attentive to her recently but none of his kisses matched the magic she had felt in Darcy’s embrace.
Will Darcy was very surprised to see Elizabeth making her way over to him, considering how distant she’d been recently. He was even more surprised when she sat on the sofa next to him, swivelled round so her legs swung over the arm of the sofa and tentatively laid her head in his lap. She looked lovely, as ever, her honey eyes glinting in the flickering light of the television. He felt his heart beat faster and everyone else in the room was forgotten, as he gave into his weakness and ran his fingers though her hair. She started slightly, but then gave a little sigh of satisfaction and lifted her head to allow more of her curls to spill over his knee. This was all the encouragement he needed and he continued to play with her hair whilst admiring the small smile of pleasure on her face.
Marianne looked over to where Elizabeth was and saw hers and Darcy’s pose. It looked so very natural, any stranger looking on would think, without a doubt, that they were together, in love even, but the reality was that both of them had other halves. Marianne considered Elizabeth’s boyfriend, John Knightly, he was besotted with Elizabeth when she was around, but not noticeably troubled when she wasn’t. When Elizabeth wasn’t present she’d seen John’s eyes frequently returning to Emma Woodhouse, which she thought was unusual. Sure, Emma was pretty and nice but she was nothing to Elizabeth’s fine eyes, tumbling dark brown curls and clear complexion and added to that was her sparkling personality. Marianne considered them again, and she couldn’t recall one real conversation between John and Emma, just at that moment Emma entered the room.
She saw Elizabeth and Darcy and moved over to them, her body stiffened by anger. Darcy saw her but didn’t attempt to alter his position, so when she reached them she whispered in Elizabeth’s ear.
“What exactly do you think you’re doing?”
Elizabeth gently pushed Emma upwards and out of her personal space and said, “What do you mean? I’m watching the T.V. like everyone else in the room.”
“No,” Emma replied, “I mean with MY boyfriend.” With this her voice had risen and people turned from the T.V screen to stare at the two girls.
Elizabeth looked genuinely confused and then she realised, Will was not her boyfriend, however she was determined not to be in the wrong.
“This is my favourite way to watch T.V and this was the only available space to do it.” She said innocently.
“But,” Emma spluttered, “he had his hands on your hair.”
“Oh that! Don’t you just love having your hair played with, it sends tingles down my spine,” She said directing the last part at Darcy with a small smile. “By all means take my place.” Elizabeth offered fully expecting it to be declined, as she was there first and was doing nothing wrong.
“Yes,” Emma said, “I will.”
There were mutterings from the bodies on the floor and the sympathy was obviously with Elizabeth, but she complied and a space was instantly made on the floor for her. Emma seated herself by her boyfriend with a smug look on her face. Darcy had a stupid smile on his face, he had made her spine tingle!
After a while giggles began break out occasionally among those on the floor, though the T.V show really wasn’t particularly amusing. Darcy recognised the laughter immediately; it belonged to Elizabeth. The reason for her little outbursts was Henry Crawford had found delightful employment for his hands, by tickling Elizabeth and making her lovely musical laughter flow. Soon the laughter was continuous as Henry became unmerciful, Darcy looked on in insane jealousy.
“Hey, that’s my job!” John Knightly’s voice came from the doorway.
He came over and caught his breath at the very alluring sight of Elizabeth lying on the floor flushed from laughing, eyes shinning and lips slightly parted, and he couldn’t resist.
The sight made Darcy sick, Elizabeth, his Elizabeth, being kissed passionately by another man, it was more than he could bear. He stood up quickly, startling Emma who was caught up in her own jealous rage, and stormed outside. Elizabeth was too busy enjoying herself to notice but Marianne saw and a knowing smile graced her features.
Posted on Thursday, 21 August 2003
“Guess what?” Lydia said, “You never will so I’ll tell you, John Knightly has been secretly two timing Lizzie with Emma Woodhouse!”
“Emma Woodhouse! She’s so, so…” Kitty searched for the right word.
“Bland, boring, studious.” Lydia supplied.
“And she’s not even pretty!” Kitty added.
Elizabeth stood on the stairs, stunned into inactivity. She turned as though in a dream and went back up the five stairs she had descended only moments ago. She sat upright on her bed, mind completely blank.
Marianne ran up the stairs sounding like a fairy elephant and rushed into Elizabeth’s bedroom, her movements strongly reminiscent of a whirlwind.
“I came as soon as I heard, I can’t believe it, John, dependable John. I’m going to kill him! At least Joe had the decency to dump me before taking up with someone else. John is officially the lowest of the low. Even lower than Mr. Wickham!” Marianne stopped noticing that her friend was yet to say a word, “Are you not angry? How can you sit there so calmly?”
The truth was Marianne was being passionate enough for the both of them, indeed enough for the whole Bennet family, who were now continuing with their daily tasks.
“I cheated on him too.” Elizabeth said quietly causing Marianne to suddenly stop pacing.
“You did what? Surely you do not count Frank Churchill? That’s not the most sensible thing you’ve done but it’s not equal to what John’s done.”
“No, not Frank, with Will.”
“Will Darcy! Why was I not informed of this?”
“I, I told you I liked him.” Elizabeth said lamely
“When?” Marianne said and Elizabeth knew what she was referring to.
“About a week before we were all at your house Will and I kissed.”
“At my house Emma threw a hissy fit when Will was playing with your hair, and all the time she was cheating on him with none other than your boyfriend. The hypocrite!” Marianne paused looking thoughtful, “So let me get this straight, during the summer you were officially going out with John and Will with Emma. Over the summer you go from not liking Will to pinning over him, you two then realize what I knew ages ago, that you are perfect for each other. And throughout all this confusion John and Emma were secretly seeing each other.”
Elizabeth nodded miserably.
“Well then the solution is simple, just swap partners, you go out with Will and John with Emma. Sorted!” Marianne smiled pleased with herself for thinking up this rather obvious solution.
“Will’s kiss was electric like nothing I’ve ever experienced before.” Elizabeth said dreamily.
“It’s about time you were truly struck down by love, God knows you’ve inflicted it upon enough poor men, I pity any man who comes anywhere near you!”
“Now there need be no more sneaking around. We can be together openly.” John said but Emma looked less than convinced.
“What must everyone think? Poor Will!”
“I notice you don’t spare a thought for Elizabeth.” John said sarcastically
“No,” Emma spat back, “I’m sure you devote enough to her as it is! How could you kiss her like that in front of all those people at Marianne’s?”
“For God’s sake Emma, she was still my girlfriend at that point!”
“I bet you wish she still was!”
John looked mildly exasperated and took Emma’s hand in his. “Of course I don’t how could I when I’m with you?”
Emma looked slightly pacified at this and the couple lent on each other for support against the ill feeling they were sure would be coming their way.
John being the chivalrous man that he was felt that it was his duty to go to see Elizabeth to explain. He tried to ring her house to arrange a meeting but invariably one of her sisters picked the phone up and once they found out who he was promptly slammed it back down again. So he felt the only option was to go round there. It takes a brave or alternatively stupid man with a strong constitution to enter the Bennet household after slighting one of the daughters. He rang the bell and Kitty answered the door.
“Lydia it’s John!” She said not bothering to address John himself.
“Lord, well don’t let him in.” Lydia disembodied voice floated around the corner, soon followed by the girl herself who came to stand behind Kitty. “Go away!” She said fiercely, “Go on shoo!” Lydia was enjoying ordering him about.
Then Marianne also came to the door,
“You’ve got a nerve coming here! How dare you after what you’ve done to Elizabeth!”
“Is she alright?” John asked somewhat abashed by the three angry faces barricading the doorway. Marianne opened her mouth to start another indignant speech when Mrs. Bennet’s voice was heard to say,
“Who’s there? No one tells me anything in this house!”
“It’s John!” Lydia promptly yelled back.
“Oh” He used poor Elizabeth very badly, I hate the sight of him. Though it’s perhaps no more than she deserved, this would never happened if she’d gone with that nice lad Billy Collins, yes, he's a true gentleman!”
Lydia pushed the door shut on John meaning he heard no more of Mrs. Bennet’s tirade. None of then had noticed that Elizabeth was stood at the bottom of the stairs.
“That was John wasn’t it.” She said wearily, it had been a week since she’d found out and she had finished with the phase of constant streams of tears and was now grimly accepting it. “I want to talk to him.”
“You… what? Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Marianne said
“Oh let her see him,” Mrs. Bennet said, “She’s such a headstrong girl there’s no advising her.”
Elizabeth opened the door to find John exactly where they’d left him, Elizabeth closed the door behind her and said her voice quiet but with a steely edge to it,
“Hello John, I believe you wanted to speak to me.”
Posted on Monday, 8 September 2003
Elizabeth’s mind was more content after her talk with John and most of her fears of being undesirable, typical of betrayals within relationships, which had been depriving her body of sleep had abated. Slowly the dark smudges under her eyes were disappearing and still she had not seen Darcy.
Elizabeth found herself more often than not occupied with how she should behave around Darcy when they met. Previously she had paid him as little attention as humanly possible and when she had to speak to him her comments always bordered upon the uncivil. The idea of using her arts and allurements to attract him seemed to her absurd considering their history. She could just envision their first meeting; her, completely tongue-tied, an awkward silence and the underlying electricity of attraction charging the air between them.
We have previously seen how Elizabeth heard the news and Darcy received it from a source with just as little tact yet ten times the sugar coating of Elizabeth’s. Caroline Bingley had rushed round as soon as she’d heard, wanting to be Darcy’s shoulder to cry on, his support and of course in time Emma’s successor.
Darcy's mind reeled from the news as his body recoiled from Caroline’s strongly perfumed and overly imitate hug.
“Caroline, I could do with a glass of water.” He said hating the spoilt rich kid order he was giving, ”Anything to get her away from me.” He thought.
“Yes of course!” Caroline cooed, “Mrs Reynolds! Mrs Reynolds! Where can she be?”
Darcy merely stared at her in amazement as she bustled off in search of the elusive Mrs. Reynolds.
Elizabeth and he were now both single and free to pursue a relationship together, Darcy allowed his thoughts to wander into the glorious place where he and Elizabeth were together before focusing his mind again. Was that what she wanted? Marianne was convinced that she did and the evidence she had given to support this conviction was very persuasive. Then there was their kiss, how could she not want to be with him when she had responded in a way that had made his heart and senses reel? Still however the seed of doubt resided in his mind, he had misjudged her once and did not wish to repeat such a grievous mistake.
The beginning of a new school year was approaching, stationery shops were flooded with students buying pads of paper, clean at the moment, filled with the promise of essays yet to be written and wisdom yet to be imparted by their youthful scribes.
Meanwhile the teachers’ sleep was becoming lighter and more fevered, as they anticipated the new term with a feeling akin to dread. This was due to the thought of all the minds it was their duty to cultivate, knowing full well that some would flourish in their care whilst others despite all their tending and hard work would not allow the vital seeds of understanding to take root. Miss Dashwood who had in fact been in school for most of the holiday lamented yet also secretly rejoiced in the return of childrens’ chatter to the at present peacefully slumbering school. Still Darcy and Elizabeth had not met.
The doubts that plagued the minds of these two had kept them apart for the final few weeks of the holiday, while John and Emma had been reveling in their open and prosperous love. Now however the two hearts whose only obstacle were the over active minds they were attached to, would now meet.
The first day of the new term had come and the Bennet household was in chaos. Mary, Jane and Mr. Bennet though seemed somewhat oblivious to the turmoil surrounding them. Mary sat, uniform immaculate looking at the new text books that she had obtained in advance and had spent the entire summer pouring over. Jane was with Bingley, who had arrived at an ungodly hour and thus employed they were unaware of anything else. Mr. Bennet was characteristically shut up in his study a world away from the hysterics upstairs.
Lydia was involved in rolling up her skirt while Kitty protested that Lydia was always attempting to upstage her. She claimed that she Lydia had only rolled her skirt to that length after she had seen Kitty’s. Mrs. Bennet was fussing over the two girls like a mother hen, all the while complaining about her nerves
One might be surprised to learn that the usually steady and confident Elizabeth was involved in all this palaver. She was sat in her room with the contents of her wardrobe strewn around her and a frantic Marianne was only whipping her into an increased frenzy.
“AHHHH! I hate English weather, it’s freezing outside, what girl looks good in a woolly jumper!” Elizabeth cried passionately, “Global warming! What global warming!”
“Tsk! Scientists!” Marianne said as though the root of all the worlds’ problems rested with them. “It’s eight o’clock!”
This sent the two girls into a mad panic, both sharing an uncanny resemblance to Mrs. Bennet.
“Jeans!” Elizabeth said
“Yes! And that black v-neck soft jumpery thing.”
Elizabeth put on the outfit and surveyed the result in her mirror.
“Leave your hair down.” Marianne said.
“Down?” Elizabeth repeated, having curly hair, she found this a new possibility.
Within quarter of an hour Elizabeth was dressed, had on some natural make up and due to Marianne’s help, now possessed the type of shinny bouncy curls that are the envy of conditioner advertisements everywhere. She was now ready to face William Darcy.
Posted on Sunday, 14 September 2003
All Elizabeth’s fears turned out to be unfounded, a glance partially veiled by her midnight lashes was all it took to throw Darcy into raptures. He could no more stay away from her than the moth that endlessly circles the flame.
Elizabeth checked the giddy grin that threatened to appear at the sight of Darcy crossing the room towards her, exchanging it instead for a coy smile. The ever insightful Marianne made herself scarce.
“Hello Elizabeth.” He said.
They stared into each other’s eyes attempting to hear the elusive whisperings of their souls, drinking in the sight of each other and marveling at the pleasure it brought. After this initial silence, words rushed forth, inconsequential things, but seeming to them to be of the utmost significance. Yet at the same time it was not so much what was said but the delight it caused them in hearing the others voice. Such is the nature of recently discovered love.
Although Elizabeth had made a conscious decision not to attempt to attract Darcy, her body responded to him in such a way that this decision was rendered useless. Her eyes sparkled and a slight blush lent her cheeks the delicate hue of a newly unfolded rose.
After registering they disappeared into the grounds. Darcy took her hand in his and enfolded it in warmth. Elizabeth at first smiled pleased by this somewhat boyish token of his affection, but then became worried what people would think, should they be seen.
“Do you think this is a good idea?” she said indicating their tender handhold.
Darcy looked at little hurt and said, “Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Well,” Elizabeth said sitting on a near by bench, “Emma and John only just started their relationship, I don’t want it to seem like I’m with you to spite them or because it’s convenient.”
Darcy sat down beside her on the bench.
“Elizabeth,” he said wondering if his next confession would shred his newly born relationship into tatters, “I love you and I don’t care if people disapprove. I want to tell the world that I do, because I’m amazed at the fact someone like you, someone so beautiful and intelligent and passionate about life and laughter could ever like me.”
Elizabeth smiled and their green surroundings seemed to sharpen into greater clarity as she lent forward and sealed his touching declaration with a kiss.
Darcy was unsure what to do, he wished to introduce his sister to Elizabeth, yet he feared his and Elizabeth’s conversation would make Georgiana acutely aware of her disability and what she was missing out on. Elizabeth’s quick wit and astute comments often had him laughing and Georgiana would be outside of it, unable to join in, it was what made her so painfully shy.
“Elizabeth,” He said, “My sister is coming from London for half term, I wonder if I could introduce her to you?”
“Of course I would love to meet her, how old is she again?”
“She is 16 but will be 17 in a few months, I have to tell you something about her she...”
At this point someone urgently demanding Elizabeth’s attention interrupted him and he did not get a chance to talk to her about Georgiana. It had been arranged that they should meet at Darcy’s house, so Georgiana would be more comfortable. Elizabeth arrived and trying not to feel apprehensive, rang the doorbell. Georgiana opened the door as Darcy had just gone out to buy some provision that he felt was entirely necessary for Elizabeth’s visit and their guardian, Mrs. Reynolds was visiting her sister for the holidays.
“Hello, you must be Georgiana, I’m Elizabeth Bennet.”
“Oh no!” Georgiana thought, “She doesn’t know.”
To Elizabeth she merely nodded, smiled and stepped back to allow her into the house.
“This is a beautiful room.” Elizabeth said when they entered the sitting room. At Georgiana’s muteness she recalled that Darcy had mentioned that she was extremely shy,
“Still,” Elizabeth thought, “it was unusual that she had made no response at all.”
Elizabeth turned to Georgiana and began to talk in an open and friendly manner, attempting to put Georgiana at ease. She noticed that her eyes kept sliding to her lips and that her face portrayed intense concentration. Elizabeth combined these observations with the fact that she hadn’t as yet said a word, and with her previous knowledge, and realized what ought to have been blatantly obvious to her, Georgiana was deaf.
“Is this better?” she signed to Georgiana
“Much.” She replied slightly embarrassed.
“I didn’t know, Will didn’t tell me.”
“He’s told me a lot about you!” Georgiana signed.
“All good I hope!” Elizabeth replied.
At this point Darcy burst into the room and perceiving only Georgiana signed,
“She’s not here yet is she?”
Georgiana turned to look at Elizabeth who signed, “hello, you’re late.”
Darcy’s face was a sight to be seen his jaw dropped in amazement, Elizabeth laughed at him.
“You sign.” he said stupidly.
Inside his head he thought, “why not? She’s perfect in every other way, why shouldn’t she be able to talk to Georgie as well?”
“Your brother is more intelligent than I thought!” she signed to Georgiana with a smile on her face and now it was his sister’s turn to laugh.
When Darcy saw his sister and Elizabeth laughing together over the teasing comment Elizabeth had made about him, he felt his life was complete.
Posted on Sunday, 2 November 2003,
DNA The doorbell rang and Darcy followed Elizabeth protectively to the door having discovered exactly what happened between Elizabeth and Mr. Wickham.
“Mathew!” She said.
He stepped in and they both lent in and kissed.
”On the lips!” Darcy thought jealously.
“Will Darcy meet Mathew Bertram.” She said smiling fondly at Mathew, who smiled back at her with equal affection before saying whilst holding out his hand,
“Pleased to meet you.”
Darcy barely returned the nicety and gripped his hand rather more tightly than was necessary. After Mathew had disappeared upstairs to find Kitty, Darcy asked Elizabeth if she was related to the Bertrams attempting to be casual.
“No, not at all,” Elizabeth replied, “His parents are adorable, but a little reserved, Mathew is Kitty’s best friend.”
The subject was left, but however innocent their kiss Darcy couldn’t get it out of his head. When Darcy made some comment on Mathew for about the tenth time, Elizabeth said,
“Really Will, I can think about more interesting things to talk about than Mathew Bertram and his family.”
Suddenly he blurted out, “You two kissed!”
Elizabeth looked momentarily confused, “Well…Yes.” she said finally.
“Do you always kiss your sisters friends on the lips in greeting?”
“Why are you thinking that maybe you ought to have made friends with my sister sooner?” Elizabeth said teasingly.
Darcy said nothing and his face looked as if he’d had his favourite toy stolen.
“I can’t believe you are jealous of him!” Elizabeth said incredulously.
“I’m not jealous.” He said in such a defensive manner that it confirmed her suspicions.
“I taught that boy how to kiss, when I was 15 and he was 14; he was really nervous about his first date because he was afraid that he’d be a bad kisser and that the girl wouldn’t like him anymore. It was too weird for Kitty to teach him, and besides she was as inexperienced as he was, so I said I’d teach him and now he’s and expert! Honestly Will you can’t share the awkwardness and magic of a first kiss without making some sort of connection, it would seem weird to me if I didn’t kiss him in greeting.”
“You gave him kissing lessons!” Darcy said in disbelief.
“Yes, what’s so surprising about that?”
“How?”
“We did it in the evening with low lighting, to make it more natural for him and so he could imagine the girl he was going to kiss. Then I got him to kiss me...”
“I bet he didn’t need much prompting!” Darcy interrupted.
“I got him to kiss me,” Elizabeth repeated, “And then I told him what to change, what would enhance my enjoyment, and what to do when the kiss deepened.”
“I wish you’d been around for my first kiss!” Darcy said.
“Would you like me to instruct you in the art of pleasing a woman?” She said seductively.
Darcy didn’t even bother to answer, he came to sit next to her and she placed the tenderest of kisses upon his lips. When she pulled back to look into his eyes, he thought how far he’d come, from believing her to be a plain and unintelligent girl to the goddess he perceived her now to be.
“You are like Aphrodite,” Elizabeth blushed slightly, Darcy liking that he could make her flustered continued, “Your lips are like an aphrodisiac.”
Then to his surprise she laughed,
“An aphrodisiac! I’ll have to keep in mind the fact they arouse sexual desire in you, I have my reputation to keep, no more kisses for you!” She said and ran away from him.
A delightful game of chase then began although the conclusion was obvious. After a few minutes Elizabeth was in Darcy’s arms and between kisses was saying,
“We, will, have, to keep you, away from, strawberries, and the like, one, aphrodisiac, is enough, for, you!”
Posted on Wednesday, 12 November 2003
Darcy waited eagerly in the restless audience. For weeks all he had been able to get out of Elizabeth or Georgianna was talk of dance. He had, had trouble understanding half of the conversations as the signs for words such as devlopèe and battement tendue were quite unknown to him. It was the end of school production, which included displays from various areas of performing arts. Elizabeth had convinced the new dance teacher to let a ‘visiting professional dancer’ namely Georgianna, join the production.
This had helped Elizabeth and her to get to know each other and also allowed her integrate herself with the other students, whom she would be joining the following year. Her recent cocular implant meant she could understand much of the conversations around her and to improve her stilting and still heavily accented speech. Elizabeth had been invaluable in this process, interpreting for Georgianna when people spoke too fast or she could not grasp what they were saying and clarifying her words when the other students could not quite understand her.
To begin with Elizabeth had always been by her side, a friendly face reassuring her, as the weeks progressed she slowly pulled away, but always ensured that Kitty who knew some sign language, was close by.
Backstage a nervous Georgianna checked the ribbons on her Pointe shoes for the hundredth time.
“Don’t worry,” Elizabeth signed, “You’ll be fine, you’re a beautiful dancer.”
“What if I get out of time with the music, I won’t be able to tell.” Georgianna signed her hands shaking a little.
“You know how long to hold each balance and how many counts the moving sections last, besides you haven’t been out of time for weeks.”
The audience quieted and a classical piece of music played, it was Kitty on the flute. Once over Mrs. Bennet fussed and squeaked how proud she was of her little girl. After a variety of other acts it was Georgianna’s turn. In the wings Elizabeth embraced her and signed “Good luck” just before she took to the stage.
As she began all the whispers and movements stopped and the audience held a reverent silence, they were captured by her delicate and graceful display. Darcy was amazed, the spark which had never before embellished her technically perfect performance, was there. She shone, her happiness in performing was reflecting her happiness with her life at the moment and this joy was well represented in her stunning leaps and turns. There was a standing ovation as the last few notes of the music died away and Georgianna’s face was flushed with success as she curtsied and exited the stage rather hastily.
“Oh Georgie! That was incredible!” Elizabeth said as in her excitement she had forgotten to sign, but the message was still received with an excited smile.
A few more pieces and then it was time for the interval, Georgianna ran out to see her brother, but Elizabeth remained backstage to compose herself as she was the first act of the second half. Darcy missed seeing her but resumed his place and awaited her piece. She had per warned him of her performance, knowing his unreasonable jealousy, it was in three parts, her solo, a male solo and then a duet between the two.
The audience once again quieted as the lights dimmed, Elizabeth walked onto the stage like a shadow in her black catsuit. She stood in her starting position waiting for her spotlight to come on, head lowered. As soon as it lit up she flicked her head up to look at the audience and the music began. Elizabeth was incredibly proficient at ballet but she was even better at jazz. The more earthy movements that allowed her to perform them in her own unique way suited her better than the restricted syllabus of ballet. If Georgianna had a spark when she performed Elizabeth sparked and caught fire. She moved with quickness and precision, she owned the stage and had such presence that she connected with every member of the audience, although she was only dancing for one.
Darcy was stunned he had only ever seen her do ballet, he had never seen her so in tune with her own body, she could co-ordinate such complex moves and make them look like a single flow of natural movement. She did not dance to the music, it played to her. He had never seen anything like it and neither apparently had the audience as they were all staring, rapt at the talent before them. As she moved off stage the audience went to cheer and applaud, but the music continued and a man entered. They were impatient waiting for Elizabeth to reappear as the program told them she would.
The music changed and Elizabeth spun in from the left wing to applause and was caught by her partner. Mrs. Bennet gasped as she saw the skyscraper stilettos Elizabeth was wearing, screeching that she would break her neck in them.
The duet was like a passionate battle, the two dancer performing separately and then clashing together as though unable to bear the separation any longer, there eyes locked together. The finally of the piece was Elizabeth being spun round and round by her partner until the audience got dizzy attempting to count the turns. And then being caught to her partners chest and embraced.
Backstage once the number had ended, Elizabeth was worried about what Darcy’s reaction would be.
“He’ll be fine about it.” Georgianna reassured her, “Now quickly go and see Marianne, she’s just about to go on then get changed.”
Elizabeth hurriedly wished Marianne good luck, assuring her that she would sing like an angel, before running off to change for the final piece of the production.
Georgianna entered the stage to applause, everyone’s’ darling wingless angel was back, closely followed by Elizabeth who was received with raucous cheers. She had on a different black outfit, this time with a cut out at the back and a short skirt with splits up the sides reaching her hip bones, fishnet tights and marginally smaller heels than her last pair.
Georgianna faced the front and Elizabeth the back. This number was suggested by the dance teacher, it was intended to be a dance of opposites, Georgianna the prim, untouchable ballet dancer and Elizabeth embodying everything womanly and desired by men.
The moves also took up this theme with Georgianna doing a pirouette and Elizabeth matching it with a seductive circle of her hips. Where Georgianna used the softly curved arms of ballet, Elizabeth used the sharp angular arms belonging to jazz. Elizabeth really played with the audience, using her fine eyes to their full advantage, as she had never had to do with Darcy.
The man in question sat simmering in the audience, partly due to Elizabeth’s display and also due to the wolf whistles coming from the very appreciative audience at regular intervals. However he was unaware that he was heading for the shock of his life, for in a few counts the two girls were to swap roles. Elizabeth adopted an arabesque whilst Georgianna, facing the back and blushing fiercely, rolled her body seductively. The audience loved it; the statuesque, disciplined ballet dancer had been pulled down off her pedestal.
Finally they danced together, the two most important parts of Darcy’s life united, smiling and encouraging each other, drawn to each other through their true passion for dancing. Once offstage Georgianna signed frantically,
“I can’t believe I did it!”
“The audience went wild, cheering and whistling.”
“My implants not good enough for me to discern my few wolf whistles from the practically constant ones for you! It’s a good job I was facing the back. What will William think though?”
“He’ll realize you’ve grown up and gone way past the hurt Mr. Wickham caused.” Elizabeth signed.
Everyone filled on stage for their bows and Elizabeth saw Darcy clapping his face shinning with love and as their eyes met he saw the same emotion mirrored in hers.