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Posted on Sunday, 29 June 2003
June 13
Tom Bennet tried to concentrate on his book on tape, but it was difficult with two giggling young women in the back seat. He wasn't surprised that Mary would like a movie based on a classic play, but he hadn't expected that the discussion have wandered from the film and locations to dialogue, with Mary and Georgie addressing each other as "Dearest Cecily" and "Good Heavens Gwendolyn."
Then it seemed they were back on the subject of the movie.
"Ooh," sighed Georgie, "When Jack comes back in mourning clothes, and he had those sweet glasses on. The man is absolutely drop-dead gorgeous! Chris just rolls his eyes when I talk about him."
"Mmm, I can imagine. Peter thinks the only time I saw the movie was when he took me to see it. Ha! As if!"
"So, how many times did you see it, Mary?"
"Four."
"Five for me," giggled Georgie. "Three times with Kitty, and once with Lizzy, and once with Anne."
Tom glanced in the rear-view mirror as the two began to sing, "The western wind is blowing fair across the blue Aegean Sea." He sighed and took the next exit.
"Lunch break, I think."
"Ooh," laughed Mary, "Will they have cucumber sandwiches, do you think?"
"I doubt there were any cucumbers in the market," replied Tom. "Not even for ready money."
"Dad! You saw TIOBE!"
"Tee oh bee? What's that?"
Mary groaned, "TIOBE! The Importance of Being Earnest. T I O B E."
He shook his head and muttered, "And I thought Lydia was the silliest young woman of my acquaintance!"
Mr. Harrington sighed, "You do understand that I can't represent both of you?"
"Yes," replied Richard. "But one of us gets you and the other gets one of your associates, right?"
"No. Our firm, mainly me, has handled legal affairs for your families for years. One firm cannot represent both sides."
"But we aren't on opposite sides," said Anne. "We want it to be fair to both of us. And you know more about our family finances than any other lawyer would."
"I understand that, Ms. deBourgh, but what you think is fair now, may not seem so fair down the road."
"We're never going to need the stupid thing anyway," she huffed.
"I certainly hope so. But anyone with the expectations of inheritance that you both have should consider the possibilities."
"I think it should be simple, Mr. Harrington," said Richard. "If the marriage is dissolved, what we came in with, we go out with. And anything acquired in the meantime, we split."
"Right," said Anne. "We each have our trust funds, our income from our jobs, plus whatever savings or investments we might have. The point is, our situations are pretty much equal."
"Have you verified that?"
"In dollars and cents? No," said Richard, "But what Anne means is that neither of us is significantly wealthier or poorer than the other. It isn't a case of one of us entering the marriage with nothing and standing to profit from a divorce."
"Which isn't going to happen anyway," added Anne.
"How about this?" asked the lawyer. "You each make a full disclosure of assets, and I'll draft a prenup based on your idea of not taking anything from the other. I will take this on as Mr. Fitzwilliam's attorney. Ms. deBourgh, you should find another attorney to represent you and review the agreement on your behalf."
"I don't think it's necessary, but if you think I should..."
"I do."
"Very well, then, Mr. Harrington, I will engage someone to be my lawyer."
"Good." He rose and so did Richard and Anne. "Thank you for coming in. I'll get to work on the agreement as soon as I receive your financial statements."
Once they were outside, Anne shook herself as if throwing off a dark cloud. "I'm glad that's over with. It's so creepy to be discussing divorce when you're getting married."
"I know, darling, but it does have to be done. Hmm, I wonder which of us will turn out to have more? Probably you. Both of your parents have money. Plus, you're an only child. Everything will come to you. Mom didn't come from a hugely wealthy family, and I'll have to split what there is with Mark."
"Oh, poor you. Do you need me to lend you a few bucks?"
"No, I think I can manage to pay for lunch. Come on." Richard led Anne from the attorney's office to Bryant Park, a few blocks away. From a kiosk, he bought hot dogs and sodas, which he carried to one of the small metal tables under the trees. He held a chair for Anne, then he sat down.
Anne looked at the lunch. "I guess it's been a while since payday. Sure you aren't running low?"
"No. It just so happens that I have a fondness for tube steak and lunch al fresco. Seriously, Annie, I don't have a lot of time for lunch since we spent so much time with Harrington. I can't even escort you back to work like a proper gentleman. I have a meeting downtown."
"That's all right, darling. I know how busy you are protecting us all. I can find my way back to the museum."
"Clever girl!"
"Of course I am. I caught you, didn't I?"
"Oh, look!" cried Georgie, pointing to a roadside sign. "Welcome to Virginia!"
"Are we there yet, Dad?" whined Mary.
"About an hour, I'd say."
Mary bent her head over the map and nodded, "That sounds about right." She turned to Georgie and said, "When we were little and we would go on Dad's battlefield junkets, the whining got pretty intense. So Mom used to help us play car games. Now that I look back on it, she was pretty clever. For the week before the trip, we'd be kept busy cutting up old magazines. We'd cut out pictures of things we might see on the way and glue them onto paper. Then we'd cross them out as we saw them along the road. Kind of like car bingo."
"That sounds like fun."
"And we kept journals and scrapbooks, and Dad always made sure we each had a map so that we could keep track of where we were."
"Who was the best map reader?"
"Lizzy, I think. Of course, it isn't a fair comparison because I'm so much younger. And Lydia's even younger, so she didn't play a lot of the games. Mostly she whined. Hey, Dad, how come we stopped taking trips after Lydia was about four?"
"Lots of reasons. It was getting crowded will six of us in the car. I had survived the whiny phase of the three of you, but I just didn't have the strength for a fourth daughter whining, 'Daddeeee! Are we there yet, Daddeeee?' And then there was the partitioning of territory. You girls should have been surveyors the way you mapped out who got how much of the seat."
Georgie sighed, "I think I missed out on a lot not having sisters."
"Oh, yeah," laughed Mary. "Let's see, there's sharing a bathroom, wearing hand-me-downs, unauthorized borrowing of clothes and books and toys."
"But there's someone to play with on a rainy day."
"True, although rainy days sometimes brought on squabbling. That's when Mom would come up with some craft project. She figured if our hands were busy, we couldn't be punching or poking at each other. And we always were given those blunt-tipped scissors so we couldn't injure each other."
They passed the exit for Winchester, Virginia, and Tom asked, "Pop quiz, girls. What's Winchester known for?"
"Apples!" said Mary.
"Stonewall Jackson," said Georgie.
"Very good, Georgie. He headquartered here for over the winter from 1861 to 1862. There's a museum, which we might visit on the way home."
"Oh, Dad!" said Mary, "There are Stonewall Jackson museums all over the Shenandoah Valley."
"I think that's an exaggeration, Mary."
"Well, there's a bunch of them, and I'm sure you've taken us to all of them at one time or another. And what about my answer?"
"Apples?"
"That's right, apples. There are lots of apple orchards and they have an apple blossom festival. Out marching band went to the competition one year. It was a big deal. Do you know how it got to be an apple-growing region?"
"No," said Georgie, "How?"
"George Washington. His tenant farmers in the area were required to plant apple trees. How about that, Dad?"
"Very good, Mary. Still preferring a different time period, I see."
She shrugged, "My own personal rebellion against parental interest. I like the eighteenth century better."
Jane handed her sister a stack of papers.
"What's this?"
"Mom's checklists. I know we've made fun of the tons of wedding info she's sent us, but this is a good list. I thought you might want a copy. There's a copy for Anne, too. Can she really pull together a wedding in such a short time?"
"She's thinking about it." Lizzy glanced at the lists. "Hmm, flowers we've done. Richard is checking out bands. Menus, hey, we're doing pretty well."
"What is Anne doing about a dress?"
"I think she's having something designed for her. I know her dress for the ball is being designed by her friend from the museum. I haven't talked to her since she took the swatches and stuff to him. By the way, your light blue dress will look lovely against the decorations. The traditional flower for the Summer Ball is pink roses, so we're taking our cue from that."
"That sounds nice. So perfect for mid summer."
"We have to take Georgie dress shopping when she gets back from Virginia. Mary, too, I guess. Does Mom have her dress for your wedding yet?"
"No. She has three candidates, but won't decide until I get the bridesmaid dresses. We need to go shopping for those."
"I know. I think I'd like a light green or aqua. That would be good with your coloring. Or maybe peach. Then you could carry Sonia roses. Thank goodness you're all brunettes, so color shouldn't be an issue. Louisa is a bit heavier than the rest of you, and Mary's kind of skinny, but nobody is all that different from the others, so we should be able to find something that works for all of you."
"I'm glad Louisa likes you. Too bad about Caroline. You'd think she'd make an effort to like the woman her only brother is marrying. Is she really not planning to attend?"
"Louisa says Caroline has been so grouchy lately, we should thank our lucky stars if she doesn't attend. I wouldn't care, but I know Charles feels bad about it. Still, I think he's resigned to the situation." Jane sighed, "Well, I'm going to roam the museum a bit. I need to do a bunch of donor thank-you letters, and I don't know what to highlight in the letters. I'm seeking inspiration."
"Have a nice walk, Jane." Lizzy watched her sister walk away, then turned her attention to the wedding checklist. So much to organize, she thought.
"Mr. Darcy, Chris Carter is on the line."
"Thanks. Put him through." Darcy waited for the click that told him his call had been connected. "Chris. How are you?"
"Fine. I've been painting the apartment. I get lot more painting done when I'm here by myself." After an awkward pause, Chris continued, "Uh, sorry, you didn't want to know that did you?"
"Not really, Chris. There are some things a big brother doesn't want to think about."
"Right. The reason I called is that I heard from Georgie. They arrived in New Market, safe and sound. Her cell battery was running low so she asked me to relay the message to you. They were off to check out the local sights. She said the ride down was pleasant, and they didn't drive Mr. Bennet too crazy."
"That's good. Thanks for calling, Chris."
"Bye, Will."
Darcy stared at the telephone. Georgie had called Chris, not him. Frowning, he punched in a number.
"Lizzy Bennet."
"Hello, Love."
"Will! Hi!"
"I'm glad someone sounds happy to talk to me."
"Oh, goodness, what's that all about?"
"Georgie called Chris to say they'd arrived in Virginia."
"Well, that's thoughtful."
"Yes, but she asked him to relay the message to me. She didn't call me first. She didn't call me at all."
"Ah, I see. You've been demoted to second place."
"It isn't funny, Lizzy."
"I know. It was bound to happen, you know. Hey, if I traveled somewhere, who would I call first?"
"Jane?"
"Oh, now that's not true. You know I'd call you first! And if you were traveling, would you call me first or Georgie?"
"You, of course."
"Well, there you go. Your sister is grown up and out of the nest now."
"You're right. Thanks, Lizzy, I feel better now. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Don't even think about it. You don't have to. I love you, Will."
"I love you, too Lizzy. See you tonight."
"Bye, Will."
June 14
The waitress set down the plates and said, "Y'all enjoy, now."
After she left, Georgie said to Mary, "You're really going to eat that?"
"Yes, ma'am, ah sure am."
Tom Bennet shook his head and chuckled, "Look out, Georgie, Mary is quite a chameleon. She gets south of the Mason-Dixon Line, and her whole dietary outlook changes. So does her accent."
"Yes, but grits?"
"Darlin'" drawled Mary, "Y'all should trah some grits."
Georgie wrinkled her nose and said, "Sorry, but I'm a true Yan-oops, let me rephrase that. I'm a person who doesn't do grits. The fried apples are good, though."
"Didn't I tell you? Shenandoah apples and all that. Seriously, Georgie, just have a taste of the grits. The secret is lots of butter and salt. Lydia likes butter and sugar, but I like them salted."
"The menu said something about gravy?"
"Yes, that's the real tradition, but I skip the gravy part. Sometimes it's a little greasy."
Tom laughed, "The amount of butter you put on them, you might as well have gravy."
"Yeah, Dad, I know. But if Mom could see you eating Virginia ham, she'd have a fit. You know how she is about salt."
"Do you have high blood pressure?" asked Georgie.
"No, knock wood," said Tom as he lightly rapped his knuckles on the table. "Nobody in our family does. But Fran keeps a sharp watch on our diets. Today I'm off the leash."
When they had finished breakfast, they returned to their rooms to get ready to visit the battlefield. Georgie took her camera and a small notebook. Tom carried a notebook, and Mary stuffed a paperback novel into her purse.
"A novel?" asked Georgie.
"I know I'll be saturated before you two, so I'll find somewhere to sit and read. Don't worry about me. I've done this lots of times before."
"Everyone ready?" asked Tom. "Then let's go."
Richard stood at the edge of the East River talking to representatives of the mayor, fire department, police department, and Macy's department store. They had just finished going over the plans for security for the Fourth of July fireworks when Richard's cell phone rang.
"Fitzwilliam!"
"Ooh, I just love it when you sound all military and in command!"
"Annie! To what do I owe the pleasure of hearing your voice?"
"Just my need to hear yours. Boring day. Long day. Can you get here early?"
"I'll try. Can you quit early?"
"A little. I'd like to get up on the roof early and snag somewhere to sit."
"Sounds good. Who's playing tonight?"
"I don't know, but they usually get good jazz groups."
"How are the sculptures up there?"
"Very modern. One of them looks like the farfignewton guy."
"Far Fig Newton?"
"You know, the stick figure from the VW ads. I'm telling you this in advance so that you can get over it and not make rude remarks."
"Moi?"
"Oui! Tu, cher Richard!"
"I have to go, Annie. Au revior, Cherie!
"Bye, Richie!"
Tom, Mary, and Georgie drove the short distance from their motel to the battlefield, which was a state park. They watched the short movie about Stonewall Jackson, and then they saw the movie about the cadets from Virginia Military Institute. Then they walked around the displays and dioramas in the visitor's center.
"Can you imagine it?" said Georgie Those cadets were so young, some of them not even eighteen. And they ended up in the front line."
"It's amazing that they held the line so well," said Tom. If they hadn't been there, it might have meant defeat instead of victory for the South."
"Eighteen," said Mary. "College freshman are eighteen. And they don't get to play first string on the football team. And those cadets were that young-younger than I am."
"Soldiers are often that young," remarked Georgie. "When there was a draft, they took men who were eighteen. Think how young most of those guys were in Vietnam."
Mary nodded, "But they were trained, at least. Those cadets were on their way to being officers, not soldiers in the front line. I couldn't do it. I don't know how anyone does."
"I'm glad I didn't have to," said Tom. "I got a high number in the draft lottery."
"Good thing, Dad, or I might not be here!"
Tom Bennet smiled at his daughter, "Well, I'm glad you are here, Mary."
They continued to look at the exhibits. Tom and Georgie began to delve into detail that was beyond Mary's level of interest. She stifled a yawn and excused herself to find a shady bench and read.
"Lizzy Bennet."
"Hello, dear, how are you?"
"Aunt Maddie! I'm fine, how are you? How's Uncle Ed?"
"We're all terrific. Amy's home, and we've been catching up. I called because I received the invitation to the ball. What lovely invitations! I am looking forward to this so much!"
"Oh, so am I! The invitations are nice, aren't they? Anne designed them. And last weekend we met with a caterer, and decided on flowers and things like that. It's a life I never imagined existed."
"My niece, the society lady!"
"Don't laugh, Aunt Maddie! Sometimes it's a little scary."
"Oh, Lizzy, there's nothing you can't do. And with Will right there to help you, it's going to be fine. Speaking of Will, have you two set a date yet?"
"Uh, we're negotiating. So many things affect everyone's schedule."
"And how is Jane faring?"
"Things are much calmer now. Dad still did his escape act, though. He and Mary and Georgie have gone to Virginia for a few days."
"I still can't get over Mary. Hasn't she just blossomed!"
"It's marvelous. I think she's the happiest she's ever been. And the transformation opened Lydia's eyes. She has been buckling down a bit. She has actually been studying for finals more than just the night before. It finally hit home that it's possible to be smart and attractive. She always used to think those two traits were mutually exclusive."
"My goodness, how you girls are growing up. I feel positively ancient!"
"Not you, Aunt Maddie, never!"
"Thank you my dear, you are so kind. Well, I won't keep you. I just wanted to tell you how thrilled we are about the ball. I will mail back my response card, but I wanted to respond in person, too."
"Thanks, Aunt Maddie. See you!"
"Bye, Lizzy."
Georgie and Mary lay on lounge chairs by the motel's pool.
"So, did you get a lot of pictures today?" asked Mary.
"Yes. I'm so glad you suggested we drive a bit of Skyline Drive while your dad was visiting his friend. It's so beautiful. It must be stunning in the fall. Too bad we didn't have my convertible."
"Yeah, that would have been nice. Peter has a convertible. A 'Vette."
"Get out! A Corvette? Does he let you drive it?"
"I tried. I'm not good with a stick shift. And he makes me nervous because he winces." Mary demonstrated a cringing behavior.
Georgie laughed, "Does he give you lots of instructions?"
"No. He tries to stay manfully silent. Or maybe he prays. He drives when we go out. It's good in a way, because it makes him be the designated driver. I never have to deal with a drunk boyfriend."
"He's nice, Mary. Do you miss him?"
"Yes, I do. I talked to him the other day. He'd like to come out for the Summer Ball, but he has to be out here for Jane's wedding, and I don't know if he can stay for the whole month."
"Is he in the wedding party?"
"No. But if I have to traipse around in a bridesmaid's dress, I want to at least have a hot date. I know that Mom wants him there. It will show up Mrs. Long."
"Who's that?"
"A friend, well sort of a friend, of Mom. They one-up each other when they can. Mom loves to brag about us, especially in terms of social successes. I doubt Mom has told Mrs. Long that I made dean's list."
"Not a high priority?"
"Don't get me wrong, Mom is pleased that I'm doing well in school. But the fact that I brought home a great-looking guy is an accomplishment she can lord over Mrs. Long."
"Speaking of great-looking guys, I'm going to call Chris."
"I'll go back to the room. I need to get dried off so that I can go pick up Dad. See you."
"See you." Georgie pulled out her cell phone and dialed. She was disappointed to hear the machine pick up.
"Hi. You have reached Chris and Georgie. We can't-HELLO! I'm here!"
"Chris! Hi!"
"Hey, I've been thinking about you. I was just finishing the bedroom."
"I'm sorry I left you with the painting. You could have waited until I got back."
"It's okay, honey. I'm happy to do this part and leave the curtains and stuff for you. So, what did you do today?"
"Oh, it was great! We went to the battlefield, and Tom and I walked around and talked about the battle."
"What about Mary?"
"She was there, too, although she was bored. Tom and I were picturing soldiers and smoke and cannons, you know? Mary said she saw grass and trees, but couldn't make herself see the soldiers. She was a good sport about it."
"That's nice."
"And Tom bought me a book that I didn't have and guess what?"
"What? Was it one of his?"
"No. It was written by his friend, they guy he was meeting. So I got to meet him and get him to autograph the book. That's why Tom bought it. Isn't that sweet?"
"Yes it is. I'm glad we got lots of bookshelves, with the size of your Civil War library. I miss you. Where are you now?"
"By the pool. Mary's gone back to pick up Tom and then I guess we'll go to dinner somewhere. Oh, speaking of food, guess what Mary had for breakfast?"
Richard and Anne stood on the roof of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and gazed out at Central Park. The sun was setting and the western sky was turning pink.
"Isn't it beautiful?" she sighed.
"Yes it is"
"It's amazing, all these acres set aside. Thank goodness this was done so early. If the developers ever got hold of it, I just can't imagine it!"
"I know."
"Richard!"
"Hmm?"
"You are not thinking about the beauty of the park, are you?"
"What?"
"Richie!"
"Sorry, darling." Richard turned to Anne and smiled. "Just got mesmerized there for a bit."
"You were looking for snipers, weren't you?"
"Not exactly. But I guess I can't be at a vantage point like this without scanning the area to see what places could be vulnerable, what spots could be hiding places. Sorry."
"That's all right, I know it's how your mind works. Come sit down." They walked to a bench and sat hand in hand. Richard began to chuckle, and Anne asked, "What?"
"That sculpture. it really does look like the VW stick figure. What will future civilizations think of us? I mean, is this art?"
""Sure. Why not?"
"But it's so, I don't know, not art-like."
"Not art-like?"
"Think about other sculptures of people. David, the Thinker. They're beautiful representations of the human form. It took great talent to make those statutes. This is a stick figure, for pity's sake!"
"You like art that looks real."
"Yes, I guess you could say that. I don't much like the blobby figures Henry whatsit's does."
"Henry Moore is a great sculptor, Richie."
"Yeah, I know. And don't get me started on modern paintings! When I was stationed in DC, I used to go to the various Smithsonian museums. The modern art wing had a whole room full of paintings that looked like bar codes! Black and white stripes! I just don't accept that as art."
"Ohhhkay, must remember not to take you to MoMA!"
"No, the Modern isn't all bad. At least they have the drippy watch painting."
"Really, Richie, Dali did not call it the 'drippy watch painting.' It has a name."
"Shh, the music's starting." Richard squeezed Anne's hand and they sat in silence, listening to jazz and watching the sun go down and the city lights come on. During the applause after the first number, he whispered. "Persistence of Memory! So there!"
"Ohhh," moaned Lizzy, "Mmmm."
Darcy laughed, "That good, huh?"
"In love strawberries! And the season for local berries is so short. Have another one." Lizzy dipped a pump red berry into the dish of turbinado sugar and held it out. She smiled appreciatively as Darcy leaned forward so that she could pop the berry into his mouth.
"Mmm, you're right. Delicious!"
"Too good for strawberry shortcake. Much better to save the whipped cream to put on our coffee." Lizzy sipped her liqueur-laced coffee and got a small amount of whipped cream on her nose. "Oops."
"I'll get that," said Darcy, kissing her nose and removing the cream in the process. When they had finished their dessert, Darcy stood up and took Lizzy by the hand, "Come with me. I want you to look at something."
"What?"
"You'll see." They walked into his study and sat on the sofa. He picked up a folder and handed it to her. "Here, take a look."
"It's a portfolio of investments. I don't know these stocks. Shouldn't your broker be checking this out for you?"
"He did. We came up with it as a balanced portfolio for you. It's a mixture of income and growth investments, fairly conservative. No big risks, so you don't have to be watching it every minute."
"Me?"
"Yes. It's in my name until we're married. Oh, and I'll need your Social Security number before we can set up your account. Once we're married, it all becomes yours."
Lizzy scanned the list of stocks and bond funds. "Will, this looks like a lot of money."
"I can afford it, Lizzy."
"But I don't need it."
"Richard was telling me the other day that he and Anne have started on their prenup, and it occurred to me that we should think about that, too. I have no intention of invoking it, but my lawyers will skin me if I don't have one."
"Of course you should. Given the differences in what we have, it's only right that you protect what's yours."
"Yes, I know. But I wanted you to have something that's completely yours. Yours no matter what happens with us."
"But this is so much."
"Lizzy, think of it as an old-fashioned marriage settlement. If it were a hundred years ago, I'd be having this discussion with your father, not with you. My lawyers are working on a prenup, and you need to have someone look it over. Perhaps your uncle can suggest a lawyer?"
"I'm sure he can." Lizzy scanned the list again. "Hey, why don't I get any stock in your company?"
"That was what I wanted to give you. But I was advised against it."
"Oh, Will, even if we did divorce, I wouldn't try to do anything to screw up your company!"
"I know, Love. The reason is to avoid any appearance of impropriety. With Enron and all the other corporate scandals, CEO's are watching every detail. In the highly unlikely event that something went wrong in the company and you sold your stock, it would look like insider trading. By the way, nothing in that portfolio is in direct competition with me, either."
"That's good. I'd hate to be disloyal!"
"Well, once the account transfers to you, it's yours to do with as you wish. Spend the interest and dividends, reinvest them, sell principal and buy sixteen mink coats. Whatever you want, it's yours."
"I don't need a mink coat, much less sixteen of them. Will, this is so generous!"
"You'll be a wealthy woman, and everyone will say that I married you for your money!"
"But it's your money to begin with!"
"All right, then. You're marrying me for my money, and I'm sticking with you to keep it!"
June 15
Anne sat on the sofa and looked through the sketches while Niles hovered anxiously.
"Well? What do you think?"
"I like it, but do we have enough fabric to do the bodice this way?"
"Yes. I can get the bodice of the new gown out of what I salvaged from the skirt of the old one. I started with the Woolite, and it helped, but the color wasn't right to match your swatch. So I tried a sample in a weak bleach solution and it survived. So, voila! Look at how this matches!"
Anne looked at the fabrics. "Niles! It's amazing. And where did you get the silk? It's so much like my sample."
"Yes, the color is the same, but this is lighter and will drape well."
"I don't know about the flounced hem, though."
"The weight will make the dress move beautifully. The weight of the flounce will make the dress move like something out of a Fred-and-Ginger movie. When you walk, it will sort of kick out in front of you and then fall back. We could simply weight the hem, if you prefer, but the flounce will keep the skirt from closing in on you, especially as you dance. It will be a dress to make an entrance in."
"What about an underskirt? No crinoline, I hope."
"Just enough lining to support it."
"Could you add something to the lining?" asked Anne pulling out a long piece of lace.
"Lavender? Euww, Anne, my dear wherever did that come from?"
"One of my debutante dresses. The one I wore when Richard was my escort."
"You saved it?"
"Yes."
"You sentimental girl, you. Have you been in love with the fellow all this time?"
"Afraid so."
"I think that's lovely! Just like in a romantic story."
Crack! Darcy's swing connected with the golf ball.
"Good one, Darce!" said Richard, as he teed up a ball for himself. He swung and swore softly as he watched the path of the ball.
"You're developing a slice, Richard."
"Yeah, I know. I haven't had as much time for golf as I used to. A bucket or two at this driving range is about all I can fit in."
"Tsk, tsk, and you aren't even married yet."
"Oh, listen to the bachelor. You and Lizzy won't be far behind us, I bet."
"From your lips to God's ears. Or maybe to Lizzy's. I don't know who's in charge of my life, I just know it isn't me. How are you doing with the band for the ball?"
"Good, good. I listened to the tapes and I've talked to a couple of references. The one I think is the front-runner is playing a gig tomorrow. I'm going to stop by and listen for a bit."
"You're going to crash someone's party?" asked Darcy as he prepared to hit another ball.
"No, I'll hang around at the door and listen. I won't mingle with the guests. These guys have a wide range, and they also will burn a custom set of CD's to be played while they're taking a break, so you can have a change of pace."
Crack! Another ball flew across the range. "Sounds good. What about the cocktail hour? Weren't we talking about a string quartet?"
Crack! Richard hit this one straight. "That's better. I hadn't thought about that. The caterer might know. Or even the band. I'll check on it."
"You might want to hire the quartet for Sunday morning, too. It's going to be quite a weekend. Did you see the checklist Lizzy's mother made up for weddings? The woman should have been a party planner or a caterer. Is Anne working her way through the list?" Darcy teed up another ball. Crack! "Hmm, not bad."
"I didn't see the list, but Anne has been deriving sublists from it. She says she's got a few ideas of her own, and she seems excited about something. But she won't say what it is."
"As best man, my main job is to hold the rings. Do you have your wedding rings yet?"
"Yes. We bought a wedding band that interlocks with Anne's engagement ring And we bought my ring at the same time."
"Good. I wouldn't want to be standing there beside you without any rings. Have you told anyone about the idea of the Sunday morning wedding?"
Crack! "Damn, sliced it again. No. Anne wants to get things more organized and be sure we really can do this before we spring the idea on her mother. I think in a moment of weakness I volunteered to tell Aunt Catherine."
"She's likely to blow a fuse."
"I wonder how long we can put off telling her. Mom and Dad will go along with whatever makes me happy. Uncle Lewis will be fine. I hope he'll be able to help us deal with Aunt Catherine."
June 16
Darcy, Charles, Richard, and Chris sat on the terrace drinking coffee and browsing through the Sunday papers.
"What are they up to in there?" asked Charles.
"Parties, weddings, who knows?" said Richard. "Anne brought a box of pastels with her to do color matching, whatever that means. I think they're negotiating over who gets to wear which color."
"Jane has her dress for the ball with her. It's in this huge garment bag. I haven't seen it. Well, I unzipped the bag enough to see that it's blue, but I don't know what it looks like. Thank God for tuxes. Think of the time we save."
"Amen to that," laughed Richard. "One of the best things about being in the military is the uniform. You don't have to make those early morning what-am-I-going-to-wear decisions. And it's perfectly okay if two people show up wearing the same outfit."
"You haven't spent that much time in uniform," said Darcy. "You're always doing something undercover."
"Not always. My time in embassies was spent in uniform. Full dress all the time. It impresses the hell out of the locals, I can tell you."
"Yes!" came a voice from the living room. "Oh, Anne, I'm so thrilled!" The men could see Georgie bouncing up and down and hugging Anne.
"Ah," said Richard, "I guess Anne has just asked Georgie to be her maid of honor."
"I hadn't thought about that," said Darcy. "The maid of honor and best man will be sister and brother. Will that look weird?"
"No. And who cares? You and Georgie are our favorite cousins. I've always been closer to you than to Mark, even more so in this last year. It isn't like you have to be your sister's date."
Another voice was heard from the living room. This time it was Lizzy. "Anne! That's fantastic. Can you do that, do you think?" Anne's reply couldn't be heard, but Georgie was laughing and nodding enthusiastically. Then Anne said something else, and Lizzy squealed, "Are you crazy?"
All four women were talking at once and the men, now very curious, couldn't make out any of the conversation.
"What was that about?" asked Chris.
"Lord only knows," sighed Richard. "Anne is up to something, that's for sure."
Posted on Wednesday, 23 July 2003
June 18
Lizzy and Anne sat in Niles's apartment sipping wine and looking at the sketches he had prepared.
"What do you think, Lizzy?" asked Anne.
"They're both beautiful. Quite different from each other. I don't know which I like better."
"I'm still not sure about this flounce." Anne pointed at the sketch and wrinkled her nose. "I'm not a flouncy person. I know, Niles, you like this one best."
"It's a dress made for dancing. You want a dress that moves well, and this one will."
What about the other one?"
"It will move, too, but differently. We'll stiffen the hem to keep it away from your feet."
"That's what my dress has," remarked Lizzy. "It eliminates the need for crinolines."
"Or a hoop," laughed Anne.
"Now Missy Anne," drawled Niles, "Sugah, if ya'll don't like flounces, ya'll will nevah want a hoop skirt!"
When they had stopped laughing, Lizzy said, "The flounced one is more ball gown. The other is more wedding dress."
Anne was mulling over this comment when the doorbell rang.
"Excuse me," said Niles. "That'll be my stitcher. I had her make muslins based on the dress size you told me, Anne."
Niles answered the door and ushered in a petite woman with graying hair. He introduced her as Sarah, and declared that she was his favorite stitcher.
"She turns my ideas into dresses. So, Anne, let Sarah help you into one of the muslins." Niles gestured toward his bedroom. After Anne and Sarah went into the bedroom, Niles turned to Lizzy and smiled, "So, you're engaged, too, I hear."
"Yes, to Anne's other cousin, William Darcy."
"Ohhh, William Darcy! That man has made any number of eligible bachelor lists. You'll be breaking hearts all over the city when you take him out of circulation."
Lizzy laughed, "Will hates those lists. Sometimes I think he's marrying me to get off the bachelor lists."
"Don't underestimate yourself, Lizzy. I'm sure he has lots of good reasons to marry you."
"Ta-da!" Anne entered the room dressed in a gown made of unbleached muslin. "Tres chic, no?"
"Gorgeous!" laughed Lizzy. "But seriously, Anne. I like the cut of this on you. Bias cuts never work on me. I'm too short-waisted and not slim enough. But on you, it's fabulous. And in silk, it will cling perfectly-enough to be feminine, but not too obvious."
"Exactly," said Niles, grabbing a piece of blue tailor's chalk. "And think about this." He drew a scalloped line parallel to the neckline, then turned Anne around and drew squiggles across the back of the dress and down the sleeves.
"What's that for?"
"That's where the lace goes. The sleeves and the whole back will be lace. And nothing under it, so do a little sunbathing Anne. The front will have a band of lace across the collarbones. I'd like to put lace over the silk part of the bodice, but I'm not sure how much we'll have to work with. The lavender will be sewn to the hem as part of the stiffening."
"Lavender?" asked Lizzy.
"I'll explain later," said Anne. "I love this design, Niles. This is perfect."
"It needs a little fitting," said Sarah, as she took a piece of pink chalk and made mysterious markings along some of the seams. "There, that should do it."
"Good," said Niles. "Now, try on the other one, Anne."
Anne and Sarah retreated to the bedroom and shortly afterward, Anne emerged in the muslin of the other design.
"Well?"
"I love it!" said Lizzy, "But I think the other one is a better wedding dress. This is better for a party."
"I agree. It's too bare for a wedding," said Anne.
"It would have had a lace overbodice," said Niles. I didn't have Sarah make up that part because I had a feeling the other dress would suit you better."
"I can't wear a halter," said Anne. "I don't fill it out properly. But Lizzy, you'd look great in this. Sarah, can you redo this to fit Lizzy?"
"Yes."
"Try it on, Lizzy!"
"But Anne, we're not the same size."
"Sarah will pin you into it. Come on!"
Lizzy walked into the living room wearing the dress over her T-shirt. Niles raised an eyebrow at the sight.
"Sorry, Niles, I know it looks funny this way, but the top was too small," said Sarah.
"Told you a halter was more Lizzy's style than mine," laughed Anne ruefully.
Niles backed up and gestured to Lizzy. "Walk toward me."
She did as she was told, picking up the hem.
"No, wait. Sarah, shorten the skirt. At the waist, not the hem."
Sarah did as she was asked, pulling up the top of the skirt to raise the hem off the floor. "Sorry!" she said, as she inadvertently stuck Lizzy with a pin.
"Don't worry about it. Mom always used to stick me when she helped me fit a dress. She used to hem things for me, and she'd always manage to leave a pin in the hem somewhere."
"How's that?" asked Sarah.
"Walk," commanded Niles.
Lizzy walked across the room, careful not to dislodge any pins.
"Come on, Lizzy. Stride. Be confident, make an entrance."
Lizzy stood up straight, raised her chin and walked purposefully across the room.
"Yes!" crowed Niles. "Do you see how the hem kicks out when she walks? That's what I was talking about, Anne. This dress moves!"
"I feel like ginger Rogers!" said Lizzy. She twirled around and the dress spun out from her. "Oh! And imagine it in a more fluid fabric."
"Mmm, a shimmery knit. Green, I think. Lizzy, you do have emerald earrings, don't you?"
"No," she laughed.
"One look at this dress done in green, and Mr. Darcy will buy you some."
"Do it!" said Anne. "You can take it on your cruise. You'll knock the captain's epaulets off! And remember, Lizzy, the islands all have those emerald stores!"
"Anne! I am not going to drop hints about emerald earrings. I'm sure I have something that would go with a green dress. Okay, Sarah, get me out of this thing!"
June 19
When Lizzy reached the formal wear department at Sak's, she found Anne browsing idly at dresses.
"Where's Georgie?"
"In the dressing room. She has several candidates, but wants our approval. Oh! Here she is."
Georgie stood at the door of the dressing room.
"Well?"
"It fits nicely, and it's pretty," said Lizzy. "Anne, how about the color?"
"Theoretically, it's fine. But I think it's a bit pale for Georgie's coloring. Does it come in a deeper shade?"
"No," answered Georgie. "All the versions of this are very pastel. I think it washes me out."
"Too bad, it's a nice design. Oh well, next!"
While they waited for Georgie to change, Lizzy and Anne compared notes on checklists.
"Oh! Another thing," said Lizzy. "Rings. Did you get your rings yet?"
"Yes. We bought them when we bought my ring. I think most people do that. Didn't you?"
"No. We didn't buy wedding rings. We're exchanging heirloom rings. I'm giving Will my grandfather's ring. He's giving me his grandmother's ring."
"What a lovely idea."
"Yes, I had it in mind when I chose my engagement ring. I picked yellow gold to match his grandmother's ring. Oh! Here's Georgie again."
"Now, this I like," said Anne. "Very elegant, and a nice color on you."
Georgie looked at her reflection in the mirror. The gown was made of a true-blue satin. The lines were simple-full skirt, strapless bodice. Small crystal beads were scattered along the band at the top of the bodice.
Lizzy ran a finger over the beads and asked, "Do the beads run all the way around?"
"No, just the front."
"Not under the arms?"
"No."
"Good. These things can be scratchy on bare skin."
"It comes with a scarf, but I wasn't sure how to wear it."
"Let me see it," said Anne. Georgie went into the dressing room and returned with a long piece of chiffon in a lighter shade of blue, with the same blue beads as on the bodice.
"I see two ways of wearing this. One, like one of those useless little shawls you see with regency gowns. It drapes over your arms, like so." Anne draped the fabric over Georgie's arms so that it hung at her waist in the back and then fell from her arms.
"This feels awkward. I feel like it's going to slip off my arms."
"Yes, well, regency-era ladies were a bit less energetic than we are. The other way," Anne paused as she removed the scarf from Georgie's arms, "Is like this."
Anne draped the scarf across Georgie's throat and dropped the ends over her shoulders so that they hung down in back.
"Ohh," said Lizzy. "That is so Grace Kelly! And look what the blue does for your eyes. And, you do have sapphire earrings, don't you?"
"As a matter of fact, I do."
"You'll want to wear your hair up to show off those shoulders, Georgie. You have a graceful shoulder line," said Anne. "I think this is perfect."
"I do too," said Georgie, nodding. "I pulled out one other dress, but now that I see this one on, I won't bother with the other. This is great. I feel so sophisticated in this."
"Go get dressed, then," said Lizzy. "Anne and I have to get back to work. But it was worth giving up a lunch hour to see you buy this dress."
While Georgie was dressing, Anne remarked, "She looks so much like Aunt Anne. Darce is gonna cry when he sees her in that. And Chris will be overwhelmed. Damn, Lizzy! We're supposed to be the guests of honor for the weekend, and the kid is gonna upstage us!"
Lizzy laughed, "We can always get even by wearing outrageous dresses to her wedding."
"Do you see a wedding in her future?"
"I don't know. Maybe in a year or so. Sometimes I worry that Chris is her first serious boyfriend and maybe she isn't ready. But they seem so happy together, does she need to keep looking, you know?"
"Yes. I do know. Sometimes your first love is your true love."
June 20
Georgie, Chris, and Kitty walked to Central Park West and entered the park at 79th Street at 9:30.
"I love the park, sighed Kitty. "It's always pretty, and the people watching is good, too."
"Here's the Delacorte Theatre," said Georgie. "Look at the line!"
The threesome walked toward the end of the line of people waiting for tickets. When they reached the end, Chris spread out the blanket they had carried and they sat down to wait until 1:00, ticket distribution time. The line continued to grow, and they amused themselves by watching people walk the line, as they had done, looking for the end. The line followed the curving sidewalk, and disappeared around a boulder.
"I wonder how much longer the line is now?" asked Kitty at 10:00. "It's amazing how quickly it grows."
"I know!" remarked the woman who was in line behind them. She put down her magazine. Her husband continued reading the newspaper. "I can't believe so many people turn out to get tickets to Shakespeare. We're here visiting our daughter, and she suggested we do this. It's like a giant picnic, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is," laughed Kitty. "Where are you from?"
"Montana."
"Wow! You've traveled quite a distance," said Chris. "Are you enjoying your visit?"
"Oh, yes. Our daughter can't take too many days off from work or she won't have any vacation time left for herself. So she comes up with things for us to do. We spent yesterday at the Metropolitan Museum of Art."
"My cousin works there," said Georgie.
"Is she a curator?"
"No. A conservator. She cleans and repairs paintings."
"How interesting."
Their conversation was interrupted by two of enthusiastic employees of the New York Shakespeare Festival. The pair made their way along the line, explaining the rules and giving do's and don't's.
The young man began, "Two tickets per person, no exceptions. you may not hold places in line for friends who will show up later. Tickets are first come, first served. Those of you who've been on line for an hour or more are not going to like it if people show up and slip into the line. So police yourselves. No cuts!"
The young woman picked up the explanations, "We encourage you to make friends with your neighbors. It's okay to hold a space for someone who's on a bathroom break or in search of refreshments. Speaking of refreshments, coffee, sodas, and sandwiches can be purchased at the theater building, near the box office. Thank you for your attention. Enjoy yourselves!"
The pair moved on to the next segment of the line and began their patter all over again. Kitty decided to go for coffee and to check out the length of the line. Georgie and Chris stretched out on the blanket and listened to the conversations around them. A man on the other side of the couple from Montana was describing his experiences a few years before.
"The Seagull is one of Checkov's best, of course. And the cast was amazing. Everyone wanted to see it. They'd start lining up outside the theater the minute one night's performance began, in hopes of getting tickets for the next night."
"Oh, my," said the woman from Montana. "But isn't it dangerous to sleep in the park all night?"
"The park is closed overnight. They had police escort us out of the park, keeping us in order so nobody jumped the line. We slept outside the park walls, and in the morning, the police escorted us back in. When word got out, some people would show up at dawn and try to slip into the line as it went back in. But by then, everyone knew everyone and nobody was going to let a latecomer cut."
Chris dozed off, and Georgie pulled out a pad and started writing.
"Hi, I'm back," said Kitty. "What are you writing?"
"Messing with ideas for another fanfic. What if Frederick is the captain of a cruise ship and Anne Eliot is hired to be the cruise director? They worked together when she was assistant cruise director and he was second officer. Then someone tells her to request a transfer and they don't see each other for years until she gets sent to his ship."
"Sounds promising. How are you going to work in her family?"
"I don't know. Her sister could live in one of the ports they stop at."
Chris yawned and sat up. "Are you two being Austen-tatious again?"
"We should chip in on a helicopter," said Richard as Darcy drove 5 miles per hour through traffic. "This drive is a bear."
"I know, it's the only downside to the house out on the island. Why do they bother to post speed-limit signs? The only time you have a hope of driving 55 mph on the Long Island Expressway is at 3 in the morning."
"Will we be on time?"
"We should be. Relax, Richard, we'll get there."
"I can't believe he remembered us."
"It seems we made quite an impression at some big family reunion thing. He remembers us trying to get away from Anne and some other girl cousin."
"Oh, good, someone else to remind me what a rat I was to her."
"They're ba-ack!" whispered Kitty, as the Shakespeare Festival employees once again approached.
This time, in addition to the rules, the pair offered merchandise for sale.
"This is the souvenir T-shirt!" said the young man, holding it up for all to see.
"Ooh! Ahh!" cried his assistant, who was trying to get the crowd to ooh and ahh, too.
"And here is our very handsome cap. Everyone should have one of these!"
"Ohh! Ahh!" The assistant got a little more response this time.
"So, anybody care to purchase them now? It will save you the walk to the box office!"
But nobody was buying, so the pair moved on to entertain the next group of people in line.
"This is amazing," said Chris. "First of all, it's free. When you think of what theater tickets go for, that's really something. Second, it's such a cool deal with everyone sitting here, making friends, watching each other's spaces. You always hear about how unfriendly New Yorkers are, but his is one huge picnic." He paused and added, "Oh, I shouldn't have said that. Now I want something to eat."
"Lizzy should be here soon," said Georgie. "She promised to bring us lunch."
A few minutes later, Lizzy arrived, carrying a shopping bag. "Hey, how are you doing? Here's lunch, as promised." She handed Chris the bag and sat down on the blanket.
"Hi, Lizzy," said Kitty. "This is so much fun, especially on such a beautiful day. I haven't done this since freshman year, when I was dating a guy who wanted to be an actor. It seems like ages since I've been on a date. I wish Sandy were here."
Georgie saw that the couple behind them were eyeing Lizzy suspiciously, so she turned to them and said, "Don't worry, she isn't cutting in. She's just delivering lunch."
"Right, I can't even stay and eat with you, I have to catch up with my leaf walkers."
"Your what?" asked Chris.
"Leaf walkers. It's a tree and plant identification walk, with a little birdwatching thrown in-if the birds cooperate."
"Are the falcons back this year?" asked Kitty.
"I don't know. One year, they nested on a balcony way up on a Fifth Avenue apartment building across from the park."
"I remember that!" said Kitty. "Wasn't it Woody Allen's apartment?"
"Might have been, I don't recall. A lot of effort has gone into getting the peregrine falcon back in the to Hudson Valley, and some have chosen to make the city their home. They nest on cliffs and hunt from high places. An apartment balcony is like a cliff, if you think about it."
"Falcons in the city. Wow. We see a lot of wildlife upstate, but all I ever expected to see in the city was pigeons and rats."
"Well, I'm glad we can improve your image of the city, Chris," said Lizzy as she stood up. "Stop by the museum when you get the tickets."
"I'm flattered that you remembered such a minor branch of the family" said the Reverend John Fitzwilliam Evans.
Richard laughed, "We remembered that there was a cousin out here who had become a minister, but I have to confess that it was Mom who knew where your church is. She keeps up to date on all that family tree stuff."
"Darce, you said this is about a private family matter. I hope it isn't anything too serious."
"Serious and wonderful all at the same time," said Richard. "We want to talk to you about a wedding."
"A wedding?"
"Yes, Reverend-"
"Please, call me Jake."
"You see, Jake, I want to get married out on the Island, and I thought it might be nice to have you officiate."
"Richard, you do know that the church doesn't recognize same-sex marriages."
"Jake! I'm not marrying Darce!"
"I know, Richard, I know. Sorry, I couldn't resist. You're going to marry Anne. Poor little Anne who spent her childhood trailing after you. I'm not sure what's so private about this, it was in the columns. Everyone knows."
"Ah, they know we're engaged. They don't know when we're getting married."
"Have you set a date?"
"We have, and that's the private part. Darce is here with me today because he'll be my best man. We're hoping that you can arrange the ceremony with a minimum of fanfare."
"That will be difficult. Once your name is on the church schedule, any number of people might find out."
"We want to get married at the house. Can we do that?"
"It's generally preferable to have a wedding in a consecrated building."
"But isn't God everywhere?"
"Richard!" Darcy exclaimed.
"No, I'm not trying to sound blasphemous. I'm serious. Does a marriage have to take place within a church?"
"No, it doesn't have to. As long as the proceeding is conducted with dignity, it can be anywhere. You aren't planning something weird like a barefoot wedding on the beach?"
Darcy groaned, "Don't mention the beach."
"Why not?"
"Because Richard has been teasing Anne with a notion of a luau wedding."
"You're not serious, Richard?"
"No, of course not. We want to get married on the back lawn. Actually, I think we'll be standing on the porch and the guests on the lawn. All very decent and dignified, I promise."
"You do know that you'll have to get your license out here, right? You can do the blood tests anywhere, just take the paperwork to the town hall and get the license. It's a small town, I don't think there'll be much fuss. But the license can't be done on the sly. You and Anne both have to show up for that, Richard. And you need someone to swear that you are who you say you are, that you're sober and sane, and so forth. Darce, you can be their witness for the license."
"I'd be happy to, but do I really have to swear that Richard is sane?"