Jump to new as of January 23, 2004

Chapter 1

Posted on Thursday, 31 July 2003

"Elizabeth, are you going to photocopy these for me?" Turning around, I saw a grinning Charlotte Lucas holding out a stack of papers. I grimaced. I, Elizabeth Bennet, was regulated to doing Charlotte's dirty work.

"For me? Thank you, Charlotte. Am I your personal secretary now?" I asked in mock exasperation, teasing her. Charlotte laughed and gave them to me. I took them a little reluctantly and then glanced at the papers.

"These are for that new viral mutation that hit parts of northern California. That's a grim and detailed report," I remarked as I skimmed over it. Charlotte merely nodded.

"Have those State Health Department budget forms come in yet?" she asked as soon as I looked up again.

"Not yet, but I'll copy them and get them to you when they do. And I still have to call that guy in Hawaii, the PHD, to give him information on the upcoming conference here." I looked back over the papers one more time and shook my head. "Sometimes I wish I could be an epidemiologist," I sighed. "Then I could travel and investigate why so many people become sick in one town with the same symptoms."

"Yeah, well, there are new viruses and allergens that crop up all the time, and there are plenty of people to do the job," Charlotte replied. "Do you really want to go into the field to do that?"

"It depends," I answered with a shrug. Charlotte pointed to the papers in my hands.

"I need those copies on my desk by three," she told me, already eyeing her watch.

"Ok, Miss Lucas," I said with a grin. Charlotte rolled her eyes at me and turned back around to walk to her office. "Oh, and Elizabeth, we're going to have that double date on Friday night, right?" she called back to me.

"If you insist, Charlotte. I do want to know why you want me to go on a date with you and William Collins." Charlotte just grinned and walked down the hall again. I shook my head at my good friend.

After photocopying all the pages of the report on the new viral outbreak in northern California, I tossed them in Charlotte's office with a sticky note that said that she owed me for the double date. I still had to figure out who my date was going to be...

At 24 years of age, I had been working at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta for a year, and I was getting used to the jabs about how I needed a boyfriend. Charlotte met William Collins at our church, and she had liked him immediately. I couldn't believe that a guy who seemed so-shall I say 'nerdy'?-had caught her attention.

Charlotte worked for an health organization so I guess it was only right that she would like a guy who worked in the health field. I found it a little creepy to date a guy who used to work as an undertaker. But that's just me. Now Mr. Collins worked in nursing homes and assisted living places as a nurse, so maybe he did want to make a difference in other's lives. Still, the guy was a little strange.

I returned to my office promptly and checked my emails. I was busy perusing them when my telephone rang beside my computer. I absentmindedly picked up the phone and said, "Elizabeth Bennet, CDC, how may I help you?"

"Lizzy! Are you busy now?"

I grinned.

"Hey, Jane! I'm looking over my emails before I get to work calling all these doctors and professionals from out of state to come to the conference we're hosting in a month. You sound happy; what are you up to?"

My sister, Jane Bennet---26, sophisticated, beautiful, and still single because she was waiting for just the right guy to come along, almost always had a cheerful demeanor and was hardly ever in a foul mood. My sister was very unique.

"I just met someone!" she squealed.

"Where?" I asked her. Jane worked as a teacher for a private school located in the suburbs, and I wondered if she met someone there. "At your school? Is he a fellow teacher?"

"You know Caroline Bingley, right?" she asked. I couldn't keep from groaning.

"Yeah. She teaches art and has a fetish for orange. I remember meeting her. Why?"

"She's got an older brother named Charles. He's very sweet. I met him when he came to help out with the art fair coming up. We got to talking and he asked me out!"

"Janie, that's great!" Jane paused for a minute. "Jane?" I looked down at the clock and saw that it was noon already. I had to take my lunch break soon.

"I've invited him to our house for lunch after church on Sunday and he's bringing a friend."

I twirled a pen that was on my desk in my fingers and shook my head.

"You didn't invite them over to Mom and Dad's, did you?" This Sunday we were having lunch with my family, and inviting a new boyfriend over for lunch with our family was not a bright idea.

"Of course! Elizabeth, I will talk to Mom. I'm sure she will be the perfect hostess." This time I snorted.

"Whatever you think, my innocent sister." I stopped twirling the pen and swung around in my chair, picking up some papers and standing. "Who's the friend?"

"His name is William Darcy. He's an architect. Charles says he is very smart, but he has had a difficult life."

"This Bingley guy has told you all this information in just one day? He must like you a lot, Jane." Jane couldn't contain a sigh.

"We talked for an hour while he and I both helped set up for the art fair. Lizzy, he's perfect." I smirked. I had heard that line before.

"Okay, dearest. Just don't expect me to like this William Darcy. I may decide he's a pretentious snob or an awful bore."

"Lizzy! You are horrible."

"How old is he?" I asked curiously.

"He's in his late twenties I think. I would assume he is around Charles' age." After scribbling a couple notes to myself on a piece of paper, I then chewed on the end of my pen in thought.

"Do you think you could get them to go on a little dinner date with Charlotte and William Collins this Friday?"

"A dinner date? Is Charlotte dating William Collins?"

I laughed at her innocent tone.

"He's not my type, but I think Charlotte likes him for some reason."

"He is nice," Jane admitted. "Okay, Lizzy. I'll call Charles and ask him if he and William can meet us on Friday night. Where are we going?"

"It's nothing formal. Charlotte wanted to eat seafood so we're going to Red Lobster." I told Jane some of the details and then hung up, feeling satisfied. I was feeling better about the dinner on Friday even though I would have to spend it with a man named William Darcy whom I had never met in my entire life.

I took my lunch, a turkey, lettuce, and cheese sandwich with an apple and ate it at my desk. I turned off the overhead light and left the soft light under my desk cabinet on. There, I read on my lunch hour. I was almost finished when a knock sounded on my door. I opened the door and saw Mary King, a fellow co-worker.

"Hi, Mary," I said as I flipped on my overhead light once again. I could see Mary better with the overhead light on. Petite and redheaded, she was a sweet girl, however, a little naïve about the world.

"Hi, Elizabeth. Did I interrupt your lunch?" she asked apologetically. I shook my head and gestured to my lunch bag.

"I was finishing up anyway. What do you need?" Noticing the rotating screen saver on my computer, I suddenly became agitated by it. I walked over to the computer and touched a button, ridding of the screen saver.

"Chris wanted me to get the New York State Health Department information from the last fiscal year. He's working with the NY department up there." I rummaged around in my files and found the one he wanted.

"Did he say how Marianne is doing?" I asked her as I handed her the papers. Marianne Brandon, Christopher Brandon's wife, had taken ill a week ago with pneumonia.

"Chris says she's doing a little better, but she's still congested. I feel so bad for her, especially since she has an eight month old baby."

"No wonder Chris was out so much last week." Mary thanked me for the papers and then left.

At 4:00 in the afternoon, I finished up some other work and shut down my computer, readying to head home after a long day at work. I grabbed my pocket book and shut off all the lights before closing my door. As I shut the door, I saw that Charlotte had left a message for me on the small marker board on my door. The message just stated that she wanted me to see her before I left the office. I walked down the hall and turned to the right, knocking as I entered into her office. She had a small lamp on her desk and she was staring at the computer in thought.

"Hey, Char. You wanted to see me?" She nodded her head absentmindedly.

"These figures aren't working," she muttered. Charlotte handles budget matters with each health department in all the states and the US territories.

"Charlotte?" Charlotte finally raised her head.

"Sorry, Lizzy. I realized I was going to be here longer than I had hoped. Are you going to be able to get some kind of date for Friday?" Charlotte tapped her pencil on the desk as I contemplated my answer.

"About Friday, Char. I talked to Jane and she said she's going to ask her new 'boyfriend' if he could come and bring his friend, William Darcy." Charlotte looked intrigued.

"So, there would be six of us?"

"Yeah. I've got nothing better to do; I'm sure it will be interesting." Charlotte grinned.

"Lizzy, I hope this guy lasts longer than the last one. What was his name again?" When I scowled, she continued in between laughter. "You always jump to conclusions about these men. You thought that guy-oh, yeah-Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam... You thought he was some kind of international spy."

"He was in the army, and I figured that out when he was being shipped overseas. He was nice, but I thought he was too charming. Hey, Jane dated that Secret Service agent one time, and I assumed Richard could be working for the CIA."

"Didn't he mention that he had a cousin with the last name of Darcy?" Charlotte asked thoughtfully. In the back of my memory, I remembered that I had heard that name before.

"Maybe. You don't think it could be the same guy, do you? Richard was stationed down here, but he was from Pennsylvania."

"No, I think he was from down here. He said he had lived in Pennsylvania at one time." I shrugged and then motioned toward the door.

"I'm heading out; traffic's going to be very bad this time of day. Rush hour in Atlanta, you know." Charlotte nodded and waved me out.

"I'll tell William. Be safe on your way home!" she called out to me.

"Tell that to the crazy drivers!" I countered. I pressed the button on the wall for the elevator to take me down, and waited impatiently for it. When it finally dinged, the doors came open and I went in without looking-running into someone.

"I'm sorry!" I cried.

"It's okay," the man laughed. I looked up to see a fairly handsome man with medium-brown hair and a charming grin on his face. He held the elevator doors open for me.

"Are you getting off?" I asked.

"Oh, yeah. Thanks. Do you work here?" I looked down at my slacks and blouse and wondered if he was jesting.

"Yeah. I work with the health departments."

"I'm here to see a friend of mine. George Wickham." He held out his hand.

"Elizabeth Bennet. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Wickham." I was expecting a handshake, but he held my hand in his for a time before he realized he was holding it. He released my hand and smiled.

"George, Elizabeth." He had an openness about him that I liked. I looked down with a slight blush and then watched as George walked out of the elevator. He winked at me before the doors closed, leaving my heart beating faster. He was very cute. I stepped off the elevator and waved at the security guard before heading out the door.

"Good day, Miss Bennet," the security guard said with a smile.

"Good day, Mr. Watkins." As I left the secured building, I took off my security badge and put it in my pocket book. Reaching my Dodge Durango, I searched for my keys for a minute and then found them at the bottom of my pocket book before I put them in my door and unlocked it. I was just pulling out of the parking space when my cell phone rang. I stopped my car for a moment and then answered.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Lizzy. It's Lydia. I was reminding you that I am shadowing you at work on Friday for school. You remembered, right?" I tried not to groan.

"Well, actually, Lydia, I'd forgotten. It's still okay to come, though." We didn't speak much longer, and I hung up before resuming my driving. Lydia, being 16, was still a little immature in some areas. My mother overindulged the girl (which my father purposely overlooked).

It took me an hour to get home from work because I live in the suburbs and commute to the city. When I arrived at the apartment that I share with Jane, I saw that Jane was already there and had made dinner for us. She talked about Charles for most of the night, and I even told her about meeting George Wickham.

Jane thought George sounded very nice and charming as well, and she even teased me about liking him. I reminded her that we had only met once, and that I was sensible enough to know that I knew nothing about Mr. Wickham besides his name and that he had a friend who worked on my floor.

As I drifted off to sleep, I thought about the upcoming blind date and wondered just who this William Darcy was and why his life had been so difficult. After making up a dozen stories about who he could be, I tired of thinking of him and my thoughts soon shifted to George Wickham. I found myself hoping to meet him again. My heart still pounded when I thought of the warm look he had given me, complete with a wink. My last thoughts as I drifted to sleep were of him smiling pleasantly at me and thinking I had to know more about him.

Chapter 2

Posted on Monday, 18 August 2003

Though I vaguely remember learning that the weather was going to be severe, I had my thoughts on other more important issues; mainly, the triple date that I very well couldn't get out of. Charlotte teased me about William Darcy until I was sick of hearing his name, and I told Charlotte in very certain terms that until I had met him, I would not say one way or the other whether I liked him or not. However, I knew myself well enough to know that once I made a first impression of someone, it would stick with me for a long time.

That Friday, Lydia was supposed to ride in with me to work to shadow my job. She pitched a fit and convinced my mother that she should drive herself. That was fine as far as I was concerned. She, being Lydia, wanted to drive and nothing would stop her. Still, I knew that she had just gotten her driver's license a month before, and I was not enthralled that my sister wanted to drive in traffic that caused veteran drivers to go mad.

And yet, as usual, no one was going to stop Lydia from doing what she wanted to do. Instead of letting me pick her up, she drove down to my office building, arriving two hours late.

Lydia grew bored easily while I was working, even though I tried to make it more interesting for her. At one point, I had grown so engrossed in my work that I had not noticed my youngest sister was missing. Putting down my work, I searched the whole floor until I found her in the secretary's office for a department down the hall from mine, though at the other end of the building.

Angel Younge, or Mrs. Younge as I call her, was fairly new to the job, from what I had heard, and seemed friendly enough. I had heard bad rumors about her past, though I knew nothing for certain, so I was curious as to why Lydia was in her room. I was standing around the corner, not yet seen, when I heard footsteps. Being in a position to see clearly without being seen, I saw the guy I had run into on the elevator a couple days ago, George Wickham. I was about to call out to him when he reached the room that my sister and Mrs. Younge occupied.

"You waited for me, Lydia," I heard him say softly.

"Oh, George, Angel was telling me about the hardships you have suffered."

"I am not a vindictive person, Lydia," he answered in what seemed to be a humble voice. I didn't want to eavesdrop any longer so I knocked on Mrs. Younge's open door.

"Mrs. Younge? Lydia, there you are. You are supposed to be following me, not goofing around," I told her sternly. Lydia looked unconcerned.

"Elizabeth?" Mr. Wickham asked quietly, as though he was tentatively remembering my name.

"George," I replied with a smile.

"How are you doing? I didn't know when we would run into each other again." The intensity of his look made me blush.

"I am glad we did," I told him softly. "I have been thinking of our meeting." I felt my flushed cheek with my hand. Why was I blushing in front of him?

"You and I should go out some time next week for lunch-if that is fine with you," he added warmly.

"Great. How about Tuesday of next week? That way I can take off an extra hour if I have to," I told him, a little surprised that he had asked me, but looking forward to the lunch at the same time.

"Great! I have had thoughts of you since I ran into you as well." My heart fluttered in my chest.

"You have?" Don't seem too interested, Elizabeth, I chided myself.

"When you left, I wondered when I would see the most beautiful and kindest woman I've ever met-even if a stranger to me." I was really embarrassed now, but I loved the compliments he gave to me. I took in a deep breath and then exhaled. Not normally known as being shy, I felt very awkward now. I finally spoke again.

"My room is 3043, George. Meet me there for lunch, and we'll talk as long as you want." After a pause, I glanced at Lydia, who was rolling her eyes at us. I realized I was taking longer than I had hoped, and I had to get back to work. "Come on, Lydia. You have a project to finish." Lydia heaved a big sigh and reluctantly left with me.

"You spoiled our conversation, Elizabeth. I had just met George, and you wanted to hog him for yourself." I gave my sister a warning look.

"Lydia, George has to be at least 10 years older than you, if not more. He is not interested in a high school student." Lydia glared at me but didn't fight me back. She didn't even spend the whole day with me because she was bored, so she went home early. I glanced out my window in my office and saw that the clouds were turning a threatening shade of gray. I tried to finish my work so I could leave early, but it wasn't going to be my day.

On that fateful Friday evening, wouldn't you know, the weather turned even more dark and menacing as soon as I was almost to the restaurant. Already running late due to a guy complaining in my ear about his state health department for a quarter hour, the rain slowed me down even more. I nervously checked my watch as I pulled up to the restaurant. I'd arrived at the restaurant about an hour late.

As soon as I got out of my car, the light rain that had threatened me as I drove finally came down in a torrent. My carefully brushed hair suffered from the wind and rain and fizzled into a mess of curls as soon as I was out of my car. I love the rain and enjoy taking walks in it at times, but this was not the most ideal time to get wet.

I made a run for the main doors of the restaurant and still managed to get soaked. Someone held the door for me as he was coming out, and I thanked him as I walked into the area where customers were waiting to be seated. I turned back and looked for Jane's car. Seeing both her car and Charlotte's, I sighed and readied myself for the inevitable. As I became accustomed to the air-conditioned restaurant, I felt a chill and realized that my wet shirt clung to my soaked skin.

I walked into the restroom and tried to salvage my hair and make-up, feeling water logged despite my efforts. With a sigh, I took one last look at my reflection in the mirror and exited the restroom. I walked over to the hostess.

"How may I help you?" the hostess asked me. I replied that a party of five was waiting for me. She gladly took me to the table set for six and set down my silverware and a menu. I sat down and finally looked at the group I was eating with tonight. Charlotte grinned and shook her head at my appearance while Jane gazed at me in concern.

"Lizzy! You made it... and you are wet," Charlotte smirked, trying not to look too amused, but utterly failing.

"Thanks, Char, for pointing out the obvious." I made a sour face at her. Charlotte ignored my sarcasm as Jane introduced me to our two new acquaintances.

"Lizzy, this is Charles Bingley, and sitting across from you is his friend, Mr. William Darcy. Mr. Darcy, Charles, this is my sister, Elizabeth Bennet."

Charles Bingley, looking young and boyish, possessed a buoyant spirit, which I'm sure, could touch even the coldest heart. I don't know how the guy could have any enemies; he seemed pleasant and open, and I immediately began to like him. Maybe Jane was right; he may indeed be perfect.

His friend, however, did not like his present company, or so it seemed. As I looked over to him at Jane's introduction, he grunted in greeting and scowled. His look of distaste was evident, and it seemed that he wanted to be anywhere but here. One look at William Darcy and I knew my night would be long. Dark-haired and pale, Mr. Darcy stared at me intensely for a few seconds. As we made eye contact, I could see extreme pain in his deep brown eyes and-just for a moment-I felt sympathy for him. However, his eyes immediately returned to that look of pride and hauteur that I had joked to Jane about just the other day. If he weren't so depressing to look at, the man would be downright handsome. I chided myself and quickly refrained from any thoughts in that direction.

"Lizzy." I looked up from my menu to my sister. "You are soaking wet, and your hair is dripping."

"I know, Jane," I replied with a shrug. "That can happen when it rains."

"Not if one is prepared for it," William Darcy spoke up with disdain. I gave him my best Elizabeth Bennet impertinent stare.

"Mr. Darcy, I am sorry I can't control the weather. When we meet again, why don't you use your influence and make it sunny?"

"The forecast called for rain today, Miss Bennet," he replied, ignoring my sarcasm. "I needed no special revelation to find that out." The rest of the table seemed a little too quiet for my nerves. Unfortunately, it went downhill from there. Gravedigger Willy-I mean, the dignified Mr. Collins-chose to impart to us his words of wisdom.

"Miss Bennet, if you have ever met the wisest and kindest of all creation, Mr. Darcy's aunt," William Collins paused in reverent adoration of this woman and pointed to Mr. Darcy, "then you will know that it is always in your best interest to keep up with the weather before leaving your house." I stared at him, wondering what Charlotte saw in him. I was even more astonished that he had a prior familiarity with Mr. Darcy's aunt.

"You know Mr. Darcy's aunt?" I asked in disbelief. I knew William Collins was strange, but he was scaring me now.

"Catherine de Bourgh is world-famous! She is infamous!" Mr. Collins exclaimed, his eyes open in wonder. "Have you not heard of the newest philosophical voice in journalism?"

"Does she write advice columns?" I tried to keep a grin off of my face.

"She writes editorials," he replied, looking stricken. "Everyone knows her."

"I'm afraid I'm not everyone," I replied. Thankfully, the waitress appeared and took my drink order since everyone else had ordered their drinks already.

"What line of work are you in, Mr. Collins?" Charles asked him curiously, taking the topic in another direction. Knowing where this topic could head, I quickly tried to come up with some type of new direction to steer the conversation. But I drew a blank.

"I am a nurse in assisted living homes and nursing homes," he replied with a slight bow of his head. "I did, for a time, work in the funeral business."

"That must have been interesting. Were you part of the funeral service?" Charles asked carefully.

"I was an undertaker," he replied. The table suddenly grew quiet again. I managed to glance in Mr. Darcy's direction and saw that he looked a little shocked.

"How does one get into that line of work?" Mr. Darcy asked with a sneer to Mr. Collins. Being a snob are we, Mr. Darcy? I rolled my eyes at his question, though I hated to admit that I was curious myself.

"I had a childhood dream to make something of myself, and so one day my uncle asked me if I wanted to see what he did for a living. He helped careen me into the field." Hardly anyone at the table could keep a straight face. "I met Ms. De Bourgh when I had to bury her husband," he added.

"That's how you met?" Jane asked him, her expression pale.

"I felt it an honor to meet the woman whom I admired greatly while standing by the freshly dug grave. She is a most noble and wise mentor and an inspiration to all humanity," Mr. Collins added, as he nodded in answer to Jane's question.

"I'm sure she is," Charles told him, seriously affected by Mr. Collins' speech. Both Jane and Charles seemed taken in by Mr. Collins' strange tale.

Conversation continued to ordinary topics, and soon we were all eating our seafood meals.

Mr. Darcy was still sullen; he barely said two words to anyone, and if he did, it was to criticize or demean someone. I was right on this one-Mr. Darcy was a pretentious snob. Halfway during the meal, Charles and Mr. Darcy excused themselves for an unknown reason. When they left, I looked to Jane.

"Well?" I asked with a smile.

"Oh, Lizzy, isn't he so sweet? Charles says he can't wait to have dinner with us on Sunday afternoon. I think he really likes me." To anyone else, Jane may have looked like her serene self, but I saw the added sparkle to her eyes and the flush to her cheeks because I knew her so well. "Lizzy," Jane asked softly, "what do you think of Mr. Darcy?"

"I told you he would be a snob," I remarked. "He hasn't spoken any kind words at all tonight. In fact, he's hardly spoken at all." I forked a shrimp and spoke with my fork and shrimp pointed to Jane. "He's been very rude to everyone. I don't know how someone like Charles can be as close to him as he is."

"Charles told me he would be in a bad mood. Please consider that he has had some troubles recently."

"It is no excuse for his behavior," I disagreed. Jane simply sighed. The poor girl; I knew how she hated to think badly of anyone. I put down my fork and told Jane that I was going to the restroom. As I made my way to the front of the restaurant, I saw Mr. Darcy and Charles talking animatedly in the corner. Curious, I walked closer to them.

"Darcy, I don't like to see you sitting at the table in such a morbid manner!" I heard Charles say. "We've got great company tonight. We're sitting with the loveliest ladies in Georgia," he sighed. "And while you are sulking, I'm talking with an angel! Isn't Jane the most beautiful woman you've ever seen?"

"Charles, she laughs too much." I frowned at Mr. Darcy's response. I knew Jane was nervous to be going out with Charles tonight, and when she's nervous, she can be a little too giddy, but please. Laughing too much?

"William! Think what you will of Jane, but I declare that she is wonderful!" He paused and then said, "Will, what do you think of her sister, Elizabeth? I think she's very pretty too, and Jane loves her sister very much."

"Elizabeth Bennet? Charles, she's a rude and uncivilized hick from the south who has no sense of culture or art. She arrived over an hour late, and she came in dripping wet, and frankly reminded me of a wet dog. To tell you the truth, the last place I want to be Sunday is at their parents' home, but you are dragging me along."

"Darcy, you never cease to amaze me at your bad temper. You need to go home and sleep this one off. Please try and act nice. For me," Charles added before I saw him give Mr. Darcy a sad look.

I, in the meantime, was seething. Rude and uncivilized? Uncouth? A wet dog?!? Who did this man think that he was? This sorry excuse for a man would get no sympathy from me ever again. He had just blown any chance for me to ever like him.

Forgetting why I came to the front of the restaurant, I angrily stomped away, returning to our table. Jane saw my angry look and questioned me with a glance. My eyes narrowed and I had to keep from losing my temper.

I heard Charles and Mr. Darcy return but kept my eyes to my plate. My appetite seemed to be gone, and I realized that I was chopping up the rest of my broiled shrimp into little pieces. I took a deep breath and then breathed out. Why was this bothering me? I was Elizabeth Bennet, a spirited, independent woman who enjoyed helping people and working in the health field. There was nothing wrong with me. In fact, my Aunt Sarah had taught me much of culture and society, things that my mother and father had neglected.

I was not going to let his comment hurt me. Who was he anyway? Mr. William Darcy may have thought he was too good for some, but he wouldn't get the satisfaction knowing that he hurt me. Oh, no. I was a fighter.

"Mr. Darcy," I said, addressing him for the first time since he and his friend had returned to the table. "Where are you from exactly?"

"I was born in Georgia but moved to New York at a very young age," he replied, his eyes flickering over to Charles. Did he suspect that I knew what he had said? I smirked. Maybe I should have hinted that I was on to him. "I moved to Atlanta last year with my sister, Georgiana."

"Your cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and I dated for a short time," I told him. Mr. Darcy's expression turned stormy. "He mentioned that he had a cousin, but I am surprised to find you so unlike him."

"Miss Bennet, you do not know me well and you cannot assume anything about me. I ask that you not form any lasting opinions from our one meeting." Impossible, Mr. Darcy. We did not say another word to each other the rest of the night. Charles told Jane a private goodbye, and though they didn't kiss, I could tell Charles was already infatuated with my sister. Mr. Darcy, on the other hand, said a terse good night and he left.

Before we left the restaurant, I said goodbye to Charlotte and then told Jane to wait up for me when she got in if she was the first to get home. By the time I arrived at our apartment, Jane was in her pajamas and sitting cross-legged on the couch, staring into space.

"Jane! What a night for you and Charles! I am sure that he likes you very much." Jane blushed.

"Oh, Lizzy, I do not want to get my hopes up. I admit that I like him a lot, though." I sat next to Jane on the couch, and then Jane brought up the question that had been bothering her the rest of the night. "Lizzy, why were you angry when you came back to the table? You left the table and then came back with your jaw clinched."

"Oh, Jane! I overheard Charles and Mr. Darcy talking about us. Mr. Darcy called me uncouth, uncivilized, and he said I looked like a wet dog when I arrived at the restaurant! The nerve of the man! I could have said a few things about him myself," I muttered.

"That was not nice of him," Jane agreed. "You may not like Mr. Darcy, but you do approve of Charles?" she questioned me.

"Oh, of course! Janie, he is everything that I hoped you'd find in a man. However, he may be a little too kind and trusting," I teased. "He even believes William Collins is sane."

"Lizzy!" Jane giggled. Her giggling brought back the nasty words that William Darcy had uttered against my sister and me, causing my renewed dislike of the disagreeable man. Jane and I stayed up talking into the middle of the night. Jane went to sleep, but I couldn't sleep that night.

Every time I thought about his hurtful words, I remembered that I cared nothing for the man and that he was never going to be a friend of mine. I only wished there was some way to get him not to come to the lunch on Sunday. He would meet my family for the first time, and that was a big mistake. Before I could get worked up about this upcoming lunch, I decided to put William Darcy out of my mind. He meant nothing to me and he never would.

Chapter 3

Posted on Friday, 2 January 2004

Before I knew it, Sunday had arrived. I had festered over William Darcy’s insults all weekend, and now I was going to come face to face with him again. The only thing that made me feel better about the whole lunch was Jane’s beaming face.

Jane and I saw our family at church that Sunday morning, and I couldn’t help but cringe when my mother went on and on about Charles Bingley coming over to have lunch with us.

“Mr. Darcy is also coming over with Charles,” Jane reminded our mother.

“Well, yes,” she said with a nod, “he is welcome too. Oh, my Jane, I knew you were beautiful for a reason,” our mother said with giddiness. I winced and hoped she would not say things like that while William Darcy and Charles were at our home. I could just see William’s look of horror when my mother made any comment like the one she had just made.

Jane drove us to our old home; her smile brightened the closer we got to our destination. I grinned in response to her happiness.

“Oh, Lizzy, I hope that everything will work out between us. I really like Charles.” When I looked at Jane, I saw that she looked both apprehensive and excited at the same time.

“I know you do, Jane. He seems like a good man.” Both Jane and I were contemplative during the rest of the drive.

When we pulled up to the house, I noticed that my family had already come home. William and Charles had yet to arrive.

Jane and I entered the house to the smell of lasagna and fresh bread. My stomach quickly starting rumbling, and I couldn't wait to eat. As I passed into the kitchen, I saw Mary sitting at our piano in the living room with her fingers poised over the keys. My sisters Lydia and Kitty were both arguing over a hat that Lydia had worn to church, and my father sat reading a book, oblivious to all the commotion.

“Jane! Lizzy!” our mother cried in greeting over the banging of the piano keys and the whining of our sisters.

“Mama,” I told her, my nerves quickly fraying. “Is Mary going to play when Charles and William get here?” I hoped not. My sister was not that proficient at playing yet.

“If she wants to entertain the boys with the piano, why not?” my mother said with a shrug.

“Is there something that Lizzy and I can do to help you?” Jane asked her, already looking around the kitchen at the plates and glasses on the counter.

“If you could set the table, dear, that would be wonderful.” As Jane put the plates and silverware on the table, I saw that there was nothing else to be done. I decided to go up the stairs to my old room.

I opened the door and saw that Kitty had moved her things into the room, and now there were clothes strewn all over the floor and books and papers everywhere. Kitty was in her last year of high school and wanted to go to college out of state, so she wouldn't be in this room much longer.

I stared at her clutter, thinking of the memories of living in this room for so many years. I could remember many events that had taken place in this house, and I smiled at the memories. The sounds of bickering and the piano below brought me back to the present, and though I loved my family, I was glad to be on my own. I had only been upstairs a few minutes when the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it!” Lydia’s voice called out loudly even from downstairs. I took a deep breath and then walked out of my room and peered over the railing to the front door below. When Lydia opened the door to Charles and William, I saw that Charles held flowers in his hand.

“Hi, I’m Charles Bingley. This is my friend, William Darcy,” Charles said with a hand outstretched to Lydia’s. Lydia shook hands and giggled.

“I’m Lydia Bennet. Who are the flowers for?”

“Lydia! Let Mr. Bingley and his friend inside the door!” Jane told her kindly.

“These flowers are for Miss Bennet. Jane, I thought you would like them,” Charles said shyly. I noticed William’s face was a mask, no emotion coming from him.

“Thank you, Charles. I will have these put in a vase right away,” Jane said with a smile. Mary had stopped playing the piano, so there was finally peace and quiet in the house. I cautiously made my way downstairs and saw as the family was introduced to the two men.

“Elizabeth, how nice to see you again,” Charles said warmly. I gave him a smile in return.

“It’s nice to see you too.” Then I realized that I had yet to acknowledge Mr. Darcy. ”Mr. Darcy.” William stiffly responded with a nod.

“Lunch is ready now,” my mother called out.

“Mrs. Bennet, everything looks wonderful!” Charles said with a glance to the spread on the table.

“Thank you!” she replied in a warm voice. Oh, no. Charles was going to inflate my mother’s ego and make it worse.

“What would you like to drink, Charles, William? We have water, sweet tea, and coke,” I told them.

“I will take water, Elizabeth,” William said lowly.

“I’ll have some sweet tea,” Charles said, giving me his friendly smile. I got to work putting ice in the glasses before filling them with the preferred drink.

“So, what do you do for a living, Charles?” my mother asked after everyone’s plate had been filled and the prayer was said.

“I work for Bingley Enterprises, my grandfather’s company. We sell technological parts to different companies,” he replied.

“And you, Mr. Darcy?” I gave my mother a pleading look and shook my head. As usual, she ignored me.

“I work in architectural engineering,” he answered awkwardly. When he didn’t continue, Charles spoke.

“Darcy is being modest. He is head of a firm that has a national reputation.” William scowled at his friend.

“Ooh—you must make a lot of money then,” my mother said, much to my horror. I choked on my drink, and it took me a minute or two to stop coughing. Jane gave me a concerned glance.

“The name Darcy is familiar,” my father said as he buttered a piece of bread. “I think I’ve heard the name before.”

“Oh, Father, it was Mr. Darcy’s cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, who mentioned him.” My father raised his eyebrows at me.

“I remember Colonel Fitzwilliam!” Lydia spoke up. “How I love a man in uniform,” she sighed. When I gave her a glare, she rolled her eyes at me.

“You dated the Colonel once,” my mother interjected. “What a nice man. Lizzy, why did you break up with him?”

“I didn’t even know he was in the military until he was given orders to go overseas. It was then that he and I both decided that the relationship wasn’t going to work,” I said in a strained voice.

“Is Colonel Fitzwilliam well?” Jane asked William.

“Yes, he is, Jane. My aunt and uncle received a letter from him a week ago; he is to come home in a few months.”

“Wonderful,” she told him with a smile. A silence descended at the table, and it was hard to break it.

“Charles, you must tell your sister that she is invited over to have lunch or dinner anytime she wants to,” my mother finally said, breaking the silence. “Is she your only sibling?”

“No, Ma’am. I have a sister, Louisa, who is married. Edward Hurst is my brother-in-law.”

“And do you have any siblings, Mr. Darcy?” my mother inquired of him. William’s countenance darkened.

“I have a younger sister, Georgiana, Mrs. Bennet.” It wasn’t his words, but more like his tone of voice that offended me. However, my mother seemed oblivious to it—at least for now.

Somehow, my mother managed to begin a conversation about dancing. After finding out that Charles loved to dance, she directed her question to William.

“Do you like dancing, Mr. Darcy?” William looked startled for a moment.

“No, Ma’am. I rarely dance,” he told her with an impatient tone. He turned back to his food without another glance. My mother narrowed her eyes at his tone of voice and sniffed. From then on, she directed all of her comments to Charles.

When lunch was over, both Charles and William were invited to sit in our living room and talk. Mary, wanting to be a wonderful hostess, declared that she was going to play a song for them.

“Mary, I don’t think that is such a good idea,” I told her with a frown. Mary adjusted her glasses and blinked.

“Nonsense, Lizzy! Let Mary play if she wants to.” My mother waved me off.

I sat down, managing to look out the window instead of at anyone else as Mary began to sing. Her voice came out wobbly as she played the theme song to the movie Titanic. My heart certainly was not going to go on any longer if I continued hearing her sing Celine Dion’s song (which she totally butchered). When the song became louder, Mary pounded the keys and her voice reached a very high pitch that she couldn’t really carry. Charles tried to look happy to hear her sing while William’s expression was one of disgust and pure torture.

“Mmm-mmm,” Mary hummed as the song ended. As soon as she was through with that song, I made sure that Mary didn't play another one. I shot my father a pleading look.

“Thank you, Mary. Child, you’ve delighted us long enough,” my father said with a humorous glance back to me. Mary adjusted her glasses once again and closed the lid to the piano before leaving the room.

“Well, that ship just sank!” Lydia snorted. Suddenly, I couldn’t wait until Charles and William left.

“Thank you, Lydia.” I glared at the girl. As soon as I turned away from Lydia, I saw William Darcy staring at me. I managed a hard stare back, wondering why he kept looking at me. He finally looked away, and I inwardly fumed. I knew that every time he looked at me he was thinking of some fault of mine or of my family.

Soon after, both men left, but it wasn’t soon enough for me. I looked to my father to see what he would say to Mary or Lydia, but he shrugged to me and smiled.

“Another day in the Bennet family, my Lizzy. I think it was a success.” My father, I realized, had to be insane.

“Dad, I—“

“Now, Lizzy, I must go read my book. We will talk later.”

“Jane and I have to leave, Dad,” I told him.

“Fine. Goodbye, Lizzy. Jane,” he said to her. She and I looked at one another. Before he left, I tried to protest, but it didn’t work. My father left for the small library in our home, closing the door resoundingly behind him.

“Don’t worry about it, Lizzy. I am sure Charles and William understand,” Jane said soothingly on the way home.

“I was humiliated. Did you hear Mom? She asked William how much money he made! Do you know how rude that is?”

“Elizabeth,” Jane finally said, her eyes on me for a moment before looking back to the road. “I talked with Charles before he left, and he said that lunch was wonderful. He enjoyed his time with our family.”

“I have no doubt that your Charles would be nice about it. It is Mr. Darcy that I don’t know about. I don’t like William Darcy any more than I did before, Jane, and now I don’t even want to know what he thinks of the family.”

“Calm down, Lizzy,” Jane gently admonished me. She pulled into our apartment complex and then parked. “Forget William Darcy for now,” she suggested. “Don’t you have a lunch date with Mr. Wickham sometime this week? Why don’t you think about him instead?”

“I want to hide my face,” I mumbled.

“Did you notice William looking at you at lunch?” Jane asked later that night. She entered my room as I lay on the bed reading a book.

“I noticed," I said grimly. "He just wants to find some kind of flaw in me. He is very snobby.” I put my book down and saw Jane shake her head.

“Lizzy, Charles told me that William suffered a great injustice recently.”

“You told me that, Jane. What is it that he has suffered?”

”Well, Charles only knows some of what happened, and he can’t tell me. I am just warning you not to judge a book by its cover.”

I sighed. “Jane, I know that. William’s actions are very clear to me, however.” Jane looked resigned to my attitude. She was about to leave, but she turned back with a thoughtful look on her face.

"I almost forgot, Lizzy. Charles invited you and me to dinner tomorrow night. Are you free to go?"

"I think I'm free," I said with a frown, trying to remember if I had anything planned. "What time is it?"

"Seven. I told Charles that you usually get home later after work because of traffic."

"Thanks, Jane."

Jane paused once more and then said, “Goodnight, Lizzy."

“Goodnight, Jane.” Once Jane left, I hit my pillow to fluff it up and laid back on it. My thoughts were a jumble of mess, and all I could think about was the horrible display my family had shown to our guests today. But I finally rallied my spirits. Why did I care what someone like William Darcy thought? Surely if Charles seemed fine afterwards, then what William thought was irrelevant. William was nothing to me. Besides, my family was a normal family, if any family can be called normal. Deciding not to think on it again, at least for now, I finished reading a chapter of Jane Eyre before getting ready for bed and going to sleep.