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Prologue
Posted on Monday, 09-Nov-98
Fitzwilliam Darcy had just returned from 5 months in Spain. He had little more to show for it than a Spanish accent, a tan, and newly acquired skill with a sword. (He looked very Antonio Banderas, like.)
Spanish dress had just recently become the newest fashion in England.
Chapter 1
"Elizabeth Bennet, shall be arriving in three hours," the young lady answered with a sideways glance at her brother. She could not pretend to be ignorant of the chemistry she had seen between them.
That could have been shock and delight she saw on his face.
Darcy's Study
As Darcy awaited the arrival of Elizabeth. He recalled fondly Madrid, Spain.
Seņor de la Vega, a family friend, had told him about the legend of Zorro. Who Seņor de la Vega had been many years, before he had been thrown in jail. He, having no sons could not pass on the mask and the sword. Therefore, he called on Darcy. Darcy being a gentlemen, and never to turn his nose up at adventure (boyish nature), accepted the mask and sword with little hesitation.
After months of strenuous training, he returned to England with the promise of a visit from Seņor and Seņora de la Vega. That would probably be very soon.
There was a small knock at the door,
"Fitzwilliam! Miss. Bennet has arrived. Come see her," Georgiana called.
Front Steps Of Pemberley
"Lizzy. I am so pleased that you accepted my invitation to come to Pemberley. You remember my brother, of course."
"Yes, indeed. How are you Mr. Darcy? Your sister informed me of your being in Spain. How was Spain?"
"I am very well, Miss. Bennet. Spain was...indescribable," replied he with a mysteriously, interesting accent.
"I can see while you were in Spain you picked up an accent. Am I right?" Elizabeth inquired.
He replied with. "I was in Spain for months, therefore, I must have."
"Oh! Pardon me for forgetting to inquire. How does your family do?"
"They are all in good health, except for my mother whom is having a battle with her nerves."
"You must be dreadfully tired. I will have Mrs. Reynolds escort you to your room," Georgiana said as they three walked into the house.
"Thank-you, Georgiana. This stay should be very diverting," said she.
Chapter 2
After they had dined, Elizabeth decided to take advantage of the lovely stables and to take a moonlit ride on a beautiful white mare.
She rode around for half an hour before returning to Pemberley.
As she did this she became aware of a man dressed all in black with a strange mask.
"Seņorita," the man said with a very thick Spanish accent, "be careful there are a lot of dangerous men about."
She smiled mischievously at this strikingly handsome man and said, "If you mean Mr. Darcy he's not that bad."
At this remark the man was obviously caught somewhat off his guard.
"Seņorita, I must take my leave," he said as he tilted his head to the side and smiled. Then he disappeared into the night.
As Elizabeth sat there wondering who this could be, she thought it odd that he had an accent similar to Mr. Darcy's. She made a mental note of this and went back to the house.
The following morning when everyone was assembled in the breakfast room Elizabeth came to her seat after filling her plate. As the other two sat down at the table Elizabeth started the conversation.
"Mr. Darcy did you by chance bring a servant back with you, from Spain? He dresses rather odd."
Darcy replied in that Spanish accent Elizabeth loved, "Um...Miss. Bennet, are you aquatinted with the legend of Zorro?"
Elizabeth looked at him intently, "Yes I am. My father is a very good friend of Zorro. Why do you ask?"
"I have reason to believe he has returned to England as Zorro."
"Then it would be strange that he has not contacted my father...but he is rather old and I do not think he would return. Maybe it is a new Zorro."
"To change the subject," Georgiana said, "have you heard brother. Lizzy's sister, Jane is engaged to our Mr. Bingley."
"Well good for him. He finally got enough courage to ask her," said Zor...Ah...Darcy.
Elizabeth smiled, "They should be very happy together, if they are not too good-natured and let their servants cheat them out of everything."
Chapter 3
That Afternoon
"I have received word that Seņor and Seņora de la Vega shall be joining us in one week. Therefore we will be holding a ball in their honor. I must warn you that, the Spanish are of slightly more relaxed formalities than we are," Mr. Darcy told Elizabeth told Elizabeth. "He, also told me to see if your father would care to come and see him."
"I have no qualms about relaxed formalities, and I am sure my father would love to come. I will write and ask him tonight. And I can not help but agree that a Spanish ball is a wonderful idea."
Little did he know he father had lived in Spain for a few years and had taught her every aspect of the culture. Including the dancing and language."
Just then Georgiana burst into the room, quite breathless, "Mrs. Reynolds informed me of your intention to hold a Spanish ball. I think it is wonderful, so I made an arrangement for us to take a Spanish dancing lesson, tomorrow. Yes, brother, you must come! Lizzy we have to find you a Spanish dress for the Ball. Fitzwilliam brought me some. He is really ever so kind...Oh! We must also find dresses that can flare out for dancing."
So the two young ladies excused themselves from the sitting room and hurried off to find the dresses.
That Night
Elizabeth was in her bedchamber reflecting on her day and thinking how nice Mr. Darcy was acting towards her, but she could not get the handsome bandit, (as she had taken to believing that was what he was. After all, Mr. Darcy never gave her a straight answer.) out of her head. She sighed and thought she should start writing the letter to her father.
Dear Papa,I have arrived safely at Pemberly and I am having a wonderful time. Georgiana and I are getting along famously. Mr. Darcy is being civil to be, actually he is being quite nice.
I trust the family is in good health. I can see it now. Jane is walking around with a huge smile on her face, and Mr. Bingley is at the house all the time.
Well, Papa, I must get to my point for writing. Mr. Darcy has informed me that Seņor and Seņora de la Vega are coming from Spain. They are likely to be staying here for quite a few months.
Seņor de la Vega has expressed a wish to see you, and Mr. Darcy has been kind enough to extend an invitation for you to come to Pemberly.
Write soon and tell me of your decision.
Love always,
Elizabeth
As Elizabeth drifted to sleep she thought about the handsome stranger who could have been Zorro.
Chapter 4
Elizabeth awoke to the sounds of chirping birds and wind blowing though the trees. She turned over and looked at the clock. It was 8:30. Her eyes widened in alarm. The lessons were to start at 9:00am and end at 2:00pm , with a break for lunch in between.
'Oh no!' she thought, 'I have thirty minutes, before I have to be in the ballroom. Wherever that may be!'
Once she had gotten out of bed, Elizabeth called for the lady's maid. As soon as the maid arrived, she helped Elizabeth into her dress. The one she and Georgiana had picked out the other day. When Elizabeth was finally ready, with her hair done in an obvious Spanish style, she looked very beautiful indeed.
(Author's note: This is the dress from the dance thingy, in the movie 'Mask of Zorro'.)
While she had been getting ready, Elizabeth had sent Mrs. Reynolds to get her some breakfast. Luckily this arrived shortly after she was finished getting ready. After she had eaten, she was escorted downstairs to the Ballroom.
Upon arriving, she noticed only Georgiana and the instructor were there.
"Good morning, Elizabeth," said Georgiana cheerfully.
"Good morning, Georgiana," said Elizabeth. "Where is your brother?"
"He will be joining us in about an hour. I believe he had some business with his steward."
"Oh," said a disappointed Elizabeth.
"Okay. We need to start. What do you know about Spanish dancing?" the chubby instructor asked Elizabeth.
Elizabeth had already decided the night before that she would act like a beginner dancer, even though she could have been teaching the class, so she answered, "I have some knowledge."
Then for the next hour they practiced the basic steps, but anyone could tell that Elizabeth knew what she was doing, and Georgiana didn't.
When Darcy finally entered the room, Georgiana was sitting out with a twisted ankle.
He apologized for being late and asked his sister what was the matter.
"Georgiana twisted her ankle, but not badly," Elizabeth answered for her friend. Noting the look of concern on Darcy's face.
Georgiana watched her brother carefully for any looks to Elizabeth. There were thirteen in the first three minutes. Not that she was counting.
The instructor stopped practice and said, "Mr. Darcy you have a great knowledge of Spanish dance, do you not?"
"Yes, I do have knowledge on this," he answered.
"Therefore, you and Miss. Bennet shall dance together, using some beginner dances, even though she is a natural."
At this Elizabeth blushed.
Mr. Darcy took her hand and put his hand on her back. Then she put her arm around his shoulder, and said with a mischievous smile, "Lead on."
After a few dances Darcy and the instructor got the feeling that Elizabeth had danced these before.
The instructor said, "Miss Bennet. You haven't been entirely honest with us have you? You have danced this before."
"Yes I have," Elizabeth replied. "My father taught me at an early age. I did not want to make a fool out of myself, so I did not want to say I was and expert."
"Is that so," said Mr. Darcy. "Car to try something harder?"
"Okay," she said confidently.
The instructor turned to the conductor, and told him to play the trickiest song that both Darcy and Elizabeth knew.
To be continued...