Chapter 1
In New York City, a strange sight could be seen... A vivacious young woman could be seen dancing through Central Park and singing at the top of her lungs. Many people looked at her in wonder, and for two very good reasons.
Number one: She was beautiful. Her brown hair was worn loosely. Red tints glorified her very lively eyes. Everyone felt better just looking at her. She was just so full of life and that was a blessing to all down-trodden, weary New Yorkers.
Number two: Well... it's not everyday when you see a person dancing impulsively in Central Park.
She burst into a modest apartment seven blocks away.
"Jane!"
"Shhhh!!! Not so loud. Mama will hear." Jane Bennet indicated the over-sensitive phone.
"Beep! Oh I hate that odious machine! They trouble my poor nerves so. Dearies! Your dear mother has called to say that you ought to get married by now. Elizabeth, your looks are not going to be permanent if you insist to be an actress during that writer job. Now I don't worry about Jane.. she's always so lovely! However, I want you two to come down to my studio and be a contestant on my "Dating Game"! Now that's the way to catch husbands....." Elizabeth shrugged and gagged at Jane.
Jane smiled, "So... What were you in such a hurry to tell me?"
"Jane! They accepted me to play Beatrice in 'Much Ado About Nothing'!" Jane got up and hugged her sister.
"That's wonderful! I knew you could do it! But Lizzy, what about your writing?"
"Oh, that's all right. It's a light schedule and I will have plenty of time to write!" Lizzy smiled, "Jane, I want to ask you something."
"Yes, Lizzy, what is it?"
"Who is Mr. Charles Bingley?"
"Oh!" Jane blushed, "He's the director at the pre-school. You know, where I work."
"And so I've heard." Lizzy teased. "He's seems interested in you. After all, why else would he call everyday?"
"Lizzy! We're just friends."
"I'm sure. Oh, there's a cast/crew party on Friday night. We can bring family. Here's your ticket." Lizzy tossed the ticket to Jane.
"Thanks! By the way, Lizzy, who's going to play Benedick?"
"Oh, I don't know! I've been so excited to be chosen as Beatrice, I forgot to ask!" Lizzy collapsed on the sofa, totally exhausted.
"Well. We'll find out soon enough anyhow. Come by my office tomorrow, Lizzy, and I'll introduce Mr. Bingley to you and show that we're only friends."
Chapter 2
Tuesday:
The sky was overcast at NYC. Layers of gray and white loomed over the city. Rumbling could be heard, deep and frightening. Then, there was a pause and it opened up.
Lizzy looked up and groaned. She picked up the pace and ran toward 42th Street, again commending herself to not have given up to her mother's insistence on wearing high-heels. Fanny, her mother, was a dear... well, that was an overstatement, but she was also a ball of high-strung nerves. Laughing, she entered a non-descript building.
Smile Pre-School itself was rather charming to all ages. Welcoming curtains and happy children greeted every newcomer. The staff was a different story, depending on who you get to interact with. Mr. Lucas was manager. He was so jolly, so optimistic, so hospitable, so... utterly boring. His daughters, Maria and Charlotte, were attendants, as was Jane Bennet.
It's a strange thing. As soon as Jane got the job here half a year ago, calls came pouring in. Children actually didn't look frightened when they first came.. the word was out that a princess angel had come to take care of them. Mr. Bingley, rather startled that his pre-school was such a success, came down from up-state New York to see the being who made it possible. You can guess what happened in the next few weeks.
And so.. while Lizzy came in thinking about this, She bumped into something very solid.
"Oh! Excuse me!" Lizzy stared at what she'd bumped into. A tall, handsome man was right in front of her. Lizzy guessed his age at 27. He seemed unperturbed.
"It's nothing. Forget it." He seemed to be looking over her shoulder and then walked away.
*Humph! Mr. High-and-Mighty didn't even deign to look at me! What an arrogant boor! So what if I did crash into him?!* Lizzy was furious. She walked stormily into Jane's office.
"Lizzy!" Jane and Bingley jumped away from each other. "Bad day today?"
"Yes. Oh excuse me, Mr. Bingley (Lizzy had read his tag), for scaring you like that." Lizzy smiled and held out her hand. "I'm Jane's sister, Elizabeth. I don't think we've been introduced..."
"Charles, please. That's quite all right. It's a pleasure to meet you at long last! Jane's been talking about you for hours on end and praising you to the skies!" He grinned and chuckled. "Now where's Darcy?"
A man came in.
"Ahh! Darcy, come meet Jane and Elizabeth Bennet. Jane, Elizabeth, this is my good friend, the renowned businessman, William Darcy!" Elizabeth nearly gasped. That was the man that she ran into! How embarrassing!
"Nice to meet you." Darcy smiled uncertainly. That was the pretty lady he saw at Central Park yesterday and in the hall today.
*Now what?!* Darcy and Elizabeth thought at the same time.
Chapter 3
Agh! What am I going to do? Wait... Elizabeth Bennet! You are such an idiot! He hasn't done a thing and you're fretting over it. Stop it before you turn out shrieking like Mother! Elizabeth immediately saw that Bingley and Jane was waiting for her response.
"Yes, Mr. Darcy and I met in the hall." She gave a tight smile at that recollection, then her facial features softened, "However, since we were not properly introduced... Mr. Darcy, it's a pleasure and I'm sorry for that small mishap in the hall."
Darcy shook his head and said in a serious tone, "Err... Ms. Bennet, I'd gladly accept your apologies, but..."
Elizabeth tightened her smile even further, until it was almost a thin line. Her green eyes flashed with warning. Bingley and Jane sensed some sort of tension and kept quiet. But what? I've apologized and WHAT ELSE do you want me to do?! Do you think you're so high-and-mighty, Darcy, that you cannot accept a mere journalist's apologies?
Darcy suddenly smiled and continued, "That 'little mishap' was my fault and you do not need to apologize. Would you accept MY apologies?"
Bingley quietly sighed in relief to himself. He was almost sure Darcy would say something unpleasant and it would not do to make Jane's sister angry. He had heard stories of her temper and took care not to bring his sister, Caroline, to the office with him.
Soon enough, the group went restaurant-scouraging for lunch. The sky had cleared and they all walked in search. Bingley and Jane immediately divulged into another conversation of how their day went... As if they hadn't seen each other for the whole stretch of the morning. Elizabeth and Darcy were left to entertain each other.
Darcy was immediately tongue-tied. He didn't know what to say to Elizabeth. Should he tell her he saw her at Central Park? No, too embarrassing. What are you smiling about? No, too personal. He remembered her little escapade and smiled.
He had had a bad day yesterday. The secretaries were too eager to please him by their appearance than to pay attention to his directions, Caroline visited and hinted.. obscene ideas, the investors were totally unreasonable during the meeting, Rich had called and teased him about his non-existent love-life.... finally he told his secretary to hold all calls, took his walkman, and went to the park.
There, he saw her. As he watched her graceful movements and listened to her singing, he was enchanted. As a hard-headed CEO for nearly 5 years in New York, he ran a tight ship, never allowing himself a vacation break. His company's, Pembrooke Inc., stock had split three times this year after he took full hold on the entire operation. He was a devoted brother to his sister, Ana. Last summer was a complete disaster for them and it pained him to see her sister blame herself for the whole affair. Recently, Ana had written that she hoped, through the guidance of Mrs. Annesley, she would become stronger.
All this had a false side to it, however. He had no time to make friends and lost contact with all others. He put in every hour into his company, the keeping of his estate, and the care of his sister. So when he saw the carefree Elizabeth, her expression made him forget everything and feel complete freedom. He felt that his spirit was finally whole. He felt something for this young woman, but he couldn't call it love because... because... well, who falls in love with someone at first sight anyway? It's rare enough in the 90's, but in New York? Forget it! It exists only in fairy-tales and stories! Darcy! Forget this! It doesn't exist! She's just.... different. That's all! Now say something before we sink into silence! He cleared his throat.
"Ahem, Miss Elizabeth, I hear that Central Park is very pleasant at this time of year."
"Yes, it is, Mr. Darcy." Elizabeth wondered at how this conversation would turn out. No, no... it couldn't be! Did he see her? She looked at him curiously. Darcy looked extremely uncomfortable.
"Some people enjoy danc-- walking in it very much, don't you agree?" Darcy winced at his blunder. Elizabeth's eyes narrowed and flashed.
"I suppose you think that people walking in the park is too passe for you. Hmm? Mr. Darcy? They are too earthy, don't you agree? Why don't they take a cab and choke on exhaust?" Her voice was edged with a steel blade, it slashed through any argument he might form.
"Elizabeth... I didn't mean---" Darcy hesitated, not realizing he used her fist name.
*Oh! A little presumptuous, aren't we?* Elizabeth was furious. Although she liked the sound of his voice saying it, she hated it when courtesy wasn't returned or violated.
"Sometimes, Mr. Darcy, people do not like others speaking of their own behavior. You might want to remember that! Please make my excuses to Charles and Jane. I'm very tired and I need to rest until my rehearsal for a play. Frankly, I'm not hungry. You might think that acting is a low occupation, but the people there are more pleasant than others I've met! Good-bye, Mr. Darcy!" She tossed her head and walked off.
Darcy was left with two very different thoughts:
Her eyes... how they flash when she's angry! They are the most beautiful I've ever seen!.
and
What play?