Drive and Determination, Pride and Prejudice Fanfiction
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Drive and Determination ~ Section IBy KaraLou
Beginning,
Prologue
Posted on Tuesday, 30 August, 2005
Elizabeth Bennet stepped into the white steepled church and looked around her. It was of moderate size and had a warm, inviting atmosphere. Light diffused through the stained glass window at the back of the church, casting its glow among the pews, the altar, and even among the couple that was standing up at the front.
It was dusk and the rehearsal had just begun for her sister's wedding. Jane was about to marry the man of her dreams, Charles Bingley. Elizabeth smiled as she thought back to the excitement in Jane's voice when she called her and told her she had met the most wonderful man. Elizabeth had been skeptical of him at first and wondered of the viability of a relationship with someone her sister had merely met on an airplane and who lived half way across the country from her. They both lived in the city, but Jane lived in Los Angeles and Charles lived in Chicago.
Elizabeth was pleasantly surprised that they made their long distance relationship work. Charles and Jane had dated by way of phone, email, snail mail, and an occasional plane flight. After three months, Jane made the critical decision to move to Chicago to be close to him. She was easily able to secure a transfer within her company and moved. After her move, it seemed to Elizabeth to take them forever to announce their engagement. But they finally did. That was four months ago and tomorrow was the wedding.
As long as Elizabeth could remember, Jane had been considered by everyone she met to be undeniably beautiful. Yet Jane was not one to be affected by it and was oftentimes oblivious to the attention she drew. She was also the kindest person Elizabeth knew. Elizabeth was always grateful for this sister who was also her best friend, and it had been difficult when Jane moved away. Despite their separation, Elizabeth would never have wanted to deny her sister the happiness she found and she was very happy that they were getting married.
It was to be a small but elegant wedding. Elizabeth was to stand up as Jane's maid of honor, two of Jane's college friends were her bridesmaids, and their three younger sisters had various other duties. Mary was to play the piano and Kitty and Lydia were to greet the guests and have them sign the guest book.
Everyone who had a part in the wedding, from the pastor to the seating attendants, had assembled to run through all the elements of the ceremony. The wedding coordinator, Dani Cooper, was very detailed and went over every precise movement, cue, and position to ensure that the wedding would be perfect. Elizabeth wondered if she required perfection for her own sake or for the sake of the bride. Jane was not one to be distraught if someone made a small mistake or if something happened that was not part of the plan. Dani was, therefore, quite put out that the best man had not made a point to be at the rehearsal. He had informed Charles that he would not be able to join the others until some time after the rehearsal. He hoped to arrive during the dinner.
Elizabeth had never met the man, William Darcy, and only knew that he and Charles had long been good friends. He was the president of a family owned coffee company, Pemberleo Coffee, where Charles was a sales manager. Although the two men rarely saw each other outside the office, Jane had informed Elizabeth that Charles held him in the highest esteem and often relied on his wise advice. Elizabeth wondered just how much this man valued his friendship with Charles if he could not even make the time to attend the wedding rehearsal. According to Jane, Charles' sister, Caroline, had permanently elevated him on a lofty pedestal and believed herself to be the wonder of wonders, as she was the only woman he had dated in the past several months.
Dani asked the whole wedding party to come up front and get into position. As Elizabeth watched her sister closely from her vantage point standing at her side, she could see how obviously in love she and Charles were. Elizabeth was suddenly gripped with a fleeting pain in her heart with the realization that her father would have been very delighted in his first son-in-law. He had not, unfortunately, lived long enough to see this day.
Their father died unexpectedly two years ago from a heart attack. His sudden, premature death devastated Elizabeth with grief for well over a year. She and her father had always shared a special bond. She had been his favorite daughter and she greatly admired him.
She blamed his death, however, wholly on his boss, who had unreasonable expectations and continually pushed his workers beyond their capability. She resented the fact that her father's condition was exasperated because of the hours he spent at work and the undue pressure he was put under there.
Elizabeth was convinced that her father's boss was a man who preferred work over his family. Her father, therefore, was expected to work a great deal of overtime and in the end, was able to spend little time with his own family. While she didn't like to admit that he may have actually preferred that -- having to endure a household with 6 women -- she knew that the hours took their toll on him. But she was reassured often of his love for her as he never tired of telling her how special she was in his eyes and that he regretted that they could not spend as much time together. He made vain promises that the overtime would soon cease once this project or that project was completed. But it never was to be and suddenly he was gone.
Elizabeth's way of dealing with his death and her anger toward this all consuming life style that she saw around her, was to move as far away from the big city as possible. She moved north of Los Angeles and found a small college that offered a degree in interior design, something in which she had a great interest.
She was now 21 and looking to finish in another year. She lived about 20 minutes from the college, outside of town in a rented house that overlooked some of the most beautiful sights in the Santa Ynez Valley. Moving here had given her a new perspective on what she wanted out of life, strengthened her conviction about what she didn't want, and filled her with an abundant sense of contentment.
After the rehearsal, as the wedding party and family drove through the suburbs of Chicago to the restaurant, Elizabeth could not help feeling very grateful that it was her sister who met and fell for Charles Bingley and not herself. She could never live here. Her heart ached, though, knowing that with Jane's marriage to Charles, her sister would most likely never again live a relatively easy three hour drive away.
When Jane had moved to Chicago, Elizabeth had hoped that she would eventually return. Not that she hoped she would break up with Charles, but she hoped that perhaps he would choose to bring her back to her home and family and find a job in California. Elizabeth could now only content herself with the fact that it was a three hour plane flight separating the two of them.
At the rehearsal dinner, Elizabeth was seated next to Jane at the head table reserved for everyone in the wedding party while her mother and sisters were seated together at another table. The chair next to Charles was noticeably vacant, as that was to be the chair for his best man. Next to the vacant chair was Charles' sister, Caroline. The meal was finally served and while everyone ate, Elizabeth talked with Charles, teased Jane, and visited with the others at the table and nearby.
She was thoroughly enjoying her meal and the conversation of others and therefore did not notice a gentleman walk quietly into the private room. But she did hear a squeal of delight and turned towards Caroline, watching as she stood up and walked over to the newcomer. Elizabeth narrowed her eyes as Caroline possessively put her hands through his arms and brought him over to the empty seat between her and her brother. He quickly took his seat without offering up any sort of apology for his tardiness.
Elizabeth cast an accusatory first glance at the man, William Darcy, who had been one of the top 50 most eligible bachelors for two years running in a well known publication. She had to admit he was handsome and she was well acquainted with his significant affluence. She knew, however, from what she had read about him and heard about him personally from Jane, he was most likely a man consumed by his work. No doubt he expected nothing short of total dedication from his employees, often at the expense of their families. She felt an all too familiar sense of indignation as she recalled the man who behaved similarly and destroyed her father's life.
As Elizabeth quickly assessed him, she could not help but notice his immaculately tailored imported suit and the way he carried himself with an air of distinction and importance. She thought it curious however, that he avoided any and all unnecessary eye contact with others in the room. Elizabeth immediately recognized the look of someone who felt his time could be utilized more proficiently somewhere other than a wedding rehearsal dinner.
Introductions were made at the head table and she greeted him with a bitter taste in her mouth as she watched Caroline draw him more closely to herself as if warning Elizabeth to keep her distance. Elizabeth almost laughed to think that Caroline most likely did not trust him to make any lady's acquaintance. If she could have, Elizabeth would have told her to her face that she had no interest in a man so wrapped up in himself and his work.
No, Caroline, Elizabeth thought, you need not worry about sending out your little gestures of warning. I have absolutely no interest in this type of man!
As the meal ended, several toasts were offered up and just when Elizabeth thought that everything had been said and everyone would soon be leaving, William Darcy stood up and walked over to the microphone, which had been set up in the center front.
Holding up a glass of champagne, he turned toward the couple. "Charles, my good friend here, is about to venture on a journey that, I do hope and pray, becomes one of great joy for him and his wife."
"Here, here!" someone cried out from the room.
Elizabeth watched him as he took in a deep breath. "I have never met a better man than Charles, and as for his bride, even though I know you only slightly, Jane, I am convinced you are going to make him very happy." Several more cheers rang out, but as Elizabeth watched him, his smile seemed forced, almost as if he was not truly happy about the marriage his friend was entering.
"I do bring you more than my blessing and kind words, though; particularly to you, Charles. But I must add this will undoubtedly affect you as well, Jane." He lifted his glass and eyed Charles with a piercing stare. Everyone listened intently as he continued his speech. "Charles, as a wedding gift to you, although I must admit that I would be offering this to you even if you were not getting married." He paused a moment before announcing, "Charles, I am happy to say that tonight I am giving you a promotion!"
Gasps went up and Elizabeth saw Caroline look with great satisfaction toward her brother.
"Charles," he continued, "I am giving you the position of vice president of sales of Pemberleo Coffee in Guatemala."
Elizabeth heard the words he said, but barely heard her own anguished cry out. "No!"
She glared at the man standing in the front who only turned slightly in her direction to see this young lady, who had been sitting across from him, and who had the gall to utter that dissenting outburst. Several colleagues of Charles gave him a rousting "Congratulations!"
Under the table, Jane took Elizabeth's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze while looking at her husband and giving him an approving smile.
Elizabeth tightened her other hand into a fist. How dare he barge in like this and make this kind of announcement! Who does he think he is that he can control their lives like this and order them out of the country?
Elizabeth took in a deep breath, fighting off the tears. Somehow, she knew that if they were to move to Guatemala, life would never again be the same for her and Jane.
She clenched her teeth as he walked back to the table, accepting the round of thanks from Charles and Jane. Her eyes bore into him and she was quite certain he did not meet her glare because he knew the degree of her anger. She listened in astonishment as people came up and offered their congratulations to the couple. She watched in fury as he leaned back in his chair and finally glanced over at her with a triumphant gleam in his eyes.
As people began to leave that evening, Elizabeth lingered around. She and Jane were going to go out with some female friends to celebrate her last night as a single lady. She had just finished saying goodbye to her family when she felt someone's presence behind her. She turned and found herself staring into the chest of William Darcy. She let out an exasperated sigh and slowly looked up.
"I take it you were not happy with my announcement about Charles' promotion." His eyes met hers and pinned her with a pointed look.
"Jane is my sister and my closest friend. She is about to be married and you are sending them off to Guatemala? How can you do this? They will have enough adjustments as it is without having to move to a completely different culture with a different language."
"I am sorry you feel that way, Miss Bennet."
"It's Elizabeth."
"Elizabeth. But an opportunity like this doesn't come up often. Charles is the best man for the job, he speaks the language fluently, and he knew there was always the possibility that he would go there. I must differ from your assertion that it will be difficult. I like to think of it as an adventure the two of them can enjoy together that will only lead to bigger and better things. Besides, I understand your sister can speak the language well enough to get along."
"Well you don't know my sister! She is very close to her family; at least to me! This is highly unfair of you!"
He was unsure whether he was more angered by her insolence or affected by the magnetizing pull of her eyes. "Certainly you are aware, Elizabeth, that she has lived half way across the country from you for some time now. The distance to Guatemala is miniscule when you consider flying there," he challenged her with a haughty glare.
In provoked anger, Elizabeth's hands gripped together tightly. "If you will excuse me, Jane and I and some friends have plans tonight. And I plan to enjoy this evening, even though you did your very best to ruin it for me, Mr. Darcy!" Tears had pooled in Elizabeth's eyes and she was grateful her sister was wishing some guests a good evening so she could sneak off to the ladies' room and deal with her emotions that were so blatantly displayed across her face.
"It's Will," he said softly as she marched away.
The next day Elizabeth was in no better frame of mind, as her anger at William Darcy had not dissipated. Jane had given her sister reassurances that as long as Charles was happy, she was happy, and that she was actually looking forward to it. Although she told her that it was something that they both had been somewhat expecting, Elizabeth could not look with any pleasure upon it.
As everyone was readying themselves for the wedding, there were several times that Elizabeth found herself having to redo her face because of spilling over tears and running eye makeup. She wished she could honestly say they were tears of joy, but a much stronger, more unpleasant feeling had intruded, all because of one man's announcement.
As the time for the ceremony was finally upon them and they were lining up outside the chapel doors, Elizabeth turned and looked at her sister. She saw how beautiful Jane looked and all she could do was smile. "You are at least five times more beautiful than any bride I have ever seen, Jane." Elizabeth leaned over and kissed her. "I am so very happy for you!"
"Thank you, Elizabeth." Jane looked back at her with a radiant smile. "And I have never seen you more beautiful! Did I not do well in selecting the deep teal for the bridesmaid dresses? I did it for you, you know!"
"For me?"
"I have always thought it to be the best color on you, bringing out the blue in your green eyes."
"This is your wedding, my dearest sister. You were not to make me look good at it!"
"I just thought if there were any irresistible, single men here today, they would not be able to take their eyes off of you! I only wish you could be as happy as I am."
"Jane, I never believed you to be so scheming! You know that I am perfectly content living where I do…and alone!"
"And I am happy, too, Elizabeth. Truly, I am"
Jane and her bridesmaids waited in the hallway outside the chapel. Each young lady had pulled her hair up, allowing one single strand to curl down either side of their face. Jane's gown was a simple white dress with a number of pearl beads sewn throughout. Their uncle, Edward Gardiner, had the honor and privilege of stepping in for their late father and bringing Jane down the aisle on his arm.
The music soon started and the bridesmaids individually began taking slow steps up the aisle. As Elizabeth stepped out, the first person she saw standing up front was William Darcy, who stood tall and rigid next to Charles. A wave of anger clouded her face until she turned her eyes to Charles, who was simply beaming, waiting anxiously for his first glimpse of his bride.
She came down to the front, found her position, and then turned as the bridal march began. She saw Jane begin her promenade up the aisle and at that moment she heard Charles whisper, "She is an angel!" Elizabeth could not help but smile as she proudly watched her sister come toward them.
The ceremony was simple but meaningful. As the couple was declared to be Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bingley, the ecstatic groom leaned over and kissed his wife in a clearly passionate kiss. Elizabeth surmised that his most likely embarrassed sweet, innocent Jane in front of all these people. With a contented smile upon her face as she was contemplating this, she looked past the embracing couple and caught William Darcy's eyes upon her. She felt a warm flush permeate throughout her and she quickly looked away, forcing her attention back to the couple as they walked back down the aisle together. She was so caught up in watching the newlyweds and masking her response to having Will's eyes upon her, that she missed her cue to step toward the center and take his arm, as they were to walk out next.
A clearing of his throat accomplished its goal in securing her attention and she was dismayed to see that he had already stepped toward the center and was waiting for her. She suddenly felt foolish, chiding herself for forgetting these simple instructions Dani had given them yesterday. An unreasonable anger against Will rose in her chest due to the fact that he knew what he was supposed to do when he hadn't even attended the rehearsal.
She looked to him and recognized the condescending look in his eyes and for a brief moment considered bailing, but forced herself to smile derisively, walk toward him, and place her hand around his extended arm. Under his breath, he whispered, "Everyone's eyes are you, now, Elizabeth, so swallow your pride, restrain your anger toward me, and keep smiling."
Her hand inadvertently tightened around his arm at the same moment his arm tensed, allowing her fingers to feel the well muscled arm that was cloaked underneath. They had to stand together, arms linked, until the bride and groom were almost completely down the aisle before they began their exit.
Elizabeth had never before felt so trapped in her whole life as they slowly made their way down the aisle. She looked out as everyone's eyes were upon them smiling and it was all she could do to smile in return. While she wanted to rush out, William kept a very firm grip on her arm and kept a very slow stride. When they finally reached the end of the aisle and stepped out into the hall, Elizabeth quickly let go of his arm and turned to her right, wishing to distance herself from him as speedily as possible.
Later that day at the reception, Elizabeth found herself talking to her friend, Charlotte Lucas. The band played a specially requested song and the bride and groom were asked to come to the dance floor and have a dance together.
"She does look happy, doesn't she, Charlotte?" Elizabeth said to her friend.
"Uncharacteristically so! I have never seen her display such outward expression of joy. She seems quite content!"
They were silent for a moment and then Charlotte continued, "You were quite the envy of many a young lady today, Elizabeth."
"And why is that, Charlotte?"
"William Darcy, of course! I dare say you must find him as irresistible as everyone else does!"
"Irresistible? Heaven forbid! That would certainly present me with a great misfortune, as I am quite determined to despise the man."
Elizabeth noted Charlotte's eyes widen and quickly dart to the side as she finished her sentence. She was therefore, quite stunned when she turned and noticed Will standing next to them.
Barely meeting his eyes with her own, she said, "Yes?"
"They are calling the wedding party to the dance floor to join Charles and Jane. I believe this is our dance."
"I… uh…" The last thing she wished to do was dance with this man. She should have anticipated having to dance with him at the reception, but it had not even crossed her mind. Turning to Charlotte and giving her a pathetic look of dismay, she extended her hand to Will. He grasped it and led her to the dance floor.
They danced for some time in silence and Elizabeth was quite resolved not to break it, which was highly uncharacteristic for her. It seemed to her that Will was content to just dance and she suddenly decided it would be much more fun for her and punishment for him to break that silence.
"Was it truly necessary for you to send Charles and Jane down to Guatemala?"
She felt his arm tighten around her back as he easily moved around the dance floor. He pulled back and looked at her with one prominently raised eyebrow. "You like to be confrontational as a rule while you are dancing?"
"Only when I am dancing with someone whose actions I strongly disagree with. And since we have nothing else in common, if I did not speak of that, heaven forbid, we would dance entirely without speaking a word to one another."
He seemed at a loss for words, but only for a short while. "And do you think you know how to run a business so that it utilizes people gifts and talents for the benefit of the company?"
Now it was Elizabeth's turn to pull away. "Benefit of the company? What about the benefit of the employee? Do you ever consider that?"
"There are things about running a successful business that you do not understand, Elizabeth."
"And there are things about consideration for others that you don't understand!"
The effect was immediate. A deeper shade of hauteur overspread his features but he said not a word. For the rest of the dance, they each remained silent and angry with each other.
As the song came to an end, however, Elizabeth realized that this was the first time she had ever danced in perfect union with a man. She had not given one thought to her steps as he led her about the floor. She attributed it to his being an excellent dancer, but she decided to make one final statement.
As the final note of the song was played, Elizabeth planted her foot firmly and decisively on his. They stepped apart and she looked at him. "I'm so sorry," she said sarcastically and turned and walked away.
Later, Elizabeth slipped away to the ladies room. Walking back through the hall outside the reception area, she stopped in front of a small table that she had passed several times that day. It was situated in front of a mirror and each time she had walked past, she had fought the overwhelming urge to rearrange the items that were displayed upon it. This time she acquiesced to that impelling force within her. Picking up a vase of flowers, she moved it back a few inches while bringing a dish of potpourri up and to the right. Tilting her head and narrowing her eyes as she looked at it, she still felt something was not right. She took one of three candles and brought it towards the center and to the right. Stepping back, she looked at it and felt quite pleased.
She blamed her keen eye for placement in design for this propensity of hers as she felt a strong sense of restlessness if things were not arranged properly. Her biggest enticement was items on a table that she could easily rearrange. Poorly placed pictures and décor on walls was much more difficult for her to discreetly rearrange. As she looked at the table with a sense of contentment, she heard two men talking who were just around the corner of the hall. She knew immediately that one of them was William Darcy.
“So are you and Caroline a serious thing?" asked someone unknown to her. "Do I hear wedding bells for the two of you?”
Darcy had let out a huff. “Marriage is not something I have the time to think about at this stage in my life.”
“And what about Caroline? Is she quite content to put up with your long hours and busy schedule?”
“She understands the demands of running a successful business.”
“You bet she does!" The man let out a hearty laugh. "And she understands all the benefits, too. She is lavished with all the gifts that you bestow on her to make up for your absence.”
As Elizabeth heard this, she laughed to herself, as that was exactly the way she imagined their relationship was.
“It’s not like that,” countered Darcy.
“Sure it’s not,” the other voice said sardonically. "Heavens, Darcy, you have women falling at your feet! Why settle for just one? Particularly that one!"
Elizabeth was about to walk on when she heard her name mentioned. “You know, if I were not already married, I would do my best to attract Jane’s sister’s attention. Now that’s one fine looking lady, that Elizabeth, don’t you agree? You looked stunning together out on the dance floor.”
“Hmmph. She’s tolerable I suppose. There’s nothing noticeably striking about her.”
Elizabeth's eyebrows shot up. She found herself frozen to the spot, wishing to move away as quickly as possible, but unable to do so as the men's footsteps grew closer.
“Only tolerable?" the other man laughed. "Nothing striking about her? Come, William.”
“She’s just a naďve, opinionated little girl who lives in an idealistic world, thinking that everything revolves around her. She lives in a fantasy where friends and family are never separated. She has no idea what running a business entails and should keep her ignorant opinions to herself!”
Before Elizabeth could even respond to what she heard, the two men turned the corner of the hallway where she was standing and they found themselves face to face with the object of their conversation. The look she flashed them gave them both the impression that she had overheard everything. Silence seemed to overtake everyone and Elizabeth archly walked past them, with not so cordial feelings toward the man building up within her. Consequently, neither Elizabeth nor Will spoke to one another again for the rest of the day and it would be two years before they would ever see each other again.
Chapter 1 - Chicago, Two Years Later
Posted on Friday, 2 September 2005
Elizabeth Bennet's hands were shaking as she tried to put on the finishing touches of her makeup. It suddenly seemed a trivial thing to have to do. Everything now seemed inconsequential and meaningless. Her eyes were red from endless tears. She had very little motivation to do much of anything since she had received the news and now, when she felt completely inadequate, she was expected to give a eulogy.
Charles and Jane had been driving on a highway during a rain storm and their car skidded off the road. There was no one else involved and because of the poor visibility that night, very little information about how it happened could be gleaned from the few eyewitnesses. The car had overturned twice and by the time an ambulance had come and they were taken to a hospital, both were gone.
Elizabeth closed her eyes tightly, deciding that people would have to accept her red and swollen eyes and tear-stained face. They would have to accept her shaking hands and quivering voice. She felt that any eulogy she gave would never be able to do Jane justice, and even though she felt completely incompetent to give her the kind of eulogy she deserved, Elizabeth knew she had to do it. She had to tell the world what a wonderful sister Jane had been to her.
Her aunt, Maddy Gardiner, tapped lightly on the bathroom door. "Are you about ready, Lizzie?"
Elizabeth swallowed. "Yes, Aunt. I'll be right there."
She gave her long, dark, rich brown hair one last thorough brushing and opened the door. Looking at her aunt, she gave her a slight shrug of her shoulders. "I guess that's about as good as I can make myself look."
As tears filled her eyes again, Maddy pulled her close. "You poor girl. You have been through so much these past few years; first losing both your father and now dearest Jane and her husband." She pulled her away and looked at her. "Are you quite certain you want to read the eulogy? You know your uncle or the pastor would be more than happy to read the words you have written in your place."
"No, no. I must do this for Jane." Elizabeth took a deep breath.
"Come, then, Lizzie. Your mother and sisters are ready and the limousine that Mr. Darcy sent for us has arrived to take us to the church."
Elizabeth felt her heart grip with anger at just the mention of his name. Mr. Darcy, the high and mighty president of Pemberleo Coffee, who was responsible for sending Jane and her husband, Charles, down to Guatemala in the first place. Mr. Darcy, who was supposed to be a close friend of Charles, but made the dictatorial decision to send the newlyweds down there to live immediately after their marriage, thereby separating Elizabeth from her beloved sister, dearest friend, and closest confidant. Mr. Darcy, who thought only of his business and gave no consideration as to what either Charles or Jane wanted; and now, because of that decision, they were both gone. Mr. Darcy, who put his business first, and woe to anyone who countered him. Mr. Darcy, whose disparaging remark two years ago still stung.
Elizabeth found herself gritting her teeth thinking back to all he represented to her.
She shuddered in contempt as she considered that this man's means of showing his devotion for his supposedly good friend and compassion to the grieving family was merely to provide the limousine for them and order a large floral display for the funeral.
Elizabeth shook her head. No, most likely he had his secretary order it.
He was giving the eulogy for Charles and she imagined he would be very good at it. He would be very businesslike, unemotional, and detached. Elizabeth had very little gratefulness in her heart for the meager, superficial actions of this man.
Elizabeth came downstairs and joined her mother and younger sisters, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia. The family had come to Chicago, where the funeral was being held. This was where Jane and Charles had lived before getting married and only briefly as man and wife before they set out for Guatemala. The Bennets had all been flown out and put up in a hotel, at the expense of Pemberleo Coffee and Mr. William Darcy.
When Jane had moved to Chicago several years ago, Elizabeth missed her terribly and even more so when she and Charles had moved to Guatemala. She had seen her only three times in the two years they lived down there and that was only when they came to the states on extended visits.
How she wished she had taken the time to visit the Bingleys in Guatemala. But she never had and now she would never again have the opportunity to see Jane in the country that had become her home these past two years.
When Elizabeth came downstairs to the lobby, her uncle drew her into a hug. "Now, Elizabeth, just say the word and I'll do the eulogy for you. I think Jane would be pleased simply that you wrote such a moving tribute to her."
"No, but I thank you, Uncle. If I don't do this, I know later on I will regret it."
He took her by the hand, patting it. "You'll do just fine, Elizabeth. I know you will."
"Thank you," she said softly.
They walked out to the stretch limousine and Elizabeth could not help but notice the somewhat stifled "Wow!" uttered by her youngest sister, Lydia, as the door was opened for them. Elizabeth turned to make a retort to her for her thoughtless reaction, but stopped, reminding herself that Lydia was only 17 and still very immature. And her sister was so different from herself and Jane that she knew the young girl's grief did not reach the depths of her like it did Elizabeth.
Elizabeth could not help but wonder, as well, of her mother's grief. While she had initially cried, Elizabeth now saw her display very little emotion. The only difference in Mrs. Bennet's demeanor was that she was more subdued than normal. Elizabeth wondered how to even reach out to her. But she and her mother had never been close and hoped that one of her other sisters would be there for her.
They all settled into the spa...
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