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Posted on Sunday, 4 March 2007
Happily, there was an immortal wizard who knew both persons and cared about them, but he didn’t expose his real identity to either of them. The wizard was a confidant to the man and was sad his friend led an unsatisfying life. When the man died at forty-one, he vowed when he met his friend’s soul mate, he would unite them. The wizard waited for two hundred and eleven years before meeting her.
The young woman was indeed his friend’s soul mate. She was very much like him and was in the same situation as his friend was, for she was looking for love. The young woman was tired of being lonely.
The wizard, in hopes of seeing his friend and this young woman happy, intervened. In his house one night he put a spell on a locket and on the young woman. After the spell was cast, he put the locket in a box and sent in to a pawn shop in England. The wizard was smiling for he knew his plan would be in motion really soon.
An ordinary American college student on Spring Break usually goes to Cancun, Mexico, Florida, or California where they could go to a beach; get a tan, party while drinking a lot. However, Elizabeth Bennet and Ellen Larson wanted to spend their last Spring Break in England rather than the same old spot in Miami, Florida they went to for the last four years. Lucky, their good friend, Peter Anderson gave them two round trip tickets as pre-graduation surprise.
Both Elizabeth and Ellen longed to go to England, but Elizabeth more so. She has always been fascinated in the country not only because it had many historical places, but her favorite writers and playwright lived there. They did visit the usual tourist sites such as The Tower of London, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey, but they went outside London. Elizabeth insisted they travel to Stratford-Upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. She had a field day. They saw Anne all five Shakespeare Properties; Hathaway’s cottage, Shakespeare's Birthplace, Hall's Croft , Nash's House / New Place and Mary Arden's House.
The Next day, Ellen decided they needed to go to the County Derbyshire to tour a five hundred year-old mansion she saw online called Pemberley Mansion. Ellen knew Elizabeth would appreciate the place since it is in the country because she grew up on a horse ranch in Texas. So they drove to Derby early in the morning and checked into a hotel before heading to the mansion. After they put their suitcases in their rooms, While Elizabeth was freshening up; Ellen went down stairs to ask the desk clerk if she had the correct directions she printed off of her computer.
“Yes, you have the right direction,” the dark haired young man told her. “It’s five miles out of Derby. Pemberley is the finest estate around these parts. The best thing is there aren’t many tourists visiting the mansion, so you and your friend will get a private tour of Pemberley.”
“How much will the tour cost?” Ellen inquired.
“Four pounds each,” he replied. “The Dashwood family likes to keep the cost to a relatively low rate.”
She laughed and said, “Universities’ school boards need to learn from these people. Colleges’ tuition rates are getting higher every year.”
Elizabeth walked to the desk and told her friend, “I’m ready. Have you got the right information?”
“Yes,” Ellen replied to her and then said to the clerk, “thanks.”
“No problem,” he answered, smiling. “I was pleased to help. Enjoy your tour of Pemberley mansion”
“I’m sure we will,” she said. After Ellen told him goodbye, she and Elizabeth left the hotel and got in their rental car and headed towards Pemberley Mansion.
When they arrived, the beauty of the estate overwhelmed Elizabeth. There were gorgeous trees surrounding the mansion and on the left side there was a good size lake. The grounds were neatly maintained and well cared for. The mansion itself was beautiful and grand. It was made out of brown brick and was three stories high. Elizabeth thought there had to be at least a hundred and twenty rooms total.
“Whoa,” was all Elizabeth could say.
Ellen smiled knowing she chose the prefect place to tour. She grabbed Elizabeth’s hand and pulled along with her towards the ticket booth and paid for their tickets. When they entered, a pretty dark-haired tour guide named Ann met them.
“Welcome to Pemberley Mansion,” She said in a cheerful voice and the she gave them brochures. “Feel free to read along while we go through the rooms.”
The first room Ann showed Ellen and Elizabeth was the drawing room. “This is where the Darcy women would be for most of the day, doing their needle pointing or reading,” she told them.
Ellen was confused and asked, “I thought this estate was own by a family called Dashwood.”
“They do now,” Ann answered. “But the Dashwood family never really live here, so that’s why we still have the Georgian Era furniture.”
“When did the Dashwood family get Pemberley,” Elizabeth wanted to know.
Ann replied, "From 1506 to 1811 Pemberley belonged to the Darcy family. Sir John Darcy’s only son never married or had children son when Sir John Darcy died, his daughter Georgiana and her husband Harry Dashwood inherited Pemberley. It’s sad because Sir John out lived his son.”
“How did his son died?” Elizabeth asked.
“They say from pneumonia,” Ann answered and then added, “but I really believed he gave up on life because he was tired of feeling lonely all the time.”
I know all too well how he felt, Elizabeth thought to herself.
“Well, let’s go to the music room,” Ann told them.
Ellen and Elizabeth followed her to room-to-room without talking, just taking the splendor of the rooms and appreciating the paintings on the walls and the beautiful antique furniture. When they went up stairs, they went into bedrooms that weren’t closed to the public. Then Ann showed them to the portrait gallery. Elizabeth went down a full wall of portraits, only looking at each of them for a few second but when she saw a particular portrait, she couldn’t take her eyes of it.
It was a portrait of a good-looking, dark-haired man with beautiful brown eyes. He looked about her age; well, maybe a little bit older. The man was wearing the Georgian fashion with a white shirt under a tan vest and a dark green coat tail jacket, Darcy pair of pants and Darcy knee high boots. He was standing up with a cane with a brown back drop.
Elizabeth couldn’t help staring at him. It was as though they were connected somehow. Elizabeth saw this man’s sad expression on his face and it broke her heart. She noticed his eyes didn’t have the sparkle to them like she thought they should.
Ann came walking up behind Elizabeth making her jump.
“I’m so sorry for scaring you,” Ann told her and then looked up at the portrait Elizabeth was studying so hard. “Ah, I see you found Sir John’s son, Fitzwilliam’s portrait. He was handsome looking man, wasn’t he?”
Elizabeth looked back at the portrait and said, ”He was indeed.”
“This portrait was painted when he was twenty-five,” Ann said. “They say when Fitzwilliam died at forty-one, he aged a lot.”
“Oh, poor Fitzwilliam,” Elizabeth said softly in a sad voice.
“Well, shall we go to the gardens?” Ann asked.
“Yes, please,” Ellen answered. “I promised my mother to take more garden pictures and e-mail them to her. She loves all of the pictures of the flowers I took while I was here.”
“Then she won’t be disappointed,” Ann told her. ”Pemberley has some lovely roses in England.”
Elizabeth didn’t hear their conversation because her attention was on Fitzwilliam’s portrait. Even though she didn’t meet him, she felt like she knew him. Elizabeth wished she could help how, but she knew it was impossible because Fitzwilliam died so long ago.
Ellen grabbed her hand and yanked her away from the portrait and out of the room.
Ellen and Elizabeth followed Ann outside to the gardens. Ellen was the one who really enjoy looking at the flowers and shrubberies because Elizabeth was still thinking about Fitzwilliam rest of the afternoon.
After they left Pemberley and returned to Derby, Ellen and Elizabeth decided to walk around. Fifteen minutes later Elizabeth and Ellen entered a pawn shop. Few minutes later a silver heart-shape locket in the display case caught Elizabeth’s eye. She asked the owner if she could see it. He took it out and handed it to her.
“It’s really pretty,”’ Elizabeth said.
“Yes, it is” Ellen said.
The man replied. “The oddest thing is I don’t remember buying it from anyone. It was in a box on my display case two weeks ago. I’m not complaining because I don’t have to pay for it. The locket isn’t an ordinary locket.”
“What do you mean?” Elizabeth asked.
“Open it,” he told her.
When she did she realized there weren’t places to put pictures, but instead there an inscription.
Elizabeth read it aloud. “Two souls, two times, unite.”
“What does that mean?” Ellen wondered.
“I don’t know,” Elizabeth said, then turning to the owner and asked, “How much is the locket?”
The man said, “Since I didn’t buy it, you can have it for free.”
“No, I insist to pay something,” Elizabeth told him.
“How about ten pound,” he asked.
“Okay,” Elizabeth replied getting out her wallet from her purse and got out the money and handed to him.
A moment later, Elizabeth and Ellen left the shop. Elizabeth was looking at the locket while she was crossing a street and didn’t see the car. Ellen tried to save her before it hit her but it was too late. When then car hit Elizabeth she fell on the hood then fell to the street a hit her head so hard that she lost consciousness.
Noises of birds chirping and the sun shining through the window woke up Elizabeth. She had an enormous headache and with her eyes still closed, she put her hand to her forehead and felt a bandage on it.
“Oh, what happened?” Elizabeth said aloud and then called.
“Ellen?”
The person who spoke wasn’t Ellen. A male voice said, “Ah, you are finally awake. I have been watching you all yesterday afternoon and all last night.”
Elizabeth’s eyes popped open and she saw a man about sixty wearing Georgian era clothes and a powder wig. She asked, “Who are you?”
“I’m Bill Horton,” he said. “I’m the Darcy’s’ physician. Now that you are awake, please tell me your name and where are you from.”
“I’m Elizabeth Bennet,” she replied, still looking at him and wondering what was going on. “I’m from America.”
She stopped looking at him and looking around and realized she was in a bed of a bedroom at Pemberley that she just saw. Elizabeth didn’t know why she was there because she and Ellen went back to Derby. The last thing she remembered was crossing the street while looking at the locket.
I was hit by a car, she realized. Out loud she asked, “How did I get here?”
“You jumped in front of Sir John Darcy’s horses and carriage,” Dr. Horton began and then said, “you fell down on the ground and hit your head hard that you were knock unconscious. Since no one claimed to know you, Sir John brought you back here to Pemberley Mansion and sent for me to care for you.”
Elizabeth’s head was swimming as she listened to Dr. Bill Horton. What he was telling her was impossible.
“Did Ellen do this?” Elizabeth asked. “Is this a joke?”
“I don’t know who you are talking about, Miss Bennet,” he told her. “No, this isn’t a joke.”
“So you aren’t a reenact person, like we have where they reenactments the events of the Civil war and they play important people and soldiers?” she asked.
“No, Madam,” Dr. Horton answered. “I’m really Bill Horton.”
Elizabeth was confused and asked, “So it isn’t the year 2007?”
Dr. Horton let out a little laugh and said, “Heavens, no! It’s 1795.”
Someone entered before Elizabeth could say anymore. The dark-haired man that came in was around fifty and was wearing a white shirt under a light blue vest and a dark blue coat tail jacket, Darcy pair of pants and Darcy knee high boots.
The man walked to the foot of the bed and smiled then said, “I’m glad you are awake. I’m Sir John Darcy and you are?”
Elizabeth was so stunned to answer him. It was so incredible. This man really did look like Sir John from the portrait of him she saw yesterday. He could the real Sir John, could he?
Dr. Horton answered for her. “This is Miss Elizabeth Bennet from America.”
Sir John said to Elizabeth, “I feel terrible about what happened. You are welcome to stay until you are well. Could I get someone for you?”
“I want my friend, Ellen Larson please?”
Sir John asked, “Is she at the Red Bull Inn in Derby?”
“No,” she said. “She is at the Express by Holiday Inn Derby.”
Sir John and Dr. Horton looked at each with confused looks. Sir John looked back at Elizabeth and said, “I will do my best to find your friend.” Then he turned to Dr. Horton and asked, “May I talk to you in the hall?”
“Yes, sir,” Dr. Horton answered. He turned to Elizabeth and said, “Stay in bed and relax.”
When the two men went in the hall, Sir John said, “Miss Bennet seemed confused.”
“Yes, sir,” Dr. Horton replied. “She must have had hit her head harder then I thought. She asked me the oddest questions. Miss Elizabeth Bennet didn’t know the year.”
“I’m going to Derby this afternoon,” Sir John announced. “To see I can find this Ellen Larson person.”
“What if you don’t find her?” Dr. Horton asked.
“Then we keep Miss Bennet until she is better and then if she wants to go home, we will put her on the boat to America,” he replied. “I feel responsible for her.”
With that Sir John walked away from him and went down stairs and Dr. Horton returned to his very confused patient.
Posted on Monday, 12 March 2007
After a six month stay in London, Fitzwilliam Darcy returned to Pemberley. He dreaded returning to his father’s home because his stepmother, Marlena and he never got along. Fitzwilliam always felt his father loved Marlena and his half sister, Georgiana more than him. He thought after his mother, Lady Anne died after childbirth John didn’t want to spend time with him because maybe his father blamed him for her death. Then Fitzwilliam wondered what his mother would have said to John marrying Marlena after eight months of her passing and doting on his daughter more than him. It is not Fitzwilliam didn’t love his sister, Georgiana, but he wished John would have treated them equally. He knew his stepmother was to blame for his lack of closeness to his father, not Georgiana.
Even though he was the heir to Pemberley estate Fitzwilliam never considered it as his home and it was all thanks to Marlena. Somehow she persuaded John to send a three-year-old Fitzwilliam to their London townhouse with his nurse, Mrs. Younge and then to Eton when he was of age and after Eton Fitzwilliam went to Cambridge University. The only parts of the year he came to Pemberley were at Christmastime and in the summer. He missed the past Christmas because his best friend Peter asked him to spend Christmas with his fiancée, Sophia and him. Since Fitzwilliam was certain only Georgiana would miss him, his took up Peter’s offer. Fitzwilliam wanted to have a fun Christmas instead of a dismal one. He did enjoy himself, but he missed his sister.
Two weeks ago, Georgiana wrote Fitzwilliam and begged him to visit her at Pemberley because she longed to see him. Since Marlena forbid her from going to London even with a sensible chaperone, Fitzwilliam decided to come to Georgiana and endure his wicked stepmother for a while. Georgiana and he loved each other and no one could ruin a kind of sister-brother relationship they had.
Fitzwilliam had a feeling there was something else for Georgiana asking him to come to Pemberley. An engagement perhaps to Harry Dashwood. Now that would be a joyous occasion. Harry was a good young man who loved Georgiana and he knew Georgiana loved Harry. Thank God George Wickham was out of his sister’s life because he caused her nothing but pain. Harry was the perfect for Georgiana and Fitzwilliam would be proud to have him as a brother-in-law.
Now if I could find my perfect match, Fitzwilliam thought. Well, I need to stop thinking about that. I have plenty of time to find my soul mate. I’m just twenty-five.
Shaking his head to make his thoughts come back to the moment in hand and then gave a tongue click to his horse, Victor to make him go again from the hill he stopped to look down at Pemberley before ridding down. When Fitzwilliam reached the stables and handed Victor one of the stable boy to unsaddle him, brush and feed him. After that Fitzwilliam headed towards the mansion.
Not two seconds after the butler let Fitzwilliam in, Georgiana ran up to him and he scoop her up in his arms and twirled her around, making her laugh.
After Fitzwilliam put his sister down he said, smiling, “It’s so good to see you, Georgiana. I missed you!”
“Oh, brother, I’m so glad you came,” Georgiana said excitingly. “You will never guess what happened.”
Not bothering to guess Fitzwilliam asked “What happened?”
“Father’s horses and carriage ran into a young woman yesterday evening in Derby and now she is staying here,” she answered.
“That’s terrible, Georgiana,” he told her looking surprised she was happy this poor lady had been run over by a team of horses.
“I know, but at least I might get to know someone new,” Georgiana replied. “The lady is also An American.”
Fitzwilliam gave a little smile for she didn’t have many female friends because Marlena thought Georgiana could do better making female friends in London than around there. Georgiana didn’t like girls in London, but Marlena always tried to introduce them to her
“Well, I hope you and her become fast friends,” Fitzwilliam told and smiled after he remembered something Georgiana said. “Oh, no, I bet Marlena isn’t thrilled having her here since she hates any American. She calls them savages,”’ Fitzwilliam said. “Pray, what colony-uh state is she from?”
“I don’t know,” Georgiana said, honestly.
“What is her name?”
“Elizabeth Bennet,” she answered.
“Well, I hope Miss Bennet will be okay,” Fitzwilliam said.
“Miss Bennet seems okay enough to demand she go with your father to search for her friend,” Marlena informed them, coming down the staircase. “Now you are here, Fitzwilliam you can help your father and that American look for her friend.”
“What? No how are you? No welcome home?” he asked.
“Please help Miss Bennet and Father,” Georgiana pleaded.
Fitzwilliam sighed and said, “Fine. I will have the stable men hook up a team of horse to one of father’s carriages and meet them outside.”
With that Fitzwilliam left the house.
Waiting for Sir John at the bottom of the stairs, Elizabeth still feels like she was dreaming although she pinched herself ten times. Sometimes Elizabeth would closed her eyes, hoping she would be in her hotel in 2007, but when she opened them she was still in Pemberley mansion and in the year everyone claimed to be 1795. Elizabeth felt like she was in a Jane Austen’s novel. She was wearing one of a servant’s dresses Georgiana borrowed since none of her dresses would fit Elizabeth. She had to put on under garments and a petticoat with the dress. She managed to avoid the corset because she hid it when the waiting maid was not looking and there wasn’t time to get another one because Sir John was in a hurry.
Now while waiting for Sir John Elizabeth began to wonder what she would do if she didn’t find Ellen and what if she was really stuck in the late eighteenth century. Grant it Elizabeth loved this time period but never in a million she would had ever thought she would accidentally time travel to the time. She didn’t even know it was possible.
Whoa, Elizabeth, she told herself. You don’t for sure you are in Georgian era England. Maybe Ellen is playing an elaborated joke in you. Then again this wasn’t possible to arrange all of this. You just ride to Derby with Sir John and see if the village and its people have changed. If people are wearing Georgian era clothes and riding in carriages or on horseback, then you will know for sure you are in the past.
“Uh, my head hurts again,” Elizabeth murmured to herself, putting a hand on the right side of her forehead where the white bandage was.
A male voice asked, “Are you sure you are up to travel, Miss Bennet?”
Elizabeth looked up at Sir John and said, “Yes, sir. I’m quite up to it. I want to find my friend and a bump on the head won’t stop me.”
Sir John looked bewildered and said, “I didn’t realize American women were so strong willed.”
“We are, especially the southern woman,” she replied.
“Well, I will never to let Georgiana go to America,” he said. She is too headstrong for me already. Well, we should be going if we want to get back in time for supper. My son, Fitzwilliam is waiting impatiently in the carriage for us.”
“Your son is coming too?”
“Yes,” Sir John replied, taking hold of her right elbow to guide her towards the door and led her out. “He just returned for London after a six month absence from Pemberley.”
When they got outside, a footman opened the carriage door for them. When Fitzwilliam saw Elizabeth he helped her in by holding her hand as she was getting in. when Elizabeth sat down across from him, Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth smiled at each other, glaring at one another. When Sir John got in and sat down next to Fitzwilliam, he introduced them.
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet, this is my son, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy,” he said. “Son, this is Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Bennet,” the handsome dark-haired man said, smiling.
“It’s nice meeting you, too, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth told him, knowing from books and movies in the Georgian period, it was improper to call a person by only their first name. If they are the oldest or the only one gender if each sex people call them Mr. or Miss plus their last name and if they have sisters and brothers, they are called Mr. and Miss plus their first name.
“Well, then let’s go shall we?” Sir John asked. After both Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth nodded he shouted out of the window, “Drive on, James!”
When they arrived in Derby, they began to search for Ellen. For hours they asked people in inns, bars, shops, bakery, and food markets, but one body saw the person who fit Elizabeth’s description.
At the end Elizabeth felt even more lost and confused than she already had. She could see she was in the Georgian era. She saw no cars, no electric poles nothing from the twenty-first century. What was worse it looked like Elizabeth was in the century by herself. Apparently Ellen remained in their time and she came here.
God, what happened? She wondered, starting to cry. Why am I here? How do I go back to my time? What will happen to me? Will I see Mama, Daddy or Joy again?
Fitzwilliam heard Elizabeth crying and he walked away from the man he was talking to and went to her. In a gentle voice he said, “Everything will be okay, Miss Bennet.”
Elizabeth sniffed and shook her head then said, “No, everything will not be okay.”
He couldn’t help himself; he pulled Elizabeth in his arms in held her as she cried.
Posted on Monday, 12 March 2007
When Elizabeth returned to her room after supper, servants brought a wooden bath tub up that they put behind a screen. They also brought up two large pitchers of hot water they poured into the tub. Elizabeth asked them to wait on the other side of the screen while she bathed. She knew they were doing their jobs, but she needed some privacy to herself. She undressed and when she was naked she entered.
As Elizabeth began to wash herself, she thought about her situation and how she would deal until she found a way back to 2007. She figured out the locket brought here, but she hadn’t been alone by herself since she woke up to try to go back. Tonight when she was in bed and when her waiting maids to retire to their own beds, she would read the inscription again, perhaps backwards. If the locket cannot bring Elizabeth back to her time, she would find another way.
Well, thank God my major is history, Elizabeth told herself. I’m also glad I watched and read novels that were set in this period, so I know how to act and what not to do. My history books had the events and the outcomes, but they don’t cover customs, except when talking about the Islam religion. Thank God my favorite books are set in this period. All I need to do is to pretend I’m a character in one of the books and then I will fine. I just wish Ellen came with me.
Fifteen minutes later, Elizabeth got out of the tub and dried herself off with a towel a waiting maid put on a chair near the tub. Moments later, the two waiting maids came to help her put a white nightgown on and braid her long wet hair. She couldn’t help but feeling like a baby when they were dressing her and fixing her hair because she wasn’t used to being waiting on.
When they were finally gone, Elizabeth sat on the edge of the bed with her heart-shaped locket. “Okay. It says, ‘Two souls, two times, unite,’ so what if I say, ‘Two souls, two times, separate’ maybe that will work.”
Elizabeth closed her eyes and thought about her time and family in Texas then said, “Two souls, two times, separate.” When she opened her eyes she was disappointed. Elizabeth was still in the guest bedroom at Pemberley.
Maybe if I focus on the twenty-first century England and not my family in Texas, Elizabeth thought.
“Okay,” she murmured to herself, closing her eyes again, her thoughts on England in twenty-first century. “Two souls, two times, separate.” Elizabeth had her eyes closed for a long while, hoping it would help. A knock on the door made her jump, making her eyes open.
I’m still here, Elizabeth thought. She sighed and said, “Come in.”
The door opened and Georgiana entered carrying a dark green dress with long sleeves.
“Hello,” Georgiana said, smiling. “I’m glad you aren’t asleep. I borrowed another dress from Emily for you to wear tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Miss Darcy,” Elizabeth said. “I feel bad about you borrowing dresses from Emily for me.”
After Georgiana put the dress in the closet and walked toward Elizabeth and sat on the bed next to her, she replied, “Emily doesn’t mind. She is very sweet. She and I are secret friends.”
“Why secret?” Elizabeth asked.
Georgiana sighed and said, “Mamma disapproves of me having friends who aren’t in my class.”
“Ah, I see,” Elizabeth told her. “I’m sorry.
“It’s okay,” Georgiana replied. “Hey I’m supposed to be the one telling you I’m sorry. I cannot believe your friend; Ellen just disappeared and left you.”
“I know, but I don’t blame her,” Elizabeth said.
“Well, you are a better friend than I would be,” Georgiana told her. There were a couple of minutes of silence and then Georgiana asked, “Forgive me, but I must ask, why are you in England?”
“We just wanted to see England, so we decided to travel here,” Elizabeth answered, honestly.
“Boy, your parents must trust you to travel all the way here on a ship for months,” Georgiana said in awe. “I bet you miss them.”
Elizabeth nodded and said sadly, “Yes, I miss my parents and my four sisters, especially Jane.”
“Don’t worry, Miss Bennet,” Georgiana told her. “You will see them again, but until then we will take care of you.”
There was a knock on the door and Elizabeth called the person in. Both females were surprised when Fitzwilliam came in, but Georgiana more so than Elizabeth.
“Fitzwilliam Darcy!” Georgiana exclaimed. “You know better than to entered a young woman’s bedroom.”
“I know, but father sent me to get you, so Miss Bennet could go to sleep,” he explained. “Miss Bennet must be tired after today.”
“Are you tired, Miss Bennet?” Georgiana asked.
“Well, I’m-,” Elizabeth began and said truthfully, “Yes, I am.”
“Georgiana, I told father I would take you and Miss Bennet to the village to shop for dresses, shoes, and bonnets since Miss Bennet doesn’t have any clothes of her own,” Fitzwilliam informed her.
“Oh, Fabulous!” Georgiana said happily.
Fitzwilliam told her, “But I will only take you if you let Miss Bennet sleep.”
Sighing Georgiana said, “Okay, Fitzwilliam.” She got up from the bed and walk to the door. Before leaving she told her, “Good night, Miss Bennet.”
Elizabeth answered back, “Good night, Miss Darcy.”
Fitzwilliam watched his sister go and then turned to Elizabeth and she said, “I’m sorry for breaking down. I was overwhelmed.”
Fitzwilliam said, “Please don’t apologize, Miss Bennet. Crying is a natural thing when you don’t know what happened to the only person you know and when you are in a different country.”
And a different time period, she thought.
“Besides, it isn’t everyday I can comfort a beautiful woman like yourself,” he said, smiling.
Elizabeth didn’t know what to say, but she smiled and blushed.
“Sweet dreams, Miss Bennet.” After he said that he smiled and winked and both combined made Elizabeth have goose bumps. Thee he left closing the door.
Going shopping wasn’t Fitzwilliam’s favorite thing to do, but he volunteered to take the two girls to the village to buy dresses for their new guest, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. It was an opportunity to get to know her better. For some reason he was attracted to Elizabeth from the moment he laid eyes on her. Although she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, she was also mysterious. Fitzwilliam knew very little about Elizabeth, but he was going to remedy that today. He desired to learn everything about her. Never did a woman have this affect on him.
Fitzwilliam knew how beautiful Elizabeth was especially when he saw her in her bedroom wearing her nightgown. He noticed how beautiful her face looked when the candle next to her glow on it. He loved how the light reflected off of her fine eyes and how it showed her best features. Her body seemed perfect from what he could tell. The dress she wore yesterday and the nightgown showed enough for him to see she had curves in all the right places.
Even though Fitzwilliam talked to Elizabeth just a little, he knew she was intelligent, too, which he liked. Men Fitzwilliam knew wanted to marry women with little intelligence and just speak when she is spoken to. To him that would be boring. He wanted a wife who he could have intelligent conversations with. Fitzwilliam had a feeling he could have conversation with Elizabeth without feeling like he with talking to a dim witted female. The kind Fitzwilliam always seemed to attract in London.
“I can’t wait to talk to Elizabeth,” Fitzwilliam told himself. “To bad Georgiana is coming with us. I could send Georgiana on an errand some time today.”
He had his groom man dressed him in one of his best outfit before going down to breakfast because he wanted to leave after they ate. Fitzwilliam was surprised when Georgiana didn’t poke around that morning because usually she was slow in the mornings. He figured Georgiana had cabin fever, for she could only leave the house on Sundays to church or when Harry was given permission to take her for a ride, with Georgiana’s chaperone present, of course.
“Poor Georgiana,” Fitzwilliam thought. “She is too sheltered.”
At ten o’clock they got in the carriage and Fitzwilliam told the driver where to go and they were off. When the carriage stopped at the dress shop, Fitzwilliam got out and helped Georgiana and Elizabeth out. Georgiana escorted Elizabeth in the shop, leave Fitzwilliam behind. Not did Fitzwilliam mind because it was a woman’s shop and would feel awkward going in. He knew they were going to be in there and in the shoe shop for at least two hours, so he thought he would call on a friend, William, who lived in the village.
Two and half later, after returning from William’s house, Fitzwilliam walked back to the shops and when he got there he saw lovely Elizabeth sitting on a bench out outside the shoe shop.
When Fitzwilliam stood in front of Elizabeth, she looked up at him and smiled. She said, “Hello, Mr. Darcy, Please have a seat.”
Fitzwilliam sat down next to her.
“You look handsome today, Mr. Darcy,” she told him.
“Thank you. You look lovely today also,” Fitzwilliam replied, pleased with the outfit he picked out. He thought, “At least Elizabeth noticed him.” Out loud he asked, “Where is Georgiana?”
Elizabeth pointed her thumb towards the shop behind her and said, “She is still in there looking and buying shoes.”
“What did you get?” Fitzwilliam asked. “I don’t see any packages.”
“I put them in the carriage about ten minutes ago,” she answered. “I bought ten dresses, two pair ballet slippers, and a pair of lace-up boots. Miss Darcy wanted me to get more things, but I felt guilty spending your father’s money.”
He couldn’t help but smile. Elizabeth was hit by his father’s team of horses and it seemed as though her companion abandoned her and still she felt bad about spending his father’s money. His father has twenty thousand pounds a year, so he wouldn’t miss this petty amount of money.
“Trust me, Miss Bennet,” Fitzwilliam told her. “My father won’t care.”
Elizabeth smiled, thinking about something and said, “The last time I bought a pretty dress was when my cousin, Sarah got married. My mama had all of my sisters and I tried on dresses until we found the right dresses. Mama loves dress shopping. She has more dresses than any woman in the south.”
“Where in the south do you live?” he wanted to know.
“Um I live in Virginia,” she replied, slowly as if she had to think about it. “Yes, we own a horse ranch near Jamestown. My father is a doctor but he wanted to live in the country where it’s quiet.”
“I can’t blame him,” he replied. ”The cities are too crowded. I don’t like London that much anymore.”
“Then why do you spend most of your time there,” Elizabeth asked curiously.
Fitzwilliam frowned and said, “I try to avoid my father and stepmother as much as possible so I go to London or travel around the country.”
“Oh,” was all she could say.
Not wanting to ruin the time alone with Elizabeth by talking about his problems with his father and Marlena, he changed the subject. “Mr. and Mrs. Perry are having a ball next Saturday and father said you could come.”
Elizabeth said, “Yes, Miss Darcy told me about it and bought a beautiful ball gown for me, ignoring my protests. But is your father sure I would be welcomed?”
Fitzwilliam replied, “The Perrys is Father’s closest friends and they will be glad to have you there,” he said, smiling and then asked nervously, “Ma-I mean, if you don’t mind, might I have the pleasure of dancing with you?
Smiling Elizabeth said, “I would honored, Mr. Darcy.”
“It would be my honor to dance with the most beautiful woman there,” he said making her blush.
Elizabeth looking down at her hands: “I’m not beautiful, Mr. Darcy.”
Fitzwilliam said softy: “You are beautiful and I will bet I will fight off men to dance with you at the ball.”
Their eyes locked and for a minute all they did was studying each other, Fitzwilliam was wondering what the feeling was he felt every time he saw her.
Unfortunately, Georgiana came making them come back to earth. She stood in front of them holding four packages. She asked her brother, “Fitzwilliam, would you help me with my packages? I have five more in the shop. Please help me put them in the carriage.
Fitzwilliam got up from the bench and entered shop the get Georgiana’s packages and put them in the carriage. They all had to hold some packages on their laps in order to seat down in the carriage on the way home.
In the carriage heading home, Fitzwilliam smiled, thinking, “This has been a good day so far. I saw my old chum, William and I was able to talk to Elizabeth without Georgiana. I can’t explain this feeling I have when I’m with her, but it feels grand. I’m sure glad I came back to Pemberley or I would have not met beautiful Elizabeth Bennet.”
Fitzwilliam didn’t know yet, but Elizabeth would bring the love and passion he was searching for years.
Posted on Tuesday, 20 March 2007
Elizabeth was the belle of the ball. Every young man under the age of thirty asked or wanted to ask her to dance. Elizabeth was breath-taking in her peach dress that was made out of silk. She filled out the dress perfectly and the neckline was low enough to see a hint of cleavage. Elizabeth’s hair was in curls pined up and had little flowers to decorate the hair do. All of the females, except Georgiana, were jealous because she had the men’s attention.
Fitzwilliam only had two dances with her the whole evening. He had the first dance, but he made sure he had the dance before dinner, so he could escort her in the dinning room and seat next to her and talk to her as they ate. Unfortunately, as soon they returned to the ballroom, someone asked her to dance and took Elizabeth away from him again.
Even though Fitzwilliam knew he had no right to keep Elizabeth all to himself, he couldn’t help but to wish it.
A female voice broke his train of thought. When he saw the person in front of him, he wanted to leave, but knew that would be rude.
“Good evening, Miss Bingley,” Fitzwilliam told her, bowing. “Are you enjoying the ball?”
She scoffed and said, “Not at all. With your sister, Miss Darcy and that America, Miss Bennet hogging all the single men here, I’m quite bored. I was only asked to dance twice. Miss Darcy dances well, but Miss Bennet dances very ill. It is like she doesn’t know how to dance. Why do the men here want a clumsy dance partner when I dance beautifully?”
“Miss Bingley, Miss Bennet is from America,” he said, defending Elizabeth. “She told Georgiana and myself the way they dance is more—relax, I believe that’s the word she used. For the last ten days we helped her learn our dances, which you have to admit they are difficult and honestly she dances well for her first English ball. As for the men, perhaps they want to dance with a beautiful, smart and interesting young lady.”
“Humph,” Caroline said, displeased. “I see Miss Bennet cast a spell on you too. Pity. Well, you better hope she winds up being an heiress or your father will disinherit you if you get involve with Miss Bennet and if you want to marry her
Fitzwilliam said, “It’s none of your affair what my feelings toward Miss Bennet are. Even if I was disinherited, I wouldn’t care a jot.” When he looked over Caroline’s shoulder, Fitzwilliam saw Elizabeth alone on the terrace. He excused himself a headed towards Elizabeth.
When Fitzwilliam was on the terrace, he cleared his throat; making it known he was there.
Elizabeth turned to him and smiled. “Hello, Mr. Darcy. Did you come out to cool off, too?”
“No, I wanted to keep you company,” he told honestly.
“That’s sweet, but I don’t to keep you from talking and dancing,” she told her.
“I would like to stay here with you, if you don’t mind,” Fitzwilliam said.
Elizabeth replied, “I don’t mind.”
“I’m glad,” he said smiling, looking up at the sky: “It’s a beautiful night. You can see the stars so clearly. Not a cloud in the sky. They are beautiful.”
Elizabeth looked up at the sky and smiled. “Yes they are. You know, every Saturday night if it was rainy or cloudy, I would lie on a quilt and just stare at the stars.”
“Did you try to count them?” Fitzwilliam asked.
“Yes, but I always lost count,” Elizabeth answered.
“Do you know what is beautiful than stars is?” he asked.
“No,” she said, looking at him. “What?”
“You,” Fitzwilliam told her gently.
Their faces were close and couldn’t resist leaning in and kiss her. He dipped his head and brushed his lips over hers. The kiss was cautious one because he was afraid of frightening her away with his passion. Lips brushed lips, up, down, across; arms tightened around each other. Gingerly, cautiously, Fitzwilliam pressed his lips to Elizabeth's, giving her every opportunity to withdraw should she so wish. She was hardly fearful. Her lips slightly open, she pressed forward and kissed him on the mouth. Holding her all the tighter in his arms, Fitzwilliam groaned and deepened the kiss, pushing against her teeth with his tongue. Fitzwilliam teased her, gently, with his tongue, ran it over her teeth, briskly touched the insides of her mouth, nipped on her lower lip. Elizabeth opened for him, kissed him back, and pulled him closer. Finally, she slipped her tongue, inside his mouth
The kiss was magical for both of Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth; although both knew it was wrong, they didn’t care. All they cared about was that moment
While he was washing up for dinner, Fitzwilliam thought about the kiss and felt ashamed of himself. It wasn’t that Fitzwilliam regretted kissing Elizabeth last night because he didn’t, but he was scared she would think him forward. Gentlemen like himself shouldn’t kiss a lady like Elizabeth without being engaged. Although Fitzwilliam had women of the evening to meet his male needs, Elizabeth was different. Fitzwilliam considered her as an innocent young woman, although when he kissed her she didn’t struggled and Elizabeth kissed him back, leaving him to believe she had been kissed before. Even so Fitzwilliam knew he shouldn’t have kissed her so soon after they met.
I hope Elizabeth doesn’t think ill of me because I acted too toward by kissing her, he thought. Every time I’m near Elizabeth I cannot control myself. Thank Heavens we ended the kiss just before Georgiana went out on the terrace to fetch us, so we could go home.
Fitzwilliam tried to talk to Elizabeth all day long, but Georgiana occupied her time by having her read William Cowper’s poems to her, walked with her, and talked with her about Harry. Fitzwilliam was glad Georgiana and Elizabeth became friends, but he wanted to talk to Elizabeth about his forwardness last night.
I’ll talk to her after dinner, Fitzwilliam thought, but again sighed, remembering Elizabeth promised Marlena she would play the piano and sing after they dined. Fitzwilliam groaned, then left his bed room and went downstairs for dinner.
During dinner Fitzwilliam got stuck listening to his father about his latest fox hunt, and his tenants and Elizabeth was sitting near Georgiana, talking with each other. Fitzwilliam stole a few glances of Elizabeth during dinner, but that wasn’t satisfying enough for him, so he thought of a plan to be near her tonight without committing a scandalous act again.
After dinner, everyone went to the music room for the evening entertainment. Elizabeth volunteered first, but before she went to the piano, Fitzwilliam asked if he could be her page turner and she said he could.
Elizabeth sat down on the piano bench with Georgiana while Fitzwilliam stood next to her. Elizabeth began playing Greensleeves.
After the song Fitzwilliam help her up from the piano bench and walked to their chairs and sat down. Georgiana performed next.
After Georgiana finished, Marlena wanted Sir John to tell Elizabeth something, but Sir John wanted to wait until later. Marlena threw him a you-better-do-it-now-or-else look, so he caved in.
Sir John started slowly, looking at Elizabeth, “Miss Bennet, you know we enjoyed having you here at Pemberley, right? It is just that-
“Well, my husband and I think you must go back to America- to Virginia,” Marlena said, cutting Sir John off. “You will leave in two weeks.”
Fitzwilliam, not at all happy about the possibility of Elizabeth’s leaving; he looked at Elizabeth to see her reaction to what his father told her. Elizabeth didn’t look thrilled and that puzzled him because Elizabeth always told Georgiana and him how much she miss her family and her country.
Elizabeth told the elder woman, “Ma’am, I-I cannot go to America.”
“Why, dear girl?” Sir John asked, curiously.
“I just can’t,” Elizabeth answered, sadly. “I wish I could and the reason why is very complicated.”
Marlena replied rudely, “We already bought your ticket and we are sacrificing two good servants to go with you, so you are going.”
“I cannot go Lady Darcy,” she said, sounding like she was fixing to cry.
“Why ever not?” Marlena demanded to know.
“Because I have no home or family there,” Elizabeth answered, emotionally. And she blurted out suddenly, “My parents and sisters are dead.” Then immediately after she said that she put her right hand to her mouth and ran out of the room.
Fitzwilliam jumped up from his seat, angry at Marlena and worried about Elizabeth. He told his stepmother angrily, “I hope you are happy! You got Miss Bennet upset!”
“Mamma, how could you be so heartless to her?” Georgiana asked.
“She’s an American, Fitzwilliam, Georgiana,” she said with venom. “An American she is not fit to be under our roof.”
Sir John couldn’t take it anymore and he said, “Miss Bennet is a kind-hearted, knowledgeable, witty and charming young woman, Marlena. Who cares if she is an American? Miss Bennet cannot go to back her homeland without a relative to take care of her, so we will.”
Marlena opened her mouth to protest, but her husband stopped her.
“I, as a Christian feel it is my duty to help people who are in need of insistence,” Sir John told his wife. “I know you don’t like Miss Bennet and don’t want her at Pemberley, but I think I have a solution that will be agreeable.”
He stood up and asked, “Fitzwilliam, will you accompany me to my study? I need to tell you what I’m planning.”
“Of course, Father”
Sir John turned to his daughter and said, “Dear, go to Miss Bennet and comfort her. She needs a friend now. Fitzwilliam will find you and Miss Bennet shortly to inform you of the new living arrangements.”
“I’m going now,” Georgiana said, getting up, ignoring her mother’s looks she was giving her.
A couple of seconds later the music room only had one occupant-Lady Marlena Darcy.
Posted on Sunday, 25 March 2007
Sitting on a stone bench in the garden, Elizabeth was at lost on what she should do now. She was obviously not welcome at Pemberley anymore. Marlena Darcy, Ms. I-hate-every-American made that quite clear. Now not only was Elizabeth in the eighteenth century England, but the people who took her in wanted her to go to America, well only Marlena. Even though she loved her country, but it wasn’t the same. If she did go to America, what would she do? Elizabeth had no family, no home and Texas wasn’t a state yet.
Elizabeth sighed, thinking, “What a mess. Ugh, I cannot believe I told them my parents and my four sisters were dead. I panicked. I couldn’t say the reason why I couldn’t go back was I’m from the future. Everyone would have thought I was insane.”
Elizabeth heard footsteps approaching; Elizabeth stood up and started to walk away, but a hand grabbed her hand.
“Don’t be frightened, Elizabeth,” Georgiana told her, gently. “I wanted to make sure you were all right.”
Elizabeth gave her a small smile and said, “You are risking your mother getting angry at you.”
“I don’t give a darn if my mother is angry,” Georgiana said. “I’m tired of her telling me what to do, how to act, and what people I can have as my friends. I also hate the fact Fitzwilliam never had a real father and son relationship with my father because of her.”
Elizabeth said in a sympathized voice, “Ah, I’m so sorry, Miss Darcy.”
She shook his head and said, “I’m the one who could be saying I’m sorry to you. Why didn’t you tell us your parents and sisters were dead?”
“Well, I-um,” she stammered thinking of a reason. “I I don’t like to talk about their deaths. I know this is childish, but I sometimes think if I don’t tell people they are dead, then it won’t be true.”
Georgiana said, “So that’s why you talk about them in the present tense.”
“Yes.”
“What did they die from?” she asked.
Elizabeth thought of Scarlet Fever, but used the early nname for it. “They died from Scarlatina. My four sisters got it first then I was sent to live with our pastor and his wife, so I wouldn’t get it. When the doctor told me all six had Scarlatina, I was desvastated.”
“Why did you come to England?”
She thought for a few seconds and said, “I wanted to get away from the memories, I guess. I thought moving an ocean away would help but I was wrong.”
“Didn’t you have a plan when you got here?” she asked.
Elizabeth said simply, “No.”
“You could have been hurt if you got involved with the wrong people,” Georgiana told her. “I’m glad my father took you in after the accident.”
“Well, I need to find another place to stay.”
"Father and Fitzwilliam are talking about your living arangment as we speak,"' she informed her friend. “Father will send my brother to find us and tell us the plan. We will take care of you.”
Georgiana and Elizabeth talked about fifteen minutes before Fitzwilliam joined them and told them what solution he and his father came up with.
Two weeks later after Elizabeth agreed to come and stay with him, Elizabeth and Georgiana moved in his townhouse in London. Georgiana defied her mother and made her own decision and moved to London to live with her brother and Elizabeth. Fitzwilliam and Georgiana told people Elizabeth was Georgiana’s paid companion and they were there for a long visit. Fitzwilliam was glad his sister agreed to move in not only because she saved Elizabeth’s reputation and gave her a female friend to talk to, but it gave them a chance to spend quality time with each other without Marlena’s interference.
Now it had been three months since Elizabeth and Georgiana moved in and his attraction and his love towards Elizabeth grew each and every day. Though Fitzwilliam made herself be a compete gentleman, it was killing her. Every time he saw Elizabeth he wanted to kiss her again and never let her go. He knew he had to conceal his feels until the time right. Unfortunately, he didn’t know when that would be.
Fitzwilliam confided to his best friend, Paul about his situation. After Paul teased him a bit about falling in love, he told Fitzwilliam not to wait too long to tell her how much he loves her and to play attention to signs and then he would know.
Another four months had passed and Elizabeth was still stuck in the late eighteenth century. She was grateful for the Darcys for taking her in, Fitzwilliam and Georgiana especially. Elizabeth was extremely attracted to Fitzwilliam, but she told herself to not get involve with him because this isn’t her time and would return to the year 2007 whenever she figures out how. Alas her heart wasn’t listening.
Since Fitzwilliam and Georgiana were the only people she really knew in eighteenth century England, besides Sir John and his wife, Lady Marlena Darcy, it wasn’t a surprise Elizabeth had gotten attached to them. Georgiana and she had gotten to be good friends, but their friendship was what she was afraid of---she was afraid of falling in love with Fitzwilliam. Elizabeth would have loved to have romantic relationship with him if he was in her time, but he was not. No matter how she wanted to, she could bear to get involve with Fitzwilliam and risk the chance of her being sent back to 2007. It would be cruel; both to her and to Fitzwilliam.
Fitzwilliam was a Godsend. Elizabeth had been in Georgian England for eight months and from almost the beginning Fitzwilliam helped her try to adjust and fit in. He took her to parties, balls, to Bath for the summer with Georgiana and even threw her a birthday party. Fitzwilliam very kind and gentle to her and Elizabeth felt as time passed her feelings for him grew stronger and stronger. Lately she realized Fitzwilliam wanted to start courting her, so she began to avoid him. Elizabeth felt horrible about pulling away from him, but she knew it was for the best.
One day, while reading Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream in Fitzwilliam’s townhouse library, Georgiana walked in. Elizabeth looked up at her and said, “Hello, Georgiana. Is it tea time already?”
“No,” Georgiana replied simply. “I’m sorry to interrupt while you’re reading, but I need to talk to you.”
Elizabeth laid the play on the table besides the armchair where she was sitting and told her friend, “Sure. You can talk to me. I read Midsummer Night’s Dream many times.”
“Please forgive me for prying,” Georgiana began while she sat down in the chair in front of Elizabeth. “Fitzwilliam is my brother—half or not and you are my friend, so I’m worry about both of your happiness.”
Elizabeth didn’t know what to say, so she just let Georgiana talk.
“I know Fitzwilliam and you are exceedingly fond of each other and I know he wants to court you, but you have been distant to him. Why?”
Elizabeth sighed and told her, “Because I don’t want to get involve and fall in love with him and then realize we cannot be together.”
“Why can’t my brother and you be together?” Georgiana asked and then said, “Oh if you are worried my father will disinherit him if you two marry then don’t be. Fitzwilliam doesn’t have to marry for money like many greedy men or men with a title do and my father won’t force him to.”
Elizabeth said, “It is more complicated.”
“Pray, how it is complicated?”
Elizabeth couldn’t tell her the truth because it was so unbelievable. Before she time traveled she didn’t believe one could travel to a different time period. To Elizabeth time travel was what H.G. Wells wrote about or in movies. She knew if she told people she was from the future they would say she was insane.
She told Georgiana, “I’m not sure I will stay here. I might go home.”
Georgiana looking puzzled asked, “Didn’t you say your parents and sister were deceased and you didn’t have relatives who were alive?”
“Yes, I did.” Elizabeth answered, looking down at her folded hands on her lap. “The honest truth is I don’t belong here.”
Georgiana put a hand over hers, making Elizabeth look up at her. “I think you are wrong. Providence sent you to us for a reason. Fitzwilliam adores you, Elizabeth and I have seen the way you look at him; you are smitten with him also. I think are afraid of following your heart.”
“You may be right, but I’m not right for Fitzwilliam.”
“Of course you are,” Georgiana protested.
Elizabeth sighed heavily, saying nothing.
“You will see you and my brother were designed for each other soon,” Georgiana told her confidently, then change the subject. “Well, I promised I Fitzwilliam I would tell you we were invited to his best friend, Paul Andrew’s house for a small party tomorrow evening. Fitzwilliam says Paul is very eager to make your acquaintance. He has been away, but Fitzwilliam wrote him all about you.”
“Well, I guess I cannot refuse to go.”
“No, indeed,” Georgiana said. “Besides you will like Paul and have a good time.”
Elizabeth smiled and told her, “Then I will be happy to go.”
Unbeknown to Elizabeth there will be a big surprise awaiting her at Paul’s party.
Posted on Saturday, 31 March 2007
Georgiana walked into Elizabeth’s bedroom to see if she was ready for Paul’s dinner party and she wasn’t disappointed when she saw Elizabeth was dressed, wearing a baby blue dress. Elizabeth’s maid was putting the final touches to her hair. When the maid left Georgiana told Elizabeth how beautiful she looked.
“Thank you, Georgiana,” Elizabeth told her. “You look beautiful too. I have a question for you. Are you sure I was invited?”
Georgiana replied, “I’m quite sure. Paul insisted you come. Now Fitzwilliam is waiting on us downstairs, so if you are ready, let us join him.”
At five o’clock, Fitzwilliam, Georgiana, and Elizabeth arrived at Paul Andrew’s townhouse. Fitzwilliam helped Georgiana and Elizabeth out of the coach. After Fitzwilliam rang the bell, the head butler, Nigel answered the door and let them inside. After he took their coats and hung them up, Nigel escorted them to the room where the rest the guests were congregating.
“Oh, no,” Fitzwilliam said after spotting his friend, who wasn’t facing them. “Paul is talking to Miss Clay. She is probably trying to seduce him into marrying her. She has been trying to get her chaws into him for years. “
“From the back, Mr. Andrew looks like a friend of mine from home,” Elizabeth said, feeling homesick. “But that is impossible.”
Fitzwilliam noticed her sad tone and he knew she missed her friends back home and she wished he could do something to help.
The Paul approached them. “Hello, Fitzwilliam, Miss Darcy, and Miss Bennet I’m honored to meet you finally.”
Upon seeing Paul, Elizabeth went pale as if she had just seen a ghost and felt a little lightheaded.
Fitzwilliam asked with concern, “Are you ill?”
Looking at him Elizabeth replied stammering, “I um, I’m just a bit dizzy.” Looking back at Paul she said, “Uncanny.”
“Maybe Miss Bennet should rest upstairs in the guest bedroom,” Paul suggested. “Dinner won’t be ready for awhile. I will show her the way.
Fitzwilliam began to protest, “I don’t think that is a good idea. A servant can-
“I know my guests won’t mind.” Paul cut him off. “They will play charades soon, so they won’t miss me. I asked David woods to be in charge of the entertainment tonight since playing cards games are getting tiresome and he picked charades. Well, let me escort you to the bedroom, Miss Bennet
With that they left the room and went upstairs.
Georgiana asked, “Brother, wasn’t that improper of Paul to escort Elizabeth, a woman he just met upstairs?”
“Yes, quite,” Fitzwilliam answered his sister with a pang of jealously. “Quite improper.
When Paul and Elizabeth reached the guest bedroom, he opened the door and she walked in.
“I’m sorry to trouble you, Mr. Andrew,” Elizabeth told him. “But you greatly bear a resemblance to my friend-
“Peter Anderson,” Paul finished for her.
“Yes, but how-?” she began to ask, and then looked at him closer. “Peter? Is it possible?”
He said, “Yes, It’s me—Peter, Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth repeated dumbly, “How? Fitzwilliam said you and he were best friends since you two were nine. How can you be my friend Peter when he is in—“
“In the year 2007?” Paul/Peter again finishing her sentence.
She felt like she was loosing her mind. It was all overwhelming to her.
Noticing Elizabeth’s head was swimming he said, “You better sit down,” then guided her to a chair. After she sat down he began, “Elizabeth, I know this will shock you but the truth is I’m a wizard. I was the one who brought you here—to the year 1795.”
“I-I cannot believe it.”
“I can prove it,” Paul/Peter told her. “Watch,” then he snapped his fingers and disappeared and a few seconds later he reappeared.
Elizabeth was trying to get her mind around everything she had just learned. “So you are a wizard? No, no, I must be dreaming because there are no such things as wizards.”
“I know this far fetch for you to believe, but I’m indeed a wizard,” he confirmed again. “An immortal one. That’s why I change my name and move to different places every century because I don’t want people to know what I am. I even age and when I reach a certain age I will fake my death and start all over again.”
It took awhile to digest what he just told her, then remembered he said he was the one who sent her to Georgian era England and Elizabeth couldn’t believe he did that to her.
“You sent me to 1795” she asked in amazement. “Why?”
“Because you were meant to live here with Fitzwilliam.” Paul/Peter replied. “You two were made for each other. You are his soul mate but unfortunately you are from a different time. If you weren’t Fitzwilliam’s soul mate then the spell on the locket wouldn’t have worked after you read the inscription. ”
Elizabeth jumped up at this and said, “Fitzwilliam and I aren’t meant to be. This is nuts! You had no right to do what you did. I have a family, friends and a life in 2007. I’m a senior at Texas A&M University and I was going to graduate in May and then you, Peter or Paul or whatever your name is sent me to the late eighteenth century. I bet my family and friends are worrying about me and it’s your entire fault!”
“Yes, you are all over the news now,” he told her. “Your parents have the FBI and the British FBI on your case. They even hired an investigator.”
“Great. I have been turned into the next Natalee Holloway,” she said angrily. “My parents are worried I might be killed and you don’t seem to care.”
“I care,” Paul/Peter told her. “I hate seeing them and your sisters suffer.”
“Then send me back,” Elizabeth pleaded.
“No,” he firmly said. “You are meant to be here. You always loved Georgian and Victorian eras and said you wanted to live in those eras because your time period is too dangerous.”
“Okay A: I never thought it was possible to time travel,” she began. “B: I do love Georgian and Victorian eras, but I miss my family, friends, and Texas even though I’m from a dangerous time. I want to go back.”
“I don’t, not yet,” Paul/Peter told her.
Elizabeth was about to holler at him some more but then Georgiana came in. Sensing the tension between them she asked if she was interrupting something.
“No, Georgiana,” she replied. “It is just I feel better, but Mr. Andrew insist I should rest for awhile. I think I will head downstairs with you.”
“Okay, if you are sure,” Elizabeth assured her.
When she took Georgiana’s arm but before leaving she looked over shoulder at mouthed at Paul/Peter, “I’m not done talking to you.”
After they left he sighed, knowing he will get the wrath of Elizabeth.
Posted on Saturday, 14 April 2007
The morning after the dinner party Elizabeth got up at eight after getting just a couple of hours of sleep. She was so wound up to sleep. Learning her friend was a wizard and was the one who sent her to the year 1795, she was angry and confused. Why would Paul/Peter do this to her? Did he care she was in the eighteenth century for eight months wondering if she would ever go back to the twenty-first century and see her family and friends again? Obviously not. She determined on visiting Paul/Peter and to demand he send her back to her own time.
After Elizabeth got dressed, she went downstairs to the dinning room to eat breakfast with Georgiana and Fitzwilliam. When they finished eating Elizabeth asked if she could pay a visit to Mrs. Marianne Brandon who she became friends with since living in London and she would visit her, but after she her talk with Paul/Peter. Georgiana told she would accompany her since Marianne was going to be her aunt, but Elizabeth reminded her she had her piano lesson with Mrs. Jenkins that day and afterwards Harry would be coming with his parents, John and Fanny to see her. Elizabeth assured her friend she would send her regards to Marianne and would explain why she was unable to visit.
“Please give hug Sarah, Mariah, Alexander and Thomas for me,” Georgiana requested. “They are sweet children. Marianne and Christopher are lucky all four of their children are good-natured.”
“Yes, they are fortunate to have those children,” Elizabeth agreed. “Although I have a feeling the Brandon children misbehave every now and again as all children. Anyway, you can be certain I will hug all four of them for you.”
Georgiana smiled out of gratitude and said, “Thank you, Elizabeth.”
After Georgiana got up from the table and excused herself so she could get ready for her day, Fitzwilliam told Elizabeth she could take his carriage. Not trusting the driver and the footman to keep their lips sealed that Marianne Brandon was not the only one she was going to visit, she graciously declined the offer and said she would walk indeed.
“You love to walk,” an amused Fitzwilliam said. “I have never seen a woman walk like you.”
She smiled and stated, “Walking is an excellent way to exercise.”
“It is indeed,” he agreed. “When do you think you will be back?”
“I will be back around tea time,” Elizabeth replied. “Will that be okay?”
“Yes,” Fitzwilliam simply said.
After getting her bonnet and her gloves and put them on, she turned to him and said, “I promise I won’t be late.”
“I hope your visit with Marianne will be pleasing,” he told her then taking her hand and gently kissed it.
“My first visit won’t be pleasing at all,” Elizabeth thought. Aloud she said, “Thank you, Fitzwilliam. I’m sure I will enjoy Marianne’s company. ” Elizabeth said, curtsied then left the townhouse.
When she closed the door, Elizabeth let out a sad sigh. She hated to lie to Fitzwilliam and Georgiana, especially to Fitzwilliam, but it couldn’t be helped. If Elizabeth had told them she was going to Paul/Peter’s townhouse eyebrows would have been raised and they would have asked why. In their mind she had just met Fitzwilliam’s friend, Paul the night before, not knowing Paul was her friend, Peter whom she had known since high school. She also knew society in the time she was in would frown on a single woman visiting a man alone.
When Elizabeth arrived at the townhouse discreetly, making sure no one would see her, she knocked on the door and then Nigel answered.
“Hello, I’m Elizabeth Bennet,” she told him. “I was here yesterday evening.”
“Yes, miss,” he said. “I remember you. You came with the Darcys.”
Elizabeth smiled and said, “Yes, I did. I came to see Mr. Andrew if I may.”
Nigel stepped aside and opened the door wider then gestured her to come in.
“Please wait right here while I notify my master you are want to see him.”
“That would be necessary, Nigel,” Paul/Peter told him, walking towards them. “Thank you, I will take it from here.”
Nigel eyed Elizabeth and his master, wondering what was going on between them. Yesterday Mr. Andrew escorted her upstairs personally and day she came by to see him.
“Did my master meet Miss Bennet before yesterday?” he asked himself. “Perhaps when he traveled to America two years ago, I mean Miss Bennet is an American after all. Nigel, it is not your business.” After he thought that, he bowed and dismissed himself.
When Elizabeth and Paul/Peter were alone in the foyer he said in humor, “Miss Bennet, it’s lovely to see you again.”
She rolled her eyes and then said, “Save it. I’m not in the mood to be polite to you. Where can we go to talk?”
Paul/Peter signed and replied, “We can go into my study.”
He led Elizabeth to his study and when they entered, he closed the door behind him and locked it.
When Paul/Peter offered her a seat, she refused telling him she would stand. He crossed the room and poured himself a cup of coffee. “I knew you would be coming by.”
Elizabeth asked sarcastically, “Did you know when you looked into your crystal ball this morning?”
Paul/Peter let out a small chuckle then answered, “No, I know you and plus I can sense when someone is near and will visit yours truly.”
“Interesting,” she remarked dryly. “What I’m really interested in is your ability to return me to March 13, 2007. I want you to take me back before I bought that heart-shape necklace you sent for me to find so I would read its inscription and time travel. ”
“Like I told you yesterday, I will not return you to your time yet,” he told her calmly. “It is not just you and Fitzwilliam are meant to be but you have a lesson to learn.”
Elizabeth, frustrated said, “Peter-Paul, oh what ever your name is, you have no right to play God with my life. Even if Fitzwilliam is my soul mate,
“Which he is,” Paul/Peter piped in.
“We cannot be together no matter how much I love him because I am from a different time and my family and friends are in that time,” she said matter-of-factly. “I miss everyone, even Lydia and I want to see them again.”
Paul/Peter stated, “I will send you back to 2007 and you will be reunited with your love ones, but not until you learn your lesson.”
“What is the lesson must learn?” Elizabeth questioned.
“One you must discover on your own,” he replied.
Elizabeth groaned then was going to say something more when Paul/Peter stopped her.
“Fitzwilliam is coming,” he told her.
She went to the window and saw Paul/Peter was right, Fitzwilliam was walking towards the townhouse.
“Oh, no!” Elizabeth cried. “Fitzwilliam cannot find me here. He believes I’m at the Brandon’s house visiting Marianne and her children.”
“Don’t worry, Elizabeth,” Paul/Peter said. “I have a secret door behind this tapestry. The tunnel will lead you to the door then you will be outside behind my townhouse.” Then he lit a lantern and gave it to her.
After Paul/Peter pulled away the tapestry and opened the door, Elizabeth walked into the tunnel and soon disappeared.
At four o’clock Elizabeth returned to the Darcys’ townhouse after visiting the Bradons. She had a good time talking to Marianne and playing with the children. The Dashwoods were still there visiting Georgiana when she returned, so Georgiana invited her to take to take tea with them. Elizabeth spent an hour talking with them until they left.
Elizabeth went to the library to read before dinnertime. After thirty minutes of reading, Fitzwilliam entered.
He said, “Georgiana told me you were in here. I’m so to interrupt you, but I must talk to you.”
“No, don’t worry, I was going to stop reading anyway to get ready for dinner,” she informed him. “What do you want to talk to me about?”
“I-Elizabeth,” Fitzwilliam began then stop. He began pacing, looking nervous. After a minute, he stopped and went to her, taking both of her hands in his.
“Elizabeth, I love you,” Fitzwilliam told her. “Ever since I lay my eyes on you I was attracted to you and I knew you would be very special to me. The longer I get to know you my love for you grow even more intently. I know I cannot live without you not being my wife.”
He released her hands, knelt down and pulled a diamond ring from his coat pocket.
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet,” Fitzwilliam began, “Would you do me the honor of being my wife?”
Elizabeth shocked and without thinking she replied, “Yes, I will.”
He let out a sigh of relief and then smiled and said, “You have just made me the happiest man in the world!” After Fitzwilliam slipped the ring on her finger, he kissed her gently on the lips and hugged her.
“Oh, no,” Elizabeth thought. “Why did I say yes? Oh, I’m in more mess even ever!”