Posted on Monday, 24 December 2007
I started this tidbit a couple of years ago and just got around to finishing it up. I guess that little bit of inspiration was nudged this morning.
The title says it all. :)
Twas the night before Christmas
and all through the town,
not a lady was dancing.
Ev’ry one wore a frown.
The gentlemen, scarce
as they were on this night
had just flitted off,
disappearing from sight.
When what to a lady’s
fine eyes should appear?
But a man dressed in red
with a sleigh and some cheer.
He looked to the right
and he looked to the left.
Wondered what sort of men
would leave ladies bereft.
And then, taking each one
by hand in their turn,
he brought smiles to their faces
and a lesson to learn.
He flirted and flattered,
this man dressed in red.
Not one was neglected.
He turned every head.
After dancing with all
he decided on one.
She had all the money.
The rest would be fun.
There was a marked preference
duly noted by those
whose job was to notice
not merely to nose.
Mrs. Bennet was less pleased;
of all her five girls
not one was selected.
Not Jane with the pearls!
“How could this be?”
the distraught mama cried.
“I’ve instructed them well!
One of mine should be bride!”
Lady Lucas, it seemed,
was not quite so upset.
Her Charlotte had soothed her
in a brief tête à tête
The evening wore on,
to the ladies’ delight.
They laughed and they danced
Throughout the whole night.
Then the room swiftly stilled
when the door opened wide
and a dark visaged man
stepped proudly inside.
His eyes travelled on
up the length of the hall.
Not one word did he utter;
he’d not come for the ball.
When suddenly booming
his voice could be heard.
It rattled the rafters.
It roused every bird.
“You there, what’s your business?”
the dark man did shout.
His gaze on the dancer,
“I know what you’re about!”
The red coated man smiled
and spread wide his arms.
He looked at each lady
and turned on his charms.
“Fear not, lovely damsels.
He’ll not spoil our night.
I simply won’t let him.
Be gone! Out of sight!”
But the other man merely
smiled grimly at that.
He removed his jacket
and took off his hat.
“A town of fair beauties.
How word travels quick.
I knew in a moment
I’d find you here, Wick.”
The man he addressed
did not pause in the dance.
He sized up his foe
with an impudent glance.
“Now Darcy, don’t spoil
this season of cheer.
The ladies won’t like it,”
he said with a leer.
This incivility escaped notice
of all but one lass.
Miss Elizabeth Bennet
saw him to be crass.
She studied the second
as he did advance
and this man he called Wick
finally stopped in his dance.
The two faced each other,
silence reigned in the hall.
One was armed with his smiles
while the other stood tall.
“You will not bring trouble
to this town on this night.”
Said the tall, dark, proud fellow
stepping into the light.
“Do you see?” said the first man,
“He’s nothing but air.
Saying I will be trouble,
now I ask, is that fair?”
Well, the ladies all cried out,
supporting their friend.
They wanted the unpleasant
meeting to end.
Darcy answered the challenge
with nary a pause.
“This man you’ve accepted,
he’s the true Anti-Claus!”
As the gasps and the fainting
spread throughout the room
Darcy expounded,
outlining their doom.
“He is not the generous
type he appears.
He’ll take all your money
and leave you in tears.”
This charge seemed outrageous
to most of the crowd.
‘Til Elizabeth Bennet
did speak up out loud.
“I believe him,” she said
with her confidence high.
“I believe that this man
would not tell such a lie.
“Is serves him no purpose,”
that she understood.
“But to save us from ruin.
As a gentleman should.”
This gave them immeasurable
respect for the stranger.
He’d come out of nowhere.
He’d saved them from danger!
The Anti-Claus paused
in his merriment then.
He knew that his true self
was exposed, and just when...
...the dark stranger almost
had him by the arm,
Wick leapt from his grasp,
to the ladies’ alarm.
But his greasy paws could not
alight on the one
who had stood up to him.
Miss Bennet was not done.
Lizzie offered her foot,
so dainty and prim.
She tripped up the Wick
and watched with a grim...
...but amused little smile
as he tumbled away,
crying out in the dark
“I’ll come back here some day!
The dark stranger named Darcy
stood admiring the lass
named Elizabeth Bennet
and it soon came to pass...
That a spark was ignited
and grew to a flame.
Then he whisked her to church
and gave her his name.
Mrs. Bennet’s voice cried
as they rode out of sight.
“Merry Christmas, dear Lizzie!
Remember to write!”