The End

Lizzy watched the rolling waves stretching as far as the eye could see. She stood on the stern of the ship The Phantom,  she had never been so happy as now.
She had told William she did not want a honeymoon, she only wanted to be with him on his ship.
William came up behind her and asked softly,
"How do you like your new home?"  Lizzy took his hand in her own and said with a smile,
"I like it very much indeed."
"I'm glad."
Lizzy laughed, a laugh as gentle and tender as a morning dew, "Think about how silly we both were when we first met."
William joined in her laughter, "How hard I tried to speak what I thought, but it came out so rudely."
"Nonsense," She disagreed, "I was so prideful."
The two looked at each other, eyes shinning with happiness.
"Now we shall be together for ever." She whispered.
"Yes."  William agreed.

They stood hand in hand, content.


The End

A day to remember.

Mama gasped when she entered the room. Jenny had finished my hair Baby's breath and roses where arranged prettily at the front.

"You are so beautiful!" Mama exclaimed taking her handkerchief out of her sleeve and wiping tears away from her eyes.

"Thank you Mama" I whispered choking back tears.

"Now don't you start crying...Your father wouldn't forgive me if I made you cry" Mama said, hugging me close.

"Oh Mama! everything is happening so fast"

Mama smiled at me and wiped the tears from my eyes.

"I remember this feeling but I will tell you this no matter where you are and no matter how far off I am I will always be there with you cheering you on"

Amae burst through the room a bright smile on her face.

"Rosie! It is time!" She exclaimed.

I went over to the dresser and grabbed my bonnet, after doing so we headed to the church. The whole way there Papa was quiet which was not normal for Papa he was usually the one to be bounding with excitement, but he was solemn his eyes were downcast I slipped my hand into papa's and leaned over to him.

"I will always be your daughter" I whispered putting my head on his shoulder like I had done so many times.

We then got to the church doors, Amae ran inside to tell the Priest that I had arrived, then the doors opened everything around me didn't matter in that room all I could see was John at the alter waiting for me and after what seemed like seconds were married. John's face as we faced the whole congregation as man and wife, was all aglow it was as if all of my life had been leading up to this point, and for that moment my life had been completed...

Reflections of Lizzy

The house was quite now, Liza and mother were at the dressmakers, and I was alone, reading.
"Hello little one." The strong voice of my father said behind me. I turned and ran to hug him,
"Father!"
"Why aren't you with your sister and mother?" He asked, the two of us sitting down.
"I was tired, and I had to write a letter to William." I told him.
"I see. Captain Milton told me that you two will be living in Bristol."
"Yes, you see he's going to be station there."
"You know sailors don't get much money in times of peace."
"I know father, William has some money from his father, but I'm not afraid of being poor."
"My brave girl." Father placed a kiss on my forehead, "You love him very much."
"I do."
"So Liza will be married soon, and then you." My father sighed, he suddenly looked very old. I had never noticed the grey in his hair, nor the wrinkles in his face, but now I did, and it made me sad to see my beloved father getting old.
"We are getting married father, but we'll be coming and going. Its not going to bad." I said, stroking his hair.
He smiled and said, "I know, I shall miss you. But," He got a twinkle in his eye,"Now I shall have your mother all to myself again."
We both laughed.

A Rose of Another Name

The love that surrounded the happy couple seemed to shimmer in the air. I could not believe that in a few weeks that would probably be me standing there and getting married to someone that I loved utterly and completely. John stood next to me, smiling gently.

"Do you believe in fate, Rose?" he whispered.

"Yes, I think I do," I answered.

"Then will you do me the honor of telling my sister that she need not be afraid of Mama disapproving of Herbert anymore?" John was smiling.

And then I saw it: Herbert and Lady Kingsley where talking and laughing together, as if they had been friends for years.

"Oh John, the world seems perfect right now! If only I could pause it at this moment," I whispered.

"Don't pause the world yet, you still have to be the Rose of another name," John teased.

I smiled at him. John leaned toward me and when our faces were only a small distance away from each other, he whispered:

"Are we to be completely scandalous, Miss Morgans?"

"No indeed, Mr. Kingsley," I answered in my most hoity-toity tone.

"Please call me John."

"When you call me Miss Morgans then you will be Mr. Kingsley."

"Then I shall call you Rose, for you will always be my beautiful flower."

John kissed me on the lips.

"Rose! Look!" Amae's voice came quickly from a short distance away.

John and I looked where she was pointing and, to our great surprise, a woman with long grey hair was in a great carriage along with a girl who looked very ill. 'Twas none other than the Lady Catherine de Borgh and her only daughter, Anne.

Mr. Collins had of course told her where he was going to be and she had decided to come and see her niece off. The happy couple were gone by now, and she was in an uproar.

"Rosie, vat kind of voman is zat?" Amae whispered in supressed horror.

"I don't know, Amae, but let us hope she will not be too much of a nuisance!" I whispered back.

Aunt Lizzy and Uncle Darcy had to be the ones to receive Lady Catherine, as was proper. I saw Aunt Lizzy bite her tongue before she uttered a few rude remarks more than once.

"Rose, it's time to go," John said.

I only nodded and ran to Eva, Maria, Lizzy and Liza. Kissing each of them on the cheek, I bid them a tearful fairwell, for I did not know the next time I would see them. Before long, John and I were in the carriage with Amae, making our way home. And as we rattled and bounced along in the carriage, the only thought that was in my head was "I am to be married in four weeks," echoing over and over again every time we hit a bump.

Oh, Hear the Wedding Bells Ring!

"Mama, hurry up! We will be late!" Maria's voice was anxious as she rushed down the hall and into our mother's bedroom, where I was helping Mama dress for the wedding.

"Child, 'tis only eight o' clock! The wedding does not begin until ten! Why are you so anxious?" Mama turned from her dressing table to look at her daughter's face, her countenance puzzled.

Maria did not answer, for was standing before the mirror fixing her curls for the tenth time.

"She is eager to be on time because a certain someone may be at the wedding..." I said teasingly, my voice low. 

Maria's cheeks heightened in color, but she tossed her head as if she did not know of what I was talking and retied one of her pink ribbons. 

"Such nonsense," she said lightly. "I am to be an old maid, remember?"

I didn't reply, but I doubted very much that she would remain alone all of her days. 

"Besides," Maria continued, still preening in front of the glass, "it is our own Aunt Georgie's wedding--why, we should be there at least an hour early! We are family, after all. Do I have to have an ulterior motive just to see my own aunt?"

"Maria, she is the Darcys' aunt, not ours'. We have met her but two or three times... we certainly are not as close as Liza and Lizzy are," I admonished practically. "We shall arrive with the rest of the wedding guests--no one will need us before then."

My sister turned back to her hair with a petulant frown. "Mama?" 

"Evelyn is correct, Maria," Mama said sternly. "Now go and see if breakfast is ready, dear."

Maria flounced out of the room, a bit of her former prissiness returned.

"Do you know why Maria is so adamant about arriving early?" my mother questioned me when we were alone. I was surprised that she had even taken notice of Maria's strange behavior. Mama normally concerned herself only with our gowns, ribbons and prospective beaus; anything beyond that was of little matter to her.

"Oh Mama," I said kindly. "You know as well as I that Maria loves to prepare for a formal event. It is in her nature. Naturally, she does not want to be late. That is all."

Mama satisfied herself with that as she finished her dressing. I put on the charming lavender silk I had been saving for this occasion, and sighed as I withdrew my new bonnet from its wrappings. I wondered if Edmond would like it on me, then blushed to be thinking of such things. Silly girl, I scolded myself. This is to be Aunt Georgie's day, and all eyes are to be focused on her--not you. Now fix that ribbon and go downstairs like a good girl... and not one more thought about Mr. Kingsley, mind you! I smiled at myself in the mirror, knowing full well that not thinking about Edmond was easier said than done. 

~ ~ ~

Pulling my bonnet from my head, I stepped into the pretty country church where the wedding was to take place. It fit Aunt Georgie just perfectly. I began searching among the crowd for a familiar face, but my searching seemed to be in vain.

"Hello, Miss Evelyn."

I jumped as someone behind me spoke, then relaxed when I realized it was Edmond Kingsley. I extended my hand and he bent to kiss my gloved fingers lightly. 

"It's good to see you," I said, smiling up at him. "But why are you here? I did not know you knew Aunt Georgie." 

"Oh no, I have not had the pleasure of meeting your aunt yet--"

"My cousins' aunt," I corrected.

"My apologies," Edmond said. "You refer to her so often as "Aunt Georgie," so I assumed you were related. But, enough about that. I have been a good friend of Matthew Clock's for some time, and I came here today because he would not allow otherwise." He grinned. "How could I refuse?"

"Well, I am glad you did," I said softly, blushing slightly. But Edmond noticed my somewhat-anxious eyes, and he questioned me about them.

"Is something wrong, Eva?"

"I'm looking for Pierre DeJohns," I replied. "My sister Maria will be heartbroken if he is not here."

"Isn't she the sister who--"

"Fainted at the Darcys' ball? Yes," I finished for him. "But she is much changed now. She no longer harbors any affection for Mr. Smith, other than that of a friend. Her heart lies elsewhere."

"She is not acting too quickly again, I hope?"

"Not at all. Pierre and she are good friends."

"Very good friends," Edmond said, nudging me. I turned and spotted Maria already sitting in one of the pews, speaking with Mr. DeJohns. Her face was alight with happiness, and they seemed to be having a most interesting conversation."

"If you will excuse me, Edmond, I think I'd best go get my sister so that we may sit down. Mama and Papa will be wondering where we are."

"Of course, Eva." He tipped his hat, then went to sit down himself. I managed to get Maria to come sit down with the rest of us, although not without some difficulty. 

A hush came over the church as Aunt Georgie made her way down the aisle on the arm of her brother, since their father had passed away many years before. Her dress was absolutely breathtaking, and her happiness made her radiant beyond comparison. Mr. Clock had eyes for no one but his beautiful bride as he watched her walking slowly toward him. 

The wedding ceremony was beautiful. I noticed not just one sniff coming from the audience as both Aunt Georgie and Mr. Clock said their vows. How beautiful, I thought as Mr. Clock kissed Aunt Georgie sweetly on the cheek. The way they looked at each other was just precious--I could see so much love shining through the two pairs of eyes.

After the ceremony, and many hugs and kisses to family and friends alike, the newlyweds climbed into their carriage. Big white satin bows, flowers, and many ribbon streamers hung from the vehicle, and all of this festive decoration fluttered in the wind as the carriage made its way down the country road, 'round the bend, and were gone.