Long Time!

Yes I know it has been a long time since we have posted! I was moving and that took a lot of my time. Also Liza will sadly be leaving us(I hope not for long!), her dad is ill and in the hospital. But any way we WILL get back to posting! I know I have two posts in mind and so does Aunt Georgie.
Thanks for being so patient!
~Lizzy

A Wonderful Afternoon

I was seated next to Bryant at the tea table. Lee was sitting on the other side of me and he whispered something in my ear, "Don't eat the snacks Cassie made, they're atrocious." I giggled and recollected myself. We smiled at each other and Bryant cleared his throat.

"I meant to give this to you at the ball, but I couldn't find you after we departed," he said, holding up a white glove.

I blushed, "Thank you. I didn't even notice." He smiled.

"Liza, do you have a moment?" Lee asked me after lunch when everyone was playing crochet. I smiled and excused myself.

"Lee, I was in the middle of a conversation with Mr. Bryant. What is it?" I was quite anxious to get back to the game; more or less, to Mr. Bryant.

"I can't help but notice your sudden interest in Mr. Bryant."

I blushed and cleared my throat, "Lee, you must be ridiculous. He's simply a very talented young man. And very interesting."

"But Liza..."

I my feelings had been considerably rumpled by Lee's questions, so I cut him off with,

"Lee, I am just being nice. Please excuse me."

With that I swept back to the game and Mr. Bryant. After sitting myself back down I looked back at Lee through the corner of my eye. He stood where I had left him, he was looking at me with a hurt look in his blue eyes. With a small pang of remorse, I looked away and concentrated my mind on the game. Lizzy was my savior, for in she came with a stranger. A tall dark good-looking stranger. We met eyes across the room, hers were dancing.

What happend in the library.

I followed her into the library, which was a grand room lined with shelves, with a table, six chairs and an empty fire place. Cassie brought me a book I had long wanted to try. 'Tis called Life of Johnson, by James Broswell.
"Thank you Cassie! May I read it for awhile?"
She smiled "Yes Lizzy, I will come get you in a bit." And with that she left me to my reading.
I must have been there for over a half an hour, when I heard.
"Madame?"
I looked up into the eyes of a man about twenty, with beautiful kind brown eyes.
"Madame?" He said again.
I shook myself and smiled slightly, "Yes?"
He bowed and smiled back, "I was, um, coming to retrieve a book. That I lent Leland. Do you know the Smiths?"
I stood up from my chair and replied, "Yes, I do, my father Mr.Darcy grew up with Leland's father."
His face lit up, "Then you must be either Liza or Lizzy. Leland speaks of you all the time."
I curtsied, "I am Lizzy. Lisbeth Darcy."
He bowed, "And I am Francis Gould."

The Garden Party

The Garden Party was at the Smith's house. It was after luncheon, and was a simple affair of tea and cards. We arrived promptly at one. I was dressed in a simple, yet flattering dress of white, with short sleeves and a simple gold chain about my neck.
Leland's sister, Cassie came to greet us.
"Liza! Lizzy! Welcome! Oh and Becka, Aunt Georgie! Come, come do join us." She gave hugs all 'round, then led us to the parlor where we joined the guests. Leland, James and Captain Milton were sitting around the main table playing cards with dark handsome fellow.
"That's him Lizzy," Liza had grasped my arm and was whispered excitedly, "Bryant Woods.''
I looked him over closely, this is were my dear sister and I differ most. While she is quite taken with meeting and becoming friends easily, I prefer to meet and watch, before bestowing my friendship.
"He has good manners, and pleasing face." I agreed, as the men stood at our entrance.
Lee did the introductions,
"Ladies meet my friend Bryant Woods."
Bryant's eyes light up at the sight of Liza, he came forward,
"My dear miss Elizabeth!" he said kissing her hand.
"Have you met?" Lee asked surprised.
"Yes," answered Liza, "At the ball, I'm afraid we ran into each other."
''Yes we did." Bryant agreed smiling, still more.
Cassie took me aside from the group, "Lizzy, I have the book you wanted. Will you come into the library with me?"
"Oh yes!" I said.

An Thoughtful Conversation

As the dance began, I decided it was time I figured out how James had been doing. I began to look over him intently, looking over his face for worry lines and looking straight into his eyes to see if he could meet my gaze. I'd learned to do this type of face study years ago, and had practiced on James many times. This time however, there was something in his eyes that worried me a little.

"Scrutinizing me again, Bekah?" James asked amusedly.
"Yes." I answered.
"What do you see?" James had gotten used to this staring ritual over the years, really since we were twelve.
"I see that you getting more headstrong and independent and I'm worried you'll go to far." I said frankly. James looked surprised.
"You worry about me?"
"Sometimes. When I see that glint in your eyes, the 'I can do anything I want to' look. Sometimes I think that you going the royal navy wasn't such a good idea."
"Aren't you proud of me?" James looked a little hurt.
"Of course I am. Please don't get me wrong here. I'm just concerned that you're using the Navy as an excuse to sidle out from under your mother's guidance and trying to do everything on your own."
"Well, not everything yet. I still write Mother." James defended himself, but he looked a little guilty.
"Not nearly enough. You really should use this furlough home to draw closer to her. She needs you probably even more than you know."
"I am aware of that. I'm realizing now how hard it is to be the man of a family." We were silent for a little while, each of us thinking. I thinking of James and his family: his mother, brother and two sisters. He was the youngest, his oldest brother had already left home, leaving James to take care of his mother and two sisters. James's father had disappeared at sea when he was very small. Life had never been very easy for the Taavettis after that.
The silence was broken when I shook myself, smiled and said, "I'm not that worried about you. You'll do fine, just keep your mind focused." After that, the conversation changed to lighter topics.