Lizzy is overwelmed

In the week that followed our house was full of presents and well-wishers. It was physically draining for me, as I seemed to be the person who everyone talked to. I seemed to have written on my forehead "Here is a nice quite girl who listens."
Besides this, there was the packing to do, and getting ready for our party. At times, a sadness would come over me, my dear Aunt Georgie would be a married woman in a fortnight. She would no longer go on walks with Liza and I, she would not come and spend nights in our room, and no longer play so beautifully at the piano-forte for us. I had gotten so used to having her, that it was painful to give her up, even for such a wonderful man as her fiance.
I looked out the window onto the busy London street, I pressed my forehead against the cool panes. Outside Liza waved, she and Becka had just come back from church, for it was Sunday. I had stayed home on account of a headache. I smiled back, and slowly left my spot and went down to see my sister and cousin.
Both girls where in high sprites, laughing and chattering. I joined a little, but mostly watched them, with a half happy half sad look.
"What is it Lizzy?" Liza asked concerned.
I looked at them both tears welling up in my eyes, I went over and hugged them both tightly saying,
"I you both so much, that both must be married happily, or else I will never be able to bear losing you!''


"Oh Lizzy!" Liza hugged me back, "Don't worry about that."

I laughed whipping away tears, "I know its silly, its just I'm Aunt Georgie so much."


Becka and Liza, nodded, "Yes." They said in agreement.

"Let's get back to packing" Liza suggested.

The door opened, and Aunt Georgie looked in with a motherly smile, "I see you girls are hard at work. But could I borrow Lizzy for a minute?"

I looked surprised, but followed, my Aunt down the stairs and to the small sitting room.

"Here I leave you."


"What?" I said alarmed.


"There is a gentleman in there to see you." she explained.


"Who?" I asked, my heart beating wildly.


"Mr. Gould." Aunt Georgie answered.


My face fell, "Must I?" I begged her.


"Yes, go."


That was it,I had to go in and see Mr. Gould, I straighted my dress and pulled back my shoulders and walked into the room.



(To be continued)

Surprise Encounter

This part of the story takes place after this post and before this post.

In front of us, standing on the path, two men were standing. One was dressed in the normal, fashionable dress of London society, the other was dressed in military attire. They were both tall, and carried themselves with dignity.

"James and Lee?" Liza breathed. "What are they doing here?"

"James wasn't supposed to arrive for another three days, and Leland was at home just a little while ago."

"And why are they meeting? I never knew they were such particular friends."

We had been standing at the head of the path during this conversation and the young men were about fifty paces ahead of us, also standing still. Now one of them turned and saw us.

"Rebekah, Liza, what a surprise!" Leland's voice carried clearly to where we stood. "I did not know you were planning on walking today." Liza and I looked at each other and exchanged a smile. "Bekah, your friend James is here, he arrived here just this morning." They began to walk towards us.

"I wish people would stop referring to him as *my* friend James. He's more of a friend to my entire family." I whispered Liza as we walked towards them.
"Most *people* pair you two together, like they pair Leland and I. I wish they wouldn't do that me either." she whispered back.

"Rebekah, a pleasure." Leland bowed to me, then turned to Liza. "Liza, may I escort you home." Liza glanced at me and smiled again, before taking Lee's offered arm.

"And may I escort you?" James asked me.

"Why thank you, I'd be happy to have you escort me home." I smiled. "What a surprise this is! I had no idea you were coming to London so soon!"

"I didn't want to risk missing the ball that your uncle and aunt are hosting on Friday. Speaking your aunt and uncle, isn't that them over there?"

"Yes! I nearly forgot. Liza!" I turned to my cousin. "We need to tell your parents that we're going home with Lee and James."

In the Same Room

When Mr. and Mrs.Collins arrived home that evening from their outing, an unexpected sight met them.Seeing shadows through the window outside, and hearing voices, they walked into the front parlor. The room, in which Anne, William, Catherine, and their aunt Maria were chatting merrily, was full of laughter beside a bright fire.
"Shall you stay for dinner, William?" inquired his aunt of him.
"Well, you are most kind aunt, but I think I must be leaving." He rose from the couch, leaving Catherine's embrace.
"Oh, Will, please, stay!" pleaded Anne. Catherine looked her wishes, though she knew what he would say.
"You forget, sister- I have not yet seen our parent's informally," he replied in a low voice. "And I do not think now is the time, or here the place."
"Perhaps," his aunt speaking again," perhaps, they will not be so unforgiving as you think, nephew. My sister loves you very much, and I am sure cannot do without you much longer. This separation has exhausted her health!" William looked startled. Anne even, looked down in realization of what had caused her mother's ill health.Her aunt continued speaking. "If your reunion goes as well as I think it will, will you consider leaving Mrs.Murchin's boarding house, not only for dinner tonight, but until your family leaves London?"

The butler suddenly opened the door, and Mr.and Mrs.Collins entered. The room seemed to freeze.

"My dear son," and Mrs.Collins walked towards William, who was now standing, and embraced him. She had not been able to do any such thing when her husband and she happened upon him in the streets. William, who was taller than his mother, embraced her as he did his sister's.
Though he was now a man, he had been a boy when he left, and hardship and hard work had had to been gone through alone. He had lacked his mother's care, his father's guidance, and had been left to fend for himself, besides occasional assistance, in the beginning, from his aunt and uncle Fitzwilliam.
Mr.Collins now approached his son. Releasing his mother, William stood up straight, as if to put weakness far from him.
Mr.Collins put out his hand. William took it, his face somewhat surprised at his father's congeniality,and grasped it heartily. Mr.Collins could no longer conceal his emotion, and with a broken voice said, "It is good to see you, my boy."

The Wedding Dress

Aunt Georgie’s wedding dress had finally come. It was a beautiful creamy white silk dress with blue violets embroidered along the hem. A silver-blue cape came with the dress, along with a fashionable bonnet. Needless to say everyone was excited. The whole house had been turned upside down in preparing for the wedding, which was to be in a fortnight.
Georgianna stood in her room with three servant girls working on her dress. Liza came in the room, “Auntie your gloves!” She said holding them aloof, showing that they had seen better days.
“Oh dear, what are we to do?” was the worried reply.
Lizzy came to the rescue. “Don’t worry Bekah and I will go and buy a new pair.”
So out the two went on the quest of the gloves. Meanwhile Liza helped her Aunt out of the mostly finished dress. Liza noticed her Aunt looking a little stressed,
“Aunt dear maybe we should have a small bite to eat?’’
Aunt Georgie smiled, “Yes that is a good idea.” The two women walked down into the kitchen together.
As they ate, they chatted about weddings.
Liza laughed and remarked, “It’s a good thing this only once!”
“I too will be relived when it’s over.” Georgianna sighed.
“When you’re happily married?” Liza asked slyly.
Aunt Georgianna blushed slightly, making Liza laugh fondly.
The front door opened, and Lizzy and Bekah came smiling. They showed off the gloves, which were pronounced perfect.
“Now the only things left to do are: Have the last adjustments on the dress finished.” Liza stopped and asked Lizzy when that would be done.
“Tonight I hope.”
“Good,” Liza continued checking off things on her fingers, “the gloved are here, oh and the trunks!”
“Almost done!” Bekah called from the other room.
“I think that’s all Aunt.”
“Thank you so much girls, I don’t know what I’d do without you!” And they each got a kiss on the cheek.

The Damsel in Distress and Her Knight in Shining Armor

I hurried out of the house, struggling to get my bonnet strings tied, trying to quickly escape the dreary hopelessness of Maria's unknown troubles. Her whole countenance, although much more sedate then was her usual nature, seemed to trouble me more than her previous persona. There was something so flat, so hopeless in Maria's quiet stillness and wakeful watching that I wanted to run away from it all, to shake my sister, to get her to speak. More than anything I wanted my sister to tell me the secret that seemed to chill her to her very core. 

Walking at a brisk pace down the street, I glanced idly at the shops, not interested in anything. I had planned on purchasing something for Aunt Georgie's wedding, but the thought of approaching any other human being right now, in my present mood, did not appeal. However, I knew I had to do something, so I forced myself to go into the next store, a small shop that sold bonnets, ribbons, and trim of that sort. I forced myself to look interested, and soon discovered that I no longer had to pretend - I was truly enjoying myself.

The store was quaintly decorated, without being showy, and I strolled luxuriantly around the store, looking for something that satisfied my tastes. Suddenly my eyes rested on the most beautiful bonnet, made of gleaming golden straw. It was tied with a wide satin ribbon, a ribbon that was the exact shade of lavender I needed - the color of my gown for the wedding. I felt a moment's hesitation; who knows how much this lovely headwear may cost? But it would do no good to guess. Meekly lifting the bonnet off of the display, I went to the counter at the front of the shop, where a rather gruff old man stood. His eyes seemed to glare out at me from under his bushy eyebrows, and for one moment I forgot my purpose in approaching him. But I swallowed quickly and opened my mouth to speak.

"Sir," I began softly. "How-how much would this bonnet cost?"

"That bonnet?" the gentleman said, still gruff.

"Yes, this is the bonnet I meant."

The older man seemed ready to frown, but then a smile lit up his face. "For you, madam, nothing."

I blinked, aghast. "You-you mean to tell me... that it does not cost anything?"

"No, no, you may take it."

"Sir, that-that would not be right of me."

"No, no, I insist upon it, miss. It will look lovely with those dark ringlets of yours." He motioned towards a curl that had escaped from the bonnet I was wearing.

"Oh! Oh, well, thank you, I thank you most gratefully, sir!" I gasped out.

"You are welcome, miss."

I turned to go, but then the gentleman called me. "Young lady! What would your name be?"

"Eva-I mean to say, Evelyn Wickham, sir."

"Wickham? Is your last name truly Wickham?"

"Yes, sir," I answered.

"Is your father's name George Wickham?"

"Yes, sir."

"I knew your grandfather," the gentlemen said softly. "We were great friends as boys."

"Sir," I said shyly. "What would your name be?"

"My name," he replied, "is Lowell. John Lowell."

My meeting with Mr. Lowell seemed to be an act of Providence. I walked out into the street, thinking things over. It was then that I happened to glance as the sky, then shrink back in dismay. The blue sky seemed to have disappeared, being replaced with heavy, dark clouds that seemed to glower at me. The whole climate threatened rain.

Luckily, my new bonnet was wrapped well in brown paper and tied with string. I worried not for my own attire, but rather for my lack of direction. As the sky grew darker, I began to have a sinking feeling in my heart about how to get back to out townhouse, into which we had recently moved, leaving the much-less tasteful inn. I turned this corner and that, but only succeeded in confusing myself more and more. By the time the first few raindrops began to fall, I was thoroughly, completely, and hopelessly lost. Just at that moment I slipped and twisted my ankle dreadfully.

Sinking down onto the walkway, I slipped around the corner into a small, uninhabited alley. There I awaited help, and the stop of the rain, whichever happened first. I tried to be optimistic, but as the rain poured down in torrents that seemed never to end, my situation began to feel more and more drab. My eyes brimmed with tears, and one or two spilled down my cheek.

"Madam, is something the matter?"

I jumped at the sound of the voice. Turning around, I beheld the most handsome gentlemen I had ever seen. He had dark curly hair, warm brown eyes, and a very reassuring manner. My heart started to beat wildly and I brushed the few tears away fiercely, enraged that this handsome stranger should see me crying. 

"Madam?" The gentleman was clearly still waiting for an answer.

"Oh-oh, no, no, I'm fine," I said quickly. 

"Pardon my interference, but you seem lost."

"Oh, well, you see, it's just my ankle. I will be fine-"

"No, no, I couldn't allow you to walk on that foot. Here, let me help you home." He held out his hand to me.

I grasped the man's hand gratefully. The stranger swept me into his arms and proceeded to carry me home, so as not to worsen the poor condition of my ankle.

"Where do you live, miss?"

"Just down the street. The address is 105 North-"

"Oh yes, I am very familiar with that area." He smiled down at me. I felt a warm heat creeping into my cheeks and realized I was blushing.

"Do-do you come to London much, sir?" I asked, by way of changing the subject.

"Yes, as a matter of fact I do. I live just down there." He pointed down the street.

"Oh, that's a lovely house!"

"Yes, I quite like it myself. It has been in my family for years. Here is your house now, miss," he said, placing me lightly on the ground.

"Oh," I sighed, feeling regret that he had to leave. "Wait!" I called at his retreating figure. "What would your name be?"

The man turned. "My name is Edmond. Edmond Kingsley. And your name is..."

"Eva?!" Maria gasped in a shocked voice, staring out at me from her open window.

I quickly straightened my dress, hoping not to appear too bedraggled. Then I turned to my rescuer.

"Evelyn," I said with a small curtsy. "My name is Evelyn."

Edmond tipped his hat to me, then strolled back down the street. I turned, limping up the stairs while gripping the rail for support, and saw Maria staring at me from her window, her face full of misery and shock. My heart gave a quick stab of regret, which was then replaced with a determination to discover, once and for all, what was troubling my sister.