Reluctantly she lifts her head from the book and studies the clock. It's nearly time for the kids to arrive for their weekly book reading. It was a crisp Thursday evening and the sky was flaunting its pink hue. She starts arranging little blanket tents for the kids and little carpet spreads and piles of children's books to choose from. As the clock strikes 7, she calls out to her uncle "uncle, switch on the fairy lights please" and busies herself once again with story props that she had crafted lovingly over the week. John Gardiner popped his head inside the bookshop, asked "Lizzie, are you all ready?" and just as he asked, a kid ran into the room and greeted Elizabeth. Lizzie smiled warmly at both the kid and her uncle and assured that she was ready. More kids poured in as her uncle switched on the yellow fairy lights and contrived what can be called the cosiest setting you can ever find inside a small around-the-corner bookshop. This evening, the kids were reading about a Miss Piggy who learnt a valuable life lesson herself and a fairy tale that Lizzie loved personally called the Beauty and the Beast. As usual she sang for the kids in her sweet, cajoling voice. What she didn't notice was that there was someone else this time, other than the kids and her uncle, who was standing enthralled at the entrance of the bookshop.
…
He was weary and tired and upon that he has to go that overcrowded and cheap part of the city for a meeting he would happily miss. But the thought of the meeting brought back Georgiana into his head. He would do anything to ensure her safety and protect her with all his might. With what happened last year, poor Georgiana has been asked to limit her city ramblings. This had let to a huge argument between the two siblings and Darcy had to convince her time and again that this new regime was not because he trusted her less but because Wickham could go to any heights to hurt her again. His little sister had turned her heart into a rock and was so hard on herself, Darcy couldn't help but turn into a shell of a man himself. The meeting was to ensure that Wickham was keeping to his place and to ensure he never faces Georgie again. He felt much better by the time the meeting ended and so better that he went to pick up some flowers for his favourite person. It was spring and georgie loved gardenias. As he was walking calmly towards the florist, he spotted a bookshop across the street. He definitely would not have gone inside any shop from this corner of the town but he knew a book would excite Georgie more than just flowers. So he made his way across after buying the flowers and promised himself he wouldn't stay long. How wrong he was he didn't know yet. As he pressed the doorknob he could hear someone singing, so quite unconsciously, he treaded inside silently. Soon as he stepped inside, his face melted into a warm expression as he studied his surroundings for the source of the sound. As soon as he laid his eyes on her, he was enthralled. He didn't know that she was beautiful, he didn't know that she was everything that was adorable, he only saw her powerful expressions as she sang. He only saw the compelling emotions in her dark, bright eyes. She might not have been correct with the tune but she was pouring out emotion and expression so palpable and fascinating. As she stopped he finally realised what a vision she was. Her eyes brighter than the fairy lights that hung all around her and instantly he had the urge to go and put his head in her lap and hear her sing lullabies as he slept in what promised to be peaceful sleep.
"Anything I can help you with, sir?"
He jumped around to see a man come around the counter addressing him. He shook his head as he could not contemplate an answer yet. He walked a few paces as if studying the shelves but he couldn't get out of the trance yet. He had to talk to her.