I'd always loved the weather in England. I detested summer though, occasionally, I appreciate the brief moment when the Sun decided to peer out from behind the near constant cover of clouds. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE I took the script from my bag. This year's school play, my favourite story of all time and I was playing Elizabeth. It was at times like these when the weather worked in our favour as the costumes, gorgeous as they were, had us warmed up even on the coldest days. Miss Larin, our drama teacher, wanted complete authenticity which meant petticoats and all that fun stuff for the girls. But I didn't mind, I adored the time period, I adored the language, the fashion, everything. It was perfect.
We practised every day after school and Miss Larin insisted on a dress rehearsal for 'better capture of the character' purposes. While the other kids would sit and moan as they put on their layers I did it without complaint, I'd wear it every day if I was allowed. Floor length, long sleeved brown and where the skirt started just below the bust.
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I curled up on my bed in the dress and began to scan my script loosely.
'Abby! Come and do the dishes please,' my mother Elenor yelled from downstairs.
'I'm too old to do dishes!' I laughed back.
'Abigail Ryan, get your old 17 year old butt down here now!'
'Don't use the word 'butt' it offends me.' I smiled at the stupidity of my comeback. She didn't reply but I heard chuckling from the kitchen. As I placed my bookmark in my book my father yelled for me to grab a box from the attic.
'It had the old photo albums in it.' I'd always hated going to the attic. There were windows and light bulbs but it always felt dark. I sighed when I reached the top of the attic stairs, of course we had to have like, 30 boxes up here.
Crouching down to the first box I ripped it open with ease and coughed at the disturbed dust that flew about my head in frenzy. Behind me I heard a rattling noise and I immediately shot up from my current position spinning towards the noise wildly. It was quiet. I sighed and laughed nervously and went to resume my position at the next box. The noise again but this time there was a horse cough. I gasped and spun again.
'A-Adam? Adam this isn't funny.' Stupid idiot brother playing tricks, I thought to myself unconvincingly. The light began to flicker and my heart got a little faster. I shouldn't be scared of what's in my own attic! Trying to look confident I strolled over towards the noise as it appeared again. It seemed to come from my grandfather's cupboard.
With a deep breath I slowly reached out my hand towards the handle. My hand jerked a little at the cold touch. Like a band-aid, I told myself though that was stupid because I'd always been one of those idiots who did it slowly. Wrapping my hand around the large handle i turned it slowly and ripped it open jumping back as a large cloud of dust exited and began to settle on my surrounding objects. A person, a girl began to appear from the door and my hands flung to my face muffling a scream as I jumped back, tripping over the boxes.
'Miss, are you alright?' the girl said.
'Who are you? How did you get here?' I cried.
'I entered through the door ma'am. My father told me it led to nowhere when I discovered it near the servants' quarters last month though only now did I decide to see for myself. It seems to have led me to you. This is a most peculiar place. I'm sure mama would have a fit should she see so much dust in one place. Do you not have servants? I'm sure I should send Lydia here,' she laughed. 'Lydia would make the worst cleaner I am sure of it. She does nothing but giggle and flirt.'
The dust had finally settled and I placed myself upright, dusting off my dress before finally getting to look at this stranger. Her dress was similar to mine in the sense of the style though hers was white with vertical stripes.
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'Who are you?' Lydia, Mama...it couldn't be.
'Forgive me,' putting one foot back a little she bent her knees slightly and bent her head forward slightly as well in a bow. 'I'm Elizabeth Bennet.'