Well hello again! You are about to read a new addition to my story "An Unforeseen Destiny". I felt that the last version started off confusing. You had to really know the story line of these two to understand their first encounter and how awful it had turned out. Well, I am adding a Prologue to the first chapter to really get this story back on track! Again, this is my own version of the story between Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy however, they are by no means my own characters. These wonderful stories and settings were created by the one and only Jane Austen, I literary genius of her time. I hope you do enjoy and leave me lovely (or not so lovely) reviews!
An Unforeseen Destiny
Prologue:
There was something in the air the night Elizabeth Bennet crossed paths with Mr. Darcy. They themselves could not say what it was or even what it might have been. However, it was there and thick like a mist, but yet cooling like a Midsummer night after the burning heat of the day. In one night, two souls were forever entwined together. It happened, in the very first moment their eyes met.
The Bennet family was quite the social butterflies. Mrs. Bennet especially was one for the gossip and good news. She was never too shy to drink one too many ales and spend the entire night going from group to group bringing up her beautiful daughter Jane or about how Mrs. Bunker was awfully friendly with her gardener. Mr. Bennet, a kind but reserved man, bore his wife's roaring laughter and nagging voice. He would follow behind her, making up for her sloppy words with his own wise and witty conversation. That night, it was the eldest Bennet girls that were talking of gossip and gardeners.
Jane and Elizabeth Bennet sat close together before dinner underneath the staircase leading to the second level. There is was dim and not many other guests could spot them pointing out handsome and not so handsome men, drinking cups of wine, and laughing together merrily. These were Elizabeth's favorite nights. Jane was such a goddess. Her laughter often soothed Elizabeth, like a dream in a way. The nights she could convince Jane to have one or two too many were the most mischievous and enlightening nights Elizabeth ever had. While she was not a terribly dreary soul, she often felt overwhelmed by her own loneliness and longing to see the world.
"Elizabeth," Jane said, snapping Elizabeth out of a tipsy trance, "look at those two men there!" Jane laughed giddily, like a small school girl. Elizabeth laughed at her sisters glowing red face and then looked to where her hand was shyly pointing. There stood two men, looking as if they had just arrived, dressed in their trench coats and top hats. Their faces were hazy from such a distance. "Who are they?" Elizabeth responded, squinting and blinking trying to clear her vision. Jane shook her head with a large grin on her face. "I am not sure…" she spit out, laughing for a long while, before calming down.
"Let's go dance then, come on!" Elizabeth grabbed Jane's quivering hand, trying to drag her from the dark corner. "Come on, Jane! Show that beautiful face to all of these handsome men, eh?" Jane was as red as a beet, shaking her head and repeating, "No, no, no, Lizzie!" Elizabeth, exhausted from laughter and wine, dropped her hand and quickly put her hands firmly on her hips. "Well then," she said, "I shall find a dancer for you." Jane quickly rose, repeating her "No, no, no"s. She latched onto Elizabeth's arm and slightly stood behind her so Elizabeth could not only lead her, but balance her shaking legs.
Elizabeth steadied herself and walked out from the dark corner with Jane in tow in search of lovely men worth dancing with. As they stumbled and apologized for their clumsiness to others, a firm hand grabbed Elizabeth's free left arm. She turned quickly with a bit of a shout of surprise. Mr. Bennet, shocked a bit at the sudden screech, turned both of the girls around with an open mouth. No words were exchanged until Mr. Bennet reached behind him and introduced the two men whom they had stared at not but a half hour ago. They however were not dressed as they were in their traveling apparel. They were still dressed quite lovely. One more green in the vest and sash, while the other wore all black, except for his dainty undershirt and cuffs.
Elizabeth and Jane blinked at them for a moment, wondering who was going to introduce who. Mr. Bennet cleared his throat and loudly said, "These are my two eldest daughters, Elizabeth and Jane Bennet." He motioned to each as he spoke their names. Out of pure nature, they both bowed slightly to the two men, holding back drunken grins. The man in green took off his tall hat and bowed to Jane, holding out his hand courteously. "My name is Charles Bingley and this is my good friend, Mr. Darcy." Mr. Bingley motioned to the man dressed entirely in black whom had now removed his hat and slightly bowed to the girls His eyes seems lifeless and bored to Elizabeth. A sudden fire began to burn inside of her… a fire to get this bored, unentertained new-comer to dance. "Well, Mr. Darcy, do you dance?" she asked with a kind grin on her face.
Mr. Darcy could only seem a reddened drunken face of a slightly attractive young woman standing in front of him asking him to dance. A flash of sloppy and terribly unappealing dancing went through his mind. He looked to Charles and back to Miss Bennet. "I'm afraid I am weary from my travels and must decline your invitation." He saw her smile did not fade. "Oh come now, Mr. Darcy, who could be so weary that they could not enjoy a nice dance?"
"I can," he said quickly, almost before Elizabeth had finished her sentence. Although the room was booming with other voices, it seemed in that instant, they all went silent. Mr. Darcy bowed to the girls, Mr. Bingley and Mr. Bennet and hastily moved to a table upstairs and away from all of the dancing. Elizabeth, stunned almost at the sheer bluntness of his response, watched him carefully as he walked away. Mr. Bingley quickly chimed in, "I on the other hand would love a dance!" He immediately reached for Jane's hand. Her hands were wrapped tightly around Elizabeth's arm. Elizabeth wiggled her arm loose from Jane's surprising strong grip and pushed her towards him gently. "Have fun," she whispered to her terrified sister as Mr. Bingley took her hand eagerly and led her to the dance floor. Mr. Bennet turned to Elizabeth and nudged her toward a girl sitting alone at a table amongst many whom seemed to walk and talk right through her. The girl picked at the wood grain on the table sorrowfully. It was Elizabeth's dear friend Charlotte. Her eyes were glittering with tears about to fall. As Elizabeth rushed to her side, Mr. Bennet smiled to himself watching his daughter go without question to aid her friend. He watched her for a moment, and then descended the stairs to sit and chat with Mr. Darcy.
Mr. Darcy sat watching the dance floor intently as if watching an opera. The words of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet and many others swam through his ears and disappeared into the orchestra. Many times Mr. Bennet had to repeat his general questions to Darcy. As Mr. Bennet took the gesture as the man needed to be alone, Mrs. Bennet did not see any sign that Mr. Darcy was un-amused at her loud banter. Instead he would rather watch a sea of people move and sway together, spilling ale and wine, laughing obnoxiously. Darcy felt a longing within him. A longing to be one of those faces in a sea of many; enjoying the simple and brief times in their lives. A heavy blanket of disappointed fell upon him as his thoughts began to wander. Before he knew it, he was alone, in the dark. Mr. Bingley appeared, laughing and pink with joy. "Will, would you like another ale?"
"No, thank you."
"What's wrong, Will? What happened today at Pemberly?" Mr. Bingley asked, remembering Mr. Darcy had been in this foul mood since he got into the carriage. He could see the disappointment teaming behind Darcy's burning eyes. Mr. Darcy looked away from the moving crowd to his friend's caring face. "Charles… I—" Suddenly, a large pitcher of ale fell upon the two men as a waitress was knocked over by an inebriated man desperate for one more drink.
In that moment, Darcy rose so quickly, the man had not even noticed that he was standing right next to him. Mr. Bingley followed, brushing the foaming beer from his jacket. As Bingley was attacked with laughter and amusement at this poor man, when he looked to Darcy, there was a bright fury rising to his face. Words could not come out of Darcy's mouth. He quickly grabbed his hat and dashed away down the stairs and through the crowd. A small frame blocked his way and with his patience low, Darcy exclaimed loudly so he could be heard, "Pardon me!" The figure turned, holding another woman whom was laughing with her. It was Elizabeth Bennet and an even more unattractive woman in her grasp. His face was stern as he stood straight with his chest extended. "Mr. Darcy! Ready for that dance?" Elizabeth said genuinely. Mr. Darcy's face did not stray from its cold and serious facade. Elizabeth's smile faded slowly. "Pardon me, Mr. Darcy," she said the exact way he did moments ago. Her face became stern and annoyed. He moved passed her quickly and burst out the front door.
Elizabeth scoffed after him, rolling her eyes to Charlotte. "That, my dear, is the perfect replication of a stick in the mud!" Charlotte began to laughing hysterically along with Elizabeth as they moved along to find Jane, who had been dancing for the last few hours with Mr. Bingley. When they found her, she was sitting at a table with him, listening to him rant about his old childhood home. Her eyes glimmered with delight at his sweet pale face and kind words. Elizabeth grabbed onto her shoulder suddenly. "Jane, we are leaving!" Jane nodded, turning back to Mr. Bingley sorrowfully. "I'm sorry, but I must go."
"Wait," Bingley replied, grabbing her hand, "will you be at the party tomorrow night?" Jane smiled, "I—I am not sure, I must ask my father." Mr. Bingley rose to lend her an arm to help her up. "Well let's ask him then!"
Elizabeth waved goodbye to Charlotte and turned to see Jane and Mr. Bingley talking with her father. They seemed… happy. She smiled to herself, feeling joy for her older sister. "We really must be going," said Mr. Darcy, standing a few feet behind her, waiting for Mr. Bingley. Elizabeth turned only her head and said, "And what's the rush, Mr. Darcy?" He did not look at her, only stared intently at Mr. Bingley. Elizabeth shrugged, shaking her head. "You're going to be a sad, lonely man, Mr. Darcy," she said as she raised her dress and began to walk to her father and sister. Mr. Darcy quickly looked at her walking away with a sort of realization. As she united with them and shared a laugh while holding on to her father, he noticed that no woman had ever spoken so freely to him with no restraint. Mr. Bingley finally began to approach and saw this realization pass through Darcy's eyes as he gazed at Elizabeth and her family. He turned to look at them with him and sighed. "William, I have never met a more amazing woman in my life." Mr. Darcy felt a candle light within him at that very moment. Neither had he met a woman such as Elizabeth Bennet before. While the exchange was not pleasant, his perspective had changed.
"Darcy, are you all right? What were you about to tell me?" Mr. Bingley stared at his dear friend in such turmoil his heart sank. Mr. Darcy offered no reply and after watching the Bennet's enter their carriage and leave, he turned away and headed for their carriage. Charles watched him move slowly and almost regretfully towards the coach. While one light was burning brightly, another began to dim. "Don't worry, old friend," he shouted after him as he began to follow, "everything will be better in the morning!" Darcy turned to him before entering the coach. "Charles," he said softly, "tomorrow morning, everything will change."
What did you guys think of this new lead in?! Let me know in your reviews! Now to Chapter 1! Thanks for reading!
