It was typical summer night in the middle of Cheshire. It rained and it poured and the sky was flooded by lightning. At a window from the second floor, a dark figure could be seen if you'd have looked closely through the heavy raindrops. There stood Thomas Bennet, The 11th Duke of Westminster looking over his darkened estate. He followed closely a moving light which caught his attention only minutes ago. But what was it? He was deep in thought when his wife dragged him out.
" Thomas, for goodness's sake, move away from that window. What if a lightning strikes you?"
"You will be a very wealthy woman, my dear."
"Oh Thomas, you have no compassion for my nerves." She said indignated.
"You are mistaken, again. As a matter of fact, I am watching what seems to be a car approaching the house."
"But who in the world can be? We are all here. What if they are thieves? Murderers? Thomas, we are going to be robbed. Killed and robbed after that. Call the police already. Did you hear me?"
"No one is going to get killed, or worse, robbed. I am absolutely certain, we are in no particular danger concerning this lost traveller."
"What are you up to now, dad?" came the sweet voice of a young woman. Tall, blonde and extremely beautiful, the eldest daughter of the Duke, Lady Jane Bennet. His answer was a brief smile as he faced the entire room. They were in the west sitting room. His son and heir Louis, Earl Grosvenor, his friends, the always happy and overall pleasant Charles Bingley, Marquess of Tavistock and the always brooding William Darcy, The Duke of Devonshire. His two youngest daughters were sitting on the red couch beside their mother busy with those horrible phones, ' what on Earth was I thinking when I bought them?'. Mary, his fourth child was 'entertaining' herself in a corner near the piano with a theology book in hand; her studies fascinated her beyond his level of understanding. Thank God she has an inheritance. The missing part of the puzzle? His third offspring and the most interesting component of the family in his humble opinion, Lady Elizabeth Bennet. His empty glass called for another drink but the approaching light called for further attention.
"Have you heard that Dylan Beaufort is joining the board of his father's business?"
"I had the misfortune, yes."
"The misfortune? How can you be so impartial at this? You, as well as me, must think that now, with him returning home an engagement is closer than ever."
"The woman marrying him must be as absurd as his name. What kind of name is Dylan?"
"You surely know that I was talking about our Elizabeth." William Darcy bit his lip, gesture noticed to his annoyance by the elder man.
"I know, that's why I gave you the chance to rethink your idea."
"You are upsetting me so. You should think of your daughter's happiness." At this point, he wasn't giving her any attention as the car came to a stop. Unfortunately for the guest, the rain allowed not for a civilised appearance; the Duke observed though that the driver did nothing to hurry his way inside the house, actually it appeared that he or she took the time to remove all the luggage, to linger a little in front of the house, look around and finally take the stairs and knock.
' Could it be?' he thought as he anticipated the door being opened.
"Thomas, has that odious car disappeared already?"
"Not at all my dear. I think will be a permanent addition to our collection from now on."
"What do you mean by that? Are you trying to play with my patience?" Before he got the pleasure to answer the wooden door swang wide open and a soaked, smiling girls stood in front of them.
"Isn't this the perfect family reunion?" she said clutching her hands.
"Isn't this my lost daughter? Come here now – he said with his arms wide open – I need to know you're real." In a few moments, she was in his father's arms.
"Elizabeth, you are finally home." Said her mother approaching. "How I've missed you, my dear girl. Though I won't hug you, you are soaking wet. I would expect for you to change these clothes."
"Missed you too mother. Jaane! " she jumped into her sister's arms. And in seconds Charlie transformed it in a group hug. " It's been too long, Chuck."
"I know Lizard."
"Well isn't it the wicked witch of the west." Said Louis.
"In the flash." As he swings her around the room her foot touched a tray smashing Louis and Will's glasses.
"Yes, she is home." Said her mother on her way to call for help.
"Did you cut yourself?" said L. "Can you give it a look Darce?"
"Miss Bennet is unharmed," said he, looking at her feet.
"Mr Darcy I had no idea you are now a doctor."
"One must learn to be many things around you, Miss Bennet." He did not raise his eyes to meet hers, unaware of what he might find there. " Now, I advise you to change your clothes before you catch a cold and dry your hair."
"Yes, sir." He rolled his eyes and sighed. Elizabeth lazily went to change.
"Now, you see I am right? You cannot argue anymore. She returned to him. Oh, I am so happy. She finally took the right decision."
"You cannot possibly know such thing. I still believe it to be impossible."
"How can you be so stubborn? She hasn't come home in over a year. You barely saw her on Skype or when she happened to be in the same city as you."
"And I heard from a very good friend of Dylan that he wants her back." Said Lydia putting her phone down.
"And also, it appears that kept texting over the years." Kitty followed.
"Just marvellous! Another wedding, another daughter well placed. Now I know that I'll see her out in society. Dylan would not allow for her to go God knows where or seek some abandoned house because she wants to ' restore it to its former glory' as she puts it." William poured more than enough whiskey in his new glass.
"I won't believe it until I will be asked for my consent, which I will give only after Elizabeth will see a neurologist." Jane burst into laughter.
"Oh, Thomas the things you say. The kids love each other, they always did…"
"Let's talk about something more relevant. The colour of your tablecloths Jane?"
"White?"
"Beautiful! Louis, how is Charlotte?" the young man's mouth was agape.
"Very good, thanks for asking – came the voice of E. from behind them – I left her painting for a new exhibition. She cut her hair again and finally learned how to make a proper tea."
"I always thought she was a delightful young woman. She had something in her eyes...they were not empty as you see most days in the new generation. And her painting skills… Yes, I saw right away why you made friends with her Lizzy."
"Remarkable she is, though not everyone can see that – she turned her eyes to Louis who kept looking out the window hoping a lighting might strike him – but surely… if the right person sees the rest are merely nonexistent."
"Although I could not hide my displeasure with those infamous paintings of you." Said T. B. raising his eyebrow. E. rolled her eyes.
"No one knows it was me, and you know that."
"You are mistaken, my dear. There are a few people who might recognize you in those … pictures. Being sold at such high price, you can be sure that they ended up in homes of people known to us perhaps."
"We do not know who bought them, and you can be sure they won't be hanging in your friend's parlours."
"But what if they hang in some obsessed bedroom? Doesn't it bother you?" asked Lydia.
"Chuck you still have time to save yourself from getting into a family like ours. I won't hold it against you."
"I'll bring my part into this. I am still surprised you'll have me despite Caroline."
"We'll manage and never get bored. Mr Darcy – she said with a playful smile on her face resting against her father's chair – you must come with something silly, insane to get into this family. We play high, can you pay the price?"
"Any team's success sometimes rests on its doctor capability, someone who'll think straight in moments of stress or advanced silliness. It's an asset in my humble opinion." He raised his eyes to find hers across the room. He realized then that the light missing from his life was caged in her eyes.
"Very well played, my dear – she knew that annoyed him so much – but at least you have Georgie and Richard to save you when you cannot."
"Oh, how is Georgie? I last saw her in April, I miss her so." Said Jane.
"I left her in perfect condition, with a bit of tan though. "
"And Richard? Have you seen him lately?" asked Louis.
"You work together and ask me how he is?"
"We are on different continents most of the time."
"He came to see me in Paris, two weeks ago. He was Richard – but this time with an offer."
"Heavens on Earth, did he really proposed?" asked her mother. The rest of them were in shock. William Darcy's thoughts were so fast he barely could think straight. Elizabeth was loving this.
"Yes, I know it took him too much but I knew how to make him regret not thinking of me before."
"And what did you respond?"
"Well I accepted, of course, I wanted this for a long time but never felt good enough to ask myself. But now it's settled. I am sorry for you though, Mr Darcy, you'll have the misfortune of seeing me more often than you'd have liked."
"I…I…"
"But I always thought that you and Richard were just joking around, I never thought it could lead to something so serious…"
"I think I can use some routine in my life, stability and the responsibility that comes to the job. I hope I will make you proud dad, I know how important this business is to you."
"It should also be important to you, darling. You're going to live with this decision for most of your life."
"Or until Mr Darcy gets really upset with me and I'll get fired."
"What do you mean by that? How can he have a say in this?"
"Well, I'll only be responsible for the hotel's chain in Europe. He still owns that part of the business."
Silence.
"I think I misunderstood you, you are not going to marry Richard?"
"Beg your pardon?" she looked around, everyone was having a confused expression, W. was paler than usual. "Of course I am not marrying Richard or anyone for that matter. He had a business proposition for me, as an architect, designer call it what you want. I bet mom already knows the colour of my tablecloths. And where if may I ask is Watson?"
"The east wing or the laundry room. Your mother was displeased with the wet dog scent."
"I think it's time for me to retire. It is rather chilly. I think I'll have a fire made."
"I hope you won't catch a cold. Couldn't you walk faster from the car to the house?"
"I like the rain. I won't run away from it just because I can get a cold. That's not how it works, mother."