Well hello, everybody! Ah, so I updated. Hmm. This chapter is not my best, I must say. it's rather short and abysmally...boring. In my humble opinion. But please, stay tuned, 'cos I've got some great things planned. And I do appreciate constructive criticism in reviews. Be nice, friends, be nice.
Later that day, when the hangover was beginning to wear off, Lizzie went for run in Hyde Park to clear her sluggish brain. Lizzie had a passion for running and walking-anything to get into nature and out of her tiny flat. Running helped her focus her thoughts and gave her space to live in. Today the gravel was damp beneath her feet, and the trees sparkled with raindrops. After a good half an hour of running, she started to head back in the direction of her house. Not many people were out in the park-it wasn't tourist season yet and the clouds above threatened even more rain, so many Londoners had chosen to stay indoors. But as Lizzie ran along, she saw a few other joggers like herself. It was one such jogger, running the opposite direction, who caught her attention from half a mile off. There was something familiar in his gait and height, but he was too far off. As he approached, she realized with a nasty shock that she did indeed know him. It was the insufferable Mr. Darcy from the night before. For some strange reason, Lizzie was actually embarrassed by her behavior at the club.
Though, she thought, there's no reason for me to be embarrassed. He's the one who should feel sorry-he insulted both me and Jane-my whole family as well, the arrogant cad.
However, Lizzie couldn't help but remember the way Jane had had to practically carry her out of the club, and she blushed. She put her head down and picked up her pace as he approached, but it was in vain. She knew from his stare that he recognized her. They stopped on the side of the road.
"Lizzy", he nodded at her.
"Will", she replied.
"…How are you then? Er….did you enjoy the party last night?" For some reason Darcy seemed nervous. His words reminded Lizzy of the ass that he had been at the party, and suddenly she was angry again. As always, Lizzy angry meant Lizzie sarcastic.
"Oh yes. I had the most marvelous time, actually. And you? Did you dance with any particularly tolerable ladies? Or was it all just common gold-diggers and the like?" All this is her coldest, most ridiculing tone of voice.
A shocked silence ensued. Lizzie watched Darcy with some satisfaction as the recognition of his own words suck in. Slowly his expression changed from bewilderment, then fear, discomfort, and finally, anger. Lizzie noted with a grim smile that his face had turned the most interesting color of sheet-white possible. Before he had the chance to reply, or to say anything at all, she had left him and was running once again.
As she turned the corner and he passed out of sight, she whispered to herself, "Though this be madness, yet there is method in't". Ah, sweet revenge.
Later that evening Lizzie stopped by a coffee shop with her sister Jane.
"Oh, Lizzie," Jane gushed. "I've had such a marvelous day. Well, as I told you, Charles, the one with the fair hair we met last night, took me out to lunch today, and then to the park. It was so lovely. He's just what he ought to be-kind, generous, and he always thinks well of everyone. I do really like him, Lizzie."
"And I believe he genuinely likes you, Jane. That's wonderful."
"Lizzie, have you fully recovered from last night? I mean, what caused that? You haven't gotten completely drunk in a long time now."
Lizzie sighed. "I know Jane. It was…well it was a lot of things. I guess just being there with so many people like…well like him. It hurt, seeing the way he lives now, with his wife, and I can't say I miss him…not anymore. But it hurts like hell."
"Lizzie, you should've just enjoyed the party. There's no use getting caught up in your past when you have so much living to do right now. There were lots of guys to go and dance with, any one of them would have died to go to dinner with you. That Darcy man, Will was it? He was staring at you all night, I thought he was going to ask you to da-"
"Jane, no! You can't be serious! He's the worst of them all. Such an arrogant, conceited, prideful man." Lizzie didn't mention that it was his ridiculous viewpoint on her family that had sent her over the edge into her despair.
Jane was shocked. "Why, he seemed perfectly normal to me…a bit standoffish, but then again, maybe he was just shy."
"Oh, Jane, do you never think ill of anybody? He was too proud to even talk directly to us. Anyways, don't worry about me, Jane. I'll be fine. Just try to enjoy your dates with Charles…he seems like a decent bloke for you."
Jane and Lizzy finished their conversation and left, each departing to their own homes.
That night Lizzie tossed and turned, trying to sleep. She would doze off, only to have a nightmare and wake up again. Somewhere in the early hours of the morning, it started to rain again, and her thoughts completely prevented her from catching any sleep. She got up and went to her small windowseat with stacks of her favourite book on it. She sat there in her pajamas and really thought about her past for the first time in a long time…her thoughts carried her away to a happier time, when the whole world seemed like a paradise…
Well then. Next time I promise I will tell you about Lizzie's mysterious, or not-so-mysterious past. Until then, bon voyage!
