Finally got some spare time to write, which is always lovely and re-watching Lost in Austen is even better!
Lost in What?
Chapter Three:
"Provoking of attention, really?" Stella asked incredulously, inspecting her scruffy jumper and frayed leggings.
"Apparently," Amanda sighed, pulling a bulky dress over her head, "This is a good thing though – the dresses I mean!"
Stella scoffed, glaring at the drab shade of her own dress, "This is the kind of creamy colour I've got on my bedroom wall." She muttered lowly, frowning.
Amanda groaned, "Its good Stella! This way we'll blend in better."
Stella turned to find her sister grinning at her despite being somewhat trapped in the dress, "Would you like some help?"
"God, yes!" Amanda snarled, trying to force her head through the material.
Beating back a cheeky grin, Stella moved behind her sister and undid a very small top button hidden behind the fold of the fabric of the dress. It fell quickly and Amanda gasped down gulps of fresh air, "These dresses are suffocating and stuffy." She complained, tugging at the uncomfortable arms, "It's not what I imagined at all."
"You thought olden day clothes would be comfortable?" Stella asked dubiously, "Are you mad? If the amount of actors and actresses whining through the decades of how hot they get in their period costumes isn't proof enough then the historical records of women fainting because of their clothes must be!"
Amanda glared, "Those records were only for corsets! Surely… and anyway, actors and actresses only get so hot because of all the lighting. I highly doubt their clothes have anything to do with it."
Stella shook her head, turning away from Amanda and tugging at the sleeves of her own dress, mumbling, "Mad."
Amanda fit Elizabeth's clothes very well, but Stella being as 'dainty' as Mrs Bennet had moodily claimed, had had to borrow one of Lydia's 'less fancy' dresses. It was not a perfect fit. The sleeves were a little too short and snug and the dress was far too big and baggy around her stomach, though her breasts, being bigger than Lydia's, helped fill some of the excess space. She sighed heavily, harshly tugging the sleeves.
A knock at the bedroom door startled both of them.
"Do you require aid?" Jane asked shyly.
Stella gulped. It really was difficult to dislike Jane. One moment she was jealous of her and spiteful, but it seemed that these feelings were not shared on both sides. Jane was lovely and it made Stella so conflicted. She wanted to hate Jane. She certainly hated that she could never be as perfect, but Jane's natural good hearted soul was too great to hate. To a degree Stella was not only envious, but admirable of Jane. She sighed again, leaving the sleeves alone at last and allowing them to run up her arms a little.
"I can't get the back of my dress done up." Amanda told her.
Stella smiled, her gaze drifting from one woman to the other, "Amanda was nice enough to tie my own dress for me, as I have always been quite hopeless with them." she stated, smiling at Jane a little stiffly.
Jane nodded, "It's not to worry," she said, moving to Amanda and pulling at the lace, "I will have to take the time to teach you, Stella."
Stella bit her bottom lip, biting back an indignant remark due to Amanda's warning look. It quickly disappeared from her sister's face, as Jane looked up at her in the mirror, "Lizzie made this dress for herself." She proudly announced.
"It's lovely," Amanda once more stated with an enchanted tone.
Stella discretely rolled her eyes, her fingers tracing over her necklace. Now that her jumper was discarded the necklace glittered in the sunlight. It dipped a little low, the charm hidden slightly by the dress line, but overall it was well presented. She was not sure how to feel about that. The moment Amanda rid herself of her own necklace Stella had thought to do the same, but this necklace was not cheap. Granted silver was expensive, but it was the sentimental value that reinforced its presence not the metal. She had always been Daddy's little girl and he had bought the necklace only a few years ago when she had left secondary school with good grades.
Now it was also the only thing left of the real world that she could possibly get away with wearing every day. Even her glasses had been discarded now. She could see fairly well without them, but if someone asked her to read a sign from a distance further than a few feet then she would be stumped, squinting would not help either. Amanda was adamant that they be disposed of though, and who was Stella to criticise her sister's logic? At this point in time Amanda should know best.
Stella flinched, her thoughts crudely interrupted by her sister's loud voice, "Bring on the Darcy!"
She turned swiftly to see the pair, listening intently. Darcy was important.
"He's the one we want to see." Amanda insisted, staring at herself in the mirror.
Jane glanced at her with no recognition, returning to the laces, "You… know this gentleman?" she asked timidly, "To be part of Mr Bingley's party?"
Amanda's mouth opened wide.
Stella rubbed her forehead, hoping her sister was not about to say something stupid again. She refrained from smiling though, at the thought of partying with Mr Bingley. A man as anxious, naïve and innocent as him would surely not survive the kind of 'party' she had often attended. The idea of him attempting to adapt to the party life of the twenty-first century was amusing though, without a doubt.
She coughed a little, trying to choke back a laugh, as Amanda announced, "I'm guessing – out loud. It's a terrible habit."
"Indeed," Stella intervened, noticing the expression on Jane's face, "You have no idea how many times I have caught her trying to verbally organise herself before shopping days."
She saw nothing wrong with what she had said. It was not a blatant lie, as Amanda had just told. However, the angry look she was receiving from her sister suggested that it was wrong to admit something like that. She saw nothing wrong. She herself had often spoken aloud a list of things that needed to be done or dealt with. Stella was certain people in that day and age, maybe even Jane herself or one of her sisters, spoke to themselves to organise their thoughts. Everyone did it, right? She lifted an eyebrow at her sister cheekily, grinning slightly at Jane's confused expression.
Amanda licked her lips, smirking, "I must say, Mr Bingley seemed a very nice man."
Stella frowned, watching as Jane's eyes widened a little and a soft pink tinge rose upon her cheeks.
"I mean, he'd be a good person to marry!" Amanda continued to insist, turning to look at Jane properly.
Jane laughed a little with a smile, but turned away from her gaze.
"I'd quite like to clean my teeth. Is that possible?" Amanda asked curiously.
"I would also very much like to do so." Stella interrupted.
"Of course," Jane told them easily, "The instruments are already before you." She continued, as the two waited expectantly. She picked at the tray on the vanity, "See, there are birch twigs, powered salt and I have even brought a fresh block of chalk."
Stella almost screamed. Almost. It was the toilet all over again, but worse. She would not bloody her gums with twigs nor poison herself with chalk. Salt she would most certainly never touch unless it was on chips. Oh god, chips!
She shook her head, staring at the instruments. When she, Amanda and her brother were sick her mother would thrust salted water upon them. It would make them throw up. She shivered and Jane gave a concerned look, but a smile halted her verbalising that concern.
Stella had not doubt though, that she would rather rinse her mouth out with scolding hot water and vinegar than touch those instruments… not a bad idea, but she doubted it would work.
"Right," Amanda stuttered out shortly, "Thank you." she nodded quickly, staring down particularly at the twigs.
Splendid," she said lightly, picking them up. Stella could only imagine the splinters.
…
"Something just occurred to me." Stella said, wrapping her arm between Amanda's, as they waltzed through the hallway to the front door.
"What is it?" Amanda asked quietly. Since having to brush her teeth she had felt a little dull.
"Where are we going dressed like this?"
Amanda stopped suddenly, "Oh!"
Stella turned her gaze from the floorboards to her sister's widened eyes, "What? What is it?" she asked carefully.
Amanda gulped, "I'm not certain. Not yet, we'll have to ask."
Stella licked her lips, "Right, well Jane is coming this way. Why not ask her?"
Amanda turned swiftly, smiling, "Jane!"
"Miss Price," Jane greeted, "Have you not gotten a coat?" she asked Stella.
"Huh?" she had drifted off within moments. At the expectant look of both her sister and Jane she stuttered, "Umm… I've got a hat!" Her hand clapped against her head, feeling the green material, "See… a… a hat. Of sorts…"
Jane laughed a little nervously, "Yes, I can see that, but you have no coat. Come along and let us see if we cannot find something to fit you." She held out her hand and Stella glanced to Amanda. She nodded towards Jane and released Stella's entwined arm.
"I'll meet you outside then." Amanda told her brightly.
…
"No, this one will not do either." Jane said. Her blond brows were drawn together, as she dissected the cupboard for a suitably sized coat.
"I don't mind not wearing a coat." Stella told her for the third time.
Jane clambered through the cupboard and re-hooked the coat, "Nonsense. It is chilly outside. I am sure we will find something."
Stella looked back down the hallway towards the front door. Mr Bennet was waiting on Mrs Bennet whom was chatting outstandingly quickly. "I don't want to hold everyone up. Honestly Jane its fine."
Jane turned to her, "Stella I am not letting you leave this house without coat. Whether it fits or not I suppose is not important at the end of the day, but I want you to be as comfortable as possible." She dug her hand around in between some older looking coats, "That means being warm – ah ha!"
She pulled out a much smaller coat this time.
"It may not suit you well, but it should fit. It used to be mine before I started getting taller." She said, holding it out.
Stella took it slowly. It was definitely well worn. The design was simple and plain, but it was vibrantly coloured a royal blue. "You are right," Stella told her moodily, "It will probably not suit me well, most likely make me look washed out."
Jane's smile was gradually fading away. Stella gulped, pulling an arm through one sleeve, "However, it fits very well and I cannot thank you enough for going through such trouble to find something for me."
They smiled at one another.
…
"What's a sandwich?"
Stella groaned. There really was no stopping her sister. Amanda was supposed to be the one in control. Yet, there she was exposing herself again. The two girls were clearly uncomfortable, though Mary actually looked somewhat interested. As to whether it was the sandwich or Amanda that interested her, Stella did not know… nor did she particularly want to.
"Amanda," She interrupted, "What chaos are you causing now?"
"If you would like Miss Price I could certainly put ringlets in your hair!" Kitty exclaimed with some excitement.
Stella stared at her with some surprise, "I'm sorry?"
"Ringlets," Amanda said, twirling her hair with a finger, "They use hot irons."
Stella frowned, "Oh, right. Yes, of course – no! I do not like my hair curled. It doesn't really suit me. I don't think so anyway."
Kitty nodded solemnly.
"Your glasses have gone." Mary stated, "May I ask why?"
Just as she was about to speak, Stella was interrupted by Amanda, "Stella only really uses glasses for reading… they are reading glasses."
"For my studies," Stella snarled, grinding her teeth and glaring at her sister, "Nothing more and nothing less."
"Ah, I have to say they were a very interesting colour, though perhaps a little too bold." Mary continued. Stella gave her a thin lipped smile, trying to bite back a growl. There was nothing wrong with her glasses. She very much liked her glasses, they hid the bags under her eyes quite well and without proper make-up she hated to think of how she must look. She had half a mind to believe herself to soon be the one responsible for the creation of the phrase, "panda eyes".
"Shall we be off then?" Mr Bennet inquired, leading his wife down the road. They were closely followed by a fussing Lydia.
Glancing momentarily at her sister, Kitty and Mary, Stella turned to Jane, "May I walk with you, Jane?" The young lady seemed very much surprised, "It is just that, we have yet to really get to know one another properly."
She smiled brightly, entwining her arm with Stella's, "I would very much enjoy your company Miss Price."
…
"…I just had one."
Mrs Bennet turned to look over her shoulder, staring back at Amanda.
Stella glanced back as well, as she heard the girls asking what her answer had been.
"I turned him down," Amanda told them curtly, "I didn't believe he loved me."
Noticing her sister's sullen tone, Stella broke away from Jane and hurried after Amanda.
"You actually miss him." She said.
Amanda swiftly shook her head, "No… maybe. I don't know." She sighed, pulling at the ribbons of her 'hat', "I don't think he does love me – not real love anyway. I know what I did was right – I know it, but I can't help thinking that I may yet regret saying no."
"You only think that because we're here," Stella replied, looking into the valley, "Marriage is everything here, but not back home. If we were at home you wouldn't care so much, but this place is making you think that you need marriage to be fulfilled, happy or whatever."
"Don't you?" Amanda asked, "After all, you've always been saving yourself for your significant other."
"Wrong," Stella certified strongly, "If I can see myself with the man for at least a few years then I'm more than willing to give myself to him. I know love like that of our books doesn't exist – at least not anymore. People live too long and expect too much from 'love'. I just want a relationship."
"Why hasn't any guy lasted that long with you?" Amanda asked.
Stella stared out at the fields. She did not offer a reason, but continued to gaze at the trees, birds and grass.
Amanda turned to look at her sister, whose eyes were glazed with mist. She tapped her arm and grabbed her hand, squeezing it.
"Perhaps," Amanda began, "We might find you a lovely man when we return home. I'll make it my mission."
"Oh God!" Stella moaned, "Really now, that's not necessary. I'd very much appreciate it if you didn't meddle with my personal life."
"I'm your sister." Amanda insisted with a suspicious smile, "It's what I do."
Stella barked out a laugh, "Just so long as I don't end up with someone boring!"