Title: Pride
Author: rooster dawn
Alternative Universe
Summary: Harm and Mac act out Pride and Prejudice
Disclaimer: JAG is property of Belisarius productions, no copyright infringement intended.
Pride & Prejudice is the property of Jane Austen
(First known as First Impressions)
: Warner Brothers 1940
: BBC 1979
: Arts and Entertainment Network/BBC co-production 1995
: Universal Studio 2005
no copyright infringement intended.
Please let me know what you think, it's the only way I can write better stories for you.
part three Anxiety and Hope
Sunday
19 October
Longbourn
It was early Sunday morning, shortly after midnight. The Mackenzies had just returned from the Assembly Ball. Jordan and Sarah had gotten out of their party dresses and were getting ready for bed. Jordan appeared to be very happy to Sarah.
"You were the lucky one tonight Jordan. Mr. Keeter loved spending time with you." smiled Sarah.
"He's just what every young man should be; sensible, good manners, very attentive, a good listener, and a man of good breeding." sighed Jordan happily.
"He's also quite good looking too, which all young men should be." giggled Sarah.
"I was surprised by the extra attention he gave me." whispered Jordan.
"I'm not. You're just being too modest. You never think you deserve a compliment. I expect them." laughed Sarah.
"What could be more natural, you were the most beautiful woman in the hall. He's definitely very agreeable. You like most people in general. You don't believe they have faults. I don't believe that I have ever heard you speak ill of anyone." continued Sarah.
"I don't like to pass judgment on anyone too quickly, but I do speak my mind." Jordan replied.
"I know you do and that makes me wonder how with all your good senses you are so blind to the follies of others." argued Sarah.
"I'm very surprised that Mr. Darcy didn't like you Sarah. Mr. Keeter says he's usually a very agreeable man who only has good things to say." sighed Jordan.
"I wouldn't have minded his vanity and pride if he hadn't wounded mine in the process." wailed Sarah.
"It's too bad, I think he would have made a nice match for you. He's quite tall and good looking. He could have given you everything you ever dreamed of." smiled Jordan.
"No, I think things are better this way. Now that I know that he doesn't like me, I don't have to talk to him or dance with him. I don't even have to be nice to him. It will be much more fun to tease him if I ever do see him again." laughed Sarah.
Meanwhile downstairs Mrs. Mackenzie was telling Mr. Mackenzie how happy she was that Jordan was the one who had captured Mr. Keeter's eye. She believed it wouldn't be long before Jordan captured his heart and he would be in love with her.
Saturday
1 November
Lucas Lodge
With Netherfield Park rented out to new tenants Sir AJ Lucas, as one of the leaders of the community, thought it would be nice to invite its new tenants; the Keeters, Boones, and Mr. Darcy, to his house to meet some of the more prominent families of Hertfordshire.
He threw a small party that included the Mackenzies, some friends, and some officers from the militia. It was a quiet affair for the most part as everyone took time to meet and talk with the honored guests.
The party had been going on for some time. Sarah had been watching Jordan with Mr. Keeter. They seemed to be having a good time. She wondered what it would be like to have someone like Mr. Keeter in her life.
He was quite attentive to Jordan, smiling and cooing. It seemed his eyes were always fixated on hers. She was all he needed in his world. She wished that she had a man as good as Mr. Keeter.
Why couldn't Mr. Darcy be more like his friend Mr. Keeter? Except for the fact he was good looking and rich, he was the polar opposite of Mr. Keeter. He was quiet and moody. He made no effort to socialize with people.
She began to wonder why he was staying in Hertfordshire with his friend. Why hadn't he return to town? What was keeping his attention here? She could see that Ms Keeter was quite attractive and craved his attention, but Mr. Darcy didn't seem interested in her in that manner. What did he want?
While Sarah was watching her sister, Mr. Darcy happened to be watching her. He was slowly becoming aware of Ms Sarah, the beautiful young woman, and not the person of inferior social status and rank. She seemed to be a rose amongst a garden of weeds.
Sarah did catch him looking at her a couple of times, but paid him no mind. He was a disagreeable sort. He was probably looking to see what other faults she had. She wondered why he made no effort to engage someone in conversation.
As the night wore on Sarah noticed that Mr. Darcy was listening in on her conversations with Harriet and others. It annoyed her that he would stand close enough to listen to what she had to say, but he wouldn't offer to partake in any of her conversations. Why was he here?
"Harriet, why is Mr. Darcy listening to my conversations with everyone?" she asked.
"Only he knows the answer to that question Sarah. Maybe he likes you." teased Harriet.
"Yeah, right. If that was true he would join us in conversation instead of just standing there looking so miserable." replied Sarah.
"Maybe he's too shy to talk to you and your beauty intimidates him." laughed Harriet.
"Come on Harriet, be serious. He's a man of the world and good breeding. What could possibly intimidate him?" replied Sarah shaking her head.
"I've often heard it said that a beautiful woman can intimidate even the best looking of men. Even men of great intelligence are intimidated by beautiful women." offered Harriet.
"I'm not so beautiful that I would intimidate anyone Harriet." argued Sarah.
"Of course you are Sarah. Don't listen to what your mother has to say. You're every bit as beautiful as Jordan, maybe even more so. For Jordan has only attracted the attention of a man worth five thousand a year.
You, it seems, have a man worth ten thousand a year who's interested in everything there is about you." reasoned Harriet.
Sarah didn't know what to say about that. How does one argue with such convoluted logic? She never could figure out how Harriet's mind worked. But maybe she was right in this case if Mr. Darcy was really interested in her.
She and Harriet walked over to him. Sarah wanted to find out how interested Mr. Darcy was of her. She decided to ask him a question to test him.
"What do you think of a woman who sings and plays the piano, Mr. Darcy?" asked Sarah.
"It's something that all young educated women should be able to do." replied Mr. Darcy not backing down to her challenge. He wondered what she was up to. She was quite intelligent and quick witted.
"Then I shall play the piano and sing a song for you Mr. Darcy." smiled Sarah as she watched to see if he backed down.
But Harm wasn't going to be intimidated. He might not escort her to the piano, but he wasn't going to run away and hide from her either.
Sarah played a song that was very moving. Her voice was as beautiful as any songbird. Harm was drawn closer as her voice drew him in. He had to admit he had been wrong about her. She was very special. He began to wonder what other hidden talents she might possess.
It wasn't long before Chloe and Mattie had convinced Jennifer to play some lively music to dance to. All the younger people in attendance were happy to partake in the dance. Chloe tried to get Jordan to dance with them, but she preferred to stay in a quiet corner and coo with Mr. Keeter.
Sir Lucas was talking to Mr. Darcy about the virtues of living in Meryton and Hertfordshire, when he noticed that Mr. Darcy was keeping a watchful eye on Ms Sarah. He thought it was quite an amusing sight.
Harriet had told him about Mr. Darcy's earlier comments concerning her friend. He was under the general impression like everyone else in Hertfordshire that Mr. Darcy didn't like anyone or anything about Hertfordshire.
They figured Mr. Darcy was only being polite by attending any social event that was held in town. Could it be that he had fallen under Ms Sarah's spell like so many other young men who had met her? He decided to test out his theory.
"What a charming way of having fun for young people. There is nothing like dancing. I consider it as one of the first refinements of polished society." smiled Sir Lucas.
"Yes, even in unpolished society people dance. Every savage is known to dance." Harm replied negatively. He wondered if everyone in Hertfordshire was as ill educated as Sir Lucas.
"Your friend seems to like to dance." smiled Sir Lucas as Mr. Keeter and Jordan had joined the group of those who were dancing. "I'm sure you must be as equally as adept as he is at dancing."
"I am, but I usually prefer not to." he replied with distain wondering why Sir Lucas was talking to him now about dancing. He was more interested in observing Sarah. She looked so beautiful tonight.
It was at this time Sir Lucas saw Ms Sarah approaching them. He thought about playing a little game with Mr. Darcy. He wanted to see if Mr. Darcy was a gentleman of good breeding.
"My dear Sarah, why aren't you dancing?" he asked her.
"Mr. Darcy, you must allow me to present to you this fine young lady as a desirable partner. You can not refuse to dance when there is so much beauty before you." smiled Sir Lucas as he took Sarah's hand in his to offer to Mr. Darcy.
While Sarah appreciated the lovely compliment from her friend's father, she had no intentions of dancing with Mr. Darcy or anyone else for that matter. She pulled her hand away quickly as Mr. Darcy reached out to accept it.
But before he could say anything Sarah turned and walked away. She didn't want to dance with him. She didn't want to have anything to do with him. She had vow she would not talk, walk, or dance with Mr. Darcy even though she had sung a special song for him earlier.
"You should ask her to dance." he said to Mr. Darcy.
"What? Who?" he asked a little confused. His mind had moved on to other more pleasant thoughts, he hadn't been paying very close attention to what was being said by Sir Lucas, his focus was solely on Ms Sarah and her beauty.
"Ms Sarah, she loves to dance. She is quite good in fact. You would make a charming couple." he smiled.
"Very well Sir, I accept your offer." replied Harm as they made their way back over to where Sarah was standing. She was watching her sisters as they dance. He was beginning to like the idea of getting closer to Ms Sarah.
Sarah saw Mr. Darcy approaching with Sir Lucas. She wondered what they wanted now. He had ignored her all evening except to eavesdrop on her conversations. Why was he coming over to see her now? She wasn't interested in dancing with him or anyone else.
"Ms Mackenzie, may I have the honor of this dance?" Harm greeted her.
She didn't know what to do now. She didn't want to be rude, but on the other hand she saw no reason why she should be agreeable and agree to dance with him since he hadn't wanted to dance with her the last time they were out socially together.
Did this have something to do with their conversation at the Assembly Ball when she replied to his question about what was the best way of showing affection? She had said 'dancing, even if your partner is only tolerable.' Why was he doing this to her?
"No thank you Mr. Darcy. I have no intentions of dancing tonight. I haven't come this way looking for a partner to dance with." replied Sarah looking for some place to hide. It didn't matter where as long as it was away from him. But she couldn't see a place where she could hide.
"Ms Sarah, please for me, I would love to see you both dancing together. You excel in the dance. It would be cruel to deny me the pleasure of seeing you dance with Mr. Darcy.
And although Mr. Darcy dislikes the amusement of dancing in general, he has no objections to dancing with you for one half hour. You would make such a lovely couple." pleaded Sir Lucas.
She looked first at Sir Lucas and then at Mr. Darcy. She could see her friend's father was quite earnest in his request. He was after all the host. As for Mr. Darcy he seemed indifferent about dancing with her. It didn't seem like it mattered much to him.
"He is only being polite Sir." she argued trying to resist Sir Lucas polite request.
"That might very well be true Sarah, but one can only wonder at his compliance to dance with you, for as you can see he can not refuse you." conceded Sir Lucas.
"Very well, Mr. Darcy I accept your request." she replied as she held out her hand for him to take. He took her hand and led her over to where the others were dancing.
The others looked on in shock as they wondered why Sarah would dance with Mr. Sourpuss. His reputation as being totally unsociable was growing throughout Meryton. Yet now he was here dancing with Sarah. Why?
Sarah and Mr. Darcy danced for thirty two minutes without saying a word to one another. Sarah had to admit it had been fun. He was quite pleasant to look at. He wasn't a bad dancer either. Maybe they could do some more dancing together at Netherfield in a few weeks.
"Thank you for the dance Ms Sarah." offered Mr. Darcy before bowing.
"Thank you Mr. Darcy." replied Sarah as she hurried off to find Harriet. Her emotions were all over the place. She loved dancing with Mr. Darcy. She liked having his attention, but she didn't like him. She was so confused.
Sarah found her friend Harriet in the kitchen giving directions to the serving staff. Sarah walked over to her and tapped her friend on her shoulder to gain her attention. Harriet was surprised to see Sarah standing there.
"What's wrong Sarah?" she asked seeing her friend in distress.
"Didn't you see?" Sarah replied anxiously.
"See what?" she asked again with concern. She wondered if it had something to do with Mr. Darcy. It was obvious to her that they were interested in each other on some level.
"Mr. Darcy asked me to dance with him." Sarah wailed.
"Why? I thought he didn't like you?" she asked looking for some clarification.
"I think he did it as a favor to please your father." Sarah answered.
"Come on Sarah, Mr. Darcy does only what Mr. Darcy wants to do. I doubt very much that my father had to twist his arm very hard when he asked Mr. Darcy to dance with you." she replied with a smile.
"Maybe he's falling in love with you Sarah. What man could resist the beauty and charms of Ms Sarah Mackenzie?" she smirked.
"Please do not tease me in such a manner. For what woman would want a man who does not talk? Why would any woman want a man who can't help but find fault with everything he sees? No Harriet, I do not want him falling in love with me." wailed Sarah.