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Welcome back to

Golden Cage

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Still no beta for this story so any and all errors you might find are entirely my own doing please consider this your warning.

My thanks to the steady and dependable few who always take the time to review my work, it is truly the one thing I look forward to between updates life being what it is your encouragement is invaluable to me.

As promised this chapter is dedicated to Srbcarson and RayvnAshes2who granted this story its review 70th review

Now with the formalities concluded I bring you

Chapter 11. A Shadow

Skydancinghobbit


"There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil.


For all it's splendid beginning, with snorting horses men striding about looking important and one particular gentlemen catching her attention with his masterful command of unfolding events, Elizabeth had expected to be frank, more return for their effort. The entire party returned an hour before sundown with all the vim of a hunting party for grouse instead of whatever it was they had gone chasing after. Caroline only smiled when she voiced her thoughts.

"Don't fret Miss Lizzy men are forever dashing off like lions and returning meek as lambs, my brother being a fine example of what I speak of, he is, rather..."

Louisa broke in as she stood before the looking glass repairing her hair with great care. She was married and therefor the acknowledged authority on the subject.

"Prone to great explosions of motion but not much to show for it, he craves the chase, the adventure of life. In whatever fashion it might take that week, once it was fencing another fortnight it was riding to hounds"

Elizabeth considered this information careful as she put her needlework aside, she had dressed early and had time to consider her new home and it's drawback as a permeate residence. She drew a breath before speaking quietly fearing in her candor she might offend her companions.

"In town it was much the same for men, fashion is the thing, who's who are wearing the latest and most daring of designs are thought to be the best, I confess I miss it, for all its bluster and fuss I am not at all used to all these rugged outdoor sports one finds in the country forgive me this weakness friends"

Laughter was her answer as the thunder and bustle of men entering a house in state filled the house, steps on the stairs seemed to go in every imaginable direction from the parlor where the women had been spending an enjoyable afternoon. They had planned a ball worthy of the season and with all the passion of women eager to see the lively scenes of days gone by drawn up plans of economy for menus, ornaments and new decorations for the ball room. The neat lists had been brought to Jane for her impute as well and thus the entire company was in good spirits or so it seemed.

"You need not ask our forgiveness Lizzy, you have grown up in town it is only natural you should miss what is familiar to you, yet I wager you have found enjoyment enough here, there is something new to be learned from the people round a bout always, little moments of joy that catch the attention or some character flaw you had missed all your life."

"You make your neighbors to be a great deal more interesting indeed! I shall endeavor to copy your example in minding those around me, I confess I had not thought to look closer before now, it seems I am forever meeting people who had known me when I was but a girl and I have no notion as to ever having met them before"

Louisa put down her hair brush with purpose and approached her with an understanding expression on her countenance as she took her hand gently.

"Ah that is the inherent danger of a small market town, everyone knows your personal business, yet I think you have not been unhappy here or ,have you been untruth to us after all?"

Caught completely off guard Elizabeth was forced to evaluate her own emotional state with much more presence of mind than it normally merited, no one had asked her so directly if she was happy here since she arrived the kindness of the attention nearly moved her to tears.

"Oh Louisa I ,hardly know, I came here because Aunt Gardener wished it, thinking it would bring us a possibility of a good match not due to any sense of home sickness or loss. I grew up knowing the facts of our family nearly before I did the ways of society around me. I am determined to be happy here, if only for my sisters sake, but it is not home"

Though it had not happened since she was a girl she was taken aback by Louisa's swift embrace it brought a sense of comfort and home her good aunt provided that allowed her a moment of emotional release, the first since Jane's accident, how long these feeling had been waiting for this moment of gentle comfort she did not know but she welcomed the outlet.

When her tears had dried she accepted the handkerchief offered and dried her eyes,

"I thank you I don't know what came over me"

Louisa had released her and Caroline embraced her briefly as she began setting her appearance to rights with practiced ease of a sister who has been through all this before.

"You are my friend and it will take more than a few well deserved tears to be rid of me, or Louisa for that matter ,given the events you have been through in the last few weeks it is no wonder you find comfort in tears"

Though they had not been friends long Elizabeth was grateful for the support of these new companions in her life. Soon she was restored to rights and was sipping on a small glass of wine that settled her nerves wonderfully, Never had she such good friends even in town the ladies where prone to few their fellows are rivals for the attentions of the marriage minded men around them. It was a refreshing change.

"Now for a more cheerful subject Miss Lizzy how do you find..."

Whatever she had been about to say was cut short by the arrival of Mr, Darcy and Bingley, they entered the room in deep conversation and faces that gave nothing away as they concluded their speech. Bingley addressing them with good humored teasing. Elizabeth however had eyes for Mr. Darcy as she rose from her chair. His expression was as always politely blank, but his eyes, oh his eyes held a degree of worry that made a chill run down her spine as she lowered her gaze, they had found something, perhaps what had happened to Jane was no accident after all. It was a horrible notion.

"Ah here they are Darcy, I was afraid you had gone to dine without us poor bachelors to keep you company"

Elizabeth stifled a laugh behind her glass as she set it down and dipped into a curtsy. Her brother was a good man for attempting to raise the mood of the party but she could not allow that comment to pass without note she greeted them briefly before muttering into Caroline's ear before the departed the room.

"Bachelors the gentlemen might be, but poor they most certainly are not"


Here ends Chapter 11-dodges the thrown objects-

I know its been a horribly long time between updates and for that I have no excuse other than a faulty muse and little time to devote to writing.

So what thing you gentle readers was it worth the wait, have I lost the thread of the story?

Whomever grants this story its 80th review shall be granted the dedication for Chapter 12 though more as always prompts faster updates and much love from the author.

Stay tuned therefore for Chapter 12. A cousin's contempt.

Skydancinghobbit