Chapter 24

"Hey! That's my mermaid!"

The second Richard recognized her as they were coming inside the hall, he began to walk straight to Elizabeth. Georgie stopped his progress, pulling him aside with Anne, allowing Jane to go on with Will and Charles.

"Georgie. What are you doing? You're keeping me from charming the future mother of my children. She's way foxier now with her sexy wild dress! From a mermaid to a tigress! My destiny awaits. See you, bye..."

Georgie gripped his arm firmly. "Sorry, I can't allow you to talk to her. She's already taken."

"Why? Is she...? Let me see... Hmm... I don't see a ring. How do you know? You're bluffing, little Cuz! What's going on with you?"

"I don't know if she is." Georgie replied, "All I know is she has a love interest and they have a history. Care to guess who is it?"

Anne did a quick scan and immediately followed the direction of Will's gaze. She whispered, "Sorry Richard, I think I just solved the mystery of Will's secret goddess. Look at your mermaid's remarkable eyes. Do you remember Will's recital to Caroline about his ideal's lady's mesmerizing eyes? Our poor boy's transfixed, he can't take his eyes off of her. By the way, you don't know your animals, Little Richie, it's a leopardess, not a tigress. Ha! Who is this lady?"

"I don't know, "Georgie uttered pensively, "but if she's one of the hostesses, she has to be... Goodness gracious! I think she's Jane's sister! I heard she met Jane back home in Chicago. It's very possible she met Will too."

"Oh, no!" Richard exclaimed dejectedly, "My own cousin beat me to her... Hey...! Did you see that? Interesting! There's hope for me after all! Ha!"

They observed the fulminating look the mysterious lady gave Will, before turning her back on him, and her ensuing retreat with Jane and her companion. Will's discomposure increased. They were astonished to behold their usually cool and collected relative acting as a jilted teenager in love.

After being welcomed by the hosts, they were ushered to their table. Richard slapped Will on the back to revive him from his lethargy and loudly proclaimed, "I think my Mermaid is Jane's sister. So, when we marry, Jane and I are going to be related!"

Georgie struck Richard on the ribs! "Ouch!"

Anne laughed and then she interrogated Will, "So, my dear Cousin, we finally found out the real reason we're here. Jane's sister is the woman of your dreams! Isn't she? Judging by her reaction, it's obvious you know each other. What's the story? It must be a juicy one!"

"So," Charles observed, "You're acquainted with Lizzy. This is odd. I don't claim to know all her secrets, but I think she would've mentioned knowing any of Jane's friends. Don't think for one second that I missed the hateful look she gave you! Did you break her heart? Is she another victim of Don Giovanni Darcy? This isn't good... not good. Jane's not going to be happy with this new development."

"Charles, you know I'm not a womanizer. And yes, I know her. I've seen her many times. What I did on our first meeting was worse than breaking her heart. I insulted her in the most inexcusable, disgraceful, appalling manner! She didn't deserve..."

He was interrupted by none other than the lady herself! The others stared with amazement at the stunning brunette scowling defiantly at a cowering William Darcy! To avoid a possible unpleasant scene, Charles set out to introduce everyone, but Elizabeth hastily asked him to come with her. They left together in silence, arriving at the same room where Jane had been taken.

They found Elizabeth's grandmother sitting in a chair, with Jane and Kathryn kneeling in front of her holding her hands and her grandfather behind her caressing her shoulders. The older lady looked pale. Elizabeth went running to her, taking the hand Jane automatically released.

"Meema, are you okay? You look as if you've seen a ghost!"

"I certainly have, Lizzy. Your father is here! I can feel his presence. Your sister has my little Tommy's eyes! My little baby Janey! God bless you, my sweet Lizzy, for bringing me back my long-lost angel."

Lizzy didn't reply. She just stared at her grandmother with a satirical eye. Her grandmother, noticing Lizzy's impertinence, grabbed Jane's hand with both of hers.

"Lizzy, you have to forgive my Janey for the offense she committed against you. I'm sure it was unintentional."

"Unintentional! How do you know? You weren't there."

"Lizzy! Listen to me. I don't care what she did! She's my baby and you must forgive her! And you must forget what she did. I demand you do!"

"Are you out of your mind? You barely know her and already you're favoring her over me? That's inexcusable! "She's just like her mother!"

"Elizabeth Arlene! You better listen to me!"

"Julia Arlene Bennet! Why won't you listen to me?"

Grandma was livid! "Oh, no! You don't call me by my name!"

"Everyone calm down!" Grandpa interrupted, "Julia, stop telling Lizzy what to do! This is not the time nor the place for arguments! Lizzy, let's go. You have to concentrate on the presentation tonight. You need to cool off."

An infuriated Lizzy left the room with her Grandfather without looking back. It took her a couple of minutes to cool down.

"Can you believe your wife? How could she favor that virtual stranger over me? I can't believe she ignored my story of her 'perfect little Janey.' It is as if..."

Grandpa interrupted her rant. "Lizzy, relax. Try to put yourself in your grandmother's shoes. She's feeling like a dog with two tails with the appearance of her long-lost grandchild after these twenty some years."

"Ha! Thanks Papa, I needed that."

Grandpa continued, "Don't you worry tonight. We'll have plenty of time later to sort things out between you and our Janey."

"There's nothing to sort out! I firmly believe Jane is just like her mother. She probably came here looking for more money."

"Lizzy, you're clearly biased against her..."

"Biased? Biased? Did you forget what I told you about her? Are you going to take her side too? Am I going to be pushed to the wayside now that your perfect little angel has returned?"

Lizzy's remark elicited a chuckle from her grandpa. He hugged her.

"Lizzy, you know you're my favorite person in the whole wide world and no one nor nothing will ever change this fact."

"Oh, Papa, you think this is going to make me feel better? What about Kathryn? Did you forget about her? Are we going to be tossed aside like rejected rag dolls?"

This released the tension, this time Lizzy chuckled and both of them started laughing and embraced.

"Let's go Lizzy. Tonight's an important night for all of us. You have to make me proud."

Back in the room, Jane was crying, "Please Mrs. Bennet... I mean, Meema. Elizabeth is right, I'm so ashamed of the way I treated her. I shouldn't have listened to my mom. I hope one day she can forgive me."

"Don't worry my sweet child. She'll forgive you. Even though she's as stubborn as a mule, my Lizzy is the sweetest, kindest, most charitable girl in the world. We'll just have to work with her. Did you know you were the first one who called me Meema? You practically christened me!"

Meema looked at Charles with appreciation. He had been standing steadily behind Jane.

"Now, please introduce us to your handsome boyfriend. He has already made a good impression on Lizzy, we have this in our favor."

Jane introduced Charles to Meema and Kathryn and then Meema began to tell them stories of Jane's childhood. A couple of minutes later, Kathryn interrupted her.

"Excuse me Meema, we have to go or we're going to be late. I don't want to miss dad's opening speech."

Meema stood with Jane's help, "Let's go, my sweet Janey. You have to sit with me. Charles, I'll return her to you after the ceremony."