Prologue

Reading, Pennsylvania, 1903.

Winter.

Elizabeth stared at the headline as her throat twisted.

"Fitzwilliam Darcy of Windrush Manor: requesting a governess to tutor his sister, Georgina Darcy. If any woman is able contact Mr. Darcy at the address below."

Elizabeth couldn't bare reading any more so she drew back. She was seated in her sister's living room of their Victorian manor and this wasn't too far away from Windrush Manor. As she turned and stared out one of the windows, she heard her sister whisper.

"I know you loved him, Elizabeth. You still do based on how you're staring out the window."

Elizabeth didn't reply after a moment as she blinked. Her throat was dry and she was thankful there was a glass of water nearby. Reaching out, she took in a sip before she answered.

"Yes, Jane. I still do and I found it amazing we courted for a long time before something happened with him. He called it off and I never saw him again. Until now."

She gestured towards the newspaper and it contained the information about the man whom she'd formally courted until something happened and that called their courtship off all together. The hardest part was Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy, the man with the advertisement for a governess for his sister, courted the year before but when Fitzwilliam called it off, it was all Elizabeth could have done but wished she could vanish from the face of the earth! She even guaranteed he was in the process of asking her to marry him and was her dearest hope before she was traveled out of state to finish the final training to become a governess. Best part was: she arrived in time to read that about Fitzwilliam requesting one for his sister.

To change subjects, Elizabeth looked at her sister and plastering on a smile, she asked.

"And how are you doing with my nephew?"

The smile which glowed on her older sister's face made Elizabeth wish that were her as her sister replied.

"The best blessing in the world came not long after you arrived, Elizabeth! He is such an amazing gift and we're so thankful God gave us him! He should be here shortly; my husband was upstairs with him and he told me he would down to greet you. But he's taking some time so he asked I greet you before the two make their presence known!"

"That's wonderful to hear." Elizabeth answered but her heart wasn't listening. Her sister, Jane, was married and she would have been with her, the year before, but when Fitzwilliam called it off it was all Elizabeth could have done to keep her hopes up. But she knew being gloomy wasn't something of the Catholic Faith so she tried her best to be happy for Jane when one of the maids entered as she asked.

"Mrs. Bingely?"

"Yes?" Elizabeth's sister asked.

"The master says you're both needed upstairs. Concerns something about the baby."

Elizabeth instantly watched as her sister tightened her shoulder as she thanked the woman. Before she could say something, Elizabeth's sister directed her attention to her as she softly asked.

"Elizabeth? Care to remain here and don't say anything? If I return, I will have the baby in my hands but I wouldn't suggest you follow me upstairs."

"Alright." Elizabeth answered but she was already on her feet and on the alert. Something about how Jane was acting didn't feel right so Elizabeth kept her guard on. Remembering how prayer was powerful, yet she didn't feel prayerful right now, Elizabeth started to pray to Our Lord as well as Our Blessed Mother as she followed her sister retreat her steps. Out of the living room she walked and the maid vanished. Elizabeth disliked being left out of something and if it was relatable to her family, she wanted to know what it was and how it concerned her. But she watched as Jane made her way up the grand staircase and turned to the left. The rest of the servants were nowhere in sight so Elizabeth stayed where she was. She also knew she was youngest of the two sisters but Elizabeth felt she was much older than Jane in the areas of the heart as well as maturity. But she didn't speak this aloud as she waited to see why her sister didn't want her to follow her to her nephew's bedroom. Pressing her lips together, Elizabeth waited to see what was happening and she leaned in a little, narrowing her eyes and wondering if she could hear anything from downstairs. There was a brief pause when suddenly…

An echo of a gun was heard and woman's shriek entered Elizabeth's ears.