Chapter One

New York – The Bennets' Seamstress Shop.

Within the sewing room, Lizzy narrowed her eyes in concentration. She knew this dress needed to be done before the afternoon and she could only imagine what her mother would say to her if this wasn't finished. She remembered that the dummy was going to display it and the buyers would be in the shop before the early morning. Offering up a prayer to Our Blessed Mother, Lizzy pressed her foot on the sewing pedal as she started the design. The details for this one were challenging as she followed the path of the fabric. Already she had cut and pinned together where the pieces would be put together earlier.

"Unlike most of the dresses downstairs," she thought as she re-checked the pattern, "this one is going to be out in front in the window."

Here she inwardly rolled her eyes when she remembered that her sisters, Kitty and Lydia, were out in town; doing their best to find jobs as models. Her mother, Mrs. Bennet, encouraged this more than showing them how to sew the dresses Lizzy was making. If Lizzy knew anything about Kitty and Lydia, they would cringe at the mere mention of "needle and thread."

"And they care so much about being the best model then for…" Lizzy thought before there was a loud knock on her door. She nearly messed up the line of the needle when her mother's voice called.

"Lizzy?! Is that dress almost finished?!"

Lizzy sighed before she answered, irritated that the sewing needle almost ripped the line, "Almost. Should be finished before the morning is over."

"Good. Because we need that on display." Mrs. Bennet answered.

Once her mother left, Lizzy peered over shoulder as she added. "And maybe if Kitty and Lydia weren't so bent on becoming models, they could help me with this."

Lizzy didn't mention it but when her mother asked if the dress was finished, Lizzy nearly ripped the side of the dress when that happened. Which meant it would take even longer for it to be completed. When Mrs. Bennet was gone, Lizzy returned her focus back to the dress. She narrowed her eyes and felt irritated when the rip was done.

"As if the sewing needle needed help," she thought as she took the cloth away from the machine, "this will take twice as long to have it on display by midmorning."

Yet Lizzy offered a prayer of strength before she stood and approaching the table where she had extra cloth, she placed the dress down before she fetched more cloth to replace the rip. But before she did that, she would rip out the stiches before she would re-sew the cloth. She wondered how in the world her mother let her daughters prance around New York while she was left back sewing their work.

She only imagined what her sisters would return with; all the stories of how they brought their resumes to the modeling industries around town, which were starting to slowly open and Lizzy would only be asked to sew another one of their dresses. The Bennet's Seamstress Shop was located in the middle of New York and with few of their kind, it was one of the last of the olden times where Gilded Age seamstresses were needed. Lizzy's late mother used to own the shop and when her father was alive, Lizzy learned the blessing of sewing though her mother was the one who helped her learn. She was thankful to her and God bless her soul, Lizzy prayed, as she reflected for a moment on what her mother taught her. But when she heard the sound of the bell ring in the shop, Lizzy quickly resumed her work when Mrs. Bennet's voice was heard.

"Welcome to Bennet Seamstress! What can I do for you?"

"If her voice wasn't so tight," Lizzy thought as she remembered the dummy in the window, which would display this dress, "she would be well liked because she always has this way of making people know about her firmness."

Their voices were loud enough for Lizzy to eavesdrop and if she was content with anything, she was thankful for this. She was able to listen as she started to take out the stiches for the dress. When she listened, she overheard more information to who the costumer was as Mrs. Bennet chatted with them.

"You don't need to be former with me."

"Seems to be the case. I haven't seen you in a long time. What brings you to the shop?"

"Well, we heard tales about how grand your daughters have been in the area of modeling. I remember Lydia and Kitty wanted to be them and I passed by and thought I would come and see them. Are they here for me to converse with them?

Here, Lizzy paused in her sewing as she leaned in a bit to listen. Who was this person who talked to her mother like this? Normally and if Lizzy knew her mother, she wouldn't be open about the way her sisters were faring in the area of modeling. Lizzy wondered what her mother would say next as she listened. She still paused in her sewing when her curiosity was sparked.

There was a moment of silence before Lizzy heard.

"Both of the ladies' are in town with their resumes. They have yet…"

Then the sound of the bell rang and Lizzy wasn't able to hear more to the conversation when Mrs. Bennet called as another costumer entered.

"Welcome to Bennet's Seamstress! What can I do for you?"

"She failed to mention that both of my sisters' aren't having much success in the modeling world." Lizzy finished for her mother as she resumed sewing.

"Every time they try they always come back ranting on about what a day they went through." Lizzy remembered one time when both of her sisters returned and only slammed their resumes on the table, before both argued with each other about what a day they went through. It was also mentioned Lizzy was the not only the dress maker but also the one who did the shopping for the ladies. The Bennet's Seamstress Shop also had bedrooms on the top floor while the bottom was the main area where the shop was. Lizzy knew too that customers would come in and out and she would help best she could. Rarely was she allowed to step in thee to see who arrived and who was window shopping. Part of her wished she could receive the blessing of her work because it was Lizzy who did all the sewing for the dresses… not her sisters!

Lizzy continued to sew as the morning continued on. She checked her little work clock and felt irritated when she remembered that this dress was due to be out on display by late morning! Yet she never informed anyone but her mother, Mrs., was harsh and strict with her and Lizzy never liked this. She kept this as an act of sacrifice for them because she too had another secret. It was something her mother opposed greatly and she shuddered at the last time she'd said something to her about her secret and learned a hard lesson.

She sighed when she shuddered as the memory came but she prayed before she resumed her attention to the dress. She prayed to Our Blessed Mother that if she could mend the rip it would save her loads of pain and avoid the wrath of her mother. With this prayer in mind, Lizzy continued to work to the best of her abilities as the morning moved along.

"House of Darcy is the title, eh?" The worker asked.

"Yes." Fitzwilliam replied as he folded his arms. How often was it he would have to tolerate these men before his father's business was set up? Fitzwilliam was thankful he was following through with the family business but the building was yet to be furbished as well as opened.

"I only recently moved to New York and this was the only available place for me to set up." He added as he continued to stare at the building.

"Indeed, sir. This will most certainly attract men and women when it's finished. Do you wish to do anything with the Fords or have keep them at your place?"

"No. It would prefer them at the manor."

"Alright, Mr. Darcy."

Ftizwilliam sighed again as he watched another one of the workers hammering the sign above the entrance. His arms were still folded when he called.

"We're about finished here, Mr. Darcy! Then the cleaning crew will come and prepare the inside. Is there anything else besides the office which you want furbished?"

"No."

"Alright."

When the man climbed down from the ladder, Fitzwilliam shook his head. He wondered what in the world he was doing as he hoped the family business would be a success. He gazed up at the bright sun as he thought.

"First finish preparing the shop and set up the office. Then from there, inquire for a model to come and for a go-see know who will be best for the clothing I plan on designing."

He smiled a little when he remembered one picture of a lovely woman he looked up to as his role model and he was thankful he'd managed to keep this a secret from his family as well as his workers. And he was thankful she was a part of his life yet he wondered how he would show it to his father later? As the day progressed along, he continued to wonder how his father would react to this woman. If Fitzwilliam knew anything about this woman he hoped that his father wouldn't oppose of her as his role model for the family business.