Chapter Six; What Is This Feeling?
Excerpt from William Johannes Collins' Journal
Page 193
Life in Maryton isn't what I expected at all. I had hoped it would be far more religious than what I found it to be. Cousin Elizabeth is a dancer and a bartender – she will surely be condemned to hell. Lady Cat always says those are the two most unholy places ever; "The Theater and the bars Mr. Collins, the Theater and the bars need to be saved most of all." I should marry her – save her. Lady Cat's lawyer, lawyers she has more than one of course, her lawyers found a loop hole in Mr. Bennet's will that gives me quite a lot once he dies. In marrying one of his daughters I will keep it in the family.
From the PDA of C. R. Bingley III
Darcy really needs to change his password. He uses Georgiana's name for everything. It was easy to hack his personal journal. I on the other had just changed mine from mother's name to 'Janie'. I probably shouldn't have typed that. Oh well if someone's reading this it's too late they already knew my password/ hacked me. Oh yha, this entry isn't about passwords. It's about Darcy. I read his entries. Aside from thinking I'm on crack, Dick a light weight, and my sister a bitch (two out of three of those I agree with) he also thinks Jane is a fine girl. That makes me happy. I really do love Jane with all my heart. Jane Bingley that sounds perfect. He also thinks, no, knows that he's in love with Elizabeth. I suspected as much and now in black and white I have proof. This brings me to faze two of my plan. Enlist Jane and throw a party so Darcy and Elizabeth can hook up. Everyone deserves love and the same happiness I have when I think of Jane – if that's possible. I'll write it off as a going away party or something. Elizabeth Darcy. That almost sounds as good as Jane Bingley.
From: kingbing. Party?
Hey, I have a plan, I need an ally.
From: janiebean. Re: Party?
Details
From: kingbing. Party?
I want to get Darcy and Elizabeth together
From: janiebean. Re: Party?
Play matchmaker?
From: kingbing. Party?
Yes
From: janiebean. Re: Party?
Do that to her and they'll be outlining you in chalk
From: kingbing. Party?
Then don't think of it as matchmaking. Just getting to know each other. He's leaving soon and I have it on the best authority that he's in love with your sister. Now what kind of music and who should come?
From: janiebean. Re: Party?
I love you.
Music:
Musicals – I can bring those, she made me some copies.
Classic Rock/ Jimmy Buffett
Classical – here again I can bring that
People:
Well our cousin is here (don't get me started on him)
But I think you'd also need Lottie, M&M, Gaye, and Jessie to make it an actual party.
Oh, and if this thing backfires it's all your idea and I had nothing to do with it. I only see Lizzy once/ twice a year, I'm not making her mad.
From: kingbing. Party?
As you wish
From the PDA of F. Darcy
Dumbass is throwing a party. Totally impromptu BYOB affair. Says it's my going away present. I don't know why he's giving me a parting gift, but if he wanted to give me a good one, a party would not be it. The perfect gift would be the anti – party. But nooooo we're having cheep beet and dancing – his house is too pretty for that but yet that's the plan. I smell trouble.
The party was almost two hours underway before the Bennet girls and their cousin arrived. Jane came to where Charles and Darcy were imminently, like a messenger.
"Sorry we're late; Collins didn't really want to come." Jane said.
"How did you convince him?" asked Charles curiously, Jane turned to Darcy.
"You." She said apologetically. "Aren't you Catherine de Bourgh's nephew?"
"I am."
"Mr. Darcy!" a nasally male voice called to him.
"I'm so sorry." Was all Jane had time to say before William Collins was upon them.
As he spaced off what the toad went on about he thanked Charles soooo much for having the party.
"Blah, blah, blah, the Good Lord, yadda, yadda, yadda, Nobel patroness." What the fuck? Was Darcy's thought, "Lady Cat" Oh, Cat's found someone to fluff her feathers – I knew there were multiple reasons why I hated her. He continued to space off the simpering yes man until Elizabeth walked over.
"Cousin Elizabeth would you do me the honor of dancing?" Collins said bowing formally to her. She blanched and her dark eyes beseeched him for help.
"I would really love to but, uh…" She began.
"I've filled her dance card." Darcy finished for her hurriedly before rushing off to the other side of the room.
"Thank you." Elizabeth said.
"Don't thank me yet – we have to dance together now." Darcy said lightly. Inside he was more than ready to but he did have his pride.
"I see your evil plan, save me only to crush my feet. Well, right now, I could care less. In fact I would rather find my tongue stapled to a wall than dance with the 'todget'." Elizabeth said.
"Well then shall we dance?" Darcy asked offering her his arm humorously.
"Collins is watching – we shall." Great she's only dancing with me because she wants to avoid the 'todget'. But she's dancing with ME. I've wanted this since, well, since I said she was a hippie and turned her down. Damn that came back to bite me in the ass. Darcy thought as they took their positions on the floor.
What is this feeling? So sudden and new? felt it the moment I laid eyes on you: My pulse is rushing: My head is reeling: My face is flushing: What is this feeling? Fervid as a flame, Does it have a name? Yes! Loathing Unadulterated loathing.
Darcy looked down at her.
"How do we dance to this?" he asked.
"Dunno – modified tango. Modified waltz. Maybe a tantz?" Elizabeth replied.
"You lead." And she did. How fitting this song. Elizabeth thought It perfectly describes my feelings for you Will Darcy – Loathing, Unadulterated loathing. Even if George is lies and half truths I will still hate you.
"You're not wearing your glasses." Darcy observed after some silence.
"I wear contacts mainly – but saw (no pun intended) no reason to wear them at the lake. I can't swim in them. Do you always talk when dancing?"
"Beats staring down the other couples; I did enough of that at prom." Elizabeth smiled and agreed. When the music changed it was both a blessing and a curse. She was away from Collins for another song and she didn't have to try and lead Darcy anymore. However, she recognized the song; Strauss' "Emperor Waltz". Eleven minutes of Darcy and dancing. She wasn't entirely comfortable with him in her sanctuary. However she saw Collins again and thanked God for the long song.
"Do you know how to Viennese Waltz?" Elizabeth asked switching body positions.
"Yes. Shall I lead?" it was a rhetorical question of course. He began the waltz; she was surprised at how well he led her. He was over a foot taller than she was.
"You dance well, where did you learn?" she asked looking up at him.
"My sister made me take lessons with her for years. You?" he was holding her eyes.
"My love affair with dance started when I was two, I think. You sister, is she short?"
"Average. Why?" he released her eyes, but only for a moment.
"It takes different training to lead a short partner. You led me very well." Elizabeth said. He was gazing into her eyes again.
"Collins will think we're lovers if you don't cut that out." She said.
"What?"
"My eyes – this is getting to be a cheesy romance novel." Darcy blushed.
"I was trying to see your contacts." He admitted. Okay… that's weird.
"My pulps/ eye color what-chama-call-its. Are really big – like freakishly big. I always wanted color contacts but they could impair my sight." Elizabeth said it was her turn to blush – she didn't know why. Her whole body was warm. Darcy could feel it through her artsy self designed green top. They were silent for a time before Elizabeth spoke again.
"Your sister is at Julliard. Who is your alma mater?"
"Harvard. That's where I met Charles – we were roommates." Elizabeth nodded and smiled faintly her off – white teeth accented by her very red lips.
"I suppose you already knew that?" she nodded.
"What ever Charles told you about those years is a lie." Darcy said.
"Charles hasn't told me a thing. Although I will have to ask him now. No, George told me about Harvard." She felt him tense. Good. Squirm, bitch, squirm. She thought.
"Ah. You've talked to him I take it." She nodded. "I don't know what he told you but I suggest that you keep a salt shaker handy in the future." He said, she nodded again.
"We've run out of topics." He commented after a silence.
"The song's only got three more minutes tops so don't worry." Elizabeth said. "Then we can separate and both avoid my family.
"How do you know there's only three minutes left?" Darcy asked.
"I studied a lot of music in college." She said.
"Music major from where?" He asked.
"I have a B.F.A. in Dance actually, from the TISH School of the arts." She said. No wonder she can dance. Was all he could think. Prolific.
"That why you want Danni to be a TISHie?" he inquired.
"Yes. She's extremely talented – gifted beyond her years. If she doesn't get big I'd be very much surprised."
"So where do you dance?"
"I was wrong. The song ends now." She was right of course but the abruptness was shocking. She hurried over to two men talking and drinking in the corner and he left the floor in the other direction. What did I say?
"I saw you cozy with Darcy his good looks win you over?" Galen Jennings teased her. Gaye was her best friend in the world (well, along with Jane and Lottie of course). They had danced together and lived together for a long time.
"I was actually avoiding the todget – I went with the lesser of the two evils."
"Ah, the todget – I've yet to have the pleasure." Jessie said smiling over the rim of his bourbon glass.
"He's here, and he'll find you – you sinner, just wait." The threesome laughed.
"Now back to a more pleasurable topic your Will Darcy. Jessie wouldn't you agree that he's hott. Sorry honey, but if he didn't like girls I would like him VERY much." Gaye said jesting with Jessie, who retaliated with,
"Be careful dear, I live Joanne's part."
"Okay, Joanne, Maureen cut it out. He's not my Will Darcy. Can we discuss another guy please?" As they began to compare Colin Firth to Matthew MacFadyen Charlotte walked over with the todget in toe. She couldn't shake him. The phrase 'total hotty' gave her a way to escape.
"I don't get you guys. Is that all you do, you just sit around and talk about guys?
"Either that or we talk about guys." Elizabeth replied smirking.
"Do you ever talk abut girls?" Collins asked hoping they talked about men they held in high esteem, like Jesus. Jessie and Gaye looked at each other and then at him and shook their heads.
"I only like girls sometimes." Elizabeth said smiling and licking her lips suggestively. Collins set a new land speed record in his attempt to get away from them. The group howled with laughter.
"That was terrible Benn." Charlotte said. "He just needs a hug."
"Then how come you didn't give him one?" Elizabeth retorted.
"I ain't got nobody, and no body cares for me Yakka tak taa yakka tak ta ha!" was Charlotte's reply.
Excerpt from William Johannes Collins' Journal
Page
I am far too flustered to number pages right now or even to care. I'm proposing to Cousin Elizabeth tomorrow. She needs not just salvation, but an exorcism. Her conduct tonight was so brazen! Her shirt was thin and showed enough cleavage to get less pure men (i.e. someone other than me) hot under the collar. And her pants were tight leather. I will reform this whore. She has entrapped Lady Cat's nephew, he's to marry Anne de Bourgh yet he danced with Elizabeth AND let her led him. She has worked he vixen tricks on him to be sure. Tomorrow she will be saved in marrying me she will never be with any other men or women except God ever again. Lady Cat will be most helpful in the reprogramming and very proud of the result.
From the PDA of C.R. Bingley III
I think the night was a success. Jane and I were together all night. To actually have her body in my house makes it easier to picture her as my wife. She is an angel. Darcy too I believe has found his own angel. He and Elizabeth danced together. Jane said that dancing is more intimate than sex for Lizzy. And Darcy gazed into her eyes. I hate to sound like a bodice ripper but it was so. I haven't seen that much depth of emotion since Janie and mine's pictures were developed. God I love her! I LOVE JANE BENNET! Jane Bingley – how heavenly that sounds.
From the PDA of F. Darcy
Bed! Bed! I couldn't go to bed! My head's too light to try to set it down! Sleep! Sleep! I couldn't sleep tonight. Not for all the jewels in the crown! I could have danced all night! I could have danced all night! And still have begged for more.
I could have spread my wings and done a thousand things I've never done before.
I'll never know what made it so exciting; why all at once my heart took flight. I only know when he began to dance with me I could have danced, danced, danced all night! I could have danced all night! I could have danced all night! And still have begged for more. I could have spread my wings and done a thousand things I've never done before. I'll never know what made it so exciting. Why all at once my heart took flight. I only know when he began to dance with me. I could have danced, danced danced all night! I could have danced all night, I could have danced all night. And still have begged for more. I could have spread my wings, and done a thousand things I've never done before. I'll never know what made it so exciting.
Why all at once my heart took flight. I only know when he Began to dance with me I could have danced, danced, danced All night! I love Elizabeth Bennet. I hate George Wickham. I hate my Aunt and her bitch. I love Elizabeth. And in two days I'm leaving here, back to New York. Maybe I'll stop loving her, the thought pains me now but it's probably for the best. She doesn't like me; I can see it in her eyes. She doesn't even like me as a friend. If she did she wouldn't have run when I asked about her dancing. It's for the best. It's not true love, if she doesn't love you. And true love is the only love you need. New York shall be welcome. Speaking of true love, Jane is too reserved. I watched them all night. Charles is ready to marry her; Jane is barely in boyfriend/ girlfriend mode. And she's so nice; she might marry him just to make him happy. Toxic niceness. I hope that doesn't happen, maybe I should talk to him.
A/N Thank you to all who have read this story thus far, and an even bigger thank you to thoes of you who have reviewed, and those who will review shortly after reading this.
Anna; liked it, loved it! Please write more soon please. and somebody kill off caroline, for god's sake! Amen!
a; danni is a great character, "i like my coffee like i like my men; hot, black, and strong"! ) brilliant chapter, my favourite part has to be when caroline said CHOPin. i was laughing so hard my sister was giving me this funny looks. anyways, please update soon, i cant wait! I heart Danni too, she was fun to write, and yay for laughing so hard at writen text as well as understanding that he isn't CHOPin with the violins. (I've had 'friends' ask about that)
Happily Depressed; Gah! I love you. That was pretty much awesome. I'm kind of stuck on what to do for my story right now, but I'm working on it. Update soon!
Happily Depressed; I love this story beyond belief. It is awesome. LOVE that Elizabeth dances. LOVE that Darcy's SN is KnightsaysNi. LOVE the whole concept. Continue! I love you too Happy! And think that people should see her profile and read her stuff, hang on through the writer's block, I promise it'll get better!
a; wow! i just read this, and i think it was great. lizzy is perfect, you transfered her into modern age very well, and she still stayed JAs elizabeth, darcy too. oh, and i loved how you insert those IM coversations, the best one was darcy and georgianas. i only didnt understand who is danni? at first i thought she was elizabeth, and then she said she was fourteen, so i was a bit baffled. and that song you used- hello, i love you by doors- thats my fovourite song. PlEaSe UpDaTe, i cant wait to read more Thank you
Thank you all who reviewed, you are a great thing for my ego, I've been glowing ever since the first review. And I promise to read and review your stuff if you do mine. Thanks again!
BobbiG;)