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Chapter 12 – A Sudden Twist of Events

"We have all a better guide in ourselves, if we would attend to it, than any other person can be." – Jane Austen

My eyes widen as I whisper, "Mr. Darcy?"

"Miss Elizabeth?"

I place my hand to my mouth in shock, "Are you really here? Is it really you? Oh! I've -"

Darcy smiles and takes hold of my hand, "Yes. I am here in flesh and blood."

"But," I look away, "how is it possible?" I point my finger at him, "You have some explaining to do."

Darcy pauses, "I have to put, in plain words, why I am here. But, you must afford me some clarity as to why you have come."

I bite my lip and say in a rush, "I'm not really Elizabeth. I mean, that is," I begin to babble, "I thought I was, but, I knew I wasn't and it's all just become one big, huge, confusing mess."

Darcy continues to stare at me; amusement playing at the corners of his lips. He pulls a chair out; gesturing for me to sit down and I oblige. He sits down across from me and leans forward, "How did you come to find yourself in this predicament?"

I look away, "Pride and Prejudice has always been my favorite novel. Some people think I'm obsessed with it, but, I am not. There's a line between being fond of something and being obsessed and I believe myself to being on the right side of the line."

"What's the right side of the line?"

"Well, being fond of it, of course," I blush under Darcy's watchful eyes.

"Of course."

"I passed out one night and found myself in Elizabeth Bennet's place. I met you and you were a dreadful, nasty individual at first but, afterwards you seemed all right and then I fell in love with you. After everything, I was sucked back into a portal once I woke up in the hospital."

"Elizabeth," Darcy reaches over the table to take hold of my hand, "I have a confession to make."

There is a pause and Darcy continues, "I am not Fitzwilliam Darcy."

I move my hand away from his and ask, "Then who are you?"

"My name is Leigh Pember."

I try not to think of how close his name is to Pemberley as I ask, "How did you end up as Darcy?"

"About three years ago, April 1, 2006, I was involved in an automobile accident. It nearly took my life and as a result I was in a coma for about three years. I did not know when I would get back and so I was transported from hospital to hospital. I was at my last hospital for a month and a half until I finally woke up."

I think to myself, "He was my neighbor that mother had told me about. Only mother had gotten the details wrong because she told me that he had been out for a month and a half when in fact, it had been three years."

"Three years ago, I woke up in Mr. Darcy's place and I knew that I had much to learn, for, I had never read Pride and Prejudice. I had seen the movie, but, had never read the book. As I was now in his place," Leigh Pember looks at me apologetically, "I had to act accordingly and to ask myself "What would Darcy do?" I was not accustomed to this life but, I have grown to love it and I cannot imagine myself living any other way. Sadly, I shall have to."

I take hold of his hands again, "It doesn't matter. You'll still be my Darcy."

Leigh looks back at me with a small smile, "I made this club in your honor."

"You own this club," I ask.

"Yes," he smiles. "But, I miss the real Pemberley."

"I imagine that you would," I laugh, "after calling that home for three years."

"I wish there was a way that we could both go back to that day-"

"Our wedding?"

He nods as I smile, "I wish that we could." He smiles, "I see that you are wearing your wedding dress."

I blush deeply and nod as he smiles tenderly at me.

Silence.

My brow furrows as I think to myself, "I fainted on April 1, 2009 and he had the accident on April 1, 2006."

"I find it hard to go on with my life now," Leigh continues, "without manners and special details to the smallest things; life seems meaningless. I find it strange how before I lived in these fast times without thinking that once upon a time; people lived their lives with a slower pace."

"I fainted on April 1, 2009 and you had your accident April 1, 2006," I smile, "maybe there's a connection. Was your accident in the morning?"

"Yes, why?"

"I fainted in the morning," I explain. "It's better luck this happened in the morning on April Fools Day!" I smile to myself, "Call me crazy, but, I think a portal opens up every April 1st to Pride and Prejudice."

"But, why April 1st?"

"It is April Fools Day," I smile shyly, "and aren't we all fools in love like Elizabeth and Darcy?"

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