A/N: I'm so sorry I completely forgot to update this story, but I'm so drowned into the others, way much action-like, that I really forgot Kiss it Goodbye. Sorry again.
Then, once more, I had changed the début song. This time, welcome the beautifully rock'n roll World so cold, by Three days Grace.
12. Deep down in the mist.
"Do you ever feel me, Do you ever look deep down inside, Staring at yourself, Paralysed"
The following morning, Amanda and I got up very early, as we had to pack our things and leave Longbourne. Apparently, with Jane's unfortunate marriage with Creepy Collins, Mr Bennett had lost his senses, and allowed his wife to kick us out.
I wouldn't complain, if we knew where to go to.
As I was almost finished with braiding my hair and knotting my corset, Am' came bolting by the door, looking blankly at a piece of paper in her hand.
"I heard some bouncing. Did you-"
"I tried to pickaxe the door home, yes." She fell onto the bed, sighing. "And Mr Bennett gave me a pound, asking me to be reconciled with Jane at once."
"Then we have to go to Rosings." I said matter-of-factly.
"You say that as if it was the easiest thing to do in the world!"
I giggled. "Come and help me with this, please." I lifted my hair and exposed my back, so she could do my corset. As she was struggling with the laces, I giggled again. "You know, we could still go to Meriton, and find George."
She nearly jumped out of her skin, and scratched me in the process. "Are you mad? Me? Calling Wickham for help? No way!"
I turned around and put my hands on her tiny shoulders. "Amanda, we have nowhere to go, and Rosings can be as far from here as our place. We could do with some help."
"We could ask someone else!"
"Yeah? Who? Darcy thinks you're an abomination, Bingley's probably drinking himself out, Caroline's a total bitch, and Charlotte's gone to Africa! Who else can help us?"
She sighed and turned me to finish my things. "You're right. He probably is the best hope we have. But God I'll never tell him that!"
"Then we'll have to pretend we were just passing by..." I grinned and, in the mirror's reflection, I saw she was returning the grin.
Once I was done, Amanda got out of Lizzie's clothes, and turned back into her Hammersmith's clothes, those she had claimed to be "otter-hunting" ones. She really looked awful in that.
As I closed the wardrobe's doors, I saw Mrs Bennett, standing behind Amanda as she was closing her jacket's buttons. I stared at her as she glared fiercely at Am'.
"On your departure, my daughters may seek to engage you into a conversation. I would prefer it if they weren't successful. Your parting words of wisdom are treasurers, my girls can live without."
I nearly sneered, as I silently made my way to the door.
Amanda turned on her heels and sadly looked at Mrs Bennett, who I really thought until that moment she despised like plague. "You really do think I'm some sort of disease, don't you?" And she walked to me, grabbed my hand, and drove me downstairs.
We met no one on our way out, and perhaps it was better that way. I didn't turn to say goodbye to the house, I knew I'd see it one way or another, but I still felt sour inside.
After a while, and when we were well advanced on our trip to Meriton, Amanda stopped and abruptly turned to me. "So, d'you know where your crush's living?"
I walked towards her and looked down at her with all my height. "He isn't my crush. And I'm not responsible for us being thrown away, so just back your anger on someone else!"
And I resumed walking, not looking back to see if she was following me or not.
I soon arrived at the centre of the village, and as there were many men gathered there, I waited for my cousin to join me. Her clothes, of course, were intriguing everyone, and when we entered the inn, there was even more men looking at her with lusting eyes. I rolled my eyes at the sight. Pervs. Everywhere I went, pervs. Bugger.
I quickly asked the tenant to walk us to the Captain Wickham, and when he opened the door to reveal a highly surprised George, I smirked.
Obviously, as small as she was, he hadn't seen Amanda at first, and was most probably thinking I was finally succumbing him. Bad luck. My cousin stepped away from the darkness and his gorgeous face dropped.
I made my way to sit by the window, and George just sat on a chair, looking up at Amanda in a very impressed way. I just took out a book and pretended I wasn't there.
"Spunk. D'you know the word? Soldier's slang. The men use it to applause a particular species of reckless courage. To my eye, Miss Price, you have spunk. How you hate me." I turned to see his face, and of course his beautiful brown eyes met mine. And I knew what I was sending him back. I don't hate you. "And yet, here you are."
"What choice do I have?"
"Precisely. Now, you wish to crawl back into society, and for this, you need me. So, prepare the maigrest of ingredients with confidence and style, and you shall serve a banquet. How much money do you have?"
"A pound."
"I have two. I shall give you one of them." I lifted my head and saw that, for once, he was avoiding my eyes. I sniffed. I knew his moves weren't all meant to Amanda, I wasn't an idiot. "And together, we shall buy you a dress."
Amanda looked very sceptical, but when George stepped out of the room for an obscure reason, she turned to me, as I had started giggling. "What? What's so funny?"
"Him. He thinks I cannot see what he's playing at."
She just sighed, and then George appeared again.
"Miss Price, Miss Johnson, I'm proud to announce I've just hired a tailor. Would you?" And he outstretched his arm for Amanda to take.
She took it, eyeing George as if he was insane, and I just rolled my eyes at him before following out of the room.
As the tailor, who wasn't working far from the inn, was working very fast, George started educating Amanda. He obviously thought I was fit enough for society. Or maybe he didn't intend me to return to society soon. I lost myself into strange thoughts of me staying in his inn bedroom for the rest of my days, plainly waiting for him to return from work and jumping on me as soon as he would pass the door.
It wouldn't be that displeasing. If I wasn't that much of a feminist.
Oh, shut up hormones!
George then grabbed a fan, and put it in front of his face. His eyes were almost smiling (almost, I knew him better).
"I smile, yes?" He asked Amanda.
Am', all arms outstretched, suddenly looked very suspicious. "Yes."
"No." I couldn't help myself.
George put the fan down, revealing a very not-smiling face, and turned to me to wink. I smiled back. Yes, I know you.
"The humble fan. When one is consumed by one emotion but is constrained to exhibit another."
"Why are you doing this?"
"You want instruction in the art of bearing and tone." Amanda lifted her finger to scratch her nose, and George stopped her quickly. "Do not touch your nose."
"I've got an itch!"
"Ladies are strangers to the itch." I sneered. He handed Amanda the fan. "Show me the coquette impériale." Amanda put the fan before her face, but looked like she was a prostitute. I laughed under my breath. "Some seller at the market. Do it again." Am' did it again, and this time it was almost believable. "Better. Show your face."
She remove the fan from her face, and effectively, she wasn't smiling at all. I smiled in pride. My cousin, ladies and gentlemen! All becoming courteous en everything, and most of all, getting along with my George! Alleluia! Wait, did I just said "My George"? Okay, scratch that...
"Acquaintances! Consider your very good friends, the de Sarracays. The nec plus ultra of parisian society. Dear prince Gustave and his charming wife, Marie. That collection of porcelain is quite unparalleled."
"Never heard of these people." Come on, Amanda, are you that daft? They don't exist, you dull!
"They don't exist, of course."
"Of course." I rolled my eyes.
"But I've always found them commendably useful."
"I thought we were supposed to be at war with France!"
"A war with France is traditional. A war with Paris...is unthinkable! Society doesn't recognize it." Oh please! Paris' so boring! "What we should do with you is have you married to a rich man!" I sneered again. Amanda married to anyone else than Darcy-Snob? I'd like to see that!
I got up and walked to my cousin, all pimping in her magnificent blue dress that highlighted her red hair. I put my hands on her shoulders. "You look beautiful. If Jane doesn't forgive you, I rip her to pieces." And I kissed her forehead.
She leaned in. "You're not coming with me?"
I shook my head. "I'd love to, but Jane and I aren't the best of friends. I think my presence will only make her wary."
She nodded. "Will you manage staying with..." She pointed George, who was paying the tailor.
I giggled. "I think I will do fine. I know him."
I took her arm and drove her outside, while George was quickly putting his soldier's mantel on.
Amanda resumed their discussion. "I am the one person around here who is absolutely not marrying anybody, rich man or otherwise. I've buggered up this story and now I have to unbugger it by rebuilding my friendship with Jane Collins. I'm going to write her a letter." And here she goes again! I could see her game very well! Writing a letter to Jane to have her forgive her that way, then ask her if I could come along with her. She was so predictable. I'd do just fine with George! Yes, I'd probably lose a sheet or two, but I'll live!
"Clever." What? Are you buying it, George? Please, don't!
"And if you don't like it, you can take your dress and – what?"
"You shall be reconciled with Jane, she shall invited you to her house, which is in the grounds of Rosings, which is owned by Darcy's aunt Catherine, and who is the cloaca through whom every society must pass."
"Wohohoh, the person I am most hardly not to marry is Darcy." Yeah, obsessed, aren't you dear cousin? I sneered again.
"I didn't suggest it, and yet you thought of it. That's interesting." He turned away, after eyeing me for a second. I couldn't help but rolling my eyes. "Go to Jane at once, forget the letter." And he walked towards a coach to order it for Amanda.
She turned to me. "Angie, I'm so sorry I have to leave you here!" She hugged me a little, until I pushed her away.
"Amanda Price, you are so going to be fine. Darcy will fall for you, I can assure you that. You're so radiant. Let me deal with Hot-Potatoe here." I kissed her cheek and pushed her towards the coach.
It went away at once, and I just had a second to wave my cousin goodbye.
And then it was it. I was alone. Alone with George Wickham. Bloody Hell!
When I turned on my heels to face him, I was suddenly facing to brown flames. And a smirk. A smirk I pushed away.
"So, Captain, won't you show me around?"
I so hate to write those chapters where I have to write everything that's said in the show... -_-
Anyway, sorry again for the very late update, I swear I'll update sooner. Maybe even tomorrow! :)
Review please!