I do not own Divergent. Credit goes to Veronica Roth.
I do not own Pride and Prejudice. Credit goes to Jane Austen.
Beatrice and Shauna were sitting in the drawing room. Beatrice still distressed about her friend's decision. It was then that one of their house servants had come into the room with a letter.
"This just came now from Netherfield for you Miss Shauna," said Mrs Hill.
Shauna and Beatrice shared a smile. At least today they could receive some happy news, other than Mr. Alan and Susan becoming engaged. Shauna opened the letter quickly and then looked up at Beatrice.
"It is from Caraline," Shauna said softly and then looked back down to read the letter. Beatrice sat up to see her sister's smile disappear and her bright color almost leave her completely.
"What is it, my sister," Beatrice asked, moving from her chair to sit next to Shauna.
Shauna let out a couple breaths and then handed the letter to Beatrice. "Read it. I don't mind. Not anymore," she finished as she got up and went to look out the window.
Beatrice took the letter in hand and was surprised as well. Mr. Pedrad had left town and according to his sister, has no intention of ever coming back.
"He's not coming back," Shauna said gently. "And for good reason, too."
Beatrice looked from her sister and then back to the letter.
"I do believe that Miss Marlene Eaton has her accomplishments of beauty, elegance, and grace," Beatrice started reading the letter out loud with a slight amused laugh. "That soon after this, I shall hope to one day call her my sister," she read Caraline's words.
"Is that not clear enough," Shauna turned around. "She knows that her brother is indifferent towards me and is giving me warning to prepare my heart that he loves another."
"Obviously Caraline sees that her brother, Ezekiel, is in love with you and has taken him off to persuade him to marry Miss Eaton instead," Beatrice put down the letter and went to stand by Shauna. "She hopes to keep him in town and has informed you that he does not care for you, when it is indeed a farce."
"I cannot believe that Caraline is so vicious as to procure such a story."
"Shauna you must believe me," Beatrice took her hands in hers. "No one who has seen you and Mr. Pedrad together can doubt his affection for you," she wiped Shauna's cheek. "Caraline cannot convince a man to be in love with one person, when he is in love with someone else instead. Trust me, your Ezekiel will come back to you," Beatrice assured her sister.
Shauna had decided to spend the rest of the afternoon in her room. She assured Beatrice that she was well.
The only pleasure to this piece of information was that Abnegation would be rid of the arrogance which is Mr. Eaton and the impertinent comments of Mr. Peter Hayes and his wife, Molly, as well as the false civility of Miss Caraline Pedrad.
Mrs. Prior did not take the news so great. "First, Beatrice denies Mr. Alan and now, Mr. Pedrad, whom we all had high hopes for, gets up and leaves town! I cannot understand it," she proclaimed.
"Misfortunes," spoke up Myra. "We are told, are sent to test our fortitude and may also appear as blessings in disguise."
"Blessings indeed," Mrs. Prior sassed. "I cannot bear to think that Susan Black will be mistress of this house. That I shall be forced to make way for her when your father dies."
"Let us hope then, my dear," said Mr. Prior. "That I shall outlive you. That way you do not see the dreaded day that Mr. Alan and his wife take this home."
Mrs. Prior couldn't help but let out some wails of sadness. "Look at them," she pointed to her four daughters, since the eldest had retired to her room. "They will all die old maids! It would have been better to have drown them when they were young."
"I am glad you did not drown me father," said Beatrice kissing her father on the cheek. "I do enjoy my life, despite my friend now receiving this home."
"As do I," said Lauren and Christina at the same time.
"You," Mrs. Prior pointed at Beatrice. "If you had just married Mr. Alan, then all would be fine! Mr. Pedrad probably heard of your misconduct towards Mr. Alan and thought our dear Shauna was the same."
"My dear, I highly doubt that to be the case," Mr. Prior told his wife.
"Oh, I need a drink or something. Why don't someone go and fetch my salts," Mrs. Prior sent Myra to call their housemaid. "For I have such nerves befalling me."
"Mama," spoke Lauren. "May we go into town?"
"Yes, oh go dear child," Mrs. Prior exclaimed. "Might as well send you out as much as possible now, before we are all doomed!"
With that Lauren and Christina set out to town. They had informed Beatrice that it was to look for some ribbon or perhaps some new material. However, Lauren had other intentions. Beatrice decided to join them, once again checking on Shauna before leaving, who insisted that she just needed a moment alone.
Beatrice set off with her two younger sisters to town. Almost the moment they reached it, it became evident that Lauren did not have intentions to look for material or ribbon.
"There's Edward and Will," said Christina, pointing them out.
Beatrice and Lauren turned in the direction. Beatrice could not help but feel a little bright at this moment. A day filled with bad news and yet, a charming smile had met her from across the street. Mr. Wickam.
"And Eric is with them," Lauren smiled. Then she remembered Beatrice walking with them. "I suppose you'll keep Eric all to yourself again, won't you Tris?"
"Of course she will," laughed Christina. "She is violently in love with him."
"For heaven's sake, lower your voice. They're coming over," Beatrice told the both of them. For they had said it loudly and at the moment Beatrice was embarrassed should Mr. Wickham discover that she did indeed like him.
The three men bowed before the young women. "Good Afternoon to you ladies," started Edward. "What a fortunate meeting. We were about to walk to your home in search of you."
"We came to town in search of you," smiled Lauren, continuing the flirt.
Edward and Will took their places next to Lauren and Christina, as Eric and Beatrice followed behind quietly. The first two pairs had decided to stop and converse about something. However, that had gone unnoticed by Beatrice as well as Eric, since they had been sharing glances and smiles.
"We were hoping to see you at the Netherfield ball," Beatrice spoke up as she and Eric walked away from her sisters and the other two officers.
"And I am sorry that I was unable to have the pleasure of dancing with you. I was most looking forward to it," Mr. Wickham told her. "However," he paused and Beatrice finished.
"You did not wish to see Mr. Eaton."
"As the time drew close, I decided that Mr. Eaton and I shall not meet one another. I fear that scenes might arise that would be unpleasant to those other than myself."
"I understand and I admire your forbearance. Not that I wouldn't mind seeing Mr. Eaton put in his place," Beatrice smiled as did Mr. Wickham. "However to see that occur in Mr. Pedrad's home. It would grieve me to bring Mr. Pedrad humiliation and discomfort."
"And through him, your sister," Mr. Wickham stated. Beatrice smiled at this. If only Shauna could see that indeed people did connect Mr. Pedrad and Shauna as a couple. "I hear your cousin, Mr. Alan, is engaged to be marry?"
"Yes. To my good friend, Miss Susan Black," Beatrice smiled.
"I had thought his intentions were directed to another direction?" Eric turned and gave her a sly look and a beautiful smile. He had remembered how Mr. Alan did pay special attention to Beatrice.
"Perhaps they did," she teased him. If her sisters could flirt shamelessly with the officers, she wanted to attempt it as well. "But it took a turn to everybody's satisfaction."
Mr. Wickham chuckled and then paused their walking to look at Beatrice, lightly touching her hand. "And relief," he said softly.
Beatrice had noticed how closely they were standing to one another and it made her heart beat just a bit faster. What a scandal it must have looked like for two people, who were not engaged or married to be out in public and looking so intimate. She couldn't help but get lost in Eric's features.
Either a passerby speaking loudly or a country horse neighing broke their eyes apart from one another, forcing Beatrice to continue walking with Eric by her side.
"I hope that you would like to come for dinner this evening," Beatrice ended the silence. "I'd very much like to introduce you to my father."
Mr. Wickham turned to her with that gorgeous smile of his. "Thank you. I'd desire that as well."
The two then went in search for Lauren, Christina, and the other two officers and had informed them of their dinner plans.
Poor Shauna! How dare Mr. Pedrad leave! Do you think Caraline is trying to separate her brother from Shauna? Or could it be true, that Mr. Pedrad does not like Shauna?
Now that Mr. Alan is engaged, does that mean Mr. Eric Wickham and Beatrice will become a thing now?