I do not own Divergent. Credit goes to Veronica Roth.
I do not own Pride and Prejudice. Credit goes to Jane Austen.
The gentlemen had brought many laughter into the Prior home that evening. It had proved to be a comfort for Mrs. Prior's nerves as well. Shauna smile graciously at the conversation, though Beatrice could tell that she was hurting deep inside.
During the course of dinner as well as the conversation that followed, Beatrice could not help but share smiles with Eric, even when he had been sitting next to Lauren playing cards with her. When the gentlemen had left, Mrs. Prior, Lauren, Christina, as well as Beatrice showed them out, thanking them for their company.
"That Eric Wickham is such a charming young man, is he not my dear," said Mrs. Prior as they all sat in the drawing room after their guests had left.
"Yes, he is," Mr. Prior answered without looking up from his paper. "So good of him to entertain us with stories, so eloquently, of his misfortunes. With narratives like those, why would one read novels?"
Beatrice was completely shocked. That evening Mr. Wickham did indeed share, not whole, but part of his situation in life to the Prior household. In her father's statement, he had basically claimed that he did not believe Mr. Wickham.
"But I believe he has truly been mistreated by Mr. Eaton."
Both of her parents looked at her, even Mrs. Prior.
Mr. Prior regarded her for a moment. "Well, I daresay he may have been, Tris. However, Mr. Eaton may prove to be, rather than a black-heart villain, just your average rich man with little regard for the common folk."
"It behooves us all to take very careful thought before announcing adverse judgement on any of our fellow man," stated Myra, always ready to share something intelligent on manners and propriety.
Lauren scoffed at her sister.
"Well," began Mrs. Prior. "I feel sorry for Mr. Wickham, for he is a well-mannered man. And so becoming in his uniform," Mrs. Prior sighed happily. "I remember the time I liked a red coat myself, well enough."
Shauna and Myra looked appalled at the idea of their mother out in society courting young men during her day. Christina and Lauren smiled, for they were smitten with the idea of the company of young men. It caused Beatrice to smile as well. For she too had come to like a red coat herself, Mr. Wickham.
"There's nothing to smile about Tris," her mother told her with all seriousness. "Though Mr. Wickham has taken a fancy to you. You have done nothing to deserve it," she scolded. "Turning down Mr. Alan and sending your family into poverty."
There it was again. Her mother's reproof of her not accepting Mr. Alan's proposal. Beatrice sighed. Well, her mother did state that she would no longer view Beatrice as her daughter.
That night as they had got ready for bed, Beatrice went to Shauna's room. For it was during the dinner that Edward had suggested an idea to Beatrice.
"Shauna, perhaps we shall send you away to Erudite," said Beatrice as she sat down on Shauna's bed.
"You would send me away, Tris," her sister smiled. "I hope I have not been too much of a bother to you."
Both sisters laugh. "I think our Aunt Victoria and Uncle Arman wouldn't mind taking you in for the Spring," Beatrice suggested.
"To Erudite. You are serious," Shauna questioned. "Why would I go there?"
"I'm not sure," Beatrice smiled slyly, for she did have a motive in mind. "Perhaps a change in scene," she paused and turned to Shauna. "And society." Shauna turned to her as well, knowing full well what Beatrice was suggesting.
Shauna could go and stay with their Uncle and Aunt in Erudite and perhaps, just perhaps, get a glimpse of Mr. Ezekiel Pedrad.
It wasn't long after their mother's brother and his wife had received the letter to receive Shauna at their home, that they decided to visit.
"Oh, why are you so late," cried Natalie rushing out of the home. "I thought you had been attacked by dogs to cause such a prolonged delay in your arrival."
Her brother, Arman stepped out of the carriage. "Nonsense my dear sister, there is no need to fret." They shared a hug. "How are you doing?"
"Oh very ill, Arman, very ill. No one knows what I suffer," she claimed. "Then again I never complain about my nerves."
With this her brother could not help but laugh. "Of course you never do, my sister."
"Ah, there she is," Mrs. Prior exclaimed as she saw her sister in law step out. "Victoria!"
"Natalie," she smiled just as joyously and embraced one another. "Where is..." But she was quickly interrupted as her nieces came rushing out of their home. "Shauna, Lauren," she hugged them. "Ah, Tris, Christy," she hugged them as well.
The girls were really fond of their loving and carefree Aunt. She was not that much older than them and was considered more so of an older sister and dear friend, rather than the wife of their Uncle.
"Come, come," Natalie ushered everyone in. "We have little time to get ready before this evening. We have been invited to dine at the Black's residence this evening. Lord knows I do not wish to be going here and there, so late at night," she continued as Beatrice and Shauna cast a look at their Aunt, who simply patted their hands and then went to walk besides her husband and his sister.
That night at the Black's home, Myra played the piano next to Lynn Black. She was the younger sister of Susan. Now that Susan had been engaged, Lynn, was allowed out in society. It was the custom that the parents always married the elder daughter off first. If Susan had not gotten engaged by next year, both Lady Black and Lynn requested that Sir Black allow Lynn to go out.
Lynn was about seventeen years old and had been longing to come out into the community. Although she was not thrilled at the man who would become her brother in law, thinking him weak, she found solace in being allowed to be introduced to the young men and other young women that were out. She had formed a friendship immediately with Lauren and Christina.
But here she sat now, singing to her heart's content to everyone at the party. It wasn't long before the young officers from Colonel Maxter's regiment had requested Myra to play a merry tune that they had started dancing and Lynn was the first to be asked.
Mrs. Prior sat down with her sister in law, observing Shauna speaking with a couple other young ladies, one of them being Susan Black.
"I do not blame sweet Shauna at all in this," Mrs. Prior mentioned to Victoria.
"No," Victoria replied. "How can anyone blame sweet Shauna? She did her best."
"She did," Natalie agreed. "She could have gotten Mr. Pedrad if she wanted to, she did her best and no one can hold that against her. Oh, but sister, when I think of Tris. It's so very hard on me. To think she could have been Mr. Alan's wife by now, mistress of our home. That Lady Black and her daughters are such artful people," Natalie sneered.
"I highly doubt," Victoria started.
"Lady Black had to have seen the opportunity and snatched Mr. Alan away before Tris could reciprocate his affection," Natalie stated.
It was then that Beatrice walked up to her mother and her aunt with Mr. Wickham standing at her side. Mrs. Prior considered her daughter for a moment and then quickly got up and left, still upset over the matter between Beatrice and Mr. Alan.
"My dear Aunt, I wish to introduce you to Mr. Eric Wickham," Beatrice said unscathed as Mr. Wickham smiled and bowed towards Victoria.
"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Wickham," smiled Victoria. "I hear you're from Erudite."
"Yes, ma'am," he replied. "I gather so are you?"
Victoria nodded. "I live there now, but I grew up in a small village a bit further south. They call it The Pier. I spent many a happy childhood years there."
"The Pier," Eric smiled. "That is not far from where I grew up, at Dauntless."
"Dauntless," Victoria proclaimed. "Surely you think Dauntless is the most handsome house in the county, consequently in the whole world."
"I see you take my view on the matters," Eric spoke cordially as he glanced at Beatrice who had smiled as well. "Are you at all acquainted with the family?"
"No, not at all. We grew up in different circles of society," Victoria replied.
"I had the fortunate opportunity to grow up under old Mr. Eaton's care. He was the most civil and respectable of men," Eric spoke. "I wish you had come to know him. You would have liked him as well."
"Mr. Wickham, Tris," called Lauren. "Will you not join us?"
Eric and Beatrice turned to see Lauren, a couple other young ladies, and several of the officers laughing and dancing in a parlor not too far off. Mr. Wickham bowed and thanked Beatrice's Aunt for the pleasure of meeting her and hoped to see her again in the future. Of course ending that sentence with casting a look at Beatrice, making her blush.
Victoria watched as her niece left the sitting room to go into the parlor to dance with Mr. Wickham. As charming as she was told that the young officer could be, she had hoped that Beatrice was being reasonable in this matter.
How did you folks enjoy that chapter and the characters I placed within them? Of course I made Tori play their Aunt, Amar their Uncle, and I had Lynn interjected as Susan's sister.
I almost was going to scrap Lynn's character as Susan's sister, but decided to add her in. She gets scrapped in a lot of stories and I feel that it's because she dies in the Divergent series that some may do that. Regardless, I kept her in.
I changed Tori to Victoria and Amar to Arman (Don't ask me how I got Arman... It was something that just popped into my head).