I do not own Divergent. Credit goes to Veronica Roth.
I do not own Pride and Prejudice. Credit goes to Jane Austen.
Sir Robert and Lady Black had been planning luncheons and dinners to celebrate their eldest daughter, Susan, being engaged.
It was at one of these dinners that another young lady had been introduced in society, but she was not from Abnegation. She was pretty of course, but Lauren and Christina had detested her.
Once again, Myra was playing a merry tune as Lynn was singing, while Lauren, Christina, as well as Beatrice were dancing with the officers.
"Fine girls, are they not, Arman," stated Sir Black.
"Indeed they are Sir Black," Arman replied. "The two eldest especially," he spoke of Shauna and Beatrice.
"Ah, yes. They could grace any ballroom with beauty," Sir Black agreed. However, knowing that Beatrice had once procured the affection of Mr. Alan and that his younger daughter was becoming an intimate acquaintance with Christina and Lauren, he shifted the conversation. "Let us not forget the younger Miss Priors. Myra with her many talents, Christy with her lively conversation, and Lauren with her friendly manners."
"Aye, aye," said Mr. Prior. "They have talents and characteristics indeed," he paused. "And are probably three of the silliest girls in all of Abnegation."
Arman could not help but hold back a laugh at his brother in law's take on his three younger daughters. For even Arman at times, considered Lauren and Christina to be rather silly girls, but always had taken it that they were rather young, fifteen and seventeen years of age, respectively, and that in time they would grow out of their habits.
Beatrice had danced one set with Mr. Wickham before she excused herself to sit with her dear friend Susan, wishing to speak with her about her upcoming engagement.
Susan introduced Beatrice and Mr. Wickham to the new young lady who had arrived. Beatrice encouraged Mr. Wickham to dance with her, since she had noticed that not too many of the officers had taken notice of her.
"As you wish, my dear," Mr. Wickham told Beatrice smiling at her and then turned to request the hand of the other young lady. Beatrice blushed at the constant attention she was receiving from Mr. Wickham and hoped that soon he would make his intentions known.
"I have come here to ask when the wedding shall be," Beatrice turned to Susan once Mr. Wickham had left.
"This Friday," Susan replied.
"So soon?"
"Lady Evelyn objects to long engagements," Susan answered.
"That means that you are leaving not too long after," Beatrice asked.
"The following Friday. I fear I only have this and the next week left to spend in Abnegation," Susan smiled. Beatrice returned the smile. Soon happy thoughts had disappeared. Susan turned and grasped Beatrice's hand. "You will write to me, Tris? Won't you? I don't think that I will be allowed to leave Erudite for some time. I shall depend on hearing form you very often."
"Of course I'll write," Beatrice assured her friend and shared a hug with her.
Susan pulled back and gave Beatrice a grateful smile, for Susan was to be settled some distance from her family. "My Father is sending Lynn to visit with me the following month, once I am settled. Would you agree to be the other guest? Surely you will be most welcome to me as Lynn."
"How could I refuse," Beatrice smiled. "I'd love to visit and stay with you Susan."
"Thank you Beatrice."
It was then that Lynn came bounding up to the pair on the couch. "Have you invited her to come with me, Susan? Are you to visit and stay with me, Beatrice?" Beatrice nodded. "Oh good, I did not know how I would get through visiting with that timid Mr. Alan if you were not there with me, Tris." Beatrice, Lynn, and even Susan laughed.
Lynn then turned to see something she thought odd.
"Who is that girl dancing with Mr. Wickham?"
"Her name is Miss Jeanine Matthews," answered Susan. "She's come to stay with her Uncle, Mr. Kang."
"She's not really pretty is she," teased Lynn.
"Beauty is not the only virtue, Lynn," Susan replied. "I hear that she has just inherited ten thousand pounds."
"Ten thousand," Lynn proclaimed.
"Now that is a definite virtue," Beatrice teased as the three of them laughed again.
For it had been known that many young ladies in Abnegation would not receive a healthy inheritance. Little was known of the young woman, Miss Jeanine Matthews, except that she had come to stay with her Uncle in Abnegation after inheriting some fortune.
No one had paid her any attention until it was Beatrice who suggested that Mr. Wickham dance with her.
It was the next day that Mr. Wickham visited and took tea with Victoria as well as Beatrice. During this time he conversed about the little information that he had gained on Jeanine Matthews, but most of it, Victoria noticed was meant as a jeer towards her. Beatrice took in every joke Mr. Wickham shared. It was becoming greatly evident that Beatrice and Mr. Wickham were forming an attachment.
Before Uncle Arman and Aunt Victoria had departed with Shauna back to their home, Victoria had noticed that Mr. Wickham had come to visit with Beatrice almost on a daily basis while they were in Abnegation and brought it to the attention of her sister.
Though Natalie thought nothing of it, Victoria on the other hand set out to caution her niece. Some of these visits by Mr. Wickham, he had come alone.
"You are too sensible a girl, Tris, to fall in love merely because you are warned against it. Therefore, I am not afraid of speaking openly. Seriously, I would have you be on your guard. Do not involve yourself or endeavor to involve him in an affection which there is want of fortune," Victoria cautioned her niece.
"Aunt, you know that money does not appeal to me," Beatrice replied.
"But it will to a man like Mr. Wickham."
Victoria knew that Mr. Eric Wickham, a soldier in a regiment, did not receive as much regarding a salary. They would have little to live on, except their affection for one another. She was simply cautioning her niece as to any circumstances that might arise. Beatrice had very little to offer her marriage partner. That much Beatrice knew and understood. To her, she did like Mr. Wickham very much, but had not contemplated such a future with him.
"I know of want of fortune, my Aunt," Beatrice told her. "I will only ask for a simple life, one where I am adored and cherished."
"So are you thinking of marriage with Mr. Wickham?"
"No," Beatrice quickly said. Then looked down a bit sadly.
Even if someone like her Aunt who had been here for a short duration had noticed the attention she received from Mr. Wickham, why was it that he did not make his intentions known yet?
"We are merely friends," Beatrice stated.
"Of a really friendly nature," her Aunt added. "You must not let your fancy run away with you. You have sense, and we all expect you to use it. Your father would depend on your resolution and good conduct. I have seen the two of you interact with one another," Victoria stated causing Beatrice to sigh.
They did take delight in the other's company. There were several occasions were her emotions ran rampant inside of her and she felt that Mr. Wickham had returned them as well. But she was a sensible person. She would not act until Mr. Wickham would make his intentions known.
"You need not be under any alarm, my dear Aunt. At present I am not in love with Mr. Wickham," Beatrice stated. "He is a most agreeable man and I think very highly of him. Should he become strongly attached to me and make his intentions known then I shall behave properly. Until then you have nothing to fear Aunt Victoria."
"Very well," Victoria smiled. "There is no hurry then, my niece?"
"None," Beatrice smiled. "I will not be in a hurry to believe myself his first object of affection. I understand that his attentions are amiable at present. I know that other young women find this situation romantic of sort to have a man, handsome and gentle, vying for their attention. But trust me, Aunt, I am not of that sort." Beatrice hugged her Aunt.
"To further show that we are not secretly courting or engaged in misconduct befitting of those who are young, I will not invite him over as often," Beatrice told her Aunt.
Though it pained her to be away from Mr. Wickham's company, she had to set some ground rules. She did not want to appear to be chasing after a man, especially after much talk had circulated that she had declined Mr. Alan.
There also came into question his frequent visits to their home. Beatrice had been proper at all times and they never displayed any physical affection, not even the slightest. But she did not want to bring humiliation to her father, so her Aunt's advice was most welcomed. Therefore, she did limit the amount of time Mr. Wickham had come to visit. If he had wished to see more of Beatrice, then he would make his feelings known publicly, requesting for the two of them to start courting or become engaged. Until then, she kept herself at caution.
I was not going to add in Jeanine, but decided to when I was watching a version of the Pride and Prejudice movie. She most likely will only make a couple other appearances and then disappear from the story again.
What do you think of Tori's advice? I mean Victoria... lol
Will Eric make his intentions known?