I do not own Divergent. Credit goes to Veronica Roth.
I do not own Pride and Prejudice. Credit goes to Jane Austen.
Not long after Beatrice had received a visit from Mr. Wickham that it was soon talked about that he was engaged to Miss Jeanine Matthews. Beatrice did feel a slight ache in this department, in which her sisters only added more to her injury.
"For Mr. Wickham to pursue Miss Matthews just for her ten thousand pounds," Lauren scoffed at dinner the night before Beatrice was to leave.
"That is the only reason why, Tris," advised Christina. "He does not love her at all! It is just for the money!"
"Of course he does not love her," Lauren proclaimed. "I wouldn't think he cared about her at all."
"Do you think her pretty Mama," asked Christina.
"No, of course not," Natalie encouraged her daughter. "She is nothing to any of you."
Nothing, but Mr. Wickham's fiancé, Beatrice thought. All of this, she felt was none other than Mr. Eaton's doing. If Mr. Tobias Eaton had just followed his father's wishes than Mr. Wickham would have a steady living, one in which he could present to Beatrice instead of having to beg for it from a future wife.
"I wish someone would die and leave me ten thousand pounds," proclaimed Christina. "Then all the officers would be violently in love with me."
"How very unsettling for Miss Matthews," said Lauren. "For her to become a bride only because the man is in want of fortune and not her company."
Beatrice excused herself from dinner early that evening and went to write her sister Shauna to inform her of what had taken place. Beatrice sighed heavily knowing that soon, in a matter of hours, she would be leaving Abnegation. Though she was not pleased as to her destination, she thought anything would be better than staying in this dreary place where it seemed her sister, her best friend, and now the most animated Mr. Wickham could not keep her company.
The very next morning as she waited for Lynn to arrive with one of the Black's carriage and attendants, Beatrice walked down into her father's study.
"Pleasure bent again, Tris," her father teased her. "Never thought about what your poor parents have to suffer in your absence?"
Beatrice let out a small laugh. "This trip is not one of pleasure, you know that Father. However I am glad that I will see Susan again."
"What about your charming relation, Mr. Alan," Mr. Prior continued to tease. "Or the Lady Evelyn? As the authority of human folly and judge of all things civil, I thought you'd be pleased to finally meet the great and honorable Lady Evelyn in person. Shouldn't a young lady such as yourself savor such pleasures?"
Beatrice laughed once more. "Do not tease me so Papa for I just may return as state that I did enjoy Lady Evelyn's condescension and ridicule."
Mr. Prior laughed at this. "Very well, very well," he knew his daughter to be joking. Then with all seriousness he took Beatrice's hand in his. "Pray for me, Beatrice. Until you or your sister Shauna return, I shall not hear two words of sense spoken together and neither shall I see any acts of appropriateness done in this house."
Beatrice kissed her father on the forehead. "I shall miss you Papa." Mr. Prior then stood from his chair and embraced his daughter tightly.
Soon her and Lynn had departed and were making their way over to see Susan and Mr. Alan. It was a rather distant drive, one that Beatrice was sure Susan would wish for her to make again.
Right as they drew nearer to the house one of the attendants that Sir Robert Black had sent with Lynn advised them of where they were at.
"All of this here belongs to Lady Evelyn," he commented.
"All of it," proclaimed Lynn. "Lady Evelyn must be very rich indeed."
It was beautiful indeed, Beatrice thought to herself.
"Yes she is," the attendant answered. "Your father noted that Lady Evelyn too has many gifts in her favor of which she dispenses upon your sister. Susan has made a fortunate alliance."
Beatrice turned to look at the man who simply cleared his throat and looked away a bit embarrassed.
It was not long until Beatrice and Lynn had arrived at the parsonage. Mr. Alan greeted them most cordially. Susan stood in the doorway. Beatrice couldn't help but note a slight change in her friend. Mr. Alan insisted on giving Beatrice and Lynn a tour of the place. He remarked on the staircase, curtains, windows, and doorways.
"Here, Miss Beatrice is your room," Mr. Alan showed her the room. "Do you not like the bed and how it is situated?"
Beatrice turned to Susan. "It is a most perfectly situated bed," Beatrice replied a bit confused.
"Yes, Lady Evelyn decreed that it be placed there and that it have those sheets. Isn't that the divine evidence of practicality and convenience? Susan agrees with me on the all of Lady Evelyn's advice," Mr. Alan commented.
Beatrice wanted to remark on something about Lady Evelyn's advice until it was Susan who commented. "She is a very attentive neighbor," Susan remarked. Beatrice and she shared a smile. "My dear, I believe our guest is tired from her journey."
"Of course, of course," Mr. Alan said. "I shall leave you to it. Miss Lynn, my charming sister in law," he stated. "Would you like for me to show you the garden?"
Lynn cast a look to Susan and Beatrice yet released a sigh. She would allow her sister a brief moment with her dear friend, even if that meant enduring Mr. Alan for a while.
Susan took Beatrice into another parlor after Beatrice had changed her dress into something more comfortable. After they had called for tea, Susan had stood up to look out the window over at Mr. Alan and Lynn. Beatrice thought now would be the best time to inquire after her friend.
Beatrice stood and walked over to Susan. "Are you happy Susan?"
"I know that things may not seem satisfactory from your view, Beatrice."
"That is not entirely true," Beatrice noted.
Susan and Beatrice stood next to one another for a moment, silence filing the small parlor. Mr. Alan was below with Lynn showing her all the flowers and pots and even the little shrubberies that he delighted in, since they made Lady Evelyn pleased.
"Mr. Alan spends a great deal of time in his garden," Susan noted. "And when he is not tending to his garden, he visits Rosings to speak with Lady Evelyn almost on a daily basis."
"So often?"
"Yes," Susan smiled. "I encourage him to be out there," she nodded towards the garden. "And also to visit Lady Evelyn."
Beatrice saw where Susan was going with this. "Walking is a beneficial exercise and the fresh air must help Mr. Alan as well," Beatrice commented.
"Oh yes it does," Susan smiled. "This particular parlor is for my own use. We shall not be disturbed in here," she motioned for Beatrice to sit back down as the tea came. "Mr. Alan spends his days in his office. Sometimes a whole day passes where we barely see one another," Susan smiled as did Beatrice. "I find that I can cheerfully bare the solitude."
"More time to think on running your own home," Beatrice offered.
"Of course," Susan replied and took a sip from her tea. "And when Mr. Alan and I do have a moment together he is sincere in his efforts to please. I am quite content, Tris. I enjoy my life here."
"I am very glad for you Susan."
It had to be about the same day later on that afternoon as Lynn came rushing into Beatrice's room while she had been unpacking.
"Tris," she shouted running up the stairs. "Tris," she yelled once more bumping into Beatrice as they met in the doorway. "You must hurry downstairs," she exclaimed, taking Beatrice's hand and leading her down.
Beatrice was directed towards a window where Susan and Mr. Alan were outside speaking to two women in a carriage.
"That is Mrs. Johana Reyes and with her is Miss Nita DeJohnson!"
"So that is Miss Nita," Beatrice remarked as she took a view of the young woman who sat in the carriage.
"She looks like a simple and little creature, would you not agree Tris," asked Lynn.
Beatrice could not help but smile. She had remembered Eric mentioning this young woman before. "Yes, she looks very cross and ill indeed. She will make him a proper wife," she commented. For it was Nita whom Beatrice remembered saying was betrothed to Mr. Tobias Eaton.
"Great news," shouted Mr. Alan running through his garden and over to where Beatrice and Lynn stood. "We have been invited to Lade Evelyn's for dinner this evening."
"How wonderful," stated Beatrice.
"We will get to meet the lovely Miss Nita," added Lynn much to Beatrice's enjoyment.