I do not own Divergent. Credit goes to Veronica Roth.
I do not own Pride and Prejudice. Credit goes to Jane Austen.
The Prior girls had dropped off Lynn first at Black Lodge and had made it home just in time for dinner.
When Beatrice had walked in her mother quickly ushered her in.
"Good! You've arrived at last," Mrs. Prior proclaimed. "Your Aunt and Uncle have just delivered Shauna. They're in the sitting room."
Beatrice met with her oldest sister who spoke about all the wonders that Erudite had to offer. She unfortunately did not get another glimpse of Caraline or any of the Pedrad family. Beatrice felt at a loss, since she had been told that Mr. Eaton did not inform Mr. Pedrad of Shauna's arrival there.
When asked after her visit to Kent and Rosings where the illustrious Lady Evelyn presided, Beatrice promised her sister that she would discuss matters with her after dinner later that evening.
"Ah Tris," Aunt Victoria smiled at her. "So good to see you. Your Uncle and I were planning a trip to the Pier County," she told her niece as they sat down. "Shauna had requested to come back home, but we would love for you to join us."
"Come to the Pier County with us," her Uncle Arman encouraged. "The grounds are beautiful this time of year and of course the officers are so light in the area," he smiled. "That might be a great influence on your decision."
"Yes," Myra agreed. "For what are men compared to rocks and mountains? The glory of nature is much more suitable to my palate."
"What do you say, Tris," asked Aunt Victoria.
"When do you leave," she questioned.
"We will stay here for about a month," Uncle Arman determined. "After that we will be on our journey. That is unless my dear sister kicks me out of her home," he teased Natalie.
"Never, never," she replied with a smile, joyfully. "Besides we are hoping to persuade Mr. Prior to take us all to Brighton!"
Mr. Prior grunted and folded his paper. "My dear Natalie, we will not be traveling to Brighton."
"Tris, won't you speak to Papa," urged Christina.
"Why do you want to go to Brighton," Beatrice asked.
"Hello," Christina cried. "That is where Colonel Maxter and his regiment will be stationed. They will be there for a few weeks and then travel farther up Country. Think about seeing Eric again. Or even if you are tired of him, there should be a camp full of soldiers there."
"A camp full of soldiers," Lauren stated dreamily.
"See Papa," Christina said. "We are all heartbroken over their departure. Tris take some sense into our father. He listens to you."
"Thank you for the compliment. However, I am going to say that we should not travel to Brighton," Beatrice responded as her sisters groaned in disappointment.
Lauren started to pout. "I want to go to Brighton!"
"And yet I am unmoved," Mr. Prior stated. "If anybody needs me, I'll be in my library not to be disturbed. Unless you want to join me for a smoke, Arman. Other than that I want to hear no more talk of the soldiers or of Brighton."
Mr. Prior left the dinner table first. It was not long until everyone else had departed for either the sitting room for more evening conversation or towards their own bedrooms. It was in Shauna's room that Beatrice quickly entered and sat Shauna down on the bed. She remarked on seeing Mr. Eaton, meeting Colonel Uriah, Lady Evelyn and her daughter, Nita. Secondly, she brought up how Mr. Alan ran his home and that Susan was content. Then she finished with Mr. Eaton's proposal.
"Mr. Eaton proposed," Shauna declared shocked. "Not that I doubt for a minute that anyone would want to marry you, Tris. It's just that I always believed him to be a disagreeable man when it came to you."
"I hardly know what to make of it at all. I defended Mr. Wickham to him, which is another story to tell."
Shauna gripped onto Beatrice's hand. "Tell."
"Mr. Wickham persuaded Mr. Eaton's sister to marry him so he could take all her money." Shauna gasped at Beatrice's statement. "Eric did not care about her at all and neither does he care for Miss Matthews. He only wanted to take her money as well. Mr. Eaton said that his sister has been heartbroken ever since and he's been attempting to put her back together. Shauna," Beatrice's voice got lower. "He persuaded her that she was in love."
"You think he may behaved indecently?"
"Well, there were moments when Mr. Wickham and I were alone. He would openly flirt with me. But Mr. Eaton's sister was only fifteen years old. Who's to say that he might have..."
"Stop it Tris," Shauna censored. "He was our friend. We must not think such a thing. Although this is grave indeed," Shauna shook her head.
"There is something I wish to ask you," Beatrice told her sister. "Should we make known his past misconduct?"
"What does your heart tell you?"
"That it ought not to be mentioned. Mr. Eaton told me in secrecy and I believe that he kept it a secret for fear of it getting out and ruining his sister. I for one do not want to bring reproach upon that poor girl. She has suffered enough as it is," Beatrice answered.
"Then that is what we will do. Besides, maybe Mr. Wickham feels guilty and is attempting to make up for it somehow," Shauna offered.
"Oh Shauna, do you ever think ill of anybody," Beatrice teased.
"I like to think that I don't," she replied.
Within a week of being there at home, Beatrice decided that she would travel with her Aunt and Uncle. Although she did just return from a journey, it was more stressful than relaxing. There were so many things that had come up while visiting Susan. Beatrice was still left feeling empty.
It was the very morning that Beatrice had informed her Aunt that she would join them that she noted Shauna walking around the garden lazily.
"My dear Shauna," Beatrice walked up to her sister. "You are unwell?"
"No," Shauna gave her a small smile.
Beatrice's heart cracked a little. It wasn't that her sister was unwell physically, it was that of an emotional sickness. "Shauna," Beatrice pleaded softly touching her sister's arm gently. "You miss him?"
"I do," Shauna told her as she looked away. "I did believe that there was a moment that Mr. Pedrad did care for me and," she paused and looked up. "And I still do care for him, Tris. Perhaps in time, it will all be forgotten. Those precious months that he was here will be like a pleasant dream for me."
"Shauna, I am so sorr..."
"Don't Tris. I just need time," Shauna replied. "Then I will be myself again. I promise you Tris, I am perfectly well. I just need time." Shauna patted her hand and continued walking around in the garden.