I do not own Divergent. Credit goes to Veronica Roth.
I do not own Pride and Prejudice. Credit goes to Jane Austen.
Lady Evelyn was still greatly distressed over her nephew's engagement to Miss Beatrice Prior. Mr. Alan, wanting to be the reverential and obliging person that he is, still did not want to approve of his cousin's engagement as well.
All of that was forgot when Beatrice and Susan were finally reunited.
"Susan," Beatrice ran out of the carriage upon seeing Susan waiting outside the Black's manor.
Susan laughed heartily for her friend.
"This is a pleasure to see you again, Mr. Eaton. A nice pleasure indeed," Mr. Alan shook Tobias' hand after he dismounted from his horse.
Beatrice and Tobias were to be getting married before Shauna and Ezekiel, only a week before mind you. Although Beatrice was pleased that her dearest friend had arrived back in Abnegation, the following guests were hardly a welcomed sight.
The following morning Beatrice stood next to Tobias at Netherfield while Mr. Pedrad and Shauna stood at the bottom of the stairs awaiting the arrival of Mr. Pedrad's sisters and brother in law.
"I am so happy to see my brother finally settled," Caraline smiled at Shauna.
Shauna smiled and curtsied as any proper lady but she was not to be fooled anymore. Shauna knew that her future sister in law's smile was insincere and that her pleasantries were all for show.
Mrs. Hayes came out and kissed Shauna on both cheek, welcoming their new sister. However, once that was done, both Beatrice and Shauna noted the scowling expression on the two sister's faces when they looked up at Beatrice with her arm linked with that of Mr. Eaton.
"Yes," Tobias sighed taking his other hand to pat Beatrice's hand that rested on his arm. "They will be attending our wedding."
"Of course," Beatrice turned to smile at him and then looked back as Mr. Pedrad led Shauna and his sisters towards the entrance.
"Miss Bea," Caraline walked up to her, curtsied, and feigned joy of her upcoming nuptials.
"Yes, we're all very happy," Mr. Peter Hayes said coming up to stand with the two couples. "Now will there be some shooting today?"
Beatrice and Shauna kept constant audience with Miss Pedrad and Mrs. Hayes during the course of the afternoon. Very little was seen of the gentlemen until the late afternoon before supper. Every conversation was filled with affection on both sides. And though Shauna did her best to be little affected by it, she could not help but feel some remorse that her future sisters did not want her as their brother's bride.
Shauna would still answer in every kind manner as possible, despite her knowledge that neither Caraline nor Molly deserved her kindness. Shauna was that of a timid nature and would rather not fuel any disagreement that Ezekiel's sisters felt for her. Seeing her tolerance and endurance made Ezekiel love her all the more, if that was even possible.
It was during this dinner with his sisters, brother in law, friend, future sister, and future wife that Ezekiel decided that if it was his sister's intentions to keep him near to them that he would have to ensure that they treat Shauna with the equal respect that she gave to them.
"Thank you for bearing their society," Tobias said softly to Beatrice as he escorted her back to her and Shauna's carriage during the evening.
"You bear the society of my mother and many others tolerably as you can," Beatrice turned to him with a smile. "It is the least I can do."
Tobias could not help but give in to the moment to tease his future wife. They were supplied none today.
"Nonsense," he smiled a true genuine smile. "I greatly enjoy how your mother parades me about or Sir Robert Black's compliments or even your cousin Mr. Alan's insistent praises."
Beatrice eyed Tobias warily before both broke into a heartwarming laugh. Shauna looked back on the scene behind her and smiled.
"I believe my sister is truly happy with your friend," Shauna told Ezekiel.
"And I believe he is happy with her," Ezekiel replied as he turned from the scene as well to look upon Shauna. "My sweet, I wonder if you would mind that we took a small residence near Dauntless?" Shauna looked confused for a moment. "I do not wish to take you too far from your family but I know that you and Beatrice are close indeed and those first couple months of marriage you would want to be able to see her as much as you please."
"You would do that for me?"
Ezekiel nodded. "Of course. I fear that it would not only benefit you to be close to Dauntless. I also desire to be near there. Even though I do love the country here," Ezekiel looked around. "I would keep this house, this would be ours. But it is also a distance away from my sisters in Erudite."
"You wish to be near them as well," Shauna smiled.
"They claim they cannot go on without my constant presence. However, I am to be the man of my own home and would not want it to be uncomfortable for you at the slightest. I do not want them to be with us every day but I would like to know that they are just as well off, especially Caraline. She can tend to have a mind of her own," Ezekiel replied.
"She will be a most informational sister," Shauna replied.
"You are too kind," Ezekiel told her. "I do love your generosity, my sweet. But I also know that it has its limits. You must tell me if my sister's presence bring you any distress. Another reason why I believe that being so close to Dauntless will help you, your sister Beatrice will be nearby to take your side. However, if that is still leaving you beside yourself, then you just need to let me know and I'll take you wherever you want to be."
Shauna bestowed a kiss on Ezekiel's cheek and pressed her lips into a kind smile. "Wherever you shall go, I shall go as well."
Ezekiel touched Shauna's hair lightly and smiled. Again he never though he would love her more than he possibly could but when Ezekiel saw the affection, kindness, and amiable qualities of Shauna shine through at any given moment it was he who would go wherever she wanted to go.
Meanwhile, Beatrice and Tobias were still considering the close association they all kept.
"I fear the only recompense for my behavior other than the fact that they are your associates is that they are Mr. Pedrad's sisters," Beatrice said simply. "It is something that he cannot help or choose for himself. And since you are to be my husband and Ezekiel to become my brother, I will tolerate such acquaintances."
"Again," Tobias took his hand and touched Beatrice's cheek. "I am grateful for your surrender."
"I am not surrendering," Beatrice playfully pushed his hand away. "I am merely allowing it."
"You are consenting to me," Tobias continued to tease.
Beatrice could not help the roll of her eyes in the manner she just did. "You should know Mr. Eaton that I am not one to submit gracefully."
"That I do know but I do love a challenge," Tobias pulled her close causing Beatrice to gasp. They were engaged but it was strangely intimate for him to hold her that way. Beatrice found that she liked it and could not wait until there would be days when he would hold her just like this. The notion had caused her to blush profusely.
Tobias dared to lean in and brush his face against hers slowly until it became too much affection to be had that he drew away.
"Until tomorrow," Tobias took Beatrice's hand and pressed his lips to it.
Beatrice curtsied and withdrew to head into the carriage just as Shauna left from Ezekiel's side. Beatrice enjoyed how they both did their best to shield one another from society that brought them uneasiness. Beatrice was anxious to keep Tobias to herself or those of her family with whom he did converse without mortification. To Beatrice this was all something temporary that they both endured during their courtship.
It made the future look pleasant indeed when both Beatrice and Tobias would be removed from society that either of them favored. A smile fell on Beatrice as she thought about the comfort and elegance of being able to go to Dauntless and reside there for the remainder of her days alongside Tobias. Even Beatrice's mother's nerves were becoming too much for Beatrice and Shauna.
Beatrice took Shauna's hand when they were in the carriage and gave it a squeeze. "I am very glad that we are both away from the displeasure of false acquaintances."
"At least you may not see them often as I will," Shauna sighed. "Those women are to become my future sisters."
They both laughed as they headed back to their current home.