Disclosure The storyline, new character development, new events, and new characters are my intellectual property. Glorioux
Last time
"... George will marry us …"
"William, you never stop, you and your father, and my sister for that matter, running a charity. That George is pure rubbish, a nobody. Your father left him a fortune and told everyone he loved George as a son. Even my brother likes him. Disgusting." She makes a disagreeable proud face that makes me angry
I don't answer, and my dog snarls. Fi changed him somehow, and now Petey understands my every word.
We walk away, "I don't remember accepting your proposal."
"I don't remember you saying it was wrong, my love." I venture a little more. As Fi says, we are at war, a war to win her love.
You are right. She taps her luscious lips begging for a kiss…
Happiness and Clouds
"So?" I ask, controlling myself, I wait to kiss her.
"So what?" She smiles, making my blood boil; I want her so much that I feel it all over my body. I can already feel her naked body against mine. I can imagine feeling her breasts against my chest. No, I must stop these thoughts right now. My naughty love, my Lizzie is playing with me; I can see and sense it.
"So what date should we set? I want to beat Bartlett." I dare to ask.
"A date? But you haven't asked again," she shakes her head and pouts.
"I won't since you already accepted; moreover, my aunt will inform everyone. Besides, if I were to ask again, you might say no, which is unacceptable, my love." I hear Fi snickering, and my dog barks, agreeing with me.
She pales, "I should tell you something. Your friend Mr. Bingley wants to court me. He wants me to come and visit him in London."
Petey, my dog, growls and his rough stands after Lizzie tells me about Charles. I cannot believe my ears.
"It isn't a good idea," I tell her between clenched teeth, though I am about to say something about Charles.
"But I wanted to ask you, did he do something to Jane? She is unhappy with me, though Charles said he had little interest." Lizzie bites her lip, looking worried.
I will say something because she might think I am mad at her, "I am not at liberty to discuss the matter, but George told me Charles offended your sister by telling others about a confidential matter. George was the one who broke his nose. I mean, he punched him." I remember Fi fixed his nose afterward. "Unfortunately, Charles repeated some of the same to Bartlett, who also punched him, thus Charles's recent black eye. Ah, Bartlett had to remind him that he would duel him should he continue his spreading lies. And George hit him again after discovering Charles was spewing more lies."
Elizabeth's lips are tightly closed until she speaks, "I am honored to accept your proposal." She is no longer smiling, "on one condition, you punch him again on my behalf. Hmm, if you could break his nose, it would please me."
I chuckled; she has a temper and wants justice, "I will do it. Now, may I kiss you? I mean to seal our engagement?" I am soaked in sweat after daring a lot, but I want it. Honestly, I am not like this, but Fi is egging me on. He says he wants a mother, and Lizzie is perfect.
She looks at me. I don't ask but hold her and give her a chaste peck. Though what I want to do is to make love to her mouth. Luckily, I wear Austrian-country-gentleman leather britches because I am rather indecent. Desire runs thru me like hot lava. In my mind, I am kissing her wildly while I undress her.
She touches her lips gingerly, "My first kiss," Lizzie says dreamily.
No, I need to correct that, so I take her in my arms, and she holds me shyly. I rub her lips with mine and slowly open my mouth, trying to reign in my emotions. When she opens her lips, a moan escapes mine. I just lick her lips while she presses against me. I lower my hands to bring her closer to me, but before this goes too far, I stop, mostly because we are being watched, and Fi is in my pocket.
Who else but the nasty worm, Mr. Collins, is watching us, "You are a cheap harlot, Madam," he starts.
He cannot complete his sentence because my fist meets his mouth. I am seeing red. "She is my fiancée, so you deserve to be beaten and more."
He won't back down; it is not possible. How could he when he is my aunt toady?
"I want you to leave my respectable home, you wicked Jezebel." When he yells to Lizzie, I see that the worm wants my Lizzie. His eyes shine with lust; his nose flares, and he breathes hard. I want to strangle him.
"Considered it done," I answer; I am sad to see Lizzie crying. She is deeply offended by the miserable man's insults. Out of nowhere, a bucket of foul-smelling mud empties on him.
Fi whispers, "Daddy, no, it wasn't me."
Collins yells, saying Lizzie is a strumpet and a witch with dark powers, and runs towards the house with a fat lip and stinking, but no longer covered with mud.
Fi and I glance, and on a limb, we see one like Fi waving his hand to me.
"I'll look. You distract them," Fi tells me. Collins has stopped at the door and is looking at Lizzie and me. He is furious. I am unsure if they can see the one up the tree, but I do, so Fi flies to investigate. Collins shakes his finger at us, turns around, and enters the house.
Fi comes back. "He says he is your brother. I don't get it."
"Darling," I hold Lizzie, "let's get your clothes ready. I will get a carriage. Please don't cry inside. You are better than them." I take my handkerchief, dry her tears, and she walks away.
After Fi whistles, a little man who looks a little like me but a bit younger stands in the air next to my face and kisses my nose.
"Who are you?" I ask. Oh dear, he looks like me.
"Your brother. I sent our sister to let you know you could come back. The nasty witch is gone. The army rebelled when the truth came out after they tried to kill our baby sister. She and my uncle poisoned our parents one by one. You look old, why? Where is Zia, our sister? Her husband is quite worried since she has been gone for six weeks." He sits in the air looking at me.
"Six weeks?" I ask because it isn't possible, not six weeks, but it has been almost twenty years.
"Who is that?" He looks at Fi.
"Wait, you what? You sent her?" I ask incredulously.
"Uh huh, she came thru the tree entrance. Where is she?" He looks around.
Fi starts crying, "She is dead."
"How?" He looks doubtful, so we explain.
"That wouldn't kill her. Oh dear, you are my nephew," he hugs Fi, who is sobbing, coughing up mucus.
I blink. This is unreal.
"Oh no, what did you do with her, with our sister? He inquires, and I tell him.
"Good, you haven't forgotten. Even though we had made you forget all, it was best in case someone looked for you." He explains.
I think there is a mistake. I am, well, lots bigger than him. Oh, oh, there comes Lizzie, so both Fi and my alleged brother go into my pocket.
I am feeling woozy. Something is breaking loose inside of me.
Lizzie's sadness
I was so happy just minutes ago. Truth be told, I have liked Mr. Darcy since the moment I saw him. I think I had already fallen in love with him, but I didn't want to recognize it. Though he was so proud and distant, I was told that he was a good friend. Mr. Wickham said he was the best of men; he should know since he was raised with him. He studied at home with him, then joined him at Eaton and went to Cambridge with him. Mr. Wickham also told me, Mr. Darcy, the father, treated him like a son. He said Mr. Darcy has difficulty relating to people. Perhaps, but here I have seen another side of him. He's funny and a gentleman. Besides, he makes my body aches for him. When he kissed me, I wanted more, but not sure what more was. I just know that I didn't want him to stop. I am looking forward to the marriage bed. Something my mother told us one day when she was tipsy it is most enjoyable; my father was coming into the room and agreed, smiling from ear to ear. He was also a bit tipsy.
When Mr. Darcy proposed last night, I told him I didn't know what to say. I thought his family didn't like me. I won't deny that looking at his aunt Catherine scares me. Last night, I couldn't sleep thinking about him; I wanted him to kiss me. He's such a fine-looking gentleman, the best of them all. I just don't know what to do since Mr. Bingley is waiting for me; although I like him, it is not what I feel for Mr. Darcy.
No, I won't give him up because Charlotte and the nasty Mr. Collins want me to do so. I want to run away, with my cheek and my pride hurt. I regret not taking Mariah with me. I truly don't know what has happened to my sweet former friend, probably Mr. Collins.
Anger
Lizzie's eyes are red, and her cheek is bruised. I cannot believe it. "What happened? No, no, how did he dare." I will kill him; I am clenching my hands. I have never been violent, but this seems like a good day to start. I stretch my arms and she runs into my embrace.
"No, that was Charlotte, she
told me I was like Jane, allowing Charles liberties, which is the reason he wouldn't marry her. She said I was no better. Now she is saying that Mr. Bingley told many that Jane is damaged, and how she allowed him marital rights." She starts sobbing.
I see red, I hear Fi and alleged brother growling. "Darling no crying, please, tell me who told them?" I hold her, rubbing her back, trying to soothe her.
"Apparently she heard it from Mariah; seemingly, Mr. Bingley has told many around. Mariah was screaming that she had said it must be a lie, and to tell me what she said. But Charlotte slapped Mariah as well and busted her lip. Poor Mariah, I want to take her with me but Charlotte won't allow her. I will go to the Lucas and talk to them. Poor Jane, she is ruined." My love is crying.
"My dear, it is a lie. She allowed a few touches, nothing more. He led her to believe he was marrying her." I wish I could explain to her that touching her bosoms, over her clothes hardly makes her a fallen nothing. " Bartlett threatened to destroy him,but I asked my cousin to let it go. Charles is incorrigible and needs to be shut. I had never seen this side of him
"My dear, please wait here. Let me get my carriage ready, I will get one of the maids to come with us." I am going to kill someone, I will. Charles is no longer my dear friend.
"Is it true, Jane looks forlorn? She is often crying and hardly eats. I want you to hurt Charles. What did he do? Does he want to ruin me as well" Her eyes keep tearing.
"What is true is that Charle is not a gentleman. Jane allowed him some minor liberties, and he told that to a friend. George is still angry; and as for Bartlett, he knows and doesn't care; they will marry in a week. He said it doesn't change how he feels. His parents know, and they want to do something to make Charles keep his mouth shut. It is all a lie. I know what happened; it was not what he tells others." I feel bad for not trying harder to stop Charles, before.
"You still want to marry me?" Lizzie asked, looking very sad.
"Why shouldn't I? I love you, and Charles' poor behavior changes nothing; I cannot wait to marry you. My dear, I am sorry to leave you alone." She is not alone, Fi waits by her side, even if she cannot hear him or see him. I run to get the carriage and the maid.
When I am back, Lizzie waits outside with her trunk. I am angry she is treated so poorly, having to wait outside; Miss Lucas stands by the window, waving goodbye. Poor girl, I can see she is crying, I will go to the Lucas, and if necessary will send a carriage to get her. I want to go in the house and beat Collins to a pulp, but I shouldn't.
Then, we stop by the house to get my luggage.
We are about to leave when Aunt Catherine comes out, "William, I have you know her sister is a fallen woman. You cannot marry her."
"That is the last word I hear from you. You won't be coming to the wedding; it is all calumny. Bartlett is marrying her, and your brother knows what happened and has welcomed her. Your brother said you will not be invited to the wedding. When he hears this, he will never visit you again. I guess you lost your family." It is true. My uncle has already received several expresses from my aunt. I know because Richard sent me an express telling me. He said my uncle forbade her from showing up.
I am no longer sad about Charles; he is not my only good friend; I have Richard and George.
"You are going alone, because a maid is not enough." She ignores me, looking at Lizzie, trying something else.
Anne comes out, "But I am, let's go."
"You are not going anywhere," my aunt notices that Anne is carrying a small bag.
"Indeed, I am. I am going to be with John." Anne sounds resolute.
"John is in commerce, what a disgrace. Let's not forget he was a steward, and you have nothing to wear." My aunts is grasping at straws.
"So? I don't care. He is my husband there I said it," she expels air, relieved.
Aunt Catherine looks like she's going to have an apoplexy. "Since when? You were going to marry William."
"Since nearly two years go. Sadly, I was a coward, but John needs me. And no, I don't even like William; besides, I love John." Anne stands straighter than ever.
I cannot stop grinning.
"You won't go, married or not; he is not only poor, but is a nobody. I can hire a good solicitor." My aunt is frantic.
"No, I am going; besides i better be with him before it is too obvious. You see, I am increasing." A new Anne, I don't recognize, looks at her mother defiantly.
At this point, Lizzie is giggling.
"Increasing, how?" My aunt is white as a sheet.
"You know how, at least I hope you do." I guffaw, cannot help it, our Anne is stronger than I thought. She is looking better than ever before, with the meekness all gone, and displaying a smirk to show her mother she isn't afraid.
I help Anne, and we leave. My aunt looks like a statue.
"Tell me about John." I want to know, still admiring the new Anne. Whereas she wasn't ugly before, she now looks comely, radiant. I guess being with child suits her.
"John is a good quiet man. He was in Eaton until his father died; he's older than you. His father was hoodwinked by an acquaintance and invested all he had in a fake venture. John is in London; he has made a fortune in imports, as an associate of Mr. Gardiner. He has paid his father's debts, and rescued his mother and young siblings. He is really a good man. We have been married for 20 months not two years. I want to make it difficult for her to figure out when and who helped. So, when my mother gives me my dowry, I will invest it in John's business."Anne tells us.
"Which Gardiner?" Lizzie asks.