Blood and Fire - Chapter Seventeen

Liz packs the last suitcase into the backseat of her tiny car affectionately known as ‘Maud’ which is a tight squeeze but after some effort she is able to close the door. She takes one last look back inside her apartment to make sure that she hasn’t forgotten the wedding present for Charlotte and Collins. The hanging bag with her bridesmaid dress is awkwardly folded across her rather large suitcase. Liz considers that perhaps she packed one too many books for the two-week trip, but decides that since she is driving on her own it really doesn’t make that big of difference.

After looking through her bag of items that she will need such as water, trail mix, and her cell phone, Liz puts her favorite audio version of one of Jane Austen’s books in the CD player and settles comfortably into the driver’s seat. It’s a seven hour trip but not impossible in a day. Liz carefully plugs in her GPS into the electrical outlet and registers her intended location since she has a natural tendency to get lost.

As she moves steady and surely although not too fast down the freeway, Liz’s thoughts drift to the past year. Everything seems to remind her of Darcy. The billboards along the highway advertize visiting the Netherfield community. A car entirely identical in shape, year and color to the one Darcy’s owns obnoxiously cuts her off on the highway. Trying to find something else to keep her mind on, Liz turns on the radio as if in perfect timing the announcer immediately mentions a winner by the name of “Darcy” which makes Liz quickly turn to another station. A few minutes later on a dealership label on the blue car that blocks her in and refuses to let her pass the semi in front of her reads “Darcy Dodge”. Even the license plate of the car she is following during the one lane construction clearly reads “DARCY” in large black letters across its state tag. It all seems too surreal.

At the rest stop, Liz decides to take a break and walk around for awhile. She hears a young mother yell to her small child “Darcy, get back here! You need to wash your hands!” Liz sighs and walks over to the large selection of brochures along on the wall. Randomly she picks up one from the stack that has a beautiful picture of green leafy trees sticking out from the top of its holder. It is an ad to visit a historical home. Liz opens the brochure looking for the location - only to find that it is in Netherfield! Liz folds the brochure and resolvedly places it in the pocket of her jacket.

Ten minutes later, Liz returns to her car and stares at her GPS. She sighs, “three more hours to go”. Just as she is starting her car again, a teen dressed in a high school football jersey with similar colors of her school many years ago casually walks behind her car just as she is attempting to back up. Printed in bold letters on the back of his shirt is: DARCY. Without backing up any further, Liz throws her head back and gently knocks it a few times on the headrest of her driver’s seat. She whispers loudly “Really God? Really?”

To distract herself, Liz decides to find her Ipod somewhere in the depths of her purse. She sets the song list on random hoping to listen to some of her favorite music for awhile and get lost in the music. As she turns up the volume, Liz hears the lyrics to the song that Darcy sang as a solo during the Karaoke night at Bingley’s house. “Somewhere Only We Know” begins to play through the sound system. Liz picks the Ipod up and stares at the words in the title on the screen. She hits the forward arrow to the next song before it is finished. This time the lyrics begin with “Something Stupid”. “Yeah, that’s right I’m stupid!” in disgust Liz remarks out loud in the car shaking her head.

Liz turns off her Ipod and decides perhaps being left with her own thoughts is a better option. She misses Darcy. She can’t help herself. She remembers each conversation that they had. Memories of his smile, laughter, and mannerisms quickly come to mind as if they just happened earlier in the day rather than a few months ago. As her thoughts linger, even the scent of his cologne suddenly seems familiar and lingering in the air. A couple of obstinate tears fall down her cheeks. She can remember some of his favorite phrases and also the inflection and tone of his kind voice. For once she is slightly upset that she has always had a good memory for faces and events, but unfortunately never for directions and names. It’s as if he is sitting next to her speaking again and sharing his stories of his life with her.

Stubbornly a few more tears fall as her heart aches at the memory of the sudden loss of his friendship. What did she do? Why was he so warm and opening up to her even offering to share the memories of his dad’s musicianship and then within what seemed like minutes never to speak to her again? Bingley is even more difficult to figure out. For several months Jane and Bingley were doing everything together. They really were a couple. What happened? How did it happen? It doesn’t make sense.

An emptiness which Liz is unaccustomed to fills her emotions. Liz doesn’t believe that she has ever felt like this about someone before. Darcy’s silence is deafening, muffling every other event in the rest of her life. Why can’t she forget him? He’s obviously already forgotten her.

“Oh yeah, everywhere I look something reminds me of him!” sarcastically Liz yells out loud to the roof of her car and hits the steering wheel with her fist swerving a little to the left making the car next to her honk and yell something back through his window. Liz mouths “I’m sorry!” and places both hands back on the steering wheel determined to concentrate on her driving technique.

She passes a green highway sign that reads thirty miles to Crestwood. Liz is relieved she won’t have much longer to wrestle with her mangled thoughts. She wonders if Darcy will be at the wedding. Major Debourgh is Darcy’s Aunt, but Collins and Charlotte are only recent friends even if they all became what appeared to be close friends fairly quickly. Liz wonders why Darcy didn’t reject their friendships as well. Charlotte has mentioned Darcy visiting Crestwood several times in the past few months. She has said that Darcy was very friendly and charming as usual. However, Charlotte did hear some gossip about him dating Caroline but from a few very unreliable sources. Anyone close to Darcy doesn’t appear to believe there is anything between them but not from Caroline’s intentional calculated effort.

Seeing that a message has recently been sent, Liz examines her phone. Charlotte has sent a text “When will you be here?” Liz takes the nearest exit and pulls into the empty gas station. While filling up her tank, Liz attempts to take a moment to text back that she is only about ten minutes away. Her thumb accidently presses the list of contacts. Darcy’s name appears at the top of the list. Liz rolls her eyes and turns her phone off slipping it back into the pocket of her jacket with the Netherfield brochure she found earlier in the day.

Within minutes, Liz pulls into the driveway of Charlotte’s new home. Collins is staying with the Debourgh’s home so that Charlotte has a chance to repaint the quarters. Originally Collins wanted to help her, but Charlotte thought that his attentions might be better served working at the corps and encouraged him to let her work on her own. Charlotte is an accepted candidate for the training college next year so she will only be living in the quarters for one year once she is married to Collins.

As Liz attempts to dislodge the suitcase that is wedged between the passenger seat and the backseat, Charlotte runs out to meet her. Liz has one leg raised in the air braced against the door as she pulls with both hands with all her might, but the suitcase stubbornly refuses to move – not even an inch.

“Can I help you?” smiles Charlotte grabbing the handle as well. After about four tugs, the suitcase finally breaks free. “Liz, I think it might be time to find a bigger car or to carry smaller suitcases!”

Liz grins without comment because she knows her best friend is right. Liz grabs her crumpled hanging bag from the back seat looking at it slightly perturbed.

“I have a steamer, if you would like to borrow it” suggests Charlotte trying to be helpful “Collins likes to use it every day. It’s now one of his favorite things that I brought from my home. He likes gadgets of any and all kinds. At least his clothes are ironed well now and I don’t have to do them.”

“What do you think of getting married?” curiously asks Liz knowing that her friend will give her an honest answer.

“Liz, as you know I have never been a romantic. I think two friends can be content enough in marriage. I’d much rather be married than spend the rest of my life alone. It’s not like I’ve had men breaking down the door to date me, let alone marry me. Collins and I get along well enough. He appreciates who I am and gives me my space. We enjoy doing similar things and have enough not in common with each other to keep things interesting. Perhaps we will grow to have a deep committed love for each other as the years pass just as others profess to have. If not, it really is all by chance anyway. Only half of marriages stay together even with many of whom claim to have a grand passion at the beginning. I think that both of us are good and decent people. We’ll each find our own niche and build a partnership between us. We will have a good and faithful marriage to each other” rationalizes Charlotte resolute that this is her lot in life “We can adequately provide what each other needs.”

Hearing Charlotte’s comments, Liz feels a slight pain for her friend’s viewpoint on marriage. Lost in her thoughts, Liz reflects for a moment on her own feelings.

“Perhaps your right” objectively states Liz to Charlotte not wanting to disagree with her, but inwardly completely disagreeing with her friend’s rational perspective.

Considering the idea of marriage for several years as a single adult, Liz believes that she would like to marry someone who is not only her best friend but is much more than that. Liz wants someone who she can share experiences in her life with and bring many years of happiness and joy to. She also wants a man who will also share a loving lifetime with her. In Liz’s opinion, marriage is too challenging and difficult to try to shuffle thru and manage with just a ‘buddy’. She wants to be married to a man who mutually deeply loves her too. Liz would rather remain single than settle for someone who has less capacity to love and be loved than she does.

“Major DeBourgh has invited us to dinner tonight. She mentioned that some other guests will be joining us as well. I hope you don’t mind. She’s been so helpful in her advice to both Collins and me. Just to warn you, she can be a little difficult at times, but it is only part of her personality. She really is a nice person once you get to know her even if it isn’t quite obvious at first” truthfully reassures Charlotte “She likes to have formal dinners when she has guests over for dinner, so I don’t know if you brought anything extra to dress up in. Dinner is at six so we have some time to visit with just us before leaving for the evening.”

“Sounds good to me! I think I threw in a sundress and some sandals with a small heel. I hope she doesn’t expect more than that. The only other dress I brought with me was my bridesmaid dress for the wedding. I don’t think that would be very appropriate.”

“You never know, it might be fun to dress up as if we were going to a prom. I’m not sure what Major Debourgh would think though” smiles Charlotte at the thought “We’d each have to wear a corsage and get our hair done with butterfly clips and some sparkly body glitter with strawberry pink lip gloss!”

They both giggle at the shared memory of many years ago in high school. Liz still had braces and large rimmed glasses while Jane hadn’t quite grown out of the awkward stage into womanhood yet. They had faithfully followed Shay Shurwind everywhere that year and in return he had barely noticed either of them. Charlotte had even made of a scanned copy of his junior yearbook photo which she had cut and taped in the door of her locker. At the reunion banquet last year, Shay no longer seemed to be quite the “catch” he once was to each of their delight and relief but somewhere lost between a shadow and blurry image of his former self.

“I’ll meet you downstairs when you’re ready to go!” instructs Charlotte very grateful that her best friend will be staying with her a couple of weeks before the wedding so they have time to reminisces as well as prepare for the big occasion.

“No lip gloss, I guess?” mockingly returns Liz “Oh well, I guess that I will have to really use my plum lipstick.”

About forty-five minutes later, Liz floats down the stairs to meet her friend. Pleasantly surprised, Charlotte looks prettier than Liz has seen her look in a very long time. Charlotte glows and seems quite happy as she looks over the guest list resting in its favorite place on the dining room table that is now a workshop for the wedding decorations.

“I’m ready!” interrupts Liz as Charlotte glances up from the table.

“I am going to be Mrs. Collins in just 14 days. It hardly seems possible!” reflects Charlotte with a contented smile.

Immersed in her own thoughts, Liz considers for a moment perhaps Charlotte is really falling in love with Collins in spite of her practical self.

“Collins will be meeting us there! Major Debourgh hates to have anyone arrive late. I know the way, so we don’t have to worry about getting lost!” Charlotte teases having been on many trips that have taken up triple the time they were intended to wandering many foreign neighborhoods to their expected location as Liz consistently remains clueless on where to go next.

Liz shrugs her shoulders at her friend’s teasing “I do my best . . . “

Blood and Fire - Chapter Sixteen

Jane checks her emails and once again there is nothing from Bingley. Jane closes her lap top and stares out the window. Tears well-up in her eyes. She doesn’t understand his silence. It has been nearly six months since Caroline’s last email. She has tried to call and also write but there have been no answers. Resting her head in her hand, staring out the window each day seems to pass one into another but the hoping never ends.

Liz walks into her sister’s room looking for a book that she has misplaced somewhere around their apartment. “Jane, you need to get out and enjoy the day. Sitting around every day wishing to hear from Bingley isn’t going to change a thing. You need to find something to distract you so you can think about something else.”

“What if I don’t want to think about anything else? I’m sure that he wants to hear from me. Everything was fine the last time I saw him. I don’t understand what went wrong. I keep rehearsing everything that happened, everything that we said to each other. I just don’t understand why he doesn’t care about me anymore” sorrowfully explains Jane hoping that Liz can give her some new insight that somehow hasn’t been mentioned before in the many times the questions have been repeated.

Liz doesn’t know how to respond any more. From everything she could tell Bingley liked Jane too. He lit up every time Jane came into the room. All of his attention was focused on her. Everyone seemed to acknowledge they were a couple without anything necessarily being said. They were always together.

As many memories come flooding in, Liz feels a deep pang in her heart. Even Darcy had offered to share his music with her and then unexpectedly drove off without saying a word. He’s made no effort to contact her either. Still missing him even though Liz will not admit it to Jane. Life is so unfair sometimes.

“Do you think I’ll ever see Bingley again?” mournfully asks Jane “Do you think he’ll remember me? Do you think he’ll talk to me?”

“Of course he remembers you. You are difficult to forget. I’m sure there is a very good reason why you haven’t heard from him yet, I just don’t know what it is but he’ll probably let you know what happened” reassures Liz hoping that this will somehow happen soon so that her sister is no longer sad.

“Do you think they’ll come back this summer? I really hope so. Bingley promised me he would. Do you think he’s changed his mind?” anxiously asks Jane.

“I heard from our uncle and aunt today and they’ve invited us to come for a visit. I can’t go right now because of my job, but I can meet you there in a month for Charlotte’s wedding at Crestwood. I hear Collins is doing quite well there. Netherfield isn’t that far away and you might run into him” suggests Liz “then you can find out what’s happened and either be with him or get on with your life”.

“Really? I would love to go! When are they expecting us? How soon can I leave?” asks Jane excited at the potential of seeing Bingley again.

“They said that you can come anytime, they have a guest room waiting for each of us” explains Liz hoping that everything will turn out all right for her sister one way or another.

“I’m going to start packing. I need to buy some new clothes. I’ve got to call in my vacation. I have four weeks coming. I can hardly wait!” exclaims Jane.

It is the happiest Liz has seen Jane in six months. Seeing Jane smile again is more exciting for Liz than the trip. Liz hates to see her sister sad since she is one of the most giving people she knows. “I’ll help you do laundry and pack” offers Liz digging in the storage closet to find a large suitcase.

“I’m going to send a quick email to Caroline to let her know I’m coming. Maybe we can all meet together for lunch or something!” dreams Jane.

The next day while loading the car, Jane notices that she has a message on her phone from her email box. “Liz! It’s Caroline! She’s already written back to me!”

“What does it say? Read it out load, my hands are full” suggests Liz not wanting to disrupt her routine of packing the car.

Jane picks up her phone and begins to read out loud, “Nice to hear from you. So surprised to hear you are coming. I’ve been spending most of my time with Anna Darcy. We are the best of friends. Bingley is very busy and so am I. Glad you are coming and will try to see you, but not sure if it will be possible. Darcy, Anna, Bingley and I are often together but have previous plans while you are in town. A fifth wheel doesn’t usually have much fun, but I may find a way to talk them into bringing you along. Talk to you later.”

“Typical Caroline – not very nice or friendly” remarks Liz not surprised but a little hurt that Darcy is spending so much time with Caroline.

“What do you mean Liz? Caroline says that I’m invited as well to come along too. She’s going to call me later” counters Jane with wishful thinking.

Liz smiles at her and decides not to say anything to make Jane feel any other way but happy at the moment. It has been such a long time since she has been in such a good mood and she would like Jane to be back to her old self. What does she know? Maybe Bingley will realize how much he misses Jane too and show up to see her.

“Well, I think you are all packed Jane. Call me when you get there and keep me up to date on what’s happening. I’m going to miss you but I’ll see you in a month” states Liz giving her sister a hug before shutting the car door “I want to hear all the latest news about our friends!”

Liz sighs as she sees Jane drive off down the street. ‘Friends’ seem like a rather strange word to use after not hearing from them for so long. But even so, Liz misses Darcy’s company even though she will not admit it to anyone. She thinks of him every day. Feeling dejected, Liz quietly whispers to herself out loud, “I need to forget about him and move on. He probably doesn’t even remember who I am!”

As time passes, Liz hears from Jane every day. Caroline has returned her calls once or twice but always claims that she is too busy to meet that day but “things should be opening up on the schedule soon”. Liz wonders if Bingley might have a new girlfriend, perhaps even Anna Darcy but Caroline hasn’t mentioned their dating so it is probably not likely since Caroline would be bragging about it.

One morning, Liz opens her email to find a status that reads “Met with Caroline”. Liz hurries to open it. Evidently, Caroline made arrangements to finally see Jane over lunch. But Bingley, Darcy, and Anna did not come. According to Caroline that had a tennis match instead that was more pressing. Caroline explained that Bingley was no longer interested in Jane and that he had become interested in “someone else” recently. She was a great girl and more of his equal with similar interests and friends. Caroline never mentioned the girl’s name but Jane thought it might be Anna Darcy.

As Liz reads Jane’s note, her heart sinks. Jane explains that she is sorry to give her more bad news, but it appears that Caroline might be dating Darcy as well. She mentions several places they have been together and showed her some photos that Caroline had taken on her phone of the four of them together. Jane although hurt that he is dating Anna is pleased to see updated photos of Bingley even if it only makes her heart ache more.

Liz growls as she reads the letter, “I wonder what Caroline did to make Bingley change his mind about Jane?” gruffly to herself.

The letter continues that since that last meeting with Caroline, Jane has not heard from her even after repeated texts and a few phone calls. It is as if she has disappeared off the face of the earth. Bingley’s phone number has changed yet again. It changed the day after they left and Caroline gave her his new number at lunch, but it appears he must not have wanted Jane to have it.

Jane asks Liz if she how things are going with Wickham. When Jane left, Wickham was calling every day and seemed to be very interested in Liz.

Jane finishes the letter by stating that she is glad and relieved to hear that Bingley is doing well even if he has found someone else. She resolutely states that she feels that it is time to move on with her life. Liz can read through each word and know that it is going to be a very difficult thing for her sister to do because she is still in love with Bingley.

“Why do men have to be such idiots?” scowls Liz “Bingley ought to know his own feelings and not let Caroline tell him how he feels about Jane”.

Liz rereads the line that explains about Caroline spending so much time with Darcy. Feelings of jealousy reach the surface which Liz tries to suppress. Liz rationalizes to herself “I have no right to be jealous. He never liked me. It was all in my head. I’m not his type anyway. He said so from the first day I met him” but the feelings of wishing that Darcy felt differently about her remain and refuse to go away.

Jane’s last line asks Liz if she will be coming next week. Liz knows that she cannot miss her best friend’s wedding. At least Charlotte warned her that there was a possibility Darcy might attend. “There are a few days to prepare my mind so that I won’t care about him when I see him” Liz resolutely states out load to make it seem more permanent, but her heart does not believe her.

Liz takes a moment to write back to Jane. Liz explains in a return email that she was never interested in Wickham, he was just fun to hang out with and they are still good friends. He is dating Brittany King now and they seem to be getting quickly serious. She has quite a bit of money and good connections. Liz reassures Jane not to worry about her. She actually feels relieved that Wickham has found someone else to be with. He was a little too on the edge for her and really not her type any way. He seems content with Brittany. However, Lydia is disappointed.

Liz finishes her email by writing “I’m coming. Jane, we are going to have a good time at the wedding! I’ll see you this weekend!”

Blood and Fire - Chapter Fifteen

“Liz, you’re not driving fast enough! You need to exchange ‘Maud’ for a new car. I don’t know how she keeps running anyway!” remarks Lydia applying a fresh coat of lipstick.

“It’s too bad Kitty had to work today. She would have enjoyed going to the Meryton corps for divisional band practice” comments Jane lost in her own thoughts about meeting Bingley again there for rehearsal wishing that they will have a chance to talk and spend more time together.

“I’m driving as fast as I can. She’s a good car. We’ll get there in plenty of time!” remarks Liz but noticing that perhaps it is time to put ‘Maud’ in the shop for another tune-up.

Lydia waves to the car pulling up next to them at the stop light. It is a little red sports car with a familiar face at the wheel. “Wickham! Over here! It’s us!” shouts Lydia rolling down the backseat window while moving to give him a good view of her best angle.

“Wait for me!” as Lydia jumps out of the Maud’s backseat and runs over to his car and gets in.

“Lydia, what are you doing?” yells Liz not wanting her sister to be hurt in traffic.

Wickham leans over and yells through the window, “It’s okay. Hey Liz, do you want to race?” gunning his engine.

“No, thank you” shouts Liz back more out of a fear of losing rather than not wanting to meet a challenge.

Wickham throws his head back laughing and takes off with squealing tires as the light changes to green with Lydia at his side.

Jane looks disgusted but then remarks “It was nice of him to offer her a ride when she forced herself into his car”.

Liz looks at Jane like she is crazy but doesn’t make a comment.

“I’m going to read my books. I think Lydia is being silly. It’s such a waste of time to race and it could put many people in danger” sulks Mary in the backseat “Do you think Collins will be there today?”

“Yes, I think so. I’m so surprised to hear that he and Charlotte are now together. Have you had a chance to talk to Charlotte yet?” asks Jane not fully understanding how Charlotte and Collins got together in the first place.

“From what Charlotte told me, she’s had a crush on Collins since he got here. They actually have more in common than I thought. She likes how he does simple things for her such as jumping into sing with her that night of Karaoke when he knew she would be uncomfortable singing alone” replies Liz.

“I guess they do both like dressing up in costumes” suggests Jane not knowing what else to say “that is at least something.”

A sorrowful sigh can be heard from the backseat. Jane and Liz look at each other and decide to change the topic. Mary has been staying in her room this past week since she heard that Charlotte and Collins are now dating. She had hoped that Collins would have noticed her after being rejected by her older sister. It is so disappointing.

“Mary, there are a lot of people that will be there from around the division. You need to make the most of the day and meet some new friends” suggests Liz attempting to be helpful but falling on a flat note on Mary’s ears. Mary opens a book and decides to ignore the advice of her older sisters.

As they pull into the parking lot, Jane sees Bingley standing beside his car and waves. He smiles and waves back with great enthusiasm. Jane blushes and her sisters smile next to her. Darcy and Caroline are standing next to him in deep conversation and seem unaware that Jane and Liz have arrived.

Parked next to them is Wickham with Lydia tagging along at his arm showing off his sports car to the younger men who play in the band with them. Wickham appears quite proud of his toy. Lydia gushes with each statement he makes.

“I’ve only had her for a year. She’s a beauty and her ride is so smooth!” offers Wickham proudly gently caressing the side of the car while walking along its frame.

“How fast does it go? Ever tried to race it?” as questions jump over each other can be heard throughout the parking lot where the center of attention seems to have landed and stalled.

“Come on Lydia, you’ll be late for practice!” yells Mary to the car next to her “You’re always late.”

Lydia looks over but then raises her chin and turns the other way as if she hasn’t heard Mary’s request.

When Wickham sees Liz heading for the door, he abruptly leaves his friends and walks quickly with Lydia still attached to his arm to meet her. Lydia tries to slow him down by walking more slowly, but Wickham smoothly maneuvers out of her clutch and catches up with Liz to speak to her.

“Hi! What a surprise to see you today!” Wickham greets them in a friendly tone “I was waiting for you to arrive. I’m sorry that I got so far ahead of you! I should have slowed down to make sure that you made it”

“We’re just fine. See we all made it” remarks Liz looking over at Darcy who still seems to be in a lengthy conversation with Caroline. Caroline glances over to where Liz and Wickham are speaking. She is intensely observing the two of them talk together. Liz feels a slight pang of jealousy and decides to be friendlier to Wickham who conveniently is standing in front of her at the moment.

“It’s my first practice and I thought you could introduce me to everyone if you don’t mind” suggests Wickham with a smile “You seem to be friends with everyone. The only ones I recognize are not my friends because they choose not to be”.

Liz remembers what he told her at the restaurant and suddenly feels protective towards Wickham. How dare they act like such snobs to a really decent guy just because he doesn’t have as much money as they have?

“Sure, I’ll let you know who everyone is. I’m sure they would be excited to meet you too!” warmly offers Liz after glancing back and noticing that Caroline and Darcy are still talking. As she smirks and walks with Wickham in the direction of the entrance of the corps but her mind is elsewhere.

Liz glances again over to Darcy who surprisingly appears to be somewhat hurt that she is talking with Wickham. Liz considers for a moment that she doesn’t like seeing Darcy this way, but then reconsiders that if he is going to treat people that way perhaps maybe he deserves to be hurt once in awhile too.

After a few minutes of introducing everyone to Wickham, Liz finds her assigned place in the band. Darcy has been asked to step in for the bandmaster who is attending a birthday party for his mother-in-law. Throughout the practice Darcy keeps catching her eye. Liz begins to feel that he is staring at her but she is not sure whether it is out of interest or disgust or perhaps a mixture of both. It is confusing to her and decides to think about it later rather than letting it bother her at the moment.

Wickham makes funny comments throughout the rehearsal which the younger women laugh and flirt back and forth with him. Liz surmises that Wickham is somewhat of a player but at least he is friendly. He’s not really her type but maybe they can be friends.

Lydia flirts and manages to sit next to Wickham at break time to the annoyance of the other girls around her age. She appears to be in awe of his good looks and charm.

Waiting in line for cookies and some punch, Liz looks behind and finds Darcy standing rather quietly behind her.

“I didn’t know you where there. You’re so quiet today which is rather unusual for you. Are you feeling okay?” asks Liz not entirely sure what is wrong with Darcy but he appears to be acting strange to her.

“I’m fine” replies Darcy in not an entirely friendly tone but not annoyed either.

“What do you think of the pieces we are playing this year?” asks Liz wanting the conversation to continue. She has missed talking to Darcy this past week and doesn’t want him to be upset with her as he appears to be but she feels without cause.

“Some of them are good, but I’ve played most of them before. The Netherfield Corps plays out of the festival series rather frequently” frankly remarks Darcy.

Liz feels offended somewhat since they have rehearsed these particular pieces for quite awhile and finally have a rather good blended sound together. “Oh” is all she can manage to say in reply.

“Your divisional band is good. With more practice I’m sure that it won’t be long until they will be able to play more challenging music” offers Darcy sensing perhaps he somehow made a misguided remark in his last comment but not sure what it was.

“Do you help with any of the youth bands?” asks Liz hoping to change the topic a little “I help with the beginner band and we have a lot of fun together!”

“Yes, I actually I do. I volunteer and lead the Firelight Brass which is the top youth brass band in the division” replies Darcy “We are going on a tour next summer to Africa.”

“Really? That sounds rather exciting! The beginner band is lucky to perform at a corps near camp. But they are good sports and really enjoy playing” sincerely replies Liz as she munches on a chocolate chip cookie “How old were you when you started playing?”

“I was seven. My entire family has played brass instruments for several generations now. My father taught me” replies Darcy “He was an exceptional player”.

“I would have liked to have heard him play” truthfully replies Liz not knowing how this could ever happen.

“You can, I have a couple of CDs in my car that I will let you borrow if you want to” offers Darcy pleased that she would be interested in knowing more about his dad and their heritage of music.

“Thanks! I’ll get them after the rehearsal today” smiles Liz looking directly into his eyes and feeling that Darcy is starting to open up to her. She is enjoying knowing more about him.

“I’ve marked my favorite pieces on each of the CD’s so you’ll know which ones to listen to” offers Darcy who was planning to somehow bring up the CDs the day before but wasn’t quite sure how he was going to fit them into a conversation.

“I’ll have to pay particular attention to each one!” smiles Liz feeling that Darcy is kind and charming when he wants to be.

“Do you know Wickham very well?” concerned asks Darcy.

“No, not really. I just met him a few weeks ago but he seems like an exceptionally nice guy. You need to get to know him better. I’m sure that you would like him. He’s made quite the impression on my family.”

Mary suddenly interrupts the conversation “He’s practically like family. Everyone likes him” grabbing a glass of punch and then heading over to the table where Wickham and the rest of her family members are enjoying the break.

Darcy observes Wickham talking to Jane who appears to be laughing at each joke. Bingley is helping Caroline carry her punch to the table next to them.

Collins enters the room, sees Liz and announces overly dramatically “Ah, here is my beloved!” with giggles around the room. Coming out of the bathroom, Charlotte turns beat red and shoves him on the shoulder and whispers “Stop!” He grabs Charlotte around the shoulders and leads her directly where Darcy and Liz are standing chatting to one another.

“Darcy, Liz, nice to see you. As you can see Charlotte and I are together. We are quite the couple. We are a match made in heaven – a divine kiss of love from our heavenly maker” states Collins with a twist of flair.

Liz tries to grin and stifle a giggle. Darcy smirks but looks compassionately at Charlotte who appears to be quite content and happy.

“It appears you have made a good choice. Charlotte is a wonderful person” sincerely offers Darcy.

“Not just a good choice, but an excellent choice – the best choice! The most wonderful choice! Yes, Charlotte is all mine! She belongs to me and I belong to her” Gushes Collins.

Liz looks at Charlotte trying to figure out why she has chosen Collins but only smiles back at her friend’s obvious happiness.

“I’ll be back. I need to check on some of the kids. I’ll see you in a minute, but I won’t be gone long” sweetly announces Collins giving a peck on Charlotte’s cheek.

“I need to check on something” replies Darcy “I’ll see you after rehearsal”.

Liz observes that Darcy has been staring at Wickham and Jane talk during the rehearsal. Bingley is caught up in being ordered around by his sister to put away her horn, fetch her music, refill her glass of punch, and whatever else she currently demands.

“Charlotte, I’ve been meaning to ask you. How did you and Collins get together? Why do you like him?” curiously asks Liz from her best friend since childhood.

“He’s not as horrible as you think. We’ve had a really good time together since he came. As you know he is staying in an apartment that my parents own. They’ve invited him to dinner nearly every night and I happen to be there quite often. It just sort of happened. He likes sci-fi and many of the other things I like as well. I don’t have illusions of finding some passionate love like you do Liz. I’ve never been like that. But Collins appreciates me for who I am and the way I am. He lets me be myself around him and I like his quirkiness. It can be quite entertaining at times. He will keep me laughing throughout my life. He has a way of making me feel special too. Maybe not in the same way you would want to be admired, but it is in a way that makes me know he loves me. I think we’ll be content with each other” explains Charlotte.

“Well, I hope you have a long and happy life together” reflects Liz wishing that she could find someone to admire her just the way she was “I’m very happy for you!”

Charlotte catches up with Collins across the room and Liz is left standing by herself for a moment. Caroline walks over to her “May I talk with you for a moment?”

“Yes, what do you want to talk about?” curiously asks Liz assuming that Caroline is up to something as usual.

“As a friend, I want to warn you. I don’t know much about what happened between Darcy and Wickham, but I have a feeling that Wickham has not told you the entire truth. I would be cautious with what he tells you” sincerely offers Caroline.

“I think that I am a good judge of character. Wickham seems like a friendly guy to me. He hasn’t lied to me yet about anything I know of. Perhaps you just need to trust people a little more” smartly suggests Liz offended that Caroline is trying to stir up unnecessary trouble. Perhaps Wickham dated her in the past.

The rehearsals continue. Jane and Wickham talk a few times as Lydia and Mary too with him. Several girls flirt with their comments throughout the practice. Liz smiles occasionally but thinks about what she will say to Darcy when she has a chance to speak to him after rehearsal.

As the last piece reaches the conclusions, but before the end Mr. and Mrs. Bennett rush through the front doors of the corps making quite a disturbance.

“Sorry, we’re late. I know the rehearsal must go on, but poor Kitty had to work today and Mr. Bennett drives so slowing. I really don’t understand why he drives the speed limit. No one drives the speed limit. I should know I’ve had plenty of tickets. But at least if I were driving, we would have been here on time!”

Darcy glances at Liz for just a second. He suggests that they take the last four bars again before closing. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett find a place in a pew.

After the piece is finished, Mrs. Bennett enthusiastically claps trying to draw attention to her self.

Caroline stands up. “I think that perhaps we should sing a chorus together before the prayer . . . ”

Only to be interrupted by Mrs. Bennett mid-sentence “Wonderful idea!”

“If you would like to, you may join us Mrs. Bennett” politely Caroline intercedes with her instructions.

“I’m not really a great singer but I will do my best” offers Mrs. Bennett “No one compares to my sweet Jane’s voice”.

Jane blushes a deep red. Caroline looks annoyed. A solo is not what she had in mind for Mrs. Bennett or for Jane.

Then from the second cornet row, Mary’s voice echoes over the band. “I want to start the singing. Jane always gets to lead the singing, I never get a chance! It’s my turn! I know I’ll sing the first time and then the second time through everyone else can join me too” offers Mary feeling exasperated and wanting one last chance to show Collins that he has made a wrong choice by choosing to date Charlotte and not to be with her.

“I would like to sing “Jerusalem!” I think everyone here should know it!” suggests Mary and starting before anyone is able to reply.

Liz silently shakes her head in disbelief really hoping that this is not what she heard come out of Mary’s mouth and that she is lost in a cruel daydream. Jane looks like she has gone from blushing to being in pain. Lydia is whimpering “no, no, no, no” under her breath not sure she can handle being related to what will be a social outcast for the rest of the band season.

Then “it” starts. Word by word in their own eerie sharp cadence, Mary begins the chorus which so few in the room know the lyrics to. The notes painfully fall as if someone is scratching their nails on a chalk board. The song is out of Mary’s range but she clings to each note as if hanging from the edge of a cliff. Entranced by her own vocals, Mary begins to add her own choreography adding a step and dip where needed and enticed. The song finishes leaving a stunned audience in silence in awe of the spectacle before them.

“I’ll sing it again if you like!” excitedly but delusional Mary offers to the group.

Caroline looks horrified.

Mr. Bennett steps in. “Mary, give the other girls a chance to show off their unusual and remarkable talents. Everyone needs a turn.”

Just before Darcy begins to close the rehearsal in prayer, Mrs. Bennett interrupts him “That was lovely Mary! We would love to hear it again sometime!”

“We’re about to pray!” yells Mary from the platform “You need to be quiet!”

“Don’t shush me girl. I know when I need to be quiet. Of course, you are praying. You don’t need to tell your mother when to be quiet. I can be quiet. I’m quiet all the time” after a two second pause “See, I can be quiet! Who’s praying anyway?”

“Darcy is about to!” shouts Lydia back at her mother feeling that the embarrassment will last a lifetime.

“Oh Darcy” sighs Mrs. Bennett to the side but loud enough for everyone to hear “I suppose God hears the prayers of anyone who prays to Him!”

Liz’s eyes bulge and look as if they are coming out of their sockets in embarrassment. Jane moves her finger over her mouth as if to signal her mother to be quiet.

“The fools, the arrogant, the lost – Yes, God hears them all” continues Mrs. Bennett in her know-it-all tone looking disgusted and directly at Darcy.

The prayer mercifully ends. The Bennetts’ quickly try to put their instruments away in hopes to reach their cars before any comments are made.

Mrs. Bennett has corned Collins and Charlotte. She doesn’t like that Charlotte has been chosen over Liz as if it is a beauty pageant that she personally has lost. “Well, I see that you are with Charlotte now. You always were in the shadows and what a surprise to see you stepping out and making yourself known. None of us would have guessed you had it in you. My girls have always had the attention of all those around them. Charlotte you are no longer a wall flower to the surprise of all of us.”

Darcy’s horn case is unfortunately directly behind Mrs. Bennett in the pew and he can clearly hear each word of her conversation.

“Jane really likes Bingley but frankly she could have any man in this room. She’s always had admirers who wanted to date her. She always had such a difficult time pushing them away. Whenever Jane wanted a boyfriend, she had one. I’m sure if she wanted to give up on Bingley today, Wickham would be her boyfriend tomorrow” not entirely truthfully remarks Mrs. Bennett wanting to know that although he rejected one of her daughters, he was the actual loser.

It is true that many have liked Jane, but Jane has only dated a handful of boys and men who she felt attracted to.

This new information stirs some anger in Darcy. He looks over at Jane and her sisters saying goodbye to Wickham. Wickham is his usual deceivingly charming self. Liz is quieter but she is standing right along with the group.

As he drives off, Darcy realizes that he did not give the CDs to Liz. “It’s just as well” he mumbles to himself.

Liz looks around to find Darcy but has she reaches the front entrance doors, she sees Darcy pull out of the parking lot. She’s disappointed. With a sinking feeling she wonders that perhaps she was kidding herself that he appeared interested in her for a moment.

The next morning Jane opens her email. Caroline has written that they have left town and won’t be back until next year because of unexpected events in regards to their parent’s business. She will try to keep in touch but they are both extremely busy and it is unlikely that they will have much time to write or call.