“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.
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