A Few Rays of Light

A Few Rays of Light

By Kara

Chapter One

Posted on Wednesday, 7 July 1999

Anna Wickham, clever and handsome, was not anything at all like her mother or sister. Her father, George Wickham, was still working in the militia. Lydia had bore him five children: George, Tom, Isabella, Anna, and David. It had been almost 26 years since Lydia Bennett had eloped with George Wickham. They had led a modest life, and were constantly in debt, due to Mr. Wickham's gambling, and Lydia's dress expenses. Isabella was very much like her mother and also spent a great deal of money on things that were not needed. The two eldest boys, George and Tom, where often away. They took after their father, and if they had not already left the family, the Wickhams would have no money left to spend on food. Anna and David were forgotten by everyone. David, who was only 11, had never been sent to school. Anna, who was one year older, had devoted some of her spare time in teaching how to read. At this time in Anna'a life, a letter arrived from Mrs. Darcy.

"Mama! Mama! Here is a letter from my aunt, Mrs. Darcy!" Anna called, as she rushed into her mother's room.

"Oh, is she coming to visit me soon? Has she sent your father any money so that we can get a commission elsewhere?" Lydia cried.

"She writes that she will come to visit us in three days time. She says all of her family is well." Anna answered.

"Will she give us any money?" Isabella asked.

"Yes, a little."

"How much?" both mother and daughter cried.

"She says she will tell us when we arrive. I should say not much." Anna answered rolling her eyes. Her mother never did spend any of Aunt Darcy's money well. She always bought some new trifle to play with.

"Is that all that is said?" Lydia asked.

"Yes, Mama."

"Alright, you can go now. And when you go back downstairs, make sure David has not gotten himself in a mess. He has been trying to write with my new pen and ink bottle, and has spilled some on the rug already!" Lydia ordered. Anna nodded, and started down the stairs.

"When you're down there, do look out of the window to see if Col. Hitchcock is here yet." Isabella called.

"I will," Anna said, and continued down the staires.

Over the next few days, Anna waited patiently for her Aunt to arrive. Her mother and sister were not so patient.

"Has she come yet Anna?" Isabella would call, or, "Why has she not come sooner?" from her mother. Anna was appointed look-out for her carrige, and was posted downstairs by the window on the day of her arrival. She was also ordered to keep watch for Col. Hitchcock, Isabella's newest favorite. He had a fortune of 2000 pounds a year. A very good catch for Isabella. The only problem was that he did not seem to care for her at all. He accepted invitations to their home when ever it could not be avoided. Anna pitied him -- to be petted and gaped at by Isabella! Poor man, but Isabella seem determined to catch him. Worse still, sometimes Anna saw something different in her behavior towards him. It seemed as though she really did care for him, but did not in any way check her behavior.

At last, Mrs. Darcy of Pemberly arrived! Anna waved at her through the window and smiled. Then she ran up the stairs to find her mother. She reached her room too late because her mother was already leaning out of the window, calling to Elizabeth.

"Lizzy! Lizzy! Hurry up and come in! Lord, I've been waiting for you for ages!" the sound of footsteps was heard in the hall. Lydia rushed past her embarrassed daughter and down the stairs to meet her guest. Anna slowly turned and also descended after her.

"...and you must see the straw hat that I bought at Fords! It is so pretty. And, ...oh there is Anna! Anna, be polite and say hello to your Aunt Lizzy."

"Good afternoon, Aunt." Anna said, still quite embarrassed. Elizabeth gave her a quick hug.

"Aunt Darcy! Why have you not come to see us sooner?" Isabella called as she entered the room. Lydia did not give her time to answer, but led Elizabeth upstairs to her own room, shutting the door behind them. Isabella was offended, but not too ruffled and took a walk outside in search of Col. Hitchcock. Anna waited patiently for them to come out in the sitting room. Finally, Elizabeth emerged and came into the room.

"And how do you do Anna?" she inquired.

"Not very well, thank you." she replied. Elizabeth nodded.

"I have here a letter for you from your Aunt Jane. I have not told your mother yet, but you are all invited to stay with them for the summer," Elizabeth said.

"Truly? I have not seen them in a while. The last time we visited we stayed so long that my uncle had to ask us to leave. Is father included in the invitation?" Anna inquired.

"I am afraid not. Besides, he will have much business to attend to."

"Where is Mama?" Anna asked, just as Lydia walked into the room.

"Mama, good news! Aunt Jane has asked us to stay with her for the summer!"

"Really, Anna? How did you find out? Oh, I see! Dear Lizzy, you must not tell Anna everything -- but I suppose you meant to suprise us! Well, Anna ruined your joke I'm afraid." Lydia joyously remarked.

"No indeed!" Elizabeth cried.

"Don't try to cover her up! When are we to go?"

"In a weeks time. The invitation is for you and your daughters. Also for your youngest son."

"Then we shall go!" Lydia cried. Elizabeth smiled. They talked a little more, and it was decided that Elizabeth would stay the night (as Wickham would not be home) and leave the next morning. What Elizabeth did not know was that Lydia had also decided that they would leave the next day instead of in a weeks time.

That night at dinner Lydia talked and talked about things going on in town, about how poorly they were doing, (although this was not true), and how she wished they could all visit Pemberley too. Elizabeth said that they could not posibly spare any more money, and they could not come to Pemberley anytime soon. Anna did not speak during the whole course of the evening but ate, or sat silently the whole night.

That evening, just before Anna had gone to bed, Elizabeth came into her room.

"You said earlier today that you were not very well. Why is that?" Elizabeth asked gently.

"Because Mama and Papa do not show any affection for me, or for each other. Mama dotes on Isabella and now that my two eldest brothers are gone, Papa pays no attention to any of us. He gambles a lot. I'm unhappy and so is David. We do not like it." Anna said.

"I'll see what we can do," Elizabeth comforted, and then kissed her on the forehead and left the room.

The next morning, Elizabeth left early. Then they all set about getting ready to go the Bingley Manor, as it was called. They did not leave until late that evening, and arrived at midnight. Lydia had sent them an express about when they were coming, so the party was not wholly unexpected.

"Jane! I'm so glad to see you!" Lydia cried as she stepped out of the carriage.

"And I you," Jane said. They all went into the house.

"Where is everyone? I thought you had many children! I should have thought they'd be here to meet us too!" Lydia exclaimed.

"Lydia, you forget that it is very late at night! All of my children are asleep by now!" Jane responded.

"Well, my children are all right! They aren't sleepy, are you children?" Lydia asked. No one answered.

"Mrs. Wickham, allow me to welcome you to my home." Charles Bingley said, and continued, "Let my servant show you to your rooms."

"Very well then. Come along children! Jane, I shall see you in the morning, for we have so much to talk about!" Lydia said, as she was ushered down the hall. When she had gone, Jane and Bingley gave each other a knowing glance.

"Perhaps she shall be better this time?" Jane said. Bingley sighed, and Jane continued, "Well, at least we'll have Anna and David to keep us company. They will not be so bad. And who knows? Isabella might have improved too."

0x01 graphic

Chapter Two, Part One

Posted on Thursday, 8 July 1999

The next morning at breakfast, Lydia talked about fashions. She was rather tired from the night's journey, and did not talk so much. Anna got in a few words about how her father was doing, and Isabella continually whispered with Jane's eldest daughter, Martha. Anna would sneak peeks at Sarah Bingley, Janes youngest daughter, who was eleven. Sarah would turn her head in another direction if anyone looked at her. Anna got the impression that she was either very shy, or very conceited. She had not seen Sarah for many years because the last three times they visited, Sarah was at Pemberley or school in London. Anna preferred to think of her as shy. The Bingleys also had two sons, but they had left Bingley Manor to go on a hunt.

After breakfast, Anna went into the library and sat down to read a book. She was interrupted when Sarah came in ten minutes later.

"Hello. I hope I am not disturbing you," Sarah asked.

"No, no! How are you doing?" Anna replied.

"Very well, thank you! Do you want to be wicked, and drop all of this dull talk? I'm tired of having to talk like a lady with everyone. This 'how do you do' thing is getting on my nerves!" Sarah cried.

"So you have nerves like Grandmother Bennet had?" Anna giggled.

"I didn't know that you knew her!" Sarah said.

"I know Grandmother Bennet very well. She visited us, or we visited her a lot. I know everyone well except for the Darcy's." Anna said.

"You have not met them?" Sarah asked, very surprised.

"No. I've met my Aunt, Mrs. Darcy, but have never even seen Mr. Darcy. I do not even know their children!" Anna said.

"Oh, they are wonderful! Richard, JaneAnne, and Marianne. Marianne is about my age, only a little younger...I think."

"Are they at all agreeable?" Anna said.

"Why would you think that they are not agreeable? What ever gave you that idea?" Sarah cried.

"Mr. Darcy hates us."

"No!"

"Yes! He never has even sent us a letter. Does he even know we exist? I should think he would, because my Aunt Darcy visits us at least twice a year. Do you know why he dislikes us so?" Anna asked, very excitedly.

"I think it had something to do with his sister." Sarah answered.

"Who?" Anna cried.

"His sister, my Aunt Georgiana! I have only heard bits and pieces of it, when they would discuss you all. Did you not know of her?" Sarah asked.

"I've never heard of her in my life! Does he really have a sister?"

"To be sure, I thought you would have heard of her! How very strange," Sarah said, quietly. Just then, a servent came in.

"This just came from York for your sister, Miss Anna. She had it sent down here, said she wanted you to read it for her." she said, and handed her a letter, and left the room after bobbing a curtsy.

"Who would be sending your sister something from York?" Sarah asked.

"My father."

"Does he send her letters? Why not your mother?" Sarah said.

"No, he knows that mama would not take anything seriously. Isabella, or I have to tell her, and make her believe it. All of our letters from him are addressed to her, unless my brothers are at home. Isabella, I think, is busy with mother right now, and does not want to bother with the letter. She likes me to read it out loud to her anyway. She hates to read." Anna said.

"How very strange!" Anna nodded in reply, as she read the letter. She suddenly paled.

"What's the matter Anna?" Sarah cried.

"Father said he has been threatened."

"For what? About what?" Sarah cried.

"For his life."

"You mean -"

I mean that someone has written him a note, that says if he values his life he must stay away." Anna said, her eyes growing large.

"From what!" Sarah cried.

"I don't know!" Anna exclaimed, but in her heart she thought, "Could father have a mistress?" She had heard her mother speak of such a woman when her father came home very late at night. Then said out loud, "He does not want mama to know right now. He says it is not serious. That no one has ever harmed him before." The girls talked more about it, and Anna decided to tell her Aunt Jane.

Later that evening in the sitting room...

"Do mean to say that your father has been threatened about his life?" Jane said.

"Yes. You may read the letter." Anna said. Jane read it quickly.

"I do not think that it is right not to tell your mother. She must know. But why would someone want to take his life?" Jane asked.

"I think only he knows." Anna said quietly, and continued, "I think it is more serious than it seems, or else he would not have written about it." and then she started to cry.

Lydia did not take it so seriously. "So my Wickham is in trouble again! Lord, how troublesome he is!" She went on about how he was such a nuisance, and how she knew that he would lose his life early. Anna bore all of this in silence. Her mother was upset mainly because Wickham had not sent the letter to her.

A week went by with no other news from him. Then one morning, at breakfast when Anna came downstairs, she saw that her Aunt Jane looked very sad.

"What is the matter Aunt Jane? Where is Mama? I thought I had heard her come down." Anna asked worriedly.

"We recieved an express, late last night. During a duel, fought over a farmer's wife, your father was killed." Bingley said. Anna shook her head. Jane pulled her into her arms, and let Anna sob on her shoulder.

"I never thought my father so bad!" Anna cried.

"He wasn't really." Jane said. Anna stopped crying.

"Mama is in her room weeping, is she not?"

"Yes. I've told her that you may stay with us for the present. My maid has just gotten one of Sarah's black frocks for you. It is in your room." Jane said.

"You are very sad." Jane said.

"Of course! He was my father!" she said, and then Anna slowly walked out of the room, up the stairs to her bed chamber to put on the dress. "What are we to do?" she cried, and began to sob again.

0x01 graphic

Chapter Three

Posted on Thursday, 8 July 1999

George Wickham's funeral was a very small one. His parents were dead, and he had no other relatives. Elizabeth Darcy was present, and all of the Bingleys. Anna did not cry any more after that day. She was angry. Angry at her father for dying. She did not love him as much a she would have if he had helped her, but she did care for him. She did not believe that he really had had a mistress, and was determined to prove him innocent of that charge. Only later...later. Now they were staying with the Bingleys. Sarah had been very kind, and helpful. Her Aunt and Uncle Bingley had helped her in her grief. Aunt Elizabeth had told her everything would be all right. As for her Uncle Darcy, she felt resentment. He did not come by, he did not write to them. He never said anything. Anna wondered very greatly why her aunt had married such a proud, and conceited man. "He must not have a heart!" she had told her Aunt Jane. Aunt Jane, however, said that he was a very good man. Anna did not believe her until she related the situation existing between Darcy and Wickham. Anna was shocked, to say the least, but still refused to think well of her uncle. "Then he is a man who never forgives," she stated. Her opinion of him changed only slightly when during the middle of the funeral, he stepped out of the carriage, and stood by his wife. Anna was very surprised! She had not know he was even there.

After the funeral, the whole party went to the Bingleys. "What are you going to do Lydia?" Elizabeth inquired.

"I do not know. Jane has said that I may stay with her until I can make other arrangements...if I can." she replied.

"Have you considered letting us take care of one of your children until you find your own home?" Elizebeth asked.

"Oh Lizzy! Would you really? Why do you not take Isabella? She is the one who should go!" Lydia exclaimed.

"We had thought that maybe Anna should come and stay with us." Darcy said. Every eye in the room turned towards him.

"Very well, if you really wish it to be so." Lydia said, coldly. "I do not see why she should go, and not Isabella."

"Because you will need Isabella to help you. Anna is yet too young." Elizabeth replied.

"Oh, but I shall have Jane to help me!"

"Mrs. Wickham, we think Anna is the right one to come." Darcy said.

"No! I shall not go!" Anna suddenly cried.

"Why not?" Elizabeth exclaimed.

"Because I could not leave David. He needs someone to look after him." she said.

"I will take care of him like my own son!" Jane said, and Bingley nodded.

"Please Anna! Please come to stay with us." Elizabeth pleaded.

"I do not want to go to Pemberley! I will not leave Mama and Aunt Jane! You go Anna!" David cried.

"Very well," she said resignedly. So it was decided. Anna was to leave for Pemberley the next day.

The next morning, Anna left for Pemberley with her Aunt and Uncle Darcy. Her uncle did not say a word during the whole journey, except when Elizabeth commented: "She looks very much like Marianne, does she not? The same thick, curly hair (although Anna's is sort of auburn) and blue eyes."

"Yes, I thought so too," he said, and that was all. Anna had parted from her family with tears. She was afraid of her present home, and Uncle Darcy. She was shy of meeting her cousins. Her only hope of being happy was that Aunt Elizabeth was going to be there.

As they neared Pemberley, it started to rain very hard. Anna could not clearly see anything outside. When at last they arrived, she could not imagine that she would be living in such an enormous house! She was led up to her room, and changed into dry, new clothes. They were not black.

"The mistress did not want you to be melancholy while you were here. She thought it best not to dwell on the past sorrows for long. Those were her words miss," the servant said. So Anna put on the clothes, and was led downstairs to meet her cousins in the sitting room.

Anna seemed to have to follow the servant down a million passages, staircases and halls. She felt dazed at the sight of such a huge house and so many things. At last, they reached the sitting room.

"Here you are Anna!" Elizabeth said.

"Allow me to introduce my two daughters, Miss JaneAnne Darcy, and Miss Marianne Darcy. JaneAnne, Marianne, Miss Anna Wickham," Uncle Darcy said. "My son, Richard, is at Cambridge at the moment," he said.

"How do you do?" both the Darcy girls said, politely.

"Very well, thank you." Anna replied. They chatted a bit about her new home, and then it was time for dinner. Anna could hardly but gape at the beautiful chandelier hanging above the dining table.

"This house is very big, don't you think?" Marianne, who was almost eleven, asked.

"Marianne, let the poor girl eat." JaneAnne whispered.

"She must think so, for look at the way she keeps on staring at the ceiling!"

"Marianne!" JaneAnne cried.

"Don't keep on about it Jane! I'm sure she was not offended! Are you?'

"No I -- "

"You see? She is not offended!" Marianne declared.

"Girls! That is enough." Elizabeth said. They both looked down at their dinner plates, ashamed.
"You may talk after dinner." she said.

Later that night Anna was getting in bed, when she heard a small knock on her door. "Come in!" she called as she slipped on her robe. Marianne opened the door and crept in.

"Mother said that we would be able to talk after dinner. Well, I did not get a chance to really talk to you. Do you mind? I know that we are both not really supposed to talk when we are supposed to be in bed, but you don't mind?" she asked.

"No." Anna replied.

"Good! One thing I noticed is how much we look alike! We could pass for sisters! Do you not think so?"

"I noticed that too. Only my hair is a different shade of color than yours. Mine is sort of brownish, but a little auburn. You hair is like Uncle Darcy's." Anna said, overcoming her shyness.

"Yes. You have never seen my father before, have you?"

"No. No, I have not. I do not think he likes me." Anna said.

"But of course he does! He just didn't like...maybe we should stay off this subject." Marianne hastily whispered.

"Perhaps that would be better," Anna agreed.

"Well then, tomorrow I want to show you around Pemberley! There are many secret passageways, and I have a tree house!"

"Truly?"

"Oh yes! Oh, Anna, do not think that I talk so much, so silly normally. I'm just very excited. Anyway, I'll show you everything! We'll have so much fun!" Marianne cried.

0x01 graphic

Chapter 4

Posted on Friday, 9 July 1999

The next day after breakfast, Marianne showed Anna around the house. Anna adored the tree house, and could hardly stop looking through the beautiful, old telescope that had belonged to Marianne's great grandfather. Then, Marianne showed her the secret passages.

"There are so many of them! Can you go to every room through them?" Anna had exclaimed.

"Oh, no! But you can go to most of the non-private rooms. It's not like you can sneak into my sister's room, or anything; but you can go to places like the ball room, and kitchen, and the sitting room. Rooms like that," Marianne explained. Then the two girls continued down the passage, until they reached the end.

"This is my favorite part of the passage! You can play here, and chat, and see everything that is going on! It looks over the drawing room. Look! Mother and Father are there now!"

"Don't you think it is rude to spy on people?" Anna asked.

"I personally think it rude of them to shut us out of all conversations that are important, and make us go to bed during balls. That is the only reason why I do it. And besides...it is rather like an adventure for me! You see...things can get rather boring here at Pemberley. I have a tutor, and have not been to any other place, except for London. We have a house there too. But even there, I cannot go anywhere out of the gardens, except when mother and father are calling and take me along. Here it is better because I can visit the servants if I want to, and the grounds are very large, but sometimes, it is rather boring."

"So you hide as an amusement?"

"Sort of," Marianne said, and then stopped to listen. "I thought I heard your name mentioned." she whispered.

"...you must understand that she is not at all like her father!" Elizabeth was saying.

"She must have learned something from him! I am only suggesting that we should watch her a little. Not trying to be unjust," Darcy said.

"Fitzwilliam, you do not know her well at all! I have known her since she was a little baby! She is not like her father, or mother. She is very sensible, and was influenced much by Jane. You know very well that they visited the Bingleys often. The name 'Wickham' is not anything evil! I understand why you disliked Wickham so, but just because someone is born to the name, does not mean that they are a George Wickham!" Elizabeth cried.

"I never said that she is evil! I am only worried that she may influence the children in a wrong way."

"I have never heard anything so ridiculous!"

"Elizabeth -- " Darcy started to say as she left the room. He sighed, and sat down to think. Marianne glanced at Anna, who had turned pale.

"Come away Anna. Let's go back down the passage." Marianne said, "I do not think like my father does! Come away, and I'll ask someone to make us some tea." Anna nodded, and they started the crawl back down the passage.

"Do you know why my father does not like yours?" Marianne asked. Anna nodded. "Tell me?"

"Because my father wanted to elope with your Aunt Georgiana when she was very young. Uncle Darcy got there just two days before it happened. He found out, and stopped them. Georgiana had only been tricked. She had never really loved my father."

"My goodness!" Marianne said, and then they got out of the passage and were standing in the hallway leading to the bedrooms.

"I would like the go outside Marianne. Can I go to your tree house?"

"Yes, but be back before tea time!"

"Thank you Marianne! I won't be long." Anna said, and turned to go outside.

She reached the park, and walked towards the tree. Anna climbed up slowly, because she was afraid of heights, and did not like climbing alone. She sat in the tree for a long time, calming her feelings of anger towards Uncle Darcy. She did not notice that a dark cloud had come up, until it started to rain hard. She quickly started back down the tree. Alas for Anna! The ladder was slick from the rain, her foot slipped, and she was thrown down the rest of the way! Her head was knocked against a large root, and she remembered no more.

Mr. Darcy, who had been taking a walk and was now running back to the house, was suprised to hear a scream near Marianne's tree. Fearing someone had fallen, he ran to the place. There he found Anna, unconsious at the foot of the tree. He quickly picked her up, and ran towards the house.

"Elizabeth!" he cried, upon reaching the house. "Anna has taken a fall!" Everyone in the house rushed to the master's side.

"What happened?" Marianne asked, crying.

"She fell from the tree."

"Is she very hurt?" Elizabeth asked worriedly.

"I do not know. Maybe it would be best to call the doctor." Darcy said. They summoned the physician, and who examined Anna. The family was gathered in sitting room when the doctor finished his examination and came to report his diagnosis.

"How is she?" Elizabeth asked.

"She has no bones broken, but has hit her head very hard. She will recover, but I would suggest not to let her leave her bed for a week. If she does not wake up soon, then you must call me again."

"Thank you Dr. Foster," Darcy said, and then turned to his youngest daughter, "Where were you this afternoon?"

"I was showing Anna the passages."

"Which one?"

"We didn't really mean to over hear!" Marianne cried, and started to sob. Elizabeth gasped.

"Fitzwilliam, do you see that it is your fault that Anna is hurt?" she exclaimed, and then took Marianne's hand and led her out of the room. JaneAnne went up to Anna's room to see her, while Darcy went to his study to write a letter to Mrs. Wickham, asking her to come to Pemberley.

By the next day, Anna was awake. For the next two days, Elizabeth, JaneAnne, and Marianne sat by her all of the time. Darcy had not yet seen her. When Anna asked about him, Elizabeth went down to his study to find him. She found Darcy reading a letter that had come that morning from Bingley Manor.

This is what is said:

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Darcy,

Thank you for your letter. Tell Anna that she shall be well soon. Although I am unable to come at this present moment, I am sending Isabella to you. She shall arrive tomorrow at nine in the evening, and I hope will raise Anna's spirits a bit. I want to know if perhaps Richard, your son is at home?

"That is all that is said" Darcy concluded.

"Isabella is coming here tomorrow?" Elizabeth asked.

"No, she wrote this letter last night. Isabella is coming today."

Darcy waited outside that night for Isabella's carriage to arrive. She did not come until midnight. When at last her carriage rolled into sight, Darcy was very tired. She stepped daintily out of the carriage, and said hello to her Uncle.

"Good evening, Miss Wickham," he mumbled.

"How is poor Anna?"

"Won't you come in Miss Wickham?" he said, leading her inside. Isabella was silenced when she saw how grand the house was. She was immediately taken to her room by a servant.

The next morning, Isabella went to see her sister "Anna, dear! How are you?" she cried as she entered the room. Anna fluttered open her eyes.

"What?" she said groggily.

"How are you?"

"Fine, thank you. I thought mother would come.

"Mother could not come. Would you like to know why?"

"Why?" Anna asked, still sleepy.

"Mr. Hitchcock, the father of the Colonel, has begun to call upon mama!"

"The widower?" Anna cried, sitting up in bed sharply.

"Shhhh! Lie down silly! You must not excite yourself! Yes, he has come to call one her once, and mama is very happy. She likes him very much!"

"Oh poor Mr. Hitchcock!" Anna murmured.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing." Anna said.

"Anyhow, she does not want to leave on account of him. Don't you think it wonderful?" Isabella said.

"Yes, very wonderful." Anna said, and then drifted back to sleep.

0x01 graphic

Chapter Five

Posted on Sunday, 11 July 1999

When Anna woke up, she was alone. She sat up in bed, and then slipped out. Where was everyone? She put on her robe, and slippers, and started to walk downstairs meeting Marianne in the hallway.

"Anna! What are you doing out of bed? I was just coming up to see you!"

"Where is everyone?" Anna inquired.

"Oh, my brother Richard just came back from Cambridge. He just finished school. That's all."

"He is already back?"

"Yes. It is summer you know. Come on! Do you want mama to see you?" Marianne cried, leading Anna back upstairs.

"Where is Isabella?" Anna asked.

"She's is downstairs. Why do you ask?" Marianne said, casually.

"I need to tell her to leave your brother alone. If she bothers your brother, tell him not to be embarrassed to put her off." Anna said.

"You don't need to worry. My brother does not have eyes for anyone except for the Knightley's daughter, Katherine. He met her last Christmas, for the first time in years. I think it will be a match!" Marianne said.

"Well then I'll have to tell Isabella. I don't want him to marry her. It would be an unlucky match!" Anna said.

By the end of Anna's week of confinement to bed, she was feeling much better, and so the Darcy's decided that since she was so improved and that the week was up, she could get out of bed. Also, on that day, a letter arrived from Bingley Manor, addressed to Isabella and Anna Wickham.

"This letter is for you and Anna," Darcy had said.

"Thank you. Anna! Anna! We have received a letter from mama!" Isabella called, as soon as she was out of Darcy's study. Anna ran up to her.

"What has she written?" Anna said, catching her breath.

"I do not know. I want you to read it out loud to me."

"Now?"

"Yes now! Let us go into the drawing room. I do not think anyone is there." Isabella said.

"There, you see? No one is here and we can read the letter and discuss everything that is said," Isabella remarked as Anna began to read:

Dearest Isabella and Anna,

I write to you with the greatest of news! Mr. Hitchcock has called on me three times already! I am having the greatest fun! He is so dear, and very funny. Isabella, I fear you may not be able to catch Col. Hitchcock after all, for I just found out that he is soon to be married. I do not know to whom nor do I care. The Col. was not so very handsome after all. But his father is charming. Have you seen Richard yet? I hear he is very handsome. I do not know if it is true. You must write to me, and tell me all the news.

Your mother,

Lydia Wickham

"Strange letter," commented Anna.

"It is not strange! Mother always writes of news." Isabella snapped.

"I am very sorry about the Col. If mother marries his father, you may not marry him anyway." Anna said, and then gasped. "Mother marry again? But father has not been dead for a month yet!"

"That may be, but mother cannot mourn him for the rest of her life. And he has only been to call three times. Who knows? He may have brung his son in hopes that he would marry Martha, and now that the Col. is to be married, he will not come any more." Isabella said.

"Tis not likely."

"Well how do you know, you were not there! You do not know anything of what went on!"

"Well neither do you!" Anna exclaimed. Isabella was clearly upset about the Col. Anna did not worry. She would be over it by the next time she saw an officer. Mother had said that she had once loved a red coat very much and Isabella seemed to have inherited the same tendency. When Isabella left the room Anna sighed heavily. She did not want her mother to marry again so soon. It would be scandalous! Besides that, Mr. Hitchcock had said something once about moving to America, and if he married her mother, they would have to go too. "Why do things always happen to me?" Anna thought, and then went outside in search of Marianne.

She searched for Marianne for about twenty minutes before she found her. Marianne was in the maze, in a far corner.

"Marianne?" Anna called to her. Marianne, who had been crouched down on the ground, quickly stood up.

"What do you what?" she asked.

"I was looking for you. What were you doing?"

"Nothing important." Marianne said, nervously.

"What is that behind your back?" Anna said, curious. Marianne gave her a sheepish look, and pulled her hands from behind her back. In them she held a small, bedraggled puppy!

"Oh how beautiful! Where did you find it?" Anna cried, rushing up to Marianne to pet the puppy.

"It's not the only one. There are three puppies." Marianne said pulling back a few branches of the hedgerows. There were two more puppies! Anna bent down to pet them.

"Where is the mother?"

"That I do not know. They are newborn, and cannot have opened their ears and eyes more than a few days ago. I think she might have died or something because she is not here," Marianne said.

"Can we take them up to the house?"

"Of course. That is what I was going to do. Papa will let me keep them, I know, for we can afford to have as many dogs as we please. Well...at least I hope he will. These are small dogs, and I do not know if he will have any use for them. They look like cocker spaniels, but I am at a loss as to how they got out here. My father does not keep Cockers." Marianne said as Anna picked up the remaining two puppies.

"Oh please father, may we keep them?" Marianne pleaded to her father.

"Really Marianne, how is it that three cocker puppies happen into my maze?"

"I do not know father! They need a home. Please, may we keep them?"

"Who is we?" Darcy said, raising an eyebrow.

"Anna and me! We will take care of them."

Darcy shook his head, watching his daughter holding one of the puppies. It whined. Darcy threw up his hands in defeat.

"Keep the puppies!" he cried, and left the room to escape Marianne's joyful cries.

"We can keep them Anna!" she yelled, as she started to run down the corridor to her room where Anna and the rest of the puppies waited. In her excitement she bumped headlong into Richard!

"I am so sorry!" she cried. He started to say something, when he saw the puppy in her hand.

"How did it happen that you have a puppy?" he exclaimed.

"I found them."

"Them?" he said.

"I'll give you one if you want," Marianne said, and led her bewildered brother the rest of the way to her room.

"Richard would like one if you don't mind Anna." Marianne said as they entered the room.

"That is good news indeed! I don't think mama will let me keep two puppies if any at all! Marianne said that she wanted the puppy she is carrying, and I want this one." She pointed to a blonde one.

"You may have the last one," Marianne said as she shoved a black and white puppy into his arms and pushed her utterly confused brother from the room.

"I am glad he took one! Now all of the puppies are taken care of!" Anna said. "But I am afraid that Isabella will be very envious."

"I would not worry. I am going to order some water to wash them off." Marianne said.

Marianne and Anna washed off the dirty puppies. It turned out that's Anna's puppy was a blondish red color, and Marianne's was more of a brown color. Elizabeth came into the room to give them orders that she had learned from one of the servants on how to feed them. They listened carefully and when she left, ordered some milk. They fed the puppies, and the settled to the delightful task of naming them.

"We really must think of a very beautiful name for her!" Anna said as she looked at Marianne's puppy.

"Yes, and for her too," answered Marianne, looking at Anna's.

"Wasn't it lucky that we gave Richard the boy?" Anna said, and Marianne nodded.

"Now what shall we call them?" Marianne wondered.

0x01 graphic

Chapter Six

Posted on Monday, 12 July 1999

"Your's should be Cocoa! It is a dark brown color." Anna said.

"It's not very romantic! It's more scrumptious then sentimental, but I think that name is perfect!" Marianne said.

"I think I'll call mine Ellie. At least mine will have a romantic name."

"I wouldn't call her Ellie! Think of something more suited for a dog! Call your daughter, Ellie!" Marianne cried.

"Then Gaila. That is plenty romantic!"

"Gaila!?! Where on this earth did you pick up a name like that?" Marianne exclaimed.

"From a neighbor we used to have in York. He told the most fantastic stories! In one of them, there was an elf named Galadriel. He had the sweetest dog named after her, and called her Gaila. She died a year ago."

"What was his name?"

"The old man's?" Marianne nodded. "Tolkien. He passed some of his stories on to his son I think, before he died." Anna said.

"That's too bad. All right, I suppose you can call her Gaila." Marianne said.

(Authors note: I've taken the name Galadriel from JRR Tolkien's book, 'The Lord of The Rings'. He wrote it in this century...but I have a Cocker Spainiel that looks like the one Anna has, and so I'll use that name.)

York, that same day...

"So, Mr. Hitchcock, I understand that your cousin has left you a plantation in the colonies?" Lydia asked.

"Yes, 'tis quite true! Although I wouldn't call the Unites States of America the 'colonies'."

"And where is it, this plantation of yours?" Lydia inquired, as she handed Anthony Hitchcock a cup of tea.

"Thank you. It is in Georgia ma'am. Do you know that country well?"

"No, not at all. I do not care if the plantation is in Georgia or anywhere else! Do you wish to go there?"

"Yes, I do. I could make a very large fortune with the money I earn." Hitchcock said. Lydia nodded, absently.

"Well, I must be off. Thank you for your hospitality, my dear Mrs. Wickham. Give my regards to your sister Jane." he said, then bowed, and left the room. Lydia clapped her hands, and sat down to write a letter.

Pemberley, the next day...

Anna and Marianne where admiring the puppies in Anna's room when Isabella came in.

"Mama just sent me a letter. Will you read it out loud Anna?" she asked.

Anna sighed, "I'm rather busy at the moment Isabella. Cannot it wait?"

"What are you doing?" Isabella asked, and started to look around the room.

"We're -- " Anna began, but was cut off by a squeal of delight.

"Ohhhhh! Where did you get such little puppies?" Isabella cried.

"We found them, Anna and I. They are ours. No Isabella, please do not touch them. Isabella, do NOT TOUCH!" Marianne cried, and grabbed Isabella's hand, as she was reaching down to grab Cocoa's paw.

"Come Isabella, I will read the letter." Anna said, quickly.

"You said later."

"Yes, it is later. Do come on!" Anna said, and started to drag Isabella out of the room. As she was pulling her down the hallway, Anna wondered what silly news her mother would send today. "She is probably fretting over Mr. Hitchcock not seeing her anymore." Anna thought, as they came into Isabella's room. They both sat down and Anna cleared her throat.

" Dearest Isabella, (Anna was offended because there was no mention of her name.)

I have such wonderful news! Mr. Hitchcock has come to call again since I wrote you yesterday. He says that a cousin of his has passed away, leaving him a plantation in Georgia in the United States of America! He says he wants to live there. I do not see how he could earn money on a plantation. I always thought they were big farms. He says he may get loads of money off of it. I do not see how, for he is a lawyer. I am beginning to think that his intentions towards me are very serious. Well, I've got to run. Jane is having a small party this evening, and I have to run and put on my evening gown. I'll write to you as soon as I have more news.
Your loving mother. "

"I told you that Mr. Hitchcock would call again!" Isabella declared.

"Please Isabella, I'm trying to think." Anna said, and left the room with the letter still in her hand.

"I'm beginning to think that Hitchcock's intentions towards me are very serious!" echoed in her mind.
"But why would a sensible man like him even marry a woman like mother?" Anna asked herself.

That was the question that bothered her over the next few weeks. The puppies grew, and could walk without staggering. It was definite that they were cocker spaniels. Marianne and Anna had found them in June, and it was in the middle of July when Sarah Bingley came for two months, and also their cousin, Emily Fitzwilliam, the daughter of John and Caroline (formerly Bingley) Fitzwilliam. Marianne proposed a trip around the Pemberley grounds. Everyone agreed except for Isabella, who had a headache, and it was decided that they would leave to go on the expedition the next day!

The girls set out the next day with high hopes for fun! The two puppies went out with them, because they could not stand staying inside while their beloved masters went romping in the woods, and wading in the stream. They also borrowed Richard's puppy, Rust, for the expedition. One of his ears was black, and one was white, and the reason he was called 'Rust' was because his white ear had a tiny bit of brown at the bottom. The girls thought he was adorable, and constantly borrowed him from Richard that summer.

The grounds of Pemberley were covered with flowers. Some of them were plants, but only in the gardens. The girls had permission to stray from the paths and walk along the pond to a small creek that ran through Pemberley. They would picnic by the pond, and then go on for fun in the water. The picnic their parents knew about, but the splash party they were going to have was not known.

Emily Fitzwilliam, unlike her mother, was a very warm, and loving child. At 13, she was the oldest of the four girls. Emily was really a tom-boy at heart, laughing and playing along with the rest, never caring (like Sarah) if she completely ruined her dress. Sarah Bingley was probably the most lady-like girl of the four. She was the most cautious, very caring, and to add to her other perfections, she was shy. This was an advantage in society where children were to be seen and not heard. Marianne Darcy was on the whole, a very energetic, clever, and creative girl. There was no secret that she could not discover, no passage in her ancient house that she could not find. She was cautious, and tried hard not to spoil her things, but never reached perfection. She cared deeply for people, but always seemed to explode when provoked. Anna's quiet, and polite manners are all ready known.. She cared for people, and by far was much more polite and cautious than Marianne and Emily. Altogether, the four girls made a very happy, energetic party!

As they sat down by the pond to picnic, Emily said, "Now let's all tell each other our troubles!"
No one seemed to have any until Anna took a deep breath, and said, "I think mama is going to remarry." Everyone stared at her.

"She can't marry so soon!" Sarah cried.

"It would be unthinkable!" Emily said, biting into a sandwich.

"Well, not for my mother. She wrote Isabella again and said that she is quite madly in love with Mr. Hitchcock and that he has started to call every day."

"How would you know what she wrote in Isabella's letters? If I know Isabella, and I'm very good at first impressions, then you should not trust completely what she says. She must be exaggerating," Emily remarked.

"Oh no! Anna reads all of Isabella's letter out loud to her. Isabella hates to read," Marianne stated, and Anna nodded.

"You may ask Sarah about Mr. Hitchcock. Mama is staying with her parents now," Anna said.

"It is true. He has been calling on her every day. My mother also thinks he is seriously thinking of marrying her," Sarah replied.

"I do not see why at all!" Anna cried, and continued "Mother is not the type of person he needs. Hitchcock is a sensible man. If he does marry mother, my opinion for him will not be very high!"

"You know that you just insulted your mother!" Emily said.

"I know it. But it is also that I'm not ready for another father. I like Hitchcock, but not as a father."

"Let's think of some reasons why he would marry her," Marianne said.

"I can think of nothing. He has a very large fortune inherited from his wife when she died. My mother has nothing. I do not think he loves her," Anna stubbornly declared.

"That must be it then! He must be in love with her!" Sarah cried.

"Are you sure she has inherited no fortune from your grandfather?" Emily inquired.

"Yes, quite sure. Not a large one anyway. Besides, what he did give her is all spent."

"And nothing from your father?" Marianne asked.

"I -- do not think so. He did not have a will," Anna said, uncertainly.

"Then that is what you must find out! Why else besides his love for your mother would Hitchcock marry her? It is a mystery!" Emily said.

"No, not a mystery. At least not yet," Anna said.

0x01 graphic

Chapter Seven

Posted on Tuesday, 13 July 1999

"Let's talk about something else!" Marianne exclaimed. "What I mean to say is, I don't want anyone having an argument. Let's walk down to the stream if everyone is finished eating." All of the girls looked at Emily, who was holding a sandwich in her hand and then at the other untouched sandwiches in the basket. Anna reached down, picked one up, and was just about to take a bite when Gaila jumped up into the air and snatched the sandwich from her hand!

"Gaila!" Anna cried as the puppy ran out of site to eat her stolen goods in peace. Everyone laughed, and they finished eating their lunch.

They walked down to the stream and as soon as they got there, Marianne sat down on the grassy bank, and started to take off her shoes.

"Marianne!" Sarah cried.

"Oh, come on Sarah! No one is here to see me, and besides, I've done this before!" Marianne said, slipping off her stocking, and sticking her toe in the water. "It's warm too!" she cried in delight. Emily discarded her shoes and stockings too, and splashed in.

"Careful about your dress!" Sarah called, and Emily gave her a sour look, and lifted up her sopping skirt. "Well you may not remember what your mother said today, but I do!" Sarah said, but then as she saw Anna carefully dipping her toe into the water, she began to unbuckle her shoe too. Soon, everyone forgot what their mother's had said about dresses and were pushing each other in and splashing around. In the middle of their fun, who should come up, but Isabella!

"What are you doing?" she cried.

"Just playing," Marianne answered.

"Is anyone near?" Isabella said looking around.

"No," Anna began to say, but Isabella had already untied her shoes, and was lifting her skirts to get in the water. Emily raised her eyebrows, but Isabella only smiled.

"You didn't think I was capable of having fun?" she exclaimed as she looked at the four girls' wide-eyed stares. Isabella's smile grew wider, and she came up close to Anna.

"Be careful Belle, the water is rocky." Anna said.

"I can see!" she cried, stepping back from Anna, offended.

"Isabella, you are not looking where you are going!" Marianne said, as she began to fall. Isabella had caught her foot in a stone when she was backing away from Anna, and had fallen.

"Can you stand?" Anna asked, calmly but slightly annoyed. It was no surprise that Isabella would land into some kind of trouble.

"No," Isabella gasped, trying to lift herself up.

"Oh Isabella!" Anna said, in exasperation.

"We are close to the road, and if someone comes by, one of us can go and get help." Marianne said. Anna nodded, as she and Emily helped pull Isabella to the shore.

"I think I've sprained my ankle!" Isabella cried.

"You have not! It is just a bit sore," Anna said, looking at Emily as if to say : "She always makes a big fuss." Just then, horse hoofs could be heard in the distance. Marianne dashed off in the direction of the road. In five minutes, she came back with a rider following her.

"This is Mr. Christopher Brandon, the oldest son of Christopher and Marianne Brandon. They are good friends of my father's, and have come with their two sons to visit us. I should say Marianne Brandon and her sons, because the old Mr. Brandon died a year ago. He was sixty-seven or so." Marianne said in one breath. Christopher Brandon picked up Isabella and set her on the horse he had been riding. Isabella was breathless.

"I think your sister is quite taken in!" Emily whispered to Anna as they started to walk back to the house.

"It will not be for long, I assure you. This happens all the time," Anna whispered back.

"Oh no, I am sure it can not happen every day that a handsome, rich man with a fortune of five thousand pounds, rescues a very pretty girl."

"It has happened before, and many times has had sad endings," Sarah whispered. Emily laughed.

"Look at the way she looks at him? Do you not think she likes him?" Emily asked.

"You know, Emily, for a girl who is supposed to be a tom-boy, you are awfully romantic!" Marianne said, and the conversation ended there because they came up to the house.

What Darcy saw out the window was not an unexpected site. He knew his daughter very well, and was not surprised to see four soaking wet girls. What did surprise him was that a very wet Isabella was riding on Brandon's horse, and that Christopher Brandon himself was leading it! He told Mrs. Brandon about the crisis and she and Elizabeth went outside to meet them.

"What on earth happened?" Elizabeth asked.

"I fell in the creek and sprained my ankle," Isabella said. Mrs. Brandon found herself smiling, at the remembrance of a similar incident which had started a set of events that had led to her true happiness.

"How did you find them, Christopher?" Mrs. Brandon asked.

"This little maiden here led me to them," Christopher said, pointing to Marianne.

"Come, we must get her inside!" Elizabeth said.

0x01 graphic

Chapter Eight

Posted on Wednesday, 14 July 1999

They decided that Isabella had definitely sprained her ankle. The girls were ordered to visit her every day. Emily decided that Isabella was a wonderful girl inside, and stayed with her most of every day for a week. Isabella mended slowly., but steadily. Emily gave up on her after a week, and told the girls with a downcast face that she could do nothing more for her. Finally, Isabella came downstairs to the drawing room where everyone was assembled and sat on the couch beside Christopher. She tried to flirt and converse with him, but to no avail. Christopher hardly even glanced at her. He answered her questions civilly, but without any warmth. Isabella was very put out.

"I do not see what the matter is! Do I act wrongly?" Isabella confided in Anna later that evening. Anna smiled.

"Isabella, did you ever consider that your flirting does not appeal to most respectable men with good tempers? You do not really try to act sensible, and if you did you might see drastic changes in your society," Anna said. Isabella stared at her.

"You mean, my behavior is unacceptable to respectable people?" She cried.

"Well, looking at it logically, no one with sense will marry anyone who does not care to think of anything beside fashions and officers," Anna said quietly with her head hung down low.

"Someone who thinks of nothing but fashions? I've never heard of anything so silly in my life!" Isabella cried.

"Well then, tell me what else you think of," Anna challenged looking at her carefully. Isabella paused, and opened and closed her mouth. Anna giggled, and then to her surprise, Isabella started to giggle too!

"I think you are right!" she said when she caught her breath. "I must be very silly! I'll try to be better."

"Maybe it would help if you considered reading."

"I do not know Anna...I always found it so dull and pointless. It wasted my time," Isabella said.

"Try it!" Anna urged, surprised at her sister's finally realizing how silly she had been, and how she was going to try to change. Isabella shook her head.

"Maybe someday, but not now. I have to think of something else to think about except for fashions and gossip! I'll try music. I know much of that, and do play rather well, don't I Anna?" Isabella asked.

"You'd have to practice...I mean, I remember once you weren't very silly and did play well, but that was a few years ago!" Anna said, but Isabella had left the room, and was walking down the halls towards the music room. Anna chuckled. It seemed as if a few more rays of light had just streamed into a world that was once gray and dreary.

The sound of music drifted up the third floor of Pemberley where Christopher Brandon's youngest son was writing a letter. He stopped writing, and listened carefully to the sound. The music was not without mistakes, but was not altogether unpleasant. Thinking it was JaneAnne, who played the piano very well, he finished his letter quickly and hurried downstairs to the music room. JaneAnne was very pretty and was quite accomplished. He wanted to be noticed by her and find out what she was like. Being the youngest son, he had very little fortune and needed to marry to someone with fortune and someone whom he could love. Naturally when he came to Pemberley he thought JaneAnne might be the one. Only on entering the music room, he did not find JaneAnne sitting at the piano playing. It was Isabella. She was very pretty, sitting at the piano, concentrating so hard on the piece, and succeeding beautifully. Her soft brown hair curled around her face beautifully, and her face was flushed from hard concentration. Jeffrey Brandon found her very beautiful.

He suddenly shook his head. This young lady was the one who had joined them earlier that day in the drawing room. She was the one who talked endlessly about fashions, gossiped about her town and mother, and tried to flirt with his brother. She was not one to think of as very pretty, since inside it was not so. She suddenly stumbled, and looked up.

"Miss Wickham! You may not remember me. My name is Jeffrey Brandon." she stood up and curtsied. "What song was that you were playing?" he asked.

"Oh, it is a song written by my Uncle Darcy's sister, Georgiana. I think it is quite pretty."

"I do find her music enjoyable," he said, trying not to think of how out of character she was acting. "Although, I think my mother's music much better."

"Do you indeed!" Isabella cried. "Pray sit and play me a tune so that I may judge her myself."

"No, no! I have not sat down to an instrument for a great many years. Perhaps it would be better to get my mother," Jeff, (for that is what we'll call him) said. Isabella said that she insisted, and he felt it to hard to refuse her. He took her place and she sat down in a nearby chair while he started to play. He only used one hand and plunked out the tune. Isabella started to giggle, and said, "You know I had a friend in York who played much as you do! Stumbling and blushing through the whole thing! He was may favorite officer, but now mama is going to marry his father and -- " she trailed off, and held her hand up to her lips. Jeff was eyeing her curiously.

"Please forgive me Mr. Brandon. I had a talk with my sister about my gossiping, and such, and have just now realized how silly it is." she said. "Please, do continue." he started up again, trying to decide if she was a nice girl or a silly one. He finished plunking the piece and Isabella agreed that indeed it was very pretty. He replied that it was made for playing, and singing too, and he should be glad to give her some music if he found any. They were soon joined by the rest of the Brandons, and Mr. and Mrs. Darcy with JaneAnne, Marianne, Anna and Emily. Mrs. Fitzwilliam had decided not to join the party on account of having a terrible headache. The headache was on account of Emily ruining her brand new bonnet by using it as a toy for the puppies.

Darcy asked Isabella and JaneAnne to give them a concert with Elizabeth and Marianne B. also playing a few songs. It was agreed, and the rest of the evening was spent listening to fine music. Isabella tried to play very well, so that she would earn the attention of Christopher Brandon, but he did not mind her or anyone else, and sat silent and inattentive to everyone. What Isabella did not notice was that Jeff had not given JaneAnne any notice, because he was meditating on the fact that Isabella had very pretty eyes.

Three days later...

Isabella's manners were much improved, and everyone found out, to their delight, that Isabella was in fact a very clever and witty girl when kept away from her mother's influence. Isabella found being sensible was more rewarding than being silly, and began to have genuine enjoyment in reading, doing some activities such as music, etc. Jeff found her very captivating, and was always in the room if she was playing a song, and in the library if she was reading.

"You know, I think Isabella is a very nice girl." Marianne Brandon said to Elizabeth one day in the sitting room.

"I think she is very improved since she first came here," Elizabeth said as she glanced across the room at Isabella, who was doing some embroidery.

"I hate to tell her, but...you have noticed the way she is very fond of Christopher." Marianne B. said.

"Yes, but what about him? Ouch!" Elizabeth cried, as she pricked her finger on a needle.

"He is engaged," was the reply and Elizabeth glanced quickly at Isabella who was setting down her embroidery, and rose to leave to room. Marianne B. blushed as she left the room.

"I think we were talking too loud," she whispered and Elizabeth nodded in agreement.

Isabella walked quickly up the stairs. She felt hot tears coming to her eyes and rushed into her room. Anna, who had passed her in the hall, followed her.

"What is the matter Belle?" she asked. (Isabella now wished to be called that by the girls.)

"He is engaged!" Isabella cried.

"You mean Christopher?" Isabella nodded. "I did not know you cared so very much! I mean, he never paid you any mind," Anna said. Isabella did not reply, but started to sob. Anna who was quite shocked, left the room in search of her companions. Perhaps she would get advice from the girls, she thought. She entered Marianne's room, where they were all assembled.

"Oh there you are Anna! Come let's go on our outing!" Emily exclaimed.

"No, I can't. Mr. Brandon is engaged, and poor Belle is heart broken!" she said. All of the girls followed Anna upstairs to Isabella's room to comfort her.

They found Isabella in tears. "Belle..." Anna began, but Isabella stopped her.

"Why was I ever silly enough to think that Christopher cared for me?" She cried.

"Lover's imagination." Emily said.

"Emily!" everyone, except for Isabella, cried.

"No, she is right! I only imagined it to satisfy my own fancy," she said wiping her eyes.

"You'll get over it," Anna said although she wondered if she really would. Isabella had never been really attached to anyone before this.

"Why did he not tell everyone?" Isabella asked.

Marianne shrugged and said, "It is not really our business. He might have put off the engagement for a short while because of his father's death." Isabella nodded.

"I shall not be able to eat tonight. Perhaps it would be better if I stayed up here. You girls may leave me now. Tell everyone I am feeling poorly and do not wish to be disturbed. I'll put on a good face tomorrow, and shall be cheerful." she said. The girls left the room, doubting Isabella's words.

The next day, as Isabella said, she came downstairs in relatively good spirits. Luckily for her, Christopher left that day. Summer was coming to an end, for it was August, and he had much business to do at his estate. Marianne B. and Jeff did not leave yet, but would be going in a fortnight. Sadly for the girls, Emily and her mother were leaving too. Much of the party staying at Pemberley were dispersing. Sarah would also leave after three weeks, and Isabella would go with her. Anna was to live at Pemberley until Lydia wrote and asked to have her back, and she lived in anticipation of the letter arriving with the dreadful news that she was to leave Pemberley soon.

0x01 graphic

Chapter 8

Posted on Wednesday, 14 July 1999

"I do not see what the matter is! Do I act wrongly?" Isabella confided in Anna later that evening. Anna smiled.

"You mean, my behavior is unacceptable to respectable people?" she cried.

"Well, looking at it logically, no one with sense will marry anyone who does not care to think of anything beside fashions and officers," Anna said quietly with her head hung down low.

"Someone who thinks of nothing but fashions? I've never heard of anything so silly in my life!" Isabella cried.

"I think you are right!" she said when she caught her breath. "I must be very silly! I'll try to be better."

"Maybe it would help if you considered reading."

"I do not know Anna...I always found it so dull and pointless. It wasted my time," Isabella said.

"Try it!" Anna urged, surprised at her sister's finally realizing how silly she had been, and how she was going to try to change. Isabella shook her head.

The sound of music drifted up the third floor of Pemberley where Christopher Brandon's youngest son was writing a letter. He stopped writing, and listened carefully to the sound. The music was not without mistakes, but was not altogether unpleasant. Thinking it was Jane Anne, who played the piano very well, he finished his letter quickly and hurried downstairs to the music room. Jane Anne was very pretty and was quite accomplished. He wanted to be noticed by her and find out what she was like. Being the youngest son, he had very little fortune and needed to marry to someone with fortune and someone whom he could love. Naturally when he came to Pemberley he thought Jane Anne might be the one. Only on entering the music room, he did not find Jane Anne sitting at the piano playing. It was Isabella. She was very pretty, sitting at the piano, concentrating so hard on the piece, and succeeding beautifully. Her soft brown hair curled around her face beautifully, and her face was flushed from hard concentration. Jeffrey Brandon found her very beautiful.

"Miss Wickham! You may not remember me. My name is Jeffrey Brandon." she stood up and curtsied. "What song was that you were playing?" he asked.

"Oh, it is a song written by my Uncle Darcy's sister, Georgiana. I think it is quite pretty."

"I do find her music enjoyable," he said, trying not to think of how out of character she was acting. "Although, I think my mother's music much better."

"Do you indeed!" Isabella cried. "Pray sit and play me a tune so that I may judge her myself."

"Please forgive me Mr. Brandon. I had a talk with my sister about my gossiping, and such, and have just now realized how silly it is." she said. "Please, do continue." he started up again, trying to decide if she was a nice girl or a silly one. He finished plunking the piece and Isabella agreed that indeed it was very pretty. He replied that it was made for playing, and singing too, and he should be glad to give her some music if he found any. The rest of the Brandons, and Mr. and Mrs. Darcy soon joined them with Jane Anne, Marianne, Anna and Emily. Mrs. Fitzwilliam had decided not to join the party on account of having a terrible headache. The headache was on account of Emily ruining her brand new bonnet by using it as a toy for the puppies.

Darcy asked Isabella and Jane Anne to give them a concert with Elizabeth and Marianne B. also playing a few songs. It was agreed, and the rest of the evening was spent listening to fine music. Isabella tried to play very well, so that she would earn the attention of Christopher Brandon, but he did not mind her or anyone else, and sat silent and inattentive to everyone. What Isabella did not notice was that Jeff had not given Jane Anne any notice, because he was meditating on the fact that Isabella had very pretty eyes.