more my lizzie.

Okay, and YES, I happen to know how halarious the comment about the shrubbery is.

Chapter 1
My brain was in an anxious frenzy. After three years of study in London, I was returning home. My sweet, lovely country home. And everything was as it should be – I was returning home, Lizzie was getting married. As children, she had made us plan out the rest of our lives – and we had planned it thus. Lizzie would laugh at the irony of it all. I knew that she had wished to have a double wedding with me, but now that was not possible. Something deep inside the wells of my heart thrilled when I saw Willford Estate come into view. The pond with the gravel walk around it brought happy memories to mind. I leaped from the carriage and ran through the front doors – just to assure myself that nothing had changed. The glass chandelier still glittered elegantly and Lizzie was in the library browsing the books with my mother as my father read the newspaper.It had not changed here at all.
“Ahem,” the servant said, brushing past me. “Excuse me, Mr. Vetour, Mrs. Vetour, Ms. Tedrow – Mr. William Vetour has arrived,” the servant retreated to the kitchen as I burst through the doors.
“Ah, my dear, Will!” my mother exclaimed, kissing my cheek.
“Will, my boy,” Father said shaking my hand. There was an awkward silence. Father returned to his newspaper and Mother left in a flutter calling for servants.
“Well, Ms. Lizzie Tedrow,” I said, teasing. “Have you not noticed there is a new arrival at Willford?”
“Is there?” she asked, turning the page of her book. “I hadn’t noticed.” She looked at me as if she had never seen me. “Oh, William! There you are. Have you been in your father’s closet these past three years? Hmmm.” We both laughed.“Welcome home, Will,” she smiled delicately.
“Thank you, Lizzie,” I replied with a smile. “It’s good to be back.”
“Lizzie, dear,” Mother called, popping her head through the door, “Are you staying for supper?”
“No ma’am,” Lizzie replied. “In fact, I should be leaving now. Goodbye, Mr. Vetour, Mrs. Vetour, Will.”Lizzie left quickly. Mother returned to the room with a quick glance.
“William – why are you still here?” Mother cried. “It is hardly gentlemanly to not escort a lady home. Go, now, before the Tedrows think us horribly impolite!” I began walking backwards towards the door. “Oh,” she called, “And stay for supper if they ask!”
“Yes, Mother,” I replied.Lizzie was at the edge of the front gate.“Miss Tedrow!” I called. I caught up to her. “Lizzie.” I bowed.
“Will,” she replied, surprised. She curtsied.
“Mother refuses to let a lady walk home alone without lecturing me about it, so I may as well accompany said lady home. And she also added to stay for dinner if asked.” She laughed.
“It’s good to have you back, William,” Lizzie said, touching my shoulder. “You were sorely missed these last three years; especially by your mother.”
“Yes, indeed, Lizzie,” I replied. “So, when is the date set?”
“I have no idea,” Lizzie replied. “This marriage it not anything like I wanted it to be, Will. I thought it would be romantic and wonderful, but it is just an arrangement between my father and Mr. Swan. I had no deal in it. He barely even knows me. I’m scared, William.” She was almost at tears. “It was a silly childish notion – being in love was,” she sniffled.
“Oh, Lizzie,” I smiled, walking arm in arm now. “You’ll be alright. If he really disturbs you, I’m sure you could throw a fit and refuse to marry him.” I gave her hand a gentle squeeze. We were approaching Enchorage Estate now. Lizzie smiled and slipped her arm out of mine. The sun was lowering on the horizon. Lizzie notified her parents that she had arrived safely home and we entered the parlor.
“Mr. Vetour!” Mrs. Tedrow exclaimed in her usual soothed elegant tones. She was the kind of mother who prided herself on personal elegance and social perfection, though her heart and mind were cold of all energy and warmth. “You have come such a long way. You must stay for dinner,” she said and began instructing the servants accordingly.
“Ma’am, if it is no trouble to you, I will remain,” I replied.“Of course you must stay, Penelope will be delighted to see you,” she smiled benevolently. I suppose she thought my marrying her second daughter, Penelope, would be a good match. Penelope, though a kind girl, is exactly that; she is only a girl. Mrs. Tedrow would hope that I would marry her for a promise in the property of Enchorage. I would not marry Penelope if I was paid a good price, nor if she were older, I might add. Penelope is a tad desperate. She believes, like her sister once did, that love and marriage are the same thing and that the sooner she is married, the sooner her life will be complete. She is altogether too loud, too annoying, and too young for me to stand. She is her mother’s favorite and has been spoilt by such favoritism. I hope that my children do not suffer from a mother like that.
“Oh, Mr. Vetour,” Penelope exclaimed. “What a wonderful thing it is to see you! I hear that London is a very socially wonderful place to be. Please tell us of it.” She said this all very fast, with her hands flailing about, that her glass of wine was nearly spilt.
“Calm yourself, Ms. Tedrow,” I scolded gently. “London’s fine qualities are over exaggerated a little much, but it is a grand and fine place to have taken my studies at. There is an agreeable higher society and the people there are fine in manners and fashion. It was a wonderful place to live and work and study at, but I am far happier to be home.”
“I should never be happy to remain here when there is London to see,” Penelope said indignantly. “You should take us, me and Lizzie, to London as a wedding gift,” she suggested.
“Oh, no,” Mrs. Tedrow said, scolding the child. “You are far too young to be traveling about and I will take you to London myself when the time comes to present you to higher society.” At this, the child could only pout.
I sipped my wine to keep from laughing. Lizzie looked at me, her eyes laughing. I could not see her face because it was hidden behind a handkerchief.
“I really must return to Willford,” I said, excusing myself from the parlor. “My father and I have business to catch up on.”
“And I am sure your mother wishes to clout you for leaving for so long a time,” Penelope said eagerly.
“I’m sure,” Lizzie interspersed teasing.
“Lizzie, please show Mr. Vetour to the door,” Mrs. Tedrow said quietly.
“Yes, Mother,” Lizzie replied.

Chapter 2
I seldom saw Lizzie or the Tedrows until their dinner celebrating the joining of Mr. Swan and Lizzie. Mrs. Tedrow was ecstatic over this news – even though it had been announced two months ago. Lizzie sent a note the day before:
Dear Will,I have a request and hope you do not have interference that would otherwise engage you. I would like you to come an hour or two before the engagement dinner, for my sake. What say you to a last enterprise of our good old times?
Lizzie
I checked with my parents so as to make sure I was not otherwise engaged and sent Lizzie a note telling her I would come as she wished. Lizzie was very nervous when I came and insisted that we go for a walk.
“Ah,” she sighed. “Now my mother cannot pester us with Penelope.”
“Yes, indeed,” I laughed. “I think I must announce that I shall marry any woman between the ages of seventeen and twenty, who has an admirable, silent character, with a witty personality that is revealed amongst close friends.” Lizzie laughed, for Penelope was only sixteen and none of those things.
“Oh, Will, that is a very descriptive want,” she chuckled. “I wish you luck, but you are looking for the perfect woman – and such women do not exist.”
“Well, thank you for your support, Lizzie,” I teased. “I would not marry a woman without flaws, however. You know I would not.”
“Indeed,” Lizzie said, looking towards the horizon. “Oh, Lord have mercy.”
“What is it, Lizzie?” I asked, squinting.
“Mr. Samuel Swan,” she breathed. “Would it be terribly rude of me to ask you to hide behind a piece of shrubbery?”
“It would,” I replied. “But, for the sake of your female nerves, I will obey.” I ducked behind a thick bush and held my breathe as Lizzie’s now-dreaded betrothed approached.
“A rather morose day, isn’t it, Elizabeth,” Mr. Swan commented. “Are you walking alone?” The man was rude enough not even to remove himself from his horse.
“It is a wonderful day, in my opinion, Samuel,” Lizzie replied. “I am alone.”
“You have a poor opinion then, Elizabeth,” Mr. Swan said sourly. “One should assume my betrothed would like fine sunny days, not depressing cloudy ones. You would be the perfect wife, would you not?”
“I will never be the perfect wife, Samuel,” Lizzie smiled, trying to remain polite.
“All wives must strive to be perfect,” Mr. Swan pronounced.
“Just because they strive does not mean they succeed,” Lizzie said playfully.
“I hope you do not cheek me so when we are married,” Mr. Swan nodded. “Do you have any friends coming to our engagement dinner?”
“Why, yes,” Lizzie said. “My good friend, Mr. William Vetour.”
“That scoundrel?” Mr. Swan gasped.
“Yes,” Lizzie blushed. “But he is a perfect gentleman.”
“I insist that he is not,” Mr. Swan said heatedly. “I say that, after our marriage, you sever contact with this Mr. Vetour. And, as my wife, you shall obey.”
“I suppose so,” Lizzie said quietly.
“You suppose so?” Mr. Swan repeated angrily. “Elizabeth, you must promise to never correspond with this man.”
“I – I promise…,” Lizzie said faintly.
“Good girl,” Swan said. I felt my skin boil. “You will walk for another hour or so and then return to get ready for the dinner, I suppose. You should look stunning.”
“Yes, Samuel.”
I hear the thundering of horses hooves and waited for Lizzie to approach me. When she did, she was weeping.
“Oh, Lizzie,” I said sympathetically. “You could still throw a fit, couldn’t you?”
“I don’t know if I would have the strength to, Will,” she sobbed. “But, never talk to you again? It’s a horrible notion.”
I thought swiftly, “But you will correspond and visit my cousin Ms. Willianna Vetour, to whom you became very close when you knew me, correct?”
“What are you saying, William?” she asked, her cheeks tear-stained.
“I am saying, Elizabeth, that if you go through with this marriage I will not abandon you,” I smiled softly. “I am saying that you will break your promise to Mr. Swan and write me letters and visit on the rare occasion. But it must be done in secret. I will tell my parents, my mother, at least, will approve.”
“Ever the gentleman,” Lizzie said, wiping away her tears. “Any woman would be lucky to marry you, Will.”

And, yes, once again, i KNOW that the shrubbery thing is funny. LOL.

Ciao, Bellas and ... guys...

Asiat