Free Memory: Volume 1, Lasting Impressions, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (Memory: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice) by Linda Wells Page A

musical laugh, followed by an equally warm voice from the young woman as she made her observations.  Her companions laughed with her and he attempted to see around the brim of her bonnet to no avail.  The group moved on, and as much as he wished to follow her, he was forced to remain with Georgiana to look at the painting.   But instead of his original opinion that had formed as he waited, he thought over the remarks of the young woman and smiled, seeing exactly her points, and even chuckling softly. 
    Georgiana looked up to him. “What amuses you so?”
    “I am not sure; I suppose that I am delighting in the comments of someone with great insight.”  He smiled warmly and she responded happily.  Squeezing her hand they moved on, and he searched the crowd for the mysterious woman, his smile falling away as he found no success.  The laugh had struck him, he was sure that he knew it. 
    From across the hall, Elizabeth stood by her uncle and watched as Darcy scanned the room.  He seemed to be searching for someone and she noticed his furrowed brow and disappointed expression.  Who do you search for, Mr. Darcy?   She wondered.  He was instantly recognizable to her; that was a face she could never forget.  Her heart beat faster just to be in the same room with him, but to approach with no introduction was impossible.  She considered walking by to see if he noticed her, and bit her lip. 
    At that moment Darcy’s searching eyes found hers.  Once again she was speared by their sad blue, but this time there was more, he was examining her.  Am I so changed from a year ago?  Remember me!   She urged.  Question appeared in his expression and she gathered her wits and smiled, softly, warmly, kindly.  She saw him tilt his head and draw a breath, then his lips lifted, and the breath was let go.  The sadness was replaced with hope.  The girl at his side, undoubtedly his sister, spoke to him and he bent his head to answer her question.
    Darcy looked back up again but only saw the crowd.  His brow furrowed.  Lizzy?  Where are you?
     
    25 MAY 1808
    He saw me!  I cannot believe that he remembered me but he did!  And he smiled!  He has the sweetest smile; I could look at it all day.  The corners of his mouth just start to tug upwards and his eyes light up.  I sound silly but nobody will read this besides me so I really do not care.  Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy smiled at me! 
    I wish that Uncle had not pulled me away, but I guess that I was standing there gaping like a fish and Aunt must have nudged him.  They asked what had interested me, and of course I could not say that I was staring at the most beautiful and handsome man in the world; could I?  But I was!   
    His sister was with him again, she has grown since last year.  I wonder if she will be as tall as her brother?  He still looks so sad, and I believe that I know why now.  He wore a black armband and his sister was dressed in half-mourning.   I am afraid to know who they might have lost.  I wish that I could offer my condolences; they both seemed in need of a friend. 
    I hope that I do not have to wait another year to meet him again, and maybe next time I will speak to him.  I would just die to hear him say something to me!
     
    Elizabeth giggled and set down her pen.  Mrs. Gardiner stood in the doorway and watched her niece and smiled at her happiness.  “What has pleased you so, Lizzy?”
    Instantly Elizabeth closed her journal and stood.  Mrs. Gardiner’s brows rose.  “Oh, nothing, I was just thinking about what we saw at the exhibition.  It was very pleasing.”  She blushed and hurried past.  “I should go and find Benjamin, I am certain that he is ready to play.”  Her aunt watched her go and looked back at the journal, shook her head and left to see to her duties.
    When the three adults gathered for dinner that evening Mr. Gardiner watched Elizabeth pick at her meal and stare dreamily off into the distance.  He raised his