The Jane Effect Part 8.2

The Jane Effect

By Angel of Death

Part 8: Coveted {cont.}

Sir Harvey continued into the room until he stood before them. Andrew held his position in front of Elizabeth but turned ever so slightly to face him. He bowed, the gesture although polite, abrupt. Edward ignored the proper civilities, and glared at the two of them. His demeanor emitted anger. Elizabeth swallowed her tongue, her fear attuned with the heat rising up her neck. She despised this man and yet she waited patiently to hear what he was going to say. Another bolt of lightning soared through the sky bringing with it rolls of thunder. It was another moment before Edward decided to speak.

"The party is dispersing. I'm not surprised you two weren't there to see it off."

"And why is that?" Andrew asked, softly.

The question lingered in the air for a moment before it was completely dismissed. Elizabeth eyed Andrew to find that he was staring back. There was something in his eyes that she could not fathom. Edward was staring at the painting when the two broke free from their gaze.

"This is a very amiable portrait of Miss Greenly. I suppose you've seen enough of her to become so accurate in your direction of hand."

"In my opinion it doesn't do her any justice."

The tranquility in the room was so intense that Elizabeth couldn't bare to sit there any longer. Her cheeks flushed when she became the topic of their conversation. It would appear that Sir Harvey was complimenting Andrew on his talented eye but the real meaning of his comment didn't go by unaccounted for. He thought they were secretly together, which explained the disgust in his eyes as he looked at her.

"You must think she's quite beautiful."

"Yes, she is."

"Those brown eyes glitter in the moonlight. And the shade of her hair matches the tint of her..." Edward started, now glaring at Andrew.

"That is enough," Andrew said, firmly. This shocked Elizabeth. She never thought that he could show anger. The whole time she was with him, he had been nothing but kind and gentle and Edward's unpleasant manner didn't once perturb him until now. His eyebrows were pulled down and his lips was a hard straight line. There was a gold glint in his eyes that looked evil and demonic. She watched in amazement as Andrew's lips parted to set free a growl. Edward didn't seem to cringe at the sound but he did smile. His mouth pulling up in a way so vicious that it was almost inhuman.

"Elizabeth, I would like to speak with Mr. Garrison," he said through clenched teeth.

Fear ran down her spine, as she stood up. Andrew was still to the right of her, his fist clenched and his eyes dark. He had told her that he was frightened of Sir Harvey. It would be wrong to leave him here with Edward and she wouldn't. Elizabeth moved towards Andrew, but before she could reach him, a hand curled around her wrist. She looked up to see Sir Harvey glaring down at her. Expression was absent from his face but his eyes were infested with anger. Again, she was met with the struggle of breaking free of his gaze. He was so close to her, that his lips were lingering just above hers. Without thinking she leaned forward, inhaling the sweet scent that emitted from his body. The ice cold of his hands sunk into her bones making her whole body feel as though it were frozen. Embarrassed by her actions she turned away, both confused and scared.

"Leave," Edward whispered in her ear. The seriousness in his voice didn't make Elizabeth think twice. Instead, she stole one last glance at Andrew, curtsied and left the room, closing the door behind her.

It had stopped raining outside, and the sky was now a clear purple with only the stars vacating it. Tears welled up in her eyes. She could still feel the cold grip around her wrist. There was a red ring where Edward had held her. The rain was falling down her cheeks now. What if she had kissed him? It would be the most embarrassing and nonsensical thing for a lady of her rank to do. Elizabeth held no affections for the rude, pompous, arrogant, and proud man but there was something about him that could not be defined. He was something more than what he pretended to be. Wiping the tears away, Elizabeth started down the hallway, wanting to forget everything that just happened.

*

Walking down the spiral staircase, the music and voices were inaudible to her ears. There were no ogling women at the outskirts of the room and no one was in the hallways. The room that she had occupied earlier was now well lit and the door was ajar. As she moved closer towards it, she could hear music and laughter. When Elizabeth appeared in the doorway, she could see that William was blindfolded and the women were running about the room, the hems of their skirts hitched. Maxine stumbled around, tripping over air and giggling all the while. Her curls were falling around her face and her cheeks were flushed an apple red. Even Cassandra, the most agreeable lady Elizabeth had ever encountered was joining in on the folly. Her smile stretched across her face and her elegant chignon was unraveling itself each time she moved.

"Over there! There's one to your right!" Elizabeth assessed her brother's presence. He was leaning against the wall near a window. The light from the moon bathed him in alabaster making the joyous mien on his face look most delightful.

Maxine stumbled past her, nearly knocking over a vase in the process. Elizabeth erected her sister's posture only to feel her hand being enclosed in hers'. Before she could protest, she was out in the mist of the chaos. William was still following Daniel's useless directions. His brow was wet and his face showed a little exertion but he was forever determined. He had his arms out before him, swatting at the air, and his legs defied gravity as they leaped around the room. The white top-hat that he had worn was absent from his head, and his bronze hair was mirroring his actions. Elizabeth found it quite hysterical that a gentlemen of his stature was playing Blind Man's Bluff.

"Come Lizzie! Don't let him catch you!" Maxine protested, giggling. William caught wind of the warning and came tumbling towards them. A soft chuckle resonated in the pit of her throat, and then she too found herself hitching up her skirt and bouncing about the room. The audience of this institution were enjoying themselves as well. Their faces were bright and their hands clapped joyously along with the music. Remembering that it was playing, Elizabeth turned her attention towards the ebony pianoforte on the far right of the room. She had never assessed its presence, though she could not figure out how she could not. It was large, and it seemed to have belonged to the family for quite some time. Dust settled on the top, but from the notes that it emitted, she could tell that it was an amiable instrument. A woman with pale blond curls sat at the piano. She had a white gown on and her frame was lean and poised. Her long slender fingers swept over the keys like swans gliding across the lake. The dainty red lips that sat under her nose were pulled up ever so slightly and her eyes were a shy gray. Elizabeth had never saw the woman before, and guessed that it must have been the mysterious maiden Daniel had mentioned earlier.

"Watch out!" Cassandra shouted, covering her mouth with her hand. William was coming towards her, and before she could move, he enclosed her in a corner of the room, his arms outstretched.

"There's no use in running, my dear." he said, softly. Slowly, he came closer to her, until he was in touching distance. His hand touched the side of her face, and strangely, like his brother's his touch was ice cold. It stung and it made Elizabeth shiver. He continued to trail his hand along her face, his lips curled in victory.

"Such a little nose you have, and these lips are quite soft. And the warmth to your skin is delightful!"

Elizabeth chuckled trying not to give herself away.

"Hmm, I believe this fair maiden is...Maxine." And with that he ripped off his blindfold and smiled. Once he took in who he coveted, Elizabeth saw his smile waver. There was a hard glint in his liquid green eyes that she could not fathom. But before she could fully analyze his displeasure, his lips pulled up once more and laughter fell out.

"Looks like I'm wrong." he said and then everyone joined in on the joke. The music came to its melodic crescendo and then it ended.

"Since your guess was not right you must give her a kiss." Cassandra said.

Elizabeth felt her cheeks flush and then placed her downcast eyes to the floor. She stared the carpet admiring the intricate designs. Just like the day they first met, William gently pushed her head up and looked deeply into her eyes. The glint was still there and before Elizabeth could marvel at it, his lips crashed against hers. The kiss was frigid and felt like icicles were stabbing her in her mouth. Her heart raced, attuned with the sound of everyone clapping. She could feel the goosebumps traveling up and down her arms. Your first kiss was supposed to be magical and remarkably beautiful, but this embrace was far from mirroring one that ends a fairytale. There was something in the way that William tentatively held her. His fingers were delving into her sides and the distance between them was far too great. Though Elizabeth knew that he did not love her, she yearned for a little affection.

The clapping ended and then there was a creak of the door opening. William released Elizabeth, his lips pursed and he eyes fixed to the left of them. Elizabeth followed his gaze only to feel her own lips pulling up at the corners. It was Andrew. The venomous expression that had washed over his face was gone. All of the tension between Edward and him seemed as if it floated away as they stood before them, side by side. Edward’s manner was neither content or angered. His head was held low and his arms were behind his back.

"Andrew, you missed a great game of Blind Man's Bluff." Cassandra said, cheerfully.

"Perhaps you would have been a better blind man. William here wasn't good at following directions." Daniel chimed in.

Laughter rolled across the rooms in vibrant waves and then everyone commenced in conversation. William had left her side, bowing his head before he departed, and went to go speak with his brother.

**** Sorry, but this last part has just been changed so it doesn't coincide with the next chapter. I'm still working out some things****