© copywrite 2009 by Sarah Baughman

Chapter 1

Liz Watson turned the page excitedly, though she knew what was coming. She quickly read the interaction between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett, imagining that she herself was the heroine. They were at the ball given by Mr. Bingley. Mr. Darcy approached, asking for the next dance. Too shocked to say anything but “Yes,” Miss Elizabeth Bennett danced with him. The words they sparred were witty and engaging. She was angry with him, but remained civil. So did he. Liz shivered with delight. This has to be the most romantic book ever written! When her cell phone beeped, alerting her that it was time for her to stop reading and get ready for church, she reluctantly closed the book.

As she stepped into the shower, Liz’s thoughts ran just like the water pouring from the showerhead. I wish there was a Mr. Darcy for me. It was not the first time she had thought this. But the only person even close to him is Zach. Elizabeth didn’t like Mr. Darcy at first meeting and I can’t stand Zach. He’s definitely NOT a Mr. Darcy. Darcy was a kind heart hidden beneath an aloof exterior. I doubt that Zach has anything hidden beneath his jockish appearance. Just more of the same.

Zach Taylor attended the same church as Liz; his family moved to town in sixth grade, and he and Liz went through Catechism classes together. She had developed a slight crush on the new boy with dark brown hair and brown eyes during their second year of classes – eighth grade – but he had been interested in basketball and soccer, not her. Suffering the heartbreak of a young teenager had been difficult at the time, but Liz moved on. They went on to high school then college, each attending different schools, but returning to the same town, to the same church. Even now, he was active in church, but mostly with the youth and coaching Lutheran High North’s basketball team. Liz served on the Board of Education and taught the combined First and Second Grade Sunday School class. Many of the children in her class at Sunday School were also in her class at Redeemer Lutheran School.

Stepping out of the shower, Liz selected a plain grey skirt, cut a little fuller in the current mode of fashion. Her button-down shirt, definitely not in the current mode of fashion, was tucked in. She sighed. Much as she adored fashion of the Regency Era, she could not keep up with the fashion of her own time. As she fastened her watch, she saw that she still had half an hour to read some more, so she quickly went in the direction of her book. Bending down to pick it up, a stray lock of dripping blonde hair fell in her face, reminding her that she had only dressed, but not finished the rest of her toilette, as Jane Austen might have said. Blowing a breath of frustrated air through her teeth, Liz finished readying for church, then spent her extra time reading.

by Sarah Baughman (email: mailto:baughmanks@gmail.com)




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