FOUR
A lone with my thoughts, I strolled through the rose garden, barely seeing the gorgeous blooms that surrounded me. I was numb. The filming of my dream project had just been put on hold and the possibility of packing up and going home was very real.
I didn’t want to go home, not like this. Mr. Darcy hadn’t even made an appearance yet. I longed to see Barnaby in the role, to see the real Mr. Darcy bring the fictional Mr. Darcy to life. How alike they must truly be.
The crunch of hard soled boots on stone caught my attention and I looked up to see Jai coming my way. His face reflected exactly what I felt, disappointment.
“I see I’m not the only one sulking over the latest news,” he said.
“So, you’ve heard?”
“It’s kind of hard not to,” he said. “Everyone is talking about it. This will surely ruin me. It’ll be the end of Moon Manor. I know it sounds selfish to say so, after all, everyone here is about to lose their job. But it is how I feel. Moon Manor will close and be forever lost.”
“I’m sure we’ll find a way to save the production... and Moon Manor.” I’d never been so unsure of anything in my life. “It’s just a matter of finding investors... fast.”
“Well, I hope the solution or investors come soon, because Keely seems to have run out of options.” He sat down beside me, his head held low as he stared at his mud-covered boots. “I’ve put so much energy into building this place back up. Every waking moment has been dedicated to bringing the Manor back to its former glory. I can’t even begin to tell you just how thrilled I was when Keely contacted me. The production crew were to be housed in every spare room, while your film will be using the remainder of the property for the filming of this movie. It was more than I could have ever hoped for. The revenue from this contract with the production of this movie was enough to keep the manor afloat for several months. But now... now the production’s pulling out.”
I was about to suggest he review the contract and its cancellation policy. Could he still obtain a portion of the money promised him? Then again, what money?
In the distance, three crew members stood loudly discussing the unfortunate situation. They were equally concerned with the closing of the production.
“I guess we’re not the only ones worried about our futures,” I whispered.
He glanced back at the men and nodded. “They say that misery loves company.” He harrumphed. “I’m not so sure about that.”
“Yeah. There’s so much at stake,” I said, more to myself than to Jai.
“What was that you said?”
I slowly got to my feet and turned to look down at him. “I... I think I might...” I hesitated. Was I ready to do this? “I think I might have a solution.”
“What’s that?”
I looked around the rose garden and up at the expansive manor. “Let me get all of this straight in my head and I’ll talk to you later.”
With a furrowed brow, he nodded.
Walking away, my mind raced as I considered the consequences of my actions. There was so much to lose. And, yes, there was so much to gain. I had no choice. I had to make a move. I had to be a part of the solution.
The manor was quiet and still as I entered, but I quickly found Keely sitting alone in the breakfast room.
“Keely,” I softly said.
“Oh, Ayra,” she muttered with a dismissive wave of her hand. “I’m not much in the mood for conversation, or consoling, or whatever you might have in mind. I’m sorry, but I’d just as soon be alone with my thoughts for the moment.”
“I have one point one million dollars that I’ve saved up to buy my first house back in California,” I said with a dry laugh. “You should see the old rundown shacks a million buys these days.”
“How nice for you, Ayra.” She stared at the table in front of her. “At least when you return to sunny California, you’ll have a roof over your head.”
“You’re not listening to me, Keely. A million dollars isn’t even enough.”
“Right,” she muttered.
“I would much rather put that money to a project I can really put my heart and soul into.”
She looked at me confused. “What are you saying?”
“ Pride and Prejudice . My lifelong love affair with Jane Austen and her impossibly irresistible heroines. I want to invest in this project.”
“But Ayra...” She swallowed hard and loud. A hint of excitement gleamed in her eyes while her brow remained unconvinced. “I appreciate the offer, and that money, though less than what Blythe had promised, would surely go a long way. But I can’t let you do that. At least if you buy a house, you’ll have a home to live in. If this project falls flat... you’ll lose everything. I hate to think of you losing your investment.”
“I have faith in this project, Keely. Pride and Prejudice is a timeless story. Generations of women have fallen in love with Mr. Darcy over the years. I have no doubt whatsoever that young women today will love him just as much. And I’ve been thinking of the changes that have been made to the original book. You’re right. These changes need to be made and they will enhance the story all while keeping the true essence of Lizzy and Mr. Darcy alive.”
She stood and faced me, her hand coming to lay gently on my cheek. “Dear Ayra. You are such a romantic, aren’t you. Perhaps a little too romantic.”
“You should talk,” I said. “You co-founded the Jane Austen Association with me.”
Keely sighed. “I did, didn’t I? Now I’m a bit more practical, aren’t I?”
“You’re filming a Jane Austen movie, aren’t you? You’re plenty romantic.”
Keely nodded and said, “I appreciate your offer, Ayra, but... if this is truly what you want to do...”
“It is, Keely. It is. With all my heart, I want this project to go on.”
She sighed.
“I thought you’d be more elated than that... even a little.”
“Having the money to go on with the production is one thing, however I still don’t have a producer. I can’t do everything on my own. I can’t deal with all the emergencies that come up; all the locations that renege, all the actors who don’t show up, all the costumes that turn out to be wrong, all the artwork that don’t suit the time period... everything. Absolutely everything! The costume designer walked out the moment she heard the investors had pulled out and the set decorator followed in her footsteps.”
I grasped her hand and held it tight. “I’m here, Keely. Anything and everything you need, I’m here. My head is swirling with ideas; ways to save money, ways to make what we have go a long way. I’m sure we can work it out.”
“You’ve always been so optimistic, even in the face of turmoil.
“I’ve already made arrangements with Jai to go into town tomorrow,” I said, pardoning my own little fib. “We’re going to go look for more appropriate artwork.”
“You already have your hands full with the music. You won’t have enough of the twenty-four hours in a day to do all this.”
“Trust me. I have more energy than I know what to do with. I’m ready to take on more. Keely, I can’t let this project come to an end, not now. I didn’t come all the way out here just to give up.”
The hint of a smile began to quiver on her lips.
“Come on,” I said. “Stop fighting me and get on board.”
She hesitated for a split second, then broke out in a broad grin. “I’ve always wanted to make a Jane Austen movie the way true fans, true Jane Austen enthusiasts would make it.” She gripped my hand and said, “You’re on. Oh, this will be great. We work so well together, and I know how much you love this story, and I just know that you’ll do your best to make it the greatest Pride and Prejudice ever.”
“Great. Oh, I’m so thrilled.” I wanted to jump for joy. “I’m going to go back out and try to find Jai to confirm that we’re going to need to go shopping tomorrow.”
Floating on a cloud, I headed out to the rose garden, but Jai was nowhere to be found. I walked around, hoping to bump into him. I stray through the woodlands only to reach the edge of the lake with still no sign of him.
Suddenly putting on my producer’s hat, I looked out at the lake through new eyes. The sun seemed to be heading to the far end of the lake to set for the evening. Through the tall trunks of the trees, the rays of the sun would be spectacular.
Immediately, I imagined Lizzy and Mr. Darcy standing there. She would turn away from him, rejecting his proposal while he stood in the shadows. Of course, the camera would have to be set just right so as to avoid the tall tower. Then again, the tower could be used to capture amazing overhead shots of the surrounding countryside and of the manor itself. It could also be used to film the scene where Jane walks to Netherfield. Of course, it would have to rain... oh, we would figure that out, I’m sure. Yes. This would work perfectly. It would all be so perfect.
“Ahem!”
Startled, I let out a high-pitched yelp and jumped around.
“My apologies,” Barnaby said with the hint of a pleased grin. He stood in the middle of the path, tall and strong, every ounce of him a show of virility. Still attired in the very clothes the fictional Mr. Darcy was to wear. My heart skipped a beat, and I found myself at a loss for words. He was Darcy, Mr. Darcy! “You must have been deep in thought.” A touch of arrogance played on his brow while his gaze and grin were all charm. “It was not my intention to startle you so.”
Regaining my composure, I nodded my acceptance of his apology. “I have much on my mind these days. What brings you out to the lake, Mr. Darcy?”
“I’ve been looking for you. I was told by a crew member that you came this way.”
“You’ve been looking for me?” I said with much doubt. “Whatever for?”
“I’ve been wanting to talk to you. You see, I feel that we got off on the wrong foot and I would very much like to remedy the situation. You must know that it was never my intention to... well to...”
“To stand me up and leave me humiliated at a pub in a town that I know nothing about?” I said a little more harshly than I’d intended. “Everyone saw me enter that pub... alone. Everyone watched as I waited... and waited all while slowly, ever so slowly nursing a beer, and then two. Everyone caught my repeated glances to the door, clearly awaiting someone. And everyone watched me leave... alone... in abject humility.” I knew I was laying it on a little thick, but, yes, I wanted him to feel bad about what he’d done to me.
He shook his head slightly and an embarrassed blush seemed to color his cheeks, but as he shifted into the shade, I realized it was not a blush at all, but the play of light that had given that impression. No. Chances were Mr. Darcy rarely, if ever, blushed at all. “Please, do accept my apologies. I beg of you.”
I stood stiff, not willing to accept his apology so readily. After all, was he truly sorry for what he’d done... or had his mother put him up to it?
He shifted his feet apart and clasped his hands behind his back, looked down at the ground for the briefest moment, then looked up at me. “I must admit that I was surprised when my mum told me of this arrangement she’d made with your mother. It’s not her habit to meddle in my love life.”
Splendid. Now blame your mother for this disaster.
“I hope you didn’t take it personally,” he added.
Gee, you didn’t even bother to show up, I thought as I forced a smile. It’s kind of hard to not take it personally.
“Because,” he went on when I said nothing, “I would very much like to make it up to her. After all, I know she has my well-being in mind.”
Make it up to her? Was he offering to go on a date with me just to please his mother? Really? If I wasn’t offended by his original snub, I certainly was now. But I gallantly smiled through it all.
“So, what do you say? Will you join me for dinner? Let us say, tomorrow evening?”
He was even more like the fictional Mr. Darcy than I could have imagined.
“Ayra?”
I offered him a genuine smile as I realized just how perfect he was for the role of Mr. Darcy. I even wondered if, perhaps, he was a method actor who permanently remained in character or was this all his true nature.
“It would be my pleasure to join you for dinner, Mr. Darcy,” I finally said. “I would hate to see our mothers disappointed to learn that we’d barely spoken. After all, they went through too much trouble to ensure that we got acquainted.”
“Indeed.”
He showed absolutely no sign of interest in me, solely the desire to please his mother. Oh, well. I was certain I could put my pride aside for one dinner and simply hope for the best.