A Modern Day Sense and Sensibility: An Adaptation of Jane Austen's Classic

by Kaitlin Saunders

  When the current round came to a close, Diane gathered up the cards and proceeded to shuffle and re-deal. Making use of this break, Mrs. Jennings leaned over to Charlotte. “She looks like one of those ladies in a Renaissance painting, don’t you think?” she asked, eyeing the lovely Marianne as she gazed with longing out the window.

  “Oh, yes!” cooed Charlotte. “Maybe we should take a picture! James,” she turned to her husband who was purposefully ignoring her. “James, can you get the camera and take a picture?”

  “Why would we want to take a stupid picture like that?” James answered snidely under his breath.

  “She’s taking it very hard, isn’t she?” Mrs. Jennings leaned in toward the ladies at the card table, directing their attention once more to the listless Marianne. “Poor girl,” she tisked, “Hopefully, Jim won’t keep her waiting much longer.” Just then Margaret laughed loudly at the cartoon, distracting Mrs. Jennings.

  With the elderly woman’s attention momentarily diverted, Lucy didn’t waste any time getting up from the table. “I’m going to get some more water,” she announced. “Would anyone else like some?” The group shook their heads, and Lucy went to the kitchen sink where she refilled her glass. But instead of returning to the game, Lucy walked over to Ellie and joined her on the couch.

  Ellie glanced up with surprise and, uncomfortable, shifted over so both could fit on the love seat without feeling confined. Setting aside her book, she managed to smile and appear pleased by the interruption. It was obvious Lucy sought her attention, and Ellie decided she should oblige. Besides, she figured the Whist game would resume soon, so whatever it was Lucy wanted to talk about wouldn’t take long.

  “Can I ask you a question?” Lucy began with formality.

  “Oh, um, ok?” Ellie nodded, wary of the direction this was taking.

  “Do you know Mrs. Ferrars?” Lucy asked before quickly adding, “I heard that her daughter is your sister-in-law.”

  That bit of information had, no doubt, been supplied by the gossiping Mrs. Jennings, yet Ellie was at a loss as to why it should concern Lucy. Perhaps Lucy was a listener of Mrs. Ferrars’s program and wanted to know if her radio persona was the real deal. Regardless, Ellie found Lucy’s inquiry odd. She wished the card game might continue immediately. If only Mrs. Jennings would stop talking about why every girl should wear pantyhose!

  “Yes, Mrs. Ferrars is Francil’s mother, but I have never met her,” Ellie replied cautiously.

  “Oh. . .” Lucy’s disappointment was apparent.

  Although Ellie knew she should let the subject drop, now she was curious. Lucy didn’t seem like the type of girl to ask something without a purpose. “Why do you want to know?” Ellie succumbed to ask. As soon as the question left her mouth, Ellie could tell by the pleased expression on Lucy’s face that she’d just played right into her hand.

  “I’m very close with someone in the family,” Lucy answered pointedly. Then, lowering her voice, she continued secretly, “In fact, I hope to someday share his name.”

  “Oh, you know Robert Ferrars?” Ellie surmised.

  “No!” Lucy replied with indignation, tucking a strand of her auburn hair behind her ear. “I’ve never met him.” Then flashing Ellie a keen look, Lucy tried to appear as if what she were about to say next hadn’t been rehearsed. “No, it’s Edward I’m talking about.”

  Ellie froze. All she could hear was the rapid beating of her aching heart. Willing her lips to move, she mustered enough strength to utter, “Edward?”

  “Mmm-hmm,” Lucy answered with a practiced smile. She was pleased to see the effect her announcement was having on Ellie.

  “Edward. . .” Ellie uttered his name again, still trying to make sense of it all. Her Edward?

  “Yes, we met about three years ago at Stanford and started dating,” Lucy offered, taking advantage of Ellie’s stunned silence to supply more detail. “You remember Mrs. Jennings mentioning I attend there, don’t you?” Then leaning in closer, she half-whispered, “Edward and I have been secretly engaged for two-and-a-half years.”

  If it hadn’t been surprising enough to find out that Lucy knew Edward, was dating him, and hoped to eventually take on his last name, Ellie was now in shock to find that the two were engaged. It was as if Lucy’s words were a dagger that not only stabbed her heart, but sliced it in two.

  “En—” Lucy pressed a hand urgently on Ellie’s arm to stop her.

  Unfortunately, Mrs. Jennings heard enough of Ellie’s high-pitched squeak to draw her attention, and she glanced over at the young women with curiosity. Ellie shrunk back—the last person she needed meddling in this devastating conversation was Mrs. Jennings. Knowing her only chance was to feign composure, she forced herself to smile at the elderly woman. It did the trick. Mrs. Jennings, supposing she’d imagined the distressed sound, smiled back at them before returning to her previous conversation.

  Now outside of Mrs. Jennings’s gossip radar, Ellie faced Lucy again. Although her first impulse was to escape from this bearer of bad news to find a closet in which she could hyperventilate, Ellie knew it was pivotal that she get her emotions in check before everyone in the room began to take notice. This, regrettably, meant playing Lucy’s game a little bit longer. Promising herself time to grieve later, Ellie asked in a low voice, “Engaged? Like—to be married?” She knew how pathetic those questions sounded. What other type of engagement was there? Still, Ellie couldn’t quite believe it. If Lucy and Edward were truly engaged, then where did she fit into this equation? Feeling the instant urge to put some distance between the Lucy and herself, Ellie had to be careful not to jump up from the couch as she darted into the kitchen. To her grievous disappointment, Lucy followed closely behind.

  Mrs. Jennings, who hadn’t ever really stopped observing them, followed their movements closely with suspicious eyes. She knew something was amiss.

  Unaware they were being watched, Ellie grabbed a glass from the cupboard and began filling it with cold water from the kitchen sink. “I must admit, I’m very surprised. Edward never mentioned your name,” she commented before pausing to take a sip. Although she hadn’t really meant this statement as a cut, it ruffled Lucy’s feathers nonetheless.

  “Edward is so private about his personal matters,” Lucy replied, trying to sound nonchalant.

  Unable to stand the suspense any longer, Mrs. Jennings popped up out of her seat. She was more than ready to be included in the topic of conversation which had Ellie so obviously frazzled. “What are you girls talking about?” she inquired bluntly, hustling toward them.

  The girls stopped dead in their tracks, and Lucy quickly grasped Ellie’s arm while whispering pleadingly, “Please don’t tell her . . . or anyone! Promise me!”

  Between Lucy’s vice grip and the fast approaching Mrs. Jennings, Ellie nodded on impulse. Smiling gratefully, Lucy released Ellie just as Mrs. Jennings joined them, awaiting a reply.

  Lucy, masking her momentary panic answered, “I . . . was . . . um. . .” she stuttered while composing a cover story. “I was . . . just telling Ellie about my trip to New York last summer and how amazing it was.”

  “Ahh . . . yes, that’s right,” Ellie cooperated, “I’d forgotten how wonderful New York can be.”

  To their surprise, Mrs. Jennings clasped her hands together with excitement, “I can hardly believe it! I was going to wait to tell you the surprise but it seems providential to spill the beans now!” Rushing to the fridge to remove a cake, she simultaneously yelled, “Charlotte!”

  Instantly answering her mother’s invite, Charlotte bounced toward Lucy and Ellie and took their hands as Mrs. Jennings began dishing up dessert. Both girls were engulfed in confusion—one would have thought they’d announced a graduation or promotion. What on earth had called for this impromptu celebration?!?

  Passing them each a slice of cake, Mrs. Jennings explained why sweets were in order. “Charlotte and I were just saying how much we wished that you three girls would come along with us and Jame
s to their flat in New York City!”

  “Our place is very big,” explained Charlotte with an excited squeal, “And it can get quite dull . . . not New York of course!” her cascading laughter filled the kitchen.

  Now it was finally making sense. Mrs. Jennings wanted them to go to New York with her, and the idea of them discussing a trip to that very location was like them agreeing to it already!

  “I go back with them every fall,” Mrs. Jennings explained in between bites of the delicious carrot cake, “What do you say?” she officially put the offer on the table.

  “New York!” Marianne gleefully joined in, just now hearing of the proposed trip.

  “Can I go, too?” Margaret leaped up from the floor with the television controller in hand.

  “Margaret, you’re too young,” Diane cautioned, “Maybe when you are older Mrs. Jennings will take you along with her.”

  Margaret nodded but sulked as she sat back down to resume watching the cartoon.

  “Oh, Mrs. Jennings,” Ellie began with hesitation, “As much as we appreciate your offer, we really can’t afford it. Besides, who would take care of Mom and Margaret?” New York with the nosy Mrs. Jennings and horrible Lucy? Ellie could think of about a million other things she’d rather do—like laundry for a year!

  “Ellie!” Diane’s voice chided. “I’ll be fine! Margaret and I can watch out for each other!”

  “Yes! See! She’ll be fine!” Charlotte confirmed Diane’s words.

  Her mother’s support was the last thing Ellie wanted at that moment. For once, she wished her mom were more selfish.

  “Besides, Mr. Middleton will still be here if she needs anything,” Mrs. Jennings cooed supportively. “And as for cost, you’ll be our guests!”

  Ellie felt overwhelmed. If she said no, they wouldn’t let her leave the house until she consented and she definitely wanted to get away from Lucy. But if she said yes, she’d be stuck with Mrs. Jennings and Lucy for however long the trip would last. Making eye contact with Marianne, the glimmer of hope she saw behind her sister’s eyes caused her to lose all resolve. How could she even consider disappointing her sister? Ellie hadn’t seen joy like that in Marianne since Willoughby left. Maybe this was exactly what Marianne needed to snap out of her sorrow. Ellie didn’t want to be responsible for standing in the way of that. Having no more excuses, her only choice was to give in. Nodding, Ellie exaggerated a sigh.

  When her father was alive, Ellie and her family were avid travelers—visiting countries around the globe and exploring all different types of cultures. Their father had viewed it as a method for encouraging personal maturity, as it “enlightened them about the world beyond their front yard.” It was during those explorations that Ellie grew to love the world outside her own. She’d been to Egypt to see the pyramids, Cambodia to see the rain forest, South America to see the Amazon, and many other places that would forever hold special memories for her.

  Today, she and Marianne were beginning a journey of their own. It would be the second trip Ellie ever dreaded, the first being their move to Portland. Instead of hopping on a plane to New York where she was sure to endure two-plus weeks of misery, Ellie wished she was jet-setting to England—the one country her father had promised her before the fateful business trip that took his life. Although hesitant about this current venture, Ellie felt obliged to go, viewing herself as Marianne’s protector as her sister doubtless pursued Willoughby. Ellie so badly wanted to forewarn Marianne not to pin all of her romantic hopes on a happy reunion with Willoughby, but she just couldn’t muster the courage. Marianne was ecstatic about the journey—ecstatic to see Willoughby again.

  Ellie truly felt that if Willoughby wanted to see Marianne again, he would surely have done so by now. It showed great desperation on Marianne’s part if her sole purpose in going to New York was to search out Willoughby when he clearly didn’t want to be found. But perhaps there was more to his and Marianne’s “break-up” than met the eye—time would surely tell if Marianne got her way and somehow discovered him in a city filled with approximately 8.3 million people.

  While Ellie struggled not only with these thoughts but also with her large carry-on as they boarded the plane, Marianne sat contentedly in the airplane window seat, lost in her own world of hopes and dreams. Ellie, as usual, was too sensible to allow Mrs. Jennings to pay the extra luggage fee and had packed her carry-on to the brim. Now, in hindsight, she wished she’d let the elderly woman pay the few extra dollars. She was having a heck of a time stuffing it into the overhead compartment. Looking about the plane, Ellie hoped some tall and strong good Samaritan might notice her distress and be willing to help. But with no such luck, she had to rely on her remaining willpower and ingenuity to shove the suitcase one last time into the crammed compartment. Thankfully, she was at last successful.

  Taking a moment to catch her breath, Ellie observed Charlotte in the row behind as the red-head moved to tap her husband on the shoulder and ask him a question. James was not pleased about the interruption, having already closed his eyes and placed headphones to his ears, and thus ignored Charlotte.

  Never easily discouraged, Charlotte made a second attempt, this time trying to rouse James by lifting the headphone from the ear closest to her.

  Annoyed, James pulled away and looked at Charlotte as if she were crazy. “What is your problem?” he said, rather forcefully.

  Mrs. Jennings, noticing Ellie’s surprise at the disturbing exchange, made an effort to lighten the mood. Leaning over and with a slight chuckle in her voice, she said, “James is in a bad mood this morning.”

  “He’s always in a bad mood,” Charlotte returned with a weak smile. James rolled his eyes. “But I don’t mind,” she quickly added, “he’s just the sort of guy to suit me.” Charlotte laid her head upon James’s shoulder, but James only shrugged her off, forcing her to sit up. Although Charlotte attempted to disguise her hurt, everyone shared her disappointment at the contempt James obviously held for his wife.

  Fortunately for Charlotte, Lucy returned at that moment, stealing everyone’s attention as she came toward them with her carry-on.

  “There you are, dear!” Mrs. Jennings exclaimed, shifting in her seat to get a better view of James’s cousin. Mrs. Jennings had been inquiring into Lucy’s whereabouts for the last ten minutes at least.

  “I had to use the restroom,” Lucy explained the long absence before looking at her seating assignment. “Oh, look!” she patted Ellie on the shoulder, “I have the seat next to you!”

  Forcing a smile, Ellie grumbled inwardly. Things just couldn’t get any worse, could they?

  “Oh, I am so nervous,” Lucy began as the two took their seats, “Just think if Edward is in New York!”

  Nope, Ellie was wrong—things could get worse. Edward—Lucy—New York? The realization threw Ellie for a loop. This was going to be a long flight.

  Taking multiple taxis, the party navigated through the downtown New York City traffic until arriving at the front steps of the Palmers’ flat. Charlotte and James’s “weekend getaway” was five stories high in a chic, upscale building overlooking Central Park—the location was incredible.

  As the party stepped from the vehicles, a uniformed doorman came outside to greet them.

  “Welcome back, Mr. Palmer,” he said, taking charge of their luggage. Noticing the extra guests, the doorman buzzed for back-up and three more men in similar uniforms came out to assist him. Once the luggage was on the move and the taxis fare paid, the first doorman led them inside the building to the elevator, taking them to the fifth floor. Announcing that their bags would be delivered shortly, the doorman accepted James’s tip before leaving. James then proceeded to unlock the door and enter the flat, disappearing into his office as the ladies slowly stepped inside the entry.

  “Home sweet home!” Charlotte said from behind them. Putting her purse down, she gestured to the plush surroundings. The apartment was decorated with art from various phases, but mostly deco, and was adorned with
large wall-length mirrors, making it a picture perfect example of a modern-themed flat. “Would you girls like to see your rooms?” Charlotte’s eager smile offered a foretaste of the sophistication they were about to find.

  Ellie’s room was decorated in gold tones, channeling an old English elegance. But best of all, it housed a four poster bed and had a plush window seat—two things Ellie loved most in a bedroom. Marianne’s, on the other hand, was colorful with shades of purple, red and green. Her room encompassed more of a free spirit vibe with its bohemian bed and colorful artwork. Although it suited the Marianne of the past, it didn’t quite seem to match the subdued and quiet Marianne of the present. Nonetheless, both girls were very happy with the rooms the hospitable Charlotte had selected for them.

  Later, after some Chinese takeout for dinner, a cozy bed seemed like the most pleasant option for the house guests, tired from the long flight and unpacking. Before heading to her bedroom after brushing her teeth, Ellie decided to check on Marianne. Knocking quietly on her sister’s door, just in case she was already asleep, Ellie waited for a reply.

  “Come in,” Marianne answered from within and Ellie opened the door but didn’t step inside.

  “I just wanted to say goodnight,” Ellie said, taking in the sight of her sister composing an email on the room’s iMac, not bothering to look up.

  “Goodnight,” Marianne finally responded.

  Ellie was just about to resign herself to the meaningless goodbye but remembered something she was supposed to impart to her sister. “Oh, I almost forgot,” Ellie began again, “John called, and he and Francil are in New York. Mrs. Jennings is planning a lunch date for all of us to spend some time with them.”