The Tale of Two Cities and an Old Building

Once a storm has seized, the dust settles and the calm begins once more.  It marks new beginnings, a world of possibility.

Recently, my best friend Lizzy answered my invitation and came to pay me a visit.  I got to share with her my dreams, show her my accomplishments.

As the lady of the apartment, I am in charge of its daily upkeep.  Since we are not wealthy, I do my own housework.  While this would bother many, you won’t hear a complaint from me.  All the chores I do now are no different than those I did back home, the only thing that changed was the number of people I have to look over; when I lived with my parents, I was in charge of controlling and maintaining six siblings.  Being used to doing a lot of work in little

time, I often have leisure time like most of the ladies in high society.

During these moments to myself, I find myself walking along the garden on our terrace.  I pride myself on my ability to trim and nourish the plants to full bloom.  They are my children.  the exercise I get from doing these activities far exceed the workout I’d receive at a gym.

Sometimes when I’m on these walks, my landlord, the horrible mistress to the Bloomingdale’s fortune joins me if she has no other company.  I don’t mind this at all.  She is very generous and respectable; more often than not she waives our rent in lieu of Mr. Collin’s managing her properties and doing her taxes.  As another reward, she invited us over to her penthouse suite on average twice a week, where she has her private chef cook for us.  The food is exquisite!

While there isn’t much to praise, there isn’t much to complain about.  I think that after seeing my life, Elizabeth regrets not accepting Mr. Collins.  Oh well, it is her loss.

Lately we’ve been getting along better and better.  Maybe this won’t be a loveless marriage after all.

Have your choices ever surprised you?  I know mine have.

A Short Letter

The days after a wedding should be as joyous as the days leading up to the event.  For me, it seemed as if a funeral of a hated criminal took place, both the days prior and after were of no importance to anyone.  The Bennets are still hostile and I feel that they’ve turned the whole town against me.  Luckily I don’t live in that dreadful town anymore, I’ve moved to the Upper West Side now.

I can no longer stand Mrs. Bennet’s dead stares.

Since she hates me, I decided to write her an email to settle the feud between the families.  Below is the draft:

Dear Mrs. Bennet,

It has come to my attention that you feel betrayed by my family and I.  However, I beg that you do not put such judgmental thoughts into your head without hearing my side of the story first.  For years our families have lived in harmony, just a few blocks away.  We’ve attended the same galas, dinners and gossiped in our living rooms for hours.

You and I both know that although my family has corporate connections, we do not have a vast fortune attached to our name; it’s a point, I must add, you’ve told all the eligible bachelors in the city so that they’d sway towards your own daughters and wouldn’t give me the time of day.

Maybe you’ve forgotten that your daughters weren’t the only debutantes in the Upper East Side.

However, despite you viewing me in an ill light for my entire light I am not bitter.  I’ve gotten everything I’ve ever wanted in life.  In fact you should be kissing my feet, Jane nor Lizzy wanted Collins.  At least now we know your husband’s trust will stay with someone within close proximity.  

I say it’s about time to start making amends, for your and your daughter’s sake.

-Charlotte

However, I couldn’t hold the stomach to send it to her.  I felt that even if I did so, it wouldn’t have mattered.  She’d always think I stole Mr. Collins from her daughter, Mary.

The other day I also wrote Lizzy an email, asking her to come visit me.  Hopefully she replies soon and comes.  Although I don’t miss her family, I do miss having a best friend to confide in.

What should I do to make peace?  Is it even worth it anymore?

The Dirty Deed

The day a friend betrays another is a day that will last in infamy.  Yesterday, that day came for me.  It was the day that the fruits of my labor paid off.

Mr. Collins came and proposed!

Since I have my wits (I seem to be the only one on the Upper East Side who is sensible) I hastily accepted.  There is no way I would let that moment, that man, slip from my fingertips.

As soon as the deed was done, my entire family rejoiced.  From that day forward, my brothers would not have to take care of me if my father died.  I was independent and had a sustainable future within my grasp. There is nothing, NOTHING a sensible girl of little fortune could ask more for.

I’m officially set for life.

However, the Bennets were not to thrilled of the engagement.  After telling Elizabeth and having her act all disappointed me, we sent my father to do the deed and tell everyone of the wonderful news.  At first the Bennets thought it was a joke, until Lizzy verified the information.

I guess the day and event will go down in infamy.  Lizzy rarely speaks to be and feels as if I’m making the biggest mistake in my life.  Doesn’t she realize I don’t share her same views on love?  My time is ticking, I don’t have much longer before the possibility of me marrying goes from 5 percent to impossible.

Yet, none of the Bennets choose to see it my way, especially Mrs. Bennet.

Right now I guess it doesn't really matter, only time will truly tell the damage that has been done to our families’ relationship.

Do I deserve it the cold treatment or was I sensible in my actions?

I just want stability.  Now I have it.  

Is that so wrong?

Lightning Has Struck

When a man is turned down during a proposal, it’s only just that he looks elsewhere for a wife.

The night that I visited Lizzy’s house and found out about the disaster, I spent a majority of my time talking to Mr. Collins while Elizabeth and her mother battled in the library.  While talking to him isn’t the most enjoyable thing in the world, I do notice that he enjoys having someone listen to his rambles.  

It was when Lizzy thank me for keeping her cousin occupied that I got a brilliant idea.  If the Bennets wanted to be foolish and let him go, then that’s their fault, but I will not make the same mistake.  Since I am already past my marriageable age, this is my last chance to get everything I ever wanted in life.

I don’t want to live off my parents forever;

I want to manage my own household.

I will not be an OLD MAID.

Tomorrow I begin my quest to win the accountant's hand in marriage.

If you were me, would you take on the challenge?

Wedding Bells are Ringing...Or Are They?

On the Upper East Side, the only joyous event is a marriage.  Even when a proposal is not yet made but the possibilities of it occurring lurk in the air, the community feels a burst of jubilation.

In our society, its improper for a woman or man to be left alone, even if they are courting.  However, if suspicion of a proposal is present, the girls family members try to give the two some privacy.  This is what happened yesterday to Elizabeth Bennet.

Yesterday is also the day I discovered my best friend was crazy.

Mr. Collins proposed to her.

She basically told him that she was flattered but would never marry him.  Ever.

While Mr. Collins is not wealthy, he is an honorable accountant for a fortune 500 company, Macys.  Sure he doesn’t even make quadruple the minimum wage, but he is still wealthy in comparison to other New Yorkers.

A girl married to him would never go hungry or cold.

She is sooooo foolish.  Doesn't she realize that Mr. Collins is a respectable person to marry?

I’m so disappointed in her I can’t even finish this post.

Are You Even A Lady?

In society, there are certain expectations for high standing ladies.  One of them is that a proper lady does not whine.

My friend Elizabeth Bennet does not understand this.

Recently she met a young officer called Wickham during one of her shopping sprees on Park Avenue.  During that same encounter, she saw Mr. Darcy.  While his shyness would usually unconcern her, she told me that an awkward exchange of emotions was passed between the two men.  Mr. Darcy turned white and Wickham red.  The meaning of their coldness stumped her.

Honestly, I couldn't care less.  The two men hate each other, so what?  It’s the Upper East Side for crying out loud, people hate each other and talk behind each other's backs left and right.  It’s just how life is.

But no, Lizzy can’t get the encounter out of her head and considers herself to be madly in love with Wickham!  Psh love, who needs love?  Besides, Darcy is a thousand times more rich and obviously shows an interest in her.  Lately he’s been talking more and more to her and even asked her to dance at the last ball!

THE FOOLISH GIRL tried to decline until I talked her into it.  I understand that her opinions and life are her own, but I don’t want her to end up like me, 27 and unmarried.  I wish she’d start taking my advice for her own good.  All she does is care about the present and love; she never contemplates the future.

Obviously both men have an attraction towards her and she is completely ignoring it.  She even has her cousin Mr. Collin’s attention.

I would kill to have that attention.  Any attention at all really.

Right now no man in interested in me.  Maybe Mr. Collins, we do have pleasant conversations  and a marriage with him wouldn’t be completely unpleasant.  Considering I have no options at the moment, I would jump at the opportunity to marry even a furniture salesman if it means I will have stability.  That way, I would no longer be a burden on my family financially….We have little money as is.

People are already starting to call me an old maid, but I have no options.  Or do I?

A House Call: To love or not to love?

On the Upper East Side, there are few things in the world that matter more than marrying well.  Which is why, when given the opportunity, the lady of each household has the responsibility to marry off each of her daughters well; their ultimate duty is to progress the family name into a higher class through the institution.

My parents have this same mentality.

They view me as a disappointment for not being married and society agrees with them.

I agree with them.

I’m just the old maid at age 27 who can not get a husband.

This morning Mrs. Bennet came over to the Lucas apartment in hopes of rubbing in our faces the possibility of her family gaining prestige in the near future.  My mother cringed with each word, but tried to appear graceful.  She is a lady after all, if only in her mind.

It seems that while I was dancing with Mr. Bingley, his eyes were fixated on Jane Bennet, the eldest Bennet daughter.  Yet, it doesn't bother me.  In fact I’m happy for her, the two are absolutely perfect for each other!  Too bad a union between the two would never occur.

They just come from two different worlds.

I have never heard of a marriage between a wealthy man and a girl half his net worth.  At least, not on the Upper East Side.

So, if she wants to accomplish the impossible, she better work fast.

This was a topic of great discussion between Jane, Elizabeth and I.  Jane has simply disregarded the eldest Bingley’s wealth and only focuses on her attraction to him.  Apparently both she and Elizabeth believe that he returns those feelings of “love”.  While that may be the case, they should realize that its an opportunity of great proportions!

In our society the women rarely impose themselves onto a man; he is always the one to make the first move.  However, if one can catch a man’s attention without even a hint of affection, attraction by the female must be shown at once!  Otherwise, the man will look elsewhere for the woman he is to call his wife.  

Why?

Because men can not read minds!

Yet, Jane and Elizabeth continue to ignore this piece of advice.  Don’t they know love is a game and with that mentality they are sure to lose?

They’ll both live out their days after their father’s death, with no one to provide for them and amongst the help.

Why?  All for love.

I spit upon the word.  

Wealth is a priority, love is just makes marriage more bearable if it happens to fall into our lot in life.

The sooner the Bennet girls learn this, the better off their family would be.

Would you take my Upper East Side advice or simply be ignorant of the realities of life?

Parties, Bodies, and Impressions, Oh My!

In life, first impressions are everything.  As a debutante, the way I present myself to society for the first time, determines the way society will perceive me for the rest of my life.  Considering I come from a family of little wealth, I pride myself over my ability to make a strong positive first impression on those of higher social stature.  

The same could not be said for the Bennets.  I know its my best friend Elizabeth’s family, but the way they all present themselves is distasteful; It’d make any governess cringe!  Well, at least Kitty and Lydia’s actions would do so; the way they act causes everyone to  think they’re foolish and ditzy.  Sadly, it’s not that far from the truth.  I partially blame their mother, who even though has wealth and the breeding of a lady, does not act like one.  She’s so obsessed with marrying off her daughters, that she introduced them in society well before they were ready.  The eldest two daughters, Jane and Lizzy aren’t even courting yet!  The scandal!

Luckily, my mother raised me well, to the best of her ability.  Between her and my father, they taught me how to behave like an heiress of a fortune 500 company, even though I may only be the offspring of a humble stock trader.  They are hoping my socialite talents will attract a man with a fortune, so that I won’t be a burden on them financially any longer.

Recently I had the opportunity to show my social skills at a public gala hosted at the MET.  It was a wonderful evening filled with ravishing designer cocktail dresses and exquisite cuisine prepared by the world’s finest chef.  There was also dancing and fine art along the walls to look at in case a pair needed a rest.

It’s safe to say it was the social event of the season, especially since the son of the late Vice President of Coca Cola attended with his two sisters.  

Since my mother puts it upon herself to be the first person to know every bit of news in the socialite society in order to feel a sense of self-importance, we all knew about his arrival days before when the young Mr. Bingley began moving his belongings into the Trump Palace on 3rd Avenue.  That same day, my mother and father were the first to visit and welcome him to the community.  Upon returning home that evening, she said said Mr. Bingley’s first name was Charles and that he was handsome, friendly and very wealthy.  

Basically, every debutante’s dream.

After meeting him for the first time at the Gala, to Mrs. Bennet, he was the highlight of the event and nothing else in the room mattered.  She acknowledged his handsome features and proper etiquette, but really, it was the dollar signs that caught her attention.  It’s believed that he earns around $300,000 a year due to real estate investments.

Like Mrs. Bennet, I thought in terms of money when I had the honor to dance the first dance with him.  As we swayed across the floor, I hatched a plan to make him mine.  Yet, it was no use.  His eyes kept drifting outward and scanned the room for his next eligible partner.  It didn’t matter that I was of high pedigree or low in comparison to him; he was just like all the others who didn’t find me attractive.

Luckily the young man also brought another eligible bachelor, Mr. Darcy, the son of the late CEO of Amazon.  It’s rumored that he soon will take his father’s place as chair of the board and make over $600,000 a year.  Unlucky for me however, is that he is completely intolerable and everyone at the Gala thought so too.  He’s shy, judgmental and rude.  Yet, I could look past all that for that yearly sum and holiday bonus that could buy me a nice house in the Hamptons for the summer.

Too bad he didn't give me the time of day.  Instead, he spent the night complaining about how the young ladies didn’t meet up to par with his desires in a wife.

Maybe first impressions aren't based on behavior.

Maybe it’s pure physical appearance.

What do you think?

An Introduction

In life, there is only one happiness, money; it’s a universal truth I've been centering my life around for the past twenty seven years. Sadly, not many people in this day and age realize that.  Instead, they view the aphorism as shallow and judge me based on the concept.

But, let them judge.

I’m just trying to be prudent in a world where my peers only care about falling head first into what they call “love”.  

What is love?  Does it truly make us happy?

These are the questions I choose to explore with the creation of this blog.

My name is Charlotte Lucas and I come from a household with seven children, possibly more.  (I stopped counting after child number four)  I also have the unfortunate luck as to be the eldest.  Hence, I’m the one running the house, making sure my siblings stay out of trouble and do their homework, while both my parents run off playing the part of important executive and charitable housewife.  They often try to raise our family’s legacy to more than it actually is.  (That is, if there even is a legacy, my father’s only been to a gala hosted on the Upper East Side once in his life.)

Similarly, they like to pretend we have money, when in reality, we’re not that far above the middle class.  (We don’t even have a maid, forget about a cook!)  The only reason we even have some small glimmer of an appearance in upper class New York is because my father has the luck of knowing one socialite and befriending him. Well that, and the East Side apartment we lived in belonged to a deceased relative I long ago forgot the name of.  It’s grandeur gives off the illusion of wealth,

Whoever they are, bless their soul.

Anyway, back to the subject of me.  I entered society as a debutante long ago.  Sadly, I don’t remember the occasion nor the gentleman I was introduced with.  To some extent, I guess it doesn't matter, he was probably a distant cousin or the son of a social climbing family.  Then again, who am I to judge?  My family is among that very large pool.

I currently do not attend a University, since my family can not afford it.  I often spend my days doing housework or going over my best friend Lizzy’s apartment a few blocks away.  Like me, she’s never had the spotlight set on her from members of the opposite sex.  While most of our peers are out getting married and starting families, we still attend the public galas looking to catch the eye of a young man.

I’d prefer wealthy.  Lizzy prefers love.

While I love her spirit, I do question her senses, but that’s for another post.

For now I leave you with the thought:

Would you prefer infinite love or money?

Personally, I’d choose the latter.