The Promise of Change

Part III

Chapter 1

Sarah woke at dawn in her own bed for the first time in almost two months. It was a beautiful late spring morning, the kind of morning that reminded her why she lived in Florida. At least she would catch the tail end.

The birds already sang, and a gentle breeze stirred the sheers at the open window. She rolled over and grabbed the other pillow, hoping to fall back to sleep, but thoughts of the last few months, and the whirlwind that her life had become, dashed those hopes.

Her dream had become a reality in a big way. The American and the Aristocrat had not only garnered a book deal, but a movie deal.

In homage to the writings of Jane Austen, the novel tells the contemporary story of the beautiful, unmarried twenty-eight year old Amelia Hampton, who spends a year in England to fulfill her late Aunt Millie’s wishes before inheriting her estate, the value of which is unknown to Amelia.

During her stay in England, she meets the handsome and aloof Lord Christen Hare, a member of one of Britain’s noble families and respected member of the House of Lords. In true romantic fashion, the two clash repeatedly.

She sighed, rising from the bed. She was wasting the day, and after all the time away, she had a stack of mail, and various other chores waiting for her.

Her decision to turn down the hospital’s offer disappointed her former co-workers and frustrated Mr. Cheswick, who, despite her protests to the contrary, believed her decision was based on lingering resentment over being second choice in the first place.

He’d get over it, and so would her former co-workers. Maybe the board would be more careful about who they hired next time around, but Sarah argued it should be Kim. By the time they’d hung up, she thought Mr. Cheswick had come around.

Positioned at the breakfast table with a cup of tea and the mound of mail, she sorted through it, creating separate stacks by levels of importance. There was a letter from Lady Clara halfway through the pile. Lady Clara disdained e-mail, insisting that meaningful correspondence be in the form of pen and paper.

She shoved the other mail aside and opened it immediately. It was written shortly after she left, so was probably wondering why she hadn’t responded. She’d do that first thing.


Dear Sarah,


I hope this letter finds you and your loved ones happy and well. Life here is clacking along at its usual measured pace.


Her letter continued on for another page informing her of the goings on at Hawthorne Hall and in Oxford. Sarah skidded to a halt at the top of page two:


I was recently in London visiting a dear friend when I ran into Alex. He spends most of his time there now. It’s a shame that I have to run into my own grandson on the streets of London in order to see him, but he’s been filming on location.


Sarah’s heart stuttered. Though she’d thought about him almost daily over the past nine months, she hadn’t spoken his name, and neither had Ann or Becca.


He is looking very well, but of course, that could just be my bias. He’s finished filming his last movie, and is planning a little holiday for himself. His mother actually invited him along on one of her adventures. I believe they are taking a walking tour of Tuscany. What do you think of that? He asked after you, and of course I told him that as of your last letter, you were in excellent health.


Sarah could hear the insinuation even in her written lines. None of their previous letters broached the subject of Alex. She knew that was difficult for Lady Clara, but she seemed to understand Sarah’s desire not to poke that particular wound.


Write to me soon, my dear. I want to know all your comings and goings. They’re always vastly more interesting than my dull country life.

Yours,

L.C.S.F.


Time had softened the pain to a dull ache, though it had not yet healed the self-inflicted wound. Sarah wasn’t sure it ever would. Sometimes she thought she’d imagined that perfect week, but then the pain would return, and that was not her imagination.

He asked about her, but did he think of her, or was he merely being polite? If he did think of her, was it with loathing, or perhaps worse, indifference? She cringed, reminded of a line from the P&P movie: ‘I cannot bear to think that he is alive in the world and thinking ill of me.’

Shaking off the gloomy thoughts, she retrieved stationary from her office.


Dear Clara,

I apologize for the delay in responding to your letter. When you read this, you will understand why it has taken me so long to write. I have so much to tell, that I don’t know where to begin.

I just returned last night from California, where I met with the director for the movie based on my book. Can you believe it? It’s true! Someone is actually making it into a movie!

My literary agent and dear friend, Samantha Bethancourt, is a genius! She took the manuscript to another friend and agent at the same time it was accepted for publication, rather than waiting for its release. Her friend apparently had a client who is always looking for adaptable novels. The client loved it, and bought the option right away. Things moved quickly after that. The screenplay was drafted, a studio accepted it, and now we’re off and running.

I’ve spent the last two months with the director, screenwriter, and pre-production team reviewing the screenplay, looking at the storyboards, set designs, and locations photographs. I leave for London in six weeks, after another two to three weeks in California, to begin production. I’ll be in London for a time, and then we’ll be filming in Oxfordshire, and I would dearly love to see you.

I would have to kill a few trees to tell you the whole incredible story, so I’ll save it until we’re together. I have to run. Becca and Ann are throwing a party for me tonight to celebrate.

Sarah read over the letter. Maybe she should say something about Alex. Lady Clara will think it odd if she completely ignores it.

I’m glad to hear that Alex is well, and that he and his mother are going to spend some quality time together.

Although slightly lame, that should do it. She finished the letter by adding her arrival date and a promise to call her after she knew her schedule.