“Thanks, Will,” Elizabeth said, giving him a smile. He kissed the top of her head.
“Feeling human again?”
“Mmm,” she hummed. “Almost.”
Will noticed Georgiana’s expression turn thoughtful as she gazed first at Elizabeth and then himself. He lifted his eyebrows to encourage her question, but she pursed her lips and remained silent. He wondered if she was uncomfortable having Elizabeth stay with them, but she hadn’t batted an eye at her presence when she’d returned from Uncle Terry’s on Thanksgiving evening, Richard in tow. He didn’t want to think too deeply about why that was, but he was realistic. She was in college now and had a much older boyfriend. Don’t think about that now. Richard’s working on it.
Oscar had insisted she start taking birth control pills before leaving for university, even took her to the gynecologist himself. It was a conversation Will knew was important. He’d been blunt with his sister, and Oscar had thankfully approached her with more finesse. She’d been fed all sorts of misinformation that they had worked to dispel. No, Will told himself, it was unlikely that her discomfort stemmed from his love life. Then what?
His musings were interrupted by Georgiana declaring that it was time to leave and Elizabeth hauling herself out of her chair. He agreed to walk the two of them to the phone store, though he’d drop them off and return to escort them home. Elizabeth had shot him an envious look, and he’d sent one back that clearly said I love you, but there’s no need for both of us to suffer. The store was halfway between the apartment and the office, and he could just duck in to work to organize himself for the coming week.
“Oh,” he blurted out as they strolled along the park, “I nearly forgot. There’s a Seeds of Peace fundraising dinner next Friday.” He took Elizabeth’s hand. “Are you free?”
“Oh,” Georgiana clasped her hands together. “That’s a good one, Elizabeth. The kids all come. You should definitely go as Will’s date. We could even shop for a dress tomorrow.”
Elizabeth cocked her head at Georgiana. “Actually,” she said slowly, “my sister has been making a dress for me. I kind of promised to wear it somewhere it might wind up in the paper.” She turned to Will. “Would it? What’s the charity for?”
Will grinned. “Leave it to you to check out the organization’s credentials before agreeing to go out with me,” he teased. “Would I lead you astray?”
She elbowed him and repeated her question.
“Okay, okay,” he capitulated. “Yes, there will be photographers from the society page.” He smiled at her. “The charity gets kids from political hotspots together so they can become friends, hopefully, away from all the strife. Like kids from Israel and other parts of the middle east, or Indians and Pakistanis. The charity is run out of the city, but the camp is in Maine, so my folks thought it was a way to help both of our communities.”
“Oh . . . so they go to summer camp together?” asked Elizabeth, wrinkling her forehead.
“Yep,” Georgiana chimed in. “But you really shouldn’t go in a homemade dress,” she added. Will was ready to chastise her, but Elizabeth spoke first.
“You haven’t seen my sister’s dresses, Georgiana,” she replied kindly but definitively, before turning to Will. “Okay,” she responded with a nod. “I’m in. I’ll make my first call to Kit, presuming I ever get a new phone.”
At the store, Will gave them both a wink and watched them walk inside before striding off for FORGE.
Elizabeth and Georgiana found themselves third in line, and they settled in to wait for their turn.
“Does your sister have her own fashion line?” Georgiana asked curiously.
“She will,” Elizabeth said confidently. She’d seen several of Kit’s latest projects; thrilled that Elizabeth had shown an interest, Kit kept sending her photo updates. She was working feverishly this year so she’d have lots of designs for her portfolio no matter which school admitted her, using the money she’d saved from her summer job to buy fabric. “She’s very good. I like Old Hollywood, so that’s the kind of dress she says she’s making for me. She hasn’t let me see it yet.” She automatically reached for her pocket, but sighed, exasperated. “I’ll show you some of her stuff when I get my photos back.”
“Oh, that’s cool,” Georgiana breathed. “I would like that.” She sat quietly for a minute before saying, “It sounds like you’re all super successful.”
Elizabeth laughed cheerfully. “Potential. We’re rich with potential.” She began ticking each Bennet girl off on her fingers. “Jane has a DNP, which is like a PhD in nursing, but she’s still working on some certifications; I’m just starting out in cyber-security; Mary’s in business law but still in college; Kit is applying to the Rhode Island School of Design, which is incredibly selective and expensive; and Lydia—well, I’m not sure what she’ll wind up doing.” Elizabeth thought about her youngest sister, then said, “She’s a diva. Probably end up going into acting or something and working as a waitress on the side.”
Georgiana sighed. “I don’t know what I want to do. I love music and I play the piano, but I’m not good enough to play professionally.”
“Says who?” asked Elizabeth.
“Says me,” replied Georgiana, pink suffusing her cheeks. “I’m good, but I’m realistic. It’s the difference between playing baseball in college and playing baseball in the major leagues, you know?”
Elizabeth nodded. “I played varsity soccer in high school, but I’d never make the national team. I get it.”
Georgiana smiled. “I’m taking a business class this term, and it’s okay. But it doesn’t exactly make my heart sing, if I’m truthful. Juraj says . . .” She stumbled over the name and stopped.
“Juraj says . . .” Elizabeth prompted in a friendly voice.
“Well, he says I’m lucky, that I don’t have to do anything. I can just live off my investments if I want.” She frowned. “I agreed at first, but I want to work at something I love, like Will does.”
Elizabeth nodded, “I really admire your brother for finding something that interested him, then going for it.” She paused. “Maybe you can do something else with music? Teach? Represent artists?”
At that point, their number was called, and the subject was dropped. Elizabeth watched, amused, as Georgiana listened to her requirements, laid out five phones almost immediately, and then began to extol the benefits and drawbacks of each. The salesman stood to the side, only too happy to watch a pretty young woman to do his work.
They’d narrowed the choice to the final two, a thin but rugged military-grade phone favored by Elizabeth, and a much thinner, very sleek phone that Georgiana preferred. They both had everything Elizabeth needed and dozens of things she didn’t. As they were discussing the two, Georgiana seemed to catch something out of the corner of her eye and startled. Elizabeth, instantly on alert, stepped in front of the girl just as a blur of faux fur and genuine pearls collided with her, nearly causing her to lose her balance.
“Oh!” came a smooth, astonished voice connected to an impeccably dressed woman. As she lowered her comically outstretched arms, she asked, with venom, “Whatever are you doing?” She tried to push Elizabeth to the side to get to Georgiana, who held a hand to her mouth, trying to contain a giggle. Elizabeth stood firm.
“Georgiana,” cooed the woman, straightening her skirt and stepping back, “please tell your bodyguard that I am a family friend.” She patted her hair.
Bodyguard, thought Elizabeth proudly. I kind of like that.
“She’s not my bodyguard, Ms. Bingley,” replied Georgiana with a haughtiness Elizabeth immediately recognized from Will. “She’s my brother’s girlfriend. Elizabeth, this is Ms. Bingley, Charles Bingley’s sister.”
“Caroline, darling,” the woman crooned, ignoring the fact that Georgiana had not claimed her as a friend.
This is Caroline Bingley? Elizabeth evaluated the woman. Black and white designer dress, a single strand of pearls, red stiletto heels, red clutch, fur muff and
a gray fur hat that might pass as Russian were it not for the long black feather that rose from its brim. Like an ostrich on stilts, she thought, delighted with the picture. Is it possible the brother is the normal one in the family?
Elizabeth had trusted Will when he said he would never consider dating Caroline Bingley. Now it was evident she’d been wrong even to worry. There didn’t appear to be a single genuine thing about Caroline Bingley, and Will had dealt with enough pretenders to last him a lifetime. She felt a little sad for him.
“Ms. Bingley,” was all she said. Georgiana was silent.
“You’re the one that’s been in the papers?” Caroline asked, her voice suddenly steely. She gave Elizabeth a disdainful once-over. “I thought you’d be thinner.”
Elizabeth laughed. “I thought the camera was supposed to put weight on me, not take it off. Sorry to disappoint.”
Caroline Bingley frowned and turned to Georgiana. “I was just passing by when I spied you in here,” she purred, “and I wanted to ask whether you are planning to attend the Seeds of Peace dinner next Friday?”
Elizabeth couldn’t help but ask, “Oh, what does the charity do?”
“I don’t know,” replied Caroline dismissively, waving a gloved hand. “Some micro-farming thing, I think.”
Elizabeth pressed her lips together and nodded sagely at Georgiana.
“I won’t be there,” Georgiana said slowly, as though she feared the woman would not understand her words. Elizabeth could hear her fighting for control, but Caroline didn’t seem to notice. “I’ll be back in California then.” She shot a look at Elizabeth. “But my brother plans to attend.”
Caroline’s face lit up, and Elizabeth bit the inside of her cheek and maintained a passive demeanor. Clearly this ridiculous woman now had the information she had hoped to learn. Should I tell her I’ll be there as well?
She never had the chance, as the woman was already wishing Georgiana a safe trip back to school and voicing hopes that they’d all see each other at the FORGE Christmas party, leaving Elizabeth to wonder whether the woman ever spoke with her brother. By the time she had finished that thought, she realized Caroline Bingley was already passing through the front door, terribly late for her appointment . . . somewhere.
Georgiana began to giggle. There were tears leaking from G’s eyes as she made several vain attempts to rein in her mirth. Elizabeth took pity on the salesman and pointed to the military-grade phone. He scooped up the display phone and disappeared in the back of the shop to grab her new one.
“Poor Will,” was all Elizabeth said.
Chapter Fourteen
Richard waited until the voices upstairs faded and the front door closed before picking up his phone and tapping in Ed Gardiner’s number. The phone rang a few times before he heard a gruff voice on the other end of the line.
“Is this Ed Gardiner?” he asked.
“Speaking,” the voice replied.
“Richard Fitzwilliam. Will said he’d spoken with you?” He perched on the end of his bed.
“Ah,” came the voice again, clear and commanding. “I believe we have some work to do.”
Richard grinned. “I believe we do. Will you be home this afternoon?”
“Anytime, son. Just come on over.” He gave Richard the address, and they ended the call. Richard was looking forward to meeting Ed Gardiner. He wasn’t only Elizabeth’s uncle; he was Jane’s, too. At least he could think of her as Jane.
Will had offered him the Audi, which would be fun, but the Will he’d grown up with would have purchased something sleek and impractical and incredibly fast. Richard grimaced. His cousin had become an old man after his parents’ accident. He was so far away it had taken time for Richard to discover all the changes in his younger cousin. Will had sold his beloved Indian Scout motorcycle. He’d started dressing in dark suits to attend the meetings at Darcy Acquisitions and held on to the habit at FORGE. After the first year, he’d ventured out to volunteering, taking on some of his parents’ causes and adding some of his own. He’d stopped going out on the weekends, even when Richard’s mother had offered to have G stay over. It wasn’t a surprise that he barely dated at all.
Elizabeth had brought a bit of the old Will back, which was a welcome change. Still, there were some things that wouldn’t be, couldn’t be restored. Too much time had gone by—he knew better than anyone the changes that could be wrought between twenty-three and twenty-eight. God, he realized, Will’s coming up on twenty-nine in January. We’re all getting old.
As soon as he was settled in at FORGE and his own place, Richard had plans to go shopping for a sports car of his own. Maybe the good doctor will want to come along to help me choose one, he thought with a chuckle as he recalled their dizzying ride to the hospital. Of course, he wouldn’t be leaving Will’s Central Park apartment until they’d figured out who had breached its security and why. Will would bristle at the notion that he couldn’t handle such a thing himself, so Richard planned to just ask to stay while he dragged his feet finding his own place.
Things at home were certainly more complicated than he had imagined, but there were also reasons for optimism. He’d won the first battle against Elizabeth; she had a smart, lovely, intriguingly complex sister; and he was about to run some baby Marines into the ground. And I was worried about being bored.
By the time Elizabeth finished paying for the phone and dodging a multitude of upgrade offers, Will was walking into the store. She watched him search for them in the crowd and smiled when his eyes landed on her. He’s mine, she thought, still a little shocked by her good fortune.
“Excellent timing,” she said happily, finished signing in to her more important apps.
“I called him,” Georgiana replied slyly. “Otherwise he’d still be going through his schedule and completely oblivious to the rest of the world.”
Will shook his head at her. “I’ll have you know I was already in the lobby on the way back. I figured you’d had enough time to do some damage.” He turned to Elizabeth. “Did you get what you wanted?”
Not yet. “Georgiana’s a little distressed because I chose function over form,” she teased, “but yes.”
Georgiana took a little slap at Elizabeth’s arm. “I thought the last two were both good. Don’t even try to stir things up.” She checked her phone. “Who’s . . . oh, did you send me a song?”
“Stirring things is not my job, Ms. Darcy,” replied Elizabeth, pretending offense and slipping her new phone into a pocket. “I’m just a bodyguard meant to protect you from your adoring public. After all, a trip to the phone store can be perilous.” Although Caroline Bingley was delightfully bizarre.
Georgiana giggled. “You sent me a song from Thin Lizzy.” She shook her head. “Let’s get some lunch,” she said to Will, “and we’ll tell you what happened. It was hilarious.”
Will’s eyebrows pinched together, and he glanced over at Elizabeth. “I can’t leave you alone for a second,” he told her, only half-joking.
“Well, you’ll be glad you weren’t with us for this one,” his sister broke in. “We saw Caroline Bingley doing her best Cruella de Vil impression. All she needed was some puppies to chase.”
“She wouldn’t have been able to chase anything in those heels,” muttered Elizabeth. Whoops. Did I say that out loud?
Georgiana snorted. “Guess who she asked after?”
Will couldn’t control his surprise. “Caroline Bingley?” he asked. “What could she possibly want now?”
Elizabeth shrugged. “I don’t think she’s deterred by your disapproval, and I don’t think her brother’s told her yet.”
Georgiana looked first at Elizabeth, then Will as they strolled along the sidewalk and took a right turn at the corner. “Told her what?”
Will looked troubled, his lips twisted downward. Elizabeth Bennet, she chastised herself. You really have to learn when to shut up. They reached the café Will had mentioned, and as he reached for the door handle, he asked his sister to wait un
til they were seated.
After the three had settled into their chairs, Will took a breath. “G,” he said seriously, “Charles has resigned from FORGE.”
At this news, Georgiana appeared shocked. “Why?” she insisted. “You’re such good friends!”
“He wrote in his letter that he wanted to go back to school to earn his MBA,” Will said softly. Elizabeth opened her napkin and spread it on her lap.
“You don’t believe that,” Georgiana said disbelievingly. She glanced over at Elizabeth. “Did he say anything to you?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “I’ve only met him twice. I don’t really know him well at all.”
Georgiana narrowed her eyes. “Well, I guess I’m surprised. I thought he’d want to buy in like we all did. Although there’s no C in FORGE,” she said quietly. “I’m sorry he left, Will.”
Elizabeth cleared her throat. “I was wondering about that,” she remarked. “There’s Georgiana, Oscar, and Richard, but who’s the F and the E? And where’s the W?”
Georgiana’s eyes sparkled. “Yes, Will, tell her what the F stands for.”
Will glared at his sister and then said, “It stands for Fitzwilliam, which is my full name.”
Elizabeth’s eyes lit up. “Your first name is the same as Richard’s last name? Whose idea was that, your mom’s?”
Will shrugged. “My grandfather Fitzwilliam’s, I think. But mostly it was important to my great-aunt Catherine.”
When they’d stuffed themselves and the bill finally came, the waitress handed it directly to Elizabeth. Will protested, but she shook her head at him. “It’s my treat to say thanks to Georgiana for her help this morning,” she announced lightly. “Back off, Darcy.” She turned to G. “I’ll send you my bill for bodyguard services later. I’m sure we can work something out.”
Adapt Page 15
