“Is Darcy still Darcy?”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, hard-nosed, demanding, doing that tortured-soul bit?” he glowered in a startlingly accurate imitation of Darcy.
Elizabeth burst out laughing. “I’ll take that as a yes,” George grinned. “Have they been difficult to work with?” he asked when Elizabeth stopped laughing.
“No, not at all.” She continued, “I mean, they have their bad-boy image, but actually they’re very nice and professional.”
George looked away doubtfully. “I heard Richard got cleaned up.”
“Oh yeah, there’s almost no drinking at all on the tour.”
“That’s good,” George sounded relieved. “Richard was always such a player, you know? I worried about him.”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “He’s still a player, he just doesn’t drink.” She frowned. “He has a different girl almost every night. We call them his flavors.”
He snorted. “That’s nothing new. Frankly I’m surprised he’s the only one sleeping around.”
“Well, Charles has hooked up with Jane,” Elizabeth indicated her sister, sitting with Charlotte nearby.
George nodded. “I’ve never met Charles, but I’ve heard he’s very nice.”
Elizabeth realized that Charles must have replaced George. “He’s great. Everyone loves him.”
“What about old Darcy? Who is he seeing?”
Elizabeth felt her cheeks turning red. “Um, I don’t think he is seeing anyone right now.”
“Oh,” George said indifferently. “Is he a friend of yours?”
“No, not really,” she said quickly. “I mean we are friendly on the tour and all, but it’s not like we are close.”
George studied her coldly for a moment and then nodded. “That’s probably a good thing, you know, Lizzy?”
Elizabeth wasn’t exactly sure what he meant but nodded along with him.
“Well, we have a couple of hours to kill until the sun goes down and we set up for the night shots. Why don’t you and Charlotte and Jan go take a nice long break in your trailer? Debbie will walk you over.” George nodded at the smiling production assistant, winked at Elizabeth, and left.
The women went to their trailer and enjoyed the wonders of air conditioning. While they were there, Elizabeth told the others about George’s conversation.
“He sounds very nice,” Jane said.
“He is. He’s charming, actually,” she grinned, “and he’s so easygoing and real.”
Charlotte and Jane shared a look. “Did you ask him why he left Slurry?” Jane asked.
“No, it’s kind of uncomfortable, like asking a divorced couple why they broke up.” She wrinkled her nose and then brightened. “But I like him, and I think he’s doing a great job on the video.”
“I thought you liked Darcy?” Charlotte asked impudently.
“I do,” she said uncertainly. “But I can like two men, can’t I? It’s not like they’re mutually exclusive.”
They were interrupted by a knock at the door. “Can I come in?” George’s voice called to them.
“Sure!” Lizzy yelled back.
George entered the trailer and smiled at the girls. “Lizzy, you’re going to hate me,” he said lightly. “I know I promised you a couple hours’ break, but the sun is starting to set and it looks like we are going to have some great light for shooting. The DP wants to take advantage of the magic hour.” He looked at her pleadingly. “I know it means we’ll have to run like hell, but would you mind terribly if I dragged you back in front of the camera?”
Elizabeth grinned. “Of course not, George. What would you like me to do?”
“Marry me?” he joked. “Debbie is here to run you over to wardrobe. I want you to get into that leather outfit. You don’t need a full makeup job, ’cause I just want to shoot some long shots, okay?”
Elizabeth agreed and followed him out of the trailer. “Thanks, Lizzy,” he said, planting a kiss on her cheek, “you’re beautiful.”
Elizabeth spent a half hour in the pearly, shadowless light, dancing, playing, and strutting on the track. The warm light flattered her face and hair. Finally, George called it quits when the light had faded too much. He walked up to Lizzy and gave her a big hug. “You’re so talented. Have I told you that?” he asked lightly.
Elizabeth smiled back. “Thanks. Have you done a lot of videos?”
George led them to a pair of chairs and sat down with her. A moment later a production assistant arrived with a pair of bottled waters. “Oh yeah, De Bourgh keeps me on their ready list, so I have as much work as I need.”
“You don’t work for De Bourgh?”
“No,” he frowned, “I work for myself. I get a contract for each job. That’s pretty standard.” Elizabeth nodded. “Besides,” he continued, “I wouldn’t work for that Gorgon again.”
Elizabeth had heard Lady Catherine called that enough times she wondered if it was on her business card. “So, you direct full time now?”
“Yep,” he smiled his even white teeth at her. “It’s not what I originally had in mind, but it pays the bills.”
“Do directors make a lot?” George laughed, a warm, ringing sound. “I’m sorry,” Elizabeth blushed, “I really just didn’t know.”
George looked at her. He had stopped laughing, but his eyes still twinkled with amusement. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have laughed. No, I mean, don’t get me wrong, I make enough, but not nearly as much as the artists I’m usually filming.” He smiled. “I think that’s where they get off acting like such babies.”
“They forget you’re an artist too,” she said thoughtfully.
“I try to be, but this is sometimes not the easiest medium. I have to work quickly, with a lot of people, and that makes it hard to stay focused on creating something you are proud of.”
“Do you miss singing?” she asked.
George gave a look of resigned indifference. “Well, that’s a tough one. I mean I miss the fans. I miss getting to interact with my audience each night. But I don’t miss the long hours on the tour bus and the constant waiting and the haughty attitudes. At least here, I get to call all the shots.” He grinned wryly. “Something I never got to do with old Darcy.” He looked at her warmly. “But let’s not talk about him. We’ve got to set up for your night shoot.”
The night shoot consisted first of Elizabeth singing in a tight close-up on her face. George had been careful to cast electric blue lights on her to pick up her lipstick and eye shadow. “Lizzy, you’ve got a wonderfully expressive face; now let me see it!” George cajoled.
Elizabeth had trouble getting into her performance. She felt awkward with the camera right in her face and the whole crew pressed up so closely to her. As George encouraged her to be more natural and easy, she instead felt more rigid and uncomfortable. Finally Charlotte walked over to her between takes and whispered in her ear, “Sing to Darcy.”
Elizabeth looked at her puzzled, but before she could ask for a clarification, they called for another take. Having nothing better to do, she thought about him, not the kind man she had enjoyed dinner with, but the arrogant rock star she had first met. The man she was going to teach a few things to. She grinned as a sense of power came over her as she sang sexily into the camera. Oh yeah, Mr. Bad-boy wanted her, and as long as he did, she had the balls in this relationship.
With a cocky, coy smile she sang along with the playback while George howled his approval. “Perfect! Oh my God! Lizzy! You’re making me crazy!” Elizabeth just lifted a knowing eyebrow at him. He was another man who wanted her. She relished the power she had over them.
After several takes of just Lizzy, George brought in the others and the band played together in the blue light. After what felt like hours, George called it a wrap for the night to everyone’s relief.
Elizabeth was spent as she climbed into the limo for the ride to the hotel, but she was surprised to see George was still energetic. “You gotta know how to pace yourself,”
he told her with a laugh.
***
Charles answered the cell phone resting on his chest on the first ring. “Jane?”
“Hi,” the voice he loved the most smiled over the airwaves to him. “How are you doing?”
“Better now,” he told her. “How was the shoot?”
“Truthfully? Very boring. The director spent most of the day shooting Lizzy. Char and I mostly sat around and waited, but my tan improved,” she added lightly. “We just got to the hotel for the night.”
“Long day,” he murmured sympathetically.
“Yeah, we had to do a night shoot,” Jane yawned.
“Sounds interesting.”
“It wasn’t,” then she giggled, “except for Lizzy.” She sighed then. “I love the sound of your voice.”
Charles grinned widely. It was still rare for Jane to talk about her feelings and even rarer for her to say the “love” word. “I love all of you, baby. I’m missing you.”
Jane nodded. “I’m missing you, too. Silly, isn’t it?”
“I know, sweetheart. It’s just for one more night, then I promise I’ll make it all up to you, okay?”
“Okay, don’t go yet,” she said quickly, unwilling to end the call. “Tell me what you did today; let me listen to you.”
Charles smiled and told her in great detail about spending the day with Darcy, Jet Skiing then having dinner.
“That sounds nice. I’m glad you had a good day off. Richard didn’t join you?”
“No,” he said, his voice expressing his unspoken concerns. “He spent all day with an old flame. I don’t think they even left his room.” He frowned. “Don’t tell Charlotte that.”
“Oh, I won’t.”
“How is she doing?”
“She’s okay, not great. I think it’s helping her to be away from… you know. It’s been kinda nice, with Lizzy doing all the work and spending so much time with George, I’ve had a chance to spend some time with her.”
“George?” he asked. “Does Will have some competition?”
Jane laughed, a melodic twinkle. “No, I very much doubt that. Lizzy is hooked; she just doesn’t know it yet. George is our director, and while he’s very interested in Lizzy, I don’t think she shares it.”
“Poor guy,” Charles said teasingly. “As long as he’s not looking at you, pretty Jane.”
“You mean Joan, or Jan, or any other variants on my name he called me today,” Jane laughed. “I don’t think he even saw me, Charles.”
“That’s strange.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m taken,” she said, her voice warming slightly, “and it’s nice for Lizzy to get the attention for once. I know she feels like an ugly duckling sometimes.”
“Oh, that’s crazy. She’s not as beautiful as you, but she is a very attractive woman.”
“Yeah, but you must know how she feels. You’re always playing second fiddle to Will in the sex appeal department.”
“Baby, the only woman whose opinion matters thinks I’m the sexiest man alive, so I don’t really care,” he said in a low growl.
“Oh, you are,” she replied with a low and sexy purr, her sister and any other topic of conversation forgotten.
***
Elizabeth walked down the hotel hallway back to her room, her dry towel over her shoulder. “Hey,” a familiar voice called out to her, “what are you doing?”
“Oh,” she turned and smiled at George, “I usually swim when we stay at hotels, but I forgot the pool wouldn’t be open at this hour.”
George checked his watch. It was 12:30 a.m. “This must be about the time you get in from your shows. How are the hotel pools open for you then?”
“Will has them stay open for us.” She found herself blushing but didn’t know why.
“Oh?” George said, lifting an eyebrow. “So you two are pool buddies?”
“Yeah,” she said uneasily. “What are you doing up at this hour? I thought you would be bushed.”
“I was just getting some ice.” He held up the bucket. “Want to come to my room for a drink, since you didn’t get your swim?”
“Sure,” she answered easily. She followed him into his room and sat down. A moment later he presented her with a glass of white wine and joined her on the couch.
“I’m getting the feeling that you and my old friend are more than just tour mates,” he said lightly.
Elizabeth took a sip and smiled. “Well, this is my first tour, so I can’t say for sure if we are behaving in a manner that would be unusual for tour mates,” she answered, smiling at her cleverness.
“Okay, good point.” He grinned and took a sip from his own glass. “How would you describe your relationship?” he asked.
“I told you before, we’re friendly. Why are you so curious?” she evaded answering the question.
“Oh, Darcy was an old, old friend of mine. Our fathers used to work together and we grew up together. It’s just idle curiosity,” he said, dismissing the question.
“You said was an old friend. I take it something happened?” she asked as she took another sip.
“Ah, well, yeah,” he said slowly. “Darcy and I had a falling-out a few years back.”
“Oh,” Elizabeth said, wanting to know more but unwilling to be rude. George didn’t say anything more, so she felt the burden of the conversation fall back on her. “I really don’t know too much about him.” She put her elbow on the back of the couch and rested her head in her hand. “I thought we were getting closer, but then something happened to his sister last week, and he’s been kind of cold ever since.”
George’s eyes darkened. “Is Georgiana okay?” he asked with evident concern.
“Oh, of course you would know her,” Elizabeth realized out loud. “Yes, she’s fine. She just went missing for a couple of hours and Darcy panicked a bit, I guess you could say. But she was just out with some girlfriends.”
George downed his glass, and then he silently got up and refilled it. Elizabeth watched him stare down at his drink for a long minute, until he looked up at her and grinned apologetically. “Sorry. Georgie was always very dear to me. Do you know anything more about her?”
“Not at all,” she replied, sorry she couldn’t tell him more. “Why don’t you just call her?”
George smiled bitterly. “I don’t think that would be a good idea,” he replied as he sat back down beside Elizabeth. “Georgie was the reason Darcy and I had the falling-out.”
“Oh!” Elizabeth said, her eyes wide. “What happened?” she asked before she could stop herself. She bit her lip and looked away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
“No, it’s okay.” George said warmly, placing a hand over hers, which was sitting on her lap. “If you want, I’ll tell you my sad story.”
“Is it very sad?”
“Yeah, it is.” He grinned bitterly. “But, Lizzy dear, if you are getting involved with Will Darcy, you ought to hear it.”
“I’m not involved with him,” she objected.
“Yet,” he firmly added. “I know Darcy. He gets what he wants, and if he wants you, he will get you.”
Elizabeth looked at him, an expression of unease over her face. “Just listen to the story; that’s all I ask.” He pulled her closer so he could place his arm around her shoulder. Elizabeth shrugged and settled beside him, letting his words wash over her. “Georgiana Darcy and I grew up together. She was always a pretty little girl, and I looked on her as a little sister, nothing more.”
“Then I went away to college, and when I came back, the awkward teen I knew was gone, and in her place was a beautiful woman. I can still remember her at my graduation. It was like I was seeing her for the first time.” His voice became distant and wistful. “She was gorgeous, and yet she was calling my name and laughing, and rushing into my arms, like the childhood friend she was. She didn’t feel it at first, the change, but I did.
“I pined for her for six months before I let her know my feelings for her. It was right aroun
d Christmas and we had all gathered together as a family. I remember how surprised she was at first. I think she was flattered. She hadn’t realized that she had become a beautiful woman, that she was capable of being loved by a man.”
Elizabeth felt his hand playing with her hair, lightly, absently, as he told his story. He seemed very far away, lost in his memories. “It was New Year’s Eve when we first kissed, at the stroke of midnight. It was supposed to just be a kiss for luck, but it turned into more.” He grinned. “I admit it, I was completely in her thrall. We spent the rest of her vacation together, stealing moments together whenever we could. We were both so happy, discovering our feelings for each other. It was the happiest time in my life. All too soon, it was over; she went back to school, and I went back to work with Darcy.
“I didn’t see her again until that summer. She had come home on vacation, and Will brought her touring with us. We couldn’t wait to see each other. We had a great time, for a month, until one night when Will found us together.”
“What happened? Is that why you left the band?”
“I didn’t leave. I was thrown out,” he answered her blackly.
“Why?” she asked, astonished.
“Because in the end, Georgiana Darcy is an heiress and I wasn’t good enough for her,” he said with a bitter sharpness. “Don’t let that rock star exterior fool you; inside Darcy and Richard are still Fitzwilliams, old money that keeps to their own.”
“But, I don’t understand, how could he do that? Why?”
“Darcy couldn’t deal with me having a relationship with Georgie, that was all. It turned ugly. He threw me off the tour and actually threatened my life if I ever tried to contact his sister again.”
Elizabeth was shocked. “Why would he do that?”
“I think it’s a control thing.” His voice was calm and analytical. “I mean, there’s the class issue and all that. Can’t have Georgie sleeping with the help, after all. But really, I think Darcy just couldn’t stand not being in control of what was going on with his band.”
“Did you try to contact her?” Elizabeth asked sadly.
“No,” he whispered sadly. “I wanted to. God knows I wanted to. It broke my heart to leave her, but I thought it would be best. She was in many ways still very young, and it was killing her to see the two people she loved the most fighting over her.”
Fitzwilliam Darcy, Rock Star Page 24
