Louise gave her a sly look. “George Wickham by any chance?”
“Oh, I had no idea I was that obvious!”
“Let’s just say that the time you guys have spent together hasn’t gone unnoticed. Nor have those looks you two share.”
“I haven’t got a clue what you’re talking about. What looks?”
“You know, the looks, the ones that say you’re interested.”
“I’m sure we haven’t shared any such thing,” Elizabeth insisted as they walked out the door onto the street together.
“If you say so,” Louise said with a grin. “Go on and text him. Tell him where you’ll be and ask if he wants to join us after he finishes work.”
“I’m not so sure I should now! Not after what you’ve just said. “
Elizabeth was only two sips into her glass of red wine and waiting for her tapas to be served when she relented and sent the text, much to the delight of the other interns sharing her table.
“It’s about time you had some fun,” Louise told her. “You’ve spent your whole summer working hard when you should have been having a summer fling with George.”
“Flings aren’t really my thing,” Elizabeth said with a smile. “I’m more of an all or nothing woman.”
“Aha, so your feelings for George must run deeper than you’ve let on!”
“Don’t twist my words! I didn’t say that,” Elizabeth replied with exasperation before adding quietly, “but yes, I like him a lot and I want to get to know him better.”
She rolled her eyes under the barrage of teasing she received from the other girls. They all went silent when Elizabeth’s phone buzzed to alert her to an incoming text.
“Well,” Louise asked impatiently. “What’s he saying?”
Elizabeth couldn’t hold back her grin. “He’s coming. He says he’ll be here in about an hour.”
Squeals of delight resounded around the Spanish restaurant and Elizabeth spent the next hour feeling slightly nervous as the time ticked by. Sure, she and George had gone for lunch, had sat and spoken together in her office or his, but this was the first time they’d seen each other outside of work in the evening. Not only that, but it was a Friday night. She flushed as she realized this would almost be like a date, and she was the one who’d invited him! The thought only increased her anxiety.
She had no need to worry. When George arrived – only half an hour late– he was his usual charming, jocular self, instantly putting her at ease and making her laugh. She barely noticed when the others left and they were alone at the table.
“So it’s back to school for you now?” he asked.
“Yep, another term of endless lectures and hitting the books.”
“But you’ve enjoyed your work experience though?”
“Yes, I really did, even though getting the position was much harder than I thought it would be. I’m glad I ended up where I did. I’ve met some great people,” she added shyly.
“I’m hoping that some of the friendships you’ve made might be lasting ones,” George said, looking into her eyes.
“I’m hoping so too.”
“I know you’ll be busy, Lizzy, but can we keep in touch? Maybe we can do this again sometime soon.”
“I’d like that, George, very much.”
They continued chatting until they noticed that the restaurant had emptied and they were the only patrons left. The staff was busy setting the tables for the next day when they finally walked out hand in hand and said goodnight.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Elizabeth had been hard at work back at school for a few months when the evite came for a dinner party. She studied it carefully, giving it some thought. It was from her summer employer and while Elizabeth had no problem with that, she did wonder about who else would be in attendance.
The day after she and George had such a nice time at the restaurant, she’d texted him to thank him once more. He replied to that text but she hadn’t heard from him since, despite them both having all each other’s contact details. A friend she kept in touch with at the office, Jennifer, mentioned him occasionally when she updated Elizabeth on whatever was happening there. Apparently, about a month after that night of wine and tapas they’d shared, he’d begun dating a young new receptionist there. Elizabeth wished him well and was glad that he was happy, but she wasn’t entirely sure that she was ready to face him yet.
She’d thrown herself into her studies and tried not to think about how much of a fool she’d made herself look over him. As much as she wanted to go to the dinner party, she had no desire to come face to face with George Wickham. Instead of replying straight away, she emailed Jennifer asking if she had any idea of the guest list for the upcoming event. The response came that Jennifer wasn’t entirely sure of the full guest list, but knew that Wickham definitely hadn’t been invited, and the only interns who were asked to attend were Elizabeth and another called John, a man Elizabeth didn’t know very well.
The fact that only two interns had been invited gave her a moment’s pause but then she decided she was being silly. The CEO couldn’t invite every one of them to everything so he must have been working in rotation and now it was her turn. She was disappointed that none of her other friends would be there, but it would be nice to see her boss again so she made up her mind to accept. After all, the CEO had said he would try to provide networking opportunities for their futures. Who knew whom she might meet?
It turned out that she met someone she most definitely had not wanted to encounter at a social occasion ever again. Mr. Darcy. Just what she needed! Of course, her boss insisted on formally introducing them, even though she insisted that there was no need as it had been done on a prior occasion. She got the distinct feeling that he wanted to show her off or maybe even gloat, although modesty prevented her from fully accepting the explanation. Darcy seemed unconcerned by the meeting but it made Elizabeth feel awkward. Unfortunately, her boss didn’t pick up on her discomfort and wasn’t about to leave it at a simple introduction.
“You made a big mistake not snapping this one up, Darcy. She’s as sharp as they come. I’d have thought she’d have been right up your alley, since you only pick the best of the best.”
“Yes, my mistake. I’m aware I missed out.”
“Oh well, your loss was my gain. Better luck next time!”
To make matters even worse she found herself seated directly across from him at the table. She did her best to ignore him but found that somehow, her eyes kept being drawn to him and every time she looked, he was staring at her. It was quite disconcerting and even though George was no longer part of her life, she couldn’t forget the story he’d told her about this man. As charming and pleasant as he seemed in company, she knew the truth. Finally, he addressed her directly.
“So, Miss Bennet. Considering I keep hearing about your skills, I’m surprised that you ended up with the placement you did. Were there no other firms you were more interested in?”
“There was one I was particularly interested in, a most coveted position in fact, but I’m very glad I didn’t get it.”
He didn’t look in the least chagrined. His apology had been made, his mistake already accepted and admitted to. “Why’s that?”
Elizabeth smiled sweetly. “It turns out that the boss is an insufferable, arrogant tyrant who would have been a nightmare to work for, and the place is so ostentatious it’s a wonder that any work gets done there at all. I would have thought the employees would be too afraid of messing up the place to actually have anything on their desks.”
She expected Darcy to be livid but he surprised her by remaining passive, only the corner of his mouth twitching. Was that really suppressed laughter? Maybe she should insult him and his firm more often!
He continued to seek her out for conversation, in spite of the people either side of him looking increasingly put out. Several times, she saw his mouth twitch and his eyes sparkle as she made her replies. On more than one occasion, they were designed to be
a snub or to cut him down a peg or two but he seemed to take great delight in them, and it only seemed to encourage him further. However, when the conversation beside Elizabeth turned to a current high profile legal case, she couldn’t help but excuse herself from her discourse with Darcy and become involved in it. Soon, the whole table was debating the matter heartily.
Darcy, having expressed several opinions, sat back to watch the outcome of his rather bold and contrary comments. He didn’t actually agree fully with everything he’d just said, but he loved to watch who would approve and back up his statements simply because they felt it would be beneficial to do so. He also enjoyed the ensuing heated discussions. He was pleased and surprised to find Elizabeth Bennet one of the ones who formed her own opinions and knew her own mind. She was disagreeing with a lawyer three seats away from her and in spite of the distance and the multiple conversations, he noted with admiration that she never once raised her voice, merely stated her points with a great clarity and reason along with a measurable dose of passion. He also couldn’t help noticing that the opinions she gave and the facts and examples she quoted were incredibly insightful and valid.
Mr. Jenkins was saying, “You really think the girl’s step-father should get custody of her? She’s not even his!”
“That doesn’t matter. He raised her,” Miss Bennet pointed out.
“Being married to her mother doesn’t mean he raised her. She was almost a decade old by the time he came into her life.”
“So? He was in it more than her biological father was.”
“Because the poor man died when the girl was a toddler. It’s not his fault.”
“I didn’t say it was, but the fact remains that this man became the only father the girl has ever known. For six years he supported her and her mother and by all accounts has always been a good—“
“The fact remains that this man has no biological connection to the girl and therefore no parental rights.”
“Okay, so then what about adoptive parents?”
“What?”
“You heard me; what about two people who adopt a child of nine years old? Do they not have any rights to her, or him? If one of them dies within a year, instead of the six years as in this case, does the child get taken away from the other adoptive parent? If they divorce, does the state take the child back? Because there’s no biological connection, therefore no custody? Is that how the system works?”
After a moment of silence, Darcy’s own thoughts were echoed by another lawyer at the table when she came to the end of her last summation.
“Did you say you were only an intern, just studying? You speak with remarkable boldness and assurance for someone who hasn’t even attempted to take the bar yet.”
Her summer employer, Roger, barked out a laugh. “Didn’t I tell you all she will be the one to watch? This one is going places, mark my words.”
Darcy thought Roger might well be right. Once again, he kicked himself for letting the whole Wickham situation interfere with his professionalism and blowing his chances at hiring this young woman. He proceeded to question her on her opinions of the case for the rest of the meal, having to admit to himself that he was captivated by both her mind and her manner of delivery.
After the meal was over, people began drifting to other ends of the table, seeking out the people they wanted to talk to the most, swapping chairs or standing together in groups. Richard Fitzwilliam came walking into the room quickly, and made his way to his cousin. . “Sorry I’m late, Will. My flight was delayed. So tell me, what did I miss?” Elizabeth decided it would be a good time to freshen up after the meal.
Coming out of the powder room, she’d just reentered the dining hall when she heard a loud voice asking about the whereabouts of Charles Bingley. Shielded by another group, she slipped closer to listen, hoping she might be able to give Jane some advance warning of his return.
“Charles of course would have been in attendance if it were possible,” she heard Darcy reply. “However, he is currently on assignment in Los Angeles.”
“Yes, I had heard something to that effect. I wasn’t sure whether to believe it though. It seems a long time to be without your right hand man. Were you not aware of the duration when you sent him?”
“I was well aware, but Charles was most definitely the man for the job. I found I had little choice.”
She heard Richard reply, his voice taking on a sly tone. “Really, that’s not what I heard. While someone was considering Charles, I heard that someone deliberately decided to send him away simply to get him out of the clutches of an entirely unsuitable gold digger.”
The man with the loud voice laughed heartily. “And I have a suspicion of who that someone was!”
Elizabeth gasped, clamping a hand over her mouth. She recovered quickly and moved away, having no need to hear Darcy’s response to know the truth. She approached Roger, thanked him for his invitation, and bade him goodnight. It took longer for her to leave than she’d hoped, having many people stop her to ask for contact details or to say their farewells. Finally, she made it out to her car. She leaned against it for a moment, taking a few gulps of fresh air, still reeling from the discovery.
“I’m disappointed you didn’t advise me that you were leaving. I would have offered to walk you to your car.”
Darcy was standing in front of her when she raised her head. “I’m perfectly capable, thank you.”
“I can see that but I wanted to tell you that I was dreading this stuffy dinner, and yet your company made it far more enjoyable than I’d expected. Miss Bennet, this may seem forward and inappropriate, but I’d very much like to have your number. I’d love to discover more about how that marvelous mind of yours works, since it’s held me captivated all evening.”
Elizabeth stared at him, her brain taking a few seconds to process his words. Her incredulous look turned furious. “You would like a deeper insight into the workings of my mind would you? Well, why wait? I can tell you exactly what I’m thinking right now and we can be done with it. You are a despicable excuse for a human being! I don’t know how you can live with yourself. Your own business partner, your so called friend, you choose to send away, to deny him happiness, and that’s before you even begin to consider my sister. She is the sweetest, most generous, most charitable, loving, giving person I have ever known and yet you didn’t even give her a single thought, not a moment’s consideration when you decided to shatter her life apart. Do you have any idea what you’ve done to her? No, of course you don’t! I wouldn’t think for one second that you would think of anyone but yourself.”
“That’s simply not true.”
“So you deny you deliberately sent Charles away with the sole consideration of separating him from my sister?”
“It wasn’t the only consideration but it was a big one. I won’t deny it; I have no need to either refute or defend my reasoning. I acted in the best interests of my friend and stand by my decision. I was made aware of how damaging to both his career and to him personally that an association with your family could be. You have to admit that they do not come across well in certain situations, situations that Charles would always be required to present himself in and be required to uphold certain standards within.”
“What about Jane?”
“Jane is, as you say, a sweet girl. She is also very beautiful. I have no doubt that she will easily find happiness elsewhere.”
Elizabeth’s temper rose to a level she’d never experienced before. “Easily find happiness elsewhere? You arrogant, ignorant, fool! She is heartbroken, a shell of the woman she used to be, going through the motions trying to hide her pain and loss, but what would you care? You just use people to your own advantage then toss them aside when you’re done with them, just like you did to George Wickham.”
She saw the mixed emotions flash across his face at the mention of the name. She latched onto the surprise and ran with it. “Yes, I see that you’re shocked that he took me into his confidence and told me of
how deplorably you treated him. How could you deny your own father’s wishes that way? How could you cast him aside with nothing after all he’d done for you? He’d done his best to support you through everything, even while he was wracked with grief and sorrow himself, yet you cut him out of your life, replaced him, as if he were nothing but a possession. You might fool everyone else, but you don’t fool me, Mr. Darcy. I know exactly who and what you are.”
“I see, and the word of George Wickham is law to you? Perhaps you aren’t nearly as clever and astute as I had believed you to be.”
Knowing that she was on the verge of saying much, much more, Elizabeth jumped into her car, buckled up, and drove off as quickly as she could. She had to make a conscious effort not to take her rage out on the poor car, had to carefully control the press of her foot on the gas, the grip on the wheel. She‘d never been so angry before in all her life.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Darcy paced around in the car park, equally furious but wondering if he really had the right to be. He knew that whatever George Wickham had told her it would be far from the truth. Still, could he really blame her for believing him considering how he himself had acted on their first two meetings? He knew by how easily his own sister had been taken in that Wickham was a seasoned and capable liar. Then again, Georgiana had only been eighteen and still easily influenced, not to mention had little worldly experience due to her shy nature. Elizabeth Bennet was a grown woman with aspirations of taking the bar exam. Surely she should be able to see through subterfuge when it was presented to her! As for her accusations about Charles and Jane, well he couldn’t deny those, but really hadn’t considered that their relationship was as yet serious. As Elizabeth had said, Jane was a sweet and generous girl, accommodating to all. How was he supposed to have known that her feelings for Charles ran any deeper than those she had for anyone else? His head was in a complete spin with his contradictory thoughts. He’d opened up to Elizabeth Bennet, admitted his attraction to her and instead of accepting, she’d thrown all this at him! He should dismiss this evening, walk away, move on, but somehow he couldn’t. He felt an overwhelming urge to explain, to give her his side of the story.
Legally Darcy: A Modern Retelling of Pride and Prejudice Page 14
