by Wendi Sotis
Turning away from the photo, their eyes locked. “I don’t think it’s silly at all.”
After a few moments, she blinked, breaking their connection. “See you downstairs in a little while.”
As Elizabeth closed the door, it was difficult not to see that the entire wall behind the door was covered with an epic-sized collage of photographs. William’s smile widened a little more every time he inspected another likeness of Elizabeth at a different age, until his gaze caught on her prom photo. Jealousy twisted like a knife in his gut when he noticed the adoration in the eyes of her date as he looked down at her, but then he observed that she was not looking up at him in the same way. The same person was in quite a few other photographs, as well—they seemed to have grown up together. In many of the pictures when they were older, he was always gazing at her in the same manner.
William closed his eyes and sighed, filling himself with her scent once again, then moved to unpack.
~%~
While standing outside on the ground level of the wrap-around decking of the house, Elizabeth’s phone made that sound. She pulled it out of her pocket as she wandered over to a lounge chair. Placing her book on the wood decking next to the chair, she slid the answer bar with her finger and then accessed the new photo that was displayed.
It pictured a baseball field. Elizabeth was wearing umpire’s gear, and she was standing between two very angry men—William Darcy and her old friend, Dan King. She had her back to Will and a hand spread out wide toward Dan. It looked as if she was trying to keep their disagreement from coming to blows. She could see many of the people of Meryton in the background.
Elizabeth could think of only one time that so many citizens of Meryton would be all together at a baseball field—the Founders Day picnic. But that was weeks away.
She glanced up at her bedroom window. As soon as the Darcys leave, I’m going to open that trunk.
~%~
William thought he would go mad! Everywhere he turned—even the scent of the air he breathed—Elizabeth surrounded him. He had spent more time examining the photographs, books, and knickknacks on her shelves than he had unpacking, and he was beginning to feel as if he were invading her privacy. If he stayed here in her room, the temptation to snoop further would be too great. A breeze caught Elizabeth’s curtains, and he stepped through the French doors out onto the balcony.
The view was charming. Until that moment, he had not realized the house stood on a hill. That Elizabeth had chosen the placement of the house wisely was no surprise to him—she had done so with every building she had worked on for his project. While there was a formal garden close to the building, he could see a naturalized garden farther away. The wildflower-lined path that wound through it led to what looked like a small lake. Curious to see what was on the opposite side of the house, he moved in that direction, then realized he would have to walk past the other bedrooms. Though he knew Charles and Richard had not yet arrived, William was hesitant to walk past the other windows, unwilling to compromise the privacy of the girls who might be on the other side. Instead, he took the staircase beside Elizabeth’s room to the ground floor. Pleasantly surprised to find it ended across the hall from a side entrance, he exited out onto a wide wrap-around deck and wandered to the railing at the rear of the building.
As he walked toward the back of the house, the ground sloped downward. When he realized he was standing a floor above a swimming pool, he assumed the lodge had a basement, adding to its spaciousness. The road he had seen split off from the main driveway on their approach to the house ended at a barn-like structure, which he assumed was a garage. “Excellent job, Elizabeth.”
“Thank you.”
William startled and turned at the sound of her voice. Half sitting, half reclining on a lounge chair, Elizabeth closed the book on her lap. She blushed deeply and seemed about to rise. William gestured that she should stay and moved to sit in the chair next to her.
“If my mother were home, right about now I’m sure we’d be hearing how I’ve been a terrible hostess, leaving you to wander around alone. Sorry... I wasn’t expecting anyone to come down so soon, and I decided to take a few minutes to finish my book.”
He looked at the book to see the title. She held it up for him to read more easily, and he nodded his approval.
“It wasn’t a problem. Would you like to continue?” He pointed to the book.
“Oh, I had just finished before you walked up. Would you like to see the rest of the house?”
“Yes, but I’ll wait for Georgiana.”
Unlike their usual interactions, William was the one to put an end to the awkward silence that followed. “Now that you have your degree, when can you receive your license?”
~
He brought up work twice in one day? Amazing! Is it possible the subject is no longer taboo to him? “I’ll be an intern for a while longer yet. Even though I worked as much as possible throughout college, I wanted to do well in my classes, so I couldn’t put in more than the mandatory fifteen hours a week. As a result, I’ve completed only a small portion of the intern hours required to qualify to take the exam. At least now I’ll be able to work full-time.”
“I’m sure I’ll see you at your uncle’s office since I’ll be in the area more often to monitor the progress of the construction.”
Elizabeth felt her heart race with anticipation. Why does that always happen when he talks about the next time I’ll see him? He’s talking about work and that’s all. “I’m sure you will. I need all kinds of experience, including being at jobsites, so we might meet there as well. I’m confused, though. I thought Charles was going to be the project manager for the construction portion of your business at Lambton?”
“Since I can’t be here all the time, Charles is project manager for Darcy Construction on some of the buildings, and Richard is assigned to the others. I’m overseeing the entire project. In a few weeks, Lambton will be our only project. I’m thinking of making Meryton my home base for a while and renting a house in the area for Charles, Richard and myself.”
“I had a feeling that Lambton Village was your ‘baby.’”
“Actually, it was my father’s dream. He saw the potential of the area many years ago and began buying the land where Lambton will be built. I seem to have inherited his enthusiasm for the project.”
Elizabeth couldn’t help smiling in response to his own. “Your father’s passion was definitely contagious. He convinced my father, as well. Not only did my father begin to buy land whenever it became available, but also he expanded our family’s small hardware store and planned its new location so that it would be convenient to the eventual construction of Lambton Village.”
William raised his eyebrows high. “Are you saying that your family owns Meryton Building Supply?”
She nodded. “Growing up, I was always hanging around the store after school, learning about the business. As my father expanded the store, adding new departments, I learned about new trades. Some of his employees would offer classes, teaching homeowners how to do certain projects themselves. Of course, I sat in on many of them.” Her smile widened. “Spending my childhood around construction material was how I became interested in architecture. All the kids in the neighborhood wanted a tree house like mine, and we all pitched in to build them.” She laughed. “Every time we built one, my mind was full of possible improvements for the next. Whenever my designs didn’t work out well, I’d talk to our professional customers to learn what we had done wrong, what we needed to do to fix it, and how to build it the right way the first time. As a matter of fact, the tree house closest to my heart is actually on the land where Pemberley Deux will be built. Have you seen it yet?”
“No, but I’m sure I will. Maybe you can show it to Georgiana and me someday?”
~
The radiant look on her face as she nodded sent his heart racing. He did not understand the joy that filled every corner of his being whenever she smiled at him like that. It was as if an
y happiness she felt was a drink of water for his thirsty soul.
After a much more relaxed silence, Elizabeth spoke. “You know, our old house is for sale, but I’m sure my father could be persuaded to rent it for the time being. It’s probably just the right size for your needs, and the street is zoned for business. You can have an office there if you’d like, until your office building is built.”
William looked away from her—he needed a minute to think. Was it truly wise to rent a house from someone he knew socially? He continued to explore every possible pro and con he could think of, until it occurred to him that he had been lost in thought for quite some time. He looked at Elizabeth to gauge her reaction to his silence. To his relief, he found her expression was not one of anger or annoyance at being ignored, but of patient contemplation of the landscape.
He knew that, in the past, she would have misunderstood the stoic expression that went hand in hand with his brooding, but with time, Elizabeth had come to accept that he was not one to make snap decisions. A tingling warmth swelled within his chest at the thought that she had made an effort to understand him.
When she finally met his gaze, William nodded. “I’ll ask your father. If he’s willing, we can see it sometime before the groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday.”
She smiled. “Come on. Let’s see if Georgie is ready for a tour of this house, so you both know where everything is.”
His cell phone rang. Seeing the name of his investigator displayed on the screen made his heart pick up its pace. “I have to take this call.”
“Voices carry here.” She glanced up at the second floor. “For privacy outside, I sit on the bench down that path.”
~%~
About a half hour later, Elizabeth found William still sitting on the bench she had suggested he use.
“I thought maybe you got lost wandering around the property.” Her chuckle ended abruptly when she noticed his anxious expression. “What’s wrong?”
“Wickham!” He growled, rising from the bench. He began pacing before her. “I, uh... had someone check up on him, and he’s not where he’s supposed to be. According to the woman he had been living with, he’s run out on her, but my man suspects her entire speech was a performance. He’s up to no good.”
Elizabeth’s stomach sank. “And you think it involves Georgiana?”
“Many of his schemes have included my family in one way or another.”
Elizabeth nodded. “He gave me the impression he was not very fond of anyone with the last name Darcy.”
He stopped pacing and turned quickly to look her in the eye accusingly. “When did Wickham confide in you?”
She crossed her arms over her waist. “Are you looking to start an argument that will end in your having to apologize to me again?”
He just stared at her.
“It just so happens, Mr. Darcy, that Wickham called and woke me up a few hours after he stole Georgie’s cell phone,” Elizabeth answered defensively. “How did you think Richie knew he’d stolen it?”
He shook his head. “He didn’t tell me.” He sighed. “You’re right... that was a stupid thing to say. I’m sorry.”
“You’re lucky I have a forgiving nature, but I warn you—there’s just so much even I can put up with, Will.”
He took a deep breath before he nodded. “I’m sorry. When it comes to the safety of my sister, especially, I have a short fuse.” William gestured toward the house, and they started walking slowly in that direction. “What did he say about my family?”
She hesitated, knowing what she had to say would only upset him further, but she knew she should be truthful. “He compared the ease of stealing Georgie’s cell phone to pilfering your father’s wallet. He said your father always considered him a hero for finding it.”
William huffed out a breath. “He came to live with us after his father died. Dad treated him almost as if he was another son. Most times after Wickham ‘found’ Dad’s wallet, Dad would also find he was short on cash. I always suspected Wickham had stolen it, but my father just couldn’t believe that he would do such a thing. Instead, Dad questioned his own memory.” He was thoughtful for a moment. “He called just to tell you that?”
“No.”
She took another couple of steps before realizing William had stopped. She turned and saw he was waiting for her to continue. “Well, other than to display his superior knowledge of obscenities, I think his true reason for calling was to tell me I’d regret interfering the night before.”
William’s nostrils flared. “I should have known he’d threaten you.”
“No matter what Wickham says or does, he couldn’t possibly cause me to regret helping Georgiana. Besides, I changed my cell phone number and won’t be at the dorms anymore. After a short vacation, I’ll be living at my uncle’s house during the workweek and coming home on the weekends—at least until I find an apartment. He can’t bother me again.” She could see her declaration did not improve his mood. “I guess it’s good that you both could come this weekend. At least he can’t find her here.”
“You never gave him your address?”
Her eyes widened. “What could possibly have possessed me to give out my home address to a man who gave me the creeps? You know, you had better start thinking before you speak—your remarks are coming very close to my tolerance level.”
“I had to ask...” William closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. “Do you know if Georgie had your address in the phone he stole?”
She shrugged slightly. “As far as I know, she didn’t even know the name of the town we lived in until she asked for directions, but we can ask her when we get back to the house.”
“No, I don’t want to worry her.”
Elizabeth mounted her hands on her hips. “You have a difficult time learning from past mistakes, don’t you? Your fear of worrying her is exactly what gave Wickham power over her in the first place! She has a right to know, and if you don’t tell her, I will.”
~
As William watched her walk away from him toward the house, he realized the way the light in Elizabeth’s eyes flashed when he made her angry only added to her beauty.
When she moved out of his view, he turned his back to the house and reviewed what Elizabeth had said just before walking off. She was right, of course. After a few minutes of additional reflection, he trailed after her, only to find Anne, Elizabeth, and Georgiana in the great room.
He caught Elizabeth’s gaze and nodded to her before speaking. “I have an update to the Wickham situation.”
A moment later, William decided he liked it much better when Elizabeth’s eyes reflected her smile instead.
Chapter 7
~Saturday evening, Memorial Day Weekend
“It’s unfortunate that my wife knows the sticker price of your Mercedes SUV, isn’t it, William?”
William’s eyes opened wide. “Sir?”
“Keeping track of car prices is Mrs. Bennett’s latest hobby, you know.” Mr. Bennett’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “It’s how she sizes up a potential son- or daughter-in-law’s monetary value. Since Lydia is her favorite child, once my wife saw your SUV in the garage, you were bound to have her thrown in your direction. You’re lucky that Lydia doesn’t like you.”
William blinked several times as he tried to figure out how to respond without insulting his host. “I am?”
Mr. Bennet chuckled. “Absolutely. If she did like you, you’d be in real trouble.”
William didn’t feel very lucky. Earlier in the day, while he had been enjoying a pleasant afternoon with Elizabeth, Anne, and Georgiana, the remainder of the Bennetts had arrived home. It had not been long before Jane and Elizabeth became busy setting up for the night’s party, and Anne and Georgiana offered to help them. Although he volunteered his assistance as well, he had spent more time trying to avoid being cornered by Lydia than he had in lending a hand. Not even his severest glare had dissuaded the youngest Bennett from trying to hang all over him when
ever one of her more sensible siblings was not nearby. After having to redirect her young sister several times, Elizabeth had flat out ordered William to hide in the library for the time being—apparently the only room in the house that her young sister never entered. The light in her eyes had sparkled in a way similar to the expression her father’s had just now when she also mentioned that, since there were two exits, it was his best choice in case he needed to make a speedy getaway. He had excused himself and stayed there until Charles and Richard arrived. If that wasn’t real trouble, I wonder what is.
William was not left wondering for long. A group of boys closer to Lydia’s age joined the party and, soon after, her behavior became quite a bit more demonstrative—not that Lydia’s behavior could ever be categorized as restrained.
Tom had already disappeared with a few friends into the basement to play a few games of pool. Charles and Jane had gone off into a corner to talk, oblivious to the world around them, and, with no one to temper her actions, Mrs. Bennett was actually encouraging Lydia’s wild behavior. All the while Mr. Bennett only snickered as he watched the antics of his wife and youngest daughter. It was left up to Elizabeth to try to bring her sister under control, but her efforts did little good.
William had to admit to himself that he had almost joined her father in laughter when Elizabeth’s mouth fell open at Mrs. Bennett’s criticism of her attempts to “prevent her sister from having a little fun,” suggesting that Elizabeth should follow Lydia’s example instead. This impulse was quickly brought under control when her mother turned back to a group of people and began speaking about Charles and Jane’s relationship as if they were engaged. She then had the audacity to declare loudly that he and Lydia would soon be an “item.”
How did the other three children of this shrew turn out to be so responsible? He did not know Tom, but from what Anne had said about him, he was more like Elizabeth and Jane than the youngest.
