by Wendi Sotis
Mrs. de Bourgh’s gaze slowly travelled down the length of her daughter’s arm and stopped at where her hand connected with Richard’s. Her eyes narrowed with disapproval. She quickly met Richard’s stare. “Richard Fitzwilliam.”
“Hello, Mrs. de Bourgh. I’m as happy as ever to see you.” Richard’s tone was slightly sarcastic.
She glanced down pointedly at their joined hands, and then met Richard’s gaze once again. Irritation rolled off her so fierce in its intensity that it was almost palpable.
Richard raised his chin and moved Anne’s hand so that he was holding it within both of his.
Mrs. de Bourgh turned red with indignation in response to his defiance of her wishes.
Anne took a deep breath. “Hello, Mother.”
“Anne.” Mrs. de Bourgh’s eyes held no affection when she looked at her daughter. “Why is he holding your hand?
Anne looked at Elizabeth. Elizabeth raised her brows slightly. Anne turned back to her mother. “Mother, as I told you in my emails, Richie and I are a couple.”
“That is not possible.” Mrs. de Bourgh eyed Elizabeth as if she had not been there the entire time. “Who is this?”
“This is my roommate and best friend, Elizabeth Bennett.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. de Bourgh.” Elizabeth smiled politely.
Mrs. de Bourgh raised one eyebrow. “Bennett? Are you related to that man I just met?”
“Elizabeth is Mr. Bennett’s daughter, Catherine,” William offered.
Catherine ignored the comment and turned back to Anne, holding out her hand. “Come along, Anne. You’ll sit with me.”
Anne seemed to gain confidence as she straightened her spine. “No, Mother. I planned to sit with Richie.”
The two de Bourgh women stared at each other. For a moment or two, William thought Anne would back down, but she did not. Surprisingly, the older lady conceded. “Fine. You will sit with me and Richard Fitzwilliam.”
As Mr. Lucas approached to greet Mrs. de Bourgh and escort her to the first row, Anne held Elizabeth back. Richard gave them a little space. “Richie is used to my mother and the way she treats him. I’m so sorry she acted that way toward you, Lizzy.”
“I don’t expect to be loved by everyone I meet.” Elizabeth smiled at her friend. “Don’t worry about me—I’ll survive. Go.”
“You mean ‘go before she becomes angry that I haven’t joined her’? Yeah, I’d better. See you later.” Anne took Richard’s hand, and they went to catch up to her mother.
Elizabeth turned toward William and seemed barely able to look him in the eye. “You’d better go up there, too.”
If I do, Catherine will arrange it so that I’m sitting between her and Anne. “I’d rather wait until they take their seats, then I’ll sit next to Richard.” There it was again, that feeling of comfort whenever she was near. Maybe the awkwardness of this morning’s incident was a good thing after all since it had caused her to avoid meeting his gaze for most of the day so far. “Are you sitting with the rest of your firm?”
She nodded and opened her mouth to speak, but stopped when she heard Madeline’s voice. “Hello, William.”
After exchanging a few words with Mrs. Gardiner and receiving a look of warning from Mr. Bennett, who was walking in their direction with Gardiner, William excused himself to find Georgiana.
~
“What was that?” Elizabeth crossed her arms over her waist.
Her father turned from watching William walk away to look at Elizabeth. “Hmmm? I don’t take your meaning.”
“That look directed at William—what did it mean?” Her heart was beating too fast for comfort. Oh, please don’t let it mean that my father found out about what happened this morning!
Gardiner exchanged significant glances with Mr. Bennett before interrupting, “The ceremony should start very soon. You’re to sit in the second row, Lizzy.”
Elizabeth pulled her father aside. “Uncle Ed is in on it, too? Dad, tell me what’s going on here.”
“I thought you knew—it’s called a groundbreaking ceremony, Lizzy.”
Not in the mood for games, Elizabeth huffed. “You’re not going to tell me, are you?”
He searched her eyes for a moment and then shook his head.
Deciding to give up on questioning him for now, Elizabeth went to find her seat. In the row in front of her, Mrs. de Bourgh was seated on the aisle, her dog in her lap. As Elizabeth passed behind Anne, she gave her friend’s shoulder a squeeze, and Richard turned to wink at her. She thought it odd that William did not acknowledge her at all. Moving down one more chair to settle behind Georgiana and Jane, she noticed Charles was where he usually could be found—beside his ladylove—and chatting animatedly with the politician seated next to him.
Elizabeth leaned forward to whisper in Georgiana’s ear. “I don’t think it’s possible for me to do as you asked—at least not during the ceremony.”
“But why? Will said you designed the hospital.”
“I might have come up with the basic design of the building, but a hospital is a huge undertaking. I had a lot of help from my uncle and others.” Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders. “Only the partners in the business were invited up there, anyway. I’m just an intern.”
Chapter 9
Seeing Charlotte’s car pull up, Elizabeth told her family she would meet them inside and stood in the parking lot of Zabbara’s restaurant to wait for her friend.
After Charlotte parked her car, she approached her. “I hope Marie and Leo have a fresh pot of coffee ready. Since Dad became County Executive, I’ve attended quite a few political events, but that had to be the most boring one I’ve ever been forced to sit through.”
Elizabeth followed Charlotte toward the entrance. “It wouldn’t have been half as bad if Mrs. de Bourgh hadn’t gotten up to speak.”
“Collin Hunsford obviously didn’t think her speech was ridiculous.” Charlotte laughed. “He tripped all over himself to get close enough to say something to her as we were leaving.”
“Good!” Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “I hope he’s found someone else to chase after so he’ll leave me alone.”
“Since when did he start that again? I thought Richie chased him away—”
“That was a long time ago, Char.”
“When you get inside, you should ask Dan to speak to him. He could probably unofficially quote a few laws about stalking that’ll scare Collin half to death.”
“No! After what happened last time, I wouldn’t want to tell Dan anything about how Collin has bothered me. Besides, Dan had to get back to the office to prepare for a big case.” Elizabeth sighed. “But, since I’ll be living in Longbourn, if things get any worse, I will.”
“Oh, I almost forgot! Earlier today, Anne, Georgie, and I decided to rent an apartment instead of staying in the dorm and taking the risk we’d get stuck with a couple of ‘party animals’ as dorm mates. If you’re interested in joining us, we’ll get a bigger apartment. We’re going to ask Jane, too. ”
Elizabeth smiled. “That would be perfect! Much better than living at my aunt and uncle’s ‘til I find an apartment that I can afford all by myself—which we both know might not happen for years.”
Charlotte reached for the door handle on the entrance to the restaurant. “Great! We’ll talk about it later, back at the house.”
~%~
During a rare quiet moment where so many people were gathered, Mrs. de Bourgh’s voice echoed through the restaurant. “You are planning to open an upscale Italian restaurant at Lambton Village, I’m sure, Darcy.”
William closed his eyes and took a deep breath as the murmurs around them began again. He had a feeling he knew exactly who they were talking about this time. “There’s no need for another, Catherine. Whenever I’m in the area, I make it my business to find time to dine here.”
Mrs. de Bourgh was shocked. “You would drive more than an hour from Longbourn to come to this backwoods little town for dinner?”
/>
“Marie and Leo are excellent hosts, and I find the family atmosphere at Zabbara’s very welcoming. You won’t find better Italian food anywhere.”
“But the people here... we are CEOs and Board Members, not middle class like the ragtag people who would frequent a place like this. The owners even gave me a difficult time about keeping Miss Snugglepuss with me.” The dog yapped from her place on Mrs. de Bourgh’s lap, and she handed the fur ball a small bit of bread. She turned to Anne. “And you! My own daughter, friends with such common girls such as those Bennetts and Charlotte Lucas—daughters of a storekeeper and a real estate agent turned politician? I am ashamed—yes, ashamed that you would introduce Georgiana Darcy to people like that. What has the younger generation come to? We do not mix with new money or the working class. It spoils the breed.”
William glanced at Anne, who, during her mother’s tirade, had slowly slid as low as possible in her chair. At this moment, Anne’s eyes darted around as if she was thinking about escaping the crowd of startled faces staring at her by ducking under the table.
Mrs. de Bourgh’s pointed finger was redirected toward Richard. “He is the perfect example of what happens when our kind strays. You do know what his mother was before she married Albert Fitzwilliam?” She raised her eyebrows. “A librarian!” She pronounced it as if managing a media center was the most dishonorable profession possible. “And her parents owned a small grocery store.” Mrs. de Bourgh sniffed loudly.
William’s mouth dropped open in shock. Richard was bright red, more likely from rage than embarrassment. Anne’s hand moved to Richard’s arm, and she shook her head. William took hold of Georgiana’s trembling hand.
“That is why you must marry Darcy, Anne—to preserve our superior bloodlines. I will hear no more of this nonsensical talk about Richard Fitzwilliam being your boyfriend.”
William recovered from his shock and embarrassment first. “Madam, I think you forget that I am in construction, as my father and grandfather were before me. Your husband was involved in real estate.”
“Stop speaking such gibberish, Darcy! Our wealth was inherited. Real estate was an investment to my late husband, and the Darcys always treated their construction business as a hobby—to keep from becoming bored—nothing more.”
If possible, the intensity of William’s glare might have burned a hole directly through Mrs. de Bourgh’s forehead. “You live in a dream world, Catherine, and you are one of the most unpleasant people I’ve ever met.” He held her gaze for several tense moments before he removed the napkin from his lap, placed it gently on the table, and then stood with one hand on the back of his sister’s chair. “Come, Georgiana. I’m sure we can find more pleasant conversation elsewhere.”
Georgiana rose quickly without raising her eyes from the table. Everyone in the room watched as the two approached the table shared by the Bennetts, the Gardiners, and Charles Bingley.
“May we join you?”
“By all means.” Mr. Bennett signaled a waiter to ask if two more chairs could be brought over.
As the waiter removed two chairs from her table, Mrs. de Bourgh exclaimed, “I will withdraw my donation after such treatment!”
Anne finally blinked and a tear spilled over her bottom lashes. She straightened in her chair. “As usual, you forget that since I turned twenty-five, I sign the checks controlling my father’s money. Though I let you take the credit, you had nothing to do with the donation to build a heart center in Daddy’s memory.” She paused, steadily holding eye contact with her mother. “Richie? I can’t bear to sit here any longer. Let’s see if there’s any room at Charlotte’s table.”
As Richard helped Anne rise from her chair, Mrs. de Bourgh cried, “Anne! How dare you leave me alone at a table for six!”
“You’re not alone, Mother. Miss Snugglepuss is with you, remember?”
As Anne and Richard walked away, Miss Snugglepuss whimpered.
Mrs. de Bourgh threw a look that could kill at the waiter who approached and removed two more chairs.
~
With the help of an efficient wait staff, William and Georgiana settled easily at their new table. In the state he was in, William had not even realized that he was going to be seated between Mr. Bennett and Elizabeth until his elbow brushed against her arm as he sat down. “Excuse me—I hope you don’t mind that we’ve crowded your table,” William said loudly enough for both to hear.
“It’s no trouble at all—in fact, it’s rather cozy.” Mr. Bennet smiled mischievously. “But I do hope you aren’t left handed.” When William responded in the negative, Mr. Bennett’s expression changed, and his next words were spoken in a fatherly tone. “That was well done, William.”
A kind of warmth different from the one he was becoming accustomed to feeling of late spread through William’s chest. Until that moment, he had not realized how much he missed receiving his father’s approval. Too choked up to reply, William only nodded his thanks and looked at Georgiana sitting across from him, chatting comfortably with Mrs. Gardiner.
Since the death of his parents, he had been forced to concentrate solely on survival. His first duty had been to remain strong for his sister’s sake and do what he thought was best to promote Georgiana’s healing and development. His second priority had been to keep the family business afloat, and then after learning the ropes, he looked for new ways to help it thrive. Keeping up appearances for the press was always essential, and attending social functions to show his parents’ peers and competitors that he could handle it all was vital to his pride. But while doing all that, he could now see he had lost sight of all he had been missing—the feeling of camaraderie that went along with spending time with family.
Glancing three seats to his right, he could see that Charles was feeling it, too. Charles had been almost like a brother to him ever since the two had first met. His mother had passed away years earlier, and his father died about a year after the Darcys’ parents, leaving Charles with his sister as his only family, as well. Devastated when Caroline was declared mentally incompetent by the court, Charles felt completely responsible. William welcomed the happiness Charles had openly displayed since meeting Jane.
“I want to be sure you know that, although I was brought up in the same social circle as Catherine de Bourgh, her opinions are very different from my own.”
“That much is obvious, William,” Mr. Bennett assured him.
Although he had been quite aware of her presence, William looked at Elizabeth for the first time since sitting next to her. She smiled warmly, and her eyes sparkled in a way that made his heart sing. “I think you’ve earned the right to enjoy your meal.”
Usually, he would brood for hours, maybe even days, over a situation like the one that had just happened with Catherine de Bourgh, but when he was near Elizabeth, it seemed so easy to shrug off anything that would normally weigh him down. I could get used to this.
Mr. Bennett nudged William’s arm with his elbow, and he looked up to see Gardiner looking at him with a warning expression.
Friends... we’re just friends.
William turned his attention to his salad with a sigh.
~
After no one volunteered to join her, Catherine de Bourgh pulled her cell phone from a pocket of her dog’s bag and punched a few buttons. “Driver, you will pick me up at once.” She paused, listening to the male voice on the other end of the call.
“I must leave this place now, do you hear me?” She hesitated. “What do you mean an hour? Why on earth aren’t you waiting outside?”
If one listened very closely, one could hear a slight moan run through the crowd.
“I will accept no excuses—you’re fired!” She pressed a button on her cell phone.
Soon after, Collin Hunsford approached Mrs. de Bourgh. “Excuse me, madam.” He bowed. Miss Snugglepuss whined.
“I couldn’t help but notice your dilemma. May I be of some assistance? I have a beautiful new car, if I do say so myself. I would be happy to
drive such an elegant lady as yourself anywhere you may wish to go.”
After some discussion, Collin Hunsford escorted the lady from the restaurant.
~
When the door closed behind Catherine de Bourgh, Mrs. Bennett declared, “Well, it’s about time she left. If Thomas hadn’t stopped me, I would have told her a thing or two. Everyone knows that William is interested in Lydia, not Anne.”
William choked on a piece of tomato. Elizabeth handed him his glass of water while her father patted him on the back.
Lydia guffawed. “Mom, I keep telling you that I already have a boyfriend!”
Mrs. Bennett replied, “Pishposh! You’ll do as you’re told, Lydia. I know you think George will become a successful artist, but that’s a risky business—there’s no guarantee. With your expensive tastes, you’d do better with a man who has already established himself.”
William felt Elizabeth stiffen beside him.
“Now, Frances—” Gardiner tried to speak, but his sister interrupted.
“Ed, I’ve already told you that Lydia finds William very attractive, and of course, he can’t help but feel the same way about her. They’ll make the perfect couple.”
“Mrs. Bennett, I’m flattered, but you must understand...” He hesitated, not wanting to insult any of Elizabeth’s family, but still—he had to put a stop to this insane misunderstanding. He went with what he thought was the safest answer. “I have no intention of entering into a relationship with anyone at this time.”
Mrs. Bennett’s eyes narrowed. “As long as you realize that Lydia is a fun-loving girl. She won’t sit at home alone. She will seek the company of other men until you are ready.”
“I assure you, that is not a problem for me.”
Satisfied, Mrs. Bennett began chattering on about another subject. Mr. Bennett mentioned that he needed to speak to Mr. Lucas and excused himself. Elizabeth took hold of William’s hand under the tablecloth. He turned to look at her.
