by Wendi Sotis
That’s not helpful. Concentrate!
Wickham’s laughter sounded drawn out, and Elizabeth knew she must have received a photo on her cell phone of this moment after all. Time had slowed, but her train of thought had not.
She tried to picture Wickham behind her. One of his arms was now wrapped around her waist and the other was holding the knife to her throat.
Her own arms hung free by her sides, which was a big mistake on his part. She was told her limbs were four weapons that she should use to their full advantage. Her head could be used, as well, but with the knife at her neck, head-butting Wickham was not an option.
Her teacher had said that stiletto heels were a fabulous weapon—named after a dagger, the shoe’s heel was thin and pointy, with a metal rod down the middle. Stomping on his foot as she did with Smith might distract him long enough to get away, but this time she had a knife at her throat, and she didn’t want to risk that his reaction would be pulling back or across her neck.
Could she reach her shoe without his noticing? Probably not. If she was facing him, she could use her knee. What about a fist?
Her eyes snapped open. For one brief moment, William’s gaze flicked to meet hers.
Time sped up again.
At the sound of the door opening and Jane calling her name, Elizabeth felt Wickham turn his head in that direction, and pull the knife slightly away from her neck. This was her chance!
He had longer legs that she had thought—it was her forearm that connected between his legs. At the same moment, she pushed his arm away from her neck with her other hand and ducked her head down under his arm. As she did so, a sharp pain stabbed her in the chest. She lost her balance and toppled onto the floor, but the pain wasn’t enough to stop her from scooting away from her attacker.
Movement in her peripheral vision told her William was responding to the opportunity she’d provided. William grabbed Wickham and pulled him away from her, then shifted so he was between them.
William released his pent-up anger through his fists, hitting Wickham’s jaw and gut. Wickham barely had a chance to retaliate.
As Elizabeth raised both hands to the wound on her neck, her arm brushed up against something hard. Pain radiated through her chest. She looked down. During her escape from Wickham’s grasp, the knife must have pierced the filigree of the necklace, and the tip had penetrated her skin. The knife was stuck in the necklace, which still hung around her neck. Every time the necklace moved, the tip of the knife cut her. She reached around the back of her neck to the clasp, but her hands were shaking too hard to open it. Careful not to touch the handle of the blade and wipe away any of Wickham’s fingerprints, she grasped the pendant and held it away from her chest.
Jane and Charles came into view as William hit Wickham’s jaw one last time. Wickham fell to the floor, unconscious.
Jane to help her sister, screaming, “Lizzy’s bleeding! Someone call 9-1-1!”
William rushed toward her. “Elizabeth!”
“I’m okay. The necklace—the knife is stuck in the necklace!” Elizabeth exclaimed. “It looks worse than it is.”
William was on his knees before her. He grabbed onto the chain and started tugging at it, but Jane stopped him. “That might hurt her neck, Will. I’ll get the clasp.”
Once Jane finished and the necklace was no longer restricting her, William took her by the shoulders and looked her over. “You’re bleeding from your neck and your chest.” He took out his handkerchief and dabbed at her wounds.
Elizabeth nodded, tears welling in her eyes now that she didn’t need to be strong anymore. “I’ve had enough of all this excitement, Will. Can we just be boring and normal for a while, please?”
He laughed and pulled her to his chest, holding her firmly against him. “We can try for normal, but I don’t think we’ll ever be bored.” Moving back, he cupped her face in his hands. “I love you, Elizabeth.”
“I love you, too.”
Elizabeth felt Jane’s eyes on her, and she turned to look at her sister, who was now gawking at the two of them with a wide-open mouth.
Charles was binding Wickham’s hands with his tie. “I’m glad you two finally admitted it.”
“Me, too,” William said softly as he leaned forward to gift Elizabeth with a chaste kiss. A moment later, William looked at his friend. “Charles, can you find Larry and bring him here before Wickham wakes up? Even though the paparazzi are here and will have a lot of fun with this, I won’t screw this up. This time, Wickham will go to jail.”
“Sure, I’ll be right back.”
As soon as Charles left, Elizabeth asked, “How did you know what was going on, Jane?”
Jane looked at William, then back at Elizabeth. “You left your phones at the table. When I heard that horrible noise from both of them, and I couldn’t find either of you, I thought of what you said... that I would need to know about the pictures someday. I knew I had to look at the picture on Lizzy’s cell. Charles and I were in here earlier, so I recognized your location from what I could see in the photo.”
Elizabeth retrieved the necklace from the floor. “I’ve been reading Elizabeth’s journal. It happened this way two hundred years ago—the necklace saved Elizabeth Bennet from George Wickham’s knife, and now it has done it again.”
“After everything else that’s happened, I’m not surprised,” Jane replied. “I’m so glad you’re all right.”
William scowled a bit. “Looks like we’ll have our picture in newspapers other than just those gossip rags. Would you mind doing me a favor, Elizabeth?”
“Of course not.”
“Wear my signet ring tonight, just until I can get your engagement ring from home.” He removed the ring from his pinky. “I’d really like everyone to know how I feel about you.”
Jane gasped. “You’re engaged?”
Elizabeth nodded while displaying a huge smile. “I’d be honored to wear the Darcy crest.”
The ring was much too big, but after a few tries, they found it fit on her thumb. The trio laughed.
~
Charles soon returned with Larry... and Dan.
The arm William had wrapped around Elizabeth’s waist pulled her a little closer. Elizabeth smiled up at him.
As Larry asked questions to get an idea of what had happened, Dan lingered near the doorway. Wickham began to stir about the same time two uniformed police officers came into the arboretum.
Larry took charge of Wickham. “We’ve already got a warrant for his arrest, and now he’ll be charged with this, too. Take him into custody.” The officers quickly replaced Charles’s tie with a set of handcuffs.
Elizabeth ignored Wickham’s glare as they led him away. She asked Larry, “Is the warrant for the break-in at the store?”
Larry nodded. “Smith and the others were more than happy to point the finger at Wickham. The good news is that, once he was told he was going to be charged with extortion charges and the judge denied bail this morning, Smith started giving up the names of everyone involved in the inspection and permit fraud. We arrested two others this morning. Have you noticed the new building department commissioner isn’t here this evening?”
William raised one eyebrow. “I wondered about that.”
“It seems Wickham was involved with that, too,” Larry continued. “His role was minimal, but it adds to his rap sheet.”
“Wickham is going away for a long time,” Dan’s voice joined in. Elizabeth hadn’t realized he had approached their small group. He nodded in greeting to both her and William.
“I’m going to need to take your statements,” Larry said. “I have to ask the manager of the hotel if we can find a quieter place. Excuse me.”
Elizabeth looked up at William, who was glaring at Dan.
Dan swallowed hard. “Thank you for calling when Smith and the others were arrested, Lizzy.” He glanced at William’s hand, which was now resting protectively on Elizabeth’s shoulder. His eyes flicked to William, then to Elizabeth. “What
you said in your office and the trailer the other day... I’ve done a lot of thinking over the past few days. You were right.” He shook his head. “What I’ve become... well, I don’t like it. I wish there was a way to take back everything I’ve done, but the best I can do is offer an apology—especially to you, Lizzy. Thank you for the warning about where I was headed if I continued on in that way.”
Elizabeth examined his features thoroughly and saw true remorse and sorrow. “I accept.”
Dan nodded slightly. He stared into her eyes for a few moments longer and then switched his gaze to William. “Darcy, I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused you.”
William ground his teeth for a few seconds. “If Elizabeth can accept your apology, I guess I can, too.” William removed his hand from Elizabeth only long enough to shake Dan’s hand.
“Thank you both.” Dan started to walk away, but stopped suddenly and half-turned back to them. “Jane told me you two are engaged. Congratulations.” Dan left the room.
“I wasn’t expecting that,” William said softly.
“I was, but not quite this soon,” Elizabeth replied.
Larry returned. “The manager is going to let us use a room to do the interviews.” Larry hesitated. He met Elizabeth’s gaze. “Unless you’d rather I call an ambulance?”
“Ambulance?” Elizabeth’s raised brows showed her surprise.
William leaned in toward her. “The cuts from the knife... You’ve got dried blood on your neck and chest.”
“Oh!” She looked at herself as best she could. “At least it didn’t get on the dress.”
“Only you, Lizzy.” Larry chuckled. “I guess that’s a negative for an ambulance?”
“Right. I’m okay.”
“There are a few people in the hallway... the Lucases, Georgiana, the Gardiners, Richard, and Anne... I went out there earlier to let them know you’re all okay, but I don’t want them to get too upset when they see you.” Larry sighed. “You should also be warned that the photographers that were outside the building are now inside. My men are keeping this area clear, but I can’t kick them out of the hotel. It seems most of them have paid for rooms here, and the manager of The Netherfield refuses to tell them they can’t hang around the lobby. Unless you tell me different, the lobby is not a crime scene.” He raised his eyebrows. When both William and Elizabeth shook their heads, he continued. “My guess is he wants the publicity the hotel gets out of this. We’re going to have to walk past them.” Larry pointed to some folded blankets. “After the police photographer takes some pictures of your injuries, maybe you’d like to wrap a blanket around your shoulders to cover up before you leave the arboretum.”
Elizabeth blushed thoroughly. “I never thought close-up pictures of my chest would be part of a police investigation.” She gasped. “And they’ll have to show the pictures around at court, won’t they?”
Larry frowned. “I’m afraid so, Lizzy.”
She glanced up at William, who was obviously even less happy about the idea than she was. He stated firmly, “Dan is not going to be involved with this case.”
He needs to be in control of something about this, Elizabeth thought.
“I’m sure the District Attorney will take this one himself,” Larry confirmed. “With Dan’s personal history...” He glanced at Elizabeth. “He won’t have anything to do with this case.”
“I never should have let you talk me into wearing this, Jane,” Elizabeth muttered to her sister under her breath.
“It was either a push-up bra or a corset with that gown, Lizzy,” Jane replied a little too loudly.
It was evident that Larry had tried not to laugh, but since he failed miserably, he walked away.
Chapter 25
~One month later
“I’m so happy for you, Lizzy!” Charlotte moved away from Brian Fitzwilliam, her partner in the wedding party and new love interest, and hugged the bride. “I hate to say that I told you so... but I did tell you Will had the hots for you!”
“It’s true.” Elizabeth looked up at her husband and smiled. “She told me the first day we met, after we all went out to the dance club, but I didn’t believe her.”
“I understand why you didn’t think so, Elizabeth.” William caressed her cheek with his fingertips. “But Charlotte was absolutely right.”
Charlotte beamed.
“Why are you going to England on your honeymoon?” Tom asked.
“To see Pemberley,” Elizabeth answered. At Tom’s confused expression, Elizabeth elaborated, “Will’s estate in England, not the house being built here, though I wouldn’t mind camping out in the tree house until it’s built.”
“It’s a little cold for that, now. Maybe next spring.” William laughed softly. “It’ll be chilly in Northern England, too, but at least Pemberley has fireplaces.”
“I can’t believe you’re finally taking a vacation, Will,” Anne said from behind Elizabeth. Elizabeth turned and saw the remainder of the wedding party gathering around to say goodbye to them before they headed off to the airport.
“I’ve gone with Mrs. Reynolds, but Will hasn’t been to Pemberley in years,” Georgiana said, glancing up shyly at Tom. He smiled down at her.
Anne elbowed Elizabeth and wiggled her eyebrows at Tom and Georgiana.
Elizabeth mouthed silently, “We’ll see.”
“I want Elizabeth to see Pemberley,” William replied, obviously pretending he hadn’t noticed Anne’s matchmaking at work. “With Richie, Charles, and Brian all here on the job, Lambton is in good hands. Since the building department is still trying to straighten out their mess, and I no longer have an architect, there’s nothing else in the works until we get back. Besides, lately I’ve learned a thing or two about what’s most important to me.” As he looked down at his wife, there was no doubt who was most important to William.
“In January, Will’s going to re-hire Gardiner & Associates, and it will be back to work for both of us,” Elizabeth added.
“I thought Tom was covering the store during January, Lizzy.” Charlotte turned to Tom. “Don’t you return to school at the end of the month?”
“Yes,” Tom answered, “but Lizzy is going to work full-time for Uncle Ed for a few weeks, until winter break is over.”
William said, “Unless they give you a difficult time—”
“They won’t,” Elizabeth interrupted. “Every senior member of the staff is a partner in the business. They all know that if even the slightest rumor is heard, you’ll fire Gardiner and Associates for good.”
“Don’t worry, Will. They know they’ll never find another Lambton Village.” Richard turned to Jane. “I have to ask—how did you manage to make Lizzy’s wedding dress so quickly?”
Jane laughed. “The same way Lizzy has been playing with the design for Pemberley Deux for years. I’ve been designing our wedding dresses most of our adult lives.”
Charles added, “Once Jane’s boss realized the future Mrs. Darcy would be wearing the gown and that Elizabeth promised she’d mention her shop in the magazine article, she allowed Jane to commandeer as many seamstresses as she needed to get it done on time.” He kissed Jane’s hand. “After you design and sew Anne’s dress and make one for yourself, you might have so much of a following that you’ll need a shop of your own.”
Jane blushed.
“At least Mom won’t have to rush to plan Jane and Charles’s reception the way she did Lizzy’s.” Lydia rolled her eyes. “I thought she’d have a nervous breakdown this past month.”
“Well, we didn’t really want anything this fancy...” Elizabeth looked around her at the ballroom at Netherfield Hotel.
“I know, but Mom can’t do anything the easy way,” Lydia answered.
“Wait... what magazine article?” asked Larry, who had escorted Lydia to the wedding.
“After all the press following the incident at the ball, I’m getting used to seeing my picture in print,” Elizabeth quipped in a snooty tone of voice.
Richard chuckled and clarified, “It’s more like a photo than an article—of Lizzy and Will, taken by Anne, of course—with a short caption introducing the woman who caught one of the nation’s most eligible bachelors!”
“Two years running...” Elizabeth smiled and held up two fingers.
William rolled his eyes.
“I just loved the picture of the two of you arriving at the ball.” Charlotte sighed. “The way you were looking at each other was so romantic!”
Anne grinned widely. “The only photos I have of Will smiling are when he’s looking at Lizzy.” Then she stage-whispered, “I wish I had my camera right now.”
Everyone looked at the bride and groom, who couldn’t seem to take their eyes off each other. Without breaking their shared gaze, William said, “We should really say goodbye to your parents and Mrs. Reynolds now, too, or the plane will leave without us.”
Richard laughed. “I doubt your pilot will leave without his only passengers. But we can take a hint. If you two don’t mind being unsociable and would rather be alone than to spend more time in our company, you’d better get going.”
William looked around nervously at the faces of their friends and family. “No offense...”
“Just go!” Georgiana said, giggling. She pulled her brother into a hug. “We’ll see you in three weeks.”
~%~
~Derbyshire County, England
“I’m glad you’re driving. I don’t think I could get used to driving on the wrong side of the road.”
“Actually, it’s a very old tradition. Since most people are right-handed, everyone used to ride their horses on the left—so they could keep their sword arm toward oncoming traffic in case they met an enemy on the road.”
The corners of Elizabeth’s mouth turned up. “That’s interesting.”
“I knew you’d think so, too. I picked up a lot of trivia when we’d come here during the summer. It rains often in England, and Pemberley has a fantastic library. I read—a lot.” He paused. “You’ll get used to driving on the left, but I didn’t want to let you try it when you’re so tired.”
