I hid my smile at Manda’s batting eyelids and charming pout. Amanda was one of the nicest people I had ever known; she never used her charm falsely or tried to beguile people, she was just lovely. But, that didn’t stop her from piling on the charm when she wanted something. Her wanting something was just usually more along the lines of what she thought would make people happy, rather than charming herself into someone’s bed.
“Oh, Lily!” Nadine said. “Why didn’t you tell me? You should go if you want. Don’t worry about me for the night.”
Lily flushed. “Oh, no, I... It’s fine. I didn’t bring anything to wear anyway.”
“At least, join us for dinner first?” Amanda said. “Please, you must, I insist. If I have to wade through the party without you, you must at least come to dinner beforehand. Do not leave me with these two knuckleheads!”
“Not sure about knuckleheads, but, please, do.” Jax nodded.
Lily looked pointedly at me. “If Aunt Nadine doesn’t mind...” she started, not sounding entirely convinced.
“It’s just something small before the party, just us. Manda always makes sure we eat well before we drink.”
“That’s very sensible.” Nadine smiled. “And, Lily, you should definitely go. Otherwise, you’ll just be hanging around with us fuddy-duddies here all night. You can have the car.”
“There’s no need. We’ll send a car,” Amanda said, sounding much more like the owner of Pemberley than me.
“It’ll just be small...? I seriously have nothing to wear.”
“Well, presumably you have something, or you’d be naked.” Amanda smiled as I choked on my coffee.
Lily blushed as she looked at me. “No, obviously. But, I have nothing suitable for a party.”
“It’s nothing formal, Austin wouldn’t hear of it.”
“Apologies if I didn’t feel like spending my eighteenth birthday party in a suit, Mandy.” I grinned at her and she stuck her tongue out at me.
“Still, I’m wearing a dress and you can’t stop me.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it, sister.” I put my arm around her and kissed her head.
I looked up in time to see Lily smiling at me before she hurriedly looked away, but still smiling.
Jax smiled to Nadine. “Right, well it’s settled then. If you don’t mind, Nadine, we’ll send a car to kidnap Lily at about five-thirty?”
“That is absolutely fine, boys. And, if you manage to keep her hostage the rest of the night, good for you.”
“Aunt Nadine.” Lily grimaced, but was smiling slightly.
“I’m serious. Amanda, boys, you keep her as long as you can keep her. The more I don’t have to worry about her, the better.” Nadine gave Lily a wink and a smile.
“We’ll do our best, I assure you!” Manda laughed as Lily rolled her eyes.
“Right, well, I guess we’d best make tracks,” Jax said standing up. “We’ll see you tonight, Lil.”
“That you will,” Lily said, looking at him, pointedly.
Jax laughed and hugged her, giving her a kiss on the cheek. Amanda followed suit, looking the most comfortable out in public that I’d seen her in a while. As much as I wasn’t sure that Amanda’s meeting Lily was good for me, it was obviously good for her.
Lily and I stood awkwardly in front of each other for a moment, then she hugged me tightly. Embarrassingly, I might have smelled her hair a little as I wrapped her up in my arms, forgetting for a moment we were in public.
“Austin?” she said quietly with a laugh. “I will see you in a few hours.”
I cleared my throat and let her go. “We’ll see you soon. Nadine, pleasure seeing you again. Have a wonderful night.”
“I will, thank you, Austin. You, too.”
I bowed to her, wondering instantly why the hell I’d bowed like some Regency dandy, and Manda thankfully pulled me out of there before I made more of an idiot of myself.
“Well, all things considered, I think that went well,” Jax said, waving to Lily through the window as she and Nadine finished their drinks.
“Yeah, if you think Austin being a nervous wreck was doing well,” Manda laughed, putting her arm through mine.
“Ah, he did all right,” Jax said. “Could have actually talked to Lily, but I guess these things have to be taken one step at a time.”
“Hugging me was a good plan. She liked that.” Manda leant into me as we walked back to the car.
“I’ll have you know, it wasn’t a plan; I just like my big sister,” I replied, putting my arm around her.
She chuckled. “And, that right there is how you get her to realise she’s madly in love with you.”
“True that!” Jax said.
“Right, when you’re both done giving me courting advice-”
“Courting?” Manda and Jax snorted.
“You’re lucky she can tell us apart, brother, or she’d think this romantic Austin is actually my wonderful self.”
I rolled my eyes and walked away from them.
“Wait, she can tell you apart?” I heard Amanda ask, her voice tinged with shock, awe and understanding. “You never told me that! Oz!”
Chapter Forty-Five
I stepped out of the car, hoping I looked all right in my new top and shoes, and trusty old favourite jeans.
“Lily!” Amanda called as she jogged down the front steps to meet me.
I’d thought she was pretty before, but she was now obviously dressed for the party and looked stunning. She was almost as tall as the twins, and wearing a very nice cocktail dress and heels.
She hugged me and dragged me back up the steps, helping me get my coat off when we got in the door.
“Amanda, you look wonderful!” I smiled as she hung up my coat in a dedicated coatroom off the front hall.
“You, too.” She smiled, looking me over. “And, you said you didn’t have anything for a party.”
I laughed. “There’s no guarantee I’m staying. And, Aunt Nadine and I may have done some shopping this afternoon.”
Amanda laughed too. “A little shopping is always helpful. You had some good luck; that top makes your eyes sparkle!”
I giggled. “Thanks.”
She grabbed my hand. “Come on, come through. We’re not having anything fancy, some nibbly things in the sitting room. We were going to have something a little more...fancy,” she pulled me close as we walked down the hall, “but, we had unexpected early guests, I’m afraid.” She grimaced. “Cass brought stupid Petal with her and Williams is here already.”
“Petal?”
“Fleur van Wilhausen.” She put on a very snooty tone.
“Oh, her. Joy.” I shared her grimace and she laughed.
“You’ve met her.”
“I’m sorry to say I’ve had the privilege.”
Amanda snorted. “Glad to know I’m not the only one who hates her. Cass used to, but she’s been weirdly pro-Fleur the last few months.” She shook her head. “I so don’t understand it. It’s like she suddenly thinks Fleur’s the one for Oz. I swear she’s gone mad,” she whispered before addressing the room we were entering, “hey all, look who I found!”
“Lily!” Jax called out, jumping up and coming to hug me.
“Hello, birthday boy!” I laughed as he lifted me off my feet.
“And, what about me?” Austin smiled.
“Yes, hello to you, too,” I replied.
His hug was no less warm but a little less enthusiastic. I had a moment to see Fleur and Cass over his shoulder. Fleur ignored me well and good, but Cass gave me the worst hidden stink eye in the history of passive-aggressive stink eyes. Hunter was nowhere to be seen.
“Williams is in the billiards room, playing with himself,” Amanda said.
“Thanks for the crotch update,” I chuckled and she laughed.
“I’m sure he’d be quite pleased to hear his crotch was being discussed,” Austin said with a grin.
“Come and sit down, Lil, and help yourself to some food,” Amanda
said, taking my hand and leading me to the couch. “I’ll go and see if Williams is done.”
She hurried out, throwing a smile back to me.
“The Military College boys didn’t stay long this year,” Fleur said to the room.
“About as long as usual,” Cass replied, eating a chip.
“I imagine some people are quite missing them.” Fleur looked at me quite pointedly, and seemed to be waiting for me to answer.
“I suppose so.” I shrugged. “Though, I can’t really imagine why.”
“Really? Cass here told me you were close to one of them in particular.”
I looked to Austin then the door I’d last seen Amanda go through. “Did she? I can’t think who she might have been talking about.”
“An Australian boy. Liam someone?”
I looked up quickly as Amanda walked in. Her face was pale, but I seriously hoped she hadn’t heard Fleur’s big fat mouth.
“Uh, Williams is...playing another game,” she said, looking around at us.
I stood up quickly. “Mandy, why don’t you ask him if he’ll take the both of us on. Although, perhaps don’t use those words...” I smiled as I realised what I’d said.
She grinned. “No, I imagine he’d have a field day with that.”
“Best not let him get too excited, or he’ll be unbearable. I’ll just grab a drink and meet you in there.”
Amanda looked around the room again, then nodded and left.
“I’ll come and show you where the drinks are,” Cass said, looking at me with a slightly evil smirk.
Wanting a word with her anyway, I indicated she show me out. I caught Austin’s eye as I walked out. He was looking at me in thanks and I motioned for him to stay put. He looked at me questioningly and I nodded. His look told me he was appreciative. I smiled and followed Cass out.
Cass led me to the kitchen.
“You certainly didn’t dress up,” she said as she opened the fridge.
I blinked at her. “Wow, Fleur really turns on your bitch mode, doesn’t she?”
She smiled at me. “I don’t know what you mean, Lily. Beer? Wine?”
“Beer is fine, thanks.”
She got two out and passed one to me.
“Watch yourself tonight, Lily. Be sure not to bat above your average.” She started to walk past me and I blocked her path with my arm, anger flaring.
I was so sick of her and her wankiness. I was sure she’d put Fleur up to mentioning Liam before. How much of the whole deal Cass knew, I didn’t know. Still, it seemed super poor form to mention Liam in front of Austin, let alone where Amanda might hear.
“I assure you, Cassandra Morley,” I hissed, “I could buy Rosings dorm rooms for Anne and my whole family, and still have enough left for a house in town, if that’s what I wanted. That I don’t feel the need to flaunt my money around or spend it on worthless crap merely goes to show how little I care about your status symbols. You just be sure you don’t give anyone cause to mention Liam again, ever. Quite aside from the fact that Austin doesn’t want to hear his name at his birthday party, I doubt anyone needs to hear that shithead’s name again. I can promise you, if I ever hear his name from yours or Fleur’s lips, you will seriously regret it.”
When I’d met Cass, I’d assumed her weird behaviour was because she had a thing for Austin and was jealous that he spent more time insulting me than her. When I’d found out she was his cousin and had no interest in guys, I assumed she just hated me because I was poor and not good enough for her precious posse. Now, I saw she was jealous...but it was because she liked me.
She was looking at me, stunned and obviously trying to keep up her look of detachment. But, behind the false disdain and shock, she looked at me the way Jax and Anne had looked at each other after they’d been separated, she looked at me the way Austin had looked at me when I rejected him, she looked at me like someone looking at the person they loved and would never be with.
I had a sudden panic attack while I wondered if I looked at Austin like that now.
Jarred and awkward, I pulled away from her, not sure what to say.
Cass saw something on my face, though I don’t know what, and her face hardened, her smile rueful. “You’re telling me your family’s rich?”
I fidgeted, hating the way that had slipped out. “If that’s what you take from that statement.”
“You’re telling me, Claire and Daniel Brewer could put their children in Rosings, but stuck them in Longbourn?”
I fidgeted some more. “I didn’t say that.”
“What?”
“I really don’t see how it’s any of your business where my money comes from.”
“So, you’re rich then?”
Her tone pissed me off more, like it mattered. She sounded like she’d just realised I was wonderful; conveniently, moments after she’d heard I wasn’t some pauper.
“I’m not sure what you classify as rich, Cass. I couldn’t afford a place like Pemberley, certainly, but I have money.”
“What could you afford? A place like Celia’s in town?”
“Oh my God, so none of your business, but yes.”
“So, why are you in Longbourn?”
“Because I don’t care where I sleep as long as I have a bed. I’d much rather share a dorm with a kind and loving person on a scholarship like Anne than be stuck with a miserable snob like you. Now excuse me, I owe Amanda a game of pool!” I was yelling by now, but I so didn’t care. I had no idea why I was even trying to justify myself to that bitch. That I couldn’t access the money until I graduated was unimportant right now.
I turned on my heel and stormed back to the sitting room.
“Lil... Hey, you okay?” Jax asked as the door crashed open.
“I... Uh, sorry. Yes, fine.”
“There you are!” Amanda popped her head into the room. “Williams is waiting and said he’d play with himself again if you didn’t hurry up.”
“I’d rather wait for you, Lily, but you leave me little choice!” I heard Hunter call and smiled despite myself.
I was still pissed at him, but playing pool with him was certainly the lesser of two evils.
“Yeah, one game, then I should get back to my aunt,” I said.
Amanda pouted and I knew she’d spend the whole game trying to convince me to stay. I couldn’t though, not after I’d yelled at Cass, let slip the secret not even Dad knew, and had to contend with the look of utter contempt Fleur was expertly not trying to hide.
I couldn’t even look at Austin at this point.
“We’ll have words!” Amanda warned me.
I laughed shakily. “You break and I’ll consider listening to them.”
She grinned and bounced back into the other room.
Cass walked in behind me, not bothering to avoid bumping into me as she walked passed me. We exchanged a look of pure hatred before I headed out of the room, finding a small hallway.
“Lily, wait.” Austin grabbed my elbow and I turned to him. “I, uh, thank you for…that. I’m not sure what Cass is playing at, but I can assure you she won’t get away with it.”
“I wasn’t about to sit by and let her be reminded of him. There’s nothing to thank me for, she’s a friend. It’s what friends do.”
He was giving me that look again, the one that studied me in some kind of wonder.
“Are you sure you won’t stay tonight?”
I sighed, “Oz, I really don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not?”
“I…may have yelled at Cass in the kitchen.”
Austin grinned. “I wondered why she looked like someone had pissed in her beer. But, seriously, don’t worry about her. Please stay.”
The look on his face seriously made me want to, but that was such a bad idea. We couldn’t be together and I would regret it if I tortured myself.
What had happened to the whole clean break idea?
“I…I have other reasons I should go.”
He cupped
my cheek. “Like what?”
I pulled away from him gently. “This is not a good idea, Austin,” I said quietly, smiling up at him apologetically and fervently wishing it weren’t true.
He dropped his hand and nodded. “I’m not going to push you, Lil.” He looked regretful for a moment, then smiled. “Now, I’m looking forward to watching the two of you beat Williams!”
“Oh, I’m not sure about that.” I smiled as he showed me the way to the billiards room.
Chapter Forty-Six
“Lily didn’t look great tonight, did she, Austin?” Cass said as she and Fleur walked into the kitchen while I was hunting around for more chips.
Lily had, thankfully, left and wasn’t around to hear Cass be an epic bitch. Unfortunately, I was still there. I was also thankful our guests were in other rooms.
“I thought she looked nice,” I replied.
Fleur shrugged. “I can’t say I’ve ever thought her to look nice. But, then it’s not like she has much going for her to begin with. She’s thin, and not really very pretty.”
“And, I can’t say much for her ‘pretty green eyes’ as I’ve heard them described,” Cass said, looking at me.
“They make her look all cross-eyed.” Fleur nodded.
I ignored them both, knowing Cass only wanted a rise out of me. But, I felt my mouth harden. Her not-outright attempt to rile Lily up with Fleur mentioning Anders was one thing, but this just bagging her in front of me was altogether unacceptable. There was, though, not really a lot I could do about it. The best way to make them bored of the topic would be to keep ignoring them.
“I remember when we first met her how many people thought she was pretty,” Cass said. “Austin, I do believe you once said she wasn’t pretty enough for you.”
I sighed, feeling my patience snap. “You know what, Cass? When I first saw her, she’d just travelled half a world. It has been a long time since I’ve considered her the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known.”
Netherfield Prep: A Modern Reimagining of Jane Austen's 'Pride & Prejudice' Page 30
