Beginning, Section II, Next Section
Part 7
"I'm so sorry Elizabeth... can we talk?"
" Frankly, there doesn't seem to be any point in talking Mr Darcy," Elizabeth replied coolly. She knew she was being narky, but was too cross to be otherwise. "There seems no room for discussion."
Darcy winced at her tone and the return to 'Mr Darcy', but had to allow for the fact it was deserved.
"Please Liz, can I just have a chance to explain... I know I seemed rude back there..."
"You didn't seem rude William. You were rude," was Liz's candid response. "And it was uncalled for."
Well, at least I'm back to William.
"Yes, it was Liz, and I'm truly sorry... I was unthinking, and I apologise."
"Fine then," Elizabeth responded tersely, without looking him in the eye. She was not about to let him off the hook that easily.
William searched for the words with which to continue. He was not used to having to give an account of himself to others, and Elizabeth was certainly not making this any easier.
"Was there anything else you wanted to say?" Elizabeth asked in her cool tone, after a long moment's silence, "or should we be going back?"
"Yes there was," William answered wearily, "but can we find somewhere to sit? It's a rather long story."
Elizabeth looked up at this. It had not occurred to her that there could be any reasonable explanation to justify his reaction that afternoon, but he seemed to think he had an excuse to offer.
Without speaking they found their way to a secluded bench, and sat down. Despite the fact that she was desperately trying to hold on to her anger, something about Darcy's face and manner was making it increasingly difficult for her to maintain her cold distance.
She waited quietly, looking out at the sky.
"I didn't mean to offend you..." Darcy began.
"This is not about me William," she interjected, finally looking him in the eye. "This is about Georgia. I really thought you would put her ahead of any enmity that exists between you and Rosings Grammar."
"It's her I'm thinking of," Darcy insisted, exasperation heavy in his voice.
Elizabeth didn't reply, but scepticism was obvious in her look.
"I don't know where to start..." he sighed, wishing earnestly that Elizabeth might cut him some slack. "I truly am sorry for my behaviour..."
"Oh... strewth!" Lizzy complained, unable to keep a slight glint of humour from her eye. "Don't you know that I'm trying to stay angry with you! You'd make it a lot easier for me to maintain this objective, if you stopped being nice and reverted to being 'Mr Arrogance' personified. Now I'm going to have to feel guilty and insensitive if I don't ease up a bit."
A wave of relief washed over Darcy as he realised Liz's anger was indeed diminishing, and that she was willing to give him a chance to try and explain himself. The difficulty was where to begin.
"Thanks Liz," he gave her a small, but grateful smile. "I suppose this really all started at the time that we lost our parents, or maybe even a bit before that."
Liz leaned back against the brick wall behind the bench, suddenly glad that she had not carried her coldness any further. This was obviously not going to be an easy story for William to tell.
"Georgia has always had a reserved nature, and through her early years at school she was happy with one particularly close friend. Just after she turned eleven however, her friend's family moved inter-state, and it was proving difficult for Georgia to break into a new group. It was then that our parents were killed in a car accident. It might sound odd, but there was suddenly a status attached to being a friend of this tragic young girl. Mum and Dad's death somehow gave her a perverse kind of celebrity... does that make any sense?"
Elizabeth nodded and indicated for him to go on.
"Well she soon found herself overwhelmed with attention from the more popular girls at school. They basically claimed her for their own."
"How long did that last?" Elizabeth asked.
"Oh, she held the sympathy vote for some time," William answered. "and by the time the novelty of her situation wore off she had become entrenched as one of their group, whether she fitted the profile or not. I don't think Georgia ever felt particularly secure with those girls."
At this point William lapsed into a long silence, while Elizabeth just waited for him to be ready to go on with the story. William wanted to go on, but though the larger share of his mind told him that Elizabeth would understand, a small fear persisted in telling him that in knowing what Georgia had been through, Elizabeth would only think less of himself as a guardian and supposed protector.
"I wasn't aware," he finally offered, "but as time moved on, and the girls became more involved in experimentation with the opposite sex, Georgia felt increasingly isolated. Apparently there were snide remarks about her lack of experience, and they found humour in the fact she felt uncomfortable around some of their more 'overt' boy friends."
Elizabeth well knew how nasty girls that age could be, and it didn't take much of an imagination to understand the unpleasantness of such a situation for a sensitive and bright girl like Georgia. None of the intended cruelty would be going over her head. This in itself might be reason enough for Georgia to wish to change schools, but Elizabeth had an ominous sense that there was a lot more of this story to come.
"I was aware of a disquiet about Georgia, but didn't know of its source." William continued. "I wish I'd pushed more, but she was more than reluctant to talk about it with me so I, foolishly it now seems, pulled back."
As Elizabeth sat quietly and waited for him to continue, she began to understand some of the weight of responsibility he felt for Georgia, and to feel how difficult it must have been for a single young man to deal with this kind of hurt in the life of a younger sister. After a long pause he went on.
"I felt really out of my depth when Georgia suddenly began receiving a number of phone calls from boys at home. I might have coped okay had she seemed happy about them, but she seemed more disturbed. Still, her unwillingness to talk meant that I was in the dark over what was happening."
"It was then that I received a phone call at work from an acquaintance who was the older sister of one of Georgia's peers... She was quite worried because she'd heard on the grapevine that as some kind of perverted joke, Georgia's nasty little rich bitch 'friends', were offering a substantial reward to the first guy who could 'lay' Georgia."
Elizabeth felt sick. "Did Georgia know this William?"
"No," he answered, looking away. "Though it seems she was one the few kids in her year who didn't know. She could sense enough to be uncomfortable, but couldn't quite put her finger on what was going on."
"So you pulled her out of the school?"
"Not initially. I went down to the school straight way, I wanted to find Georgia and talk to someone in the executive staff about what was going on. The difficulty was that I couldn't find Georgia anywhere. I approached the staff for assistance, and they in turn asked some of her friends, who seemed evasive or reluctant to talk. Finally someone said they thought she might be in the boarders' wing. I was upset already, but the reaction of the students to my appearance at the school, was giving me an even greater foreboding."
Elizabeth's increasing anxiety as he went on with his story was giving her a small taste of what the brother must have been going through as he searched for his sister.
"A few more inquires at the at the accommodations block..." he continued simply, "...directed me not to the girls' rooms, but to the male quarters, and in the end I found the room she was in quite easily by following her cry."
Elizabeth was so still that she didn't even know if she was breathing.
"I walked in to find her struggling against a boy who had her pushed up against the wall... his face against hers, and his hand half way up her shirt..."
"Oh William..." Elizabeth whispered. "I'm so sorry. I didn't understand..."
"Well, short of using mental telepathy, how could you? Maybe I should have told you sooner, but you see it's not really my secret to tell. I'd hate people thinking less of Georgia after finding out what had happened."
"How could anyone think less of Georgia?" Elizabeth exclaimed. "I can't see how anyone, by any stretch of the imagination, could consider this Georgia's fault!"
"She does," William said softly. "She blames herself for being naïve enough to let herself be alone left alone in that room with that Wickham boy."
"How did she end up there William?"
"I seems that her friends were becoming bored with the lack of action, and began 'pushing the suit' so to speak, of this Jeremy Wickham... he's as smooth as they come, a real charmer, butter wouldn't melt in his mouth. The girls kept arranging for her to run into him, and he'd pour on the charm... anyway Georgia didn't think he was so bad, so when Susan Young, one of her old friends, asked her to walk with her down to the boys rooms to drop something off to Jeremy, she really thought nothing of it. She wasn't even concerned when Susan left her alone in the room with Wickham, while she popped out for 'a minute or so' to catch up with someone else... Well you know the rest. It really frightens me to think where this might have ended had I not interrupted."
"Thank God you did... Oh poor Georgie... poor you..."
"Don't waste any sympathy on me Elizabeth. If I'd have been doing any good as a brother it never would have gone so far..."
"Are you kidding me William? For you to blame yourself is as ridiculous as Georgia blaming herself! Let the responsibility lie firmly where it actually rests. With those nasty and manipulative girls, and with that sleaze Wickham... I certainly hope they were made to pay," Elizabeth added, a little vindictively.
Darcy looked away, giving a short sigh.
"Oh, William. Don't tell me there's more to this... They were held accountable weren't they?"
"Actually, no," William said succinctly. "I found that the school was more interested in protecting it's good name and reputation than in dealing with the endemic problems that could lead to an incident like this in their school."
"Are you telling me that they took no steps to deal with this abuse?" Elizabeth was astounded, particularly given the extent of those implicated. For the school to tolerate students orchestrating an assault, to allow them to virtually run a book on who would be the first to effect a sexual violation, was inconceivable. What century did they think they were living in?
"It was worse than that Elizabeth," William replied. "The school turned things around so that Georgia was perceived to be disloyal for 'causing trouble'. Mrs de Bourgh carried on about how privileged Georgia was to be in the school, and about how disappointed she was that Georgia did not think more of the damage her accusation could do to the school as a whole. She made a huge point about the fact that Georgia has broken rules by being in Wickham's room, and even suggested that Georgia be disciplined for this disregard to the rules..."
Elizabeth was stupefied. "She what?!" Suddenly she was getting a great sense of Darcy's own anger. "The woman should be shot! Oh William, and to think I blamed you for being defensive at our first interview."
"Oh I deserved that blame Elizabeth. I should have at least listened to you before putting in the same mould as Mrs de Bourgh. I just assumed that I'd been called up because you'd found some deficiency in Georgia... and I thought she'd been through enough..."
Elizabeth found it hard to look at the hurt on Williams face, and put a hand comfortingly on his arm.
"You know William, though I wasn't inclined to think well of you after our first meeting, I had to give you credit as a loving brother, and knowing you better, I've only come to respect more your role in Georgia's life. You're performing a difficult role, very well indeed."
Darcy was more moved than he wanted to acknowledge, by her touch and her words, and he found himself unable to answer. Elizabeth could sense the vulnerability currently present in this usually strong and self sufficient man, and reacted instinctively in giving him a hug. She knew he needed one. Somewhere in the midst of the spontaneous gesture though, she became aware of different sensations arising in her at his proximity and warm, and beginning to feel somewhat vulnerable herself, she gently pulled way.
"She's going to be okay William," she said, needing to turn the focus back on Georgia.
"I'm really concerned," William answered, "pulling his thoughts back to the point at hand, "that this will reopen the old wounds."
"She's stronger that you think William, and she's surrounded by loving support."
"I'm worried what might happen if her new friends find out," William admitted, "and if they go to Rosings, it's very likely that they will."
"They know already," Elizabeth said.
"What do you mean?" William asked confused.
"Didn't you see how protectively the girls reacted to Georgia when I said that round two would be at Rosings?" Elizabeth answered him. "I'd put money on Georgia having told them."
"I didn't think she'd want anyone to know..."
"It's a sign that she feels safe with them. It's healthy William... it means she's dealing with it all... and you'll have to too. It's better in the long run to face things than deny them." Elizabeth smiled. "I'm sure we can work this problem with round two through with more positives than pain... I have to get back to the kids now, but can we talk some more later?"
"I'd like that Liz, I'd like that very much."
Chapter 8
A glance at her watch showed Elizabeth that she had been away from her charges for much longer than she'd thought, and though Chas was perfectly capable of making sure the kids got to the right room at the right time, she felt the need to be back before the afternoon activities got underway. With a quick apology to William she set off toward the auditorium.
William remained seated as he watched her fall into a easy stride. She moved with such a natural grace that she was a delight to watch, and he was smiling as she disappeared around the corner of a building.
Elizabeth didn't see William again until much later that afternoon, when he and Georgia slipped into the back of the auditorium to watch Longbourn's debating team in action. The competition was lively, and technique and humour were used to full advantage. Both the teams were of a much higher standard than in the earlier debate.
Glancing back, Elizabeth actually thought that Georgia looked far less distracted than William. Her involvement as the silent member of the debating team had given her a strong interest in the outcome of the debate, and the vague sick feeling she'd been experiencing since Elizabeth's mention of Rosings, retreated somewhat as her mind became engaged more fully in the performance taking place on the stage.
As Richard, the final speaker of the Longbourn team, moved to the floor, the schools were in a deadlock. Trying to pick who was in front would have been akin to splitting hairs. Georgia was confident of victory though. Richard was their secret weapon. Tall and good looking, he had an easy charm about his manner which united with a razor quick mind, to make him a surprising eloquent and insightful speaker. His understated humour was superb, and through the use of this, he managed to undermine most opposition, not just in debates but in life, in such a 'nice' way, that no-one could ever really dislike him. Georgia forgot her personal disquiet all together, and smiled as she watched Richard, oh so casually, make sport of the opposition, and cleverly push home their own side of the argument.
The adjudicators were not going to give their decisions until the final debate of the afternoon was over, so there would be a time of waiting, but the Longbourn team felt pretty good as they came off stage, and received congratulations for their performance from their peers, teachers and parents.
Richard received his share of the praise with a typical modesty. If he seemed a little distracted it was because he trying to see if Georgia was anywhere in the hall. With the heavy lighting focussed on the stage he'd been able to discern her in the crowd, and he hoped that the creative writing hadn't kept her from the debate to which she had contributed so much.
He smiled as he caught sight of her at the back of the auditorium, but felt a little exasperated as he recognised her brother sitting next to her. Though normally so confident about things, a particular desire (for some vague reason or other) to have Georgia's brother think well of him, made him feel a little nervous around the man.
Not to be put off though, he made his way toward the back of the hall, and greeted them both with a smile. Both he and Georgia were similarly gratified when William offered his hand to shake Richard's, and congratulated him on an excellent presentation.
"Thanks Mr Darcy. We put a lot of work into it, didn't we Georgie?"
Darcy was pleased to see Georgia's input acknowledged and appreciated, but he was not so sure of his feelings about this young man referring to his sister by the diminutive 'Georgie'. Before he had too much time to think on it though, his attention was directed elsewhere by the light touch of a hand on his arm, and he turned to see Elizabeth standing behind him.
"William, did you want to watch the next debate, or would you like to grab a coffee?"
"Coffee sounds wonderful," William replied with a smile, much to Richard's relief. It meant that not only would he be free of the scrutiny of the older brother, but that a seat had just opened up at Georgia's side.
~/~
Rather than pick up a coffee at the school canteen, William and Liz ducked across the road to a quiet little café. They talked about generalities to begin with, how the day was panning out, the debate, even the weather got a look in, before Elizabeth broached the pertinent subject again.
"How's Georgia going? I hope this hasn't all ruined her opportunity to enjoy the day."
"She's doing surprisingly well," William answered. "She said she found it a bit difficult to concentrate on the creative writing topic, but by the end of the debate she seemed to have put everything more to the side... and you were right. Her friends do know, and no-one thinks less of her. Apparently Anne is all empathy, Emily is plotting revenge, and Ellen is being the voice of calm reason."
Elizabeth laughed. "That sounds about right. I told you that no-one could blame Georgia. Did you ask her how she felt about next round?"
"No, I didn't have time to before the debate began. Do you really think that she could still be involved?"
"William, I'll perfectly understand if either you or Georgia decides she shouldn't go to Rosings, but I can't see any reason for her to drop out of the team entirely..."
"Liz," William interrupted, feeling again how much he had undervalued Elizabeth. "I still need to tell you how sorry I am for the way I've acted toward you from the start, over all this..."
"William, for goodness sake, enough apologising! Let's admit it. I was as presumptuous in my judgement of you, as you ever were in your judgement of me... and possibly with less cause. You at least took the time to admit you'd erred in your defensiveness, but I was too busy being offended to give it much credit. I'd boxed you within the first few minutes of that interview."
"You had good reason to Liz. There was no excuse for my behaviour..."
"No excuse maybe... but from what you told me this afternoon, you had a pretty understandable reason... but we didn't come here to argue over the greater share of blame attached our bad start... I just wanted you to at least consider whether it might not be better in the long run, for Georgia to actually face Rosings, rather than to hide. Hiding almost seems like an admission that she has something to be ashamed of, or in the least, something she needs to fear."
Elizabeth had spoken softly. It was not like she was arguing a point, or telling him what he should do, but rather that she was presenting him with an alternative to think on. Darcy looked across the table at her, her head was slightly bowed as she focussed on sugaring and stirring her coffee. A loose tendril of hair fell across her face, and it took self control not to lean across and tuck it behind her ear. He just yearned to touch her, to feel the softness of her hair and the smoothness of her skin.
Upon looking up, Elizabeth found herself under the scrutiny of William's intense gaze, and suddenly felt a warmth diffuse through her body. She spoke again to avert her self-consciousness.
"Maybe Georgia just needs a few tips on appearing superior and aloof in the presence of her former peers. It's not a bad protection sometimes," Elizabeth offered with a slight smile. "I know just the man to teach her some finer points disdainful coolness."
William laughed. "Do you really think of me as 'disdainful and aloof'?" he questioned.
"Maybe not William," she grinned back at him, "but take my word for it me, you do an incredibly believable impression of it when you want to!"
"Seriously though, Liz," William answered. "There is a protection in being withdrawn."
"And it's not always a bad thing William," Elizabeth replied, equally serious. "There is something in human nature that seems to make people hone in on any perceived vulnerability and exploit it. It's not right, it's just a fact. There's a fine line, but to be able to portray an appropriate amount of assurance and self respect is an invaluable skill, and it can be practised and engendered."
"So you think that it would be a good thing for Georgia to go to the round at Rosings?"
"Not necessarily William. If she doesn't feel ready to face Rosings it's fine. I'm just saying that if she's willing to be involved, she wouldn't have to face it alone. There are some perspectives and strategies that can be learned, that would give her a base from which to stand." Elizabeth looked up to see uncertainty in his eyes. "She's been fortunate to have your love and protection, and it's been entirely helpful and appropriate, but you're not always going to be able to protect her in the way you do now. Part of growing up is learning how best to face difficulties, and attaining a self sufficiency and independence."
"But she's not yet 16..." William protested, "...she's still a child."
"I've no argument with you there, but she won't remain one forever. I'm not talking about an overnight transformation, just the beginnings of a long journey."
William sighed and looked out to the distance. "Though my mind can accept what you're saying, my brotherly instincts are telling me something else." He gave a slight laugh. "This is hard Liz... there's just been the two of us for so long..."
Elizabeth didn't immediately answer, but slipped her hand over his, where it rested on the table, and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
"Take the time to think about it William. Talk to Georgia, and let me know what you want to do."
William knew Liz's gesture was just one of support, but he still felt a sense of loss when she withdrew her hand.
They walked back to the school in relative silence, and Liz was again pulled away by her responsibilities, as the day began to wind down toward it's end. The light was fading fast as everyone gathered in the auditorium to hear the announcement of the results of the day.
Everyone soon became aware that Longbourn High and St Joseph's, a local Catholic school, were drawing out far ahead of the rest of the competitors. Elizabeth was not surprised, as St Joe's contribution to the day had been of an exceptionally high standard. Both teams listened to the comments and finals scores on the edge of their seats, a cheer finally going up from the kids of St Joe's when they ultimately pipped Longbourn by a margin of only two points.
Though some of the kids were disappointed, Elizabeth was not at all put out, smilingly congratulating her students on a job 'brilliantly done', telling them they'd have another chance against St Joe's in a future round, before going over to congratulate the teachers of the winning school.
Three quarters of an hour later, things packed up, adjudication sheets collected and the host school thanked, everyone was finally on their way home. Liz finished chatting to a few of her remaining parents and students, before turning to farewell William, Georgia, and Emily, who was getting a ride home with the Darcys. She was relieved to see both William and Georgia looking relatively relaxed.
"It's been a big day girls," she smiled, "and you've been wonderful. Thanks for all your hard work."
"Thanks for your work Miss Bennet," Emily smiled. "We did okay, didn't we?"
"Sure did," Elizabeth grinned, "and did you notice we were one of the youngest teams here? Imagine how finely honed we'll be next year."
"Yes, most of the kids were 17, some even 18." Emily replied. "I think Richard is the only one of us who's 17. We've only three 16 year olds too. We'll have four by next round though," she said, looking at Georgia.
"Do you have a birthday soon?" Liz asked Georgia. "Anything exciting planned?"
"I was going to take her and her friends out to Dinner," Darcy answered, naming a very exclusive restaurant as his preferred choice, but both girls screwed up their noses at his suggestion, Georgia protesting that she still wanted the party at home.
"But Mr Darcy... it's her 16th! It's only right that she have a sleepover," Emily put in.
Elizabeth just had to laugh at the look of fear this produced on William's face, and couldn't resist putting in a dig herself.
"Yes William, a girl only turns 16 once. What kind of a brother are you anyway?"
"A very scared brother," William laughed. "How would I deal with a group of 15 and 16 year old girls for a night?"
"Oh, it wouldn't be just girls," Emily insisted, in for a penny, in for a pound. "The guys would have to come for the first part of the night..."
William looked across at Liz, hoping to find some support, but all he could find was amusement in her eyes.
"I just think that as a single male, it might not be seen as appropriate for me to supervise a sleepover."
"Oh..." Emily sighed, having to recognise the difficulty, but suddenly brightening as an idea occurred to her. "Miss Bennet... you could come along as a chaperon couldn't you."
Elizabeth suddenly became aware that not only Emily was looking at her expectantly, but also Georgia. She glanced up at Darcy, who now had the amused expression on his face.
"It looks like you've managed to get yourself entangled in this too," he stated with a raised eyebrow. "Well, what do you think?"
"I'm game if you're game," she grinned, as cheers of victory came from Emily and Georgia.
"What have we gotten ourselves into...?" William passed as an aside to Elizabeth.
"Well, I'm going to be off now," Liz smiled, before I get roped into anything else.
"Where are you parked?" William asked, knowing that there was no all-day parking close to the school.
"Only a few blocks away," Liz answered, unconcerned.
"Do you mind if we walk you to your car?" William asked. "It's rather too dark now to be walking the streets on your own."
"I'm fine Will, you probably want to be getting home yourself."
"I'd bee happier if I could see you safely to your car," William insisted.
"Give up now Miss Bennet, it'll be easier in the long run" Georgia smiled. "I know what he's like when he goes into protective mode."
"Okay then," Elizabeth relented with are laugh, "Are you coming?"
"Actually, can Georgia and I wait with Richard and Jeremy, and you pick us up here?" Emily asked. "My night vision is terrible."
William was disinclined to argue with anything that gave him an opportunity for some more time alone with Liz and consented, allowing Liz to lead the way as they left to walk to their vehicles.
"Liz," William began, after they had strolled for some time in silence, "thanks for saying you'd help out with Georgia's birthday... I shouldn't have put you on the spot like that."
Liz laughed. "I think it was more Emily than you William, and honestly... I'm happy to help... Georgia has become rather special to me over the last few months..."
They talked only intermittently for the next few minutes, Elizabeth finding it a little difficult to concentrate on the conversation due to the number times that William took her arm, or placed his hand on the small of her back to direct her.
When they reached the car there was an awkward silence as they each, feeling acutely aware of the other, looked for the right words for parting after such an intense day.
Liz looked up at William, and was again able to read uncertainty in his eyes. Incorrectly assuming he was again thinking of Georgia, she placed a hand on his arm.
"Are you okay William?"
William gave her a small smile, taking her hand in his. "I'm fine Liz," he said, not completely honestly, as he fought the urge to pull her into his arms. Elizabeth looked at him a little quizzically, her lips turned up slightly at the corner of her mouth. He knew that he wanted to claim those lips as his own, to feel their pressure and their warmth... but an insecurity in him told him it might not be the time or the place.
"Again Elizabeth, thank you," he said quietly before placing a soft kiss on her cheek, and walking away into the night.
Part 9
Elizabeth sat quietly in her car for some time, before pulling away. The day had been exhausting, both physically and emotionally, and the drive and adrenaline which had held her up whist facing the demands of the day, were making a ready retreat, no doubt believing they had already gone above and beyond the call of duty during the course of the last few hours.
She knew there were things she needed to think on and sort through, about the day as a whole, about Georgia, and about William... but her brain-cells were resolutely refusing to co-operate. Instead, all she could muster were feelings of emotional agitation, and a vague insecurity.
The last few weeks had introduced her to a very different William Darcy to the one she had met on their first encounter, but had not completely dispelled the image she had initially formed of him. For Elizabeth there had been a kind of safety in holding on to a picture of him as proud and judgmental, as it provided a her with a protection against becoming drawn to him on anything above a friendly and professional level. His disclosures of that afternoon, however, had put his behaviour at that first interview in a very different light, and somehow, with the removal of her negative assumptions came an acute sense of vulnerability.
Elizabeth could no longer deny that she was attracted to the man. Who wouldn't be? He was intelligent, sensitive, well informed, possessed of a wry sense of humour, and (there was no denying it) incredibly good looking. She was however, unable to dispossess herself of the reasoning - which she had previously seen as reassuring - that a man like William Darcy's taste in women would lie in a somewhat different direction to herself. The thought that she may have taken some leaps in her reasoning at the time she'd come to this conclusion, and that she may have been fooling herself for the sake of her own comfort, didn't really occur to her. An idea established is often hard to dislodge.
As much as she would have liked to accept that some of his behaviour that day was an indication that he could have a personal interest in her, there were alternative explanations for all. The depth in which he shared with her could be solely out of a concern for Georgia, his touch on the way to the car might be merely an interest in her physical safety, and his kiss purely an expression of gratitude. She sighed as she put the car into gear and pulled out on to the road. It was all too much to think about.
Early the following week Liz was pleased to find a phone message from William, wishing to speak with her regarding Georgia's desire to continue with the team. Liz rang back, and a time was set for that afternoon so the three could talk the matter through.
The appointment at first exhibited the restraints and awkwardness attached to the bare setting of the school's interview 'lounge', and the contrived perimeters of a formal interview. It didn't last long though, thanks mainly to Elizabeth's natural and easy manner, and also to the friendships that had already been established.
Elizabeth was proud of Georgia's decision to face the round at Rosings. In some ways she seemed to be dealing with the matter with more confidence than her brother. Elizabeth could not help but be touched by William's concern for his little sister, and found herself in a position where she needed to offer as much reassurance to him as to her.
After discussing the issues involved, Elizabeth moved on to some more practical advice on how to cope with the day.
"The thing is Georgia," she was saying, "that your attitude and reaction to your former companions will make all the difference. You can show them that they still have power over you, or you can show them that they are impotent in any further attempt to put you down. I think you're showing incredible maturity in being able to distance yourself enough to accept that what went on at Rosings was a result of their deficiency and not your own, but I understand that it's harder to act on what you know, than it is to accept things intellectually."
"Frankly Miss Bennet," Georgia said with a reluctant smile, "as much as I don't want to play the victim, I'm terrified. It might be best just to stay out of their way."
"Oh please don't," said Liz. "There's no reason you should let them mar your day by making you adjust your behaviour around them. I know it will take a huge amount of bravado and self control, but if you neither seek them out nor avoid them, if you can be civil, without being either warm or cold, it will quickly show them that they can't affect you. It's a matter of being able to project an appropriate amount of self sufficiency."
Georgia looked a little doubtful.
"I suppose Georgia, it's a matter of acting on what you know as opposed to what you feel. You can practice it, learn how to do it, and seriously, there are a few little tricks that you can learn to help you."
"Like...?"
"Like how you hold yourself, and how you look at people. A tall posture can project a positive image of yourself, and let people know that you're not hiding. Looking people in the eye tells them that you're not afraid of them - even if underneath you really are. If you can force yourself do these things, it can make a huge difference to how others perceive you."
"It's probable the girls will be snide," Darcy threw in. "Do you really think this will be sufficient in the face of overt nastiness?"
"I'm not saying that it'll make everything perfect William, but it can really make a difference, but in the face of overt nastiness you can always step things up a bit."
"In what way?" asked Georgia, intrigued a little by the faint look of mischief in Elizabeth's eyes.
"Well, I personally prefer the look of 'knowing amusement'," Elizabeth smiled, "It can infuriate people when they're trying to be clever, but your bother's look of choice is one of 'barely disguised disdain'... maybe that one comes more naturally to a Darcy."
Georgia laughed as William protested Elizabeth's image of him.
"It can be fun too..." Elizabeth went on. "I'll throw a couple of insults at you and you can test it out. Are you ready?"
"As I ever will be," Georgia replied.
"Well... I must say that's an interesting dress you have on today," offered Elizabeth in a snide tone.
William had to admit to being both amused and impressed at the look Georgia threw back at Liz. It mirrored perfectly one that he'd seen on Liz's face on a number of times since they'd become acquainted. Georgia lifted an eyebrow and looked Liz straight in the eye, her mouth turned up slightly at one corner, as though enjoying a private joke.
"Do you think so...?" she answered calmly.
"Whoo hoo!" Liz laughed, "You're a natural." She looked across at William shaking his head, his amusement obvious.
"You're not wrong Elizabeth," He replied with a grin. "I think I've been letting her spend too much time in your company. Well Georgie... how about holding up the Darcy side with a look of cold disdain?"
"How's this?" Georgia laughed before schooling her features into a look that implied William was little more than excrement on the bottom of her shoe.
"By jove, I think she's got it!" William laughed out loud. "I've never been so afraid in my life... Suddenly I'm not feeling quite as ill at ease with the prospect of round two."
Part 10
The day of Georgia's birthday party was on them almost before they could have credited it possible. Darcy had found himself right out of the loop as Georgia and her friends decided that they were quite capable of looking after most of the details of the themselves, and he found his major contribution to the night was going to be the financial one.
It may have been a slumber party, but William was amused that at 16 years of age there was still the tension between the desire for childish enjoyments, and the yearning to appear grown-up. The girls had decided that the 'Pyjama' part of the evening was to be preceded by a semi-formal dinner, and that nice dress was essential. Also, as Emily had pointed out previously, the male contingent was indispensable, and the boys were invited to stay until eleven.
William didn't know, but the more formal dress code had actually been introduced for his benefit, after Emily had picked up on an observation from Anne, that William had never encountered Miss Bennet in any thing but her 'school ma'am' outfits, or jeans and T-shirts.
The girls' scheming almost failed though, as they learned, on only day preceding the party, that as simply a chaperone, Elizabeth had considered herself exempt from the dress requirements. She was quickly informed however, that it "would ruin the whole feel of the night" if she didn't join in, and the girls didn't leave off until she had laughingly assured them of her co-operation.
As she dressed for the evening she reflected on the fact that she really didn't mind the excuse to dress-up in front of William. Though not of a nature to indulge in personal vanities, Elizabeth did know that she was attractive, and knew that when she made the effort, she could look very good. If she hadn't noticed this herself, the reaction of many of the male of the species would have let her know, as she'd never had difficulties in gaining the attentions of men, though she'd discovered that on the most part, she really didn't want them.
She accepted now though, that she didn't feel that way about William's attentions. She didn't mind them at all, but she was vaguely dissatisfied with the notion that they were all centred around Georgia. It was not that she regretted any time or attention given to Georgia, it was just that she wouldn't have minded if William had moved further to extend a more personal interest in herself.
William finished dressing some time before the guests were due to arrive, and he wandered down to the entertaining area where the girls had spent all afternoon making everything 'just right'. He had to admit he was impressed by their work. The food which William had ordered in was ready to be served via buffet, but the tables had been laid with crisp white tablecloths and decorated with posies of lilacs, lily of the valley, and candles. Though the main lights were on at the moment, the girls had strung fairy lights across the room, and he could anticipate that the whole effect would provide a certain ambience.
He moved into the formal lounge area, dimmed the light, and put on some music to shut out the chatter and the laughter of the girls in Georgia's room as they dressed for the night. He craved a little quiet and solitude in which to think before the evening began. I wasn't the demands associated with the group of invading teenagers, playing on his mind though; it was rather the anticipation of more time with Elizabeth. He truly wished to be able to discern if her interest in him could be based on anything more than his role as brother and guardian to Georgia.
In all the contact he'd had with Elizabeth over the last few weeks, he had used the excuse of discussing Georgia's progress or Georgia's party as his reason for dropping in or phoning. He was not yet quite confident enough of his reception to try and push the relationship to a more personal level.
He was startled from his revere by the sound of the door bell, and sure that the girls would not have heard it above the noise they were making in the bedroom, he answered the door himself.
It was a huge credit to his self control that he could appear casual in the face of the vision that met him upon opening the door, even so Elizabeth could not miss the look of obvious approval in Williams eyes.
"Well William, I see the girls got to you to," she smiled, looking at his stylish attire, as Darcy ushered her into his home. "They were persistent, weren't they."
"Yes, they were rather, but more credit to them... Why, right at this moment I'm very much appreciating the results of their efforts," William smiled teasingly as he watched Liz remove her short jacket to reveal more of the dress which followed the contours of her figure, until it fell loose at the skirt so as to give it a cheeky swing as she walked. "By the way, the girls are still dressing. While you're waiting, would you like to come through and see what they've been up to today?"
William indicated that Liz should lead the way, and as he followed he had further opportunity to appreciate the dress which, though not indecently short, still afforded enough view of her legs for him to admire their length and shapeliness, and to give him a chance to wish she had dressed to please him rather than just to please the girls.
"They've done a wonderful job here," Liz smiled as she looked around at the girls' handiwork. "They seem to have been thoroughly enjoying all their planning and preparation over tonight."
"That they have," William agreed. "You're not regretting the loss of your Saturday night to spend time with the same kids you teach all week are you?"
"Not in the slightest. This is totally different to school. There I have a real position of responsibility," she gave William a teasing smile, "but here you're the one who will have to bear the brunt of everything if anything goes wrong."
"Thank you for such a comforting thought Liz," William grimaced back at her.
"Glad to be of help," Liz deadpanned.
The arrival in the room of Ellen and Emily interrupted any chance for more private conversation.
"You girls look gorgeous," Elizabeth grinned.
"Thanks," Emily answered while Ellen just smiled her appreciation at the compliment. "You look pretty good your self. Mr Darcy, did you see how beautiful she looks?"
"I do have eyes Emily," William said simply, causing Emily to grin and Elizabeth to colour slightly. She was glad that the entry of Anne and Georgia diverted the attention from herself.
The girls all looked so grown up, but the youthful excitement reflected in their eyes gave them a beauty far greater than that which their dresses and make-up could ever give them. Darcy looked wistfully at his little sister, and wondered how she'd grown up so much without him even noticing.
He walked over to give her a hug, and to whisper to her how much she meant to him. Her eyes teared up slightly at his words, and she thanked him again for the evening.
"Please don't thank me," Darcy smiled. "You girls did all the hard work, and I'm sure it's going to pay off with a wonderfully memorable night." He squeezed her again, but had to release her as the door bell rang for the second time.
Soon the house seemed to be teeming with teenagers. All of the Challenge team was present, along with kids from the youth group who Darcy had not previously met. With all the activity he lost track of Liz for a time, and was pleased when she found him a little later, standing back from the bustle and taking it all in."
"Aren't they a great lot of kids?" she smiled up at him.
"Yes... they are," he answered softly. "I think I'm having a crisis though, at how grown up they look."
Liz laughed. "It's only dress-up William. You'll feel much better when you see them in their school clothes on Monday morning."
"Georgia just seems so happy with everything Liz," William said, suddenly quite serious, "and so much of it is due to you. I certainly didn't know it at the time, but the best move I ever made was putting her into your school."
"It's nice that you think so William," Liz replied, in her self-consciousness trying to keep her voice light, "but I think the credit should go to Georgia herself; she's quite a remarkable girl, and to yourself, who's been her safety line all these years."
William smiled at her. "You're undervaluing yourself you know."
"Look who's talking," Liz threw back at him. "I doubt there are many brothers who'd have stood alone and dealt with such a responsibility as well as you."
It was now William's turn to feel a little self- conscious and he deftly turned the conversation to matters concerning the evening.
"Speaking of responsibilities, what do you think is expected of us tonight?"
"My suggestion," answered Liz, "is we stay around for the meal and take the chance to mix with the kids, then we make a retreat to give them a bit of space. At this age they don't want us hanging around all night. If I remember well enough from my teenage years, the trick is to not be intrusive, but to put in an occasional appearance to remind them that you're still there."
"Sounds like a good plan to me," William smiled, as it gave him far more scope for time alone with Elizabeth, than he'd earlier hoped for.
The 'dinner' part of the evening went off wonderfully. William had ordered in more food than anyone could have hoped to eat. The first courses were by no means wanting, but the desserts were all that was rich and decadent.
Elizabeth, slipped easily in the role of helper, and assisted in the clearing of the tables and the stacking of all the dishes in the kitchen. Georgia stopped her from going further by washing up, with the information that William actually had hired some cleaners to come in the morning, so that Georgia could enjoy her night without feeling she should be helping others in the kitchen.
After William finished packing away the extra chairs and tables, and the kids began dispersing in different directions around the living areas of the house, he approached Liz and asked if this was the right time for a tactical withdrawal.
"I think so," Liz answered. "Is there anywhere to go? Everyone seems to have spread themselves out pretty well. Do you have any place private with a T.V?"
"Well... there's always my bedroom..." William answered, a bit surprised at himself for venturing such a solution, but Liz just laughed.
"Yeah, that'd look great wouldn't it?" she grinned. "I can just see the parents reaction on arriving to pick up the boys and asking where the adult supervision is."
"Well, then..." William answered in mock reluctance, "...I suppose we might have to resort to the use of my study , but it may not be as comfortable."
William lead the way to his personal domain. The study was tastefully decorated, but definitely a male's room, one end of which was dominated by a large desk and bookcases, and at the other end a more personal sitting area with a sound and television unit and, Elizabeth quickly noted, a cosy two-seater lounge.
Quite atypically, Liz suddenly felt a little shy, and to cover her feelings asked William if he had T.V guide.
"Second draw down in the desk... No not that one..." he said as she pulled open one to see a street directory. "... the one on the right hand side."
Elizabeth easy found the guide, but an quick examination of it proved it to be last week's, and William recalled he'd taken the current one to his bedroom.
"I'll just be a minute," he said as he disappeared out the door, leaving Elizabeth with a chance to take in the room more fully. The first thing she noticed was a photograph, obviously taken some years back, which included the whole Darcy family. She was still examining it when William came back into he room.
"You look so much like your father," she said to him looking up. "Do you mind me asking when the photo was taken?"
"Exactly five years ago tonight. It was actually our last 'event' as a whole family," William answered, steeling himself now for the inevitable questions about his parents accident and how he'd coped with their deaths. "It was taken on Georgia's 11th birthday. It seems like a lifetime away though."
Elizabeth's questioning however, went completely the other way, and he found her, instead of asking things about their death, asking about his parent lives, and about William's childhood and youth. They ended up sitting on the lounge looking through some old Darcy photo albums, with Liz popping out once only or twice to check in on the party. William lighted considerably as he was able to share with her reminisces of many occasions of his past.
A photograph taken of William and his father, at William's graduation, caused Liz to comment on how proud the father seemed.
"He wasn't concerned at all about you studying architecture instead of economics?" Liz asked.
"Not at all," William answered, "He always knew where my passion lay, and he was never the kind of man who'd try to push me into a mound in which I'd be uncomfortable."
"But you're doing his work now...?"
"I really had little choice. There was a gaping hole left in Dad's business, and somebody had to fill it."
"After five years you've not found any one else to fill it?" Liz asked.
"Well..." William tried to explain. "It was Dad's firm... he built it from the ground... It somehow feels like I owe it to him to take his place..."
"Even though he was obviously very happy for you to go in another direction...?" Liz asked.
William looked at his father's smiling face in the photograph, and didn't answer.
"I think it's about time I made another appearance downstairs," Liz commented, and left him to his thoughts.
When she reappeared William was putting the album away in the bookcase, and he looked across and enquired as to whether everything down stairs was kosher.
"Everything is fine," she answered with a roll of her eyes, light sarcasm evident in her voice. "They've just all paired off and are getting 'amongst it' in the corners... that is... except for the ones playing strip poker in the dining room."
"No need to be narky Miss Bennet," William smiled. "I'm an older brother... it's my responsibility to be over-protective. Don't think that I'm too far removed from my teen years to not recognise the look I see on some of those young men's faces. I'm particularly concerned with the appreciation that young Richard lad seems to have developed for Georgie..."
"So you've noticed too," Elizabeth grinned. "Don't worry... nothing untoward is going on, just a simple game of spin-the-bottle." William wasn't quite as sure that Elizabeth was teasing him with this comment as he had been with her earlier statement, but thought it might just be better for his peace of mind not to know. Instead his questioning took a different tack.
"So you see no great danger attached to a few kisses," he asked casually, though something about the way he looked at her made her wonder if there was something more in the question.
"Well... they can be a bit of fun," Liz answered cheekily, "Especially as there can be no heavy overtones or messages attached to a kiss that is just part of a game."
"I wouldn't know," William answered. "I never played it myself; as you saw from the photos, I went to an all boys school."
"You poor deprived thing," Liz laughed at him.
"I could make up for it now," William said, picking up an empty pepsi bottle from the waste basket, and spinning on the top of his desk.
Liz grinned at him. "Not much of a selection in this room I'm afraid William. I fear you'll end up having to kiss a pencil sharpener."
"Not necessarily Liz," he answered as he reached out to stop the bottle directly as it pointed to her. "Does this mean that you owe me a kiss?"
"I fear your understanding of the rudiments of the game are sadly lacking, Mr Darcy," Liz laughed as she walked toward him. " You see interference in the operation of the bottle is not usually tolerated, and the 'spinner' is normally required to kiss the 'spinnee', but as you're a novice we'll cut you some slack."
With that she simply stood on her toes and gave him a light and unhurried kiss, sliding a hand up his chest as she did so.
William's emotions reeled at the soft touch of her hand and the taste of her lips, and he would have pulled her closer for more, had not someone chosen that very moment to ring the doorbell, as they arrived to pick up their son.
William cursed softly as he had to pull away, to attend to his duties as the parties host.
As he walked down stairs it occurred to him that right now he could have been feeling on top of the world, if were not for the words Liz had spoken just before the kiss... there can be no heavy overtones or messages attached to a kiss that is just part of a game.
Part 11
A smile played at the corners of Liz's mouth as she noted William's annoyance at the interruption, and she watched him walk down the stairs with the smile growing somewhat broader. She knew better than to attach too great a significance to the light-hearted game that had just been played out between them, but it was certainly a move in the right direction, and it was nice to know that he did find her attractive as a woman.
Elizabeth took a moment to collect herself a little before following William downstairs, and determined to appear unaffected by what had just past. She was not going embarrass herself by acting like a schoolgirl over a kiss, despite how giddy she might actually feel inside. She'd given an indication of her openness toward William, and she now felt it was up to him to decide if he wanted act upon it or not.
After the relative quietness of the last hour or so, the house suddenly seemed full of activity with parents arriving to collect their boys, and the increased bustle of final conversations and goodbyes. Elizabeth hardly had time to throw a smile in William's direction before she was pulled off into conversation with some of her students.
As the Darcys were playing host and hostess to perfection with out any help from herself, Liz shook her mind free of her pre-occupation with William and gave the kids all the attention they were seeking. She did have room however, to notice that Richard, having his parent's car and therefore not reliant on anyone else for a lift, hung back whilst most of the noise and busyness was going on, and waited until even Darcy had moved off, before approaching Georgia to say his goodbye.
"William," Elizabeth said to Darcy, as he looked across to where Georgia and Richard were smiling and talking to each other, as though he were debating over whether he should interrupt. "Are you planning to sleep now, or would you like to choose a video to watch together?"
"A video sounds great Liz," William answered, finding himself distracted from his brotherly concerns over Georgia embarrassingly quickly. He didn't really care for a video one way or another, but he found the 'together' part of Elizabeth's invitation extremely attractive.
They adjourned to the video cabinet where an energetic debate then ensued over which would be the best to watch, William accusing Liz of a lack of depth in her taste due her preference for 'chick flicks', and Elizabeth laughing at William's more testosterone based choices. In the end an agreement was reached in the selection of Field of Dreams because Liz decided that the feel of the movie somewhat made up for the fact that it was set around the game of baseball. Before moving back upstairs though, they took the opportunity to tidy up things a little more, making the house look a little less like it had been hit by a tornado, and it was twenty-five to one when they finally moved back to the study.
With the diversion of occupation removed, Liz and William's thoughts again turned to an awareness of what had been occurring between them before the doorbell had disturbed their exchange. William experienced anew the exasperation of the ill-timed interruption. There had been something in the whole air and mood of that earlier moment that had made everything seem almost easy and right, but now the moment had passed and he knew that as much as he would like to, he could not just pick up where he'd left off. It was now an effort for him to appear natural in the face of the emotions he felt toward Liz, and he wondered at how she seemed to be handling to whole thing without any apparent ill-ease. Was it an indication that she had no serious feelings for him?
He watched her as she casually slipped off her shoes, and walked lightly over to settee. He still was coming to terms with the way her dress accentuated what, he'd already known, was a very attractive figure, and he fully appreciated that he was effected by the picture of increased femininity which her long hair let loose created, but it was when she looked at him with that impertinent intelligence in her eyes, and when she regarded him with that amused little smile of hers, that he really felt himself undone.
He'd never desired a relationship so much in his life, neither had he felt the risk associated with putting such feelings on the line, so as he seated himself at her side, though every fiber in him cried out to take her in his arms, his insecurity still restrained him and he accepted instead, just the light pressure of her thigh next to his, and the brush of her arm as she moved to seek out a more comfortable position.
Elizabeth's close proximity was as much a torture as a pleasure, and left him no real room for any attention to the film. Why couldn't she be more like the girls he'd dated, and make matters easier by thrusting herself at him a little? He'd known exactly where he'd stood with them. Admittedly though, and he smiled at the irony of the thought, he'd despised these other girls' overt behaviour as either too aggressive or a bit pathetic... still, he didn't think he'd mind at all if Elizabeth just gave him a bit more of an indication that she might be happy for things to go further.
It was as these thoughts still ran around in William's head that he felt the soft weight of Liz's head on his shoulder, but any idea that this might be the signal he'd just been wishing for, was quickly quashed by the realisation that she'd fallen asleep.
In his tiredness, a wave of emotion washed over him, and he shifted slightly in his seat so that Elizabeth's head now rested against his chest and his arm was released to go around her slender body. William's movement partly disturbed Elizabeth, and she instinctively turned to snuggle in closer to him, moving her hand up to rest on his torso, and letting out a light sigh before slipping back into the depth of her repose. William though, did not want to sleep. He wanted to relish the sensations created by this stolen closeness, to fully appreciate the warmth of her body next to his, the scent of the perfume of her hair, and the softness of her skin as he ran his free hand over the nakedness of her arm and left it to rest on her shoulder. Everything just felt so right.
It was about 6 am when William stirred to find that sleep must have inevitably overtaken him, and despite the stiffness created by spending the night in such a position, he remained hesitant to move and disturb Elizabeth who still lay against him. It was sometime later, and only on hearing some movement downstairs, that he became aware that he really should remove himself from this (albeit desirable) situation, so he gently, if somewhat reluctantly, extricated himself from Elizabeth, and slipped away for a moment only to return with a throw rug and a cushion.
Elizabeth stirred momentarily as he placed the cushion under her head, but then turned and drifted back to sleep once more. William smiled at how childlike she looked as he tucked the blanket around her. Her now tangled hair fell across the cushion, her long lashes rested against her cheek and, as always, a slight smile lay her on lips.
"Sleep well sweetie," he whispered before placing a soft kiss on her cheek and retreating to his room.
An intrusion by a few of the girls awakened Liz shortly before nine. They'd been in, found her asleep and returned downstairs, but their loud whisperings to the effect that they should not wake Liz up, did just the opposite.
She stayed lying still for a while, enveloped by a sweet contentment as recollections of a vague awareness of being held in William's arms, played through her mind. A slight disappointment that he was no longer there with her was allayed by the realisation that if he had remained, they'd be the gossip of the school ground come Monday morning. After indulging in her pleasant remembrances for just a while longer, she roused herself to walk downstairs to collect her toiletries and her change of clothing. She was greeted by the sight of a bunch of overtired girls, some of whom could scarcely raise a grunt, and some of whom had gone through the pure exhaustion barrier to come out on the side of overt silliness.
Elizabeth gave a perfunctory hello back to them, and asked Georgia which bathroom she could use, saying only a shower and coffee had a chance of restoring her to humanity. Georgia laughed and pointed her in the right direction, before returning to her friends.
William, in the en-suite bathroom, let out a soft expletive as the water pressure dropped upon somebody obviously turning on the other shower. He known that with this many girls in the house his chances of being able to luxuriate in a long hot shower had been slim, but he wished he'd had more than just a few minutes before the inevitable happened. He turned off the taps and wrapped a towel around his waist before returned to his room to continue to think over how he might move things forward with Liz.
He knew now that despite his fears that he had to take a risk. A full relationship with Liz was a prize worth pursuing at any almost cost. She was so much of what he desired in a woman... witty, intelligent, compassionate, beautiful... and on top of this there was something more; he was able to enjoy a real friendship with her and they had true communication. He thought back to the preceding evening and how much he'd been able to share with her of his childhood and his family. He'd never felt so free to be himself with any woman of his acquaintance, even those he'd known for years.
Apart from his vague uncertainties about how much she might really feel toward him, his main difficulties this week were practical ones. He was out of town on business until Friday, and after leaving Georgia with Anne's family all week he could hardly leave her alone Friday night in order to pursue a date with Elizabeth. Saturday was the Rosing's chapter of the Challenge, and his priority would have to be with Georgia on that day, and on Sunday was the Charity Ball.
The city's annual Charity Ball, was like a stone in his shoe, but as his company was a major sponsor he knew he had an obligation to attend. He hated the social politics and the schmoozing associated with the event. He also hated the fact that he felt like a man marked by certain of the female social set, and over the last few years had taken to escorting Georgia to the occasion by way of protection for himself. All this pushed any opportunity he might have to ask Elizabeth out, to well over a week away, and though he knew that in the grand scheme of things that this didn't seem long, he felt ill-inclined toward patience.
By the time William dressed and made his way downstairs, parents were already arriving to pick up some of their charges, and his duties as a host again began in earnest. In a momentary lull he was grateful to see Liz approach him with a steaming mug of coffee.
"Liz, you're a life saver," he said with a warm smile.
"On occasions such as this, coffee is ambrosia itself," Liz smiled back. "I know that I'm able to function a little better now that I'm half way through my second cup and I've had a shower."
"So it was you who stole my hot water earlier?" William complained, unable to stop himself from thinking that there could have been a far better way for them to share the water.
"Sorry," Liz threw back with a cheeky smile, not looking or sounding sorry in the least.
The bell rang yet again and William reluctantly moved away to open the door to Anne's mum. He ushered her inside and a long conversation ensued about the arrangements for Georgia to stay over that week, before Anne's mother left with both Anne and Ellen, as she was dropping Ellen home.
The fact that Emily still remained to be picked up, meant the house still was not its normal quiet self, and William marvelled that only one extra girl could still make such a difference.
Emily chattered on as all four adjourned to the kitchen so that the adults could again top up on coffee, and the conversation turned to the busyness of the following weekend. Georgia was developing a quiet confidence that she could face the day, and Emily was still plotting evil revenge, seeming to take any potential affront to Georgia more personally that Georgia was taking it herself.
"Then we've got the ball on Sunday Georgie," William commented, turning the conversation away from Rosings. "I hate that ball."
"This Sunday?" asked Georgia, a note of dismay clearly evident in her voice.
"Yes," William replied slowly. "It's always been on the 23rd."
"But it's the Rally on Sunday!" both Georgia and Emily cried together.
"And you said I could go," Georgia added. "We paid for it ages ago."
"Oh, you can go without her can't you?" Emily pled.
"He doesn't feel safe without me," Georgia offered, unable to suppress a hint of amusement in her voice. "If he goes alone he's open game for all the social harpies on the prowl, and if he asks someone to go with him they have 'expectations'. Isn't that right Will?"
"Then why not take Miss Bennet?" Emily threw in without giving William a chance to answer. "She's not a harpy."
"Emily, if he wants to, I'm sure William's quite able to find his own date for the evening," answered Liz, feeling that Emily's assertiveness was putting Will into an awkward position. As much as she'd like to go out with William, she wished for him to ask her because he wanted to spend time with her, not because he was forced into it. "Besides, those kinds of dos are probably a little high brow for the likes of me."
William, who had initially felt a freedom upon learning he might not be tied to taking Georgia on Sunday, was suddenly disconcerted by Elizabeth's reluctant reply to Emily's suggestion.
"But Miss Bennet," Georgia added her voice, not wanting this opportunity to pass her brother by. "It would get me right off the hook."
"I'd love it if you came with me," William added, remembering his resolution not to let his fears get in the way of working toward what he wanted.
Elizabeth looked around at the two girls' expectant faces, and at William's questioning one, and suddenly had a strange sense of déjà vu.
"This situation all seems strangely familiar," she smiled. "Isn't this how I got conned into this party?"
"But the party wasn't all that bad was it?" questioned William, holding her eye.
"...No," Liz answered, feeling a slight flush of warmth come to her cheeks. "It was not bad at all."
"Then you'll go?" Emily asked with a note of triumph in her voice.
"Yes, I suppose so..." Liz answered, pulling her eyes away from William's, and making a concerted effort to appear natural, "...if that's what William really wants."
"It's without a doubt what I want," William replied.
Part 12
Rather than go straight into Rosings upon her arrival, Liz waited for William and Georgia at the entrance. She was very aware that they would both require support through the day. No more than a few minutes had passed before she discerned them approaching, deep in conversation. They were quite close when William looked up to see Elizabeth waiting, and gave her a grateful smile.
"Ready to face the day?" she asked with a smile of her own.
"As ready as we're ever likely to be, aren't we Georgia?" William replied.
Georgia just nodded, feeling more tense than she'd anticipated. The security that she had derived from the attention William, Liz, and her friends had given her over the past few weeks, seemed almost an illusion now that she was facing the reality of actually being back at her former school.
The very presence of the place was recalling to her the feelings and insecurities she had suffered amongst these austere buildings, and though only yesterday her experiences at Rosings had seemed like a lifetime away, right now they were rushing back to her with a vengeance, threatening to make her feel physically ill. As if she had been reading Georgia's very thoughts Liz reached an arm around Georgia's shoulders and gave her an affectionate squeeze.
"It's different now honey, remember they don't hold any power over you," Liz whispered. "Just remember, act on what you know rather than how you feel. You're not alone."
Right at that moment, as though to confirm Liz's reassurance, Anne, Emily and Richard appeared around a corner and hailed Georgia with a warmth that brought to her such a sense of both relief and belonging that tears of gratitude threatened to break free. They did not go unnoticed by Richard, who though knowing nothing of the circumstances under which Georgia had left Rosings, had picked up enough of the vibe over the last few weeks to understand that something was not quite right, and he determined to watch out for Georgia even more than usual today.
They were soon joined by more of their fellow students and the demands of the day could be avoided no longer. Georgia couldn't decide whether she wished to put off seeing any of her old acquaintances for longer, or whether she'd feel better if she actually faced the inevitable. The answer to this was not long unknown, as sitting at the registration desk were Carol Bentley and Lucille Steele, two of her former peer group. She fought her desire to avert her eyes and pretend she hadn't noticed them, and with an external calmness that amazed her brother, looked across and greeted them with an even and indifferent hello.
"Well Georgia," Carol answered after recovering a little from Georgia's unexpected forwardness, "you're the last person I thought I'd ever see here again. We haven't heard a word from you since your rather hasty departure."
Richard was a little taken aback by the derision he heard underlying the tone of this girl's comments.
"Yes, it has been a long time... but there's an off chance though, that I may be able to catch up with you at some point during the day..." Georgia replied with a cold smile, indifference still heavy in her voice, and with that she moved off to talk with her friends. William wanted to go to her straight away, but he realised the importance of allowing her to appear independent, so he stayed where he was.
After picking up a copy of the timetable and leaving the coversheets to be distributed to the separate adjudicators, Liz could no longer hold in her pleasure at Georgia's handing of the initial contact, and she grinned across at the younger girl. Georgia, who's heart had stopped racing quite so much, and who was feeling a slight sense of triumph after her calm reaction, gave her a tentative smile in return, and walked across to exchange some quiet words with her teacher and brother.
Richard said nothing, but took everything in. It was not long after this incident that he noticed one of Georgia's former teachers had appeared almost apologetic or embarrassed in her manner when she'd come up to say hello to her; and that Anne, Ellen, and Emily often seemed to be in a close conspiracy around Georgia. The whole feel of the situation did not sit comfortably with him, and he felt a little uneasy as Georgia and Anne left the larger group to find the room where the creative writing was to be held.
The bulk of the challenge group now moved to the preparation area backstage in order to make ready for the drama section. It was from this point on that the teachers had to leave students to their own talents, and being the oldest member of the team the role of overseer fell to Richard. In making sure everyone knew what was expected of them, he forgot his disquiet for a short while. It was only after he was sure that everything was covered regarding the drama, that he recalled his unease upon finding Ellen and Emily in conspiracy again, Emily obviously very angry, and Ellen trying to calm her down.
"Well," Richard asked after coming up unnoticed behind the girls, causing Emily to jump. "Is somebody going to tell me what this is all about?"
"What what's all about?" Ellen answered innocently.
"Don't give me that crap," Richard replied. "It's obvious that there's major tension here today. Is Georgia okay?"
"Oh, and here I thought you were worried about me..." Ellen replied with a raised eyebrow. "...Well Richard.... it looks like you have a fan club again," she continued in an overt attempt to turn the subject, pointing out a group of Rosing's girls who were checking him out with all the subtlety of a brick.
"That's some of them again," Emily said snidely, ignoring Ellen's look that clearly was telling her to shut up about everything in front of Richard.
"Some of whom?" Richard asked
"Some female dogs," offered Emily coyly, a little too caught up in her own feelings to let the subject drop just yet.
"It's nothing big Richard," Ellen said firmly giving Emily a silencing glare. "Don't worry about it."
Richard knew Ellen well enough not to try and push matters any further at that point, and moved away. The matter however, remained in the forefront of his mind, and on Ellen stepping out to get some drinks from the canteen about 15 minutes later, he took his opportunity to approach Emily while she was on her own.
"What makes you think that they're b*******?" he asked her nodding across at the girls on the other side of the room.
"I don't think it Richard. I know it!" Emily replied.
"They don't look that bad," Richard commented as he looked across and caught the eye of a tall, leggy, albeit a little tarty, looking redhead who gave him a smile that was definitely a come-on.
"Yeah," Emily shot him an angry look, "Then what would you think of a group of girls who'd set up a friend with a sleaze, knowing full well that he was going to try to 'jump' her?"
"They did what?!" Richard asked tersely.
"You heard me," Emily answered. "They set Georgia up, and if her brother hadn't walked in at the right time who knows what might have happened. Apparently they thought it was a huge joke."
Richard felt cold and shook his head, but not in disbelief. This quite definitely explained what had been going on; Georgia's tentativeness and lack of warmth with her former friends, William's protectiveness, and Miss Bennet's extra encouragement and concern.
"Thanks for letting me know," he replied, outwardly unmoved, but there was something in his very calmness that seemed threatening, and made Emily wonder if it might not have been better for her to have kept her mouth shut.
"By the way..." Richard asked, "...what was the name of the boy involved? Is he likely to be here today?"
"Jeremy Wickham," Emily answered in a subdued tone. "I believe he's the second speaker on their debating team."
~/~
Rather than stay in the auditorium to watch the first few plays, William had chosen to wait for Georgia in the grounds outside the creative writing classes. Liz would have liked to have checked on him herself, but she really needed to keep an eye on what was going on inside, and was being kept busy sorting out some small difficulties that has arisen due to the programme over-lapping somewhat, so she sent Chas out to check on him.
Darcy was unsuccessfully trying to concentrate on a novel when Chas sat himself next to him. William certainly welcomed the distraction and the two settled into an easy conversation.
"Oh, I meant to say..." Chas offered after they'd been talking a while, "...how annoyed I am at you for asking Lizzy to this ball thingy."
"You have a problem with me taking her?" William queried.
"No problem at all with that," Chas replied. "It's the 'dress' business I have a problem with. Janie has been down visiting for the last week and I lost two afternoons with her just so she could go shopping with Lizzy to help her find the 'right' thing to wear."
William tried to be sympathetic to Chas's loss, but it was hard when he was actually feeling rather pleased to find out that Liz had gone to an effort over their engagement for the following evening.
"You know that you can't really blame me for it," William admitted to Chas. "I didn't ask her out, Emily and Georgia did. I'm still not quite sure if she'd have consented to go with me had the girls not pressured her into it."
"Are you perfectly serious?" Chas looked a little surprised. "I had an impression that you two were getting on rather well together lately."
"We have been," William replied, "but I haven't quite been able to put my finger on where we really stand. I don't know whether our friendship is based primarily on her concern for Georgia, or whether she might actually be interested in me. She's not as easy to read as other women I've known."
"Well, if you're waiting for her to throw herself at you you'll be waiting a long time," Chas laughed, "but never the less, when it comes to reading her, she's like a book."
"How so?" William asked curiously.
"Well..." Chas explained, "If she doesn't want someone, and they make a move, I can tell you right now that they're left in no doubt as to exactly where they stand!"
"So you think that there's hope in the fact that she's not soundly given me the brush off?"
"Hope indeed," Chas told him with an optimistic smile. "You meet the Ice Queen pretty quickly if you try and take things where she doesn't want them to go."
"Yes, I think I had some glimpses of the Ice Queen early in our acquaintance," William grimaced. "I'm not sure whether I should be feeling encouraged right now, or downright afraid."
~/~
As the Longbourn team gathered for lunch Elizabeth could already feel that some of the tension had lifted. William's relief at how well Georgia had handled the morning was tangible. Though he knew she was carrying every bit of anxiousness that a sensitive person inevitably feels in such a situation, she had carried herself though the morning with a palpable sense of dignity. Sensibly she's stayed close by her friends, but she'd neither avoided eye contact or the occasional exchange of words with her former friends. He was sitting back observing his sister when Elizabeth approached and summed up a lot of what he was feeling.
"She's quite a girl, isn't she?"
"That she is," Darcy replied with a smile. "I've always known she was special, but I never knew that she had this much strength."
"Darcy genes maybe?" Elizabeth offered. " How'd your week away go by the way?"
Darcy felt a distinct pleasure that on such a day Elizabeth would even take the time to be interested in the mundane of his life, and did take the opportunity to share with her some impressions of his previous week. They were soon joined by Chas, and continued in comfortable conversation throughout the break, finding themselves surprised that the afternoon sessions came upon them so quickly.
Elizabeth stood up and gave her pep talk to the kids, reiterating how proud she'd been of their mornings performance, and pointing out yet again that the object of the game was not to win, but to work together as a team and to do the best they could do. In light of what she had just said William couldn't help but laugh as she sat down next to him and said in lowered tones of the Rosing's team, "We're going to whip their scrawny little butts."
The group then disbursed in the requisite directions, William walking over to Georgia and telling her he'd meet her in the auditorium when she finished her second writing session.
William was not the only person who was looking for Georgia's return to the auditorium at the end of the session. Richard, on noticing that Anne had entered the hall by herself, quickly approached her to ask where she was.
"She was just behind me with Martin," Anne replied, suddenly looking a little concerned. "Martin, where's Georgia?"
"She left her pencil case behind," Martin replied. "She's just gone back to the room to get it. Say's she'll only be a minute."
"I'll go find her," Richard said to Anne, before leaving the hall immediately.
"What was that about?" Martin asked, a little bemused. "I hope he doesn't take too long. His debate's due to start in 20 minutes.
Richard felt a real disquiet over Georgia being left alone, and his long strides took him to the other building without any waste of time. Upon entering the building he realised his disquiet had not just been a paranoia. Georgia stood in conversation with the group of girls who'd been so overtly checking him out backstage earlier in the day, and the snide nature of their comments could not be missed.
His respect for Georgia though, grew in the face of the way she was coolly reacting to their ill-natured attack. He heard her indifferently deflect a couple of nasty comments on her new friends and Longbourn High, and decided that it might presumptuous to rush in now, as though she needed rescuing. The next turn of the conversation however, made him wish he'd intervened immediately.
"I still can't believe that you were such a frigid B**** with Wickham," the red headed one was saying, while the others smirked. "Do you know what it took to set that up?"
"Yeah, you're hardly likely to get any other offers that good any time in the near future," Carol joined in.
It took every piece of self control for Georgia to maintain her calm exterior, but she managed a cool reply, whist seeking a way in her mind to get past these girls, without making a fool of herself.
"I think I'm quite capable of looking after myself without your ill-conceived assistance,"
The sense of relief she then felt on hearing Richard's friendly voice as he appeared around the corner, was immeasurable.
"Hi Georgie," I was wondering where you'd disappeared to," he smiled as he walked up to her side, and casually took her hand in his. "Are these some of your old friends?"
"Ah, yes..." Georgia answered vaguely, Richard's touch actually managing to discompose her more than the girls nastiness had. "Richard this is Susan, Carol, Lucille and Belle."
"Well, would love to stay and chat," Richard said insincerely, "but we need to get back for the debate, coming honey."
With that he led Georgia from the hall way, whist making some soft and, on the most part, unrepeatable comments on the girls they had left behind them.
Georgia said very little until they were almost back to the auditorium, not knowing if she were feeling more overwhelmed by Richard's protectiveness, or by her acute awareness of his touch
"Thanks," she said quietly, "We're well away, you can stop pretending now."
Richard just gave Georgia a grin, and gave her hand an extra squeeze.
"Who's pretending?" he asked.
~/~
Richard reluctantly left Georgia at the entrance to the hall, and returned to the area behind the stage where a lot of the team were waiting for the Longbourn debate against Rosings. He'd not been long back when the girls he'd just been introduced to entered the area and sat down with the two boys who were on the Rosings team. Richard continued to re-read his notes and paid little heed to their too loud giggling and silliness. If they wanted to draw attention to themselves it was the last thing he was about to give to them.
He was right in his assumption that they were seeking attention. The fact that Georgia seemed to have linked up with this sumptuous looking guy had not made the girls happy, Susan Young especially. After about 5 minutes of being ignored by Richard, Susan dragged Carol out to the ladies.
"I don't know how someone like him could be interested in Georgia," she said disdainfully "They must be pretty starved of competition over there."
Carol laughed. She always took pains to agree with everything Susan said.
"So what are we going to do about it?" she asked Susan.
"I'm going to give him a better alternative," Susan answered whist re-applying her red lipstick, before moving on to touch up her heavy eye make-up. "I can't imagine that he'll have a thing for Georgia for much longer."
She stood back from the mirror to examine herself, before slipping her bra out from under her shirt, then looking at herself in the mirror again.
"Well, I think that should do the trick," Carol smirked as she followed Susan back stage again.
She returned to Belle and Lucille and began whispering to them as Susan slunk (I'm sorry, but there's no other word for it) over to squeeze herself in on the bench next to Richard.
"Richard was it?" she purred.
"Yes, and you're Carol aren't you?" Richard replied, deliberately misapplying the name.
"No, it's Susan," she giggled as she leaned over closer to him. "So you're on the debating team are you?"
"Yes," Richard replied shortly.
"Oh, I like men who can think on their feet,"
"That's nice," said Richard before returning to silence.
Susan felt a little uncomfortable, but as all of the Rosings team were watching what was going on, and now half of the Longbourn team, she would have felt it was conceding defeat to pull back, so she returned to action, stretching herself out languidly and pushing herself again against the thigh he'd withdrawn.
"I didn't know that you and little Georgia were an item," she said condescendingly .
"Why would you?" Richard answered coolly, wondering what it would take for this girl to get the hint.
"Well..." Susan pressed on. "I can't imagine you've known her for long, but I have, and there's lots of things that I could tell you about her."
No answer.
"I know that she might be a pretty kind of girl in some ways..." Susan continued.
"Quite beautiful I'd actually say," Richard interrupted, putting Susan off her stride yet again.
"Yes, but I have to wonder if you know that she's also quite reserved when it comes to the opposite sex... one of these pure little girls... I rather doubt that you'll see any real action with her."
The way she spoke the word you would have thought that the term 'pure' was dripping with obscenity. Richard looked at her with a calm incredulity.
"Of course I know that," he answered smoothly. "You don't imagine that there's any way I could be seriously interested in a slut do you?"
With that Richard stood up and walked over to join his other team members leaving, probably for the first time, Susan herself experiencing first hand, humiliation in front of her peers.
~/~
Neither William nor Georgia had been completely enamoured with the idea of watching a debate with a smooth and smirking Wickham as the second speaker for the Rosings team, but Georgia had been insistent that they should stay to support Longbourn to the end.
They both however, found the experience far more satisfying than they anticipated. Richard was undeniably a gifted speaker, and he typically used humour with finesse in order to undermine the opposition. Richard though, it seemed somehow lost his sense of humour in his rebuttal of the second speaker of the other side, and oddly enough slipped into a very clever, but overtly derisive and belittling style in dealing with Wickham's arguments, leaving him looking rather foolish.
William listened to his speech with a distinctly (he admitted) immature pleasure, and as Richard sat down he leaned across to Liz.
"I've always liked that boy," he said with a grin.
As this concluded the last part of the competition for the day, the Longbourn team all met out side to talk over the day whilst waiting for the call that the adjudicators were finished, and that the results of the day were ready to be announced. Most of the team and the parents were feeling very optimistic about the day, but among a number of members of the team there was a strong feeling that they didn't care where they came overall, as long as they beat Rosings.
The call to re-enter the hall came soon enough, and the nervous anticipation amongst the team increased. Liz and William were standing together silently at the back of the auditorium, as there were not quite enough seats to go around, when William was approached by an over-dressed and condescending looking woman.
"Good afternoon Mr Darcy," she said in a superior sounding voice. "So you found it impossible to stay away from this place."
"Mrs de Bourgh," William acknowledged her stiffly. "I'm here in support of Georgia and the Longbourn team."
"Longbourn!" Mrs de Bourgh snorted in amused derision. "Can't you afford better than that?"
"I can afford a great deal, as you well know Mrs de Bourgh, but there are some things that money just cant buy, and I've found that a good education is actually one of those things. Georgia has achieved more in the months she's been a Longbourn, than in the years she spent at this place."
"Of course she has," Mrs de Bourgh condescended before walking off, "It's not as though she'd have much competition among the class of children at Longbourn High."
Elizabeth looked after the woman with stupefaction clearly written on her face.
"Sorry Liz," William apologised.
Liz shook her head and threw a grin at William, "She's a walking caricature... she's so offensive it's almost amusing."
Further comment was cut off as the MC began announcing the scores for each part of the Challenge, and just as on the previous occasion it soon became obvious that Longbourn and one other school were pulling ahead... unfortunately that school was Rosings. Elizabeth, usually able to hold onto a pragmatism even in the excited anticipation of such occasions, could not hold onto her distance on this occasion. Every time Rosings slipped into the lead she felt a palpable dread, and her nervousness was such that she was actually having difficulty in comprehending any of the critical comment that was being given along side the results.
She was by no means the only member of the Longbourn team experiencing such emotions. This was not just an inter-school competition, this was personal. It was as though there was a collective holding of breath as the announcer moved on to the scores of the final debate. Longbourn had entered this round slightly in the lead, but as there was so much that seemed at sake, no-one was yet willing to feel confident.
The announcer, in the typical style of many in his position, chose to drag out the announcement of the final score, and he may have been fortunate that no-one invaded the stage to strangle him as he pattered and filled with all manner of irrelevant comment before eventually coming to the point.
By the time announcement was given that Longbourn had won, the tension had built to the point where the cheer and squeals that erupted were more than deafening, and Elizabeth was surprised to find that in her enthusiasm she had thrown herself into William's arms.
William, on looking back on things that evening, was not sure whether it had been the result, or Elizabeth's reaction to the result, which had given him the most pleasure, and his anticipation of time alone with her on the following evening only increased.