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Posted on Friday, 29 March 2002
March 11
Like a general commanding an army, Caroline Bingley barked orders at the paperhangers. She had been cranky ever since her attempt to get Darcy to accompany her to the opera had failed. Since the paperhangers were paid by her, she felt that gave her the right to take out her frustrations on them.
"Now, be careful of the match. And be sure that you make the corners straight. Start there, so that you make the most of the pattern and don't have awkward cuts by the windows. And don't drip water all over everywhere. Make sure your drop cloths are clean."
Each order was answered by a quiet, "Yes, Miss Bingley." Although she was a pain to work for, Caroline paid top dollar to her contractors. She could afford to-she charged her clients' top dollar. Many of her clients disliked her personally, but none could fault the job when it was done.
Molly Forth had just finished explaining this to Elsa Smythe, when Caroline entered Mrs. Forth's dining room.
"Ah, Miss Bingley. I was just telling my friend Mrs. Smythe what a good job your workers always do. Have you two met?"
"Yes, I believe we have," replied Mrs. Smythe. "How are you, Miss Bingley? Are you still seeing that man, Darcy, I believe is the name?"
"Oh, yes, he's a very good friend," confided Caroline in a tone of voice that implied that Darcy was much more than a good friend.
"What a coincidence, my dear. I ran into your Mr. Darcy at the opera the other night." Mrs. Smythe turned to her friend and rattled on, "Oh, Molly, have you seen this production of Traviata? It was delightful. And the young woman who was with Mr. Darcy made me laugh when she referred to the joke in 'Pretty Woman,' remember, in the movie, when she says something about Pirates of Penzance?' The opera they see in the movie is Traviata."
"Yes, Elsa, I have seen the production. Wonderful. It's such a tragic story, isn't it?"
"Indeed it is." Mrs. Smythe returned her attention to Caroline, "As I was saying, there was a young woman with Mr. Darcy, quite charming."
"That would be his sister. Georgiana is a lovely young woman."
"Georgiana? I don't think that was the name..."
"Oh it is, he has only one sister. She's slim, fairly tall, blonde-"
"Oh no, this wasn't his sister, then. The young lady I met is a brunette, both pretty and witty, as they say."
"Elizabeth Bennet!" Caroline hissed almost involuntarily.
"Oh, that might be right. Yes, Lizzy, I think he called her Lizzy. That's a nickname for Elizabeth, isn't it? So you know the young lady?"
"Yes." Unfortunately! "I'm sorry, but I really must be going. Mrs. Forth, the men should be finished hanging the wallpaper this afternoon. I'll be back tomorrow to inspect their work. If you find anything not to your liking, just call me."
As soon as Caroline was out of the house, Mrs. Forth turned to Mrs. Smythe and smiled, "OK, Elsa, spill it! I just know this is going to be a great story!"
So Elsa Smythe, pleased with her own performance, explained how Anne deBourgh had enlisted her in the plot to put Caroline Bingley in her place. The two women laughed all the way through lunch, unaware that their voices carried into the living room, where the paperhangers were enjoying hearing their employer get roasted.
Darcy returned to his desk after lunch and checked his email. He was surprised to receive one from Anne. The subject was "BINGO!"
We got her! Elsa Smythe and Millie Forth called me to describe Caroline's reaction to the news that you were at the opera with someone other than your sister. Elsa says that all she had to do was mention "brunette" and Caroline knew who it must be.By the way, according to Elsa, Caroline said that you and she are VERY good friends, in a wink-wink-nudge-nudge manner. Oh! I hope you aren't reading this just after lunch. (sorry) And Elsa also says that your Miss Bennet is quite charming, and that preferring Lizzy over Caroline is a "no brainer."
Elsa promises that any rumors she hears about you and Caroline will be quashed. She will say "Oh, no, I saw him at the opera with some other woman. I don't know who she is, but she looks like a front-runner to me." I know, I know, you hate to be the subject of gossip, but at least I got Elsa to promise not to name names, and I hope you're pleased that Caroline's wishful thinking regarding you won't be taken seriously.
Ah well, it's back to work for me-I've got a long paint analysis report to read, and you've got another million to make!
Darcy frowned at the thought of Elsa Smythe spreading rumors about him. But if she could contain herself to counter-rumors to stop Caroline's nonsense, it would be worth the embarrassment of being talked about. He forwarded the message to Lizzy and set about making his next million.
Caroline stormed into the office. She swept past the receptionist, who cringed when Caroline slammed the door to her inner office. About two minutes later, a crash was heard. The receptionist jumped when she heard the crash.
"Oh, dear, is she throwing things?"
The receptionist turned to the outer door, "Why, hello, Mr. Parker. How are you today?"
"I am just ducky." He held up a shopping bag, "I have something for herself. Do you think it's safe to go in?"
"Probably not."
"Oh, you know me, too stupid to be afraid!"
With a wicked grin, Dennis opened the door to Caroline's office. The first thing he saw was a wet stain on the wall. His eyes followed the dripping water down to the carpet and the broken flowers and bits of china that lay there. He turned to Caroline and gave her a saccharine smile.
"My goodness, Caroline, whatever have you been doing? I didn't know shot-put was your event."
"I, um, was startled, and the arrangement slipped out of my hand."
And it slipped all the way across the room? "I hope it won't stain anything."
She shrugged, so he continued talking.
"I have a nice cherry tea caddy. It's early Eighteenth Century. Didn't you tell me you were looking for one for a client?" He removed the wooden box from the bag and set it on Caroline's desk, after first making sure that she hadn't spilled any water when the arrangement had "slipped" from her hand.
"It looks nice."
"I got it at an estate auction on Saturday. I nearly missed it because I got there late. I slept in a bit because of being out late on Friday. You know, the opera."
"Oh, right."
"I didn't see you there."
"No, I, um, a friend was ill and I had to visit her."
Likely story. "How good of you to give up a marvelous Traviata to visit a friend. Mr. Darcy must have been terribly disappointed that you had to break the date."
"Yes, he was."
"I believe I saw him. What a lucky man to have a second brunette in line as a backup date."
"I think he said he was taking a business associate."
"Really? I wonder what sort of business they were toasting with champagne at intermission..."
"I'm busy Dennis. I'll talk to my client and see if she still wants a tea caddy and I'll let you know."
"Ooh, I can tell when I'm not wanted. Ta ta, Caroline." Dennis collected the tea caddy. As he left, he called over his shoulder, "You really should clean up that water, you know."
Dennis left the office whistling one of the arias from "La Traviata." Sadly, the gesture was wasted on Caroline, who wouldn't have recognized it as opera music if Pavarati himself had sung it.
Georgie and Kitty slid into the booth, followed by Chris and Sandy. They negotiated pizza toppings and placed their order.
"That was pitiful, guys. Next movie, the girls get to choose!" announced Kitty. Georgie nodded.
"The trailer looked good. How were we to know the movie wasn't that funny?" asked Chris.
"I didn't see the trailer," replied Kitty, "But I suspect that all the funny bits in the movie were in the trailer. We would have been better just watching the trailer."
"Hey, deNiro can be funny. Remember 'Meet the Parents'?"
"I know, but he wasn't funny in this. Nobody was!"
"Eddie Murphy had some funny bits." said Sandy.
Kitty shook her head, "Not enough for a whole movie."
The pizza arrived and they changed the subject of conversation.
"So what are you doing for break?" asked Sandy.
"I'm going home to help some friends pack and then move to Pennsylvania. Then I'll stay out there for a few days. Steve is an old buddy, and he and his wife are moving because he changed jobs," said Chris.
"I'm going out to do a week of school observations," said Kitty.
"I'm going to enjoy the quiet on campus and study."
Kitty put her hand on Sandy's forehead. "Are you OK, honey? I thought I heard you say you were going to study during a vacation."
Sandy grabbed her hand and lightly nipped her fingers.
"Ouch!" she cried.
"I'm going to study techniques or reattaching severed fingers. If I need to practice, I'll come after you and use your fingers, Kitty!"
They all laughed. Then Sandy asked Georgie what her plans were.
Georgie shrugged, "I don't really have any. I think I'll go to Greenwich to spend a few days with my aunt and uncle. Just to get out of the city for a few days."
When Georgie told her brother that she was going out for a movie and pizza, he lost no time in calling Lizzy. As a result, he and Lizzy were finishing their dessert around the time Georgie was watching the tenth trailer before the movie.
"Dinner was lovely, Will. Mrs. R is a treasure."
"I'm blessed. My life is filled with treasures." Darcy reached over and took Lizzy's hand.
She smiled at him and sighed. She couldn't tear her eyes from his. They sat, gazing at each other, until the sound of footsteps got their attention. Darcy let go of Lizzy's hand and turned to the door just as Mrs. Reynolds stepped through it.
"Is there anything else that I can get for you?"
Darcy turned back to the table, "Lizzy?"
"No, nothing for me, I'm quite full. Dinner was wonderful, as always."
"Thank you, my dear. Crepes look impressive, but they're really quite easy. Perhaps we'll have another cooking lesson some time soon?"
"You're so kind! That would be fun."
"Whenever you want, just let me know. I'll leave you two, then." Smiling, Mrs. Reynolds picked up the dessert dishes and took them away.
Darcy stood and held out his hand, "Shall we?" Lizzy nodded and rose. Hand in hand, they walked into the living room.
They settled onto the sofa, and Darcy picked up the remote. "So, shall we see what's on?"
"We had a French supper, so maybe we should watch a French film."
"No subtitles, I'm feeling way too lazy to think. Here," he said, handing Lizzy the remote, "Check out what's on cable. If you don't find anything, check the videos."
Darcy smiled as he watched Lizzy expertly negotiate her way through the menus on the digital cable system. He was pleased that she felt at home in his apartment. He was amazed at how comfortable she seemed to be there, and at how comfortable he was in his relationship with her. With other women he had always needed to have plans-dinner reservations, tickets to a play, plans to go to a gallery. He had never dated a woman who was happy to simply ad lib an evening.
"Oh! I love this movie." She clicked on an Audrey Hepburn classic, "Two for the Road."
"I've never heard of this."
"It's old. Wait until you see the clothes. And Albert Finney was so young. Mmm, and the score. I just love the theme from this movie."
"What's it about?"
"Well, on a literal level, it's about trips the couple makes over quite a number of years. But they're interwoven, so it isn't chronological."
"This isn't going to go backwards like 'Memento,' is it?"
"No, it jumps forward and back. But it's easy to keep track of the time-just watch the clothes and the cars. And watch closely, because the cars pass each other as they cut from one trip to another. See!" She pointed as a tiny convertible passed the station wagon.
"And on another level, it's about the journey through a relationship. We see them when they meet, when they're first married, then a little later, and so on."
"This is a chick flick, right?"
"Will! I hate that appellation!"
"But it is, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"Are you going to cry?"
"No! I don't cry at this movie. There are only a few guaranteed-to-make-you-cry movies, and this isn't one of them. Now watch!"
They watched in silence for a while, then a line in the movie got Darcy's attention.
"Do you agree with that?"
"With what?"
"His line about people in restaurants. 'What kind of people sit in a restaurant and don't talk to each other? Married people.' That line. Do you think it's true?"
"I suppose it's true of some couples." Out of the blue, Lizzy remembered the nice woman who had spoken to her on Valentine's Day. "But it doesn't have to happen. Some couples can be married for years and years and still find things to say to each other."
Lizzy smiled as she remembered the woman who had commented on how happy she and Darcy had looked in the restaurant that night.
Darcy smiled as he thought about what Lizzy had just said. Married for years and years. That sounded good.
March 12
Darcy got to the office early and started in the stack of messages that had accumulated while he had been in meetings the previous day. He sorted them according to priority, decided that none had to be answered in the next hour, and turned to his emails. He groaned when he saw that he had twenty new messages. He skimmed the list of senders, and noticed Richard's name. He clicked on the message.
What's green and sits in the back yard?My next email will have the answer, plus a wonderful offer.
Darcy frowned at the email, then he remembered the joke. But he didn't know what the offer would be. He reached for the telephone.
"Fitzwilliam."
"Hello, I'd like to speak to Paddy O'Furniture, please."
"Darce! You got the joke. Good for you. Nobody else has called or emailed me yet. I just wanted to get everyone into the spirit of St. Pat's Day."
"Are you going home to be stuffed with corned beef and cabbage?"
"No. Actually, this year, I'm going to cook dinner for St. Pat's day."
"You? You mean you're going to get Mrs. R to do it for you."
"No. Well, OK, I was going to ask her to make soda bread. But I'm going to cook dinner. This is an easy one, Darce. You just throw the stuff into a pot and boil it. No sweat."
"Your mother will be crestfallen. You know how she likes to have her darlin' boy home for the big day."
"She's coming to dinner."
"Your father, too?"
"Yep, she's dragging him into the city, despite the fact that he doesn't like the city and he isn't Irish."
"Everyone's Irish on St. Patrick's Day, Richard."
"Not Dad. He turns determinedly English. So, will you come? The invitation includes Lizzy, by the way."
"I'll check with her and get back to you."
"Great! I have security things to do before Saturday, but I have Sunday off, so I can devote myself to cooking this dinner. I've already laid in a supply of Guinness. Do you know, does Lizzy drink stout?"
"No, she prefers ale-ambers, reds, like that."
"I'm sure I can find something in that line. Let me know if she's coming."
"Will do. Good bye, Richard."
Anne checked her email and found a second message from Richard.
What's green and sits in the backyard?Paddy O'Furniture! (patio furniture, get it?)
So be gettin' yourself into the spirit for St. Patrick's Day. 'Tis less than a week until the wearin' o' the green, you know. Sure and I'll be cookin' up a fine feast of corned beef and cabbage, with Irish coffee for dessert! So come to my thatched cottage on the 40th floor. I'll have the peat fire burning on the hearth, so I will.
RSVP. Significant others and best friends included in this invitation!
"Paddy O' Furniture. Sure and I'm bettin' that little Miami colleen told you that one, Richard."
"Anne? Are you all right?" One of Anne's colleagues had heard her mumbling to herself.
"Yeah, fine. Hey, Jason, what's green and sits in the backyard?"
"Paddy O'Furniture, of course! That joke's been around the block a few times."
Anne reread Richard's message. She looked at the list of recipients. He had invited Darcy (and Lizzy), Georgie (and Chris), and Mark (and his wife). Presumably best friends meant Kitty (and her boyfriend), and maybe Jane (and her boyfriend). And me (and no boyfriend). And Mother and Dad. And Aunt Sue and Uncle Matt. This could end up in a brawl to rival the one in "The Quiet Man."
She was about to reach for the phone when it rang.
"Anne deBourgh."
"I have your father on the line."
"Thanks." She listened for the click that indicated the call had been transferred. "Dad!"
"Hello, Annie. Did you get Richard's emails?"
"Yes, I did."
"And you're going, of course."
"I don't know, it will be all couples."
"Do you think Richard will have a date?"
"I don't know."
"Call Darcy. He can find out for you. I think I'll decline the invitation. It might be better for you, not to mention for Darcy and his young lady, if your mother didn't attend. Plus, there's the thought of your mother and Matt in the same room for an extended period."
"You're probably right about that. But I don't know if I'll go."
"Annie, are you still angry about the email from Miami?"
"I don't know. I mean, Richard is Richard. I don't suppose he'll ever change. I should be used to it."
"Oh, Little Girl, I don't like the thought of you trying to get used to being unhappy."
"I'm OK, Daddy."
Anne hung up the telephone and sighed. Downtown, in his office, her father did the same. Oh, Annie, he thought, When you call me Daddy, I know you're not OK.
Posted on Friday, 29 March 2002
March 16
Darcy, Lizzy, Richard, and Mrs. Reynolds stood in the kitchen of the Darcy apartment.
"No more Guinness until you mix the dough. Come on, young man!"
Darcy and Lizzy laughed at Mrs. Reynolds's ability to bark orders at Richard-and get him to follow them. Darcy took a long swallow of his stout, and licked the creamy foam off his lip. Lizzy watched him, and raised an eyebrow. He grinned back at her.
Richard caught the exchange and, in his best Irish brogue, said to Darcy, "And no patty cakes in the flour if you please, you two!"
Darcy groaned, "Oh, Lord, he's been watching 'The Quiet Man' again!"
"Hey!" said Lizzy, "That's a great flick. The only John Wayne movie that I really like."
Richard held his hand over his heart and gasped, "What? You don't like every John Wayne movie? That's it, Lizzy, we're through. I could never love a girl who wasn't a fan of the Duke."
"Back to your kneading!" ordered Mrs. Reynolds, causing Richard to miss hearing Darcy whisper to Lizzy, "I could."
Lizzy turned to look at Darcy, but he had already turned his attention to Richard and the mass of rye bread dough on the counter top. Richard was mashing the dough, but not kneading it properly.
"Mr. Fitzwilliam, you're doing this badly on purpose to get me to take over. But I won't. Miss Bennet, show him how."
"But I-"
"Nonsense, you watched me. And I know you were paying attention, unlike someone I could mention!"
Lizzy had been paying attention, and since she had watched Jane make bread, she had an idea of the action required. She dusted her hands with flour, and holding her hands up in the manner of a surgeon, gave Richard a look that said "step aside." He bowed and stepped back.
Lizzy pushed down on the dough to flatten it. Then she folded it and pressed down. She repeated the action, a bit awkwardly at first, but them more rhythmically.
Mrs. Reynolds beamed at her and said to Richard, "There, you see! That's how it should be done. You do that beautifully, Miss Bennet."
Darcy watched Lizzy work smoothly and confidently, a small smile on her face.
"That looks fine, Miss Bennet. Mr. Fitzwilliam, you knead it a bit so that you can see how the texture should feel."
Lizzy brushed the flour off he hands and took the glass that Darcy held out for her. She smiled her thanks and took a sip of the amber ale. They watched Mrs. Reynolds explain to Richard how to set the dough aside to let it rise.
"Right! Soda bread next." Mrs. Reynolds assigned the measuring to Darcy, the mixing to Richard, and the kneading and shaping to Lizzy. Richard stared at the implement the housekeeper handed to him.
"What is this?"
"It's a pastry blender. Work the butter into the flour with it." She demonstrated briefly, then left Richard to complete the task. He added the buttermilk that Darcy handed to him. Then he held the bowl out so that Darcy could dump in the raisins.
"That looks like more than a cup to me, Mr. Darcy," said Mrs. Reynolds.
He grinned at her, "You know how much I like raisins in bread."
Lizzy took over kneading and shaping the loaves. She put them in the oven and turned to Mrs. Reynolds, "How long?"
"Oh, about a half hour, forty minutes. Watch to see how they brown."
While they waited for the soda bread, Mrs. Reynolds showed Richard how to form the rye dough into loaves. She wrote down instructions for baking the bread and told him to take the bread home to rise slowly in the refrigerator over night.
Mrs. Reynolds started to assemble cups and saucers and plates. She loaded the crockery onto a tray and headed for the dining room.
"No," Darcy stopped her. He took the tray and set it on the kitchen table. "Why don't we have tea in the kitchen? And you're short a cup. If you're part of the cooking party, you must also be part of the eating party."
Lizzy smiled at Darcy. How had she ever thought this man cold and arrogant? He was kind and generous, and not afraid to get flour on his face.
Mrs. Reynolds tactfully excused herself for a moment.
"What?" Darcy asked, noticing Lizzy's smile.
"You," Lizzy replied. "You're so not what I thought when I met you. If some had told me last fall that I'd be standing here today, in your kitchen, looking at you covered in flour..."
"I am not covered in flour!" he said haughtily.
Lizzy giggled, "OK, not covered. But you have this adorable smudge." She took a towel and wiped his cheek.
He pulled her to him and kissed her. "If someone told me last fall that I was about to meet a woman like no other I've known..." he stopped when he heard the door to the apartment open and close. Lizzy turned to stack the mixing bowls in the sink.
"I'll take care of those, Miss Bennet," said Mrs. Reynolds as she emerged from the pantry holding a jar of a golden tan substance.
"What's that?"
"Thick honey. For the soda bread."
"Yes!" cried Richard. "I love that stuff. I almost asked for another posting to England just to have that on my toast every morning."
Ding! The timer reminded them to check the soda bread. Lizzy peered through the oven window, then turned to Mrs. Reynolds, who nodded and put cooling racks on the counter.
Mrs. Reynolds pulled out the baking sheets, and slid the round loaves onto the racks.
"There. Now these need to cool a bit. Why don't you sit down while I make the tea."
The four of them were finishing their snack when Lizzy's cell phone rang. She dug in her purse and looked at the number that was calling. It was a New York number, but she didn't recognize it.
"Hello?"
"Lissy? Ish Lydia."
"Lydia? Is that you?"
"Yesh, iz me."
"Where are you?"
"(mumble) stashum."
"What station? Penn Station?"
"No, pliece."
"Pliece? POLICE? You're at a police station?"
Hearing this, both Darcy and Richard jumped up.
"What station?" Richard demanded.
"What station are you at?"
"I tol' you. PLIECE stashum."
Lizzy lowered the phone and said, "She's at a police station, I don't know what one. She's too drunk to know!"
"Lisssseeee!" the whiny voice could be heard by all four people in the kitchen.
"It's Lydia, right?" asked Darcy. Lizzy nodded. Darcy held out his hand and she gave him the phone.
"Lydia! Pay attention. This is a friend of your sister's. What police station are you at?"
"I dunno."
"Is there a police officer near you?"
"Yeah."
"Then ask-"
Darcy frowned as he listened to the clunk of the telephone being dropped. Then a man's voice came on the line.
"Officer Marciano."
"Officer Marciano, this is William Darcy, a friend of the young lady's sister. Can you tell me that status of the young lady?"
"She is drunk sir."
"So I gather. I meant her legal status, is she under arrest?"
Before Darcy could hear the answer, Richard grabbed the cell phone.
"Marciano? This is Richard Fitzwilliam. I believe we met at one of the security briefings last week."
"Right, we did."
"Sounds like you're having a busy night. Is this Miss Bennet under arrest?"
"Not yet, we're still processing this bunch of Drunk and Disorderlies. You know, kids from the 'burbs, here to celebrate. Same old, same old. Only it's worse when it's on a weekend."
"Do me a favor and sit on her. Lose her paperwork? I'll be right there with her sister."
"Hey, I've got plenty more to process. But get here quick, sir, she's starting to sing again."
By the time they got to the police station, Lizzy was in a frenzy.
"I'll kill her, I swear I will. I will strangle her with my bare hands!"
"Lizzy," began Darcy.
"Don't you dare tell me to calm down! You'd be just as mad if it were Georgie."
"Madder," commented Richard, pulling up in front of the police station. "Here's the drill. You wait out front. I'll go find Marciano and collect Lydia.
Lizzy paced the main hallway while Darcy looked on helplessly. She had been right. If it were his sister instead of hers, he'd be the one pacing. So he fell in step beside her. She stopped pacing and turned to stare at him.
"What are you doing?"
"Pacing the hallway," he said innocently.
She was speechless for a moment, then went to him and threw her arms around him.
"I'm sorry, Will. I shouldn't bark at you. I'm just so upset at Lydia. She has no idea what she's doing. Oh God! Mom and Dad won't know where she is! I should call them."
"May I make a suggestion?"
"What?"
"Make Lydia do it."
"I doubt she'll feel any shame."
"Perhaps not, but if your parents hear just how drunk she is they may be more resolute about punishing her. Tomorrow morning, she'll be able to make it sound like next to nothing."
"Sounds like you speak from experience, Will."
"Not my own experience, but from watching others weasel out of trouble and punishment."
"By others, I guess you mean that guy who-"
"Lissseee!" Propelled down the hall by Richard, Lydia trotted toward her sister. "Hi! Look who I met at the party! Isn't he gorgeous!"
Richard rolled his eyes. Darcy couldn't decide whether to laugh or be disgusted. He settled on a neutral expression. Lizzy was disgusted enough for both of them.
"Lydia! Are you out of your mind?"
"Lighten up, Lissy!" She held up an air-sick bag, which the police officer had kindly pressed into Lydia's hand as she left with Richard. "Look! They had goodie bags at the party!"
"Wow!" breathed Darcy. "She really is loaded."
"Let's get her back to my place," said Lizzy. "We'll call my parents from there."
Lydia had been struggling to open the bag. Now that she had, she peered into it and frowned. "Hey! I have to go back to the party. Goodie bag is empty."
"Let's go!" said Richard, firmly leading Lydia toward the door.
"But party favors!" whined Lydia.
"Now!" ordered Richard, as Darcy held the door open. It took all three of them to get Lydia into Richard's car.
"Where are we goin'? Izzere another party? I wanna sing. Who knows an Irish song?"
"Shh, Lydia."
"Lissseee! Sing. When Irish eyes are smilin', sure it's like a normal day, and the lift of Irish laughter, sure, it sounds so, um..."
"Lydia!"
"Why don' you like my song, Lissy? It's Sain' Pad's Day. Errybody should sing."
"No singing, Lydia. Now, just sit there and be quiet!" snapped Lizzy. Darcy looked over his shoulder and frowned. Lydia nudged Lizzy.
"Who's he? I don' remember him at the party. Lissy, d'you know him? Can he smile?"
Darcy turned to face forward. Lizzy glared at her sister.
After a ten-minute drive that felt like ten hours, they arrived at Lizzy's apartment. Richard parked in front of the building and got out to help Lizzy and Darcy get Lydia out of the car and into the building. Once they were inside the building, Lizzy turned to Richard and smiled.
"You need to move your car. It's in a no-parking spot, and I think we've exhausted our supply of favors from the police for one night."
"Can you two manage her?"
"I think so," said Darcy.
Lizzy nodded and added, "Thanks, Richard. You saved her sorry butt. I hope she remembers enough to be grateful."
"I'll be going, then. Good night and good luck."
Lydia tried to follow him. "Don' go! Come back to the party!"
Darcy and Lizzy managed to drag Lydia into the apartment. They got her into a chair. Lydia looked around and began to whine.
"Lissy, where's the party? Hey, thish iz your place. No party."
"No party, Lydia." Lizzy picked up the cordless telephone and hit the button for her parents' number.
"Hi, Mom. Sorry to call you so late. Do you know where Lydia is?"
"She went to a St. Patrick's Day party. She's supposed to be home by midnight."
"I see. Is Dad there?"
"Yes, he is."
"Tell him to get on the extension."
"Lizzy, what is going on?"
"I want you both to hear this. Lydia is here with me. She was picked up by the police for drunk and disorderly. She's lucky that I have a friend who knows lots of police officers." Lizzy turned to her sister and held out the phone, "Here, wish Mom a happy St. Patrick's Day."
"Mommeee! Happy Sain' Pat Day! Guess what? I went to a big party in an office kinda place, and this really hot guy was gonna be my date but he left and now I'm here at Lissy's and she wouldn' let me go back to the party or anything. Oh! And I saw a girl who dyed her hair green, um..."
"Put your sister on."
"Daddeee! Hi! I know an Irish song do you wanna hear-"
"Put Lizzy on, NOW!"
"Here, Daddy's girl" Lydia held out the phone.
"Hi Dad. Lydia called me from the police station, and I got two friends to help me collect her. She is damn lucky that Richard could get her out before she was formally arrested."
"Who was she with?"
"I don't know. I'm not sure she does. But if her friends' parents call you to see if they're with Lydia, here's a phone number they can call." Lizzy relayed the information Richard had given her.
"Can you manage? Where's Jane?"
"She's at a party."
"Party!" chirped Lydia. Lizzy glared at her.
"Are you sure you can manage?"
"Yes. Call me tomorrow before you come to collect her. And bring aspirin. She's going to feel horrible tomorrow."
"I certainly hope so. A hangover is the least of her punishments, I assure you."
"Good night, Dad."
"Good night, Lizzy."
Darcy helped Lizzy guide Lydia into Jane's bedroom.
"Beddy-bye," giggled Lydia, flopping onto the bed. Lizzy removed Lydia's shoes and, with Darcy's help, rolled her over so that she was under the comforter, rather than on top of it.
"Lydia, the bathroom light is on, see?"
Lydia nodded vaguely.
"Do you need to go to the bathroom? Do you think you're going to be sick?"
"Am OK." She yawned. "Ooh, sleepy. When Irish eyes are..." Darcy and Lizzy left Lydia crooning softly to herself and returned to the living room.
Lizzy collapsed onto the sofa. "What a night! I am so sorry, Will."
"There's nothing to apologize for. Your sister needed you and-"
THUD.
"What now?" Lizzy ran to Jane's room."
"Ooops! Rolled over and fall down, go boom!"
Lizzy bent to help Lydia up, then thought better of it. She grabbed a pillow off the bed and stuffed it under Lydia's head. Lydia might have thanked her if she hadn't been snoring.
Lizzy turned and saw Darcy in the doorway.
"Are you going to leave her on the floor?" he asked.
"Yes. Serve her right if she's stiff tomorrow."
Darcy held out his hand, "Come here." He led Lizzy back to the living room and sat her on the sofa. He moved to sit behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. Gently, he began to knead her tense muscles.
"Mmmm, that feels good."
"Shh, just relax." He continued to massage Lizzy's neck and shoulders. She let her head fall forward and enjoyed the feel of his strong hands working on her muscles. After he felt the muscles relax, Darcy leaned forward and kissed the nape of Lizzy's neck.
"Better?"
Lizzy turned to face him. She leaned her head against his chest and murmured, "Mmm, much better. You're a lifesaver." She felt him tense. "What?"
"I didn't do anything. It was Richard who got your sister off the hook. I wish I could have done more to help. I felt useless."
"Oh, no, Will. You were there."
"That's all I was."
"No, I mean you were there for me. Just having you with me, it made a difference." She sighed, "I probably should go check on Sleeping Beauty."
"Do you want me to lift her onto the bed?"
"No! Let her sleep on the floor. It beats jail!"
When Lizzy returned to the living room, Darcy was on his cell phone.
"No, we got her to bed, well sort of. Lizzy got her shoes off and covered her...Yes, please do...I certainly hope she comes home in better shape...No, just for a while...Tell her not to wait up, though...Yeah. Oh, Richard? Lydia thinks you're hot. Good night!"
He looked up when he saw Lizzy, "Richard says no thanks to your sister."
"I should hope so. She's jailbait! And if you think Anne was ticked off about that email from Miami, she'd have a purple fit if she caught him with a sixteen-year-old!"
"I was just calling Richard to let him know how things went. Um, I thought I'd stay for a bit, make sure she's really down for the count?"
"She's out. But you're welcome to stay. I could make some tea, if you'd like."
"That would be nice."
She handed him the remote. "Here, check out what's on."
When Lizzy returned with two mugs of tea, she was amazed to see that Darcy was watching "The Quiet Man."
"Look! Your favorite John Wayne movie."
Lizzy snuggled next to Darcy. He wrapped his arm around her and asked, "You're really not a big fan?"
"I know it's almost un-American, but I'm not. He did lots of westerns, and I'm not crazy about westerns."
"I see. What a night for Richard. Having to reject two Bennets in one night. Lydia's too young, and you're not a John Wayne fan."
"What about you?"
"John Wayne's westerns are OK. I'm not crazy about the war movies."
"That wasn't my question."
"Ah. Then your question would be about rejecting Bennets?"
Lizzy nodded.
"I'm sorry to insult your family, but Lydia would definitely fall into the reject category. And Jane, of course, is taken. But that's all right. I have the Bennet I want right here. I don't mind that she isn't a fan of the Duke. I like her just as she is."
Posted on Friday, 29 March 2002
March 17
"Lizzy," Darcy whispered. "Wake up. You fell asleep watching the movie."
She yawned, "Oh, sorry, how late is it?"
"One-thirty. You should get to bed. I would have carried you in and wrapped you in your comforter, but then I would have had to wake you so you could lock the door behind me."
"Oh well, it's the thought that counts." She yawned again.
He stood up and picked up his jacket. Lizzy followed him to the door. He kissed her gently, then sighed.
"Sisters," he said regretfully.
"I know."
"Good night, Lizzy."
"Good night, Will."
Lizzy put out the lights and checked on Lydia, who was snoring softly as she lay sprawled on the floor, tangled in Jane's comforter.
Lizzy stood in the doorway to her own room, looking at the soft comforter on the bed. She pictured Will setting her down on the bed and tucking her in. And then what? She reined in her imagination. Of course he would have had to leave. It wouldn't do to have Lydia wake up to find Darcy in the apartment. Lizzy shook her head. Sisters, indeed.
Darcy looked up from the Sunday papers. "Good morning, Georgie. How was the party?"
"It was OK. It was strange to be at a party without Chris."
"I didn't realize he wouldn't be there."
"He has gone home to help some friends pack up their apartment for a move."
"That's a nice thing to do. He is very thoughtful. How are things with you two?"
Georgie shrugged, "OK, I guess. It's kind of like starting over. You know, when you don't quite know how the other person is going to react to something. But mostly we're good. Mrs. R said you had some excitement last night."
"Yes, Lizzy's sister was picked up for drunk and disorderly. Fortunately, Richard knew the police officer involved, so he got her released. She's going to have quite a hangover this morning."
"Excuse me," Mrs. Reynolds entered the dining room just as Darcy was finishing the story. "There's a delivery for you downstairs, Georgiana. He's bringing it up now."
Georgie ran to the door. She opened it just moments before a florist's delivery man stepped out of the elevator.
"Miss Darcy?"
"Yes."
"These are for you. Top o' the mornin' to you!" He handed her a bunch of balloons.
"And the rest of the day to yourself!" she responded, handing him a tip.
Bounding back to the dining room, Georgie called out, "Look what I got!"
She held a bouquet of balloons. Some were solid green; others were St. Patrick's Day balloons, including one in the shape of a shamrock. Darcy pointed to one that showed a snake with the universal slashed circle that means "no."
"What is that one for?"
"Oh, Will, you know-St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland!"
"And do we know who sent them?"
Georgie made a face at him over the card she was reading. "They're from Chris, of course. I wonder if it's too early to call him?"
Georgie and her balloons disappeared into her bedroom.
Darcy smiled at his housekeeper, "I hope she takes them up to Greenwich!"
In her room, Georgie reread Chris's note.
Happy St. Patrick's Day!I am sorry I can't be with you to celebrate, but I want you to know that I'll miss you. I hope you have a good time at your party, but please, if you want to dye your hair green, buy the wash-out stuff. Do NOT use Jell-O!
Love,
Chris
The note was written in his hand. Obviously, he had arranged this before he left. That made it all the more thoughtful. She reached for the telephone and dialed his cell number.
"Hello?"
"Chris! I got the balloons! They're great! Thank you."
"Glad you like them. I wish I could have been at the party last night. And dinner at your cousin's sounds like it should be fun, especially watching Richard and Anne maneuver Will and Lizzy while Will and Lizzy try to set up Richard and Anne."
"How's the move going?"
"It's a lot of work. I can't believe how much stuff people can acquire in just two years of marriage! Everything I own fits in the jeep."
"So tell me why I shouldn't dye my hair with Jell-O?"
"OK, you're going to think I'm an idiot. But the reason I know that you shouldn't do it is that I did."
"You dyed your hair green with Jell-O?"
"No, of course not green. Red and blue streaks. School colors. And I didn't do it. It was, um-"
"Who?"
"Nikki. A bunch of us thought it would be fun for the state championships, so we got Nikki to do it. We figured a girl would know how to dye hair. And guess what?"
"What?"
"She did! Know how, I mean. Or at least she said she did. But the thing is, Jell-O doesn't wash out."
"Oh, no!"
"Oh yes. You have to let it grow out."
"Did she do hers, too?"
"No. Good thing, too. Her hair was really long back then."
"You idiot!"
"Hey, I was fifteen. You do dumb things at that age."
"I guess so. Lizzy's sister was picked up drunk last night. She's about that age."
"She got arrested in the city?"
"Yeah, Richard got her off the hook, though. Will told me about it this morning. He was just about to give me the 'and don't you even think of trying that, young lady' lecture when your balloons arrived."
"I'm glad that I was able to save you from the Spanish Inquisition. Um, Georgie? You seem OK with my story about Nikki."
"Yes, I am. I promised you no more panicking, remember?"
"Yes."
"Well, I meant it. Please wish your parents a Happy St. Pat's for me. And good luck with the packing."
"OK. Bye, Georgie. Miss you!"
"Bye, Chris."
Lizzy frowned as she looked around the kitchen for her loaf of soda bread. Then she remembered that she had left it at Darcy's apartment when they had all rushed out to rescue Lydia. She was about to make toast when she heard Jane and Charles come in.
"Lizzy! Green bagels!"
"Shhh!" she ran to the door. "Lydia is still asleep."
"Lydia? What's she doing here?"
"Sleeping in your room, Jane. Hello, Charles. Go sit. Jane and I will get things together and then I'll tell you about last night's adventure."
Over coffee and green bagels, Lizzy entertained Jane and Charles with the saga of Lydia. When she described Lydia's belief that a sick-up bag was a party favor bag, Charles laughed so hard tears were streaming down his face.
"What did Dad say?" asked Jane.
"Basically, that she's toast. Putting Lydia on the phone was Will's idea. He thought that it would make Mom and Dad realize just how bad she was. And it worked. Dad was not amused. He's going to collect her this afternoon some time."
THUD. "OW!"
"Ah, I think Lydia is awake," announced Lizzy. She and Jane walked toward the bedroom just as Lydia emerged, dragging the comforter behind her. Her hair was tangled, her sweater was twisted oddly around her torso, her eyes were just slits, and she was limping.
"Good morning, Lydia," said Lizzy.
"Shhh! Don't yell," came the whispered reply. "Who moved the furniture during the night? My foot hurts."
Jane rescued her comforter and looked her youngest sister up and down. "Well, you look a sight. I think we need to start with a shower." Jane pushed Lydia toward the bathroom. Over her shoulder she said to Lizzy, "Get your robe. I figure if she slept in my room, the least you can contribute to this mess is a bathrobe."
Lizzy got her terry-cloth robe and handed it in through the bathroom door. Cries of "OW!" and No!" could be heard throughout the apartment. Jane emerged shaking her head.
"She didn't want to take a shower. She said the water hurts her head."
"Combing out that rat's nest of hair is going to hurt her head more. I didn't think she was that messy when we put her to bed. She must have been restless."
The water stopped running and Lydia emerged, swathed in Lizzy's robe. Her hair dripped water on the floor. Jane got a towel and started to dry Lydia's hair.
"Ow! You're pulling."
"Then you dry it." Jane thrust the towel at Lydia, who proceeded to blot ineffectually at her head.
"Do you think you can eat something?" asked Lizzy. "Maybe a little toast? Some tea?"
"A little."
Lizzy led her into the kitchen and sat her down while Jane fixed tea and toast. They left Lydia nibbling at the dry toast and returned to Charles.
"She must have had an awful lot to drink to be in such a state," he said.
"Not necessarily," said Lizzy. "She's young, and-I hope-hasn't had a lot of experience with alcohol. I just hope she has learned a lesson from this. I cannot understand people who go out and get totally blotto weekend after weekend."
"Haven't you ever been drunk, Lizzy?" asked Charles.
"In college. Twice. After the second time, I decided that the hangover wasn't worth the fun of being drunk. Actually, being drunk wasn't even fun. I don't see the attraction in it. Yet I had a friend in college who came to class every Monday, just as hung over as Lydia is now."
Lydia ran from the kitchen to the bathroom.
"Oh, dear," said Jane. "I guess she wasn't ready to eat something after all."
Richard felt terribly domestic as he removed the baking sheets from the refrigerator and preheated the oven. The corned beef was simmering gently, the cabbage was washed and cut, and the potatoes had been scrubbed. He looked at his list to see what else he needed to do. God bless Mrs. R, he thought as he scanned the "to do" list.
Richard dug through his CD's and found some Irish fiddle music that seemed appropriate. Then he checked the dining room table. While Darcy had been away at the office on Friday, Richard had borrowed Mrs. Reynolds, who helped him find a tablecloth and set the table.
Next, he moved to the living room, and picked up the bag from the dollar store. He'd had a ball buying silly things for the party. He pulled out green plastic top hats for the men and strings of green beads for the women. After he put the green cocktail napkins on the coffee table, he checked the water in the vase of green carnations.
Somehow, Lizzy and Jane managed to make Lydia presentable. She was still grumpy and wasn't sure she could keep anything down, but she sat in the living room sipping a glass of ginger ale.
Charles and Jane and Lizzy were reading various sections of the newspaper when the buzzer rang. Lizzy punched the button.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Lizzy, it's me."
"Hi Dad! Come in." She hit the button and walked to the door. Her father entered the apartment and swept her into a hug.
"Thank you for rescuing your sister last night. How is she?"
"Not exactly bright-eyed and bushy-tailed."
"Good, maybe it will teach her a lesson." He entered the living room and greeted Jane and Charles. Then he turned to his youngest.
"So, Lydia, how are you this fine morning?"
Lydia looked at her father for a moment, then looked down. Oblivious as she usually was to the feelings and moods of others, she could not miss the disgust in his voice.
"Hi, Dad."
"Can you survive the drive home?"
"I think so."
"Then get your coat and we'll go."
As Lydia was preparing to leave, Lizzy handed her the sick-up bag from the night before. "Here, you might need this on the way home."
Lydia looked at the bag as if she had never seen it before. Charles had to hide behind his quivering newspaper. After Lydia and her father had departed, Charles peeked over the paper.
"Lizzy, that was cruel."
"What, cruel? I was just thinking of the upholstery in Dad's car! It's not as if Lydia will remember her goody bag."
Richard checked his watch when he heard the doorbell. Someone was early. He opened the door to find Darcy and Georgie standing there. Darcy was holding a tray of tall glasses.
"Hey! You guys are early."
"We thought maybe we could help," answered Georgie. "Wow! The place looks good."
"Here, Richard," said Darcy, holding out the tray. "Mrs. R says to put a little whipped cream on each one, but do it at the last minute. Do you have room in the refrigerator?"
"Yes, I do, now that the bread dough is out." He accepted the tray and took it into the kitchen. When he returned, he handed Darcy a hat and placed a string of beads around Georgie's neck.
"Here you go, Gorgeous."
"Thanks, Richard. So, is there anything we can do? Is the table set?"
"Got it all under control. Sit, relax."
They sat and talked for a few minutes, and then the doorbell rang again. It was Lizzy. She hugged Georgie and kissed Darcy. Then she turned to Richard. Still holding Darcy's hand, she stood on tiptoe and kissed Richard on the cheek. As she did so, she felt Darcy's hold on her hand tighten.
"Thanks again for last night, Richard. You were a great help."
"I'm glad I was able to do something. It was lucky that the officer in charge was someone I'd met the other day. How's your sister this morning?"
"Hurtin' for certain. Serves her right, too. Will, your suggestion of letting her talk to Mom and Dad was excellent. Dad is going to lay down the law for this."
"Didn't you ever do anything like this, Lizzy?" asked Richard.
"I don't think I've ever been that drunk. I've certainly never been drunk and disorderly on a public street. And never drank when I was so young."
"How old is she, Lizzy?" asked Richard.
"She's sixteen."
"Ouch!"
"How did she get served?" asked Georgie.
"Who knows? I don't even know who she was with. She might have been with someone who had fake ID. Maybe she has fake ID of her own. I'll have to remind Dad to check that." Lizzy began to laugh. "She certainly had her punishment this morning. It took forever to get her fair fixed. Every time Jane went to brush it, Lydia said it hurt too much."
"I see," said Richard. "So, Carrie Nation, I take it you'll be declining a beer?"
"Hmph!" Lizzy huffed. "Certainly not! None of that carbonated transmission fluid you boys are drinking. I'll have some of-what are you drinking, Georgie?"
"Amber ale," said Georgie, holding up her glass.
"Yeah, some of that."
Richard's parents, his brother, and his brother's wife arrived together, followed shortly by Anne. They all greeted one another, and Richard handed out green hats and beads.
"That's sexist," said Anne. "What if I wanted a hat instead of beads?"
You can have mine," offered Matt Fitzwilliam. "I have no intention of sitting around in a green plastic hat."
Richard took the hat from his father and plunked it on Anne's head. It was too large, and slid down so that it sat just above her eyebrows.
"My, that's attractive," said Richard, as he tapped the top of the hat to drive it down a bit more.
"Hey!" Anne swatted his hand away. Richard went into the kitchen to get drinks for everyone, and Anne followed him. She leaned on the counter and looked at Richard. He looked handsome in his green turtleneck. It made his eyes, normally a hazel color, look greener. She took a step closer and held his chin in her hand.
"What are you doing?"
She turned his head left and right, "Checking to see if you're wearing colored contacts for the occasion."
"Certainly not. What an idea. Haven't you ever noticed the color of my eyes before?"
"Of course, Richard. They're hazel. But today they look green. I figure you're crazy enough to do just about anything."
"For the record, I am not wearing colored contacts. But I am crazy enough to do anything." Without missing a beat, he leaned down and kissed her. "Crazy enough for you?" he asked as he carried two bottles of beer and two glasses of wine to the living room.
A minute later, Anne followed him into the living room and sat near Lizzy and Will. Lizzy admired Anne's green blouse, and Anne complimented Lizzy on her green sweater.
"Well, if that isn't the thorn between two roses!" declared Matt, looking at the trio on the sofa.
"Thank you, Mr. Fitzwilliam," laughed Lizzy.
"I think I've just been insulted," huffed Darcy.
Kitty and Sandy, who had been invited by Georgie, arrived bearing gifts. Sandy had some Irish beer, and Kitty had brought shamrock cookies. Richard thanked them, introduced them to his relatives, and disappeared into the kitchen for more beer. As he returned to the living room with bottles for Sandy and Kitty and for himself, his mother frowned. He handed his guests their drinks and went to see what was bothering his mother.
"What is it, Mom?"
"How many beers have you had, Richard? If you're cooking, you can't drink as if you're a guest, you know."
"I'm fine, Mom. You know what Ben Franklin said. Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." He reached down to the coffee table and picked up another string of beads. "Here, have some more jewels."
Once he saw that his guests were comfortable, Richard returned to the kitchen to work on dinner. Darcy and Lizzy followed to help carry food to the table, and soon everyone was sitting in the dining room.
Richard lifted his glass and toasted the holiday, "To good friends and family. May the road rise up to meet you!"
Glasses were clinked and smiles exchanged, and then they began to eat.
"So, Richie," said Anne, who was seated near him, "When did Mrs. R sneak all this food across to you? Is there a hidden passage between the apartments?"
"I'll have you know, Miss Annie, I cooked all of this myself. Well, except the bread. I had help with that last night. I must thank you for your help with the kneading, Lizzy. You are a true proficient!"
"Last night?" asked Anne.
"Yes," Darcy interjected, noting Anne's discomfort. "Mrs. R gave us a baking lesson last night."
"What 'us,' Darce? Lizzy and I did the work. You just stood around drinking Guinness."
"I measured!" retorted Darcy.
"That's enough, children. Don't squabble at the dinner table," said Anne in her most governess-like voice.
Mark looked at his brother and grinned, "Nice tan, Richard. Loved your e-postcard." He stopped when Erica kicked him under the table. She had seen the change in Anne's expression, and wanted to forestall the snide comment Anne would surely make. But Anne said nothing.
Richard nodded, "It's great to get away to someplace warm in the winter. It feels so decadent."
"I know what you mean. Erica and I took a winter cruise a year ago. We felt very smug with mid-winter tans."
"You were so vain, Mark!" said his wife. "You went to the health club more often than usual after we got back, just so your friends could see your tan and be envious."
Richard gasped as if shocked. "Oh my goodness! I had no idea that my own brother could be so shallow! I must excuse myself and try to recover from the shock." Laughing, he stood up and began to clear the table. Georgie helped him.
Once in the kitchen, Georgie remarked, "Great meal, Richard." Holding out two empty plates she said, "You can see how well we liked it."
"Good, I am pleased with myself. So, how are you doing, Gorgeous? I'm sorry Chris couldn't come."
"It's OK, but I do feel a bit odd being the only single person at dinner."
"What do you mean? I'm alone, Anne's alone, so you aren't the only one without a date."
"Hmm," mumbled Georgie noncommittally as she returned to the dining room to collect more plates. Anne, now the only "alone" person at the table, got up and began to help Georgie. When Anne disappeared into the kitchen, Georgie lagged behind.
Anne set the plates on the counter and turned to Richard, "Do you want me to put these in the dishwasher?"
"No, just leave them. I'll take care of it," he said, not even turning to look at her. He was concentrating on spooning whipped cream on top of the pudding in the parfait glasses.
"Ooh, whipped cream!" Anne squealed, dipping her finger into the bowl. Richard grabbed her wrist before she could get her hand to her mouth.
"No you don't!" Laughing he pulled her hand up to his mouth and licked the whipped cream off her finger. He started to release her hand, then froze. What was that? he wondered, as a shiver ran down his spine.
Anne, too, stood still. She had started to pull her hand away, but Richard's grip tightened again, and she didn't fight it. They stood staring at each other for several seconds. Then a loud voice broke the trance.
Richard released Anne's hand and they turned back to their tasks just as Matt entered the kitchen.
"Did you remember to get some whisky for Irish coffee? That's the only worthwhile part of St. Patrick's Day."
"It's right here, Dad. And the coffee is just about done. Would you do the honors?"
"Glad to, son. Hello, there Anne. You're looking lovely tonight. That green blouse suits you. Brings out the blush in your cheeks." He kissed Anne lightly and set about making Irish coffee.
In the dining room, Georgie, Darcy, and Sue Fitzwilliam glared at Matt as he walked into the kitchen. Georgie sighed and shrugged, "Well, I tried to leave them alone."
"Like father, like son," grumbled Sue. Both blinder than bats sometimes."
Richard emerged from the kitchen carrying the tray of parfait glasses. "Mrs. R's special Irish coffee pudding!"
"This is delicious!" cried Erica. "Will, is this a family recipe, or will Mrs. Reynolds share it with me?"
"I'm sure she'd be happy to give you the recipe. I don't think she invented it. I believe she found it in an Irish cookbook." Darcy turned toward Lizzy, who was making "mmm" sounds as she licked the spoon. He watched her, fascinated, as she closed her eyes and savored the taste. Softly he said, "I'm sure she'd give you the recipe, too, Lizzy, since you like it so much."
Lizzy's eyes flew open and she looked quickly around the table. She didn't think anyone had noticed the exchange. At the other end of the table, Georgie and Kitty kicked each other gently under the table and smiled.
Not long after dessert, Richard's relatives announced that they needed to return to Connecticut. Georgie said good bye to Kitty and Sandy, who were also leaving, and ran back to the Darcy apartment to collect her suitcase and notebook computer.
After Georgie left with her aunt and uncle and Connecticut cousins, only Darcy, Lizzy, Anne, and Richard were left in the apartment. Lizzy was trying to think of a way to make a casual exit and leave Anne and Richard alone. Darcy was trying to think of a way to invite Lizzy to his apartment without raising Richard's suspicions. Anne both wished for and feared the departure of Darcy and Lizzy. When they stood up to leave, she did as well.
"I should be going," said Anne. "Thanks for dinner Richard. It was very good. I'm impressed."
"Don't underrate me, Annie," he replied softly.
Anne, Lizzy and Darcy left the apartment together. Darcy offered to see Anne home, but she declined. After they saw her into the elevator, Darcy and Lizzy went into his apartment.
They settled onto the couch, as they had done many times before. After a while, Darcy pulled back and said, "Mmm, you taste like Irish coffee." Seeing her weak smile, he said, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"That was not a nothing 'nothing.' That was a something 'nothing.' Tell me."
"It's silly, really, it's just that, um, Georgie..."
"She's on her way to Connecticut," Darcy murmured into her ear. "Nobody is going to burst in singing Rogers and Hammerstein's greatest hits."
"I know. I think that's it. For all the times I've wished she wasn't here, now that she is away, um..."
He stopped kissing her neck and pulled back to look at her.
"You've wished that, too?"
She blushed and nodded.
"But you aren't sure about this?"
"I know we should take advantage of a rare opportunity, but-"
"No, Lizzy. This isn't something you do because of an opportunity, or because I want to. It's something you do because you want to.
"I'm sorry, Will."
"No. Don't be sorry. Be sure. It's too important-you're too important to me to rush anything. I'd rather you wake up alone in your own bed tomorrow, sorry that you didn't stay with me than to have you wake up in my bed, sorry that you did stay."
Lizzy threw her arms around him and rested her head against his chest. "Oh, Will. Thank you for understanding."
"I've waited my whole life for you, Lizzy. I can wait a while longer. However, if you aren't staying, I think I should take you home now."
"Oh. Right. S-"
"Shh. You never have to say you're sorry, Lizzy."
Posted on Friday, 29 March 2002
March 18
"Mr. Darcy to see you, sir."
"Show him in."
Edward Gardiner stood and walked toward the door to his office as his assistant opened it and showed Darcy in.
"William, nice of you to stop by. Can I offer you coffee or anything?"
"No, nothing, thank you. I won't take up too much time, but I did want to thank you personally for handling that tenant problem."
"That's all part of the service."
"I know, but I believe in thanking people for a job well done, even if it is just part of the job."
"I felt bad about it. I rented them the offices to begin with."
"I thought they were good tenants, too, Ed. Actually, they were until September. But they just could not deal with the tighter security."
"I know. Hey, they're young, they know everything. If they could figure out how to do it, they'd email themselves to work."
"The security upgrades you put in are excellent, so there was no cause for complaint. And nobody else in my building has a problem with it."
Darcy looked around the office. "I haven't been here in quite a while. It looks different."
"My wife made me redecorate. No, actually, she redecorated."
"She has excellent taste, Ed. I wish I'd known she was so good. I might have hired her instead of the one I did use. These bookshelves are particularly handsome." Darcy paused and looked at a photograph. He could have sworn it was Lizzy. Ed Gardiner followed his line of sight.
"Ah, my lovely ladies. My wife had a snapshot enlarged and framed for my picture shelf. That's my wife, Maddie, my daughter, Amy, and two of my nieces. Or were you admiring the boat?"
Darcy laughed, "I hadn't noticed the boat. I see from the other pictures of your daughter that this was taken several years ago."
"Yes, it was the summer we did a tour of the lakes. We took the boat up the St. Lawrence and into the Great Lakes. Lizzy and Mary came along to help baby-sit Amy. Lizzy is the one playing with Amy. Mary is the one reading. I have two other nieces, but Jane went on vacation with a friend that year and Lydia was too young and too much trouble."
Darcy struggled to take this in. Ed Gardiner, whose real-estate company handled the leasing of office space in his building and managed the building-along with many others in the city-was Lizzy's uncle?
"The elder of the two nieces, um Lizzy, did you say? She's very pretty."
"I shouldn't admit this, but she's our favorite. She's the second child. Her elder sister Jane is lovely, too. But Lizzy has a spark, a zest for life. She reminds me of my wife. The two of them are always chattering and laughing about something."
Darcy could not take his eyes off the picture of Lizzy. She obviously had been playing dolls with her young cousin, and looked up just as the picture was taken. She was smiling broadly. Her hair, extra curly from the damp air, seemed to be determined to escape from the ponytail she had tied. Short shorts showed off long, tanned legs.
"Yes, very pretty. Where does she live?"
"In the city. She has an apartment in one of my buildings."
"Oh."
"Yes, she and her sister Jane live together. Lizzy chose the apartment because it's on the first floor and has a little back yard. She has a garden." Ed paused and looked at Darcy. He decided to take a chance. "You'd like her. She's one of those people who brightens a room just by entering it."
Darcy nodded absentmindedly, and Ed wondered if he'd been too forward. Then Darcy spoke up.
"She sounds lovely. I'd like to meet her."
"Um..."
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that. I mean, she is probably seeing someone."
"Not that I know of. I don't think she'd like me giving out her number, but maybe we could all get together for lunch some time so that I could introduce you. Or I could set up drinks some evening?"
"I'd love to meet her for a drink. Ask her, would you? Maybe Wednesday or Thursday after work? Let me know. Oh, and don't tell her my name."
"Have you been on one of those lists again?"
"I've been trying to keep a low profile, Ed."
As he left the building, Darcy thought about what he'd done. What had possessed him to ask Ed to set him up in a blind date with Lizzy? Would he have responded to her picture like that if he hadn't already known her? Georgie would sigh and say it was Destiny. Aunt Catherine would tell him he was thinking with his hormones.
Lizzy closed the file drawer and reached for the telephone on her desk.
"Lizzy Bennet."
"Hello, Lizzy."
"Dad! How are you? How's Lydia?"
"I'm fine. I have some time between classes, and I thought I'd catch you up on Lydia. She recovered from her hangover. She remembers very little from that night, just some vague notion of a party and you not letting her sing."
"If I never hear 'When Irish Eyes Are Smiling' again it will be too soon!"
"She's grounded, with one exception. And that's the play. She has already put in a great deal of work on it, and, although there is an understudy, the drama teacher says that Lydia is much better. So, for the sake of the production, she is allowed to go to rehearsals."
"Do you have a schedule?"
"Way ahead of you there. The drama teacher understands the situation and will let us know what her rehearsal schedule is like, and he'll call us when she leaves, so we'll know when to expect her home."
"Good. And you might check to see if she has fake ID. Somehow she got served."
"Right, good idea. You know, I was completely unprepared for this. You and Jane never got into trouble like this. And Mary, well, the worst thing she has ever done is have a book overdue at the library."
"Lydia has always been willful, Dad."
"Willful is one thing. Wild is another. And it is not acceptable."
"Hang in there, Dad. How are the proofs going?"
"Just shipped off the last batch yesterday. I think you'll like the cannon picture."
"You didn't."
"It's a lovely picture."
"Dad! Is it just me, or is it all of us?"
"You and Jane. You look sweet."
"If you ever want to see grandchildren, you'll rethink that picture."
"Grandchildren! Is there something you want to tell me Lizzy?"
"NO! But it's something you may want to think about. Bye Dad!"
Lizzy held her head in her hands. Her father had threatened for years to put a childhood picture of her in one of his books. Please, God, don't let it be the one with the ice cream dripping down the gingham dress!
Jane straightened her already neat desk and answered the telephone.
"Jane Bennet."
"Hello, Jane, it's Will."
"Hi! I think you have the wrong sister."
"No, I wanted to talk to you. It's about Lizzy's birthday. I gather it's coming up soon?"
"Yes, it is. How did you know?"
"Georgie found out, but she didn't get the exact date."
"It's the 28th. The family will celebrate it on Easter."
"So you won't do anything on the day?"
"I'll take her out to lunch or dinner. I hadn't thought about it."
"Why don't we have a surprise party? We can have it at my place. If you take her out to lunch, I'll just invite her over for dinner. If she doesn't mention her birthday, I won't bring it up. Think about it, Jane, will you?"
"Let me work on this. It does sound like fun."
"Lizzy Bennet."
"Visitor for you, Ms. Bennet. A Mr. Gardiner is here."
"I'll be right out."
Lizzy arrived in the Rotunda a few minutes later.
"Uncle Ed. Hi!"
"Hello, Lizzy. How's my favorite niece?"
"Fine, how are you? How's Aunt Maddie?"
"We're all just fine. I was thinking about you today?"
"Good thoughts, I hope."
"I think they're good. I had a visitor today and he admired the picture of you on the Madeline."
"Oh?"
"You remember the year we did the lakes? Your aunt found a great snapshot and had it blown up for my office. This man saw your picture and said he'd like to meet you."
"You didn't give him my number, did you?"
"No, I wouldn't do that. And he understood. He suggested that you meet for drinks one evening."
"Oh, I don't think so."
"Lizzy, he is very nice. He's had rather a stressful year, and you would cheer him up.
"Uncle Ed..." groaned Lizzy.
"It's just drinks, Lizzy. He's an important business contact, and I wouldn't ordinarily set you up with someone with whom I do business. But I think you'll like this guy, Lizzy. He's a little diffident, shy. He doesn't do terribly well with strangers-"
"But he wants you to set him up with one?"
"Lizzy, I like this man. He just seemed so taken with your picture, when he asked, I said I'd try."
"Uncle Ed, I don't think my boyfriend would like this."
"You have a boyfriend? A real one?"
"Yes, I do. And he's perfect. Well, not so perfect that he'd be OK with me going out with some stranger. And I wouldn't want to mess things up with him."
"Just have one drink with this guy. I promise you, he's not some pervert."
"One drink."
"You tell me when and where and I'll let him know."
"Edward Gardiner, are you out of your mind?" Madeline Gardiner stood, hands on hips, glaring at her husband.
"What's so wrong about it?"
"You're setting up your niece with a business associate? Doing that sort of 'favor' is like, um, like, well, it's like setting him up with a call girl as a thank-you for doing business with him. It's one thing to send gifts to major clients at Christmas time, but it's quite another to send Lizzy!"
"Oh, Maddie, it's just a drink. If you could have seen the way he looked at the picture. It was like that movie you like, where the guy falls in love with a portrait and goes back in time to find her. He was mesmerized."
"In a move it's romantic. In real life, it's scary."
"William Darcy is not a pervert or a stalker."
"You had better be right, Ed."
Posted on Friday, 29 March 2002
March 19
Darcy had taken a break in his schedule to visit Lizzy at work and take her to lunch. They chatted about how their days had gone and about their plans for the week. Darcy noticed that Lizzy seemed edgy.
"Is something bothering you?"
"Um, hypothetically, if someone-"
"Would this someone be Lizzy Bennet?"
Lizzy shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "I'm supposed to meet someone for a drink on Thursday."
"Work colleague?"
"No. Actually, it's a favor to my uncle. It's a friend of his."
"You accepted a blind date?"
"Yes. Just for a drink."
Darcy didn't know what to say next. If he acted jealous now, she'd be angry when she found out he was her blind date. Maybe he should just tell her now. It had seemed like a funny thing to do when he set it up. He was not usually so spontaneous or whimsical. He never did anything so crazy before he met Lizzy.
Lizzy misread his silence as jealousy. "Will, don't fuss about this. My uncle begged me. He has never done this before, I mean it isn't like he's a panderer. He really likes this guy, and wanted to cheer him up. I get the impression that this guy's a real loser. My uncle says he's lonely and doesn't do well with strangers. So I guess he can't go out and pick up a girl on his own."
"Well, why can't your uncle find him some other girl?"
"I don't know. It's strange. I swear, there's something he isn't telling me, but I can't figure it out. But Uncle Ed was so insistent. I thought if I met the guy, maybe I'd be able to fix him up with one of my friends."
"What does he look like?"
"I don't know. The only other thing Uncle Ed said was that he's a nice guy."
"A nice guy? That's pretty vague."
"Yeah, nice. Code word for loser. Right up there with 'nice personality' and 'good sense of humor.'"
"Aren't those important traits?"
"Yes, but they aren't headliners when you're trying to talk someone into a blind date."
"Where are you going?"
"Oh, no. I'm not telling. I feel silly enough about this as it is. I don't need you spying on me."
"Not spying, protecting."
"Will, I'll be in a public place, I'll have my cell phone. If things get sticky, I'll call you to pick me up."
"Then have dinner with me afterward."
"That would be fine. I'll just get a taxi and meet you at the restaurant."
"You're sure?"
"Yes. Will, I'm having a drink with someone to please Uncle Ed. Just a drink. Listen, if I were expecting to actually do something with this guy, I could lie and say I was going for a drink with a colleague. But I don't want to lie to you."
"Just be careful, all right?"
"I will."
March 21
Lizzy stood in front of the mirror, frowning. Maybe this wasn't the right outfit. Jane's pale pink blouse looked nice with the gray blazer, but Lizzy wasn't a "pastel" person. She had wanted to look as conservative as possible, so she stayed away from the raspberry blouse or red sweater that she usually wore with this blazer. But she felt dull, somehow.
She glanced at her watch. Time to go. Just one drink, then go meet Will. She left her room and found Jane in the living room.
"So, what do you think?"
"Pink isn't really your color, but you look fine. I usually leave the top button or two open."
"It's OK this way."
"Then you should be going. Come on, Lizzy, buck up. It's just a drink. It could be worse. It could be Collins!"
"Eeuww! Thanks a bunch, Jane. I'll call you after I escape."
Darcy stared at his watch. When he could stand it no more, he took out his cell phone and called Lizzy.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Lizzy. Where are you?"
"Will! I said no spying and I think that includes phone calls. I'm going to turn off my cell."
"No! Wait! I just wanted to confirm our date."
"Yes, Will. I'll meet you as planned. Listen, I'm at the restaurant, so I'm hanging up now. See you later!"
Lizzy sat at the bar and ordered a glass of wine. She could see her reflection in the mirror behind the bar. The glint of gold on the lapel of her blazer caught her eye. What are the ethics involved in wearing one man's gift on a blind date with another man?
Her eyes wandered around the room. She didn't see any single men. There were a few couples, and two groups of men out for an after-work drink. She checked her watch. She had been a few minutes early, but now he was a few minutes late.
Lizzy looked to ward the door. What she saw made her jump so suddenly that her purse slid off her lap onto the floor. A mildly awkward situation had just become a disaster. What is he doing here?