Museums & Misunderstandings - Section XXVI

    By Kate F

    Beginning, Previous Section, Section XXVI

    Jump to new as of May 26, 2004
    Jump to new as of June 10, 2004

    Chapter 99

    July 20

    While Lizzy, Anne, and Georgie were welcoming guests, Darcy and Richard were on the boat, cleaning it.

    "I don't smell beer, do you, Darce?"

    "No, it smells like it always smells. Maybe I can smell the air freshener a bit."

    "Anne will throw a fit if it smells like beer. She refuses to have her honeymoon in a frat house."

    "Who could blame her? Take some of the flowers from the dinner tables. The smell of roses would be nicer than the smell of air freshener.

    "Darce, you aren't going to decorate the boat, are you? I mean no cans or shoes or so forth? No 'just married' in shaving cream?"

    "Certainly not. That stuff will probably eat the varnish off the wood. Now, if the boat were fiberglass, it might be all right, but..."

    "Darce! Tell me you weren't even thinking of doing something."

    "No. I promise. And since almost nobody knows you're going off on the boat, I don't think you have to worry."

    "Mrs. Clark and Mrs. R are packing some coolers for us. We'll get bags of ice from the caterer. Mr. Clark said he'd sneak our bags down here this evening."

    "It sounds like you have it all under control."

    "Geez, I feel like the desk clerk at a hotel!" grumbled Anne as she scanned her room-assignment list.

    "A hotel with extraordinarily cute bellhops," giggled Georgie, pointing to Chris, who was carrying someone's overnight bag. "That one has a cute butt."

    "You oughta know, Georgie," laughed Kitty. "Personally, I think the guy who carried my bag is really hot."

    "How long has Sandy been back?" asked Lizzy.

    "Not that long. Do you want to know in days or in number of-"

    "Kitty!"

    "Sorry, Lizzy."

    Sandy and Chris returned from their assignments at the same time. Sandy saluted and said, "Reporting back for duty, as ordered!"

    Anne grinned, "We should have found some of those organ-grinder-monkey hats that bellhops used to wear."

    "You mean like in the old movies?" asked Lizzy. "Where a guy would walk around a hotel lobby calling 'Call for Mr. Darcy. Call for Mr. Darcy.' That would be cute."

    Peter joined them in time to hear the last bit of conversation. "You know, this place would make a great hotel. Posh resort, spa kind of thing."

    "No, couldn't happen," said Anne. "I think the zoning doesn't allow that sort of thing. Anyhow, the ownership is complicated. It belongs to the family trust and we'd all have to sign off on that. I don't see Mother agreeing to go commercial with her family estate."

    "Uncle Matt would threaten to sign, just to piss her off," laughed Georgie.

    "They do get into it, don't they?" said Lizzy.

    "Like a Punch and Judy show. Oh, please, please, please let them behave tonight."

    "Let's think about something else, shall we?" said Lizzy. "How about a look at that list. Is everyone here?"

    "Almost. I hope we didn't forget anyone. It would be tacky to make someone sleep on the beach or on a garden bench."

    "There's always the boat," suggested Chris.

    Anne and Lizzy exchanged glances. Lizzy said, "No, we're not assigning anyone to the boat."

    The sound of car doors made everyone turn. Lizzy squealed and ran to the guests who were getting out of their limo. Peter shrugged his shoulders and followed, saying, "I think I'm up next."

    "Lizzy!"

    "Cynthia! Mason! I am so glad you could make it."

    Cynthia grinned and said, "So, am I right? Is there going to be a big announcement tonight?"

    Lizzy gave her a cheeky grin and said, "No comment. Peter, here, will take your bags. Peter, the Masons are the couple we spent time with when we were out in San Francisco. Peter is a native Californian, so you're not the only west-coasters out here."

    As Peter strode away with two suitcases, Cynthia said, "Mmm, surfer dude. How'd you find him?"

    "He's my sister's boyfriend. There's something in the air in out there in California. Mousy Mary went off to Stanford and came back with a new attitude, a new look, and a great boyfriend. He's a doll, isn't he? Not to say that he's cuter than our own men, of course."

    "Of course. Nice save, Lizzy," said Mason. "And where is your own man, by the way?"

    "He and Richard are cleaning up the boat after yesterday's beer bash. Boys' afternoon out and all that. Come, let me introduce you to some of the family."

    While Lydia lounged by the pool and Lizzy greeted guests, Jane was in the kitchen, helping her mother put the finishing touches on the cake.

    "It's beautiful, Mrs. Bennet," breathed Mrs. Reynolds. "You do that like a pro."

    "The turntable helps a lot. I'm so glad you had this old lazy Susan. I can't believe I remembered all my cake paraphernalia and I forgot the turntable."

    "Now, let's see about the top," said Mrs. Clark. "Mary helped me arrange these. Is it too big, do you think?"

    "Not too big, but it just sort of perches there," said Mrs. Bennet, frowning at the creation.

    "There are some tiny orchids in the fridge," said Mary. "We thought we should add them at the last minute. They'll trail down and make it more graceful."

    Mrs. Bennet stepped back, closed one eye, and imagined a few tastefully arranged flowers. "Yes, that should do it."

    "That was Mary's idea," said Mrs. Clark. "She helped me finish up a few small arrangements for the bedrooms. She has an eye for this."

    "Really? Mary, what other untapped talents do you have?" asked her mother.

    Mary shrugged, "If they're untapped how could I know?"

    Mrs. Bennet beamed, "My girls are all so talented. "Lizzy can sew, Jane can cook anything, Lydia can act, and now we discover that Mary has an eye for flower arranging."

    Jane rolled her eyes at her sister and added, "Yes, and let's don't forget that Mary also has a knack for making Dean's List."

    "Congratulations!" said Mrs. Reynolds. "What is your major?"

    "Math."

    "Ah, geometry, that explains it," said Mrs. Clark. "You have an excellent eye for symmetry in your arrangements. Comes from all that geometry, I expect."

    "Well, whoever thought that majoring in math would help you do something creative!" crowed Mrs. Bennet.

    "I can see it now, Mary," laughed Jane. "You could open a shop with a sign that says 'Flowers arranged by a Ph.D. in geometry."

    "Nikki? Is that you back there?"

    "Hi, Chris," Nikki looked up from the pile of boxes on the dance floor inside the tent.

    "What are you doing?"

    "I'm organizing the table favors. If the servers have one box per table, they should be able to set things out quickly."

    Chris sat down next to her. "How did you get this job?"

    "I asked Anne and Lizzy if I could do something. But I didn't want to have to greet all these posh guests or anything, so I asked for a backstage job."

    "Nikki, get over it, okay? I know, the money is overwhelming at first. Sometimes I can't believe I actually brought a girl from a penthouse to my dingy little apartment. But she didn't mind it. I mean, she did civilize it a bit. I actually have silverware that matches. And it isn't plastic!"

    "Ooh, a domestic goddess on top of all that money. She is a find, Chris."

    "I know. But, see, you like her now that you're over your attitude and she's over her shyness. You'll like the other people. They're nice, even if they do have money. Well, Anne says some are snobs, but they're just here tonight for the ball. Only the people who meet the cool criteria get to stay over. Don't obsess about how rich people are."

    "It isn't just that. I'm practically trailer-trash. What if my dress is wrong, or I use the wrong fork, or do something stupid?"

    Chris put his hands on her shoulders and gave her a little shake. "Your dress will be fine, don't worry about the silverware because you're not sitting at a table with posh people. Hell, Sandy tends to eat with his hands. And you are not stupid!"

    "Thanks. Your mother said that, too." Nikki leaned forward and hugged Chris. "You are the best brother I never had."

    "Break it up back there!"

    "Georgie!" Nikki let go of Chris. "Hi!"

    Georgie walked over and said down, "It looks like Christmas Eve in here, except everything is pink."

    "Go ahead, Georgie, hang all over him. I don't mind."

    "I don't need to show ownership, Nikki. I'm okay with a brotherly hug."

    "I know. He's yours, all yours. You've got this one hooked, kiddo."

    "Ownership?" asked Chris. "Hooked? What am I, a car or a fish?"

    Georgie looked at him appraisingly. "Well, I have a car, and you don't look like that. I had a goldfish once...No, you don't look like Goldie."

    "Goldie?" asked Nikki.

    "Hey, I was four. You don't have a lot of names in your repertoire at that age. Ooh! Chris, we should get some fish for the apartment."

    "Does your place allow pets?" asked Nikki.

    "Well, Dr. Luc-Charlotte has a cat. I still can't get used to being an ex-patient and now a neighbor. Her cat, appropriately enough, is called Sigmund Freud."

    "Is Charlotte here yet?" asked Chris.

    "I don't know. I'll go look. Can I trust you two alone in here?"

    "Aw, come on," said Nikki with a grimace. "It'd be like making out with my own brother. Euww! Anyhow, I have to get this mess finished soon, or the caterer's staff will be tripping over it."

    "I'll help," said Chris. "Unless you need me to do something else, Georgie?"

    "No, you stay. You can lug the boxes to the table. Work out those muscles."

    The first wave of the caterer's crew arrived and were shown the path to the beach. They toted grills, umbrellas, coolers, and cartons of food across the lawn and down the path.

    "Whoa!" cried Sandy. "Did I just see a keg go down that way?"

    "Hold on, there," said Kitty. "No advance drinking."

    "Do we have beach towels?" asked Georgie.

    "Yes," replied Lizzy. "Bundles of them came from the linen service earlier this week. Sandy, go ask Mrs. R where they stashed the towels, and take them down to the beach. Ask which ones are for the beach and which are for the pool."

    "Okay, you got it."

    "I love this schedule," said Kitty.

    "Well, we got the idea from Georgie's graduation house party."

    "But 'Noon or whenever, come to the beach for lunch.' That's pretty casual."

    "I want people to be relaxed. If they get there late, it's no big deal. Georgie, do you have the spa sign-up sheet?"

    "Yes, right here."

    "Remember that my mother and Anne's mother don't go on the sign-up sheet. They'll have their treatments at the cottages. I recommend Aunt Sue do that, too, although she may prefer to hang out with the younger crowd."

    "I'm dreading this afternoon."

    "Hey, you have to bite the bullet some time before sundown. Think how hard it is to throw a tantrum when you have cucumber masque all over your face. And have Aunt Sue get her facial with your mother."

    "I think that's a good strategy." Anne high-fived Lizzy, then crossed her fingers.

    When Lizzy arrived at the beach, she saw that several of the men were already lounging on the sand. She noted that a table held a basket of sunscreen towelettes as well as hand-wipe towelettes.

    "Did you guys put on sunscreen?"

    "Yes, Lizzy."

    "Good." She walked over to the bar that was set up at the edge of the beach in a bit of shade. "Are you the bartender?"

    "Yes. What can I get you?"

    "Nothing just yet. I wanted to let you know that all of the guests are of age, with two exceptions, my sisters. One is almost legal, and she's well behaved, so we don't have to worry about Mary. But do not serve my youngest sister. I don't care that it's a private party, I don't care what she says."

    "Okay, just point her out to me."

    "You'll be able to spot her. Short, brunette, busty, giggly, and probably wearing less bathing suit than her father would approve of."

    "Right."

    "And let the servers know she's jail bait, please."

    "Absolutely."

    "Good. Now, how about a frozen daiquiri?"

    "Coming right up!"

    By noon, the beach party was in full swing. Unbeknownst to the rest of the planners, Richard had purchased a large box of plastic leis and some inflatable palm trees. He had purchased garish Hawaiian shirts for himself and Darcy. He provided pareos for Lizzy, Anne, and Georgie, which they laughingly put on over their swimsuits. Obviously, some of the guests had been tipped off, because Chris, Sandy, and Kitty wore bright shirts, and Peter had on a shirt with a surfer motif. Richard had given a spare pareo to Nikki, who tied hers low on her waist, with a tankini top.

    Soon many guests were wearing brightly colored leis and one guest was dancing with an inflated palm tree. Darcy walked over to Richard and they clinked cups of beer.

    "You did it, Richard. You got your luau! I guess Anne has forgiven you?"

    "She laughed. Aunt Catherine is scandalized."

    "I think that's because Uncle Lewis is dancing with Nikki and your father has on the loudest shirt at the party."

    The portable sound system had been set to shuffle the CDs, and every so often, one of Richard's 'Polynesian Melodies' played, which caused grumbling because it wasn't danceable music.

    "You can dance to this," declared Richard. "Hula!"

    "I don't think so!" called Lizzy.

    "Mom!"

    "No."

    "C'mon, Mom!"

    "No."

    "Mom! I happen to know that you can do the hula."

    Sue Fitzwilliam glared at her son and turned to Anne, "You like wearing black, Anne? I'll give you a reason to wear black."

    "Can you really do the hula, Aunt Sue?"

    "Yes, sort of. When we were in Hawaii we went to one of those luaus. Very touristy, but you feel the trip isn't complete without it. And they taught some of us to hula."

    "She hasn't had enough rum yet, that's the problem," said Matt, slipping his arm around his wife's waist. "Give her another drink and she'll hula."

    "Matthew Fitzwilliam! I will not."

    By now the music had moved on to another song and the discussion of the hula was dropped. Anne dragged her aunt aside for a brief conversation, so they missed Richard's next idea.

    "Everybody limbo! Someone, find a stick! Wait! I happen to have one."

    So, while the limbo song played, Richard, Chris, Charles, Peter, and Sandy competed at the limbo. Darcy and Uncle Matt held the pole.

    "Come on, girls!" said Chris. "Limbo! Georgie? Where are you? Come and limbo!"

    "I'll try!" said Lydia. "Come on, Jane. Mary, I bet you won't do it!"

    Jane shook her head, but to the surprise of her parents, Mary got up. "What the heck," she sighed. On the way to the pole, she grabbed Nikki's hand and pulled her along, too.

    They started out with the pole high enough for anyone to limbo under it. As they lowered the pole, Richard, Sandy, and Chris were the first to be eliminated. Soon Charles hit the sand, and it was just Mary, Peter, Nikki, and Lydia. The pole went lower.

    Peter groaned, "Not fair! I'm taller than they are."

    "Come on, Babe, you can do it," laughed Mary. All four made it under the pole and it was lowered again. Peter fell, then so did Lydia, who swore and giggled when she landed on her posterior. Nikki almost made it, but fell at the last minute.

    "Mary Bennet, how low can you go?" yelled Richard.

    Mary stretched her arms and back, and leaned back. She extended her arms as far forward toward her ankles as possible, and inched toward the bar. Slowly, she advanced. When she was halfway through, she had to stifle a giggle, but she held on and made it through. She jumped up, waving her hands in the air when she was done.

    "Ta-da!" she crowed, and the onlookers applauded.

    "Let's show the little lady what she has won!" said Richard as he dumped a half-dozen leis around her neck.

    "Mary, how did you do that?" asked Lizzy.

    "Yoga. I've been doing yoga. It does wonders for your strength and flexibility. How come you didn't limbo, Lizzy?"

    "I was doing something else. You'll see."

    The next time one of Richard's 'Polynesian Melodies' played, Anne, Lizzy, and Georgie dragged their aunt onto the beach.

    "And now, ladies and gentlemen, we present, Susa's hulas!" The three young women followed the lead of Sue, who had taught them a few basic moves. Applause and whistles were their reward, as they declined any more of the scratchy plastic neckwear.

    "I cannot believe you talked me into that," laughed Sue as she dropped onto a beach towel.

    "That was fun. Hey, who has a watch? It's almost spa time."

    "Oh, you're right, Lizzy," said Anne. "Time to cut off the bar?"

    "Let it run another hour or so. I'm going back to take a shower and get ready for all my beautification. You probably should, too. And then, don't forget, it's time to face the music, and I don't mean hula music."

    On the way to the path, Lizzy walked over to Richard and said, "In about a half hour, really crank up the music, okay?"

    "Gotcha, loud as it goes."

    "There, now, madam, you sit quietly for a half hour and let the masque do its work. Apricot masque does wonders for the skin. And I'll just place cucumbers on your eyes. Good. Sasha will do your manicure and pedicure while you relax. Some women fall asleep during our treatments."

    "You have such lovely hair and skin, ma'am."

    "Thank you, I take care of myself."

    "Very nice. I'll wash your hair and then Gwen will do just a light cucumber masque, and of course, cucumbers for the eyes. Very soothing. I see that you have polish on your toes. Do you want the same color?"

    "Oh, leave them alone. My shoes aren't open-toe. Just do my fingers."

    "All right. A manicurist will be along after your masque is on.

    "How do you think it's going, Darce?"

    "Great party, Richard. I still can't believe your mother did a hula."

    "I said I'd have a luau, and by gum, I did. But that isn't what I mean."

    "Ah. That. Well, I haven't heard any sirens or gunshots. That's a good sign. Although with the music this loud..."

    "Lizzy suggested that. Thought it would cover any shrieks."

    "Mother?"

    "Mmm?"

    "I need to talk to you."

    "Now? Don't you have to have your hair and so forth done?"

    "In a bit. I have to tell you something."

    "Yes?"

    "We're getting married."

    "I know. The ball is to announce your engagement officially."

    "No. We're getting married tonight."

    "What about the ball? You can't leave with all these guests here."

    "No. We're getting married at the ball."

    "Nonsense! You can't do that."

    "Actually, we can. Shh, don't sit up, your cucumbers will fall off."

    "This is awesome!" said Peter. "Too bad there are no waves. If there were waves, I'd say this was the best beach party I've ever been to."

    "Sorry, dude," laughed Richard. "Anyhow, I don't think you brought your board with you."

    "Yeah. I guess I could go out there and float."

    "The Long Island body surf!" laughed Mary.

    "You were amazing, Mary," said Chris. "Yoga did that?"

    "I guess. Yoga and a few tequila sunrises. I'm not used to drinking."

    "Why tequila sunrises?"

    "Well, first of all, they're pretty. And second, it's the name of a Mel Gibson movie. How could you go wrong?"

    "What?"

    "It's true. I'm getting married tonight."

    "But that isn't what you told me!"

    "I know. But it was a secret."

    "A secret from your own mother? I suppose you told your father?"

    "Well..."

    "Aha! I knew it. You always go to him. You never tell me anything! Pftht! This masque tastes horrible."

    "Then lie still, Mom, and don't shout. We told very few people, only people who wouldn't want to tell friends or add to the guest list."

    "You just don't want me to have a say in your wedding."

    Well, that's true enough. "No. But we knew what we wanted, and this seemed the perfect time."

    "I think I'll wander up and see how things are going at the cottages," said Sue to her son.

    "Thanks, Mom. It could get ugly."

    "Well, you have left it awfully late. And Catherine isn't going to be pleased that your father and I knew first."

    "That's probably the unkindest cut of all, to her way of thinking."

    "Think anyone has killed anyone yet?"

    "Matt! What a terrible thing to say!"

    "Sorry, my dear, but I would like to be a fly on the wall."

    "No, Matt," said Tom Bennet. "I think we men should take the cowardly way out and hide here. When Fran and one of the girls have an argument, I lock myself in my study and read term papers."

    "My God, Anne, are you pregnant?"

    "No! Why does everyone always think that?"

    "Because when a girl who should have a proper wedding gets married with very little notice, that's usually the reason. What will my friends think?"

    "I don't care. Let them count the months. And when I'm still without child at next year's Summer Ball, they can eat crow."

    "This is ridiculous! What idiot did you get to perform the ceremony?"

    "Jake. And he isn't an idiot. He's a nice guy."

    "He's as crazy as the rest of you. I don't suppose you invited Georgie to get married tonight, too? Ouch!"

    "Sorry, ma'am," said the manicurist. "You need to keep your hands still."

    "No, Mother, she isn't even engaged."

    "This just looks so rushed."

    "It isn't. We've put a lot of planning into tonight."

    "Will? Did Lizzy tell you the dressing arrangements for tonight?" asked Georgie.

    "I gather that I'm being evicted?"

    "Yes, your stuff is being moved to Richard's room. Anne, Lizzy, Jane, and I are getting dressed in your room. It's the biggest. And that way we'll be together to do last-minute fixes on each other's hair and makeup and such. You can keep Richard away from Anne. That's your job."

    "Yes, ma'am."

    "Good. I'm going up to have a look in at the tent before I go to get my hair done. Oh, and Anne says you should see me in private before we go outside. I don't know what that's about, do you?"

    "No, but Anne has her reasons. You and Richard and I can meet in the living room about a half hour before the guests are due. Then you can run back up and continue attending to Anne."

    "Good. See you later."

    "Are you sure you're not pregnant?"

    "Mom! Yes, I'm sure."

    "Hmph."

    "Honestly!"

    "Is that another lie?"

    "No, it is not a lie! I don't want kids right away. We want to have some time to enjoy just being together."

    "But-"

    "Enjoy your facial and your manicure. I'll see you later."

    "Will?"

    Richard got up and opened the door. "Hi, Gorgeous. Wow! You are even more gorgeous than usual, Georgie. Will is inside, looking at some pictures. We have to take them outside to the tent in a few minutes. Tell him I'll be on the porch."

    "No sneaking up to see Anne!"

    "I promise."

    "Hey, Will."

    "Georgie. I-oh, God!"

    "What?"

    Tears welled up in Darcy's eyes. "You look like Mother."

    "I know. Everyone says that."

    "Yes, but dressed up like that and with your hair up, it's uncanny. Anne must have known it would hit me, that's why she said for me to see you alone first. You are so beautiful."

    "Thanks, Will." Georgie reached up and wiped away a tear from her brother's cheek. "I love you. I couldn't have a better brother."

    "You're my best girl."

    "No. I'm second best now. But that's fine. I have to go back up to Anne."

    "I have to go to the tent and put up these old pictures. Here, look at this one of Mother and Dad. See what I mean?"

    "Yeah. I know you wish they could be here tonight. But believe that they're with us in spirit."

    "That's nice." Darcy kissed the top of his sister's head. "I'll see you out on the porch."

    Darcy took the photos and a large roll of tape and headed to the tent. As he crossed the lawn, Chris caught up with him.

    "Do you need help with that, Will?"

    "Thanks. Hey, Richard! Greet the guests. Chris will help me with this."

    Richard waved from across the lawn and took up his post at the bottom of the porch stairs. Soon he was joined by the Masons.

    "Hi, we're early, hope that's okay," said Cynthia. "I know that the girls are still upstairs. All that giggling, it sounds like prom night up there."

    "I'm sure it does."

    "Great party this afternoon, Richard," said Mason.

    "Thank you. I've been teasing Anne about having a luau ever since we got engaged. I told her I wanted to get married on the beach."

    "I thought barefoot beach weddings went out with Nehru jackets and love beads," laughed Cynthia.

    "I didn't really want a luau wedding. But it was fun torturing Aunt Catherine with the idea. You've met the Carters, I hope?"

    "Yes. Hello!" They greeted the couple crossing the lawn.

    "Good evening. What a lovely night. You all lucked out on the weather."

    The caterer turned on the lights.

    "Oh, fairy lights!" said Mrs. Carter. "How charming. Everything has been so lovely. It's like one of the party scenes from Sabrina."

    "We'll have to ask the band to play 'Isn't it Romantic?' later," said Richard. "But do not put any champagne flutes in your pockets! Excuse me, the musicians are ready to set up."

    Richard walked to the string quartet and conferred with them briefly. More of the "staying" guests drifted out, and waiters began circulating, taking drink orders. Soon the evening guests began to arrive. Valets parked the cars and directed the guests to the back of the house. Richard and Darcy were kept busy greeting guests and making introductions.

    Lewis de Bourgh and Tom Bennet stood at a bar, knocking back glasses of single malt.

    "So, how are things?" asked Richard, joining them.

    "Your aunt didn't have a total meltdown, if that's what you're asking."

    "Good. Take it easy with those. I don't want you falling down the stairs."

    "We'll be fine. Want a little Dutch courage?"

    "Not just now, thanks."

    "I'd better go back to the cottage and collect the wife," said Tom with a sigh. "Mary and Lydia should be ready by now, too."

    Nikki spotted the Carters and made a beeline for them.

    "Nikki, don't you look pretty!"

    "Thanks, Dr. Carter."

    "Nikki, these are the Masons, from San Francisco. Nikki is a long-time friend of the family, and now also a friend of Georgie."

    "It's nice to meet you, Nikki. That's a lovely dress. And you show it off well. Such good posture. So many young people slouch."

    "Thank you, Mrs. Mason. To be honest, I'm standing up super straight because I'm nervous. I've never been to a posh party like this. This afternoon's party was more my style."

    "Whoa! Nik!" Chris joined the conversation. "As Letterman says, you look like a million damn dollars! This night is like one of those makeover shows. You girls were all ponytails and no makeup at the beach, and now you look like movie stars. And wait til you see Georgie. Five million damn dollars!"

    "What cost five million dollars?"

    "Georgie! I was just saying that you look like five million dollars."

    "Thanks, Chris. Nikki, great dress!"

    "Thanks."

    "Oh, excuse me. I want to introduce you all to my two doctors, who are now engaged. I'd like to claim that I made the match, but it all happened behind my back. Charlotte, Jeff-it still feels weird to call you by your first names. Anyway, Charlotte and Jeff, these are the Masons, the Carters, and-"

    "And the infamous Nikki!" laughed Nikki, holding out her hand. "Nice to meet you."

    "Lovely to meet all of you," laughed Charlotte.

    "Champagne?" asked a waiter. "Or I can get you something from the bar."

    "Ooh, champagne! Definitely champagne!" said Nikki.

    "Champagne all around, I think," said Jeff Madison. "This is the sort of occasion that calls for the bubbly. I usually only get into the tux for boring banquets of the shrink's association. This beats that by a country mile."

    Tom Bennet stood with Mary and watched his wife drift through the crowd, greeting people and introducing herself.

    "Look at her," he said. "She acts as if she's giving the party."

    "Not really. She is telling people how proud she is of all the work Lizzy did. And Anne and Georgie helped a little, too."

    "That's your mother, the spin doctor. Mary, Mary, look at you. California worked wonders on you."

    "Was I that bad before? No, never mind. I guess I was."

    "Oh, you're just a-"

    "Don't. I hate that expression."

    "What was I going to say?"

    "Late bloomer."

    "Oops. Sorry."

    Mary shrugged, "It's okay. Being away from home has been good for me. All through school, teachers would say, 'Oh, you're Jane's sister,' or "You must be Lizzy's sister.' This is the first time I've had my own identity. Lydia copes with it by being a bit outrageous. I never had the nerve. I tried to blend in with the woodwork."

    "I don't think you'll blend in with the woodwork tonight. You look beautiful. And if Peter doesn't hog all the dances, promise you'll save one for the old man?"

    "George! Emma! How are you?" said Darcy.

    "We're fine."

    "Emma, can we find you a chair?"

    "Relax, Will, I'm pregnant, not feeble."

    "Sorry. It's a cliché, I know, but you're glowing."

    "Don't kid yourself, it's the heat more than motherhood."

    Charles joined them and inquired after Emma's health.

    "I'm fine. I'm one of those disgusting women who doesn't suffer much being pregnant."

    A waiter approached with glasses of champagne and asked Emma if he could get her something nonalcoholic.

    "Diet ginger ale? And could I have it in a flute?"

    "Yes, ma'am. Coming right up."

    The waiter went straight to the bar, bypassing other guests, and returned with Emma's soft drink. She smiled her thanks, and after he left said, "One of the perks of being pregnant is that you get waited on very quickly. It's going to be a beautiful sunset."

    "Sunset?" Darcy looked around suddenly.

    "You know," laughed Charles. "The sun goes down, it gets dark. The bugs come out."

    "No bugs!" said Darcy. "The caterers sprayed something to discourage mosquitoes. And they've got those torch things, too."

    "Oh, isn't that pretty!" said Emma, pointing to the porch. Mrs. Clark and Mrs. Reynolds were making their way along the porch railings, lighting the tea light candles that they had set out earlier. Darcy glanced around and saw Georgie disappear into the house.

    "Will you excuse me? I need to find Richard."

    Anne and Lizzy waited and fidgeted in the house.

    "Clearly, we didn't think this through," grumbled Anne. "They're all out there partying and we're stuck in the house."

    "Yeah, where are our waiting women? Dammit, I want to be waited on."

    "Hello, ladies! Mrs. Clark pointed me in here. How about a few photos?"

    "Okay," said Anne, but did you bring anything to drink?"

    "Sorry, no."

    When the photographer had finished, Jane and Georgie arrived, bearing flutes of champagne.

    "Here! We smuggled these in for you. Don't spill!"

    "Oh, good, let's get a few of you four together. Just set down the glasses and-"

    "Shoot a few candids," said Anne. "I am not putting down this glass until it's empty."

    "Ooh, someone's a bit cranky," said Georgie.

    "Knock it off or I'll brain you with my bouquet. How's Mother?"

    Georgie laughed, "Acting as if nothing out of the ordinary is going to happen."

    Lizzy looked at Jane, who smiled and said, "Fine. Looking like the cat that got the cream, but saying nothing. Mrs. Carter has got hold of her and will keep her out of trouble. You know, Georgie, that woman is good mother-in-law material."

    "We have enough weddings on the horizon, thank you, Jane."

    "I was just saying..."

    "How's everyone holding up?" asked Tom Bennet.

    "Okay, Dad," said Lizzy.

    "Thought you might like a little something before the wedding," said Lewis de Bourgh, holding up a bottle. "Ah, I see you've anticipated me here."

    "More is good, Dad," said Anne, holding out her glass. She turned to the photographer, "No, we're not going to pose. A few more candids and then you go out and circulate."

    "Yes, miss."

    Darcy, Richard, and Jake stepped up onto the porch. Darcy thanked the two women for their help. Mrs. Reynolds hugged him and sniffled.

    "None of that, now," said Darcy. He kissed her cheek and said, "Go on down and stake out a good spot to watch."

    Matt Fitzwilliam joined the men on the porch and turned to face the guests mingling on the lawn. The quartet stopped playing, and watched the men on the porch.

    "Ladies and gentlemen!" Matt clapped his hands. Richard stuck his fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly. Matt continued, "Ladies and gentlemen, if I may have your attention. Welcome to the Fitzwilliam Summer Ball, the Next Generation!"

    This comment was met with applause and a little laughter.

    "We are pleased that you could join us this evening. You may be wondering why a representative of my generation is up here making a speech, when the ball is being given by the next generation. As you are probably aware, there have been some engagements in our next generation, and those people are a bit too distracted at the moment to make a speech, as are most other members of the family." He looked down to see Mary and Lydia seated on either side of their mother at one side of the steps, and Sue and Catherine seated at the other side of the steps. Chris and Peter stood near the seats, cameras at the ready.

    "I believe that everyone is ready, so let me introduce the Reverend Jake Fitzwilliam."

    Confusion marked the faces of the onlookers as Matt walked down the steps and stood behind his wife and his sister, one hand on the shoulder of each woman.

    Meanwhile, inside the house, Mrs. Clark stood ready with a box of tissues.

    "Oh, my Lizzy," said Mr. Bennet, "I've been dreading the day I would have to part with you since you were just a tiny thing. I can bear it only because I know that Will is a good man, and you two love each other."

    "Thanks, Dad," Lizzy accepted a tissue and dabbed gently at the corner of her eyes. "I love you, Dad, but I'd love you more if you'd do something to stop me crying."

    "Be glad you aren't being married by Mr. Bean with his Father, Son, and Holy Spigot."

    Lewis de Bourgh gingerly lifted the hem of his daughter's wedding gown.

    "What are you doing?"

    "Checking to see if you have high-tops or roller blades on under there."

    "Daddy!"

    "You've done a lot of crazy things, Little Girl, but a surprise wedding takes the cake. No, I didn't mean to make a pun. Only you, Annie, only you would think of this. And only you could carry it off. I don't want you to give up your nonconformist streak entirely, but remember it takes cooperation and negotiation for two people to live together. Especially two people who have a long history of pushing each other's buttons. Don't always have to be right, Annie. Let Richard win a couple of rounds now and then, okay?"

    Sniffing, Anne nodded. "Thanks," she said as she took the tissue Lizzy pulled from the box.

    A shrill whistle from the porch made everyone jump.

    "Are we ready?" asked Georgie, stationed at the door. "Looks like Jake is about to start. Uncle Matt just introduced him."

    Jake smiled at the group of people standing on the lawn, "Ladies and gentlemen, in case Matt's introduction was a bit cryptic, I should explain that we are here to celebrate two weddings. Although we are not in a church, this is a solemn and holy rite, and so the waiters have been asked to stop circulating until the ceremony is over. I would ask that you remain standing and silent throughout the ceremony."

    Jake turned to Richard and Darcy, and said softly, "Well, guys, they've got candles on all the railings, so if you're going to bolt, you'll have to fight your way through the crowd. Good, that's better, keep those smiles going, because here come the brides." He nodded to Georgie, and the string quartet began the Wedding March.

    The doors opened, and Georgie and Jane stepped out, side-by side. Their blue gowns, while very different in design, were the same color, and the effect of the deep blue color on the two blondes was stunning. Jane smiled serenely with just a quick glance toward Charles, and Georgie fought to keep a calm smile instead of a crazy grin. For a moment, Darcy had to fight tears as he watched his sister approach.

    Richard put a hand on his shoulder, "I know. I see your mom in Georgie, too." He gave Darcy's shoulder a gentle squeeze, and Darcy nodded.

    After considerable debate over which bride would walk out first, they had settled the question with a coin toss minutes before the ceremony. Lewis de Bourgh escorted Anne out onto the porch and they walked toward the men. At the top of the stairs, he kissed Anne and placed her hand in Richard's. He walked down one step and waited for the next bride and her father.

    Lizzy and her father stepped out onto the porch. Mr. Bennet was surprised to feel his usually confident daughter trembling. But the minute she saw Darcy ahead of her, the trembling stopped and she raised her chin and smiled. As Lewis had done, Mr. Bennet kissed his daughter and handed her over. For a moment he held both their hands in his and whispered, "Be happy. God bless you." Then he moved to the steps and he and Lewis walked down and stood behind their wives.

    Lizzy stood with her hand in the crook of Darcy's arm, relaxed and confident. She smiled as she handed her bouquet to Jane. Anne clutched Richard's arm nervously. Georgie had to tap her on the arm and remind Anne to hand over the bouquet.

    Jake, whose back was to the guests, smiled at the couples. "This is one for the books. Everyone ready?" He cleared his throat and began loudly, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the sight of God...

    Because everyone was standing, Jake chose to keep his homily short, ending it with, "When I was a kid, people used to go around reminding you that today is the first day of the rest of your life. It got a bit trite. But on the day you are joined to the one person you've chosen to spend your life with, today truly is the first day of the rest of your lives.

    There were sighs and sniffles when the vows were made, rings were exchanged, and Jake said, "I now pronounce you man and wife." As people applauded, he whispered, "You know what's next."

    The couples had agreed to count five seconds so that neither would kiss longer than the other would, but Jake could sense that the counting had been forgotten. He quietly cleared his throat and the couples separated. Richard and Darcy shook hands. The brides embraced each other, then their maids of honor.

    The grooms helped their brides down the steps, and the professional photographer began to arrange people for photographs. Richard looked out at the crowd and whistled loudly. "Hey waiters, the bar is open again!" Everyone laughed and the crowd began to wander around again. A waiter took the cue and brought a tray of glasses to the wedding party. Chris and Peter took a few photographs and excused themselves to go inside and send the prepared email announcement. The professional photographer took a few more pictures, then turned the wedding party loose to mingle and accept the congratulations of their guests.

    Chapter 100

    Posted on Sunday, 23 May 2004

    still July 20

    When the photographer declared that the wedding party were free to mingle, Lizzy knew that it was time to face her mother.

    "Lizzy!"

    It was time, all right.

    "Oh, Lizzy," cried Mrs. Bennet, giving the performance of a lifetime. "Didn’t everything go beautifully! And people were so surprised!"

    As Mrs. Bennet embraced her, Lizzy looked over her mother’s shoulder at Darcy and rolled her eyes. Darcy had to stifle a cough. He knew his turn was next.

    "And Will! You look very handsome, as a bridegroom should be, of course. Oh, my! I am so happy!" She dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief.

    "Thank you, Fran," he replied, hugging his mother-in-law.

    Catherine deBourgh wiped away a tear and said, "Well, Anne, it was a lovely ceremony, even if the arrangements were a bit unorthodox. Still, the two of you stood up straight and behaved yourselves."

    Richard hugged his aunt/mother-in-law and said, "I can behave myself, you know. this may seem like a crazy stunt to you, but we never wanted the ceremony to be silly. The surprise factor was rebellion enough."

    "You’re a married couple now. You’ll have to act responsibly."

    "Yes, Mother." Anne smiled at Richard, enjoying the irony of the moment. She had cleaned paintings worth millions of dollars and Richard had been in charge of security for thousands of people—and her mother was lecturing them on responsibility.

    "What a delightful surprise!" said Mrs. Carter as she hugged Lizzy, then Darcy. "I was expecting the ball to be a memorable event, but this surpasses my wildest dreams."

    "Do you think Georgie will want to have a wedding like this?" asked Dr. Carter.

    Darcy looked at him sharply, "Do you know something I don’t?"

    Dr. Carter shrugged, "Wishful thinking, I suppose. But Chris has never been this serious about a girl, and we are very fond of Georgie."

    Darcy nodded, "I don’t ask a lot of questions." He smiled as Lizzy gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, and then he continued, "Not that I don’t want to. But Georgie is an adult and I have to accept that she will make her own decisions. That said, I will tell you that she and Chris would have my—excuse me, our blessing."

    "Make that our enthusiastic blessing," added Lizzy.

    "Anne, you never cease to amaze me!" said Mark. "Erica and I had no clue! Mom and Dad knew, I suppose."

    "Oh, yes," she replied. "Your parents knew. My mother was the last to be told. She thinks we’re crazy."

    "I don’t mind being crazy, "said Richard, "As long as we get to be married."

    "Well, it does explain Sue’s gifts," said Erica.

    "What gifts?" asked Richard.

    "Lingerie of all sorts—practical for Mary and me, sexy for the others. You’ll see!"

    Richard raised his eyebrows as Anne blushed.

    "Trust Sue," Erica whispered as she hugged her new sister-in-law. "She’s smarter than the rest of us put together."

    "Aunt Maddie! Uncle Ed! you made it!" Lizzy squealed as her relatives approached her.

    "Damn car!" grumbled Ed Gardiner.

    "But at least we made it for the ceremony," said his wife. "What a surprise! I can’t believe your mother didn’t tell me."

    "She didn’t know until this afternoon."

    "Oh, my!" said Ed. "Knowing my sister, I bet you got quite a reaction."

    "Oh, yeah," said Lizzy. She turned to compliment her cousin Any on her choice of dress and Ed turned to Darcy.

    "Goodness, Will. you are one for spontaneity. Asking for a blind date with a woman you had already met, and now a surprise wedding. I would never have expected it of such a serious businessman."

    "Lizzy’s influence. Ed, she has done me a world of good. I can’t imagine life without her."

    In New York City, Susan Russell sat at her desk, staring at her monitor.

    "Come on, come on, come on already!" She almost jumped out of her chair when the computer responded with a "bing!"

    She clicked on the email, read it, opened the attachment, and picked up the phone.

    City desk.

    "Mike? I’m forwarding an email to you. NOW tell me you’re crazy to hold space for me." Susan hung up the phone, forwarded the email, and sat back to wait for the editor’s answer.

    "Take that, Augusta!" she crowed.

    "Lizzy! Will!" Peter and Chris threaded their way through the crowd. "It’s done."

    "Everyone?"

    "No, just Russell," said Peter. We’ve got the rest set up, but we won’t send them for an hour or two. Anne promised Russell the first shot at the story. Oh, Mary, there you are."

    "I’m here, Babe. You guys were fast. Lizzy, it was fabulous."

    "Thanks, Mary. You’re really okay with not being a bridesmaid?"

    "Yes, Lydia’s not a happy camper, but I’m fine. It was perfect as it was. Anne had Georgie and you had Jane. It was symmetrical."

    "Only you would think of that, Mary."

    "Very nice ceremony, Jake," said Lewis. "Catherine thought that the homily should have been longer, but I reminded her that, unlike the mothers of the brides, most of the guests were standing. So she admitted that your brevity was an act of kindness."

    "Thank you. Maura approved, and she is my severest critic."

    "Did the kids ask you to say grace at dinner?"

    "Yes, Will thought of it. I’ll be sitting with you, so it will be easy for me to say grace after the toasts. I also think it may fall to me to be master of ceremonies. Usually, the best man organizes the toasts, but with two couples and two best men, it may get a bit complicated."

    "You know, Jake, Lizzy and Anne tossed a coin to see who would walk out first. You May have to do that with the toasts."

    "Darcy or Fitzwilliam?"

    "Sorry?" Nikki turned to see a dark-haired man in front of her.

    "Normally at a wedding, one asks if you’re a friend of the bride or the groom, but I was hoping to get points for originality."

    "Ah, I see. Darcy. Friend of the family."

    "Fitzwilliam. Friend of Anne’s, actually. From the museum."

    Oh, shoot me now. I don’t know Michaelangelo from Mickey Mouse. thought Nikki. Aloud, she said, "Do you work on paintings, too?"

    "No, I’m a registrar."

    "I’m sorry, I have to come clean here. I have no idea what that is. I’ve dealt with the registrar’s office at school—I’m a part-time college student. Well, I will be in the fall. Does the museum have courses?"

    "In a museum, a registrar accessions newly acquired works and keeps track of where everything is." He shrugged and added, "No big deal. A degree in art history and I end up running a computer data base. You said part-time student. Do you work?"

    "Yes, I’m a bartender."

    "No kidding! In the city?"

    "No. Small place upstate."

    "Sounds livelier than my job."

    "It doesn’t require a degree in anything."

    "On-the-job-training, I imagine. I’m Craig, by the way."

    "Nikki." She held out her hand. Craig took it.

    "Do you know where you’re sitting?"

    "Yes. With the siblings of the wedding party."

    "Ah, you’re higher on the social scale than I am."

    "I don’t know about that. Will’s sister is dating my almost-brother."

    "You have to explain that! Oh, I see it’s time to go in for dinner. Save me a dance. I want to hear your story."

    "Okay, Craig. See you later."

    The caterer opened the front of the tent and guests filed in, finding their tables. Because of the uneven wedding party—four women and two men—the head table had only the two couples at it.

    To one side sat the parents and relatives: Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam, Mr. and Mrs. deBourgh, plus Jake and Maura, and Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. To the other side, sat the younger relatives and friends, Jane and Charles, Mary and Peter, Georgie and Chris, Kitty and Sandy. After some deliberation, Lizzy and Anne decided to squeeze in the three unattached women—Lydia, Amy, and Nikki at this table, rather than scatter them around with people they didn’t know.

    Nikki walked toward the table thinking Wow! I just talked to some smart museum guy and casually referred to a multimillionaire by his first name, like I’ve known him forever!

    Chris interrupted her thoughts, "Who was that?"

    "Friend of Anne’s."

    "What’s his name?"

    "Come on, Chris. Knock off the big brother stuff."

    "Yeah, Chris," Peter chimed in. "Lighten up, dude."

    Sandy held Kitty’s chair, then sat down next to her. "This is like deja vu all over again. Georgie, did you know that you were doing a trial run for a wedding when you had your party?"

    "No. But I think the wedding idea started to form that weekend."

    "I think it’s romantic," said Amy. "And this is such a great setting. Oh! What’s this?"

    "It’s the party favor," said Nikki. "Anne designed the paperweight and Lizzy worked out the other stuff."

    "The paperweight is pretty. But why the Metrocard?"

    "Look at the holder," said Nikki. "The holders are from the museum gift shops. And Lizzy wrote the note."

    "We had an assembly line one night, putting it all together. They signed the notes and Chris and I packed the card holders," said Georgie. "And Nikki did most of the organizing with bags today."

    "A group effort, for sure," said Amy.

    "Are they crazy?" asked Lydia, waving the note around. "No gifts? From a crowd like this they’d get a fabulous haul!"

    "Lydia!" said Jane. "That sounds horribly greedy. I think this is lovely." Although she had seen several drafts of the note, Jane read the final version again.

    Thank you for coming to our wedding!
    One of the reasons for having a surprise wedding was to ensure that people would not spend time and money on wedding gifts. Your presence here with us tonight is the best gift you could possibly give us.
    If you wish to give us a wedding present, please do not buy a gift. You can commemorate our happy event by making a donation to one or both of our favorite museums.
    We also invite you to visit our museums. Take the subway (Metrocard provided!) or grab a cab and visit a museum soon (passes provided!).

    On the back of the note were instructions for making donations to Natural History in Lizzy’s name or the Metropolitan in Anne’s name.

    "What is this doing here?" Catherine deBourgh stared at the Metrocard.

    "It’s a Metrocard," said Lewis. "For the subway."

    "The subway?" she asked in astonishment.

    "Yes, Catherine, It’s really catching on as a form of transportation."

    Tom Bennet stifled a chuckle. Maddie Gardiner decided to say something before Ed joined in the conversation.

    "But did you see the holder for the card? And the note? I think it’s clever, a unique way of saying ‘in lieu of gifts.’"

    "First a surprise wedding, then not wanting gifts, I just do not understand my daughter!" said Mrs. Bennet.

    "Now, Fran," said her husband. "Think about it. Lizzy has moved in with Will, and Anne and Richard have the Fitzwilliam apartment. They don’t need anything. This is practical. And it’s romantic, too. Don’t forget, Lizzy met Will at the museum."

    "Good point, Tom," said Maddie. "The whole wedding gift thing has got out of control in recent years. This is a lovely alternative."

    The musicians tuned up and looked around to see who was in charge. Lewis deBourgh approached them, and after a brief discussion, he returned to his table and sat down. The young woman who sang with the band stepped up to the microphone and said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome Mr. and Mrs. William Darcy and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Fitzwilliam as they dance together for the first time as married couples."

    The guests applauded and cameras flashed as Darcy and Lizzy and Richard and Anne walked into the tent. The band began to play and the young woman sang the song they had selected.

    "It’s very clear,
    Our love is here to stay.
    Not for a year,
    But ever and a day."
    ["Our Love Is Here to Stay," George and Ira Gertshwin]

    After the song ended, the singer announced, "And now, the happy couples invite you to join them on the dance floor."

    Mr. Bennet led his wife to the dance floor When they reached Lizzy and Darcy, Mr. Bennet took Lizzy’s hand. Darcy asked Mrs. Bennet to dance. Anne danced with her father, and Richard danced with his mother. Matt danced with Erica, and Mark danced with Catherine. The photographers snapped pictures of the couples.

    "No father-daughter dance?" asked Nikki.

    "Not officially, no," replied Georgie. "If the bride dances with her father, the groom dances with his mother. Since Will and I don’t have parents, they decided to avoid the awkwardness by skipping the formal production of who dances with whom."

    Tom Bennet kissed Lizzy on the cheek and returned her to Darcy. "I suppose your husband would rather dance with you."

    Darcy kissed Mrs. Bennet’s hand and returned her to Tom.

    "Oh, my," sighed Fran Bennet as her husband steered her across the dance floor. "Isn’t this elegant? When Lizzy told me what they were going to do, I thought they were crazy. But it really is romantic."

    After a few more dances, the singer announced that guests should take their seats as dinner service would begin soon. Once the guests were seated, Jake walked to the head table. Grinning, he took out a coin and tossed it into the air.

    He caught the coin, looked at it and said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Richard Fitzwilliam, Will’s best man."

    Nervously fingering his glass, Richard began, "I’m in an awkward spot here. Part of me is pleased to go first and get dibs on the best jokes. But another part of me is thinking about how Darce will get the last word, and I don’t want to provoke him.

    "Darce and I have been best friends all of our lives. I watched him grow into his responsibilities at a time when most men his age would have been partying. He has always put his sister and his work ahead of his own wants and needs. Now he’s finally able to shift his priorities and be good to himself. He has found a woman who can share his life and keep him from becoming too serious and old before his time. Lizzy has brought out the sense of humor that has been hidden in recent years. So, Will, Lizzy, I wish you many years of laughter, joy, and love."

    Raising his glass, Richard cried, "Will and Lizzy!"

    "Will and Lizzy!"

    Darcy kissed Lizzy, then stood up.

    "Thanks, Richard. I never minded not having a brother because I had a cousin who was also my best friend. Growing up, we talked ourselves into and out of more scrapes than I care to remember, including a few near-death experiences—mostly in the form of Anne shrieking ‘I’m gonna kill you!’

    "In fact, I feel a certain degree of responsibility for this match, as I spent a lifetime acting as referee for you two. I can only say that I hope you’ve got the arguments over with and can now enjoy peace, happiness, and love."

    Darcy lifted his glass and said, "Richard and Anne!"

    "Richard and Anne!"

    Jake stepped forward and said, "Everyone please rise as I say grace." He paused as guests stood up. "Heavenly Father, we ask your blessing for these two couples as they begin married life. And we ask your blessing on all of us as we celebrate their joy. May we all remain mindful of the power and importance of love. Amen."

    "Amen."

    The first course, a lobster vol-au-vent, was served as soon as the guests sat down. The brides and grooms were served first. Chris watched the couples closely, and the minute their mouths were full, he clinked his fork against his wineglass. Other guests quickly joined in. Darcy held up one hand in a gesture that said WAIT. He swallowed, took a sip of champagne, and turned to Lizzy for a kiss. The clinking turned to applause as Richard and Anne also kissed.

    Then Anne turned to Lizzy and asked, "Do you know who started that?"

    "Chris."

    "Figures. Just wait until he and Georgie get married."

    "You think?"

    "Don’t you?"

    "It does seem likely," Lizzy admitted.

    Anne leaned forward and looked at Darcy. "Hey, Darce, dance with your cousin while we wait for the soup?"

    "Deserting me already, Annie?" asked Richard.

    "So it would seem," laughed Darcy as he rose and held Anne’s chair.

    "Well, then, Lizzy," said Richard, "I think we have to retaliate." He stood and held out his hand.

    A few other couples joined them on the dance floor. At the end of the song, Darcy claimed Lizzy and returned Anne to Richard. They began to dance again, but saw that the soup course was being served. They returned to the head table.

    As Richard and Anne passed Chris, Anne smacked the side of his head and hissed, "No more clinking while we’re eating!"

    Between chilled blueberry soup and field greens salad, the couples visited a few tables. between the salad and the main course, they visited more. Several times, they had to reaffirm that they truly did not need anything, which was why they had said no gifts.

    During the main course, the band took a break, leaving a CD of light classical music playing.

    "So," said Anne. Are you two all organized and ready to go?"

    "Pretty much. I wore Jane’s bathrobe while I packed, so everything I’ll need is in my suitcase. Your father’s driver has stashed our things in the limo. Will’s car is sitting out as a decoy in case anyone gets ideas. How about you?"

    "Packed and probably stowed by now. Mr. Clark was going to take our bags down to the boat. So I guess I’m as ready as I’ll ever be."

    "Don’t be nervous, Anne. You’ll be fine."

    "I know."

    "What are you two whispering about?" asked Richard. "I demand to have my share of the conversation!"

    "Packing," said Lizzy. "Are you packed yet?":

    "Who cares? We won’t need a lot of clothes." Seeing Anne turn scarlet, he said, "I mean, we won’t be going formal like you and Darce, so it doesn’t much matter what I pack."

    "But have you done it?" asked Anne.

    "Yes, dear."

    The main course was cleared, and the band returned. The singer took the microphone and announced that it was time to cut the cake, which was being wheeled in by the caterer.

    "Before we cut into this beautiful cake, I want you to know that the cake was made by Lizzy’s mother, Fran, as a special request. And the flowers for the top were arranged my Lizzy’s sister, Mary. So let’s have a round of applause for Fran and Mary Bennet."

    As the applause faded, the singer said, "May we have the brides and grooms front and center, please. It’s time to cut the cake."

    Lizzy and Darcy stood to one side of the cake, and Richard and Anne stood to the other side. Each couple took a knife and made a cut into the cake. Then the caterer cut four pieces and put them on small plates.

    "Okay, grooms, are you ready?" asked the singer.

    Darcy held up his plate. Richard made an OK sign.

    "Will…" Lizzy looked stern.

    "I’ll behave, I promise," he replied, feeding her a morsel of cake, but managing to get frosting on her nose. He removed the frosting with a playful kiss.

    Richard picked up the entire piece of cake.

    "Do it and you die!" Anne hissed.

    "Yeah, better save it for later." Richard put the piece back on the plate, broke off a small chunk and popped it into Anne’s mouth. She surprised him by grabbing his hand and licking some frosting off his finger.

    "Brides?" asked the singer.

    Lizzy broke off a piece of cake and held it tantalizingly in front of Darcy. "Beg for it!" she whispered.

    "I have no intention of begging for anyhthing, Lizzy," Darcy whispered.

    "We’ll just see about that."

    "Yes we will!" Darcy took hold of Lizzy’s wrist and bent his head to take the cake from her fingers.

    Anne held her piece of cake. Knowing that everyone was waiting for something outrageous, she smiled sweetly and broke off a small piece of cake, which she gently fed to Richard.

    After the cake was served, the music became livelier and couples crowded the dance floor. Lizzy noticed Mrs. Reynolds talking to the caterer. She pointed this out to Darcy, who had no idea what they were discussing.

    Lizzy and Darcy walked over to Mr. and Mrs. Bennet.

    "The cake was delicious, Fran. Thank you for making it," said Darcy. "I know you went to a lot of trouble."

    "It was nice of you to have that announcement made."

    "That was Lizzy’s idea."

    "Oh. Well, thank you , Lizzy."

    "It was the one thing I always knew I wanted for my wedding. Except for Mrs. R and maybe Jane, you’re probably the only woman in the room who could actually make a wedding cake."

    Trying to picture Catherine deBourgh in a flour-dusted apron made Mrs. Bennet laugh. "I hadn’t really thought of it that way."

    Dancing continued until it was time for the band to take another break. The singer took the microphone in her hand and said, "Ladies, may I have your attention, please! It’s time for the traditional throwing of the bouquets. Brides, please make your way to the edge of the dance floor. Grooms, help your ladies up onto the chairs."

    Laughing, Lizzy and Anne stepped up onto the chairs that had been provided.

    "Unmarried ladies, please assemble on the dance floor."

    Chris whispered something to Nikki, who nodded and grabbed Georgie by the hand, saying, "Come on, let’s nail those flowers!"

    The singer continued, "A few rules. No pushing. No tripping. No biting. No hair pulling."

    Nikki snorted; Georgie giggled.

    "One at a time, now. Who’s first?"

    Lizzy held up her bouquet to signal that she was ready. She looked over her shoulder and grinned at Jane, who tried not to notice. Lydia and Amy made little warm-up jumps, while Mary stood at the edge of the crowed, looking embarrassed. Peter and Charles appeared to be making some sort of bet when Chris joined them.

    "Handicapping the field?" asked Chris.

    "No. Betting on how many girls Lydia is going to take out. Lizzy’s going to aim for Jane, right Charles?"

    "Oh yeah. They practiced."

    What?"

    "Lizzy made up a bouquet of fake flowers and practiced tossing it over her shoulder. She said she didn’t want to do a clumsy throw."

    "Then Jane’s a lock to get it."

    "Not necessarily. Lizzy practiced from the porch. The spacing might be different now."

    "Girls, are you ready?" asked the singer. Her question was answered with squeals, cheers, and applause.

    "Okay! Ready—no looking over your shoulder. Throw!"

    While Darcy held her steady, Lizzy tossed the bouquet in a graceful arc over her head. Amy jumped and seemed to have it, but Lydia batted it out of her hands. Amy shoved Lydia out of the way and reached to reclaim her prize, but too late. When Lydia missed grabbing it, Jane caught the bouquet. Holding it over her head in triumph, she ran to her sister.

    "Well done, Jane!" said Darcy as he helped Lizzy down from her chair.

    "Come on!" said Lizzy, dragging her sister toward the crowd of young women.

    "No fair!"

    "Lizzy can’t be here!"

    "Jane already got one!"

    "Ineligible receivers downfield," laughed Charles as he collected his fiancee. Lizzy returned to Darcy.

    "Settle down, now," the singer admonished the crowd. "We still have another bouquet to throw. I know the girls are ready." Shrieks confirmed this.

    "Bride, are you ready?"

    Anne waved her bouquet in the air.

    "Okay, ready, steady, throw!"

    Anne tossed the flowers in a high arc. Nikki traced the trajectory, hip-checked another girl aside, and jumped. Making contact with the bouquet, she spiked it downward, right into Georgie’s hands.

    Stunned, Georgie held the bouquet toward Nikki, who hugged her and whispered, "It’s yours." More loudly she said, "Congrats, Georgie!"

    "Ladies and Gentlemen," said the singer. "This next dance is a ladies choice. The two ladies who caught the bouquets will lead their dates to the dance floor. And the rest of you girls, go get ’em!"

    Lizzy made a beeline for Peter. As she passed Mary, she said, "Go dance with your brother-in-law."

    When Mary approached him, Darcy accepted gratefully. "Thank you for rescuing me. I think Lydia and Amy were daring each other to ask me."

    "Glad to be useful. This is the best party I’ve ever been to. I still can’t believe you guys pulled off a surprise wedding.

    Squaring her shoulders, Nikki walked over to Craig. Sweeping a courtly bow, she asked, "May I have this dance?"

    Craig curtseyed, batted his eyelashes, and said "Why, I’d be honored, ma’am." When they got to the dance floor, he asked, "Shall I lead?"

    "Please do. I hope you’re enjoying the party."

    "Immensely. Now tell me about your almost brother."

    "We’ve been friends since we were kids. He’s Chris Carter—"

    "Doesn’t he play for the Giants?"

    "Different one. My Chris is the tall guy dancing with Georgie Darcy, Anne’s maid of honor."

    "The girl you passed the flowers to. You must be good at volleyball to make a play like that. And looking at your almost brother and his dancing partner, I’m guessing that move was a favor?"

    "Yes, he wanted so much for her to catch a bouquet, but she’s kind of shy, so he asked me to help her out."

    "Which you did, being his almost sister and so forth."

    "Right. See, I was a tomboy—"

    "You certainly don’t look it tonight."

    "Thanks. But it’s true, I hung out with the boys. Dated some of them, but not Chris. My mother is a single mom, so I spent a lot of time at the Carter’s house. Mrs. Carter has always been a second mother to me."

    "Which makes Chris an almost brother."

    "Exactly! I’m glad Georgie and I got to be friends. I was a bit aggressive about checking her out when we first met, but we straightened it all out."

    "So, do I have to ask Chris if it’s okay to ask for your phone number?"

    The dancing continued for a while longer. Darcy passed a note to the band singer, and the next time Richard took Anne onto the dance floor, the band quickly changed songs.

    "You made me love you.
    I didn’t wanna do it,
    I didn’t wanna do it.
    You made me love you.
    And all the time you knew it.
    I guess you always knew it."

    Darcy tried to watch Richard to see if there would be retribution, but he never did see Richard or Anne speak to the singer. Nevertheless, the next time Darcy and Lizzy danced together, the band changed tunes.

    "Those fingers in my hair,
    That sly, come-hither stare
    That leaves my conscience bare,
    It’s witchcraft."

    Lizzy laughed, "Call it a draw, Will. Anne and I don’t want our husbands dueling on our wedding day!"

    Richard steered Anne across the floor until they were near Darcy and Lizzy.

    "So, are we even?" asked Richard.

    "Yes," said Lizzy. "No more cute business with the songs. How soon do you need to get away? Are the tides right or whatever?"

    "It doesn’t matter. Tides won’t affect us in the Sound."

    "We probably should be going soon," said Darcy. "Have you checked with Mr. and Mrs. Clark?"

    "Everything is on the boat—except us, of course."

    "Right, then it’s time to run interference for you. Lizzy, are you ready?"

    "Yes, I need to run upstairs and make sure I didn’t leave anything behind. Anne?"

    "Right with you. Darce, find Jane and Georgie and send them up."

    A short while later, the four women walked out onto the porch, giggling. The band had just taken a break, and people were milling about on the lawn.

    "Mom!" called Lizzy, "We’re going!"

    Lizzy’s parents rushed up to say goodbye just as the deBourgh’s limo pulled into the drive. Lizzy and Darcy said goodbye to Richard and Anne and Georgie and Chris. These four disappeared into the crowd as other people came forward to say goodbye. It took about fifteen minutes for Lizzy and Darcy to make their exit. One of the last people they saw was Mrs. Reynolds.

    "Don’t cry, Mrs. R!" said Lizzy. "I promise we won’t make a mess of the apartment."

    "I’m just so happy for you both." Hugging Lizzy, she said, "Thank you for making him so happy."

    The newlyweds settled into the back of the limo and waved as the car moved down the drive.

    "What’s this?" asked Darcy, picking up a tote bag with a large bow tied to the handles.

    "I have no idea." Lizzy peeked inside and saw a party favor bag, a bottle of champagne, and a small box.

    "Listen to this," he said reading the note that had been tied to the bag. "I thought you might forget to keep one of the paperweights for yourselves. The champagne and cake are for breakfast! Love, ER."

    "Oh! I can’t remember if we did keep a paperweight at the apartment. Mrs. R thinks of everything, including my day-after cake tradition. I bet that’s what she was talking to the caterer about, boxing up some cake for us."

    "Hmm, the champagne isn’t chilled."

    "No, of course not. It’s for breakfast. Anyhow, I think I’ve had enough. I don’t want to have a hangover tomorrow. And I don’t think you want me to pass out tonight, do you?"

    He grinned wickedly and said, "I’d find a way to wake you up!"

    While Darcy and Lizzy were making an elaborate show of saying goodbye to everyone, Richard, Anne, Georgie, and Chris quietly made their way down to the dock. Richard climbed on board the boat and disappeared below deck, leaving Chris standing watch. Anne and Georgie went into the boat house.

    "Got my t-shirt?"

    "Right here, Anne."

    "Good, unzip me."

    Georgie unzipped Anne’s wedding gown and the dress slid down, revealing the shorts and sneakers that Anne had put on when they had gone into the house. Anne pulled the t-shirt over her head as she stepped out of the gown.

    "I’ll take care of the dress."

    "Thanks, Georgie." The two women walked onto the dock just as Richard emerged on deck, dressed in shorts and holding his tux.

    "Hurry up!" he whispered.

    Chris took the tux, which was in danger of slipping off the hanger. Georgie straightened it.

    "Here," said Richard, holding out a coat hanger to Georgie. "For the dress."

    "Good idea." Georgie turned to Anne and said, "I can’t believe you guys are really married!"

    "Don’t go all teary on me now, Georgie," said Anne, as she hugged her cousin, and then Chris.

    "Oh! Anne, do you want your bouquet?"

    "No, you caught it, you get to keep it."

    Georgie pulled out a few flowers and held them out. "Here."

    "Thanks. And press a few for me?"

    "Sure."

    "Come on, Annie!"

    "Okay, okay!" Anne stepped aboard. She and Chris handled the lines while Richard started the engine. The boat moved slowly out into the Sound, Anne waving with one hand and holding Richard’s hand with the other. Chris pulled out his digital camera and took a picture.

    Georgie waved, then stood watching them slip away. "They’re gone."

    "Uh-huh."

    "This is weird. Since Will and I came back to New York, we’ve all been so close. Someone has always been around—Will, Anne, or Richard." She leaned against Chris and sighed. Then she said "I should hang up the dress."

    "Oh, right."

    "Give me the tux, I’ll hang that with it."

    When Georgie came out of the boathouse, Chris was holding the bouquet, which Georgie had set down on the dock. When she stood next to him, he handed her the flowers. She bent her head and breathed in the scent of the roses. Chris stepped away from her and took her picture. He turned the camera so that she could see the picture displayed on the back of the camera.

    "Look at how beautiful you are. You look like a bride with that bouquet. You’d make a beautiful bride, Georgie."

    Chapter 101

    Posted on Tuesday, 8 June 2004


    July 21

    "This is deliciously decadent," laughed Lizzy as she held out her glass for a refill. She and Darcy shared a lounge chair on the terrace. A bottle of champagne and a plate of wedding cake sat on a nearby table.

    "You’re one to talk," replied Darcy, pouring the wine. "This whole cake-the-next-morning thing started with your birthday. Although you didn’t have champagne for breakfast then."

    "I know. But we’re celebrating. This is the first morning of our married life. I think that’s worthy of champagne. And, well, the cake would only get stale if we didn’t eat it."

    "Of course," laughed Darcy. He broke off a bit of cake and fed it to Lizzy. "Hmm, every time I do this, I get frosting on your nose. Let me fix that."

    Lizzy giggled and said, "What a lovely way to spend a Sunday morning. I wonder if the papers have arrived yet."

    "Probably. I could call down and ask the doorman to put them in the penthouse elevator."

    "In a little while, maybe."

    More than a little while later, while Lizzy was in the shower, Darcy collected the newspapers from the elevator. He flipped through until he found what he was looking for.

    "Here it is. Nice picture, too." He leaned on the doorframe as steam billowed out of the shower.

    "Read it to me."

    "Yes, ma’am. Ms. Russell did us proud. Listen to this, ‘Last night the tradition of the Fitzwilliam Summer Ball was revived with a twist. Many of the guests expected the evening to culminate with the formal announcements of the engagements of Anne deBourgh to Richard Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Bennet to William Darcy. Instead it began with a double wedding ceremony. Yes, dear readers, these two couples were joined in matrimony on the sprawling grounds of the Fitzwilliam family compound on Long Island. A relative, Rev. John Fitzwilliam officiated. The two men, who are cousins, served as each other’s best man. Mrs. Darcy’s sister, Jane Bennet, was her maid of honor. Mrs. Fitzwilliam’s cousin, Georgiana Darcy, was her maid of honor. The couples insisted on a surprise wedding because they did not want their guests to feel obligated to give them wedding gifts.’ She goes on to say something about parents and so forth. So it’s done. We have been announced."

    Lizzy stepped out of the shower and wrapped herself in a towel. She glanced at the picture Darcy held out for her. "Not bad. Chris took that?"

    "Yes, with his new digital camera."

    "Did anyone else pick up the announcement?"

    "Not that I could see."

    "Check Augusta Elton’s column."

    Darcy went in search of another newspaper. He returned and handed it to Lizzy. "Your turn. Read it to me while I shower."

    "Okay. Let me scan down, ah here it is. She boldfaces names so it’s easy to find. ‘The Fitzwilliam Summer Ball was held last night at the family estate on Long Island. Members of the press could not obtain invitations to the event, which was hosted by the younger generation of the family, Richard Fitzwilliam, William Darcy, Georgiana Darcy, and Anne deBourgh. However, press releases provided details of the planning.’ Blah, blah, blah about the band and the pink roses. Yadda, yadda, Georgie’s party was the source of the idea. Oh! Here we go. Get this, ‘Although it was not in the pre-event press release, insiders told this reporter that the ball will serve as the formal announcement and celebration of the engagements of two of New York’s eligible bachelors, Mr. Fitzwilliam to Ms deBourgh, and Mr. Darcy to Elizabeth Bennet. Congratulations to these lovely couples.’ Oh, man! Fussy Gussie is gonna split a gut when she finds out she’s an event behind!"

    Mr. and Mrs. Clark and Mrs. Reynolds sat in the kitchen drinking coffee and waiting for the muffins to come out of the oven.

    "Isn’t it a nice picture?" said Mrs. Clark, holding up the newspaper.

    "Yes, it is. I believe Chris took that. Isn’t it amazing how all this technology gets a picture into the newspaper so quickly," said Mrs. Reynolds.

    "What a night," laughed Mr. Clark. "I must have carried a half dozen of those rose arrangements down to the boat, not to mention the luggage and supplies. I can’t believe I woke up so early this morning. I doubt many of the guests will."

    "Probably not," said his wife. "The younger people partied quite late. But the parents didn’t stay up too late, so we may see them if they come up to the house."

    Mr. Clark stood up, "I think I’ll go set up the hangover bar."

    Mrs. Reynolds laughed, "What goes on that?"

    "Ginger ale, herbal tea bags, crackers, and aspirin. Also, the makings for bloody marys for those who prefer the hair of the dog."

    Lizzy stood in the bedroom, checking her list one more time when the phone rang. Darcy answered it.

    "Hello? ... No, not too bad... Just about done, she's checking her list again—makes her sound like Santa, doesn't it? Hmm? Yes, of course come up!"

    "Who was that?"

    "Georgie."

    "She's here?"

    "Yes, they wanted to see us before we go. And they brought Mrs. R home." Darcy went to open the door to the apartment. Lizzy threw a few more items into her carry-on bag and then joined him. The elevator door opened and Georgie bounced out.

    "Will! Lizzy! Look!" She waved her left hand around. "We're engaged!" Lizzy looked at Darcy to see how he would take the news. He grinned at Chris, and picked his sister up in a bear hug and swung her around.

    "I'm happy for you, Sweetie!" he said.

    "Congratulations!" Lizzy kissed Chris, then Georgie. "Man, that was some magic bouquet you caught, girl! It even came with a ring!"

    "It's his mother's first ring. When they got married, they didn't have much money, so her engagement ring was small. Later, she got a larger ring. So we're carrying on the tradition of starting out small. When Chris is making a fortune as a team doctor in the NFL, he'll buy me a monster rock, right?"

    "That's the plan," laughed Chris. "I figure we have lots of time before anyone needs to use the family temp ring. My sister doesn't have any kids yet. Once one of us has a son, I guess he'll be next in line to use it."

    "I am so glad you came back to the city to tell us!" said Lizzy. "We'd hate to be the last to know."

    "My parents are the only other ones who know," said Chris. "And Mrs. R, too."

    The older woman smiled at his use of the family nickname for her. "So many congratulations to be given! I’ll leave you all to celebrate. But call me when you’re ready to go so that I can say a proper goodbye."

    "Thanks, Mrs. R. There’s still a bit of the cake you packed up for us, if you want a snack." Turning to Chris, Darcy said, "Looking back on last night, I recall a few times when your father almost gave it away."

    "Really? He didn’t know I intended to propose last night. But I’d already asked for the ring—in fact, I’ve had it for some time, so he knew it was coming eventually."

    "I suppose we did, too."

    "Are you all packed?" asked Georgie.

    "Yes, just about. Come talk to me while I make one last check," said Lizzy. "Once they were in the bedroom, she said, "Okay, tell all! When did he propose?"

    "Oh, Lizzy, it was so romantic. We had just seen Anne and Richard off, and we were standing on the dock in the moonlight. I still had Anne’s flowers, and Chris took my picture holding them. He told me I looked like a bride with the flowers. And then he asked me to be his bride."

    "Ohhh, that’s so sweet! Wasn’t it lucky that you caught Anne’s bouquet?"

    "Not entirely lucky. Didn’t you see Nikki’s moves?"

    "Of course! Chris must have asked her to make sure you’d catch it."

    "He did. He didn’t tell her why. Oh, that’s another person who knows. We told Nikki this morning. Anyhow, he just told her that he was afraid I would get squished in the mob so she said she’d take care of it. Chris did tell me he thought of asking Anne to hide the ring in the bouquet, but then decided that was too risky,"

    "Sure would be. You hear all those stories about guys hiding the ring in dessert and then the woman eats it or chokes on it. What would he have done if someone else had caught the bouquet? Or if the ring had bounced out?"

    "The ring would have been trampled into the lawn." Georgie giggled, "And Chris would have been out there all night with a metal detector looking for it."

    "Well, it sounds like everything went according to plan. Um, now that I’m officially a relative, I want to ask you something."

    "Yes?"

    "Are you certain? About Chris, I mean."

    "Absolutely. I know I haven’t had a serious boyfriend before him, but after all I’ve put Chris through, I know that I can trust him to stick with me. Trust is important, especially for me. And, yes, I do love him."

    "Good, just making sure."

    "So, are you taking over the Spanish Inquisition thing, or what?"

    "I have been your sister for less than 24 hours, Miss Darcy, and already you’re being smart to me!"

    "Sorry, Mrs. Darcy!"

    "Oh, say that again."

    "Sorry."

    "No! The other."

    "Mrs. Darcy, Mrs. Darcy, Mrs. Darcy."

    Giggling, the two women walked onto the terrace where Darcy and Chris were talking.

    "Is he grilling you?" asked Georgie.

    "No," replied Darcy and Chris in unison.

    "Aha! Lizzy is taking over. Chris, meet the new Cardinal Richelieu!"

    "One question. I asked her one little question, and now I’m the Spanish Inquisition." Lizzy wrapped her arms around herself and pouted.

    Darcy walked up behind Lizzy, wrapped his arms around hers, and said, "I thought we agreed, no questions." Looking at his sister, he said, "I’m afraid we need to get going. The car will be here for us soon."

    "I wish we could sail with you, but since we can't, we're going to our apartment. We may go over to the pier to wave goodbye."

    "I’ll leave my cell on, so call is if you do. Richard said he might call us before we go."

    "Okay, I'll call you if we're on the pier. Bon Voyage, happy sailing and all that! I love you guys!"

    "Love you, too, Georgie." said Lizzy.

    After Georgie and Chris left, Lizzy sighed, "You took that very well, Will."

    "Were you surprised? I think they've been edging toward this for some time. Chris told me months ago that he was serious about Georgie. I think he timed the proposal for now to take advantage of my deliriously happy mood."

    "Deliriously happy?"

    "Mmm, deliriously."

    "Me too. We should say goodbye to Mrs. R." Lizzy took Darcy by the hand and they walked to the kitchen. "Mrs. R? We’re off in a minute."

    "Have a wonderful time."

    "We will. And thank you so much for all your help with the wedding."

    "You’re welcome, Mrs. Darcy."

    "Oooh, I love hearing my new name!"

    "Remember when I declined to call you by your first name? Even then I hoped you would go from Miss Bennet to Mrs. Darcy."

    Darcy chuckled, "And yet another person who wants to take credit for us! Last night, I overheard Anne tell someone it was all her idea. And I know Georgie thinks it was her idea."

    "We’re all just so happy for you both."

    Darcy hugged his housekeeper, "Thank you. For more than I can—oh, just for everything."

    "You’re welcome."

    Lizzy hugged Mrs. Reynolds and added, "And thank you for packing the goodie bag. We did have the cake and champagne for breakfast."

    "Yes, I see the remains."

    "Oh! I should have—"

    "No, you should not have. I’ll have the dishes washed in a jiffy. You two run along or you’ll miss the ship!"

    As the limo approached the Passenger Ship Terminal, Lizzy tried to figure out how many ships were in port.

    "The red stack is Cunard," said Darcy. "The red and blue is Carnival, the one with the crown and anchor is Royal Caribbean."

    "Ooh, now that I can see the ship, I can't wait to get on board. Look at this traffic! It's going to take forever to get there."

    "Patience, Love. Boarding isn't supposed to start until 2:00. People tend to arrive early and then stand around on the pier, waiting."

    Darcy was right. After they handed over their luggage to a porter, they took their carry-on bags into the terminal. A long line of passengers wound its way around the area. Lizzy groaned and headed for the end of the line.

    Darcy shook his head and said, "Follow me." Murmuring a polite "excuse me," he led Lizzy through the line and over to a door where a blue-jacketed woman stood by herself.

    "Is this priority boarding?"

    "Yes sir, Platinum and Queen's Grill."

    Darcy showed her the tickets and they were ushered into the processing area.

    "Wow," breathed Lizzy. "I feel important!"

    "You are the most important woman I know," replied Darcy.

    "What got us through that door? Oh Will, you don't own—"

    "No! I do not own a cruise line. We're in a Queen's Grill cabin, so we get priority boarding. So do people who have been on enough times to be considered 'platinum' past passengers. Aunt Sue and Uncle Matt are platinum."

    They were greeted by another blue-jacketed woman who directed them to a check-in desk. Part of the processing was to be photographed by the computer.

    "This is your ID card. You'll need to show it whenever you get off or on the ship. It's for security. All right, then. Here's a boarding pass for each of you. You're in group 1, and you should be boarding in about 15 minutes. Enjoy your cruise, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy." Seeing Lizzy's grin at the use of her new name, the woman added, "And congratulations?"

    Lizzy nodded and said, "Yes, thanks!"

    They passed through a security check, then had a "bon voyage" photo taken, and sat to wait to be called.

    When group 1 was called to board, they approached the doorway, passes in hand. They entered the gangway and a security officer scanned their ID cards. When the computer made a "boop" noise, Lizzy laughed.

    "I feel like a box of cereal at Price Club."

    They stepped into the ship and a white-gloved steward greeted them with "Welcome aboard!" and took their carry-on bags. "What cabin, sir?"

    Darcy told him and the steward grinned. "Well, this is easy, sir." He led them out of the Midships Lobby and around a corner.

    "Here you are sir." The steward entered the suite and set down the bags. Lizzy tried not to stare wide-eyed at the luxurious living room decorated with what appeared to be antique furniture.

    "First time on QE2, sir?"

    "Not for me," said Darcy, "But it is for my wife." He grinned. My wife. That sounded good.

    "Well, this is probably the best ride on the ship, right in the middle. Your luggage will be delivered as soon as it is loaded, and your cabin steward will be around to say hello sometime this afternoon. If you want to explore, there's a little guide on the table here, along with the program for today, which lists meal times and such. If you get lost on the ship, remember that there are lists of what's where at all the stairways and lifts, excuse me, elevators. Bon voyage!"

    "Thank you," said Darcy as the steward left, closing the door behind him.

    "Wow!" said Lizzy. "This can’t be a typical cabin. If you could see the size of the one Jane and I had on a cruise a few years ago—this is five or six times bigger!"

    "Aunt Sue told me it’s the original ‘Owner’s Suite.’"

    "Will, you said you don’t own—"

    Lizzy, I do not own the QE2. It’s traditional—and I mean going back to sailing ships—to have a fancy cabin for the owner. Nowadays, ships belong to corporations, not people. ‘Owner’s Suite’ now just means a fancy suite. This suite has another name now, but it once was called the ‘Owner’s Suite.’ It’s one of the best. There are some with balconies, but I thought this would be better because of its location. We should have good weather, but even a proper ocean liner can get to rolling or pitching if the weather is bad. This is lower and at midship, so the motion isn't felt very strongly here. It wouldn’t do to spend our honeymoon being seasick!"

    "Good point!" laughed Lizzy. "Oh, the bedroom is just as lovely as the living room. Nice bath, too. The view isn't much, though," she said, pointing out through the portholes.

    Darcy laughed as he saw the view of the side of the terminal building. "It gets better as soon as we pull away from the pier, I promise. So, Mrs. Darcy, do you approve of your accommodations?"

    "I can't imagine that anyone would not approve! This is wonderful, Will. Thank you!" She threw her arms around his neck and whispered, "I love you, Mr. Darcy."

    "I love you, too, Mrs. Darcy." A minute later, a knock on the door interrupted them. Darcy opened the door and a young deck hand carried in two pieces of luggage.

    Darcy thanked him, and the man departed.

    "No tip?" asked Lizzy.

    "No, you don't tip for individual things. The tip is done automatically at the end and then the tips are pooled for the waiters and stewards. Schlepping your entire closet is part of the man's job. Tipping is not expected, just as the steward to showed us to the room did not expect to be tipped."

    "Aunt Sue told me that we would be escorted to our cabin. She said that once, the steward was so new at the job that she showed him the way."

    "She would know. She's been on this ship more than a dozen times. Did she give you any other tidbits of information?"

    "Yes, she said to remind you that 'E goes everywhere and G is good.' But I forget what that means."

    "Stairs and elevators. This ship was built as an ocean liner in the days of two-class service. So the stairways don't all go the full height of the ship. That was one way of 'zoning' passengers. But E and G are the longest. Well, no, A is the longest stairway. But because of its position, it goes past several decks where it has no access." Seeing Lizzy's confused look, he stopped. "Never mind the lecture, Love. You'll learn your way around as you go. So, what's first? A ramble? A walk on deck?"

    "Just let me unpack these bags. It won't take long, you'll see." Lizzy unlocked and opened the suitcases. She grabbed large zip-lock plastic bags and tossed them into drawers. She looked into the walk-in closed and squealed "Shelves!"

    "What, Love?"

    "Shelves in the closet. Oh, never mind, it's a Jane Austen thing. But how nice this closet is! I can get even more in here than I packed!" Beaded garments in zip-lock bags went on the shelves and shoes went onto the floor. "Done! See, that didn't take so long."

    "Where did you get this mania for plastic bags?"

    "Aunt Maddie. She organizes packing this way. A two-gallon bag holds several T-shirts or lots of underwear, or two men's dress shirts. I see that I may have to take over packing for you when we travel."

    "A task I willingly surrender to your expertise, Love." Darcy was just beginning to demonstrate his appreciation when another knock signaled more baggage arriving. This time is was Darcy's and he made an effort to unpack as quickly as Lizzy had done. Once the garment bags were delivered and unpacked, they were ready to explore.

    As they passed through the Midships Lobby, they saw that passengers were still boarding. At the other side of the lobby, Darcy said "D stairway, also very good. And see, here's the list of what's on each deck. From the bottom the decks are 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Quarter, Upper, Boat. We're headed up to boat deck. We can use the elevator if you like."

    "No. Stairs. Aunt Sue told me to use the stairs at every opportunity so I could burn off calories."

    "Right. Stairs it is, then."

    They climbed two flights of stairs and Lizzy stopped at a portrait of a young woman in a rose-colored dress and a young man in uniform.

    "What a beautiful portrait!"

    "That's Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip in their younger days. I think this portrait was once on an earlier Cunard ship. There are all sorts of treasures around the ship. I believe they give tours. Come on, let's get out on deck. We can do the history walk later. Just one more flight." Darcy took Lizzy’s hand and led her down a hallway.

    "Hey, all these doors are open."

    "Yes, the passengers who will be in these cabins haven't arrived yet."

    "May I peek?"

    "Everyone does, I suppose."

    "These are nice, nothing like ours, of course, but they're big. And they've got windows! We've got portholes."

    "That's because we're on a lower deck. Actually, I think the windows here are a bit of a problem. This is boat deck, which means people walk by your windows, so you have to keep the drapes closed. We can leave our drapes open all the time we’re at sea. Come on, up to Sun Deck." Darcy pushed open a door that led to a flight of stairs. "You wanted more stairs, didn't you?"

    At the top of the stairs he opened another door and Lizzy found herself facing a large deck space with lounge chairs. They walked out to the middle of the yellow circle.

    "What's this?" asked Lizzy, pointing to the circle.

    "Helicopter landing markings."

    "Get out!"

    "It is. They can land a helicopter here. But usually they just have deck chairs up here. Where would you like to sit?"

    "I don't know."

    "How about this row here?" Darcy pointed to a row of teak deck chairs partly under an overhang. "If it's rainy we can move back. If it's sunny, we can slide the chairs out a bit. As they walked toward the chairs, a steward approached them.

    "Good afternoon, may I help you?"

    "Yes, thanks, we'd like to reserve two chairs."

    "Along here?"

    "Yes, if there are any available."

    "Let me see, yes, here are two together." While Darcy signed for the chairs, Lizzy walked toward the back of the ship and looked out at the river. Since it was a Sunday, many small boats were already out on the water. Lizzy was wondering about one small boat in particular when Darcy arrived at her side.

    "Ready to wander some more?"

    "Mmm. Thinking about Richard and Anne. I just hope they're okay."

    "Their boat is smaller than ours, but it's seaworthy."

    "Will! That isn't what I meant."

    "I know, Love. Maybe they'll call us before we sail. I've left my cell on. At least, I think I have. Better check." He fished in his jacket pocket and pulled out the phone. "Yes, it's on."

    "Good. Where to next?"

    "Let's walk down the outside stairs so that you can see where things are."

    They walked down several flights of steps to the outdoor pool.

    "It's small," said Lizzy.

    "They always are."

    "I know. I guess I thought a bigger ship would have a bigger pool. The Jacuzzis look nice. Look! Someone is in there already."

    "Probably an in-transit passenger who came over on the transatlantic crossing. You don't want to swim now, do you?"

    "No! I want to explore."

    "How about tea?"

    "Sure."

    "Do you know what deck we're on now?"

    "Uh," Lizzy chewed her lip as she consulted the plan. "One?"

    "Good! Now find the Queen's Room."

    "Got it. It's on Quarter Deck. Q and Q, that makes sense."

    "How do we get there?"

    "Well, we go up, I know that."

    "Good, you'll have this ship figured out in no time. There are several routes to follow. Let's go inside here and go up the E stairs."

    "E goes everywhere!"

    "Very good!"

    Anne hid below deck.

    "Come out, you coward!" said Richard.

    "Not while you're so grumpy."

    "I'm not grumpy."

    "Yes you are."

    "No I'm not."

    "I heard you swearing."

    "Was not."

    "Were so."

    "Well, maybe. But not at you."

    "I know that. You were swearing at the currents. I know how much you hate motoring. Maybe this wasn't such a great idea."

    "We don't have to go back this way. We can go south of the Island. It's a nice day, so it will be smooth sailing. Now, if you want to keep the title of First Mate—"

    "ONLY mate!" said Anne, emerging on deck.

    "First, only, and everlasting," said Richard. "And as soon as we get into the Hudson River, I'll be willing to discuss your duties and privileges as First Mate. But if they don't get that damn bridge up soon, I'll have to do some fancy maneuvering to get us there in time! I didn't think there'd be so many trains on a Sunday."

    As they climbed the E stairway, Darcy suggested "Let's stop at the library on the way to tea." A right turn from the stairwell took them to the library and bookshop.

    "This is nice!" said Lizzy as she walked to the fiction section. "It's arranged like a real library. The ship Jane and I were on had some glass cases with books organized by fiction, nonfiction, and biography, with no organization within the groups. One hour each day, someone came and unlocked the books. This is great! Oh, but they don't have the writer I wanted. Wait! Yes they do, I see that they've separated out mysteries and science fiction. Ooh! Pyramids! This is a Pratchett I haven't read!"

    Lizzy signed out the book and then they went to the Queen's Room for Tea. They settled into comfortable chairs, and Lizzy looked around. "Ah, I see why it's the Queen's Room, there's a bust of the Queen. This is an elegant room. I see the dance floor, do they have dancing in here?"

    "Yes, they do."

    "Tea, madam, sir?" A white-gloved waiter stood in front of them.

    Darcy read his name tag and replied, "Yes, thank you, Oliver."

    Oliver poured tea and then returned with sandwiches and cakes. Pointing to the little sandwiches he said, "cucumber, salmon, egg, cheese, prawn."

    "Cucumber, please!" said Lizzy. "That always makes me think of The Importance of Being Earnest."

    "And for you sir?"

    "One cucumber and one prawn, please."

    They nibbled on sandwiches and listened to the harpist. When Oliver returned with the tray of cakes, Lizzy groaned, "Nooo, look at the calories."

    "Indulge, Lizzy, you've already done some walking and we'll do plenty more."

    "Oh, why not? A scone, please. In for a penny, in for a pound and all that."

    Darcy accepted a fruit tart. After the waiter left, Darcy whispered, "I think we'll find time to burn off those calories, Mrs. Darcy."

    After tea, despite Darcy's suggestion of returning to their cabin, Lizzy wanted to walk on deck. They strolled along Boat deck, looking up at the lifeboats.

    "Which one is ours?"

    "I don't know. With luck we'll never know. But we do have to go to Boat Drill. I noticed that our life jackets were set out on the bed. You will get a ride in a lifeboat when we have a tender port."

    "Ah, yes, tendering. One of the things they never show you in the glossy brochures. And with cruise ships getting bigger, tendering will become more common."

    "Yes, docking is an advantage of a smaller ship. But this ship is worth the tendering."

    "Mmm, very nice. Wooden decks, teak deck chairs. So traditional. The ship Jane and I were on had some sort of spongy stuff on the deck, supposedly for the sake of joggers. Not nearly as classy as this. Oh!" Lizzy squealed as her hat nearly blew off. Darcy clamped his hand on her head to hold the hat down.

    "It gets windy on deck, you know."

    "Yes, I, uh…"

    "What is it, Love?"

    "I just had the strangest déjà vu thing. How odd. Well, never mind. You’re right about the wind. I’ll save the straw hat for port and wear a baseball cap instead."

    "You didn’t pack them, did you?"

    "No, I didn’t want to be conspicuous. I bet Anne and Richard wear theirs, though."

    You’re probably right, I—" Darcy stopped when his cell rang. He took out the phone and looked at caller ID. "Speak of the devil. It's Richard."

    "Oh, good."

    "Hello?"

    "Darce, you on board yet?"

    "Yes, we're strolling along boat deck."

    "Great, stroll aft and look down."

    "Why?"

    "Just do it!"

    Darcy shrugged. Taking Lizzy's hand, he walked toward the back of the ship. "How are you two doing?"

    "We're great. Where are you, I still can't see you."

    "What do you mean, you can't see me? Are you on the pier?"

    "No! We're in the river."

    "We've got to go down to get all the way aft. Hang on." Turning to Lizzy, he said, "Those two crazies sailed here to see us off."

    "In the boat?"

    "Yes, in the boat!" came an impatient voice from the phone.

    Lizzy grabbed the phone, "Richard! Put Anne on."

    "Lizzy! Hi!"

    "Hi, Anne, how are you?"

    "Fabulous, fantastic, great, happy, incandescent, joyous..."

    "Anne, do you know you just said that in alphabetical order?"

    "Oh, well, this morning we were, uh, making up a list of happy words..." Anne's voice trailed off as Lizzy and Darcy reached the very back of the ship.

    "I see you! Your boat looks so tiny!" squealed Lizzy, waving frantically with one hand while clutching the phone with the other. Darcy waved at the sailboat, and the happy couple below waved back. As Lizzy had guessed, they were wearing baseball caps. Richard’s was black and said ‘Groom’ in white. Anne’s was white and said ‘Bride’ in black. The caps had been gifts from Uncle Matt to the happy couples. Darcy had threatened to throw their set overboard if Lizzy packed them.

    "Richard wants his phone back. Do you have yours with you, Lizzy?"

    "Yes, I was going to call Jane from the ship. I'll turn it on, call me?"

    "You got it!"

    The women returned the phones to their husbands. Darcy stood at the railing and continued to talk to Richard. Lizzy walked away and sat on one of the lounge chairs by the pool. Her phone rang and she answered immediately, "Anne! So tell me! Well, I mean as much as you're comfortable telling me. How are you? Are you okay?"

    "Oh, Lizzy, I am so much more than okay. I was sooo nervous. I think Richard was, too. But do you remember the pajamas his mother gave me?"

    "Yes."

    "Well, this sounds crazy, but it was the best possible gift. I had my half, and Aunt Sue gave Richard his half, with the instructions 'WEAR THESE!' So we were on the boat—got away great thanks to your diversion, by the way—and we changed into our pajamas. Richard took one look at me and laughed."

    "Oh, Anne! How—"

    "No, let me finish! He laughed and then he began to sing the Pajama Game song."

    "What? You two have a very strange sense of what's romantic."

    "No! Listen! When he was in high school, they did that play, and the finale/curtain call is a pajama fashion show—similar to the underwear fashion show at the end of "The Women" last year. Anyhow, in the Pajama Game, the last two actors to come out onstage are the two leads, and they're sharing a pair of pajamas, and there's some line like 'Married life is lots of fun, two can sleep as cheap as one.' So Richard said that and then sang the song, and we were doing this little soft-shoe dance, and we started laughing and just fell into each other's arms, and well, that's all I'm going to tell you. But God bless Aunt Sue."

    "Unbelievable! But as long as you're happy."

    "Delirious, ecstatic—"

    "You're doing it again, Anne!"

    "I know! Richard looks like he just hung up with Darce, so I guess I'd better hang up, too. We need to get out of the river before you all push back from the pier. Love to Darce! Bye!"

    "Bye, Anne!"

    Lizzy put her phone away and walked over to Darcy. They waved once more at the sailboat and then walked over to the lounge chair where Lizzy had been sitting.

    "She's all right, then?" asked Darcy.

    "Out of her mind with happiness. Richard?"

    "Giddy. He's always had a goofy streak, but he's listing happy adjectives in alphabetical order."

    "I know. She is, too. You know what? I suddenly feel so relieved. I was more worried about them than I realized. So, what's next?"

    "Time to get our life jackets and be ready for boat drill.

    The young Coast Guard officer stood at the rail as his boat moved toward the sailboat. He spoke through a bullhorn, "ATTENTION MATLOCK II! PLEASE MOVE AWAY FROM THE SHIP."

    Richard waved at him.

    "NOW, SIR!"

    Richard sighed, "We’ve drifted too close. Anne go below and get my wallet."

    "Aye, aye, sir."

    "PLEASE MOVE AWAY, MATLOCK II!"

    "Just a minute!" yelled Richard. Anne handed him his wallet and he flipped it open. Leaning over the side, he held it up for the officer to see. "I’m cleared. Call me!"

    Richard picked up the handset for the deck radio and the voice of the officer soon crackled from it, "This is Lieutenant Capshaw. You are too close to QE2. Please move off. Over."

    Richard sighed and answered, "Richard Fitzwilliam, Homeland Security. I have clearance, although I’m not here on official business."

    A new voice came over the radio, "Fitzwilliam! Captain Martinez here. The Queen doesn’t give tows, you know. Over."

    "Hey, Martinez, good to see you. We’re just seeing my cousin off on his honeymoon. Over." Richard waved at the Coast Guard Officer with whom he had worked before.

    "Honeymoon, eh? His or yours? Over."

    Seeing Richard’s confused look, Anne tapped the brim of his hat.

    "Oh, right. Both, actually. We were about to leave anyhow, so we’ll get out of your way now. Over."

    "Congratulations, Fitzwilliam. Over and out."

    Richard saluted, then engaged the engine and they motored away from the cruise ships and the Coast Guard.

    "Well, that was close," laughed Anne. "We nearly spent our honeymoon in a jail somewhere."

    "Brig."

    "What?"

    "It’s the brig if it’s the Coast Cops."

    "Whatever. I’m glad you could talk your way out of a ticket. Can they write a ticket or something?"

    "You bet. They’re the Law on the water here, you know. They can arrest you. So behave yourself."

    "Aye, aye, Captain!"

    Once they were far enough from the pier, Richard cut the engine and they raised the sail. Richard pointed to the tugboats heading toward the pier. "They’ll be sailing soon. Are you sorry we didn’t go the posh route?"

    "Absolutely not! I think this is the perfect honeymoon. Well, as long as we don’t get busted by the Coast Guard!"

    When they returned to the cabin, Lizzy discovered a bottle of champagne chilling in an ice bucket. On the tray was a note. "Ooh, listen to this, Will. Bon Voyage from the Captain and staff of QE2."

    "Standard issue for first-class passengers, Love."

    "Good stuff, too."

    "And more arriving now," said Darcy as he answered the knock on the door. Their stewardess, Rhonda introduced herself and set two more bottles of champagne and two envelopes on the table.

    "Any time you want an ice bucket to chill the wine, just ring for me and I’ll get it. Or you can just put it in your fridge." Rhonda patted her apron pocket, "Ah, and I have two more envelopes for you."

    "Thank you," said Darcy, accepting the envelopes. Rhonda left and Darcy opened the envelopes she had given him. Lizzy had already opened the two that arrived with the champagne.

    "How nice!" she said. "One bottle is from Jane and Charles. The other is from Georgie and Chris."

    "Gift certificate for the spa from Aunt Sue and Uncle Matt and an on-board credit from your parents. This getting married thing is a good deal," laughed Darcy. "If I’d known I’d get so many presents, I’d have done this years ago!"

    "Selfish pig! What about me?"

    "I’ll share the presents with you."

    "That isn’t what I meant!"

    "Oh, right. If I’d married years ago, it wouldn’t have been you. Hmmm."

    "What do you mean by hmmm, may I ask?"

    "Just considering all the options. On the whole, I’m glad I waited until I found you."

    "Gee, thankmmmph."

    A voice blared from the speakers in the hallway and in the cabins, "Attention all passengers. In a few moments, the alarm bells will ring, signaling the beginning of Boat Drill. All passengers are requested to put on their life jackets and make their way to their Muster Stations."

    Darcy groaned softly and said, "Let’s go. We’ll resume this later."

    They trudged up the stairs to the Casino, gave their names to the crew member in charge, and found seats near the roulette table.

    "Cool," said Lizzy, "We can gamble while we wait to go to our lifeboats."

    "I doubt it," said Darcy. "Just as the Casino is closed while we’re in port, it’s closed during emergencies. Still, it’s nicer to sit in here for Boat Drill than to wait out on deck."

    "Why do they do that?"

    "The philosophy is that, in the event of an emergency, we’d be better off indoors, warm and dry, for as long as possible. Aunt Sue said that one time her Muster Station was her dining room, so she lingered over lunch and finished her ice cream during Boat Drill."

    After Boat Drill was finished, it was almost time to sail. Lizzy and Darcy stood on deck looking down the river.

    "Can you see them?" asked Lizzy.

    "I’m not sure. There are several boats of the right size down there. They could be—" the rest of Darcy’s answer was drowned out by the sound of a ship’s horn as the ship next to QE2 prepared to leave the pier.

    "That was loud," laughed Lizzy. Before she could say anything else, QE2 sounded her own horn. Passengers on the ships waved to each other. They couldn’t hear her, but Lizzy chanted anyway, "Our horn’s louder than yours is!"

    Laughing, Darcy led Lizzy to the stern where a bar had been set up along Boat Deck. He bought them each a flute of champagne.

    "Thank you. But we have a bottle downstairs."

    "Ah, but we’re up here now. Anyway, it’s déclassé to bring up your free bottle. That’s really meant for consumption in our cabin." He tapped his glass against hers, "Bon voyage, Love."

    "Bon voyage. I love you, Will."

    He took her hand and they walked to the railing. Looking down, they could see lines cast off, and then, with another blast of the horn, the big ship began to move.

    "We’re moving! I didn’t call Jane! I should—rats, I left my cell when we took the lifejackets back."

    "Here, Love, use mine." Darcy held out his phone and held Lizzy’s glass while she punched in Jane’s number.

    "Hello?"

    "Hi, Jane! We’re sailing!"

    "Lizzy! Oh, good, I tried to call but you didn’t answer."

    "My phone is in the cabin, I’m using Will’s." Lizzy looked around and laughed, "Oh, Jane, you should see the deck. About a third of the people up here are calling someone! Is that pathetic, or what? Thank you for the bottle of champagne. We got all sorts of goodies."

    "Thank Sue Fitzwilliam. She organized it all. Apparently she knows whom to call to do gifts at the last minute. When I told Mom what we had done, she said to spend your credit in the gift shop."

    Lizzy sighed, "What does Lydia want?"

    "First choice would probably be a handsome officer. But she’ll settle for a T-shirt. How’s the ship?"

    "Fantastic! And our cabin! Jane, I have to tell you. We have a walk-in closet!"

    "Oh, I would have thought you’d get something bigger than that. I know that older ships sometimes have small cabins, but—"

    "No! Jane, you silly! We have a suite. It’s gorgeous. And it comes with a walk-in closet."

    "Wow. You did marry well, sister dear."

    "How’s everyone?"

    "We’re fine. Dad and Mr. Mason found a chess set and haven’t been seen since. Lydia is lounging by the pool. I think Mary and Nikki and a few other people are there, too. Mom is polishing her mother-of-the-bride glow."

    "I bet. Will is motioning me to hang up. Apparently discussing walk-in closets rates as a waste of cell minutes. I’ll email you from the ship. Love to everybody. Bye!"

    Lizzy handed her phone to Darcy, "I’m done. Thanks. Are you going to call Georgie?"

    "No. If they’d come to the pier, she would have called me. Considering their situation, I’d rather not think about that they might be doing about now. Of course, we could—"

    "Will! We have two weeks. Don’t you want to watch the city go by?"

    "Actually, yes I do." They strolled along the deck, listening to the commentary about the city. Darcy pointed out the balcony cabins above them. "See how high up they are? Aunt Sue says they aren’t original to the ship. They were added during a refit many years ago. I hope you don’t mind not having a balcony."

    "Not at all. I like this mingling with other people. Even though there are a lot of people on deck, it doesn’t feel crowded. It’s festive. And I like the open air. I don’t want us to be like a honeymoon cliché and never leave the cabin!"

    "I don’t know, Lizzy. That cliché doesn’t sound so bad."

    © 2002, 2003, 2004 Copyright held by the author.