Beginning, Section II, Next Section

Part 9

izzy waited until they were back in their room before saying anything more to Lydia. After slamming the door shut, she said, "Start talking."

"Look, Lizzy, you're not going to believe this, but--"

"I never told you that I knew who it was."

"Well, I know, but--"

"And I sure as hell wouldn't have been interested if I even had the slightest thought that it was Fitz Darcy."

"Well I didn't know who--"

"Then why did you tell George that that's who it was? And why did you say it was a 'long, hot and heavy conversation'? It was five or ten minutes, tops."

Lydia sighed, but said nothing.

"Are you deliberately trying to mess things up between George and me just days away from the biggest moments of our lives? Do you not want us to win? To not beat Fitz and Caroline?"

"Of course I want you guys to win! You're so much better than those two cold fish. You deserve it."

"Flattery's not going to get you anywhere, Liddy. Now I want the truth."

"Can I try that A Few Good Men line where Jack yells that you can't handle the truth?"

"I don't think so. This is real life." Lizzy recalled what Ice King had said, about Lydia possibly being in love with George. With an arch look at her sister, she tried to put the question to her as delicately as possible. "Liddy, you aren't...you don't...you've never had any...interest in...George....have you?"

Lydia turned red. If Lizzy hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she wouldn't have believed that her brash, sassy sister was blushing. Lydia never blushed.

"Am I so crazy, Lizzy? I know he's older than me, but...I always hoped that maybe..."

"Oh, Lord."

"I'm sorry. I really shouldn't have said anything, but...I know he's in love with you, and I hoped that just once he wouldn't see you as this perfect angel goddess."

"Telling him a lie like that won't endear yourself to him."

"I know."

"You should've known he was going to tell me."

"I know...but I hoped..."

"It was a foolish hope."

"Am I always so foolish to you? Why is it every time we talk you mention the word 'foolish' somewhere? I'm not a fool!"

"No, you're not, but sometimes you act that way!"

"Here we go again. Why Elizabeth Rose is so perfect and why Lydia Jane is a blathering idiot."

"I never called you that. I never even implied it."

"The hell you didn't." Lydia suddenly had the tables turned on her sister, and Lizzy couldn't figure out where it had come from. Why was Lydia so mad? "Let me tell you something. I'm sick of you and George thinking I'm just a little kid. I'm going to prove to you that I'm a woman...and I'm an adult. Just you wait and see."

Lydia stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her. Lizzy sat gingerly on the edge of her bed, going over her conversation with her sister again. Where had all that anger come from? From one little word? She never implied that Lydia was an idiot, but she couldn't help it if Lydia was foolish.

With a sigh, Lizzy stretched out on her bed. The fight with her sister aside, she was going to have a long wait in front of her, until tomorrow, and her first meeting with Marc...her Ice King...

She switched on her tape player. The song was one of her favorites--Meredith Brooks' "What Would Happen."

The room is spinning
Out of control
You act like you didn't notice
Brushed my hand...

Lizzy sang along softly, her voice pleasant but not terrific.

What would happen if we kissed?
Would your tongue slip past my lips?
Would you run away?
Would you stay?
Or would I melt into you...
Mouth to mouth...

Kissing Marc...hmm. She slipped a piece of paper out of her dresser drawer, out from underneath her socks. It was a picture she'd had printed from the Internet earlier that morning. The picture wasn't high quality, but she could still make out the features that, before that day, had been unfamiliar to her but were slowly becoming a part of her consciousness.

He had a pleasant face. Nice lips. He would certainly not be a lousy kisser, unlike William Collins, who mashed her lips so badly they'd hurt for a day and a half afterwards. George, she supposed, was an okay kisser, but she hadn't felt anything except mild disinterest when he'd done it and that wasn't what she knew was supposed to happen. She'd kissed Rich once, but that had been just a quick smack and they'd long decided before then that they would never be anything more than friends. She hadn't felt anything then, either.

But she had a feeling that kissing her Ice King was going to be something special...something electric.

Electricity...eye to eye
Hey, don't I know you?
I can't speak...

Fitz wasn't quite sure who Georgiana was listening to in her room. In the past several months, Georgiana had branched out from her usual tastes in music to include several artists he didn't know. She stopped listening to Mozart and Beethoven, John Coltraine and Harry Connick, Jr. all the time. Now she listened to the Top 40.

I suppose I should be grateful that it isn't gangsta rap or that punk alternative garbage, or whatever they call it nowadays.

Fitz didn't mind the change. He thought it perfectly healthy and natural, and he was glad for it. There were times when he worried that Georgiana's life was bound up in skating. What would happen if she injured herself? Would she fall apart altogether? Music may not have been much of a way to start changing her life, but at least it made her a little bit more like every other American teenager.

What would happen if we kissed?
Would your tongue slip past my lips?
Would you run away?
Would you stay?
Or would I melt into you...
Mouth to mouth...lust to lust...
Spontaneously combust...

Maybe it was just him, but he believed he liked this song. It got him thinking about the woman he was to meet tomorrow afternoon.

You don't even know what she looks like, for God's sake. For all you know, she could be some old crone who's pretending to be a pretty young woman. Why didn't you get a description? The only thing you know for sure is that she's not very tall.

Even when they did finally meet tomorrow, who was to say that they'd like each other?

Of course you'll like each other. Your minds have already met. And don't forget, Fitzy-boy, some women actually find you very attractive.

Like Caroline. At the thought of that young woman, he sighed. Thank God, he could at least eliminate one young woman from the list of potential "Golden Girls." Caroline had an extreme dislike of the Internet, thinking that only losers with no life hung out on the web.

Well, he could actually eliminate three. He knew that it wouldn't be Lydia Bennet, because she was too flighty to sit still most of the time. And he could eliminate her sister Elizabeth because...

Could he eliminate her? What had "Golden Girl" said? That her mother was her coach, she had a younger sister, both her parents were involved in the sport--what did Elizabeth Bennet's father do? He was a choreographer, if memory served. Elizabeth was only an inch or so above five feet tall, which would make seeing at the Opening Ceremonies difficult.

And her mother was a disappointed skater--the old rumor was that Catherine had done something which had unnerved her rival at the Olympics, which Catherine coldly denied to this day. And everyone knew how hard Frances Bennet trained her daughters.

It was possible.

Plus, "Golden Girl" was a pairs skater--she'd said that Monday was a bad day for a meeting. A pairs skater whose sister was there and was infuriating.

That's Lydia Bennet, all right. Infuriating.

It all fell into place. Everything fit. There was no other solution.

Golden Girl had to be Elizabeth Bennet.

Author's note: All opinions expressed by Caroline Bingley about the Internet are her own and absolutely not shared by the author. The author apologizes if Caroline offended anyone, but Caroline's just that type of person.

Part 10

3 a.m. Saturday morning.

itz had hardly been able to sleep. He kept thinking the same thought since the realization of who his "Golden Girl" had to be.

It was still something of a shock. That Elizabeth Bennet, of all people, would turn out to be his Internet friend...well, he hadn't anticipated it.

He got out of bed and, tentatively opening his door, made sure no one else had awakened. Catherine would be most upset if she discovered him still awake, and for all that he'd said to Georgiana about not caring about her opinion, Catherine was the closest thing he'd ever had to a parent and her opinion mattered.

He flipped his computer on and waited patiently. When the system was up completely, he accessed the Internet.

She's not going to be up at two in the morning. She's got an early practice--just like you, genius.

Fitz went to Yahoo! to see if there were any Internet pages for her. Of course, he knew that any page devoted to her would also be devoted to George Wickham, but he'd run the risk. After all, he couldn't avoid the man forever. Their paths now seemed on a collision course because of Elizabeth.

Elizabeth. How did he feel about having her as his "Golden Girl"? Shocked, undeniably. And a little nervous. It would've been one thing if they'd been of friendly terms with each other, but not only had she out-and-out insulted him at Nationals (okay, so he'd insulted her as well--saying that she might be good, but she'd never get anywhere with Wickham), but she and Caroline hated each other. And Caroline's behavior wasn't going to make things any easier.

But when he overcame the nervousness, he realized that he was thrilled. If he had wanted to choose anyone to be "Golden Girl," he would've wanted it to be her. It was this admission that sent him back into shock. When had she become a favorite with him? When had he started to watch her during practice? Why had he been watching her performance at Nationals rather than his own?

Well, okay, so it had been Catherine's idea to watch the competition and see if there were any weaknesses that could be overcome. But that hadn't accounted for the number of times he'd watched it in private, always keeping his eyes on her face, the joy she had in skating, the shock and delight there had been in her beautiful dark eyes when the ordinals had come up and she had won her first title...the professional way she had conducted herself during her television interview. You wouldn't have been able to guess that she'd never been interviewed before, the way she'd been so poised. And the sound of her voice...

Yahoo! had one listing for her. Sure enough, it was a page she shared with Wickham. He clicked to open it.

He had a bit of good luck then--for the person who had created the page had divided it into several sections. One section was for George, another for Lizzy, and a third for information about the two of them together.

He opened Lizzy's page. A small picture of her appeared at the top of the page. It had been taken recently, a posed picture in which she was standing with her skates slung over her shoulder and a wide smile on her face. She looked...

She looked beautiful.

Everything you ever wanted to know about Lizzy right here!! The first line screamed.

I hope so, he thought as he began to read the information about the smiling young woman.

Full name: Elizabeth Rose Bennet
Age: Twenty
Birthday: October 21, 19--
Parents: Frances and Thomas Bennet
Sibling: Lydia Bennet, singles skater
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Dark brown and beautiful
Height: 5'1"

Competitive history: First made her appearance on the skating scene as a singles skater, but soon found more success in pairs when she could keep a partner. Her first partner was Edmund Bertram, who gave up the sport two years later when he found a calling as a priest. Her second partner, Frank Churchill, decided that he would have more success as a singles skater. Her last partner, John Willoughby, left her after claiming that she was ruining his chances at a medal (as IF!). Just when all seemed hopeless for our Lizzy, former singles skater George Wickham left the ranks of Catherine de Bourgh to join her and they've become one of the most popular--and talented--pairs around.

Personal History: Lizzy's mother, Frances was a singles skater, and a talented one. She won a silver medal back in 19--, losing by the smallest of fractions to Catherine de Bourgh. She never recovered from the loss and retired from active skating two years later. Lizzy's father was also a skater, but never quite at the level his wife was. He's the wizard behind Lizzy and George's wonderfully artistic programs, and even if he doesn't achieve quite the affect for his younger daughter, Lydia--of course, that may be because Lydia has the grace of a gazelle, IMHO!

Lizzy is currently single, although recently rumors have popped up that she and George are dating. Lizzy refuses to confirm or deny this. In the past, she's been linked to Richard Fitzwilliam (who is still a good friend) and to William Collins.

"William Collins?" he murmured aloud. "Why on earth would she have been linked to him?"

He'd seen the short, somewhat squat men's skater quite often in the past several months. Catherine had taken him under her wing, if not officially his coach. Fitz couldn't figure out why, since nothing short of a major miracle would turn William Collins into a decent skater.

But was Lizzy dating George Wickham? He credited her with better taste...but then, she was skating with the man. She couldn't know the truth about him, though. That was why she hadn't dropped him...that and the fact that there was no one of her caliber available to be her partner. Plus, there were many in the skating world who would consider her jinxed if things didn't work out with Wickham, as though it were her fault that she couldn't keep a partner.

He sighed. Maybe he should tell her the truth about the man she considered a good friend, at the very least.

Well, he had plenty of time to decide this. He had until their meeting. He turned off the browser and decided to go to sleep.

Part 11

Saturday.

izzy, what is the matter with you?" Frances Bennet yelled at her daughter. "That is the third time you've lost track of where you're supposed to be in the program!"

The shrill voice reverberated throughout the arena. Luckily, there were very few people around to hear. After another sleepless night on Lizzy's part, she'd gotten up early and arrived at the rink first yet again. She hadn't been surprised at the lack of sleep--she'd been so nervous about meeting Ice King.

Why didn't I agree to noon? Why did I say that stupid nonsense about being an early riser? I should've known I wasn't going to get any sleep!

"Sorry, Mom," she said for the third time.

Frances frowned at the girl. She'd never known Lizzy to be so out of it that she would lose her concentration. Lizzy, for all her faults, was at least one of the best-prepared skaters she'd ever known. If only she'd had one-tenth of Lydia's talent, strength, or even her beauty.

"We are less than three days away from the short program, and here you are lazing about!"

Lizzy flushed. If there was one thing she hated being called, it was lazy. For one thing, it was a lie, because she worked just as hard as everyone else. For another, it made a bad impression--and was it her, or did she see the American judge, John Middleton arriving?

"I haven't been sleeping well," she said.

"Then take some sleeping pills. They'll help."

"Can we get back to the program, please?" George asked, impatient. Between Lizzy's memory lapses and Frances' shouting, he was having a devil of a time getting through his hangover. Served him right, he supposed, to spend a good part of the night drinking and remembering what happened when he'd left Lady Cat and her bunch of sniveling snots. He was still plenty upset with Lydia, and intended to let her know when he saw her again.

An hour later, Frances saw that it was hopeless. George almost looked ill, and when he dropped Lizzy to the ice during a lift, she feared for her daughter's safety. Plus, Lizzy was still having trouble remembering what she should be doing. Intending to have a long talk with the two of them later, she told them to pack it in.

"What is with you this morning?" George asked Lizzy as he began unlacing his skates.

"I could ask you the same thing," she replied. "I'm going to have a bruise from that drop."

"I know what's wrong with me."

"The same applies here."

"Are you still mad at me for yesterday?" he asked. "About my assumption about you and Fitz?"

"No." She sighed. "I really meant what I said. I haven't been sleeping well at all. I don't know if it's because I'm nervous about the competition or excited about it...but it's really throwing me off."

"I think it's the time difference," George replied. "I seem to be having the same problem myself."

Lizzy wondered if that was true. Of course it's true. George would never lie to me.

"Then maybe by tomorrow we'll have adjusted to it and we'll be ready to skate as though we belong here." Lizzy sighed. "For right now, I just want to have a shower and go back to my room for some sleep."

"Same here."

"See you later?" She didn't plan on it, not with her meeting today.

"Sure." George watched her retreating figure, wondering if that was really the reason she was so disoriented or not. She'd sure never had problems before this, he thought with a frown.

Lizzy wouldn't have thought about the look on his face even if she'd seen it. She was too busy trying to decide if she should wear the green blouse with the short black skirt or if she should go with something a little more demure.

"Fitz, I've asked you the same question three times in a row and you haven't answered me once," Georgiana said quietly as the two ate breakfast together in the hotel dining room.

"What? I'm sorry, Georgie. I seem to be suffering from a lack of sleep this morning."

"Yes, I heard you get up at three."

"You did?"

"Mm-hmm. Couldn't sleep?"

"Just thinking."

"I don't think I've ever seen you nervous before."

"It's not nerves about the competition."

"Then what is it?"

For a moment, he was tempted to say what he normally said to her--that nothing was wrong, everything was normal.

Yet hasn't that always been the problem in this family? We always gloss things over, never delve beneath them to find the problems.

"I have a problem," he said.

"You do."

"Yes...and you must swear that you will not tell Caroline or Catherine."

"If it is something you would not share with them, Fitz, I wouldn't dream of doing it."

"All right, then." He sighed. "I met someone."

"You did? But that's wonderful!" she exclaimed.

"Not so loud, please."

"Sorry. I'm very happy for you, Fitz, but what's the problem?" She was about to take a sip of her orange juice when she realized what was wrong. "Oh. Of course. Duh, Georgiana. The woman you've met isn't Caroline, and she's going to be furious when she finds out."

"It's a little more complex than that."

"Anything concerning Caroline is complex, because you can never guess her motives."

"You can always guess Caroline's motives, Georgie, because Caroline is only out for herself. The problem is that...the person I've met is going to infuriate her."

"The only person I can think of who could really infuriate Caroline Bingley right now is Lizzy Bennet." Georgiana chuckled. "And after the fight the two of you had at Nationals, I somehow doubt you're--" She stopped at the look on her brother's face.

He said nothing.

"No."

He nodded.

"Lizzy?"

"Yes."

"But...but you know her already. How could you have 'met' her?"

"It's anonymous," he said.

"Then how do you know it's her?"

Fitz retold the story of Ice King and Golden Girl, and how their second conversation had led to his realization that Golden Girl had to be Elizabeth.

When he finished, Georgiana exhaled loudly. "Wow," she said. "Caroline's going to flip."

"Not literally, I hope. The last thing I need during the competition is Caroline pulling a Surya Bonaly and costing us the gold."

"Of all the female skaters in this world, you had to choose the one that she hates the most...not to mention, one of your biggest rivals for that precious gold. And the partner of..." Georgiana couldn't bring herself to say his name.

Fitz silently cursed George Wickham for what he'd done to his sweet Georgiana. If only he hadn't been so concerned about the scandal...

"I didn't choose her. We...chose each other," he said.

"So what are you going to do now?"

"We're meeting this afternoon, in front of the Olympic Village."

"What do you think she's going to say when you're standing in front of her and you tell her you're the Ice King?"

"I don't know. With my luck, she'll spit in my face."

"Then why are you going if you're sure it's her? On the off chance that it might not be?"

"No...I'm going because I want to see if we can have a decent conversation in person, without shouting or insults. If we can, then I'll tell her. If not..."

"Then you won't?"

"No, I still might tell her...most likely I'll be angry enough to want to shatter her hopes. God, I hope it doesn't come to that. I couldn't bear the idea of hurting her..."

Oh, yeah. He's got it bad. One minute, he's saying he'll probably flaunt the truth in her face, the next he's saying he doesn't want to hurt her that way. Georgiana wondered why she hadn't seen this coming. Was she such a poor sister to him? Or was it that he was just too private a person to get to know?

"You won't know until you go," she said.

He nodded, seemingly calm. A second later, he clutched her hand and said, "Georgie, you have to help me! I don't know what I'm going to say when I meet her."

"You're coming to me for advice? I'm even worse at this than you are."

"But you're a woman...for the most part."

"Maybe you should just begin by telling her hello...and be polite when you say it."

Elizabeth checked her watch again. 4:05. She was getting rather cold, her hair was getting blown out of the sophisticated twist she'd managed to pull it into earlier, and she was having to hold down the skirt she'd decided to wear because the wind kicked it up.

Where is he?

She'd been there since 3:45, hoping to catch a glimpse of Marc when he first arrived and looked around, believing that she would call out "Ice King" and he would turn and say, "Golden Girl!"

She'd checked every face, trying to seek the one she'd studied out of the crowd. So far, she'd seen a couple of familiar ones, but none of them were his. More disconcerting, she'd noticed that Fitz Darcy had arrived.

What's he doing here? Slumming again?

He stood around the front, waiting for someone, apparently. Lizzy couldn't think of who it could be. Caroline wouldn't go within yards of the place. Perhaps Georgiana was touring again, and he was waiting for her. But she hadn't seen his sister anywhere around, and word would probably get around as it had before if she'd shown up anywhere.

Lizzy shivered, wondering what was keeping Marc.

Maybe this was all a prank. Someone really was just pretending to be an Olympic skater, and they've got you falling for it.

She couldn't give up, though. It was just too much of a coincidence to be a prank.

She checked her watch again, then looked up to find that Fitz Darcy had come over to stand close to her. It seemed as though he were about to say something, and she was a bit startled when he did.

"Hello, Elizabeth," he said politely.

Part 12

izzy looked up into his dark eyes. She had always felt you could see a person's thoughts in their eyes, but Fitz Darcy had proven her wrong, since she didn't have the first clue as to what he was thinking. And she wanted to know why he had come to stand in front of her, with a small smile on his face, and said hello.

And he'd been polite.

"Hello," she replied calmly, turning away to continue her lookout.

"Cold weather, isn't it?" Fitz could've smacked himself. Cold weather? Of course it's cold, you nimrod, otherwise you wouldn't be here.

"A bit."

"They say that it's supposed to snow tomorrow."

"Is it?"

Fitz wasn't sure what to say next. It was unlike him to be tongue-tied around any woman, but he couldn't for the life of him figure out how to bring up the fact that he was the man she was waiting for.

"Yes. The weather'll probably wreck the downhill races tomorrow."

"Hmm." Lizzy continued to look for Marc, wishing desperately that Fitz would leave her alone. What if Marc came by, saw her talking to Fitz, and went away, thinking she didn't care?

"Looking for someone?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Who?"

Lizzy turned her attention away from the passing traffic to gaze on him. "I don't see how that's any of your business. Nor do I see why you should care."

"You might be surprised," he said quietly.

She smiled--a small, smug smile he'd seen before, the night she'd told him that he wasn't as invincible as he believed. "I somehow doubt that our paths would ever cross in a friendly way."

Fitz frowned as she turned away from him yet again. Say something, Fitzy-boy! Compliment her outfit...her hair...or just come right out and say it! 'I am Ice King.' 'I am your Internet friend.' You can do it!

Fitz held his silence.

Lizzy's hopes raised with every cab and car that stopped at the front of the Village, only to have them drop as Marc was not the passenger of any. She was starting to get upset at the whole thing. Marc was very late, she was freezing, she'd gone to great lengths to insure that she looked beautiful which were going to come to naught, and she couldn't get Fitz Darcy to leave her alone.

Lizzy sneezed.

"You should get inside," Fitz said. "You wouldn't want to catch cold right before your competition."

He took Lizzy's arm in his grasp, but just as soon as he'd placed it there Lizzy pulled away.

"I'm fine where I am, thank you," she replied. "Besides, shouldn't you be encouraging me to stay outside as long as I can? Perhaps I can catch pneumonia and be forced to drop out of the competition altogether."

"You're confusing me with Caroline," Fitz said, his voice hiding a nervousness that kept increasing with every moment. "I don't wish you harm or ill health."

"And she does."

"You expect me to deny it? She's scared of losing and therefore hopes that her main competition would disappear."

"What about you?"

"I like competitiveness. I think that under the right circumstances it brings out the best in people."

"Would you say that it's bringing out the best in Caroline?"

"No, I wouldn't. But I wouldn't say it's bringing out the best in you or I, either."

"Oh, really? And what makes you such an authority on me?"

"Nothing," he replied quickly. "But hurling insults at each other after Nationals can't be considered sportsmanlike behavior."

Lizzy sighed. "No, I suppose it couldn't." Why am I agreeing with him? Why did I think I could feel the heat of his hand through my windbreaker? His hands are probably freezing, anyway. Why am I not as disturbed by his presence as I should be?

"I cannot control Caroline. She'll do what she wants to do, regardless of what I say."

"I thought Lady Cat kept tight leashes on her skaters. You'd think she would've controlled Caroline."

"Caroline won't get into your path again," Fitz promised. "Catherine reamed her for what happened yesterday."

"Why did yesterday happen, then? She'd done it before."

"Are you that rattled by it? You didn't seem to be in practice yesterday."

"I'm not rattled by it at all. Disgusted that she's a world-class skater acting like a novice child, but not rattled." Lizzy cupped her hands and blew into them. After a few seconds at the futile gesture, she added, "You never answered my question."

Fitz didn't want to admit to the truth of it--that Catherine had mentioned that Lizzy was too confident and that she needed to be shaken up. Caroline had risen to the challenge, but hadn't succeeded. But once was about all you could get away with that stunt without running afoul of the USFSA, which had been Catherine's objection.

"Caroline had Lady Cat's permission at Nationals, didn't she?"

Trust Lizzy to figure the truth of it. "Uh, well..."

Lizzy shook her head in disgust. "God, trust that woman to approve of such a stupid, risky thing. If Caroline had been hurt, she would've had no one but herself and her coach to blame."

"How did you know?"

Lizzy snorted. "Because my coach isn't much better. Mom has suggested before that I do the same to her, or George do something to shake you."

Fitz frowned at the mention of George Wickham. "He knows better."

Lizzy, remembering suddenly everything she knew about Fitzwilliam Darcy and the way he'd used George Wickham, snapped, "As he well learned. One never goes against the great Fitz Darcy without getting burned in the process, does one?"

"What exactly does that mean?" he asked.

"You know very well what I'm talking about. I'm talking about why George felt he had to leave Lady Cat."

"Felt he had to leave? Did he tell you that?"

"I couldn't have heard about it through anyone else." Lizzy crossed her arms over her chest. "I suppose you're going to deny that you had anything to do with his leaving."

"I'm not about to deny it. I'm glad the son of a bitch is gone! I only wish I could've gotten him banned from skating for life," he said, lowering his voice.

"Why? Because he was better than you? Because Lady Cat thought he could be a champion? Because he would've been a better partner for Caroline?"

"Caroline and I were partners long before he ever entered the picture, and La---Catherine wouldn't have broken us up even if Edward Gardiner were still in the Olympic ranks and wanted to partner her."

"That's not what George told me."

"If you're basing your opinions on the stories of George Wickham, than you're...." Dear God, you can't say that! What are you thinking, you idiot!

"I'm what? A fool, perhaps?" Lizzy suddenly realized how Lydia felt whenever she was being lectured by her, and made a mental note to herself to apologize to her sister later.

"No, you're not a fool. You're basing what you think on the wrong person's tale."

"Am I? Astonish me, then. Tell me your side of the story."

"How can I tell you the side of story that I don't know?"

"You know it all too well."

"I don't know what lies George tells about me anymore. He used to say that I forced him out of Catherine's 'stable' by bending her ear and convincing her that he wasn't going anywhere. Another time, I heard that he was saying that we got into a fight over Caroline."

"Not that she's much to fight over," Lizzy said nastily.

"Suffice it to say, they're all lies and I haven't deigned to answer them because they're such nonsense."

"You consider almost ruining a man's skating career nonsense?"

"Is that what he's saying now? Astonish me, then, because he's almost ruined his career just fine without my help."

"How dare you!" Lizzy was tempted to slap him for the insult he'd just paid her.

"How dare I what?" What did I say?

"Skating with me is not an insult."

"I didn't say that!"

"You just said that he'd almost ruined his career just fine. The end of that sentence is that he'd ruined it by skating with me."

"It had nothing to do with you!"

"Then what?"

Fitz looked around. There were a few people glancing their way. "I think we ought to have this conversation in private."

Lizzy was about to agree when she remembered Marc. "I can't. I'm meeting someone and I have to wait here."

"I know you're meeting someone." But he couldn't quite get around the words he had to tell her--his confession that he was Ice King.

"Good. Then go away and leave me alone. Marc should be here any minute."

"Marc?" But she's supposed to be waiting for me! "Marc who?"

"Marc Gercourt. I'm sure you haven't heard of him, since he's never won a world title and is beneath your notice. But he's a very talented skater and a genuinely nice guy." Actually, she wasn't completely positive of the last part, but she was sure he had to be.

Fitz knew who Marc Gercourt was. What he couldn't figure out was why Lizzy was meeting with someone else when she'd agreed to meet him.

Unless Lizzy wasn't Golden Girl.

"I believe I know who he is."

"Calls himself Ice King."

So that was it. She thought she was meeting Marc because of his self-given nickname. Fitz felt a small moment of relief, because she wasn't really meeting anyone else, followed by frustration. She thought he was someone else.

And how could he compete with that?

He was about to give up when he rallied. I can't quit now! I might be able to save this!

"Inconsiderate guy, to keep you waiting out here."

Lizzy whirled on him. "I'll thank you to keep your opinion to yourself, thank you. I don't mind the cold. I live with it every day, remember?"

"But not this cold, and not with the wind kicking up like it is."

"I'll manage." Lizzy walked to get her legs moving. Fitz walked with her. "Why are you still following me? Don't you have somewhere else you need to be?"

"Not really."

"Then why don't you go stand over there and leave me alone?"

"You know something, Elizabeth, you really can be infuriating."

"Not with all men, Fitz. Just you."

"I wonder sometimes if the problems you've had with partners is justified."

"Yes, I've heard your inspired comments about that. And I'd like to take this moment to point out to you that I'm not a jinx and that I am a damn hard worker."

"Fine. We've got that straight."

"Good."

"But while we're on the subject of straightening out some untruths, I want you to know that I'm not gay."

"You're not?"

"No."

"Oh...well, that's not what I heard."

"Another one of George Wickham's lovely stories?"

Lizzy wasn't about to admit to him that that had been her source. He'd already insulted her pairs partner enough for one day.

"He had it from a very good source," she replied.

"I'm sure he did. Who?"

"Caroline Bingley."

Fitz snorted. "Caroline knows that's not true."

"Does she? Personally?"

"She wishes she knew it personally, but no. I would like to think my taste in women was better than that."

"I'm sure it is." Lizzy gave him a sarcastic little grin which indicated her position on that statement.

Fitz realized that he wasn't going to get anywhere with her. Any attempt at friendship would be rebuffed. She had too great a dislike of everything about him--his coach, his partner, even himself--to want to pursue a friendship. Perhaps it was for the best.

How could it work, anyway? We're here competing against each other. If we were two skaters in different disciplines, maybe we'd have had a chance.

"I think my party has stood me up," he said quietly. "And it looks like yours has, too."

"Don't you worry about Marc," she replied. "He'll be here soon enough."

Don't bet on it.

"Don't freeze to death waiting for him," Fitz said.

"I won't."

"Good-bye, Elizabeth."

"Bye."

Fitz walked down the street and hailed a cab to take him back to his hotel. Way to go, genius. You just blew that chance all to hell.

Lizzy watched his cab take off. Shivering, she realized that if she were to take cold, she'd make Caroline Bingley's greatest dream come true. She asked the security guard to let any man looking for a young woman know that she would be waiting for him in the cafe across the street.

"I'll be sure too, Lizzy," he said. "But the only guy I've seen waiting in the past couple of hours is him."

"He's not who I was waiting for," Lizzy said calmly. "He's not even close."

Part 13

Sunday.

izzy was alone on the ice. Her mother wouldn't arrive until later, for she would be off to church, Lydia in tow. Lizzy, who had put her foot down with regards to attending morning services, would go later (if she remembered). She'd told George to sleep in, because even though it would be better off if she were to practice with him--especially the day before the short program--she cherished these times alone on the ice. Besides, she knew that George had probably been out half the night and would still be hung over.

The music wasn't what she would be skating to the next day, nor was the routine anything her father had ever created for her--although if he were to see it, he would be proud, for it was good, if a bit rough.

She skated to the music she so loved but would only be able to perform in exhibitions. As the music started, she stood at center ice, looking down. After a wait of about ten seconds, she began to skate.

The sounds of Queen's "The Show Must Go On" filled the arena. A somewhat somber choice for the normally upbeat Lizzy, but the song had always struck a cord in her, especially in the months following Frank's defection to the singles ranks and John's out-and-out dismissal of her as a skater. And this morning, it seemed the suitable choice after the fiasco yesterday.

Empty spaces--what are we waiting for
Abandoned places--I guess we know the score
On and on
Does anybody know what we are looking for
Another hero, another mindless crime
Behind the curtain in the pantomime
Hold the line
Does anybody want to take it anymore?

The show must go on
The show must go on
Inside my heart is breaking
My makeup may be flaking
But my smile still stays on

Whatever happens I'll leave it all to chance
Another heartache, another failed romance
On and on
Does anybody know what we are waiting for
I guess I'm learning
I must be warmer now
I'll soon be turning round the corner now
Outside the dawn is breaking
But inside in the dark I'm aching to be free...

My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies
Fairy tales of yesterday will grow but never die
I can fly--my friends

The show must go on
The show must go on
I'll face it with a grin
I'm never giving in
On with the show...

I'll top the bill
I'll overkill
I have to find the will to carry on
On with the show
The show must go on...

As the music faded away, Lizzy heard someone clapping. She quickly came out of the somewhat dramatic pose she'd struck as the song ended and found Rich smiling at her, clapping.

"Brava," he called. "Brava!"

"Rich!" she smiled. "I thought you didn't get out of bed before eleven."

"A little elf told me that my Liz would be skating solo this morning, and that she'd take my breath away. Run away with me to Gretna Green, would you please? Put me out of my misery?"

"Gretna Green? What have you been reading?"

"Nothing outside of the new Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue."

"Sexist pig."

"Tell me that if they put sexy men in there that you wouldn't read it."

"I wouldn't. I like my men to have brains as well as bods."

"Uh-huh. Speaking of men, how--and where--is George?"

"You mean he didn't go back to your guys' room last night?"

"I haven't seen him since lunch yesterday."

"Then in all likelihood, he's still sleeping off whatever he did last night. I try not to ask."

Rich smiled. "He didn't ask you to come along?"

"He did...I wasn't interested. I was too tired and too angry."

"Too angry? At George?"

"At yesterday in general. It was a pretty lousy day."

"Why? What happened?"

"You remember that guy I met on the Internet?"

"Yeah, what's his name--Ice Doofus or something."

"King--but Doofus would've been better. We arranged to meet yesterday out in front of the Olympic Village yesterday, but the creep never showed."

"Oh, Lizzy...I'm sorry."

"Yeah, well, so am I. I stood out there in the cold for over an hour, then spent another two hours sitting in the cafe across the street waiting for him."

"Well, at least he didn't know who you were."

"What if he did? What if he saw me waiting, didn't like me, and decided not to keep the date?"

"If he did that, he's a bigger moron than you think and he definitely isn't worthy of you. Any guy who would pass you up is a loser."

"Thanks, Rich."

"Anytime."

"Worse than him not showing up was Fitz Darcy."

"What about him?"

"He was there. He was waiting for someone too, and he insisted on trying to talk to me."

"Really? Why would he do something so risky?"

"Risky?"

"Caroline. She's hoping he'll finally see the light and fall in love with her. She looks for signs every day. She told William Collins last week that she believed he was starting to show some interest."

"Please. If he showed the slightest bit of interest in Caroline, she'd be a puddle of drool before he finished the thought. Since she still hasn't melted, I have to assume that he has better taste in women."

"So what did you and Fitz talk about?"

"What was there to talk about? We argued about..." Lizzy tried to remember what exactly she and Fitz had talked about, but outside of his yelling that he wanted to ban George from skating for life and that he absolutely wasn't gay, she couldn't think of anything. "George."

"Oh."

"Rich, if I told you something, would you swear not to repeat it to another living soul?"

"Lizzy, I know about the time you made out with Carl Denny at Nationals when your mother was too sick to attend. I know about the time you tied William Collins' laces in so many knots it took him two hours to cut through them and put new ones on. I even know about the time you lost your mother's lucky cross and had to buy her a new one. I never told anyone about those things."

"All right. I've had this secret on my chest for a couple of days and the fight with Fitz only made it worse."

"Are you sure you should be telling me someone else's secret?"

"It's not really a secret--it's just something George would rather not have anyone else knowing. Unlike Fitz, he's a gentleman."

"Then let me hear it."

Lizzy began by explaining what Lydia had done Friday, which had prompted George telling her the truth...

"It starts with Caroline," George began. "Originally, when we first started skating, Fitz was going to be the singles skater and I was to be Caroline's partner. Caroline and I were actually pretty good together, but the moment Fitz realized he wasn't going to cut it as a singles skater, he asked Lady Cat if he could partner Caroline and I would become a singles skater."

"That's stupid. It's not like choosing what pair of socks to wear in the morning."

"That's what Lady Cat said. She refused to let him do it. But Fitz is her cousin, after all, and he eventually wore her down. She finally asked me if I would be willing to give up on Caroline if she could find me someone else to partner with. Since Caroline was becoming more and more snippy, I was pleased to hand her off to Fitz."

"Can't blame you."

"Yes, well, Catherine couldn't find anyone worthy enough to be my partner, so we decided to give singles skating a try. I was so upset that he'd bumped me out of what should've been my trip to the Olympics, but...I refused to complain.

"Then along came Georgiana," George said quietly. "She's a wonderfully talented skater, but she's not as good a singles skater as she is in pairs."

"Really?"

"You've never noticed? She's so shy because she's forced to skate on her own."

"I know she's got a bit of a phobia about crowds, and of course, she choked at the Worlds last year."

"I noticed that about her right off. Right around the time I realized that my singles career wasn't going anywhere--you had to have a triple axel or else, you know, and I still can't land it--I noticed that Georgiana was miserable skating."

"Most people can't tell that about her, though, because she's so beautiful on the ice."

"It's why Liddy beats her in competition, because judges can see that. Georgiana's the better artistic skater, but she loses because she doesn't enjoy it."

"Yes, I see that."

George smiled. "Of course you would. You're sensitive to these things, Lizzy, which is why I can tell you this without you thinking me nuts."

"I'd never think you were nuts."

"Ehh, you might."

"I won't know till I hear the story."

"Right. Anyway, I approached Georgiana with the idea of maybe becoming a pairs skater."

"But she was only..."

"Twelve, yeah, I know. And I was nearly twice her age. I didn't think we'd amount to much of anything at this Olympics, but I thought we'd have a shot four years from now."

"But George, you'd be over thirty."

"So? Scott Hamilton's almost forty, and he was still going strong until he got cancer. Hell, he still is."

"But I doubt he'd win an Olympic title now. Not with the quad being considered almost mandatory in order to have a chance at winning."

"I could still do it, though. At least, I hope I can. I don't intend this to be my last Olympics. How could I abandon you as the others have?"

Lizzy smiled. "Thank you, George."

"Don't thank me. I should thank you." He sighed. "I suggested to Georgiana that we give pairs skating a try. She was a nice girl, and I thought she'd enjoy skating with someone else--it would bolster her courage."

"Did she accept?"

"She certainly did. We began learning the lifts and the spins in private, not wanting Lady Cat to come between us before we even got the chance to prove ourselves. I believed I could convince her to let us skate together by presenting the idea of our going to the Olympics after this, after Fitz and Caroline had had their shot."

"How did you get this past Lady Cat?"

"We went to another coach, someone who understood. Her name was Elena Younge, and she's a very good coach. We learned a good deal from her."

"And Lady Cat never suspected anything?"

"No. Fitz did."

"Oh, no."

"He followed Georgiana and myself to Mrs. Younge's one day and discovered what we were doing. Georgiana was delighted when she saw her brother--she ran to him and gave him a great hug and said that she had a surprise for him. She told him that she was happy with me. She told him that...that she wanted to be a pairs skater, just like him."

"What did he say?"

"He just glared at me, and said he was taking Georgiana home. Later that day, Lady Cat came to my apartment and started screaming at me for trying to make Georgiana a pairs skater. She said that Georgiana was made for singles competition, and nothing was going to stop her, not me and certainly not Georgiana herself. Fitz was standing right behind her, wearing that smug expression he gets. He told me that Georgiana didn't want to skate with me. She just had a crush, he said. Maybe she did, but she still wanted to skate with me and we were good. He was just afraid that we would become better than him and Caroline.

"I told her that I couldn't take her choosing Fitz over me. I said that I was dropping her. She started yelling that no one dropped her, she did the dropping, and she was dropping me. I was no student of hers, and she planned to smear my name so badly I'd have to move to the North Pole just to get away from all the bad press if I tried going somewhere else. It was clearly Fitz's idea. He was glad I was going. He suggested it to her himself, he said."

"Dear God," Lizzy breathed. "I suspected that it was something bad, but I couldn't even picture..."

"I left that day and headed straight here. I knew your mother's history with Catherine. I knew that she would never listen to a word she said. And I...I knew that John had dropped you. I felt kinda sorry for you, because I knew how it felt. But when I first met you, and you glared at me...I knew that you weren't going to let me be sorry for you. I was glad of it, because you helped me stop feeling sorry for myself."

"Lady Cat never carried out her threat to ruin you, though."

"No. I'm surprised at that. Perhaps it's because I went to your mother. I think sometimes that she's afraid of Frances, of what Frances might do one of these days. But she hasn't tried anything."

"Poor Georgiana," Lizzy said. "She could've been happy at last, if it hadn't been for her brother. God! I can't picture a man who was so obsessed with winning that he would make his own sister miserable! If I were you, George, I would've told the world!"

"And ruined Georgiana's chances of ever medaling? I couldn't do that, Lizzy. She's still a sweetheart, even if she allowed herself to be swayed by her brother and coach. I wish her every success."

Lizzy nodded in approval and thought even better of him than she had before.

"But now you see why the merest thought of you being interested in Fitz Darcy..."

"Of course. Lydia should be tortured for what she did."

"Oh, no. Don't blame her. She's still young and immature. She had her own reasons for what she did, God only knows what they were. But I can forgive her."

"I still can't believe it," Lizzy said.

Rich shook his head. "Are you so sure George is telling the truth?"

"Why?"

"Because his story's more convoluted than The Usual Suspects."

"How? It's very simple. Fitz Darcy got jealous of George's success as a pairs skater, so he forced Lady Cat to let him partner Caroline. When George found an alternative, he blocked him again. Very simple."

Rich sighed. "I just don't know if you should believe it."

"Rich, George is my pairs partner. He wouldn't lie to me. He wouldn't have told me any of this if it hadn't been for Lydia, that much was clear."

"I'm not judging whether or not George is lying. I'm just asking you to be a little cautious."

"Don't worry about me, Rich. I'll be fine."

George awoke sometime close to ten, the pounding in his head feeling like someone had punched him. For all he knew, someone had.

After he got his mind off the pain, he realized that he wasn't in his room. He was in a seedy-looking hotel room...with a woman. The identity of the woman wasn't quite clear, since she was turned away from him and all he could see was her frizzy dark brown hair.

Dear God, I'm supposed to be practicing now! Lizzy's going to kill me! He slowly got out of the bed, trying not to groan when the movement only made his head worse.

He got up out of bed, jarring the woman awake. That was when he saw her, and he let out a strangled gasp.

"Good morning, George," she said cheerfully.

"Lydia," he managed to get out.

Dear God, what have I done! he thought, realizing that if Lizzy hadn't been wanting to kill him before this, she certainly would want to if she found out about this.

Part 14

izzy was about to tell Rich more about her disappointment with Ice King yesterday when she saw her mother approaching. Lizzy was used to seeing her mother upset, but the furious expression on her face was a new level for her.

"Lizzy!" Frances shouted. "Where is Lydia?"

"She's in our room, asleep."

"She most certainly is not," Frances replied. "I was just in there and she wasn't there."

Lizzy sighed. "Then she got up and went to have breakfast, because she was in bed, asleep, when I got up and came here."

"I found a bunch of pillows in her bed with a cover over them," Frances said coldly. "But no Lydia."

Lizzy thought for a moment. She could've sworn that she'd seen her sister asleep...but had she? Lydia usually slept with the covers over her head, so it wouldn't be completely impossible for her not to have noticed if she wasn't there.

"How could you let her go out? She's your younger sister!"

"What am I, my sister's keeper? Lydia's eighteen. She's an adult, as she keeps reminding me. I'm sure she's fine."

George stood up, grabbing a sheet to wrap around his waist. "W-what the hell are you doing here?" George asked when he finally found the ability to speak.

Lydia smiled as she reached up and, with some difficulty, pulled the dark wig from her head. "I think that should be obvious."

"B-but...b-but..."

"This is a first. I don't think I've ever left a man tongue-tied." Lydia was feeling quite smug and cheerful this morning. She'd finally gotten her way.

Dear God, what have I done? George ran a hand through his hand, trying to remember something--anything--about the night before. He could remember going to a bar with a couple of friends of his on the German skating team when they'd spotted a pretty brunette dancing. They'd invited her over for a drink and...

"Why did you do this?" he snapped angrily.

"Why did I do what? Sleep with you? I think that should be obvious, too. Because I love you."

LOVE me? What is she talking about? How could a silly eighteen-year-old girl love me?

"B-but Lydia--"

"I know what you're thinking right now. I'm too young, I'm innocent, I'm your partner's sister--"

"Those're the basics, yes."

"It's not like it was my first time, George, so don't worry about that."

"Please spare me the details of any other liaisons you've had."

"Liaisons? What're those?"

"Never mind. Dear God, what am I going to do? How am I going to explain this to Lizzy?"

"What does she matter? She's just my sister." Lydia's smile faded as she realized why he might care about Lizzy. "Oh, I see. Still pining after her, are you?"

"Liddy--"

"Why? She won't give you what I can. She's saving herself for something special, she says. I guess you don't make the cut."

"At least she's holding something back, something a man can appreciate in times like these with all the diseases out there." He wished he could take the words back but it was too late, they were said.

"I'm sure you wouldn't think that, otherwise you wouldn't have tried to sleep your way through half of Chicago. You think I don't know why you're always late to practice? Lizzy may delude herself by saying that you're a late riser, but I know better."

"What, do you have me followed?"

"No. I just know you, George. You're like me. You want so badly to rebel against everything this sport is supposed to stand for--grace, beauty, precision, perfection."

"You're forgetting that I came into this sport with my eyes open. I knew what sort of things were expected of me."

"It doesn't mean you like them."

George knew she was right. There were times when he hated all the rules he had to play by in figure skating. How he had to always be on his best behavior, in practice as well as in public, otherwise the judges wouldn't react as favorably to him. How he had to skate every day, even on holidays. Even when he'd had a terrible cold, he'd skated because he had to.

"What you do is a minor rebellion," Lydia said.

"And you think the two of us being together is a major rebellion? Against whom? Your mother? Your sister?"

Lydia didn't want to answer his unspoken accusation--that the only reason she'd set out to get him was because he was her sister's partner, because he was half in love with Lizzy. It hit a little too close to home in some ways, and was completely wrong in others.

"It's not a rebellion at all, what we did. If we were to go public as a couple, that wouldn't be rebelling. In fact, I don't think either of us wants to rebel because we want what figure skating offers too badly."

"We both want to win."

"Yes. And we both want to reap the rewards of winning."

George wondered if he was still drunk, because what she was saying started to make sense to him.

"What we both need, however, is each other. We need one other person in this world who understands how we feel. When you want to scream at a judge's comment about your program or your looks, you need someone who's been there, who knows. You need me."

"I could have the same rapport with any other skater."

"Lizzy? She doesn't understand the baser side of your nature. She wouldn't be willing to go to places on the sly because she'd be afraid of getting caught. She doesn't feel the same way you do. She doesn't feel like me." Lydia decided to make her move. "She doesn't love you, George. Not like I do. She doesn't understand you, but I do. And you understand me."

George sighed. "Liddy..."

"George, I'm not saying it's going to work. I'm not even saying that I expect you to care about me, much less love me. But I think it would be interesting...don't you?"

George took one look into her eyes and knew he was lost. She was right, and they both knew it.

"Sure," he said as sat back down on the bed. For some reason, though, he felt as though he were making a huge mistake. "Look, Lydia, we'll go do something later...I'm late for practice as it is. Lizzy's going to kill me and your mother will be next in line."

Lizzy sat close to the rink, watching other skaters going through their programs. She looked at her watch for the sixth time in the past twenty minutes. George was seriously late, and with each check of her watch she got a little more furious at him. Where is he?

Worse than the fact that George was late was the sight of Marc Gercourt, whose music--a selection from "Les Miserables"--was currently playing. He had not looked in her direction once.

Jerk.

So why did you just admire his triple axel-triple toe loop combination if you think he's a jerk?

"No! Caroline Bingley, how many times have I told you that you won't be able to right yourself if you go into the double axel in that fashion! You'll fall over and lose! Now do it over!" Catherine de Bourgh's voice carried. Caroline flushed and, without getting in Marc's way, tried another double axel. She was tilting in the air, which threw her landing off because she had to correct herself. Again, she was barely able to land and the landing she did get was two-footed.

"Caroline! What are you, a junior girl? Can't you even get the double axel right?"

Thank God Mom's not like that. Any insults I receive I get in private. Lizzy checked her watch again. George was now forty-five minutes late, and Lizzy was afraid they wouldn't get to practice if he was much longer.

She let her eyes drift around the arena, passing by Marc Gercourt (she believed she was doing a good job of that--not that he would've cared). She was a little disconcerted to notice that Fitz Darcy was looking at her with that unreadable look in his eyes again. Lizzy couldn't even look at him without remembering what he did to George...which reminded her of what Rich had said earlier.

His story is not that complicated or impossible to believe, she thought. It's simple, straightforward. Just like I said.

But to her utter dismay, she began to feel a small thread of doubt. Maybe everyone was right, and she was wrong. George could be lying...

Lizzy noticed Georgiana Darcy holding onto the boards. She was curious to see if Georgiana could help her clear some of the confusion up about George's story.

She was watching her coach and her brother carefully, hoping they wouldn't see her near Lizzy Bennet. Georgiana was very curious to know how her brother's meeting with the young woman had gone. He'd returned to the meeting long after she'd gone to bed, but from his demeanor--and the glare that Lizzy had thrown him a moment ago--she just knew that something hadn't gone right. She hadn't been able to get him to tell her anything.

"Nervous?" Lizzy asked.

Georgiana was a bit startled when Lizzy finally spoke, but she smiled. "Yes, very much so. You?"

"Extremely. I don't know how I'm ever going to be able to sleep tonight." Lizzy smiled at her.

"I know how you feel. Sometimes I wish..."

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You sometimes wish you weren't in this sport?"

Georgiana sighed. "Sometimes. You...you won't tell anybody I said that, will you?"

"Of course not. I would never do that to anyone--especially you."

The younger girl looked relieved.

"Have you ever considered skating with someone?"

Georgiana went pale, her eyes clearly stricken with some remembered hurt. "I--I think I'd better--"

"Georgiana, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything, but I didn't know that--"

"No, it's not your fault, Lizzy. I--I have to go, excuse me." Georgiana wanted nothing more than to get away from the question, from the memory. She knew that no matter what she did, it wouldn't be enough. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't remember to ask Lizzy how her meeting with Fitz went.

Lizzy sighed. Her suspicions had been for nothing. There was too much pain for it to be a lie--Georgiana was still hurt that her own brother had forced her out of something that would make her happy, that much was certain.

I can't blame her. If he were MY brother...

Lizzy realized that she'd been looking at Fitz since Georgiana had scurried away. She averted her eyes quickly only to find herself looking at Marc Gercourt again.

Better him than Fitz, I guess.

Lizzy checked her watch again, wanting to scream at her partner's inconsiderate attitude toward this practice. There were two different judges present, and they could probably guess that George was late.

Lizzy was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't pay attention to the person standing in front of her at first. When she looked up, however, she saw him.

"Hello," he said with a friendly smile. "I saw you...watching my performance. Did you like it?"

"I...I..." Lizzy wasn't sure what to say. "It was very artistic."

"Do you think so?"

"Yes, but I'm not a judge."

"I know, but I wanted your opinion anyway." He extended his hand. "I am Marc Gercourt."

Part 15

izzy was speechless for a moment. She wanted to scream, "Why didn't you show up yesterday?" but she didn't. Instead, she said, "Elizabeth Bennet."

"Nice to meet you," he replied. "What did you think?"

"I think...I think it was a good program. I think the judges are going to love it."

"Merci. It is what I suspected." With that, he skated away without another word.

What a jerk! Lizzy thought, mentally working to keep her jaw from dropping open. I can't believe that this guy was my Ice King!

Perhaps he wasn't. The man she'd met on the Internet had been friendly--he'd never once asked her for her "numbers." For that matter, he hadn't even asked for her name.

Maybe he's really shy, that's why he didn't meet me.

"Lizzy!" A voice called behind her.

Lizzy turned to see George rushing to her, obviously needing a good night's sleep and a shave.

"I am such a creep to be so late, forgive me," he said.

"George, promise me one thing."

"Anything to make up for this, you name it."

"Promise me that tomorrow night you'll be early."

"I'll be ready to skate at the crack of dawn."

"That's all well and good, but we're the second to last pair to skate. Waking at daybreak won't be required--in fact, I think you should sleep in."

"I just might." George smiled. "Anything going on here?"

"Nothing much. I've just been watching our favorite duo out there."

George looked up and saw Fitz and Caroline, who were stepping off the ice. "How'd they do?"

"Not too well. I'm praying Caroline continues to have trouble with her double axel."

George laughed.

"Did someone slip happy pills into your coffee this morning? I don't think I've seen you this cheerful since Nationals."

"I had a good time last night."

"I'm glad one of us did."

"You could've come along," he said. I wish you had.

"No, that's okay. I needed the sleep." She sighed. "Are you ready to practice?"

"You bet." He started heading for the ice.

"Good. Then let's get started. Mom gets out of church in about ten minutes, which reminds me. You haven't by any chance seen Lydia lurking around anywhere, have you?"

George was grateful that his back had been turned to her, because he knew his expression would've given him away. "Uh, no," he replied. "Why? Is she lost?"

"Apparently so. Mom went to get her up for church and she wasn't there. She thinks Liddy was gone all night. I think she just wanted to avoid church and is roaming around somewhere."

"You're probably right, Lizzy," he said. "Lydia'll turn up. She always does."

"And usually in all the wrong places," Lizzy replied.

Oh, Lizzy. If only you knew.

Fitz was laying on his bed two hours after his disastrous practice, thinking.

Georgiana had been bugging Fitz about the meeting since she'd awakened. He'd deliberately not gone back to their hotel room last night after the meeting, knowing she'd be waiting. He couldn't bring himself then to tell her what a disaster the meeting had been. Worse, he couldn't really tell her much of what the meeting was about, because much of it had had to do with George Wickham, and he tried to avoid mentioning him in conversation when Georgiana was around.

He had no idea what George had told Lizzy--a lie, of course. George was good at that. He'd heard the wild tales he'd come up with in the past--that Caroline preferred him as a partner, that Catherine had thought George was the better skater. There were others, scattered, that he'd told even back when he'd still been with Catherine. They all contradicted each other, but told to the right person they made a powerful tale.

Fitz didn't blame Lizzy for believing George. He knew how convincing the man was, and how determined Lizzy was to dislike Fitz. He wished he could tell her the truth. He wished he could expose George Wickham for the man he really was. He wished...

He really wished he'd told her who he was yesterday. Maybe she wouldn't have believed him, but it would've been a start toward a better relationship than they had now.

Is that what you really want? To have a relationship with Elizabeth Bennet? To go against your partner and your coach? Is she really worth it?

Fitz sighed. What did he know about her that would make her worth it? He knew that she had a temper which she could hold in check unless pushed to the brink. The memory of what had set her off, however, brought back the memory of how her dark eyes had looked as she had fought with him...God, they were so beautiful.

He knew that she loved skating. A person who didn't enjoy what they did didn't go out to the rink earlier than everyone else to skate solo. He saw her in his mind again, skating to that song...what was it called? Something about the show going on. She had looked so elegant, so poised, and even though the song was depressing and she took on the demeanor of one whose heart was breaking, it had been clear to him that she loved what she was doing.

He'd watched her skate and had ducked into a dressing room when he saw Richard Fitzwilliam clapping from the sidelines. When he'd returned, Frances Bennet was standing there, snapping at Lizzy, as usual. He'd felt sorry for her--he knew only too well how dreadful coaches could be. He'd read somewhere that coaches should be supportive and nurturing, not snide and snappy, but he'd never had the opportunity to work with anyone but Catherine, so he had no experience with a coach any different from her.

What else did he know about her? That she was loyal--misguided, perhaps, but she wouldn't say a thing wrong against George. Of course, she didn't know the truth.

He knew that he'd never felt like this about anyone in his life. He'd never been as obsessed before, never thought about anyone as often...he'd never been willing to risk so many people's wrath to be with someone. But he was willing to do all this...to be with Elizabeth.

Fitz sighed and stood up from the bed. He walked to the table where he'd set his computer and turned it on. While waiting for it to boot up, he tried to figure out how he could explain his absence yesterday without it sounding like an excuse. Or he could just come out and say that he'd been there and he'd tried to tell her...

But this wasn't the right time. Later, when they knew each other better, he'd tell her.

If you ever get to know each other better.

He got connected to the Internet and headed for the familiar chat room. He didn't expect to find her there--after the fiasco yesterday, he doubted she'd ever visit there again. But to his surprise, she was there, waiting for him. And her first words let him know that she wasn't happy with him.

GOLDEN GIRL: Where the hell were you yesterday?

ICE KING: Thank God you're here! I was going to tell you that I couldn't meet, but...I didn't have any way of telling you.

GOLDEN GIRL: What was so important? I stayed out there in the cold for over an hour!

ICE KING: I know, I know. I'm sorry. Listen, it has to do with my sister. She's been unhappy lately--

(Right. She's been unhappy for about four years, he thought.)

ICE KING: --and she showed up yesterday unexpectedly. I didn't know where she'd be.

GOLDEN GIRL: I thought you said your family was already here.

ICE KING: She's only fifteen.

GOLDEN GIRL: I see. You thought she'd be in school or something like that, and instead she's here? How did that happen?

ICE KING: You're asking the wrong person.

(Fitz was hoping that this wouldn't be considered a lie later on, but he had a feeling it would be.)

GOLDEN GIRL: Okay. I guess I forgive you.

ICE KING: You guess?

GOLDEN GIRL: Well, I'm still mad. But I have a sister of my own, I understand.

ICE KING: Yes, you told me about your sister. How is she?

GOLDEN GIRL: I'd tell you if I knew where she was. She's been missing all day.

ICE KING: Aren't your parents worried?

GOLDEN GIRL: Of course they are, and my mother blames me. She thinks that she should've been my responsibility. I tell her, she's an adult, she can take care of herself. I'm sure she'll turn up.

(Lizzy had almost typed in Lydia's name when she stopped herself. This man hadn't told her any personal information about himself, so why should she give herself away?)

ICE KING: I hope she does.

GOLDEN GIRL: Mind if I clear something up right now?

ICE KING: Sure.

GOLDEN GIRL: I understand if you don't want to give your name out on this chat room. I'm sort of the same way. I just want to eliminate a possibility for who you aren't.

ICE KING: Why? Who do you think I am?

GOLDEN GIRL: I thought you were Marc Gercourt.

ICE KING: God, no! Why did you think I was?

GOLDEN GIRL: Your nickname. That's the name he's called.

ICE KING: Actually, I think he gave himself that name. Arrogant SOB, isn't he?

GOLDEN GIRL: I think so. Today he came up to me and asked me if I thought his program was good. When I told him it was, he said that he suspected I'd think so, then skated off. What a jerk!

ICE KING: You mean he didn't even thank you for your opinion?

GOLDEN GIRL: No. I should've told him that it was terrible.

ICE KING: Yes, you should've. Even if it wasn't. I didn't even remember that he called himself that when I typed in my name. I just thought it was something funny.

GOLDEN GIRL: That's okay. It's not your fault that I'm an idiot who got the wrong impression.

ICE KING: You're not an idiot.

GOLDEN GIRL: Thanks for saying that.

ICE KING: I'm so sorry I couldn't meet you yesterday.

GOLDEN GIRL: It's okay. I understand. When family calls, you have to follow.

"Lizzy! I thought I'd find you here!"

Lizzy groaned as she clicked out of the chat room without saying good bye to Ice King. Why does she always have to show up just when things are getting interesting? she wondered. "Hello, Lydia."

Something had happened. Lizzy could see that right away. Yesterday her sister had been sullen and defiant, but today she was cheerful. Her eyes were bright, but...smug. She'd done something which she would be lording over her sister, and Lizzy dreaded to hear what it was.

"You'd better go find Mom and Dad now," Lizzy said. "Mom's been looking for you all morning, and she's been yelling at me."

"And Dad's just been rolling his eyes at the whole thing, hasn't he?" Lydia said with a chuckle.

"Something to that effect, yes."

"Don't you want to hear where I've been?"

"No, not really." Lizzy had learned long ago the easiest way to deflate Lydia was to show indifference to her. "I don't care what you do. As you said yesterday, you're an adult now. Which, I'd like to point out, is what I've been telling Mom all morning. I would still expect something of a lecture from her, though."

"Oh, Lord. I didn't think of that." Lydia sighed. "Now I have to sit through a thirty minute talk about how my reputation is sacrosanct and if I have a bad reputation the judges won't like me."

"Better you than me."

"Hmph--as though you've ever done anything to warrant getting a lecture like that."

Lizzy sighed and thought about the things she had done which would warrant it. "Well, you'd better check in with them," she said. "Mom's worried that you're dead."

"Right. See you later, Lizzy." Lydia took off.

Lizzy debated whether or not she should get back into the chat room, but decided not to. There were other things she could be doing--such as having fun with Rich and Carl, or maybe Jane and Charles. Perhaps they could all go together to have dinner. Everyone would understand that it had to be an early night for her. Jane and Charles, too. She stood up and stretched for a moment, then walked out of the room.

Part 16

Monday.

izzy was surprised at how well she slept. She'd figured she'd be tossing and turning all night, but after about fifteen minutes of soothing music from the soundtrack of Sense and Sensibility, she'd drifted off and awakened at five.

Lizzy had been planning to check to see if Lydia was actually in her bed this morning, but the loud snores coming from her side of the room told her that she didn't need to bother. Lizzy had a quick shower, changed into a practice outfit, and headed for the rink.

This would be a light practice, since she would want to save everything for that night. In fact, she might not have had this practice at all except that George had never really found his rhythm yesterday and so she felt that they needed a little more practice.

And, as usual, George was late.

Lizzy sighed, but she was used to it. She intended to keep an eye on him all day once she got him in her sights, because there was no way he was going to be late tonight. She put on her skates and slipped off the skate guards, then began warming up on the ice. The music she'd chosen this morning was not the program she'd be skating tonight, and completely different from yesterday's melancholy selection.

I wish there were someone out here to skate with me, she thought as "Blue Danube" began. But she began her waltz alone, just skating around to the music, trying no jumps, no spins, just skating. She didn't notice the figure who had appeared out of nowhere.

Fitz had been hoping to catch her again, and he hadn't been disappointed. He slipped off his skate guards and joined her on the ice.

Lizzy first noticed him as she was making another turn on the ice. When she realized who he was, she came to a stop. He skated over to her.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"Warming up, just like you are. Care to join me?"

Lizzy wasn't quite sure what he was asking of her. They weren't partners, they didn't know each other's style. For all she knew, this was a trick to throw her concentration off. But when she looked into his eyes--very nice eyes, he had--she saw his sincerity. Very hesitantly, she gave him her hand.

"How shall we do this?" she asked.

"We could waltz," he replied.

"I don't know how to waltz. Besides, neither of us is an ice dancer."

"Well, what then?"

"I don't know. Let's just skate."

"Fine."

The two stayed in synch as they whirled around the ice. He kept his hand in hers as they raced across the ice, and he couldn't help the delicious thrill he felt at the feel of her hand.

They came to a stop at center ice. "Would you like to try waltzing?" he asked.

"I suppose you know how."

"As a matter of fact, I do. Catherine insisted on it."

"Really? I thought her big thing was ballet."

"She thought Caroline and I would benefit from ballroom dancing once, so we took lessons." Fitz took one of Lizzy's hands in his and put his other hand on her waist. "It's very simple, I assure you."

"Sure."

"Just let me lead."

"And I should trust you because..."

"Because I'm trustworthy."

Lizzy knew that wasn't so, but she wasn't going to contradict him when he was actually being nice for a change. She couldn't make it out at all, this difference in him.

She soon found herself lost in the intricate steps and moves required to stay standing on the ice while waltzing. She nearly tripped and fell once, but he caught her with a grin. "That's happened to me when I'm not skating," he said.

She chuckled in spite of herself.

Lizzy prided herself on being a quick learner, and she picked up the basics of waltzing on ice faster than Fitz expected her to. They were soon lost in the waltz, looking up at each other almost as if they'd been doing this all of their lives.

Fitz realized something during the last few minutes of the waltz. He hadn't enjoyed skating with Caroline in years. She had taken away all the love he'd felt for skating as a kid and left him only with the determination to win. But with Elizabeth in his arms, skating in time with him, gazing into his eyes with something akin to surprise and wonder, he realized what he was missing. Skating with Caroline felt like a job.

Skating with Elizabeth was heaven itself. But why? Was it because he'd never skated with her before? Was it because she was so unlike Caroline?

No, it was none of those.

The truth hit him with sudden force. He didn't know when it had happened, or how, or why, but he was in love with her. All those hours having to watch her skate, coupled with the conversations they'd had on the Internet...

He loved her. And when he looked at her again, she could see that something had changed for him, that he'd come to an understanding, but she didn't know what it was.

The music came an abrupt halt, but the song wasn't over. For a brief minute, neither of them noticed, for the music had become a minor detail to this skate.

Neither of them, however, could avoid hearing the people who had been watching them for the past few minutes. They stopped skating and turned to see who had arrived.

Caroline, George, Catherine de Bourgh, Frances Bennet, and Georgiana all stood there at rinkside...and all but Georgiana were furious.

Fitz and Lizzy looked at each other and their thought was an identical one.

They were in a lot of trouble.

Continued In Section III