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Part 21

Thursday.

he doctors had told Lizzy that she had nothing more than a bad twist, but that she should stay off her ankle for at least two or three days. After that, she could skate, but not strenuously, for the next few days.

Lizzy, who couldn't picture herself skating after costing herself and George the gold, said nothing.

Well-wishers had been sending letters and little gifts all morning. The sight of so many people hoping her ankle was better soon cheered her some, and several of the messages she'd gotten--saying that she should've won, in spite of her fall--made her feel a bit better.

"All this because you fell," Lydia grumbled as she looked around at some of the flowers that had been sent. "God, this place smells worse than after the time I dumped all Mom's perfume on the floor."

"I don't think it's all that bad," Lizzy replied.

"You wouldn't."

"Shouldn't you be at practice or something?"

"I probably should be, but I told George I'd meet him for lunch today. We're going to this cute little cafe across the street from the Olympic village."

Lizzy's eyes widened. That cafe was where she was meeting Ice King. After a few seconds of surprise about the place came the shock of who Lydia was going to meet.

"George?"

"Yeah. Didn't I tell you that we're together?" Lydia smiled coyly. She would've admitted that all the attention shown Lizzy since her fall--which Lydia thought was her own fault in spite of what she told George about believing it was Fitz Darcy--had made her a little jealous. Her sister had had her turn in the Olympic spotlight, and hadn't even won.

But whose picture had turned up on every newspaper stand?

Lizzy's.

In George's arms, being carried either to the podium or off the ice.

It was enough to make that man's girlfriend scream, which Lydia had been tempted to do all morning since the first batch of flowers and cards had arrived for Lizzy.

If she had been looking for her sister to be horrified, she wasn't disappointed. Lizzy looked as though someone had killed her cat, or maybe even jealous that George had someone else when she had no one.

"What are you talking about--you and George?"

"Just what I said. We decided that we were perfect for each other. It was inevitable, you know, because we're of such nature as to seek each other out."

Lizzy was not jealous in the least, but she was shocked that George would take an interest in a young woman nearly ten years his junior. Especially someone like Liddy, who wasn't nearly as sophisticated as the women George liked...and who didn't seem to be his type, anyway.

She knew exactly what her sister had hoped for by telling her this, but Lizzy had too much on her mind to worry about George and Lydia...for now.

When Lizzy didn't say anything more on the subject, Lydia sighed in frustration. Why isn't she screaming and tearing her hair out? Lydia wondered. If our roles were reversed, I certainly would be.

"I think I'm going to run past the cafeteria and see if anyone's in there," Lydia said, not showing that she cared about her sister's lack of reaction. "See you later."

She breezed out the door. Lizzy sat on her bed, wishing she felt like going anywhere. But at the moment, she didn't even think she wanted to face Ice King. Especially not after her horrendous fall, and calling herself "Golden Girl" when now she was only silver.

She glanced over at the nightstand. She'd carelessly tossed her silver medal there after arriving, not wanting to think about it. She picked it up and stared at it. The medal reflected the light and yet the only thing she could think was, "Gold would've been prettier."

You should be ashamed of yourself, Elizabeth Bennet. There are twenty-two pairs of skaters who are wishing they could have this medal, and here you are wishing you didn't have it at all. There's absolutely nothing wrong with winning the silver.

There was a tap at the door.

"Come in," Lizzy said, expecting that it would be Rich. He'd promised to visit her as soon as he finished his last practice before the short program tonight.

But it turned out to be a delivery man with a medium-sized box. "This is for Miss Elizabeth Bennet," he said.

"That's me," she said.

The man set it down on her bed, leaving after Lizzy thanked him. She looked at the box, wondering who it was from. There was no name except hers on the front. She opened it cautiously, fearing what might be in it.

At the very top was an envelope from a hotel, again with the words "Miss Elizabeth Bennet" written on it. Underneath the letter was a video tape and an assortment of goodies. There were chocolate caramels (her favorites), a cute stuffed panda wearing an official Olympic t-shirt, two CD's--one a collection of Queen's Greatest Hits, the one she didn't have--but she wondered how this person knew that. She realized then that it had to be Rich who'd sent this to her. The other CD was by Paula Cole. Finally, there were two books by Rebecca Wells sitting at the bottom--both books she'd been dying to read for some time but had never had the time.

She wondered what the videotape was as she opened the letter.

Dear Elizabeth, it began. She quickly flipped to the last page to see if the person who had sent it could be identified, and was startled by the name she saw there.

Fitzwilliam Darcy.

"Fitz Darcy?" she murmured. Why would he be sending me a care package? Why would he write me a letter? Memories of what George had said--that last night had been Fitz' fault--flooded back.

Is he writing to gloat? Probably. I was wondering when he'd get around to it.

She turned back to the first page and began to read, intrigued and yet fearful of what he was about to say.

Dear Elizabeth,

Please believe me when I say that I haven't written this letter to gloat over what happened yesterday. Gloating is the last thing I would want to do. What happened to you shouldn't have happened, and I think it wouldn't have happened, if it hadn't been for my stupid pride and a desire to keep my sister protected from those who would terrify her. I'm getting ahead of myself, so let me back up to the most important thing I want to say--what happened last night wasn't your fault. I know you probably don't believe me right now, but hear me out. Don't throw this letter away unread. I can prove what I just said.

As I'm sure you know, I'm a very private person, and I don't like revealing something that would hurt my family--especially my sister. Georgiana is very fragile. She always has been, but what happened four years ago has only made her worse.

Yes, George has told me all about what you did. But Lizzy couldn't throw away the letter without hearing what he had to say in his defense. She continued reading.

I don't know the whole of the story he's told you, but I can guess from what you said during our conversation the other day that he's said something about being considered a partner for Caroline. That never happened. Catherine de Bourgh paired Caroline and I when I was sixteen and never even considered pairing her with someone else. George came along about six years later. I don't know what Catherine saw in him. He was, I suppose, a talented singles skater who showed promise. But after trying for the better part of two years to master a triple axel and failing, George came to the realization that he was not likely to ever crack the upper echelons of the field.

He suggested to Catherine that he could become a pairs skater, but Catherine, thinking that with enough repetition George would eventually master the jump, refused to consider the idea. George became frustrated with her and started skipping practices, ignoring her coaching, and in general ruining his own future. He suggested several times that Caroline could become his partner and I could join the singles ranks, as I was a more powerful skater. Catherine pointed out correctly that for me to learn everything I would need to learn and become successful would take too long. Plus, Caroline and I were enjoying our first real success as a pairs team.

George soon began to believe that I was blocking his success. He would say so often enough in practice. When I would skate, he would deliberately cut in front of me, causing me to either fall or turn awkwardly. He would show off whenever he could. He would do anything, dangerous to himself or not, in order to put me off my concentration. Catherine would reprimand him time and again, but as I said, he was no longer listening.

That can't be right, Lizzy thought. George would never do anything like that! He was so upset at Nationals when Caroline ran into me...

It was around this time that Georgiana began to improve greatly as a skater. Before then, she had been quiet, tentative, but always artistic. After, it seemed to me that she was learning a new jump every day. Catherine was thrilled, because she'd never really seen much for Georgiana. It shouldn't have surprised me that George started spending time with her.

George suggested to my sister that perhaps singles skating wasn't the best thing for her. He sensed that her hesitancy was caused by her fear of failure. As you know, skating is very different from other sports in that when you fail, you often fail alone. You never get the second chance other sports have. Georgiana was so scared of making mistakes that it affected her skating.

So it should come as no surprise to you that he succeeded in getting her interested in becoming a pairs skater. What his motive was, outside of getting back at me by skating with my sister, I can't tell you. Most likely, he saw her potential as Catherine did and wanted to ride along in her wake.

Georgiana, in secret, went to another coach, a Mrs. Younge, and she and George began to learn the intricacies of pairs skating. I wouldn't have known about any of it except that she awoke me one day when she sneaked out to meet him. I followed them and discovered what they were doing. I was horrified, not because my sister would be giving me competition, as I'm sure he has probably intimated to you. It was because my sister was only twelve, and because I knew his interest in her was nothing benevolent.

I told Catherine what I saw. We waited until the next day to confront the two of them. Georgiana, when she saw Catherine and I watching her, was overjoyed. She looked so happy that for a moment, I couldn't bear to break her heart by telling her that George was only interested in dragging her down. When I tried to tell her that she couldn't skate with him, she defiantly said that she'd do what she pleased. She skated back over to George and said that they'd show up how good they were.

I can remember the scene as vividly today as if it had just happened. They skated in unison across the ice. I was surprised at how good she was, and God help me, for a moment I was tempted to reconsider and let them skate together.

That's when George lifted Georgiana high in the air and deliberately dropped her.

You might wonder how I knew this, because it would've looked to most people as though he had done it accidentally, or perhaps it had been due to the fact that they were still learning. What happened, in fact, was that he didn't lock his grip during the lift. But just after he dropped her, he looked right at me. I recognized the look. I'd seen it on his face a number of times in the years we'd known each other.

He was defying me to prove he'd done it. He was looking so self-satisfied that I wanted to punch him right there. I would've done it, but Georgiana was screaming in pain. She had unfortunately landed on her right knee even worse than you landed on your ankle last night. Catherine and I took her to the hospital, where we were told that her kneecap had been cracked badly. She wouldn't be able to skate for at least three months and possibly even longer. Georgiana was lucky that she would be able to recover and still be able to skate.

When we returned home, George was gone. Catherine discovered where he'd run off to and told him in no uncertain terms that if he ever attempted to find another coach or another pairs partner that she'd let everyone know what he'd done. He was ruined in the sport, or so we thought.

Neither of us ever thought he'd go to your mother. If we had, we would've made the cause of Georgiana's injury public. At least, I would've. I don't think Catherine would've bothered, because it was your mother. George was extremely wise in his choice. Frances Bennet would never have listened to anything Catherine might've told her. Plus, you'd just been abandoned by Willoughby and were in desperate need of a partner. So by our own discretion and George Wickham's cunning, he remained in the sport and, last night, won the silver medal. I would've gladly hung him with it.

Now we come to what happened last night. I can't say why he did it, but George didn't lock his grip when he lifted you that last time. Please believe me when I tell you this, because I've watched the replay probably a hundred times and what I've seen can't be denied. That's what is on the tape in this care package, if you want to see it for yourself. The tape is more convincing than I probably could be. You were perfect through that lift. He wasn't, and I don't think it was by accident.

I guess there's nothing more for me to say, except that I hope your ankle is feeling better soon. You are truly an exceptional skater, and I feel honored that I was able to skate against you. I only wish that you could've won last night.

Fitzwilliam Darcy.

Lizzy set down the letter several times, too upset with its writer to believe what he said. Several times, she exclaimed that what he was saying was a lie.

But after rereading it, she began to have doubts about George's story. It wasn't so much what Fitz had said as much as what Rich had mentioned the night of the short program. He'd said George was a liar, and he'd caught him at it.

I have to see the tape.

Lizzy realized that the fall had happened too quickly to be able to determine guilt without seeing the replay. She just assumed she'd been to blame because...

Yes, Lizzy, why did you think it was your fault? Because you'd fallen?

Before she could get out of the bed and hobble out on crutches, the door opened.

"Good, you're here. I was afraid you wouldn't be," Rich said.

"Rich, this isn't a good time to talk. I've got to find a VCR."

"Actually, Lizzy, I think you're going to want to listen to this. I found out about George--everything about George."

Lizzy listened with horror as Rich told her what he'd discovered. He laid the worst of it before her--including a confirmation by Mrs. Younge that the fall had been George's fault, but she felt it had been inexperience.

Fitz had been telling her the truth. Had he also been right about the fall last night?

Lizzy suddenly remembered what George had kept saying--that they could win even though she'd fallen. It was the way he kept saying it...not so much to convince her, but to convince himself.

And she knew why he'd done it, even if Fitz did not. George had honestly believed they could win even if she fell, because of how poorly Caroline and Fitz were skating in practice. She knew why he'd dropped her--if he had.

It had been for sympathy. It had been for those front page stories that Lydia mentioned seeing. It had been costly for him, but he believed it would work. He would appear a dashing romantic hero, carrying his injured partner to victory. Plus, they would get the articles calling them courageous for skating the final thirty seconds when she was injured. Their careers would be assured, no matter what happened.

With that sickening thought, Lizzy realized that she'd never known George Wickham at all.

Part 22

ich was a bit surprised when Lizzy wasn't horrified by George's lies. He thought perhaps she was still in disbelief. "Liz, you've got to believe me. I wouldn't lie to you, you know that. The person who's been lying to you--"

"--is George," she breathed. "I know."

He let out a sigh of relief. "I'm sorry to be the one to tell you."

A short bark of laughter from Lizzy startled him. "You weren't the one." She held up a letter. "Fitz Darcy wrote me this morning, telling me everything you've said. At least, you've confirmed enough of his story to know that he's telling me the truth."

"What did he say?"

"George did it deliberately," Lizzy said. "To Georgiana, and to me last night. He dropped me on purpose, and then let me think I was to blame. He never once said it was his fault."

"That son of a--"

"Rich, please."

"He cost you guys the gold medal! And why? Who knows!"

"He thought we could still win. You heard him. He honestly believed Fitz and Caroline would falter and we would win because we'd been better except for the fall."

"What kind of a man is he?" Rich growled. "I ought to--"

"Don't. Don't even think of doing anything to him...he's not worth getting in trouble over."

"Liz, someone has to tell the world what's he's been doing. He hurt Georgiana Darcy so badly she couldn't skate for three months. And as for you..."

"I think he's learned his lesson. He won't do it to another partner, otherwise it would start looking suspicious."

"I doubt he's learned his lesson. People like him never do."

Lizzy sighed. "For now, I think we should keep this between ourselves. Fitz didn't ask me to keep silent, but it would be almost impossible to get anyone to believe that George had anything to do with Georgiana's accident. And it's probably hard to tell what happened last night. I think I'd just as soon like to forget about it."

"You're going to keep skating with him, knowing what he did to you?"

"I didn't say that. I don't intend to keep skating with him. After the exhibition, I'll tell him that I know what he did, and...and that our partnership is over." A tear rolled down Lizzy's cheek. "And that will be the end of my career."

"What are you talking about?"

"He'll be the fourth partner I've lost. And don't you think that when we separate he'll tell people he left me? People already think I'm jinxed. No one will want to partner me."

"You're a silver medalist, Lizzy. I don't think finding a partner will be the worst problem. Telling your mother, on the other hand..."

"Oh, God! You're right. I'll have to tell Mom, and she'll want to know why. She probably won't believe me."

Rich wished he could assure her that Frances wouldn't consider her daughter a liar, but he couldn't.

"You'll have time to figure out exactly what you want to do," Rich said.

"Time, yes..." Lizzy murmured. Her eyes caught a glimpse of the clock on the small table beside her bed. "Time! Rich, oh no!"

It was 12:15.

"What?"

"I'm supposed to meet with Ice King today! And I'm late! Oh, God, he's going to think I set this up to get back at him for Saturday...oh, no..."

"Calm down, Lizzy. You're only a little bit late."

"I got so caught up with that letter and then talking to you...oh, God!"

"I'm sure he'll understand."

"No, no...he's probably long gone by now."

"How long did you wait for him the other day?"

"Quite a while."

"I'm sure that if he's there, he's probably still waiting."

"Oh, I hope so...but I don't have a flower! I'm supposed to have a gardenia so he knows it's me. I don't have time to get a flower, dammit!"

Rich started laughing.

"What's so funny!" she snapped.

He waved a hand around the room. The absurdity of her not thinking she had a flower suddenly hit her. Her room looked like a florist's shop.

And of course, there were some gardenias as well. She hadn't glanced at the card when they'd arrived, but when she looked she chuckled.

Fitz Darcy hadn't been satisfied just sending a care package and a letter. He'd sent her flowers as well.

"For once in my life, I'm grateful to the man," she said with a smile, taking one of the flowers from the arrangement and sticking it in one of the button holes of her coat. "Rich, I'm going to need your help getting there."

"Of course."

"But I don't want you sticking around...you know, just in case he's late too, and if he sees us together he'll wonder and..."

"Don't worry, Liz. I wouldn't dream of intruding on your privacy."

Caroline Bingley awoke with a vicious hangover just after twelve. Following the awards ceremony, she'd gone out with some friends of hers who were competing in the ice dancing competition and they'd gotten so drunk Caroline could barely remember anything about the night before. She'd wanted it that way, because all she could remember was that Fitz had told her he wasn't skating with her anymore.

But the morning brought a bit more clarity to everything that had proceeded her drinking binge, and it was then that she remembered what she'd found out the night before.

She'd discovered that eavesdroppers found out very interesting things.

"What are you thinking of doing?" Lydia Bennet asked.

"Well, I know that it seems like an old idea, but I was thinking of perhaps injuring her...deliberately." George Wickham smiled.

"You mean like what happened--"

"Exactly."

Lydia had been a bit reluctant. "Oh, I don't know. It seems a bit extreme to me--not to mention vicious. I don't want to compete against her, but I don't want to ruin her career. Someone has to pick up where I leave off after these Olympics, because I intend to turn pro."

"For God's sake, Liddy, she'll be just fine in four years. She just won't compete here. She won't ruin your Olympics by having the judges and commentators raving about her grace and beauty on the ice."

"No, they'll just be talking about what happened to her. They'll ask me a million questions when I'd rather talk about me. Plus, who do you think suspect number one is going to be?"

"Don't worry about that. We're not going to make the same mistakes that were made before. For one thing, we'll be the only two who know about this. We know just about every move she makes without having to find out. There will be no links to either of us, because you'll have an alibi and I'll have one as well."

"Who's going to do it then if we're the only two--"

"I'll do it, of course. But my alibi is going to be you."

"And if my alibi is you, then--"

"You're going to have a separate alibi, Liddy, but you'll say that you saw me just moments before Georgiana is attacked, making it impossible for me to be suspect. No one would suspect me, anyway. What do I have against a ladies' competitor?"

"The fact that your girlfriend is her rival."

"No one knows we're together."

"Yet."

"But it works to our advantage, don't you see? It can work. It can. And you won't have to worry about Georgiana after that."

Caroline smiled to herself as she recalled the conversation. So George Wickham and Lydia Bennet were planning to attack Georgiana to get her out of the way, were they? It was too perfect.

She lay in bed, her head feeling a bit better. She was thinking of what she'd do about all this. She'd thought about telling Fitz, but she realized that he probably wouldn't believe her if she did. He'd think she was trying to blacken his precious Lizzy's name...well, her sister's, anyway. She could try warning Georgiana, or at the very least keep close to her until the competition began next Wednesday, but Georgiana didn't like her too much so that wouldn't work.

Caroline smiled as the solution came to her. Of course. Why didn't I think of it before?

She decided that she would let George and Lydia pull of their little scheme. It would cause Georgiana pain, which was regrettable, but it would allow her the opportunity to show Fitz that she was a warm-hearted person when she comforted Georgiana in the aftermath of her attack. Plus, she knew that if there'd been anything learned in the Tonya Harding debacle years ago, it was that suspicion would quickly settle on the guilty party, and Lydia would certain fall under that heading. Plus, George would quickly be discovered as her associate. What better proof would there be that Fitz had chosen the wrong woman than the evidence that her sister had attacked his? Lizzy would certainly be guilty by association, and Fitz would want nothing to do with her. He would be ripe to reconcile with Caroline.

So she would say nothing...until the time arose when she would need to prove herself to Fitz.

Feeling very satisfied, she decided to get some more rest. She never noticed that Fitz was gone.

Fitz checked his watch again. 12:20.

She's getting back at me for not 'showing up' last time.

He tried to keep himself from thinking that, but he was beginning to think that it was true. Of course, he realized, it wasn't easy for her to get around on those crutches, and again he cursed George Wickham for causing her accident.

He fiddled with his gardenia. He'd wondered if maybe she'd picked up on the significance of his sending her gardenias, but he doubted it. She was most likely completely clueless about his identity.

And how in the world am I going to be able to pretend that I didn't know who she was Saturday?

He checked his watch again just as the door opened. Rich Fitzwilliam was holding it open for Lizzy to hobble through, and for a second, Fitz's heart sank.

She is getting back at me. She's here with Rich. He hid the gardenia under the table so she wouldn't see it.

But what happened next surprised him. Giving Lizzy a small peck on the cheek, he handed her a flower and walked back out into the cold afternoon.

He'd handed her a gardenia.

Lizzy's eyes searched out every person sitting in the cafe, looking for a familiar face with a gardenia on the table. She noticed Fitz Darcy but overlooked him in her zealousness to find the gardenia.

She saw no one she recognized other than him.

I can't believe he did it to me again. He stood me up...that jerk!

She was about the crush the delicate flower she held in her hand when she glanced back at Fitz Darcy again.

There, sitting quite innocently on his table, was a flower.

A gardenia.

Lizzy's eyes widened in shock as she realized the truth at last.

Fitz Darcy was the Ice King.

Part 23

or one brief, flickering second, Lizzy refused to believe what she knew to be true.

Fitz Darcy can't be the Ice King. He's a jerk who doesn't have feelings. He never has doubts about skating. He doesn't...

He has a sister. He has a difficult coach, and it's clear that he doesn't like skating with his partner anymore.

She stared at the flower for a long time. When she finally looked at him, she saw no surprise. Suddenly, she knew exactly why she'd been given gardenias. He'd known she was meeting him today, that she'd need the flower and that she wouldn't have easy access to a flower shop.

But the fact that he'd known who she was...

He KNEW! Saturday afternoon, he knew that I was Golden Girl and he WALKED AWAY!

Lizzy was close to turning around and walking out when she remembered exactly how ungracious she'd been in that afternoon. Fitz had been polite and friendly--he'd even said hello to her, and been kind until she'd started sniping at him. And what had he said that hadn't been the truth?

George had been lying. Plus, Fitz had good reason for not wanting George to ever skate again.

As quickly as her crutches would allow, she made her way to his table.

"Hello, Elizabeth," he said softly.

"Hi, Fitz." She held up the flower. "You're Ice King."

"And you're Golden Girl."

"You knew Saturday, didn't you?"

"I couldn't be completely sure until you were there. But I suspected."

"You were one up on me. I had no idea who you were. It should've been easy."

He shook his head. "No. I...I lied to you a few times, before I knew who you were."

"And after, like that reason you gave for not showing up Saturday."

"Hey, I showed up. You just refused to acknowledge me."

Lizzy smiled. "May I sit down?"

"Oh--of course." Fitz stood up and hurried to get her chair for her. When they were both seated again, he said, "I hope you aren't disappointed by me."

"Why would I be disappointed by you?"

"Because I'm not Marc Gercourt."

Lizzy sighed. "No. I realize that I was a complete idiot about that...I mean, if I'd really gotten to know the guy, I would've realized that he wasn't who I was talking to."

"Have you met him?"

"Yes." Lizzy didn't need to say anything more than that--her voice was enough.

Fitz was in awe that she was sitting across from him without dislike in her eyes. He'd expected her to hate him even more after last night.

"I got your letter," she said.

"You did."

"Yes." She swallowed with some difficulty, but she had to let him know how she felt and what needed to be said.

"Did you watch the tape? Do you believe me when I tell you that--"

"I didn't need to watch the tape."

"You...you didn't?" Fitz was startled. He expected her to continue to deny that George had done something wrong. He thought she would watch the tape and still think she'd lost her grip.

"No."

"Did what I say convince you?" God, please let her say yes.

"Not completely. See, if it hadn't been for Rich, I might not have believed you, but he came in and told me that everything you said was true. He confirmed your story without even knowing you were going to tell me."

"But how did he know?"

"He did some research into George's story and found that it was made up of lies." Lizzy blushed. "You must think I'm a fool for believing him."

"No! I'd never think you were a fool. You didn't know the truth. You weren't going to hear it from George, and no one else involved was eager to bring it up."

"Still, I pride myself on being a smart, savvy young woman...and I was completely taken in by him."

"You were sixteen, without a partner, desperate."

"He didn't tell me the truth until Friday afternoon."

"Oh." Fitz sighed. "You still aren't a fool."

"Why not?"

Don't tell me we got this far just to start sniping at each other now! Fitz thought. "Because I said so."

Lizzy burst into laughter, and he felt better.

"Excuse me, miss, but would you like anything?"

Lizzy looked up to find a heavyset waitress standing over her.

"I'd like a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows, please," Lizzy said. "Thanks."

The waitress went to get her drink. Neither of them spoke until she returned, asked if either needed anything else, and went to another table.

Lizzy smiled at Fitz. "So how did you know it was me?"

"Honestly, I stumbled onto the truth. I had no idea until I thought back to what you said--about having a mother and father who were deeply involved in the sport, and a sister who was trouble. You were a pairs skater. It all fit. Then you showed up Saturday, and I was so thrilled that you were there."

"You were?"

"Yes."

"Because it meant you were right."

"No. Because it was you."

Lizzy was afraid to see more into his words than she thought she should. After all, they'd spent the better part of a couple years hating each other. Her mother had spent half her life hating his cousin.

This can't happen. I don't even like him...do I?

"I don't expect you to like me right away. I mean, you just found out about me. I've had a few days to adjust to this. But do you think...I mean, would you even consider...maybe going out on a date?"

"With you?"

"Yes."

"Sure. Why don't we start now?"

"Now?"

"Yeah. We're here, we're not doing anything until later this afternoon--at least I'm not--so how about it?"

"Are you sure?" He smiled at her. "I mean, this is sudden. You can't just go from hating someone one day to wanting to date them the next."

"This isn't all that sudden."

"Yes, it is. Especially given everything that's happened this week."

"Then why do you like me? I mean, this transition from smug, arrogant Fitz Darcy who sounded like he could barely stand going through the Olympic village with his sister to a friendly, charming person..." Lizzy trailed off. "Did you really go to the Opening Ceremonies?"

"Absolutely. Georgie and I went together. She loved it."

"What about you?"

"It was exciting. A better show than last time...but I only watched it on TV last time."

"You have to be there."

"I was glad Georgiana had a good time. She's been so nervous about this whole Olympics mess. I wish I could tell her that the world won't end if she doesn't do well and have a sense of her believing me."

"I could talk to her. I have proof that the world doesn't end if you don't win." Subconsciously, both pairs of eyes glanced at the crutches Lizzy had to use for another day or two.

"How long will you be off it?" he asked.

"For a couple days. Then only light skating. I told the doctors I wasn't planning on skating for a long time anyway."

"Why not?" Fitz was startled to hear her sound dejected.

She sighed. "I can't skate with George ever again. Knowing what he's done...I can't trust him. I'd lose my nerve going into lifts and spins, not knowing what he'd do. Plus, he's a liar who played my mother and me for fools."

"Well, I'm glad you're not going skate with him anymore, but you can still skate with someone--"

"No. I can't. You know my reputation. People think I'm beautiful, talented, and powerful...but they think that I'm to blame for losing partners. They think I'm some sort of jinx, especially after Willoughby dropped me because he thought I wasn't good enough."

"But you showed them, Elizabeth. Where are they now, compared to you? Bertram's gone altogether. Churchill floundered in the singles ranks and last I heard, he's planning on retiring soon. And as for Willoughby, he couldn't even make the first cut of the Nationals with his beautiful Miss Grey. You're an Olympic silver medalist. By all rights, you should've won the gold. You proved to everyone that you were the best in the world."

"And when George and I split, everyone will think he couldn't skate with me anymore. Everyone heard me sobbing that it was my fault."

"You won't have a problem--not if you find another partner quickly."

It was the same thing Rich had told her. "It's not that simple."

Fitz was nervous about asking her this. He knew that she would take a great deal of persuading, but perhaps it would be better to get the idea out early so they wouldn't waste any time. "It's easier than you think. Do you remember when I told you that I was planning to tell my partner I didn't want to skate with her anymore?"

Lizzy thought back over her conversations with Ice King. She remembered that he had told her he was--

Dear God. He was talking about Caroline!

She wasn't going to laugh. It was wrong, not to mention spiteful.

"Yes," she said. "You were serious about it?"

"Yes, I was."

She wouldn't laugh, but she could allow herself to be a bit smug. Caroline had been one of those who had relished the fact that Lizzy'd been labeled temperamental.

"I shouldn't be so cruel, but I wish I could be there when you tell her."

"You're a bit late. I already have."

Lizzy's eyes widened. "You told her last night? Right after you won the gold?"

"Mm-hmm. Call me cruel if you will, but after that attack on you I couldn't take it anymore."

"I somehow can't quite picture Caroline taking this without putting up some sort of fight."

"I don't doubt that she'll try something sometime. Right at the moment, I don't care. It's a relief that I don't have to skate with her anymore."

Lizzy smiled. She tried to remember what he'd said about his plans after breaking it off with Caroline...

I skated with someone else...

Lizzy remembered feeling jealous about his skating with someone else, and her suggestion that he ask that girl to skate with him.

He'd been talking about her. He'd skated with her, and he'd said it had felt right.

"Isn't it funny...we're both without partners now," she said quietly. "Well, technically I've still got George--I haven't seen him yet, so I haven't had a chance to tell him that I know the truth."

"Yes." He took her hand in his. "Elizabeth...I know this is sudden, but would you be my partner? Would you skate with me when this is all over?"

"Oh..." Lizzy had had a feeling he would ask her, but she was still a bit hesitant. "I wish I could just say yes blindly, but I've made so many mistakes in the past...Fitz, right now, I can't say yes."

Disappointment flooded him. "I understand."

"Please...it isn't you."

"Maybe part of it is."

"Maybe. We--I--just need some time. To get to know you. To get past George." She sighed. "To tell my mother that I'm not skating with George and that I'm thinking of skating with you. She'll probably never forgive me."

"I hadn't thought of that."

"Does Lady Cat know about me?"

"Caroline told her of my interest in you, but neither of them knows about our Internet conversations. I fear she won't take the announcement any better than your mother would."

"No."

"Are you doing anything this evening?" he asked.

"Yes. Men's short program--I have to be there to show my support for Rich."

"Of course. You told me that earlier. Would you like to go together?"

"Sure," she said.

"Are you sure you want to do this? It'll mean going public. Having the press in our faces, wanting to know what we're doing together."

"They'll be more focused on asking Rich about whether or not he'll do a quad lutz."

"Is he?"

"Probably not. He says that the fact he's been landing them consistently in practice is not a good sign. He figures he'll flutz it if he tries it in the actual competition." She smiled. "And if we do get asked anything, we'll wing it."

"Okay, then." He wanted so badly to kiss her, but he knew that it was too soon for such a move.

Lizzy wondered why he didn't try to kiss her. She figured that it was because they were in a public place. After all, you can't expect the man to give up all sense of pride and propriety.

Well, Lizzy, when have you ever been content to let the man do everything? You're a modern woman. Why don't you kiss him?

And that's exactly what she did.

To Be Continued

Author's note: A 'flutz' is skating slang for when a skater is supposed to do a lutz, but ends up changing to an outside edge just before jumping, which changes it to a triple flip (an easier jump).

Part 24

itz hadn't had a clue of what Lizzy was leaning over to do. When he felt her lips pressed to his, the first natural reaction was to pull her closer. But of course, there was a table in the way and glasses of hot chocolate and coffee, so he settled for a gentle, airy kiss that left him feeling energized and disappointed at the same time.

Lizzy was a bit startled at the emotions stirred up by the kiss, which were similar to his.

"What would happen if we kissed?" You wondered what it would be like...and now you know.

It was like nothing she'd ever felt before.

"Lizzy, I...I ah..."

She wasn't saying anything either, being just as nervous as him.

"Well...er...oh Lord."

"What?"

Their kiss had lasted a bit longer than either of them had thought, and had gained the notice of several of the patrons of the cafe...including two people sitting in a darkened corner who had been watching them the entire time.

George Wickham had had his back turned to the couple, talking in hushed tones with Lydia about how and when they were going to strike at Georgiana. Lydia, of course, had seen Lizzy come in with Rich and then sit with Fitz. She'd chuckled. For the first time in her life, Lizzy was being rebellious, and what a time to choose!

But she didn't say anything to George, at least not until that kiss.

"That couple over there has certain caught a romantic spirit in the air today," she said coyly, as though she didn't know who it was.

George, as expected, turned to see who it was and saw Lizzy with Fitz. His rage soared, and he leapt from his seat over to where his partner sat with his enemy and gripped her by the arm.

"What the hell do you think you're doing!" he roared. "Or have you forgotten that you're my partner!"

"We may be partners for however much longer, George, but you are not my boyfriend or my father, and so you don't have a right to say what I can or can't do in my spare time."

"Have you forgotten what I've told you about him? About what he's done to me?"

"No, I haven't. I also haven't forgotten what you did to me--just last night."

A hush fell over the cafe. Several of the patrons recognized the three of them, and began whispering to each other about what could be going on.

"What are you talking about?"

Lizzy pointed to her crutches. "That's what I'm talking about. You dropped me last night."

"I did not. You didn't lock your grip, so if anyone were to blame--"

"Oh, you mean just like Georgiana was to blame when you threw her to the ice and cracked her kneecap?"

George's face turned ghostly white. "What do you mean?"

Lizzy stood up, slightly unsteady on the sore ankle. "You know damn well what I mean. I know the story, George. I've heard it from those who know what really happened."

"You mean from Fitz and Lady Cat? Or from poor little Miss Georgie herself?"

"No. I heard it from Mrs. Younge, and Rich, who investigated the whole thing. They only confirmed what I already believed from what Fitz told me. And I watched the replay from the program. There was nothing wrong with me going into the air. It was you who didn't lock your grip, and you who let me fall to the ice and hurt my ankle, and you who cost us the gold medal! And worst of all--you let me believe it was my fault!"

"You certainly seemed to think you were to blame last night. You even said it."

"That's because I was too stunned to realize what had happened. I hadn't seen the tape last night. I hadn't heard what you did to a twelve-year-old girl who trusted you."

There were several gasps from people who weren't quite sure what they were talking about.

"What happened to Georgiana's knee--"

"Spare me the feeble excuses. They aren't going to work anymore."

George fell silent. He'd never seen Lizzy so enraged in his life, since in the past she'd had a fairly easy disposition and an eagerness to please. Of course, she'd also had reason to be, since she feared not pleasing him would send him away.

So what's changed that? A silly question, he realized, since the reason why was sitting across the table from her.

"I've made excuses for you for so long, George. I'd come to realize that you liked to have a good time and drink to excess, and that you'd always be late for practice. I knew that you were probably not the best, but you were the best I was going to get. I accepted these things...but not anymore. I can't work with you ever again."

"What exactly are you saying?"

"I'm saying that our partnership is over. I don't want to skate with you anymore. I can't trust you after last night. I'd never be able to let you be in a position to do it again."

"You can't do this to me," George said softly.

"You can't expect me to skate with you again."

"But we're the silver medalists, Lizzy. We should've won, if it hadn't been for--"

"For you. You cost yourself the gold, and the only thing I'm sorry about is that you blew my chances with it."

"Do you expect that you'll ever be able to skate again? Who would partner you after I tell the world that I dumped you because you were to blame for losing the gold?"

"I would," Fitz said, standing up. "I know who's to blame. I know how talented she is. And I think that in four years we can win the gold medal."

"And you're conveniently forgetting that you have a partner already?"

"No. Caroline and I have come to an understanding. We will not be skating together after the exhibition."

"She's free to skate with again, George, but I somehow doubt she'd be interested," Lizzy said coolly, remembering that tale he'd told her.

Again, she felt stupid for believing him.

George's hatred of Fitzwilliam Darcy soared to a new high. The man had taken Georgiana away, and the lesson Fitz should've learned had been. Now he'd taken away Lizzy, George's one chance for glory four years from now...

George lunged at Fitz, but ran into Lizzy and knocked her into Fitz's arms.

"George!" Lydia screamed as Fitz set aside the shaken young woman. After assuring himself that she was all right, he plowed his fist into George's face.

It was the only punch landed, because three men set to holding back George, and three more to keeping Fitz from charging the man.

"You'll pay for that, Fitz, see if you don't," George said coldly.

"I doubt it," Fitz replied, his voice just as cold as his enemy's.

Lydia managed to get George out of the cafe, where he muttered, "Saturday, Liddy, Saturday just before the men's long program."

But neither Fitz nor Lizzy heard that. Fitz was checking again to make sure that Lizzy had suffered no ill effects from George's unintentional attack.

"I'm fine," she reassured him. "But oh, God...Fitz, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have done that here. I should've done that somewhere private."

"Better that I have warning when he chose to attack me," Fitz replied. "But I think the owner of the cafe would like us to go somewhere else." He pointed to a middle-aged man who stood with his arms over his chest, frowning at the two of them. Fitz left the money for their drinks and a hefty tip, then guided Lizzy out of the cafe.

"Where do we go now?" she asked.

"I don't know. You have anyplace you'd like to go?"

"I don't care," she said. She looked into his dark eyes and smiled. "I don't want to be alone right now."

He smiled at her in return. "Neither do I."

He assisted her to her feet and handed her the crutches. As they walked out of the cafe, two people who had been sitting in a booth on the other side of the room looked at each other.

"Do you suppose that's true, dear?" Edward Gardiner asked. "Has he broken things off with Caroline?"

"I believe he has," Sally replied. "Most remarkable. In less than twenty-four hours, both the gold and silver medalists have split up."

"The press is going to have a blast," he grumbled. "It's embarrassing."

"Still, it couldn't be prevented. You know that Lizzy couldn't continue to skate with that man, not after what happened yesterday."

"I know."

"Do you think Fitz and Lizzy will end up skating together in four years?"

Edward smiled at his wife. "When we saw them skating together the other day, I said no. Now, I think they have a good chance of ending up together."

"Wonder how long it'll take for Cat and Francie to react to the news."

"I don't believe I want to be around when that happens."

Sally laughed. "No, dear. Neither do I."

Part 25

izzy and Fitz parted late in the afternoon because Fitz wanted to bring Georgiana to see the men's' short program and more importantly, to let her get to know Lizzy. The two of them agreed to meet in front of the Surf Shack in two hours.

Lizzy went in search of her mother, who surely had heard about the fight in the cafe from Lydia along with what Lizzy had said to George.

Liddy probably took delight in telling her.

Lizzy hobbled toward the living complex, looking for her mother or sister, praying she wouldn't run into George.

"Liz! Hey, how'd it go, kiddo?" she heard someone calling behind her. Rich caught up to her in moments.

"Hi, Rich."

"Well, how was it? Did the moron show up?"

"Yeah, the 'moron' showed up...and turned out to be Fitz Darcy."

Rich laughed. "Great joke, Liz. C'mon, who was it?"

"I'm not kidding, Rich. It was Fitz." Lizzy sighed. "I'll give you all the details later. Right now, I need to talk to--"

"Elizabeth Rose Bennet! I have looked everywhere for you!" Frances Bennet shouted.

"Yeah, I was about to warn you that she'd been talking to Liddy and George about something bad. Didn't know what, though, but I figured you'd told George about breaking up the partnership."

"It went a little farther than that," Lizzy replied. "Fitz Darcy offered to--"

"Young lady, if you even consider accepting an offer from...from that man, I'll never speak to you again!"

"You want moral support? I'll stay if you want," Rich offered.

"No, that's all right. It's going to be ugly, so I'll spare you the gruesome task of being present," she murmured. "Mom, I think we should find a place to talk about this--privately."

"I see no such reason to go somewhere where my shame and disgust will not be known! How could you even think about skating with that man? How could you disgrace me in such a way--and poor George!"

"How could I continue to skate with George after he intentionally dropped me?"

"That is neither here nor there. What you are thinking of doing--"

If Frances Bennet thought she could make that comment so blithely without reply, she was wrong.

"Wait a minute. Are you telling me that you knew George had dropped me and you let me blame myself anyway?"

"I couldn't be certain, Lizzy, and I'm not convinced he did anything wrong now. But I--"

"I don't care to hear the end of that sentence. I can't skate with him anymore. He hurt me, and I refuse to let him do it again."

"Nonsense. George knows what he did was wrong, and he won't do it again."

"Are you so sure about that? Can you be certain that he won't?"

"Of course I can!"

"How?"

"He gave me his word!"

"Oh, please, Mother! George Wickham's word carries as much worth as dirt."

"The fact remains that he is your partner and you can't just change him like you were changing socks. You have to remain his partner."

"I don't have to do anything, which means that if I want to break up with George and take up with Fitz Darcy I can."

"I will never--"

"Whatever is all the fuss about?" Thomas Bennet walked across the street. "Francie, you can be heard in Chicago."

"Thomas, I think it's time you told your daughter a few hard truths about this world."

"And why is that?"

"Because Miss Silver Medalist here thinks she can just drop George and not suffer any consequences. Never mind that all my hard work and time will come to nothing more than a silver if she does, because she'll surely be finished in the skating community."

"I suppose she thinks this, just as George thought he could drop her without suffering any consequences just last night."

"Surely you do not think--"

"My dear, I do not yet need to see with spectacles and I know what I saw last night."

"Still, they have just won the silver medal. They can't split now, or else she'll be ruined!"

"But Liz has another offer," Rich said. Instead of leaving as Lizzy had told him he could, he'd stuck around.

"From Fitz Darcy!" Frances cried, looking as though she were ready to cry. "Not only is she turning away from the man who guided her to a silver, she's wanting to skate with the cousin of..."

"From what I understand, Cat and Fitz are distantly related. It is not as though she is his mother."

"It isn't the facts of it, it's the principle of the thing. I refuse to let any daughter of mine break up with a perfectly good partner--"

"Whom I can never trust," Lizzy added furiously.

"--to skate with such a man. I'll never speak to her again if she does."

"Is it true, Lizzy?" Thomas asked. "What about Caroline?"

"He doesn't want to skate with Caroline," she replied. "But I never agreed to skate with him...at least, not yet. I'm still thinking about it."

And the more you object, Mom, the more I like the idea.

Thomas thought about this for a long moment. Unbeknownst to anyone, he also had seen his daughter skate with her rival several days earlier and had been impressed with the way they had looked. In his mind, he had already been creating wonderfully artistic programs that would suit their contrasts and similarities perfectly, much better than anything he had ever created for George, who always thought he could improve on it. Not that Thomas thought he was perfect, but George's ideas were perfectly hideous.

Now came Fitz Darcy, a gold medalist with a solid reputation, who wanted to skate with his daughter. And even though Lizzy said she hadn't decided, there was a light in her eyes which gave him a lot of hope. She was liking the idea of skating with him, not because he was a champion, not because of his reputation, but because she liked him.

"Then you've got a problem, Elizabeth. You see, your mother's insisting that she won't speak to you ever again if you split with George and go to Fitz."

"Then could I at least--"

"No! You will continue to skate with George or else."

"Please let me finish," Thomas said. "So we have that right. Your problem, Lizzy, is that I'll never speak to you again if you don't split with George. Whether or not you skate with Fitz is up to you, but I don't want you skating with that man anymore."

"Thomas!" Frances screamed. She now had the attention of everyone within a two-block radius. "How could you do this! Thomas!"

Thomas Bennet took his daughter's hand. "How could you continue to insist that she skate with someone who injured her? Were it Lydia, you would not hesitate to ship George off."

Frances was too busy crying to pay any attention to her husband's words.

"I think you'd better leave me alone with your mother for a while," Thomas said. "Rich, if you wouldn't mind."

"Oh, sure," he replied. "We'll just...run around."

"Not too much running around. She's not supposed to be exerting herself with that ankle."

"Right."

Thomas led Frances to a taxi. She was still crying and threatening not to speak to Lizzy ever again.

"Oh, God, Rich, I can't do it. I can't skate with Fitz."

"Why not?"

"Because I can't have my mother against me. How could I...and who would be our coach? My mother won't do it. I know Lady Cat won't. Who would we get?"

"Liz, we really need to work on this self-esteem problem you've acquired in the past couple of days. Who wouldn't want to work with the irresistible pairing of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy? The best parts of the gold and silver medal-winning pairs of this Olympics? You could probably call any one of the top coaches and have then begging for you."

"Yeah..." Lizzy sighed. "Rich, I think I need a little time alone."

"Oh, sure...of course. I'll see you later, okay?"

"All right."

Rich headed off somewhere, and Lizzy went over to the Surf Shack. She knew Fitz wouldn't be there--no reason for it now--but she thought she'd return to the scene of the crime. One week ago, she'd been a curious lurker in a chat room. Now she'd met the least likely person to appear there...

She clicked to Yahoo! and headed for the latest sports news.

What she saw there shocked her.

Olympics: Rumors fly in the wake of pairs' competition. There's been a bit of a buzz in the Olympic village that a shakeup is expected between both U.S. pairs after last night's stunning conclusion to one of the fiercest rivalries in recent years...

Lizzy clicked on the article.

Today, rumors have been heard of a confrontation between gold medalist Fitzwilliam Darcy and silver medalist George Wickham. The belief is that Wickham's partner, Elizabeth Bennet, has been considering ending her four-year partnership with Wickham in order to skate with Darcy.

"That Elizabeth Bennet was always a flighty creature," an unnamed source close to the couples remarked earlier today. "She goes from one partner to the next without thinking. I'm sure poor George is just another of her victims."

Elizabeth was betting that this "unnamed source" was named Caroline Bingley.

This reported split stems from the aftermath of the fall from which Bennet sustained an ankle injury, which is likely to keep her from competing at the Worlds next month. Although it seemed at first as though Bennet blamed herself for the fall, it now appears in the light of a new day and television replay that she believes Wickham is at fault. One onlooker at the reported fight between Darcy and Wickham said that Wickham is now being accused of causing the fall deliberately, though for what reasons no one could tell.

Should Bennet split from Wickham, Darcy would likely become the 20-year-old pair skater's fifth partner in eight years.

No comment was available from either Bennet or Darcy, nor did either of their coaches have anything to add.

"Oh, God," she breathed. Though the tone of the news article was ambiguous, she could see where it was headed. They were going to blame her, especially with Caroline Bingley goading them on. And she would be dragging Fitz down with her if she took him up on his offer.

On shaky legs, Lizzy rose and left the room as quickly as she could.

"I can't do it," she repeated to herself. "I can't skate with him."

I can't even see him anymore. Maybe I won't skate with George anymore, but I won't ruin Fitz's career just so I can keep skating.

Lizzy had made her decision.

Part 26

Lizzy waited for Fitz outside the Surf Shack at the time they'd agreed on, wishing for all the world that he wasn't going to be bringing his sister, because Lizzy couldn't bear to hurt him in front of the one person he treasured above anything.

She had made her decision--she couldn't tear her family apart and ruin Fitz's reputation by breaking things off with George to start skating with him. She would announce her retirement after the exhibition, which she might skate with George (or, more likely, she would skip out of it using her ankle injury for an excuse). She had a silver medal. She'd lived her dream of skating at the Olympics, even if she hadn't won. Now she had to get on with her life.

But what else was there for her? She'd gotten good grades in high school, but she'd never had much interest in academia. Skating had taken up too much of her life. What would she do?

Lizzy leaned heavily on her crutches, thinking of how she could break it off with Fitz when that was the last thing she wanted.

You can't have everything in life, Lizzy. You can either protect Fitz and keep yourself out of the spotlight of the tabloids or else you can skate with him.

"Hello, Elizabeth."

Lizzy knew instantly who it was--for no one else's voice had the power to make her feel alive, to feel as though she were...

Careful. You might do something stupid if you don't watch out.

"Hi." She turned around and smiled at him. Just as she had feared, Georgiana was standing beside him, smiling cheerfully at her. "Hello, Georgiana."

"Hi, Lizzy."

"Are you ready to go?" Fitz asked her. "We've got a cab waiting for us."

"Yeah," she replied. "Let's go."

Men's Short Program.

Frances Bennet had spent thirty minutes arguing with her husband about their elder daughter's future, and as far as she was concerned, the fight was not over just because she'd had to assume coaching responsibilities for Richard Fitzwilliam. Thomas, however, had chosen not to stand and wait for the best male skater in the kiss and cry area where their fighting could be heard by the world.

She couldn't believe that Lizzy was willing to throw away her entire future for Fitz Darcy. She knew that the girl wasn't thinking right. Frances had a feeling that once Lizzy understood how important it was for her to continue skating with George and not to start with Fitz that she'd change her mind.

It was that thought alone which kept her from screaming further. When she appeared at rinkside to stand in support of her skater, she looked to be in complete control. She tried not to think of where Lizzy was, because she knew if she looked she might find her sitting with Fitz Darcy. She tried not to wonder where Lydia was, because she had a sinking feeling that perhaps the reason Lizzy was furious with George was because he was taking an interest in Lydia.

She's jealous! That's got to be it. Lizzy thought she could act in any way she wanted with George, because he's always been in love with her. The moment he showed the slightest interest in someone else, she pulled away. If only I can convince George not to encourage Liddy, then perhaps not all will be lost.

"Frances?" Rich was staring at her, demanding her attention. Frances smiled at him. He was her greatest pride outside of her family, this talented young man. They had argued about whether or not he needed the quad lutz. She felt he did, he disagreed. She remembered what happened at Nationals; he opted to think that Nationals was an aberration and nothing more.

They both agreed on one thing: he had to skate perfectly for two minutes and forty seconds tonight, or else he could forget about winning a medal. The short program, as it was often said, was where a person couldn't win gold, but could lose it forever.

Rich was dressed in an austere black outfit. The only bit of color was found in the gold buttons of his shirt. This evening, he'd said when he'd chosen the outfit, he would let his skating express his personality, not his outfit.

"You look splendid, Rich," she said with a smile. "Truly wonderful. You're going to skate superbly."

"Thank you," he said. He'd spent the better part of the last hour blocking out everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours--Lizzy's injury, learning the truth about George, the fight between mother and daughter. Now he could focus on nothing but his skating.

And he found that it was easier to do than he'd thought it would be. Of course, he'd waited four years to get back to the Olympics, and he didn't intend for anything to ruin it for him.

He glanced up in the stands for just a moment, just to reassure himself that Lizzy was there to root him on. It was difficult to find her in the crowd, but when she noticed that he was looking for her she stood up and waved a crutch in the air, nearly hitting the person behind her.

"Watch it!" he snapped.

"Sorry," Lizzy replied before turning back to keep waving at Rich. "Break both your legs, Rich!" she shouted loudly as he took the ice for his warm-up, joining five other men on the ice, including Carl Denny.

"Lizzy! What a dreadful thing to say!" Fitz said with a laugh, knowing it was just a joke.

"I probably shouldn't even say it, considering," she replied.

It was then that she noticed Carl's costume. Carl had chosen to allow his costume to express his personality, for the object he most resembled was a checkered flag.

"Interesting costume choice for Carl," she commented.

Georgiana noticed him at about the same time. "If he's not careful, race cars are going to zoom past him," she said with a giggle.

"Now ladies, let's be fair. We have all, in our pasts, worn dreadful costumes."

"Some of us more recently than others," Lizzy said with a chuckle, recalling a ridiculous swan costume she'd worn two years ago during an exhibition with George. She'd hated it, it was so heavy that she sweated constantly, and she looked hideous in it.

"You've looked splendid the whole time," Fitz said.

"I was referring to that pumpkin you called your partner," Lizzy replied. "When is she going to learn that orange makes her look atrocious?"

Georgiana, who was unused to hearing such blasphemy from anyone about Caroline, giggled even harder.

"Caroline professes a deep love for the color, so it's not likely she'd abandon it now. Not that I care anymore, of course." Fitz smiled at her.

Lizzy thought that this would be a perfect introduction to telling him that she wasn't going to skate with him, but just then Rich executed a perfect triple axel combination and the crowd cheered.

"I hope he gets that perfect in the program," she said quietly. "I know he's been bothered by the ghost of Olympics past lately."

"I think it bothers every Olympian who hoped to do better and didn't before."

Lizzy's eyes drifted for a moment, thinking that she wouldn't have that problem four years down the road. In four years...

Yes, what will you be doing in four years?

Lizzy sighed as she watched the six men skate around the ice. Rich would skate second, Carl fourth. Lizzy knew that Rich had been pleased that he would skate before Carl because the pressure would get to be too much for him if he knew how well his rival had done beforehand.

The announcer called for all men but the first to skate to leave the ice.

"Nervous for him?" Fitz asked as William Collins remained.

"For William Collins? You're kidding, right?" she quipped, trying to cheer herself up.

Fitz smiled. "You weren't seriously interested in him once, were you?"

Lizzy's eyes widened. "Where the hell did you hear that?"

"Er, well...the Internet. Your web page, to be exact. They said that you'd been rumored to have gone out with him."

"I skated with him once--one time. And if I could've avoided that, I would've, because it was the most disgusting experience I've ever had."

"I heard that he's interested in Charlotte Lucas," Georgiana said.

"Who told you that?" Lizzy questioned.

"Carl. He told me that he'd seen them together in the cafeteria the other day, talking about skating. Charlotte appeared to be fascinated by him."

"Probably because she's bowled over by his new coach," Lizzy said. "Otherwise there's no accounting for it. I give Charlotte credit for having better taste than him."

"You never know who might end up together, Lizzy," Fitz said casually, his eyes making his meaning clear.

"There's a big difference in you and me and Charlotte and the Toad."

"The what?" Georgiana asked.

"That's what we--Rich and G--Charlotte and I--got to calling Collins. The Toad." Lizzy almost added George to the list, but caught herself in time. She wasn't about to mention the man's name to Georgiana.

Georgiana looked at William Collins, who was wearing a dark green outfit and looked at that moment like a toad. She burst into laughter just as his music started.

"Georgie..." Fitz said, frowning until he noticed what his sister had. He couldn't resist a chuckle or two himself. "Catherine would yell at us for not showing support for one of her skaters."

"She's not here though, is she?"

Fitz smiled at his sister's almost carefree attitude at the moment. In fact, everything about Georgiana seemed to have changed as she sat in Lizzy's presence. Of course, Lizzy had that sort of effect on people. He knew that she had almost said George's name a moment ago, and the fact that she'd been able to stop herself hadn't been lost on him. He was pleased that she was being so sensitve.

Most curiously, Georgiana hadn't seemed frightened in the least to be sitting in a packed arena. She watched Collins struggle to get through his program and cracked jokes along with Lizzy. The two were getting along as though they'd been best friends forever, and Fitz couldn't help feeling extremely pleased at that. If there were anyone whose opinion mattered most to him, it would be Georgiana's.

As William finished his program and returned to Lady Cat's fold for chastisement and critique, Lizzy watched as Rich approached the rink, awaiting his turn to take the ice. Collins' scores came up--mostly 5.5's and 5.4's.

Rich removed his skate guards, first the right, then the left. It was his tradition, one he never broke. He then looked skyward in silent prayer, then he looked over at her. She repeated her good luck saying as the announcer said, "Next on the ice, representing the United States, Richard Fitzwilliam."

Rich was greeted to loud applause as he skated to center ice and just stood there, patiently waiting for his music to begin. He looked one final time for Lizzy before his music began.

He'd chosen to skate to Chopin's "Nocturnes," a calm piece which had always relaxed him. He started his program with a combination spin before preparing for his first jump.

Lizzy held her breath as he performed a perfect triple lutz. As the crowd applauded, Lizzy exclaimed, "He could've done a quad on that one!"

The rest of his program went accordingly--triple axel combination, double axel, his footwork which he'd always detested but worked hardest at so no one would really notice. As he finished his program, once again doing nothing more than standing calmly at center ice, the crowd leaped up to applaud. Rich, his smile wider than Lizzy had ever seen it, bowed to the crowd, waving. When he bowed to her side of the arena, he blew her a kiss.

Rich gave Frances a bear hug.

"That was wonderful!" she exclaimed. "I knew you could do it!"

They walked to the kiss and cry area to await his scores. Above them, Lizzy was almost crying.

"He did it!" she said, hugging first Georgiana and then Fitz.

"And now the scores for Richard Fitzwilliam:

Technical merit: 5.8, 5.8, 5.7, 5.8, 5.8, 5.8, 5.7, 5.7, 5.8.

There were some boos from the crowd, including Lizzy.

"C'mon! It doesn't get any better than that!" she shouted, not that it mattered, since it was too late and the judges couldn't hear her anyway.

Artistic impression: 5.9, 5.8, 5.8, 5.8, 5.7, 5.9, 5.6, 5.8, 5.8.

Loud booing that time for the 5.6, but Lizzy knew that Rich would've received better scores if he'd skated later. What was important at the moment was that he had skated well.

The gold medal can't be won in the short program, but it can be lost. Rich had repeated that axiom so often to her that she knew it was what he had to be thinking at that moment.

After a surprisingly mediocre performance from Marc Gercourt (Fitz couldn't contain a smug smile at the man's low scores as he noticed that Lizzy was too busy talking to Georgiana to care), all their attention was focused on the ice again.

"Next on the ice, representing the United States...Carl Denny!"

The crowd was roaring. Everyone knew Carl Denny, and everyone loved him. The present-day showman was about to skate--to "Entry of the Gladiators." The crowd approved of the familiar music, although how Carl's costume fit with the music Lizzy had no idea.

Carl, as his friend before him, skated flawlessly. The crowd was on its feet before his music came to an end. Carl pumped his fists in excitement and was showered in flowers and teddy bears. He stepped off the ice and hugged his coach.

His marks came up...and he took the lead from Rich. Lizzy was disappointed, but she knew in her heart of hearts that Carl had skated better than Rich, and deserved to be in first place.

"I'll get him Saturday," Rich said when Lizzy caught up to him in the cafeteria. They'd agreed to meet there once the competition ended for the night. When she saw him, he was applying an ice pack to his knee, which was a bit tender. "You'll see, Liz. He's going to be left in the dust."

"The only dust I'll be seeing will be when I look back at you," Carl replied. He was sitting across the table from his friend.

"Guys, could we please leave the macho posturing on the ice?" Lizzy asked as she eased into the chair.

Fitz plunked their food next to her. Georgiana had gone home to get some sleep, for Lady Cat would disapprove of any exhaustion. He sat beside Lizzy, moving her crutches out of the way.

"Right. Whatever shall we talk about? Your fight with your mother, perhaps?" Rich winked at her.

Fitz was confused. "What fight?" he asked.

Lizzy kicked at Rich with her good foot. "Jerk," she muttered under her breath. Taking a deep breath, she said, "Um, my mom and I had a fight about...my breaking up with George."

"And taking up with me," Fitz concluded correctly.

"Well, yeah. She didn't like the idea of me skating with the cousin of her worst enemy."

"You can tell her that for once in their lives, she's in agreement with Catherine. She hates the idea as much as your mother does."

"Makes you wonder whether or not you two should get together at all," Carl said. "Not, of course, that I don't think you should...if that's what you want. But have the two of you ever skated together? I mean, maybe you wouldn't work out as a pair."

Rich chuckled. "You remember the girl who said she'd rather skate with William Collins than him? She skated with him--what was it, the morning of the competition or the day before? And she liked it."

"You said--" Fitz stared at Lizzy in amazement.

"Come on. This was back when I thought he was a jerk and before I got to know him. I wouldn't say that now."

"Of course not. Were she to make a similar comment, she'd say she'd rather skate with George before skating with you." Carl smiled at her, which earned a dirty look from Lizzy.

"I give up. Fitz, let's eat somewhere else, away from sarcastic comments and suggestions."

"Lizzy, you know we're just kidding," Rich said, concerned by the seriousness in her eyes. "Please stay."

"Is something wrong?" Fitz asked.

Lizzy wanted desperately to tell him what was wrong--about the article on the Internet, the trouble they'd have finding a coach, the press, the scandal, Caroline, her mother...

"No," she said. "It's just been a long day, that's all. I'm kind of tired."

"Maybe we should go," Fitz said.

"No! I want to stay and celebrate two wonderful performances from two of my good friends," she insisted.

And in doing so, I can put off telling you what must be said for another day.

The conversation drifted into safer topics, such as the poor showing of the men's hockey team, the wonder of the women's hockey team, Valentine's Day, which was coming up next week...

Anything except skating, which was for the best.

Continued in Next Section