Beginning, Previous Section, Section III
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Chapter 23
Upon opening the door to her hotel room early the next morning, Liz was surprised to find all the lights on and a very grave Jane with red-rimmed eyes coming toward the door.
"Oh Liz, I'm so glad that you're here."
"Jane, what is wrong? Did you and Charles have a fight?"
"No, we didn't," came Charles' voice from the bathroom. "Maybe you should read the fax that you got from your father." He crossed the room to her and handed her the paper. Liz scanned the contents with William looking over her shoulder. As he read the name 'Wickham' he felt his whole body tense. Liz burst out crying:
"Oh, if I had only told Lydia about George. If I had only warned her about him when I saw her hanging around him at the booth..." she dropped into the nearest chair, overcome with emotion.
"So, have you called your father? What has he done to find her? Do you know where she is?" William asked in rapid fire succession.
"I just got off the phone with him before you came in. Mrs. Forster, her friend that she was staying with, was concerned when she didn't come home and found a note in her room. She told her that she was going to spend a few days with George shooting a new movie that he was directing." Jane shook her head sadly.
"Oh, if only..." Liz burst out. "Poor Lydia. Poor stupid, naive girl. All those plans to be an actress and gets taken in by the biggest actor in the West. Finding her seems so hopeless..." Her voice trailed off and she buried her head in her hands. She looked up only because William cleared his throat.
"I'm afraid that Charles and I aren't being very helpful to you two just standing around here. We should probably go." Liz slowly took in his grave expression and had a horrifying thought as her eyes caught the sparkle of the ring on her finger.
"He thinks that this is all disgusting. He probably wishes that he could get out of our engagement but doesn't know how. I should let him go..."
"Liz, Charles and I have work to do. Don't go getting weird thoughts. Get that expression off your face. I still want to marry you, you don't get off that easy! This could just as well have been Georgianna last year..." He squeezed her hand. "It will all work out, don't worry, my love. We will find Wickham and he will pay." William and Charles left the two sisters who immediately hugged each other for support.
"Don't worry, Liz," Jane said. "Those two will find Lydia and everything will work out, just like William said, you'll see."
"I wish that I could be so positive about it." Liz answered glumly as they opened the Las Vegas Directory to the investigator section.
Outside their door, William was saying to Charles:
"I think that my shoes could use a shine--and yours too, from the look of them." He ignored Charles' outraged expression and walked purposely toward the elevator.
Chapter 24
"Trust me on this," William replied enigmatically.
"Why are we stopping here?"
"The best shoeshine guy works here, at the Mirage."
"Whatever."
"This way, Charles," William led Charles through the casino to the shoe shine area and sat down on the elevated wooden bench.
"Hi, Joe, what's up?" William asked the man casually.
"Same ol' same ol'," replied Joe carefully. "What brings you out here at this hour?"
"My shoes, Joe, my shoes. Don't you think that they are in need of something?"
"Perhaps. Basic or the works?"
"The works!" he said, shaking hands with Joe, after which Joe stuck his hand in his pocket, and quickly looked around.
"Word is that Wickham was himself a new 'actress'."
"Yes, I know. Where's the studio this time?"
"Can't quite remember..."
"Charles, jog his memory, but not too much."
"I'd like the works, too," Charles said agreeably, shaking Joe's hand.
"Just past downtown, near the bus terminal."
"More specifically?" Joe just scratched his head and shrugged:
"Can't really recall, exactly..."
"A spitshine, then," William said, slipping him another bill discretely.
"Okay," said Joe, spitting on William's shoes and carefully buffing them while continuing in a soft voice, "He's got a place in Mrs. Young's building, you know, the madam and gee...the address, well, it WAS on the tip of my tongue..."
"Like your spit, I presume," said Charles wryly, handing him more money.
"It just came to me. Funny, ain't it?"
"Hysterical. You were saying?"
"Yes, it is 312 N. Fifth Street."
"Thanks. The shoes never looked better!" William climbed off the bench and Charles trailed after him. "Well Charles, it looks like Wickham's directing career is on its last take." They got into Darcy's car and headed for the bus terminal.
Chapter 25
"So, how do you know Joe?" Charles asked.
"He's an old frat buddy of mine. Kind of down on his luck just now….gambling debts, I think. Anyway, he always knows about everything , somehow."
"Good friend to have. So, do you know this Mrs. Young? You seemed sort of tense when he said her name."
'Let's just say that we're relatively well acquainted."
"Oh. William, turn here. This is the street." It was a dark street, far from the brilliantly lit Freemont Experience and the darkness made Charles nervous.
"Do you think that it's very safe here?"
"Safe enough. Let's go." Darcy took a flashlight from the car trunk and started up the street, shining the beam on the address markings on the curb in front of each building. "Here it is," he said after they had searched half the block. They climbed up the dilapidated stairs and stood on the porch for a moment, mustering their courage for the unknown. Darcy knocked on the door, and it swung open finally, dimly lit by soft pink bulbs.
"Mrs. Young," he began, but the woman who opened the door just as quickly tried to close it. Charles wedged his foot in the opening and Darcy pushed past him into the room. Not to be left behind, Charles followed him in and closed the door.
After a few hours of negotiations, Darcy and Charles left the building, possessors of some expensive information. Within a few minutes, they were knocking on yet another door in a similarly dark part of town.
"Who is it?" came a sleep-filled annoyed voice.
"Customers!" Charles said in a gruff voice.
"At this hour? Oh, all right…" They heard a slight scuffling noise and as the door started to open, the two waiting didn't hesitate, but barged right into a dazed George Wickham.
"Darcy? Why hello. What brings you here?" He asked in insincere tones.
"It would seem that you still have a studio, Wickham."
"What are you talking about? I'm an actor for hire now."
"That's not what I heard. Where's Lydia?"
"What does she have to do with anything?"
"Don't play games with me. Just cut the crap. I know she's here and her family is very worried."
"She doesn't care about her family, do you love?" George stated matter-of-factly as Lydia came into the room yawning and rubbing her eyes.
"You, what are you doing here?" she asked Darcy with disdain. "Did Lizzy send you? That would be just like her to try to ruin my fun."
"Your family is very worried about you."
"Right. Look, I'm in my twenties. I'm not a baby anymore and I certainly don't need anyone's help. George is going to make me a star. He already has my portfolio ready to sent to different agencies."
"Where is it this time, George?" Darcy asked. "It must be in this room somewhere."
"Where is what? I've had about enough of you…" George replied defensively as Darcy began to walk around the room, lifting up things as though searching for something. All of a sudden his attention was struck by a large, black velvet painting of Elvis sporting his famous white outfit and a very glittering belt buckle. "No, don't touch that…"
"It's right here, isn't it?"
"Oh, what does Elvis have to do with anything?" Lydia asked petulantly. "George, why don't you just throw these two out? I'm tired and I want to go back to bed."
"This is what Elvis has to do with anything…" Darcy pulled the painting away from the wall to expose film equipment. Lydia looked at George, openmouthed and apparently in shock.
"George, what's that for?" she demanded.
"Tell her George or I will." Darcy threatened. "All right." George said with resignation and proceeded to explain the situation to Lydia, who slumped onto the broken-down couch. After his explanation, Darcy asked Charles to take Lydia outside to the car while he had a discussion with George. Darcy was back in the car in about 10 minutes and all three headed back to the Bennet girls' hotel.
"Now where are we going?"
"To Liz and Jane's hotel."
"What if I don't want to go?"
"Then your new career will not go very far."
"What new career?"
"Just show up at this place tomorrow and give them this card. Tell them that Charles and I sent you. They can call me to confirm it."
Lydia looked over the card in the dim light of the approaching dawn and smiled a huge smile. "You're all right, Mr. Darcy."
They pulled up to the hotel and were met by Liz and Jane who had been called on Charles' cell phone.
"Oh Liz, Jane, I have the most wonderful news. You'll never guess what Mr. Darcy has done for me…and Charles, too!" Liz and Jane looked questioningly at the two men, who shrugged and grinned.
"I guess you'll just have to find out later on today, when it becomes official," Darcy said with a pointed look at Lydia who smirked back at him and ran into the hotel.
Chapter 26
After saying a rather long good-bye, the two girls also went back into the hotel to salvage whatever sleep they could. The dawn was already a memory and they both fell into bed exhausted. An hour later, the telephone rang, disturbing Liz from a very enjoyable dream. She fumbled for the phone, knocking several objects off the night stand in the process.
"Hello?"
"Ms. Bennet. This is Ms. Catherine de Bourgh. We met briefly at The Pemberley opening."
"Yes, I remember. You are William's aunt."
"That is correct. I would like to speak with you about a very important matter at your earliest convenience."
"I didn't get much sleep last night, but I could meet with you around 5 or 6 pm."
"Let's make it 5:30." The cold voice stated. "I will meet you in the lobby of the Monte Carlo."
"Okay, 5:30 it is," Liz mumbled and promptly fell back asleep. The next sound that she heard was Jane's travel alarm buzzing incessantly and Lydia slamming it off. She threw the covers off of the bed that she was sharing with Liz and yawned loudly.
"Uh oh, look at the time!! I'll be late for my interview if I don't hurry." She raced into the bathroom and Liz could hear hurried sounds of her preparation along with many colorful expressions. She raised up on one elbow as Lydia came out of the bathroom .
"Uh, Lyd, you did say that you were going to an interview? What's with the party outfit?"
"It's not a party outfit, really. I don't have time to explain anyway. Wish me luck!" And ran out the door, slamming it behind her as she left. Liz looked at her watch and said out loud:
"I'd better hurry myself. I would hate to be late for Ms. De Bourgh herself!" She hastily got ready and ran out the door, leaving Jane to wonder why everyone was in such a hurry.
Once at the Monte Carlo, Liz checked the time and drew a small sigh of relief. "Whew. 5 minutes to go. This is my lucky day!" She entered the lobby and heard a brusque voice say:
"Ms. Bennet. I'm glad that you're on time. Would you please follow me to my office?" She followed Ms. De Bourgh to her office where she was coldly asked to seat herself in the nearest chair. Liz gratefully sank down into the leather upholstery, suddenly feeling very apprehensive.
"It is good to see you again, Ms. De Bourgh," she began politely, but was interrupted by a wave of Ms. de Bourgh's hand.
"You can certainly be at no loss as to why I asked you here," Ms. de Bourgh began imperiously.
"Actually, no, I haven't the slightest idea." Liz looked at her with raised eyebrows.
"Surely you have read today's paper. Such a scandalous report I've never read in my life." She practically threw the newspaper across the desk at Liz who picked it up and scanned the headlines.
"Dow's down, renewed fighting in the Gaza Strip…" she read.
"No, no," Ms. de Bourgh said impatiently. "Can't you see that column there? What a disgrace!"
"Hmm, let's see. Oh, this must be it," Liz started to read the article and could her face getting hot with anger and embarrassment. She threw the paper down and stared defiantly at Ms. de Bourgh. "What is it that you wish to talk about, Ms. de Bourgh?"
"I see that your sister is well-acquainted with the pornography business here in Las Vegas," she spat out. "Hardly the type of person that I would want my nephew to be associated with. Why, it could ruin his reputation…or maybe it already has." She looked Liz over with narrowed eyes. "I also read that you, Ms. Elizabeth Bennet of Meryton, KS is to be married to my nephew, Mr. William Darcy."
"And if I am?"
"Ms. Bennet, I am used to being spoke to with respect. I am William's aunt and as his closest relative, I am entitled to know all his affairs, especially if they directly affect the business."
"That may be, but you are not entitled to know about mine."
"Insolence! I won't stand for this. Ms. Bennet, I must insist that you break off your engagement with William. He would do better to marry my goddaughter Anne who has never caused one tiny degree of scandal in her life."
"Shouldn't William decide who he is to marry, and not you?"
"He doesn't always know what is best for him. Some pretty face comes along and seduces him into thinking that he's in love. I'm sure that your relationship is hardly based on anything more than the physical." She sniffed. Liz glared back at her in anger.
"Not that it is any of your business, but our relationship has had very little of the physical, I can assure you."
"So, you are determined to marry him in spite of all my objections. Well, I know just how to deal with your kind." She took a ledger-type item from her desk and wrote for a few minutes before handing Liz a check. "There, I think that this will be enough to persuade you to leave him alone."
Liz looked at the check with disdain and slowly tore it up, sprinkling the pieces on her desk. "Ms. de Bourgh, we have nothing more to say to each other. You have insulted me in almost every way imaginable." She stood up and moved toward the door, but Ms. de Bourgh blocked her exit.
"So, it wasn't enough? Well, I will know what to tell my nephew." She raised her chin and looked at her haughtily but Liz pushed by her and closed the door behind her with a slam.
"What a crock," she thought. "I hope that William doesn't think that I'm after his money." She stormed over to the nearest taxi and was mercifully soon at her own hotel.
Chapter 27
"Oh, I can't wait til Liz gets back..wait, there's the elevator!" She ran to the door and threw it open. "Liz, you can't imagine what a day I've had!"
"You can't imagine what a day I've had," countered Liz ironically. "So, what lights you up like a Christmas tree?"
"William is the best…and Charles, too," she said smiling at Jane. "You are looking at Ginger Spice! I got a part in the Spice Girls revue at the Stratosphere! I'm so stoked!!"
"That is so cool!" Jane gushed. "And William and Charles got you the job?"
"They got me the interview and put in a good word for me! Now I can stay in Las Vegas indefinitely!!"
"I'm not so sure that that is the best thing for you," Liz smiled wryly. "But I'm happy for you. Now you can really be in show biz."
"I just came by to tell you the news and to tell you to thank the guys for me. I have to go to rehearsal now. I have a lot to learn in a very short time. Good thing that today is Dark Wednesday."
"Dark what?"
"Show biz talk for Vegas. It means that they don't do shows on that day."
"Oh, I see." Liz smiled knowingly at Jane.
"Well, gotta run. I'll try to see you again before you leave for Kansas. I get to room with the other girls who have an apartment not far from the hotel." Lydia bounded out of the room and they could hear her singing even as she got onto the elevator.
"So, where did you go this afternoon?" Jane enquired cautiously. "I noticed your expression when you came in."
"Oh, it's nothing. William's aunt wanted to talk to me."
"To wish you well, no doubt."
"You're too kind. Actually she was trying to pay me off to leave him alone."
"No way!" Jane was horrified.
"Yes, and the worse part is, that after I started to think about it, I almost felt that she was right. After all, he deserves to marry into a better situation."
"But he loves you, Liz, I just know it."
"Let's hope that he still does after old Ms. de Bourgh gives him an earful. I don't suppose that you read today's paper?"
"No, what does that have to do with anything?"
"Just look!"
"How awful. But Liz, you can't believe that William would dump you just because of some article in a paper?"
"I hope not."
"You know him better than that, Liz."
"Yes, I guess so. I'm just afraid that he will bail after reading the paper and talking to his aunt."
"Why don't you take a jacuzzi? That might relax you some. Charles wants us to come down to his show tonight."
"Well, I could use a diversion," Liz said as she started to run the water. "Anything to get my mind off the past two days problems." She stepped into the tub and scrunched down until the water reached her neck. "This is heaven! You should come in, Jane!"
"Sorry, no can do. I have to meet Charles in the lobby in about 5 minutes. We're going to dinner."
"Well, have fun!" She heard the door shut and closed her eyes, willing herself to not think about de Bourgh or Wickham. The door opened back up and she said, without opening her eyes: "So, did you change your mind about the hottubby?"
"That sounds like a great idea!" came a husky masculine voice and her eyes flew open wide in shock.
"William, what are you doing in here?"
"I came to see you. And from the looks of things, I will see a lot!"
"Scoundrel! Close your eyes while I get a robe."
"I can't guarantee that I won't peek…"
"No pre-marital until the wedding, bucko."
"That 'Chapel of Love' is sounding better and better!"
"Turn around then. I guess that I can't trust you!" She waited until his back was to her before she quickly hopped out of the tub and grabbed the robe nearby, cinching it around her waist before she stole up behind him to give him a kiss on the shoulder.
"It is going to take more than that to appease me," he said, and he pulled her to him, tightly holding her body against his and covering her lips with his eager ones.
Chapter 28
"And I thought that I was good…too good to resist!"
"Well, that's about right. It is getting harder and harder to stop. But, William, we have to stop! Ummm, that's good. No, we have to stop!"
"Okay," he said and released her reluctantly. "I guess that we could talk about the one subject that would cool us both off…"
"I suppose that you're referring to your aunt and our conversation."
"Yes, I can't believe that she would interfere. But then again, she always was a buttinsky."
"William, I…"
"Don't think for a minute that I even listened to her. She ranted and raved on and on about Lydia and Wickham and the whole situation, not even realizing that I knew more about it than she did."
"But that article in the paper?"
"Who cares. I've read worse about myself. Besides, I can always make them print a retraction. Money does have its uses, after all!"
"So you didn't change your mind?"
"About us? Don't you know by now that I love you more than anything else in the world? Here, I have something for you!" He handed her a box that had been leaning up against the door. She looked inside and gasped:
"William! What is this for?"
"Well, it's long and white and comes with a veil and is your size. What do you think?"
"It's gorgeous. But I mean, what do mean by giving it to me?"
"Look, Liz. I love you and I would wait forever for you if I had to. But since I really don't…why don't we go to the 'Chapel of Love'? "
"But my mother and father would be crushed…for different reasons."
"That is why I took the liberty of calling him and asking him myself. I think that the thud that I heard in the background was your mom falling over, but he assured me that she's okay now."
"Well, I ought to at least tell Jane. I would want her there."
"They are going to meet us there! Today is Charles' day off. You see, I've been planning this all day and Jane helped me with your sizes."
"Well then, what are we waiting for?" She smiled at him and took the dress out of the box. I'll just put it on now!" She went into the bathroom and returned, taking William's breath and almost the last shred of his self-control. She slipped on the white shoes that he held out for her and grabbed her purse. "Let's go!"
Their wedding at the Chapel of Love was romantic, even with the Elvis paraphernalia that decorated that particular chapel. Neither couple noticed much of their surroundings, anyway. Once William had secured her hand, he drove Liz to The Pemberley, carried her into the hotel, to the amusement of all those who saw them and didn't put her down until they were in the elevator. Slowly he let her slide down from his embrace, his eyes staring into hers with burning intensity.
"Why, Mr. Darcy," she smiled, "Are you trying to make me nervous about tonight?"
"Never, Mrs. Darcy!"
"Mrs. Darcy! I love that sound," she gazed lovingly at the ring on her left hand. "Oh William, I love you so much."
He picked her up again and carried her to the largest suite that the hotel offered and once he had opened the door, carried her across the threshold.
"Liz," he began carefully, "I love you with all my heart and I don't ever want to do anything to hurt you. We will take it slow tonight…"
"You think so?" she replied teasingly and ran away from him. He ran after her, trapping her by the bed and smiled his most lecherous smile.
"Now we can finish what we started the other night…"he lunged at her, pulling her down laughing onto the bed.
"And I won't stop you, ever again." She kissed his cheek and moved down to his earlobe and neck before he groaned and began to unbutton her dress, slipping it down her shoulders and…well, you can guess the rest!
The End!!!!