Beginning, Section II, Next Section
Chapter 14
Richard leaned against the wall, smiling wistfully, watching. Another lost opportunity?
He made his way back through the crowds to the party's small table and ordered a martini. Several women made deliberate eye contact, and smiled suggestively. The waitress slipped him her telephone number written on a cocktail napkin. Richard smiled charmingly, flashing the famous Fitzwilliam dimples, but set the napkin back on her tray with his empty glass. He removed the olive from his second drink, took a sip and then set the glass aside. Absentmindedly, he made a face with the olives. He was pondering what to use as a mouth when Charlotte returned to the table. With a rather silly, embarrassed grin, he folded a napkin over his creation.
Charlotte placed one hand on the back of a chair and raised an eyebrow. "Looks like you are rather bored." An unreadable expression crossed his handsome face and darkened his liquid brown eyes.
Richard gestured for Charlotte to have a seat. "No, I am having the time of my life." He removed a carnation from the vase in the center of the table and began to strip the petals from it.
"Well, I suppose, if you find table art amusing…" Her face became serious, "I take it that you saw the floor show…"
Richard grinned wryly, "It happens. After all, Kitty and I only went out for the first time last night." Although his smile was bright, his eyes showed his disappointment. He set the carnation on his napkin and folded his hands on the table.
"So you don't mind a bit?" Charlotte looked up as several people bumped into the small table, making the glasses rattle against each other.
Richard steadied the table with one hand. "Mind? Hmm…Well, right at this moment, I'd like to see him fall flat on his face, but…" He played with an empty glass and spoke softly, "I did have hopes for this one, you know?"
Charlotte silently considered the man before her for a moment before she stood, extending her hand. "May I have this dance, Mr. Fitzwilliam?" She was a little surprised at her forwardness. Richard rose to his feet, smiled, and bowed over her hand. "With pleasure, my dear."
Catherine clutched Alex's shirt as he deepened the kiss. As it ended, Alex and Kate stood a moment with their eyes closed, faces millimeters apart. Alex was the first to open his eyes. "Wow!"
Catherine opened her eyes and stepped back from Alex, touching her lips with her hand. Her eyes were wide with surprise and confusion. She shook her head dizzily.
"Say something…" Alex took her hands.
Catherine's blue eyes were wide, and she was visibly shaken. "Wow…"
Alex grinned, "You look like you need to sit down." He took her arm and led her back to the table, where she hid her face in her hands. Alex began to get slightly worried. Had he moved too fast? He pulled a chair close to hers and lightly rested his hand on her back. She looked up and smiled at him. "I am all right, Alex. I just…I need to think this over."
"Surprised?"
Kate smiled, "that is a major understatement."
Alex sat back. "You had no idea."
Kate's eyes dropped to the olives on the table. She distractedly poked them with a stir stick, speaking softly, "Oh, Alex. We have been friends so long. It will take some getting used to."
"I should have never presumed…" Alex muttered under his breath.
Catherine caught his hand and forced him to look at her. "Oh, no! Don't say that. At least I know how you feel. That is a start." She smiled slyly, "And no one has ever kissed me the way you just did."
Alex's smile returned and he kissed the palms of Kate's hands. "Then you shall have another. I can almost taste your lips…" He leaned foreword to claim her lips again. Although Catherine's heart threatened to leap out of her chest, she broke the kiss and sat back. don't push her.
Catherine smiled and squeezed Alex's hands. "Let's please take this slowly. I need some time. But oh, Alex, I am so glad to have you back!"
Alex smiled brilliantly. "No more than I am. Kate, I will wait for you…as long as you need. Only please make it soon."
Kate blushed and looked towards the dance floor, noticing Richard and Charlotte. "Oh dear, poor Richard! I have completely abandoned him."
Alex squeezed her hand. "It seems that he can take care of himself."
Kate laughed. "Actually, Alex, since I did come with him, I should give him a couple dances."
"Very well, Kate. I will leave you to Richard for a while." He stood, brushing his lips lightly across hers, murmuring, "lest you forget…"
Kate smiled credulously. How could I forget that first kiss? She watched as he walked away to find John. Her emotions were in turmoil. She had just regained her best friend. But things had gone farther than she bargained. Was the leap to be from almost stranger to lover? She did love him, had loved him as a friend even during their separation. She still felt that way, but his kiss had made the earth shake beneath her. It was so confusing.
Catherine was feeling very light headed, both from the wine and from the curious events that had taken place that evening. She ordered a glass of water, but it did not help. Catherine's head was still spinning. Deciding that she needed a breath of fresh air, Kate wrapped herself in her soft wool coat and muffler and stepped out into the cold.
After a little while, Charlotte and Richard returned to the table. Richard had seen Catherine leave the building a while ago, but he was surprised to see that she had not returned. He asked Charlotte to remain at the table in case Kitty came back. Richard did not bother to grab his coat before running out into the storm.
At first he did not see anything but white gusts of snow. Finally, however, he saw a small figure curled up in the snow. His heart leaped into his throat as he walked over and fell to his knees in front of it. Kitty yelped in terror when Richard came near her and tried to scurry closer to the brick wall, putting her arms above her head as if to ward off an attacker. Richard pulled her into his arms and turned her face to look at him, murmuring soothingly. He was astonished at what he saw. She had a bloody lip and a scraped and bruised cheek. Her hair was a mess and several buttons were torn from her coat. Once she realized who he was, she locked her arms around him and her body convulsed in sobs. Richard smoothed her hair out of her face and picked Catherine up in his arms and carried her into the restaurant.
Richard sank heavily into a chair in the entrance, unable to untangle Catherine's arms from around his neck. Several people came up to him with worried inquiries. In a voice of steel, he commanded them to call the police. Then he asked for their party to be paged. He held Catherine tight in his arms. His eyes flashing, he slowly lifted her chin. "Who did this to you?"
Chapter 14
Richard leaned against the wall, smiling wistfully, watching. Another lost opportunity?
He made his way back through the crowds to the party's small table and ordered a martini. Several women made deliberate eye contact, and smiled suggestively. The waitress slipped him her telephone number written on a cocktail napkin. Richard smiled charmingly, flashing the famous Fitzwilliam dimples, but set the napkin back on her tray with his empty glass. He removed the olive from his second drink, took a sip and then set the glass aside. Absentmindedly, he made a face with the olives. He was pondering what to use as a mouth when Charlotte returned to the table. With a rather silly, embarrassed grin, he folded a napkin over his creation.
Charlotte placed one hand on the back of a chair and raised an eyebrow. "Looks like you are rather bored." An unreadable expression crossed his handsome face and darkened his liquid brown eyes.
Richard gestured for Charlotte to have a seat. "No, I am having the time of my life." He removed a carnation from the vase in the center of the table and began to strip the petals from it.
"Well, I suppose, if you find table art amusing…" Her face became serious, "I take it that you saw the floor show…"
Richard grinned wryly, "It happens. After all, Kitty and I only went out for the first time last night." Although his smile was bright, his eyes showed his disappointment. He set the carnation on his napkin and folded his hands on the table.
"So you don't mind a bit?" Charlotte looked up as several people bumped into the small table, making the glasses rattle against each other.
Richard steadied the table with one hand. He smiled slightly, "Mind? Hmm…Well, right at this moment, I'd like to see him fall flat on his face, but…" His face became serious as he played with an empty glass, and spoke softly, "I did have hopes for this one, you know?"
Charlotte looked slightly surprised. "You have met once and already she has gotten to you? I thought last night was a blind date..."
Richard smiled. "Blind on her part, I suppose. I met her once when I dropped my brother off at school, but she does not remember me." He grinned, "Anyhow, my brother and his friends praise her to the high heavens, and it is unusual for these guys to like any teacher. I also know a fellow who student teachers with her, who admires her personality and intelligence. All in all, I was very impressed with her long before our 'blind date' last night."
Charlotte silently considered the man before her for a moment. "Well, I would say that she has missed a great opportunity."
Richard smiled ruefully. "I think I am the one who missed an opportunity."
Caroline stood, extending her hand. "May I have this dance, Mr. Fitzwilliam?" She was a little surprised at her forwardness. Richard rose to his feet, smiled, and bowed over her hand. "With pleasure, my dear."
Catherine clutched Alex's shirt as he deepened the kiss. As it ended, Alex and Kate stood a moment with their eyes closed, faces millimeters apart. Alex was the first to open his eyes. "Wow!"
Catherine opened her eyes and stepped back from Alex, touching her lips with her hand. Her eyes were wide with surprise and confusion. She shook her head dizzily.
"Say something…" Alex took her hands.
Catherine's blue eyes were wide, and she was visibly shaken. "Wow…"
Alex grinned, "You look like you need to sit down." He took her arm and led her back to the table, where she hid her face in her hands. Alex began to get slightly worried. Had he moved too fast? He pulled a chair close to hers and lightly rested his hand on her back. She looked up and smiled at him. "I am all right, Alex. I just…I need to think this over."
"Surprised?"
Kate smiled, "that is a major understatement."
Alex sat back. "You had no idea."
Kate's eyes dropped to the olives on the table. She distractedly poked them with a stir stick, speaking softly, "Oh, Alex. We have been friends so long. It will take some getting used to."
"I should have never presumed…" Alex muttered under his breath.
Catherine caught his hand and forced him to look at her. "Oh, no! Don't say that. At least I know how you feel. That is a start." She smiled slyly, "And no one has ever kissed me the way you just did."
Alex's smile returned and he kissed the palms of Kate's hands. "Then you shall have another. I can almost taste your lips…" He leaned foreword to claim her lips again. Although Catherine's heart threatened to leap out of her chest, she broke the kiss and sat back. Alex frowned at himself. Don't push her.
Catherine smiled and squeezed Alex's hands. "Let's please take this slowly. I need some time. But oh, Alex, I am so glad to have you back!"
Alex smiled brilliantly. "No more than I am. Kate, I will wait for you…as long as you need. Only please make it soon."
Kate blushed and looked towards the dance floor, noticing Richard and Charlotte. "Oh dear, poor Richard! I have completely abandoned him."
Alex squeezed her hand. "It seems that he can take care of himself."
Kate laughed. "Actually, Alex, since I did come with him, I should give him a couple dances."
"Very well, Kate. I will leave you to Richard for a while." He stood, brushing his lips lightly across hers, murmuring, "lest you forget…"
Kate smiled credulously. How could I forget that first kiss? She watched as he walked away to find John. Her emotions were in turmoil. She had just regained her best friend. But things had gone farther than she bargained. Was the leap to be from almost stranger to lover? She did love him, had loved him as a friend even during their separation. She still felt that way, but his kiss had made the earth shake beneath her. It was so confusing.
Catherine was feeling very light headed, both from the wine and from the curious events that had taken place that evening. She ordered a glass of water, but it did not help. Catherine's head was still spinning. Deciding that she needed a breath of fresh air, Kate wrapped herself in her soft wool coat and muffler and stepped out into the cold.
After a little while, Charlotte and Richard returned to the table. Richard had seen Catherine leave the building a while ago, but he was surprised to see that she had not returned. He asked Charlotte to remain at the table in case Kitty came back. Richard did not bother to grab his coat before running out into the storm.
At first he did not see anything but white gusts of snow. Finally, however, he saw a small figure curled up in the snow. His heart leaped into his throat as he walked over and fell to his knees in front of it. Kitty yelped in terror when Richard came near her and tried to scurry closer to the brick wall, putting her arms above her head as if to ward off an attacker. Richard pulled her into his arms and turned her face to look at him, murmuring soothingly. He was astonished at what he saw. She had a bloody lip and a scraped and bruised cheek. Her hair was a mess and several buttons were torn from her coat. Once she realized who he was, she locked her arms around him and her body convulsed in sobs. Richard smoothed her hair out of her face and picked Catherine up in his arms and carried her into the restaurant.
Richard sank heavily into a chair in the entrance, unable to untangle Catherine's arms from around his neck. Several people came up to him with worried inquiries. In a voice of steel, he commanded them to call the police. Then he asked for their party to be paged. He held Catherine tight in his arms. His eyes flashing, he slowly lifted her chin. "Who did this to you?"
Chapter 15
Catherine rose to her feet and ran into Alex's arms as he entered the room. Alex was visibly shaken as he noticed the bruises and scrapes on her face. He held her tightly as they followed the party into the manager's office.
Catherine took a deep breath and raised her head, dashing the tears from her face. Alex covered her face with kisses. "Oh, Kate. What happened? Who did this to you?"
Catherine wrapped her arms tighter around Alex. She took a deep, shaky breath and whispered a name, her eyes flashing with hatred, "Collins!"
The police arrived with an ambulance on their tail. The paramedics examined Catherine and determined that other than a few scrapes and bruises, she would be fine. The police questioned Catherine for only a few minutes. She told them that she had stepped out for some air when William Collins walked towards the building, obviously drunk. He noticed her next to the building and lurched over, asking for a dance. Repulsed, Kitty had walked away from him. Collins grabbed her arm and wrenched her around to face him, tearing her coat. His face was black with anger and Catherine was afraid for her safety. She told him to leave her alone and he hit her across the face. Suddenly a loud group came out of the building. They did not see Catherine and Collins, but he was spooked. Squeezing her arms very hard, he planted a lecherous kiss on her lips, the fumes of alcohol assailed her nostrils. Then he tossed her away from him, against the building. She hit her face on the rough bricks of the wall as she fell. Collins yelled at her, saying that she was going to regret denying William Collins. Then he disappeared and Richard found her only minutes later.
Catherine collapsed into an overstuffed chair. Richard and Alex sat at her feet, each holding a hand. She smiled weakly. "I am all right, but I really want to get out of here."
Charlotte broke into tears when she heard that her ex-husband was the one who did this. "I can't believe I was ever married to that man." John put an arm across her shoulders, awkwardly trying to comfort her. Charlotte turned and buried her face in his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and smoothed her hair.
Richard invited the party to stay with him at least for the night. He did not think that they could handle the half-hour drive back to Longbourn. Everyone agreed readily. Catherine and Kitty stood with their arms around each other as the gentlemen paid the bill and waited for their cars. Finally, everyone was bundled into two cars.
When they arrived at Richard's large home, everyone decided that they were extremely tired. Richard showed John and Charlotte to two guestrooms. Alex remained with Kate in the small sitting room. She sat curled up in a large chair by the fire with an afghan tucked around her. Her head leaned back against the chair and her eyes were closed. Alex sat at her feet, clasping her hands. Kitty opened her eyes and smiled at him. "Kiss me?"
Alex was all too happy to oblige, and all of the emotions that had risen in the preceding two hours poured into the kiss. Catherine fell to her knees and wrapped her arms around him. Cleansing tears flowed down her face as the kiss freed her. Alex's lips moved from her mouth to her cheeks as he kissed the tears from her face. They sat on the floor, wrapped in each other's arms, and watched the fire. After a moment of calming silence, Kate smiled at him and kissed him softly. "Now I need to be alone."
Alex's face fell, but he rose to his feet. "I'll be next door in the library. Please send for me immediately if you need anything." He then kissed the top of her head and left. Her eyes returned to the fire.
Richard looked up from his book sometime later. Alex had fallen asleep in his chair. Richard decided to check on Catherine. He walked into the sitting room. She was sleeping soundly, breathing softly. Richard sat on the arm of the chair next to hers. The bruises stood out sharply against her pale skin. Richard winced at the though that someone would do this to her. He gently brushed his hand across her cheek, wishing for all the world that he was Alex, that he could hold her and comfort her.
Alex returned to the room a few minutes after Richard. He winced when he saw her face again. He walked over and kissed her forehead, then stood for a moment, just looking at her. Finally, he sat in a chair across from Kate and Richard.
Alex's eyes were fiery when he addressed Richard in a low voice, "The slime Collins works at the school. She can hardly avoid him. A restraining order would not work because they would be in the same meetings. The police probably do not have enough of a case to arrest him." He looked over anxiously as Kate stirred in her sleep, "What can we do?"
Richard sighed, "I don't know. The man is probably going to make her time at Longbourn miserable." He studied the sleeping form. "To start, we could get Kitty to serve as a witness in the sexual harassment suit that is pending against him. That would help the case and perhaps assure his dismissal from the school sooner."
Alex rose to his feet and stirred the fire with an iron poker. "How would that help Kate?" A frown creased Alex's forehead. "Until then, she will still see him every day. I pray that he only did this because he was drunk, but from what I have heard, I doubt it." He clenched his fists. "If that animal touches her again…"
John could not sleep. He had checked on Kitty a while ago to find her sleeping. He began to read in his room, but thought of Charlotte next door. In all the excitement, she had been mostly ignored. She had been shaken by the fact that her ex-husband was the attacker. He decided to check on her. He knocked lightly on her door so he would not wake her if she slept. A quiet voice called for him to enter.
Charlotte was sitting in a chair by the fireplace. She looked up as John entered and her face was wet with tears. He walked over and knelt by her, taking both of her hands in his.
She looked at the fire and spoke in a flat voice, "I married him because he flattered me so. I did not love him, but he seemed pleasant, and was the only man who really showed interest. I thought that love would come in time." She shook her head and continued speaking, "I was so wrong. Within the first week, I saw my mistake. He had a quick temper and yelled whenever I did something wrong. When we were married, he was pleasant looking, if not handsome. Soon, he began to eat too much, to sit inside all day when he was not at work. He began to compare me to other women. He made me feel ugly and inadequate. I hated him within the first two months. We were married for five years." Suddenly she remembered that John was there. She blushed slightly and began to apologize.
John stopped her, kissing her hand. "My dear Charlotte, you have been greatly wronged. You are a beautiful, intelligent, kind woman. I respect your courage for putting up with that man, although I am sad that you had to. You deserve someone who can treat you like the wonderful person you are." Charlotte's tears flowed anew, no man had ever said such beautiful words to her, and she told John as much.
He smiled. "My dear, you deserve every word and much more." He paused, considering. "I don't pretend to be a gallant lover, but I would like to try. Would you let me try to heal your pain? I promise that I will never wrong you." Charlotte smiled brilliantly, blushing. She looked gorgeous, as the firelight danced across her soft features and highlighted her lovely, tear dampened eyes.
John's smile was full of wonder as he lifted her chin to kiss her softly. He was amazed at how he had changed since coming to the Sates. He knew that it had all been for the better. His old self would not have looked twice at Charlotte, had never really felt anything for any of the many women he had dated, especially women he had known for such a small time as he had known Catherine. But here he was, for the first time in his life, teetering on unfamiliar territory. He felt ten years younger, absolutely terrified and it was wonderful. He chuckled softly as he reclaimed Charlotte's lips and felt her arms tighten around him.
Chapter 16
The sun streamed brightly through the large windows of the small breakfast room by the time everyone made it down to breakfast. The windows were open slightly, and the refreshing air of the early spring thaw lightly stirred the curtains with its gentle breeze. The whimsical voices of chickadees mingled with the sound of water from melting snow dripping off of the roof.
Richard and Charlotte entered the room first and greeted each other warmly. They helped themselves to the selection of light breakfast foods, fruits and juices laid out on a long side-table. Eventually, the other three appeared, looking much better after a good night's sleep. As they gathered around a circular table, they exchanged greetings. They all were quiet and subdued. Catherine sipped her orange juice as she watched the chickadees dig in the melting snow. Alex and Richard discussed the weather. Charlotte and John feigned interest in their separate sections of the newspaper, but each occasionally peered over the paper at the other.
Charlotte and John were both having the same doubts. They wondered if they had simply been swept away by the emotion of the moment when they kissed so sweetly the night before. Both were afraid that they had gone a little too far with the other. Finally, however, their eyes met. A grin became a brilliant smile, and John reached for Charlotte's hand under the table.
Catherine slowly turned back to the table. Alex and Richard winced as the sun highlighted her abused face, but her eyes were bright and she wore a gorgeous smile. She rose from the table with a laugh. "It is such a lovely day that I cannot possibly remain inside any longer! Can I persuade anyone to join me on a walk?" Everyone agreed immediately and they left the room to find their coats.
They stepped outside into the beautiful mid-March morning. The sun highlighted the green of the fur trees and turned every melting drop of snow into a diamond. The tiny red squirrels gossiped as they chased each other through the trees and tiny winter birds sang jubilantly as they did cartwheels in the air. Catherine threw her arms wide and spun in a circle, worshipping the beauty of nature, loving the crisp air that cleansed her lungs and tickled her nose.
John and Charlotte lagged behind the rest of the group. Every now and then, their hands would brush each other, their eyes would meet and they would share a smile. John marveled at the way her eyes lit up when he smiled at her. He wondered what would happen if he kissed her, so he impulsively leaned over and lightly brushed his lips across hers. She smiled so gorgeously that he wondered what would happen if he did it again, and again. Soon they had stopped in the middle of the path, arms around each other, mouths locked together, completely oblivious to everything but each other.
They drew back when they heard a sudden wolf whistle. Catherine, Richard and Alex were staring at them. Richard was wearing a huge grin and Kitty and Alex stood with their mouths open. They couldn't believe that this was their friend John, Mr. cool, calm, and collected. John laughed outright and turned to Charlotte, whispering into her ear, "Now that we have effectively changed their opinions of us forever, shall we really give them something to talk about?" He waited only for her grin before he saluted their audience, dipped Charlotte low over his knee, and rendered her senseless.
The three turned to each other in stunned silence. Could this couple really be their reserved friends? Catherine and Alex smiled slightly at each other, not noticing that Richard had left them for a moment.
Kitty squealed as Richard suddenly appeared behind her and thrust a handful of snow down the back of her shirt. She laughed and ran after him, holding a threatening wet clump of snow in her hands. He stopped and grabbed her wrists just as he tripped on a tree stump and fell on his back, pulling her on top of him. Catherine giggled and put the snow down his collar as he tried to push he off of him. His milk chocolate eyes sparkled with laughter and admiration as he watched the woman who was threatening him. Despite her bruises and scratches, she looked gorgeous. Her eyes were bright and her cheeks were ruddy with laughter. Richard grinned and tried to sit up, but Kitty put one gloved hand on his chest and pushed him backwards.
As Alex watched, he was struck with a sudden sense of deja vu. He could almost see himself and Kate struggling just like that just before they had kissed one fateful winter evening. As Kate grabbed another handful of snow, grinning mischievously at Richard, Alex raced over, clasped her around the waist and hoisted her off of Fitzwilliam. He grinned and spun her to face him. "You should know it's bad sportsmanship to attack an unarmed man like Fitzwilliam, Kate!" He said, by way of excuse as he hoisted her over his shoulder, carried her to a snow bank and unceremoniously dumped her in the wet pile of snow.
Chapter 17
Catherine smiled as the students chose their partners for the group assignment. She watched as Bobby Fitzwilliam, Richard's brother, walked over to a shy young woman who sat at the back of the room. The girl was beaming as he asked her to be his partner. He is so much like Richard, Kitty thought.
Once they were working relatively on task, Catherine moved to the small desk that her classroom supervisor had set up for her at the back of the room. The teacher was leaving her alone in the classroom more these days as Catherine's skills and confidence grew. She sat down and started to grade papers when William Collins entered the room. Catherine noticed that several students rolled their eyes and made gagging motions behind his back as he walked by. For once, she let them get away with it. Her eyes narrowed as he came closer to her desk. Until now, he had completely avoided her. Although no evidence proved that he was the one who had attacked her, the police had warned him that next time he might not be so lucky. So Collins and Catherine had not seen each other, except in one teacher's meeting, since the attack.
Catherine knew that he could not try anything in a class full of students, so she was not too nervous. Still, the bile rose in her throat, and she casually laid one hand on the telephone intercom button.
"What do you want?" she asked harshly.
"What, can't I stop in to see how my colleagues are doing once in a while?" He moved closer, placing one hand on the desk next to her.
"I am not your colleague, Collins. I am a student teacher."
"All the more reason to check up on you, then. I see that you are doing group work. I would advise you to change your method. Working in groups just enforces the terrible qualities of these little heathens. I find silent reading, lecture and drilling the most effective methods."
Catherine's eyes blazed. She spoke in a very controlled voice, "It is not your job to instruct me. Please leave."
Collins placed his other hand on the desk and leaned over so his face was inches from hers. Catherine held her breath as he spoke, repulsed by his foul breath. "I would advise you, Bennet, to listen to your superiors. You would be surprised how much power I have in this school." He straightened and spoke in a more conversational tone. "So, Miss Bennet, when shall it be, Friday or Saturday? I have connections at the Woodhouse, so we would not need reservations. They have a superior wine list." Catherine rose from her seat and spat through her teeth, "Never, Mr. Collins. Now please leave."
She walked to the front of the room. "Class, Mr. Collins has just suggested that we do drills instead of our project. What do you think? What would you rather do?" The class began to boo and hiss. Catherine made a half-hearted effort to quiet them, as she was secretly very pleased at the hasty exit Collins made at the students' criticism.
Catherine sighed with relief as she climbed into her red Corolla and turned the key in the ignition, glad to be out of the school. Every day she spent there, the walls seemed to close in around her. This was partly because of Collins. She had begun to second-guess the attack, to believe that he had only attacked her because he was extremely drunk. Today's incident had disproved that. She shivered at the thought of the lecherous stare of his crazy, bloodshot eyes. Kitty was also out of sorts because she was beginning to second-guess her choice of occupation. She loved children, but did not feel that she was as suited to teach as her sister Jane was. Perhaps graduate school was in the near future.
A smile crossed her face as she drove into the driveway of the small house she and Jane shared. It had belonged to an aunt who had died and left it to the family. When Jane came to the States, she got rid of the old 60's furnishings and completely redecorated the house by hand. Now it was a cozy refuge. Kitty always instantly felt better when the house came into view.
She heard the music as soon as she walked through the door. She followed it into the cozy kitchen where Jane was sitting at the table with a recipe book and a glass of wine, singing along with the radio. She smiled as Kitty walked into the room, and poured her a glass of wine. Kitty took a sip and set the glass on the table.
"What are you making?"
Jane closed the cookbook and smiled. "Charles and Suzie are coming to dinner. I am cooking vegetarian lasagna and garlic bread."
Kitty smiled. "Smells wonderful!" She winked. "Although with all of that garlic, I hope you aren't planning to kiss him!" They were interrupted by the arrival of Charles Bingley and his daughter.
After dinner, Suzie curled up in her father's lap and fell asleep. Catherine, Jane and Charles sipped wine and chatted.
"So Caroline has enrolled at Oxford? What is she studying?"
Charles laughed. "She is pursuing a master's of some sort, I can't remember. It almost sounds like she is studying single rich men more than her books!"
Kitty grinned. She was glad that Bingley's sister had left so soon after they renewed their acquaintance. Caroline was one person that Catherine would most likely never get along with.
"Has she had any luck yet?"
Charles chuckled. "She just began dating a gentleman she has had her eye on for some time. Apparently he is 'from an excellent family,' which means he is old money. I hope that this one works out. She is awfully depressed that she is thirty and not married yet."
Suzie sighed in her sleep, reminding Bingley that it was getting late. He stood reluctantly and announced that it was time to leave. Jane looked very disappointed. Catherine offered to help Suzie with her coat and mittens so that Charles and Jane could have a moment alone.
As soon as Catherine left the room, Charles wrapped his arms around Jane. She tucked her head under his chin, reveling in his strength and warmth. He kissed her hair. "I wish I didn't have to go." He knew that he was welcome to stay the night, but he did not want to put Suzie through the confusion. He could wait until…
A sudden light entered his eyes and he stepped back slightly, smiling so brilliantly that it took Jane's breath away.
"My dear Jane Bennet, I have loved you for ten years. Although we have only been reunited for two months, I have loved you always..." He paused, "My dearest Jane, I meant to do this eight years ago..." Taking her hand, he fell to one knee. His voice became a hoarse whisper, "dearest, loveliest Jane, will you marry me? I love you with all of my heart."
Jane was near fainting, but she fell to her knees and wrapped her arms around Charles. "I have waited eight years to hear you say that." A single tear rolled down his handsome face as he smiled at her. "Will you?" He implored.
"Yes," she whispered. His face was suffused with such heartfelt delight that Jane almost swooned. Charles wrapped his arms around her waist, supporting her, and covered her lips with his.
In the doorway, Catherine and Suzie beamed at each other. Suzie wrenched her hand from Kitty's and ran towards the couple. She threw her arms around them and laughed with joy. "Now I have a daddy and a mommy!"
Catherine leaned against the door post with a soft smile gracing her lips, and brushed tears from her cheeks.
Chapter 18
The newly engaged couple created quite a stir in the lives of their loved ones. Jane and Charles called Elizabeth and William the next morning. They were overjoyed that the union would finally take place. William congratulated Charles heartily before he handed the phone to his wife.
Elizabeth's eyes filled with tears of joy. "Oh Jane, I am so happy for you and Charles. This was too long in coming." They chatted happily for a while, and then Jane asked after everyone's health.
On the London end of the telephone, Elizabeth Darcy smiled shyly at her husband. "Shall we tell them?"
The gentleman smiled and kissed his wife on the cheek. "If you wish, my dear."
Elizabeth proceeded to tell Jane that she was five months pregnant. They had waited so long to announce it because Elizabeth had miscarried all three of her previous pregnancies. But the doctor said that she and the baby were in excellent condition. She was due in July.
Jane was nearly in tears when she hung up the telephone. Suddenly everything was going right. Charles held her tight. "Now, my dear, we must make the difficult calls…you to your mother, and me to Caroline."
Mrs. Bennet was, of course, overjoyed. "Oh, my dear Jane! My heart! I am so happy for you! Now if he hadn't married that…well never mind. He was very cruel to stay from you for so long."
Jane tried to change the subject. Her mother had never accepted the fact that the separation was entirely by Jane's choice.
Mrs. Bennet interrupted, "Still, I cannot understand it. You should have been married long ago. Well I am glad that it has finally happened. When is the wedding?"
Jane smiled at Bingley. "We were thinking June. In England" Jane could almost hear the wheels turning in her mother's head.
Caroline was not as easy to please. Jane could plainly hear her yell of outrage through the receiver when Charles told her. Charles hung up the telephone with a grim look on his face. Jane put her arms around him.
"All will be well, my love. She is your sister, and I am sure she loves you. She will come around."
Caroline slammed the telephone into its cradle. Her handsome face was screwed up into a grimace of disgust.
"I hate Bennets in the spring time, I hate Bennets in the fall…" She sang under her breath, moodily looking out of the window at the gloomy March rain that pummeled London's streets.
"Why, oh why do I hate Bennets? Because…" Charles, Darcy, her pride and her importance had all been taken, stolen, by two Bennet sisters. She pounded her fists against the window frame. A gentleman came up behind her and gripped her wrists.
"Careful, my dear. We don't want to let the rain in through broken windows!"
Kitty sat on a swing on the front porch of her home, sipping tea. This warm thaw was lasting, and they had been blessed with glorious weather for a week. The weather service, however, announced that one final winter storm was headed their way that night, so Kitty decided to enjoy this last moment before she was cooped up indoors again. A leather-bound book lay forgotten in her lap as she leaned her head back and closed her eyes. Reading Austen always made her miss England. The United States was interesting, but Catherine missed the lovely, proper British accents and the social gatherings and the close friends. In a little more than two months she would be able to go home. She opened her eyes when she felt someone slip the book from her fingers and place something in her lap.
"Richard!" She buried her nose in the lovely bouquet he had brought her.
"Emma?" Richard's eyes laughed as he studied the book.
Kitty grabbed the book him and held it to her chest in mock indignation. "How dare you laugh? I'll have you know…" She stopped, laughing. "What brings you to Longbourn today, Richard?."
He smiled and took a seat next to her on the porch swing. "My brother, as you know, has been staying with my sister and her husband for this school year. They are having marital problems, and our mother is sick, so I am bringing Bobby back to our parents' house in D.C. I thought I'd stop by and see you before I left town."
Kitty squeezed his hand. "Oh I am sorry! I hope everything goes well. How long will you be gone?"
Richard frowned. "I don't know. A month, maybe." He paused awkwardly, "Well, I have to pick up Bobby."
Catherine threw her arms around Richard. "Drive safely. Call me if you need anything, or just need to talk. I'm here for you."
Richard buried his face in her soft hair, wrapping his arms tightly around her. Oh, how he had come to love her. If only… "I know you are, Catherine. Thank you…" A delivery boy interrupted them.
"These flowers are for Miss Kate Bennet." Kitty tipped the man and opened the box. A dozen red roses. They made Richard's bouquet of forget-me-nots, bachelor's buttons ("hope in love"), and sweet William ("grant me one smile") look pale in comparison.
"Red roses, for true love." Richard rose from the swing. He already knew who they would be from.
Kitty opened the attached card. "Miss Catherine Bennet, Please meet me at the conservatory at 8pm. Please wear your lovely green dress. Forever yours, Alexander Waterpool III." She smiled. "I can't understand this. The conservatory? And why my green dress?"
Richard shook his head sadly and clasped her hand. "Take care of yourself, my dear." He turned and walked down the stairs to his car.
Chapter 19
The softest of snowflakes were just beginning to fall as Catherine walked through the wide doors of the conservatory. The members of the Longbourn Civic Society had used this building as their meeting house for nearly a hundred years, before which it had been a music conservatory. It was truly a historical building of the finest caliber. The floor of the entryway was decorated in marble tiles that were arranged in lovely patters. There was also a gold leaf dome that arched high above. The entire interior was graced with the finest polished wood and brass. The elegant performance room had been turned into a gourmet restaurant, and there was a circular glass hothouse connected to the opposite end of the building that provided fresh flowers for all of the tables. There was a wide staircase that led to the upper rooms, and numerous corridors that led to small meeting rooms and parlors.
On this evening, the building was relatively quiet. The restaurant had a street entrance, so there was no one in the main section of the building. As it was a weekend evening, there were no meetings of the organization's many committees. The main hall was dimly lit by a chandelier that was high overhead, and wall sconces that lined the stairway and corridors.
Catherine knew that she was not to go to the restaurant because the note had specifically mentioned the grand staircase. When she walked towards it, there was a small note. "My dear Catherine, please proceed down the corridor to your left."
Her footsteps echoed in the dim passageway as she admired the paintings that lined the hallway. Suddenly she noticed a white rose on a small table. By the time she reached the end, she had six white roses. There was another note on a table. "Now turn right." She smiled and continued. In this corridor she found gorgeous velvety red roses, six in total. Their perfume intoxicated Catherine. At the end of the corridor was an ornately etched glass door. It was frosted, so Catherine could not see inside. She grasped the brass handle and opened the door.
The hothouse was indeed a work of art. Wide marble stairs led down to a large stone fountain that made soothing sounds that echoed through the room. From there, small stone paths spoked out in six directions. Instead of being straight paths, they curved clockwise and ended in little sitting areas surrounded by flowers. There were small trees of many varieties, and dozens of flowers scented the warm air. Through glass windows that extended towards the ceiling, Catherine could see that the snow was falling in fluffy flurries. She walked to the fountain, and set her armful of red and white roses on a small bench. A liveried footman appeared from nowhere and took her coat. After he had left, the air magically filled with music.
Catherine spun around and gasped, as Alexander was standing right behind her. He was dressed in a black tuxedo and looked absolutely delicious. There was an intensity in his blue eyes that took her breath away. I could drown in those eyes.
A gorgeous smile crossed his face as he bowed and silently offered Catherine his hand. She laid her hand in his, and he pulled her into his arms, dancing slowly to the soft music. Catherine's heart was racing as he locked his arm around her waist. She moved closer and laid her head on his strong chest.
Alexander smiled as he laid his cheek on the top of her head. It felt so good to hold her. To have her to himself. He had waited so long. He backed up slightly and took something from his pocket. It was a long velvet box. Kate opened it with a quizzical smile on her face. It was a tiny, ornately worked gold heart, with a small diamond in the center, on a fine gold chain. Alex gently placed it around her neck, then bent to kiss her throat. His lips moved slowly up her jaw to her mouth.
Alex took a deep breath and stepped back. With a smile, he took her hand and led her down one of the paths. There was a small table next to the glass window, surrounded by sweet flowers and blossoming trees. A white tablecloth, two tiny candles, and place settings of fine china and silver covered the table. Alex held a chair for Catherine, and then sat across from her. Almost immediately, a waiter appeared with a bottle of champagne. Alex raised his glass in a toast. "To old friends and new beginnings." They dined on salmon and finished with slivers of cheesecake drizzled with white chocolate and raspberries.
By the time they were finished eating, Catherine was almost beside herself with amazement. She could not believe that he had gone to all this trouble just for her. She was lost in thought when he addressed her. "Are you happy, Kate? Do you think you can grow to love me?"
Again their eyes locked. The fire in his made her heart race. She dropped her napkin and rose from her chair. She removed his fork from his hand and sat on his lap. Alex's face was serious as he raised one hand to caress her face. Then, without saying a word, he locked one hand in her curly blonde hair and drew her face towards him. Alex's hungry mouth claimed hers, and tears rolled down Catherine's cheeks at the heartbreaking sweetness of his love and passion for her. Outside the glass windows behind them, the fluffy snow fell in a great, swirling dance as Catherine and Alexander drowned in the tenderest and sweetest of kisses.
Chapter 20
With great reluctance, Alex broke the dizzying kiss. He took a deep breath to gain control of his senses, and kissed Catherine on the cheek.
"Kate, I had two reasons to ask you here tonight. The first was, as you can see, to show you how much I love you." He grinned as she leaned foreword expecting a kiss. It took him a great deal of self-control to deny himself such a tempting offering. He gently brushed her lips with his thumb. "Wait, my love. There is also a more serious matter we must discuss." Catherine shifted on his lap and leaned back so that she was resting against the table.
Her eyes darkened and she played with the lapels of his coat. She spoke in a soft, flat voice, "You are leaving."
Alex's eyebrow rose in surprise. "You know."
"I knew all along that you had only a small time here." She shook her head. "How long do we have?"
Alex closed his eyes and pulled her close, whispering into her ear, "I leave on Friday, in five days. It was finalized this morning."
Kate choked back a sob. "And then two months before I return to England."
Alex kissed her gently. "We will make it. I know we can. What is two months? We ran into each other two months ago and it went by so fast."
Catherine sighed, "It seems so much longer when you are separated from the one you love. It's not fair. We just found each other."
A brilliant smile crossed Alex's face. "You do love me!" He ardently kissed her forehead, her cheeks and finally her lips, before hugging her close to him. "I am going to miss you so much," he murmured into her hair.
Catherine smiled into his eyes. "Then let's make the most of our five days together. We need two month's worth of memories to carry us through until May."
"It's a deal." Alex's eyes locked with hers with such intensity that Catherine's heart almost stopped. "We have to get out of here."
Alex called a taxi. As the driver fought the snowstorm, Alex and Kate snuggled in the back. When they arrived at Kate and Jane's house, Alex smiled uncertainly. Kate hesitated a moment, then took his gloved hand in hers. "Alex, will you come inside?"
He hurriedly tipped the driver while Kate fumbled with the keys in the front door. He put his hand on hers and took the keys from her, turning them smoothly in the lock. They entered a dark house. Jane was gone for the evening. Alex wrapped his arms around Kate and kissed her against the door. She reluctantly pulled away to remove her coat. After she hung it up, she turned back to him, suddenly uncertain. "Um…do you want some wine?"
"That would be nice." Alex grinned, "It's chilly in here. Mind if I build a fire in the living room?"
Catherine smiled and walked into the kitchen. Once she was in the quiet, dark room, she sat on a chair with her head in her hands. She was so overwhelmed with the events of the evening, and uncertain of what was to come. Finally, she stood and retrieved some wine from the cellar, and found a corkscrew and two glasses. She returned to the living room to find Alex standing by a cheerily crackling fire.
"Here's the wine," she said awkwardly, unable to move from the doorway. Alex took the wine and glasses from her, and led her to the small couch. He poked the fire and then came to sit next to Catherine with his glass of wine. He took a sip and set the glass on a side table. "You are so beautiful, Kate." Alex removed the jeweled combs from her hair, letting blonde curls tumble down her shoulders. He kissed her bare shoulder next to the slim strap of her dress, and then moved his lips to her neck. "So lovely."
Catherine shivered as his warm lips met her cool skin. He slipped the wineglass from her hand and kissed her full on the mouth. Kitty slowly wrapped her arms around him. Alex slowly leaned back so she was lying almost on top of him as they kissed. Catherine finally broke the kiss and lay with her head on his chest, feeling his strong heartbeat beneath her ear. They lay like that, wrapped in each other's arms, demanding nothing more of each other. Sheltered from the raging blizzard outside, Catherine fell asleep to the sound of Alex's steady breathing, the crackling of the fire.
Alex shifted the sleeping form in his arms so he could gaze at her face. "I think I am in heaven." He reverently kissed her closed eyes and her softly parted lips. "I love you, Catherine." He ached to wake her, to tell her again, to show her how much. But he contended himself to simply hold her close. He fell asleep with a smile on his face.
Chapter 21
Jane and Kitty sat in big soft green chairs in a brightly-lit salon. Music, gossip and hair dryers buzzed in the background. Jane's feet were soaking in a tub of warm, gardenia scented water. Kitty was watching a stylist paint her nails a lovely lavender.
"Jane, did Catherine really stay with John last night?"
Jane smiled. "Yes, she did. She is mad about him." She sighed as someone rubbed lotion on her feet and wrapped them in a large, warm bath towel.
"Oh, I am so glad! I think they both really needed to start dating again." She smiled, "I am afraid that I have neglected my friendship with both of them lately."
"Because of Alex?"
Catherine blushed, but her smile was all the answer Jane needed. "You love him, don't you?"
"Jane, he is so wonderful!" She paused reflectively, "I feel that it happened rather suddenly. I know that his feelings for me are stronger than my feelings for him, but he has loved me for years, and I am just beginning to move from friendship to love. It is a strange and terrifying step." She sighed, "Why didn't I take this chance all those years ago? He is so worth it…and his kisses…" She closed her eyes, smiling.
Jane patted Kitty's hand. "I am glad that this happened, but it is rough that you two had to wait until right before his departure to really find each other."
Catharine frowned as the stylist began to remove the curlers from her hair. "It is going to be so difficult to say good-bye."
"Just think of how wonderful May will be! You will reunite with Alex, we'll get to throw baby showers for Elizabeth," She blushed "Plan my wedding…" She laughed. "Did you hear that Caroline is finally engaged? I don't know much about the man, but I have heard that he is a member of the house of Lords. Apparently John knows him. I don't think he approves. She is going to bring him to visit Charles this weekend."
Kitty rolled her eyes. "Oh dear. Well, maybe this guy will take her mind off of her grudge against us Bennets." The stylist finished piling Kitty's blonde curls on top of her head. The women put their shoes and coats on, hailed a taxi and headed home. When they pulled into the drive, there was a letter in the mailbox addressed to Catherine. She opened it with a smile.
My dear Catherine,I hope that you are doing well.
My mother is improving. We brought her home from the hospital today. My father was like a child at a birthday party. He is an empty shell without her. I am happy that my parents are so in love. Their marriage is one of such joy that is rarely seen. But I fear that if we should have lost my mother, my father would have lost himself to grief. I am sure that this fact gave mother the strength to fight her illness. Now, fortunately, the infection has turned, and she is out of danger.
My sister and her husband visited for the week with their children. They have happily worked out their differences, and will bring Bobby back to Longbourn with them. He says to tell you 'hello,' and that he misses your class. He says that the teachers down here are dull. I also suspect that he has a female on his mind when he expresses a desire to return to Longbourn. Do you know who she is?
As I write this, my valet is in the process of packing. You see, I am returning to Boston on Saturday. One of the other surgeons broke his wrist skiing, so the hospital cannot possibly spare me another week. I will arrive around seven in the evening.
I hope to see you soon, Catherine. I have missed your enchanting company, my dear.
Yours,
Richard Fitzwilliam
A warm feeling spread through her as she set the letter on the table. She had missed Richard, too. He was a charming, intelligent and lighthearted friend. Ever since her attack he had been sweetly concerned with her happiness and well being.
She was distracted from her thoughts by the doorbell. A delivery man handed her a box that contained something large wrapped in green florist's paper. Kitty tipped him and entered the house. Catherine gasped as she tore the paper from the box. It was a cut-glass vase of eighteen perfect sterling roses. The enclosed card read, Two for every week we will be apart, my love. Alex. As Catherine buried her nose in the fragrant flowers, Richard's letter fell to the floor, forgotten among the shredded green tissue paper.
Chapter 22
Alex leaned his head against the headrest in Kate's small Corolla. He had planned to take a taxi to the airport, but she insisted on seeing him off. Kate looked over at him smiling, and started to sing:
"all my bags are packed, I'm ready to go.
I'm standing here, outside your door…"
She continued in her gorgeous alto voice, which Alex thought sounded like the sound rich, sweet chocolate would make if it sang. Her throaty, sexy voice never ceased to make his pulse race. He smiled at her as he joined in the chorus in his light, pleasant tenor:
So kiss me and smile for me.
Tell me that you'll wait for me.
Hold me like you'll never let me go...
'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane,
Don't know when I'll be back again…"
He watched Kate as she maneuvered her small car through the busy Boston traffic. Her independence, courage and confidence thrilled him. Most men he knew hated to let women drive. Alex liked it, because he enjoyed watching the expressions that played across their faces as they drove. Right now, as Kate passed a Dodge Ram and smiled in triumph as she pulled back into her lane, she looked ready to take on the world.
He wished he had another couple of months or at least days, to spend in the states, but his work was finished, and the company needed him back in London. It had been a great trip, mostly because he had Kate back. His only regret was that they had only had less than a month together. But when she returned to London in May… He leaned back and closed his eyes, imagining the possibilities.
Alex sat up quickly as Kate announced they had arrived. He was glad that she couldn't read his thoughts. If she knew what he had been daydreaming about… Alex looked at his watch and realized that he was running late. He had very little time to check in and find the terminal.
They reached the terminal with no time to spare. As they made the final boarding call, Alex turned to Kate as a small tear trickled down her face. He smiled and wiped the tear away with the back of his hand.
"Kate, I wish I could stay. There is so much I wanted…" He hugged her, and kissed her softly as she whispered good-bye. Alex picked up his carryon and walked through the gate. Suddenly, he turned on his heel, dropped his bag, and ran back to her.
His eyes locked with hers as he pulled her into his arms. With a small moan, he mouthed "I love you" against her forehead, and covered her lips with his.
As Alex's hungry lips bruised hers, Kate felt that the world had turned upside down, and then somehow righted itself. Her legs failed her, and Alex supported her in his strong arms, while he tried to make up for all of the lonely nights past, and those to come. Then, just as suddenly as he began, he ripped his mouth from hers. His burning eyes locked with hers for a split second, before he grabbed his bag and ran through the terminal at a mad dash.
Caroline Bingley had just stepped off the plane when she saw Alex kiss Kitty. She watched with interest, a grimace on her face. She knew the importance of the Waterpool family. "So, another Bennet has managed to snag another handsome rich man." She turned to her companion. "Well, Frank, let's get my luggage."
Richard pulled on his long, dark-gray wool coat and slung the strap of his leather carry-on over his shoulder. He slid his claim check tickets from the inside pocket of his coat and walked rapidly towards the baggage claim. As he entered the main concourse, he saw Catherine standing forlornly in the middle of the bustling airport. She seemed to be on her own little island, unaware of the flurry of activity around her. His brown eyes sparkled with delight, and he jogged over to her.
Catherine's eyes were still moist with tears as she walked into the main concourse. Almost immediately, she saw Richard before her. His face full of joy, he swung her into his arms. "Oh, Catherine, How good to see you!"
"Richard!" She hugged him, "Oh, my! I forgot you were coming today. Why did you fly? I thought you drove down."
"I let my sister Susan take my car. They needed two cars to move the kids, her husband, Bobby and all of the luggage back." His eyes crinkled as he smiled. "So what brings you to the airport since you obviously did not come to meet me?"
Her face fell. "He is gone." Richard pulled her close as she cried.
Caroline watched this little scene with more interest. With a wicked smile on her face, she walked over. "Well, Well, Kitty Bennet. Having luck with the men tonight, aren't we? What, do you have one in every terminal? I saw you playing tonsil hockey with Mr. Waterpool a minute ago, and now this handsome stranger…"
Richard's face darkened with anger and Catherine had to fight to restrain herself from slapping Caroline. "Richard, this is Charles' sister, Caroline. You will never meet a woman with less tact." She glared at the woman. "Excuse me, we must go."
She ignored the expression of blind rage on Caroline's handsome face, and the restraining hand that her companion placed on her shoulder. Kitty turned on her heel and walked away.
With a frown on his face and concern in his brown eyes, Richard stopped Catherine before they walked out into the cold. "What has gotten into you, Kitty? What happened while I was gone?"
Chapter 23
Alex looked moodily out of the plane window into the night. They soared above a cloud bank, and the moon reflected off the tops of the clouds, making it look like they were gliding above boiling liquid silver. The lights inside the plane were low, and it seemed that everyone but Alex was sleeping. He had tried to sleep, but should-haves, and could-have-beens quickly pulled him from any semblance of slumber.
He reflected how much he hated flying. Unlike many who relaxed easily in an airplane, Alex felt locked in. He was a person of action, and could barely stand to sit still for an hour, much less twelve. Especially when his mind was tormenting him as it was tonight. He flipped on the overhead light, frowning as the man next to him shifted in his sleep and jabbed Alex in the ribs.
Alex felt under his seat for the leather case and pulled out his laptop. The familiar startup chime startled his seatmates into muttering in their sleep before they were calmed again by the monotonous hum of the aircraft's circulation system. The eerie greenish glow of the screen highlighted the troubled furrows in Alex's forehead as he typed furiously on the keyboard, which was difficult in an airplane, even in first class seats.
Kitty, Jane, Charles, Richard and Charlotte were holding their stomachs and shaking with laughter as John made crazy motions and little leaps into the air. They were playing charades, he was trying to get his team to guess the movie title "Robin Hood, Men in Tights."
"Shaving your legs…" Charlotte yelled.
"That's not a movie," Kitty laughed. "Oh, oh, I know…Pretty woman!"
Richard looked at her strangely. "Whatever would make you think that?"
Kitty laughed. "Well, he's putting on nylons, and patting his hair or pulling something over his head, and…Wait…"
"Cupid? You're shooting Arrows."
John made a rather obscene gesture.
"Man! Man…something…Nylons…panty hose…"
John gestured frantically to continue.
"Ten seconds…" Jane yelled.
"Tights…" John smiled and clapped. "Tights?" Kitty's forehead furrowed in concentration. "Tights…Man…Wait, I know! Men in tights!"
"Time! What was it?"
John was shaking Kitty's hand vigorously. "You got it! "Robin Hood, Men in Tights!' We win!"
Bingley protested. "No, she only said the second half. 'Men in Tights.' It shouldn't count!"
This prompted an argument between all three men. Charlotte noticed that Suzie had fallen asleep in a chair, so she, Jane and Kitty quietly brought her up to her room to tuck her into bed, leaving the men to their argument.
Once the little girl was snugly asleep. They went into the dark kitchen to start some tea.
Charlotte smiled as she handed Kitty a tray. "So Alex is on his way."
"Yes…"
"How are you doing with that?"
Catherine frowned. "I'm not sure. I mean, I will see him in May, which isn't too long from now. But I am not really sure where we stand. We had a pretty intense couple of weeks, but I think that his departure came at a really bad time. It was almost too sudden to really decide anything." She blushed, "Well, anything but the fact that we have absolutely incredible chemistry…"
"So do you love him?"
"Oh, yes I do!"
"And he knows?"
Kitty played with her teacup. "I think he does…Oh crumbs! I never told him in so many words. It just felt so foreign at first. I mean, he was like my brother for so long. So I couldn't at first. And once I really realized that…well, shoot. Any profession of love on his side was always followed by a kiss, and I was rendered…well you know! My mind would be a blank and I wouldn't be able to speak. So, no. I never told him…Damn!"
Charlotte smiled and squeezed Kitty's hand. "Time to write a long letter?"
She smiled. "I think so."
Chapter 24
Catherine sank into her desk chair with a sigh. It was finally her prep hour and she could relax. For some reason the students had been restless all day. Everything she had said had seemed to pass right over their heads. She assumed that it was because it was sleeting all day. Bad weather always set the kids off.
She kicked off her shoes and wrapped her hands around a mug of tea. Sitting behind a desk at school was not the best place to relax, but she sure tried. Her radio was tuned to a classical station and Bach's Brandenburg Concerto no. 3 was playing softly. Catherine glanced at the stack of papers on her desk, but decided to let them wait. Something had been pressing on her mind all day. She slipped a piece of paper from her desk. It was only the ruled paper the students used, but she could always copy it on to nicer paper once she got home. She reached into her drawer for a pen and laughed when she ended up with a handful of red pens. Well, red would have to do for now. She cleared an area on her desk and began to write.
Dear Alex,I feel so strange writing this. I am used to talking to people face to face and am afraid that my letter writing skills leave much to be desired. And even now, as I write to you, I am having a difficult time picturing you reading this. I feel like I am writing in a diary (which I was never very good at). Anyhow, I
She looked at the paper in frustration. She tore the paper in half and threw it in the trash. She returned to her seat and stared at a blank sheet of paper. I don't even know what to say. She began again.
Alex,It has been only two days since you left here. I cannot get used to your absence. Every sound I hear, I turn, thinking that you are going to walk through the door. Oh, how I miss your smile!
The day you left was an extremely interesting day. I had just walked out of the terminal when I ran into Richard. Then, Caroline Bingley (remember her?) appeared in the airport. Needless to say, she effectually ruined the rest of my day. Richard and I went straight to the Bingleys and stayed for dinner and to play some games. Caroline refused to come down and see us. She claimed jet lag, but we all know the real reason she would not appear—a strange illness called Bennetitis.
I am trying to start this letter with small talk, but it is not working. My real purpose in writing this letter has prevented my words from making any sense. Please forgive me.
Alex, when you appeared in Massachusetts, I cannot tell you what emotions raged through my mind. When we finally reconciled, I was immensely relieved. I relished your friendship. But when you kissed me…Needless to say, I was exceedingly surprised at the renewal of your affections. I had always believed, or tried to convince myself, that what happened three years ago had been simply an impulse, that you were on the rebound after that breakup with Rachel. I don't think I ever believed that you would truly fall for me.
I realize now that I never apologized for what I put you through when I walked away so long ago. I felt hurt and betrayed. To me, you had always been a brother figure, and I never saw you as anything else. Suddenly you were kissing me with all of the passion that none of my boyfriends had ever shown. You created a response inside of me that I had never felt. It was so confusing. I was not ready to deal with it, so I ran from you. I see now the folly of my actions. I am terribly sorry.
I always knew that you were the best man I had ever known. You were, and still are, so vivacious, carefree, intelligent, kind, sincere, funny and warm, not to mention absolutely gorgeous. They always say that we cannot see what is right before us, and I believe this was my case. I was a silly young thing obsessed with men in uniforms.
It was not until you appeared before me in February that I really began to see you for who you are. The space of time and distance let me step back and take a truly objective look at the man I used to call my best friend. Now, Alex, believe me that my eyes have been opened. I realize that I have been through so many failed relationships simply because I compared every single one to you.
Let me tell you about the dream I had last night…
It started just as our night at the conservatory. I was walking down long, silent marble hallways searching, and searching for something. But I could not find what I was looking for. I started to run and was blinded by my tears. I tripped and fell…into your arms. And suddenly I had found it. I had found you. You lifted me in your arms and held me close and safe, and kissed my tears away. Suddenly we were dancing, and you were whirling me around the room with a gorgeous, crazy grin on your face that took my breath away. The music stopped and we were alone again in the conservatory. You lowered your lips to mine and were just about to kiss me when I woke up. Alex, I have never felt so lonely in my life.
All of this is just a long way of getting to the point. Alex, you are what I was searching for all of my life. I miss you. Alex…
Catherine pressed her hand to her flushed cheeks. She closed her eyes and took a shaky breath. Finally, she took her pen up again.
Alex, I love you.Yours, Catherine Bennet.
Chapter 25
Charles ran into his sister as she was preparing to leave the house. Caroline had avoided every gathering at which there was the remotest possibility that either of the Bennets might appear. Charles was aware of this, and confronted Caroline about it.
Caroline patted him on the cheek. "Charlie, you know that I have not felt well for the past couple of days. I think I am still suffering the effects of jet lag. I cannot possibly appear in company in this condition."
Charles smiled forgivingly at his sister. "Yes, Caroline. I should have known. You will not appear in company unless you are sure you will outshine every woman in the room. I am sorry. I was just so eager for you and Jane to become reacquainted. You look much better now, though. Perhaps this weekend?"
Caroline turned and slowly put her kid gloves on finger by finger. "Yes…well. Charlie, I am meeting my dear Frank for dinner tonight. Do me a favor and take Suzie to get her hair cut. It is much too long for such a little girl. I am taking her to buy some new frocks tomorrow. The ones she has are dreadful and terribly out of style. Oh, I wish you could have seen the fashions for little girls in the spring collections in Paris this year. Oh, the lovely oranges and reds, I was in ecstasy! Oh, how I longed to take my niece for fittings!" She kissed Bingley on both cheeks and jingled her keys in her hand.
Caroline slipped behind the wheel of Charles' shiny red Mercedes. The tires screeched on the wet pavement as she tore out of the driveway. Caroline gripped the steering wheel as she maneuvered through busy rush hour traffic. She barely noticed when a taxi cut her off and nearly took out her right headlight. Caroline was too busy muttering to herself about Bennets.
She pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant ten minutes early. She entered the lobby and gave her name, but Frank had not arrived yet. Her table was not ready, either. Caroline's angry comments did nothing to help the situation. Thomas, the host, smiled at her and gestured to the soft couches lining the wall. With a smirk on his face, he then moved her name down three spots on the list.
Caroline was carefully removing her gloves when a short, greasy looking man entered the restaurant. He strutted up to the host. In a self-important voice, he announced that he was there to meet Superintendent DeBourgh for an early dinner. When the host announced that she had not arrived yet and that his table was not ready, the man spat abuses. Thomas smiled to himself and moved the name DeBourgh to just below the name Bingley.
Caroline had heard the man mention the name DeBourgh. Although he was obviously low class, her curiosity was great, and Caroline condescended to speak to the man. She introduced herself and asked him about Miss DeBourgh as he took a seat.
William Collins was flattered to receive the attention of such a handsome and obviously high class woman. He puffed his chest out, glad to be able to brag about his connection to Miss DeBourgh. "Ah, yes. The superintendent is a close friend of mine. What a woman! She is not only the superintendent of our school district, but she also apparently comes from an old aristocratic British family. Her cousin, Lady DeBourgh, is supposed to be one of the richest independent women in Britain."
Caroline smirked. So he was proud of himself? "Yes, I know Lady Catherine. I almost married her nephew, who happens to be one of the richest men in the Kingdom. If he had listened to his Aunt, we would have been married by now. He shamed his family by marrying that peasant Bennet girl."
Collins' eyes widened. "Did you say Bennet?"
Until their dinner companions arrived, Caroline and Collins discussed the various slights they had received at the hands of various Bennet women. When they took their leave of each other to join their friends, Collins slipped Caroline his E-mail address. "If you need anything at all." She considered throwing it away, but reconsidered and slipped the paper into her pocket thinking that he might prove useful.
"My lady," Frank St. John bowed and offered his arm to his fiancée. Caroline's eyes studied the figure of the man as he pulled out a chair for her. He was in his late thirties, and a solid person. His shoulders were slightly rounded and he had a weak chin. His nose was nice, but his eyes tended to coldness. There were two things that had attracted Caroline to him--his wealth, of course, and his height. In all, he was nothing to compare to William Darcy; but in fortune, he was Darcy's equal.
Caroline smiled graciously as he sat in the chair opposite. This man was to be her husband. But she did not love him. Her hand clenched the napkin in her lap. How was it that she, Caroline Bingley, rich, handsome, cultured, and sophisticated, ended up with a man she could not love, while the Bennets, with little fortune and no social worth, managed to attract the handsomest, richest and best of all men in Britain and the States? It was not to be borne!
Chapter 26
John and Charlotte walked hand in hand along the ocean. The waves that crashed against the rocky shore were ice cold, but the air was warm. John had always been a city man. His busy lifestyle never really left time to enjoy the beauties of nature. He had not been to his large estate in Kent for many years, preferring to be in London, close to his business and friends. With Charlotte, however, John's rather aloof demeanor was melting. He now loved their daily walks. At first it was just because of the company. Now, however, he was beginning to truly enjoy the fresh air and the beauties of rural Massachusetts. He vowed to visit Claremont, his birthright, when he returned to England. Now that he thought about it, the place did offer a fair prospect. He knew that Charlotte would love it.
Charlotte dropped John's hand to pick up a shiny stone. John studied her form as she pitched the rock into the crashing waves. Charlotte was as wholesome as a young girl. She seemed so innocent that John found it hard to believe that she had been married and divorced already, not to mention the fact that she had a doctorate.
John caught her hand as she walked to stand in front of him. With a slight smile, he led her to sit on a large, flat rock.
"My dear, I understand if you do not wish to discuss it, but I have always wondered…" He paused, uncertain how to continue.
Charlotte lowered her head. She spoke in a soft voice. "You wish to know about my marriage."
John squeezed her hand. "Only if you are comfortable with the subject."
Charlotte looked into his earnest eyes. "I will never be comfortable with the subject, John. But I think that you deserve to know. I want you to know."
She took his hand in hers. "I was never considered beautiful. I was intelligent, got good marks in school. But I never really learned to flirt like other girls. I was too self-conscious. Somehow, I always thought that no man would ever want me. I wasn't as pretty or exciting as other girls. So when Billy Collins paid attention to me, I was flattered. He was not the best of suitors, but he was the only one who seemed to like me. He…" She lowered her head and tears dropped onto their hands.
"He raped me." John clenched his jaw and pulled her into his arms, smoothing her hair with his hand.
Charlotte tucked her face under his chin, feeling somewhat safer in his strong embrace. "He later convinced me that I wanted it, that I led him on. I believed him. How was I to know? Several months later, I found out that I was pregnant. Of course, it was his. My father had just been elected to his first term as mayor, and Collins knew the scandal it would cause. He dangled this under my nose, and asked if I wanted to be the one to bring my father down…my dad had run under a campaign of family values. Collins married me for the influence of my connections. I…"
Charlotte was crying so hard that she could barely speak. "I lost the baby. He took a mistress. My only refuge was school. There I was an equal. So I kept working on degrees until I got my doctorate. At graduation, I realized that my husband was not in the audience. I wanted to leave him so badly, but I could not. I made a promise to him and to God. I got home that night to find him in my bed with another woman. He told me to get out of the house, that he was leaving me."
John hugged Charlotte fiercely, wishing that he could change the past, to make up for it. He murmured comforting and loving words into her ear and kissed her face. Charlotte finally lifted her face, feeling strangely light after the catharsis of her outpouring. She smiled slightly at the anxious look on John's face. Slowly, the darkness left her face and was replaced by the light of wonder. She touched John's cheek softly.
"And then you came."
John kissed her gently, "And here I am."
Chapter 27
Charlotte and John sat at the seashore until the weather began to turn. John kissed Charlotte on the nose as he buttoned her wool coat up to her neck. The wind was starting to whip fiercely over the waves as John took Charlotte's hand and led her back towards town. The streets were rather deserted, as it was a Sunday evening. The growing wind spun snow off of the snowbanks that lined the road. John wrapped his arm around Charlotte's shoulders as they entered the town. He suggested that they stop into "Marivel's," a cozy old house that had been turned into a coffee house.
The building was painted a dark gray, and had cheerful light purple eaves, window frames and door. Cozy yellow light peeked out of the wide front windows. John opened the door and followed Charlotte inside. They were greeted by the smooth strains of a slow piano piece. Voices murmured down the hall, where the rooms of the main floor had been turned into cozy tea rooms. The main entry contained the glass counter that was filled with huge fresh raspberry scones, cheesecake, sandwiches, biscotti and many other sumptuous treats. The countertop and walls were decorated with photographs of the Marivel family, the employees and various customers. In the corner, a fireplace crackled cheerfully. Young college-age employees chatted comfortably with people dressed in business suits as they prepared their orders. Through an opening in the wall, a large group was visible, sitting around an old oak table and talking animatedly. It was the city council, and Charlotte's father was leaning back comfortably in his seat, arms crossed, with a grin on his face as he listened.
Charlotte tried to remain inconspicuous, so her father would not see her. She knew that if he did, he would stop the meeting to introduce John to everyone. She whispered in John's ear and walked down the hall to find a table in one of the smaller rooms.
John placed the order, took the mugs, and walked down the hallway. He found Charlotte in a small back room that had once served as a small parlor. It was just large enough to hold a fireplace, a coffee table, a soft dark green couch, two side chairs and a rocking chair. The walls were painted a soft moss green on top and papered in rose silk wallpaper on the lower third. The table was covered with photo albums, art books and novels. A small bookshelf in the corner contained leather bound copies of many classics. Small sconces emitted soft light. A fire danced in the grate. John handed Charlotte her mug and sank happily onto the couch next to her.
Bill Collins watched as his ex-wife entered the coffee shop with her new boyfriend. He would never get over the betrayal. He was positive that Charlotte was the reason that his life had hit such a nose-dive. Since their divorce, he was no longer invited to important dinners, and people who used to go out of their way to help Collins now avoided his phone calls. Bill never realized that all of the good will had been done because of pity for his wife. Now that she was gone, people gladly stepped back from the odious man. They thought it was amazing that Charlotte had made it out of that marriage with her sanity.
Bill pulled his dingy black coat closer about him to block out the sleet as he walked towards the house. He edged in the door and peeked around the corner into the cozy room where John and Charlotte were deep in conversation. Bill went back to the front room, sat at an inconspicuous table and waived impatiently for a waitress, not realizing that in places like this, you placed your order at the counter. After several minutes, he stormed to the counter and complained. The waitress eyed the greaseball in front of her and decided that it would not hurt business if she were impertinent. She informed "the gentleman" that if he had paid attention, he would have noticed how things were done here. If he did not like them, he was free to go back into the nasty weather. Otherwise, if he waited patiently at the counter, she just might get around to helping him.
Collins considered walking out, but he decided to stay a while longer to observe Charlotte and John. He winked at the waitress, who cringed at his leer, and ordered two drinks sent to the couple in the 'rose room.' In one of them, he tucked a small note.
Do you think Loverboy knows how your dirty little mind works?
He slipped behind a lattice divider in the room opposite to watch Charlotte's face as she received the order. She and John looked curiously around as the waitress set the large mugs in front of them. Collins smirked at the confusion on their faces when she said she was told specifically to point out that they were Rocky-Road-Double-Shot-of-Espresso-Cappuccinos. Charlotte lifted her cup to her lips when she saw the paper. She slipped it from under the mug, gasped, and dropped the large mug to the floor, where it shattered to smithereens.
John took the paper, swore, and rose to his feet. After making sure that Charlotte was all right, he looked around, raced to the front of the café and out the door.
Collins had made a hasty exit during the commotion. He had just driven away when John jogged out the door of the café. As he watched John in his rear view mirror, a self-satisfied smile crossed his face. " Now she will be jumping at every shadow. Serves her right for double crossing me." His eyes filled with a crazy hardness, and his grin was bordering on insane. "Teaches her to mess with Super Collins on his trusty steed…" He looked at the model name on his steering wheel, "On his trusty orange steed, Gremlin!" He laughed maniacally as he laid on his horn and swerved through the near empty Longbourn streets.