Beginning, Next Section
Introduction
For Seth and Marcus
"...and now for some news that has all of Gotham reeling. The millionaire Fitzwilliam Darcy has announced the sale of Darcy Enterprises and is planning a move to an undisclosed location. Commissioner Gordan is just now leaving his early morning meeting with Mr. Darcy. Commissioner, would you care to comment on the rumor that Mr. Darcy is closing up shop in Gotham?""It's no rumor. Get that microphone out of my face."
"Sorry. Care to comment on his relocation plans or on the city's future with Darcy Enterprises?"
"No. Mr. Darcy is planning a press conference at 10 a.m. I suggest that you save all your questions for him."
The camera caught Commissioner Gordan's grim expression as he stalked away from the reporter who recovered quickly from his abrupt departure.
"That's the news from City Hall. Details are apparently forthcoming at 10 a.m. Back to you, Sidney."
Mr. Darcy switched off the television set and sat back tiredly in his chair. He had hoped that the Commissioner would take the news calmly. After all, the city was finally running smoothly and the good Commissioner for once felt the ease of a clean city. It was time to move on. He knew that back at Darcy Manor, his faithful servant Alfred and his best friend Charles were overseeing the removal of the mansion's contents, well, he thought wryly, most of the contents. He turned his thoughts back to his 10 a.m. press conference, steeling himself for the difficult questions to come.
Chapter One
Meanwhile, in a faraway city named Meryton, a family of seven were sitting down to breakfast.
"Do we have to watch TV while we eat?" whined Lydia, the youngest in both age and attitude. "You always pick CNN or the local news...never anything that Catherine and I like, right Cat?"
"Yeah, why don't you put on E! or VH1 or something else?" agreed Catherine.
"Well, you girls might actually have some knowledge seep into your brains this way--like osmosis," smiled their father, although secretly he had quite given up on them being anything but silly and ignorant.
"Hon! Turn that up!" his wife shrieked. "Oh my, what a great thing for our daughters!!"
"...and on a unrelated note, our reporter has just received word that the multi-millionaire Fitzwilliam Darcy will be leaving Gotham City to relocate here in the Meryton area," the announcer was saying. "We're going live to Charlotte Lucas at Netherfield Manor."
"Thanks Bill. Yes, the word on the street is that Netherfield Manor is let at last, to a Mr. Charles Bingley, close friend to Mr. Darcy..." she said and Elizabeth, the second oldest daughter leaned over to her older sister and whispered:
"I don't know why they're so excited, Jane. Sounds like Darcy is gay!" Jane just shook her head, used to Elizabeth's quips.
"And how is this such a good thing for our daughters?" Mr. Bennet queried, smirking slightly at his two oldest daughters.
"Why must you always be so..." sputtered Mrs. Bennet.
"Perceptive? Intelligent? Handsome?"
"Irritating was the word that I was looking for," Mrs. Bennet said, her eyes narrowing at her spouse. "Why just think, dear, two very eligible men coming to Meryton...they just might fall in love with a couple of our girls and then they would be set for life. It would take a lot of money to get Netherfield, so Mr. Bingley must be rich, too."
"Speaking of money, that is my cue to leave for work!" said Elizabeth wryly. "I have to be there in time to open the bank. Jane, would you like a lift downtown?"
"Sure...I could use the extra time to do a little bookkeeping for my shop." They both rose from the table, exchanging a glance of mirth with their father, who looked as if he wished that he also had an excuse to leave. The two youngest were already engaged in pleading for new clothes from their parents, and the middle sister, Mary, was engrossed in a book.
"Hey, Mary, better get a move on it! You'll be late opening the library!" Mary slammed her book shut, drained her orange juice glass and bolted for the stairs, taking them two at a time.
"Mary should have gone out for track in high school...looks like a sprinter!" Elizabeth laughed as she and Jane went out the front door to her old Datsun. "Here, let me get the door for you, Jane. You must get used to being a rich man's wife because..."
"A single man with a lot of money must be in want of a wife!" Jane giggled and they headed for their jobs in Meryton.
Chapter 2
The week passed slowly for those eager to get a glimpse of the famous Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley. Indeed, if not for the Meryton town gala planned for that very Friday, it was sure that some of the residents would spontaneously combust.
For Elizabeth Bennet, the week passed by much as usual. Work, workout and home to fend off her mother's suggestions that she must really try to get ready for the gala by at least buying a new dress and perhaps going to the hair salon run by Aunt Phillips.
"Oh dear, Lizzy!" Mrs. Bennet said nervously. "Just look at your hair! Why won't you go have Auntie fix it for you...it is such a fright! I'm sure that Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley are used to the most elegant of females."
"That may be," Elizabeth answered wryly. "But I like my hair the way it is."
"Well, maybe you should change the color then. I've heard that men prefer blondes."
"I think that you're still living in the 50's, Mom." Said with no small degree of exasperation.
"A facial, then. Go get a facial and a makeover."
"A facial. I will go for a facial." Anything to get you off my back, she thought. Besides I haven't really talked to Auntie for at least, hmmm, a couple of days. She pulled on a coat and went toward her car, looking up at the threatening clouds above her. "Looks like snow. Maybe the gala will be canceled and we will really see something interesting!"
Once at the Phillips beauty salon and snack shop, she paused outside for a minute before taking a deep breath and opening the door. The odor of permanent solution and sandwiches hit her nostrils and she deeply regretted entering. Aunt Phillips turned from her client's hair and said loudly:
"It's my niece! One of Meryton's beauties, come to get even more beautiful for the gala. So, which of the young men do you think that you'll be setting your sights on, dear?"
"Oh, maybe the chauffeur driver!" Elizabeth said nonchalantly, watching her aunt's face drop, before realizing the joke.
"What a character! Have you heard the latest?"
"No, do tell." She said with as little encouragement as possible, which was lost on her Aunt.
"Your sisters Lydia and Catherine were just in here. I'm so worried about Catherine, she is getting quite a bad cough. Anyway, they were just saying that Mr. Bingley is bringing a whole bunch of people to the gala. Several men and about a dozen women or so. Doesn't that sound marvelous?"
"Sounds like the men are very outnumbered!"
"Yes, I would imagine so...but just think of the business that I might get...oh my! What, Nadine? Oh, sorry. I didn't even hear that timer go off. We better check your hair. You'd hate to go to the gala bald!" Both women screeched with laughter, and Elizabeth hid her expression behind a Redbook magazine that was next to her. Soon, it was Elizabeth's turn in the chair and she reluctantly left her magazine on the end table.
"Do you want the works?"
"No, Auntie, just a facial."
"How about a makeover?"
"No, thanks, really." Really, I'm not into bright blue or green 70's eye shadow. I'll pass.
After her facial, she decided to pay Jane a visit at her shop, 'La Nuit'. It did a brisk business, even with the relative smallness of Meryton. It would seem that almost every lady in the area liked lingerie...a lot."
"Hey Janie, what's up?"
"Not much. I just had a small rush a little bit ago. Some anticipating tonight's gala. Charlotte Lucas was just here!"
"Buying for Bill again?"
"I guess so. Either that or thinking to trade up with one of the two newest eligible bachelors!"
"Have you been hanging out with Mom and Auntie again?" they both laughed.
"Lydia and Cat were just in."
"To get lingerie? They're still in high school!"
"Apparently Mom doesn't think that it would hurt to get them launched into the path of Bingley and Co.."
"Has she been after you to 'visit' Auntie Phillips?"
"Every day. I'm going to close up early tonight and go to the salon, just so that Mom won't have a coronary."
"You want to go shopping before your 'visit'?"
"Ford's?"
"Sure, why not? Let's splurge a little. After all, we're both working girls!"
"Okay. I'm going for bagels. Want some?"
"Get me an Asiago and some jalepeno cream cheese."
"Right! Be back soon!" Elizabeth left the shop and had just crossed the street when a sleek car drove by, sloshing her slightly with the residual water from the gutter. In dismay, she looked down at her wool suit that had muddy spots on it and thought of her already mounting dry cleaning bill. A dark haired man appeared in the back seat as the window lowered itself.
"Terribly sorry, Miss. Is your suit ruined? Oh, I see that we did get you quite well." Elizabeth looked over the man whose head was almost out of the window by this time, taking in her well-tailored suit and trim ankles.
"Yes, it's no big deal, really. I'll just have it dry cleaned. It should be fine."
"I would like to take care of it. My responsibility. Here's my card. Please send the bill to the address there and I'll reimburse you."
"Really, Mr. Darcy, is it? I can take care of it."
"Well, if the suit is ruined, I will want to replace it for you."
"I might take you up on that one. This suit was hard to come by."
"And a very nice one. Did you get it tailored here in Meryton?" He continued to look at her suit in a way that made her feel very warm despite the chilly air.
"No, actually I have a private tailor." Elizabeth said, hoping that he wouldn't ask for the name of her tailor.
"I would like to meet with your tailor and maybe get a suit done. Excellent work."
"Well, you're talking to her."
"You sewed that?" She thought that she read something besides astonishment in his expression.
"Yes I did." The man in the car caught the set of her jaw and the flash of her eyes, and wondered at her reaction.
"You have a lot of talent."
"Thank you."
"Anyway, Miss..."
"Bennet, Elizabeth Bennet."
"Miss Bennet, the offer still stands. If the suit needs to be replaced, please contact me."
"I'll keep that in mind. Good-bye." He watched her enter the bagel shop and smiled at Alfred in the mirror.
"She's something else, isn't she?"
"Yes, indeed sir!" And the car headed for Netherfield Manor.
Chapter 3
"Say Alfred," said Darcy, leaning toward his driver. "Did you notice anything else about her?"
"Yes, Master Fitzwilliam. She sews."
"Yes, she does sew. Like Selena."
"Miss Kyle did sew very interesting outfits, did she not?"
"Yes." Darcy sat back in his seat, lost in memories of the past. "Selena..." escaped his lips and Alfred looked in his rear view mirror.
"Did you say something, Master Fitzwilliam?"
"No, Alfred." Alfred took a long look at his long-time employer and the expression that had crossed his face. Maybe this Miss Bennet would prove to be a much-needed antidote to his master's Selena affliction.
A few hours later, the Charles Bingley party was en route to the gala. They had heard that it was to be a formal affair, so all were dressed in tuxes and long dresses. Darcy appeared to still be detached and distracted and so missed the admiring glances that Charles' single sister Caroline cast his way. Determined to involve him in the conversation, she tried the direct approach.
"So, Fitzwilliam," she began, which caused Darcy to look at her as if coming out of a fog. "What do you think that this party will be like? I'm sure that it won't be anything at all like the ones in Gotham. The decor was always to die for."
"Yes, they usually were. I doubt that it will be so...exquisite. Meryton has a much smaller budget."
"Well, I hope that the band will at least be decent. You must dance with me or I may be forced to dance with one of the locals."
"Sure." Although it was said with little enthusiasm, it was said and that was all that Caroline needed. Triumphantly she turned to her sister and began discussing fashion, and Darcy lapsed back into his reverie of Selena Kyle. Now there was a woman, he thought. Not a slave to fashion, but rather she made her own style...and how! Nothing like a whip and a little well-fitting black leather to get a man's attention. Not to mention how her personality had left its mark on him, he thought as he ruefully rubbed his right side. If only there was another such woman for him, but on the right side of the law.
The limousine pulled up in front of the historic Lion hotel and Alfred went around to let the passengers out. Caroline left the car without even looking at Alfred or acknowledging his outstretched helping hand. Darcy got out afterward and grimaced at Alfred who smiled slightly before helping the others out.
"Do you think that we'll be safe here?" Caroline asked snidely, taking in the older neighborhood.
"Yes, Ma'am," Alfred answered, glancing briefly at Darcy. "Very safe indeed."
The party entered the building and it seemed that the gala was already in full force. Darcy's eyes swept the room mechanically, noting the calculating look in many mothers' faces as he glanced in their and their daughters' direction. "Meat market." He thought absentmindedly, preferring to keep his eyes averted from any desperate-looking woman. A rotund, jovial sort of man approached their party and Darcy recognized him as the Commissioner Lucas's husband, a publics relations man for the city.
"Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy! So good to have you grace our gala. Do come have some hors d'oeuvres and something to drink. Can I introduce you to anyone?"
"Yes, actually you can!" came Charles' amazing reply. Darcy looked at him quickly and noticed that his attention had been taken by a very beautiful blond woman talking to a group of women, one of whom looked familiar.
"Oh, I see that you've seen our Miss Jane Bennet. Local beauty. Did I mention that it's Miss?"
"Introduce me, then!"
"With pleasure!" The two started off in the direction of the famous Miss Bennet and Darcy trailed along behind, at a discrete distance. He was curious about this beautiful woman but even more curious about the dark-haired woman standing next to her who appeared to be making humorous comments in her ear. The introductions were made around and Darcy looked into the deep eyes of the woman that his car had splashed. Her eyes almost narrowed as she recognized him, but then her expression became indecipherable.
"Mr. Darcy," she said coolly. "How nice to see you again." He noted how her tone and her words didn't match.
"Miss Bennet. I trust that your suit will be salvageable?"
"Oh, have you two met before?" gushed a middle-aged woman beside them whose eagle eyes had not gone unnoticed by Darcy. "Are you also a dancer, Mr. Darcy, like your friend here?"
Her attitude annoyed him and he did his best to remain civil, even in the face of such obvious match-making efforts. "I rarely dance, Madame."
"But, how often do you find such lively music and so many beautiful partners?" the odious woman persisted.
"Not often." Darcy said curtly, nodded to the Miss Bennets and walked away, disgusted at such openly manipulative behavior. Behind him, he could hear Charles attempting to smooth over his departure the best that he could and the indignant replies of the older Mrs. Bennet. "Sorry, but I don't suffer fools very well," he muttered to himself, and Caroline, watching, saw her chance to move in.
"Fitzwilliam, there you are! Remember, you promised me a dance..." she smiled up at him.
From the frying pan into the fire, he thought, but said "A promise is a promise." He led her out onto the dance floor, which didn't go unnoticed by Mrs. Bennet, whose tirade became louder and more acidic. Her daughter, Elizabeth, appeared unconcerned by her mother's comments and also by him, which was refreshing.
Whirling Caroline around the dance floor, he was suddenly transported into his past, when he had held Selena in his arms, trying to convince her to overcome her criminal side. His hands unknowingly tightened around Caroline and she pressed herself closer to him, positive that this time her attentions would be rewarded. A satisfied look crossed her face as he groaned slightly, his cheek resting on the side of her head. "Selena..."
"What!" Caroline jerked back and looked at him. "Who is Selena?"
"What do you mean, who is Selena?"
"You just called me Selena." Caroline seethed, waiting for an answer.
"Oh, sorry. You look thirsty. Let's go get something to drink."
"Thanks, but I need to go to the bathroom first." She headed for the bathrooms, after first grabbing her sister by the arm and pulling her along with her.
Darcy installed himself by the drink station as it seemed to be the farthest away from all the mothers and anyone else who remotely looked in the mood to talk. He went back to scanning the room, trying to read expressions and was surprised to see Charles heading for him in a determined manner.
"Come on, Darcy. You have to dance! There are so many beautiful women here..."
"You've been monopolizing the only true beauty."
"She's gorgeous, isn't she? But she has a sister who is also very good-looking. Look, she's right over there." He looked over and saw that it was Elizabeth.
"Don't think so. Nice try, Bingley. I'm really not interested in dancing."
"Why not?"
"She's just not my type."
"Yeah, I know how you like blondes, but she's something else."
"She sure is," Darcy remarked dryly. "I doubt that her feelings would be terribly hurt if I don't dance with her. Just go back to Jane. You're wasting your breath."
"Fine!" He watched Charles make his way happily back to Jane and there he glued himself for the rest of the evening. Elizabeth walked by him, smirking and began talking with her friend that he recognized as the female newscaster for the local station. They both looked in his direction and the newscaster laughed loudly at something that Elizabeth said. Mystified, but largely uninterested, he stood with his arms folded, enduring the rest of the evening, until Alfred came to collect them a few hours later.
*Selena Kyle (for those who may not be up on the Bat lore) is the real identity of Cat Woman.
Chapter 4
The Bennet family gathered in their family room after the gala to inform the non-attending Mr. Bennet of the night's events. Lydia and Catherine seemed the most pleased with themselves, followed closely by Mrs. Bennet.
"You should have seen how many dances we danced, Dad!" Lydia said exultantly. "We probably danced all of them, right Cat?"
"Seems like it. My feet hurt."
"And Mary didn't dance any!" Lydia smirked as Mary entered the room frowning and picked up a discarded book.
"Like I was missing out," she muttered to herself.
Mrs. Bennet then picked up the refrain. "Oh hon, guess what!"
"I can't possibly guess, so you'd better tell me."
"Mr. Bingley preferred Jane to any other girl and would dance only with her. Isn't that wonderful?"
"Yes, nothing better for our girls!" He replied sarcastically. "And my Lizzy, how did she make out?"
"Well, there was Mr. Darcy, who seemed to already be acquainted with her, but he refused to dance with her flat out. I've never been so upset in my life. Almost brought on a case of nerves."
"So, he didn't want to dance with you, Lizzy?"
"I'm so devastated, can't you tell?" Her eyes sparkled merrily. "No biggie. I had a great time without the famous multi-millionaire Fitzwilliam Darcy." Her father merely raised his eyes at her and went back to his evening paper that he had been reading when they all burst into the room.
"Mary, you should try a little harder. You know, that Bill Collins would make a nice husband and he doesn't seem to be set in any firm relationship..."
"Mom, I think that you're forgetting Charlotte."
"Charlotte? Why, she's no competition for any of my girls, even you, Mary. If you would fix your hair, put on some makeup and get some new clothes, he'd be all over you."
"Oh joy." Just like Mom to try and set me up with that pedantic moron. He's only read about two books in his whole life. And hasn't he ever heard of antiperspirant...Mary thought. Why there are so many wonderful books out there...take Personal Criminal, for instance. Why the way that is written, it could almost work in real life...
"Mary, are you all right?" Elizabeth noticed a strange look sweep across her sister's face. Almost sinister or something. Nah, this was Mary that she was looking at, anyway.
"Hmm? Oh, no just thinking about this book that I'm thinking of promoting at the library. Well, it's time for me to hit the hay. I have to be at work early to set up displays." Mary left the room smiling smugly to herself. It is definitely payback time and I'm going to be the cashier, she thought.
Chapter 5
Although her mother thought and talked of nothing but Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy and their fortunes, Elizabeth herself wasted little time on the matter. She began to feel as if the women of Meryton had had their brains removed (except in the case of her mother) and refilled with images of the two men. One day, as she was lunching with Charlotte, she mentioned this theory to her friend's amusement.
"Well, Liz, it really is a small town after all, " she smiled. "What else do they have to do? And, the curious thing is, I notice that Mr. Darcy looks at you a lot!"
"How ironic. I try not to look at him at all. He's just so...so..."
"So in the booth across the room staring at us!" Charlotte filled in with a whisper. "Don't look now, but someone is gawking!"
"Whatever Char! Maybe he's contemplating what other articles of my wardrobe he can destroy."
"You're so weird. Every other woman in Meryton would give their eye teeth to have him notice them."
"I'm not every woman, Char." Darcy smiled as he caught the last of her sentence, since he had moved closer to them in an effort to examine the antique juke box that the diner still used.
"She's got that right!" he thought with considerable amusement until her voice pierced him through.
"Wouldn't you say so, Mr. Darcy?" How did she know that I was listening to her?
"Wouldn't I say what, Miss Bennet?" There. Now maybe she won't think that I'm eavesdropping.
"Oh, sorry. I thought that you were listening in." Touché. "Well, I was just talking to Charlotte about the dance that her father is throwing this week. Are you going to be there?"
"Yes. I will be there."
"Even though you dislike the amusement so much?" Her eyes glinted with mischief, a fact that he suddenly found very appealing.
"I don't necessarily dislike it," he said and was amused to see a slight look of disbelief cross her face. "Ah, you don't seem to believe me. In that case, I reserve the first dance with you, Miss Bennet!" So intent on watching her expression, he missed the smug one that Charlotte gave Elizabeth. "Until Friday, then?" He smiled politely and paid for his ticket then left. Charlotte and Elizabeth watched him walk down the street to his waiting limo and then Charlotte said:
"Yes, he so only looks at you to criticize. Do you think that you'll soon be an item?"
"Why, are you so short of news that you have to invent some now? Maybe you should go to the Enquirer and skip the TV bit?"
"Ohmygosh, the TV...look at what time it is! I've gotta run. Here's my portion of the bill, see you later!"
Elizabeth shook her head and looked at her watch. "Lunch hour is over. Back to the bank." She picked up her purse, slung it over her shoulder and walked the two blocks to the bank. More than one pair of eyes were following her back to her work.
Chapter 6
Charles and his group arrived early at the Lucas Lodge soiree. Charles was most eager to speak with Jane Bennet again, and Darcy was much less eager to be around her family, although the thought of Elizabeth Bennet did make him smile. In anticipation of her interesting conversation, he installed himself next to a large, intricately carved fireplace and leaned against the mantle. When Elizabeth walked into the room half an hour later, he was still in that same attitude, although he straightened slightly as he caught a glimpse of her. He noticed that she immediately went to seek out her friend Charlotte and occasionally caught them looking in his direction, usually with wide smiles on their faces. Sensing some great need to move closer to them, his eyes swept across the room. Ah, her sister Mary. Now there is someone I could get to know more about...and she's right next to them on one of the couches. Excellent. He also saw that his target was looking at a magazine and it seemed like an odd sort of one at that. He slowly made his way to the couch where Mary had planted herself to be bored for the rest of the evening.
"May I?" He asked, motioning toward the space on the couch.
"Sure." She responded flatly, her eyes still fixed on her magazine until she grew curious to know who was sitting next to her. "Oh, hello, Mr. Darcy."
"Call me William."
"How about Bill?"
"I'd rather not!" He was surprised to notice that her eyes suddenly resembled Elizabeth's sparkly ones when she was in a teasing mode.
"I'm Mary. Mary Bennet."
"Oh, I thought that you must be a Bennet. Your eyes remind me of Elizabeth."
"So, you know Elizabeth." Must be looking for information on one of my sisters. Typical.
"Only slightly. Not really enough to say that I 'know' her."
"Okay. Let's cut to the chase. What do you want me to tell you about her?"
"Oh, the direct approach. No, actually I came over to meet you." Well, not exactly the truth, but it works. And anyway, why is she reading that kind of magazine?
Mary looked at him in astonishment and disbelief.
Yeah, right Bill. Tell me another bedtime story. And what is it that you seem to find so interesting about me, anyway?"
"Take that magazine that you're reading. Not a very common coffee-table variety, wouldn't you say?"
"What? Guns 'N Ammo isn't very trendy these days? And here I thought that I was making headway in my cosmo girl training."
"So do you take an interest in weaponry?" There must be more to her than meets the eye. Forget Elizabeth for now. Let's find out about this sister.
Elizabeth watched Darcy cross the room and sit next to Mary. Her conversation with Charlotte was all but forgotten as she observed their friendly banter until Charlotte reminded her to close her mouth and stop staring.
"I've never seen anything like it!" she exclaimed. "The self-important Mr. Darcy actually talking to Mary? And looking like he enjoys it?"
"Now who is staring at whom?" Charlotte teased.
"Oh, stop it, Char. Don't you think that it's kind of...weird?"
"Weird or not, it must be nice for Mary. She hardly ever gets noticed by guys."
"I guess so. Maybe Mr. Darcy isn't all bad after all." Her attention was then drawn by several newcomers to the party, most of whom were in military attire. "Who are those guys, Char?"
"Some new officers who arrived at the base this morning. Don't you ever watch my newscast?"
"I had to take care of some early morning stuff at the bank. You know that I usually catch you before work."
"Well, I interviewed them. News was kind of slow today! The tall, really good-looking dark-haired one is someone named George Wickham. The other two I'm less certain about. Last names are Denny and Carter. They seem to like to hang out together."
"Uh oh, looks like they might like to hang out with high school girls, too!" she said, noticing that Lydia and Catherine had made a beeline for their group and had even started hanging on Denny and Carter's arms, giggling and batting their eyes at them. Only George Wickham seemed immune to their charms as he looked around the room in a bored sort of way until his eyes rested on Elizabeth. Smiling sardonically, he extricated himself from his group and went directly over to her. So caught up in the expression on the man's face, she failed to notice the lull in Mary and Darcy's conversation.
From his position on the couch, Darcy could see the majority of the room's activity. He had barely acknowledged the newcomers as anything important, although the tall one seemed to be familiar to him for some reason. He decided that the best course of action was to leave Mary's scintillating thoughts and be introduced to the tall man, to see if perhaps he did know him after all. He rose from the couch and Mary watched him leave with a glint in her eye.
"Hello Miss Bennet, Miss Lucas."
"Mr. Darcy," they both said in unison, then laughed.
"Have you met Mr. Wickham? He is also a newcomer to Meryton." Charlotte said.
"No, I don't believe that I have." Darcy said, holding his hand out to shake Wickham's.
"Nice to meet you." Said the man, and at the sound of his voice, Darcy froze inside. His face remained implacable but his mind was churning. Why is that voice so familiar? I have never seen him before in my life. Better find out more about him.
"So, you a military man, then?"
"Yes, I'm what you'd call a lifer. And yourself?"
"Oh Mr. Darcy is a business man. He owns Darcy Enterprises." Elizabeth offered.
"Is that so? Not the Fitzwilliam Darcy profiled as Time's Man of the Year?"
"Yes, I'm afraid so!" Darcy listened to the man's speech patterns but still could not place him. He spent a little more time thus engaged and then excused himself to make a call. Within a few minutes, Alfred pulled up to Lucas Lodge and Darcy left the party. As he switched on the computer screen in the car, he saw a slight figure slip away from the side of the Lodge. "Hmmm, Mary must have gotten bored." He turned his attention back to the screen and typed in the words 'George Wickham', waiting for the information that would not satisfy his curiousity.
"Something wrong, Master Fitzwilliam?" asked Alfred as he heard a discontented noise from the back of the car.
"It just doesn't make any sense, Alfred. Now why would someone seem familiar if I've never met him before in my life? I almost felt the hair stand up on the back of my neck when he spoke, yet his face told me nothing."
"Some things are not always what they seem, Master Fitzwilliam," answered Alfred enigmatically as he turned down a less-traveled side road.
"Not always what they seem, hmmm," Darcy replied as he stared at the information on the screen.
Chapter 7
The party ended much sooner than Charles had desired, so he offered to take Jane and a few of the partygoers back to Netherfield for movie viewing in his own home theater. They were eventually able to convince Mrs. Bennet that she was much more needed helping her friend, Mrs. Lucas, clean up after the soiree, and so they left Lucas Lodge, with only an intimate group of friends. Lydia hung around the Lodge with her mother, since George Wickham didn't appear to be interested in going to Netherfield.
He noticed her obvious claims to attention, and smiled inwardly. There will always be silly and ignorant people to use to my own advantage, he thought with satisfaction. The mother may also possibly be exploited, as determined as she is to throw them into the paths of perspective husbands. Yes, this sleepy town will do quite well...and it is located within 30 miles of a major city, so if the pickings get slim, I can go out for my business. He turned his energy to charming the remaining ladies for his previously allotted time and then made his excuses to leave.
Upon exiting Lucas Lodge, he saw the set of footprints in the freshly fallen snow. Small and female, he thought. Wonder why they are weaving in and out of the cars? He shrugged and got into his own car, one of the few without tracks around it and drove to a non-descript apartment in a secluded part of town. He opened the car door and swung his long legs out of the seat. Stretching and yawning, he entered his apartment, flipped on a dim light and went over to a mirror. What a stroke of luck, seeing Darcy at the soiree. This was going to be so interesting. He smirked at his reflection in the mirror before reaching behind his ear and slowly pulling off the face to reveal one that Darcy would have known. Yes, False Face would soon be back in business, he said to himself as he placed the mask on its dummy head near the others.
Meanwhile, back at Lucas Lodge, Lydia and her mother were exultantly discussing their plans for Wickham domination as they left the warm interior for their cold vehicle. They both climbed into their '73 station wagon and Mrs. Bennet prepared to immediately take off.
"Mom, don't you have to let the car warm up first? Remember what Dad said would happen if you don't."
"Oh, like your dad is here freezing his buns off in this car. Let's go. I don't have time to catch cold waiting on this car. Besides, we're only five minutes from home."
"Okay, but don't say that I didn't warn you if the car breaks down."
"Since when did you become the spokesgirl for Car and Driver?"
Lydia slumped down in her seat and refused to look at her mother, staring out the window instead. She watched the snowflakes fall softly down and grimaced. She hated to have to wear more clothes than truly necessary and all this snow would force her to have to wear layers. She was going to look bulky, she just knew it.
Mary had managed to make her way over to the bank and was standing outside of it in the alley behind, cursing her bad luck for the snow. "That stupid Collins. Why can't he ever get a forecast right?" She turned to go home. She couldn't ruin her perfectly great plan by doing something so rash as to forage in incriminating weather.
Chapter 8
Darcy spent a great deal of time on his computer, a fact that didn't escape the notice of Charles. Try as he could, Darcy was unmoved in his research and Charles resigned himself to entertaining his Meryton friends on his own with the help of his sister Caroline. Although Caroline herself had attempted to seduce Darcy from his computer, he remained as stoic as ever toward her, wishing that she would cease wearing her filmy nightwear around before it even became dark. The voice of George Wickham became an obsession, and although he found nothing amiss in his military records, still he puzzled over his reaction. Wearily scratching his head, he put down his computer, turned down his covers and climbed into bed, falling immediately into a troubled sleep.
Outside, the cloudy sky obscured the moon's light. With the snow melted and gone with the day's heat, the night was perfectly dark. A lone figure slipped silently from building to building, alley to alley, blending into the darkness. The black bodysuit and mask completely covered the person and black night vision goggles fully concealed the identity. Approaching the Meryton bank, a crossbow was drawn, and an arrow shot into the concrete roof area. The individual was drawn up quickly via a pulley system and quickly crossed the roof to a small skylight. A glass cutter soon cut a small opening and the crossbow was lowered into the space, was shot to the other side of the room below to provide a taut line to attach a small metal slide, which the person held on to as the body weight brought him/her rapidly near the floor. A small spray from a produced can lit up areas of security lasers. Carefully, the person slipped into a non-secured area and inched along the floor, spraying the air every few seconds to check for lasers. Gradually the safe area was reached and a small computer device was affixed to the first set of combination locks. One by one, the locks were tripped and finally the great door leading to the vault swung open. The person rapidly stuffed the bills into the backpack, zipped it, and left a small card in the bills' void. The escape was as smooth as the entry and the person breathed a sigh of relief once back on the roof. Until two strong hands grabbed the waist from behind and a ragged voice said sardonically in the person's ear:
"I'll take that backpack, if you don't mind." As the second person started to slip the backpack from the first one's shoulders, the first kicked up quickly into the second's groin area.
"Yes, actually I do mind," she said sweetly. "Get your own backpack, 'George', if that's really your name."
He looked up at her from his curled up position on the roof and grunted, "Who are you?"
"Just call me The Bookworm!" she smiled underneath her mask and shot an arrow deftly into the next building. He rose unsteadily to his feet, still clutching himself, watching her slide to the alley and disappear into the shadows.
Chapter 9
The next morning, Darcy was seated in his favorite overstuffed chair, reading, when Alfred came into the room bearing a breakfast tray.
"Master Fitzwilliam, I have brought your morning tray. And also sir..." he paused, which made Darcy look up.
"Yes, Alfred?"
"You might want to switch on the morning news. It seems that something rather interesting has just occurred in this town."
"Thank you, Alfred." He motioned for Alfred to set the tray down on a small table next to him and picked up the remote. As the sound and the picture came into focus, Charlotte Lucas was in the middle of an interview with the Chief of Police, a Mr. Long.
"And so, Chief Long, there wasn't any sign of a forced entry?"
"Not in so many words."
"What else can you tell us about the robbery?"
"Only that it has the appearance of an inside job." He closed his mouth tightly, and Charlotte picked up on his cue.
"Thank you Chief Long. This is Charlotte Lucas, live at Meryton Bank. Back to you, Bill." Darcy sat back in his chair, a puzzled look on his face, mulling over the broadcast. He then rose, and went to find Alfred.
"Alfred, I need to go to the bank."
"Very well, Master Fitzwilliam. I'll get the car ready."
Darcy mumbled his thanks and walked quickly upstairs for the equipment he was going to need.
Elizabeth entered the bank that morning to a mass of confusion. The bank manager had arrived first and soon afterwards, the bank was teaming with police officers and detectives. She walked up to her manager and queried: "What's going on?"
"Bank robbery." The woman replied tersely, giving Elizabeth a sharp look. "So far they haven't found any prints, but the method appears to be by someone who knew the bank...well."
"Oh. When did it happen?"
"Last night. Apparently." By her clipped tones, Elizabeth could sense that there must be something more than just irritation at all the police and the fact that the bank had lost most of its liquid assets.
"Elizabeth, they are going to want to question you...routine and all." Elizabeth looked into her eyes and saw the suspicion written plainly there.
"Fine, I have nothing to hide."
"Great." Came a deep voice from behind her. "Can I ask you a few questions, then?"
"Certainly, Detective Sanderson, is it?" she answered, reading his name tag.
"Yes, that's right. This way, please." He made his way through the throng of people to her desk and Elizabeth followed numbly behind, noticing the glares that were still being cast her way by her boss.
Outside the bank, Darcy was still in the car, across the street and was watching. Many curious people passed by and stared into the bank, gawking at all the police that had been called in for fact finding. He saw Mary Bennet walking by, apparently on her way to her library job, and wondered at her lack of interest. She didn't even stop, but merely looked in the window as she passed it and continued on her way, expressionless.
"Hmm, not a very curious soul, is she?" Darcy mused out loud.
"Pardon, sir?" Alfred was startled out of his reverie.
"Nothing, Alfred. I suddenly have the urge to check out some books. To the Meryton Library, please."
"Certainly Sir." Alfred pulled the car into the line of traffic and soon was pulling up to the library, almost vacant, as it was recently opened. "Shall I wait for you here or return later?"
"Why don't you return later, Alfred? I feel that some research might be in order."
"Very good, Master Fitzwilliam." Darcy watched Alfred leave and took a look at the outside of the library. Nothing spectacular, he thought. Your average run of the mill small town library. Let's see if the librarian is as run of the mill as her library. He pulled open the door and walked up to the check-out desk. Mary looked up as soon as she heard the door open and raised her eyebrows at him when she saw who it was.
"Mr. Darcy. And what brings you to our humble library?"
"I need to get a library card." He answered nonchalantly.
"Okay." She looked at him out of the corner of her eye as she gathered the materials necessary and turned back to him. "Please fill out this application and I will need to see 2 forms of ID."
"Thank you, Mary." Darcy said politely as he took them from her hands, and as her hand touched his, he started at the roughness of it. "That's a nasty-looking rope burn you got going there. Looks like it could use some medication."
She jerked her hand back and said as calmly as she could, "Rope burn? I spilled my hot cereal on my hand taking it out of the microwave this morning."
"Oh. Looks painful."
"I'll put some ointment on it, since you insist." She pulled out her purse and rummaged through it until she found a nondescript tube, rubbed some cream on her wound and turned to him, triumphant. "See, all better, Dr. Darcy." He smiled at her and sat down at the nearest table to fill out his form.
Chapter 10
A short time later, his library card safely in his wallet, Darcy was back in front of the bank, trying to get an opportunity to speak with Detective Sanderson, who seemed distracted. Seeing his opening, he went up and slapped Sanderson on the back, an uncharacteristic motion to Elizabeth, who was still sizing up the Detective who had just finished a long line of questioning. At the jolt that he received, he looked stonily at Darcy.
"Hello there! Detective Sanderson, is it? Glad to meet you! Fitzwilliam Darcy." He held out his hand and shook the other man's hand vigorously.
"Fitzwilliam Darcy? Oh, yes of course. I've heard a lot about you."
"I imagine so. I see that there has been a little brouhaha here. Anything that I can do?"
"Kind of doubt it, unless you're some sort of genius detective."
"Now that you mention it, I did dabble slightly in detective work..." He broke off as he noticed the man's incredulous look. "But then, that was back when I was in 5th grade...Hardy Boys fixation, and all."
Sanderson could hardly contain his disdain but managed a slight smile. "Oh, I see. Well, Mr. Darcy, I believe that we have things under control, but thank you for your offer."
"Think nothing of it! Anytime that you need help, don't hesitate to call on me."
Sanderson thanked him again and watched him walk away. Boy, those rich ones sure are weird, he thought to himself. Takes all kinds. He shook his head and went back to Elizabeth's desk to ask her a few more questions that had come to him while talking to Darcy.
Outside on the sidewalk, Darcy congratulated himself on the smoothness of planting the device on the unsuspecting Sanderson. Pulling out his cell phone, he dialed Alfred to come and pick him up, then shoved his hands in his pockets as he wandered around to the bank alley, whistling the only tune that he could: the theme from the 'Bridge over the River Quai'. To the left of the bank, next to the dumpster, he saw a faint print in the soft dirt and took in its size. Hmm, he thought, looks like a 10 1/2 W. Too large for a woman, at least the women that he had seen in Meryton. Interesting print. He furtively pulled out a small digital camera, took a couple of photos and replaced it before hearing the footsteps behind him.
"Well, Mr. Darcy, it certainly is a surprise to see you here," was the almost mocking tone that reached his ears.
"Miss Bennet," he said, turning around to smile broadly at her. "Taking a break?"
"Yes, I thought that I needed some fresh air, after all that's happened this morning." Elizabeth buttoned her coat around her.
"Very strange happenings," Darcy agreed.
"What brings you here? This doesn't seem like your particular field of interest."
"Well, I had been thinking of opening an account. Looks like I had pretty good timing!"
"I'll say!" Elizabeth managed a chuckle and Darcy felt pleased that he had gotten that out of her, given her stressful morning. "Looks like this might actually be the safest time for you to make a deposit, since it is doubtful that anyone will rob us anytime soon!"
"Would you be the one to open the account?" He noticed how the cold air had brought a becoming color to her cheeks and how the banter had brought back some sparkle to her tired eyes.
"I think that I will very likely offered a short vacation, for the time being." Her countenance fell, as she thought about the suspicion that the whole event had thrown on her.
"Oh, there's Alfred now." Darcy noticed the car pulling up to the bank. "If that's so, about the vacation, I mean, maybe we could start it off with a bang! Would you like to have lunch with me today?"
Elizabeth started to say something, then apparently changed her mind. After a minute, she said resolutely, "Yes, I believe that I will have lunch with you. Are you paying?"
Darcy roared with laughter. "Of course! My treat! I'll be back to pick you up at..."
"Now, actually. I just started my break. I'll get my stuff." She went back into the bank and rejoined them minutes later, her eyes glittering with anger. "Can you believe that? I have just been given a three days suspension while the investigation is taking place. They think that I did it!"
"Well, you do dress rather elegantly. I suppose that it was a natural assumption.." he teased her, but she continued to fume as he helped her into the car. "Now, now. I'm sure that Detective Sanderson will be able to show beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are innocent. You do have an alibi, I assume?"
Elizabeth's face crumpled into despair. "That's just it. I don't really. I went for a drive just to get out of the house and didn't come back for awhile. My mother was...well, I needed to get away. How can I account for that? I didn't try to make sure that I was going to be seen or anything. Who knows when you are going to have to justify where you are and what you're doing."
"It will all turn out, you'll see." Darcy said in his most reassuring voice. His cell phone rang and he immediately answered it. "Fitzwilliam Darcy. Oh, hi Richard. What's going on?"
On the other line, his cousin Richard Fitzwilliam was exclaiming "Holy bank balance, Darcy! I just caught the news about the Meryton bank."
"Where are you Richard?"
"I'm at Aunt Catherine's. For some strange reason, I just have felt so great about staying. And the weirdest thing is...Anne is really starting to look good to me. Maybe you should come out and visit?"
"Um, no. But thanks anyway. Say Rick, what do you think about finding me some property around here? You know what I am going to need."
"Okay, I'll break the news to Auntie that I'm going to have to leave for a few days. I'll be in Meryton tomorrow."
"Great! I'll see you then." Darcy rang off, feeling confused about Richard and his attachment to Anne. Odd, he never paid any attention to her before, even when we were there last month. Maybe he can explain it all tomorrow when he comes to visit. He turned back to Elizabeth who was staring glumly at the scenery passing by. First lunch, then some detective work, he thought, wondering how he was going to cheer her up.
Chapter 11
After the initial shock to his nether regions, George picked himself up from the top of the bank building and made his way off of it the way that he had come, slowly lowering himself down the rope, then repelling slightly midway. "Slim pickings in this one horse town...and they've just become slimmer. I guess that I'd better start going out for my business." He mused to himself, scowling. "Bookworm, is it? Well, maybe this worm will be good for some bait for bigger fish!" He removed all evidence of his climb and navigated his way through the back alleys until he reached his parked car. He opened the trunk and threw in the ropes, pausing a moment to peer into the trunk grimly.
"Why George, you really should take more care for your personal hygiene. You're beginning to positively wreak!" He prodded the body over to make room for the other parts of his equipment and slammed the trunk shut, hoping that the odor wouldn't spread in the cold air. He wiped his hands on his dark pants disgustedly and drove back to his seedy apartment to change into his military outfit and to return to the base.
A week passed and the morning headlines of the Meryton Gazette screamed the rash of break-ins and robberies of banks in the major city about an hour away. The stories that Darcy picked up and read every day seemed to indicate that the police had a suspect in mind, someone linked to military operations. His mind immediately turned toward George Wickham, although he couldn't rationalize why. As he sat in his new residence, a stately manor that Richard had located for him called Pemberley, he mulled over the information that he had been able to uncover about Wickham. None of it seemed to point to any kind of suspicious activity, except for the footprint that he had seen and photographed near the bank dumpster. It just didn't add up. He frowned and headed toward his computer room, replete with state-of-the-art security, tracking and info systems and closed himself in. It was going to be a long day, he was sure of it, he thought, as he put on his glasses and turned on his computer.
George, in the meantime, was beginning to relish his new found wealth. "What a shame," he thought. "I do believe that the police were able to get a view of 'my' mug that last time. Must have something to do with my photo op before I took out that security camera! I think that it must be time for old Georgie to have a nervous breakdown of sorts..." He waited for the cover of night before driving the car to a remote area of the countryside. Once there, he pulled the body from the trunk and redressed it in its military uniform before placing it in the drivers side. He released the brake, put the car into neutral and gave it a few good shoves before the car slowly rolled off the side of the cliff and crashed into the rocky area below it, bursting into flames. "Great job. I'm glad that explosive stuff worked. Well, walking back to town is a small price to have to pay to be rid of George. Now to place the note." He thought to himself as he patted his new face with satisfaction, making sure that all the seams were well covered.
Chapter 12
Mary spent the following days privately exulting in her escapade and ruing the discovery that Darcy had made about her hand. Somehow she knew instinctively that he wasn't someone who was easily fooled. "I'd better figure out a way to get rid of his curiosity," she thought as she pulled a thick volume from its shelf and took it over to her desk. She soon was so engrossed in her reading that she only barely registered the person who entered the library until his shadow fell across her desk.
"Yes, may I help you?" she reluctantly looked up from her book into the eyes of a stranger.
"Yes, hello. I need to know if you keep a certain kind of book. Do you also have a computerized system?"
"Yes, actually we do have a computerized system. The computer is over there. Are you familiar with the search stuff or do I need to run through it for you?"
"No, I'm familiar with it. Thanks for the offer, Ms.?"
"Bennet. Mary Bennet."
"Are you the librarian, then?"
"Yes I am. You must be new in town. I don't think that I've ever seen you before."
"I'm Detective Sanderson, special agent. I'm here for the Meryton Bank robbery case."
"Really?" Mary looked at him as casually as she could manage. "So, tell me, what have you found out, Detective?"
"Not a lot really. I'm really kind of interested in looking through your newspaper archives, too, if I may."
"Certainly. Right this way." She stood up and came around the desk, noticing that he was relatively tall compared to her. As she led the way, she couldn't help noticing the shoes that he was wearing. "Nice Docs. Where do you find them around here?"
"Oh, you like Doc Martens? I got them in the city a couple of weeks ago, at a store called Islandia."
"Oh, that's nice," Mary replied distractedly. She couldn't figure out why she felt like she knew him. "Here are the archives. They are all on bobbins, so if you need any help, just holler."
"Thank you very much." He said, gazing into her eyes. She averted hers quickly and went back to her desk, feeling like she had just run a marathon. Detective Sanderson looked after her for a long moment, then sat down at the viewing desk, sorting through the boxes of bobbins. After a few long, tense moments, she glanced over at him and saw him staring at the screen, pausing a few times to scribble down some notes and then returned to it again. He turned around in his seat, almost as if he knew that she was watching him, but she had already plunged back into her book from his point of view. He returned to his research and she returned to her observation of him. Finally his research seemed to be over and he rewound the bobbin and put it back into its case.
"Thank you Mary Bennet," he said smilingly. "You've been a big help."
"Did you find everything that you needed?"
"Quite! Do you know how I might reach your sister, Elizabeth?"
"Elizabeth?" Her eyes narrowed almost perceptively.
"Yes, just some routine questioning. Nothing major."
"At this time of day, she is usually at Jane's lingerie shop, helping her close down. It's called 'La Nuit' and..."
"Yes, I remember the shop. Thanks again." He turned as if to leave and then quietly returned to her desk. She was apparently deep into her book. Leaning over the desk, he whispered softly, "You seem to wear a lot of black, Mary Bennet."
She looked up at him startled and wondered at his eyes glittering with triumph. "Yes, it's very slimming," she managed weakly. And then recognized his real voice that he had used. "I see." She said standing up and smoothing down her skirt. "What exactly is your real name? I'm sure that it's not really George."
"And I see that extensive reading has improved your mind and your perceptive abilities, Ms. Bennet. Or should I call you Ms. Bookworm?"
"What do you want, Mr. George Wickham? Since you haven't told me your real name, that is."
"Dr. John Doe, at your service, Ma'am." He bent in a mock, sweeping bow as she folded her arms across her chest. "Come, come Mary. Defensive body gestures. I'm not to be feared."
"Is that so? I'm sure that George would agree with you, wouldn't he, Dr. Doe?"
"George...he's such an old, tired subject. Let's let sleeping dogs lie, shall we? I think that we have a lot to discuss, Mary. Won't you meet me for dinner? I promise to make it worth your while."
"So genteel for a murderer."
"Murderer? Oh no, that's so un PC of you. I prefer homicidal maniac, myself."
"Do you, now? And what would keep you from murdering me?"
"Excellent question. I somehow think that you might prove to be more useful alive than dead, given your resourcefulness."
"And what's in it for me?" Mary remained expressionless.
"A chance for greatness...and plastic surgery, if you like."
"A man of many talents, obviously."
"Obviously. Close down shop, Mary?" He looked into her eyes and she saw something intoxicating written there, something that she'd never seen before in any man's eyes for her...passion and desire.
"Well, it has been a slow day." She picked up her things, and locked the door. "Lead on, Dr. Jekyll."
Chapter 13
Darcy had spent many days sequestered in his mansion with Richard and Alfred, mulling over the information that they had accumulated. Having lost the plant on Detective Sanderson when he had his suit dry-cleaned, they only had a few days of real leads to follow. Darcy sighed. And on top of everything, Richard had to leave that morning to return to the city to his company, Darkwing Productions.
"Rick, we just don't have a lot to go on here," Darcy said with exasperation.
"Yeah, isn't that weird? Usually a case like this has a ton of stuff." He scratched his head. "I'll have to work on this some more when I get to Metropolis."
"I still have the feeling that we missed something about that suicide of George Wickham. Maybe I should go down to the crash site and see what I can turn up."
"Great idea. Sorry to leave you without doing much, but I'll be back at the end of the week."
"I appreciate that. Here, let me walk you out to your car." He slung a carryon bag onto his shoulder and headed for the car-port. After waving to Richard's retreating car, he went back in the house to retrieve some equipment. Alfred immediately appeared.
"You will be wanting the car now, Master Fitzwilliam?"
"No, Alfred. It really isn't that far from here and it is such a nice day that I think that I'll walk." He placed the backpack in position and walked out the door. "I can always call if I need a ride back."
The morning was crisp with a hint of spring in the air. Within a few minutes of brisk walking, he could feel the skin on his face tingle and he had a very distinct feeling of well being. The crash site was situated about 3 miles from his property and he soon broke into a run to cover the distance more quickly. When he arrived, Darcy could see that the site was much more extensive than he had previously thought and he decided to first work on the area nearest the car skeleton and then spread out from there. While rummaging through some low, scrubby bushes, he was startled to hear footsteps coming toward him. He crouched down into the bushes, glad for his chameleon-type clothing. As the feet came closer, he discovered that they were attached to a female and he decided to have some fun. Reaching out, he grasped the nearest ankle and was delighted to hear a loud shriek.
"Why you...," the voice sputtered angrily and he found himself gazing into Elizabeth's eyes cold with fury. She lifted herself off the ground and brushed herself off.
"Attacking my clothes again, Mr. Darcy?" she said evenly as he broke into a grin. "And do you make a habit of hiding in bushes and scaring the crap out of people?" Her voice was starting to raise almost into a shout as she took in his amused expression.
"No, not a habit, an occasional hobby, you might say! You have to admit, I did get you pretty good."
"Oh, bravo." She countered sarcastically. "What are you doing here, anyway?"
"I might ask you the same question."
"My father owns this property. And, I would have to say that that fact makes you a trespasser."
"Is that so?" He looked surprised. "May I have your permission to look over your property, then, in case I ever get the urge to buy some more land?"
"My father will never sell. Like that's your point of being here." She stuck her hands on her hips and took an I'm waiting for an explanation stance.
"Okay, you've got me. I am really here to look over the crash site. Have you been down here since the police went through it all?"
"Yes, actually I came down as soon as I could. It just seemed so strange to me. Why are you so interested in this crash?"
"Let's just say that I'm also thinking that it was very strange, too. I do a little detective work on the side."
"Oh, I see. Darcy Private Eye, now, is it?" It was her turn to look amused and Darcy was suddenly gladdened by her smile.
"Are we back to Mr. and Ms.? Even after our lunch date?"
"Well, you never write, you never call..."
"And, did you want me to write or call?" His voice echoed her own playful banter.
"A little postcard would have sufficed, you know!" She became more serious. "What are you doing here, William?"
"I'm here on a hunch, Elizabeth, that's all."
"Can you trust me with it?"
"Perhaps. I might need to get to know you better." He waggled his eyebrows at her and she gave him a dark look.
"I'm serious."
"So am I. Okay, okay, don't hit me. I don't think that the crash was a suicide. I think that it might have been to cover up a homicide."
Her mouth fell open. "Why would you think that?"
"It just doesn't make any sense, Elizabeth. That suicide letter that the police found sounds phony to me. He just didn't seem like a guy who would kill himself over something like that."
"Something like what? And since when do you have access to police information?" Her eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"There's a lot about me that I can't tell you, Elizabeth. Suffice it to say that I obtained my information through legal means and all. I guess that I should have said that I didn't think that he was the type to kill himself."
"Oh." She thought for a moment. "So what you're doing is combing the area for information to support your theory."
"That's right."
"Can I help you look?"
"Sure. Two heads are always better than one."
"What are we looking for, exactly?"
"Car parts. I need to see what gear the car was in when it went over the cliff." They began to look all around the central area then branched out to a more marshy area.
"Hey, I see something in that tree over there!" Elizabeth suddenly shouted and they both sprinted in the direction of the tree. Upon reaching the tree, they discovered a steering column part with the gear indicator attached. Elizabeth climbed the tree rapidly and handed down the part to Darcy who examined it with a less than pleased eye. "It says that it was in drive." She said as she swung herself down next to him.
"Yes, but in a wreck, the indicator can bounce around. Not real proof, I'm afraid." He started to look around the marsh, staying on the perimeter of the soggy land. "Hmm, what's this?" He asked as his foot struck something small and solid. Upon further examination, he smiled in triumph and stuck it in his backpack.
"Something important?"
"Yes, very. This valve will tell me what gear the car was in when it went over the cliff."
"What does the gear have to do with it anyway?"
"If it was in drive," he explained patiently. "Then chances are, Wickham did kill himself. And if it is in another gear..."
"Then it would have to be murder." She continued. "This is fascinating. Quite a different side to you than I thought."
"And what did you think about me, Ms. Bennet?" He started to move toward her slowly.
"There are so many stories about you that I have difficulty deciding which is the real William Darcy."
"This is the real William Darcy, Elizabeth," he said softly, standing in front of her.
"Why are you standing so close?"
"I can't kiss you at a distance."
"Who says that I want you to kiss me?"
"You don't?" He leaned toward her, his lips starting to come down on hers.
"I didn't say that..." She kissed him back with a passion that surprised her and which caused him to pull her to him tightly. "You are such a mystery, William Darcy."
"Mysteries can be solved, Elizabeth. Have dinner with me tonight?"
"I'd love to."
"Great. I'll pick you up around 6. I know this wonderful little place in the city..."
"I can't wait." Her lips invited him again and he kissed her before reluctantly loosening his hold on her.
"I need to take that part home to look at it. See you at 6." She watched him take off in a sprint toward Pemberley until his body was a blur in the distance then turned and walked back to her parents home.
Chapter 14
Darcy made it back to his estate in record time, in spite of the object in his backpack slamming into his ribs every few seconds. Wincing, he took it out and dropped the backpack on the floor next to the door. Alfred immediately entered the room and examined the outstretched object.
"Very interesting," remarked Alfred.
"What do you make of it, Alfred?"
"It would appear that your theory is correct, Master Fitzwilliam. The valve indicates that the car definitely was in neutral when it went over the cliff."
"Which means that it would have had to be pushed. But, it surely wouldn't have exploded by itself. The cliff wasn't that steep and the car wasn't going that fast."
"I suppose that you'll be returning to the site to look for evidence of explosives, then."
"Not yet. I'll go tomorrow, bright and early. I have an important engagement to attend to for this evening."
"Miss Bennet, sir?"
"How did you know, Alfred?"
"I make careful observations...especially when it comes to you, Master Fitzwilliam. Will you be needing the Rolls for this evening?"
"Yes, the Rolls would be perfect. Oh, and pack a suit for me, just in case. We'll be going into the city."
"Yes, sir. I'll make the necessary preparations."
"Thank you Alfred." Darcy headed for his lab and spent the next few hours diagramming the crash site and trying to piece together the events of that fateful evening. "I just don't understand this." He thought to himself. "Wickham wasn't a bad man or a seemingly desperate man. Had a few problems with women and gambling but nothing so serious as to commit suicide. I should try to find his last girlfriend, Mary King. Maybe she could give me some answers." The clock chimed 5 PM and he roused himself to go upstairs to prepare for his evening with Elizabeth.
Once suited and comfortably seated in the back of the car, they headed for the Bennet farm. Mrs. Bennet's excitement over the Rolls that pulled into their drive was heard for miles and Elizabeth ran from the door to the car in a dead sprint, her long dress held up to her knees and her heels making dents in the soft ground. Alfred got out to open her door, but she had already entered the car and had slammed the door shut by the time that he got there.
"Hurry, Alfred, there's not a moment to lose!" she exclaimed, laughing and panting at the same time. The Rolls pulled away quickly as Mrs. Bennet was heading for it to look inside.
"Hello to you, too!" Darcy said with amusement. "Nikes usually work better, in my opinion, anyway."
"Sorry! I didn't want my mom to...never mind. Hello. You look very nice in a tux."
"And you look very nice in that long dress, although it did seem much shorter when you came running out!"
"Thanks so much," she said wryly. "Where are we headed this evening?"
"A restaurant called 'Le Cygne Dore'. I hope that you like Mediterranean food."
"I adore anything that I don't have to fix myself!" She settled back into the leather seats. "Is there anything that this car doesn't have?" she asked, looking around at the exquisite interior.
"No, it seems to have everything that a man could want," he answered, looking at her meaningfully and was rewarded with a blush that crept across her face. "Or desire." She looked away, trying to hide her little pleased smile.
"I see that it comes well equipped," she offered, then blushed even deeper as he looked at her with amusement. "So, our conversation has come to this, has it?"
They continued their friendly banter until Alfred pulled up to the restaurant and got out to open their door. Once inside and seated in a quiet, dimly-lit corner, they looked over the menus. The menus were large and Darcy noticed how they concealing they were when he reached over to kiss a startled Elizabeth. As his lips reluctantly broke away from hers, he noticed a pair of shoes exiting his peripheral vision.
"It wasn't that bad, was it?" Elizabeth whispered.
"What?"
"You're frowning. The kiss wasn't all that bad. A little unexpected, but still nice."
"Oh, sorry. I saw something that caught my attention."
"Are we going to whisper all night too?" she asked.
"Yes, it makes it so much more romantic, don't you think?" In the candlelit room, it was hard to make out the couple that was leaving, arms entwined, but he could have sworn that it was Elizabeth's sister, Mary. What in the world was she doing here with Detective Sanderson? They looked so cozy and...
"Earth to William, I've lost you again, haven't I?" Elizabeth's voice came to him as if in a dream.
"Hors d'oeuvre?" he asked, trying to cover his momentary lapse of concentration and smiled up at the approaching waiter. "Will you get us some of that baked brie and fruit? Please excuse me for a second, Elizabeth. I'll be right back." He got up hurriedly from the table and walked toward the bathroom door. Once he was assured that Elizabeth had returned to her menu, he slipped outside.
Chapter 15
. Earlier in the evening: at Le Cygne Dore
"Right this way, please." The maitre d' showed the couple to an cozy, romantic corner, far from the few other guests at the early dinner hour. He watched them seat themselves, handed them their menus and after a few honeyed niceties, left them to their selections and conversation.
"The food here is marvelous! Their Braised Lamb is to die for...well, almost!"
"So, you come here often?"
"I used to, way back when."
"You must tell me about way back when, then."
"First, we order, then we discuss our personality development, okay?"
"Fine. I'll have the Braised Lamb...since it comes so highly recommended."
"I'm leaning toward the Chaudfroid de Canard."
"Interesting choice. It almost captures the essence of you: chaudfroid.* Quite the enigma, Dr."
"Please, Mary. Call me John."
"Certainly John." She smiled at him as he took her hand and held it. "So, are you really a doctor?"
"Are you really a librarian?" he countered, smiling easily.
"Do you intend to answer all my questions with questions or are you going to give me some straight answers?"
"The truth...yes, it is so...subjective, don't you think. Let's start with you first, then I promise to tell you everything that you could ever want to know."
"What makes you able to trust me with your true identity, John?"
"Well, if I ever thought that I had lost your trust..." he shrugged and sat back, "then I wouldn't worry about it for long...if you get my meaning."
"Yes, quite." She looked back at him, unflinchingly. "You don't scare me, you know."
He burst out laughing, causing the attention of the other dinner guests to turn their way briefly. "Bravo, that's my Mary! I wouldn't have it so! Now, will you tell me about yourself?"
"What would you like to know? I lead a very uneventful life."
"Yes. And do you do banks on the side in your uneventful life? So tedious!"
"Ahem. Lower your voice, John, or I will have to repeat the night on top of the bank."
"Ouch!" He looked sufficiently pained at the memory. "Do go on."
"Well, being the plainest sister of 5 sisters does have its disadvantages. Always a wallflower at events, my sisters always saying '...and Mary none' when they talk about their numerous dance partners, and being basically invisible wherever I go. One day, I just cracked, I guess. I suppose that taking some meds would have been so much easier, but I'm having a lot more fun these days. That's the Reader's Digest version. And you?"
"I wouldn't exactly call you the plainest one. Your brilliant mind makes you...stunning!" he whispered the last word as he leaned over the table toward her. "I find that high intelligence is the greatest aphrodisiac." He moved his chair next to hers and stroked her cheek sensuously. "I can make anyone beautiful. Beauty is a dime a dozen. But your brain..." his lips met hers and they lost themselves in a passionate kiss, only interrupted by the discrete cough of their waiter. They gave their order and the hapless waiter left quickly.
"Now, where were we before we were so rudely interrupted?"
"I believe that you were going to tell me all about you." She smiled at him.
"Oh, I thought that we were more pleasantly engaged...well alright then. What would you like to know first?"
"Are you really a doctor?"
"Yes, I am a plastic surgeon. Like I said, I can make anyone beautiful. I am extremely gifted in that."
"And extremely humble about it."
"Humble? Why should I be? I was the best at my trade. I did all the celebrities, all the politicians, all the secret agents from different countries."
"So what happened? Why aren't you still sculpting tushies for the Rich and Famous?"
"Some might say that I messed up. I prefer to call it creative differences. Some people don't always know what is best for them. There was a terrible scandal and I had to leave the profession. I still think that the girl looked so much better for my assistance."
"Who was she?"
"Some rich girl. It doesn't matter much. Her brother was very influential and he vowed to see me never practice again. I left my practice...unwillingly."
"And that's it? What's with the masks?"
"Oh, thank you very much." The waiter set their plates in front of them and Mary breathed in the aromatic dishes. "This will be all that we require, thank you."
"The masks. Hmmm. Where to begin? I had a very close associate in the movie industry. Brilliant fellow. Quite an artist with masks and makeup. He taught me all that he knew about the business and about voice mimicry. Poor guy. Met with an untimely death. Most unfortunate."
"I see," Mary said, looking at her food. "So, what do you look like without the mask?"
"You are really curious to know, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"I am actually quite normal looking. Some might even say, nondescript. I, like you, blend in. I discovered that I had a talent for more than just surgery. Just like you have a talent for more than just...books." He drew a line with his finger down the inside of her nearest arm, stopping at her palm and caressing it sensually.
"What if you're discovered? Won't someone realize who you really are?" Mary said with difficulty as he was causing her to become very warm.
"Mary, the only person in my way is someone that I will deal with in my own time. He and his sister will get what's coming to them. For now, I'm having a great time in the sleepy little burg of Mertyon. Dessert?" he asked, slowly kissing her fingertips.
"Yes, but not here." She responded huskily. "Why don't you get that waiter to bring us our check now?"
"Your wish is my command." He nibbled her neck then beckoned for the waiter. "L'addition, s'il vous plait." While the waiter was running his credit card, Mary absentmindedly scanned the room. The maitre d' was bringing a couple into their more exclusive area and she was startled to recognize her sister and Mr. Darcy. She elbowed John and nodded in their direction, noticing the narrowed look in his eyes. "I see that we're not the only ones from Meryton with the same taste in restaurants." He waited until the couple was seated and behind the large menus before they made their exit.
*chaudfroid-literal translation is 'hot-cold'.
Chapter 16
Darcy slipped outside and beckoned to Alfred who, true to form, was sitting in the car, watching the passersby.
"Alfred, did you see a man and a woman come out of here, just a few minutes ago? She was dressed in black, and he had a trenchcoat on."
"Yes, Master Fitzwilliam. They are still in their car, a blue Buick."
"Listen, I can't be gone long. Elizabeth is in there waiting for our hors d'oeuvre. Do me a favor and set a remote Bat tracker. I have a hunch that just won't go away."
"Certainly sir." Alfred bent over and pulled out an object from a slim compartment under the seat and proceeded to carry out the request. Darcy nodded with satisfaction, then re-entered the restaurant. He made for the men's restroom and then walked swiftly back to his table. Elizabeth looked up from the hors d'oeuvre that she was already sampling.
"Sorry that I didn't wait for you. It came while you were gone and I decided to try it while it was hot. This brie en croute is heavenly!"
"No, I'm sorry that I took so long. It does look very tasty." He watched the morsel of food leave her fork and enter her mouth, and his own mouth watered.
"Here, then. Try some." She forked up some brie and placed it gently into his mouth. "Isn't that great?"
"Delicious." He replied, watching her mouth again.
"So, were you able to catch up with them?" She asked as his jaw fell open in amazement.
"Excuse me?" he sputtered, almost choking on his brie. She pounded him on his back until he stopped coughing.
"Mary and Sanderson. I did see them, too. When we first came in, they were quite the picture of intimacy. I hope that you're not jealous of her date."
"What!"
"I saw you hitting on her at the Lucas' party."
"Hitting on her! What are you talking about? I was just talking to her. She is a very interesting person."
"Yes, you were deep in conversation. Mary also said that you came to see her at the library."
"Are you very close to Mary?"
"No, not really. I'm closer to Jane. Why?"
"Just wondering about your family dynamics."
"Mmhmm." Elizabeth looked at him unconvinced. "Mary is kind of a loner, a bookworm, you know." She noticed that he flinched slightly. "She didn't kill Wickham, if that's what you're wondering about. She may have started reading some weird stuff, but the killer instinct is not in her. She was always such a pacifist, even growing up."
"Actually, the thought that Mary was behind Wickham's death never even crossed my mind. Does Mary keep her door locked?"
"Why? Thinking of sneaking into her room?"
"Very funny. I was thinking more on the lines of sneaking into your room."
"Is that so? Maybe I should keep my door locked then."
"I could always climb into your window."
"A man of many talents."
"Thank you. Does she keep her door locked?"
"Yes. She started locking it a couple of months ago or so, now that I think about it. How would you be able to climb into my room, anyway? I am on the top floor and there isn't anything around to use to climb up."
"That has never stopped me before."
"Really. Are you in the habit of climbing into women's bedrooms?"
"Only really attractive ones!"
"But do you respect them afterwards?"
"Want to find out?"
"So you'd take me to meet your family..." Her teasing tone stopped as a dark expression crossed his face. "Did I say something wrong?"
"No, there really isn't much family to meet. My parents died when I was much younger and my little sister and I are all that's left of the nuclear family unit. Well, if you don't count my cousin Rick, my other cousin Anne and my Aunt Catherine."
"I'm sorry, William. I didn't know. What happened to your parents, if I can ask?"
"They died in an accident of sorts. We were accidentally in the wrong place at the wrong time. What would have been a simple mugging turned into a death sentence for my parents. Georgianna, my sister, was at home with Alfred." His voice trailed off as his mind returned to that fateful day. Eventually he felt the warmth of a hand covering his and he was brought back to the present.
"Sorry, Elizabeth. It has always been hard for me to deal with." He shook his head as if to clear it. "What were we talking about before that?"
"Mary and the crash site. But not at the same time."
"Oh yes, Mary."
"Oh, by the way, what did you find out about the car part this morning?"
"The car was definitely in neutral when it went over the cliff. I have to do some more research tomorrow."
"Can I tag along?"
"Would I be able to stop you?"
"Doubt it!"
"What's in it for you?"
"I could ask you that same question."
"You could. Oh, alright, if I must." He mocked sighed as if it was a necessary evil to have her there and she grinned in triumph.
"I'll bring some food. All that searching around builds up an appetite."
"Should I pick you up at any certain time or should I just wake you up in your bed?"
"I am definitely getting locks for that window now! Pick me up at 7:30 am. I don't have to work until one in the afternoon."
"Are you done with that brie?" He asked, indicating a piece of food stuck to her face. "Or are you going to bring that tomorrow as well?"
"Why, do you want it?"
"Yes, I do." He moved closer and made a move to flick it off her face, but then licked it off instead. "Mmm. Next time I think that I'll skip the brie and just order you." His lips covered hers and for a long moment they forgot their surroundings. "Want to get out of here?"
"I thought that you would never ask!" They gathered up their things. Darcy paid the ticket and they walked arm in arm to the waiting Rolls. "I could really go for a burger, though. I didn't have much to eat today."
"Alfred, take us to Carl's Jr."
"Right away, Master Fitzwilliam."
"What if I faint from hunger before we get there?"
"Here's a transfusion." He said, kissing her softly until she sighed contentedly.
"That should just about hold me over," she said as they pulled into the drive-through.