“Oh, hard-nosed, demanding, doing that tortured-soul bit?” he glowered in a startlingly accurate imitation of Darcy.
Elizabeth burst out laughing. “I’ll take that as a yes,” George grinned. “Have they been difficult to work with?” he asked when Elizabeth stopped laughing.
“No, not at all.” She continued, “I mean, they have their bad-boy image, but actually they’re very nice and professional.”
George looked away doubtfully. “I heard Richard got cleaned up.”
“Oh yeah, there’s almost no drinking at all on the tour.”
“That’s good,” George sounded relieved. “Richard was always such a player, you know? I worried about him.”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “He’s still a player, he just doesn’t drink.” She frowned. “He has a different girl almost every night. We call them his flavors.”
He snorted. “That’s nothing new. Frankly I’m surprised he’s the only one sleeping around.”
“Well, Charles has hooked up with Jane,” Elizabeth indicated her sister, sitting with Charlotte nearby.
George nodded. “I’ve never met Charles, but I’ve heard he’s very nice.”
Elizabeth realized that Charles must have replaced George. “He’s great. Everyone loves him.”
“What about old Darcy? Who is he seeing?”
Elizabeth felt her cheeks turning red. “Um, I don’t think he is seeing anyone right now.”
“Oh,” George said indifferently. “Is he a friend of yours?”
“No, not really,” she said quickly. “I mean we are friendly on the tour and all, but it’s not like we are close.”
George studied her coldly for a moment and then nodded. “That’s probably a good thing, you know, Lizzy?”
Elizabeth wasn’t exactly sure what he meant but nodded along with him.
“Well, we have a couple of hours to kill until the sun goes down and we set up for the night shots. Why don’t you and Charlotte and Jan go take a nice long break in your trailer? Debbie will walk you over.” George nodded at the smiling production assistant, winked at Elizabeth, and left.
The women went to their trailer and enjoyed the wonders of air conditioning. While they were there, Elizabeth told the others about George’s conversation.
“He sounds very nice,” Jane said.
“He is. He’s charming, actually,” she grinned, “and he’s so easygoing and real.”
Charlotte and Jane shared a look. “Did you ask him why he left Slurry?” Jane asked.
“No, it’s kind of uncomfortable, like asking a divorced couple why they broke up.” She wrinkled her nose and then brightened. “But I like him, and I think he’s doing a great job on the video.”
“I thought you liked Darcy?” Charlotte asked impudently.
“I do,” she said uncertainly. “But I can like two men, can’t I? It’s not like they’re mutually exclusive.”
They were interrupted by a knock at the door. “Can I come in?” George’s voice called to them.
“Sure!” Lizzy yelled back.
George entered the trailer and smiled at the girls. “Lizzy, you’re going to hate me,” he said lightly. “I know I promised you a couple hours’ break, but the sun is starting to set and it looks like we are going to have some great light for shooting. The DP wants to take advantage of the magic hour.” He looked at her pleadingly. “I know it means we’ll have to run like hell, but would you mind terribly if I dragged you back in front of the camera?”
Elizabeth grinned. “Of course not, George. What would you like me to do?”
“Marry me?” he joked. “Debbie is here to run you over to wardrobe. I want you to get into that leather outfit. You don’t need a full makeup job, ’cause I just want to shoot some long shots, okay?”
Elizabeth agreed and followed him out of the trailer. “Thanks, Lizzy,” he said, planting a kiss on her cheek, “you’re beautiful.”
Elizabeth spent a half hour in the pearly, shadowless light, dancing, playing, and strutting on the track. The warm light flattered her face and hair. Finally, George called it quits when the light had faded too much. He walked up to Lizzy and gave her a big hug. “You’re so talented. Have I told you that?” he asked lightly.
Elizabeth smiled back. “Thanks. Have you done a lot of videos?”
George led them to a pair of chairs and sat down with her. A moment later a production assistant arrived with a pair of bottled waters. “Oh yeah, De Bourgh keeps me on their ready list, so I have as much work as I need.”
“You don’t work for De Bourgh?”
“No,” he frowned, “I work for myself. I get a contract for each job. That’s pretty standard.” Elizabeth nodded. “Besides,” he continued, “I wouldn’t work for that Gorgon again.”
Elizabeth had heard Lady Catherine called that enough times she wondered if it was on her business card. “So, you direct full time now?”
“Yep,” he smiled his even white teeth at her. “It’s not what I originally had in mind, but it pays the bills.”
“Do directors make a lot?” George laughed, a warm, ringing sound. “I’m sorry,” Elizabeth blushed, “I really just didn’t know.”
George looked at her. He had stopped laughing, but his eyes still twinkled with amusement. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have laughed. No, I mean, don’t get me wrong, I make enough, but not nearly as much as the artists I’m usually filming.” He smiled. “I think that’s where they get off acting like such babies.”
“They forget you’re an artist too,” she said thoughtfully.
“I try to be, but this is sometimes not the easiest medium. I have to work quickly, with a lot of people, and that makes it hard to stay focused on creating something you are proud of.”
“Do you miss singing?” she asked.
George gave a look of resigned indifference. “Well, that’s a tough one. I mean I miss the fans. I miss getting to interact with my audience each night. But I don’t miss the long hours on the tour bus and the constant waiting and the haughty attitudes. At least here, I get to call all the shots.” He grinned wryly. “Something I never got to do with old Darcy.” He looked at her warmly. “But let’s not talk about him. We’ve got to set up for your night shoot.”
The night shoot consisted first of Elizabeth singing in a tight close-up on her face. George had been careful to cast electric blue lights on her to pick up her lipstick and eye shadow. “Lizzy, you’ve got a wonderfully expressive face; now let me see it!” George cajoled.
Elizabeth had trouble getting into her performance. She felt awkward with the camera right in her face and the whole crew pressed up so closely to her. As George encouraged her to be more natural and easy, she instead felt more rigid and uncomfortable. Finally Charlotte walked over to her between takes and whispered in her ear, “Sing to Darcy.”
Elizabeth looked at her puzzled, but before she could ask for a clarification, they called for another take. Having nothing better to do, she thought about him, not the kind man she had enjoyed dinner with, but the arrogant rock star she had first met. The man she was going to teach a few things to. She grinned as a sense of power came over her as she sang sexily into the camera. Oh yeah, Mr. Bad-boy wanted her, and as long as he did, she had the balls in this relationship.
With a cocky, coy smile she sang along with the playback while George howled his approval. “Perfect! Oh my God! Lizzy! You’re making me crazy!” Elizabeth just lifted a knowing eyebrow at him. He was another man who wanted her. She relished the power she had over them.
After several takes of just Lizzy, George brought in the others and the band played together in the blue light. After what felt like hours, George called it a wrap for the night to everyone’s relief.
Elizabeth was spent as she climbed into the limo for the ride to the hotel, but she was surprised to see George was still energetic. “You gotta know how to pace yourself,” he told her with a laugh.
Charles answered the cell phone resting on his chest on the first ring. “Jane?”
“Hi,” the voice he loved the most smiled over the airwaves to him. “How are you doing?”
“Better now,” he told her. “How was the shoot?”
“Truthfully? Very boring. The director spent most of the day shooting Lizzy. Char and I mostly sat around
