Darcy took the time to point out all the landmarks from each window. Then he led her back to the bar, where they sat, discussing getting a plaque for “The Stool” when he said, “You know, it’s silly for you to go back up to Meryton and then turn around and come back here.”
“Yeah, I was thinking that. Would it be okay if I called home and asked Jane to bring my stuff?” she said. “I should probably tell them where I am anyway.”
“You are home,” he told her softly, his eyes cradling hers.
“What?”
“My home is yours, Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth was very uncomfortable with what he said, so she tried to hide it in a joke. “Oh, that’s all? No prenup, no wedding, just three or four quick ones and I get the house?” she grinned teasingly. “Your attorney must love that.”
Darcy rolled his eyes. “You have no idea.”
She grinned, glad the moment had passed, and reached for the phone.
Richard nodded to the doorman and entered the elevator. When the doors stopped, Richard was immediately struck by something odd. The smell of coffee was there when it shouldn’t be. He walked toward the voices coming from the living area.
He stopped and gaped when he saw Darcy wearing nothing but a pair of cotton drawstring pants and Elizabeth wearing shorts and a Slurry T-shirt. Their hair was damp, and if that wasn’t enough, it was clear from their body language they had been “close.”
Darcy was explaining to Elizabeth that Richard seemed to live in his fourth bedroom when Richard recovered the power of speech. “Lizzy! I didn’t expect to see you so soon.”
Elizabeth blushed slightly and smiled. “Hi, Richard.”
“Good thing I got extra croissants this morning,” he said lightly. “Have you eaten yet?”
“No,” Elizabeth said with an embarrassed chuckle.
“Will,” Richard said as he put a bag on the table, “could I have a word with you?”
Darcy followed his cousin into his office and waited. “That’s great, Will, that’s just fuckin’ great,” Richard observed. “You dumped me with Charles, who spent all night moping over Jane, getting drunk, and then barfing, while you’re back here shagging her sister!”
“Richard, believe me, this wasn’t planned,” Darcy replied calmly.
“Damned amazing timing then.”
“As a matter of fact, you can thank Wickham for that. He called her last night and got Lizzy so worked up, she drove down here to read me the riot act.”
“Well, I can see that was one of his more successful plans,” Richard commented dryly.
“Indeed,” Darcy grinned, taking a sip of his tea.
From the table where Elizabeth was setting out the food, she could hear every word. She wondered why they had even shut the door.
“Fine, you enjoy your playmate, but I suggest you give Charles a call later. It’s your fault he’s in this mess.” He opened the door and announced, “I’m going to bed,” and walked to his room.
Elizabeth looked at Darcy with open curiosity. She figured it was his house, he must know the walls were as thin as tissue paper. “What did he mean about Charles?”
Darcy shrugged as he crossed over to her. “Truthfully, I don’t know. Charles was depressed last night over Jane. He’s been missing her terribly.”
“Really?” Elizabeth asked. “Jane thinks he wants to break up with her.”
Darcy looked confused as he walked with her to the table and sat down. “Why would she think that?”
“Charles has been distant from Jane lately, he’s been keeping things from her,” Elizabeth told him as she sat down. “And when they talked Sunday night, he said he needed to talk to her face-to-face and that it was something bad.”
Darcy nodded knowingly. “He’s not going to break up with her.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Darcy took her hand. “He is going to tell her about his father.” Darcy took a sip of his tea and continued. “Charles’s father was just released from jail, where he served twelve months for insider trading.”
Elizabeth was shocked. “Why didn’t I hear about this before?”
“Because we’ve been working like crazy to make sure that
Elizabeth froze. “So, why did you tell me?”
Darcy looked at her warmly. “Elizabeth, you know about Georgiana, there can’t be any secrets between us now.”
“But why did you trust me when you didn’t trust Jane?”
Darcy stopped, put his cup on the table, and turned to her, taking both her hands in his own. “Because I love you, Elizabeth. Don’t you know that? I ardently love and admire you, with all my heart.”
Elizabeth felt chilled. She pulled her hands back. “Wait,” she told him. “Will, you’re going too fast.”
“Elizabeth,” his voice was filled with wonder, “did you really not know?” He studied her eyes and found the truth of his words. “I’m sorry, Lizzy. I didn’t mean to startle you, but it’s true. I do love you. And I have for the longest time.”
“No,” Elizabeth breathed and got up. She moved away from the table and faced the window.
“Lizzy,” he said gently as he placed his hands on her shoulders.
“Will, I told you, you have to slow down!” she told him, pulling away.
“Lizzy, I’m not trying to rush you. I just want you to know how I feel.” He held up his hands in a nonthreatening way. “Besides,” he grinned, “you can’t tell me that after last night, you don’t feel the same way.”
“What?” Elizabeth exclaimed. “Will, how can I know if I love you? I feel like I barely even know you!”
“Elizabeth, you know me!” he snapped. He could sense they were getting into trouble again. He fell back on the one thing he could trust. “You may not know the stupid details of my life, but you know my music. You know what counts about me.” He stepped closer. “You can’t tell me that you would have touched me, have comforted me the way you did last night if you didn’t love me. You wouldn’t have done that for anyone else.”
Elizabeth looked up at him, her expression confused and troubled. “Actually, I don’t know that. What you shared was so horrible, and you were hurting so badly. I don’t know if it was love or what. I just wanted to comfort you. So I don’t know if I would have done the same for someone else. If it was someone I respected and liked, and I had no other reason not to, then maybe I might have slept with someone else if they had shared something that painful with me. I don’t know.”
“No, Elizabeth, I don’t believe it.”
“Will, it’s true. Look,
“You cannot make love the way we did and
“You’re not listening to me.” Elizabeth stepped back slowly, her face shocked. “I’m sorry, Darcy. I’m very, very sorry. But… I need time.” Then she turned away and quickly moved toward the elevator.
Darcy followed her. “Stay!” he told her as the doors began to close.
Elizabeth only shook her head, unable to look at him, tears forming in her eyes.
Elizabeth found herself walking, not knowing what to think. Her truck was parked in the Village, but Elizabeth soon realized that she was heading north and figured she might as well keep going, rather than double back and have to find another parking space. In fact, she frankly didn’t care if she ever saw her truck again. She felt like she could simply keep walking for the rest of her life.
What had happened? In twelve hours, her life had changed completely. Oh, she could deny it. She could
