The introduction was made. The audience applauded and the lights came up. But it didn’t matter that thousands of people were cheering for them; the three men played only for three other people in the house. With an expression of intense earnestness, Charles sang:
As Jane watched them play, she felt her heart break. What was happening? She had started the day thinking that Charles was about to dump her, and now she was breaking off from him and he was begging her, in song, not to turn away.
As Darcy played, Elizabeth felt it again: his power, his strength. It was the third time he had played for her, and each time he moved her profoundly.
She couldn’t look at him anymore, so instead she turned to Jane and watched as her sister’s face crumbled. Elizabeth put her arms around her, and they held each other up, as Darcy’s deep voice joined Charles’s in the chorus, surprising Elizabeth even more than she already was.
All three women were stunned by the message they knew was for them. Slurry was not going to let them go without a fight. Their lovers were pleading with them to not leave, to come back.
It was a bizarre reversal of events, and all Elizabeth knew for certain, as she looked at Jane’s shattered face, was that they needed to pull back, and get some distance, before they could move forward.
Caroline stood alone watching the scene before her. Darcy and Richard had left as soon as the VMAs were over. Caroline would have been happy to escape with them, but Charles insisted on going to the De Bourgh party. She felt pity as she watched Charles hovering around Jane, who was ignoring him.
Caroline hadn’t been able to hear their brief conversation, but Jane’s body language made it clear. She was not willing to listen to anything Charles would tell her. She felt her twin’s pain as he couldn’t leave her yet couldn’t be with her, doomed to circle her like a planet orbiting the sun. Jane was politely talking to a writer and an actor Anne had introduced to her, and together they were discussing the possibility of LBS’s doing a theme song for an upcoming movie.
Caroline felt a certain boredom with it all. Slurry had done several soundtracks and the experience had only shown her that the movie industry was more shameless than the music industry. At moments like this, Caroline found she shared Darcy’s disgust with the whole business.
Caroline turned away and her eyes fell on Elizabeth Bennet. Elizabeth was talking politely with the people standing next to her, but Caroline knew her well enough to know she was bored.
Caroline made excuses and took Elizabeth away from the group and to the refreshment table. “I hope you don’t mind,” she told Elizabeth.
Elizabeth chuckled once. “No, I’m quite in your debt. I have never met such boring or fake people in my life.”
Caroline smiled in agreement. “Now you know why Darcy avoids these like the plague.”
“Is that why he’s not here?”
Caroline knew the curiosity in her voice was more than just idle conversation. “No, I don’t think so, but why don’t you tell me, Lizzy?”
Elizabeth’s eyes met hers, and Caroline waited while Elizabeth considered the offer. Finally Elizabeth said, “Could we find a quiet place to sit?”
Caroline nodded and led her to a private corner, near the windows. Elizabeth looked out into the darkness and tried to find a starting point.
“He loves you, you know,” Caroline said, relieving Elizabeth of the burden.
“I do now,” Elizabeth replied softly. “I know you all must think I’m really stupid, but for the longest time, I didn’t think he liked me at all.” Elizabeth gave a bitter huff. “Change that: I also think I’m stupid.”
“Lizzy,” Caroline said gently, “why did you think he didn’t like you?”
“Because he was so cold and abrupt when he spoke to me. And he said things that were very arrogant and hurtful.”
“He can be hard, Lizzy. No one knows that better than me. But believe me, he never meant to hurt you.”
“You mean before today.”
Caroline nodded and sighed. “Yes. What happened today? I’ve never seen him like this.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “I guess everyone is going to know now.” She shrugged. “What the hell? It’s not like I don’t live in a damned fishbowl anyway.”
“Did you sleep with him?” Caroline asked her calmly.
Elizabeth nodded. “And in the morning, he told me he loved me.” She could hardly believe it had only been this morning.
“What happened?”
“I ran.”
Caroline had to laugh at the irony of it. “If it’s any comfort to you, Elizabeth, I think that you’re both stupid right now.”
“Thanks,” Elizabeth said sarcastically. “You know what, I actually agree with you.” She put her hand to her face and rubbed her forehead.
“So what comes next?” Caroline asked.
“I don’t really know. We tried to get kicked off the tour, and I’m told we fucked that up good, so frankly, I just don’t know.”
Caroline smiled. “The one time you are trying to not advance your career and you end up giving yourself a huge boost, right?”
Elizabeth nodded and held up her hands. “I don’t get it.”
“I’m sorry, Lizzy. You need to work this out for yourself, but I can tell you one thing: Don’t give up.”
“On what? The career or Darcy?”
“Both, actually, but I meant Darcy.” Caroline looked at Elizabeth, letting her true feelings rise. “He’s a good man. He’s one of the best men I know. He’s very hard, I know that, but he does love you, and he only wants to make you happy.”
“And this afternoon?”
“He was hurt, badly, and lashed out.”
Elizabeth nodded. She knew that, but it validated her feelings to hear it from someone else.
“I know he comes on strong, but that is his way. He doesn’t realize that other people can’t read his mind. He thought it was clear to you that he loved you.”
Elizabeth nodded, feeling very sad inside. “You love him, don’t you?”
Caroline smiled. “Of course I do.” To Elizabeth’s unasked question, she said, “I love him enough to want to
