Posted on Wednesday, 14 June 2006
"She's OK, I guess, but she could stand to lose a few pounds," Will said.
Who am I kidding? She's got the kind of curves that drive me wild, but I am surely not admitting that to Charles!
"Shut up, Will, she might have heard you!"
Will stole a glance at Elizabeth Bennet, the woman they were discussing. She did look a bit tight-lipped. Damn. I really put my foot in my mouth this time.
She gave him a pissed-off look and walked to the other end of the club, offering Will a great view of her derriere, encased in snug blue jeans.
"What an a**!" Charles said.
Will sighed. "Yes, it's nice, isn't it?"
"I was talking about you! And didn't you just say she could stand to lose a few pounds?"
"I take it back. Those few pounds are in all the right places!"
"So go talk to her. I really don't understand you, Will. You tried to talk me out of dating her sister, and I am very glad that, for once, I ignored your advice."
"I admitted I was wrong, Charles. She's not after your money."
"You're evading me! You just admitted you were attracted to Lizzy, yet you won't talk to her. Think you're too good for her?"
"You know that's not it. She's just...my family is..."
"Fine, be alone for the rest of your life. You'll have to excuse me now, Will, I promised Jane I'd join her at the bar."
Will had to face the fact that he was more than attracted to Elizabeth Bennet. Because of Charles' engagement to her sister, he and Elizabeth had been thrown together often. She was beautiful, bright, talented, witty and outgoing. And kind.
And I am...rich, he thought. Rich, from a prominent society family, and alone. If Elizabeth had been from a similar background, he would have acknowledged the fact that he was in love with her and asked her to marry him.
Will I be alone for the rest of my life?
Feeling a bit melancholy, Will watched as Charles strode purposefully to the bar and slipped his arms around Jane from behind. She turned around, her face aglow with love, and kissed him. Now that was a look that money just could not buy.
Despite himself, he looked around the club for Lizzy. There she was, talking to some guy with a ponytail. Not her type at all! (And how do I presume to know what her type is!)
How was it possible that a woman's eyes could sparkle so, even in a dimly lit club? She was smiling, talking, her hands going a mile a minute, while her hippie friend (did anyone still use the word '"hippie?") just nodded. What a waste of her vivacity!
Oh, great, now she was going to dance with him! Darcy folded his arms and just glowered, and when Elizabeth glanced in his direction, he looked away. Perhaps it was time to call it a night and go home.
But for once in his life, Darcy didn't do the sensible thing. Instead, he approached Elizabeth's long-haired friend and tapped him on the shoulder.
"May I cut in?"
The man stopped his gyrating dance and looked at Darcy incredulously. "Well la-di-da," he said. "This isn't the Cotillion Ball."
Darcy ignored him.
"Can I buy you a beer, Elizabeth?"
"A beer?" she asked. "I assume that would be a light beer, as we all know I can stand to lose a few pounds!"
"I'm sorry," he said softly. "I'm so sorry. Your body is ... I mean ... you are perfect."
Elizabeth blushed and addressed her dance partner. "Will you excuse us, Jack?"
"That's 'Jake!'" he said. "And when you're finished talking to Sir Lancelot, give me a holler."
After he left, Darcy said, "I don't really want to dance. This actually isn't my kind of dancing."
"Well there's a surprise," Elizabeth said with a smirk. "What do you want, then?"
"You," he blurted out. "I love you."
"I can't believe it's been almost three years," Lizzy said, as they came to a stop in front of the Hunsford Lounge.
"That's where daddy first told mommy he loved her," Darcy said, turning around to address their year-old son in his infant seat.
"Yes, and mommy told daddy to get lost," Lizzy said.
"But daddy wouldn't take no for an answer! I courted her, and..."
"More like 'stalked' me!"
"Semantics! Can you say 'semantics,' Richard?" Darcy asked. (Somewhat rhetorically, as Richard would not have understood the question, even if he had not been fast asleep!)
Elizabeth laughed. "I wonder what ever happened to Jack. Or was it Jake?"
"You know, I am rather grateful to Jack-or-Jake," Darcy said. "Seeing you with him made me realize...well, it made me realize I couldn't stand to see you with anyone!"
"Well, it certainly shocked me, William! I had no idea you even liked me."
"When did you start to like me, Lizzy? I sent you flowers, Godiva chocolates, and still you ignored me."
"It was the night you stood under my apartment window, singing," she said.
"My melodious voice won you?" he asked.
"Oh God no, your voice is awful," she laughed. "As you well know! It was ... your willingness to look foolish," she said. "Took me totally by surprise, and I found it very endearing."
"Do you remember what I was singing?"
"How could I forget! 'Come-On-A My House!'"
He started the car again. "Excellent idea! Shall we head home, to our house, Lizzy?"
"As long as you promise not to sing! You'll wake the baby."
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. "I promise. Speaking of the baby ... know what I really want to do tonight?"
"What?" she asked breathlessly.
"Make another one."