Beginning, Previous Section, Section III, Next Section
Part 28
William and Richard were still up and they were watching some programme on TV. "How are things between you and Elizabeth?" Richard asked.
"Good, I hope."
"I thought so. You were pretty clinging today."
"Did it bother you?"
Richard shrugged. "What happened between you and Caroline?"
William gave his cousin a strange look. "I could ask you the same thing. She offered to give you a massage, I heard. I've never seen her give anyone a massage before."
"I have had some. They were great," Richard said curtly.
"Really? Why did she offer to give you a massage now? Is she going after you again?"
"I don't think so. She seems to be going after anyone in sight," Richard could not help sounding bitter. "I do not want to give in to her whims and then get dumped again."
"She dumped me this morning."
"Join the club. I really don't know what she's doing and I think she doesn't know either."
"I don't really care," said William.
"I do," Richard said quietly.
"No! Don't tell me..." William said incredulously.
"I'm stupid, I know."
"I...I never knew. I am sorry. Really."
"Don't be. It's not your fault. It's her. She's drifting. I mean, she was getting a massage from a complete stranger. That's not really like her. And I saw Caroline in her bikini today and it shocked me. She was never that thin."
"I...I wouldn't know. I didn't really pay attention. Have you tried talking to her?"
"Yes. Last night. You know how that ended up. In a row. And she wouldn't listen to me."
"Oh," said William. He didn't know what to suggest.
"Are you going to see Elizabeth tomorrow morning?"
"Yes, I think so."
His cousin forced a smile. "Then you'll probably be gone when I get up."
Elizabeth was waiting for her aunt and uncle to return from the baker's with bread, when the phone rang. She answered it. It was her father.
"Hi, what's wrong? You sound so serious."
"The police are looking for Lydia."
"What?" Elizabeth screamed down the line.
"She was accused of robbing your apartment together with a guy called George Wickham."
"What?"
"I don't really know much more. I think you should come home because it's a madhouse here. Mum and I are upset...well, you can guess. Especially Mum."
"Yes, I can guess. What happened?"
"I don't know exactly, but Lydia is nowhere to be found."
"She's on the run?"
"We think so. We think she's with that guy."
"I don't believe Lydia robbed my apartment!"
"No, but she was definitely there. They've got one of those police drawings. Her picture has been on the news..."
"Oh no!" Elizabeth gasped. "How do you know who she was with?"
"He left his wallet on the kitchen table. He must have been the one who did it, but Lydia was with him."
"I can't believe this!"
"I have to hang up now. The police are here to question us. Bye," Mr. Bennet said.
"Bye." Elizabeth hung up the phone and sat still in shock while she thought of what her father had told her. It was awful! Lydia's picture had been shown on television. What would people think of the Bennets now? My sister is a criminal. A criminal. She's run off with George Wickham. Him, of all people. Where did she meet him? When did she meet him? Why did she go to my apartment? What happened? How are we going to get out of this? What did they take? Where did they go?
Part 29
William found Elizabeth in a state of extreme agitation. "What happened?" he asked, but she was not able to give him a coherent explanation. "Sit down. Shall I get you a glass of water?"
She nodded.
"Okay, now tell me slowly what's wrong."
Elizabeth hiccuped. "Lydia and George Wickham burgled my room and he left his wallet on the kitchen table and that's why they know it was him, and they had their picture shown on the news and the police are looking for them now."
William was silent as he let all of this sink in.
"My sister is a criminal," Elizabeth wailed. "People will think we are all criminals. I will have no friends left. Think of what this will do to my career opportunities! I won't get a job anywhere and I'm nearing graduation."
"George Wickham?"
"He must have been inciting Lydia. She has the keys to my room. I didn't even know she knew him! She is so young and foolish. He must have used her as an accomplice. Oh, I must go home as quickly as possible. If only my aunt and uncle would come back. I must go home and find out exactly what happened."
"Where are they?"
"They went to the baker's."
"You won't be able to join us today then," he said flatly.
"No. Here, I promised to lend your sister this book." She handed him a book, and rested her head in her hands again.
He wanted to do something, but he knew not what. She obviously did not want him here. "I had better go now." His mind was spinning. Was there anything he could do? He certainly could not do anything here, right now. "Good luck."
"Thank you," she said automatically, but she barely noticed his departure.
William arrived home in a pensive mood, a frown on his face. He wondered what he could do to help Elizabeth. He didn't know Lydia, having seen her only once, but he knew George Wickham, and he could well imagine how it had come about. George had a certain charm, and he had probably seen Lydia and decided she was an easy target who would do anything he suggested. If it had worked on Georgiana, he had no doubt it would work on someone as superficial as Lydia. He did not want Elizabeth's family blemished, for her sake. This obviously brought her pain. He wondered if there was anything he could do, with his knowledge of George, something to acquit Lydia perhaps. Maybe he could get Elizabeth's stuff back, if he only knew where George had taken it. He knew she had a computer, a television, a radio, a microwave, and who knows what else. She would need an awful lot of money to replace all that, and students' budgets generally did not permit such expenses.
He picked up the paper. There was a short column devoted to the burglary. Usually burglaries did not make the national papers, but in this case they suspected that the burglar had taken a hostage. He was glad to read that, even if he sincerely doubted if Lydia had gone with George Wickham against her will. He had to find them, before Lydia could get into more trouble.
As he folded up the newspaper, Caroline came downstairs. She gave him a sideways glance. "Shouldn't you be with Elizabeth?"
He didn't answer.
"Go ahead and ignore me," she said cattily. "It's only obnoxious Caroline."
"What? Did you say anything?" He looked up.
"What is it with everyone? Everyone ignores me."
"Some of us have more important concerns than our appearance," he said calmly.
"Oh, so you think that is all I care about?"
"Isn't it?"
"No," she said defensively.
"Think again. Listen, I'm going to pack and go back to town because something has happened."
"What happened?"
"I can't tell you that."
"Why can't you?"
"Because it doesn't concern you and because I know only very little of it myself." He got up and went upstairs.
When he returned she was flipping through some magazine. "I'm leaving now. Give Richard the keys to my car," he threw them on the couch next to her, "and tell him I've gone back and ask him to ring me on my mobile if he wants to know more. I haven't got the time to tell him the story," and he was gone.
Caroline scowled and her fingers closed around the keys. "Great," she mumbled. "Why me? He won't want to talk to me." I must talk to him alone. I don't want to be humiliated in front of anyone else. I had better do it right now.
Slowly she climbed the stairs and knocked on his door.
"Yes?" he called.
She entered and saw him scowl even more than she did. He probably thought she came to seduce him. "I have a message from William," she said coldly. "He's gone."
"Where to?" He blinked his eyes as if he wasn't quite awake yet, and sat up straight.
"He wouldn't tell me, but he told me to give you his car keys and if you wanted to know more you could ring him." It sounded vaguely plaintive.
Caroline walked forward and held out the keys. Their eyes met and she quickly looked away. She could not look at him without feeling any pain. What did I do? She felt she was about to cry, so she dropped the keys before he could take them, and almost ran out if he hadn't called her back.
"What?" she asked angrily.
"What's wrong? Are you upset that he didn't tell you?"
"No."
"Sit down," he gestured at the other end of his bed. She sat down reluctantly, studying her nails. "Look at me."
"Put on a shirt."
"Why?" he asked curiously.
"So I don't get distracted." I don't need a reminder of what I lost.
"Oh, okay." He put on a shirt. "I heard you dumped William," he said evenly. "Why?"
Caroline shrugged. "Because I don't want him."
"Did you ever do more than kiss him?"
She flushed. "What's it to you?"
"I'm just trying to determine how far you'd go to achieve your goal."
"What goal?" She said angrily.
"You tell me, because I have no idea why you behave like an idiot. So, did you do more than kiss him?"
"No," she admitted. "And if it gives you any comfort, I don't know why I behave like an idiot either. All I know is that I'm confused."
"Is that why you flirted with the whole beach?"
"I guess so."
"And with me?"
Caroline bit her lip. "That was not flirting. I heard you say your shoulder hurt."
"Oh," he said slowly. "I had better go down and call William and find out what this is all about." He got out of bed.
"Don't you have a mobile?"
Richard wrinkled his nose in disgust. "I'm not such a show-off. Besides, we're not allowed to carry one at the Academy."
"I have one."
"Aww, Caroline. You're such a snob." He took her phone and punched the buttons. "Hey, William. What's up?"
Caroline couldn't make much sense of their conversation, except that it seemed to be about George Wickham and where he could possibly be. Richard gave William a few names of friends of George's, and told him to try it there.
Part 30
"What was that all about? Why did William leave?" Caroline asked curiously.
He rubbed his shoulder absentmindedly. "I don't know because he wouldn't tell me. Wickham got into trouble, though why William should want to get him out of it is a mystery to me. I'm supposed to meet him later."
At least he seemed to tolerate her now. He did not glare at her anymore, and she took advantage of that. "What is wrong with your shoulder?"
"I did too much."
"Will you let me look at it?" she said humbly.
"If you wish," he shrugged. She rolled up his sleeve and pressed at a few places while moving his arm about. He had no idea what she was doing but it felt pretty professional. "Ouch!" he said when she pressed a sore spot.
"Ah," she said, and named some muscle.
"Since when did anatomy become a part of the Law curriculum?"
"I want to give up Law, but my parents would throw me out if I did. Lie down. I can't do this when you're sitting."
He took off his shirt and lay down, thinking of the Wickham mystery and what William could possibly have to do with it.
Elizabeth had arrived home, accompanied by her aunt and uncle, to find the whole family gathered there, even her other aunt and her family. The distress was almost tangible. Her mother was in bed upstairs, and Jane's mother was with her. Elizabeth was determined not to go upstairs. She knew very well in what kind of condition she would find them, lamenting and crying over the poor, innocent Lydia. She chose to remain downstairs instead, preferring the company of the more sensible people.
"Did you hear any news yet?"
"Not much," said her father. "Only that Lydia's friend she had been staying with, Colinda, said that Lydia told her she was going to be picked up by a new flame."
"George Wickham?"
"We can only assume it was him, but I don't think there's any room for doubt."
"Did she tell the girl where she was going?"
"Yes, she told her he was going to give her a ride home."
"But they didn't go home... they robbed my room."
"I wonder why no one noticed. There are 300 people living in that building!" Mr. Bennet exclaimed.
"Dad! There are 150 people living on my stairwell, true, but there are people moving in and out so often that nobody finds it strange if they see two people load stuff into a car. It happens practically every weekend around the first day of the month."
"We've been to all the second hand shops in town to ask them to warn us if your belongings are offered for sale anywhere."
"Good. I hope that works. I wonder where they are staying. I guess it can't be in a hotel if he is so pressed for money that he needs my stuff."
William will never want to see me anymore now. I know we live in the same house, but that will be all. He comes from such a respectable family. They would not want him to associate with me, whose sister is a criminal. Why did this have to happen? Why? Why now? Just when we were getting along so well? He is almost the most perfect guy I ever met.
William had arrived back in the apartment and stared at Elizabeth's room. It was sealed off with police tape. There was no point in going in there anyway, so he fixed himself something to eat and spoke to two other roommates who were shocked by the whole business. "I thought it was okay because her sister was there. Maybe I should have asked what they were doing but I didn't want to be nosy," Maria said desperately.
"And I knew George," Mark said. "At least I thought I did."
"Did they say where they were going?" William asked.
"I heard them talking about Canal Island," Maria said.
William ate his food and returned to his room to look at the list of names and addresses Richard had given him. There were two in Canal Island. He would wait until Richard came and then they'd check these addresses out, because it was a rather dubious neighbourhood. He dearly hoped that they would find Wickham and Lydia and all of Elizabeth's property at one of those addresses. He wanted Elizabeth's family cleared. Only for her sake, though. He wanted her to be happy and smiling and not worrying again. He hoped Richard would come as soon as he was ready.
Part 31
William was getting impatient. What is taking him so long? He rang me at ten thirty. It's an hour by car so he could have been here by eleven thirty. Oh, wait. Didn't he say he was still in bed? He did sound a little sleepy. How could he call me from his bed? Our guest room doesn't have a phone -- but our guests do...Caroline has a mobile she never uses. He must have used Caroline's phone. I should never have asked her to tell him. I bet she's delaying him with all of her questions.
Finally the doorbell rang. He ran down the corridor and pulled open the door. "What took you so long?"
Richard gave him a surprised look. "Long? It's half past twelve. I spoke to you barely two hours ago, and may I remind you that it's almost an hour by car?"
"Yes, but what about the other hour?"
"Oh right, I can hop into my car straight from my bed. Nuh-uh. I had to see my physiotherapist." I have as much right to sort out my woman troubles as you do.
"Your what?"
"Nothing."
"Good, let's go then," William said briskly.
"I want some food first," Richard said in a complaining voice. "I haven't eaten yet."
"What?" William almost exploded. "You had an hour and you did not even eat?"
"No."
"All right. Five minutes to make yourself some lunch."
When they finally set off for Canal Island, William was feeling slightly nervous. What if we can't find them? What if they've moved on? What do I say to them anyway?
"This is kind of slummy," Richard remarked as he drove through the streets where all sorts of shady men loitered on the sidewalks or were fixing old cars.
"It fits George."
"Okay, this is one of the addresses. Let's check it out," Richard said as he parked the car. "I hope your car is still intact when we get back."
They entered the building and walked up three smelly flights to the top floor, and rang the bell. "Is George here?" William asked of the person who opened the door.
"George who?" said the young man in pyjamas.
"Wickham."
"Oh him! Why do you ask me? He is not a friend of mine or anything."
"We are looking for him. Have you got any idea of where he could be?"
"No, sorry."
"Blast," said William when they were back in the car. "Maybe he's at the other address." The other address was in another street that looked exactly the same, with the same apartment buildings and the same population.
He rang the bell to number 24-II and a grubby young man answered the door. "Yeah?"
"George Wickham."
"Don't know any George," he said, but William could see he looked a bit scared.
"I think you do."
"No, I don't. Don't tell me who I know."
"He's here," William bluffed.
"No, he isn't."
"Yes, he is. I smell that sickening eau de cologne of his," Richard said threateningly.
"Uhh..."
"Let us in," William ordered.
"No."
They pushed him aside, which was easy because they were tall and strong and Wickham's grubby little friend had obviously never seen the insides of a gym.
Wickham was sitting in front of the TV in an equally grubby living room that was full of beer cans and coke bottles and empty chips bags. A girl was lying on a couch, sulking. Lydia, William thought.
"Hello George."
"William. Richard," George jumped up.
"Sit," William commanded. "And listen."
Wickham sat down again. He was a wimp at heart, and he did not know what to do.
"Did you rob Elizabeth's room?"
"No."
"Don't lie!"
"Yes," George admitted when Richard moved in his direction menacingly.
"Why?"
"I needed money and it seemed an easy way."
"So you enlisted the help of Lydia here?"
Lydia had been watching them with frightened eyes. She had no idea who they were, and she thought they were some kind of criminals too. "How do you know my name?" she said, visibly impressed.
"We know everything," Richard said sternly.
"Yeah," George shrugged. "She told me she had the key to her sister's room and we were going there for a little fun, when I got a better idea."
William and Richard were disgusted. They resisted the urge to give George a firm thrashing, but it showed in their faces nevertheless. "This is what you're going to do, you piece of slime," William said. "You are going to the police and turn yourself in, with all of the stuff you stole. You will not mention Lydia. Lydia did not have anything to do with this, you understand? You got the key off her and sent her on her way. Am I making myself clear? Do this, or you'll be sorry. Lydia, come with us."
"No!" Lydia cried. "I don't know you."
"Either you stay here and go to prison, or you come with us," William said exaspiratedly.
"I don't want to go to prison," Lydia whined.
"Then come, or do we need to use force?"
Lydia looked scared and heaved herself off the couch.
"So, George. If Elizabeth does not have her stuff back within the next 24 hours, we'll be back with some of Richard's buddies from school." George scowled, but they thought the message had gone across clearly.
They took Lydia with them. In the car, William turned round to face the girl. "You were with a friend the whole time, you understand? Do you have a friend who will vouch for you?"
"No," Lydia sulked.
"Okay. Say that you were with a boy, a one night stand, and you were scared of your parents' reaction so that's why you didn't go home. Can you say that?"
"Yes."
"So, where have you been the past two days?" Richard asked to test her.
"With a friend."
"What sort of friend?"
"A boy."
"What's his name?"
"I don't know."
"Why didn't you let your parents know?"
"Because they would kill me."
"Why go home now, though?"
Lydia looked confused. "I don't know. You didn't tell me that yet."
"Because you saw the newspaper."
"Duh! No one's going to believe that. I only read the Donald Duck comic," Lydia said scornfully.
"Your boyfriend read it then. Or you watched TV and saw they were looking for you."
Lydia repeated that, and she nodded. "Okay."
"Have you got any money?" Richard asked as he pulled up in front of the station.
She shook her head.
"Here," William handed her a banknote. "Buy a train ticket and go home."
"Sure. Bye."
Part 32
"You go to great lengths for your beloved," Richard remarked. "At least, I suppose it is Elizabeth you did all this for? Even threatening that slimeball with my school buddies, haha."
"Yes, but I don't want you to tell her."
"Why not?"
"I don't want her to know."
"I don't understand. You do something for her, but you do not want her to know?" Richard looked incredulous.
"I don't want her to feel any obligation towards me."
"Complicated, complicated," he sighed.
"What is?" said William who rummaged through the glove compartment for some candy.
"Love and all that."
"I don't see your problem. All the girls love you because you always know what to say. I never know what to say."
"Hmmpphh," Richard commented.
"You could have whoever you wanted."
"Hmmpphh."
"They are ready to throw themselves at you. Half the girls in my house thought you were cute after my birthday party and I'm sure they'd love to see you again."
"Shut up, William."
"You have a different girlfriend every week."
"No, I don't."
"Yes, you do. Every time I come over to you to go out there is a different girl accompanying us, and no matter which pub we're in, all the girls in it seem to be exes of yours. Your neighbour Flippie's been keeping track of them. He has a list --"
"What?" Richard cried.
"He calls it Fitzie's Bitsies. The last time I spoke to him the count was at 97 and he was planning to throw you a party when you hit 100."
"Oh, gross!"
"I'm glad you see it too. Have you hit 100 yet in the meantime?"
"100 what?"
"Well, uhh, conquests, I suppose. You know. He's hardly going to keep track of girls you shook hands with."
"Flippie's going to pay for this," Richard said savagely. He made up his mind about something. "William, I know what I am about to tell you is probably going to shock you," and he began to tell William something that left his cousin completely speechless.
Lydia returned home and the Bennets were overjoyed. She shrugged when her father asked where she had been. "With a friend."
"Lydia!" he thundered.
Lydia sulked. "Geez. No need to shout."
"Where have you been?"
"I told you," she smacked her bubble gum loudly. "I was with a friend. But I got scared, you know. I was afraid that Mum wouldn't approve of me staying the night with him and all, so I dared not come home, you know."
Mrs. Bennet shrieked.
"What was his name?" her father demanded with an annoyed glare at his wife.
"Geez. I dunno. He was cute. I met him in La Scala after I had been to Lizzy's room."
"Was he that George Wickham?"
"No! Ugh!"
"Did you have anything to do with the theft?"
"What theft? Oh, that! Yeah, the guy I was with saw it in the paper or something. He said it looked like me so I said I'd better go home. And here I am."
"We are going to the police station," Mr. Bennet announced.
"No!" Mrs. Bennet shrieked again. "My poor little Lydia! She's not a criminal."
"Oh, shut up, Mum. It's not as if they're going to put me in a cell or anything. Gee! And I wouldn't mind, you know. I heard the cells all have tv. I could watch videos all day!"
Elizabeth ran upstairs. She could not take this any longer.
Part 33
"You seem to be under the delusion that I am some kind of Don Juan," Richard said.
"Are you telling me I'm wrong? I think ninety-seven girls is a bit much."
"Sorry, William. Not ninety-seven girls, more like..." he hesitated.
"Fifty?" William asked sarcastically. "That certainly makes a difference."
"More like zero."
William was speechless.
"Well?" Richard said apprehensively.
"I don't believe you. Are you kidding me?"
"No."
"So Flippie was lying?"
"I think Flippie sees more than what actually happens."
"Not even you and Caroline?" William said incredulously.
"No."
"Oh, man! She dumped you and you never got over it. That is too tragic for words. Forget her."
Mr. Bennet had phoned the police before he took Lydia, and they had informed him that Wickham had turned himself in, and that all of Elizabeth's things were now there. He called his daughter down and told her the good news.
"You had better come along so we can drop everything off at your room."
"Dad, only if I don't have to listen to whatever Lydia tells them."
"I thought you could bring your stuff back while they interview your sister. You can drive, because we'll probably be there for quite some time."
"Sounds great," Elizabeth smiled.
She and Jane, who had come along also, carried everything back to Elizabeth's room and put it back in its place.
"My computer!" Elizabeth whined. "I don't know what to plug into what. Jane, do you?"
"Uhh no, but it can't be that difficult. Isn't Maria in? She has a computer."
Elizabeth walked to the whiteboard next to the phone on which they marked if they were in or not. It was very useful in case someone called. The person who answered the phone would be able to see immediately if he had to run down to a room and knock on the door, or not. The use of such boards had also been recommended by the fire brigade. Elizabeth put crosses behind her and Jane's name, and she saw that Maria was in. She could not help noticing that William was not at home, but that he had put a cross in the 'less than two hours away' column. He would be back soon, and it filled her with dread. What would he say?
She knocked on Maria's door. "Maria, have you got any idea how I can reconnect my computer?"
"Gee. A friend did that for me, but I'll have a look. Did you know Mark is moving out next week?"
"No! Why so sudden?" Elizabeth asked.
"He failed his August resits."
"Oh!" Jane exclaimed. "That means he doesn't have enough points for last year so his grant will be stopped."
"And the university is kicking him out as well, so his parents have ordered him to move back home because they won't pay the rent. I've been downstairs to pick up a new list of names already."
"Not again," Elizabeth groaned. "I hate picking a new roommate."
"Hee!" Maria cried as she connected Elizabeth's printer. "I should think you'd be very satisfied with the last roommate we picked."
Elizabeth turned red.
"I called all the boys on the list, but they're all crap."
"How can you tell over the phone?" Jane asked.
"I can just tell. Anyway, I think we should pick a girl. A three to five ratio would just be acceptable, wouldn't it?" She went to fetch the list and handed it to Jane.
"How interesting. I did not know Caroline was on the waiting list," Jane said.
"Oh, no! It's not the Caroline?" Elizabeth exclaimed.
When William got home he immediately saw the three girls sitting behind Elizabeth's computer because the door was open. It was the first door he passed, so he could not miss it. He really wanted to talk to Elizabeth, but the presence of Jane and Maria scared him off, and they seemed to be enjoying themselves, so he did not want to interrupt. "Hi," he said quickly, and walked on.
Elizabeth was rather hurt. Is that all? Doesn't he care about me anymore? Well, all right, I shall not remind him of the past few days then. I have no need to embarrass myself.
She was even more downhearted when Charles joined William for dinner that evening. He had no scruples in paying more attention to Jane than to William, even with other people present. Elizabeth cooked her meal, and took her plate to her room where she spent all evening talking nonsense in a chat room and private-messaging all her friends with the question if they could make head or tail of the situation. It did not help.
William was equally tormented. He so much wanted to say something, but they always seemed to meet each other with spectators. He ran into her in the corridor a few times, but there was someone talking on the phone every single time, and he could not invite her into his room unobserved either because people on the phone had nothing else to do but to observe everything that happened in the corridor. The kitchen would buzz with gossip. These were the excuses he made up for himself, but he hated himself for it.
Part 34
Elizabeth was requesting a videoclip at five o'clock in the morning one day when William came home from a party. He had Richard and Charles with him. She waved at them when they went into the kitchen. "Would you believe it? Fifteen ticks in just a few minutes," she said as she had hung up the phone and gone into the kitchen.
"It's 5am, what dirty number were you calling?" Richard asked her.
Elizabeth motioned at the TV. "That. I want a video."
"Which one?"
"You'll see. But probably you won't get to see it. I've tried it before and they did not show it, but that might have been because I hung up too early to save money."
"Why are you up so early?" William asked.
"I was just about to go to bed."
"Did you have a party too?"
Elizabeth blushed. "Uhh no. I just stayed up late because I was doing something."
"Like what?" William could not imagine what it was.
"I have a computer in my bedroom," she explained. "It is rather addictive, especially on a Saturday night."
"Sunday morning, you mean," said Charles. "Argh! We have to help Caroline paint in four hours, William."
"Oh, that's nice. Do I get to sleep in?" Richard looked pleased.
"I don't think so. If she finds out you're here, she'll wake you up anyway. Let's go to bed guys." Charles got up and disappeared to William's room with Richard behind him. William followed them until he suddenly turned round.
"May I use your computer for a minute to send an email?"
"Sure." Elizabeth led the way to her room. "It's still on. Do you know how to change the settings and all that? If you don't, I have a little note there."
"I know how to do it, thanks."
"Okay. I'll just go and have a shower." She grabbed a towel.
She heard someone in the shower next to her. "Hey!" she yelled.
"Hey! Are we not waking the whole house up?"
"No. The others are all away. This is kind of fun, showering at a quarter past five on a Sunday morning."
"Yes, I'm thinking about making it a weekly routine."
"Who are you anyway?" Elizabeth asked.
"Richard. Charles has passed out already."
"Pfff!"
"What?"
"Pfff!"
"What did you do with William?"
"Nothing. What do you mean?"
"Are you mad at him?"
"No. Is he mad at me?"
"No. Whose shampoo is this?"
Elizabeth saw one of the hundred shampoo bottles that were standing on the ledge between the showers move. "I have no idea. Use it."
"I thought there were only eight people living here," he remarked.
"I wonder how we're ever going to fit all of Caroline's bottles in," Elizabeth said a little maliciously.
There was silence on the other side.
"Are you still there?"
"Yes."
"You don't like me saying such things about her?"
"Not really, but I can understand why you would."
Elizabeth felt that she had better go before she said anything else. "Okay. See you."
"Talk to him," he yelled after her.
Part 35
When she came back in her room William had just finished sending an email and he was chatting on ICQ. "Who are you talking to?" Elizabeth cried.
"Some Mimi. It's very interesting, she was asking you about me."
"Argh!" Elizabeth dropped on her bed and stuck her head under a pillow.
"Do you want to reply anything?"
"I thought you already replied to her."
"No, I told her you were in the shower."
"Argh!" Elizabeth cried again. "I'm going to die! She's going to be all corrupted! There is a guy in my room and I'm taking a shower in the middle of the night. What will she think of me?"
"That one of your roommates is using your computer?"
"Oh, right! They always do that in the middle of the night. Sure!"
Richard stuck his we head around the door. "Eh, William. Don't forget to tell your ICQ pal that Elizabeth was showering with a guy as well."
"Argh! No! I was not showering with you!"
"I was taking a shower, you were taking a shower. That sounds like we both were taking a shower."
"Yes, but we have two showers," she protested.
"Now, if you two move to the kitchen, I shall try to uncorrupt your friend, okay?" Richard offered.
"I don't trust you!"
"Well, you can't trust William either. He has just told her you were in the shower with me."
"Oh, William!" she cried in dismay. "You didn't!"
"Sorry, I did. Don't worry, she's not going to believe me anyway."
"Go and make some coffee or something," Richard waved them out and he seated himself behind the computer.
Elizabeth and William strolled to the kitchen. "Would you like me to make some coffee?" William asked politely.
"Yes, please. I think there is no point in going to bed anymore at this hour. Not that I know what to do before twelve on a Sunday morning."
"What happens at twelve?"
"The fitness centre opens."
"Oh."
Elizabeth thought of the email she had received from her sister Lydia. Lydia had given her a rather incoherent account of what had happened to her, and it had included the name 'William'. This had of course attracted Elizabeth's attention, but it was not clear to her what exactly he had done so she had replied immediately, asking Lydia to elaborate. Lydia had written her a little about William's role in the whole business, but then she had cut it off because her favourite soap came on TV, and after the soap she had not gone on-line again. Elizabeth did not know all the particulars therefore, but she knew that Lydia owed a lot to William. She must thank him for it, even if he had obviously wanted to keep his involvement concealed. "William..."
"Yes?"
"I should like to thank you for what you did."
"Who told you?"
"Lydia."
"I could have known she would not be able to keep her mouth shut about it."
"Thank you. My family owe you a great deal."
"I didn't do it for your family. I did it for you."
Elizabeth blushed and said nothing. There was nothing she could say to that.
William continued. "Do you still hate me? Because I still feel the same about you."
"No, I don't hate you. Far from it," she smiled.
He smiled back at her and they sat down on the single-seat couch to talk and watch some music videos while waiting for the coffee, and of course they fell asleep.
When Caroline rang the bell three hours later, everybody was sound asleep. She had rung William's bell, but the only two in that room were Charles and Richard, and it was impossible to wake Charles, so the task of stopping the irritating bell from ringing fell to Richard. He groaned as he crawled out from under his sleeping bag.
Poor Caroline was not at all prepared for the sight of Richard, and much less for the sight of him in boxers and t-shirt. "What are you doing here?"
"I am not here to help you paint, I was sleeping."
"Where is Charles then?"
"I think he'll be asleep for the next ten hours or so."
Caroline looked appalled. "No! Can't you wake him up?"
"That irritating bell doesn't even wake him, so I suppose I can't."
"Aren't you going to let me in?"
Richard stepped aside. "I think you're going to have to paint alone."
"I can't do that."
"Well, then you are going to have to wait until everybody wakes up."
"Where is William?"
He took her to the kitchen and pointed. "Asleep too. I'm going back to bed too. Have fun."
"What am I going to do in the meantime?"
"Sleep?" he suggested.
"Where?"
"In William's bed?"
"No! I'd rather lie on the floor."
Richard shrugged, and he crawled back under his sleeping bag. "Where? There isn't any space on the floor left. You can lie between me and Charles though."
William and Elizabeth woke up a short while later, but it did not enter their minds to leave their kitchen seat. They stayed where they were and drank coffee and watched TV. Around noon William remembered that Caroline was supposed to have come three hours ago. "I wonder if Caroline ever came."
"I guess not, or she would have come to fetch you."
"Yes, I suppose you're right," said William, loath to leave the couch.
They remained where they were for another half hour until William thought of a new CD he wanted Elizabeth to hear. He got up and stretched sleepily. "I think I'm going to be sore tomorrow. This couch is not exactly comfortable."
Elizabeth giggled. "No, it's not meant for two people and not made to be slept on."
"Shall we see if the boys are awake yet?"
"Okay."
They walked down to William's room.
Part 36
"They are still asleep!" William exclaimed. "I don't believe this, you lazy pigs."
"Huh?" said Richard, sleepily looking out from under his sleeping bag.
"Huh?" Charles echoed, and Elizabeth giggled.
"We are going to listen to a CD now, I'm sorry," William said. "No more sleeping." He and Elizabeth sat down on his bed and he put on some music.
"I don't mind," Charles said as he pulled his sleeping bag tighter around him. "As long as it's a good one."
Richard was wondering where Caroline had gone to. She was here before I fell asleep, or was it a dream? No...she was really here. I hope she was not so angry that she went home. Nobody seems to care...and they were the ones who were going to help her paint. I'm not in the mood to listen to that CD now. He got up and pulled his jeans, shirt and socks on. "I don't like that music. Can I use your computer for a while, Elizabeth?" he asked.
"Sure."
First he went to the bathroom and on his way back he passed Caroline's room. Richard was sure she wasn't there, but he looked in anyway. He found himself smiling when he saw her. She had been painting all alone. Caroline turned when she heard the door open.
"Oh, finally," she said sarcastically.
"You could have waited for me." He picked up a brush.
"Right. In your sleeping bag."
"So?"
"So you could say thank you, Caroline, for this agreeable diversion, and now get out? No, thanks. I had no intention of being one of your many one-morning-stands."
"Not you too!" Richard exclaimed in frustration.
"What? Don't tell me someone else turned the stud down?" she said mockingly. "What a dent in your reputation."
Richard blanched. He threw down his brush on the newspapers that covered the ground and left the room.
The door opened again, and Charles entered. "I saw Richard come out. Gee, Caroline. Where did you come from? How long have you been here? I didn't know you were here! If I had known I would have come sooner."
Caroline looked a little less piqued.
William and Elizabeth showed up as well, and they all started painting. Elizabeth had brought a little radio, so they had some music while they worked.
"Where did Richard go?" William asked.
"Oh, shut up," Caroline said, and she turned up the sound of the radio. The beautiful -- or whining, in case of a male listener -- sounds of Volumia's newest single excluded all conversation. William could not stand so much slobbering music, so he stepped out for a second while Elizabeth sang along.
"Girls only like that song because the singer is cute," said Charles after the song was over.
"No we don't! It happens to be a good song," Caroline said. "He's not even that cute. He has dark hair."
"Oooohhh," said Charles. "Well, we have Richard walking around here somewhere too, and he doesn't have dark hair."
Caroline glared at him.
William went in search of Richard and found him behind Elizabeth's computer, with another ballad blaring in the background. "Bwech! I escape that girlish music and here I find you listening to Toni Braxton."
"What music?"
"Caroline turned the volume up on Volumia."
"Oh...nice song..."
"I want to go for a walk. I'll ask Elizabeth to come with me. I saw Jane in the corridor just now, so Charles has probably gone to talk to her. Have fun with Caroline."
William and Elizabeth went walking to the old town. They had some ice cream at Il Mulino, and after that they sat down on a terrace to enjoy the weather and the people passing by, all the while discussing what had happened and what would be happening at home at that moment.
Part 37
"Why didn't you say anything when you came home that one time?" Elizabeth asked. "I thought you didn't want anything to do with me."
"Oh, no!" William said. "I did want to talk to you, but the girls were with you, and..."
"They would have eaten you."
"No!"
"What then?"
"They didn't know yet, did they? I mean, what if..."
"What if they found out? Oh boy, they would be shocked, yes."
"Would they?" William looked worried.
"Of course not!"
"I just couldn't say anything with them there, and then you didn't say anything to me...and I thought..."
"And you gave up? Duuhh! Of course I didn't say anything! I thought you despised me."
"I didn't!"
"I know...but next time..."
"I hope there won't be a next time," William said.
"I don't really fancy going back home and cook dinner, do you?" Elizabeth sighed.
"I'll take you out to dinner," William offered.
"Oh, it was not a suggestion!"
"I know, but it was a good idea all the same," he smiled.
"Hi Jane," said Charles.
"Hi," Jane smiled. "How have you been?"
He shrugged. "Okay. I wonder...would you like to come with me to a movie somewhere?"
"Sure," Jane smiled again. "Now?"
"Yes?"
They left the house together. Caroline had not seen anyone leave, and she walked down to check up on the bus schedule. Because she did not have a key, she counted on someone to let her in when she came back.
The only other person still at home thought the same. Richard did not have a key either. He had seen some young vandals trying to steal a bike, and he had gone down to scare them off. He had not noticed any of the others leaving. When he returned, he found out there was nobody who answered the door. After having held his finger on the various doorbells for ten minutes he concluded that there really was not anyone home. He wondered where Charles, Jane and Caroline had gone too, and when William and Elizabeth would be back from their walk. They had been gone for an hour already, he saw on his watch. Richard sat down on the stairs and resigned himself to a long wait. Someone came up the stairs, and it turned out to be Caroline.
"Do you have a key?" he asked.
"No."
"Oh, great."
"Where is everyone?"
"Gone, apparently. William and Elizabeth went out for a walk an hour ago, and I don't know where Charles and Jane went."
Caroline looked at the door. "What do we do now?"
"Well, we could wait or we could leave."
"I can't leave. My things are still inside."
"I meant to come back later. I'm hungry."
"You're always hungry," Caroline sighed.
"I'm a lot bigger than you, and besides, I don't think I have to watch my figure. I'm going to a restaurant or something. Coming?"
"Do I have a choice? I guess I'll have to. I don't want to stay here alone."
"What do you think Jane and Charles are doing?" Elizabeth asked.
William smiled. "I wouldn't worry about that if I were you. He was going to ask her out again."
"Oh, good," Elizabeth said teasingly. "Did you tell him he could?"
"Nah!"
"And what about our other couple?"
"What other couple? Oh! Them! A couple?" he frowned. "Yes, I suppose you're right."
"I was joking," Elizabeth said unbelievingly. "It's getting colder. Shall we go and have a drink inside somewhere before we eat?"
"You are full of good ideas today," William smiled. "Somewhere quiet?"
"Hmm...sounds great."
Part 38
Elizabeth and William went into a pub and sat down at a quiet table in a corner. It was still early, and most people were sitting outside, so they had more than enough peace and quiet to talk.
After dinner they walked home and they lay on William's bed to watch two videos. They had wondered if Richard would come back, but since they weren't sure, they had dumped his mattress in Elizabeth's room. If he came back, he'd probably want to go to sleep, and not watch two videos in a row.
Richard and Caroline took the bus into town. She said nothing to him, but she was painfully aware of his presence. If only he wasn't such a flirt... She wondered about that. What would happen if he weren't such a flirt?
"Where shall we eat?" he asked as they got off the bus and they were standing hesitatingly on the bus platform.
"I don't care."
"Spareribs?" he suggested.
"Unlimited spareribs, I suppose?" she smiled. "I don't eat pork, though."
That was the first smile he had seen in ages. "They have chicken too. Is it all right with you?"
Caroline nodded and they walked to the restaurant. The waiter seated them in a quiet booth. Richard stared at the other customers, and Caroline displayed a great interest in the pepper and salt containers. When the menu was brought round, they both studied it intently.
"What are you drinking?" Richard asked. "Wine, I suppose?"
"Spa Red. Why do you look surprised? I don't even like wine."
"I always see you drink it."
"Not anymore."
"Oh." Richard yawned.
"Are you tired? You slept until noon!"
"I went to bed at six or so, and then you interrupted my sleep as well..."
Caroline looked guilty. "I'm sorry. I thought everyone was just being lazy. Did you go out?"
"Yes, the three of us, William, Charles and I."
"How is your shoulder?" she asked.
"It is fine. I haven't felt it since. You must be really good. Of course William thought I was late, and I told him I had seen my physiotherapist. He wouldn't have believed me if I had told him that you had given me a long shoulder massage. Are you going to switch schools?"
Caroline and Richard talked about her studies, and this led to other subjects. When they walked home both were relieved that they could talk as normal friends again. Arriving there, Richard rang the bell and Charles opened the door for them. Charles disappeared very quickly again, not wanting to leave Jane alone. Elizabeth's door was open and Richard saw his mattress had been put down there. There was a note on William's door. I put your mattress in Elizabeth's room. Good night.
"Where are you going to sleep?" he asked Caroline.
"On the floor, probably."
He dragged the mattress to Caroline's room. "There you go."
"I know you're going to say you will sleep on the floor, and then we could test who is the most stubborn, but that's ridiculous," Caroline said. "Give me my own sleeping bag and we could lie on that thing together."
"I thought you had objections to that," Richard looked puzzled.
"Not if we are both in our separate sleeping bags."
Richard found a sleeping bag in Elizabeth's room and ten minutes later they were lying side by side, trying not to move and fall off. "I'm glad you're in your own sleeping bag. You might have wanted to seduce me and then I wouldn't have know what to do," he remarked.
"Rest assured. I'm not particularly seductive tonight, and what do you mean you wouldn't have known what to do?"
"Well, it's not like I get seduced on a daily basis."
"Why not?"
"What kind of question is that?" he exclaimed in amusement.
"I don't know. Never mind. I'm tired. Good night."
"Good night."
Part 39
William and Elizabeth watched the two movies. "Are you going back to your room or are you staying here?" he asked. He rather hoped she would stay.
"I think I'll stay here," she smiled. "We put Richard in my room, remember? You wouldn't want me to share a room with him, I think."
"No, certainly not, even if he wouldn't touch you."
"Is he gay?"
"No, just picky."
"That's a fine compliment, William," she said dryly. "If you meant that I don't meet his standards."
He looked worried. "I didn't mean it that way. I meant that he only wants Caroline."
"Oh, I'm glad. Or, no, if that means they are both in my room."
William kissed her. "Who cares?"
Caroline lay thinking for a while. She knew it would be really hard to get some sleep if Richard lay next to her, even if there were two sleeping bags between them, and she could not concentrate on falling asleep at all. "Richard?" she said.
"Yes," came the reply.
"Just wanted to see if you were asleep."
"I can't sleep," Richard said.
"I could never sleep if my mother hadn't given me a kiss," Caroline chuckled.
"Maybe that would work," he joked.
"But your mother is not here."
"No, but you are."
"Me?" Caroline cried incredulously.
"Yes, you could give me a goodnight kiss, couldn't you?"
"Well, no. I only kiss boys I date."
"Not even on the cheek?"
"No."
"Then go out with me," Richard said.
Oh! I wish I could! Caroline felt sad. "No, I can't go out with you. You have no morals. You sleep with too many girls." Say you don't! Please say you don't!
"Is that your only objection?"
"Yes."
"I'm a virgin."
"What?" Caroline could not believe her ears.
"It's true," Richard said.
"Oh!" She was so taken aback that she could not say anything for a while. She was happy to hear he had not had any girls after she had dumped him. "I'll give you a goodnight kiss now, but I didn't like it at all when we used to kiss two years ago. I don't mean I disliked it, but --"
"You just didn't feel anything," he finished.
"No."
"I know."
Caroline moved closer and kissed him on the cheek. "Good night," she said. It was very tempting to kiss him on the mouth, but she resisted. What would he say? He didn't say he likes me or anything, and I just said I didn't like doing it.
Richard noticed she made no haste to move back and that gave him courage. He reached out his hand to her face and gave her a long kiss on the mouth.
"Oooh! That was much better," Caroline said softly.
"Good night," he laughed. He knew he could sleep now that he had done what he had wanted to do.
"Good night," Caroline answered.
Part 40
Elizabeth and William slept rather long, and so did Charles and Jane. They had just sat down for breakfast when the other two showed up. The four of them then sat at the table eating and watching television.
"So," said William to Charles. "Everything all right?"
"Yes, fine," he answered with a huge grin. "We are back together again."
"Great," Elizabeth smiled. "I knew you would!"
"And you two?"
"Did we ever break up?" William asked.
"No, but that's because you never officially got involved in the first place," Charles said.
"We are now," Elizabeth said so smugly that Charles and Jane laughed.
"Wasn't my sister here somewhere?" Charles asked.
"We haven't seen her since yesterday afternoon."
"Oh! There she is," said Elizabeth, seeing Caroline walk by through the glass of the kitchen door. She went into a shower. "My, that's late for a shower."
"Hmm," said Charles when Richard walked into the kitchen just wearing jeans.
"Hello, what a happy assembly. I'm going to take a shower, so don't wash the dishes."
Elizabeth thought he looked almost as good as William. "What do you mean, don't wash the dishes?"
"My mother always starts doing the dishes when I'm taking a shower and then my water gets cold. But by the looks of it you do the dishes here about once a year, so I probably needn't worry." He closed the door, and the door to the bathroom area, so the vision of the people in the kitchen became rather blurry because of the two windows of not very transparent glass between them and the bathroom area.
"Are they going in the same shower?" Jane asked, craning her neck. She could not see it very well.
"They got up even later than we did!" William said. "Are they? They don't waste any time if they are!"
"I can't see," Jane said.
"I'd advise them against it," Charles said. "Your showers are pretty small."
"Did you try it out?" Elizabeth cried.
"Yes, because one of you was in the other shower, but it took more than twice as long to wash my hair. Jane kept pushing me away so she could have the water all to herself," he grinned.
"Oh Jane!" Elizabeth said, and Jane blushed.
After some time they saw first Richard, and then Caroline walk past again. They had missed the exact moment they came out of their respective showers, so they still did not know. When they were dressed, which was about another half hour later, they came into the kitchen as well.
"It's a bit late for breakfast, Richard," said William.
"I know. Why have you just finished breakfast then?"
"I got up late, but not as late as you."
"Was this your plate or was it mine?" Richard said to Caroline.
"Yours."
"Are you eating off yesterday's plates?" William asked.
"No," Richard answered.
"Some people eat in their pyjamas," Caroline said sweetly.
"Some people shower together," William said.
Caroline looked at him with an expression of distaste on her face. "You're not serious. We borrowed somebody's coffee. I hope that was okay?"
"Yes, sure," Jane said. "When did you borrow it then?"
"Well, this morning! I just told you. Did you think I had the time to stay in bed until one o'clock? I had to do some studying."
Part 41
"You had to do some studying, sure. What was the subject?" Charles laughed. "Or who?"
"Anatomy," Caroline replied.
The whole table burst out laughing. "I guess we all know whose anatomy, huh?" her brother teased her.
"Sure. The person in the picture in the book."
"Sis, you study Law," Charles reminded her. "You don't have pictures of people in your books."
"I switched." Caroline stuck out her tongue.
"Mum and Dad will be furious. They want you to become a lawyer."
"They can drop dead. They wanted me to go after William as well, and look where that got me."
Everybody was shocked, but especially Charles. "They did?" he cried.
"Uh huh," said Caroline, munching her sandwich.
"Ahh, Elizabeth," said William hastily. "Have you finished eating?"
"Yes," she replied with a puzzled look. It was just beginning to get interesting. Did he want them to leave?
"We had better go," he said to her. "I wanted to show you something."
Elizabeth followed him out of the kitchen. "Man!" she whispered. "It was just getting spicy! Why did we have to leave? I wanted to hear that!"
"I don't like it when people talk about me when I'm there. It makes me uncomfortable. I'd even prefer them talking behind my back. Nah. I just don't like being talked about at all."
"Oh. Do you know Caroline's parents by the way?"
"Yes, they are really good friends of my parents."
"Oh, I see. Is that why you tolerated Charles' sisters?"
"Yes," William answered.
"Do you see your parents a lot?" she asked.
"No, they're not around much. I think they're coming home for my cousin's wedding in a month though."
"Richard's wedding?" Elizabeth cried.
William snorted. "Haha. No, one of his elder brothers. I suppose it will be the family event of the year. We'll go there too."
"We?"
"Yes. If you'd like to?"
"Well, I wouldn't want to be intruding, and I'd probably only know you."
"It's not as bad as that. You'd know me, Georgiana, Richard, my aunt Catherine, Anne..."
"I am so looking forward to renewing your aunt's acquaintance!" she giggled. "She looked as if she really despised all of us when she was here. Imagine her seeing you with one of your flatmates, she'd faint."
"Shout is more likely," said William. "Or give me a lecture on proper behaviour, you know. About the temptation of having your girlfriend living in the same house."
"These are the 1990s, not the 1890s," Elizabeth said indignantly. "I am not going to move out just because your aunt doesn't approve of it."
"Right," said William with a smile. "Neither am I."