Chapter 1

Elizabeth sighed to herself as she stepped out of the building she worked in. It was 7 o'clock on Friday night. It had been a long hard week and she was supposed to be meeting Jane for dinner at 7. She checked her phone, using it like a mirror as she stood on the tube heading towards Covent Garden. Her hair was a mess, there was a paint smudge on her cheeks and flecks in her hair. What was left of her work make-up was smudged and she just looked dirty. Her offices were upsizing and everyone was helping in the move, unfortunately that meant going in and out of rooms that were being painted (hence the flecks in her hair) and moving dusty boxes. There was nothing to be done for it now. She knew Jane wouldn't mind.

"She's seen me looking worse!" She said to herself.

As she stepped off the tube it started raining. "Great, this will really help how I look. They might not even let me in to the new restaurant that Jane chose." Again, to herself, a passerby gave her an odd look.

She was not one for melancholy and soon saw the funny side of turning up at a chic new restaurant to meet the world's most beautiful and lovely sister looking like she had been dragged through a hedge backwards.

The bouncers did raise an eyebrow at her but she was still let in. She passed through the crowds of well-dressed Londoners and saw the vision of her sister, at the bar with two colourful looking cocktails in front of her. An advert in the making she thought and stored the image away for future use. It was her job after all.

When Jane spotted her she jumped up in excitement and gave her a huge smile and warm hug before sitting down.

"Lizzie, you are here. How is the move going?"

Of course Jane was too nice to point out how bedraggled she looked!

"Good thanks. Painting is done, just needs furniture next week and we should be in by the week after. I am relieved. It's hard to keep up with my work load, encourage the team and help with the directions and moving. I've been in and out all day marking where furniture should go and so on."

She stopped to take a sip of her drink, Jane smiled fingering a wayward strand of her hair with paint flecks in "have you been helping out the painters too? Really Lizzie I am sure you are trying to do too much. I didn't think your promotion started until you were in the new offices."

"Well not technically, but I need to show Mr Lucas that I am up to the job. I am young to be head of the department. I don't want others to think I had special treatment because I am friends with his daughter!" Elizabeth noticed Jane's eyes moving off her and towards the other end of the bar several times while they were talking.

"Who is that?" Elizabeth asked, noticing a rather good looking gentleman at the end of the bar. If she had to liken him to an animal she would suggest a Labrador. Sandy blonde hair, all sticking up, eager eyes which were currently fixed on Jane. She looked back, Jane was actually blushing and smiling, looking down.

"Do we know the Labrador at the end of the bar?"

"Lizzie, you promised you would stop doing that after you offended Maria saying she was a field mouse."

"I only promised to stop saying to people what I thought. I can't stop thinking it!" They both laughed and the gentleman in question joined them making them jump

"Ladies, may I be so bold as to introduce myself? Charles Bingley at your service"

"Nice to meet you Charles Bingley, I am Elizabeth, this is my sister Jane"

"A pleasure to meet you both" but his eyes were unwavering from Jane who was smiling at him

"Are you two here for dinner?"

"We are indeed" answered Jane, so formally that Elizabeth snickered.

"Yes Jane, I thought this was a restaurant?"

"It is Lizzie, the seating area is over there" she waved to a collection of raised booth type tables where people were eating.

Lizzie suppressed a sigh, she hated places like this. Not quite a bar, or a restaurant or a club. Trying to be everything and succeeding at being nothing. Bingley didn't miss the opportunity

"Why we should join forces then, the tables are too big for two and it looks like my sisters are not coming. My friend and I would like to have some company!"

"Your imaginary friend?" Elizabeth raised an eyebrow and looked around her.

Bingley laughed. "No, that's my friend at the end of the bar" he pointed in the direction of a dark-haired man who was typing furiously on his phone. He looked up and Elizabeth felt a jolt of… well something. He was very attractive. Tall dark and handsome. Maybe it wouldn't be too bad to join forces. She shrugged in Jane's direction who happily accepted the invitation.

"Perfect, I'll go secure us a table and collect my friend!" He smiled jovially at Jane practically bouncing on his toes as her walked away

"I changed my mind, not a lab but a lab puppy!" Jane rolled her eyes "I best refresh myself. Jane can I borrow your bag?" Jane was already passing over her bag, which Elizabeth knew had all manner of brushes, hair grips and make up that could repair the damaged state she was in.

As she made her way to the toilets on the other side of the bar she had to pass by their new friend and his companion. The atmosphere was loud in the bar but she heard their conversation with astounding clarity

"Darce come on, you promised to come for dinner with me, what's wrong with inviting two lovely ladies to join us?"

"Two? I saw one beautiful lady, I assume that's why you went over? The other is a wreck. What can she be thinking coming out looking like that? Although from what I saw even with some effort she probably is tolerable at best! And that's who you want me to sit with whilst you moon over your next love interest?"

"Come now darce, she wasn't that bad. And she seems funny. I am sure they will both be good company."

She moved away to avoid hearing the rest of the conversation, burning with humiliation. How dare he judge her like that? She made it to the toilets and splashed her face. Pushing away the unshod tears. She never really cared for compliments about her looks anyway, why should an insult bother her?

She washed her face properly, used Jane's hairbrush and twisted the flyaway parts of her hair up, allowing some of the curls loose at the back of her hair. She was never one for much makeup but she used a bit of mascara and some eye-shadow to put the finishing touches. She pulled off her work shirt leaving a plain black strappy top on which was flattering if a little plain for London on a Friday night.

She stepped back and surveyed the results. Not too bad. No paint, no dirt and her hair looked at least tamed if not pretty. She rummaged in her bag knowing she had put in a chunky necklace and some earrings in anticipation of being late off work. Once they were on she felt much more able to face Bingley and his rude friend.