CHAPTER 1

Don't stop to get in a candy store

Don't know where I'm gonna start ¹

There is no armor against fate.

Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds.

Fate guides the willing but drags the reluctant².

By the time Elizabeth Bennett was brought to her knees by fate, she had already heard several witty quotes about it. Some spirited, some funny and some laden with self-help strategy. Most of them could be applied to her. But none could have prepared her for the abrupt end of her labile marriage, at the young age of thirty.

After a very tough year and a half, for Lizzy, it was finally time to relinquish the dragging and allow fate to simply guide her again. She knew her friends and family would always back her up. What Lizzy didn't know was that, fortunately, fate was about to bring her William Darcy.

It is a truth universally acknowledged, as well as feared, that fate has its twisted ways to dispose of our lives.

The 'Save Elizabeth Bennett Army' was formed by her longtime friends Charlo Longborn, Dennise Lucas and Hans Gardiner. Her friends' efforts were fruitful, they all worked beautifully, especially after the hibernation period in Austria. And whatever happened in Vienna, stayed in Vienna: after a fortnight at his home, Gardy did send her back ready to move forward. Everyone sighed in relief, seeing Lizzy return to her cheery disposition. Angry bitchy workaholic crazy-eyed Liz was effing tiring!

Once Lizzy was cured from her belligerent period, the Army's next strategy was to get her out of her hidey hole. They needed some excuse for her to come home frequently, to leave Boston in favor of Meryton, her small Massachusetts town. Charlo and Dennie suggested a Language course to which she readily agreed, choosing Spanish classes. From Monday afternoon to Wednesday morning, Lizzy was safe amongst her dear ones. What they really wanted was to support her, to keep her close. Secretly, Lizzy knew about their scheme, and allowing it was one more step to her recovery.

It was always fun to have a drink after these Spanish classes with Charlo and Dennie, her best friends since high school. Classmates again, more than fifteen years later, they had a ball every week with this whole language class thing!

So on that summer night, one week before 4th of July, they were on their way to Route 66 - the new texmex restaurant in town - for some marguerites, Sol beers and Lizzy's favorite: super burritos!

'Just three blocks away, let's walk girlfriends!' chanted Charlo when they left the teacher's place. He always made fun of their laziness, and this time he tried to fool the girls into walking five blocks instead of getting their cars parked close.

'Yummy, super burritos!' Lizzy mused, while Charlo and Dennie rolled their eyes.

'You always say that, and end up eating only one - two at best - from the five served on the dish. It's me who's supposed to get fat with the rest of them.' Charlo pouted.

'Char, don't play the victim! You love to eat our left-overs and still you manage to keep your high school figure. My guess is that you purge yourself after we leave you...' Lizzy teased him in a mischievous smile.

'He did keep his figure, but not the rapper's hair cut! That we can make fun of him for!' Dennie laughed while Charlo acted offended.

'You're in the same 501s³ from our high school years, Liz...' Charlo disdained, eying Lizzy's trim waist.

'Isn't this great, girlfriend?' Lizzy said affectedly, slapping her hump and giggling with Dennie.

'Shut up you two, stop quoting me! And don't dare to play the gossipers on me, now of all times, when finally there's a good man heading my way and...' Charlo bit his lip, guilty.

'Oh no, Dennie, he's taking us to another meet and greet the Internet gay freak...' Lizzy whined.

'Yeah Liz.' Dennie commiserated. 'That's what we get for still being friends with the weird skinny English gay boy since...'

Both Liz and Charlo yelled 'Don't!' and there came the raucous laughter that had identified the trio since late 1980´s, when the frightened English boy arrived at the American small town with his transferred father, fearing receiving the same fate as Stephen King's Carrie⁴. Meeting and falling in love at first sight with the blond-dyed-red willowy Denise and the brunette beauty Elizabeth was like finding home. His father welcomed the friendship with relieve, since now his pride and joy (and obviously discovering himself gay) baby was far from the dangerous drug addict friends. Meryton meant rescue for both of them. Gradually Mr. Longbourn befriended the Bennetts and the Lucases, establishing a new life for both.

'Anyway…' Dennie dried her eyes from the laughing tears, 'we are in better shape now than when we graduated college.'

'Yeah…' Mused Lizzy. 'Beer filled college years had their way on us. But one must acknowledge the benefits of surviving a major crash, loosing appetite and joie de vivre...'

Dennie and Charlo exchanged THE look that Lizzy pretended not to notice, as always. They didn't like her stubbornness in continuing to mention her hell, but she did it anyway. For them, she was overburdening herself but it still felt like a catharsis to her.

'Ok Nostalgia Queens, here we are: Route 66, the new texmex in town! Didn't I tell you? Just three blocks from señorita Austena's. Isn't it cool?'

It was. With its low Mexican fencepost, lots of cactus around nicely placed garden candle lighted tables, cute porch and regular tables inside the renovated old house. In winter they probably would need a good make over but now it was perfect.

As soon as they arrived, Charlo got into his gay scan mode and the girls knew better than interrupt it. So they seated on the low fence like the other few people waiting tables by the sidewalk, and ordered Sol beers from the frantic water. Charlo soon entered the garden looking for his date, leaving them outside the crowded restaurant.

That's when Darcy saw Lizzy.

'Hot ass!' William Darcy mumbled on the ring seam of his Sol beer bottle. He zeroed instantly on her delectable figure and let his Seattle longtime friends' empty banter wash him over. Cozy in a group of eight men, Darcy was relaxed, laid-back; enjoying an atmosphere completely different from his uptight worldliness. He watched Lizzy attentively, flying away in his thoughts, all through his next bottle; until Thorny's loud cheers brought him over.

Darcy's younger brother, Richard, elbowed him. 'Look at what Thorny found fishing the net this time. Unlike his extravagant friends, this one could pass for one of us.'

Darcy nodded. 'Won't last. Since college he aims for a Warhol⁵ look alike.'

Charles Bingley, Bings for short, leaned on the table from the opposite side: 'So that's why we're spending our first holiday together since high school here in Meryton! Hope it works out.'

Darcy snorted and took a gulp, only to notice that he'd emptied yet another bottle. 'These damn things are growing smaller. Should buy some shares from this company and start making money instead of wasting on it.' He mumbled. Barely cured from a private hell of his own, Darcy was doing his best to keep himself from his taciturn disposition, but it wasn't easy. He needed a push.

He raised his arm to call the frantic waiter's attention just as Lizzy twisted without getting up from the fence where she was perched to do the same, and their eyes met.

"Mmm, a good drinker. Already needs a refill." He mused to himself.

Tilting his head to the side, he signaled with his raised hand that she should take the turn and order before him. She smiled, turned around and did order.

'Add fine eyes. This vacation could be interesting after all.' Darcy said, admiring her from afar.

'What, Will?' Ricky asked.

'Nothing. Forget it.' Darcy said, nonchalantly.

John J Thornton, III -Thorny for his friends- spotted Charlo coming towards them and waved. After a bear hug, he introduced Charlo to the men table explaining that they were friends since prep school, a tight group that never managed to spend time together ever since, until now. Some just nodded, some rose and shook hands but all in all everyone was friendly. It's been decades since the group of rich men made peace with one of them being gay.

Then Charlo called out Lizzy and Dennie, exactly when they were picking up their refills from the waiter.

Darcy noticed Lizzy's reaction and quick recovery. "Surprise? It couldn't be... Chagrin, could it? Why?" He thought.

'Let me introduce you to my dear girlfriends…' Charlo said, holding the girls proudly by their waists. 'Elizabeth – Liz, I mean, Lizzy - and Denise - Dennie. We're close friends since high school too!' Charlo enthused. The Seattle guys greeted the ladies very gentlemanly, being careful not to do it eagerly – both the married and the single ones were beware of country chits.

While Charlo and Thorny talked coincidences as if they haven't done over Skype several times before, Dennie fought the prehistoric sting of not having a private pet name from Charlo as Liz did. Bingley hurried to make small talk with these angels because although he was sure Jane, his girlfriend for eight years now, was his private angel and haven, he was not blind to her kin.

At this same moment, the busy waiter arrived with another Sol for Darcy, gesticulating to the side walk. Confused, he looked around until he found Lizzy and pointed at her. She blushed and tilted her head to Darcy, smiling.

Only at that Darcy got up and came closer to greet the ladies, intrigued. After he introduced himself, and before Lizzy got uncomfortable with him commenting on the beer, she explained herself.

'You gave me a chance to get the waiter's attention and that's gold today! It was very kind of you, so I´m repaying!' She said congenially, disguising her embarrassment.

He laughed a good nice laugh.

"Wow, stud material!" Lizzy thought, smiling back at him; Dennie and Bingley already forgotten.

'Thank you. That's the first time a woman bought me drinks. May I settle up?' Darcy asked, amused.

'No!' Lizzy said, laughing.

Darcy raised his brows in surprise.

'If I let you do it, my achievement would be lost! Let me continue as a trend setter. You should have been getting lots of drinks and phone numbers with these gorgeous eyes!' Lizzy sipped her bottle, flirting unintentionally, just for fun.

'Thank you. I don´t even know how to answer, this is really a first for me.' Darcy said, smiling and blushing. 'At least allow me to return the compliment. Your eyes certainly changed my night, for the best.' He flirted back, for profit.

Lizzy smiled brightly at him and broke eye contact.

"A push just came to a shove." Darcy thought. He arranged for a chair to squeeze Lizzy in their table, securing her between him and Ricky; while Bingley got Dennie a chair beside him and in front of them.

But that was all the flirting Darcy got. Lizzy didn't make any move on him whatsoever during the whole time she stayed with them. It wasn't much anyway, only enough for one more Sol and the burritos dish which they shared. Turned out that Darcy could eat three super burritos!

Well, given the choice, he wouldn't eat at all while drinking but who could resist those eyes, and biting lips?

Lizzy helped Darcy when the sauce ran down his arm due to the overflowing filling, and they shared a camaraderie of being like toddlers having popsicles. She laughed and shared embarrassing stories about the 90's with Dennie, Ricky and Bingley, but not one single flirtatious glance his way.

He, on his part, stole several. He stared. Evaluated. Liked. But let her chat to others, he was a man of few words to strangers anyway.

Suddenly she rose, gave Dennie some cash and said warm goodbyes. All present at the table protested saying the night was young but she didn't change her mind, said her car was close and left.

Darcy felt dejected, but he couldn't figure out why.

'Did we say something wrong? Better, did Richard offend her with his raunchiness?' Bingley asked half chuckling as soon as she left, to the amusement of the Seattle friends.

'Shucks! I didn't say anything, didn't even aim the Fitzwilliam charm her way…' Ricky said in his defense and jumped the gun, asking Lizzy's friends: 'Guys, does she need lots of beauty sleep? Doesn't look like!'

Dennie and Charlo exchanged THE look.

'Yes. No! Well, she's heading back to Boston tomorrow morning so she needs rest...' Dennie said. 'Not that it concerns you.' Dennie added, feeling protective of Lizzy in spite of the compliment.

Ricky flinched, but Dennie´s cut didn't stop him from exchanging flirts with her.

'But she's coming back soon, right? She'll be on next Sunday's barbecue, right Char?' Thorny asked, concerned about the success of his 4th of July crazy party.

Dennie raised her brows.

'I haven't told them yet, Thor.' Charlo said, apologetically. 'Dennie, the guys are throwing a barbecue next Sunday at Netherfield farm house where they're staying. The local gentry's invited, us included. Do you think Liz would be up to it?' He asked her affectionately.

'Liz? Lizzy?' Darcy joined the conversation.

Charlo got puffy. 'Liz is just for me. And Dennie.'

Dennie shook her head.

'I don't know, Charlo. We can try. I'll ask her to come Sunday morning instead of Monday, next week.' To the rest of the men she added: 'She spends half the week here, half in Boston.' To the still puzzled looks round the table she shrugged and sipped her beer.

Charlo, making an effort to be as fly as he could, measuring his words and annoyance at the need to explain anything at all, told Thorn: 'She's a bit skittish, she has been through a few rough patches and we like to keep her close. But she's cool now.'

'And beautiful.' Darcy muttered before he could think, his friends chuckled but didn't comment.

Then, as the conversation moved to barbecue and vacations, Dennie studied Darcy, thinking that he actually might be what Liz needed for an interlude. Handsome, polite and from another world completely.

Darcy made a mental note to make sure Thorn invited and succeeded in bringing Lizzy's fine eyes back to him; as well as finding out more about her.

The fact that the stoic Darcy manifested interest on the online-non-Warhol boyfriend's girlfriend was taken with amusement by his friends, the Seattle men. Not that he was a womanizer or ever had any trouble wooing his women, but after the whole money grabbing dragon affair, he needed a cool foxy woman like this Lizzy seemed to be. Or Liz. Whatever she may be called.

What amused them most was that since they started this trip, Darcy had let loose, starting at Seattle airport holding a beer and asking if they ever watched 'The hangover' movie. Now; hook, line and sinker for this good looking brunette.

These vacations may actually be better than they thought.

xxx

Except for the catastrophic fishing expedition Louis de Bourg insisted on, this vacation at Meryton was a very relaxing time for the Seattle friends. Being together like teenagers after more than twenty years; without their women, nor relatives, nor work load was exhilarating. A time when they could be themselves and make fun of one another like just like the carefree heirs they were at school.

From said fishing trip to the lake described by the Fish and Hound magazine as "fully stocked annually", fifty minutes from Netherfield farm, they only brought mosquito bites and a massive hangover. It seemed that the perennial fish community was on vacations somewhere else or maybe, Ricky's loud jokes kept them away.

Without much activity that involved scales, they drank all the booze they carried. Sleeping in tents by the lakeside, they kept a fire in hopes of protecting their legs from the mosquitoes. That was also useful because they could heat canned sausages and beans, the only thing there was to eat.

For the aloof Darcy, it was especially excruciating since the guys tricked him into admitting he noticed the beautifulbrunette with fine eyes and enticing body, while they were talking about the variety of attractive women at this corner of the East Coast. A group of rich men – most of them single – would certainly gather a lot of attention from such a confined society, surely this was also a truth universally acknowledged.

That fishing trip, to Darcy, also meant he lost a chance to meet beautiful Lizzy again. As her cut-throat red haired friend said that night, she had this weird schedule where she only stayed at Meryton during the beginning of the week. As they returned to Netherfield farm Tuesday night, he lost her.

"Damn." He thought. He truly wouldn't mind having a roll in the hay with her.

xxx

Sunday morning, Darcy was on his toes. People were streaming in, beer was cold, plenty of drinks and still no confirmation that Lizzy was coming. "Lots of help her friends were." He regretted.

He didn't know that her friends were trying hard through Facebook, texting, phone and mail. They thought Liz needed some party back in her system and also the hunk who was asking for her. She was still reticent but finally agreed to arrive Sunday morning instead of Monday as usual.

Some three hours later, the party was in full swing when Darcy saw Thorn talking tête à tête with Charlo - his puppy since the other Tuesday - and Dennie, the red head friend. "Mmm, interesting." He thought.

As he was approaching, intent on gauging the situation, Thorn called him over.

'Will, whose car is not blocked at the parking lot?'

Darcy greeted Charlo and Dennie and while trying to remember, he asked: 'What do you need?'

'It's Lizzy, Will.' Dennie said, observing him perk up. 'She didn't drive home this week as usual…' she rolled her eyes, Charlo mirrored; 'and her younger sister is driving her here. But Kitty is on her way to another party with an odious friend…' both Charlo and Dennie twisted their noses at the mentioning of Kitty's friend; 'and can't drive her down the lane from the road. Lizzy needs a pick up. My car's blocked, I'd need to move at least fifteen cars to go get her, and she's almost here.'

Darcy chanted to himself: "mine, mine, mine!" But only said: 'I'll do it, no problem.' And he jogged out before anyone could protest or ask if his car was free, by any chance.

Once out of their flight from the West Coast, after some arguing about the possibility of renting just two cars, the Seattle men decided to rent as each wished. There was too much testosterone for eight guys to fit into two cars anyway. So Darcy rented the same luxury midsize SUV he owned at home saying that he already spent time choosing a car six months ago; Thorn got a convertible to 'enjoy the sun, boys!'; Bing got a more plausible small pickup truck advising Bourg to do the same. So now they always went everywhere in a parade: four cars tailing each other and sometimes fighting for the pole position. When Bingley told Jane this over the phone, even thought she was extremely cordial, she had to admonish: 'You are so like teenagers!' She groaned delicately. 'Grow up like your wallets did!'

Charlo, Thorn and Dennie looked at each other, amused at Darcy's reaction and shrugged. When Dennie picked up her cell to let Lizzy know that 'The hunk' was on his way to her rescue, Charlo held her hand.

'Don't you dare! Surprise makes all the thrill!' He enthused.

'And harder to avoid, huh?' Dennie added with a sly smile.

Will had to work his way through the crowded party twice, avoiding the attempts of chat from the country chits to get Bourg's keys, as his was the free one at the parking lot. It was some twenty minutes later when he finally managed to fly the small pickup down the lane, cursing its lack of class to impress Lizzy.

When he emerged from the tall grass framing Netherfield's French-like portico, he had a glorious view. She was leaning against the car in a lovely sun dress, a hint of sheer, flowery, short, luxurious neck line, aviator's sun glasses, peep toe sandals, hair loose.

'Wow!' he said alone in the car.

Darcy parked behind her sister's car on the other side of the road and got out. Inside the car with its doors opened, seated with their bodies leaning outside, there were two girls: one looked very much like Lizzy only a bit... crude to his liking. Lizzy herself always thought Kitty wore too much make up, and leather shorts were dispensable in this weather. The other girl was a Britney look alike, crazy eyes (for the paparazzi) and all.

When she saw him, Lizzy pushed away from the car where she was leaning against and smiled a beautiful smile.

'Those two will pay for this.' she muttered to herself. To him she said a cheery 'Hi! Will, right? Are you my knight in shining Ford?'

He laughed and unleashed all the power in his smile on her. 'It's me. Ready to be rescued, fair lady? The borrachos⁷ are in full swing already!'

Ah Señor, por supuesto! Gracias! Esta és mi hermana Kitty y su amiga Lydia.'⁸

Storing his meager Spanish, Darcy greeted the girl noticing the hungry eyes on him. He had to check Lizzy's, but he only found himself reflected on her aviator lens. "I'm sure her fine eyes are not looking at me this blunt." He comforted himself.

Lizzy kissed her sister goodbye and climbed into Bourg's car with Darcy. As soon as Kitty moved ahead, he crossed the road to enter the farm portico.

'So Will, how come I ended up being your good action for the day?' Lizzy asked in an unpretentious smile, almost sure it was going be a simple "Your friends told me to". She held her hair off her eyes with the sunglasses on top of her head.

'Your friends' car got blocked on the parking lot and they asked for my help to locate a free one. Luckily Bourg had the foresight to park his rental near the kitchen, at the other side of the backyard. As he was busy ... errr... entertaining some ladies, I got his keys.'

'And how come you were free?' Lizzy asked, raising one perfectly designed brow. "Such a handsome man, alone in a party full of women?"

'Huh?' Darcy asked, surprised.

'I mean, you were not entertaining...'

He laughed. 'No, I was asked to cook some pasta a la putanesca, so I'm mostly at the kitchen. Until now.'

"Mmmm," she thought. "Convenient... And Dennie and Charlo had to go ask for his help? Out of all the people at this darn party?"

'And the patroness ordering your cooking won't be missing you?' Lizzy was still not convinced that this was not a plot from her friends, insisting to urge her towards this gorgeous guy.

'Thorny? Hardly. His parties are always his reflex, a little crazed as you may have noticed, with all kinds of food no matter what the party is about, gathering all kinds of people. Anyway, he's joined by the hips with your friend anyway.' He blushed furiously noticing his faux pas.

It took her three seconds to understand why he turned silent and his handsome face went red. 'Oh!' she laughed heartily.

He chuckled, embarrassed. 'Sorry. I didn't mean to be rude. I apologize.'

'No problem, Will. Char would love the joke. And your blush is cute.' She was still laughing.

Another blush for Will.

'It's you.' He said impetuously.

She turned to him with a puzzled face, sobering up.

'You make me feel comfortable. At ease. I'm usually more careful with what I say.'

'Me or beer?' she asked with an adorably sexy raised eyebrow.

'Both.' Darcy admitted, flirting. He had to chuckle, she was lovely.

She laughed again.

'That's a great compliment, you hardly met me!' Lizzy said, still laughing. 'And how many beers did you have already, by the way?' She asked sarcastically.

'Some, but it's mostly you.' He turned to look at her, devastating smile hitting her full force.

"Oops, what's this?" She thought. "A 'moment'? Is he flirting, or is the beer flirting with me? Gulp. Tough up Elizabeth. He's a looker, but you can win a stare contest!"

'You're quite a looker, you know that, right?' she flirted back.

'I've been told.' Darcy admitted, holding his smile and looking back at the road.

'By your mirror?' Lizzy teased.

He chuckled. 'That way you make me sound like a conceited fool doing his best to win a country chit's favor.'

'Ouch!' she said and gamely flinched away from him.

He startled and stepped on the breaks.

'Damn, did I offend you? Fuck. Sorry, damn. See? At ease. Carefree.' He reached for her hand and brought it to his lips. 'Sorry. Don't be offended.' Darcy said kissing her hand. He didn't know what was going on in his mind, letting anything get away from his mouth, cursing in front of her… "Damn!" He thought.

'Now I'm offended! First you only made a joke, now you are stating I'm a country chit!' she laughed.

He breathed a sigh of relief recognizing her jest, kissed her hand once more and released it, deciding that he loved the sound of her voice and put the car on drive once again.

'Do you always put your feet in your mouth?' Lizzy asked, smiling. She was actually having fun.

'No.' Darcy answered, still cursing himself for his loose tongue.

'So it's just for me?' Lizzy asked, amused.

'Yes.' He said.

'Mmmmm, to pay back the drink I offered you the other day?'

'Yes!' A rich laugh.

'Thanks!' Lizzy laughed.

'My pleasure.' "That I hope you'll be sharing sometime soon." He thought.

'But from now on you'll only talk to me in monosyllables?' She asked.

'Yes.' He nodded.

'Wise choice!' Lizzy approved.

'Thanks.' He chuckled.

It was in this happy mood that arrived at the frenzied barbecue party, to the amused eyes of his friends and hopeful glance of hers.

xxx

¹ - Do you believe in love at first sight? by Dionne Warwick

²- Quotes: James Shirley, English dramatist; Lucius A. Seneca, Roman stoic philosopher; Franklin D. Roosevelt, USA's 32nd President .

³- Levi's 501 jeans, a worldwide fashion icon first released in 1890 that became the world's bestselling item of clothing. Lizzy is into fashion, so some references will appear throughout the story.

- Carrie, novel by Stephen King, first published in 1974. Movie with Sissy Spacek as the leading whole, 1976.

- Andy Warhol - American celebrity famous worldwide for his work as a painter, avant-garde filmmaker, record producer, author, bohemian; popular amongst distinguished intellectuals, Hollywood celebrities and wealthy patrons.

- Movies portraying a group of male friends' drunken misadventures, Part I released in 2009 and Part 2 in 2011. The mentioning of these movies by Darcy amuses his friends because in the movies, the most austere character is the one who goes way overboard.

- Spanish for "drunk people".

- Spanish: "Oh yes, Sir! Thank you! This is my sister Kitty and her friend Lydia."

xxx

On my blog, there are extras, pictures and a playlist with all the songs. Watch out for spoilers, though!

www dot hotriochick dot blogspot dot com dot br

Do visit, and please leave a comment to say what you thought of this first chapter!