Chapter 2 - After Party

At the end of the night the room cleared and Jane, Charlotte, Charlie, Will and Caroline were the last people left in the ball room with Lizzy. Louisa's husband Tomas Hurst had picked her up earlier in the night.

"Are we still allowed to be here?" Darcy asked awkwardly. Lizzy smiled.

"Of course, but we should probably move to the sitting room now." She motioned for the small party to follow her and lead them from the room. Lizzy led them up the staircase and back through the oak doors, along several passage ways and up another flight of stairs, then into her private rooms.

The door opened to a large sitting room with a kitchen area on the right and a door to the bedroom on the left. Another door, along from the kitchen area led into a bathroom and the sitting room they was comfortable with sofas and a piano near the back of the room on the left sitting along the wall.

The sitting room was filled with comfy pictures on the walls and there were books and sketches and piano music strewn across the floor, At the back there were several windows looking out across the gardens.

"Where are we?" Asked Charlie, his voice full of awe.

"My rooms" Lizzy replied.

"All this is yours?" Caroline asked in disbelief.

"Yes" she said simply. "Make yourselves at home I just need to change." Lizzy disappeared into her room to slip off her dress and high heels and remove her makeup. She pulled on a pair of black skinny jeans and a Beatles shirt. She pulled her hair into a ponytail and pulled on some stripy socks.

When she reappeared everyone was sitting around on the sofas and Jane was passing round some biscuits that Lizzy had made that day while she was preparing for the ball. Lizzy had always liked to cook when she was nervous and they were her favourite blueberry and chocolate chip flavour.

"So how long have you lived here Lizzy?" Caroline asked patronisingly.

"All my life" she answered honestly.

"Oh, and how did you get your position here in the palace?" she was digging for information, Lizzy realised. Probably looking for some reason to turn Darcy against her while proving how great Caroline was. No need for that Lizzy thought He already thinks badly of me and he doesn't even know who I am yet, you can have him. Lizzy decided honesty was the best policy in this situation.

"Nepotism" she answered. Darcy choked on his Champaign. Caroline scoffed.

"Really, and I suppose your parents are, what? The chauffeur and the cook?" she snickered.

"My parents are dead." she told her. The room went silent.

"Caroline!" Charlie hissed.

"How was I supposed to know?" Caroline hissed back.

"It happened when I was small, I don't remember them." Lizzy said, trying to defuse the situation. Charlie smiled.

"Sorry princess" he said unthinkingly. Caroline rolled her eyes.

"Shouldn't you reserve names like that for your angel, Charles?" she asked. Charlie chuckled.

"What do you think Darce? Should I call Liz a princess? It would be quite fitting."

"I don't see why." Will replied unamused. Charlie was full on laughing now.

"I can't believe that neither of you have worked it out. I mean Caroline; you're supposed to know every member of the royal family personally. And Will, well. I thought you were supposed to be clever."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Asked Caroline, Will and her were both looking a bit put out now.

"Are you going to let us in on your little joke now Charlie?" Will asked coolly. "Or will I have to persuade you. I know a lot of embarrassing stories from university, and I'm not afraid to use them." Charlie stopped laughing immediately.

"That's blackmail" Charlie cried.

"Blackmail is an ugly word Charlie. I prefer Persuasion." He answered seriously. Charlie huffed. Liz decided to put him out of his misery.

"I think what Charlie is trying to say, is that a particular princess attended tonight's ball and none of you noticed." She said smiling mysteriously. Caroline gasped.

"The princess was at the ball?" she asked. "You knew" she accused her brother. "And you didn't introduce us." She yelled.

"Sure I did" her brother replied unfazed. "You just went and insulted her to her face." Caroline paled.

"I... What?" She stuttered.

"It's better than insulting someone behind their back, hey will?" Liz asked nonchalantly. Will choked on his Champaign for the second time.

"I don't think you really need my opinion though, I am only a servant. And you know as well as I do, Men of few words are the best men." Lizzy smirked. Will blanched.

"You heard?" he said, barely above a whisper. Liz just smiled.

"Guys!" Charlotte spoke up for the first time. "Do you think we could have some civilised conversation please." She said. Lizzy turned the subject matter to books. Another favourite pastime of Lizzy's was reading so this was a good subject for her, and surprisingly, Will too.

By the end of the night Will and Lizzy had, had two arguments, four heated debates and Lizzy had thrown two biscuits at him. Caroline was feeling particularly left out.

After everyone else had gone back to their respective sleeping places, hotels, and homes; Jane and Elizabeth lay on the bed in the princess' room in their pyjamas to talk about their night.

"What do you think about Charlie?" Jane asked as soon as they were settled.

"I think you are perfect for each other. In a sort of, you are exuding happiness, way." Lizzy giggled. "It's actually quite sickening." Jane frowned.

"Please be serious Lizzy, I really think he might be the one. Don't you think he is just perfect?" she said dreamily.

"Yes Jane. In all seriousness I think he is very much in love with you. The question is, do you love him?"

"Oh Lizzy, I really do. I know I've only known him for a few months but I really love him Liz." Jane was practically glowing.

"I'm happy for you Jane! You will get the fairy tale ending you deserve, I just know it." Jane laughed.

"I knew you were a closet romantic Liz. And what about William Darcy, there seems to be a spark there.

"What do you mean Jane? The man's an arse. You heard what he said about me, both times. He thinks he is so high and mighty, and whether I was a princess or a servant, I didn't deserve that." Jane sighed.

"Please Liz, just play nice. He's Charlie's best friend and I really want him to like me."

"Of course I'll be nice Jane. But if he starts something, I reserve the right to defend myself and fight back." Lizzy stated firmly.

"Oh Lizzy" Jane laughed. "Just go easy on him, ok."

But Lizzy just smiled.