A half-hour later…
As Charlotte, Lizzy and Jane sat slack-jawed and staring at the screen, Lizzy, eyes bulging yelled, "I can't just go watch hockey with them! Do they even watch hockey?"
"The CEO of Darcy Enterprises?" Lizzy landed on the ottoman with a thud. "That is the largest medical components and technology company in the world!"
"It says here that Charles Bingley is the General Counsel and VP… they know each other?" Char asked.
"This other article has the Bingley's as a prominent family in their own right, mixing with Hillman's and Heinz's and the like." Jane whispered. "We are three hicks from coal-town, we might as well be West Virginians in their eyes. Ugh!" Lizzy cried as she rolled from the ottoman to the floor as dramatically as possible.
Char, trying to be diplomatic said "We are doctors, Lizzy Bennet! Last I checked, we do not accept chickens as payment." Char smirked. "We are ALL going to hockey and bites on Saturday. Invite them both and anyone else they would like to bring." Jane and Lizzy looked at Char warily.
"Don't look at me like that. We are doing this. You two deserve this! Jane! The last guy who asked you out drove an Uber and wanted you to pay his rent! Lizard, come on! The last guy you dated was a 'starving artist' and wanted you to pay his rent! You both deserve to meet and date a professional, someone with their shit together. And… if there is one for me, I will not complain. That Collins' security guard keeps asking me out. Nope!" Char popped her 'p'.
Giggling, the Three Musketeers continued to Google-stalk their unsuspecting new friends until the wee hours of the morning.
The following morning …
"They are just people, Lizzy Bennet, just like you... people with a gazillion dollars!" Lizzy sighed and walked toward Georgiana's room.
Lizzy could hear giggles before she was half-way down the hall. Pulling back the privacy curtain, she danced into Georgiana's room announcing, "Dr. Lizzy! At your service!" As expected, she was rewarded with more giggles.
"Dr. Lizzy!" Sitting to the left of Georgiana with his feet on her bed was a handsome man dressed in a military uniform. Lizzy stared trying to order her thoughts.
"Dr. Lizzy, this is my cousin, Richard Fitzwilliam. Ricardo, this is Dr. Lizzy Bennet, my anesthesiologist." Lizzy eyed Georgiana, and smiled.
Richard abruptly stood up an extended a hand to Lizzy. "My little dumpling has been telling me all about her stay here. I have to say, it is a wonderful facility-cheerful even, and everyone we've met has been lovely."
Lizzy shook Richard's hand, eyeing the silver oak leaf on his shoulder. "Thank you! Lt. Colonel? Right?" Richard simply raised an eyebrow. "We don't see too many military men in here, the only close base is an Air Reserve Station out by the airport."
"I'm stationed at the Pentagon. I drove in this morning for a few days to see my little dumpling…."
"Richard! Stop calling me that!"
"…and keep her company while her brother gets a quick shower." Lizzy smirked.
"So no attack dog, Giggles? What ever will we do!" Both Lizzy and Georgiana giggled, Richard simply raised that eyebrow again.
After making note of no lingering complications from the anesthesia, Lizzy patted Georgiana's hand and quietly said "how do you feel about hockey? I've invited you and your brother to Primanti's to watch Saturday's game againt the Devils. I wasn't really sure if that would be your or your brother's thing. The Three Musketeers will be there, we wear our favorite Pens sweaters, eat, get loud, eat, swear a little… eat!"
"OMG, OMG, OMG! Oh! I can't wait! I know NOTHING about hockey, but I have a crush on Beau Bennett!" Georgiana squeal-giggled and bounced. "And I LOVE PRIMANTI'S FRIES!" 'OH! Richard! Do you think I can go?!"
Laughing, Lizzy handed her number to Georgiana and said "you and Char will have to wrestle for him! He was here in the cancer ward yesterday while you were out of it. If I had known, I would have had him stop in to take silly pictures on your phone while you were asleep." Lizzy winked at Georgiana. Tossing her head toward Richard, "if your cousin is still in town, bring him too!" Lizzy started toward the door as Richard just stared.
"Tell the attack dog that I stopped and gave you the all clear. Give him my number, and if he is still willing to slum it with us doctor-types, have him text me to finalize plans. You have been an easy patient, Giggles!" Saluting Giggles and the Lt. Col., Lizzy walked out the door and right into Will Darcy who said,"Her attack dog will definitely text you." Will smirked and Lizzy walked backwards along the wall until she reached the nurse's station and could breathe again.
Five minutes later…
It took five minutes before Gigi had stopped giggling and Richard could get his eyebrow out of his hair line. "Darce! Who and what was that, and where has she been all my life?"
"Ricardo, {giggles} back off! We saw her first!"
"Richard, that tiny lightening bolt was Dr. Bennet. I understand she is an academic prodigy, the youngest attending anesthesiologist in the country, and a hockey fan, specifically Penguins hockey." Will smirked again.
"Wow. . . I . . . I'm . . . Dumpling! I'm coming to watch hockey with you on Saturday!" Flustered, Richard sat next to Georgiana and a new round of giggles commenced.
Saturday could not get here fast enough for three souls sitting on the general surgery floor of CHP in Lawrenceville one Wednesday morning.