I am one damn good sister, Lizzy thought as she drove herself and Jane to Charles's home. Well mansion actually. Lizzy was not necessarily excited to be going to Charles home. He was a nice a guy, it was just his sister and his friend that made her want to cringe. Jane had begged her to go, and she wasn't going to let her sister down. She glanced to the side of her and saw her sister fidgeting all over the place. Jane was so anxious she looked like she was about to have some sort of attack. She would put her hair up, and then let it back down, then button up her sweater, then open it again. Lizzy just shook her head, because if Jane was like this, she wondered how Charles was.
"I hope you know the more you fidget with your clothes it will probably get a little wrinkled." Lizzy said.
Jane paused and drop her hands on her lap. "I am nervous, this is the first guy in a while that I have been remotely interested in. What if I embarrass myself? Worse what if he realizes that he just doesn't want to deal with me and – "
"JANE! You are reading too far into this, he likes you alright. So, you are going to go there and speak to Charles and have a good time. So, stop freaking out and calm yourself down. Thank you."
By the time, Lizzy was finished saying that to Jane she turned into Charles road of a drive way. The man had a circular driveway with a fountain. Well that is original isn't it, Lizzy thought. The two sisters got out of the car and walked up the steps to the front door. Before Jane could even knock, the door swung open revealing a bright smile, cheery Charles.
"You guys made it, and you both look wonderful!" Charles said looking at Jane the whole time. Lizzy smiled at the two and said thank you quietly. The sisters stepped into the grand foyer of the home, which had two stair cases leading up to the second story of the home. Charles started leading them through his home, which was filled with expensive furniture and paintings. When they finally made it to the living room, Lizzy's gaze instantly went to the bookshelf and she imagined herself going through the books, but her train of thought was interrupted when she heard a loud shrill voice.
"Charles! How could you not tell me our guest arrived!"
Elizabeth had turned around to see that the owner of the voice was the human orange, even though her tan was not as bad as it was before. Caroline Bingley was wearing bright orange boots and a skin-tight dress. Which did not work well with her skin complexion at all, and her hair was done up in an elaborate way. Lizzy saw how Caroline looked at her outfit up and down- which classified as dark skinny jeans, boots and a white shirt with a leather jacket. Caroline face had a slight sneer when she looked at Lizzy, but when her face went to Jane, she had covered it up with a fake smile. Well then, Lizzy thought I do not really like your outfit choice either.
"Jane how nice for you to come and Elizabeth." Caroling actually strutted her way over kissing both her and Jane on both of their cheeks. Lizzy then glanced around the room and her eyes landed on the dark eyes of Mr. Darcy. He was silently sitting in the corner observing everyone, well that is what it seemed he was doing.
"Hello, Mr. Darcy I wasn't expecting on seeing you today" Lizzy said. Before Mr. Darcy could even answer, Caroline flittered her way to Mr. Darcy and sat near him.
"Oh, Darcy is on vacation and staying with us. Even though I do not know what is so special about this town. To be honest I would rather vacation in Paris, or somewhere tropical, do you agree Darcy?"
Charles rolled his eyes and silently prayed that his sister would not talk so much, something inside him told him that some of her comments would get on some people's nerves today.
"Actually, Caroline I could speak for myself, and I fine this area quite relaxing, and quiet. I needed to take some time off from working and this area is one of the perfect places for me, and please just call me Darcy." Darcy said in his deep voice.
Lizzy sat down on the couch opposite Darcy and tilted her head slightly. "I caught you saying one of the perfect places?" She questioned. No doubt he probably had properties all over the place. Again, before Darcy could answer Caroling again butted in. "Oh, he is probably talking about his estate in England, it is even bigger than Netherfield and has one of the best libraries. I almost got lost in it when I went to visit. Anyone who marries you Darcy would be so lucky to be able to run an estate like that." Caroline answered while leaning into Darcy. Darcy in turn leaned away from her.
Lizzy was trying hard no to laugh, if the two were dating then Caroline was trying to send out hints, but Darcy seemed not to be interested. If they weren't involved, then Caroline was the one not getting a hint. Although, maybe those two deserved each other. Again, Lizzy caught the part of the conversation about a library. "You have a library?"
"Yes, it had grown considerable since the building of the estate a few hundred years ago." After Darcy said that he got up from where he was sitting and moved to the window seat with his computer. He then tilted his dark-haired head down toward his laptop and begun taping. Caroline who still had her eyes on Darcy then leaned over on the pillow and put her legs up on the sofa. Elizabeth held in a snicker because she could see that Caroline was trying her best to be sexy.
"It will take a very remarkable woman to try to run a place as remarkable as Pemberley!" Caroline proclaimed, she was still looking at Darcy who refused to lift his head.
"So, you're telling me a normal woman can't take care of Pemberley, let alone a library that only has books in it?" Lizzy had to ask as she tilted her head a little bit to the left. This seemed to get Darcy's attention, as he slowly raised his head up to watch the two women sitting across from each other.
"She will have to be well versed and accomplished." Darcy added his two cents in with a deep voice, while lifting one eyebrow.
Lizzy who first was looking at Caroline with disbelief then turned to Darcy. This man did not just say well versed and accomplished! He was acting like this was the 18th century, where people expected women to be married by seventeen. She rolled her eyes and sat up straighter facing the man properly and ignoring her sister's warning word of Lizzy.
"Are you serious?" asked Lizzy.
"Yes of course he is, a woman who will ever run Pemberley is going to need to know how to sing, act, dance, read, cook, sew, speak and sit properly." Caroline butted in sounded so smug with herself.
"I am surprised you didn't add be a politician and become the first female President of the United States of America."
Darcy who went back to watching his laptop, had raised his head again and caught Elizabeth's eye with his own. "So, you do not believe your own sex can be accomplished?" Lizzy felt her anger rising in her and knew her cheeks were flushed.
"I never said that, all I know is that your dream woman is probably dead, or never existed!" Lizzy exclaimed, she hated when men were always listing everything they wanted in a woman but could never be happy with the attributes they did have.
Caroline laughed an obviously fake one and leaned over to Darcy, her breast pushed on the armrest and she pouted a little bit. " You can tell that someone was not born in a proper environment! Eliza, or Liza whatever, you have to be accomplished to have a man like Darcy, or Charles on your arm. The way you are now I will be surprised if you can hang off of any man."
Lord have mercy her blood pressure was rising, if only she could cry out about her nerves she could of, but that would be too much like her mother. Lizzy knew there were two options to this situation, fight with words like a woman, or slap the orange off Caroline's skin like a pissed off one.
"Actually Cairo, I was born in a proper environment, I am not sure if you think Jane and I are dogs and somehow were born outside, but that is simply not the fact. I believe Darcy and Charles are the ones who have to make sure they have everything a woman wants. Why would I want to be a trophy wife? To tan, and spend money like it's going out of style? I am not saying that are all wives, but what some young girls are seeing in the media is to become a wife to someone rich, so you do not need to work. I am an independent person and I have worked too hard just to sit down at home and be fake to other people who want to act like they are the queen of England, when in fact they are a spoiled heiress. Women can be accomplished in many ways, not all have to sing, sew, or whatever you want to do. I have been raised and have known many women who are 'accomplished' just as they are. I feel very sorry for you if your only dream is to spend your husband's money and be like a perfect statue. Whomever he maybe I bless his soul."
Caroline glared at Lizzy for a bit and sniffed, then a gleam appeared in her eye. "Well you almost forgot she needs a wonderful figure; do you not think so?"
"What did anything I just said have to deal with body image?"
Caroline got up and reached a hand out to Lizzy "Well a woman must have a nice figure, walk with me"
Lizzy stared at Caroline's hand and gently pushed it out of the way, Lizzy stood up and moved to a bookcase. "Maybe next time Cairo."
Darcy who had been staring at Lizzy during her small speech smirked at what just happened. The woman had fire in her. Caroline who caught his smirk moved to him and put her hand on his arm.
"Darcy what is the perfect body for you?"
Darcy brushed her hand off causally and turned fully around to face the room. Sparing a glance at Charles who was playing with a pillow and too invested in Jane, he looked at Lizzy and in a calm deep voice said. "Well I like a woman with curves, she has to be healthy. It's so much better when she has a beautiful face and a body to accompany it with a wonderful mind." With those words, Darcy turned back around and began typing again. Lizzy who had turned around and caught Darcy's eyes while saying that blushed just a tiny bit and quickly plucked a book from the case and sat down.
"I agree with you Darce, women who are healthy is absolutely exquisite to me." Charles exclaimed while kissing Jane's hand. Jane in turned blushed at his antics.
After the group relaxed in the living room for a few hours, Charles then took them to the dining room for dinner. He had a total seafood spread laid out, which made Lizzy's mouth water. She saw lobster, crabs, clams, oysters, muscles, shrimp and fish, there was also rice, but she didn't pay much attention to that one. She took a seat on the right hand of Charles with Darcy next to her. On the opposite side of Charles there was Jane who know had a permanent smile on her face and next to Jane was Caroline.
"The food looks amazing Charles." Lizzy said to him.
Charles looked from Jane to Lizzy and smiled "Jane said you liked seafood, and I wanted to make a good impression, but I can't take credit for this. This spread is all our chef's doing, and please call me Charlie." Lizzy had to say Charlie was a keeper, Jane would be so lucky if they continued on with whatever was happening between the them.
Lizzy went into her food and when she tasted it, her eyes in ecstasy.
"I see you are really enjoying this."
Lizzy opened her eyes and turned to Darcy, who seemed to have been observing her…. again.
"Yes, the love for seafood is something I inherited from my mom. When I was younger, she used to drag me around with her to check out different restaurants, and she always wanted to try new things, so I get it from her."
Darcy slowly nodded his head, while reaching for his glass he then said. "What about your love for reading, I never knew a topic about a library could turn into such a debate?"
"Well I love reading, it takes you somewhere, but if you want to talk about this afternoon, I would tell you, you not need look for a woman who looks her nose down at everyone who doesn't seem accomplished and you as a man should know that if you yourself comes with faults so would the woman, you can be surprised who you find."
Darcy perked his eyebrow up and leaned in closer to the woman. "I can assure you Elizabeth my version of accomplished is not like Caroline's. What I mean accomplished I mean a woman who knows her worth and is confident in her standing. Someone who isn't ashamed to stand up for things and tell people off when they have seemingly insulted her when one does not know her."
Lizzy shocked glancing up from her plate stared at the man who had a slight smile on his lips. Was that an apology? She had expected the man to remain brooding all night long. Before she could ask, Darcy had continued talking.
"I did not feel like going that night, and that isn't and excuse, but I lashed out on an innocent person, you, and I apologize." Darcy had then given her a look that seemed genuine before turning back to his brandy and took a sip.