Chapter Four

Jane Austen owns all these amazing characters and everything recognisable.

Wow, you guys must know how much I love you. Here is a pretty long one for you and I hope it answers some questions and possibly raises more. It's nearly midnight for me and I am absolutely exhausted. But I promised myself that I would get this up today, so I am sorry for any spelling mistakes/grammatical errors/random words that don't appear to belong anywhere, I tried to edit this as best as I could, but my brain his on information overload after I spent the day running around my new uni trying to decide what subjects to do. Sorry, this probably isn't very interesting for you :P But, anyway, without further ado, here is Chapter Four :)

AN 03/09/12: Some stuff in here about Lizzy and Wickham needed editing, but nothing major, it's just to make the rest of the story flow better.

Darcy was disappointed after Lizzy's sister interrupted them with the phone call; he'd been just seconds away from kissing the hell out of her. But maybe it was for the better; let her get used to the idea of him before subjecting her to his world. That was an unfortunate side-effect that came with his position; the complete and utter lack of privacy. One could never hide their relationships for long and the more he thought about it, the more he wanted a relationship with this girl.

He was surprised that there had been no flash of recognition across her face or in her eyes when she looked at him, but it also pleased him. It made the chance of her falling in love with him and not his power or wealth all the more real, and real was not something he was able to experience a lot of.

Darcy scoffed at himself; he couldn't believe he was thinking about love already. He made his was over to the bar and ordered another whisky to pass the time.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't our very own Romeo. What are you doing over here all by your lonesome?"
"Shut up, Richard."
"I'll have a scotch, thanks." Richard said to the bartender.
"That's not as adventurous as your usual drinks, is it?" Darcy asked.
"No, it's not, but somehow I don't think that a place like this would appreciate it if I came up to the bar and asked for a 'Dirty White Mother.'"
"No, I doubt that they would." Darcy agreed.
"So, where has your lovely lady friend gone?" Darcy jerked his head towards the main doors that he was watching so intently.
"She had to take a phone call."
"Pfft, how boring!" Richard scoffed, and then he became more serious. "Does she know?"
"About me?" Richard nodded. "I don't think so, which is surprising, but not altogether unwelcome."
"Yes, we wouldn't want it to interfere with your wooing plans, now would we?"
"Richard, your complete incapability to hold any semblance of an intelligent conversation never fails to astound me."
Richard clutched at his heart dramatically and adopted a hurt expression. "Oh, you've wounded me to the core, William Darcy. How am I ever going to recover?" Darcy barely payed him any attention, not drawing his eyes away from the door. "Wow, she's really got you all worked up, hasn't she?" Darcy didn't bother to reply to that. "Well, I wish you luck mate, honestly, I think she could be good for you. She'd keep you in your place, that's for sure…" Richard trailed off as Darcy straightened up suddenly. He had just seen Lizzy enter the room again. He made to move towards her but paused as she saw her stop then turn to face someone who was partially hidden in the shadow of a pillar.

Lizzy felt her palms sweating as she turned around towards the voice. She had thought that she was rid of him, but fate obviously had it in for her.
"What do you want?" She asked, trying to keep her voice under control.
"What I've always wanted; you." He said simply, voice oozing confidence.
"Well, you can't have me, sorry to disappoint."
"Aah, there's my little spitfire. Thought I'd lost you for a second."
"I am not your anything!" Lizzy made to leave, hoping to find Jane and get out of here quickly, when his hand shot out to grab her upper arm in a vice-like grip that she was sure would leave bruises. The move brought him into the light. His steel blue eyes pierced hers, devoid of any warmth.
"Now, now, not so fast. I'm not done with you."

Darcy watched Lizzy sharply as she talked to the man by the door. Her body was rigid and defensive, so different to when they had been dancing. He watched the pair for a little longer, noticing that she became more and more tense. His indecision as to whether to interfere or not was cast away as the man grabbed Lizzy and his face was revealed. "Fuck!" He swore.
Richard followed his line of sight, looking over to the door. "Holy hell! Darce, isn't that…?"
"Go and get Charles. Tell him that Wickham is here." Will started striding away towards Lizzy while Richard hurried off in search of the red-head.

He found him dancing with Jane again, but he had no qualms about interrupting them. He tapped Bingley on the shoulder. "Wickham is here, Will needs us."
"Wickham?!" Both men looked at Jane in surprise as she half-shrieked the name.
"You know him?" Richard asked incredulously.
"Unfortunately. He is an old boyfriend of Lizzy's. Let's just say the relationship didn't end well. He spent some time on the inside and got a restraining order stating that he couldn't come within a mile of her and Lizzy… she…" Jane trailed off; looking distressed and Charles placed a comforting hand on her shoulder whilst exchanging a dark look with Richard. Both of them knew what George Wickham was capable of.
"Come on," he said. "We need to find them."

Lizzy couldn't hide her fear as George pulled her closer to him. "No. you don't get to walk away from me." He snarled. Lizzy tried to wrench her arm free, but he only held her tighter. "Not this time. This time, I make the rules." She whimpered slightly as he shook her. "You ruined me, Lizzy. Do you know how hard it is to get a job with a criminal record? Do you know how much I've had to scrape? Do you know how hard it has been to stay away from you?" Lizzy shuddered as she thought of this disgusting man anywhere near her or her family. "But then again, you always were a selfish bitch. It was always 'The Lizzy Show', there was never any time for me, was there?"
"No, George. There never was any time for you. After everything you did, I didn't want to have anything to do with you. Do you want a list; the hospital trips, the sluts, the lies?"
"Shut up. Don't you understand? I had to make you see. I had to make you see that you weren't as high and mighty as you thought you were."
"And you succeeded. By God, did you succeed. I've never been brought so low in my life. But you know what I've learnt? That it wasn't my fault. It was you. It was all you, you sick, egotistical, bastard!"
"Why don't you just learn to shut your mouth for once, you dirty, little…?" Wickham trailed off and his grip slackened as he stared behind her in surprise. Lizzy pulled her arm free and stumbled backwards, gasping as she collided with someone's chest. Warm arms caught her and then pushed her out of the way. She found herself peering around Will's back at Wickham who stood, staring, like a deer caught in a spotlight. He quickly recovered and began to sneer at Will. "Well, well, well. If it isn't Will Darcy. To what do we owe the pleasure of your company this fine evening?"
"What the hell are you doing here?" Will growled.
"William! Where are your manners? I was simply paying a visit to an old friend." Wickham directed his smirk at Lizzy and she felt sick.
"Get out of here, Wickham." Will's order was backed up by the arrival of Charles and another man with Jane in tow, who immediately went to Lizzy's side. Will looked around at the nearby guests, some of whom were now looking in their direction. "People are starting to notice, and you never have been one to face up to your crap."
"Of course, sir. You know I bow to your command." Wickham said condescendingly, and then looked at Lizzy. "But you know, you can't save this one, Darcy. I've already had her, you see." Will made to move towards the man who was now laughing as he left the hall but was stopped by Charles' restraining hand on his shoulder. It was only then that Lizzy turned her face into the protective comfort of Jane's shoulder.

Darcy ran his fingers through his hair and sighed heavily. "You alright, mate?" Rich asked. Darcy grunted non-committedly, knowing he wouldn't be alright for a while. He left Richard and Charles to talk to one another and walked the few steps over to the ladies. Lizzy was encircled in Jane's arms, who was rubbing soothing circles on her back.
"Maybe we should go outside, people really are beginning to stare." He suggested. Jane nodded and ushered her sister in the foyer. "Lizzy?" She turned to face him and a piece of his heart died as he saw the pain etched into every part of her face. She was trembling and he could tell that she was trying to hold back the tears. "Are you okay?"
"Thank you for coming over, I think it would have ended quite differently if you hadn't." Darcy noticed that she avoided his question, but he didn't press her.

Richard and Charles joined them again at this point, the latter going straight to Jane's side. When Richard nudged him and cleared his throat pointedly, Darcy remembered that he had never been introduced. "Jane, Lizzy, this is my cousin, Richard Fitzwilliam."
"It's a pleasure to meet two such divine beauties," Darcy sighed at his cousin's dramatics. "But I am sorry that it wasn't under better circumstances." Both Lizzy and Jane smiled at him before Jane turned to Charles apologetically.
"I know we made plans to go out for coffee, but I have to take Lizzy home, I'm sorry."
"It's fine, please don't worry. I have your number, I'll call you soon. Just look after her." Jane nodded sadly at him.
"No, Janey. I can take myself home. It's only a few minutes in a taxi. Please stay, it's important for the hospital." Lizzy felt foolishly guilty for the fact that Jane was about to risk a wonderful evening with Charles for her.
"Don't be silly! It's not that important and I don't want you going alone." Jane protested, frowning at her younger sister. But before Lizzy could open her mouth to argue, Will took his chance to intervene.
"If she doesn't mind, I can take Lizzy home? I'm done here anyway. It's not any sort of inconvenience, I assure you." Jane looked at Lizzy, who nodded, before she sighed in defeat.
"Fine. But I am coming over in the morning." She looked at Darcy pointedly as she said the last part.
"Of course, Janey, I wouldn't expect anything less." Lizzy said.
Will turned to his cousin and scratched his chin. "Richard could you…"
"Don't worry. I'll get the two old hags home and spin up some story for you."
"Thank you." Darcy smiled at him then turned back to Lizzy. He could see in her eyes that she was desperate to get out of here. "Will you wait with Jane for a minute, I'll just get the car." She nodded at him and he turned and walked away.

"Here, talk to Charlie for a second, I'll get your clutch." Jane said, squeezing her hand.
"You alright there, Lizzy." Charles asked.
"Honestly Charlie? No, I'm not." Lizzy gave him a weak smile, then turned back to look at the front doors. She felt Charles place a gentle and on her shoulder and Richard walked up beside her, unconsciously closing ranks around her as they waited for Will and Jane to come back.

Will walked up to the four of them a few minutes later. "Are you ready?" He asked Lizzy.
"Yes." She replied. She gave Jane a brief hug farewell and said that she would see her tomorrow. She waved goodbye to Charles and Richard and then walked up to stand next to him.
Will led her to the front doors, but paused before they went outside. He shrugged his jacket off and then draped it around her shoulders. "It's cold out there."
Once outside, he placed his arm around her waist and tightened it when she leaned into him. She seemed incredibly small and frail compared to the young woman from earlier in the evening. In this way, he led her over to his car and opened the passenger door for her. Once he had shut it, he walked around to the driver's side, climbed in and made sure that the heat was turned on 'high.'
"Where too?" He asked. She gave him her address and he was excited to hear that it was very close to his house.

They drove in silence for a few minutes. When he looked over at her, Will saw her twitching her fingers and picking at her skin and nails. He realised that this had hit her even harder than he had originally thought and he wondered what that asshole had done to her. Trying not to dwell on those thoughts, he reached over and covered her hands with one of his. She froze for a second before grabbing his firmly between hers. Even through her tight grip, he could still feel the shudders running through her body.

She kept holding his hands until they pulled up out the front of her block of flats. Will turned the car off and again went around to open her door for her. He took her hand again and helped her out of the car. Without really thinking about what he was doing, he pulled her against his body and hugged her. She seemed to melt against him and he pressed a light kiss to the top of her head. They stayed like that until she started to shiver.
"Come on. You should go inside." He said, releasing her. She nodded her head and then turned to walk to the door. She had only gone a couple of steps when she turned around again.
"Do you want to come up?"
"Are you sure? I mean…"
"I'm sure."

What do you think?

A couple more things... It's my bday tomorrow and then I'm going away for 5 days after that, so I'm not sure when I will be able to update next, hopefully I will be able to get onto a computer while away, but I will definitely be taking my notebook and continuing to write. I hope you are all enjoying this story as much as I am writing it. xx