A/N: Here's the next update, I know you've been waiting a while for it. Back to the normal weekly updates now though.
Chapter Eleven
Turning into the gravel driveway, Elizabeth drove past the main house and continued down the drive until she came to stop by the large lawn that led to the guesthouse. The whole journey home, Lydia had been on the edge of her seat with excitement that the half term was finally here and they were going back to Longbourn for four days to see Jane.
Switching off the engine and climbing out of her car, the two sisters grabbed their suitcases from the boot, with Elizabeth locking up the car as Lydia made a head start rushing across the grass to the guesthouse. The front door to the guesthouse opened, with Lydia and Jane squealing with delight as they hugged each other tightly. When Elizabeth reached the door, she put down her suitcase and hugged her older sister tightly.
"Welcome home guys." Jane greeted warmly, picking up their suitcases and leading them inside.
When it came to the guesthouse, Jane hadn't changed the decoration. The living room still had the same squashy red armchairs and two-seater sofa, with the same deep red rug covering the hardwood floor and a pinewood coffee table opposite the TV. The kitchen came just off the living room, separated by the breakfast bar and three bedrooms down the hall and the small bathroom which they all shared.
"How's things going here, Jane?" Lydia asked.
"It's all good, we've got four guests staying in the house at the moment and another two arrive tomorrow lunch time. Business is doing quite well." Jane replied positively.
"Have you decided what to do with our old bedrooms?" Elizabeth asked.
"I've converted them into extra rooms for the guests, so now we have the one downstairs, five on the first floor and five on the second floor. I've also hired a housekeeper that works part time." Jane announced.
"That's good." Lydia said with a small smile.
"Are you sure you guys are okay with staying in the guesthouse? I can always move our stuff into the main house." Jane offered.
Lydia shook her head.
"I can't, I'll be happy to stay out here."
"Same here." Elizabeth replied.
The girls unpacked their suitcases in their bedrooms whilst Jane made them all a hot chocolate to drink before the sisters caught up on what had been going on in Portsmouth and how Longbourn was doing.
"So, any love interests I need to know about?" Jane asked.
Lydia shook her head.
"Not for me, I'm not really interested in having a romantic relationship. I'm nearly sixteen, I have the rest of my life for that."
"And Lizzy? How's it going with George?" Jane asked.
Elizabeth's smile faded as her thoughts drifted back over the last two weeks to when she had discovered that George had been cheating on her. Her feelings for George had been based on lies, he had lied to her about being patient when it came to their relationship as he was sleeping with other girls on the side. Now she believed that his feelings for her were lies and the story she had told him about William Darcy had all been lies as well. She felt stupid for believing George.
"That's over." Elizabeth said quietly.
"How come?"
"He cheated on her." Lydia answered.
"Do you want me to kick his arse?" Jane asked, as she frowned, her tone of voice turning to scorn.
Elizabeth chuckled lightly but shook her head.
"Thanks but I'll be fine. It wasn't like we were together a long time. Six weeks is hardly something to cry over."
"But you liked him Lizzy, you invested time and effort into him believing that there could have been something more."
"Well, I was wrong. I can just move on now, my feelings for George will fade."
"How about we all go shopping tomorrow?" Jane suggested.
"Don't you have things to do here?" Lydia asked, placing her empty mug on the coffee table.
Jane shook her head as she and Elizabeth finished off their hot chocolates.
"The housekeeper works Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays so it gives me some time to spend with you two." Jane replied.
"If you want, I can run things Thursday morning until the evening so you and Lydi can spend some time one to one?" Elizabeth suggested.
"Are you sure Lizzy?" Jane asked.
Elizabeth nodded.
"I don't mind, honestly." She smiled.
"Thanks Lizzy. Jane and I do need to discuss what's happening when the trial starts in December." Lydia said quietly.
The subject that all three sisters had been dreading. The day that Lydia was required to come back to Thurston to testify as a witness in court was due to take place in the first week of December and because of the four-hour drive from Thurston to Portsmouth, the sisters had to discuss the best course of action to take.
"Well, I was thinking that I could pick you up on the Monday after school, you'll be in court to testify on Tuesday and then back to school on Wednesday. I can drop off late Tuesday night." Jane said.
"Can you get cover for Monday?" Elizabeth asked.
"Mrs. Hill is flexible; she's already said that she can change her Friday to another day if I need her to." Jane replied.
"Okay so we've got the pickup and drop off sorted, but Jane, that's a lot of driving. You can't just drive me home and then head back to Thurston straight afterwards on Tuesday night." Lydia stated.
"That's true, you can't do an eight-hour trip in one day." Elizabeth agreed.
"Would Ed and Maddie mind if I stayed overnight on Tuesday then? I can drive back on Wednesday."
"Of course, they won't mind, they've already invited you to stay for Christmas."
"I suppose that's sorted then. I'll call Maddie just to double check it's okay to stay and then we can discuss times nearer the time." Jane said, concluding the discussion.
The sisters spent the rest of the Monday just settling in and talking. As the afternoon changed into the evening and the time turned to nine o'clock, Jane headed over to the main house to ensure that all of the guests were back before locking up the main house and the sisters decided to order a pizza for dinner and put on Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl to watch.
They watched the film and when they had only two slices of pizza left and they were nearly at the end of the film, Lydia got up from the sofa and stretched; yawning loudly and announced that she was going to bed. The other two bade her goodnight while Jane and Elizabeth continued to watch the rest of the film.
"Lizzy?" Jane asked quietly.
"Mmmm." Elizabeth hummed in reply.
"How is she getting on? Really?"
Elizabeth looked to her sister and sighed quietly. Despite the fact that Lydia's school marks were fantastic, the fact that their little sister had a positive attitude when it came to her school work, she knew that Lydia was keeping to herself at break times because William Darcy had forbidden Lydia and Georgiana being friends. Lydia had built good friendships with Denny and the boys he hung out with but Elizabeth knew that Lydia was missing having a few girl friends that she had found in Georgiana, Kit and Mary.
"She's not allowed to be friends with Georgiana Darcy anymore." Elizabeth replied softly.
"Why not?" Jane asked.
"Because William Darcy googled Lydia and made assumptions from the comment section on the newspaper article about Jamie Smith."
"Is this the same William Darcy that did all of that horrible stuff to George?"
Elizabeth shrugged.
"I'm not sure that George was telling the truth when he divulged that information to me. He told me of his connection and fallout to William Darcy the first time I met him, what person does that? Then there was this woman, Sarah, who warned me about him that time he was late to our dinner and then he was groping some girl in Tiger Tiger when he said that he'd be patient in our relationship." She explained.
"So, let's assume that George was lying about his past with William Darcy, that still doesn't excuse him making assumptions about Lydia. Has he explained to you why he did?"
"Sort of. He said it was for his sister's own good, I know that Georgiana got into some trouble in August and he believes that asking Lydia to stay away was the best thing for his sister but I think he overreacted, he should have come to me and spoke about his concerns."
"I take it the conversation didn't end well?" Jane asked.
Elizabeth shook her head.
"No, I told him I didn't like him, that he just hurt innocent people. I judged him because of what George had told me, how he was rude to make assumptions about me and what he had done to Lydia. I didn't tell him what had happened to Lydia, I just told him that the situation wasn't her fault and that she had trusted the wrong people." Elizabeth replied.
"Wow. So, what happens now?"
"I have a lot of thinking to do, I need to get my head straight about what's happened with George and then maybe I'll apologise to William for making assumptions about him. He was right on one part, I was a hypocrite for having a go at him for judging me and Lydia on assumptions when I did the exact same thing."
"Don't beat yourself up too much about it, maybe he's had a lot of thinking to do as well."
"We'll see I suppose. But listen, if there's something going on with Lydia, I'll let you know. Other than the Georgiana thing and I know she's upset about it, she's doing well. She's settled in at school, her grades are the best they've been since dad died, she's sensible and observant, she's making me proud." Elizabeth said, pride present in her voice.
Jane gave a small smile.
"I know you'd keep me posted if there was anything seriously wrong. I just worry, about both of you." Jane yawned.
"I know you do, Jane."
The film had come to the end and was playing the theme tune as the credits rolled across the TV screen. Jane picked up the TV remote and switched off the TV, both sisters getting up from the sofa and yawning loudly.
"Don't worry about the boxes, I'll tidy up the pizza boxes in the morning before I head over to the main house to do breakfast, you and Lydia sleep in and then we'll head out for a girly day of shopping." Jane said.
"Are you sure?" Elizabeth asked, "I don't mind cleaning up before I head for bed."
Jane shook her head and smiled.
"Don't worry, I'll do it. You've had a long day, get to bed and get some sleep."
"Okay. Night Jane."
"Night Lizzy."
Elizabeth walked down the hall and quietly closed the door behind her. She changed into a pair of pyjamas and climbed into the bed she hadn't slept in since the end of July and instantly fell asleep as her head hit the soft pillow.
ooOoo
The rest of the week had flown by for Lydia. On Tuesday, she and her sisters had gone into Ipswich for a day of shopping. Jane had ended up buying some new jeans while Elizabeth had bought herself a new pair of knee high black boots. They had eaten a late lunch before returning to Longbourn where she cooked her sisters chicken fajitas for dinner that night while they watched the soaps. On Wednesday, they had all helped Mrs. Hill in running the B&B, with Elizabeth cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms in the first-floor guest rooms and the shared bathroom on the top floor, while Mrs. Hill cleaned the bedrooms. Jane had spent the majority of the day going over the accounts and Lydia had kept herself busy by updating the B&B's Facebook page and signed the B&B up for a twitter account that she had agreed to help Jane manage.
During the mid-afternoon on Wednesday, she had decided to go for a walk around the village. She had seen the worried glance that her elder sisters had shared when she told them she was going out for a walk. But she smiled, assured her sisters that she would be fine and pulled on her coat and wellies. She had walked into the local newsagents to get some chewing gum and shared a brief but nice conversation with Mabel who owned the shop and walked down the footpath and across the fields as she passed underneath the railway bridge.
It was as she sat in the Bury St. Edmunds Starbucks on Thursday afternoon that she thought over what had happened on her walk. For the most part, it had been quite peaceful, she listened to the birds singing, she saw and heard a few squirrels running up and down the trees. But it was when she had passed her old secondary school that she ran into those girls who had made the online comments in the newspaper article, the ones who had made her life so miserable that she had been moved to Portsmouth to start over.
"Here you go Lydi, vanilla latte."
She blinked before smiling at her older sister, taking her latte from Jane as her sister sat in the chair next to her at the small, circular table that the two of them sat at.
"Thanks Jane."
The older Bennet sister looked at her with the same look that Lydia occasionally saw on Elizabeth's face, that look of worry.
"Jane, I'm fine." Lydia stated.
"Lizzy says that you aren't allowed to be friends with Georgiana any more." Jane said quietly.
Lydia sighed. The downside of having your older sisters as parental guardians sucked when they spoke about you with the same worry that a biological parent would have. Lydia knew that none of them had asked for their lives to be this way, it was the way it was and nothing could change that but she knew that her sisters looked at her differently now. Jane and Lizzy didn't just look at her like their kid sister any more, now they saw her as a surrogate daughter that they both had responsibility for. Or at least, that's how she felt since their father had died.
"You don't need to worry about me. I'll still be there for Georgie when I'm needed." Lydia assured her.
"It's my job to worry about you, just as it is Lizzy's. It always has been our job." Jane smiled.
"I know you didn't ask for this-"
"Lydi, it's not your fault but it's always been this way. Ever since mum left, we helped look after you, Lizzy and I never saw you as a burden. We just had to be more parental with you instead of sisterly since everything came out."
"I get it. I was a right cow in those months. Then on my fifteenth-"
"It was seven months ago that you met that man, Jamie saw how fragile you were and saw an opportunity. He isn't a decent man; he makes people's skin crawl."
"This all began back in March though. From July 'til the new year it was pretty much rebellious teenage stuff like coming home after curfew, bunking off school, getting mouthy to the teachers. March was when I turned fifteen and Jamie gave me the chance to forget, to punish myself for causing dad's death. That's just how I felt." Lydia said quietly.
"The fire was never your fault Lydi. I have some understanding of how you felt now." Jane said softly, leaning her hand across the table to squeeze Lydia's.
"I saw Yasmin and Jessica yesterday."
Jane's eyes widened and she took a mouthful of her cappuncino before gesturing for Lydia to continue.
"I was walking past the school, I just stopped for a second to get a glimpse when I saw the two of them walking towards me. They stopped, they yelled stuff, they followed me until I picked up a medium sized branch and indicated that if they wanted a fight, I'd defend myself."
"Did they hurt you?" Jane asked.
Lydia shook her head.
"No, they were just a bit mouthy. Their words don't hurt me anymore, maybe because moving away has changed me for the better. Back in June, when things at school got rough because of them, their words would have done a lot more damage to me." She replied.
And it was true. Despite her setback in her friendship with Georgie thanks to William Darcy, she was no longer resentful of the fact that her sisters had made the decision to move her away from Thurston for a fresh start. Seeing her former two best friends yesterday, the way they had shouted that she was nothing but a prostitute drug dealer who needed to die in the ditch she came from, it didn't hurt her. Not anymore. When she had dropped out of school in June she had been coming to terms with what Jamie had done to her, how Yasmin and Jessica had posted photoshopped pictures of her around the school and started a bullying campaign instead of supporting her through a difficult time, she had been in a low place. But now she was a little bit happier, in a new place, having a new start, making genuine friends and becoming a little more mature.
"I'm glad that you stood up for yourself. You've come a long way since you moved." Jane smiled.
Lydia returned her sister's smile.
"I'm going to miss you when we leave tomorrow." She said sadly.
Jane's smile faded.
"I miss you both terribly too, but we can skype, we can email and we can still call and text as much as you want. Besides, you'll see me in five weeks anyway and I will support you through the day you have to give evidence because that's what sisters do." Her sister promised.
The sisters shared a moment of silence, taking a large mouthful of their drinks before setting the mugs back on the table.
"Are you coming to Portsmouth for Christmas?" Lydia asked.
Jane nodded, "I've already updated the booking part of the website that we're closed for Christmas eve, Christmas day and Boxing day but we open again on the twenty-seventh." Her sister replied.
"It's our second one without dad." Lydia muttered.
"I know Lydi, but he would be proud of you for making a fresh start."
"I don't know about that-"
"He would. Now tell me, is Lizzy really okay after her break-up?"
Lydia nodded. Since the previous week when Elizabeth had come home from her night out with the Rosings staff, she had noticed that her sister was upset because she had feelings for George and she was angry that he would lie to her but otherwise, Lizzy seemed quite fine.
"She's okay, a little angry her time has been wasted and that she was lied to. She had to leave her phone in Portsmouth because he keeps sending text messages and leaving her voicemails." Lydia explained.
"Sounds like she had a lucky escape." Jane commented quietly.
"I'm friends with his brother Denny, and I agree. From the things that Denny has told me, if she had been with George longer she would really have had her heart broken by him. She's trying to think of ways to approach William Darcy to apologise for her snap judgement about him in Wickham's case." Lydia said.
The two sisters finished their hot drinks and left the Starbucks, heading back out to do a little bit more shopping before heading back to Longbourn.
ooOoo
Georgiana stood in front of the mirror, turning her head to look and see if the dress she had chosen to Laura's party made her look fat. She had spent much of the previous weekend shopping with her best friend and concluded that as much as she liked Laura and was grateful for the distraction over the summer holidays, she hated shopping with Laura. Her best friend had dragged her around all the shops in Commercial Road and Gunwharf Quays before stating that they would be much better shopping in Southampton. Georgiana had managed to convince Laura to take a look around the John Lewis store in Palmerston Road. In the end, at Laura's encouragement, she had chosen out a simple black bodycon that hugged to her figure, showing off curves and highlighting her cleavage.
I'm fifteen, I shouldn't be showing off bum and boobs just yet.
There was a knock on her bedroom door and she rolled her eyes, knowing just who would be on the other side. She crossed the room to the door and pulled it open, tapping her foot impatiently on the floor as she allowed Will inside her bedroom.
"I was thinking of having a movie night tomorrow, just the two of us. Is there anything you want from the supermarket? Alice is going to go in the morning and wants to add any extras to the list." Will explained.
Georgiana shook her head. Ever since her brother had banned her from being friends with Lydia Bennet, she hated him. Lydia was the new friend who actually understood what she was going through and her brother had taken that away from her. Now she was being forced to spend time with her brother and being made to feel just as miserable as he was.
"I can get her to get you some chocolate? And what about popcorn? I'll even let you have the toffee stuff you like so much." Will said, trying to entice her into being excited about this.
"Do whatever you like, it hasn't stopped you before." Georgiana snapped.
Will sighed.
"I'm trying here Georgie; you could at least meet me halfway." He said, disappointment present in his voice.
She looked at him in anger, she didn't want to make the effort with him when he was making her feel suffocated and caged. Ever since he declared that the two of them would be spending more time together two weeks ago, he had certainly kept to his promise. They had cooked dinner together for Alice as a thank you for everything she had done for the two of them since their father's passing, they had gone on a walk down the common on a Sunday morning, they had been to the cinema, out for dinner, they had even gone for a drive up Portsdown Hill. They were spending too much time together in her opinion.
"I'm spending time with you aren't I?" she asked sarcastically.
"I'm just trying to do the best in our current circumstance." Will sighed heavily.
"Well I didn't ask you to."
"Well I have to. Now, enjoy your party. I'll pick you up at eleven."
Georgiana groaned. The party would be going on until the early hours of the morning if Laura had her way and she had promised her best friend that she would stay until the very end.
"Can't I stay until one?" Georgiana asked.
William shook his head.
"No. You might be sixteen soon but you still need a good night's sleep. We're up early tomorrow, we've got lunch with Catherine, Anne and Richard."
"Whatever."
William left her bedroom, shutting the door behind him. Georgiana huffed in frustration, she hated having her older brother as her parent. She missed the old days, when Will was just her brother and would treat her like a sister. Back in those days, he wasn't overprotective, he wasn't strict, he wasn't authoritative, he was just…. Will.
Her phone buzzed, a text message from Laura telling her that she was outside ready to get her. Georgiana turned back to look at her reflection and pinned half her hair up and half of the curls falling down her shoulders. Picking up a pair of black flat shoes from the floor, she picked up her phone and left her bedroom; ready to try and have a good time.
ooOoo
Laura Annesley's Halloween parties were usually well known to allow the kids of Rosings Park School to have a good time. The previous year, Laura had managed to convince her parents that the party didn't need adult supervision and had managed to get her older sister's friends to get some alcohol and the party had livened up. This year however, the music played on low while most of the year elevens from Rosings were cramped throughout Laura's house and the back garden while her parents observed them.
"Laura, your party is crap." One of the boys yelled.
Georgiana stood in the corner of the living room with Kit, silently agreeing with the boy. She wasn't usually a fan of watching people get drunk but with Laura's parents keeping a watchful eye and a total ban on alcoholic drinks, the party was kind of boring. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Laura stomp her way over to them, hand on her hips and her eyes wide in frustration.
"Gee, you've got to help me!" Laura whined.
"With what?" Georgiana asked.
"Clara is supposed to take over the observing but she's running late. My parents are really killing my reputation here!"
"Lau, I really don't know what you want me to do."
"Come with me."
Before she even got a say in the matter, Georgiana felt Laura grasp a hand around her wrist and drag her away from Kit, across the living room, out to the hallway and then into the kitchen. She could hear the cheering and excited swaps of conversation in the back garden where she guessed some of their year group was having a good time. When the two girls reached the kitchen, Laura released her wrist and stood her in front of a boy.
Georgiana looked up at the boy, he was a head taller than her and in the flickering light of the candles placed around the kitchen, she made out the light shade of brown of the boy's eyes, his hair a matching brown.
"Georgiana, this is Gregory Jones. He's in his first year of sixth form at Rosings." Laura introduced.
Smiling at the boy, the two of them shook hands.
"I'll leave you two to talk. Just get dancing in the living room at some point, it might loosen up the party poopers!" Laura instructed, heading off through the crowded kitchen to the back garden.
"Sorry about that, I have no idea how Laura's mind works sometimes." Georgiana laughed nervously, her arms folding across her chest.
Gregory smiled.
"It's fine, she told me that she wanted to introduce me to someone. I had no idea that it would be someone as pretty as you." He replied.
She felt herself blush slightly and looked away, until she felt a rough finger pull her chin back to his gaze.
"Don't look away, I like seeing you blush. Now, shall we follow through with your friend's request?" Gregory suggested.
Georgiana smiled and nodded, allowing Gregory to lead her back into the living room. When they were in a spot in the middle of the room, Gregory asked someone to turn up the music as he pulled her to him and started twirling her around. She laughed when she fell into him, nearly causing him to stumble backwards.
"I didn't hurt you did I?" Georgiana asked.
Gregory shook his head, returning her laugh.
They continued to dance together, noticing that the other year elevens had also started to join in following their lead. When the music stopped, and started to play the next song, Gregory pulled her into the corner of the living room; away from the watchful eyes and slyly pulled out a flask of alcohol.
"Want a swig, Georgie?" Gregory asked.
Georgiana frowned.
"Who told you to call me that? Only my friends call me that." Georgiana reacted.
Gregory simply smiled and took a swig from his flask.
"Laura's told me a lot about you, shown me pictures, I've already started to fall for you just by Laura's boasting of how beautiful and nice her best friend is. Indulge me, get to know me, I want to know everything there is to know about Georgiana Darcy."
Georgiana felt stunned at Gregory's admission. He was in the year above her at school but in the sixth form part, and Gregory had been one of the popular kids when he had attended the secondary school part of Rosings.
"You….like me?" Georgiana questioned.
"I do. So… you want a swig or not?" Gregory countered, waving the flask in front of her face.
Biting her lip before taking a quick glance to make sure that nobody was looking, Georgiana took the flask from Gregory and took a large swig.