Can't Help It

Chapter 12: He Said, She Said

Eunice beckoned Joe to their room and left the Darcys alone to talk. Georgie was still staring at her brother with a knowing smirk on her face while Will was temporarily silenced. He was looking at Lizzie's planner in his hand with an expression of deep thought. He knew his sister would ask a lot of questions. He just wasn't sure if he should answer them or if indeed he could. All he could think about was Lizzie and her reaction once she knew that he had let Georgie in on their secret. Would she hate him more? No. he couldn't let that happen... not before he managed to explain himself to her or…

Tell her that I like her…

"Will?"

Here it comes.

"So you knew her before Charlie introduced you?" Georgie already knew the answer but she wanted her brother to confirm it himself, perhaps reveal a bit more in the process.

He walked towards the kitchen island, sat on a stool and placed Lizzie's planner before him. If he was going to narrate his and Lizzie's history, he might as well be sitting as his heart might fail him. He could feel his heart beating loudly. His rapid pulse filled his ears.

Georgie moved and sat as well, facing him, waiting intently for his answer.

He nodded.

"She was with you the day you missed your flight to New York?"

Will did not answer. She took his silence as a yes.

"Rich was right then?"

"Regarding what?" Finally he managed to speak.

"That it was a woman making you broody after all." Georgie said with a triumphant smile.

"So tell me what happened between you two." She said as she stood up and took the stool beside Will's. She made him face her as she took both of his hands and gave it a squeeze.

"Your hands are all clammy… Don't worry, no need to get into the uhhh…sordid details… " she shuddered before adding, "reserve those for Rich."

At the look of alarm on her brother's face, she added, "Don't worry, I wont tell him…yet."

The last word earned her a playful smack on the head. She scowled and Will smiled. She took it as a good sign to continue prodding for answers.

"C'mon tell me!"

Will did, minus the sordid details. Georgie clapped him on the back and said "smooth move you got there Will" when he told her how he offered his charger to Lizzie. She almost made him fall of his chair in surprise when she screamed excitedly once he got to the part about kissing Lizzie outside Cote. She guffawed at his pained expression as he tried to fumble for words that would enable him to skip over details about what transpired after the kiss. Once he reached the part about being a prat when Lizzie said she mistakenly answered his phone, Georgie reached out and returned the favor by striking his head as she told him that he acted like an idiot. She repeatedly called him that as he went on to tell the remainder of his tale.

If Georgie disapproved of her brother's ways of getting on the wrong side of Lizzie, she immediately forgot about it. Instead, she only had a stupid grin on her face once Will finished. He realized why and he immediately got worried. He didn't want to get her hopes up because he knew that at that right moment she was already forming thoughts of Lizzie and him together. That finally, he had found a woman who was right for him and whom he cared for deeply.

"Stop that Georgie. I know what you're thinking. She hates me. You know that don't you?"

"She doesn't hate you." Georgie stated knowingly.

"Haven't you seen how she acts around me? She despises me Georgie."

Georgie shook her head and answered. "Nah. She just doesn't know you well enough yet to know that your haughtiness is brought on by reserve. Don't mistake me, you did act like an arse… but she did like you first before she despised you. That means you still have hope. Just be the man she kissed back, not the one she walked away from. You're odds are great as you're usually the first to the people you care for… well at least you turn out to be."

"Thanks G…"

Georgie's face suddenly turned serious as she took Will's face in her hands. "Will, don't mess this up please. I really like Lizzie."

Will took his sisters hands, and with a reassuring voice he said, "I don't intend to because as you already know, I really like her too."

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The first thing Lizzie saw when she woke up was a note from Charlotte posted on the alarm clock perched on her bedside table. The Lucases slept over as they were too tired to haul themselves back to their flat the previous night. After cleaning they found themselves drifting off to sleep. Lizzie at least managed to get to her room. She had no idea what happened to the Lucases and Jane whom she left behind, each sprawled in some way in the sitting room.

Charlotte's note read:

Had to leave early for work, haven't forgotten our talk about Will Darcy. I'll continue to pry until I get some details.

X Char

Lizzie sighed, exasperated. She'd had enough talk about Will Darcy, alright. Charlotte, Mod and Jane had been pestering her about him right after Charlie and the Darcys left after helping them clean up. Annoyed at Charlotte's relentlessness, she fluffed up her pillow and forced herself to go back to sleep.

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Will resolved after his talk with Georgie that he would go and see Lizzie the following day to return her planner and talk to her. The earlier he put an end to their misunderstanding, the better. There wasn't much to do in the office anyway and honestly he was really eager to make peace with her and well, see where it goes from there.

He opted not to have Joe drive him so as to avoid more questions. He was not comfortable to let everyone know about Lizzie just yet. It was enough that only Georgie was aware of it, the rest could discover it on their own. So with a reassuring hug from Georgie boosting his confidence as she said goodbye, he got on the waiting cab and told the driver the Bennets' address in Chelsea.

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Lizzie was awaken by the shrill sound of the doorbell. She got up and cursed loudly as she stubbed her toe against the foot of the bed. She limped and cursed her way to answer the door. She stopped as she stared surprised at the face that greeted her...

"Dad?"

"You might want to lower your voice Lizzie. You made Mrs. Curtis worry."

Sure enough, when Lizzie stepped out, she saw Mrs. Cutis standing by her door, her eyebrows furrowed.

"Are you alright dear?" She asked.

"Yes Mrs. Curtis. I just stubbed my toe, no need to worry."

"Well ice it immediately before it swells."

"Will do."

"Alright then, I'll leave you to it. Tom?"

"Good day Mrs. Curtis." Mr. Bennet replied.

The old woman closed her door, leaving father and daughter behind.

"What are you doing here Dad? You do know that Jane's coming home to Longbourn on the weekend right?" Lizzie inquired as he ushered his father inside and took his jacket from him to hang on the coat rack.

"Of course I do, but I also know you wouldn't be coming. Besides, your mom is having her fainting fancy again and I rather not be there to witness it." With a questioning glance from Lizzie, he explained further. "The twins are in the midst of planning their gap year. I couldn't blame your mother really because Kitty and Lydia's idea of gap year would put the American version of spring break to shame."

"They're getting sillier Dad. You should really do something about it."

"Oh just let them be. They'll outgrow it eventually."

"You said that two years ago!"

"They're bidding their time."

Lizzie just shook her head. It was the only topic she had no chance of resolving with her father. Mr. Bennet saw his daughter's resignation and made a move towards the kitchen.

"Any leftovers?" He asked as he began to inspect the fridge.

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As Lizzie iced her toe she watched as her father heartily ate some of the leftovers.

"This cake is good!"

"Watch out for your sugar Dad. I hate to break it to you but you're getting on the years."

"Insolent child!" Mr. Bennet exclaimed. Father and daughter shared a laugh.

"So Janey's boyfriend was here last night?"

"He's not her boyfriend…."

"Yet," added Mr. Bennet with a knowing smirk.

"Don't worry, he's OK, a bit too overenthusiastic about Jane, sickeningly sweet in fact, but overall he's fine."

"What's the bloke's name again?"

"Charlie Bingley. He's a corporate lawyer."

"A suit then." Mr Bennet added wearily.

"Yeah but he's not like those other bigshots with airs of self- importance…" Lizzie explained as she thought of Will.

"Did some bigshot annoy you recently Lizzie?" Mr. Bennet asked as his daughter had an obvious change of countenance.

"You could say that."

"Anyone I know?"

"No."

"Try me. I used to be in that circle you know…" Mr. Bennet prodded with a wink to his daughter.

Tom Bennet used to be a corporate lawyer, a prominent one at that but he retired early from the game because of the innocent request of his youngest daughter then, Lizzie, even then favored by her father because of her sharp intellect and boundless curiosity that distinguished her from her much docile older sister. It wasn't difficult for him to quit. He was good at his job but he hated being apart from his young family. As his wife believed that her nerves wouldn't survive in the chaos of the city, she insisted that she continue living in the country while he worked and stayed in London five days a week. He bore the arrangement for a good seven years until three- year- old Lizzie requested him not to leave anymore one Sunday afternoon. He obliged. Even he was surprised how easily the decision came about. He quit his lucrative job in the city, got a post teaching law at the nearest university and oversaw the dealings of their family farm on his days off. Being with his children as they grew up overruled his doubts and regrets, yes, even Kitty and Lydia.

Lizzie gave in. "Fine. Charlie works for him and they're best mates. His name is Will Darcy."

"Of Darcy Corp?"

Lizzie nodded.

"I knew his father-not personally- but during those times his name was big for acquiring failing companies and transforming them..." for a brief moment Mr. Bennet was lost in thought. "Hmmm. Will Darcy…I remember seeing him as a young boy in a few of those charity events Darcy Corp hosts once a year. Very reserved, not your usual lad… he was by his father's side always, being introduced to the VIPs…." Mr. Bennet added.

"Well the company of the VIPs got into his head, inflated it a lot if you ask me." Lizzie replied sourly.

"You have to understand Lizzie that people like Will Darcy have been raised believing that they have the right to consider themselves superior to others. You cannot fault a child his upbringing."

"But I can certainly fault the man he has become."

Mr. Bennet was quiet. He knew of Lizzie's temperament so Will Darcy must have really done something to offend her that much. He promptly let go of the subject noting his daughter's mood.

"Any projects coming up?"

"I just sent in my portfolio and project proposal to NHM in New York. Hopefully, I'll hear from them by July…"

"That's good… so any plans for the remainder of your stay?"

Before Lizzie could answer, the doorbell rang.

"Who could that be? I'm not expecting anyone" She said.

"I'll get it, must be Larry. I called him to say I was coming…invited him for a drink at the pub." Mr. Bennet rose from his chair to answer the door as Lizzie inspected her toe.

As he opened the door, Tom Bennet's inquiring face was met by Will Darcy's anxious one. Mr. Bennet recognized the man's face immediately. He had seen it on countless articles relating to business he had read to keep up to date for the corporate law class he taught twice a week.

Before Will managed to overcome his initial shock of finding another person other than Lizzie when he expected her to be alone, Mr. Bennet spoke loudly and disrupted him.

"Lizzie! Will Darcy's here."

How this man knew his name Will wasn't sure but that was the least of his worries because in a short while he heard Lizzie shout.

"Dad, stop it. It's not funny."

"Come see for yourself then, if you don't believe me." Mr. Bennet said wryly, still looking at Will.

"Tom Bennet." He said, extending his hand to Will.

Will took the old man's hand. "Will Darcy... How did you..."

Before he could finish his question Lizzie emerged from behind Mr. Bennet, shock and then confusion dawning on her face.

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I've always liked Mr. Bennet. I may not agree with his parenting method but his great love for his daughter engages me. I hope I've done the character justice. More of him on the next chapter... but before that review this one first! ^.^