Here it is little darcy's, the next installment. I'm really trying to update more frequently and post chapters once every other week so here we go. However, I'm also working on a novel that I'd like to try and get published so i'm burning the candle at both ends.

Chapter 14: Detective work

"When he's the one I'll come undone and my world will stop spinning..." Elise sang to herself. Two days later and she was still floating on air. The charity masquerade had gone off with only minor hitches. She'd managed to nail down three more clients for Pemberley inc. The icing on the cake came to a rich total of 350,000 dollars, each of the 7 gowns bringing in a great deal of proceeds for the children's benefit.

And then there was your mystery partner she mused, smiling at the thought. Her first kiss in nearly four years. And oh but what a kiss it was. Warm and tender, causing a slow burn that began in her toes and rose all the way to the top of her head.

Her only regret was that she had no idea who he was. His face had been more than half covered with a black masquerade mask, etched in gold and covering from the top of his forehead to just below his cheek bones. They'd been unable to hear one another over the music, speaking in near whispers so she didn't even have a voice to go off of. Elise was almost sorry she'd never see him again, he'd felt familiar and unique all at once. With this man she'd been both at ease and full of butterflies. It scared her.

With a sigh, she resumed her work on the thank you notes to the largest contributors. It would do no good to reflect. Elise hadn't even given him an actual name to go off of. For that one night, she was Elizabeth Bennett again. Elizabeth before John. Elizabeth before running, before fear. Before Elizabeth had died and Elise was born.

Darcy smacked his desk in pure frustration. He'd checked the invitation list twice already and there wasn't a single Elizabeth on it. There was an Eliza, but she'd left early in the evening according to the coat check registry. There was also a Liz, but she'd been the plus one to her husband's invitation. With no last name and not even a full name to go off of, it seemed his mystery woman would remain exactly that: A mystery.

Still, Shemar had never met a challenge he wouldn't take on. He did have one other clue, a card to a bookstore mixed in with the odds and ends left behind after the party. It smelled strongly of the perfume his partner had been wearing, he assumed it must have fallen from her purse at some point. As with all things, Shemar took stock of the situation and began with the information he knew.

His mystery woman was a little over five feet with dark hair and brown eyes. Her name was Elizabeth, she smelt like orchids and she was a member of a bookstore in the downtown area. He could see her in his mind but the edges were always fuzzy, like a snapshot taken too quickly-

That was it. A picture, there'd been a professional photographer hired for the night, all he had to do was find her picture. Elise would have access to those... he nodded decisively and headed for her office.

"Bennett? Bennett?" She looked up as her boss strode into the office, momentarily startled.

"Sir? What is it? What-"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you, I just wasn't sure if you were in the office today or not. You could have taken the day off, you certainly deserve it."

Elise smiled at the kind admonition.

"Thank you sir but I don't mind. It's almost peaceful, what with the office being so quiet."

"Still. If you want some time off in the future, it's yours for the asking Bennett."

"Thanks again. Did you need something? Or is this strictly social?" She nodded towards a small fridge in the back near the window . "I even have refreshments."

He grinned and shook his head.

"I was hoping you might have the photos from the gala."

"Not yet, they're still being developed. I could have them sent directly to your office though."

"I'd appreciate that Bennett. Don't work too hard now, alright?"

"I won't."

Satisfied, he returned to his office and left her to her work. As he settled back in his chair, Darcy felt a profound set of satisfaction. He'd had a passing attraction to Elise, he could put such feelings aside now. Obviously he wouldn't have felt such a strong connection to the mystery woman had his feelings for the young woman been serious, right? Nodding to himself he grabbed the phone and dialed up Georgianna. He broke into a large smile as soon as she picked up.

"Hello?" She croaked.

"Hello duck, how are you?"

"Miserable, I think- achoo! I'm getting a c- achoo! cold Alex."

He sighed, trying to stamp down the worry that came anytime his baby sister was sick.

"My poor girl. You sound congested already, I'll stop and pick up some medicine on the way home."

"That'd be nice. Mrs. Reynolds dropped by with some soup.. will you bring me sherbert?"

"Don't I always? As much as you can eat Gigi. You rest until I come home and I'll look after you."

"Okay. How come you called? Usually you just text- achoo! me."

He leaned back and propped his feet up on his desk.

"I'll be getting the pictures from the gala back soon, I know you wanted to see how your gown looked. You might even be able to put it in your portfolio duck."

"Really? Oh Alex that's the best! You can't-achoo! hear how excited I am cause I'm losing my voice but I promise I'm going crazy."

Darcy laughed and made a quick kissing noise into the phone.

"Good. I should be getting back to work but I'll try and clock out a little early. You go take a nap, drink lots of fluids-"

"I know, I know. You always-achoo! Say that."

"And you never listen till you're completely snot-filled."

"Eeew gross! I'm hanging up."

Still chuckling, he did the same.

While Darcy nursed his sister, Elise was hoping to go out to dinner with hers. It was good to see Darcy smiling and relaxed, even in the office. Usually he was so focused Elise was certain he had a permanent tension knot in his back. She let herself into the apartement, running through dinner options in her head. Chinese? Mexican? Or maybe-

"Elise I'm so sorry."

She glanced up from the mail she'd been flipping through and set the alarm, smiling at her older sibling.

"Hello Jaynie. What on earth are you sorry for? Did you take my red bow again?"

"I wish it was so trivial." She wrung her hands, almost in tears. Elise hurried to Jayne's side, the tension she'd attributed to Darcy now flooding herself.

"What happened?"

"Charlie, he-"

"Did he hurt you? I'll have him arrested, I'll smack him over the head myself-"

"No! No he- oh Elise I didn't know, if I had known I would have stopped him but he wanted it to be surprise and by the time I found out he'd already sent the article in-"

"You have to slow down Jaynie,, you're not making any sense. What article? Start at the beginning."

Her big sister sat down, still highly distraught.

"Charlie Bingley. He had his chief editor write a draft about the charity gala. They put it in a couple of the magazines Charlie owns. The fashion mag, because Caro's dresses were the ones that were on auction. The business mag too, because it concerned Pemberly digital. And since you were the one in charge of planning the event and had come up with the entire idea he- well they put your name in it and a picture, a big one!" Eyes welling she handed over the magazines she'd mentioned, pages are bookmarked concerning the issue.

"Oh my- Jayne he has to take it out!" She flipped through, pictures of her from the business dinner and one that had been blown up, a photo she'd quickly made sure had been removed from the new's letter released once a month at work.

"He can't, I already told him that and he said the magazines had already been printed up and sent out. Elise he doesn't know, he just thought it'd be good business for you and something nice to do since you're my sister. And the articles, they bring attention to the Children's foundation and to Caro's designs-"

"Jayne I don't care what it does for business or anybody! If Denny is still in town, if he were to see this-"

"I know, I know. I'm so so sorry Elise."

Elise rose from her seat and began to pace, panic rising in her throat.

"Jaynie what if- if someone sees and- and they tell John-"

"Breathe dear, just breathe. I've called Charlotte, did it as soon as I was through talking to Charlie. She says you can come stay with her until we know for sure things are safe. And Charlie said he would try and call the distributors, say there was a major misprint and to hold the magazines so a retraction can be made. I promise we'll get this sorted out, we'll keep you safe."

Sick to her stomach with fear, Elise tried to focus on taking steady, even breaths.

"When.. when can I go?"

"Early tomorrow morning. I've got the address, you can take my car. I packed most of what you might need but go and look it over in case I missed something."

"I'll have to call in.. take some time off work-"

"Time off or maybe see about handling things on your laptop for awhile."

"Right. Laptop.."

Jayne took her sister into her arms, hugging her tightly and smoothing her hair.

"You'll be safe there. And safe here too, we'll do whatever it takes. Everything's gonna be okay."