The Thin Line between Love and Hate

A Pride and Prejudice- story

By: jakeline

Summary: A modern P&P with a Shakespearean twist. He said she wasn't pretty enough and she threw punch at him. After 12 years Darcy is back in Meryton and Lizzie still hasn't forgiven him.

Disclaimer: I do not claim to be Jane Austen and most definitely not Shakespeare. I just borrow their work as an inspiration to this story, loosely basing it on Pride and Prejudice and Much Ado about Nothing.

Chapter 14: Only Fools Rush in

"Our fish has taken the bait," Charles said as he watched William try to pass them unnoticed.

"What's that on his chest?" Jane asked and squinted to see. "Looks like a heart."

Charles looked. "Yeah, I see it too. Someone must have gotten him in the chest." He yelled, "Hey Will! You out?" William froze and looked their way.

"Yeah, both Elizabeth and Peter got me."

"I can see that," Charles nodded. "Wearing you heart on your sleeve? Or at least outside your chest?" William looked down, and Charles could have sworn he blushed.

"What do you mean?" William said at length.

"The paint on your chest does look like a heart," Jane informed.

"Really? Don't see it from this angle," William answered with a shrug. "Charlie, watch your back. My sister has you on her death list." And with that he left them. Charles watched him with an amused look on his face.

"Yes, watch your back. Lizzie can be very competitive too," Jane giggled and placed a small kiss on his cheek.

-xxx-

"Hey, Lizzie, would you be so kind as to go fetch Will and tell him we are about to start the second round?" Charles asked when Georgiana had finally gotten him and therefore brought victory to her team. "I'm so up for a rematch."

"Can't someone else go?" Elizabeth objected. She was still sore from the fall. And she really wasn't up for facing William after their little moment on the ground.

"No, and since you have the exact matching heart shaped blotch as William it has to be you. It must be destiny," Charles mused and Elizabeth felt her face burn red again. Damn! Charles had noticed. And if he had noticed, there would be others.

"Fine," she muttered, scratching at the blotch, trying to soften its heart shaped contours.

She dragged herself of the field towards where William would be. She found him leaning against the gate and Elizabeth was shocked by how stunning he actually was. She had been too busy disliking him to notice that he had grown very handsome. How someone managed to look so gorgeous in camo-coveralls was beyond her, but William did.

She took a deep breath and called: "I've been asked to come fetch you! They are ready for the second round." She made a point of being asked to come. He needed to know that she did not volunteer. "Your team lost, by the way."

"So you didn't come because you wanted to?" William asked with a small smile playing on his lips. Elizabeth looked away.

"No, I was forced."

"I see," William said and pushed himself off the gate so effortlessly it was almost a liquid motion, then he almost swaggered lazily towards her.

"You don't want to play anymore?" Elizabeth said. "Well, then I better get back." She turned on one heel and stalked off.

"No! Wait, I'm coming," he called after her. Elizabeth didn't stop, however, but kept on going. If he wanted to walk with her he had to catch up. She was not going to let in that easy. She was fighting her own battle within. She couldn't just fall for him. That was so inconvenient. He was the last person on earth she could picture herself marrying and he was so insufferable. Still thinking he was God's gift to women and all that. How could she love a man like that? Nevertheless, his body pressed against her had sent tingling sensations along her spine. But that could be explained as mere lust. Nothing more.

But if he really loved her, who was she not to welcome it? He had said he was sorry for hurting her. She could see that he had changed. If he could change, so could she. It's never too late to learn old dogs new tricks. Or was it the other way around?

-xxx-

He hurried after her. Elizabeth was marching quite fast. But hadn't he spotted signs of an infatuation on her lovely face? Weren't her eyes just a bit warmer? Her smile a bit wider? Yet she seemed reluctant to be alone with him. Was she embarrassed of her feelings, perhaps? Was she afraid of what he would think of her? Had he really presented himself that badly towards her? William suspected he had. Now he regretted it.

As William with hurried steps followed Elizabeth he realised he was very much in danger of fall in love with her. If she truly loved him, why shouldn't her affections be requited? True, he had railed against marriage before, but surely a man could change his opinion? Oh, Peter and Charles were going to love this. William was sure he could stand the remarks about his former speeches against love if Elizabeth was by his side. When I said I'd die a bachelor, I merely didn't think I should live till I was married, he concluded with a smile. Or that I would find anyone worthy of my trust.

"Hey, Elizabeth?" he called out. She stopped and turned with a puzzled look on her face.

"Yeah?"

"You okay?"

"Yes, why wouldn't I be?"

"I was thinking with our fall and everything," William said, trying to be nonchalant about it.

"As stated before, I'm tougher than I look," she said and turned to continue walking. They were getting close to the others and William had to think of something, he had to know.

"Are you coming to the ball tomorrow?" he blurted quickly before she started walking again.

"My mother is making me come," she said. "Not really into the whole fancy dress shebang." She shrugged.

"If I asked you to dance, would you accept?" He looked down at his feet, not daring to meet her eyes.

"How will you know where to find me? I heard masks were mandatory."

"I think I'll manage."

"Then how will I know it is you?"

"Would you not recognise my voice?" Did she really have to make it so hard for him? He hated begging. He would not beg, that was beneath him.

"Eh, not really, no." She looked up at him and the sun struck her eyes and made them glitter and William instantly realised he had it bad. He was falling helplessly in love with her and there was nothing he could do about it. Had he been braver, and perhaps not so conscious about their audience, he might have just kissed her then and there.

But William Darcy was not brave enough to kiss her. He was still not sure if Charles and Jane were correctly informed about her affections. Well, come to think of it, they weren't informed at all, they were guessing. What if they were totally wrong and he threw his heart out there just to get it squashed.

"Never mind then," he said darkly and marched off. He could not do it. He was not brave. And he was not used to begging for attention.

-xxx-

Elizabeth stared after William and wondered what was going on in his head. Had she really been that disdainful that he didn't dare show his feelings? Had she made fun of him one too many times? Not that she cared, she was not into him. Elizabeth shook her head following in William's wake, towards the others. He was a very hard man to read. If he was in love with her, he had a very funny way of showing it.

"Ready for some ass kicking?" Charles smiled brilliantly. Jane had joined his team since one of the youngsters had sprained an ankle while trying to get away from the whirlwind that was Georgiana. He had failed miserably, spraining his ankle in the process. Elizabeth didn't mind a little sibling rivalry to spice things up. She and Jane usually teamed up against rest of the family, but now they were on different sides.

Elizabeth stayed as far away from William as she possibly could. She didn't care for the feelings that were brewing inside of her. They made her really unsure of herself and utterly conscious of where William was at all times. Not even the thrill of the game took those feelings away. She even let herself get hit just to get away from there. She just couldn't trust herself anymore. And then there was the matter with all the meaningful glances from Peter and Georgiana. Even Charles and Jane had started smiling knowingly. Something was definitely up. Elizabeth just couldn't figure out what. Perhaps she was just getting paranoid.

It just felt as if she had no control anymore, and she hated it. All she wanted to do was to hide out somewhere till this blew over. But since she was officially working and her parents were due at any moment that was not an option.

The prospect of having her mother around with this emotional drama she was having was not at all comforting. Far from it. She could do without her snotty comments and loudness. Her father had promised to keep her checked, but Elizabeth knew that was hard work and almost impossible. With all the potential son-in-laws present her mother would have the time of her life trying to match her daughters with suitable men. Mrs. Bennet would force them to be at every activity that involved men. Especially men doing physical activities.

Elizabeth groaned inwardly at the thought of it all. She had planned a quiet getaway with her sister, and now she would be forced to spend time with the entire family. She wouldn't be surprised if both Kitty and Mary would come too.

"A penny for your thoughts." Georgiana slumped down next to Elizabeth and brought her back to Netherfield and the paintball field.

"Oh, hi! You out too?" Not as much a question as a statement, the green blotches on her leg was answer enough.

"Yeah, my brother got me. I swear I've never seen him so pleased with himself," Georgiana smiled. Elizabeth made a non-committal grunt. "So, why the grim face?"

"Oh, just the thought of my parents and sister coming at any moment," Elizabeth said lightly.

"Not a fan?"

"I love my father, but my mother can be a bit overbearing at times. Especially with so many men around."

"I see," Georgiana said, nodding knowingly. "Mine's the same. Well, women in this case."

"She's giving William a hard time?" Elizabeth asked cautiously.

"Yeah. Settling down is good for business and all that," Georgiana rolled her eyes.

"I see." Elizabeth wanted to ask about what she had heard before, but didn't want to admit to eavesdropping.

"But he's consistently refusing," Georgiana said. "He's got trust issues you know. His last girlfriend was cheating on him and really only after his money."

"Oh."

"He says he's never going to marry. But I think that's just because he's not met the right one, you know."

"Perhaps." Elizabeth thought that was a lot of unnecessary information. Did Georgiana want Elizabeth to hit on her brother?

"What are you two girls gossiping about?" Peter threw himself down next to them.

"Just girl talk," Georgiana said.

"You got hit too?" Elizabeth looked over at him.

"Yeah, Darcy's just a bit vindictive." They all laughed.

"Guess it's time for round three soon, then," Elizabeth said.

"Or perhaps we shall call it a day," Peter said. "Too many injuries."

"There is a day tomorrow too," Georgiana said. "Will you come cheer us on at the Regatta, Elizabeth?"

"Probably won't have a choice," Elizabeth sighed. "My mother will drag me there for sure, if she finds out. And it's Lizzie, nobody but my mother calls me Elizabeth. Makes me feel old." Nobody but William that was. And the way he said it brought flutter to her stomach.

Georgiana smiled. "Okay, Lizzie it is. But you have to promise me to never call me Georgiana, okay? It's George, or maybe, just maybe, Gigi if you nice."

-xxx-

William had taken out the other team almost single-handedly. The only one ha hadn't gotten was Elizabeth and that only because she had let herself get hit too easily by her sister. Chicken. He had wanted to get her back for that spray of paint on his chest. But no one else was up for a third round. He found the rest of his friends sitting down next to Elizabeth, chatting away. Georgiana was next to her and they were sitting with their heads close together, as if sharing a secret. In a way he was glad his sister had found someone to be that close with, but he was not as comfortable with it being Elizabeth Bennet. But perhaps she was just the right person to lure Georgiana out of her shell.

With all the injuries they had called it a day after that second round. Which was probably for the best. William had really gone all in and well, people had gotten hurt. It was nearly supper time and still a few things to be settled with the staff for Saturday's banquet and ball. Caroline would want an update too since she hadn't been present at all that afternoon, which William was pretty happy about. He couldn't imagine Caroline in a coverall running around with a gun, shooting coloured balls. The thought brought a smile on his face and he shook his head as he left the paintball field behind him and headed back to the main building.

He was in serious need of a warm shower and a whiskey. And to get away from Elizabeth. He didn't trust himself around her anymore. Funny how a little comment about her possibly being in love with him could stir up such a wave of emotions in him. The accidental embrace did not make it any better. Just the thought of her body pressed against his sent his heart racing. She was still behaving weird around him, perhaps not as disdainful, but still oddly. He didn't what to do about it. He didn't dare show his affection until she gave him some proof of her feeling the same. And that didn't seem very likely.

He made himself scarce after dinner and settled down in the library with a book and a glass of whiskey. Charles and Peter were going to play some pool with the Bennet sisters, and as much as William loved pool he just couldn't be anywhere near Elizabeth right now. He had to make up his mind first. He didn't want to do anything hasty. This decision was after all something that would change the outcome of the rest of his life.

-xxx-

Mrs. Bennet looked like a child in a candy shop. With large grey eyes she eagerly watched all the posh men moving around in the lobby. Lydia was her mirror image, not far from drooling; she didn't know where to turn for all the handsomely dressed men. Elizabeth wanted to sink through the floor. Her mother lit up even more when Jane brought Charles over. And Elizabeth knew she had to get out of there before she would vomit.

Elizabeth took her refuge in the bar. She needed something strong to be able to withstand a dinner with her mother present. Her father followed her example and they sat down at the stools in front of the counter.

"Dad, you promised," Elizabeth said, reproachful.

"I'm doing the best I can," Mr. Bennet answered, taking a sip of his whiskey. "I've signed her up on plenty of treatments so she shouldn't be in your way, my dear."

"You better," Elizabeth said. "And what will you be doing?"

"Oh I've heard there is a really nice library here. I think I'll retire there as soon as possible."

"Coward," Elizabeth hissed. "If she's making a scene I will hold you responsible." Her father only smiled good-naturedly and took another sip of his whiskey and Elizabeth sighed.

"Lizzie!" came her mother's demanding voice through the door. "You didn't tell me there was a regatta tomorrow! You know how much I love boats." Elizabeth groaned into her drink and slowly turned to face her mother. Peter Fitzwilliam was with her and Elizabeth cursed the day he was born. He was just too open with certain information. He smiled ever so innocently and took her mother by the arm steering her towards a table. Elizabeth decided to go to bed right after dinner and not shoot pool with the others as they had decided. She needed her strength if she was to spend an entire day in her mother's wake. A nice hot bath and a glass of wine in her room was just what she needed right now.

-TBC-

Author's note: A bit quicker this time. So I have a question for you; What shall Lizzie and Darcy wear to the masked ball? I mean they have to match, obviously. Do I go for the Austen-inspired kit with cravat, empiric cut dress and such or the more Shakespearian style as shown in Much Ado from 1993 (go to youtube to see what I mean)? Tell me all about it in a review.