Hola!

I just returned from pouring sand over my head to repent for lying to you about having this chapter up by Monday. Sorry, sorry, sorry!

First, I'd like to apologize for making you wait a month for a new chapter, but - there is always a but! - I got sidetracked. It was summer and I had no inspiration. There were certain ideas, scenes or dialogues running through my head, but nothing to make me pick up my writing!

Second, I've started my driving lessons once again, after a year. I felt the need to focus on that and learning everything I need to pass my exam and become a legit driver. I can hardly wait!

Third, at the insistence of my younger cousin, I discovered Generation Kill and got permanently hooked on it. It's a great book and an even greater TV series. I can safely say I've become a little obsessed with Generation Kill and intrinsicly with the Iceman - those huge blue eyes will be the death of me...

With that said, I'd like to dedicate this chapter to Diamond and Stars for agreeing to be my Beta - yes, people, it finally happened!! - and for unsuccesfully trying to snap me out of my Alexander Skarsgard related mussings and make me focus on writing this chapter! Thank you and lots of hugs for putting up to me, D&S!!

I'm sure I bored you enough, so here it is.

Enjoy!

Previously:

"Of course it's a '67 one. I requested one just like your old one."

I moved my eyes back at his, trying to read the emotion they held, but there was nothing in them. They were still a dark blue, stormy color from meeting with the reporters and had no emotion in them.

"Why?" I whispered slowly, hoping he'll understand what I'm talking about.

"To make you feel better, to help you."

I frowned at him, closing the distance between us, leaning over the gear stick. I wanted to see what was behind those words.

"Why?"

He made the necessary steps so we could be face to face, less then an inch apart. I watched his eyes dart over my face, finally settling on my own.

"Because I love you."

OooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooO

"Yes, Charlotte, I remembered to pack the damn dress." I almost growled in the phone. She was driving me nuts for the past week, calling me every hour of the day telling me not to forget to pack something that she seemed to find important.

I knew it was her wedding and she wanted everything to be perfect…I snorted at the thought and I felt Will squeezing my hand and pulling me further into the airport, but I felt she was close to my tolerance limit.

"Before you ask me again, I swear on Will's Speedos I wore the shoes beforehand." I didn't give her a chance to interrupt me and continued my mini-rant. "And Charlotte, relax. I'm sure Catherine took care of everything. Besides, who will look at me? You're the bride; you'll be the center of attention. On that note, did you bring the dress?"

Will started laughing as he maneuvered us towards the timetable so we could see at what sector we had to check in our luggage.

"Elizabeth Bennett! You are the most insufferable best friend…" I almost had a visual with a red-faced Charlotte stomping her foot in frustration.

"And maid of honor, love…" I felt the need to add.

"Pff," Charlotte snorted, the previous tension leaving her voice, "Don't kid yourself, there's nothing honorable about you. Call me when you land."

She didn't give me a chance to respond before I heard the line go dead. I couldn't help but smile. Charlotte had been infuriating and driving me up the walls, but that was somewhat comforting. The change of scenery – going with Colin to supervise the last touches of the ceremony, the closeness to the formidable Iron Lady Catherine de Bourgh did nothing to influence Charlotte and I couldn't rejoice more.

Then, I realized we were stationary and I looked over to my right to see Will looking intently up to the board where the flights check-in's and departures were announced. His eyes turned steely and I cast a glanced up.

Damn! Our flight was delayed. That meant more time spend here, with dozen of people able to recognize us. I sighed and moved behind Will's broad back, hugging him. With my head rested on his back, I slipped the phone in the back pocket of his jeans.

That seemed to snap him out of his trance as he jumped away from me like I had burned him.

"What do you think you're doing?"

I gave him a questioning look. Why is he so tense? "I saw theflight is being delayed. I was using you as a human shield."

His eyes softened a bit as he motioned towards the luggage laid at our feet. "We should find a place to sit and then you'll have to dig out the camouflage. The damn flight has an hour delay. Bloody Americans!"

I ignored his anger because I knew whatever I would say it would inflamehim further. "Aye, aye captain." I spun on my feet and started marching towards the waiting area. If Will thought I was going to pick up any of the suitcases, he was sadly mistaken.

I spotted two seats that were farthest away from the commotion that's usually found in a busy airport and judging from the way the suitcases appeared at my feet moments later, Will approved.

"You could've helped me, love. I'm not that strong as I'm made up to be." He occupied the seat to my right and motioned for me to start searching for his beanie. It was his "shield" against the media that was following us since we became public.

"Oh please…you're a 6'3'' body of muscles and bones. Big muscles, strong bones. I saw you yesterday at the gym. You lifted more than our baggage combined." I leaned towards him and kissed his cheek. "Plus, I thought it's the gentleman's job to make sure the lady doesn't…overexert herself."

I pulled away and he followed my movement touching his lips to mine. "The gentleman has another thing planned for the lady to…overexert her…as you so well phrase it, Lizzy."

I felt my cheeks flame red at his suggestions and I busied my hands with the zipper of the bag, trying to act ignorant. Damn Darcy and his cocky attitude.

I started searching through the small hand luggage and a few minutes later I was still searching for his disguise. That's when it hit me…No! I started shaking my head, trying to deny the reality…I didn't…It can't…it must be somewhere in here…

I looked sideways at Will and saw him intently watching a kid playing with his toy truck a row of seats in front of us. How am I going to tell him I can't find the damn beanie? I'm dead…Of course, just as I thought that, his piercing gaze shifted to rest on me and a weird ache started in my stomach. Angry Will equals stomach ache? That's comforting to know.

"What's wrong love?" He leaned forward again and kissed me gently. I wished he wouldn't do that, because that sort of thing only makes me feelmore guilty.

"Will…" I pulled away so I could watch his reaction, "I…your beanie is missing."

"Sorry?!"

"Your umm…beanie…I…I can't find it." I turned back towards the bag, shrugging my shoulders. "I'm sorry."

He straightened in his seat and turned his head to watch the kid again. I kept my eyes on his, mesmerized by the physical transformation. I sometimes wonder why the paparazzi don't write stories about Will's changing eye color. I mean I – as a hypothetical reader – would find it even more interesting than the fact I had ravioli for dinner two nights ago when we went out with Jane and Charlie. Or the fact that…I loose my trail of thought because I'm feeling like I should be dead from the way Darcy is looking at me.

"What was the thing I asked you…I begged you to take care of, Elizabeth?" His voice could cut through raw meat…and apparently I was the test subject.

"Check the hand luggage?!" I think I sounded more innocent than the poor child playing with his toys in front of us.

"Exactly. Check the bloody luggage! My God, I can't eventrust you with a thing as insignificant as that? You just had to open the damn bag and look to see if everythingwas in order."

"You…No…" I couldn't help but frown as I replayed his words in my mind. "You did not just say that to me."

"What is there to say? I needed my hat and you failed to check if it was there. Do you realize we're sitting ducks out here? Half an hour in this bloody cramped airport…"

"I failed to check if it was there…" I rolled my eyes at him. "I checked your precious 'hand luggage' and it was there! You must've took it and put it god knows where. Why the hell didn't you wear it from the beginning if you treasured it that much?"

He had the guts to give me a raised eyebrowexpression and before I could slap that look and the eyebrow off his face, I jumped to my feet.

"What are you doing?" I didn't dignify that question with an answer as I started walking away from him.

I spotted a little café tucked behind a staircase and it became my new destination. Once I reached it, I ordered a fruit tea. I paid the cashier, grabbed the polyester cup and with one hand started looking through my purse for my cell phone so I could call Jane and make her look for the damn hat.

Jane and I weren't leaving for the wedding at the same time firstly because my presence had been requested early by the Iron Lady, since the press started writing all that junk about me and Will and I'm sure she wanted to meet her most beloved nephew's girlfriend, and secondly because Will had insisted we needed some time alone, free from everyone. So we were flying a week before the wedding, two days before Georgiana arrived and three days before all the other guests.

After a few moments of another fruitless search, I remembered the blue eyed bastard had my phone. I stoppedmid-step and I started searching for a shop. There must be a freaking souvenir shop or something around here somewhere.

Once I found one, I purchased what I needed, drained the last drops of the perfectly relaxing tea and walked back to my PMS-ing boyfriend. I stopped somewhere to his right and immediately had his whole attention. His eyes, at a brief inspection seemed almost gentle, but I didn't really give a damn.

"Lizzy…" he opened his mouth, but closed it quickly when I tossed my purchase in his lap.

"A hat for his highness. Now you can take it and shove it up your ass so it can keep the stick that's already there company." I smiled sweetly at him and turned around, not waiting for his reaction.

I didn't manage but a few steps before his hand on my armstopped me. "Love, where are you going?"

I opened my mouth to tell him I was relocating somewhere as far away from his ego as possible because I didn't really like to cause a scene in here, but I was cut off by the sound of a shutter closing at a fast speed over and over again.

"Darcy, Lizzy fancy meeting you here." I heard a heavily British accented voice coming from behind the huge camera that was responsible for the sounds I had heard.

Since the contest, we had been deemed the most interesting new couple and although people were quick to assure me nothing in my life was going to change, I held onto my disbelief. As it turns out, I was right. If before I could go out and enjoy myself, now I had to be drilled for information about my whereabouts not only by Fanny – who after all had donated a part of my DNA – but by people I had never seen in my life before. Now I couldn't even read Perez anymore since every day, he would show another picture with me and Will. Charlotte told me I should be really proud of myself for forcing the Queen of Media to search for a proper nickname for me. I apologized for not sharing in her sentiments.

I sighed as I prepared myself for the onslaught of questions I knew had to come. I should've taken Georgiana's advice and try to befriend the media and I shouldn't have listened to Darcy when he said – in an enraged voice – never to make the mistake of willingly offering information to the paparazzi.

"Hello…umm…whatever your name is." I smile sweetly and ignored the dark vibes coming from behind me. Darcy has to chill.

"Elizabeth, don't talk to the scum." I felt a hand wrap around my upper arm, pulling me back. I turned to look Darcy in the eyes, silently communicating to him to let me go.

"Mate, relax. I just want to talk to the lady."

And he did the unthinkable; the freaking reporter grabbed my hand. What was it with men pulling my arms today? Was it a special day I didn't know about? Regardless, I was mad Darcy was being a controlling ass again, but I was furious that this unknown guy dared to touch me. What the -?

I yanked my arm out of his grasp and opened my mouth to tell him off when I heard a menacing growl from behind me. In a blink of an eye, I was pulled behind Will and he took my place.

"If you ever dare touch her again, you're going to wish you didn't. Do you understand me…mate?" Will's soothing voice had turned steely as he towered over the tiny reporter. If I were that guy, I would've run for the hill a long time ago, but apparently, he was a masochist as he straightened his spine and tried to look taller when he faced the red hazed giant that was my enraged boyfriend.

"Darcy, did you just threaten me?"

I could see the dollar signs appearing in the paparazzi's eyes as he processed what this news was worth. Enraged Darcy killing 'innocent' reporter… At that possible news title, I sprung into action and tried to distract Will.

"Baby, take a deep breath, relax. He's not worth it." I hugged his arm and started walking away from the idiot reporter. A small smile appeared on my face when I encountered zero resistance from Will.

Luckily, this whole mess with the paparazzi had finished right when our flight was announced. We made it safely inside the airplane and took our assigned seats. I was still holding Will's hand tightly in mine when the pilot announced the flight was ready to take off.

"Do I look like a baby to you?" I heard Will harshly whisper towards me when the plane began taxiing on the tarmac.

"What?"

"You called me baby…do I look like a baby?"

I rolled my eyes because it was so like him to want a meaningful conversation when it wasn't the appropriate time. I wasn't really afraid of flying, but the roar of the engines as they tried to gain speed made talking a little hard.

"It's a term of endearment, William. I was merely trying to gain your attention. I wasn't making fun of you." Although my god, you could be such a baby sometimes.

I saw him from the corner of my eyes as he opened his mouth, no doubt to explain to me why I could never, under any circumstances, come between him and an idiotic reporter and call him 'baby' on top of everything else. He seemed to make a wise decision as he closed his mouth. Talking sucks, Darcy. Silence is the best answer.

The plane ride was short and uneventful as I woke up when we reached our destination with my head resting against Will's shoulder. I had a brief moment of embarrassment as I straightened in my seat and saw that on his pristine navy blue shirt there was a damp spot, not that big, not that small, but it was my creation nonetheless. I glanced towards his face and he was watching that same spot with avid attention.

"I'm not apologizing for it." I blurted out before my mind could register the words. I felt the urge to slap my hands over my mouth, but refrained from it. He deserved a ruined shirt because he had been an ass earlier.

His bright blue eyes snapped up at me and I couldn't believe he was smirking at me. I just drooled all over his beautiful, over-priced shirt and hewasn't even scowling at me, explaining how poor my manners are. Instead, he was smiling at me.

He shook his head and helped me out of my seat, grabbing the hand luggage. Once we claimed our baggage, Will dragged me to a car-renting booth and in no time we were walking through the underground parking, trying to locate our rental.

He clicked the alarm once and the beep was heard from somewhere far away. I was talking on the phone with Jane, explaining to her the incident with the paparazzo, to warn her over friendly paparazzi. Since I was associated with Will, and she was my sister, the spotlight was trained on her and Charlie also. I was shooting daggers at Will's muscled back as I recalled to my sister the way I had misplaced Darcy's beanie when my eyes caught a glimpse of the car Will was heading towards.

"Son of a mother! Jane, I have to go kill Darcy now. Bye." I shoved my cell phone in my handbag and stopped far away from the car. What was his deal? "Care to explain why you're loading our luggage in the trunk of a Camaro?" I swear I was beginning to develop allergies from the name alone. Maybe then Darcy would stop forcing the car down my throat.

"Umm, it's our rental?!" It didn't sound like the confident Darcy I was accustomedto and could truly see where his hesitation was coming from this time.

"Of course, a rental... You expect me to believe every American can simply rent a 2010 Chevy Camaro? Does it seem to you that the word DUMB is stamped on my forehead?"

He had the audacity to roll his eyes at me as though I was too silly to be deemed with an answer.

"Lizzy, please don't make a scene. We have to get on the road because believe me you don't want to make Catherine waitfor us."

That thought and that thought only made me decide to set foot in that jewel of a car. I settled in the comfortable, sporty leather seats and looked around, taking in my surroundings, inhaling that special smell of new car. When Will started the engine I was surprised when I heard a small sigh distinct from my own.

"I love that sound…" Hearing William Darcy speak those words while seating behind the wheel of one of the most successful muscle-car revivals in the modern car industry, listening to the constant click-clack that the engineers had managed to take from the first generation models, made me giggle. No Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Jaguars or Aston Martins for this Brit. My giggles seemed to snap Will from his high as he put the car in to drive and exited the parking lot.

I wanted to enjoy the car so much, but I was somewhat masochistic, so I had to ask. "Care to explain to me now? We have time…"

He tightened his hands on the steering wheel and made it seem like he was bracing himself for an attack. "I just enjoyed driving the '67 one. I wanted to see how the new one feels like. Why?"

"I figured that. How did you rent it? Where did you get it? You have go througha huge waiting list before you can buy one."

"I…know a guy…" he looked sheepish. Oh my God…Darcy has THE connections! Why so surprised? A little voice whispered in my head, bringing reason with it.

"…Who knows a guy… Wait! It's the same guy that gave you the '67 one?" When he nodded in affirmative, I almost squealed with delight. "Will, you're the guy I will call if I ever have a craving for a car. Ever. No matter the model."

He turned his head and pinned me to my seat with the most smoldering stare. I swear I could feel my molecules dispersing and fusing in the leather of the seat as I melted.

"I hope I will anticipate your…cravings…and there will be no need for a phone call. You know you only have to ask me and I will do my best to provide it to you." Of course. He has been bugging me non-stop ever since I cracked under pressure at the contest, to pick up my driving. He has some crazy notion in his mind that I'm a really great driver and he wants to test his skills by racing me. There was a slight glitch that was damping his plan…I haven't driven in four years and didn't plan on starting any time soon.

"Umm…are there any other surprises you feel I should know about? Are we sleeping with Catherine tonight? Georgiana actually isn't coming anymore? Anything at all, Darcy?" I try my best to ignore his innuendos nowadays.

"You're mad at me." It wasn't a question, it was just stating a fact. "Why areyou calling me Darcy, love?"

"I've found the name has been growing on me. Now…any other surprises?"

"I can say I wouldn't enjoy sleeping in a bed that has been occupied by Catherineand I'm sure you wouldn't also…so it's a negative on that one. As for Georgiana not coming, my darling, if I'm to judge based on the number of calls I've received from her the past week, asking me about the details of our trip, I can safely say that's a negative also. My sister ardently wants to meet you." He tore his eyes away from the road so he could smile innocently at me as he began to list all the things that were important to know at this time. "We will stay in one of my family's house that isn't that far from Catherine's house. From what Colin has told me, he and Charlotte are occupying one of the cottages that surround my aunt's house, so we will be fairly close to them as well."

"Georgiana will arrive a day after tomorrow and I hope you will accompany me at the airport to pick her up." His smile turned devilish as he continued. "But I think we'll have to rent a truck for all the luggage she will be arriving with. Richard actually has a house near Catherine also, since our mothers liked to live close to each other whenever they were in the vicinity, so he'll be pretty close to us." His hand grabbed mine and his thumb began drawing circles in the skin of my palm. "Love, I hope you won't mind Georgiana staying with us. Although she actually volunteered to stay with Rich, I don't want her subjected to him too much."

"Of course I don't mind! Will, come on, she's your sister. If it's any inconvenience, I can go and stay with Richard. I won't mind." Plus I was sure Georgiana wanted some time alone with her brother after such a long time away from him. I wouldn't mind at all staying with Richard so I could give them some space.

His hand tightening around mine bringing me back from my thoughts. "You will do no such thing! Our house is big enough for the three of us. It's only that Georgiana thinks she's robbing us of some needed time alone."

"Oh…Ok. What about Charlie? I know Jane told me something that he wasn't allowing her to stay with my family…especially since they're coming two days before the wedding."

"I'm not surprised Charlie said something like that. I want you to stay with me also, don't I?" he squeezed my hand and I hoped that it was in apology. Because he never asked me what I wanted to do once we got here, he assumed we would be staying together, he assumed I wanted to come so much earlier than the rest of the guests, he…he was William Darcy.

Although I wanted so much to yell at him for not asking my opinion, I felt I would be a hypocrite if I picked a fight about something I wasn't that against in the first place. I couldn't say 'no' just because he didn't ask me and then tell him 'yes' because I really didn't feel like staying with Fanny and Lydia and Mary and Kitty at this time.

Since the day we came back from the contest and Fanny opened the front door to a swarm of photo lenses clicking away photos of her in her bathrobe, she had become impossible. I would have thought she would be enraged that her privacy – my family privacy was trespassed such as this – but no…she had to go and be all friendly with the enemy. My father actually had to drag her inside and sit her down like a five year old, trying to explain to her that what she was doing was bad.

I can safely say that if before that incident there might have been a chance of Will acting nicely towards Fanny – because as he used to tell me, she was still my mother – those chances had been permanently ruined by her actions. He never really talked to Fanny since we've been together and I plan on maintaining this distance between them.

"They're staying in the same hotel as my family?"

"Love," he turned his attention briefly from the road and smiled at me, "Charlie is different from me in many ways, but we bothagree on something…too close aproximity with your mother and younger sisters is…pretty difficult to maintain. Both he and I see this period as a sort of vacation to unwind and relax before the Olympics…" He seemed to want to add something to that, but thought better about it and closed his mouth.

"And being close to Fanny&Co. won't unwind you…"

He released my hand and gripped the steering wheel harder, turning his knuckles white. "Lizzy, your…Fanny…I…" he actually closed his mouth mid-speech and shook his head. "I hate what she's doing to you. I want her far away from us, from you."

I averted my eyes, looking out the window, hoping the scenery will make me think of something else. That's when I saw the sign announcing Rosings. Will maneuvered the car to exit the highway. The road passed through a green, lush forest that stretched on both sides and up the mountain's gentle slopes.

I felt Will's hand grasp mine again. "My family's awful, aren't they?" I whispered towards the window, not ready to look him in the eyes.

"Each family is weird in its own unique way. Your mother is just a step above the average." He squeezed my hand reassuringly. "But your father compensates for her. He's a great person, Lizzy."

"I know that. He and Jane are what kept me from going insane all this time." I couldn't help but smile when I thought about them. I shook my head, trying to snap out of my moment. "Speaking of weird families, I can't wait to properly meet Georgiana."

"Lizzy, are you calling my family weird?" He asked with disbelief in his voice just as we were passing the "Welcome to Rosings!" sign. The forest was giving space to small buildings. As far as I could tell, the town didn't really have a particular style of buildings, although each construction seemed in pristine shape.

"Well, no offence, but you've been keeping me and Georgiana apart. You're afraid she might tell me a few of your secrets?"

He turned his head and I was shocked by the defeated look that was in his eyes. "You're the woman I gave all my secrets away to. Georgiana has nothing to tell you."

He waited until I nodded, to release my hand and turn his attention to the road. What could you say to what he just confessed? I had meant it like a joke, a poke to his ego because he wasn't manning up to going back to England to visit Georgiana. I was still contemplating his words when he spoke again.

"We'll go to my house first since I'm sure you want to freshen up. And then we'll go meet Catherine. How does that sound?"

"Yeah, sure. Of course." Could I sound any moreinarticulate?! I saw Will bob his head up and down from the corner of my eyes, but he didn't opened his mouth to speak for the remaining miles. The car's atmosphere seemed almost suffocating to me; the silence was so uncomfortable I could feel it pressing down on my chest.

Will maneuvered the Camaro off the main road and onto a smaller one, off to the right. Each way I looked I could see the green gardens that reminded meof the forest that surrounded this holiday town. Because it was such a big tourist attraction,you could almost call it a resort of sorts. Looking at the well kept houses and remembering the picturesque mountains that stood guard over the town ,I could almost understand the attraction to this place.

Charlotte will love it here. I smiled bitterly at the thought. I had talked to her the day before she came to Rosings and she announced her decision of returning here with Colin once they came back from the Olympics. I said a silent prayer for her to be happy. Wherever she might go to, whomever she might be with, I just wanted my best friend to be happy.

Will pulled up into a driveway and stopped the car. That jolted me out of my thoughts as I squinted through the windshield, trying to look at the house we were parked in front of.

"So what do you think?" He sounded a bit nervous, nothing like the confident guy that had showed me the house he lived in back when we became a couple, thus allowing me to invade his life.

The house was definitely modern, resembling some of the houses we had passed along since we got in Rosings. It was two stories high with the first floor painted a clean white that extended to incorporate the two garage doors. The second floor was in a direct contrast to the one below it, and it was covered with some kind of wood that was painted black. The color had faded a bit, but the fainted black didn't ruin the overall feel of the building.

"It's lovely." I smiled at Will and he responded with a kiss.

"Let me show you around, my lady." He quickly helped me out of the low seats of the Camaro and went to the trunk to retrieve our luggage. He took my hand and we entered the house hand in hand.

The interior was an extension of what I had seen of the exterior. The entrance opened into a big living-dining room that continued into the back garden through huge floors to ceiling windows. The house was designed in such a way that made the best of the harsh light specific in the mountain areas. That said, this one giant room that consisted in almost half of the ground floor was one big bright space.

Off to the right, there was a small wood-paved corridor that led towards Georgiana's part of the house, as Will called it. He opened one of the two doors that revealed her bedroom that was painted in a beautiful yellow color that made the room seem bigger and I could see that on the other side of the one person bed the floor to ceiling windows continued, although this time, the drapes were draw to conceal the wall of glass.

The one other room inthe corridor shocked me. When Will opened the door that was on the opposite side of the hallway of Georgiana's bedroom, I expected anything but what it protected.

"And this is my…I mean, Georgiana's workshop." When he got out of the way and I took one step in and stopped. The first thing that hit me was that the room was a mess. You could see in some corners a reminiscence of the white that once covered the walls and ceiling. That's because now every surface was covered with spots of paint – blue, black, yellow, green, red – every color I knew existed was present in that room. In the middle of the room there was a big, high-top wooden table that was covered with tin canisters that seemed to have held paint. Probably the same paint that was on the walls now. There were some canvas turned with their back to the room and some supports were crammed in a corner.

"I'm sorry for the mess this room is in. Georgie and my mother decorated it…" Will's voice seemed to loose its strength. I did all I knew I could and went and held his hand.

"It's impressive in its chaos. I'm sure your mother knew what she was doing."

I saw his eyes brighten as he squeezed our held hands and a smile appeared on his face.

He led me up a hidden metal stairway towards the two bedrooms that overlooked the impressive back garden.

He put the luggage in the first bedroom, a room painted the same shade of blue as his bedroom back home. He turned around from the middle of the floor where he had dropped our baggage and gave me an uncertain look. I was preparing to ask him what was wrong when he spoke.

"Well this is my…" he shook his head before continuing, "my bedroom. If you would like to sleep in a separate room, I'll take your luggage to the other bedroom that shares this floor. I didn't know if you…"

I couldn't help but laugh at how silly he looked when he was confused. I strode to him and put my hands on his cheeks.

"I don't want you that far away." A broad smile appeared on his face at my words. He leaned forward and kissed me putting all his love in the kiss as did I.

An hour later, we had showered and changed into "an attire that was appropriate" to meet the Iron Lady. I asked Will once I got out of the shower, what I was suppose to wear. He actually started laughing at me.

"Love, wear something that you feel comfortable in. It really doesn't matter what you do, however hard you try to impress her, she'll still find something to pick on you because your not family"

Well that was a comforting speech. It almost made me wish I hadn't travel all the way here. "Then what's the point in going? Since she'll hate me? You can go alone and she'll meet me at the pre-wedding reception."

Plus I really was itching to call Georgiana and ask her to explain about the workshop. I still had my mind on it. What I said to Will wasn't said in pity. The chaos seemed to define the room and probably defined the person that used to work in there. From what I had gathered during our telephone conversation, Georgiana was a little airheaded, but she was by no means chaotic. Or was she?

I felt Will's hand cup my cheek and turned my head upwards so I could loose myself in his sapphire eyes.

"Elizabeth, I didn't say she will succeed in making you uncomfortable. I have no plans of allowing her to slander my girlfriend."

He moved the remaining inches between us and when his lips touched my own, I forgot any dark thought I was harboring towards the woman. The sound of Will's cell phone ringing from somewhere in the room brought us back to reality. I pushed Will towards his phone and started turning around to search for some clothes when he pulled me back to face him.

His whole demeanor was relaxed and amused. He bend down and I felt his breath on my neck, my skin erupting in goose bumps.

"Show her what you're made of, Lizzy."

I instantly felt my knees turn into a quivering mass and the smug look on his face confirmed he knew the effect he had on me. I took a deep breath, ran his words over in my head and with this new resolve in my mind, I turned to search for the perfect clothes. The phone seemed to go unnoticed as Will left the room without answering it.

Half an hour later I was finishing the last touches to the light make-up I deemed necessary for this encounter. One last look in the vanity mirror and I was satisfied with the results. I hadn't really gone through with Will's advice since my idea of comfortable clothes consisted in a pair of short shorts and a loose tank top with flip flops. First it wasn't that warm outside for shorts and tank tops, and second I'm sure the Iron Lady alongside Charlotte would have had a fit if they saw me dressed with that.

So I had on a pair of dark skinny jeans, with a white tank top. Over it I wore a long loose cardigan and I topped the look off with a big scarf. I even made a concession about my footwear and I was wearing my only pair of oxford shoes.

I picked my cell phone from the nightstand and went downstairs, where Will said he would be waiting for me. He was standing with his back to the stairs, talking on the phone. A stray thought crossed my mind as I remembered how bad I felt after listening in to his last conversation. Still, I didn't find it in me to cue him in about my presence.

"Yes, Richard, I'm just waiting for Lizzy and then we'll be on our way." Oh, so Rich was on the phone. Honestly, after all the things Georgiana told me about the guy, I could not wait to meet him.

I was making a mental note to ask Will when we'll be meeting Richard so I could prepare myself, when he turned around and spotted me waiting for him at the base of the stairs. His eyes started moving over my body as he said his quick goodbye to his cousin.

"What?" I asked him, his eyes halting somewhere bellow my neck. "I look presentable, right?" I didn't want to, but I started feeling pretty insecure since he was taking so long to answer.

"You're perfect, love." And just like that, with three simple words from him, my insecurities went out the window.

We shared a long, heated kiss and I was on the verge of asking him to stay home and visit Catherine tomorrow, when he spoke.

"Richard said he would meet us there." At my questioning look, he continued. "He arrived last night, but was staying low. He didn't want to suffer Catherine all by him lonesome self." He rolled his eyes showing me that the expression must've been used by Richard himself.

I nodded, reached forward and pulled him for another quick kiss and then made our way to the car. I was struck yet again by the awesome feeling I had in that rather confined interior and that it helped me relax before meeting the Iron Lady. I didn't call Charlotte because she had told me earlier she and Colin would be spending this day at Catherine's house. And since it wasn't the afternoon, I was sure that Colin's mother, Catherine wouldn't have had them leave the house before eating dinner with her. So I was sure we would meet them there.

I was brought out of my scenery admiring by the sudden stop of the Camaro as Will maneuvered it in front of the most sumptuous wrought iron gate. If that was any indication of the size and style of the house that was hidden behind the thick bushes and security cameras, I was amazed.

As we were granted access in this civilian Fort Knox, I couldn't help but dread the moment I would see the house. And when Will turned a corner and the house came into view, my jaw literally dropped. My god! Catherine's house was a palatial mansion that seemed to have been built using a limitless budget. It was an 18th-century style pile building that had been erected sometime during the late 1980's. It was in total contrast with the intimate, smaller houses that consisted the town, and it was staggering when compared to Will's beautiful house.

I couldn't help but notice some of the house's beauty, but that was quickly overshadowed by the sense that it didn't belong here, in this town, in this community.

I was so absorbed with the details the house presented that I didn't even feel the Camaro stopping and I didn't even see that someone had opened my door, until I heard Will clearing his throat from somewhere in front of me.

"Will, it's so…big." I couldn't help the little sip of disdain that found its way into my voice. I had nothing with the house's size. It just seemed too opulent for the surrounding neighborhood. I would much more see this mansion lost somewhere between the mega-mansions in Beverly Hills.

He grasped my hand and pulled me next to him. "Don't I know it?" He whispered softly in my ear as we started walking hand in hand up the front stairs. I almost expected a butler to come open the front door for us, but I was quickly pulled out of my musings when I heard a car rolling down the paved alley and stopping behind us.

I was thinking where I heard that engine before when Will groaned next to me. A moment later, a deep male voice made its presence known.

"Darcy, dude, wait for me."

I instinctively turned around so I could place the voice with the face. If I hadn't been standing holding hands with a fine specimen of male goodness, I would have gasped and act incoherent – just like the first time I bumped into Will. Lightly jogging up the stairs towards us was a tall man, with a bad case of bed hair, his blue familiar eyes sparkling even from the distance. He must've been…

"Richard." Will nodded towards him, released my hand and they both hugged. It could've been hilarious watching Will and another guy hugging, but with Richard, the temperature of the air surrounding the three of us grew a couple degrees, the testosterone almost tangible in the air.

"Man, am I glad to see you…" Richard slapped Will on his back and they were both sporting devilish grins that only screamed trouble.

That is until my eyes met with Rich's own blue ones. He let out a whistle and walked another step up, stopping right in front of me. "Damn dude, you didn't tell me she was such a hottie."

I didn't know if I should blush and feel embarrassed, or if I should allow my ego to feed itself from this comment. I looked behind Richard and saw Will's face devoid of any merriment from meeting his cousin so I decided to remain stoic.

"Who might you be?" I kept my voice cool and collected. Will seemed pleased by my reaction as he stepped around Richard and put his arm around my waist.

"Darling, I'm the next best thing after the bozo that's clinging to you at the moment." He extended his hand so I could shake it. "Richard Colbert is my name."

I smiled and extended my hand to grasp his in a handshake when he caught it and brought it to his lips. "You're the delightful Miss Elizabeth Bennett that has bewitched my cousin body and soul."

I almost snorted in reply to his charming flirting when Will slapped his hand off mine. "Knock it off, Rich. Leave Lizzy alone."

I opened my mouth to set my boyfriend straight about this kind of over-protectiveness when Richard spoke.

"Well, kiddies, we should get inside and see the old hag before she pops a new head wondering where we are."

And like that we started making our way inside. I couldn't help but laugh at the picture Richard was painting for Catherine.

"The Iron Lady seems so bad." I grasped Will's hand and pulled him to a stop in the middle of the big marble corridor that led to the reception area. Apparently, Catherine knew we were coming. "Baby, maybe this isn't such a good idea. I don't want to meet her when she's already mad."

Will opened his mouth, no doubt to answer me, but his cousin beat him to it as he put his arm around my shoulders, detatched me from Will and started dragging me towards the room at the end of the hall.

"Darling, the Iron Lady," he turned his head and excitedly told Will that he loved my new nickname for their aunt, "will always be mad. She knows it, we know it, and if you want to spend the rest of your life with my pal Darcy here behind us, you'll have to know it."

I opened my mouth to assure him such assumptions were incorrect when Richard stopped and turned to Darcy. "Speaking of ladies, where is our own personal Lady Di?"

I frowned at his question because as far as I know there was no Di or Diana or Dianne or names that started with the letters D or whatever in Will's family. At that moment we arrived right in front of the grand doors that opened into the reception area. I was grateful at the timing because I knew the two men wouldn't get into a fight since we were so close to the Iron Lady. It was evident from my boyfriend's face that he was livid although I didn't know what had caused this reaction.

He brushed past Richard without a single word and stopped behind me, putting his hands on my hips. "I belatedly apologize for Richard, love. He is a moron. Please do not pay attention to his illiterate retardation." I nodded to show I had heard Will, but I couldn't help the whispered pain that crept through my heart. Was he saying that there was no way I would become a part of the family?

Richard seemed to know when to lighten the mood because he just rolled his eyes at his cousin and started laughing. "You're using big words today, little cousin. Are you trying to impress your girl?" I felt Will prepare to answer, but Richard plowed on. "Or did she just let you play with a dictionary and you decided to use the words you picked up from there before you forgot them?"

Richard actually cocked his eyebrows and truly looked serious at William, waiting for an answer. I couldn't help the laugh that escaped my throat at their banter. A second later, Richard joined me as Will started pulling me away from his cousin.

"I don't really understand what Georgiana sees in you that make her say we resemble each other."

I look up Will's face and I can't help but want to comfort him. He looked like Richard just ran over his puppy. So I move up to him and pulled his head down for a kiss.

Just as I felt Will beginning to respond to my initiative, I heard a voice that made my blood literally freeze.

"What is the meaning of this?"

DUN DUN DUN!

Well, not a lot is happening in this chapter since it's mostly a filler one, but we have a new character! I can't wait to hear what you thought about my own version of Richard? Oh...his last name, for the life of me I could not remember his last name, so since I'm running through a GK obsession, I chose to name him Colbert. Don't kill me! :)

Who do you think discovered them? What do you think about Will's overreacting about a stupid hat? And threatening that reporter?

Oh... I got a review last chapter for someone that was a swimmer. I can't find the review at the moment, but I'd like to thank her for the info and tell her I righted my errors in the last chapter!

With that said, Richard's picture, Will and Catherine's houses are all on my profile so check them out if you're curious!

I'd love to know what you think!