Chapter 21

After lunch, LotE came to spend the afternoon with her best friend. It was a different afternoon from the previous long Sunday spent in the orchard and LotE sensed something strained in LizE's manner. William C also kept to his room or whatever part of the house LizE had just vacated which LotE also noted. The two friends talked about the party a little, but discussed the break-in far more; LotE sharing her mother's histrionics when the general comm to all of Meryton had been sent out with the official line: that hooligans in search of marijuana plants and seeds had broken in, nothing more. Daria had, of course, screamed and carried on, and had refused to let the Lucas teenagers leave the house, which had Leo, and ConE feeling especially rebellious. LotE had been happy to get away to visit the Bens.

LotE stayed past nightfall. Her politeness in lending an ear to William C. was a timely relief to the whole family, but especially to her friend. Mr. Collins emerged from his room in the late afternoon with a bullish attitude about him. His feelings were worn about him like his long robe and chief among this was not a hint of embarrassment of the episode, or any sorrow, but an exacerbated stiffness of manner to everyone, except LotE the one person he fawned over with a warmth that contrasted to the chilly way he treated the rest of the Ben household. LotE bore it well, and could not help ascertain or at least guess what had happened during the course of the day. When she was in the front hall saying goodbye, she tapped her comm screen before tucking it away and mouthed to LizE, "comm me with what's going on." LizE sent a short, succinct note to her friend with explicit instructions that the story was to go no further. LotE promised she would keep her secret.

LizE and Juno returned to work and left the house, grateful for a destination away from the vaporous stiffness of their cousin. The family had thought William C. might shorten his visit given his disappointed matrimonial hopes, but his plans did not appear to be affected by it. No Ben asked, and William did not offer. He always meant to go on Saturday and to Saturday he meant to stay. The family did their best to avoid him and was happy he continued his usual pattern of heading out in his sub-compact electric car (charged, courtesy of the Bens) for the day.

Juno drove home through Meryton that evening. LizE did not question the alternate route. The downtown area was as busy as it usually was which wasn't much for a small town. There were a few cars on the road, more parked around the square or on side-streets and people shopping or visiting. LizE enjoyed being a voyeur and watching her neighbors, imagining their errands and conversations.

"Juno, there's George and that other officer, um, Sandoval. Let's stop and say hi!" cried LizE. Juno agreed and maneuvered the small car into a tight space with ease. LizE hailed George Wickham and was pleased when she saw his face break into a wide grin at her hailing. He and his friend stepped up to the car, George leaning in to talk while Raul Sandoval stood to one side. She immediately expressed how much she had missed him Saturday night and he, in return, expressed regret at missing out on seeing her.

He also acknowledged that his missing the party had been self-imposed. "I found," said George, crouching down to talk through the lowered window, "that as the time for the party drew near, that I felt it better for me not to see Will Darcy; that to be in the same room at the same party with him for so many hours together might do me in, that it would have been more than I could stand. So when Jane asked for volunteers for patrol, I bellied up."

LizE thought well of his self-control, and reached out a hand to cover his.

"Plus I got to be in with the action, I was one of the first responders to Netherfield, Raul and I here had to secure the grounds, didn't we, while we waited for Jane, Col. Forster, you know, to show up," Raul Sandoval nodded.

"Juno, you didn't tell me you saw George," cried LizE turning to her sister. She then faltered as she recalled the sort of night Juno had experienced.

"Well there were a lot of us by the time Juno showed up, perhaps I got lost in the shuffle," and he grinned even more.

"I remember seeing you there very well indeed," answered Juno. "I suppose who was there wasn't as important as what went on that night. I still don't think I've caught up on sleep," she smiled, one of those innocent smiles on her part but which the men shudder.

"I take that as a hint that you should be on your way, ladies," and he stood up and saluted. Raul did the same.

"Do come to dinner," burst out LizE. "It would just be a family meal, but do come to dinner. You too Raul."

"I'm on patrol tonight," answered Raul, "but I believe that George is free."

"Yes, yes I am, but I have plans, sorry ladies." He saluted them spiritedly and then waved them off. LizE felt excited at the exchange with George and wondered when she'd get the chance to talk to him again.

It was Mark's week to cook, which would have been a nice contrast to the teenagers' menus, and as they were already nine, what was one more? LizE felt sure she could at least comm George after the meal and make plans. During the dinner a chime sounded from Juno's chair and she glanced down at her F.I.D. band, and then glanced again, scrolling through a comm and frowning intently at some particular sentences. Juno finally recollected where she was and looked up with a friendly face and joined back in the conversation with her upbeat outlook on how quickly the Netherfield Institute would recover after the break-in. LizE felt she could see something in Juno's manner, in her eyes, which concerned her. It wasn't either of their nights to help clear the table, but they helped lend a hand for a few moments to placate Fancy whose task it was before Juno inclined her head and invited LizE to follow her to the rumpus room.

Juno indicated her wrist, "It is from Lois and Caro; a short comm from Lois and a longer one from Caro. What they have to tell me has surprised me a great deal. The whole gang of them has left the area by this time, and are on their way to Los Angeles: and without any intention of coming back again. Let me read to you what she says."

She then read the first sentence from Lois aloud, which said that they had all resolved to go to LA immediately where Kai has a house. The next words were "I do not pretend to regret anything I shall leave here except your company, my dearest friend; but we will hope at some future time to meet again, in the meantime I hope you are as good at comming with friends as you are at your work. I hope so." To these flowery words of friendship, LizE listened with distrust and though their sudden flight quite surprised her, she didn't see anything to be upset about. Chaz would come back soon enough, and might get on even better with Juno without the influence of his sister and his friend.

"I am sorry you could not say goodbye to Lois and Caro. They have been kind to you, in their way, during their stay here. But surely Chaz will come back again soon, even if they do not plan to come back to Meryton. What has Chaz said about all of this?"

"I have not heard from Chaz since the early morning of the break-in. And Caro, in her comm says that none of the party plans to return at all this winter. Let me read you parts of her comm."

LizE frowned at the news of Chaz' electronic silence and listened while Juno read " 'Many of our friends are in LA for the winter. Darcy, of course, and Chaz, can be masters of business from any spot in the land, so why not one where we are surrounded by our friends, as well as by our work? I wish I could hear that you had any intention of making one of the crowd but understand about your work and being tied down. We will be able to celebrate both Thanksgiving and Christmas with our special crowd of friends. I hope that your upcoming holidays have all the pleasures that you associate with them, however you celebrate them, that your beaux be numerous and you do not miss your new friends too much.' "

"Is this not proof," added Juno, "that he does not mean to come back here?"

"It is only proof that Caro does not think he should," answered LizE.

"How can you say that? He is his own master. But you do not know it all. I will read you the passage that was particularly hurtful. 'Will is impatient to see his sister, and to confess the truth, we are all eager to see her again. I don't think there is a creature on earth who is her equal for beauty and elegance. Her mother, after all, was a model. Lois and I quite adore her, and Lois has dropped hints that she may not finish up Uni single. I don't know if I ever told you of the times I have seen Chaz and GEO together and the hopes that Lois, and I—for I think they make just a compatible pair—have for them? I know Chaz likes her, and you surely know that he is quite capable of making any woman fall in love with him. We expect this winter just might be when they realize how right they are for each other.' What do you think of that sentence LizE?" said Juno as she finished reading, scratching at her skin next to the band, "Isn't it clear? She realizes that Chaz is indifferent about me, that this has been just a fling for him while he's been in town and she is trying to warn me. Can there be any other way to interpret this?"

"Yes there can for I see it in a completely different light. Will you listen to what I think?"

"Yes."

"Caro, and probably Lois, sees that Chaz is in love with you but wants him to be in love with GEO. She and her friends are in town to try and persuade him that he does not love you."

Juno shook her head as LizE spoke.

"You have to believe me. No one who has ever seen you with Chaz can doubt his affection; Caro cannot, I am sure, she is smarter than that. Could she have seen half that much interest from Will Darcy she'd be planning her wedding. But they simply find us far too middle class, or at least Lois does, and Caro aspires to be one of them, and snag Will Darcy if she can. I believe Caro thinks that if Chaz would be interested in GEO, and even marry her, she might have an easier time of snagging Darcy and giving up having to work for a living and be able to follow Lois around in her lifestyle of being 'between jobs.' Perhaps it might succeed if Anne Oakham were not in the picture. But Juno, you cannot believe that just because Caro says that Chaz admires GEO that means he does not love you? When you left him at his party on Saturday how did things stand? I think every time I saw you that evening you two had your arms wrapped around each other. I do not think that indicates just a fling to me."

"If we both thought the same of Caro," replied Juno "perhaps your view might have some merit and make me feel easier. But I cannot believe that Caro would willfully deceive me about such things, or that Lois would support her. I can only think and hope that Caro has somehow deceived herself."

"Do not fret about her then, you have done right by her since you cannot find any comfort in my words, believe her to be deceived."

"How can I be happy, even considering the best situation, if his sister and his friends do not wish for us to be together, for him to seek a soul mate elsewhere?" cried Juno.

"That is something you must decide for yourself," said LizE, "and if you decide that what other people think is more important than your happiness, then I advise you to have nothing more to do with Chaz Bingley when he returns to Meryton."

"How can you joke about such a thing" said Juno, smiling faintly. "You have to know I would be grieved if they did not support us, but I would not hesitate to love him more."

"I didn't think you would, and now I have made you state your mind, so I have you on record." LizE grinned broadly. "I should have recorded it, but I don't think you have much to worry about."

"But what if he does not come back as they say, for the winter season? It is just beginning. I cannot fathom not seeing him for three more months, let alone longer."

The idea that Chaz Bingley would not be back within the week LizE treated with contempt. It appeared to her merely the wishes of Caro and possibly those of Lois; but she could not suppose that those desires would influence him to stay away.

She was passionate about her view on the matter and soon persuaded Juno to think the same for all that Chaz had not commed her. LizE soon had Juno persuaded as well, which was not a difficult task, as she was not by nature given to be despondent, and was soon aglow with hope at the prospect of Charles Bingley's short absence and answering the wishes of her heart.

"What do you mean he's gone away!" cried Fancy when they shared the news with her. They had agreed to tell their mother, but there was no way to prepare her so the news was simply imparted during breakfast. Fancy spent the rest of the meal lamenting that all of Juno's new friends had gone away, but she was consoled, in some measure, by considering that he would soon return, and without the sister or friends or the business at Netherfield Institute, he would have more time to focus on Juno.