Well hello everyone!

I'm back and have been working on some chapters for you - thanks for sticking around and thanks for all the wonderful reviews. I'll make sure I take some time to reply to some next upload, but for now, I'll leave you with this.

I finally read it all through from the beginning and realised I always start by saying how difficult this or that chap was to write... whilst they usually are, I must say I enjoy every minute of it. I'm very much in love with the characters, and sometimes I'm even half way through reading another fic and I realise that I just want to write more of mine. So dont worry too much about my trials - they're always worth it for me in the end.

Anyway, short chapter for you first... sorry it's not longer – there's more to come, but this seemed the best place for a chapter break!

Lizzy spent the days before work on Wednesday industriously. Not only did she have the usual errands and jobs to get done, but her contact sheet for Coco finally came back, and Tuesday morning found her awaiting her aunt's arrival in her Soho office, uncharacteristically nervous about the results.

Maddie Gardiner finally appeared through the door in her customary mix of speed and grace, not a strawberry blonde hair out of place but a mind working at a hundred miles per hour.

"Lizzy, I'm sorry about the wait, I just had to clear up that mess with Jennifer before it became beyond saving. I hope you weren't waiting too long?"

"Not at all, though I must say it feels like a lifetime. I'm a teensy bit eager to hear the feedback…" Lizzy replied, trying to control the tapping of her feet on the floor.

"Good things come to those who wait, Lizzy." Maddie said with a smile, grabbing a file from her desk and moving her chair to sit beside her niece.

Lizzy couldn't help but smile in remembrance at the last time that phrase was said to her, her thoughts momentarily catching on the lips from whence it came. Only the sound of her aunt's chair shook her from her memories.

"Is this one of those good things then?" Lizzy asked, heart lighter and hopeful.

"Take a look for yourself."

Her aunt handed her the file, photos and contacts inside. Lizzy's chest pounded as she looked at them. Excepting the odd dud suggestion that had come at the end of a long day's work, many of the photos looked sensational. She couldn't help but stare at herself; she had seen her body countless times, was proud of it more days than not, but seeing herself like this was a whole other world. The quality and camera work, ideas and items of lingerie made her look like a stranger – a stunning and sensual stranger. When her fingers came to pictures of those scenes she had put forward herself, her breath caught and her eyes glittered.

The idea had come to her in a flash – so obvious that she couldn't believe it hadn't occurred to her before. For years she had always considered her modelling career as Elizabeth Bennet, her stage as Evie Qandisa, but only recently, after a fight with her mother and a talk with her aunt, did she realise she couldn't separate the two parts of her like that. She was no more one than the other, both roles informed by who she was and how she lived her life. During the Coco shoot, she had seen that, and channelled model and performer, clotheshorse and coquette into one incredible shoot, and it was then the concept for the photo before her took shape.

She was stood beneath a tree, a prop the studio conveniently had to hand, her arm raised up to its branches. Between her fingers she held a scarlet apple to match the crimson lingerie that skimmed her skin. Even without the proper effects and scenery, the image was beautiful – she was Eve, the fate of man in her hands. She turned to meet her aunt's smiling face with her own wide grin.

"I take it from your face that you're pleased with the results?" She asked.

"Of course, how could I not be? Question is, are they?" Lizzy eagerly replied, eyes shining, waiting.

"Very much so." Maddie replied happily. "They even agreed that yours was one of the two ideas they wanted to take forward. You should be very proud Lizzy."

Elizabeth hadn't felt like she could smile any harder, but her aunt's words made her positively glow.

"They only have a couple of quid pro quos on the Eden theme, which I have said you'll agree to." Lizzy's smile faltered a little, worried beginning to resurface. "And you will agree Elizabeth." Maddie continued sternly, agent triumphing over aunt. "They want it as realistic as possible, which means a real live snake, real garden, maybe an Adam too, but they're also considering expanding it into other biblical and sin-related scenarios. Seven deadly and all that. I felt the latter was a little clichéd but they will do what they want."

Lizzy released a breath. "You had me worried there for a moment... but I can deal with men and snakes. I've always wanted to hold one, actually. You know, feel it wrap around you."

"Are we talking about the men or the snakes?" Maddie asked, glint in her quick blue eyes.

"In both instances, I believe it all depends on size, doesn't it?"

The two of them dissolved into unprofessional chuckles, and their business meeting ended as the family one began.

Wednesday evening found Elizabeth and Jane dashing through the door to Qandisa to avoid the pouring rain outside.

"I guess it's well and truly autumn now isn't it?" Jane said, shaking her brolly as they wandered down the mirrored corridor.

"Fraid so, though it seems like we've skipped autumn and gone straight for winter. It's so bloody cold out." Lizzy answered, teasing her locks out with her fingers.

"Does that mean spring might come quickly too?" Jane asked, a whine in her voice.

"I wish. I'm afraid we shall have to bear the cold months as best we can. I'm sure you can convince Charles to keep you warm…"

"I much prefer it when he gets me hot." Jane retorted, earning a cackle from Lizzy. "After all, Will seems to do that for you, I don't see why I should settle for mere warmth. Speaking of which, how's his trip in Paris going?"

"I don't really know to be honest." Lizzy answered. "Good I think. He texted me a photo earlier but that's about it."

"Of what? Or do I not want to know…?"

"Ha, nothing like that. It was a picture of his coffee break – espresso and a beautiful mille-feuille, which he claimed 'wasn't up to my standard, but not bad'. Of course the git was in glorious sunshine."

Lizzy threw her drenched coat over a chair as Jane flicked the lights on.

"And did you text him back?" Jane gently asked.

"Not yet."

Jane decided to ask nothing more of it as Lizzy didn't elaborate, and returned to the subject at hand.

"Maybe we should go to Paris for the week." She sighed. "Forget about the club and go find some sun."

"God, I wish, but sadly we have work to do and people to look after. On that note, did we ever hear from Sanders about how the temp was on Saturday?"

"Yes, he said the guy did good, seemed to know his stuff well enough and charmed half the women he served."

"Only half? Poor show…" Lizzy said as Jane laughed.

"Well we can't get Will to work every-" Jane began, but stopped short. Lizzy looked up at her sister in question. "I'd forgotten he did that for us… but now we know about DC Publishing and all that – Lizzy, did we get a billionaire to tend bar for us?"

Lizzy's eyes widened to mirror Jane's, and the sisters fell into giggles.

"As great as it is for promotion, we probably shouldn't ask him to ever do that again." Jane stated, calming herself.

"Ah, the ladies will be disappointed. I guess we'll just have to stick with ol' half-charm then. What was his name again?"

"Err, I can't remember actually." Jane said, rummaging in her bag for her iPad. She scrolled through her emails until she found the one from the agency.

"Ah yes, here it is. Wickham. Mr George Wickham."

Will finally stepped out of the studio into dwindling sunlight, raking his hands through his hair to undo what two tonnes of hairspray had created. Though the day had been long, it had been successful, and he was ready to kick back and enjoy a good dinner and a glass of red. All he needed now was a certain someone to enjoy it with.

His hand reached for the phone in his jeans, but stilled. He had messaged her once already today, and doing so again seemed a little needy. But then again, he was simply desirous of conversation; surely there could be nothing needy about that, it was only natural. Still a voice in his head restrained him, until it put forth another name – Giana. Of course.

Will pulled out the phone and began a text to his sister as his feet meandered towards his hotel. A simple hello and checking in from big brother, since he hadn't heard from her in a week, would be just the thing. He pressed send and wandered on down the boulevard, awaiting her reply.

His wait turned out longer than he'd hoped, and he had just finished dinner when her response finally came. With wine glass in one hand and phone in the other, he read Giana's message:

"Nice of you to finally check in – you're lucky I heard from Rich or I would have been worrying all week. I assume you've recovered all your faculties and are enjoying the wonders of French wine? In moderation of course… G x"

Will was stumped. It wasn't exactly the reply he had expected, and he was confounded as to what on earth she was talking about. Why would she have been worrying all week? He was sure he had told her about France… and what did she mean 'recovering'? Perplexed, he texted her back quickly, asking if he had indeed mentioned his trip to her. It took no time at all for her to reply this time, with seven concise words:

"Fitz, you're an idiot. Check your whatsapp. Gx"

It was to the point at least, though what point that was Will was still unsure. Quickly bringing up his whatsapp, he found his and Giana's conversation at the top of the page. The last messages from her he didn't recognise; full of questions, his name, and finally asking him to text her when he was sober. Will scrolled up quickly, trying to find his last message. The first thing to arrest his eyes was a photo taken in his kitchen of his own face – grinning madly, hair awry, red martini in hand. He looked like a complete and utter moron. Oh god.

He had apparently sent it at 2.30am, in the wee hours of Saturday night, and had not a single memory of doing so. It would have been when he was with Elizabeth, pre-coital and pissed as hell. Praying this was all Giana was referring to, he hesitantly scrolled further up. After five minutes of reading, he found himself with his head in his hands, wine glass empty on the table beside him. He remembered her first text now that he'd reread it, all about pizza and warning him from working overtime. The rest however, was an utter mystery to his memory. Given how the conversation had unravelled, he almost wished it had stayed that way.

"Evening brother of mine! Just ordered a pizza with Anna and we're settling down for a night of trashy films that you'd hate. What are you up to? (If you're working, STEP AWAY FROM THE DESK). Love you Fitz, G x"

"I'm nowhre near a desk, ta very myuch. Youll be pleased to hear that Elizabth and I are in the middle of a game fo jenga and Im cyrrentely making more mojitos. Shows what yuo know. Fxz"

"Are you drunk?! Elizabeth who? I don't believe you Fitz. Text back ASAP."

"Why woud I lie. Ill porove it. Let me go find El but firzst … look Mokjitoss!"

It was then he had sent his one and only selfie, his final blotto message before he went in search of Elizabeth and his phone had disappeared under the realms of his couch. Giana had continued to text, but his phone had died and she had gone ignored for half a week.

Will didn't know where to look or what to say. What a state for his baby sister to find him in – sure she'd seen him tipsy, but not quite that bamboozled. On top of that, why on earth had he mentioned Elizabeth to her? That would only bring about more questions, and he'd had more than his fill of those.

He flicked back to her texts of today and reread them, this time focusing on her mention of Rich. He was tempted to leave it, to not text back and avoid further conversation with Giana out of sheer embarrassment. But he had to find out what damage Rich had potentially done.

"I'm afraid you now know the truth – your brother is an utter imbecile. God G, I'm sorry, I can't believe I sent you all that, and I'm sorry for making you worry. Though I must say, I'm now worried about what Rich told you… no doubt his explanation involved call girls and cocaine? F x"

Thankfully, Giana was still in a mood to text back quickly.

"Don't worry about it, it was absolutely hilarious - worth every worry that followed. Plus it must be the only bad photo of you in existence, and I fully plan on using it for blackmail purposes. Speaking of which, Rich told me very little, only saying I should ask you a simple question, which I fully plan on doing and I expect an honest answer from you Fitz:

Who is Elizabeth and are you in love with her?

G x"

Will stared at the words on the screen, wind knocked out of him. It was a sentence he certainly wasn't ready for, one prompting recollections of Rich's advice on Sunday. For a moment, his fingers hovered over the keypad, wavering in uncertainty of all he should say, all he could say, all he might feel – but his thumb flicked the screen to black, and the phone was placed back in his pocket.

"You must be George." She said, approaching the man drying glasses and holding out her hand. "I'm Jane Bennet, it's nice to meet you."

The man in front of her put down the pint glass, took her hand and turned it, pressing a kiss to it. An easy smile graced his lips as he lowered it, and he flicked his fringe from his eyes.

"A pleasure, I must say Jane. I've heard much about you and none of it has been overstated."

Jane thought she saw a flick of his eyes down her body, but ignored it, removing her hand from his. He might be too cheesy and charming for her liking, but George Wickham was definitely attractive, that much she knew for sure. Apart from a kink in his nose, his face was perfectly symmetrical. His handsome face was set off with bright white and even teeth, brown eyes and long lashes, the whole framed with flicky light brown hair.

"Well thanks, though I'm sure you'll find out the bad things soon enough. How was your first day on Saturday? I'm sorry I wasn't there to take you round and show you the ropes."

"That's no problem, Sanders was very helpful, though I'm sure not quite as delightful a guide as you would have been. Did you have a nice night out yourself? He said you were off to the theatre?"

"Very much so" she replied, cheeks blushing when she considered all that the night following the show encompassed.

George picked up on her flushed face immediately, and was determined to find out what, or more to the point who, had stirred such a telling reaction in such a beautiful woman. Jane Bennet was a classical beauty, and from the looks of things, she was prim, proper and in need of a good seeing to – and George was more than willing to provide such a service.

"Well, should you need anything, don't hesitate to come see me and ask. I promise I wont bite." She said, pulling he and herself from distraction before moving off to find TitTat.

George watched her go, eyes caressing her sylph-like form.

"More's the pity." He murmured, picking up his glass once more, mind undressing her at a mile a minute. Qandisa was going to be fun indeed.