Hello little Darcy's. This story will be coming to an end soon, and I wonder if any of you had a p&p idea you wanted to see play out? Sorry for the long waits but I hope that the ending will be a satisfactory one. Thanks to those who've stuck it out, your reviews really pick me up when things aren't so great. Kisses
Chapter 37: Picture perfect
"Wake up Elizabeth, don't you want to see your new home?" A voice crooned. She stirred, the movement causing nausea. Elise leant over, emptying the meager contents of her stomach and eyes still trying to adjust to the light. She was still tied up, but at least the hood was gone.
"You always did get car sick didn't you?" John smiled fondly, helping her sit up and rinse her mouth. "Careful now, we don't want to muss your dress." At his words, she looked down and was nearly sick all over again.
The hospital gown they'd had her in was gone. She was now in a white wedding dress, the ball gown drowning her small form and the layers of fabric and poof beneath the satin top layer threatening to swallow her whole. The lace overlay and sleeves itched, the v-neck put her breasts on full display and the corset felt tight enough to choke. She wouldn't have chosen it in a million years.
"Do you like it? I would have let you pick your own but you have terrible taste Elizabeth. This is just right I think. Very blushing bride but we'll make an excellent picture." He smoothed down the lapels of his own gray tux, checking his waistcoat for lint before picking up a tube of lipstick.
"Why am I wearing this? Where are we?!" She demanded. He grabbed another tube and considered the colors.
"I told you, this is your new home. I'm simply readying you for our big day darling." He explained, holding both up to her lips with a critical eye.
"Big- I won't marry you John. I didn't then, and I won't do it now!" He clicked his tongue in dismay.
"Elizabeth, let's not fight. You'll only make me angry, and then our wedding will be ruined." Ignoring any other protests she had, he scooped her up and put her in a wheelchair beside the couch she'd been lying on.
"Now it's time for the tour. I recognize it's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding, but I think we've had a long enough run. We ought to be safe." He continued conversationally, pushing her out of the little sitting room.
"We can finish your makeup later, but I really was anxious for you to see where we'll be living once things have settled down." He explained, wheeling her through the ornate halls. There were portraits of them both, done from pictures that had been taken years ago and a more recent one, hand painted. She startled when she saw it, trying to turn away even as he forced her neck upward to stare at it.
"Oh no, I want you to see this. Don't you want to see your wedding present?!" He hissed, yanking her chin up. Hand around her throat he held her in place,both staring at the painting.
"John stop-"
"Beautiful, isn't it? I call it the lost and found."
He'd been watching her, that afternoon on the beach with Shemar. She recognized the dress she'd been wearing, the little dune she'd stood on overlooking the water as it lapped on the shore. Even Stanley the turtle, creeping along in the corner.
"I wanted to kill you that day." He admitted softly. A tear fell as his hand held her chin up, she shut her eyes trying to block the image and just hold onto the memory.
"You were so close, just flaunting yourself about. But then I saw you, alone on that little hill."
She wasn't alone. She'd told Darcy she wanted to climb it on her own. She'd been brave, Darcy had shown her how to be brave.
"And you seemed so lonesome. So sad. I knew then, it was all just an act. You missed me, you missed us. Stupid girl. We could have been happy this entire time. You've wasted so much time Elizabeth."
He nearly slapped her, she cringed away expecting the blow. Instead, his fingers skimmed her cheek tenderly. She wanted to gag.
"But we can make up for it. I wanted to wait for children anyway. Now I think we're ready."
And they continued down the hall.
"Hey. Got you a fresh coffee." Rich commented, nudging Darcy out of his stupor. He was so tired.. after the revelation of Caroline Bingley dating a girlfriend stealing psychopath, Darcy had gone a little bit off the deep end.
"We have to flush him out, like a rat. Just like Aunt Catherine said." He mumbled,slugging it back and scalding his mouth.
Maybe more than a little bit.
"I told you it was fresh. Come on, shake it off." Rich commented while Shemar swore a blue streak.
"That was boiling." He snarled in return.
"Oops?" Rich smiles, shrugging.
"I hate you and you're fired."
"Drama queen. Anyway, Hurst wants to speak with you, she's in the living room."
Darcy rose tiredly, stretching with a groan when his back cracked. He swallowed down another steaming gulp to wake himself up and straightened his clothes. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been so disheveled. His cousin patted his back and guided him out of the office into the main living room.
Inspector Hurst rose at his entrance, her quick detective's gaze scanning him as he came in. The young man had dark circles beneath his eyes, stubble on his chin and his shirt was little more than a mess of wrinkles with the cuffs pushed up. Even so, his eyes were alert and as soon as he set foot in the room, his exhausted shoulders straightened proudly.
He couldn't go on this way forever, but he would do his best to stand tall until Elise was brought home. Her heart ached for him and the others, Jane had been asleep on the couch when she came in, right by the phone in case there was news. Miss Darcy had been on what was probably her hundredth cup of tea, Bingley was keeping watch. So many people..
Keep fighting Elise, wherever you are. I'll bring you home for them. Her private resolve to see this through grew even stronger.
"Detective. My cousin said you wanted to speak with me?"
She nodded, shifting the manilla folder she held to her other arm.
"I wanted to give you an update. Caroline Bingley may be charged as an accessory to kidnapping. She's also chosen to forego pressing charges against Miss Bennet for assault."
"So she's not completely stupid?" Jane mumbled. Hurst's lips twitched but she continued.
"At this time, the police department will be using her in an attempt to lure out Mr. Wickham-"
"You said may be charged, why isn't she in a cell right now?" Darcy interrupted. Louisa sighed.
"As of right now, we have no proof she was anything more than an unwitting accomplice, duped into providing information about the whereabouts of Elise Bennett." She explained.
"Bull sh-"
"Mr. Darcy, Miss Bingley has brought this information forth of her own volition. Besides this, my team has done their homework, the dates she provided all match up. Text exchanges between the two of them have been seized and studied, there is nothing she hasn't given us access to."
The detective looked at them all, voice steady but eyes solemn.
"I've never lied to any of you and I've always done my best to keep you in the loop. Please believe me when I say I want to nail this Bastard just as much as you want me to nab him. At this time, we are running out of options and I am concerned… I'm concerned that Elise is running very short on time. Caroline Bingley, right now, is the most valuable lead and resource we have. One I intend to use to the fullest extent. Right now, that means I have to make sure she's telling the truth and follow it."
Jane was cried out. Georgianna needed a new tea flavor. And Darcy was done waiting.
"I'm not going to sit here and wait for your team to move-" he began.
"That's exactly what you'll do. Pace, handle business, read a book for all I care. Just don't get in my way. Leave the research to the official channels, that's how the game is played Darcy. I'm sorry."
An angry retort rose up, he might have begun to yell when she held up a finger, glancing at her phone.
"I have to take this. Seriously, I don't need any unauthorized vigilantes. Take a breath, have some tea, read. Try to rest your mind for a little. Excuse me." The folder was set down, her eyes flicked meaningfully towards it before she turned, answering her cell.
"Hurst here.." Her voice trailed off as she left the room.
Surprised, he waited for her footsteps to be out of earshot before he pounced, opening it up and scanning the note on top of the papers.
"THIS is why it's so important to foster good business relations nephew. You'll have friends in very high places and that can only help you later on in life. When you find your Miss Bennett, do bring her to dinner again. She'll pave the way for you to do that I think. And mind your manners with Detective Hurst, you never know when having access to the police force will come in handy.
-Aunt C.
Darcy couldn't help it. This was such an unexpected turn he began to laugh, he laughed so hard he doubled over and had a coughing fit before he could stop.
"What the-" Richard began but he waved he and the others off. He looked through the file,grinning so widely his cheeks hurt.
"The company is being used to consult with the police task force. We're cleared to be on the scene. There's a sting going down, they're gonna use Caroline.. We're gonna get Elise back guys. I can feel it!"