The Magpie Summer

by Toffeecrisp

Liesel Bennet is dissatisfied with her career and her life in the city. When fate offers her an unusual opportunity, she moves to Meryton-on-Sea, intent upon changing her future. William Darcy is sceptical of her business acumen and her ability to turnaround a fading venture. It takes a lot to impress him, but she's a woman who likes a challenge! A modern P&P variation - for fun!

2. Chapter 2

Thank you to everyone who read Chapter One and for your comments. They're always much appreciated.

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The Magpie Summer Copyright © Tish Elham 2020

Two

for joy…

Edna Long was having a meltdown. It was not the way a woman in her early seventies would describe her current state of disquiet. In her vernacular it was a 'moment'. The cakes were burning, the soup was cold, the contents of the sugar bowl were scattered over the kitchen floor, and nothing was ready to be served.

"It just slipped out of my fingers. My arthritis is getting that bad, Liesel. I just don't think I can do this anymore."

Jenna breezed in, still dressed in her navy and white care tunic, bag unzipped with a black skirt and white blouse hanging out of it, ready for changing into her waitress attire. She was fifteen minutes late.

"I'm so sorry Liesel, but one of my clients had terrible trouble with her…well I'd rather not say what it was, really… but as you can imagine, I was late getting away after doing her visit. I'll try not to be late again, I promise." She saw the sugar all over the floor and throwing down her bag, reached for the broom. "Here Edna, let me help you."

It was typical of Jenna to pitch in the minute she arrived. Despite this not being the first time Jenna had arrived late for her shift citing the same reason, Liesel couldn't find it in her heart to be cross with her. Jenna was the only person besides herself with any youth on her side. Combining her work as an agency care worker with five afternoon shifts at The Magpie, was as challenging as it was tiring. She couldn't fault Jenna's work ethic. It wasn't easy getting up at the crack of dawn each day, working all morning helping the elderly and infirm residents of Meryton-on-Sea to rise, wash, dress and breakfast, before spending all afternoon on her feet at The Magpie. Sometimes, when the agency was short-handed, she did an evening care shift too, and to cap it all, she was studying part-time for a diploma in social care. Despite the long hours, she was cheerful and, apart from some fluidity with start times, she was reliable. In any case, there was something so charming about the way in which she apologised every time for her lateness that Liesel just couldn't find it in her heart to blame her. Perhaps it was the nagging suspicion that Jenna was a better person than her. She knew she would be hard-pressed to find anyone with such a caring nature. Whether she was helping the other staff or serving the customers, many of whom were elderly and appeared to know her from her morning visits, Jenna's care and attention to detail shone through. In her own way, she was bringing in custom, and from what Liesel had established in the two weeks since she had moved into the flat above and taken over the management of The Magpie, they needed it.

The kitchen door swung open and Pearl Phillips appeared, balancing two teacups and saucers stacked on top of each other in her right hand and two plates in her left. The cups were wobbling precariously.

"Crikey! What's going on here?"

Liesel rushed forward to grab the teacups from her, afraid that they would soon be adding to the mess as smashed china on the floor. She couldn't afford to lose any more crockery. She had already disposed of everything she thought unfit for use. It seemed as if Catherine de Bourgh had been reluctant to throw anything away.

"Perhaps you ought to use a tray, Pearl?"

Pearl tutted and rolled her eyes. "Not worth it for a couple of cups! It's not like when we had the coach parties with the fish and chip suppers here. We had to employ a lad just to do the washing up in them days."

Liesel had heard this story several times already and established it was more than forty years ago, when Catherine de Bourgh had been pals with Reg Morrison the local coach company owner. There were no coachloads of holidaymakers beating a path to their door now. Looking around her, she reckoned any of those now aged day-trippers making another visit would enjoy the nostalgia evoked by the tearooms. It might have been a study in time, as nothing appeared to have changed, even the staff.

The doorbell rang, signalling the arrival of a new customer. Liesel hurried out of the kitchen into the café. Two young women stood hesitantly in the doorway, taking in the décor and handful of other customers, not one under the age of sixty. She could tell by the expression on their faces that they weren't impressed. Nevertheless, keen to encourage new clientele, she approached them with a broad smile.

"Please come on in and take a seat wherever you like. We have a wide range of sandwiches, hot meals and lovely cakes. The waitress will come over to take your order when you're ready."

They didn't move. They glanced at each other, concern mirrored in their expressions. Then one of them frowned and gave a small, apologetic shake of her head.

"Sorry, it's not quite what we wanted. We've changed our minds."

Liesel saw them out and closed the door behind them. She didn't blame them for wanting to go elsewhere. This was a business stuck in time. It had a small loyal customer base, but there was nothing which appealed to anyone else. She knew that it couldn't be making enough money to pay everyone's wages, but Walter Collins had assured her that there was no concern for the next two years, and funds were available. She assumed that provision had been made from the property raffle, but beyond that period, The Magpie would face an uncertain future, if it failed to make enough money.

She watched the two young women strolling down to the harbour and pondered what she should do. Perhaps, she should just let things go, accept that all she had to do was keep the place open and ticking over, then walk away. But during the past couple of weeks, she had begun to get to know the staff. They were not strangers to her now, and it changed things.

Pearl had worked here for forty years. She was widowed, childless, and lived with only her cat, Missy, for company. She had confessed that when her beloved husband, Bob, had passed away ten years ago, her job, the friendship of Edna and Catherine, and her weekly choir meetings had been the only things which had kept her going and given her some purpose in life.

Edna was the matriarch of a large brood. Her children had grown up, flown the nest, and had families of their own. She could have settled for a quiet life, keeping house for herself and her husband, Jim, and minding the legions of grandchildren, but something kept her coming back here day after day. She might not be as good at juggling the timings of meals as she used to be, and perhaps a hectic kitchen at the height of summer was not the best place for her, but she could certainly bake a good cake, nothing fancy, just good, old-fashioned plain baking, and she prided herself on her shortbread. "The best in the county, mark my words," Pearl had commented, and Liesel couldn't disagree.

As for Jenna, she told Liesel she had first come into The Magpie with one of her elderly clients, and she and Catherine had hit it off. When Jenna had confessed that her care work was not paying enough to meet her bills, Catherine had offered her extra work here during the summer, but the arrangement had continued throughout the slack low season. She supposed it was the fact that neither Pearl nor Edna were getting any younger, and Catherine had been declining in health, which had been the chief reason for allowing her to continue. It couldn't have been a commercial decision.

"It was difficult at home," Jenna had told Liesel when they had been sharing a few confidences. "I'm the oldest of four children, and my Mum didn't really see the value of staying on at school. There was no question of going to Uni, so I left at sixteen and I've been working ever since. Mum was finding it difficult to make ends meet, but Catherine offered me extra work here and let me lodge with her for a while. Then I met Charlie."

Charlie was Jenna's boyfriend. Liesel had heard about him, not only from Jenna but also from Pearl and Edna.

"He's ever so handsome…"

Pearl had been gazing over the rim of a steaming cup of tea on the third morning after Liesel's arrival. She had a nostalgic look in her eyes, and Liesel could imagine her mind drifting off to her own youth. It was another quiet moment in The Magpie, and with no customers to serve, there was little else to do but drink tea and gossip.

"But not as good looking as William Darcy," Edna interjected. "Or anywhere near as well-off!"

"Maybe not," Pearl conceded, "but he's such a lovely young chap. He always has a word and a smile for all of us. Jenna fell on her feet when she met him."

Edna pursed her lips. "It's a good job he has his looks and good nature to recommend him, because I don't reckon he's going to make a fortune out of those sculptures of his. They're nothing but bits of driftwood and rusty wire!" She sniggered. "I'll reckon Jenna's Mum's a bit put out to find he's not loaded. I heard her mouthing off in the supermarket last week about how posh he was. Well, being posh don't mean rich these days!"

"Unless you're William Darcy," Pearl had replied.

"Is he posh?" Liesel had been intrigued. "From what you say, he's wealthy, but isn't he just a businessman?"

Edna shook her head. "Oh, no. He's the real thing, love. His family has owned Pemberley Park for over two hundred years. He's the latest in a long line of Darcy's. The difference is, he knows how to manage his money!"

The conversation was interrupted by what sounded like a tank pulling up outside, the noisy diesel engine, destroying the calm of the harbourside. Liesel turned her head to see an old Range Rover parked at the kerbside, and the driver preparing to get out. She turned back to hear Edna mutter under her breath. "Here's another without two farthings to his name!"

The bell on the front door tinkled, and Liesel looked up to see a young man entering the café. Tall, broad-shouldered and slim-hipped, his bare, muscled biceps were exposed by a pristine white T-shirt, despite the vicious nip in the air. He strolled towards them with a leisurely gait which announced he was at ease with himself. His eyes swept around the table, taking them all in, before resting upon Liesel. He was handsome in anyone's book, his features blessed with fine symmetry and complemented by the shadow of stubble on his face. His blue eyes gazed at her with unashamed interest, and she could almost hear Flora urging, "Play it cool." She listened to her thoughts and did just that.

"Morning, ladies!"

The greeting was for all of them, but his eyes still rested upon her. She smiled in what she hoped was an enigmatic manner, before murmuring, "Good morning."

"I don't think we've met."

He was holding out his hand to her. "I'm Josh."

She reciprocated. "Liesel."

He smiled. "So, you're the new boss around here!"

"Yes, I suppose I am."

She cringed. She was still getting used to the idea, but she didn't need to broadcast her insecurities.

"How's it going?" He looked around the room, taking in the empty tables, and she wondered if he was joking, before he added, "I'm guessing it's a bit slack."

"It's early days and still low season. I'm sure it will pick up."

"Yes, that's what Auntie Catherine used to say."

He saw the surprise in Liesel's expression. "Sorry, I should have said, I'm Josh Brown, Catherine's great nephew."

A knowing look passed between Pearl and Edna, but Liesel had no time to consider its meaning before Josh distracted her with another question. "So, got any plans for the old place? It could do with livening up!"

This time she was sure she saw Pearl and Edna bristling at the suggestion, but Josh laughed. "Only joking, ladies, I know how attached to the place you are. You're part of the fixtures and fittings by now."

"You shouldn't joke about it, young man," Pearl scolded in a manner that suggested she was not entirely serious. "Your Aunt put the best years of her life into The Magpie. It'd be a shame to see it turned into some yuppie wine bar, or something you young 'uns go on about!"

"Yuppie?" Josh repeated with a bemused smile. "I'll have to google that one. It sounds a bit old school!"

"You know what Pearl means," Edna interjected. "That's not what The Magpie is about and never has been. The Magpie is an institution in this town, just as much as Pemberley Park is, or was, until young Master William started changing things."

She pushed back the chair and got slowly to her feet. "It's time I got to work on that next batch of shortbread, there's sure to be customers wanting it this afternoon."

Pearl rose too. "I'll get on with the washing up, then."

She picked up the cups and saucers and followed Edna to the kitchen. Liesel watched them go, feeling slightly depressed by the exchange. It was, as she feared, a place stuck in time with staff who wouldn't appreciate or embrace change. She rose from the table.

"Do you always pull their legs like that?"

Josh laughed. "Don't be fooled. They like it really. It adds a bit of excitement to the day." He looked around him at the empty tables. "I think they need it!"

He brought his attention back to her. "Is this what you expected when you won that raffle?"

She shrugged. "I didn't really have any expectations."

"But do you have plans?"

"I have some ideas, but I can see that it won't be easy."

"Well, don't let those two put you off. They might grumble and complain, but you're the boss now. If you ask me, you should plough ahead and do what you want to do. Auntie Catherine was a real stickler for tradition, which is why nothing's changed here for years."

Liesel couldn't disagree with that. It wasn't just the café that was stuck in time. The flat above the café was also a period piece, complete with appliances that must have been in use for more than thirty years. There was no shower in the bathroom, and this morning she'd been unable to get any hot water out of the taps for a bath.

"Talking of old things, I don't suppose you'd have any idea how to obtain hot water from the boiler, or whatever is supposed to heat water for the flat, would you?"

Josh laughed. "That cranky, old thing? Given the number of times Auntie Catherine called out the gas engineer, she could have bought a new one, and that's only since I've been here. I'll take a look if you like?"

She accepted his offer. Plumbing was yet another thing missing from her curriculum vitae, and she didn't relish the idea of washing in cold water every day. She led him upstairs. He located the boiler in a cupboard in the hall and started tinkering with the control panel.

"How long have you been here in Meryton-on-Sea? It sounded just now as if you hadn't been here long."

He glanced over his shoulder. "About a year. Auntie Catherine, or to be more correct, as we called her at home, Auntie Kathleen, fell out with her brother years ago. Dennis was my grandfather. To be honest, we didn't see or hear anything of her for years. I came down this way last year for work, and it was sheer chance that I ended up running across her again."

He made a few adjustments. The boiler roared back into life, and the gas flame soared.

"There you go, that should heat the water up for you, but you really should consider getting a new one installed. It must be on its last legs."

He closed the cupboard door, brushed a few invisible specks of dust from his hands and smiled at her. "Anything else need fixing?"

She was tempted to tell him the lock on the front door was playing up. It wasn't just Walter Collins who was struggling with the temperamental old thing. It had taken her about ten attempts to shut it up last night. However, she didn't want to take advantage of his kindness.

"I don't want to keep you from your work."

He shook his head. "No worries. I'm not due there for another hour."

"What do you do?"

"I work at the Meryton Animal Sanctuary. I started out volunteering when I first came down here last year, and now they've taken me on as a member of staff."

"Of course, the animal sanctuary benefitted from the property raffle didn't it? I thought some of the proceeds were donated to it."

Josh nodded. "Yes, Auntie Catherine had been a supporter for years."

"Still, the property raffle must have come as a bit of a surprise. It was an unusual idea, wasn't it?"

Josh laughed a little. "I didn't know her all that long, but she was a real character and she did her own thing in life, so perhaps no one should have been surprised. Anyway, the sanctuary were delighted with the extra funds. The bills don't get any smaller."

"What do you do there?"

"When I'm not manning the office, I spend most of my time looking after the donkeys."

"You must be very fond of them."

Josh grinned. "I love them…who doesn't?"

"Well, me actually," Liesel admitted, thinking she saw disappointment in his expression and hastily adding, "I mean, I don't hate them, but I'm not very keen on horses."

"Oh, they're nothing like horses. You should come down some time. Let me introduce you, they're such characters." He paused to reflect. "Some of them even remind me of Auntie Catherine."

Liesel frowned. "Really?"

Josh smirked. "Obstinate creatures with great longevity, but adorable too."

It was difficult not to smile. She'd never met the former proprietor of The Magpie, but from everything she had heard since being here, it sounded very much like Catherine de Bourgh.

"Well, perhaps I'll take you up on that offer."

"Anytime!"

That had been almost two weeks ago. Since then, days had continued in the same pattern: customers had been scarce, the boiler had played up again, and the weather had been cold and wet. Now, trouble was afoot in the kitchen, but at least Jenna was here to help out, and Liesel was very glad to see her.

No sooner had Jenna helped Edna sweep up the remainder of the sugar from the floor, than she turned to address them all with a sparkle of excitement in her eyes.

"I'm bursting to tell you all something!" She was rewarded with everyone's attention. "I'm engaged!"

As if to underline the point, she held up her left hand. A small gold and diamond ring adorned the third finger.

"About time too!" Pearl exclaimed, stepping forward to hug Jenna tightly. "He's a very lucky young man, and I daresay you'll be very happy together."

Edna examined the ring and declared her, "Very blessed, my dear."

Liesel was pleased for her. From what she had heard, Charlie was a good man. "Congratulations, Jenna. I'll look forward to meeting him."

Jenna turned to her with a broad smile. "You'll be able to do that on Saturday evening. We're having a party at Netherfield. You will come, won't you? I'll ask Josh too. He always likes a party. What about you two," she asked gazing at Pearl and Edna, "do you fancy it?"

Pearl looked apologetic, "I'd like to, Jenna, but my choir are giving a performance on Saturday evening, I can't let them down."

Edna had a less worthy reason. "It's very kind of you, Jenna love, but I'm sure you youngsters won't want a pair of old fogeys cluttering up the place. I'm not one for loud music and dancing, but me and Jim will raise a glass of cider to you at home." She grinned at Jenna, nudged her with her elbow and winked. "We'll make it champagne when you become Mr and Mrs Bingley!"

ooOoo

Charlie Bingley was everything Jenna had claimed. He was good looking, good humoured and good natured. Jenna hadn't told Liesel much about Charlie, apart from the fact that she loved him dearly, and she'd marry him tomorrow given half a chance. They had met eighteen months ago, not long after his arrival in Meryton-on-Sea. He had been combing the beach for driftwood, and she had been taking a break at the end of her morning care shifts, before going to The Magpie. They had fallen into conversation, and she had expressed an interest in his work. It hadn't taken them long to realise they were made for each other, and a few months later, she had moved in with him. Meeting him for the first time, Liesel could understand why Jenna loved him. He greeted Liesel warmly, declared that Jenna had spoken of her often, fell into conversation easily, and she was soon made to feel as if she was just as much his friend as anyone else in the room. He introduced her to several other people, a few of whom had businesses in the town, and she felt the evening was proving to be as useful as it was pleasant. When the music started up, a small space was cleared to form a dancefloor, and then Jenna and Charlie started the dancing. Liesel stood to one side, watching them in each other's arms, swaying to a romantic ballad.

"Good evening, Miss Bennet!"

She turned at the sound of a voice she recognised. William Darcy looked hot this evening, and given the less than balmy evening temperature, it was not due to the weather. The casual white linen shirt only emphasised the even tan of his skin, visible on his forearms, neck and those areas of his chest she glimpsed in the V of the open neck shirt. He didn't strike her as a natural sun-worshipper or the type to use fake tan. It suggested that he spent a lot of time outdoors. Perhaps he liked to be hands-on with his business. From what she had heard of Pemberley Park, it sounded as if it would be enough to keep anyone busy.

Curiosity had got the better of her one quiet, wet afternoon with no customers, and she had looked up the Pemberley Park website. It had informed her that the house and estate were large, and the formal gardens and 'enchanting' woodland walks extended over many acres. The aerial walkways and high ropes courses with levels to suit everyone from beginner to experienced, were situated amongst the trees on the rising ground behind the house. In summer, the estate hosted many outdoor evening concerts of classical and popular music, including "Last of the Prom" nights and firework displays. The education centre was open all year round for visiting school parties, and there was an award-winning café and bistro, as well as conference facilities and a thriving estate shop selling a range of Pemberley Park products and produce. Pemberley Park had been the proud winner of a host of tourist board awards for the last eight years in succession. She could easily imagine that William Darcy must regularly be out in all winds and weathers, if he was truly a hands-on manager.

Now, having learned far more about the man and his business since that first rather awkward exchange in The Smuggler's Rest, Liesel appreciated that he possibly did know what he was talking about. His eyes were upon her, and she felt his presence keenly, more than she cared to admit, but she feigned nonchalance.

"Oh, it's you!"

He looked faintly amused. "Yes, it's me."

"I didn't know you knew Charlie."

"We were at school together."

"Oh…I thought Jenna said his family were from Gloucestershire?"

"They are. We were at Eton together."

She frowned. It was beginning to feel like twenty questions. "So…you stayed friends after school, and he moved here?"

"He needed a studio, and I had a barn ripe for conversion."

This was news that Jenna had not imparted when providing her with details of the party. She had informed Liesel that Charlie lived in a converted barn called Netherfield and given her directions, stating that the property lay about half a mile along a narrow lane, a couple of miles out of town. Being unfamiliar with the area, Liesel had decided to play safe and take a taxi.

"Netherfield is your property?"

William nodded. "That's right"

Liesel gazed around her. The architect had taste. It was a beautiful building, clearly very old, but the renovations had been done sympathetically and had breathed life and light into it. She tried to suppress the feelings of envy as she regarded the high vaulted ceiling with the original timbers exposed, and imagined waking up each morning to gaze up at the sky through the skylights which permitted light to flood the building.

"I see you haven't re-branded The Magpie, or tried to convert us all to the benefits of a regular macchiato with a shot of caramel."

William's comment brought her sharply back to the present. She wasn't sure if this was his idea of a joke, or he was expressing his true feelings. Either way, the irony wasn't lost upon her.

"Well, you weren't slow in making sure I knew how much you disapproved of it."

"It's not about my opinion, Miss Bennet. It's about the town, the blend of businesses and what's appropriate for its character."

She wished he wouldn't call her Miss Bennet like that, but she was damned if she was going to invite him to call her Liesel, as if they were friends.

"So, sprucing it up, painting it another colour, and calling it something more relevant for the setting, wouldn't be appropriate for its character?"

"Like it or not, it's part of the history of the town. Catherine de Bourgh was something of a character, that's certain, but she was also well respected."

"I heard you didn't get on with her."

She felt the weight of his stare as he contemplated this remark and wondered if he was offended. His response was measured, and she suspected she had hit upon some truth.

"We had our disagreements over the years, and I don't see why she chose to set up that ridiculous raffle to sell off the property when she died, but most people in the town liked her."

"She was very kind to Jenna, I believe."

"Jenna seems to inspire that response in people."

He sounded cynical, and Liesel was irritated. 'Probably because she's deserving of such kindness! Your friend Charlie, obviously sees her for the person she is.'

"Indeed!"

This time she was sure of his feelings. "I'm amazed you're here. You sound like you don't approve of Jenna and Charlie's engagement."

He shrugged. "I wonder at the point of it. They're happy as they are. It's not as if either of them are making enough money to set down roots somewhere permanently. What's the point of getting engaged? I don't think they're planning on getting married for a long while yet."

"What about love? What's wrong with making a public declaration of their feelings? Surely, that's what it's about. Perhaps they won't be able to marry for some time, not if you think it's all about money, but at least they'll have made a public commitment to each other."

Darcy raised his eyebrows. "That's a bit outdated, isn't it?"

"I think it's called romance. Perhaps you should familiarise yourself with the concept!"

She was tired of the conversation, and she was fed up with him arguing every point with her. Without another glance in his direction, she headed towards the makeshift bar and helped herself to a glass of wine. She took a long slug and gazed back at him, still standing where she had left him and looking strangely out of place, despite the fact he was on his own land and even owned the barn in which he was standing. She turned her head in the opposite direction towards the dancefloor and saw Josh. He caught her eye and beckoned her. He was attractive, and the look in his eyes was undeniably enticing. She put the glass of wine down and sashayed towards him through the dancers, starting to move to the rhythm of the beat as she drew near. She couldn't care less about William Darcy. He might have all the stature, presence and looks of a Hollywood actor, but the man was made of stone.

ooOoo

Damn it. He liked her. She might think she was getting the better of him. She might even think he was out of touch with everything relevant, despite the fact that she was obviously clueless about a lot of things, but he knew that he liked her. The moment she'd made that quip about The Sound of Music back in The Smuggler's Rest that first day, he knew he liked her. Serve him right, of course, he'd always been too curious for his own good and questioning her nationality hadn't been the brightest move at that moment. He'd been momentarily thrown by the expression in her eyes. She had challenged him, even though she wasn't aware she was doing it. As for the rest of that first conversation, he'd considered it appropriate to draw her attention to the planning regulations. There was no point in her wasting, time and effort on something without the authority she needed.

He knew The Magpie was open again, of course, and that she'd moved here, but he'd had no reason to venture to that end of the harbour, and he wasn't going to be caught wandering there, just to gawp through the windows. He had been wondering when he might bump into her again, then Charlie had mentioned that Jenna had invited her new boss to the party. From the little Charlie had told him, and his own observations, it seemed as if Jenna liked her. They were a similar age, and he supposed it was only natural they would gravitate towards each other, particularly given the age of the other two staff.

He could remember Pearl serving him a chocolate sundae years ago, when he had been no more than eight or nine years old. His grandfather had taken him there. They'd been out in the afternoon, doing one of the clifftop walks and ended up, as they usually did, at The Magpie. His grandfather had always liked the place. Back then, he had accepted the fading décor and old-fashioned air of the place. It was rather like his grandfather and seemed appropriate for a man of that age. It wasn't such a great place now. Liesel had been right that it needed modernising, although it needed to be done in a sympathetic way. He had no idea whether she was the woman to take on the job. He watched her dancing with Josh Brown. She was pretty, her dark hair was styled differently tonight, and it suited her, just like the red dress which hung so well on her. They were laughing and having fun, and they made an attractive couple. Josh was the party type, of course, and Liesel certainly seemed to have a sense of fun, but there was something more to her, he was sure of it. He was disturbed from his musings by the arrival of his friend.

"I saw you talking to Jenna's new boss earlier. She seems like a really nice girl."

"She's all right." William was deliberately non-committal. It wouldn't do to let Charlie know he was interested.

"Well, Jenna thinks she's great and a breath of fresh air."

"That wouldn't be difficult. Your fiancée spends her whole life surrounded by pensioners whether it's at the café or elsewhere. Anyone under the age of fifty would seem a breath of fresh air by comparison."

"She likes working with older people," Charlie insisted. "It's one of the things I love about her."

"I'm glad you do, Charlie. You'll need a strong commitment to survive her mother and the rest of the family."

His eyes were involuntarily drawn to Jenna's mother and two of her sisters, all strutting their stuff on the dancefloor in an energetic and uninhibited manner. He had no doubt that Mandy had taken full advantage of the free drinks provided by her future son-in-law, and that Lola and Katya weren't far behind her. Only Maya was sitting it out with a stony expression of boredom, trying to ignore her mother's frequent, loud urgings to, "Let your hair down and live a bit. It won't kill you to enjoy yourself!"

Charlie shrugged. "Well, we can't choose who we fall in love with, and we certainly can't choose them by their family."

Darcy slapped him on the shoulder. "You'd be a bachelor if that was the case."

William could tell that Charlie was uncomfortable with this criticism of Jenna's family. However, even with his good nature, Charlie was not blind to the truth that Jenna's mother was a woman of more ambition than sense, lacked decorum, and was not one to keep a low profile in the community. It would be difficult to imagine a more unlikely candidate for a mother to someone as kind, patient and lovely as Jenna. Her father was not on the scene anymore. Jenna spoke of him occasionally, and from the titbits of information she had disclosed, William had gained the impression of a man more educated, thoughtful and considerate than his wife. However, it seemed as if his patience had finally snapped ten years ago, and he had moved out of the family home, the area and his children's lives.

"Well, you'll certainly be a bachelor if you carry on like this," Charlie responded.

It was William's turn to be irritated. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, come on, Will! When was the last time you were seeing anyone on a regular basis?" He surveyed his friend with amusement. "I wouldn't mind betting, it was Carrie."

Darcy sighed. "Don't be ridiculous, Charlie. That was years ago, and I don't recall it being anything more than a few dinner dates. It was certainly nothing serious. I'm sure your sister has long forgotten it."

"I wouldn't be so sure. I think she still carries a torch for you. But anyway, you've just proved my point. It has to be at least seven or eight years since you had a girlfriend."

"Carrie was not my girlfriend!"

Charlie laughed. "I think you're protesting too much."

There was no reasoning with Charlie when he was in this mood. He was happy tonight, and he had good reason. Jenna was a lovely young woman, and William liked her. He didn't think it was necessary to get engaged, but Charlie knew what he was taking on. The whoops from the dancefloor increased in volume, Mandy loudly declaring it was time her future son-in-law danced with her. Poor Charlie, he was too much of a gentleman to decline, and William watched him dutifully join her and play his part with his usual good humour.

The noise levels were increasing, and feeling in need of some quiet and fresh air, William stepped outside and crossed the lawn to stand at the fence which separated Netherfield from the rest of the Pemberley Park estate. He turned to look back. Light flooded from the full-length windows, but he was standing in the shadows. It was a cool night, and the wind had picked up. He closed his eyes, exhaled and listen to the breeze rustling through the trees above him. Charlie was right. Not about Carrie, but he hadn't had a serious relationship for years. There had been fleeting acquaintances, dates now and then, some fledgling relationships that hadn't made it beyond a few weeks, but no one he could call a girlfriend. He'd spend the last ten years since graduation and the untimely death of his father in a car accident, trying to keep Pemberley afloat. He'd had to make a lot of changes, move with the times and accept what his father and grandfather would not have accepted, that it could no longer be just a family home. It was a business, and that was the only way it could remain in the family. It had been hard work, and he had been forced to make difficult decisions. Perhaps, he'd just forgotten how to have fun.

He heard voices in the garden and opened his eyes. Josh Brown was standing on the terrace with Liesel.

"Come on, Liesel. What's holding you back? You know you want to." Josh was teasing her.

Liesel laughed. "I'm nervous. It's not something I'd normally do."

Josh lowered his voice, but William caught his words. "You'll be with me, nothing to be nervous about. Trust me!"

Josh put his arm around Liesel's shoulders, and he heard her say, "All right, perhaps it's the wine talking, but we'd better go now, before I change my mind."

Josh gave a low chuckle and the pair of them slipped back into the barn.

So, Josh Brown had made an impression already. Liesel had been here two weeks, and she'd fallen for his charms. He shouldn't be surprised. He'd heard enough about Josh in the last year to know he was popular. It wasn't surprising there might an attraction between them. He just didn't know why he felt so disappointed.

The wind picked up again, the rustling above him was now more of a roar, and the first heavy drops of rain began to fall. It would be a stormy night. He struck out across the lawn to return to the party. A car was pulling away, its tyres crunching on the gravel, the loud distinctive diesel engine splitting the night air as it made its way down the lane and back to the main road. He paused for a moment. Raindrops soaked through the thin fabric of his shirt. Was it really disappointment? The realisation came to him. It was envy. Damn it. He liked her.