Chapter 14

Tuesday October 23

"Your sister the older one, you said she was pursuing a career in fashion?" Cathrine DeBough ask Lizzie.

"Yes she is currently working in LA-"

"Is that really practical of her? Wouldn't she be better suited to managing the clothing section at a Walmart or some such store. She can't be familiar with any designers. It's not what she grew up with. It makes sense she sticks to the clothing she knows."

"Jane has an eye for what looks good. She can make anything beautiful."

"Just because she can hot glue some sequins on a cheap ten dollar dress does not make her a fashionista. I'm afraid she will end up disappointed reaching above herself-"

"Aunt Catherine!" Darcy said firmly. Taking a deep breath he continued, "Jane Bennet is creative, sees beauty in things and pulls it out of others. I have seen some of her work she has done within her own and her sisters' wardrobes. I for one think she will go quite far in her chosen profession."

"Mmmmph," Catherine DeBough sniffed. "Is she seeing anyone currently?"

"No. My sister is currently single," Lizzie said with a glance at Darcy.

"Has her little job playing in the fashion industry not allowed her to meet any suitable males of her station?"

"She had a bit of a disappointment in love this summer and is choosing to focus on her career," Lizzie said not liking the way that Catherine DeBough implied Jane was only in her career to meet men.

"A bit of a disappointment?" Catherine DeBough pounced on Lizzie's statement.

"I don't see how Jane's love life is any of your business Ms. DeBough," Lizzie told her stonily, clenching her fork tightly.

"Aunt Catherine have you found a new satisfactory vet for Annekins?" Darcy ask his aunt to distract her from Lizzie.

While Darcy distracted his aunt, Fitz decided to use the situation for some intel. Quietly he ask Lizzie, "Is she still upset about Bing?"

"Yes," Lizzie whispered back. "She hoped to see him in LA but he never even bothered to respond to her text or e-mails. I wish he would have at least given her a chance for closure."

"Perhaps they still stand a chance."

"Not with him avoiding her. She went to LA, she let him know she was there, that she wanted to talk, to see him. And he did nothing. Nothing Fitz. You can't have relationship when only one person is in it," Lizzie said sadly.

"Do you think she'd give him another chance if she did see him again? That she'd forgive him?"

"It's Jane, she forgives everyone."

"Then let's hope their paths cross again sometime in the future."

"What are you whispering about over there? Tell us, so that we might have our share of the conversation," Catherine DeBough interrupted them.

"Music," Fitz said at the same time Lizzie said, "Movies."

"Movies or music? Which is it?" Catherine DeBough demanded.

"Musicals Ms. DeBough," Lizzie said with a mischievous smile. "Fitz was just telling me how much he wants to see Pirates of Penzance."

Darcy snorted.

"Ah the frolicking story of handsome young Frederick and his most nobel quest for the fair Mabel's hand in holiest matrimony," Ricky Collins burst in with. "A true musical treasure. I saw the play preformed once without any music. It was truly verbose."

"Almost all the dialogue is sung," Lizzie said confused.

"In this production they spoke the lines rather than sing them. It truly was a work of artistic proportions. The way the actors honed their crafts-"

"Did they dance?" Fitz interrupted him.

"No. That was part of the beauty of it! The way-"

"Pirates of Penzance is a musical known for its complex lyrics-"

"Really Liz this type of conversation isn't appropriate for dinner discussion. If you want to talk of musicals at least pick one by a well known composer. If I would have chosen to I could have been a true proficient at composing."

"I didn't realize Gilbert and Sullivan weren't considered well known," Lizzie said with a smirk and Darcy quietly chuckled.

"You'll learn the value of cultured conversation as you progress through life Liz. Not that one such as yourself will have much opportunity to use it. How is Caroline doing these days Darcy? Such a charming, cultured girl. A real pleasure to converse with."

"I wouldn't know Aunt Catherine. I avoid unnecessary conversation with her," Darcy told his aunt firmly. He did not want Lizzie getting the wrong idea. His aunt had unsubtly let him know for years she expected him to marry Caroline, something he categorically refused to do even prior to meeting Lizzie.

"How could you not know Darcy? She is after all your perfect match. When do you plan to propose?" Catherine DeBough said as she narrowed her eyes at Lizzie.

"To Caroline? Never," Darcy said and Lizzie tried to hide a snicker. Emboldened he added, "Caroline has never been more than Bing's sister to me. Her character is enough to keep me from ever getting entangled with her. She's not my type, I prefer something else," he said staring at Lizzie.

"Not your type," Catherine DeBough shrieked. "Darcy how long must you sow your wild oats for before you realize it is time to settle down?"

"Sow my wild oats?" Darcy ask as Lizzie failed to stifle another snicker. He loved her stifled snickers.

"Yes. Cavorting around. Lusting after an unsuitable woman. A man your age should have a wife at the very least."

"Just one?" Darcy ask.

"Darcy!"

"If it helps I have my eye on one."

Lizzie chocked and Fitz thudded her own the back. "Chew and swallow Lizzie B," he admonished her.

"So Mr. Collins, you I believe had some creative new ideas for the office," Charlotte broke in brightly.

...

"Well thanks to your psychopathic aunt we now know more about the Jane situation," Fitz told Darcy to cheer him up as they entered Darcy's hotel suite.

"My aunt was a nightmare tonight. I don't think I can be thankful to her for anything," Darcy responded as he sat down on the couch. It was official his aunt wasn't just lonely she was a bitter hateful stuck up woman.

"She was in fine form tonight. I half expected her to tell Lizzie to spread her legs for you so you could get her out of your system and move on."

"Fitz," Darcy groaned.

"Or that I'd have to help hide her body. I just wasn't sure if I'd be helping you or Lizzie. When DeBough went after Jane I expected bloodshed the way Lizzie was eyeing her cutlery."

Darcy barked out a short laugh. "Lizzie was magnificent the way she stood up to my aunt."

"There were moments I thought you were going to grab Lizzie and get the hell out of dodge."

"Trust me I wanted to. If I thought Lizzie was at all amenable to the grabbing I would have."

"So now that you know Jane is single and based off what Lizzie told me, not over Bing, what are you going to do?"

"I booked a flight out tomorrow to LA, I need to talk to Bing. I owe it to him to do it face-to-face. He deserves the chance to punch me," Darcy said standings up and starting to pace.

"Darce you cannot blame yourself for what happened with Bing and Jane."

"I told him to leave her. I'm his friend. He trusted me."

"You're too hard on yourself Darcy. Are you sure it's worth it?"

"What?" Darcy's pacing halted.

"This thing with Lizzie might be too hard. She doesn't love you, hated you just over 24 hours ago and she might not ever love you-"

"Fitz," Darcy said tightly.

"Don't you think you should at least think about packing up and leaving well enough alone?"

"Never," Darcy said angrily. "I love Lizzie. Until she is married to another man I can't give up. And even then I'd still want her to be mine. I thought you understood that Fitz."

"Darce what if she was intimate with Wickham?" Fitz said standing up and taking a step toward Darcy.

Darcy clenched his fists. "It wouldn't matter, I love her. Nothing changes that fact."

"Maybe you should take some time to think about it. I don't want to see you hurt Darce. There are other women out there."

"Not for me Fitz. If that's how you feel you can get out." Darcy said with a glare at his friend. How could Fitz even suggest such a thing. "I'm not packing up and leaving. I can't. Not again. I need Lizzie. Without her-" Darcy's voice broke. "Without her, I'm an empty shell. Whether she wants it or not she has my heart. I can't leave without trying to win her's. I'm willing to try for as long as it takes. She feels like the other half of my soul."

"Darce, easy there," Fitz said with a glance at Darcy's clenched fist that looked like it was about to draw back and punch him. "That, that was, come here you big lunkhead," Fitz said hugging him. "You know, I knew you wouldn't leave her, nothing I said would convince you. Even the thought of your worst enemy with her wasn't enough. Can Bing say the same about Jane? He was the one who was dating Jane, he's the one that abandoned her. You didn't hold a gun to his head, it was his choice. Your choice was to fight and refuse to give in when it came to Lizzie."

"Wickham, the past none of it matters as long as I have a future with Lizzie."

"Darce relax. I guess I should tell you I know for a fact things never went that far with Wickham. She didn't sleep with him."

"It wouldn't matter," Darcy said in a thick voice.

"I know, but don't give yourself an ulcer thinking about it. She didn't. Trust me."

"Thank God," Darcy breathed. It wasn't rational and he knew even if she had slept with Wickham he'd still love her but relief coursed through Darcy to know that Wickham had failed to seduce Lizzie.

"Bing, while a nice guy, is an irresponsible boy. It's like I tried to tell Lizzie the other night, the difference between a man and a boy is telling. Bing's a boy, he needs to grow up. You almost punched me when I pretended to try and talk you into forgetting about Lizzie. I bet Bing didn't even put up half so much resistance."

"Thank you Fitz, but the next time you need to make a point to me, a little less extreme please," Darcy said taking a shaky breath.

"You realize I was only pretending right Darce. I'm probably one of your biggest supporters when it comes to you and Lizzie."

"I'm afraid after dealing with my aunt all evening I couldn't handle another attack on Lizzie from anyone. I'm glad I did not punch you," Darcy said sitting back down heavily on the couch.

"Eh, it's okay. I timed my ploy to be when you were on edge. Strategy my friend. If you weren't you would perhaps have remembered me attacking you this morning for your outline. Which would have made you suspicious. You couldn't have a clear head for me to get my point across your stubbornness."

"Your point was made. The thought of giving up and leaving, I could never do it. I'm regretting booking my flight out. The thought of even temporarily leaving is almost too much."

"You need to talk to Bing Darce. Hell, maybe you'll be the one who punches him. Jane is still hurt which means Lizzie is still hurt. Despite the fact that leaving was Bing's choice you still made a mistake as a friend. Fix it, before Lizzie finds out and lashes out in pain. She's too smart to be with you long term and never stumble across it, you know this."

"I do, your right. I need to go fix my mistake so that when I tell Lizzie the full truth about why Bing left she at least knows I tried to atone for my role in it. Hopefully knowing I told Bing and left the choice up to him will be enough."

"She doesn't want her sister with a guy who can't make his own decisions, she'll realize that. Oh and Darce?"

"Yea?"

"Make sure you say goodbye and let her know you plan on returning."

"I'll never leave Lizzie without telling her goodbye again. I couldn't," Darcy said softly.