Chapter 43

Wednesday November 28

Lydia walked into Lizzie's room while she was filming and announced, "Wickham's back in town."

"And this matters why?" Lizzie ask her.

"For reals?"

"I just don't see why his presence should affect us."

"Ummm revenge."

Lizzie leaned forward and turned off the camera.

"For what?" Lizzie ask Lydia.

"GiGi, Darceface. Duh."

"I think Lydia-"

"You think to much nerd. He hurt our friend, he dissed your mancake-"

"Please don't call Will a mancake."

"He dissed your mancake, he played you. We can't just do nothing. We need a plan. I'll get Jane," she said turning to leave the room.

Lizzie grabbed Lydia's arm before she could leave and pulled her back down. She said, "Lydia, are you sure he is even in town?"

"My sources are reliable. "

"For how long?"

"A few weeks. "

"I need to tell Will. Him and GiGi will be here in less than three weeks, " Lizzie said grabbing her phone.

Saturday December 1

"You have got to be kidding me," Lizzie said in disbelief when she opened the door and saw Caroline.

"Lizzie, so nice to see you too, " Caroline said her voice dripping with false sweetness.

Lydia quietly turned on her phone to record the upcoming confrontation she knew would happen.

"I'm afraid I can't say the same," Lizzie told her.

"I just want to be your friend Lizzie. Be there for you. I've been where you are now. Used and discarded by Darcy. He and I were close while he was at Netherfield, intimate. I thought it meant something. But just like you I was only an out of town fling, " Caroline said. "I trusted him. "

Lizzie pursed her lips and shook her head. "Will isn't like that."

Caroline tensed at Lizzie's use of Darcy's shortened first name. " I thought that once too. But when he is looking for a convient lay he knows how to turn on the charm so he can get some action. That's all he saw in you, a conquest. "

"I think it's time you leave, " Lizzie said firmly.

"I just wanted to be your friend, help you out. I care about you Lizzie. He's the reason my brother left Netherfield, left Jane. If he didn't think Jane was good enough for my brother long term what makes you think he would ever consider you good enough for him in the long run? "

Lizzie froze.

Caroline sensing she had landed a hit continued,"He told my brother Jane was a gold digger. That he could be happeir with somone from his own level of society. That Jane was beneath my brother, which I dare say is where Darcy wanted you, beneath him in bed so he could slum it, " Caroline said with a satisfied smirk as Lizzie paled.

"Get out! Get out now," Lydia furiously said to Caroline stepping in front of Lizzie.

"I was just leaving, " she said heading back to her waiting car. "Ask him about it Lizzie if you don't believe me," Caroline challenged her over her shoulder knowing Darcy wouldn't lie. His absolute honesty would finally destroy his chances with Lizzie. She would be there to comfort him in his distress and finally get what she wanted.

Lydia turned back to her shell shocked sister. "Lizzie," she said softly.

Lizzie didn't answer, she pulled out her phone and hit dial. When Darcy answered she demanded, "Did you call Jane a gold digger?"

"Lizzie, " Darcy said anxiously.

"Answer the question. Did you call my sister a gold digger? Did you tell Bing she was beneath him? That he could be happier with somone from his own level of society?"

Darcy in took a shaky breath. "I did, but-"

"How could you? Jane could never," she said angrily.

"I know Lizzie, just please let me explain-" he cried anxiously but Lizzie hung up on him. She sank to the floor, crying. Lydia knelt by her and put her arms around her. Lizzie's broken sobs filled the air. Realising her phone was still recording Lydia shut it off and continued to hug her sister.

Lizzie's phone rang. Darcy's name appeared on the caller id. Lizzie ignored it. It rang again. Finally after the fifth time Lydia answered it. She told Darcy it wasn 't a good time and he needed to stop calling. He had sounded so miserable she rashly assured him he just need to give Lizzie a chance to calm down. Lizzie she told him would be ready to talk to him tomorrow if he would just give Lizzie space for the next 24 hours

Eventually Lizzie's sobs ceased. Lydia helped Lizzie up from the hall floor and into bed. Lydia considered her phone. Darcy had been an ass back in September. She had suspected him of getting into Bing's head. Caroline's information wasn't anything new, at least not to her. Lizzie though had been taken by surprise. She had been so busy falling for Darcy she seemed to have forgotten the man he used to be. Lydia believed Darcy had changed. The new Darcy she decided deserved a chance. He loved Lizzie and had made her so happy. She emailed the footage to GiGi, asking her to pass it on to her brother.

Jane had gone back to LA and their parents were gone for the weekend, Lydia knew she was all Lizzie had. She would do her best to care for her.

...

Darcy dropped his head to his desk, fighting tears. He was terrified he had just lost Lizzie. Somehow she had found out about what he said about Jane. Lydia had told him to give Lizzie space for 24 hours, promising to take care of her and let him know how she was doing. He desperately wanted to leave Bing's place in LA and drive to Meryton. To see Lizzie and beg for her forgivness. To swear he'd do anything for her if she would just give him another chance. Lydia though had been adiment that he give Lizzie space for 24 hours. 24 hours he told himself and he would be at Lizzie's front door, knocking it down if necessary.

His phone beeped. He looked at it hoping it was Lizzie. It was a message from Bing reminding him of dinner with Caroline that night. He wasn't in a frame of mind to deal with Caroline but had promised Bing he'd be there with him. Bing had contacted his sister shortly before Thanksgiving demanding she apoligize and stop meddling in his life. She had done so. Then yesterday Bing discovered her meddling in his life again. She had attempted to cancle one of his upcoming non profit research trips. Tonight he planned on confronting her for a final time with the threat to cut all ties. He had ask Darcy to be there to support him.