Chapter Eleven; Diamond as Big as the Ritz
The next day Elizabeth was unsure about a lot of things. Like did Darcy still want her to go with them. She was an idiot, but she hopped that he'd be willing to put up with that. That thought was another thing, was she having feelings for him? That dream certainly made her think so. As she looked in the mirror she scrutinized herself. Had she always had some feelings for him? Elizabeth remembered the Ozarks excursion and the repetitive desire to be his. All through their prior acquaintance she had reason or another to hate him. As she walked to work she cured herself for her stupidity.
How horribly I have acted. She thought. Vanity, not love, has been my folly. I who pride myself on intelligence. I have courted prejudice and ignorance. I drove away reason wherever I saw it! I would've forgiven his pride, if he hadn't wounded mine. Until this moment I never knew myself. Elizabeth yelled at herself silently all the way to the theater.
It was a half day at the ballet that day because that night the show opened. Elizabeth stretched out with her friends and went up to the studio to work on more nutcracker stuff. Darcy met her on the stairs.
"Eliza-Luciana," he corrected himself, "are we still on for lunch?"
"If you're sure."
"Without a doubt." Darcy said looking her in the eyes. Did you know he had hazel eyes? She thought to herself afterwards.
Darcy paced outside the changing room waiting for Elizabeth and feeling a bit creepy. He didn't want her to change her mind, but he also wondered if there was a better place to stand. Eventually she emerged and Darcy swallowed. Everyday she grew more beautiful. Her hair was down and her curls had extra volume and she was wearing a light sweater in pink, faired jeans, and strappy black pumps. She looked like the fifth sex and the city character.
"Ready to go?" he asked, she smiled and went for her purse and jacket. They shared a cab for which he paid no ifs, ands, or buts. They met Charles and got an awesome table.
"It's good to see you Lizzy." Charles said as they embraced. "I never expected that you were fam-"
"Charles, we're hear for your bride-to-be, not her little sister." Elizabeth said smiling. They took their seats and placed drink orders.
"Speaking of Jane I realized I was a bad boyfriend and called her last night. She gave me the what fore. I didn't know she knew some of those words."
"Remind you of me?" Elizabeth said, "I'm a bad influence. Did she threaten to castrate you with a golf tee?"
"How does that work exactly?" Darcy asked humorously.
"Think about notebook paper, perforate and tear." She replied with an animated face and gestures. The men grimaced, and then laughed. They talked for a while before Richard came in with a tall blonde girl. They greeted each other, the blonde and Darcy particularly affectionately. Elizabeth hadn't seen Darcy in this manor before she was obviously Georgiana.
"Richard, you remember Luci." Darcy said, Richard replied that he couldn't forget. Darcy then turned to his sister.
"Georgiana, this is Luciana Keene. Luci, this is my sister Georgiana." Elizabeth smiled and extended her hand Georgiana took it with astonishment her bright blue eyes grew large.
"You must hear this a lot but I love your work." She said shyly. "Will was kind enough to tell me about you."
"I have heard a lot about you as well. How's Julliard treating you?" Elizabeth replied. Georgiana seemed amazed that she cared. The girls talked for a while about college, music, and Julliard, Georgiana was over the moon about the woman she admired actually taking an interest in her. And Fitzwilliam was over the moon about the fact that the woman he loved got on well with the other woman he loved. The conversation soon turned from Georgiana's life to Elizabeth's. Everyone was interested in hearing about the life of a dancer. Elizabeth talked for a time about it using some of her better jokes about the life.
"Well, last year was a dramatic one. I think that by new years Fanny's boyfriend broke up with her from Hawaii, Harriett went home with Marshall... again, Cole slept with Benji's quasi-boyfriend, and Marissa ends an evening with a plea for sperm. It was like one big soap opera! The whole year I kept waiting for Sue Ellen to wander into the auditorium and tell us that she's secretly bought controlling interest in our theater company!" The table laughed and continued to do so through out the meal.
"So you met my brother when he was in Iowa?" Georgiana asked, "What was he like once he was there, he wasn't excited to go, but once he got there his letters improved in spirit."
"Are you sure you want to know, it could be painful." Elizabeth replied smiling across Georgiana at her brother.
"Of course we want to know." Richard said from her other side.
"Well the first time I met him was bartending for a friend at a bonfire, where you brother didn't know the difference between a hippie and a bohemian. After that for a while when I looked up 'asshole' in the dictionary all I could see was him." The table groaned and Georgiana smacked her brother's arm. "But as I got to know him I just realized that he was ten of the most boring people I knew."
"Hey! I resemble that remark." Darcy said playfully.
"I know you do dear. But then I got to know him better, and we came up here and now its just la-dee-da, la-dee-da, la la." Elizabeth didn't finish her sentence. The rest of the meal went peacefully until the check came and Charles fought everyone off to pick up the tab. He had a fantastic death glare.
They walked over to the diamond district after lunch, it was only a little over a mile and most of it was through Central Park. They stopped at a few different stores but everything that Charles picked up Georgiana and Elizabeth nixed. He hadn't a clue about what he should get for Jane. Exasperated he asked,
"Well what does she like?"
"Classical is good, so is simple, but she is distracted by shiny things more so than I am." Elizabeth said, chuckling everyone entered Tiffany & Co. They spread out, Richard and Georgiana going one way, Charles another, and Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth a third. Her eyes were instantly drawn to the Tiffany set engagement ring and band. Darcy and a sales clerk noticed.
"Do you want to try one miss?" the elderly woman asked.
"Yha, Elizabeth is there one that works?" Darcy asked looking at the rings as well.
"We're here for Jane and Charles, not me." Elizabeth said, "These are more my taste."
"Well you've done a lot that was all for Jane, why don't you try one. Give me your hand." She looked at him puzzled. "She's a size five." Darcy said to the lady who nodded and went to a side room to get the sample ring. Elizabeth turned to Darcy.
"I don't know what you're playing at; I'm not getting married any time soon."
"Haven't you ever played dress up?" Darcy asked. She shook her head that warmth was back again. A different sale's clerk returned with the ring.
"This is a glass and nickel version, we can't try one the real ones for obvious reasons." The clerk said handing the ring to Darcy's out stretched hand. He took Elizabeth's left hand and put the ring onto it. It fit perfectly and looked even better on her. He held her hand and looked at the ring and then at her.
"You see, was that painful?" he said, she looked up at him and licked her lips; there was something new in her eyes that did not go unnoticed, he inclined his head slightly feeling a magnetic pull between her lips and his. She felt it too.
"Miss, that ring and you go together almost as nicely as you and your man do." Elizabeth's daze was broken as she looked at the clerk blushing,
"Oh, uh," she began but there was a call from Charles. Elizabeth quickly took the ring off and returned it thanking the clerk before hurrying to Charles side. He was looking into the case at a gorgeous totally Jane ring.
"That one." Charles said. It was about a one carat center brilliant cut diamond but the band had square cut channel set diamonds.
"She's a size six." Elizabeth said. Charles bought the ring and Elizabeth almost fainted when she heard the price.
"$15,600! That's over a year's rent!" She exclaimed.
That night Charles had called everyone together at his apartment. Dick and Louisa had came early so that they could help cook. Darcy had been there since the shopping trip, his mind still reeling from seeing Elizabeth's hand with a diamond on it. We don't have any family engagement ring any more, but I think that we still have Elizabeth Darcy's wedding band. And that would mean more than any diamond no matter the size. Darcy wanted Elizabeth to wear that band. If Elizabeth would ever have him. But he didn't think about that. He had too keep his head, Charles needed an allied incase things got too bad for him. Louisa and Dick would raise no objection but he wasn't so sure about Caroline. Louisa was in front of the TV with a husband and a glass of wine as he passed through the living room. She was speaking along with some miracle pill commercial.
"Consult your doctor before using this product. Side effects may include oily discharge, hives, loss of appetite, low blood pressure. If you have diabetes or a history of kidney trouble, you're dead, asshole!" she said, he had to chuckle. Thank God Charles only had one bitchy sister.
"Need help old boy?" Darcy asked of Charles upon entering the kitchen.
"At this moment no. But you never know. Caroline will be here soon." No sooner had he said it then Caroline entered her brother's apartment. The fun was instantly sucked out of the entire home.
The dinner went relatively well, Caroline complained about things but it was easy to tune out and everyone else had a pleasant conversation. Until it was time for Charles to make his little announcement.
"Everyone, if I could have your attention." He began formally, he was nervous. "I flew back here to do a few things that will be changing all of our lives."
"You've given up on Iowa?" Caroline asked hopefully.
"No, I've decide that I should open another practice in Omaha and move to Neatherfield farm permanently." Louisa and Dick were confused and saddened but didn't say anything, Caroline however screeched.
"WHAT!"
"Let me explain. I love Jane Bennet more than I love anything else in this world. She's my angel and my everything. I want to be with her. I went to Tiffany's today and with some impeccable assistance I bought a ring." Charles said pulling the box out of his pocket and opening it up so that those who hadn't seen it could. Dick whistled and Louisa gasped. Caroline was stunned. "I want Jane to marry me. Her job is in Iowa and that's where she is. And that's where I should be too." Louisa clapped and her eyes were glossy.
"That's one hell of a noose." Dick said, "You'll be very happy." Charles was on cloud nine, he had support from Darcy, his beloved elder sister, as well as Elizabeth.
"You're kidding! Marry Jane Bennet? Be serious. She's nothing but a cute teacher. Admittedly she's very sweet but think of your kingdom, you legacy, and your destiny." Caroline said.
"My kingdom for an intelligent octopus!" Charles snapped.
"You're a Harvard grad and you're making a big mistake if you entertain the thought of marrying that country nobody." Caroline continued on.
"Hey, Harvard makes mistakes! Kissinger taught there!" Charles again replied at his second older sister. She was making his blood boil.
"You need to marry somebody like me. I don't even do math. I'm a beautiful, popular rich kid who went to a state university and was a sister of a light weight sorority. I have no job skills and don't need any because I'm going to get married! That's the woman you need Charles. Don't you agree Dick, Louisa, Darcy?"
"I hate to be predictable but I don't give a shit. It's Charles' life and if he's gunna be happy. Let him be happy." Dick said. Caroline turned to her sister who was about to kill.
"You are so lucky I don't know karate!"
"Darcy, surely you agree with me. Tell Charles that he's being stupid."
"Caroline, queen of Bitchtown your people have come to take you home." Darcy said, and with that he, Charles, Dick, and Louisa ushered her out the door.
"I would never want a woman anything like you Caroline; I've lived with a bitch long enough. If you can't accept Janie than you can not accept me!" Charles growled and slammed the door. The rest of the group applauded.
"It was about time you did that Charles." Darcy told his friend.
"I think that made me sick." Louisa said. "I'm gunna go wash my hair and puke." As Louisa headed towards her brother's bathroom Dick called after her.
"Puke first."
Charles got off the plane never more nervous in his life. The Tiffany ring burning a hole in his pocket. He wanted to know, he wanted Jane, and he wanted it now. But he had to wait, he owed it to the woman he loved to make the proposal special. He had given thought to using her students to pop the question but he didn't trust them and more than likely the situation would be a bit to adult. Jane was waiting for him at the airport. She smiled and he had to resist the urge to propose right then and there. After an exciting embrace they headed to the car.
"I'm still a little annoyed with you, Charles. But you can make it up to me." She said as they got into the car. He was more than willing to.
After crazy good sex Charles held Jane close to him as he sat propped up in his bed. The stars were out and the glass wall gave them a wonderful view. He drug his lips over her face.
"Jane I love you." He said is again and again in between kisses.
"Oh, Charles I love you too. Very much." She replied almost as frequently.
"You're not like any girl I've ever known well. You know. You're very beautiful. You're also very quiet. And I'm not used to girls being that quiet unless they're medicated. Normally I go out with girls who talk so much you could hook them up to a wind turbine and they could power a small New Hampshire town. It is so nice when you can sit with someone and not have to talk. You're unique and I love that. I love that you get cold when it's 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you're looking at me like I'm nuts. I love that after I spend the day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. I flew to New York and realized that when you pull your head out of your ass and realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible. I want to spend forever with you, forever and then some with you. People say nothing is forever. I say how do you explain herpes or The Grateful Dead? Jane Amelia Bennet will you make me the happiest of men and marry me?" He asked turning to her holding the ring box.
"Oh Charles, yes, yes, yes, a thousand times yes!" She said breathlessly. She opened the box and gasped. The diamond sparkled by the light of the moon.
"It's why I flew to New York, I wanted the best ring. Elizabeth approved it whole heartedly. It doesn't shine like you do and it's not nearly as beautiful but it's the best anyone can do, because nothing compares to you." He said sliding the ring onto her finger, it fit perfectly. She kissed him passionately and the rest of the night was held in such a manor.
The loud unexpected ring of her cell phone sent Elizabeth jumping out of bed the next morning.
"Hel..." she mumbled into the receiver groggily.
"OHMIGODLIZZY! THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU! HE PROPOSED LAST NIGHT. I LOVE HIM SO MUCH!" Jane gushed over the phone. Elizabeth focused long and hard at her clock and saw it wasn't even six am yet.
"Honey, no perk before six." She said dryly putting on her robe and wandering around her apartment.
"I'm sorry honey its just that, Oh Lizzy to know that what I have to relate will give such pleasure, how shall I bear so much happiness? I am certainly the most fortunate creature that ever existed! Oh, Lizzy, why am I thus singled from my family, and blessed above them all? If I could but see you as happy! If there were but such another man for you!" Jane said. Elizabeth was regaining her sense slowly as the coffee smell filled the room.
"If you were to give me forty such men I never could be so happy as you. Till I have your disposition, your goodness, I never can have your happiness. No, no, let me shift for myself; and perhaps, if I have very good luck, I may meet with another William Collins in time. Charles Bingley is a prince among men." Elizabeth said.
"He is he is. And I love the ring. Thank you for looking after him." Elizabeth knew Jane was smiling on the other end.
"This is going to be my brother, I have to like him. You've got yourself a peach. Now how did he propose!" Elizabeth asked giddy as a school girl. The sisters talked for a good long time and after they hung up Elizabeth smiled and laughed to herself. The world was right as it should be.
AN: Thank for reading this far; in print you've finished 88 pages. I kiss the feet of all my reviewers and I really cherish every word, but now I'm thinking 'Oh shit!' you guys actually like this piece, now I'm worried. Lol. There are probably a lot of inaccuracies, like a wedding ring surviving from the original Elizabeth or Tiffany's having a tester ring thing that you could see what the ring would look like – like I have here. Oh well it was good for drama. The golf tee comment is really, one of my best guy friends used that – notebook paper, jesters, and all. You can kinda see how crazy my friends are from that fact.
My reviewers that continually send me into happy dances (that typically are ended by my mom and her murmurs of seeking help – I swear she's the crazy one!)
a, Maddy02, Shadow of ZAFT, Happily Depressed, rubberdukki, anon, Anne, a, AshleyMorgan and gingerspice
THANK YOU!