Chapter 8: Betrayal

Holywell Cottages, New College
October 2002

Darcy was laughing at her sub fusc. It was really unfair. Men got to wear black tie, while women were stuck with a back skirt and a white shirt tied with a stupid neck ribbon. Will looked gorgeous in his, like a nerdy James Bond. She looked like a waitress at a posh dinner. Her school uniform had been nicer. Not to mention, his robe was a full one just like the tutors' wore, and her gown was a glorified waistcoat with little flappy bits at the back. A waistcoat would be better, actually.

"It's not that bad."

Her eyebrow rose.

"If you do well in your Prelims, you can have a fancy robe too."

She stuck her tongue out at him.

"Everyone else is wearing the same thing?"

She turned her back on him.

She felt, more than heard, him move behind her, his hands tracing up her arms and his mouth on her neck. "You're beautiful."

"That's more like it."

"You always look gorgeous." He trailed kisses down her neck, moving her collar aside to access the top of her shoulder.

She turned in his arms and kissed his lips. Months of his kisses hadn't lessened their impact; if anything, she was even more addicted.

"I'm considering forgiving you."

"For being a second year?" he laughed.

She pushed him away. "For laughing at me!" She huffed. "But not any more!"

"Ok, ok!" He was still laughing.

"Stop laughing."

"It's mostly nervous laughter now."

"Piss off!"

"I'm sorry sweetheart. Please forgive me?" He held out his arms.

She went to him, somewhat begrudgingly, slipping her own arms around his waist and laying her head against his shoulder. He stroked her hair. How annoying that he was the one best able to soothe her when she was mad at him!

"Are you going for drinks after matriculation?"

"I think we're going to the Turl."

"I can't come to the Sheldonian, but maybe I can meet you at the pub after? You can beat me at pool."

"Ok, you're forgiven. This time." She tried to look stern, but he was so pretty, damn him.

xXx

New College Hall & College Bar
October 2002

Jane had come for the first Guest Dinner at College and Lizzy was really excited to show her around. They had wandered all over college, including up the Mound (even though Dad had brought them there before), and then spent hours getting dressing for dinner. They would have to change later for the bop, but their hair and makeup was done, and they got to wear pretty dresses to dinner.

They had missed pre-drinks in the bar, but they were sitting with a big group of friends from all years and Will was right opposite her. Unfortunately Caroline was only a few seats away, near Jamie and some of the other music students. She had been even more hostile to Lizzy since she'd seen her leaving Will's room one morning a few weeks ago; Lizzy was getting fed up of it, to be honest. Caroline directed a few sconces at her and slipped at least two pennies in her cup. So Lizzy was feeling pretty woozy by the end of dinner; Will said he'd take her back to her room so Jane could spend some time with Jamie. In the end, Jane came back too, to change for the bop, but Will stayed.

She actually fell asleep for almost two hours and woke feeling a bit sorry for herself, though much more sober. She couldn't believe she'd made such a fool of herself at guest dinner, and on Jane's visit too! Will made her feel better by telling her he'd also had to bring Alice to her room; she'd been lying in the middle of the quad singing her heart out, and the Porters had not been impressed. He had lots of stories about last year too; Guest Dinner had a bad rep, especially for first years who weren't used to drinking games.

"I'm so glad this is Friday and family dinner isn't until Sunday."

"And it's not even 10pm yet. Plenty of bop left for you." Will encouraged.

Lizzy was soon cleaned up, with a bed-sheet wrapped around her. The bop was a very unimaginative toga party; Will refused to participate. They headed to the Bar and Lizzy was immediately accosted by Caroline who was smoking outside.

"I'm sooooo sorry to have to tell you, Lizzy..." She couldn't sound less sorry, to be honest. "But your sister is snogging your boyfriend in there." She used air quotes when she said sister and boyfriend; the latter kind of made sense, but did she think Jane was a made up sister?

Lizzy laughed and looked at Will. "Apparently you have a doppelgänger."

"What?"

Lizzy pointed at Will and said, "Not that I'd believe it anyway, but Will has been with me since dinner."

"What's Will got to do with it? She's snogging Jamie!" shouted Caroline.

Lizzy was really confused. Even after her nap, she wasn't exactly sober.

"Caroline, do you think Lizzy and Jamie are together?" Darcy asked.

"They're not?"

Lizzy was relieved. Caroline didn't want Darcy after all! Now maybe she would back off and give Lizzy a break.

"No! Will and I are together. Jamie is Jane's boyfriend." Lizzy laughed and made her way inside. It wasn't until much later that she realised this meant Caroline was after Jamie.

xXx

The King's Arms, Oxford
November 2002

Lizzy's cousin Stephanie had come into town to meet her for a drink and let her have a cuddle of little Kylie. If she got a chance that was, with Darcy hogging the baby. Not that she minded really. Lizzy finally understood what people meant by exploding ovaries. She was lost in a fantasy of Darcy holding their baby... in a few years, obviously. Stephanie laughed at her dreamy face.

"Don't go getting broody lady, your Mum would murder me if you got up the duff in college."

"Steph!" Lizzy gasped. "Don't be silly, I just think she's cute."

"Of course you do, she's mine!"

"How would it be your fault anyway?" Lizzy demanded.

"Er, you have met your Mum right?"

"Fair enough" agreed Lizzy.

-x-

Gemma and her boyfriend came in a little later, and a few of Jamie's choir friends. Everyone wanted to coo over the baby, and Kylie was thrilled with the attention.

"She's her mother's daughter!" Lizzy joked.

The chat turned to baby names. By now everyone knew about Lizzy and Will's full names and they endured some good natured ribbing on the subject. Kylie was, of course, named after the singer. Gemma asked if everyone in their family was named for famous people.

"No, actually our Mums and aunties are all named after flowers." Steph replied.

"Isn't your Mum called Fiona?" Darcy asked Lizzy quietly.

"I'll explain later," she whispered back.

"What would you name your kid then Lizzy?" asked Joe.

"Definitely not a Pride and Prejudice name anyway!" she quipped.

"I quite like Lydia." mused Jennifer.

"Our dog is called Lydia!"

"Your dog?!"

"Yeah, Dad ran out of daughters. The cat is Kitty."

"Have you a sister called Mary then?"

"No", sniggered Will, "But it's her brother's middle name!"

"Wow, your parents are really into that book. What are the odds that you two would meet?"

"It's actually all Will's Mum's fault. She was the Pride and Prejudice fan. Our Dads met in the hospital when my sister and Will were born and inspired Dad to name us after the book Bennets. Will was named on purpose, but my Dad just thinks he's hilarious."

"Yeah, Mum was deadly serious about it. Her name was Anne, same as Darcy's Mum. Dad used to say she only married him for his surname!"

Everyone laughed.

£Though, actually," mused Lizzy, pretty much to herself, though she spoke aloud, "the only names we couldn't use are Anne, Georgiana, or Fitzwilliam. The Bennet names are fine if the surname is Darcy."

"Lizzy?" Darcy said, a little shakily.

Lizzy turned violently red as she realised what she'd just admitted, and prayed no one else had heard. She looked up at him, heart thumping. He wasn't running away. That was something.

"Um… I… uh…"

"Do you think Anna would be ok?" he interrupted. "It would be nice to honour my Mum... in a few years, obviously."

She nodded. They both looked away shyly, a bit stunned to have had such a serious revelation in front of an audience. But they were also sporting huge smiles.

xXx

Exmouth
November 2002

Darcy, Lizzy, and Jamie had travelled down to visit Jane for the weekend. They spent the previous night at the Exeter Student's Union and Lizzy's head was banging when she woke up. Jane and Jamie weren't doing well long distance and they clearly needed a long talk. Lizzy and Darcy had taken the train from Exeter out to the beach, to give them space and clear their own heads.

Lizzy loved the seaside, even in the blustery wintery weather, and Darcy was enchanted with her enthusiasm.

A couple of hours later, Jamie drove Darcy's car out to pick them up, Jane sitting quietly in the front. She didn't even want to speak to Lizzy. The two couples couldn't have presented a more different picture if they'd tried. Lizzy left Exeter reluctantly, feeling worried about her sister.

xXx

New College, Oxford
December 2002

It had snowed and the College gardens were completely white. The view from Darcy's bedroom window was beautiful and Lizzy woke him up to beg a camera. He scrabbled in his bedside table and threw a disposable at her, turning over again with a groan. She took a few snaps of the view and then some of Darcy (he was adorable when he slept), before shaking him awake again.

"We have to go out before it gets ruined!"

"Lizzy, it's 8am!"

"Exactly! Come on! Please Will, it's my first snow here!"

"Seriously, the sacrifices I make for love..." he grumbled, throwing on last night's clothes.

Lizzy used up the camera, first with pictures of the pristine snow, and then of their footprints and a little snowman they made. She got Darcy to take the final one of her making a snow angel, something she'd seen in a film. They stumbled back up to his room giggling and absolutely freezing, but completely happy.

Until Lizzy looked up and saw Caroline standing in the living room of the double set, wearing last night's clothes.

"What the fuck?! Jamie!" she screamed.

Jamie ran out of his room, wearing only boxers, which definitely didn't help her mood.

"Are you serious? Is this actually happening?"

"Caroline, I think you should leave." Will looked furious, and his voice was low and dangerous. "Davies, get some clothes on. Then come explain."

He brought Lizzy into his room and encouraged her to change into dry clothes, before sitting her down on the sofa and making a cup of tea. She realised she was crying.

"Will? What about Jane?"

"I know." he replied grimly. "I can't believe he would do this. And to put us in this position. It's unforgivable."

Jamie came back out looking sheepish. "I'm sorry. I though you'd gone out."

"That's what you're sorry for? Getting caught?! How could you do this to Jane?"

"Jane knows."

"What?!"

"We decided to have an open relationship. She didn't want you to know, so I've been sneaking around. But on you, not on Jane."

Lizzy and Will were thunderstruck. Will was very old fashioned and as far as he was concerned, this was cheating, no matter who knew. Lizzy was a little more open minded; she knew not everyone's relationship looked like hers. What shocked her most was that Jane hadn't said a word. They were both upset at being lied to by their closest friends.

"Are you sure? You know I'll ask her."

Jamie looked resigned. "Look, Jane cheated on me in November. That's what we argued about when we all went to Exeter. I found out. We decided to try seeing other people while we're apart, but not when we're together, so we don't have to split up. She didn't think you'd approve. I'm sorry, I should have been more careful. Can you let me talk to her first? So she's not upset at me telling you?"

Lizzy was herself very upset. She couldn't believe Jane had gone through so much and she didn't know about any of it. And she had cheated! This was not like Jane at all. She wondered what else her sister was hiding.

"Does Caroline understand the situation, Davies?" Darcy asked. "I can't imagine she's happy being your bit on the side."

"Don't be so judgemental, Darcy. It's really none of your business."

"If Lizzy is upset, it's my business."

"Will." She tried to calm him with a hand on his arm. "Let's not say anything we'll regret. I can't believe Jamie would lie about this."

"Davies has clearly been lying for some time."

Jamie realised Darcy was hurt, but he was too proud to give in.

"I'm going out. I'll speak to you when you get over yourself, Darcy." He paused at the door of the set. "Lizzy, can you wait til the end of term to talk to Jane? I'll speak to her first, but I think you'll need to give her some time."

Darcy bristled at the idea that it was Lizzy who would upset Jane, when Davies was the cheat, but Lizzy settled him.

They had a long talk about their feelings and he realised he was not only feeling betrayed in his friendship, but in his idea of who his friend was. He agreed with Lizzy that he needed to try harder not to be judgmental of different lifestyles, but it was difficult. Especially because he thought Caroline was bad news. The atmosphere in the double set remained as frosty as the weather until the end of Michaelmas; Darcy had never been so happy for the vac.

xXx

Authors notes:

Did anyone guess Caroline was a ringer? I'm trying to avoid most of the P&P plot and characters, since the book actually exists in this universe, but I couldn't resist adding a little Miss Bingley bitchiness!

Oxford terms

Sub fusc: Academic dress. Lizzy is referring to the Commoners Gown; Darcy wears a Scholar's Gown. Google them to see what Lizzy is complaining about.

Prelims: Preliminary Examinations – first year exams held by university in either Hilary or Trinity term. In some subjects, you sit Mods (Honour Moderations). If you get a Distinction in Prelims/a First Class in Mods, you get to wear a Scholars Gown.

Matriculation (held in the Sheldonian Theatre): Entrance ceremony to the university, the opposite to graduation.

Guest dinner: A dinner where you can invite a guest to come eat at College; people normally dress up and it's BYO alcohol.

Bop: Themed party in the college bar, for college students and their guests only. Normally fancy dress.

Sconce/sconcing: a drinking game, similar to "I have never", you say something you haven't done so Jane could say e.g. "I sconce anyone who has kissed Will", and Lizzy would have to drink. The sconce was a silver cup you had to drink out of back in the day; they aren't used now but Colleges still own them.

Pennying: you put a penny in someone drink and they have to down it. Aim is to get it in as full a drink as possible. Many people sit with their hands over their drinks at guest dinner!

Michaelmas: the Autumn (Fall) term. Hillary is the Spring term, Trinity is the summer term. Each term is 8 weeks long.

Vac: short for vacation. The holiday period between terms. 6 weeks each between Michaelmas/Hillary and Hillary/Trinity. The break between years, i.e. between Trinity and Michaelmas is called the long vac.