Oxford
May 2004
Will stepped out of the Examination Schools absolutely wrung out and ready for bed, into a crowd of students all cheering for their mates. A plastic lei was thrown round his neck and a bottle thrust into his hand.
"Down it!" shouted Davies, pushing the bottle towards his mouth.
"Never mind that!" laughed Richard, shaking up the bottle in his hand, and letting it spray all over Darcy.
"Watch yourselves!" a Proctor called over to them.
"You're lucky they're here, Darcy, protecting you. But they're not round every corner..."
"Piss off, Dick! I know you got a summons for throwing flour over Zeke the other day."
"Fuck sake, who told him?" Richard looked disappointed. Even he wouldn't risk more than one disciplinary hearing.
Davies shrugged; "I thought it was funny."
A few other friends milled around, patting Darcy on the back, and other students finishing exams shouted out congratulations.
"Where's Lizzy?" he asked Gemma.
"I haven't seen her. Her tute must have run over."
Sometimes Dr Reilly kept students late if she found them interesting; she was also based at St Hugh's, which was considered pretty far away in Oxford terms. He was disappointed, but tried to hide it.
"She'll probably be at my room when I get back."
"Uh, no mate, no going back to your room. We're going out!"
"Davies, I'm soaking wet. And knackered."
"Tough. You're getting drunk whether you like it or not. Don't think I didn't see you put that bottle of plonk down."
Darcy absolutely hated the cheap fizzy wine most of the students drank. He'd grown up with his aunt's more refined palate, and he didn't care if it made him snobby, he refused to drink swill.
"I'll come to the pub, but you can leave that bottle where it is."
"Come on then, posh boy."
Darcy rolled his eyes, but allowed himself to be pulled along.
"My phone's in my room," he said to Gemma; "can you text Lizzy and let her know we're going to the Turf?"
"No need," she replied, pointing down the lane a bit. There was Lizzy, pushing her bike through the crowd.
"Lizzy!" he waved to catch her attention, smiling when her head jerked round at the sound of his voice. She stopped and stood there, letting him come to her.
"Hello you," she smiled, leaning over to kiss him, but carefully angling her body away from his wet hair and clothes. "Someone got you then?"
"Dick, of course. At least it's not flour and eggs, though they might have let me go shower if it was."
"Where are we going then?"
"The Turf. I promised Davies."
"Alright." She turned her bike around so they could catch up with the others. "Do you feel good about finishing?" she asked softly.
He pushed his hand through his curls, an old habit, and grimaced at the stickiness he found there.
"I'm glad I don't have any more exams, but to be honest I'm feeling a little flat at it being the end of uni."
"Not entirely. There's still some dinners, and a bop. I know you love a bop."
He laughed at that, knowing she wanted to lighten his mood, but his heart wasn't in it.
"You've got a whole year left. Wait and see how you feel about it this time next year."
"Alright, grumpy-bum. I'll stop trying to cheer you up. Let's go drown your sorrows."
-x-
Two hours and an ungodly amount of shots later (peer pressure is a real thing), Darcy was led home by an amused Lizzy; he required so much propping up, she had to leave her bike chained outside the pub in order to support him. Once back at his room, she helped him shower. Honestly, she hosed him down; while he sung to her. He let her dry him off, pull a t-shirt over his head, and lead him to bed, but once she tried to leave he clung to her, asking her to stay.
"Will, come on, it's 5pm in the afternoon. I have an essay to write."
"'S'not. 'S'nighttime…"
She pulled his arms from around her waist and pushed him back down on the bed.
"For you, yes it is. Not for me."
"Wan' cuddle..." he mumbled.
She smiled at him, charmed and amused.
"Ok, I'll cuddle you for a little bit, but then I've got to go to the library. Alright?"
"Alright," he agreed, his face sulky. He looked like an overgrown toddler.
She climbed onto his bed, and held him, letting him snuggle in. It didn't help the toddler image, really. Lucky she thought he was cute! He was asleep in about three minutes, the combination of alcohol and academic exhaustion knocking him out. She left a basin, a glass of water, and a phone by his beside before letting herself out. When she came back to check on him at 10pm, he was still snoring.
xXx
June 2004
"Jane! I'm so glad you're here!"
"Me too. It felt like this semester would never end."
"You haven't changed your mind then?"
"No. Exeter isn't for me, I can't do two more years there. I'm definitely back for good."
"At least you gave it a good try, like Dad said. No regrets."
Jane nodded; "no regrets. Brookes has a really good course. I probably should have gone there in the first place, but it wasn't until I left that I realised I was a home bird."
Lizzy offered her a comforting smile. None of them had realised how much heartache Jane moving away would cause her, or those who loved and worried about her.
"And Greg?"
"Definitely over."
"I dread to ask, but… Jamie?"
"I haven't talked to him in a few months. I couldn't let him influence my decision."
"But?"
"He's staying on to do a Masters."
"Yeah."
"So, we'll see."
"Okay," said Lizzy, opting to trust her.
xXx
July 2004
The summer break at Oxford was an excellent opportunity for the teaching fellows to complete their own studies, write papers, or attend academic conferences. Being some of the few students who lived locally, this left Lizzy and Will an opportunity to make some easy money, by offering themselves up as test subjects for their professors. In theory, it was also good experience of the research environment and helpful in making future career choices, and Darcy had certainly explained it to Victoria in such a way, but in reality he was enjoying procrastinating any large decisions.
It felt to him that this was his last summer of freedom. So he happily enjoyed the sunshine on bike rides, boat trips, and during pub lunches with Lizzy, and his evenings at concerts, family dinners (hers and his), and sometimes just lying on the roof accessible from Lizzy's new college room (she was assisting with the summer school), staring at the stars with her by his side. Any time she was unavailable, he was able to devote to entertaining his little sister, and occasionally thought very little, if at all, about his looming adulthood.
xXx
August 2004
"To Will and Georgie's future!" cried Mary Darcy, thrusting her arm into the air so violently that the champagne sloshed out of her glass; "Hip Hip Hooray!"
A chorus of "To Will and Georgie!" and "Hip Hip Hoorays!" came from around the room, alongside the tinkling of glasses, and the excited squeals of Georgie and Thomas, who had been included in what was – for them – quite a grown-up party. That morning, Will had officially signed the papers to take over guardianship of Georgiana.
"I'm very proud of you, Fitzwilliam Darcy," said Mary, once they had settled down; "It's not been easy, but you've done us all proud with how you've grown up. I know your Mum and Dad are proud of you too."
Darcy smiled at her, tears coming into his eyes, and squeezed the hands of Lizzy and Georgie, who were standing either side of him.
"They're proud of you too, Georgie, and we all know you're going to be a good girl for your brother."
"I'm always good!" claimed Georgiana, which was met with muted laughter from the other party-goers.
"'Course you are," said her grandmother.
"Do we get cake now?" asked Thomas, who had very little emotional investment in the occasion. The laugher he provoked was louder.
"Not yet, T," Lizzy told him; "first we have to say happy birthday to Will."
"More speeches?" he groaned.
"Did you bribe him?" Lizzy asked Will, smirking.
He raised his hands in the universal gesture of 'I'm innocent, honest'. She raised an eyebrow, playfully sceptical. Victoria rolled her eyes at them – she was not a woman that appreciated what she called time-wasting – and tapped her glass to regain everyone's attention.
"As you all know, Fitzwilliam and Georgiana have long been in my care, and Mary's of course. I have been honoured to take care of them on my sister's behalf, and I am honoured now to see Fitzwilliam take over that care of his sister."
There was a slight smattering of applause, but much less enthusiasm that for Mary's speech. Victoria was not the kind of woman who encouraged enthusiasm.
"However, we are not here only to celebrate Fitzwilliam's new role, but to celebrate his twenty-first birthday."
Davies let out a "Whooooo!" from the back of the room, but Victoria's disdainful stare discouraged anyone else from being so uncouth.
"As I was saying," she continued, "we are here to extend our well wishes to Fitzwilliam on this significant birthday, and, more importantly, to celebrate his excellent degree results."
New College's graduation ceremony was not held until September, but individual results were released by the university departments throughout the summer. Darcy had been relieved to do as well as he had, though no one who knew him was surprised.
"He got a first!" shouted his Uncle, just in case anyone was unaware – possibly the caterer, but it was equally likely he had been informed on arrival.
"Of course he did," beamed his grandmother.
"So, can we all raise our glasses once again, to Will…"
Everyone's glasses clinked again, and this time the room echoed with various cheers of "Happy birthday!", "Well done!" and "Will!". But Darcy's favourite was the quiet, "To you", whispered to him by Lizzy, before she kissed his cheek.
"And now…" called Mrs Bennet; "Happy birthday to you…"
Everyone joined in serenading him, as his cake was carried in, and Darcy was encouraged to blow out the candles, then cut the cake and hand out slices to all his well wishers.
xXx
September 2004
"Another month, another party," sighed Will, throwing his cap on Lizzy's bed.
She had been allowed to keep her room for the two weeks between the end of the summer schools and the start of term, since it was the one assigned to her for the coming year. It was quite unusual for a finalist to get an in-college room, and though it was tiny and had a strange ledge in the middle – having been built in the fourteenth century, long before health and safety was a concern – both Lizzy and Will were grateful for both the location and the privacy it offered them. They had slipped away from the reception in the garden after Will's graduation pictures had been taken by the official photographer, and were allowing themselves a short reprieve before returning to the melee.
"Hardly a party. Just a dinner."
"There are fifty people coming. Fifty!"
"Well, you were the one that allowed Mum to organise it!"
"I didn't think she'd invite everyone she knew!"
There were only three tickets per graduation student, for both the ceremony in the Sheldonian and the lunch held afterwards at college, which is why Darcy had agreed to a larger party in the first place. He really should have asked more questions.
"Hardly." argued Lizzy. "Your Darcy family aren't coming."
"Only because they just came for my birthday. Not because they weren't invited."
She pushed him down to sit on the bed and plonked herself in his lap, her arms going round his neck and his around her waist with the ease of two people who often found themselves in this pose together.
"It's not that bad, is it? It's how she shows her love."
She reached her hand up to play with his curls, and he leaned into her hand, sighing.
"I know. I'm sorry. It's just been a long day already. A lot of peopling."
"I know what will make you feel better," Lizzy grinned at him. Encouraged, he tipped his mouth up to hers, and let her comfort him.
-x-
Later that day...
The dinner party was being held in the bistro of a small hotel on the High Street, conveniently close to college. When Victoria, Darcy, Lizzy, and Georgie arrived from college, they were greeted with a wall of noise, most of it coming from the Walton side of Lizzy's family, who were making the most of the fact that Thom was picking up the tab.
"Will!" cried Fiona, "come in dear! Look everyone," she called a little louder, "the star of the show has arrived!"
She directed Georgiana towards Thomas, and then pulled Darcy away to do the rounds. He followed his hostess, leaving Lizzy to entertain Victoria. Three hours later, he heartily regretted that decision.
The dinner itself had been good; tasty, fairly simple fare that catered to everyone's tastes. Apart, perhaps, from Victoria, who liked the finer things in life – and saw it as a moral failing when others did not. Unbeknownst to Darcy, Victoria had allowed her distaste of the evening, and of certain guests in particular, to colour her conversation with Lizzy, and his girlfriend was not at all happy. Darcy, exhausted with socialising and incapable of sensitivity in the moment, came up to them seeking a welcome ear for complaints, and instead found himself amidst an argument he had thought long settled between them.
"Lizzy," he greeted her warmly, "I feel like I haven't seen you all day."
Elizabeth gave him a half-hearted smile.
"And Victoria, I hope you've had a nice evening."
"Nice enough, I suppose."
"I know this isn't your usual crowd, but it'll be over soon."
Lizzy's eyebrow rose, and it drew his attention to her dispirited air.
"Are you okay, sweetheart? It's been a long day, hasn't it?"
"Yeah. A long day," she agreed, but her tone concerned him.
"I'm knackered! I think I've spoken to every single family member you have," he tried to joke, but she didn't crack a smile. "Have you spoken to many people Victoria? You were sat a bit far from me at dinner."
"We were beside two of Elizabeth's aunts and her uncle."
Darcy winced reflexively.
"Violet and Bruce?" he asked hopefully.
Elizabeth glared at him.
"No," sniffed Victoria. "Rose, Daisy, and Onslow. Such unusual names, don't you think?"
"A lot of girls are named after flowers," replied Elizabeth tightly.
"Well, yes dear, but as a theme? That's not something I've come across in my circles."
Darcy began to see what had caused his girlfriend's mood.
"I think you'd like Violet," he tried to redirect his aunt. "They have a cottage in Padstow. You like Cornwall, don't you?"
Victoria agreed that she did, but expressed surprise that they would drive so far for a "stranger's" party. Darcy could see Elizabeth's hackles rising, and, seeking to prevent one disaster, inadvertently created his own.
"Oh, no, they live in Oxfordshire. The cottage in Cornwall is for holidays. They have another house in Ibiza, I think, is that right Lizzy?"
She nodded. He could see that his aunt was unbending at the mention of wealth; she was such a snob! Oh well, whatever works! And then I'll get Lizzy to myself.
"So, maybe you'd like to talk to them, if you haven't already, Victoria? We can introduce you."
"Well, they sound much better than those people I spoke to earlier."
"Oh, yes," he agreed, sensing victory. "They're much more your kind of people."
"I suppose," said Elizabeth, her tone icy, "that you think that's a compliment."
"What?" Darcy was confused. He had just been trying to offload his aunt, and give her a break. Why was she mad at him?
"You're very quick to sit in judgement over people who have accepted you as family, and thrown a party on your behalf."
"But I'm not judging your mum. I'm very grateful to Fiona, you know that."
"Oh, my mistake. You're only judging her family."
"I just thought that Victoria might have more in common with Violet than with the others. You can't be pissed off at that, surely? I mean, really," he lowered his voice, "can you imagine her being friends with Rose?"
"How about you don't make friends with any of my family, and just leave. Since we're so disgusting to you."
"Lizzy! I never said that!"
"Didn't you? It sounded like it to me."
"Really, Elizabeth," put in Victoria; "you're making a scene."
"Fine. If you won't leave, then I will!"
And she turned on her heel and walked out the door. Stunned, Darcy stood a moment too long, meaning he couldn't call her back, and then when he tried to follow her Victoria grabbed his arm.
"Let her go. You need to stay with your guests."
He looked at her incredulously.
"I can't just leave it like that!"
"I'm sure she'll calm down with a little time to herself."
"Victoria…"
"No, Fitzwilliam. The Bennets have been so kind as to throw this party for you, and it would be the height of bad manners to leave now. Regardless of the behaviour of other guests." She sniffed in disapproval. "At the very least, you must say your goodbyes, and thank them for their efforts."
That thought made Darcy pause. He didn't want to be rude to Lizzy's family, and not just for her sake; they were so kind and welcoming to him, they didn't deserve his rudeness. Not even if it meant he had to wait to talk to their upset daughter.
It took him over half an hour to extricate himself, and once back on the High Street he had to stand still for a moment to get his thoughts in order. Where have you gone, Lizzy? Relying on his gut, he made a snap decision, and took off, hoping he could find her. And that she would forgive him.
xXx
Author notes -
Examination Schools – a big building on Oxford High Street where university examinations (and lectures) are held. A list of degree results are also posted outside the building, so if you're in Oxford you can go see how everyone did.
Proctors – The Proctors are in charge of upholding university rules and overseeing student conduct. They hold disciplinary hearings and give out warnings/punishments if a student is found to be guilty of misconduct. Throwing flour (and worse) over someone's head is a popular way of 'celebrating' the end of exams, and the mess really annoys the townspeople of Oxford, so if a student is caught doing it they get summoned to a disciplinary hearing and get a dressing down, and a warning on their record. I'm not sure what happens if you do it more than once, but I'm guessing they wouldn't be very happy with you.
Sheldonian – the Sheldonian Theatre, where university graduation ceremonies are held. They go on throughout the year, but most often in summer, and you usually graduate with your college rather than by subject.
