Chapter 31: A New Beginning

The shuttle for the next excursion had everyone on board, except one: they were all once again waiting for Elizabeth to make her appearance. Will smiled to himself as he acknowledged that her tendency for being late no longer fazed him; in fact, he almost found it endearing. The way his aunt was ranting in the passenger seat, however, demonstrated that she clearly felt otherwise; Charlotte was once again assuring her that her friend had been awake since early that morning and would certainly be down any second.

He had spent the last two days doing his best to lay the foundation, and the excursion today finally promised to provide some type of alone time for them during daylight hours. He had been surprised at how many obstacles he had encountered on the road to sweeping Elizabeth off her feet, and he was glad that he had finally seemed to be able to put them all behind him sufficiently, even if only for the moment.

First, it had been overcoming her initial reluctance to simply acknowledge his presence. He wasn't sure what to expect when he had approached her during the snorkeling trip, and was grateful that she had acquiesced to attempting a less antagonistic relationship relatively easily. Considering their most recent interactions, it really could have gone much worse; he felt strongly that her unspoken attraction to him was what had made the difference and encouraged her assent.

But next, there was Richard. Watching him flirt relentlessly with Elizabeth on the way back had been painful, but he wasn't willing to demean himself by openly competing with his younger cousin for her attention, and he had no way of confronting Rich privately during the excursion. She had made eye contact with him a few times, even seeming an attempt to draw him out; but without first getting his cousin on the same page, it was guaranteed that Richard's Casanova alter-ego wasn't going anywhere. He had no desire to witness the charade firsthand; it was hard enough just monitoring it from a distance. Although she seemed playful and attentive in return to his cousin's behavior, he had hope that Lizzy still saw Richard only as a friend; however, Darcy had seen Richard use his charms on enough women in the past to know that he didn't stay "friends" with them for long. It was very necessary, therefore, that he have a conversation with his cousin immediately.

He caught up to him shortly after their return to the villa, as Richard was making his way to the racquetball court.

"Richard, can I speak with you a moment?"

"Of course, Darce. Will I get to hear why you were so bloody standoffish on the boat today? We had two pretty women with us and for all you seemed to care they could have been walruses."

Will chuckled at the mental image of a walrus in Elizabeth's fantastic swimsuit. "Actually Rich, that was exactly what I wanted to talk to you about. I'm just going to come out and say it and hope that you are alright with the information. Lizzy and I have a history of sorts, and…well…I was planning to use this vacation to formally make us a couple."

Rich furrowed his brows and considered his cousin incredulously. "Elizabeth Bennet? Are you sure Will? I definitely did not get that impression from either you or her today."

"I will admit that we've had our ups and downs; but I've never been more sure of anything in my life. I just wanted to let you know before you got too attached, and so you wouldn't be surprised at my pursuing her."

"Me? Attached?" He mocked offense at his wounded machismo. "You must have forgotten who you're talking to. She certainly is enticing, but…who am I to stand in the way of love? Have at her, Romeo, and good luck…I think you might need it."

"Why do you say that?"

"Oh, well…two things. She just seems to be a bit…feisty…for lack of a better word. Put her and Aunt Catherine in a room and their claws even come out."

Will let out an appreciative laugh. "I have never seen anyone stand up to our aunt like that before."

"Me either. It's impressive Darce, truly. I wasn't even sure that I could tame her; if you manage to I will be duly impressed."

Will wasn't sure he liked where this was going. "What's the other reason?"

"Just that she didn't seem too pleased with your antisocial self today. I tried to make an apology for you, but just as I was beginning to say that you aren't normally like that she cut me off and said that she's, 'used to it'."

"Oh, that's already settled. I spoke to her while we were snorkeling and I cleared the air between us."

Richard glanced at him disbelievingly and began to mention his behavior during the bar tending competition, but stopped when he seemed to remember something. "By the way, how's Bingley doing? I haven't heard from him in a while and I've tried calling him. Is he alright?"

Will didn't want to expose the connection between Lizzy and Charlie's ex; the truth would come out sooner or later, and he wanted to make sure that he was in complete control of when and how it happened. He also realized that he didn't quite have up to date information on the subject; he had been surprised when Lizzy had mentioned that Jane hadn't heard from Charlie, because he was fairly certain Charlie had told him that he had emailed Jane a few weeks back, and quite possibly, more than once. "He's doing better. He went through a bad break up recently – I unfortunately had the unpleasant task of bringing evidence that his girlfriend was cheating on him to his attention – but he finally seems to be coming around."

"Wow, that's surprising. Usually he's the one ending things with a girl. The bloke had it bad, huh?"

Will nodded his head in certainty. "Alright, well, I'm glad we got to talk. There's no need to avoid Lizzy, by the way. I don't mind you talking to her. I just wanted you to know my plans so that there were no misunderstandings between us."

"Of course. I'm glad you told me. And where do you think you're going? Grab a racquet. Lizzy beat me in our martini competition and I need to take it out on someone."

Darcy chuckled at his slightly bitter tone. "Oh really? Well, you're on. I'm happy to vindicate my lady's victory."

Richard snorted at his attempt at chivalry. "We'll see about that."

Even his cousin had recognized the third obstacle: as straightforward as he could be with Richard, he had to be more creative when dealing with his Aunt. Richard had been pointedly accurate when he had mentioned the claws; for some reason Lizzy and Catherine sparred like tigers in a small cage. He wouldn't have it any other way, but at the same time, he didn't want to expose Lizzy to any additional derision from his family's matriarch. If he openly flirted with and admired Lizzy in front of his aunt – in front of either of his aunts or uncle, actually – he wasn't sure what their reactions would be, and he most certainly didn't want to find out what Aunt Catherine would do. What this meant was that he had to find moments alone to share with her, something that became decidedly easier at night.

However, what was, by far, the worst interruption to his courting had come Sunday afternoon after returning home from whale watching; just as he had been preparing to steal her away from the villa for some kayaking on the private beach during a rare stint of free time, a phone call had come from Detective Forster. It appeared that they had found an old hideout of Wickham's, and inside had been multiple photos of both he and his sister taken in amateur surveillance. Unfortunately, no evidence had been found to support his sister's claims of innocence, but it was enough to clearly show that Wickham had even more of an unhealthy obsession with his family than Will had previously had proof of.

Although there had been no direct reason to think that Gianna had been intentionally framed - in fact, even Gianna herself wasn't sure that Wickham had meant to involve her - Will had always harbored a nagging suspicion that his sister's current circumstances were no accident. The photos, some of which were as recent as his last visit to Vermont in early November, were the confirmation Will needed.

He had been ready to fly home immediately, but Gianna had insisted that he finish out his vacation. Forster had assured him that the police were providing a 24 hour detail in front of her apartment in order to keep a watch on her, with the additional hope that Wickham would stupidly come around and be captured. "Besides," Gianna had said, "Mrs. Reynolds is here. I also happen to have the world's most irritating tracking device on my ankle, so if he does come near me the cops will find us both right away. You should enjoy spending time with Elizabeth. The fact that she is even there with you is one of the greatest examples of serendipity that I have ever seen. Don't waste it Will."

Looking up, Will was greeted with the door of the shuttle sliding open and the sight of a flushed Elizabeth swiftly settling into a seat beside her friend a few rows ahead of him. Up front, Robert blew his coaches' whistle to get everyone's attention, the loudly vibrating trill deafening all ten pairs of ears in the tightly enclosed space. "We are ready to depart," he announced, noticeably relieved.

Will took in the back of her glossy curls, anxious for the day to get started so that he could once again gaze upon her lovely face. I promise Gianna, I plan to take advantage of every single moment from here on out.

Lizzy was saddled and ready atop her horse, incredibly excited for the excursion ahead. Although horseback riding on the beach and through low-lying mountains sounded incredibly exotic, the tour also promised her first glimpses of Dominican culture: a ride through a local town, a visit to a nearby schoolhouse and views of numerous local farmers and their lands.

Up ahead, she could hear Catherine loudly moaning the local aspects of the tour; Robert was assuring her that it was one of the highest rated horseback expeditions available on the island. Lizzy found herself wondering if, between her presence, the sharks and this latest disappointment, Robert would still have his beloved job when they returned home; Ms. DeBourgh did not seem to be a woman comfortable with tolerating disappointment.

In fact, what the mother's personality had seemingly done to her twenty-two year old daughter was nothing short of a travesty. Anne was a shadow of her mother, simply existing to please and to stay off of any warpath her mother chose to rage on. Elizabeth had tried three times so far to draw her into conversation; all without the tiniest bit of success. Each time Anne had glanced nervously at her mother, responded to whatever question Lizzy had asked with the briefest possible of answers, and then once again slipped into silence.

She watched as Anne stayed behind her mother at a distance, calmly snapping pictures of the scenery and seeming slightly more comfortable in her own skin. Lizzy had just decided on making a go at her fourth attempt when the presence of another horse on her right side drew her attention away from the shy, sheltered girl. She really wasn't prepared for the surprise of suddenly having a companion; particularly one with piercing grey eyes who had left her drenched and laughing the previous evening. He was almost eight hours early for their daily tête-à-tête.

As was usual, their conversation started out by saying nothing at all.

After a few minutes had passed, Elizabeth was more determined than ever to draw him out and attempt to get to the bottom of his hot and cold behavior. She began, "The view is beautiful, is it not, Mr. Darcy?"

He narrowed his eyes at her in contemplation. "I'm back to being Mr. Darcy again? What did I do now?"

"Nothing, except…not be Will. You see, I work for Mr. Darcy. He's pretty reserved, taciturn…a man of few words. Since you decided to be quiet atop that steed of yours, I figured I had Mr. Darcy by my side."

He smiled at her but said nothing in return.

She felt a familiar sense of exasperation creeping in. "Do you need me to tell you what to say? I mean really, you didn't even answer my question."

At that, he looked directly into her eyes and replied, "Miss Bennet, I must say that the view I have at present is positively breathtaking, although I am not accustomed to discussing such things with my subordinates."

Although the butterflies immediately returned with vigor, she wasn't completely satisfied by his response; once again, it proffered multiple interpretations. She decided to tease him further as it was her surest way of getting a reaction. "Well, I suppose if that is the case we have no alternative but to remain silent. Perhaps in a while you can try another topic to see if we might find better success."

"We can try another topic now; but first, you must be Lizzy, and I must be Will. I fear slipping into our professional selves will reflect no credit on either of us."

She considered his reply. "I hate to admit it, but I have to agree with you. Lizzy and Will it is." Oh God, there's that smile again. Focus Lizzy. This is a rare opportunity you have here. Continuing her light and playful tone, she inquired, "Is this your first time in the Dominican Republic Will?"

"It is."

"And what do you think of it so far?"

"It is quickly promising to be one of the greatest vacations of my life."

"The sharks really impressed you, huh?"

"Moreso the tigers, actually."

"Tigers?"

"Inside joke, sorry."

Lizzy waited for an explanation that never came. "So...tell me more about yourself."

"What would you like to know?"

She was suddenly struck with an idea. "How do you feel about people who lie?"

The question seemed random, and he was obviously caught off guard. "Uh, well…I actually make it a point to be as honest as possible in all situations. I find disguise of every sort detestable. Nothing good can come from it in the long run, and I do my best to stay away from people who make spreading untruths a habit. Why? Are you a compulsive liar?"

That was certainly not the answer she was expecting. "No, nothing of the sort. Let me see…what would you say is your greatest strength?"

"The relationship I have with my sister. She has a way of helping me sort my thoughts and stay balanced. And I have a highly developed sense of responsibility."

Pleasantly surprised again. "And your greatest weakness?"

He opened his mouth to say something, but quickly stopped himself. Regrouping, he continued, "I hate to admit it, but I'm rather good at holding a grudge, and my good opinion, once lost, is lost forever."

"That is a weakness. You must be especially careful then, to make informed judgments of others at all times?"

"Of course. I would say that I am overly-cautious, in fact."

"And you never allow yourself to be blinded by prejudice?"

"I would hope not."

"It must be very important for you to form accurate opinions of others quickly. How important do you think first impressions are?"

"Very. They tell quite a bit about a person, don't they?" He pressed his lips together in uncertainty. "Lizzy, may I…ask to what these questions tend?"

"I'm simply trying to learn more about you."

"And what is your success?"

She looked up at him archly. "Almost none; just when I think I might have you figured out you give me an answer that is the complete opposite of what I expected."

He reached over and grabbed her horse's reigns then, stopping the animal and turning to face her directly from his saddle. His tone both soft and serious simultaneously, he stated, "Lizzy, ask me anything you like. I'll answer the best I can, I promise."

At that moment, Lizzy's voice caught in her throat, stubbornly refusing to give voice to the obvious question, the ever-present one that she had been simultaneously ignoring and seeking the answer to for months: "what is this between us?" Instead, their now familiar chemistry left her speechless, and the only things vocalizing were the crashing of the blue waves against the nearby shoreline and the wind rustling the leaves of the coconut trees above their heads.

After searching each other's eyes for some moments, he spoke again. "Am I to take it that you have no further questions at this time? I have to admit, I find it a little hard to believe."

As brave as she was, she just wasn't brave enough. As much as she had attempted to solve that question just that morning, she really wasn't ready to handle the answer yet; at least, not until she knew for sure what she wanted his answer would be. "Yes, no, nothing more for now. But I'm sure I'll think of something eventually;" she smiled mischievously, "you never know what crazy things I might decide to ask you."

He nodded. "And I would never suspend any pleasure of yours, no matter how 'crazy' the inquest. Or request, for that matter." Offering her a wink so brief she almost missed it, he looked ahead and realized how far the rest of the group had outstripped them, and made his own horse walk on. She followed suit, and for the first time enjoyed a companionable silence with Will Darcy. As they meandered down the vibrant Caribbean coastline together on horseback, she was amazed at how natural their acquaintance felt once she relaxed enough to enjoy it; in that instant, she recognized the true magic of their surroundings - the surprising opportunity for an entirely new beginning to her relationship with Will Darcy.

One last time, I am going to believe in the best of him. Maybe here, where everything is different, I can finally discover the man behind the mask. She chewed her lip as she felt her heart nudge her forward. And who knows what else there might be to discover?

A/N

Poor Darcy! I feel a little bad for him: Lizzy and the rest of us are all scrutinizing his every move, aren't we? He always has his reasons, however misguided, I promise! I hope he redeemed himself a little for you here. :)

Anyway, I just wanted to thank you all for the support you show Magnets through your favorites, follows and reviews. Each and every one means the world to me. Please keep them coming if you are enjoying the story...I love hearing from you!

Also, if you check out my profile, I have added a poll. There are a few stories wandering around in my head. Although I am a one story at a time kind of author, I figured it was never too early to get your feedback on which ideas you liked best for the next one. I truly value your opinions.

And finally, I just wanted to send a quick shoutout to Sgordon, who called Roberts' neuroticism and directly inspired the mention of the whistle in this chapter. :)