Chapter Two

The clock on the kitchen wall ticked past twelve o'clock and Lizzie sighed loudly.

"Are we about done here, Darcy?" she said "I have to do some things in town before driving all the way back out here this afternoon."

Her mobile rang then, vibrating across the counter where she'd put it down earlier. As it was closer to him, Darcy reached out to pass it to her, glancing at the screen as he did so, his expression hardening as he passed it across.

"Thanks" she murmured taking the phone from him, she felt a tingle in her hand where their fingers brushed together and quickly averted her eyes from his.
"Hey George," she said into the phone.
"Hello, gorgeous," his smooth voice responded. Elizabeth smiled.

Next to her Darcy was gathering his things into a pile and getting up from his chair, as he passed her he leaned in close.

"See you tonight, Elizabeth" he almost whispered, she shivered at his breath on her neck.
"Who was that?" George questioned.
"Uh," she faltered, "My boss. Sorry. Anyway, can you meet for lunch? I have a lot to do this afternoon, but I want to see you before tonight. I'm sure I'll be too busy to spend much of it with you. I appreciate you coming though," she rambled.
"Relax Lizzie," he laughed, "I'd love to have lunch. I'll meet you at that little bistro we went to last week?"
"An hour, okay?" she asked.
"See you then," he smirked "Bye beautiful."

The line went dead and she put her phone away, gathering her things. She looked around briefly for Darcy, she couldn't see him anywhere, but noticed that his shiny blue Aston Martin was still parked in the driveway as she drove out, in her much older and much more sensible Volvo.

Lizzie hurried down the sidewalk towards the cafe where she knew George was waiting, because once again, she was late. Spotting him sitting at the small table against the window she bustled inside, the bell above the door jingling as she entered. She started unbuttoning her coat as she approached the table.

"Sorry I'm late," she apologised, slightly breathless after her mad dash from her car, parked up the block.
"Not to worry," he smiled standing to meet her, and kissing her hello.
She quickly returned his kiss, his lips were dry and rough against hers.
"I wasn't supposed to work today, but Mr. Darcy decided to torture me with minutia," she smirked, but his face seemed to drop.
"Darcy?" he questioned
"My boss," she replied, "He wanted to know all of the details for the benefit tonight. No biggie," she reached into her purse and pulled out an envelope.
"Speaking of which, these are the details for tonight," she said handing it to him. "Thanks so much for coming, I probably won't be able to pay you all that much attention though," she said, he was busy opening the envelope and pulling out the ivory white invitation.

You are cordially invited to Darcy Enterprises annual charity ball.
To be held at Netherfield Park, Hertfordshire
on May 14th
7pm
Dress Masquerade

"Oh," he said, after reading the invitation.
"What's wrong?" she asked,
"You work at Darcy Enterprises?" He asked, meekly.

"Yeah" she affirmed "I'm their Head of Donor Development... what's the matter George?" she asked, he was staring at her like she was a circus freak.

"Sorry, it's just, your boss... William Darcy. He and I grew up together, and we are no longer on the best of terms."
"You grew up with my boss?" she asked, sceptically.
"Yeah, in fact... the company is the reason we're no longer friends... But I shouldn't be telling you this, you work for him..."
"He's no friend of mine George. Just my employer," she prompted him. Of course her curiosity was peaked now.
"Well... it all started five years ago, after my father died... but it's to do with the fact that thirty percent of Darcy Enterprises was supposed to be mine..."

Lizzie listened to the rest of George's story over lunch with rapt attention, unable to fathom such a cruel situation had it not been for the sincerity in George's voice. As much as she hadn't liked William Darcy before, she was beginning to hate him now.

"George... if you don't want to come tonight..." she started to say when he'd finished "then I would understand..." He held up a hand to stop her.
"No," he said, "You asked me to be there, and I will be. Darcy and I are not friends, but if he wishes to avoid me, then he will have to be the one to leave," he smiled.
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely, I'll be there."
Her phone buzzed with a new text message and she opened it as she drained the last dregs of her coffee. It was from Jane. Lizzie tapped out a reply saying where she was and hit send.
"Jane's coming to meet me so we can get ready for tonight," she told George.
"I guess this date is over then," he smirked, "I'll go and pay for this," he said and headed to the counter. Lizzie gathered her things while he was gone, and was standing by the table by the time he returned. Jane arrived as he was buttoning his coat.

"Lizzie!" she called from the door, and she and George went to meet her.
"Jane," Lizzie greeted her, then introduced her to her date "This is George Wickham, George this is my sister Jane."
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you," he said.
"Likewise," she responded with a curious look on her face, Jane glanced across at her sister who wasn't watching them.
"Anyway, I must dash. I'll see you both this evening," he said, and then he leaned in and gave Lizzie a kiss, that was probably a little over zealous for the setting, before disappearing out the door and down the street.
Jane was staring at Lizzie with eyebrows raised.
"What?" Lizzie asked, reaching for the door.
"Oh, nothing," Jane replied, following her out "Just wondering why on earth you're dating a man that looks an awful lot like the boss you claim to hate," Lizzie fumbled, nearly slipping on the wet pavement.
"Excuse me?" she asked when she'd recovered.
"Your new boyfriend... him and Darcy could almost be twins," she said bluntly "how can you not see that?
"Umm, maybe because it's completely untrue! They couldn't be any more different!"
"Lizzie... either you're blind, or you're being intentionally ignorant. Also, you're adding fuel to my theory that you're secretly in love with Will Darcy."
"Jane..."
"They're the same height, same build, have the same colouring, same hair, same cheek bones! The only real difference is that Darcy has nicer eyes."
"You're wrong," was all she said.
"Good argument" Jane laughed, "Come on, let's go and get those manicures. You can argue your weak case over the emery boards." She took Lizzie's arm and steered her off towards the salon.