Chapter 11

"This time?" her quiet voice had asked. That's when he realised what he'd said, what he'd accidently admitted. Yes, he was going to fight for her. At the very least to get that jerk George Wickham out of her life! But he wasn't sure how, he didn't know what lies he'd told her, or what the status of their relationship was.

'She'd thought I was Wickham!'

That thought made him sick to his stomach. She had planned to sleep with Wickham that night! He couldn't help but be somewhat grateful that she'd ended up in bed with him after all, even if she didn't know it was him at the time, at least she hadn't been with him.

Yes, he was certainly going to fight for her this time. This time.

Three years ago, he'd let her walk away without knowing he had feelings for her. He'd thought it would make her happy. Now he wished he hadn't stepped aside, seeing as it was all for nothing, Luke Masters hadn't even been her boyfriend!

Needing time to think things through, and plan, he'd left town that evening and driven out to the family's country property. He usually didn't come to Pemberley without his sister, but he needed somewhere to escape to, just for a few days, so that he could face Lizzie with a clear head. What he hadn't expected was so return to the city and find her chatting animatedly with his little sister!

"Gigi?" he called out as he stepped off the lift, his sister turned to face him, her face lighting up with uncontained happiness. It had been five months since they'd last seen each other, before she left for her year abroad.

"William!" she cried running to him for a hug, behind her Lizzie stood watching them, he'd interrupted their conversation. He couldn't stop looking at her throughout the rest of their exchange, he kept glancing up at her face, trying to decipher her thoughts. Last time they spoke, he'd stormed off in anger, and he hoped that she wasn't angry at him now. She didn't seem to be. When Georgiana invited her to join them for lunch her was suddenly torn between still needing time away from the whole situation, and wanting to just spend time with Lizzie, and show her who he was… who he could be. When she declined he wasn't sure if he was glad or disappointed. In the end, it was good because he really needed to talk to Georgiana.

"So, what's going on between you and Lizzie then?" Georgie asked half an hour later when they were seated at their favourite restaurant.

"Lizzie and I?" he asked, playing dumb.

"Yes, you can't hide from me brother, I know you, and I know Lizzie. What happened?" she said pointedly, and he didn't need any more convincing. If there was one person who could tell absolutely anything to, it was his sister.

"We slept together," he blurted out and her jaw dropped in shock. Then she squealed! The couple at the next table glanced over with raised eyebrows.

"Ahhhhh! I knew it! I knew you two would end up together!" she cried.

"No, it's not like that Gigi," he said sadly, she stopped celebrating and waited for him to explain.

"She, she's been seeing someone else," he started, "Someone we both know, and she thought… she thought I was him when we went to bed together. It was at the benefit, the theme was masquerade, and we look very similar and…"

"Oh my god, she's seeing that bastard Wickham isn't she?" Georgiana interrupted.

"Yes," he murmured, Georgiana slumped back in her chair.

"You have to tell her Will, you have to convince her to stay away from him," she insisted.

"Don't you think I know that Georgie? I just don't think she'll listen to me. She'll accuse me of manipulating her, or being jealous or vindictive. Who knows what lies Wickham has been telling her about me?"

"Will, you need to tell her everything." She argued, "Not just what happened with Dad and the company, but everything that happened with me as well."

She stated herself so calmly that Will had to take a minute to appreciate his little sister, she'd grown up so much in the past three years, become more assertive and independent. He wasn't convinced that it was purely because of the disaster with Wickham, he was quite sure it had something to do with the friendship she had formed with Elizabeth when she'd first joined the company. Watching her sit before him now, insisting he bring up the dregs of her past to ensure Lizzie's safety, he knew that she was right, and he was so thankful that she was here.

"You're right," he agreed, "I'll tell her tomorrow, I'll make sure she listens and I'll tell her that you and Richard can back up my story."

"And Charles," Georgiana added, "He knows all about the financial side of it, and Lizzie already trusts him."

"You don't know how thankful I am that you're here Georgie, and how proud I am of you," he said, causing her to blush scarlet.

"Oh shush," she smiled, "Now, tell me William. What exactly do you want from Elizabeth, and how exactly do you plan on getting it?"

It was Will's turn to blush, but he laughed, it was so good to have his sister home again!