Chapter 28 - With a Little Help From My Aunt
Eliza didn't hear from Jane for about week, which she took to be a good sign. She herself was quite miserable, and with no one to share her misery with, the week was quite horrendous. She had watched as Will snuck out of the party on Sunday, probably to get on a plane to England and out of her life forever. Why did he want to get away from her so badly? He must still hate me, she thought. But then why had he been so nice in Derby? And why had he saved Lydia, and why had he brought Bingley back here? William Darcy was a mystery, and one which she no longer wanted to figure out.
A week or so later, and Eliza was starting to feel a little better. If it was meant to be, she kept reasoning with herself, it would work out. And if it didn't, then she would just have to settle for searching for someone who was even half as good… although she felt little hope that she would even be able to find that.
Finally, Jane called and asked Eliza to meet her for lunch. Charles had extended his lease of Netherfield, and was finagling a few loose ends when they met downtown near Eliza's apartment.
"I guess I don't need to ask how it's going, then," Eliza said after listening to Jane rapture on about Charles for five minutes.
Jane blushed. "It's wonderful, it really is." She sighed. "Oh, Lizzie, if I could only see you half as happy…"
Eliza scoffed in her throat. She could be fifty times as happy as Jane.
Jane seemed to take the hint and changed the subject. "Well, I'm glad Caroline's not here, anyway. She's such a…"
"Heinous bitch?" Eliza suggested helpfully. Jane laughed.
"Something like that," she said. "And I'm glad Darcy left."
"Don't say that," Eliza said quickly. Jane frowned and looked at her suspiciously.
"Why not?" Jane asked slowly.
Eliza paused, biting her lip. Should she tell her sister? She really should… just not everything.
"Jane… I was so blind. Will was… is… a good guy. He…" she trailed off, suddenly flushing.
"He what?" Jane pressed.
"He's the one who found Lydia," Eliza said quietly. "He found her in LA, he got George arrested, he paid for the rehab center, everything."
Jane's mouth fell open. She stared at Eliza, clearly startled.
"Are you serious?" Jane said. "Are you sure?"
"Aunt Anne told me. He didn't want us to find out," Eliza said quickly, "so don't tell anyone."
"Of course I won't but… why wouldn't he? Surely Mom and Dad would feel different about him if they knew."
Eliza chuckled incredulously. "I doubt it."
"Well, it obviously changed your mind about him," Jane said. Eliza flushed again and took a large gulp of water.
"How did he find out about it, anyway?" Jane asked next.
"Well, we were still in Derby when we got your message. He was with us, and I couldn't not tell him. I mean, I was practically sobbing," Eliza explained.
"He was in your hotel room?" Jane asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Just for a minute," Eliza said. But Jane still looked skeptical.
"Something's been up with you lately, Lizzie… especially since Darcy left. Did something… happen between you two in England?" Jane asked tentatively.
Eliza sunk further back in her seat and avoided her sister's eyes. It was the very fact that nothing had happened between them that was causing her so much distress.
"No," she answered truthfully. "Nothing at all."
Jane nodded, but didn't look convinced. She picked at her food for a moment, but then spent the rest of the meal going back and forth between being amazed at Darcy but also amazed at how wrong they had been about him.
"But why?" she said as they paid the check. "Why would he find Lydia? Just to get back at Wickham?"
"I doubt it," Eliza said. "I mean, if he'd just wanted to get back at George, he could've just had both of them arrested."
Jane nodded as they stood and started making their way out of the restaurant.
"That's true," she said. "Wow, I guess Charlie really has been right all along."
"Right about what?" Eliza asked.
"About Darcy actually being a really great guy." Jane paused. "Did you notice something different about him?"
"About Charles? Only that he's crazier in love than he used to be," Eliza said with a smile.
Jane giggled. "No, Darcy."
Eliza was quiet a moment as they walked along. "Yeah, I did notice a difference. A huge difference."
"Me too!" Jane said. "He was…"
"Warmer, kinder… hotter," Eliza said, and then blushed. Jane was laughing.
"That's true!" she said, bending over with laughter. Eliza couldn't help it; she started to laugh, too.
They were still giggling as the elevator opened onto Eliza's floor; they stopped abruptly at the sight of a tall, stately woman standing sentry right outside Eliza's door.
"Lady Catherine?" Eliza said in disbelief. Lady Catherine turned at the sound of her voice; her glare made Eliza fall back a step. She was wearing a very elegant black pantsuit with a fur throw over her shoulder. How she wasn't covered in sweat was beyond Eliza's comprehension.
"Elizabeth," Lady Catherine said. "I must speak with you."
"Of course," Eliza said. "May I introduce my sister, Jane?" she went on, gesturing to Jane. Jane smiled and extended a hand.
"How lovely to meet you, Lady Catherine," Jane said. Lady Catherine scowled at Jane's outstretched hand and didn't take it. Jane's smile faltered and then she let her hand fall back to her side.
"I'll call you later, Lizzie," Jane said, and then made a dash for the elevator. Eliza pleaded with her eyes not for Jane to go, but Jane just shrugged apologetically as the doors closed on her. Eliza gathered up her strength and turned back to Lady Catherine.
"Won't you come in?" she said stiffly, and then put her key in the lock and opened the door. Lady Catherine barged in first, leaving Eliza to spit out little pieces of fur that had gotten flung into her mouth. Lady Catherine looked around the small apartment with a fierce glower on her face; Eliza hurried to turn on the lights and hide the pile of dishes in the sink. Catherine looked at the couch in obvious distaste, but after a few seconds pause, seemed to decide it wasn't too disgusting to sit on. Eliza placed herself carefully on the armchair and turned to Lady Catherine.
"Would you like something to drink?" Eliza asked politely, but Lady Catherine just continued to glare at her.
"No," was all Lady Catherine said.
"How are Collins and Charlotte?" Eliza asked next; she hadn't heard from Charlotte in some time, and was suddenly struck by the worry that perhaps Lady Catherine had come to tell her something dreadful had happened.
"They are very well. Collins is living in London now, and Charlotte is doing well in school."
Eliza breathed a sigh of relief. There was a very long pause.
"Are you sure you wouldn't like something to drink?" Eliza asked again.
"I did not come here to have you entertain me," Lady Catherine said disdainfully. She paused, and stroked her fur throw. "You must know why I'm here, Elizabeth."
"No, actually, I have no idea," Eliza said honestly.
Lady Catherine's eyes narrowed. "Don't play dumb with me, young lady. I know you started this insidious rumor."
Eliza folded her arms. "What rumor?"
Lady Catherine scoffed. "What rumor?" she repeated. "You know very well what I speak of, Elizabeth."
"Lady Catherine, I really don't know what you're talking about," Eliza said, starting to feel frustrated.
Lady Catherine narrowed her eyes. "Elizabeth, I am not a woman to be trifled with," she said loudly.
"I know that, Lady Catherine," Eliza said, with an ever so slight bit of sarcasm.
"I don't like your tone!" Lady Catherine said, drawing herself up. "I have always been known as a frank woman, Elizabeth, and I must be one now. A rumor has reached me that you, Elizabeth Bennet, of Long Island, New York, were soon to be engaged to my nephew, William Darcy. I know this is impossible. I wouldn't insult my nephew by believing this could be true, so I set out to come here right away."
Eliza took a moment to quell the surge of anger in her stomach, and then spoke calmly.
"If you thought it couldn't be true, then why would you come so far?" Eliza asked.
"To make sure that this rumor is completely stamped out and refuted."
Eliza dug her nails into the chair. "Well, wouldn't your coming here seem to be a confirmation of it, if that rumor does exist?"
Lady Catherine gave a cry. "If?! Are you telling me you don't even know about this? That you yourself did not begin this rumor in the first place?"
Eliza pretended to think for a moment, and then said, "Yes, that is what I'm saying."
Lady Catherine fidgeted in agitation. "Can you also say that there is no truth in it?"
"You've said it's impossible," Eliza replied with a shrug.
"It should be… it must be! You may have seduced him, but William has responsibilities to his family. What say you to that?"
"Well, if I did seduce him, I would hardly admit it to you," Eliza said, biting back a vengeful smile.
Lady Catherine spluttered. "I am the closest relative William has in this world! I must know all that goes on in his life."
"But you don't have to know all that goes on in mine. In fact, I'd rather you didn't."
Lady Catherine's face was slowly turning red. It gave Eliza a certain satisfaction.
"Well, it doesn't matter, anyway," Lady Catherine went on with a smug smile. "William is already engaged. What do you say to that?"
Eliza folded her arms again and moved back in her chair.
"Well, if it's true, then I really don't see why you're here," she said.
Lady Catherine raised an eyebrow. "His engagement is… peculiar. But he and Anne are destined for each other, I have planned it ever since he was a young boy. Do you have no respect for the wishes of William's family? Don't you hear that he is engaged?"
"Yeah, and I've heard it before. But unless there's a ring on her finger, I'm certainly not going to let that get between us."
"Ha!" Lady Catherine burst out. "So you do expect him to propose to you?"
"I expect nothing from him," Eliza said quietly.
Lady Catherine considered her for a moment. "And will you promise me to never become engaged to him?"
"I won't make any promise of the kind."
Lady Catherine glared at her again. "You do realize that if you were to marry my nephew, none of his relatives would speak to you or him ever again. You and your family would be a disgrace. Everything about you is lacking, from your looks to your education."
Eliza was nearly blinded with rage by now, but she tried to keep her cool. "You can have nothing else to say now. You've insulted me in every way possible, and I'm going to have to ask you to leave," she said, standing and pointing to the door. Lady Catherine stood but didn't move.
"So you're determined to have him?"
"I never said that. I am, however, determined to do anything that will insure my own happiness, without a single thought to you or anyone else so completely unconnected to me. If Will did want to marry me, I would say yes if that's what I thought would make myself and him the happiest."
"So you would say yes?" Lady Catherine baited her.
Eliza paused. "I wouldn't not say yes."
Lady Catherine drew herself up to her fullest height and puffed out her chest in indignation.
"How dare you Elizabeth! I knew you were obstinate, but I expected to find you a little more reasonable."
"Sorry to disappoint," Eliza growled, and then crossed over to the door and flung it open. Lady Catherine seemed to take the hint, and throwing her fur over her shoulder, she stalked out of the room.
Eliza slammed the door shut and then collapsed onto the couch. Lady Catherine's visit had been truly upsetting. Jane called about an hour later, but Eliza didn't answer. To explain the entire meaning of Lady Catherine's visit would take far too long – and be far too painful.
Will dragged himself through the next week. At first, he dreamt of Eliza every time he went to sleep, but after forcing himself to stay awake a few nights in a row, he was now sleeping soundly. Work consumed his days and evenings, and so after nearly two weeks, he had nearly forgotten her… by becoming a walking zombie.
One Friday afternoon, Will was sitting calmly in his office, going through files, when a loud burst of commotion outside his door jerked him out of his reverie. Seconds later, none other than his aunt was barging through the door. She swept over to his desk, but did not sit down.
"Aunt Catherine… what a nice surprise," Will lied. Aunt Catherine looked harried; her hair was out of place and she seemed to have forgotten to put on her last layer of makeup. She threw up her arms and gave a huff of indignation.
"You will not believe where I have just come from," she began. He sat down in his chair and indicated that she should do the same.
"No, I don't think I will," he said, still amazed at her ragged appearance.
"I had to come straight here. I'm sure you will be as mortified as I am," she went on.
"Go on, Aunt Catherine," he coaxed her.
"Well, I was at the Tinsleys' dinner party the other night, when I felt as if they were all whispering about me. I pulled Linny aside and demanded she tell me what was going on. And do you know what she told me?"
Will restrained himself from rolling his eyes. "No, Aunt Catherine."
"She told me that it is being widely told that you were about to propose to that… that… chit, Elizabeth Bennet."
Will's stomach dropped. He twitched in his seat, but looked properly surprised.
"You don't say," he said.
"Can you believe such nonsense? Well, I couldn't, but I resolved on going straight to New York to pay a little visit to Miss Bennet."
"No, Aunt, you didn't," Will said pleadingly.
"I most certainly did!"
Will's heart fell. His aunt had gone to see Eliza over a rumor that he was in love with her! Could his life get any worse?
"I told her that I wanted this rumor completely refuted. I told her that you were engaged to Anne, and that you could never marry her anyway," Aunt Catherine went on. Will sunk his face into his hands. God, how Eliza must hate him now.
"I demanded that she promise me that she would never get engaged to you, and do you know what she said? She said no!" Aunt Catherine exclaimed.
Will's head jerked up. "Wait, no that she would never be engaged to me?"
"No, she said no that she would never promise to not be engaged to you!"
Will fell back in his seat, beginning to smile. Was it possible?
"So I asked her if she was determined to have you, and she said that she would marry you if she thought that's what would make her happiest. Can you believe it!? The absolute stubbornness of that girl. She actually thinks that you might be in love with her!"
Will was grinning by now; he was beginning to feel restless.
"And then, to top it all off, I demanded to know if she would say yes if you proposed, and can you believe it, she said that she wouldn't not say yes," Aunt Catherine ranted on. "Can you imagine? A girl like that – a Darcy? It's preposterous!"
Will had sprung up now. He wasn't listening to his aunt anymore; he'd heard all that he'd needed to hear. If Eliza was still completely dead set against him, she would have told his aunt flat out. But she hadn't! She'd said that she wouldn't refuse him! There had to be some hope in that. There had to be!
"Well, thank you, Aunt Catherine, thank you very much," Will enthused, coming around his desk and hustling his aunt out the door. He said goodbye over her protests, and then shut the door. Telling his secretary to book him a flight to New York as soon as possible, he called Charles and informed him that he would be returning within the day. Charles was surprised but pleased, and minutes later, Will was headed to home to pack, his heart racing.
Will Darcy had seen a chance, and he was going to take it.
A/N: Hooray! Our knight in shining armor is returning!
Sorry the chapter's not a bit longer, but I didn't want to add too much extra stuff or it would just get silly.
One chapter left. I'm so excited! I cannot believe I started this story a year and a half ago. It's gone by so quickly!
Anyway, please review! If we could get to 500 by the time this story is over, I would be THRILLED. I love you all!
Love, luck, and flying Ringwraiths,
Emma the NazgulQueen