As always, check my profile for the link to the slang dictionary I use.
Jane was just starting the meal the cook had fixed for her when Charlie came in.
"Jane! I'm so glad to see you!" he said, stepping forward.
She smiled back. "I'm glad to see you too. It's been so odd, working in your house and not actually seeing you."
"How is Georgiana?" he asked.
"Getting better, I think. It's a little frustrating that there's not much to be done for her. I'm mostly just letting her sleep."
"I'm glad it isn't too much work, at least. And that you're eating something. May I join you?"
"Yes, please do."
Charlie stepped into the kitchen to speak with the cook, and came out a few minutes later with a plate of his own. They sat and ate, quietly smiling at each other.
A block away from Bingley's house, Wickham stopped suddenly. Lizzie turned to look at him, but nothing appeared to be wrong.
"Is everything okay?" she asked.
"Everything's fine, doll. I'm just...a little tired, I guess. Do you mind if I wait here until you get back?"
"Of course, you probably shouldn't be walking so much. I'm not in a hurry; why don't I wait with you? I'd like to introduce you to my sister."
"No, go on without me. I'll sit here a while," Wickham said, sitting down and pulling out a cigarette.
Lizzie waited a minute longer, but Wickham didn't look up at her, so she hurried on down the street.
Jane stepped out onto the porch to greet her sister. That way she'd be less likely to see anything she shouldn't. Lizzie hugged her fiercely before handing over the book.
"Thank you, Lizzie! I'm at loose ends most of the time, just waiting for...well, at any rate, I can certainly use some more reading material," Jane said, opening the cover to scan the list of titles. "This looks lovely. How has your day been?"
Lizzie rolled her eyes. "That Darcy has been lurking in the library all afternoon. He left for dinner a while ago, and hopefully he won't be back. He just reads the newspaper and stares at me and makes it quite clear he thinks I'm doing a terrible job."
"Lizzie, I've talked with him a bit, and I think he might have a lot on his mind. You probably shouldn't assume the worst about him."
Lizzie laughed. "Yes dear, I know you must always find excuses for everyone. But truly I don't think he likes me. I can't think why he came at all."
"Well, I heard Charlie's sister talking to him this morning. Perhaps he wished to be alone."
"Avoiding his hosts all day is not exactly polite behavior either, Jane."
"No, but...well, I've known you to hide in the library when the house gets noisy, Lizzie."
Lizzie gave her sister a sharp look but would not respond.
They sat for a minute, enjoying the cool evening breeze, and Jane said, "I should probably go back in soon. Charlie and I were eating dinner when you arrived."
"Probably. Just the two of you?"
Jane nodded happily. "Caroline is out shopping, I think, and Mr. Darcy is...well, he's not eating with us. It's nice; Charlie's so nice to talk to."
"Jane...are you crushing on him?"
Jane blushed. "Maybe a little. He's just so nice, Lizzie. I like him."
"Well, I'm glad you like him, but you be careful. He's your boss, and that...changes things. You can't be certain he isn't just being polite."
"Lizzie, it isn't like that!"
"I'm sure it isn't. Just be careful, okay Jane?"
Wickham ground out his cigarette, stood up, and leaned against the fence of the house he had stopped in front of. He was a little tired, but he didn't want to go anywhere near Darcy right now. Lizzie ought to be good for some fun, if he could keep her ignorant for long enough, and so far Darcy was playing right into his hands.
The loss of Georgiana was a hardship, of course, but there were plenty of other heiresses, and he and Joe had a good system worked out. Lizzie didn't have the money to be good for anything but a bit of fun, but Caroline Bingley might be worth making a play for.
It was really rather a pity Lizzie hadn't accepted his invitation. She was charming and confident enough to be a real asset as a business partner, but it was obvious she'd never be willing to take that role.
The sound of giggling interrupted Wickham's musings. He looked up to see two girls walking nearby, laughing so hard they had to hold on to each other for support.
"Evening," he said, tipping his hat at them. They looked up and he realized they were Lizzie's younger sisters, who had been in the car last night. "Where might you nice young things be going to?" he asked.
The shorter one just gaped at him, but the taller one answered coyly, "We were just heading home. I'm Lydia, and this is Kitty. Aren't you the swell that Lizzie brought home last night?"
"I sure am, baby. Name's George Wickham. I'm surprised you weren't too zozzled to remember me," he added, with a teasing note in his voice.
"Takes more than a little hooch to get a bearcat like me bent," she responded. "I remember perfectly. Lizzie isn't the only one who noticed you."
"Well, I'm glad to hear that. Meeting you is just the elephant's whistle. What's a tight doll like you doing in a town like this?" he asked, offering Lydia a cigarette and lighting another for himself.
"A girl can't help where she's born. But I'm going to go to New York as soon as I can and be a star," Lydia explained, accepting the cigarette and taking a long pull.
"We both are!" interjected Kitty, fishing a pack of cigarettes out of her purse. "We're working on a sister act!"
"Are you really? So you sing? Dance?"
Kitty nodded enthusiastically.
Lydia said, "Well, I sing, and we both dance. Kitty likes to harmonize, but...well, anyway, we'll see once we get to New York!"
Wickham smiled down at her. "You know, I might be able to help with that..."
And that's it for this week! I've started cross-posting at ao3, also under the name ladyphlogiston, so if you prefer that site feel free to look me up there. The review button is right there, you know how to use it.
