18. Wake up

"Wake up, it's time, little girl, wake up. Just remember who I am in the morning!"

For what seemed like the millionth time, I parted my lips from Wickham's.

"George, I really have to go now!"

His brown eyes tinkled with happiness, and that made me fall all over once again. But he did as asked and, after another quick kiss that left me begging for more, he backed away.

"Then, my love, I shall see you later. There is another thing that must be said between us."

I smiled widely as I clearly understood what he was taking about, blew him one last kiss, and exited the stables.

When I reached the front of the house, what I found left me gasping. Collins, Jane and Mrs Bennett were taking a turn of the house, while Lydia was toying with flowers. Bingers was nowhere to be seen, while Snob was almost running away in the gardens, his attire quite dishevelled. But someone else caught my sight.

Someone that came from the highest balcony and threw pages and pages of a book I'd know everywhere.

Amanda was yelling to death and ripping her favourite piece of work into pieces.

Gears worked into my brain. Something had happened.

I ran into the stairs, all stairs, not caring for the world that the way I lifted my dress showed my ankles a little too much.

"Amanda!"

Just before I reached her room, I came face to face with no other than she who Am' called "Frosty Knickers".

I quickly curtsied her. "Caroline."

Her blue gaze stared me up and down, probably acknowledging the scent of stables, the way my dress wasn't correctly hanging on my shoulders... In short, everything that translated my make-out with George.

"Ooh. Charmed."

And she got down the stairs without a look behind her shoulder.

"Bitch." I muttered.

And then I got into Amanda's room, and she was sitting on her bed, looking completely gone.

"Amanda? What's the matter? Why have you-?" I trailed off, seeing how she looked both heartbroken and stunned to death. "Am'?"

Her eyes met mine. "Angelina, I-" She stopped and threw her arms around me, hugging me tight while she started to both cry and talk. "I am a complete idiot! I told Darcy I loved him, he said he loved me back, but then he wanted to know everything about me and I said a little too much, and now he won't marry me because I'm not a maid!"

Every single word made my eyebrows lift higher, and by the time she was done, I'm pretty sure they had disappeared in my hair. "Darcy? Loves you?" Well, that wasn't unexpected. "And he- wait, what was Caroline doing in your room not moments before?"

She huffed between sobs. "You would never believe. She's the one who trailed Darcy to ask me questions, so she was sure she was still in the race. But...it appears...Caroline's a lesbian."

I burst into laugh without controlling it. "Caroline Bingley, is a lesbian? Oh God, that would explain some sides to the character, wouldn't it?"

And Amanda followed my laughs. For a short moment. "We have to leave, you know. Get back to Longbourne."

My smiled faded and my thoughts automatically went to George. "I...guess that's what's proper. But...I have something to do before we go."

Her gaze became thoughtful. "Angie, why do you smell like horses?" I smirked playfully. "Oh, Lord, do not tell me you've hooked up with Wickham!"

I made a outraged noise. "Amanda! I am not like that, and neither is he! But, I admit that...it's not impossible that we-"

"Come on, did he or did he not?"

"Did he what?"

"Ask you to marry him!"

I shook my head, a smile still playing on my lips. "He hasn't yet, but let me know it would be soon. In fact, we didn't talk. Much."

She rolled her eyes. "Angelina Johnson, you idiot. Are you even certain that he's not playing with you?"

I shook my head. "Oh, that I am sure. Since the very day we met, nothing has been clearer than George's intentions towards me."

She sighed heavily. "Well, then I guess one of us will stay here."

I thought about it, and though it was kind of appealing to be George's wife for life, I had a feeling that wasn't how things would turn out. "Anyway, I have to go and say goodbye before we leave."

"Of course. Please, tell him once again I'm sorry for misjudging."

"So you have met Georgiana as well."

"I have."

"I could have slapped her, if she hadn't been Snob's sister."

"Don't call him that." Amanda got up once again and started packing.

I walked to the door and turned around one last time. "I'll see you in a dozen. Breathe deeply and try and forget about that pathetic excuse for a man."

She snorted, and I stormed out.

Getting back to the stables was hard, seeing as I had to make sure no one saw me, and to be honest I didn't want to cross anyone's path either. Certainly not Darcy's in the first place.

George was done brushing his horse, and had put his red jacket back on, though not buttoned.

His eyes lightened when he saw me enter the box. "Well, I have to admit I didn't expect to see you this soon."

I smiled and walked up to him, wrapping my arms around his neck.

I was getting used to that.

"George, I have something important to tell you. It's about Amanda."

"I know what transpired between Darcy and her, she told me herself. I can only guess it means you're leaving?" I nodded. He sighed. "Well, I wished we had more time, but it's not like I won't see you soon anyway, so-"

I shut him up by kissing him, and for a long moment, there was no other sound than our lips moving together, and our tongues meeting and parting.

"George, I love you. Did I tell you that?"

He pretended to think. "About a thousand times, at least. But do not stop, I beg you."

"I love you, I love you, I love you, I-" His lips captured mine again.

"I will come for you soon enough, love. Just be certain I don't forget you. Even if it takes weeks."

I nodded but still didn't let go. "And you, don't start making plans before the right day. I won't let you drag me into something I don't want to hear about."

"Yes Ma'am!"

I smiled and kissed him deeply one last time, and then I unlocked my arms from his neck, and walked away, stealing one last glance to the man I loved before exiting the stables and rejoining my cousin and her heartbreak.

Jesus, he really had to come and ravish me soon or I'd die!

I know the thing between George and Amanda happens after Caroline's revelation, but I preferred to turn it this way.

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