------- END OF FLASHBACK -------
Elizabeth was there, in front of her majesty's door… She was sanding, and could almost smell the animosity in the other room. She knew she was too young, too unqualified for the job… What will Her Majesty say?! To be represented by someone younger than her son, who barely left university a year ago? Inside the room, separated from her only by a door, was her majesty the Queen of England, and Mrs. Brandon, waiting for her appearance. She wasn't late yet, she had 12 more seconds to be prompt… 11….10…Come on, get a grip! And what if he isin there?? You shouldn't allow your entire career to be ruined only because of some mistake so many years ago! 7…6… All right, take a deep breath, put on a stupid smile and go in. You can't turn back now, you've gone too far… 3…2…Here we go…
"Ah, hello Elizabeth! Your Majesty, this is Elizabeth Bennet, the fresh addition to our excellent group of lawyers."
"Nice to meet you. Please, sit down." said the Queen, pointing at a chair in front of her. Elizabeth sat down and waited for the questioning to begin. "To be quite honest, I imagined a person… more experienced… when Mrs. Brandon here was telling me about your excellent qualities."
"It is true, your Highness, that my age… my youth is not something to recommend me for the position I was offered, and have applied to. However, during these 25 years I have lived and worked in all 5 continents, won countless cases that many considered a lost cause, and worked with such passion and conviction that never was I ashamed of the results of my work; in the few cases one could say I have lost, I always managed to find a solution that would benefit both parties in the end." defended Lizzy. The Queen was silent for a moment, shocked and a little bit at awe of the straightforwardness of this almost-teenaged woman in front of her. Sensing this, Mrs. Brandon took the opportunity to convince the Queen of their decision a bit more:
"Your Highness, Lizzy has spent an entire year in Africa when she was but 19 years old, traveling the continent's most needy places withMedicins sins Frontiers, obtained a double diploma of International Law and International Relations in Australia, a very respectable and renown university, and after a year working in China was accepted to Yale law, where she finished her masters. Living in Australia it was the hardest negotiations we have ever endured, trying to steal her from her former position in an excellent Australia firm. If we weren't one hundred percent sure we have made the right decision, we wouldn0t have made it, I can assure you. But we are very excited about having Elizabeth with us, and all look forward to seeing great things from her." At this the Queen looked with different eyes at Elizabeth. Though not entirely convinced yet, she was more ready to accept her now than at first. After a few minutes' deliberation, she agreed, on one condition:
"Perhaps, she might be qualified to take on the job. However, I do not feel comfortable allowing her instant access to our more important cases… Perhaps she could work with my son, William, for a few months, show us how she works and what she can do… Then, if I'm left without doubts that she is suitable for the position, she shall be a fully active member of the royal legal representatives. That is all right with you, I hope?" she asked, which sounded more like a dare to disagree with her. For the first time, she turned and looked at Elizabeth straight in the eye. Great! That is just amazing. How am I going to get out of this now?
"Of course that is perfect, thank you Your Majesty. You are always so considerate. Isn't she, Elizabeth?" I suppose I won'tget out of this… damn, how am I going to survive this?!
"Of course, very much so."
"Then I suppose I should let my son know… Miss Bennet, we have a small gathering today at the Palace, you are, of course, invited. There you shall meet my son and the two of you can settle the details."
"That is most gracious of you, Your Majesty. I-" However, before she could finish her sentence, the door behind her opened.
"Ah! Even better; you can all meet now…" What?!"William, come here, let me present you to Miss Elizabeth Bennet, your new legal adviser and representative. Miss Bennet" the Queen said, motioning for her to stand up, and introducing to her someone she already new "this is my son, William Darcy, the Prince of Wales." Said person was standing, in shock, in awe, confused and admiring the grown woman before him… a woman he has not seen in 8 years, yet the woman he dreamed about almost every night. "Well, don't just stand there, show you at least have some manners!" at this William seemed to snap out of his trance, and shook Elizabeth's hand in greeting. However, the letting go of said extremity was a more difficult task, and he held onto it for a few moments longer than was perfectly necessary… until Elizabeth pulled her arm away, that is. "I have asked Elizabeth to come to our gathering tonight, there you can get to know each other better."
"Mother, I cannot go tonight, I just came in to tell you so. A friend of mine called me urgently requesting my presence tonight, and I found it impossible to say no." turning to Elizabeth, though not looking into her eyes, he added "I am sorry, Miss Bennet, we will have to reschedule." And with that, he stormed out of the room.
That night, Elizabeth was torn apart; though she knew what an important even tonight would be for her, she did not want to go, in case she would meet with Him again. She was even considering leaving the whole situation entirely, tell Mrs. Brandon she couldn't do this and go back to her old job in Australia. And what would you say to her when she asks you why you are letting go of the best job offer you will ever have the opportunity to get in you life?! That you fell in love with the Prince, and are too baby to confront him? Elizabeth was staring into her wardrobe, not really looking at her clothes… she was too busy debating what to do next.
"Lizzy dear, is there something wrong?" asked Jane, who just entered and found her sister staring at nothing.
"What? Oh, Jane! Yes, of course everything is perfect, thank you. I was just deciding what to wear for tonight's reception at Buckingham's… I don't seem to have anything appropriate, though…"
"Well, why don't you see if you can find something between my clothes? Perhaps there is something in there that matches your approval." Jane smiled. What did I ever do to deserve such a sister?
"Thank you, Jane… but first, why don't we talk? I've missed you so much!" there, Elizabeth did what she promised to Bingley.
"Oh Lizzy, I've missed you too! There is so much I have to tell you!!! Come, I don't want to waste your time, I'm sure I have a lovely emerald dress that will be just perfect for the occasion…" and with that the two of them left, Jane giving Elizabeth dresses to try on, meanwhile telling her a fairytale-like story of how her and Bingley got to be where they are.
"My word, Lizzy, that looks beautiful on you! I declare I have the world's most beautiful younger sister, and no one can argue about that!" Lizzy was trying on what seemed like the 20t dress, and which happened to be that emerald-green one Jane mentioned earlier.
"Be careful, Jane, Lydia might hear you!" they both laughed, now care-free and jovial, and for a moment, Elizabeth forgot the tight situation she was in. It was so refreshing to be talking nonsense with her sister, and it made her so happy that Jane had finally got what she wanted.
"Don't forget, today we meet at the café at 9! Don't be late!" Jane waved her goodbye as she was getting into a cab on her way to Buckingham. How much longer is this day going to be?! I completely forgot about the movie we were supposed to watch with Bingley and his friend… So, after being condescendingly ignored by the love of my life, I have a date to go to, as I am being set up (not so subtly) with some football player or something. That is just great!
Soon after arriving to the Palace, she discovered that the Prince was true to his word; he was absent from this event. However, listening to the Queen's praise on her son for half an hour, and then her official introduction to the Princess almost surpassed what her nerves could bare.
"Georgiana, I want you to meet Elizabeth Bennet. She is going to be working very closely with your brother in the next couple of months… she is a lawyer."
"Lizzy!" Georgiana almost shouted in her surprise.
"What dear?" asked the Queen. "Miss Bennet, have you and my daughter met before?"
"No, she must have mistaken me for someone else" Elizabeth responded, half honestly. The Queen's attention was taken by someone else, and Georgiana started whispering as soon as her mother left:
"I know you are Lizzy, don't deny it! There has only been one Elizabeth Bennet in my brother's life, and there shall always be only one. So, what's the deal? Are you back together?" she asked excitedly.
"Georgiana, please… I am here because I was offered a dream job; it has nothing to do with your brother. Whatever happened then… it's over. It has ended 8 years ago, please don't try to plot against it." The younger girl didn't look so convinced, so she added "Georgiana please understand, this is the opportunity of a life-time for me. I cannot allow my past to intervene when I am this close to achieving the highest point anyone can get to in my profession."
"You are incredible! How can you be so selfish?! I won't tell my mom about you, don't worry… I won't embarrass my brother by telling anyone he was once in love with such a person as you! How can you do this?! How can you selfishly come here, after what you did, and expect everyone to forget anything has ever happened?! Do you have any idea how long it took my brother to forget you? How hurt he was, how… I can't believe you!" and after whispering all that in an almost-traumatized state, she ran out of the room, without even looking back. That's great. Push away even more people, won't you? Lizzy decided to try to end the night as soon as possible… Even a set-up is better than this.
So, though she was still half an hour early, she went to the café again, that same one where he talked with Bingley earlier today. Wow, that was today? It seems as if weeks have passed since then. As she went in, she saw that all three of them were already there, however the mystery man remained a mystery as Elizabeth was standing to his back. He seemed to be talking on the phone… this stranger looked familiar to her, somehow…
"You finally made it! Wait… we weren't expecting you for another 30 minutes or so! Come in, come in!" Bingley seemed happy that everyone was here.
The stranger started to turn around slowly, and it was as if time has decided to go extra slowly at that precise moment… Jane was laughing at something Bingley said, but Elizabeth couldn't hear anything… it was as if the entire world was muted. Elizabeth perceived the waitress pass exceptionally slow, though the images around her were becoming less and less clear, as her focus was on the face, That face, which was now revealed before her. And that was how a pair of fine green eyes met their opposite, beautiful brown ones for the first time, in 8 years.
"Will…" she whispered in her astonishment, while inches away a familiar mouth murmured "Lizzy…"
AN: Thnx again for all the lovely reviews, They keep me smiling day 'n' night:P So, here it is, finally the meeting between Lizzy and William... how do you like? or not like?
Btw, Lizzy is 16-17, and William is around 20... 3 years seemed ideal. Which would mean that in the non-flashback parts, Lizzy is 25 and Will is 28.