----- FLASHBACK -----
The Prince guided her through many hallways and finally led her to a deserted terrace. No one could see them there.
"There…I wanted to bring you here, because it is so peaceful, so quiet… When I was younger, I loved to stand outside on the terrace of my room, watching the stars pass by…" he looked up, and put on a sour face. "Well, at least we could imagine the stars…" you see, fog in Lima is so great, you can't even see the stars.
"Well… Maybe it is better this way…" at a curious glance from the Prince,she elaborated her idea in a little bit more detail. "You see, if you can always see the precious things in life, the things that you want and work hard to achieve… it might be a bit discouraging on the long run…" feeling she completely lost the Prince, she decided to explain metaphorically. "Say you have a cat, whose great dream was to one day catch a butterfly. She has heard so much about them from the flowers, and imagined the as such superior, beautiful beings, so elegant and colorful, free to fly anywhere and everywhere, bringing joy to the world… And though the little cat knew she would never catch a butterfly as she has never even seen one, being incarcerated in an apartment… And she lives her life in joy because she knows there are in existence creatures such as her wonderful butterflies. However, there is the sister of this kitty-cat, living outside in the garden, who has seen thousands and thousands of butterflies, and though she too wants to catch them, she never truly makes an effort, and is never made happy when thinking about those 'common' butterflies." Lizzy blushed and smiled; she hoped she didn't bore the Prince too much. Him, however, looked quite at awe at that beautiful, wise, spirited young woman in front of him.
He stepped closer to her, placing a loose hair behind her ears and caressing her cheeks. Their eyes were connected, and instantly the air between them was electrified. Some say the first kiss is given through eyes… well, that definitely was hell of a first kiss… William's head unconsciously moved closer to Lizzy's, and she didn't pull away either. It was quite obvious the path they were taking; the two of them, in love, alone on a terrace under the shining stars, sharing a (foot-popping) first kiss… ASHLEY! The image of the Prince's girlfriend popped into Lizzy's head, and she pulled away from his grasp. However much she liked him, she couldn't do this to Ashley, or to William. At his questioning hurtful stare, she only answered "Ashley…" and left the way they came from, leaving William full of self-hatred, cursing Ashley under his breath.
Lizzy returned to her sisters, and tried to put on a smile as if nothing had happened.
"Lizzy, there you are! Have you seen the Prince?? Apparently, no one has…" asked Kitty in the most irritatingly whining voice, concerned.
"Kitty, how could Lizzy know, she just arrived here herself! Oh, look!" she shouted excitedly, "it's Him, it's the Prince!!!" Lydia arranged her dress so that it showed a little bit more of cleavage. This Lizzy couldn't take any longer.
"Could you for once in your life act like a human being, with feelings, and morals and, and… ugh! He has a girlfriend if you hadn't noticed!" and she stormed out onto the garden. The bell inviting the public in for the second half ran once… rand twice…. And even a third time, yet she didn't want to hear it. The concert was now at the bottom of her priority list.
How could I be so stupid?? To fall for a guy I barely even know, and who is already taken! How stupid of me, to honestly think the Prince of Great Britain will fall in love with me, take me to his Palace and we will live happily ever after?! This is nonsensical! Get a grip, wake up! He already has Ashley. He is not going to leave her for you.
"And even if he would, he shouldn't" whispered Lizzy into the air, to no one. Except, someone did hear her, and as though reading her mind, he answered:
"Too late… He just did." Lizzy turned around in shock, staring once more into those wonderful brown eyes. "I just called her and told her I didn't think this could work between us… that I have found someone else, but even before that, things just weren't working. She seems to have understood…" one thing that was truly admirable about him was that he never lied… he was known for twisting the truth, but never ever for outright lying.
"So… what does that make of us?" Lizzy asked. William smiled.
"That's just it… whatever we want it to be." And with that, they filled the unnecessary air with love and passion as they shared their first ever truly meaningful kiss.
"No! You're missing the concert!" cried Lizzy remorsefully as realization hit her.
"I am inclined to think my time is better spent." He answered, smiling lovingly at the woman he was now free to adore. She blushed and smiled; never in her life before had she felt this happy. They spent the next hour and a half walking around the garden, talking, laughing, sharing intimate details about their personality…
"Favourite band?"
"hmm… I would have to go for Rolling Stones." He answered.
"No way! I can't believe I'm dating a Stones fan!!" oh shit, did I just say 'dating'??? Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!!!! What if we aren't really…? I mean, dating… Crap!
"Well… believe it." He smiled. We are! We are, we are, we are!!! We are dating!!!! "Besides, they are British, it is my duty to like them." He added cheekily. "and you?"
"Well, right now it's basically Norah Jones for me… Don't know why, there's just something about her, you know?"
"Typical." Said he, shaking his head.
"Lot better than the Stones! Although I have to admit, Keith Richards plays heck of a character in Pirates."
"Typical!" Wow, is that the only word he can say?!
"Come on, what's wrong with Pirates now?! I'll tell you, Mister, that movie is quite the favorite in the Bennet household."
"Right… wonder why that is with 5 women in the family?" said he sarcastically "It's a girl movie, everybody knows that!"
"It's an action and adventure! It almost has no romance in it! Well, apart from Will and Elizabeth" here she blushed… How ironic, isn't it? Same names…
"You women only like it because of a certain Johnny Depp, Mr. 'Hottest celebrity of the Year'… Besides, it is only the romantically sensitive hearts that can accept that love could remain between her and him after that much trouble… I mean, come on, no man or woman in their right minds would willingly live their lives waiting 364 days only to spend one day together… It is a generally known fact that waiting and time apart can kill love." Ouch, that hurt… does he really think that? I mean… I always knew he was realistic, but to not have even one inch of romance in him…
"Love is not something you choose to feel willingly… If you would have to choose between the death of a loved one, and only seeing her once a year, what would you do?" she asked. She was really quite interested in his answer; she felt it as a determining point.
"I… You see… The thing is… Hm…" it was obvious he had to really think about the answer. One thing he hated was answering impulsively; look where it has gotten him already. Finally he concluded with "Well, thankfully I'll never have to decide between that." And with that, he considered the matter finished. They walked around the garden, arm in arm, in silence for a while.
"Does everybody always call you William?" she asked, to break the silence. Truth is, she has been dying to know for ages, ever since she's met him, just never really had the chance.
"Well… as much as I remember, yes. I mean, my sister, Georgiana, used to call me 'Willia' when she was a baby… somehow the 'm' seemed hard for her at first… Why?"
"William seems so long… Will seems much more appropriate, it fits you better I think. It is much more youthful…" he smiled.
"There is always a first for everything… Would you do me the honors?"
"Most definitely, Will." She smiled, and so did he.