Chapter 24:
"You did good." Smiled Lizzy watching as Jane and Bingley made up.
"It was the least I could do. I really hope she'll forgive me…"
"Of course she will, she's Jane! I honestly believe she is physically incapable of holding grudges."
"Yeah, well… that is what I thought about Bingley, and trust me… the last 3 hours of talk was spent with me trying to get his forgiveness. He really loves her, you know."
"Yes… it shows… Can you imagine their wedding?"
"Hahaha, it would be worth going to just to see Caroline's face!" he laughed.
"Hey, don't be so cruel. She is entitled to her opinions; freedom of speech and all."
"..Even if her opinions are that she should be with me?"
"Now that would be crossing the freedom line!" Lizzy winked at him. Everything felt so perfect; the two sisters merry and in love, with the right person, without doubts.
"Talking about weddings… Do you think you could help Charlotte out?"
"Of course! Sorry my love, I completely forgot about her. I will make a call right now!"
"Right now…? You sure about that?" she asked, with a glow in her eyes.
"Why, do you have anything else in mind?" he asked.
"Actually, I always did want to play Frisbee in St. James's Park…" she said cheekily.
"But the car…!"
"There is such a thing as the subway, you know."
"I sense some very bad influence from you…" he said, mocking his mother.
"Deal with it!" she laughed.
I was not hard to convince William to ride the subway as, truth be told, he was rather curious himself.
"You know, I have never been on one of these before."
"It's not overly difficult for me to believe, to tell the truth. IT would've definitely made the headlines!"
"Ah, the secret is out! You have been following my every move through the tabloid, admit it!"
"Yes, I was your very own personal tabloid-stalker." She looked around at all the people staring at them, and could not but laugh "me and millions of other people!"
"Are you cheating on Caroline?" shouted out a brave teenager from the other end of the cabin.
"Haven't you heard?! They are over!"
"Maybe it was because of her!"
"Yeah, maybe he did cheat!" Elizabeth could not hold in her laughter any longer. Though William was similarly amused, he had a greater job before he could give in to the laughing urges.
"No, I did not cheat; I hoped you would know I am more honest. But let me present you to Elizabeth, Elizabeth Bennet, actually."
"Hi!" she said cheerfully.
"Hey"
"Hi"
"Hello!" came from everywhere.
"Is this the new girlfriend?" someone asked.
"'This' has a name… and yes" he turned, staring into her eyes "she is." She could not help her smile reaching both ears at the same time, no matter how scientifically impossible she deemed it previously.
"I'm glad to hear it" she whispered to him, which got her a peck on the lips, and "awwww"s from the entire female, and some male, population present.
"Wow, public displays of affection" she continued her teasing "whatever has become of the Prince I wonder?"
"He finally lives." Lizzy was in heaven, her heart melted and her brain clouded by pink and white chunks of precipitation. Realizing that the couple's attention wasn't on them anymore, everyone stared talking between them about the recent news.
"You know, I didn't really like that Caroline, I'm glad he got rid of her."
"He looks so happy, doesn't he? Like a spell has been lifted or something; he's a completely new person!"
"Yes, look! He's actually smiling!"
"Rather, can't stop smiling…"
And so on. The tale of the Prince's trip on the subway passed like a wildfire around town, and soon everyone heard what seemed like a myth. And the memory was cherished in the minds of the participants, passing it on to their grandsons and great-grandsons.
Lizzy and William raced out and into the park, where, realizing they had no Frisbees at hand, they asked to join a group already there. It took around 10 minutes for them to utter any kind of response (mainly a mumble, which they took for a "yes") but soon enough they were playing with Mary, Mark, Jonathon and Rachel.
Soon, a great crowd watched the Frusbee-ers, curious of this highly uncharacteristic behavior of their usually cold and distanced Prince. Soon, Frisbee turned into playing hide-and-seek with the paparazzi, and the evening ended with a closing metro ride to SmilingCoffee-Cup. Neither had ever had this much fun; it was as if they were twelve again, innocent and playful, enjoying like never before each other's company.
Their little escapade ended on the evening news, with every local, and international channel reporting the "delusional behavior" of William. For the night, the two couples ordered some sushi and invited Georgina to dinner, to which Elizabeth was looking forward to with many uncertainties. She knew she had the heart of the brother, but she desperately wanted to pacify the sister's.
"William! I saw the news, what happened?" she said with a concerned voice, the moment she came in through the door. "Oh, how terribly rude of me! Hi Jane, and Charles! Thank you for the invitation…"
"Georgi, calm down! Nothing is the matter. Actually… everything is better than ever. You remember Lizzy don't you?"
"We've met… Why, is she here?" she asked, reproaching.
"Yes. Now be nice!"
"How can I be nice if she ruined your life!!" wined the sister.
"Ouch, Georgi!"
"But it's true! Can't you see, she-"
"Enough is enough. I must beg you to refrain from insulting my girlfriend."
"But..! Wait, What?!" she looked a bit confused. "But…" you could see her brain machinery heating up slowly, until, finally, came realization "Right on, bro!" escaped her mouth.
"I will pretend I did not hear the Georgi, but thank you."
"Georgina, I am so sorry! I just couldn't let your mother know! Will wouldn't've wanted it either… Please understand!" Lizzy asked her.
"Hey… if he's happy, I'm happy" she answered, grinning, and giving a hug to lizzy.
"Come on, let's watch a movie. Any suggestions?" Jane asked, with a chorus answer of 'Pride and Prejudice'! from the two fanatics.
Georgina soon fell asleep, before the 'gentleman-like manner' part, which somehow hit home in William. Jane resisted a bit longer, dozing off at the Pemberly scene; Charles was the most hopeless of all three, snoring already when the older sister became ill. Once everyone was asleep, Lizzy and William went into the kitchen fro some adult talk.
"Will, I was thinking…"
"Congratulations, you made it!" teased the Prince. Ignoring him, she continued
"Look, I doubt I could continue working for you any longer… You understand."
"Shall I consider this as your two-week's notice?" he kept on joking, and being ignored.
"Will, you'll have to talk to your mother. Rather… we'll have to talk to her. I can't work for your family any longer."
"Lizzy, couldn't you leave the bad new for tomorrow??"
"It is already tomorrow, dear. We have to start our journey back from Neverland; you knew things couldn't remain the same. Also…" she hated herself for saying this "we have to keep a low profile."
"Lizzy!"
"I honestly don't want a scandal. Please!" she was serious, and finally, so was he. He closed the distance between them, hugged her tight and whispered in her ear "Let the people in charge handle the media; that is what they are paid for. You just enjoy the moment; you have no other obligation."
"I love you so much! I don't want anything to damage your flawless reputation… I've already caused so much trouble…!" she answered. She couldn't hold back a yawn "sorry… it was a long day…" she apologized.
"Yes, it was. All right, let's get you to bed! I have to take Georgi home."
"No, let her stay, She can have my bed."
"And you?"
"Oh shoot, I didn't think about that!" there was the sarcasm coming out again. "It's not like there are absolutely no sofas in this house…"
"All right then, bring her back tomorrow at 8, and we can talk to my mother then. Any other wishes, my Queen?" he asked, in an all-so-sweet voice.
"Yes… a goodnight kiss wouldn't hurt!" he smiled and made that tremendously romantic move of bending her back, like at the end of tango dance, and giving her a full blown kiss, ending with a tiny peck on her slightly freckled nose. "Good night my Love."
"Sweet dreams Will!" and he left. She went to Georgina
"Georgi, dear, get up!" she whispered. In a zombie-state she directed her up to her room, tucked her in and wished her a good night. She went to change and fell asleep on the sofa.