AN:
I had this as one chapter, but I felt as though it should be separate.
ENJOY!
Chapter 4
The doorbell rang while Lizzie was home alone. When she went to answer, she wished she had ignored it.
"Hello, Mr. Collins." She smiled.
"Hello, Elizabeth." The way he said her name made her skin crawl. Her fake smile and sweetness were obviously lost to him.
"My husband isn't at home. He had to run out to get somethings. I'm surprised to see you on a Sunday. And after last nights party, no less." She stood aside as he practically forced his way past her into the house.
"Oh, I travel around. I'll wait for him, if you don't mind." He sat down on the sofa.
"What do you need to talk to him about?" She stood at the entrance to the living room.
"Oh a bit of this, a bit of that. Tell me, how do you know Mr. Darcy?" He smiled and Lizzie fought the urge to vomit.
"We've been friends since junior high." She looked at the clock on the wall. He had been gone an hour. Please, come home soon.
"And when did the romance start?" He shifted his weight on the couch.
"Not until about a year and a half before the wedding." She was making this up as she went along. He stood and started walking towards her. William! Come home NOW!
"And what exactly do you do?" He stopped below the stair she was standing on.
"I teach." She was uncomfortable now.
"What do you teach, Mrs. Darcy." She imagined he thought his voice sounded like silk, but really it sounded like an old man asking her to get into the back of his van.
"Art." She backed up. He followed. Lizzie heard William entering the house. The noise was lost on Mr. Collins.
"Mrs. Darcy. I cannot help but feel you married the wrong man. Mr. Darcy has no appreciation for art." He took a large step and was closer than before. "I on the other hand, love art. What do you do?" He reached out and tried to rub a finger down her arm.
"Mr. Collins. I feel quite uncomfortable. I will tell my husband you called-." She danced her way around him.
"Oh, no. That won't do." He grabbed her hand and pulled her closer to him. "Is this how you snagged him? Playing hard to get? I wouldn't think that a woman of your... job inclination... would refuse a paying client." He smiled disgustingly. She saw William standing behind Mr. Collins.
"I'm not sure what you're referring too, but-"
"What club did you used to work at? I can only assume that-"
"Unhand her." William spoke up.
"Mr. Darcy. How long have you been standing there?" Collins dropped her wrist like it had burned her.
"Since about you propositioning my wife. Now you will leave before I break your jaw." He walked up to Collins and only then did Lizzie realize how tall William really was. She was a good four inches taller than that man and in heels, her head rested just below William's chin. William towered over him and Collins took the hint and scurried out the door.
"William." Lizzie sighed and ran into his arms.
"Its okay Lizzie. You may not know it, but you were stunning last night. I wasn't the only one who thought so." He squeezed her.
"You always compliment me for no reason."
He pushed her away and looked her in the eye. "There is a reason. I say it because its true."
She sighed and looked into the kitchen. "Want help with the groceries?"
"Sure." He draped an arm over her shoulder and they went into the kitchen.
AN:
I imagine the house with a very open first floor, no doors except to the garage. The hall would be at the same level as the kitchen and a step up from the living room. Everything is connected and flows together.