Apologies for being a little late on the update. I've been incredibly busy and I'm not sure if I'm going to have time to post next weekend. I will try however. Hopefully the developments in this chapter will satisfy. Happy reading...
"You know I love my aunt and uncle but they can be a bit much," William said after they had cleared the block and were back on Charles Street.
Lizzy started to laugh. "Which part do you think was a bit much? Could it have been the stories your aunt told about you and your cousin and how you would only wear boxers if you couldn't have matching outfits? Or was it when your uncle suggested that your 15-year old sister might be better off staying with them during the holidays rather than with a recently married couple who might not be able to 'keep it in the bedroom.'"
William had to laugh too. "Well you turned beet red when my uncle was 'discretely sharing' his concerns."
"I think he was actually disappointed that we could assure him we could keep it private and appropriate around Georgie," Lizzy admitted a bit shamefacedly. She wondered if William was getting anxious about the progress - or lack thereof - and if he'd get frustrated.
William had been laughing when he looked down at Lizzy and saw the anxiety on her face. "Lizzy? Are you ok?"
"Um yea. I'm fine." She quickly replied placing a bright smile on her face.
"Lizzy, don't do that. What's wrong? Did my uncle's comments upset you or make you uneasy?"
"I guess I got a teensy bit worried. We're joking around about a subject that's kind of sensitive. I appreciate we're taking our time but, I don't want you to get frustrated with me." Lizzy said looking down at her shoes.
William stopped. He took both her hands in his and pulled her close. Whispering in her ear he said, "Of course I want you. You, Elizabeth Darcy, are unbelievably beautiful and sexy lying in bed beside me. You can't imagine what simply that image does to me. BUT, I know that we'll get there. I hope it's not long but I believe in us. I'm not worried. Things will progress when we're both ready, ok?"
"Ok," Lizzy whispered in response. Lizzy pulled back a bit and began, "I should tell you I've made an appointment at the health clinic. I want to be prepared so I figured I should talk to them about going on the pill or something so we don't have to worry about it."
William was surprised but caught himself, "Do you want me to go with you? When is the appointment?" He was truly stunned by her admission.
"It's next Wednesday, after my last final. You don't need to come. It's ok."
"I asked if you want me to come. If you want me there, I wouldn't miss it." Placing a kiss on her head, he pulled back and looked at her again, "You amaze me. You are doing this for us. I want to support you in everything." William assured her.
"Well ok. The appointment won't be particularly pleasant so maybe you could take me to Burdicks afterwards. We could celebrate the end of exams and going on the pill." Lizzy said with a laugh.
"Whatever you want. Hot chocolate is easy. I was prepared for diamonds." William laughed.
"I don't think that's necessary. I should warn you however. Your aunt has decided I need a wardrobe makeover. Apparently I'm not 'media ready' and she wants to take me to meet with her personal shopper at Saks." Lizzy admitted.
"Oh that's great. I'll get the name of her person and set up an account for you so you can get whatever you need. When are you two going?" William asked nonchalantly.
"Seriously. Just like that?" Lizzy was incredulous.
"What do you mean?" William was confused.
"Your aunt plans to take me shopping to spend thousands of dollars on clothes I don't think I need. And you're like, 'ok, where and when?' I guess I'm surprised." Lizzy said.
William had to pause to try and figure out which part was the problem. He didn't want to say the wrong thing and anger her and he sensed there was something underlying her reaction. He proceeded slowly, starting with what he perceived to be the easiest. "On the money part, I've got more than I can spend in a lifetime. I'm happy to spend it on you. I trust you and my aunt. With regards to Aunt Sophia, she simply loves having a daughter to dress up and hang out with. For years she's done it with Georgie and her own daughter. Wanting to have lunch with you today, and taking you shopping, well, she's treating you like an adopted daughter. It means she's accepted you and trust me, she doesn't accept everyone. That makes me extremely happy and I'd do anything to support it. It's important to have strong relationships with the family I still have and that I'm closest to." Looking over at Lizzy she seemed to be listening closely and her reaction seemed fine thus far. Of course, he hadn't tackled the other two potential issues he knew were likely on her mind, and were likely be more complicated. Taking hold of Lizzy's hand, he grasped it tightly as if he was preparing for her to try and pull away. "As to being 'media ready', well, she's the expert. I'm glad we've flown under the radar thus far but she's good a good sense for these things. Personally? I think you're beautiful and you don't require new clothes to make me happy or to augment anything, if that's what you're worried about. That said, there are people in the world who care about these things. I've been raised to think of clothing as battle armor. It's kid of sad to say but, if you have the right clothes it can protect you from some of the callous and hurtful people who only judge a person on the outside rather than what matters. I hope you'll go shopping with my aunt and have fun doing it. You have a great sense of style so buy what you like and don't worry about the cost. Ok?"
"Ok. I hadn't thought about it that way. I'm still a little sensitive about the whole money and image thing. I like who I am and am worried that this is going to change me. I know girls who'd love to spend a day with a personal shopper at Saks. It's just not me." Lizzy said as they waited for the T to arrive.
"Lizzy, I didn't marry you because I wanted to change who you are. I do have money however and, for better or worse, you'll be judged by others and will be under greater scrutiny than you've ever been before. I hope you can take advantage of my aunt's kindness and our resources to protect yourself a bit from the negatives associated with money. It's not all positive unfortunately." William said resignedly.
Climbing on the T, William remembered the last time he'd ridden home from his aunt and uncle's home and bumped into Lizzy on the train. It was the night he'd first learned about the codicil. It was hard to believe that a little more than a month and a half later he was sitting next to Lizzy again on the T, this time as her husband. He was stunned by how much happier he was tonight than that cold November evening. Twenty minutes later and they were walking up to the condo. "Let's get ready for bed and then we can talk more about how things went with the lawyers and I can update you on my trip to Maine, ok?"
"Sounds good. I can't wait to get under the covers and warmed up. It's freezing out here." Lizzy agreed.
Lizzy found William sitting in his bed propped up against a wall of pillows. As she walked in he held open his arms welcoming her into bed with him. Crawling over the covers, she quickly found herself under the blankets and wrapped in William's arms.
"We'd better get talking soon or else I can't promise that I'll be able to keep my hands in check." William warned.
"So you go first. Tell me about the visit with your aunt and cousin."
William sighed. "My cousin was actually a pleasant surprise. She was supportive in her own way and redirected my aunt's attention when she started to get worked up. My aunt reacted exactly like I'd expected. I'm so glad that my uncle was there to support us. He made it very clear that he expects her to be pleased for us and won't hesitate to isolate her from the rest of the family if she doesn't fall in line. I was pretty surprised at how staunchly he stated his position, to he honest."
"I'm uncomfortable being the cause of such a rift William. She must hate me." Lizzy said worriedly.
"You shouldn't worry. She was bound to react this way no matter who I married. I did ask my uncle why he took such a hard line with Aunt Cathy."
"Did he tell you? I was kind of curious why he'd choose to support us so vehemently over his own sister." Lizzy could tell there was some significance to this all.
"I think he's feeling some guilt over the codicil AND I'm not sure he trusts my aunt. He made some comments that seemed to raise questions about her role in the document's creation. Uncle Henry admitted that when he first learned about the codicil, he was pretty upset he was never consulted. After reading it he couldn't understand why it was kept hidden from him. I kind of agree. I mean, why would my father write the codicil and never discuss it with one of his closest friends? They were roommates in college and then became brothers by marriage. Even more, my mom and brother were close so we always spent a lot of time together growing up. We never really spent time with my Aunt Cathy so the choice of her as guardian doesn't make a lot of sense. It's just weird."
"And I thought my situation was complicated." Lizzy said. Turning to face William she placed a gentle kiss on his lips before adjusting herself so she was sitting a little higher than he was. Lizzy pulled his head down to rest on her lap. Stroking his hair she began to feel him relax. She vowed to herself she'd do all she could to cultivate a good relationship with his uncle and aunt. They'd been unbelievably supportive and there was enough difficulty in their families.
Looking down at William, his eyes were mostly closed, lashes resting on his cheeks. Lizzy continued stroking his head and neck, her fingers finding their way through his curls. He breathing evened out and she felt a surge of protectiveness. She wanted to care for him, to make sure there was no more sadness, to give him happiness. All these thoughts flooded her at once and in that moment, she knew she loved him. Leaning over she pressed a kiss on his temple and whispered, "I love you William."
William's eyes fluttered open and he sat up. He needed to be certain of her words, needed to see her face, and she seemed to understand this. Lizzy sat up on her knees, took William's face in her hands, and, looking into his open eyes said the words again, "I love you." William's heart felt like it would jump out of his chest. He couldn't speak but used his lips, hands and body to convey his pure elation at her words. She was his and he was hers. William wanted to impress upon every part of Lizzy how much she meant to him. The rest of the night was spent wordlessly expressing their mutual devotion by exploring each other's bodies as thoroughly as they'd explored their hearts and minds in recent weeks.
William woke first and was pleased to find his young wife's body pressed up against his while she continued to slumber. He was still stunned by her admission the prior evening and their affirmation of it for a good while afterwards. He felt warmth radiating from the inside out and wondered if people would notice the change. For the first time in a very long time, he felt complete.
Looking over at the clock he realized they'd slept in and really needed to get up and get moving. Tuesday had been his final day of classes and he needed to get that recording from Charlie so he could make sure his notes were complete for his finals. They were beginning on Monday. Both he and Lizzy had only three final exams each, their papers already turned in, but they needed to prepare. He was about to reach over to wake Lizzy when he heard his cell phone ringing in the dining room. 'It can go to voicemail,' he thought when the house phone began to ring. Scooting quickly out of bed he raced to find the wireless phone. The phones, of which there were five scattered around the condo, never seemed to be sitting in their chargers when they rang and generally were found buried under mail or clothing or in some random spot absentmindedly deposited wherever he was standing when the prior call ended. The ringing must have woken Lizzy because he heard her giggling behind him. "What, may I ask, is so funny?"
"You've got quite the cute bottom dashing across the room to find the phone."
"I was admiring yours before you woke up my dear and I can say I appreciate yours as well." William grinned before diving back on the bed to attack her with kisses. They were well on their way to repeating the prior evening's activities when the phone started to ring again. "Who's calling us this early?" he grumbled. "Hello?"
"William, its your uncle. How are you?" Uncle Henry asked seriously.
"I'm great. I'm surprised to hear from you given we spent the entire day together yesterday. What's up?" William responded.
"I guess you haven't been online yet or seen any of the trash that's out there."
"I don't know what your talking about, what's going on?"
"Why don't you log in to your email. I"ll send you a few links for you to take a look at. Stay calm and call me back." Henry requested.
William felt a growing ball of anxiety in the pit of his stomach. This wasn't good. Before anything else, he needed a cup of coffee to face the day. Walking into the kitchen he found Lizzy preparing a pot of coffee for them. "I have a lot to do today so I'm making the french roast ok?" Lizzy asked as she turned towards William.
"Thought sounds like a good idea. By the way, we never talked about how things went with the lawyers yesterday. Everything ok?" William asked, wondering if this was what his uncle was calling about.
"Actually it was very straightforward. I had a few questions about the process and what to expect. The paperwork was in good shape, thank you by the way, so we actually filed all of the papers yesterday afternoon. They were able to do it electronically so it was pretty simple. I'm relieved and think I'm prepared for the inevitable questions that will come when the application is evaluated. I'm sorry I freaked out on Monday. I feel so much more calm about it today." Lizzy said leaning into William for a kiss.
With the coffee made, William decided to power up his laptop and see what was waiting for him in his email. Lizzy was busy making them breakfast and so he settled himself at the breakfast bar where he could see her and make progress on whatever issue his uncle was concerned over. He clicked on the first link and a headline appeared, "Multi-billionaire Marries his Mexican Maid," pictures from their wedding and reception were pasted below. William slammed his fist on the counter, causing his coffee to fly, while he cursed loudly.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Lizzy was stunned by his outburst and immediately turned off the stove and went to him. Looking over at the computer screen she saw the headline and her stomach turned.
"I'm so sorry Lizzy. This is so unfair. I'll kill whoever gave the press pictures from our wedding." William stormed holding tightly onto Lizzy.
Looking a bit more closely, Lizzy examined the article, much of it filled with speculation and little of it filled with fact. "Well, at least the maid cleans up good." She said in her best Mexican accent.
William was incredulous and kissed her. "Oh I love you Lizzy. Only you could make a joke out of this trash."
They opened the next email to see, "Pemberley Heir Falls For Boston Waitress," and "Where's the Shoe?" with "Cinderella comes in the form of local immigrant" as the subheadline.
"You've gotta give them points for creativity for that last one," Lizzy laughed. William was furious but was grateful Lizzy was taking it so well.
William opened the last of the links and his heart dropped, "Senator Fitzwilliam Harbors Fugitive From Immigration".
Lizzy looked over as this link filled the page and her hands flew to her face before running from the room. William was still reading the article when he looked up to see her retreating form. "Damn. Damn it to hell," William said under his breath as he ran to find Lizzy curled up in their bed crying. He sat down next to her and picked her up in his arms holding her close to him. Stroking her back he wasn't sure what to say or do to make her feel better so he simply held her.
"I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry." Lizzy started to say.
"Shhhh. You've got nothing to apologize for. I'm the one who's sorry. We wouldn't be in the papers if it wasn't for me. I told you having money isn't great and this is proof." William said his voice still laced with anger.
The phone started to ring again and William saw it was his uncle. He was torn between answering the call and continuing to soothe Lizzy. He tried to do both.
"Hi Uncle Henry. Thanks for sending them over, I guess." William said soberly.
"I'm sorry I had to start your day like this. How are you and Elizabeth doing? Has she seen them?"
"Yes. The last one you sent over, the one with you in the headline, was pretty upsetting for her."
"Can I talk to her? I don't want her to worry about me. I'll be fine." Henry said with blithely.
Kissing her head, William set the phone down and asked quietly, "Lizzy, my uncle would like to speak with you. We can call him later if you prefer."
"No, I'd like to talk to him." She took the phone from William's hand and placed it against her ear. "Hi Senator. I'd say good morning but it hasn't started out to be one."
"Good morning Elizabeth. I hope you won't let those loathsome articles bother you in the least. As you can imagine, your Aunt Sophia is furious with the papers and has been storming around the house all morning. She can be a bit of a mama bear when it comes to our family. I've learned long ago not to get too worried about these things and I don't want you to be. Sophia and I are thrilled you're a part of the family and our statement to the press, later today, will let them all know just how happy we are that you're now our niece." Henry stated in a well practice voice infused with confidence.
"Thank you. You mean so much to William and I'd never want to be the cause of any rift or difficulty. You and Aunt Sophia have been so supportive and I hope you know how grateful I am," Lizzy responded earnestly.
"No worries, please. Sophia will call you in a little while. She wanted to drive over first thing but the press are circling and I think it's better if we all stay put today, at least until we've got our statement ready."
"Ok. I can't promise I'll be non-plussed by all of this but I'll try to not worry." Lizzy answered. "Let me pass the phone back to William." After handing over the phone she retreated to the bathroom to splash some cold water on her face. Resting against the counter she tried to process everything that had happened over the past twelve hours. Last night had been well, amazing. William had been so gentle with her and she had been blissfully happy sharing herself completely with him. Why couldn't they have even twelve hours of bliss before something erupted to disturb them. 'Well that sounds a bit like I'm pitying myself and I can't stand for that!' Lizzy resolutely thought. 'Enough. I'm married to a man I love. Yes I truly love him and that's all that should matter.' Pulling herself together she walked back into their bedroom to find William mournfully looking at his phone. Taking the phone away from him, she sat next to him and poured all of herself into a kiss just for them. William quickly responded. He started to speak but Lizzy wouldn't allow him to, removing their robes and enticing William back to bed. "We need to restart this day," Lizzy whispered. And they did.
So what doesn't kill you makes you stronger right? They got there pretty fast and just in time right? I'll take constructive feedback, insights, applause, encouragements in the comments box below...