Wow! Well the last chapter certainly inspired some reaction which I'm thoroughly grateful for and a bit humbled by. As the mother of reasonably well behaved teenagers, I can say that Georgie's response is not out of the realm of "normal" behavior. I've seen worse from other 15 yo's in my midst. At any rate, your comments and questions inspired this chapter. Happy reading!
"Please talk to me. You've been in a terrible mood ever since we left Boston and I need to know what happened. I want to know what you're thinking." Lizzy had had enough of the tension and short answers from both William and Georgie during the ride up to Maine. Thank goodness for the podcasts she had on her iPhone or else the ride would have been untenable.
William sighed, a frown deepening on his face. How could he explain this all to Elizabeth? He told Richard he'd have no secrets from her and yet, for half of the car ride, he'd been ruminating on how he could actually tell Lizzy all of the terrible things Georgiana had said. The other half, of course, was spent wondering what to do about Georgie.
"William? If you don't want to tell me, if you'd prefer to keep it just between your family, I'll understand." Lizzy offered. She didn't really understand, didn't like the idea that this issue with Georgie wouldn't be something they discussed, but she needed them to move forward so she offered it nonetheless.
"What? NO. No, you're family. I just don't know how to begin. I don't want to upset you." He reached over to caress her face. He needed the connection at that moment. To assure himself that he hadn't made the situation worse.
Lizzy released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. She had been worried that he didn't want to share with her this particular issue. "If it's upsetting to you, I want to know. We're supposed to help support one another. Keeping it to yourself makes me feel like you don't trust me."
"I trust you very very much. I'll tell you." And he did. Lizzy quietly listened as William related the events of the morning. When he finished speaking, he pulled her into his arms relishing in her warmth and murmuring apologies. He wasn't exactly sure what he was apologizing for. Was it for having a mean sister? For giving voice to her harsh thoughts and words? All he really knew was that he hated saying the words to this beautiful woman.
Lizzy pulled back a bit and looked up at him. 'You know, she kinda has a point?"
"Excuse me? She has no right to say or even think such things. I'm embarrassed that I've raised someone who could be such a snob and she certainly does not have a right to have an opinion on who I marry." William insisted.
Lizzy realized she might need to tread carefully given how locked into his point of view William seemed to be. "I didn't phrase that quite right. I can imagine, putting myself in her place, that springing a new wife, and a wedding on her, all at once, when you've been her sole immediate family, might be disconcerting. It might make her wonder why you wouldn't want to share this in a more personal way. It would be a sign of respect. I can also imagine that after every thing she's been through, she's a bit insecure. Worried that maybe she lost some of your respect after everything that happened at her last school. This might be proof that she did indeed." She looked up at him to see how he was taking her words. He was listening, perhaps processing. "I should have thought to include her in the wedding party. I honestly never thought of it. I guess my excuse was that the entire wedding was a bit of a whirlwind so I simply didn't think of her. I should have. She was to be my new sister and deserved my consideration. I'm sure she spent much of the wedding weekend feeling a bit like a third wheel."
William looked carefully at Lizzy. Her words rung true. As hard as it was to think it, Georgie likely did have some basis for her feelings. That said, he couldn't get past how hard hearted and mean his sister had been to Elizabeth. His wife was too good. She was willing to take the other side even after she'd been the injured party. "How do you do that? How do you take what she said and give it credence?"
Shaking her head, Lizzy smiled. "Don't give me so much credit. Look, she can't be your sister and not have redeeming qualities. She's young but I'm sure she's intelligent and of course, she's your family. I've always held that there are very few people in the world who are all bad or all good. I'm not blind to the mean words, I'm just assuming there is good in her too. Remember I've grown up with three sisters. They can be remarkably mean at times but I still know they love me. As the adults, its our responsibility to find the reason for her behavior."
William was silent, but this time Lizzy was positive he was processing her suggestion. "You are wise indeed. I need to think more about all of this. Do you mind if we just watch a movie tonight or something. I need a mental break. It sounds like I need to talk more to Georgie but I think I'll wait til tomorrow until I've thought more about what you've said."
Lizzy agreed and pulled him over to the couch where she wrapped her arms around him and began to kiss away the worry lines and frown from his face. William needed her love and reassurance. Pausing to ensure the door was locked, he prepared himself to receive all of her care.
The time spent locked away in their rooms put William in a much better frame of mind. Over dinner, he asked Georgiana if she wanted to join them for a movie that evening. She declined, claiming some school reading would keep her occupied. He was actually a bit relieved she didn't want to join them. He felt constrained around her and needed some more time to get his own thoughts in order before talking to her tomorrow.
As dinner was ending, Georgie looked as if she was ready to bolt from the room. Before she could leave however, William wanted to be sure he secured some time with her tomorrow. "Georgie? I thought maybe tomorrow morning we'd go out for breakfast just you and me."
"Oh, ok. What time?" She was surprised and a bit confused. When she was younger, they'd often have breakfast dates to discuss whatever was on their minds. She'd always loved these dates and hoped that those good memories wouldn't be tarnished by another tongue lashing. She'd heard quite enough about what a terrible person she was and didn't want to hear another word.
"Let's go early, say 8:30? Can you be up and ready by then?" William asked, a wave of anxiety almost overtaking him.
"Sure. I'll be ready. Um, good night." Georgie quickly hurried out of the dining room and up to her room. She was going to get very little school reading done. The looming breakfast appointment was overwhelming her thoughts ruining any potential concentration for school work.
It had been a restless night for all three of them. Georgiana and William because of their breakfast date, Lizzy because of William's endless tossing and turning. She'd considered going back to bed after the two left but decided they'd likely all fall into bed tonight early. She might as well get her day started. Having already received her reading list for the next semester she decided to begin tackling the ridiculously long list. If she could get through even one or two of the books in advance it would make the workload a little more manageable.
Georgie and William rode in silence to Flapjacks, home of the best blueberry pancakes in Maine, or so they claimed. The Arnold Family had been running the restaurant since before William's birth. It's familiarity was comforting and the tall booths also gave them the privacy he felt they'd need. He knew he'd have to start this conversation and yet he wasn't quite sure where to begin. After placing their orders William cleared his throat. Georgiana's eyes darted up to meet his and he could tell she was as nervous as he was. For some reason, seeing her apprehension helped calm his own.
"These past few weeks have been difficult ones for you and me, our relationship I mean."
"Yes," Georgie responded simply.
"I've been made to realize that I haven't been entirely fair to you. I haven't shown you the respect you're due as my sister and for that I'm deeply sorry. I've made some mistakes and I will try to do better. Of all of the decisions I've recently made however, marrying Elizabeth has been the best one... in a very long time. So, while I could have informed you better, included you better, been more thoughtful to what you needed to adjust to the idea. I don't regret, even the smallest amount, the choice I've made in marrying Elizabeth. Of course, you're not a mindreader and you may have questions about my decisions. I want to alleviate any worries you might have about my marriage. This morning is for you. And if other questions or worries come up after this morning, I want to hear them." Lizzy had counseled him to start with an apology and to actively listen to her concerns. She thought this might disarm Georgiana and make her more open to hear what he had to say. The apology needed to be genuine however so he was careful to be clear on what he was and was not apologizing for.
Georgiana sat in a kind of stunned silence. She really hadn't expected William to start off this way at all. She'd prepared herself for various punishments and lectures but not an admission of... what was it exactly. Not guilt, nor regrets for marrying Elizabeth. No, it was an apology for not showing her respect. Well that was something she figured. "Um, thank you?" She asked more than stated.
"You're welcome. Now, this is your time. Ask me any questions." William offered.
"Anything?"
"I reserve the right to not answer but sure, ask."
"Why her?" Georgiana decided to get to the heart of the matter. His choice. Why Lizzy, someone so different from them.
A smile bloomed across his face. "That's easy. Lizzy's special. She's kind and she likes to take care of people. She likes taking care of me. But it's more than that. Nothing's been handed to her. She expects little of others but a lot of herself. Everything she's achieved is a result of her efforts to improve herself. Lizzy is interested in the world not because of what she can take from it but rather what she can give to it." He paused, thinking more about his wife, "I'm a better person because I know her. She's witty and challenges me. I love her and she loves and needs me too. I can give to her as much as she gives to me."
"Yea, money and citizenship. She took one look at you and saw a green card and dollar signs." Georgie muttered.
"You're wrong Georgiana!" William barked. Georgie visibly shrank back and he knew he needed to calm himself if she was going to actually hear him. In a more controlled voice he continued, "You know we really got to know one another at the free legal clinic. I'd spoken badly about her situation and she, well, she really told me off actually." Chucking at the memory he smiled as he admitted, "I deserved it and I'm better for it. This was something that happened to her but it doesn't define who she is as a person. It's an important distinction and one you need to learn well. Then, once I started helping her in earnest she wanted to pay me back for my time by shopping and cooking for me. No, she doesn't come from money but she realized how alone I was and wanted to take care of me. Then, when I realized that we could all be helped, you included, by us marrying, she actually turned me down at first, thinking like you did. That there would be more, um, appropriate candidates. I didn't agree but I respected that she didn't want a quick fix. I pressed her to at least think about it. She obviously, eventually agreed much to my great happiness." Considering Georgie's other charges, the money, he figured he could most easily address that issue by discussing the arrangements. "As to finances, you must know there is a pre-nuptial agreement. And when I asked her to sign it, she didn't even really want to see it. Dr. Gardiner and I made sure she knew what was in it but it was not about the money for Lizzy. And even if it was, I love her. For that I'd give her much more then is stated in the agreement. What I've done has already made her uncomfortable so we really don't talk about it. Lizzy's reminded me that people are not all good or all bad. Everyone has a story and while some people are out for money or status, not everyone is."
Breakfast was served and they took a few minutes to eat and calm down a bit. Georgie decided to take a different tack. "Why didn't you talk to me about it before? Why did you rush so much?"
William sat back and looked at his sister again. She looked small sitting in the booth. "For that I am truly sorry. We got, well I certainly got, caught in the whirlwind of it all. In my mind, I was marrying a woman that was so special and I was sure you'd love her. I was also solving a problem that would make your life better I believed. I just didn't think you'd have questions. I'm used to just taking care of things and ever since I'd learned about the codicil I was laser-focused on finding a solution to protect you and your inheritance. I should have shown you more respect by talking to you about it. Then, when you reacted badly, I felt like you were questioning me: my intellect, my authority, my judgment. And it was all public. It made a difficult situation much, much worse."
Georgiana did actually listen. She cringed a little when he mentioned how public it'd all gotten. "I'm sorry for that. I really never imagined that Caroline would sell the story to the press. I know how much you hate the press getting involved in our lives."
"It was hard to see all that in print but what was especially hard was that it came from you. When I saw your emails and texts in print I was incredibly hurt," William admitted.
"I'm sorry." Georgiana whispered.
They hadn't eaten much and so the two turned their attention to the pancakes in front of them. They were almost finished eating when William decided to broach one more topic. "I need you to give Elizabeth a chance. I love both of you and I can't choose."
Georgiana was quiet. He was asking her to do something very, very hard and she didn't want to, didn't know how to do what he was asking of her. Keeping her eyes glued to her plate she simply hoped he'd give up.
Frustrated he tried again. "Georgie, look at me." His voice was stern. Reluctantly she lifted her eyes. "Elizabeth is not going away. You have to try."
Frantically searching her mind for what she could possibly say, Georgie finally spoke, "I promise I won't say any more mean things but I'd really prefer it to be just us. This morning's been so good and I'd rather have time with just you. I have nothing in common with your, um, your wife. Besides she must hate me."
Shaking his head William said firmly, "I am not going to split myself in two and you're not going to hide from us during school holidays. You have one very important thing in common, ME. Lizzy will forgive you but you need to be the one to initiate this. You need to apologize." He waited for several minutes watching her, hoping to hear her acceptance and agreement. Maybe it was too much to hope for this morning. Frustrated, he placed a $20 on the table and got up to leave. Georgie trailed quietly behind him getting into the car without saying a word.
Upon returning to the house, William made a decision. Pemberley was too large. It was too easy for Georgie to hide. He called up to Sunday River and reserved a two-bedroom suite. Running upstairs to find Elizabeth, he couldn't help but smile when he saw her curled up on the sofa in their room, sound asleep, an afghan wrapped around her legs and a book on her lap. Gently placing kisses on her face and lips, he gradually nudged her awake.
"Did I fall asleep? What time is it?" Lizzy asked sleepily.
"You were out. Did you not sleep well last night?"
Stretching Lizzy sat up a bit straighter. "There was a large body tossing and turning in my bed all night last night. It did make sleep a bit more difficult," she teased.
"I'm sorry. I didn't realize I'd kept you up. I've made a plan however and you need to get up now."
"Sure. But first, how'd it go?"
A grimace crossed his face. "You gave me excellent advice but I don't think this is the kind of thing to be fixed in one conversation."
"No I can't imagine it would be." Moving her legs, she took his hand and encouraged him to sit next to her.
Once sitting, he kissed her hand and continued, "We talked, we ate. Nothing was thrown and it was calm. She apologized for saying bad things about you that made it to the press and promised not to say bad things about you anymore so maybe that's progress. I answered her questions but she hasn't agreed to apologize to you and would still prefer to spend time apart from you. I told her that's not an option. That she can't hide and that I won't chose. I'm hoping she'll think more about our conversation and eventually come around."
She kissed him seeking to provide him reassurance. "I'm sure she will. Now, you said you've made a plan. Please tell me so I can help."
Oh he loved this woman. "I believe it's too easy to hide from one another in this house and we need some forced together time. So, I've reserved us a two-bedroom suite at Sunday River. We need to pack up today. This way, we'll eat together and spend time together and maybe, she'll see what I see."
Laughing, she agreed to his plan. "Well aren't you the optimist. I'll do my best but I guess this means I need to pack again. Is Georgie aware of this plan? How does she feel about it?"
"I've told you first. I'll go let her know now and ask Mr. Reynolds to help me load up the ski stuff while you pack. Do you think we can leave before lunch? I'd like to get up there and get settled. Maybe we can even fit in a few hours on the bunny slope for you." Placing a kiss on her nose he got up from the sofa and headed out the door. Lizzy sat there, truly wondering whether this forced time was a good idea or not. Well, she'd make the best of it.
It was just before noon when they were all piled into the truck again heading towards Sunday River. Lizzy soon realized a few things. The promised 40 minute drive was really more like an hour plus. Georgiana was no more comfortable with her then she was the prior day. And, William was determined to make them all talk together. She'd play her part to the extent that she could, responding to his inquiries and forwarding her own questions and thoughts. The topic currently being discussed was the order of their activities: lunch, checking in, getting settled, skiing. Apparently Georgie had no opinion so it was left to them to decide. In the end it was determined they'd grab lunch at the resort. William would check them in and leave most of their bags with the bellhop and then they'd head onto the mountain. Lizzy suggested that it might be helpful to schedule a lesson or two for her over the next two mornings so that Will and Georgiana could ski more challenging terrain without her slowing them down. Reluctantly, William agreed to her reasoning, especially after Lizzy jokingly, let it be known that it would make her more comfortable to get some tips from someone who didn't love her so much and had less invested in her learning the skill. For what it was worth, Georgie appreciated that Lizzy created an opportunity for her to be alone with William. In her brief time of solitude, she'd decided that, for the sake of her brother, she'd try to find positive things about her new sister-in-law, especially now that William was mandating their time together.
"I'll just get everything set up and I'll meet you in the dining room. Why don't you two get us a table." With these words, William set off towards a discussion with the bell hop and front desk. Lizzy and Georgiana wandered towards the dining room and were quickly able to secure a table. They sat together in their respective silence, surveying the menu.
"Do you see anything you'd like to eat?" Lizzy ventured. It was a safe topic, food, being one unlikely to cause a stir.
"Yes." Georgiana briefly responded.
Not quite the response she was hoping for but at least Georgie now acknowledged that she'd spoken. This might be considered progress. "I'm thinking of getting the vegetarian chili. What are you thinking about?"
After a few moments of pause, Georgie responded, "Probably the Caesar salad and chicken noodle soup. My brother loves Caesar salad."
Lizzy wasn't sure why Georgie had added that last bit. Was she trying to help her know William better or was she trying to prove that she knew him better than Lizzy did. She reminded herself to take the positive view of the information.
"I didn't know that. Thanks for telling me. Do you two have any other shared likes or dislikes? I'd love to know them." Lizzy asked.
Georgiana pressed her lips into a thin line. She hadn't intended to educate Elizabeth with her remarks. It probably would make her brother happy though so she decided it wasn't a terrible outcome. "I'll, uh, have to think about it." Setting her menu down, Georgie pulled out her phone only to realize that the impulse wouldn't be satisfied. A phone with six pre-programmed numbers and no internet was not going to entertain her. Looking around the restaurant she was relieved to see her brother approaching.
"Well we're all set. They've got changing rooms that we can use to put on our ski stuff and they're bringing our equipment out front. Our luggage will be brought to our room once it's ready. And I've got 3-hour private lessons secured for you for the next two mornings. They were happy to set them up for us." He said looking over at Lizzy. Taking his seat, William asked, "Have you two figured out what you're getting?" William was, uncharacteristically, bursting with energy. He was committed to getting this to work and equally committed to seeing Lizzy up on skis.
"Yes, I think so. Whenever you're ready we can call the waitress over." Lizzy suggested.
Looking up, he quickly got her attention and sure enough, ordered the Caesar salad and a bowl of vegetarian chili. Lizzy had to smile to herself. Georgie could share Caesar salad with him but she'd chosen the veggie chili too. It was silly she knew but it meant something to her.
Is this better? Can you all begin to see a path forward? Thanks so much for your comments! Please review and share your thoughts. It really does help me!