Chapter 6 : Old Views, New Views

Alexander stood by the door, unsure of how to proceed. The last thing he had expected was to see Darcy and Elizabeth having tea with Evie. It seemed that this couple would forever surprise—if not stagger him.

His heart had given a great lurch when he had initially seen them. He had remained frozen in place, the door held partly open. Had they not seen him entering, had Elizabeth not called out to him, Alexander would most probably have retreated to give himself time to calm down. As it were, with the three of them looking at him—Evie quickly looking away—he forced himself to smile, then with the pretense of taking his coat off, he turned his back to them and let out a breath. Closing his eyes, he tried to regain his composure, to gather his courage, to still his racing heart. To do all those, but most importantly, to reassure himself that Evie was indeed there.

With an appearance of outward calm that he really, absolutely did not posses, he headed in their direction.

Motioning to the vacant chair beside Evie, Elizabeth smiled at him.

"You have arrived just at the right time, Alexander. A fresh pot of tea has just been served."

Darting a glance at Evie, Alexander pulled the chair out and sat down uncertainly as Elizabeth began pouring the tea.

"Oh, but you do not have a cup." Smiling at Alexander, she continued. "I shall ask the footman to bring you one."

"Erm, the waiter, you mean the waiter." Alexander said quickly, again darting a sideway glance at Evie as he signaled to a waiter and made the request.

"Oh, yes, the waiter." Elizabeth said biting her lip.

"Are waiters called footmen in the UK?" Evie asked puzzled and amused at the same time. Looking only at Elizabeth and Darcy, she was very much aware of the man sitting beside her but she could not, for the life of her, bring herself to look at him just yet. "I don't think I've ever heard of that."

Blinking fast, Elizabeth looked at her husband whose amusement was hidden behind the cup of tea he brought to his lips.

"Well…"

Darcy raised an eyebrow at her. She ought to give him a kick under the table.

"Yes, from where we are from, we indeed call those who perform these tasks footmen." She answered slowly, it was all she could do to keep herself from glaring at her husband.

Darcy put his cup down. Elizabeth was uncertain if she saw him give her the smallest of winks before proceeding to speak.

"I suppose there must be quite a few of these differing names." Turning to Alexander, he continued. "We have learned from Evie that block is an American word for street."

"Oh, how thoughtless of me." Elizabeth suddenly turned to Alexander. "We chanced upon Evie earlier today, and she was gracious enough to accept our invitation to have tea with us."

Alexander and Evie first smiled uncertainly at each other, then abruptly spoke, one over the other.

"They were lost and so I walked them back—"

"I took longer than I'd expected—"

Elizabeth and Darcy eyed each other as the other couple launched into an awkward silence.

"What other words have the same meanings in America and England?" Darcy asked smoothly. This time Elizabeth was sure he winked at her.

"Elevator."

"Lift"

Once again speaking at the same time, Evie and Alexander looked at each other. But this time they laughed.

From there, conversation became easier. Alexander ordered a fresh cup of coffee, intriguing Darcy and Elizabeth on his choice. This of course led to them ordering more.

Evie could not help but be amused by the pair. She could not believe where she was, nor with whom she was spending her Sunday morning. Smiling inwardly, she mused that if she left out the awkward part with Alexander, she was actually enjoying herself. Then again, she knew somehow that she would enjoy Elizabeth and Darcy's company. They were so interestingly formal, and yet so warm—Elizabeth especially. And although Darcy contributed to the conversation, he mostly looked at Elizabeth. Evie could not help but smile at this, it was almost as if he saw only her. And when Elizabeth's hand dropped to her side, Evie knew that it was to hold Darcy's.

At one time the conversation had veered to Pemberley, Evie's heart skipped a beat at the mention of the name, at the recollections.

She had been almost overwhelmed when she saw Pemberley for the first time. For although she knew that Alexander was from a wealthy family in the United Kingdom, what she had discovered then was that the family name was as notably ancient and honorable as it was wealthy.

It was then that she had seen Alexander's—and his family's—devotion to Pemberley. It had been apparent to her that they took the responsibilities of their family's heritage very seriously. She had seen pride and loyalty in the way they spoke of the great house and its history. Alexander had told her of the difficulties his great grandfather's generation experienced in keeping the estate which the world wars and the societal shift had nearly cost them.

"It was the changing of the times brought on by the war that was most difficult. Many great houses had been demolished, many fell into disrepair, their heirs completely giving up on them, they had simply been too expensive to maintain. England had changed."

"I'm glad that Pemberley survived it."

"It barely survived. The Trust was founded shortly after that, the real work was continued by my grandfather."

Alexander had taken Evie's hand then, looking at the house, he had spoken resolutely.

"I do not take for granted the responsibilities and privileges of my family's name. Although I have relinquished most of my duties in the Trust since moving to New York, it will always be a part of me."

Evie, at that moment, had a nagging feeling—how small she felt compared to the Pemberley Legacy—but no sooner had the thought entered her mind, that Alexander had steered her from the path they took and had leaned her against a tree. There, they had remained for some time in an embrace that pushed all thoughts away from her mind.

Unexpectedly blushing at the memory, Evie hid her cheeks behind her cup.

"Oh!"

"Elizabeth!" Concern was etched on Darcy's face. "Are you hurt?"

Elizabeth shook her head. Her—Evie's—clothes were covered in spilled coffee.

"No, I am fine, William, the coffee is no longer hot."

He started to reach for the handkerchief he normally carried in his coat pocket but soon remembered that he had neither handkerchief nor his own coat.

Two hands thrust forward at the same time bearing, what looked to Darcy, sheets of brown paper. He took them correctly assuming they were meant to wipe the liquid off Elizabeth's clothing. He handed half to Elizabeth. After a moment's pause, he decided that since he was her husband, it would not be wrong to assist her—though it felt to him too intimate a manner to be done in public, rather like assisting her in her toilette.

As Darcy's hands wiped her thigh, Elizabeth felt herself blush. Quickly looking about her, she saw Alexander and Evie watching them with concern.

"Are you alright, Lizzy?" Alexander asked.

"Yes, I am, thank you." Then smiling apologetically at Evie, she continued. "Your clothes…"

"Oh, don't worry about them, I haven't been using tho–uh, the-the stain won't be hard to wash off."

"I feel so foolish, I am not usually so clumsy."

"It happens, don't think about it, really."

"Thank you, you are very kind."

A waiter arrived to clean up the spill on the floor, and after a few minutes they were able to settle down again.

"You were going to shop for new clothes anyway, we can go after and you can wear them at once." Alexander suggested with a smile.

"That is a wonderful idea! I shall admit that I am starting to feel rather uncomfortable, but I do smell quite delicious."

Lips twitching, Darcy looked down, holding back the words that wanted to slip from his mouth, instead he continued with a smile. "You have been quite looking forward to going back to the mall, my love."

Darcy and Alexander watched as Elizabeth and Evie approached them. Both women carried numerous shopping bags, and wore twin expressions of satisfaction.

"Well, they certainly did not waste time." Darcy said with a grin.

"And here I thought we did a great job with your purchases." Alexander chuckled.

Elizabeth saw them first, she waved as best she could with the amount of packages hanging from her hands and arms.

Shaking his head, Darcy chuckled. "How shall Oxford Street or Bond Street ever be enough for Elizabeth after this?"

Both men moved forward to meet the ladies.

The trip to the mall was indeed part of Alexander's plan for the couple on that day—for they truly did need their own articles of clothing—but that Evie elected to accept Elizabeth's invitation to join them was too good to be true.

As they were preparing to leave the cafe, Elizabeth had asked Evie to accompany them—to accompany her in particular. She had pleaded that shopping with another female was not only more pleasant, but it would greatly help her in navigating such enormous establishments. Evie could not say no to the other woman's request so charmingly and sincerely made.

And so it was that the men had parted ways from the ladies, Alexander had led Darcy to shops carrying men's clothing, all the while discussing currencies and inflation with his forebear. "For you not to be continually taken aback at prices." He had said chuckling.

Elizabeth's beaming smile greeted them. Moving close to Alexander, she thanked him again for his generosity.

"I hardly used what you gave me, so many of my purchases were on sale. Such a wonderful concept this sale!" In a whisper she added, "But why is everything so enormously expensive?"

Alexander eyed Evie, checking her reaction at Elizabeth's statement. Amusement lightened her features, but aside from that she did not seem at all curious by the other woman's remarks.

In truth, Evie had, at first, wondered what kind of wealthy life Elizabeth had led to not have known about price reductions, were she and Darcy even wealthier than Alexander? But no sooner had Evie pondered this that she noticed Elizabeth's mindfulness in spending. Knowing that she and Darcy had lost all their luggage, she had expected her to shop without reservation, instead she chose carefully and asked Evie's opinion quite frequently. Evie was very intrigued at her every delighted exclamation when she saw an item of interest. It was as if she saw these things for the first time. She could not forget Elizabeth's expression as she stared at the displays of intimate wear, nor her lost and flustered reply at the shop assistant's question on her cup size, nor her ecstatic exclamation at corsets being optional. What a puzzle her new friend was, mentally shrugging her shoulders, she attributed it to a difference of cultures.

But Elizabeth's childlike enthusiasm was very contagious. Evie was not surprised to find herself having a great time, she knew she would, hence being the reason for her agreeing to accompany her.

The other reason, if she was truthful to herself, was also that she wanted to extend her time with the group—with one particular person in fact. Darcy's words replayed in her mind; might you consider listening?

There was something different about Alexander, she could not point it out exactly, but it was as if his eyes were softer, his stance less austere. When he spoke to her, it was with an almost breathless quality.

As they walked to the mall, they found themselves paired together. Alexander had asked how she happened to meet with his relatives. Upon learning that she was supposed to have been with her co-teacher friend, and upon learning who it was, Alexander had asked after her friend—after the daughter as well. Evie's eyebrows had raised slightly at this, for she had not expected him to remember her co-teachers. He certainly had not shown much interest in them and in her work in the past.

Standing in the middle of the mall, Alexander smiled at Elizabeth.

"That should satisfy Miranda, she scolded me for not making you buy more items the first time we went out."

Elizabeth grinned back at him, then turned as Darcy moved to relieve her of her packages.

"Allow me, madam."

"I thank you, sir." Handing only half of what she carried. "These I shall carry myself."

"Are they not heavy?"

Suddenly blushing, Elizabeth replied that they were not.

Alexander barely prevented a smirk as he recognized the shopping bags bearing the name of a lingerie brand. Looking away, he saw Evie's amused smile aimed at him. Grinning he went to her.

"Let me get those for you." He motioned to the bags she carried.

"It's okay, they aren't heavy."

Lowering his voice, he bent his head towards her. "You have got to let me carry at least half, how will it look if my cousin is the only man helping the ladies."

Laughing, Evie handed him the bags.

As the newlyweds started to walk together, Alexander and Evie smiled shyly at each other and followed in their wake.

Elizabeth held her breath. Never in her life did she think that she would behold such a sight. Of its own accord, her gloved hand reached for Darcy's.

Hands held together, they stood mesmerized at the night time view from atop the Empire State Building. Of the places and things they had seen that day—and they had gone and seen quite a few—it was this last scene that completely took their breaths away. Their cheeks were rosy from the cold of that winter's night, but neither of them cared.

Very few people were on the deck with them, the expected crowd no doubt driven to warmer places by the winter temperatures.

"Had I not known better, I would have said that all the stars in the sky had come down on earth to create such an ethereal scene for us." Darcy said in a low voice that only Elizabeth heard.

"How poetic of you, Mr. Darcy."

Darcy looked at Elizabeth, her bright eyes reflected the modern wonder before them. He slowly pulled her to him and kissed her just as slowly, warming not only her lips but her heart as well. They stood entwined, overwhelmed by the enchantment surrounding them.

Behind them, Alexander and Evie discreetly moved away.

Looking out at the view before them, they were silent for a while.

"I like your cousins." Evie said after a while.

"Yes, I like them too."

"You never mentioned them before."

"I–erm, they–they rarely visit."

When Evie remained silent, Alexander mustered his courage and moved closer to Evie. The sides of their arms almost touching, he spoke again.

"I really appreciate your giving your time to accompany us." Then he added abruptly, "Lizzy was especially glad to have you with her."

"She's lovely. They both are actually." Glancing at the other couple, she burrowed deeper in her coat. "You can really see how much in love they are with each other."

"Yes. I've quite got used to it now, at first, whenever I accidentally walked in on them, I felt like a trespasser."

Evie laughed. "You never were one for public displays."

Alexander caught his breath. This was the first time that she had referred—even just alluded—to their relationship. He was about to disagree with her, when he stopped. Scenarios, recollections flashed in his mind, she was not wrong.

"I…I was an idiot."

Launging mildly, Evie looked at him sideways. "I had always attributed it to the British upperclass in you."

Alexander made a sound.

"But that doesn't mean you weren't an idiot."

Without looking at him, Evie walked towards the binoculars, she fought to hide the smile that played on her lips. She stopped when she reached a specific one. She was adjusting them when she felt Alexander move beside her, a quick glance showed him rummaging in his pockets, looking for coins she assumed. Leveling her eyes with the eyepiece, she spoke to him.

"The binoculars no longer need coins for you to use, you know, they haven't for years."

"Oh." Patting his pocket, Alexander leaned against the low wall beside the binoculars. "I suppose it has been a while since I came up here." How ridiculous that sounded, especially to him whose office was just on the 27th floor.

Glancing up, Evie replied.

"Oh yeah, you weren't with me and your sister that last time."

"I ought to have been."

"Well, Kim's tenant ID badge was as good as yours, so we were able to skip the long lines."

He suddenly recalled how he had told one of the office assistants, Kim, he now remembered, to accompany Evie and his sister to the Observation Deck and the Top Deck Observatory. He remembered not having the time to do it himself. Not making the time, he corrected himself. Evie spoke to him so lightly, even in such a teasing way about it, but Alexander felt all the more ashamed for it.

"It wouldn't have been much of an effort for me to leave the office and join you, you were only a lift away." He looked at her silently. "I apologize for that." And for many other things, he thought.

"Hmm." Evie studied his face, so familiar, and yet now also so new to her. If she ran her fingers along his jaw would it still feel the same? Alarmed at the sudden direction her thoughts were heading, she gave him a quick smile then tried to focus her attention once again on the binoculars.

Alexander watched her, how he longed to run his fingers through her hair, how he wished he still had the right to put his arms around her as she stood there.

"You can see the school from here you know." Still focused on the binoculars, Alexander saw her adjusting it. Then lifting her head, she smiled at him. "Would you like to see?"

When he nodded, she moved aside.

"The metal's cold, careful."

Following her directions, at first all he saw were random building walls, until after a few more seconds he was able to spot the school facade. In between taller buildings, only a portion of it showed—a wonder since the school was only five storeys high. He grinned.

"Imagine that."

"For me it's actually easier to spot at night." Evie said, grinning as well.

Alexander studied what he could see of the brick building. He tried to remember how many times he had visited Evie at work, not very many he thought with disappointment.

"If any of those other buildings had been built a little bit wider, it would have been obscured." She crouched next to him. "See the window below the arch?"

Alexander nodded, focusing on the window.

"That's my classroom."

An image of her surrounded by children, laughing, singing nursery songs made him smile. Alexander turned to look at her, their eyes caught for a moment that seemed to last forever. It took all of him not to touch his lips to hers. Instead he spoke.

"How on earth did you make this discovery?"

Straightening up, Evie cast her gaze down. For a moment she thought he would kiss her. If she wanted him to was a question she did not wish to think of yet.

"Not me, one of the other teachers. It has become a goal among us to spot it whenever we visit here."

"Well, I'm glad you showed me."

She smiled at him in response. He knew that smile, he had been its recipient so many times in the past, and yet somehow now it seemed even more beautiful.

Clearing his throat, Alexander continued.

"I, uh, thank you. For being so generous with your time."

"You're sounding very much like your cousin now, so formal. Next you'll be bowing to me."

"They are–yes, they have very formal manners, an old English thing."

"You're welcome." Evie said softly.

Alexander rubbed his hands over his arms, he was cold but there was nowhere else he'd rather be.

They stood quietly next to each other, arms almost touching, looking down at a world very much like the one Darcy described. A light snow fell around them.

A/N:

Hello! I'm glad to finally be posting this, the earlier part was written a month ago, but it took me a while to continue and finish.

I hope you enjoy it! We're seeing Evie and Alexander becoming friends again in this chapter, more holiday fun in the next.

Please review, follow and favorite. Thanks! :)