Chapter 8: Let Them Eat Cake
It had been a week since Elizabeth and Jane had tracked down Charles Bingley. Elizabeth was disappointed that they had made no further progress in finding Lydia. To date they had not gotten one iota of information on George Wickham or his whereabouts, Elizabeth was convinced he was using another assumed name to avoid being found. She was not wrong.
The Light Fandango only ever did three events a week, they tried really hard to never do an event on a Friday or a Saturday. Because they were events in and of themselves, they did not want people to go out clubbing after their event as it dulls the experience and all they remember after that is the night out drinking, if they even remembered that. They knew that people still went out on other nights of the week, but it seemed worse on a Friday or Saturday. When they first started and had one event on a Friday night the younger guests tried to rush the event so that they could get to drinking and partying at which point the No Friday or Saturday rule was implemented.
Personally, Elizabeth liked doing events on Sundays, they started earlier, and people tended to really immerse themselves in the experience. She and Charlotte had done two events this week already, one for the artist, Not Quite Red, for her 30th birthday, where the whole event was pink. Her hands still had some pink stains from some of the food coloring but the whole event was spectacular, no expense was spared.
Elizabeth was battling to come up with a concept for Anne Wentworth, the woman had no particular interests outside of her husband, the baby she was expecting and her friends. She was well liked but did not stand out in anyway in society. Elizabeth, and Anne Russell, had decided against a gender reveal, Elizabeth could not stand these and had started refusing to do them, they were so gauche!
She was happy to be distract by her phone; she did not recognize the number but answered any ways. "The Light Fandango, Elizabeth speaking, how can I help you? "she put on her most professional voice.
"Good morning" the voice was male and deep, "Are you the company Anne Russell employed to do my wife's baby shower?"
"Yes, Admiral Wentworth, we are. How can I help?" Curiously Elizabeth was glad she did her research.
"I understand you do concept events with food. And you might be battling to get to a concept as my wife is quite a private person? "
"Yes." Elizabeth was not going to admit that a major party of her job was to research her customers and their families, she was a certified stalker.
"Travel, my wife has travelled the globe with me since the day we got married. She loves foreign cultures and foods. I hope that helps, for some reason she does not share this with her friends, only me. I want this to be a special event for her." Elizabeth liked this man; he was so direct and obviously worshipped his wife.
"Thank you, Admiral Wentworth, that is a great starting point. Which continent was her favorite or country? "Elizabeth was eager to get off the call now, she was starting to burst with new ideas and wanted to start mind mapping before she lost it.
"She was very taken with Morocco and Turkey. You have my number now; you can call if you need information. No need to let Anne Russell know about my involvement."
"Thank you again and this will remain between us" ending the call Elizabeth gathered up her coloured pens and flip chart, stormed into Charlottes office and started to brainstorm.
Charlotte was so used to this, Elizabeth was like a force of nature, you just had to go with it and help guide it along. She loved Elizabeth's idea, she was not so sure about Anne Russell liking it but from what she had seen of Anne Wentworth, she would love it too.
Charlotte started phoning around to find Bedouin tents and middle eastern waiters. Elizabeth started on the menu, referring to Anne Russell's guide of which foods to avoid and which were essential. She noted that Anne did not have any allergies but as a pregnant woman there were foods she could not eat.
"Maria!" Elizabeth knew by now that getting Maria involved in the beginning was the best way to do things. Maria just knew things about food.
Charlottes younger sister resembled a more feminine and prettier version of Charlotte. Charlotte was a handsome woman who would age well, she was immensely practical and could view a situation without emotion, very handy when planning these food events.
Because Maria was shy, and quiet most people forgot she was in the room, so she got to hear things never meant for her ears. It was not uncommon for her to pop out a revelation every now and again that astonished and astounded the room. She knew both Kitty and Lydia quite well, they went to the same schools until Kitty and Lydia were placed in the creative arts school, at which point Maria decided she wanted to go into food and started an apprenticeship with her sister and Elizabeth. Despite everyone trying to keep Lydia's disappearance a secret Maria was aware that her friend Lydia, was missing. She was not surprised it was Lydia and not Kitty, if it did not have a ballet shoe Kitty would not be interested, not long term. Kitty had goals and nothing was going to get in her way. Lydia was at best temperamental, at worst, Mental! A lot of fun but if you ever got on her bad side, she could make your life hell. Maria wondered if this George guy had experienced that side of Lydia yet, he might just return her one night. That was unkind Maria Lucas, she thought to herself, Lydia was not horrid, she was just spoiled.
Once Elizabeth and Maria had reached consensus on the menu, they completed the menu template, generated the shopping list, and sent it to Charlotte for costing. With this out of the way Maria could tell that Elizabeth was relaxing but at the same time she now had time to think about her sister.
"You know who could help find Lydia?" she asked as she, Elizabeth and Charlotte took a coffee break.
"No Maria, we are not getting dad involved!" Charlotte had realized where her sister was going with this.
"Why not Charlotte, it has been almost two weeks since Lydia went missing, I know you think I don't know anything, but you do not realize half the time that I am standing right in the room when you are having your so-called private conversations. You cannot waste much more time, you have no idea what plans this maniac has with her, you only just learned his real name!" She had turned to Elizabeth for the last part. "My father is a security specialist as we have told you, but not as you think, he runs a private security company that provides location services." Maria was begging Elizabeth to just consider this.
"Yes Maria, for the rich and famous, we are neither rich nor famous. "Charlotte interjected.
"But we are friends, our parents are friends with their parents, we are friends with them, and it would be the right thing to do. We can at least ask, otherwise we will never know!"
"Let's ask him then" Elizabeth realized that Maria was right, they did not have any other options, the only other route was to get a private investigator; which realistically amounted to the same thing as asking Marias dad.
"And John having a life-long crush on Elizabeth will ensure that he is on our side as well. "Added Maria with no small degree of smugness.
Charlotte realizing, she had lost, smiled, and took charge. ''We will need to fly to Operation Head Quarters offices, and speak to him directly, this is not something we can discuss over the phone. I will book tickets for us, but Maria, you are going to have to stay here and hold the fort, this will have to be a quick there and back flight'
Maria pouted but she knew they were right, at least she had contributed in a small way, and hopefully this would be what they needed to find Lydia.
Charlotte phoned her father and set up an appointment, which felt weird being his daughter, but it was business. Her parents did the same thing when they approached the girls to do an event for their wedding anniversary, it was all business. She then bought the air tickets for her and Elizabeth to fly out first thing the next morning, returning the following day around lunchtime. She had hoped for same day return tickets but the only ones available were so expensive and these were the cheapest flights she could find. This was not a business trip and would not generate money, so she was loathed to spend more money than she absolutely had to. Someone had to keep a level head. Its not that she did not care about Lydia, but she felt that Elizabeth's parents should be doing this, not their daughters.
Early mornings were not Charlottes forte, Elizabeth was the morning person, back home she was up and out of the house by 6am, off exploring the hills and trails around their village. Hertfordshire was small but had an abundance of nature, and when Elizabeth needed to escape her match-making mother she literally headed for the hills. In recent years one could no longer do that, it was not as safe as it was back then.
Arriving at the airport, checking in and then self-medicating with coffee, Charlotte watched the people bustling around the airport. A particularly tall blonde man caught her eye, he was not good looking, but he looked good, like a good sort of person and it radiated out from him. Several women had already given him the once and twice over. Charlotte smiled, not realizing that she did or how much it enhanced her handsome features. The blonde man looked at her and returned the smile. Charlotte was shocked but gave him a nod to acknowledge. Noticing Elizabeth approaching her she pushed the extra cup of coffee across the table. She would give any thing to look as perky and refreshed as Elizabeth did at this ungodly hour.
"What a stunning morning!" Elizabeth enthused, sipping her coffee.
"There are not many who would share your enthusiasm, except maybe my cousin Will!" Charlotte looked up into the bright blue eyes of the blonde man she had just share a smile with.
"Richard Fitzwilliam" he stretched his hand out to her, she was taken aback, this normally happened to Jane and Elizabeth, not her. She resisted the urge to look around for the Joke Camera and shook his hand.
"Charlotte and this is Elizabeth" she nodded in Elizabeth's direction, as he held onto her hand, totally engulfing her hand making her feel like one of those tiny women, like Elizabeth;
Except Charlotte was not a tiny woman, she was tall, and it was what most people noticed first about her, and then her slight frame, with little in the way of cleavage.
But this man, he was looking at her, not Elizabeth.
"Where are you two lovely ladies off to, this dastardly early hour of the morning?" he enquired quite jovially, he was not good looking, but his good nature and sunny disposition made him so attractive, even Elizabeth was drawn to him.
"That would be telling, my mother always said never tell a stranger your destination, he has to follow you to find out where you are going." Charlotte answered with a cheeky grin.
He laughed out loud, "Clever, you are right, you do not know me, I do not know you but you never know we might be flying together, would that be coincidence or fate? Would I technically be stalking you or just a fellow passenger?"
Charlotte and Richard exchange banter for a few minutes more when they were interrupted
"Here you are? I have been looking this terminal flat for you. You have the attention span of a squirrel addicted to energy drinks!"
Elizabeth swung around; she knew that voice. William! He of the walking away fame!
He seemed to notice her at exactly the same time. "Elizabeth!"
"William" she was a bit frosty. Both Charlotte and Richard noticed but only Charlotte knew why. She studied this man, this gorgeous specimen of mankind. Elizabeth had failed to mention how good looking the man was.
She turned to Richard and said ''Well that excludes any awkward introductions then'
Charlotte failed to see the relief on his face at her comment, he was so used to being forgotten when his cousin arrived, he thought it was happening right then as he watched Charlotte study his cousin.
"And you know each other how? "Richard asked his cousin.
"This is one of the women who thought Charles Bingley was not Charles Bingley when in fact the person they thought was Charles Bingley was not. "William could not believe those words came out of his mouth, he sounded so stupid, even to his own ears.
"Well that clears up that then…" Richard responded, 'luckily I already heard about that incident and I imagine you have too?" looking at Charlotte, she nodded.
Just then their flight was called, Elizabeth and Charlotte started gathering their stuff, as did the two men.
"So, we are on the same fight after all…. fate or coincidence?" Richard was smiling broadly at Charlotte.
"Fate or fatal?" she replied, the cheek grin back on her face.
At the boarding gate, the two women watched as Richard and William boarded first for first class.
"Of course, no economy class for William whatshisface!" Elizabeth muttered uncharitably. Charlotte had never seen her friend so riled by one person before, and she knew this was only the second time they were seeing each other.
"Darcy, the name you are looking for is Darcy" she said.
"How on earth do you know that?" Elizabeth was stunned
"William Darcy of the Pemberley Printing Darcy's, they are only the biggest print and electronic media companies worldwide." Charlotte said as if stating the obvious.
Elizabeth just looked at her friend, why did she not know this and how did Charlotte know this?
"You are not the only one who can do 'research'" Charlotte said looking at her friend's incredulous face. "When you mentioned that George Wickham had pretended to be Charles Bingley, I did some digging and if you look for Charles Bingley you find William Darcy, his friend. Strangely enough Richard did not show up in the photos or articles, unless he goes by another name, or Richard does not attend those socialite events."
As they boarded the plane Elizabeth was deep in thought, she had not actually done an internet search for Charles Bingley, because then she would have known that George Wickham was not Charles Bingley. Why had she not done that? Did she believe George Wickham so fully she did not do what she does with almost everyone she meets? But then she still had not searched Charles Bingley or William, admittedly she only just found out his surname, but if Charlotte had found it she would have too. Why was she not turning her attention where she should?
This is how Elizabeth spent the two hours flight, whilst Charlotte worked on her laptop putting together the proposal for Anne Russell. Elizabeth would review it later at the hotel, Charlotte knew better than to try and get anything out of Elizabeth when she was like this.