Chapter starts 19 February 2024!
Will Darcy was very sure about things in his life, as a successful CEO he had to be. He knew his end goal and he would then find a way to achieve it. In this instance he knew exactly the outcome he was going for. He needed to win over Elizabeth Bennet so that she would give him access to his sister. He had 6 weeks before he would have to tell Richard everything. For the first time in his adult life though, he had a less than clear idea of how to go about it.
Ever meticulous, he came up with a list of ideas to achieve his goal:
- follow Elizabeth Bennet- essentially spy on her. That wouldn't work, if she found out she'd sue him. He wasn't afraid of that, but it seemed like a cheap stunt, and of course disguise of that kind would be an abhorrence.
- Talk to Elizabeth. His hands started sweating at the thought of doing that. He wasn't scared. No of course, him, a paragon of business wouldn't be scared of a lowly lawyer. He'd talked to governments and CEOs and held his own. He could certainly do that here, couldn't he? He then remembered how badly their previous conversations had gone and decided that wasn't the best idea.
- force Elizabeth to tell him where Georgie was. But how? He had no leverage, no knowledge of her pressure points to be able to do that except that her sister had run away. But he couldn't use that. He wouldn't sink so low. He understood what it meant to lose a sister and he would never use that against anyone.
- talk to other people to get to know her. Yes, maybe he could safely do that. He could talk to Bingley and spend more time with his friend and wife to understand more about the Bennets. But then again, that had been his plan when he had gone for that awful party. And if Caroline found out anything about his plans he would have to deal with her company. And he'd already had too much of her in the past few weeks. She was a problem to consider on another day. That was it though, there seemed to be less of a choice than using the Bingley – Bennet marriage as an in to find out about her.
Why was this so hard though? Why couldn't he just figure this woman out. He reminded himself that he had to suck it up and that he was doing this for Gerogie. He only had 6 weeks and so there was no choice. He had to make her a priority not his work right now. No matter how uncomfortable that made him.
Will called him, "morning Bingley, are you still sleeping?" he asked as the phone was picked up on the other end.
"Hullo, Charles is probably sleeping. I took his phone by mistake."
"Oh, Jane. How are you?" He wasn't sure how to talk to her. But he needed to do this for Georgie.
"I'm ok just trying to finish off a few batches of scones."
"I just wanted to see if Bingley might want to do something. I've got little to do in London today."
"I'm sure he'll be happy to see you in a few hours. Why don't you come by the café? You haven't seen it, right?"
Will was happy that his plan seemed to be progressing with such little effort. "Ok, that sounds fine. I'll be at Longbourne by 11."
He hadn't noticed that Caroline had been walking past his office and heard him talking to Jane. She breezed into his office pretending it was her own and looked at him with narrow eyes, "going to Meryton are you?"
He didn't want to deal with her. "Yes. Please send in Ms. Reynolds on your way out. I have a few urgent things to talk to her about."
She couldn't believe how he'd dismissed her. Her, the acting head of legal, without so much as a how do you do. She looked at him and before she left, she needed to have her say, "Will, I'll say this again. I think you should stay away from the Bennets. They're a very strange family."
He smirked, "with Charles married to one of them, you do realize you're kind of also talking about yourself, right?"
While Caroline was left with her thoughts Harriet Reynolds walked into her employer's study. She'd been working at Pemberley since his father was a young man. She knew everything about the family, he'd shared the call with Wickham a few weeks ago, she knew about Elizabeth Bennet and Georgiana protecting her. She was his closest confidant in a way that Richard or Charles couldn't be because she had been a maternal figure to him since they lost Anne Darcy when he was only 15 years old. George Darcy retreated into his work and Harriet had made him and Georgie a priority. She closed the door behind her and sat down.
He saw her walk in and knew that she wouldn't let him go astray from what was necessary. She was already up to speed with everything else that had happened in the past few weeks. "I need to take some time off. I need to find Georgiana. Richard has given me 6 weeks before we try his way. I'd rather not do it his way. To do that I need Elizabeth Bennet on my side. I'm sure I can do that, but I need time Ms. Reynolds."
She nodded, she was happy he was doing this, "I'm going to cancel all your meetings, and let Joseph take them. He's a good second-in-command. Let him do his job. You have more vacation days left over than any other single other person here."
"Also, tell Joseph that we will start looking for a new head of legal. I'm done with dealing with Caroline. And until we do all her meetings will go through him. I don't need to meet with her personally. Ever. I'll keep you updated on how it goes. I've got no doubt it'll work."
She smiled at him, "Will, you've never been good with women that's why Caroline is still a thorn in your side. From what I saw and what Gardiner told me don't underestimate Ms. Bennet."
Will nodded, wondering how it was that someone who had only met her once had already figured out more about her and could see her more clearly than he could. I can size people up so well normally. I don't understand what am I missing? No, it can't be that. She's only a lawyer, ok she may be a good one. But that shouldn't change anything. I don't need to be mollycoddled, I'll figure it out myself.
On the other side of the office, Caroline saw that all her meetings were rescheduled to be with Joseph. She hated the man because he didn't dissemble, he wasn't polite, he spoke his mind. She checked outlook seeing that Will's calendar for the next 6 weeks had been pretty much cleared with an out of office notification. So, either he was going somewhere or something else was happening. She wondered if somehow the Bennet family was at the centre of it. She needed to find out. Luckily Jane was quite a sweet thing and they texted off and on. It wouldn't be too strange then to chat with her a bit and suss things out.
…
Will parked in front of Longbourn Café. He'd told Charles not to invest in a café because they're money drains. He hadn't listened wanting to do this for his then fiancé, which is what made Will think that she was a gold digger in the first place. When he got out of the car, he noticed that there was a line in front of the café. He walked past the line and heard a person call him out for cutting the line. Was he supposed to stand in this line, with all these people just to get into the café? Luckily, he saw one of the Bennet sisters who spotted him- Kitty. He looked at her pleadingly, she rolled her eyes. "Mr. Darcy wasn't it. Are you here to meet Charles?"
He nodded.
"Come with me then."
He heard behind them, "there goes the cutter."
Kitty turned on the voice, "Danny enough of that. He's not going to steal a scone."
Danny rolled his eyes, "we haven't had Jane's scones in ages."
Kitty laughed, "she's been in there since 5 baking them and responding to backorders. You'll get your stupid scone."
She bodily pulled the tall man standing next to her inside with surprising force. He spoke for the first time since meeting her, "is it always this busy?"
Kitty smirked, "people don't seem to like my scones. Jane is in high demand. She normally only caters small events and this café. People come from miles around to get her scones. Danny drove from Peterborough."
Darcy's eyes bulged out at that. On a good day Peterborough was an hour and a half drive from this place. He was surprised, but maybe he shouldn't be. He spotted Charles wearing an outrageously tall Chefs hat and Kitty kiss him on the cheek and disappear into the kitchen.
"Hi, old man."
Darcy smiled, "you bought that on your trip?"
"No! Lizzy bought it for me when I invested in the café. Isn't it wonderful. Give me a minute. Look around, I know you haven't been here before."
He shook his head at his friend's antics but took his suggestion to look around the café. He knew that before Bingley bought it over, Longbourn had been a rare bookstore run by Mr. Bennet that he sold to Charles. He now understood that it was sold so that their father could take care of their mother from what Caroline said. He knew Jane had the idea of turning it into a café given Jane's renown and that Meryton didn't have many artisanal cafés that'd become all the rage in London. It was a cozy atmosphere, he saw bookshelves, a few wingback chairs, board games and generally many pictures of the family. It almost felt like the inside of someone's drawing room rather than one of those standard cafés that seemed to crop up on every street corner. He went to the bookshelf and saw that they were arranged by genre and then author's last name, the correct system according to him. He wondered who had curated the selection, it was heavy on sci fi and classics. There seemed to be an entire shelf with women authors from the 18th and 19th century. He smiled remembering that Georgiana liked many of those authors too.
He didn't hear Bingley approach him while he was lost in his thoughts. "I see our books have drawn you."
"You aren't much of a reader. Whose are these?"
"Some of these are early editions and very fragile, from Thomas Bennet's personal collection. But mostly this was all Lizzy. In fact, the whole café was pretty much designed by Lizzy and Kit."
"Really? She's a lawyer, this all looks professionally designed."
"What, a woman can't have a hobby? They didn't want to let go of some of the items in the old bookstore so it's been integrated and refurbished. But the bones are still the same. They wouldn't have it any other way." He smiled at his sisters who he now felt closer to than his own blood. The way they had welcomed him into their lives had been astonishing. And all they had asked in return was affection.
Darcy was surprised that the sisters had so much free reign in Bingley's life and he was so easily led. He knew that Jane might not be a gold digger, but he still worried for his friend. "Really? You let them make all these decisions? I'm surprised Charles, you're a better businessman than that. How is your firm doing, you haven't let all that go have you?" he tried not to sound derisive, but he had been shocked.
Bingley was annoyed at his friend, who couldn't seem to think past money and wealth. What he had here was so much more than that. "Darcy, let me stop you right there. The Bennet's are my family. This café is Jane's and she can do whatever she wants with it. You saw the line up outside. This café makes more than some of my other business ventures. You need to start looking past wealth and all that nonsense, otherwise you'll miss what's right in front of you and become more and more like Caroline." He looked at his friend with a mix of pity and sadness. "Even if it wasn't doing well. What would that matter? What I gained was far more important. Where my own sisters can't be bothered with me unless they need something the Bennets have never asked me for a single thing."
Darcy realized he'd hit a nerve, and he would have time in the future to consider Charles' words. So close to what Georgiana had said, what Richard had reinforced without being scornful. He held his hands up to him and tried to smile, "you've changed. This new you, more assertive and not just in business. It's heartening to see." He tried to be conciliatory.
Charles was never one to hold a grudge and that too not against someone who had always been a friend. "Be around the Bennets long enough and something has got to rub off."
Darcy tried to leverage the conversation towards that sister a little more, "from what I've seen the Bennet sisters are different. What else can you tell me?"
"Geez old man. You're like a dog with a bone. If you want to know about them. Get to know them. I won't get in Lizzy's way and whatever she said that has you stewing and coming here on a weekday."
He tried to dissemble, though he was terrible at it, "I'm not stewing over anything, Bingley. I've just decided to take some time off. Work has been hectic, your sister has been frustrating. I just need a little bit of time before I get back to it all."
"I never thought I'd see the day you'd take personal time. Are you thinking of taking a vacation?"
Darcy shrugged, "I'm not sure yet. I just need some time."
"You never really got time to enjoy yourself when you were younger, all the responsibility when your father died close to when we graduated from business school and taking on Georgiana's care. I think time off would do you good."
He didn't respond to Bingley staring off into the distance caught in his own thoughts. Bingley left him to get them some coffee and scones while Darcy was still staring into the distance thinking about what Bingley had told him. He could acknowledge that maybe he wasn't right about everything. But how could one live the life that they did? What could be their end goal for their life if it wasn't money? His parents, especially his mother, had tried to teach him not to be so prideful. His father had been absorbed in work his whole life and he supposed that's where he got it from too. He'd done the same, when there was a problem in life, work to distraction. He wasn't sure it was a good policy, but it did help. But these women, how did they do it? Money had to enter the equation somewhere, didn't it? Richard seemed to be somewhere closer to the middle of the spectrum, where Fitz wanted some money to live a life independent from his family, yet at the same time not as focussed on money as he himself had been most of his adult life.
When Bingley came back, they drank their coffee and talked of inane things. He learnt that Bingley spent most of his time here at the café or working from home on his business dealings and various enterprises. But he left much of the day to day running of operations and investments to his COO. It seemed to be working from him if his profit statements were anything to go by. Darcy wondered if it was just because he was around people he loved in a happy atmosphere. He shooed that thought out of his mind quickly, deciding that his understanding of the world and life can only take so much battering in such a short time. He tried the scone that was in front of him, surprised that there was no clotted cream or jam.
Bingley urged him to try the scone on its own, "you only need those things if the scone is dry, try this one. It's a little drop of heaven. Jane is fairly famous for combinations that don't sound like they'd go together, but they blend perfectly."
Darcy acknowledged, "the food at your party was delicious."
"Ah, but that's not her main forte." He saw Darcy take a bite of the scone. Darcy's eyes widened at the burst of flavour in his mouth. It was crumbly, but not dry. It was perhaps the best thing he had ever eaten hands down. And he'd eaten at Michelin star restaurants. He couldn't stop himself from asking the next question, "these are bloody brilliant. She's so good, why is she in this small country town when she could be in London or elsewhere making a lot more money?"
Bingley laughed, "I suppose you can take a horse to water, as the old saying goes. Darcy, she's here because she wants to be. I'm here because I want to be. She gets offers all the time. Sometimes she does a week or two of a residency in a London restaurant. But she much prefers this quiet life. I enjoyed living in London and I wouldn't have met her if not for that, but I've learnt from her and her sisters that life is all about choices. When will you realize that you get to make choices too? There's no 'have to' in life, or must. Slow down and learn to enjoy yourself a little. This break from work will do you some good."
When driving back to London he considered Bingley's words and his demeanour. It is true that he'd always been an affable and jovial person, there was something more he'd noticed about his friend. Somehow Bingley seemed to have found his place in the world and he couldn't help but be a bit envious of that. Was this all from his association with the Bennets? He couldn't believe that people could make so much of a difference in other's lives. He'd always been a bit selfish, taught to think meanly of those in a different position than himself. While he was never rude, he was always more reserved. He wondered what the next 6 weeks held for him. He'd made more plans with Bingley but nothing more. While it still wasn't a plan to find Georgiana, it was something. Perhaps he needed time off more than he'd previously thought.
…
G had no idea that Wills had been so close by to her. It was sheer luck that she hadn't left the centre that day for her regular walk as she had been sent a spate of emails that needed to be responded to immediately. She was waiting for Lizzy to come over and discuss divorce. "I've looked into divorce, darling. And it looks possible. The main thing I need is your address in Blackpool. I'll send someone to make inquiries about his whereabouts as we need an address to file."
G gave her the address quickly. "I think I'd do anything at this point to ensure that I'm rid of him."
Lizzy simply hugged her kissing the crown of her head. "I'm so proud of you, darling."
G's eyes were shining slightly, and she looked at Lizzy and said, "you rub off on people, you know?"
Lizzy laughed loudly and happily at G's words, thinking of other people who'd told her the same thing. Or rather one person she was quite worried about at the moment.
...
Lizzy was sitting at the centre papers strewn in front of her. This case in Kent, it would be a huge win if she could figure it out. But she needed to wait and decide how to approach it. G walked into the kitchen and saw how tired she looked. She put a cup of tea in front of Lizzy who thanked her effusively and asked, "so, what'd you want to talk about?"
"I don't want to bother you Lizzy. You look tired. We can talk about this another time."
"Nope. I'm here now. Telllllll me. Are you still worried about your brother? Should I get him beaten up, I know people you know," Lizzy laughed despite trying to keep a straight face.
G laughed too. "I have the information you needed for the protection order here." She gave Lizzy a printout of information.
Lizzy responded, "about your address in Blackpool. I'm sending someone to check on Wickham. If he's still at that address we can file for divorce right away. I should know in a few days."
G nodded, "I'm learning it's best to not make hasty decisions. A few days gives me more time to be sure."
"Of course, G. Take more time if you need it." Choices, always choices. I won't make that mistake with her again.
Just a few months ago G had come to Meryton without anyone and through the care that they provided she found the support that had been missing her whole life and she started healing. Thinking about the future in a way she rarely had before. She hugged Lizzy tightly and said "thankyou dearest, Lizzy. Thankyou."
People asked Lizzy all the time why she did human rights work when it seemed quite thankless or wasn't actually making a very big change in the world as she might have hoped. She would always remember moments like these with her clients, her friends. Reminding her that this was why she did the work she did. She hoped somewhere dear Lyddie was being treated the same way.
Lizzy asked about another issue she knew G was having a tough time with, "what about your brother? I heard he came to Longbourn yesterday and might visit more often. You might want to use the other exit to leave if you're not ready for that yet."
G nodded, sighing. She had known that Wills would eventually find her, that Bingley was here related to a Bennet. After the chewing out Lizzy had given him, he wouldn't stop till he found her. She looked at Lizzy and said, "I think I'm ready to talk to Bingley. Maybe I can request that he keep Wills in London.
Lizzy beamed "of course. If you want to do that, I'll get them round here soon."
…
Jane was surprised that Lizzy had asked both her and Bingley to come to the centre. She was certain that G must've been in on it otherwise there would've been no need for this. She knew that her husband would do his best to keep this quiet. Unfortunately, sometimes Charles spoke without thinking. Hopefully, this wouldn't be one of those times.
"Do you know why Lizzy asked us here? I don't normally have much to do with the centre. Though I suppose I could start helping out more, giving a business or entrepreneurship class?"
Jane was proud of him. the Bingley she had met hadn't been thoughtless, but he hadn't given much consideration to how to use his own privilege. That he'd said this on his own showed how far he had come. She beamed at him and squeezed the hand she was holding. "I have an idea what it's about. But be patient. It'll become clear."
When they walked into the kitchen of the centre, he saw someone there he hadn't seen in 4 years. "G-georgie?"
"Hello Charles."
He started taking out his phone, "I need to tell him."
Lizzy took his phone away. "No, you don't. You..."
G interrupted anything else Lizzy was going to say, "I'm not ready to meet him. I'm sure he told you about what happened those years ago. But I'm not ready."
Bingley was confused about the whole situation until Lizzy jumped in realizing G needed a moment, "I know why Mr. Darcy has been hanging around the café, I know he's asking questions about me. Danny heard him and texted me asking how in the world I knew Will Darcy. He's here because he wants to find G. And we can't let him yet."
Bingley stumbled forward and took G's hand ignoring the sisters, "are you ok?"
"I've been at the centre for a while now. I'm settling in. But I need time and I need your help."
They told him the story of how G came to be here. And then Lizzy announced, "you, Charles, are going to be a double agent. Mr. Darcy can't know that you know about G, and we need you to tell us anything he says about her or Wickham or any of that. And you need to meet him in London rather than here, it's too risky."
"Are you sure it has to be this way?"
"For now, yes. Please help me." said G. "I can only promise that I will talk to him when I'm ready. I just need to figure a few things out first."
Charles huffed, he didn't like this. He didn't like it at all. But he agreed. He knew that this was important.
…
The days past quickly for Will. Bingley had started wanting to meet in London instead of Meryton. The first few times it didn't seem odd. But now almost a week later without any sighting of Elizabeth he decided to go back to Longbourn and see if he could find her and maybe have a conversation. Charles had been surprisingly tight-lipped about Elizabeth. All he would say, which Will had pretty much worked out on his own was that she worked long days and impossible hours. Somewhat like him he thought. He knew his own impressions of her and of some of those who had met her. He knew she was a good lawyer, a fierce protector of her family in which he thought his little Georgie might now be included, he knew she lived in Meryton and that she worked hard. And that was it. For more than a week of not working that was astonishingly little. He decided to give himself this one evening else he would directly email her and have to be direct and have conversation he was dreading. He wasn't entirely sure why he was dreading it. It's not because he was scared, no Will Darcy didn't cower to lawyers.
He figured it was a Friday evening and maybe she wouldn't be working even if she was a bit of a workaholic. He drove over to Charles' place. When they both lived in London they had been frequent visitors to each other's homes without any warning. He wondered if this was a good idea though, circumstances had changed. Bingley was married, maybe they would want their own time and not invite him in. But he had to chance it. He had to try.
I've been travelling for work and it's been tough to get a moment to edit this for all of you. It seems that option 2 is emerging as the winner for charl. If any of you want to give more input on that my inbox is always open!
