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Will and Lizzy part II - does it go better?
Netherfield part I.
Chapter starts on 16 February 2024
Darcy decided to attend Bingley's party. He hadn't seen his friend in a while even having missed his wedding due to work. Finding out more about Elizabeth Bennet was paramount. She had the one thing he wanted more than anything – Georgiana. He knew he'd failed his sister. Over the past few years, he'd thought about how he had handled that situation. He was hurt and she'd said she was an adult and could do whatever she wanted, that she no longer had to live under his ludicrous overly conservative rules and his 'bullshit about pride and reputation because this wasn't the 19th Century'. Everything he'd done since their father died was to protect her but she told him that he mollycoddled her. It chafed on him in retrospect that there was some truth to what she said, even if it was a very small particle of truth.
He'd hoped that refusing to give Wickham what he wanted would mean Georgie coming back. But she never did. Was it revenge that made Wickham behave the way he did? When Wickham called him speaking with cruelty in his voice the violence almost dripping from it, for the first time Will had paused. The man abused him saying that he would get her back at any cost. He spoke with such possessive overtones that that was the first day that he'd ever worried about her safety. Wickham had the ability to make friends wherever he went. They never knew much about him only that he was jovial. And few people thought to inquire under that mask. Then they'd left. Over time he'd tried his best to put it all out of his mind. He was still hurt by her wilfullness and that she refused to listen to him when he knew far more of the world than she did at 18. But she was his sister. He'd hoped she'd come to her senses at some point and return home. It was that phone call that first made him aware of the fact that she had left Wickham and not come to him but had gone somewhere else. He then remembered Elizabeth's words that Georgiana had a rough time of it recently. And he found himself even more to blame than he'd initially thought.
Yes, he'd failed her. But maybe he could make up for it now? Would she let him? Had she been injured? He needed to find out where she was and help her now, the past was gone. So, he'd asked Richard for help telling him his suspicion about Wickham. And now here she was, under the protection of his best friend's sister-in-law. He needed to consider what to do and how to approach the situation gently. And learning more about Elizabeth Bennet was the key to this whole mystery. He tried to tell himself that the only reason that he needed to find out more about her was because she was the key to Georgie. But it was more than that. There was something about her in the way she had held herself and shouted at him. The way she had fiercely protected Georgie. He couldn't deny that he was intrigued by her. More than he'd ever been by any woman.
He pulled his attention back to the road and sighed. He hated parties, he always had. He only went to a few business events never needing to network because he was born into the great Darcy family with multiple land holdings and Pemberley of which he was CEO. Bingley was one of his more vivacious friends and though he generally avoided society of all kinds, he did enjoy Bingley's company. When he'd met Jane Bennet, he found her good looking but little else. He'd warned Charles that she might be a fortune hunter as his wealth was well known by society. Charles had laughed at him, telling him that he was too used to women like Caroline who wanted him for his wealth and position and that Jane certainly wasn't like that. Charles had also added, "Jane is one of England's sought-after pastry chefs having gone to Le Cordon Bleu, Paris. She needs nothing from me." Will had been soundly chastised by that statement and simply congratulated his friend. He didn't understand that if she was so sought after why she lived in this small country town and run a café instead of London where there were more lucrative opportunities. He couldn't understand the motivation. After remembering this fact about his hostess tonight if Elizabeth Bennet was actually such an accomplished lawyer why did she live in Hertfordshire and not nearer the inns where she had been admitted? He was thinking all of this when he found himself outside of Charles' home looking at the sign that said Netherfield, it had been an affectation of the past to name houses. He knew that this manor was an old one and Charles' had it refurbished. He heard laughter inside the house and wondered what awaited him there.
…
"Janie, we're here!" trilled Kitty with all her enthusiasm. The three sisters had come early to help out, with Maria in tow. Maria knew the baby would be here soon and she took it upon herself to enjoy everything about this party even if she was only going to stay for a little while.
"Hello, my dears," Jane put her arms around all four of them and then kissed them all on their foreheads and Lizzie on the cheek.
"Where's Charlie, I haven't seen him since you got back," said Lizzy.
"We got back yesterday, when would you have seen me? As if I don't know that you sisters needed time for yourselves. Why else would I throw a party?" he laughed walking into the room. He had thought it might be a good idea to take Lizzy aside and tell her about his odd conversation with Darce, but before he could do that the bell rang and there was the brooding man himself. Damn Darcy for always being on time, who comes to a party at the exact time they're invited? Bingley's nervousness that he had invited Darcy to the party and that the man had actually come on his suggestion weighed on him. He knew his sister-in-law could provoke anyone and that Darcy would take deep offense given his pride. As it was, he had spoken before thinking, something his dear Jane kept telling him not to do. And so it was out of this nervousness that he spoke and spoke and spoke, starting with: "hullo Darce, I'm surprised to see you given that you couldn't even make it for our wedding. You've met my angel, Jane. Here are some of her sisters now." He continued in the same vein introducing him around to all, except to the one person Will wanted to meet.
Luckily, having seen the man in the doorway Lizzy had made a quick exit not wanting to talk to him after their conversation yesterday. He called her a two-bit lawyer. How could he make such a snap judgment when he knew nothing about her? She was furious that he'd come here pretending as if nothing happened. She knew that the only reason he was here was because he wanted to know about G, and she sure as hell wasn't going to give him what he wanted. Men like that seem to think that they can get whatever they want. Well he's met his match now, because I sure as hell won't help him.
Jane noted Lizzy's absence and realized that she must've left when Darcy entered and left to find her, patting Charles on the arm in an unspoken signal. She found Lizzy looking up at the sky. "Why is he here, Janie? I can't believe he would come here as if nothing happened. If he thinks I'm going to tell him a word about G, he's sadly mistaken. Can't you make him leave?"
Jane smiled at her sister, "darling, I'm sure it's uncomfortable and I know you don't like to be your lawyer self at a family event. If he tries to talk to you, you can just deflect, you're very good at that."
Lizzy nodded petulantly, but otherwise stayed silent. They both stood outside, huddled together for some warmth before the party began in earnest. It was Jane who then said, "I should go back inside, please come help a little?"
Lizzy simply replied, "ask Kitty to start on the punch. I'll be in in a moment."
Bingley saw his angel leave and spoke to the brooding man next to him, "so Darce, what can I get you to drink. We of course have some brilliant scotch. The girls barely ever drink. So, we're well stocked up on all sorts of non-alcoholic drinks and Kitty is making a punch everyone always loves."
"They don't drink?"
He shrugged, "sometimes I feel almost like a 5th wheel, now 6th since Maria has been adopted into the pack as well." He didn't say anything more but perhaps he had already said too much. He knew that the sisters barely spoke about Lydia to anyone outside the family all of them having been deeply affected by all that had happened. In fact, he'd felt bad enough when he'd mentioned it to Caroline in the early days of his and Jane's relationship. But that ship had sailed, and he couldn't fix it now, but he'd sternly spoken to Caroline that she shouldn't ever use that as fodder for gossip or he could just as easily get her fired as he'd gotten her hired at Pemberley.
"Tell me more about them," Will almost pleaded.
Bingley was surprised that his friend actually wanted to learn anything about anyone given that all Darcy normally did was work. He wondered what happened between him and Lizzy. "I'm surprised you're so interested."
Will blanched at being called out, "I missed your wedding, I'm just trying to catch up and be a better friend."
Charlie for all his affability could see through his friend. Especially after being married to Jane who in her own way was extremely astute, and said, "I know you better than that. Why don't you enjoy the party. Talk to Jane or Kitty, they're probably going to be nicer than Mary or Lizzy. Especially since I'm sure they all know about your run-in with Lizzy by now."
Will nodded. He had come here to find out more about Lizzy, no Elizabeth, he reminded himself. But he would settle for learning more about the sisters in general. He figured that this was best done by watching them. Having been introduced to Kitty, Mary, and Maria he wasn't sure what to say to any of them and walked away. He surreptitiously watched them from his vantage point with Bingley at the bar. Mary and Kitty both had what he presumed was the punch Bingley was talking about earlier in their hands when Jane came and joined them also with the same drink. He was confused by these women and tried not to let it on and simply watched and only spoke when spoken to observing, with interest.
Charles silently handed a drink to Darcy who was looking like a fish out of water. Charles said nothing, he refused to get in the middle of any of Lizzy's business. He knew it wasn't his place and that Lizzy was capable enough to handle anything thrown her way. Darcy stood alone off to the side. Both of Bingley's sisters arrived pulling him out of his reverie. He had little interest in talking to them. But then he thought, maybe they know the Bennet sisters and can give me some insight. He needed to know more about how Georgie was being taken care of and the only way for that was through Elizabeth. He didn't understand why his sister wouldn't come to him, why she would go to these people instead. He didn't know why he didn't just ask Elizabeth or even Bingley. He wrote that off remembering that Bingley probably didn't know about Georgie because he'd just gotten back from a very extended honeymoon. And if he did, Bingley would've told him. Other than Richard, Bingley was the only other person who knew some of the truth of what had happened, and even he didn't know the whole story. He wondered how much Elizabeth knew about what had passed between him and his sister.
Lizzy was doing her best to ignore Will Darcy. It wasn't terribly hard, he was standing in the corner looking broody, nursing a few fingers of what she could only assume was Charlie's best scotch. Why had he even come if all he was going to do was act curmudgeonly the whole time? She could avoid his physical presence but that didn't mean she could avoid her thoughts about him. His behaviour reeked of pride and disdain, as if he was unable to bring himself to talk to people he clearly thought beneath him. Why'd he even come to the party. She busied herself in helping Jane. All the while she could feel his eyes on her. She wondered if he were here to suss her out or in hope that G was there with them or just to find a way to confirm his assumption that she was a 'two-bit lawyer'. She couldn't understand why that statement pissed her off so much. It wasn't even the worst thing someone had said about her. Normally when she heard such things, she could laugh it off, she had thick skin, you had to if you wanted to be a good human rights lawyer. But she couldn't stop remembering that phrase uttered from this truly frustrating man. In her mind, there could be no other reason why he was watching her so closely it must be because he was looking for things to criticize.
She was about to sit with Mary and Maria when she saw Charlotte. Char always tried to be there for Maria without overtly going against her parents. That isn't to say that she wouldn't tell them off, just that she preferred to do things in her own way. When Maria had come back to Meryton having run out of a relationship her parents had tried to arrange with a family friend of theirs because they thought that it would be beneficial to their position as a knight in name while also moving up the British social ladder they'd been furious. Unfortunately, Charlotte had been on a work trip when that happened and didn't know about Maria's return till two days later. When Charlotte had found out, she'd been livid with her parents. Blaming them for Maria's current position and wondering if they had learned nothing from what had happened to Lydia Bennet. She found Maria already living at Second Chances under Mary's care and had met her the same time that Lizzy had come to the centre to talk to her about her position and what she wanted to do. It wasn't just the Bennet sisters, Charlotte had also been impacted by Lydia's actions. At first, she and Lizzy had almost come to blows over what to do about Maria, but it was Maria who brought them out of that argument, "shouldn't you ask me what I want?" Sufficiently chastised they had asked her, and it turned out that despite her own issues, Maria said that she didn't want to live with her parents as an obligation, and that if they wanted nothing to do with her, she wanted nothing to do with them either.
When Charlotte was greeted at the door by Lizzy, they both wrapped their arms around each other and stood there for a whole minute before Char even saw her sister on the couch with Mary. She laughed at Lizzy's exuberance who promptly said, "what, are you going to fault me for missing my best friend every time she goes out of town for work?"
Charlotte just kissed her on the cheek saying, "darling Lizzy, it is good to see you. I miss you too, but there's enough people here looking out for each other that I no longer need to feel guilty."
They walked over together to the couch to begin cooing over Maria's belly. "I can't believe we're both going to be aunts so soon," said Lizzy.
Mary just rolled her eyes, "how is it that even after months this is still unbelievable for you?"
Lizzy pouted and just said, "I know that you will love Olivia, but sometimes she will need to see excitement and exuberance and find someone to help her see the wonder in everything that crosses her path. And so, she will have me. The rest of you are just all too practical."
Charlotte responded, "I've never understood how despite seeing the very worst of humanity you somehow retain this optimism."
She nodded but evenly said, "that's exactly why I do. It's a bit rosy eyed but it's all I have. In any case, the real truth is that it's not me who is brave, it's the people who survived and helping them on their journey to make a choice and seeing their resilience is just about the best feeling in the world."
Charlotte said, "don't forget everything you have survived…" she didn't complete her sentence in such a public setting and Mary interrupted knowing Lizzy wouldn't want to talk about that, "the ability to help when we can is the only thing we can do. And you of all people know that it is in hope that someone might help dear Lyddie in the same way when she most needs it." Knowing that 4 years later all of them hoped against hope that she was still alive and ok.
Maria and Charlotte nodded appreciating the truth of these statements, indeed this was a conversation that they had all had on many occasions before. It still surprised Charlotte, but she understood it better than she had all those years ago.
Will had been surreptitiously eavesdropping on this conversation learning so much about the sisters simply by watching their interactions with each other. She spoke about optimism that she retained because of seeing the worst of humanity as she did. It seemed a fascinating take on life. Especially to someone who'd been labelled a misanthrope more than once. Then to hear that she too had survived her own ordeals, even if he didn't know what they were, was surprising. This woman had untold depths and he found her a worthy object of study.
Caroline was put out because Will wasn't paying attention to her. She also knew that Eliza had been in Will's office and that he'd been out of sorts after the encounter. She had no idea what it was about, but she decided that it didn't matter. Eliza Bennet had always bested her and this time she wouldn't. So, Caroline Bingley began some of her most vicious attacks about the Bennet family. She didn't know the whole story, but she figured she knew enough to plant doubts about her nemesis.
She started off in a sugary sweet voice, "so, tell me, Will. You seem to be observing the Bennets. What's your first impression of them?"
"It hardly matters."
"You're right, of course. They hardly matter," she said trying to turn his statement to her advantage. "They're inconsequential, the only thing they have going for them is that their eldest sister married my brother."
"Isn't Jane a sought-after pastry chef and Elizabeth a well known human rights lawyer?"
Caroline harrumphed softly, but pretended as if she wasn't put off by his statement, "Eliza Bennet is a lawyer, I don't know that well known is the right word to use. She could've been a partner in the law firm she was working at had she stayed on, but she quit unexpectedly. It made no sense. I later found out the reason." She knew she shouldn't be saying anything but surely Charles could no longer get her fired, she was indispensable and once she had proven herself as acting head of legal there was no way she wouldn't first get the job of head of legal position permanently and shortly after Will himself.
Will didn't acknowledge any of it and kept his mask of indifference on knowing that Caroline wouldn't be able to stop herself from sharing what she clearly thought was juicy information. He was right and she continued, "you know how there's 5 Bennet sisters, well one of them got addicted to opioids after a surgery and ended up running away with her drug dealer. Their mother had a stroke, and their father looks after her instead of getting an attendant or nurse."
He didn't say anything about a sister running away, it was a well-kept secret that Georgiana had done a similar thing, even though everyone thought she was away to the states for university. He couldn't judge a young girl running away, how could he without being an absolute hypocrite? Caroline's words instead of turning him against the Bennets made them even more fascinating seeing the parallels to himself. The difference was that he hadn't let Georgiana's running away impact him, he'd just tried to ignore it. In the face of these kinds of people he felt an unworthy blathering fool while feeling a kinship at their similar situations. Years ago, Georgiana had pointed out that pride and reputation meant nothing if you couldn't have love. Seeing it here, in front of him, in the form of the Bennets shrank down the room to one point and he couldn't help but stare at the people in front of him. He decided at that moment that there was no point, why he was even talking to Caroline about this? She was either completely wrong or just spreading gossip. He ignored whatever else she said and turned his focus back to the women on the sofa. Caroline would eventually give up her droning when she realized that he wasn't going to be engaging in conversation. So he said the bare minimum, "Charles can't help?"
Caroline was chagrinned at the response, "Mr. Bennet doesn't see eye to eye with the world anymore. He says that the situation was of his own making and now he has to take care of his wife who can't do much anymore. How they live is horrific. Jane or Eliza could help both financially and by doing more for them, but he doesn't let them."
Will internally thought that if Mr. Bennet was right and this was a hell of his own making than fixing it is also his responsibility. He would do that for Georgiana if he could. He understood where the man was coming from.
At first, it was a bit difficult to hear anything over the din of the party. So, he just watched her. She was making rounds, talking to people easily. He could see her conversation and tepid responses to people like Bingley's sisters making him assume that she probably didn't like them very much. He knew that he was good at hiding his feelings, he didn't dwell on them much anyway as they weren't useful for him. But here, he saw a different variation of that. A person whose feelings were hidden behind a different type of mask than his. The more questions he had about her the more fascinated he was. He reminded himself of his original mission - finding out more about Georgiana. And Elizabeth Bennet was the only one who could help him. As he watched the people around him, he realized that he just didn't understand these people. He barely understood the kind of society that he had grown up in, the social niceties that the British establishment adhered to. But here, with people whose motivations didn't align with his own, he didn't know what to say or do. Not that he knew much what to do in other settings.
He noticed that Elizabeth moved with poise. She was somewhat on the petite side, and yet she walked as if she owned the room. And he figured that part of it must be because this was her sister's house. He thought about it for a moment, one of the things that had set him on edge when she had come to his office was that when she walked into his office, a space he had occupied for years since his father had died, with enough conviction to make it hers. When he normally walked into a room his reputation or his scowl made other people take notice and he knew he had a certain gravitas. But this woman was something else, she had an air about her that was striking, even dressed in a sophisticated and understated manner. Having been at this place in the corner he figured that he quite possibly might now be able to blend in to the wall behind him, he really hated parties.
She didn't notice him when she was talking to her other sister now, Kitty, Bingley had called her. He tried to listen into their conversation. He could only hear snatches and some of them sounded like they were in French, and then another language he couldn't identify.
He then heard Kitty laughing, saying, "français s'il vous plaît. Klingon n'est necessaire." (French please. Klingon isn't necessary).
He chuckled softly, clearly smart, humorous, and disarming. He knew enough French to understand. But speaking Klingon with ease was a rather random talent and he smiled without knowing why.
As the din died down a little, he saw Elizabeth kissed Kitty's forehead, "it's your life and you should make your choices. None of us would say otherwise. It is just that with you and her both gone, it'll just be the three of us."
Kitty said sternly, "nonsense. What about Charlie, Maria, Char, and soon Olivia. Don't deny them."
Lizzy smiled, but stopped her sister from saying more by placing a hand on her shoulder having noticed that the brooding man in the corner was listening in on their conversation. She interrupted her sister looking over at him, "Kit, we'll discuss tomorrow." She wandered off as to get away from this skulking Dracula. She just didn't understand him. He came to a party he clearly didn't want to be at, on time, didn't help with anything and then sat in the corner. He'd spoken to Bingley and Caroline for a little bit but apart from that said nothing to a single person. And every time she looked around to find someone, she saw him staring at her. Lizzy was slightly disconcerted, but then reminded herself that she had dealt with tougher people in tougher situations and put on her lawyer mask. She wasn't meek and that he would regret it if he carried on this way.
He saw the sharp and foreboding look she threw him and knew instantly how unwelcome he was. He shouldn't have come here in an attempt to find out more about her, it was the wrong strategy. He had the good sense to look embarrassed. Yet he couldn't let go of it completely and he answered her glare with a stare of his own, not filled with conceit, instead filled only with questions: who was this 'her', they were talking about? Was it the sister Caroline had mentioned? Was what Caroline said the truth? He decided that he wasn't really getting anywhere and since he'd had only one drink more than an hour ago, it was probably time to leave. As he stalked his way to the door he bumped into a small mass in front of him. He realized it was her and moved his hands to her waist without realizing it. The one moment he'd lost sight of her he'd found her inadvertently.
She was slightly confused at being jostled and then finding arms around her. She peeled his hands off her waist. When he realized what she was doing he took off his hands and put his palms out, "I apologize. I didn't see you there."
Her anger got the better of her. She'd met people who tried to get the upper hand by trying to physically daunt her because she was a small woman. "As if I'd believe that given you've been watching me all night," she said as she crossed her arms over her chest.
Caroline who watched this exchange had to insert herself into this conversation, this time Eliza Bennet wasn't going to take something away from her. Especially not the man she was meant to be with. "And why in the world would Will watch you all night, Eliza? I'm sure he has better things to do."
"Why ask me, ask him, Caro," she said keeping the biting tone out of her voice.
"I apologize Ms. Bennet, I'm not very good with crowds and simply wanted to …" he left off that he wanted to watch her, learn more about her, but all he said was, "finish our conversation from earlier this week and I wasn't sure how to approach you."
"Mr. Darcy, this is a social gathering, my sister's homecoming, I don't talk business at such places. In my mind that conversation was over. If you have something to say, you have my number and email id. Please make an appointment and I'll be happy to talk to you."
Caroline was getting angry, if he had legal business why wouldn't he come to her, she was after all acting head of legal? No, only one thing made sense, Eliza must've inserted herself into his life somehow. She decided to change the topic of conversation entirely. "Perhaps we should talk about more social things, how is your family Will, the Earl and his sister? And dear Georgiana, she hasn't been home from Harvard in many months, has she?"
Will didn't turn to look at her, all he could do was stare at the person in front of him, and all he said was "they're well." He noticed that she was trying to not smile, he wondered why.
Lizzy almost smirked, having known about Georgiana, she wondered what Caroline would do with that information if she knew the truth.
Caroline droned on, "I'm sure the Earl and his family must be up on their estate now. I hope they're coming to town to throw their annual Christmas bash. It's the most fun event of the year. The Viscount is so amiable."
He again barely responded, "I'm sure." He knew Caroline was the worst kind of social climber.
Elizabeth Bennet wasn't looking at him, she was looking to the couch watching Mary and Maria talk to each other softly. She checked the time, realized how late it was and that they would be leaving soon. She decided to leave these two 'hoity toity types' and go to people she loved. "Shall we eat dears, I'm sure you want to leave soon."
Darcy wasn't listening to Caroline's blathering and instead abruptly said, "excuse me."
He followed them to the kitchen, realizing that eating before he made the drive back to London would be a good idea. As soon as he walked into the kitchen he was assaulted by the smell of heavenly things. He'd never had anything that Jane had made before. He knew she was a gifted pastry chef, but it seemed that she was also a dab hand at cooking. As he entered the kitchen all eyes were on him, he now suddenly felt like he was intruding a family scene.
Jane said, "Will, sorry we haven't laid out food yet. I didn't realize people would want to eat already. Help yourself."
He noticed out of the corner of his eye Elizabeth rolled hers. "Thanks Jane. My apologies, I was about to leave since I came a bit early but then I smelled the food and couldn't help myself." He tried to smile but it came out almost like a grimace. He took a plate and started serving himself a few things and eat in the corner so as to not intrude on the conversation. He was lost in his thoughts. The Bennets were a family like no other he'd been privy to. He knew, if nothing else, that Georgiana would be well cared for if she was under their protection. He sighed to himself realizing that this was the only tangential information he would get about Georgie today.
Lizzy watched him, unsure why he was here given that he was likely the most antisocial bloke she'd ever met. She noticed him methodically cut up the pieces of food and chew, the man seemed like he planned everything in his life. She didn't understand those people. She of course was organized chaos, rarely planning for more than a day ahead. He walked over to her after eating and said, "can I help you lay out the food before I leave." What was he trying to do now? Ingratiate himself into their world so she would reveal something about G? She looked at him to see if she could figure him out and having found nothing and simply responded, "no thanks Mr. Darcy. Have a safe drive back to London."
Before he could help himself, he blurted out, "why don't you line in London?" His cheeks were tinged with red when he realized what she'd said.
A personal question from a man she couldn't stand. "That's a rather personal question." She was barely holding her fury together.
"I apologize, you're right of course. I'll head out now."
A normal man, Lizzy thought would say something to keep the conversation going, maybe even flirt. Just more evidence that Mr. Darcy wasn't a normal man. She couldn't figure this man out. And that was grating on her. In her job, she had to be good at reading people. And so far, nothing about him made any sense. If she couldn't undertake a proper character sketch, she should try her best to not interact with him at all. That would be best. Then she remembered that she may not be able to avoid him altogether because of her dearest G. She thought back to her conversation with Kitty and looked around the room. Many of the people there were family to her, and they would be here. She was adding G to that family too.
So, what did you think, lovelies? Reviews much appreciated.
While this might be the first time at Netherfield, the parts familiar from the book will be in Netherfield part II.
My thoughts on addiction in this chapter don't align with Caroline's. I know that there are people who do think this way, unfortunately. But these are not my thoughts. If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction, I'm sorry and I hope they get better. I've seen that struggle too. There are resources out there in the world if you're looking for them and people you can talk to about this.
Also, I noticed that people may not have enjoyed the previous chapter (6). If you could tell me why that would be helpful, since I'm always looking for constructive criticism! Was it because it was longer? Or because there was more background? Or something else entirely? I'd really appreciate it!