Chapter Eight: Ponzi

Lizzy and Jane went back to work. They'd been too distracted for the last couple of weeks, Jane by Charlie and Lizzy by everything else. It was frustrating. Lizzy truly believed she was ready to step up her game, she was aware she was still a little green but she knew that with the right direction and the right people she could go far. Much further than this, she thought, after another day playing the Badger with fellow Bennets Mark and Paul. The Badger was a simple scam. One of them, usually Mark, played the role of a pimp, approaching a married man who looked like a mark and tempting him into an illicit affair with a woman, in this case Lizzy. They went upstairs to a room, began 'relations' and then before it got too far Paul would burst in, claiming to be a cop or private investigator. You would then threaten to expose the liaison to their spouse unless the mark handed over the cash. It was a grubby scam, and Lizzy didn't like it one bit, but it was a remarkably successful con, even in this day and age. They could easily make around four thousand on a good day. However, the money didn't help Lizzy sleep at night. She knew some girls who wouldn't play it at all but Lizzy saw it as a necessary evil. Jane and Kitty were working the Pigeon across the city, and Lydia, well who knows what Lydia was doing.

She was better than this, she often thought. Scraping a living with grimy little scams. The problem was that the lack of ambition around her was stifling. She loved Jane dearly but she appeared quite content with how things were. When they had decided to leave the Bennet house and move to their own place together, Lizzy had assumed that they were on the same page and that Jane was also ready to step things up. However it was quickly becoming apparent that that assumption had been a mistake, and even if it wasn't all this business with Charlie Bingley was only going to send them in different directions anyway if it worked out. The same with Lydia, Kitty, Mark, Paul and the rest of the Bennets, they were fine with the status quo. And as much as Charlotte Lucas was her best friend, Lizzy knew she didn't have the talent or the single-mindedness to pursue total dishonest excellence. Lizzy just didn't have the contacts to try to set something up. It was the years of the insular Bennet crew haunting her. She was aware she wouldn't ever be taken seriously by people like Darcy, even Charlie unless she changed her ways. But she couldn't see a way out of it, not right now anyway.

Throughout the week, her mind kept going back to Darcy and the evening spent in his company. She was looking forward to the poker game in a weeks time, it would be nice to try to get one over on him. But even these thoughts were plagued with doubt. Just why did she care so much? What was it about this fucking guy that made her want to beat him so desperately? Maybe she was trying to prove herself to him, but that went against all her principles. Fuck Darcy, fuck Caroline. This was her city. And one day she'd have it all.

Her mood was worsened by the ever-lingering presence of Billy Collins. At least he had such 'important' things to do during the day, but the evenings became a constant battle of hide and seek. Her flat wasn't even safe, Frances had given up that location. Every bar she went to, every party, everything, he was always there, with that stupid briefcase handcuffed to his wrist. He took it everywhere with him, apparently it contained his life's work or something. It just made him look more of a twat. She wasn't threatened by his slightly creepy behaviour, he was after all pretty harmless if you could look past the occasional leer. And she wasn't risking completely alienating the bloke yet, if word got back to Frances then there would be hell to pay. It wasn't worth it. But it was embarrassing, having to introduce him to friends and fellow grifters. And if she heard one more story about Lady fucking Catherine she was pretty sure she'd crack.

Tonight though, her spirits were higher than normal. It had been a while since she'd been at the card table, so she and Charlotte had decided to get some practice in before the big night. Charlotte was a good poker player, she could often clean up on nights such as the one they were going to tonight, located in the backroom of the hallowed Jack Hammer, a regular watering hole for grifters in North London. It even had a dance floor. Lizzy was a decent enough card player, Charlotte usually had the edge on her but she had a few victories under her belt. Her problem was concentration usually, when she was able to dial in properly she was more than an equal to her friend, however, she often found herself impatient and thus open to mistakes. She hoped tonight she could keep that in check. She didn't know who else would be there but she had been promised it would be a challenging field. One thousand buy-in, ten thousand pot. Not bad for a night's work. It could be a long one though, these games had been known to go right past the early hours and into the next day. Lizzy was rusty but quietly confident.

"What's up, sis?" Lizzy heard from behind her a few hours later as she leaned at the bar of the Jack Hammer, trying to catch the barmaid's eye.

"Lydia," she sighed. "What the fuck are you doing here? You don't even play."

"God, poker is such a fucking bore," Lydia grumbled, before brightening up. "But Denny's in the game so I said I'd come along for support. Hopefully, he'll go out early and we can just get trashed…."

Denny, Lizzy scoffed internally. So much for a strong field…..

"Jesus Christ, can I not have one evening of peace?" Lizzy moaned, only causing Lydia to giggle.

"Ah, brighten up Liz! Oh, there's Denny. Catch you later. Good luck."

Lydia kissed her sloppily on the cheek and disappeared into the throng, it was a Friday night and the place was pretty full.

"Be careful Lyds, you stupid…" Lizzy shouted after her. She wished she didn't feel a responsibility for Lydia, she really did. But the girl just drew you in. Even if you hated her, and Lizzy often did, there was something about her that made you want to take care of her. God, she was a manipulative so-and-so.

"Bennet." Lizzy looked up to see Charlotte leant next to her, already with a beer in hand.

"Lucas." Lizzy nodded back, solemnly.

There was a pause before they both burst out laughing and embraced as old friends.

"So, how have you been, kid?" Charlotte asked. "I've barely seen you the last couple of weeks. All these cocktail parties and high fliers are changing you, Lizzy…."

"Oh fuck off," Lizzy pushed her good-naturedly. "I would be more than happy to never see Darcy and his band of merry men again. But obviously we have to take his money first."

"Obviously," Charlotte smirked. "You know who's in tonight?"

"No idea," Lizzy shrugged. "But hopefully it'll be a good workout."

"I'm taking your money tonight Bennet, so don't go crying about it alright?"

"We'll see, we'll see." Lizzy laughed, leading Charlotte over to a table in the corner that was vacant. It was nice to see her friend again, nice to see someone outside the Bennet crew. Someone she could talk with honestly and openly.

"So, come on then, spill," Charlotte leant on her elbows. "Just what is going on with Jane and that good-looking rich boy?"

"You're such a gossip, Lucas," Lizzy admonished. "I think she really likes him Charlotte.."

"She shagged him yet?" Charlotte asked baldly.

"Charlotte! Come on they've only known each other a couple of weeks!"

"Since when did you become such a prude?" Charlotte smirked. "If Jane likes the boy she should just get the disappointment over with early."

"Who says it'll be a disappointment?"

"It's always a disappointment, Lizzy." Charlotte shook her head, and Lizzy burst out laughing.

"Well, you know Jane," Lizzy recovered. "She keeps it a bit close."

"That's her problem. God, I've known her for ages, longer than I've known you, and I still don't know what she's thinking most of the time. It can put people off you know."

"She's just a bit shy. Besides, she hasn't had the easiest of lives. None of us have…" Lizzy trailed off. They didn't like talking about the past, none of them did. But the fact was that the Bennets were all street kids, either orphans or the children of those unfit to raise them. Most grew up in the system, the care homes of London, some in the streets. It was something they didn't bring up. They wanted to forget.

"I know, Lizzy," Charlotte said softly. "But sometimes I think Jane could be a bit more open, especially in these situations. She can come off as a bit cold sometimes."

"We'll agree to disagree," Lizzy said, her tone betraying annoyance.

"Alright, alright!" Charlotte held her hands up. "I'm just saying…. Oh god, Lizzy, nine o'clock, some guy's coming over, he's looking at us, oh god he's dreadful. Is that a briefcase handcuffed to him? Help! Help!"

She knew who it was before she turned around.

Billy fucking Collins.

"Elizabeth," he greeted formally, taking her hand and kissing it. Urgh. Charlotte was close to falling apart opposite her. "I don't think we've been introduced…."

"Charlotte Lucas." she managed to choke out, but she couldn't help the laugh that escaped when he kissed her hand as well. Collins appeared to mistake it for girly flirtation.

"Billy Collins. A pleasure, Miss Lucas. Can I get either of you a drink?" he asked, Lizzy could see the sweat patches forming on his shirt and his forehead was already glistening.

"I'm fine thanks," Lizzy muttered.

"Large Merlot for me" Charlotte raised her glass with a smirk and Collins scuttled off, briefcase swinging from his wrist.

"What?" Charlotte laughed at Lizzy's expression. "It's a free drink, Bennet, Jesus. More importantly, how do you know that creep? And what's with the kinky handcuffs?"

"He takes it everywhere with him and he's another one of Frances' schemes," Lizzy sighed. "Works out in Vegas, head of security at Rosings Park…"

"That man is head of security at Rosing's Park?" Charlotte questioned incredulously. "How does Frances keep finding them?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know what a big deal that guy is right?" Charlotte asked. "Rosings is like one of the top casinos in Vegas! If I were you I'd be accepting his drink offers."

Lizzy laughed at her friend's predatory nature.

"He wants me to work for him," Lizzy smirked. "As if."

"Why not Lizzy?" Charlotte narrowed her eyes.

"Because he's a fucking creep and seems to be dangerously stupid."

"So? He seems harmless enough. You could be working in Vegas, Lizzy, fucking Vegas! It's a grifters Mecca! And Rosings Park? You keep going on about how you want to move up and then when an opportunity comes around you turn your nose up at it, because what, the blokes not fit and it's not some Ton crew?"

Lizzy was surprised by her friend's words, she'd assumed they could have a good laugh together about Collins.

"I'm not selling out myself like that," Lizzy replied a bit angrily.

"Talking to a brick wall," Charlotte sighed. "Have it your way, Lizzy, just don't complain to me when you and Jane are still trying to work the Badger in your fifties."

"Says the girl who's approaching thirty and still falling over car bonnets."

Lizzy leant back, letting a tense silence descend. Who did Charlotte think she was lecturing her like that? Collins came back to the table and attempted to engage Lizzy in conversation, but her one-word answers soon diverted his attention to Charlotte, who chatted happily with him. Fucking shark, Lizzy thought. Didn't she have any dignity? Charlotte was her best friend besides Jane, but right now she wanted to punch the girl. She was an average grifter anyway, Lizzy thought nastily, before checking herself. She wasn't going to go there.

Finally, they were called into the backroom. Charlotte grabbed her arm before they went in after managing to ditch Collins.

"Come on Liz, let's not fall out. I'm sorry alright?"

"It's fine," Lizzy smiled eventually, and it was. Charlotte was entitled to an opinion and Lizzy was entitled to disagree with it. It's how friendship works. "May the best woman win."

Yeah, it was fine, but fuck if she didn't want to beat Charlotte Lucas hands down.

Her spirits rose when she saw the competition that was gathered in the smoky back room. There were some good players here no doubt about it. The Swiss twins were present, as were a couple of others Lizzy recognized. Denny looked like a scared child. Lydia would probably have her wish, Lizzy chuckled.

"Lizzy, you angel!" a booming voice shouted across the room, breaking the tension that always existed in the build-up to these games. She looked over to see a heavy-set man of around fifty years of age, shirt done up wrong so one side hung down more than the other, and the remnants of a packet of crisps all down him. Most prominent of all, however, was the ridiculous monocle present on his left eye.

"Cyclops," Lizzy smiled in greeting, walking over and kissing him on the cheek. "You playing tonight?"

"Of course, can't miss the chance to make some easy money!" he exclaimed back in a loud voice, irritating most of the other players judging by their scowls.

"Don't count on it," she smirked.

Cyclops was a proper old-school grifter. He'd never made it into the big leagues, his working-class, East End mannerisms were too much for some people. But on street level, he was pretty much unmatched. He made his living these days as a fixer, a go-to man if you wanted a safe cracked or an alarm disabled. He did well for himself as well, and amongst short con artists, he was as respected as anyone in the game. He was also a bloody good poker player.

"Does anyone mind if I smoke in here?" Cyclops gestured around, his presence filling the room. He lit one without waiting for a response. "Get in their heads early, Lizzy." he winked quietly at her and she laughed.

"You're incorrigible," Lizzy swatted him. "God it's good to be back amongst you lot."

"Been missing us, Bennet? I've heard you've been making quite the connections these days. Aren't you a bit big time for this little game….." he said slyly.

The few in the vicinity laughed, probably out of jealousy more than anything. She gave them the finger. They were welcome to hang out with Darcy in her place.

"Piss off Cyclops," she said, causing his jaw to wobble with a chuckle. "I've had enough of those rich fuckers, I'm telling you."

"Do tell." Cyclops leant in close, she could see herself reflected in his stupid monocle.

"Well, Charles Bingley's alright, and obviously he's completely in love with Jane.."

"But she said she'd wait for me!" Cyclops clutched his heart dramatically.

"Sorry mate," Lizzy grinned. "Anyway, his sister's a stuck-up bitch and Darcy's the most arrogant and unpleasant man I've ever had the misfortune of meeting."

"I knew you wouldn't like him." Cyclops laughed loudly.

"You know him?" Lizzy asked in surprise. Darcy was not the type of person to associate with someone like Cyclops.

"Not really," he admitted. "Met him a few times. Seemed alright to me, a little quiet, but still. He's Will fucking Darcy! The man's a genius, Lizzy, one of the best long con artists to ever play the game. And I emphasise the word artist."

Lizzy snorted.

"I see you've really taken against the poor man," Cyclops chuckled at her reaction. "Maybe you're right, as I said, I don't really know him. His cousin's good people though, Richard. Yeah, me and The Colonel did a few jobs together when he was starting out."

"The Colonel?" Lizzy asked.

"His nickname. He claims that his first score was a change raise in KFC, hence The Colonel."

Lizzy laughed, already taking a liking to this Richard despite his connection to Darcy. The Colonel indeed. Clearly didn't take himself too seriously, unlike some people….

"Ladies and Gentlemen, take your seats, we will begin shortly."

"Good luck then, Bennet," Cyclops smirked. "I'll see you on the other side."

Lizzy smiled warmly before her mask went up, and she took her seat as the rules were explained and the first hands dealt.

"You've got to be kidding me."

"It's just the way the cookie crumbles, my dear." Cyclops grinned, raking in the chips.

It had all been going so well. As predicted, Denny went out obscenely early, going all in on a two-pair hand, which Charlotte pounced on with a straight, something everyone around the table bar Denny had seen coming. Next to go was one of the Swiss twins who bluffed their way into a corner which they couldn't wriggle out from, Cyclops did the rest. Lizzy was slowly building up a decent amount of chips, still well behind Cyclops and Charlotte after their big wins early doors, but in a reasonably promising position. The thing about poker that a lot of people didn't understand was that the big hands came around so rarely. In all the films you see people with a straight, a flush, four of a kind, all in the same hand. It never happened in reality. Poker was the slow build, the fold was the most important aspect, knowing when to pull back, knowing when to push and not being obvious about when you were doing it. For around two hours, nothing of consequence happened, a couple of piles diminished and a couple of piles were stocked up, but nothing dramatic. Then Lizzy got the cards.

Pocket Kings.

A good start, but by no means unbeatable. She raised the pot slightly, but not obviously. Most called her, including Cyclops.

Then came the flop.

Ace of hearts, nine of spades, nine of clubs.

Two pair. Ok. This was getting promising. She held back on the next round of bets, only calling what she had to. Charlotte went in aggressively, but Lizzy had the feeling it was a bluff. She could afford to do it, she was comfortably in the lead and she was attempting to bully the others off the table. Worked with a couple as they folded, but Lizzy stayed firm.

The turn.

King of hearts.

Lizzy kept her cool façade up, but she was dancing on the inside. Full house. Three kings and two nines. She calculated it quickly as around a 90% success ratio, the cards weren't in any position for a straight flush, no chance of it. She couldn't lose this hand.

Cyclops raised. He was bluffing. His attention was on Charlotte, not her, the two biggest chip holders going toe to toe. As Lizzy expected, Charlotte quickly folded with a smile, as did everyone else around them. Suddenly it was just him and her. She had him, she knew that.

But she made a mistake.

Maybe it was the rustiness, maybe it was the frustration, maybe it was arrogance. Maybe it was Darcy in her fucking head again, that condescending tone belittling her and her friends.

She went all in.

"Call." Cyclops said immediately.

He could just about afford to lose it, but it was a strange move, and one that had Lizzy suddenly panicking. She calmed herself with the thought that the only chance of her losing was if that one card came up, and even then it was still unlikely. No, she had this, she had him by the balls.

The river.

Ace of diamonds.

The worst thing that could have happened. The only card that could see her lose. But still, the odds were at 80%. She wasn't going lose.

But then she saw Cyclops smirk. He turned over his cards.

Pocket aces.

"You've got to be kidding me."

"It's the way the cookie crumbles my dear."

She just sat there for a moment, absolutely stunned. She'd gone out within three hours. This was supposed to be her warm-up, this was supposed to be a game that she could comfortably reach the final stages of. And yet, here she was, beaten by a fucking four-of-a-kind on the river after going all in. It was embarrassing. She stood up without a word and stormed out of the room.

"It's been a pleasure as always Lizzy!" Cyclops called out mockingly.

She sat on the barstool absolutely fuming. Fucking Cyclops. She attempted to console herself with the fact that he had been unbelievably lucky, she had made the right move. Most of the time it would have paid off and she'd still be sat there commanding the table with Cyclops scrambling around for chips. But it was no use. She was annoyed at herself, she shouldn't have gone all in, shouldn't have left herself that vulnerable. Poker was a marathon, not a sprint. She'd got carried away, she'd fucked up. Impatience again. Collins attempted to sidle over, but one look from Lizzy was enough to send him scampering back to whatever corner he was perving from.

"Jesus, you out already Lizzy?" Lydia laughed, pulling up a stool next to her.

"I don't want to talk about it." Lizzy shot back, her tone leaving no doubt that she wanted to be left alone to get drunk.

"Poker's boring anyway mate! Sitting in a room with those boring fuckers!" Lydia said, and bless her for it. Somehow, it cheered Lizzy up immensely. That was the contradiction of her relationship with Lydia. She was the one who could cheer her up better than anyone else, she was also the one who could infuriate her more than anyone else.

"Maybe you're right." Lizzy conceded.

"Of course I am!" Lydia laughed before shouting down the bar to the barmaid. "Kirsty, Kirsty! Send four Sir Samuel Bucas down this way will you?"

"Lydia…" Lizzy grinned.

"Oh come on sis, don't be so fucking boring! Let's get trashed and forget all about those stupid cards! Come on, let's dance."

"What about the sambuca?" Lizzy asked, amused at her sister's flightiness.

"Good point," Lydia said, knocking her two back in seconds without the slightest of grimaces. "Your turn!"

Lizzy hesitated before thinking fuck it, why not? She might as well try to have a good time, and if there was one thing that Lydia knew how to do, it was have a good time. She winced as the first shot went down, she'd never been too good with sambuca, but the second was better. She washed it down with her bottle of beer before Lydia grabbed her hand and led her to the packed, pathetic excuse for a dance floor. She moved to the music, her inhibitions dampened by the alcohol and the attitude Lydia had managed to instil in her tonight.

They danced and had fun, Lydia's infectious attitude rubbing off on her. Kitty joined them soon after and the three sisters just enjoyed themselves for a while. Of course, Lydia being Lydia got bored quickly enough and went to grind on poor Denny, who didn't know what was going on. Lizzy laughed at his confused face before she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Well, well, well," the familiar voice said. "Sold any more violins lately Lizzy?"

She turned around with a smile.

"Old man George Wickham himself."

"You cancelled on me you little shit!" Lizzy said as she sat down next to him after a little dance, half joking, but half serious. "Is that how you treat all the girls?"

"What do you mean?" George said, looking confused. "Yes, I had to cancel that afternoon, I had a job in Manchester, but I asked Lydia to see if you wanted to meet up in the week. I gave her my number to give to you and everything. You were the one who didn't call, I just assumed you weren't interested."

"Fucking Lydia," Lizzy sighed, slightly annoyed. "She probably just forgot, she's always doing that."

"So, would you have phoned me?" George asked, a twinkle in his eye. He looked good tonight. Skinny but not too skinny black Levi's and a smart enough button-down. Not Darcy smart, no, smart casual. It showed off his arms as well….

"I might of…." Lizzy smirked, taking a sip from the beer he had bought her. She wasn't drunk but she was slightly tipsy thanks to the sambucas. She'd probably be hung-over tomorrow but right now she didn't care.

George laughed loudly.

"Hey, I'll take that! So what have you been up to anyway?" he leaned closer to her, his bright eyes and smile putting her at ease.

"Oh you know, work," she replied. "And fucking awful cocktail parties with your old mate Darcy."

She saw him falter a little at the mention of Darcy and he drew away from her. She probably shouldn't have brought it up, they were having a good time. But she was too curious, had been ever since the day of their awkward exchange. George recovered reasonably quickly which was a good sign.

"I wouldn't really describe me and Darcy as mates." he laughed uneasily but good-naturedly.

"But you were once?" Lizzy probed.

"Maybe," George evaded, clearly uncomfortable with this line of enquiry. "What's got you so curious anyway? You have a thing for him, Lizzy?"

"Fuck no!" Lizzy almost shouted. "He's a fucking dickhead! Insufferable, arrogant, superior, arsehole!"

"Good, we're on the same page then," George laughed. "He say anything about me?"

"No, none of them did really. Charlie said something about you having some stories about Darcy's wild child days but he stopped pretty quickly. I get the sense that they don't like to talk about you at all…." Lizzy trailed off.

"I guess they probably wouldn't," George said with a hint of sadness.

"Come on then!" Lizzy ran out of patience. "What's the story with you lot?"

George leant back and was quiet for a few seconds, just studying her. She could see the conflict in his eyes, whether to tell her or not. A little bit of her brain was asking her exactly why she was so curious, but she pushed it back.

George sighed, his eyes glazing over for a while before he took a deep breath.

"Ok, so I'll tell you. I warn you, it doesn't cast me in the most positive light in parts. I have made mistakes, and I made a lot of them when I was younger.

So, I first met Will about eight years ago. I was 19, he was 21 I think. He'd just lost his father and he was really cut up. Like, really badly. He saw me in a casino counting cards if I remember correctly … anyway, it doesn't really matter. We became friends, the very best. In those days he wasn't this mythical long con player who stole the Crown Jewels or whatever bullshit they say about him now. Nah, he was just plain old messed up Will Darcy, a closeted orphan, a rich boy who'd been sheltered from the game his whole life but was in thrall to it. His Dad had been a grifter back in the day but he'd gone straight when Darcy was born and got into the casino game. But you know grifters, the game's always with you, so Darcy grew up around it but apart from it. You know when you watch those gangster films and there's always the big bosses son who's trying to hang out with the street-level players? Yeah, that was Will. He wanted to be one of us, wanted more than anything to be respected as a grifter, but no one took him seriously enough. He was just Will, the kid hanging around at all the right spots, making all the right noises, but never actually doing anything.

I felt sorry for him, I think. Yeah, maybe that was it. I saw that he was trying to be something he wasn't, but aren't we all? Isn't that what con men spend their lives doing? Why should he be any different, I thought. And I must admit, initially I saw the opening. I was a short con player, a deadbeat for a Dad and Mother who didn't even want her own son, and here was this kid who could get me into the high life, could open doors for me that I could never have opened myself. So, yeah I was using him. But he was using me as well.

Anyway, we became friends, and pretty soon it was real. I genuinely loved him like a brother. We ran the streets together, I taught him the Badger, the Pigeon, even the Fiddle, although I never had the balls to use it like you! It was all good for a while, but there were warning signs. It may be difficult to believe now when you interact with him and see his cold, stone-like personality, but in those days he was wild. Fucking wild. I mean, so messed up it was unreal. That's the thing about rich kids isn't it, they're always fucked up. Fights and drink and drugs, every cliché. But he was endangering himself and endangering me, I genuinely think he had a death wish at that point. I tried and tried, but I couldn't get through to him. I blamed myself, and still do. I was the one who brought him into all this. Me. And I couldn't bring him out.

I began to drift away from him, I couldn't take it anymore. If he'd stayed the way he was he would have ended up at best in prison, at worst dead in a ditch. Maybe I should have done more. But I was twenty-one and I was selfish. No, I was. He was my friend and I abandoned him. That's on me.

We didn't speak for about a year, and then out of nowhere, I got the call. Somehow he'd cleaned up his act and was putting a crew together, wanted to play the long con. Charlie Bingley was going to be his roper, Caroline Bingley was the bank, and his cousin Richard was going to be the fixer. Will was the leader, the planner. He wanted me to join them, work as the inside man. I was unsure at first, but when I met them all together everything just clicked into place. I mean they were brilliant. Meticulous, clever, ingenious, bold, arrogant, everything a crew should be. Well, you've heard the stories."

"They're just stories though aren't they." Lizzy scoffed.

"Yes and no. Some are of course. Certainly, Darcy's myth has been exaggerated. He has skills, no doubt, and a good brain for grifting, but it's his crew and a good slice of old-fashioned luck that makes him what he is. Anyway, when I saw him again I couldn't believe the transformation and I was so happy. Here was the friend I knew he was capable of being way back when, and more. I was excited, we all were. We got to know each other, worked a few trial runs together, and it was perfect. The chemistry, everything. This was it, my chance! I was going to have the world and I was going to have it with my friends."

"So, what went wrong?" Lizzy asked.

"Darcy. Our first big score, we took an art dealer for £250000. £250000! Can you imagine? Then it came time to divvy up the money. We'd agreed back at the start on an even split of all earnings, with 50k going into the pot for future work. So we were supposed to get £40000 each. Only Will wouldn't give it to us, any of us. He went back on the agreement, said he'd be taking care of the money and that we should just trust him. I remember being in the room when that conversation took place. Caroline put up some feeble defence, said we'd agreed something different, but she backed down. Richard never went against Will, and Charlie was too in awe of him. Seems like he still is. So, it was left to me. I did the work, I wanted to get paid. We had an agreement. We had a furious argument and we were truly awful to each other. I take my share of the blame here as well, I said some things I shouldn't have, but then again so did he. So he kicked me out. Told me to never come back again and then spread it about that I was a thief, essentially blacklisting me from anyone who matters in this game."

"What, he kicked you out of his crew and blacklisted you just because you asked for what was agreed on?" Lizzy said, shocked.

"Yes, he did. But it doesn't end there, and this is the part I am most ashamed of. When he kicked me out, I still had access to the bank account see, he didn't have time to change it. So I took my share, but I took Will's as well. I left the others alone, it wasn't their fault, but still I should never have done it. Whatever that man did to me, I should have been the bigger person."

"Why didn't you tell anyone?" Lizzy asked, incredulously. "People talk about him like he's God's fucking gift and all he is is a fucking cheat?"

"We're all cheats, Lizzy," George laughed. "We're grifters remember?"

"Still, there's a code!" Lizzy fumed.

"I didn't tell anyone for two reasons. First, because I still love the man. Whatever has happened, whatever he did, he was my brother once. We grifted together. Loyalty means something to me, unlike him. And secondly because of Georgiana…"

"Who's this Georgiana?" Lizzy asked, another question about to be answered.

"Georgiana is Will's sister," George revealed. "A sweet girl, or at least she used to be when I knew her. I got close to her when me and Will were still friends. She was so young when their parents died, nine years old….. Anyway, Will obviously became her legal guardian, a job he didn't exactly shine in. To be fair to him, he was twenty-one years old, he was grieving, he'd lost his Dad's casino to Catherine, not that he knew it at the time…."

"Catherine De Bourgh?" Lizzy questioned, shocked at the coincidence.

"Yeah, that's the one," George said in surprise. "You know her?"

"No, but her head of security at Rosings Park is a family friend, Billy Collins. He's around here somewhere, the slimy little shit…."

"Do you like anyone, Lizzy?" George teased her and she took it in her stride.

"Not really." she joked back.

"Fair enough. Anyway, yeah, Catherine got Will to sign over the deed to the casino, Pemberley, just after his parents died. A proper shark that woman, apparently said it was a distraction he didn't need while he was grieving and looking after Georgiana. In reality, of course, she just wanted the casino."

"Darcy said she was an old family friend," Lizzy stated, slightly confused. It didn't sound like a friendly relationship.

"Oh, he keeps up appearances. He runs Pemberley these days, under Catherine of course, but my guess is he's still pretty bitter about the whole thing. Rumour is he's marrying her daughter in exchange for ownership of Pemberley."

"He's getting married for a building?" Lizzy said in disgust. "God, he just gets worse."

"Don't be too hard on him," George sighed sadly. "I mean, he has been through a fair bit."

"People shouldn't use their past as an excuse," Lizzy grumbled. "Anyway, how the fuck do you stay so nice about him? He ruined your career!"

"He did," George nodded. "But there's no use in being angry about it. It's just the way the cards are dealt, as you've seen tonight."

"You had to bring that up didn't you?" Lizzy said, faux angrily. "So, his sister then…"

"Yes, of course. Georgiana was like a sister to me and truth be told I was more of a carer to her than Will ever was. I went to her school plays, I helped her with her homework while Will was out fucking or fighting or whatever he was doing. I still saw her when I moved away from Will's craziness, she liked the company of someone who wasn't employed to look after her I think. But obviously when me and Will fell out the second time he put an end to that as well. I haven't seen the girl for years."

"He just gets worse!" Lizzy threw her hands up, her mannerisms probably exaggerated because of the alcohol.

"That's the part I struggle with," George nodded. "You know, fuck my career and all that. In the end, she was more important to me and it broke my heart. Still does I suppose…"

Lizzy felt a wave of sympathy for him. She also felt a certain pride. Here was a man who had lost everything through no real fault of his own, yet refused to become bitter and twisted, refused to let it define him. A decent man who'd fell in with the wrong people and yes, made his own mistakes, but owned them thoroughly and attempted to move past it all.

"That poor girl as well, with him for a brother," Lizzy said sadly after a while. "Wonder how she turned out…."

George looked at her in surprise.

"What, you mean you don't know?"

"Know what?" she asked, brow furrowed.

George cast his eyes down.

"Georgiana Darcy is in prison."