Chapter Thirteen: Bonneteau

"Miss Bennet."

"Darcy."

She held eye contact with him for longer than was probably appropriate. He was beautiful, there was no doubt about it. His hair was messier than she had remembered, grown out slightly, a few stray curls appearing. His stubble was pronounced and he was dressed in his normal suit attire that complemented him, she couldn't imagine him wearing anything else. His face seemed tired though, subtle dark rings were hanging off his eyes. Made her feel a flash of concern. She shook herself quickly in disgust. It was the problem with these types of people, the ridiculously good-looking ones. They always had that edge over normal people, however much of a prick they were they had still won life's lottery and could distract anyone with the results.

"What are you doing here?" she asked bluntly, not quite disguising the rudeness.

"I'm visiting my family, Miss Bennet." Darcy raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, right…."

"Miss Lucas, Mr Collins, good to see you again." Darcy finally broke her eye contact and greeted the others formally.

"Mr Darcy, I had no idea." Collins rushed forward to shake his hand, causing Darcy to wince slightly and Richard's smirk to become wider.

"Billy told me he had met you, but I had no idea you knew Miss Bennet and Miss Lucas, William." Catherine narrowed her eyes.

"Haven't you heard, Lady C?" Richard interrupted, full of mirth. "Will now goes by the name 'Picasso'….."

"Picasso?" Catherine snorted.

"I assure you, it is not a nickname I encourage," Darcy muttered.

"I should hope not," Catherine scorned. "It doesn't pay to mythologize your ridiculous games. Lord, if your mother and father could see what you are doing with their legacy…. Anyway, you were about to explain how you all know one another. I do not appreciate being kept in the dark."

"We all met in London, Aunt," Darcy explained as he kissed her on the cheek. "At one of Charles Bingley's parties."

"Charles Bingley, isn't that one of your ridiculous band of Robin Hoods?" Catherine said in a disapproving tone. She obviously didn't care for Darcy's career choices, making the warmth with which the old lady had greeted Darcy slightly surprising. This was clearly a complex relationship…

"Wouldn't really describe what we do as Robin Hoodesque," Richard laughed. "We have done very well for ourselves and rarely wake up in the woods. Although saying that, there was this one time in Bavaria when I took a load of LSD…"

"Enough, Richard," Darcy said firmly, but Lizzy saw the smile that was present on his face. It was a smile with a warmth that Lizzy hadn't really glimpsed before, changing his countenance remarkably to one that was almost pleasant. Richard held his hands up in apology and grinned back. Perhaps Darcy was capable of genuine human connection after all…

"Yes, enough, Richard," Catherine echoed. "I'm disappointed to hear that you are still involved with those sorts of people, William. Surely you have quite enough work at Pemberley to occupy your time?"

"Indeed I do." Darcy conceded in a monotone, shooting Lizzy a quick glance.

'….he's looking at you again. He does that quite a lot you know."

"Darcy's retired now, Aunt Catherine," Richard spoke up, it appeared he disliked being left out of conversations. "No more stealing from the rich and giving to …. well, himself."

"I'm glad to hear it. It's past time you two grew up."

Darcy nodded but said nothing, letting an awkward silence descend on the group. Lizzy shifted uncomfortably, not sure what to do next. It was as if they were intruding in some twisted family drama that they had no place in. Leave it to Billy then not to notice the tension.

"I'm delighted to see you again so soon, Mr Darcy!" he said in a slimy tone. "We had quite the good time in London did we not? And I hope you can forgive me outmanoeuvring you on the Poker table at the Netherfield!"

Darcy's eyes flashed briefly with what could either have been anger or amusement, Lizzy couldn't tell, but he just nodded again, conforming back to his silent-type rules.

"You must be quite the hotshot if you were able to take money off Darcy," Richard addressed Collins, but it was clear he was mocking him. "Hell of a poker player this man."

"I have my moments." Billy bowed, even Catherine looking like she might laugh at him.

"Who won that game in the end anyway?" Charlotte piped up for the first time. She appeared to be intimidated by the whole situation.

Lizzy looked at Darcy again, who was gazing intently back at her. Those eyes were sure intense, she shuddered.

"Um…."

"I believe it remains to be seen," Darcy said coolly.

Lizzy broke eye contact and saw Charlotte's furrowed brow out of the corner of her eye, eyes flicking between her and Darcy. Richard's smirk just grew wider and wider as the conversation continued. Lizzy had no idea what Darcy had meant with his words, they both knew who had won. That was supposed to be the end of it, supposed to be the last time she had to see this objectionable man. But here she fucking was, in Las Vegas of all places, face to face with him again. Why, God? Just why?

"Enough of all this," Catherine raised her voice, rudely. "William, you haven't even greeted Anne yet."

"Of course, my apologies." Darcy strode over to where Anne was sitting, quiet as a mouse. Lizzy saw her face light up as Darcy approached and also saw a genuine smile on his face as well. They greeted each other affectionately, like old friends would. Even caught Anne giving him a slight roll of the eyes directed towards Catherine. Interesting. Had she made yet another incorrect judgement? This place was throwing her off her game, she was entirely out of her comfort zone.

'Rumour is he's marrying her daughter in exchange for ownership of Pemberley.'

"Good," Catherine nodded at them approvingly. "Time for dinner, I think."

"Don't suppose we're actually having anything remotely edible this time?" Richard sighed, Catherine giving him a withering stare. "No, of course not…."

Dinner was as excruciating as Lizzy thought it would be, maybe even more so. Worst of all she was sat next to Darcy and his presence did nothing to help her relax. Of course, even if he wasn't there she wouldn't have been able to relax anyway due to Catherine's incessant questioning of her. Her ladyship appeared to have taken quite an interest in her for reasons that she could not fathom. She was just a short con player from North London, she was of no consequence to somebody like this. But apparently, she was.

"Let me get this straight," Catherine was reacting to Lizzy's revelation of what she did for a living. "You run around London with a gang of thugs taking people's money, and you call it a job?"

There had been no point in lying. Catherine knew what Darcy and Richard did for a living, she assumed that went for Cahrlotte's past as well.

"It's how I earn a living," Lizzy shrugged, not in the least bit ashamed. "And I wouldn't describe us as thugs at all."

"How would you describe yourself then, working-class heroes?" Catherine sneered sarcastically, aggressively stabbing into her chicken.

"Oh I would never be so deluded," Lizzy laughed. "But I only ever take money from people who a) can afford it, and b) deserve to be taken. It's all checks and balances see."

"No, I don't think I follow," Catherine said, sternly.

"I think what Miss Bennet is saying is that although what she does for a living is illegal by the laws of society, it is also in some ways a necessary counterbalance. Grifters should always live by a code, not only does it make us feel better about ourselves but it also ensures that we can actually do some good. Think about the first rule of the con: you can't cheat an honest man. It's what everything is built on, that one shining principle. If you are honest, if your character is pure, then there is no way you can be taken in by people like us. However, if someone is dishonest, if they want something for nothing, that's where we come in. Feed that greed and then take it all away from them. They learn a lesson and can hopefully realise that they need to be a more selfless human being."

Silence followed Darcy's words. Lizzy couldn't really have put it better herself. She saw Catherine's look of disapproval at her nephew's words, but she had expected nothing less. It surprised her that Catherine still had so much affection for Darcy, considering how she clearly thought he was wasting his time with the long con. She didn't get it. The tense silence was interrupted by Richard, who was sitting on her other side, slowly clapping.

"An excellent speech, Picasso…"

"Do not call me that." Darcy sighed wearily.

"Fine, an excellent speech, William! Of course, it was fucking bullshit, but anyway."

"You don't live by a code then, Richard?" Lizzy asked him.

"I'll take anyone's money if they're stupid enough to give it away!" he replied, jovially.

"He's joking," Darcy whispered to her, his hot breath on her neck.

"Yes I am, but…" Richard mused, suddenly serious. "I'm all for that code business in the main, indeed working with this morally superior wanker it has been a prerequisite. However, I do not think we should delude ourselves as to what we do. It's all very well saying that all we do is feed people's greed but at the end of the day, greed is a natural human state. Look at the people in this very casino now, playing the tables, wanting something for not very much at all. Can we say they are bad people, can we say they deserve to have their money taken from them just because they want something more out of life? No, I don't think we can. So, you have to be careful when making these sweeping generalisations, it's a case-by-case thing. Being able to tell the difference between the desperate, the hopeful and then the plain greedy, that is the key to keeping ourselves above the line."

Darcy nodded at him and smiled to himself. Lizzy found herself agreeing with his perceptions of grifting. Catherine on the other hand, just made a 'hmph' noise.

"I didn't know you were such a philosopher, Richard," Catherine said, dryly. "Do you agree with him, Miss Bennet?"

"For the most part," Lizzy nodded. "I am aware of the grey area we exist in."

"Billy says you have siblings?" Catherine changed track, throwing Lizzy slightly off balance. "Do they also make their living in such a dishonest way?"

"They do," Lizzy smirked. "I have many 'siblings' although we are not strictly family. We work together to achieve the same ends."

"Just how many of these 'siblings' do you have?"

"To be honest, there are too many to count!" Lizzy laughed. "Let me see, I have about six 'brothers' and eight or nine 'sisters'."

"Good heavens!" Catherine exclaimed. "That many?"

"I am only really close to a few of them," Lizzy explained. "I have two, well three sisters, one older and two younger, that I am most fond of and who I work mainly with. Billy and Darcy have both met them."

"Charming young ladies," Billy nodded, before catching the look on Catherine's face. "But of course, I in no way condone their actions…."

"Do you not try to dissuade the younger girls from following in your footsteps?" Catherine asked incredulously. "Do you not think you should encourage them to earn an honest living instead?"

"I think it would be quite hypocritical of me to do so," Lizzy pondered the question. "To say that they shouldn't be doing something when I myself am? No, I think it would probably have the opposite intended effect."

Catherine appraised her with those narrow slits. Lizzy held her gaze firmly, despite wanting to look away. She wouldn't admit defeat though. She really couldn't work this woman out, she was perhaps the most complicated puzzle Lizzy had ever attempted. She clearly didn't approve of grifting, yet she welcomed Darcy and put up with Richard's jokes, acted with superiority but spent all her time asking someone so clearly 'beneath' her like Lizzy questions, and Lizzy still couldn't tell if she was really so disapproving or if she found it all an amusing distraction.

"You do give your opinions freely, don't you, Miss Bennet?" Catherine observed, but again, the tone couldn't be placed. Was it a grudging respect, was it dislike? No idea.

"I am merely doing my best to be honest with you, Lady Catherine," Lizzy said, harking back to the conversation before Darcy had arrived.

"How old are you?" Catherine swerved again.

"I'm twenty-three, I think. Give or take a year either way."

"How can you not know how old you are?" Richard laughed.

Lizzy looked down in embarrassment. It wasn't her fault she had grown up in a group home, not her fault that no one there had had any idea past a name who she actually was. She had been abandoned so early on in her life and she had been so small apparently, that no one could actually work out anything about her. There were no medical records, no birth certificates, nothing behind a slip of paper with Elizabeth Walker scrawled on it. It probably wasn't even her name.

She looked up to see Darcy eyeing her with what she took to be pity. She hated that. He probably knew all about her of course, Caroline had after all vetted all the guests at Charlie's first party and they had probably gone deeper when it was clear they would be spending more time together. That was fine, an invasion of privacy sure, but she understood for people in their position it would have been a necessary precaution. Still, she didn't like it one bit.

"The chicken is delicious, Lady Catherine." Charlotte attempted to save her. Luckily it worked, and Catherine turned her attention to boasting about the five-starness of her hotel, leaving Lizzy mercifully alone for a while, feeling Darcy's side eye on her the whole time.

When dinner finally concluded, Lizzy was hoping that they could make a great escape as quickly as possible. Maybe they could go down and have a flutter on some of the tables, she was feeling the need to let off some steam. However, her hopes were dashed when it became apparent that they were expected to stay and provide more entertainment for her ladyship.

The evening was continuing on in the same boring vein. One thing of note though, when Lizzy went to the bathroom earlier she had caught Darcy and Anne just outside having a whispered conversation. It all seemed very intense for the few seconds her presence wasn't noticed, she couldn't work anything of what they were saying out but it seemed important. Darcy noticed her first and shut down, giving her a nod and going back into the main room, Anne trailing behind him. Probably discussing their nuptials, or how to get out of it, Lizzy snorted. It had become clear at dinner that Catherine was fully expecting a union between the two very soon. From what Lizzy had observed, it was unlikely. They were friendly enough and Anne certainly seemed to be fonder of Darcy than anyone else, but it clearly wasn't romantic. Mind you, what did she know?

She managed to isolate herself slightly when she went back, after a brief conversation with Anne. She seemed like a nice enough girl, a little wet, but hardly surprising. In a development Lizzy hadn't seen coming, it turned out Anne was a lawyer behind the scenes at Rosings. Would not have guessed it. Once Anne had been called back to her mother's side, Lizzy amused herself with a pack of cards she had in her bag, bought from the casino shop when she had first arrived. Span them round her fingers lazily, cutting the pack and reassembling it in different ways. It was relaxing and she enjoyed getting lost in the languid movements. Her peace could not last long.

"Elizabeth," Lady Catherine called her, beckoning her over to her throne where she was being attended to by Darcy and Anne. "Do you do any card tricks? I've grown quite bored of all the magicians in Vegas, same old thing every time."

Lizzy suppressed a roll of the eyes.

"I know a few, but I am sure they are nowhere near the quality level you are used to." she attempted to wriggle out.

"Oh nonsense," Catherine dismissed. "Come, child, entertain me."

Lizzy groaned silently and began her admittedly very limited range of tricks. Guess the card, disappear it into your shoe, that kind of tourist-baiting shite. She'd never liked card tricks anyway, found it to be mostly a waste of time and effort, but over the years she had picked up a few. Catherine watched on with a stony face as Lizzy reverted to the Three Card Monte, the old classic that every grifter learnt off the bat.

"Ok, so you just have to find the lady," Lizzy explained, laying three cards face up on the table in a line. Two jacks and a queen. Flipped them over so they were face down and began to lift them up two at a time, shuffling them across the line. It was a simple trick, relying wholly on sleight of hand and misdirection The mark, in this case, Catherine, thought they could follow the movements easily, but the key was to pick two cards up at a time in one hand, Jack and Queen. The mark thought that you were tossing the bottom card of the two, but in reality, you could toss either, causing the mark to follow the wrong card. Catherine was vaguely amused by it and indeed won a couple of times.

"You need to practice more, Miss Bennet," she smirked after her latest correct guess.

Luckily, Catherine soon tired and began ignoring Lizzy's efforts, calling Collins over instead. Lizzy quietly slipped away, back to her corner of the sofa, still practising the Monte.

She felt Darcy's presence lingering and grew bored when he didn't say anything.

"Do you mean to throw me off my game, Darcy?" she looked up at him, eyes not on the cards but still doing the trick perfectly. "By now you must know that it will really just encourage me."

"Yes, I am aware," Darcy replied with a slight laugh.

"You want to see if you can beat me?" she asked, unsure why she was continuing a conversation with a man she really didn't like. "Tell you what, I'll even turn the corner of the queen up for you like this. You can't lose."

Darcy merely smiled.

"Miss Bennet, I grew up in a casino. I grew up with grifters. Do you really think that I do not know that the Monte is impossible to win? Unless of course, the grifter lets the mark win, like you just did with my Aunt…"

"Reckon she noticed?"

"Course not," he scoffed. "It is unthinkable to Catherine that she is not the smartest person in the room."

"What you're saying is I'm smarter than your Aunt then?" Lizzy grinned.

"At some things I am sure," Darcy smiled before his expression turned serious. "In other aspects, I will reserve judgment until I am in possession of the facts."

"Is that a dig, Darcy?" Lizzy clutched her heart in mock hurt.

"Should it be?" he countered. "If you think….."

"Piiiiiccccccccccaaaaaaasssssssssoooooooo!" Richard appeared from nowhere, shouting in his cousin's ear before promptly howling with laughter. Catherine gave him a weary stare before turning back to Collins and Charlotte. By the glazed expression on Charlotte's face, Lizzy guessed they were talking about work.

"Was that really necessary, Richard?" Darcy sighed, rubbing his ear.

"Ah, lighten up, cousin!" Richard chuckled. "Just trying to get some fucking energy in the room! Jesus, I had more fun at Snake Eyes funeral."

"Yes, you certainly did," Darcy drawled. "I'm sure his bereaved family were delighted by your gift of five grams of speed…."

"It's what he would have wanted!" Richard laughed, Lizzy joining in. He was a character alright. Again, not in the same way as Charlie was, but still the complete opposite of Darcy. Fun, obviously wild, with a habit of recreational drug use and alcohol abuse? How were these two friends? And, God only knows what Caroline thought of him…..

"So, Lizzy, may I call you Lizzy?" Richard addressed her, not waiting for a response. "I must say, I was impressed with how you handled Lady C tonight. Even Darcy here is frightened of her."

"No, I'm not," Darcy replied churlishly and unconvincingly.

"Yes, you are. With good reason as well. She's fucking feral, you know, in that way old English ladies often are."

Lizzy laughed at his description, agreeing wholeheartedly.

"So, you met my cousin here in London?" Richard probed, half a smirk on his face. "Tell me, how bad was he? Don't worry, you can tell me."

The last part was said in a mock whisper, Richard obviously took great pleasure in teasing Darcy. And here Lizzy thought was a man who couldn't be teased…..

"It was quite dreadful, Richard," Lizzy whispered back. "You know, the first night I met him, he didn't talk to anyone at all outside of his friends, despite the fact that everyone was so keen to meet the great Picasso himself….."

Richard laughed loudly and Darcy frowned.

"I do not do well in social settings." Darcy attempted to defend himself.

"Makes me wonder just how good a grifter you can be then," Lizzy said lightly, Richard shaking with silent laughter. "I mean, isn't it pretty much the basic skill, to be able to recommend yourself to strangers?"

"That is different," Darcy said in a strained voice. "When I am playing a score, I am playing a character. Unfortunately, when I am being myself, I find it a lot harder."

"That's because you're a prick." Richard nodded, seriously.

"Yes, thank you, Richard." Darcy sighed.

"As your Aunt just kindly recommended to me, you should practice more, Darcy," Lizzy smirked at him. "You never know, one day we might find a personality in there somewhere…."

Richard howled with laughter again, slapping Darcy on the back.

"Oh, I can see why you like this one!" he choked before Darcy shot him a quick glare. Richard just smirked. Lizzy was confused by the comment. She and Darcy obviously shared a mutual dislike.

"Anyway, tell me more," Richard leant into Lizzy, causing Darcy to frown. "Did you meet the Bouzid's as well?"

"You mean Charlie and Caroline?" Lizzy clarified.

"Yes, I suppose you know them as Bingley."

"I did. They were….. Nice?" she said it like the opinion offered was more a question.

"First time anyone's described Caro as nice," Richard smirked. "Tell you what though, I'm actually missing the stuck-up bitch. Damn you, Darcy, do you have any idea how badly your retirement decision is affecting my social life? Not to mention my fucking bank balance…."

"Why weren't you in London with them then, Richard?" Lizzy asked. "Why weren't you part of Charlie's supposed new crew?"

"When I say I miss Caroline, it's in the sense that I miss her when she's not there. When I'm actually with her, I realise that I would rather be anywhere else in the world! They asked me to join up with them of course, but I fear that without Darcy here I would grow quite tired of the two of them. Don't get me wrong, I love them to death, but Charlie's relentless positivity and Caro's…. personality… would eventually wear me down to the bone." Richard explained with a chuckle.

"What happened with that anyway?" Lizzy began cautiously, wanting to finally find some answers. "You all disappeared very quickly, Darcy…."

"My work was done," he replied stiffly. "I needed to get back to Pemberley."

"And Charlie and Caroline? They have second thoughts about London?"

Lizzy was careful to notice the way Darcy reacted to her questions. He seemed the epitome of casual and indifferent, but Lizzy thought it was all too considered, it was all a performance.

"I haven't spoken to them in a while," Darcy said slowly. "From what I gather, they were concerned about the police attention they were attracting and Charlie got offered a very lucrative opportunity somewhere else. It was all about timing."

"Selling the Sydney Opera House, isn't he?" Richard cut in. "He's trying to top you, Will!"

"You know, my sister, Jane, you remember her? She went up to see Caroline the other week…."

"I don't know anything about that," Darcy said quickly. Way too quickly. Lizzy noticed that Richard's smile had become forced and the two friends were purposefully avoiding each other's eyes. Before she could follow up, however, Catherine's voice echoed over.

"William, Richard! Stop ignoring your Aunt!"

With a roll of Darcy's eyes and a snort from Richard, they were gone, leaving Lizzy pondering the conversation.

Something was off. Something wasn't right. The answers were close, shapes in the haze, not yet fully formed, but definitely there. Went back to the question from all those months ago, the question she had pretended to stop caring about but had now promptly proven she just couldn't.

Who the hell was Will Darcy?

And what the fuck was he up to?