Chapter Two: World Luxury Association
The three of them came eventually to their destination, the nondescript townhouse of Thomas and Frances Bennet. It was located in Shoreditch, a historically working-class area that had been slowly but surely gentrified over the years and was now known as the creative hub of London, full of all the pricks that came with that. Lizzy sneered at the café full of hipsters opposite the Bennet's front door. This was the problem with London these days. The ordinary had been pushed and pushed back to the outskirts of the city until they had to leave it completely. In their place came the young professionals, the dot commers, the marketing executives, the estate agents, the fucking Daddy's money performance artists. It was enough to make you sick. This gentrifying of the city was eroding what had been so special about London in the first place.
"Okay Lydia," Jane turned to the young brunette before she rang the doorbell. "Best behaviour from now on and you'll have a place to crash. And Lizzy, don't rise to it ok? Whatever she says, don't rise to it."
"Fine." both of them muttered. Truth was, Lizzy was unlikely to rise to any of Frances's disparaging comments anymore. There were times when they had hurt her more than she would care to admit, but these days she could just laugh them off. Frances was what she was. You had to see the funny side of that.
Jane rang the doorbell and the door was flung open almost immediately. It seemed that Frances didn't have much to do these days other than wait by the door.
"Darlings Jane and Lydia!" she pulled the two into a hug, before spying Lizzy over their shoulder. "And Lizzy too. How…. lovely."
"What no hug for me?" Lizzy smirked.
"Of course dear." Frances fake smiled at her before pulling her into a quick one-armed embrace.
"Sorry for just dropping by Mum." Lydia charmed, Lizzy rolling her eyes at the choice of address.
"Nonsense dear, you and your delightful sisters are always welcome here! Now come in, come in, your dear father just got me a new Warhol print and I'm dying to show it off."
Lizzy rolled her eyes again. Frances imagined herself as some kind of art connoisseur, but the truth was she knew absolutely nothing about it. She'd have been an ideal mark if she wasn't who she was. Lizzy didn't pretend to know much about art herself, Jane was the expert, but she knew before she saw the piece Frances wanted to show off that it would be a fake. Tommo didn't buy Warhol's. She was proved right as they walked into the living room where the painting was above the fireplace and Jane shot her a quick raise of the eyebrows. She had to hold back a laugh.
She zoned out of what Frances was saying as they sank onto the couches. Looked at Frances properly for the first time in a while. It was always disconcerting looking at the woman in her opinion. Difficult to describe, but it was like she was just off-beautiful, like her features were slightly distorted and her mannerisms awkward and wrong. A woman caught between dimensions.
She was still banging on about the Warhol. Lizzy had never got it. Didn't pretend to be an expert, but it seemed to her that the type of people who liked Warhol were the hipsters they were surrounded by, and Lizzy couldn't get on board with them.
"Anyway, I'm glad you all came to see me today. Looking so beautiful Jane and Lydia! Are you sure about that colour on you Lizzy?"
Lizzy raised an eyebrow as she looked at the 'beautiful' Lydia who was trying to hold back a laugh and was dressed in a crumpled plain black hoody, leggings, and ratty converses. And she was the one who got the fashion advice.
"You know me, Frances, beauty's all on the inside."
"Yes, but it wouldn't hurt for you to make a little effort would it?" Frances said snootily.
"Lydia told me you wanted to see us, Frances." Jane interrupted quickly, attempting to diffuse the situation before it was lit.
"Yes, yes. I did. However thanks to your useless father it seems you may well have wasted a trip."
"What do you mean?" Lizzy asked, leaning forward on the couch.
"Well," Frances began self-importantly, pouring herself a drink. It was 11 am. "Thanks to my numerous and well-connected sources, I discovered that a certain Mr Charles Bingley is about to set up base in this very city. Now, I hadn't heard of the gentleman in question, but when I heard he was staying in the penthouse suite at the Netherfield, I simply had to know more. Turns out he's a big deal, well-connected, and he's here on a recruiting mission. So, obviously, my thoughts turned straight away to our darling Jane here!"
"What do you mean?" Lizzy repeated, narrowing her eyes.
"Do I have to spell it out for you child? Charles Bingley is recruiting. Jane's a grifter…"
"You want me to join his crew." Jane stated quietly.
"Yes, yes!"
"But what about us, what about the Bennets?" Lydia piped up. Lizzy shot her a warning glance.
"Don't you see it girls?" Frances half shouted, standing up and walking around, gesturing animatedly. "This is our chance! Our chance to take this family where it belongs, right to the very top!"
This was typical Frances, Lizzy thought. She couldn't fault the ambition, couldn't fault the enthusiasm, and although she was mainly doing it for herself and her own glory, it was a plan that would undoubtedly benefit Jane as well. The problem was, she hadn't thought it through. If this crew was as high stakes as they were being made out to be then there was no way they would touch Jane or anyone like her with a barge pole. They were way too small time and inexperienced. She voiced these thoughts out loud, but what Frances said next stunned all three girls into silence.
"That's why she'd have to use her other um ….. charms …. to persuade him!"
"You want me to seduce him?" the normally mild-mannered Jane exploded. "You want me to fuck him until he lets me rob with him, is that it?"
"Jane!" Frances admonished, shocked. "Such vulgarity. I'd expect it from Lizzy, but not from you. Anyway, it doesn't matter now."
"And why do we have to thank Tommo for putting an end to your pimping?" Lizzy sneered, still not quite believing how this conversation had turned.
"I've told you before to not address your father in that manner. You and your nicknames. Bingley's having a cocktail party tonight in the West End, a sort of meet and greet thing with some of London's premium organisations. I had hoped to secure an invitation for at least Jane and Lizzy, but your father is too lazy to get off his arse and make the right connections to make this happen. One phone call to Lucas was all it would take but no, of course not. Silly me for thinking that useless prat would do anything."
"Why don't you just phone him yourself?" Lydia asked.
"Don't be ridiculous Lydia. How embarrassing." Frances dismissed.
"Oh well, all's well that ends!" Lizzy chimed up cheerfully, earning a dirty look from Frances. Jane was still seething in her seat, so Lizzy gritted her teeth and decided to voluntarily begin a conversation with Frances.
"There was another reason we came here today Mother." Lizzy began.
Frances narrowed her eyes.
"You never call me Mother Lizzy. If you want a favour, come straight out with it. Charm is not one of your strong points."
Lizzy laughed loudly.
"You may be right there Frances. Anyway, it's not for me, it's for Lydia here."
Frances' expression softened immediately. Lizzy sent Lydia a quick wink.
"It's just, she and Kitty have run into a few problems you see. They've been staying with Mary King but she keeps throwing these all-night parties and Lydia thinks there might even be drugs going around at them. Shocking isn't it?"
"Oh dear, oh dear, no, no we can't be having that." Frances said with a concerned expression. Out of the corner of her eye, Lizzy saw Lydia desperately biting her lip and Jane shaking with silent laughter.
"I'm glad you agree. It's not an environment they should be in see? Two innocent girls shouldn't have to go through that every night. And it makes it harder for them to work."
"Naturally." Frances agreed, nodding sagely.
"So, I was wondering if you knew anywhere they could maybe crash for a while. We've tried everyone we know, we even offered them our place, but they didn't want to be so far away from you."
God I'm good, Lizzy thought as Frances melted in front of her. The key with her was to always make it out as if what you wanted was her idea in the first place, that's why she hadn't asked outright. Butter her up, praise her, make her important, and get what you want.
"Well, of course they didn't want to be that far away from their Mother!" Frances exclaimed. "They'll stay with us, right here."
"No Mummy, we couldn't impose…." Lydia played her part.
"Nonsense, I'll hear no more of it! You will move in tonight! Let me just go and tell the maid."
Frances practically ran out of the room. After the door closed, they left it a few seconds before they all burst out laughing.
"You're a master craftsman Lizzy!" Jane exclaimed, wiping a tear from her eye.
"I'm just so glad I'm getting away from all the parties. And, oh god, the drugs!" Lydia mocked.
"We can't have that can we?" Lizzy chortled. "But seriously Lyds, this is last chance saloon now. We're not doing this for you again. You screw this up and you're on your own, okay? We won't be there to catch you every time you fall."
"You are so wrong." Lydia laughed loudly, not taking any of this seriously.
"I'm serious Lyds…"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Lydia dismissed. "You reckon Frances will get me some new clothes? These are looking a little worse for wear…"
"Don't push it," Lizzy sighed. "Right, wait here, I'm going to break it to Tommo."
"I'll come with." Lydia went to stand up before Jane pushed her back down.
"Trust me, this will be best coming from Lizzy. The news his peace and quiet is going to be disrupted by two teenagers isn't exactly what he wants to be hearing on a Friday afternoon. And he likes Lizzy more."
"Well, someone's got to." Lydia smirked.
Lizzy gave her the finger and stalked out of the room.
She found Thomas Bennet unsurprisingly in his study. He was sitting at the large bay window, looking out onto the street smoking his trademark roll-ups. He looked as disheveled as always, greying hair long and tangled, posture more bent than she remembered. She hadn't seen him in a few months which was a long time for them. He was a father figure to her, the man who saved her from the streets, and gave her friends and a purpose. Ok, so that purpose was a dishonest one, but still. He turned as she coughed lightly announcing herself and his bright eyes lit up when they rested on her.
"Lizzy, dear. It has been too long. Please sit down."
She did as was asked, taking a seat in front of his desk which was overflowing with papers. He moved so he was opposite her and they just smiled at each other for a moment.
"So, to what do I owe the pleasure?" he began warmly.
"When you find out, I'm pretty sure I'm going to go right down on your list of favourites."
"Oh dear. Well best to get it over with I suppose. No need to keep an old man waiting."
"Well see, um …. LydiaandKittyaremovingiinwithyou." she garbled.
"What was that dear? Something about Lydia and Kitty? They ok? Frances would be devastated if something happened to those silly girls."
Lizzy steeled herself.
"They're fine. And they're moving in with you."
Thomas clutched his heart and exaggeratedly winced.
"Lord, what have I done to deserve this?" he dramatically looked up to the skies.
"You married Frances." Lizzy said, slightly harsher than she intended.
He regarded her for a moment with amused eyes.
"You're right of course. It is something I must accept I suppose."
"You ok with it then? Lyds and Kitty moving in?" she asked, surprised. "There really was nowhere else…"
"Fine, fine. I already live with one ridiculous woman. Might as well make it three. They are family after all."
"They are." Lizzy nodded.
Thomas paused for a moment, stubbing his cigarette out in the ashtray. Ever since Lizzy had known him, he'd always been surrounded by a cloud of smoke, the constant smell of it clung to him. It made Lizzy feel oddly safe when she was around it.
"Now, I'm glad you dropped by, there is something else." Thomas stated.
"Go on."
"Has Frances spoken to you today of Charles Bingley?" he asked.
"Yeah, she had some god-awful plan centered around Jane seducing him or something, but she said you weren't interested." Lizzy narrowed her eyes.
"Of course I'm interested!" Thomas replied. "Not the Jane part, but the rest. Normally I wouldn't get excited about such things, but when the name Darcy crops up, well …."
"I don't see the big deal personally," Lizzy crossed her arms. "What's so special about him? I've heard a few of the stories, but still…"
"And you may well be right. He may well be nothing more than an average grifter. But still, if just 5% of the stories are true then I'm sure you'll agree he is someone worth meeting."
"So you've just been messing with Frances, me and Jane are going to this thing tonight? You want us to meet them?" Lizzy sighed.
"Oh no, no, no. We're all going. Lydia and Kitty too as well now, I'd imagine."
"You can't be serious!" Lizzy stood up. "Lydia, Kitty, and Frances, meeting this class of criminal? It'll be a disaster!"
"Well, if it is, at least we'll have had a good chuckle and a free buffet." Thomas chortled.
"I can't believe this shit Tommo …" Lizzy grumbled.
"Don't be so downcast kid," he grinned at her. "What Frances said earlier was partly true. This is an excellent opportunity for both you and Jane. A chance to network and get your names out there. I know you're tiring of our little organisation and I don't blame you for it. You two have the talent to go far in this business. If you can just reign in that careless streak …"
"What careless streak?" Lizzy said, offended.
"The one that got you both banged up last year!" Thomas reminded her. "I mean seriously, forgetting to back chain the alarm system? You've done that hundreds of times."
"And you have to keep reminding me. Ok, I fucked up then, I admit it."
"You did. And you can get away with it down here. But up there? If you want to be a real grifter Lizzy, if you want to play the long con, you can never be careless, you can never be a little slow, a little late. It'll get you killed, you understand? The stakes are that much higher. You've got to want it more than anything. Do you want it, Lizzy?"
Lizzy looked him dead in the eye without hesitation.
"I want it all."
"Okay then," Thomas smiled. "Let's go make my wife's day."