Chapter Five: Big Store
"No! Absolutely not. One hundred fucking percent no Jane!"
"But, Lizzy," Jane whined. "I can't go on my own!"
"I have other plans."
"I know for a fact that you don't seeing as George cancelled on you. I've been meaning to talk to you about him anyway, Charlie won't say much about him but from what I can gather there isn't much love lost between them…"
"And I suppose that can only be George's fault, yeah?" Lizzy replied, slightly annoyed.
Ok, so George had cancelled on her, sending a message through Lydia seeing as he hadn't got her number when they had met. But that didn't mean he was an awful person. Plans change all the time.
Anyway, the current argument was over Lizzy's refusal to go to Charlie Bingley's suite at the Netherfield for 'cocktails and nibbles' as Caroline had apparently described it. Lizzy could think of nothing that sounded less appealing. Charlie and Jane had hung out a fair bit this week, indeed when they all had dinner together on the day they met George, they had only really spoken to each other. It was clear that Charlie was smitten with her friend, and that the feeling was pretty mutual. She was happy for Jane, she really was, but she couldn't face an afternoon spent in that company. Charlie was alright, a little too earnest for her liking but he seemed a decent sort, but the others? Caroline was ok in short bursts but it was clear that she thought herself better than pretty much everyone else and it grated on Lizzy. And Darcy, fucking Darcy. She'd never met a man so up himself in all her life. She had seen him twice more this week, only briefly, but enough. He was so superior, so patronising to everyone around him. She hated him.
"Whatever," Jane was saying. "Look, please come, just for an hour! I can't go alone, it's embarrassing!"
"Take Lydia." Lizzy offered.
"Are you kidding me?" Jane said, incredulous. "Lydia with that lot!"
"They're no better than her, however they may act." Lizzy stated angrily.
"I'm not saying they are Lizzy, but come on! You were the one who didn't want Lydia at that first party. You know what she's like…."
"Ok, I admit, it's not the best idea to take her. But why does it have to me?"
"Because you're my best friend and you owe me one." Jane said slyly.
"No, no, no!" Lizzy jumped up. "You promised you'd never do that!"
"Do what?" Jane questioned sweetly, the picture of innocence.
"You know what." Lizzy sneered.
"I don't know what you mean," Jane snickered. "Get ready, we're going in an hour."
Lizzy threw a cushion at her and stormed out to her room. Jane would always have the fact that Lizzy got them both locked up over her.
It hadn't even been her fault really. Well, not completely. Her and Jane didn't do too many burglaries, but this one had been too good to miss. Tommo had got the info for them, the location in Kensington, and the name of the security firm so they could know what they were up against. It was supposed to be an easy score, five figures. Lizzy was acting as the fixer taking care of the alarms, rerouting the CCTV and making sure Jane had an exit. Jane was going in, it would take her about seven minutes. And everything had gone smoothly until the final two. What Lizzy hadn't realised was that the security had been upgraded just two days before and that even the third-floor windows, where Jane planned to make her escape from, were motion-sensored. Lizzy hadn't back chained, hadn't gone through the system when they set up. She thought there was no need, she thought she knew exactly what they were up against. It was a schoolboy mistake, one that she should never have made. Jane tripped the alarm and they were done. It took the in-house security seconds to get Jane and then about a minute for them to trace Lizzy's server hack to the empty house across the street. She didn't even try to run.
They got a year suspended with probation.
And right now, that seemed the better consequence than seeing Will Darcy again.
Her mood only worsened in the cab ride over to Bingley's when her phone rang and the screen identified it as Frances. She thought about letting Jane answer, but it would be too obvious that she was trying to avoid talking to her if she did that.
"Hello." she sighed.
"Hello Lizzy, darling! How are you today!"
"Fine." Lizzy replied with suspicion. Frances was never nice to her.
"Excellent, excellent. What are you up to today then?"
"Me and Jane are going to Charles Bingley's hotel for a party."
"Great news!" Frances shrieked. "Make sure Jane's looking extra beautiful! She is doing very well for this family!"
"I think she's doing it for herself Frances," Lizzy said in a monotone. "Not for your games."
"Well, of course she is! It just happens to be a very prudent match for her. Mark my words, Lizzy, Jane will be in the big leagues before the month is out, and we will never have to worry again!"
"Whatever," Lizzy groaned. "So, why are you calling me anyway."
"Ah yes. Never let it be said that I favour one daughter over the other. I think I've come up with something equally as promising for yourself Lizzy."
"Oh God …"
"Yes! I knew you'd be excited. And grateful too I would imagine," Frances continued obliviously. "See, your father has had a phone call from a certain Billy Collins, the son of Raymond Collins, you remember him?"
"You mean the eye patch guy?" Lizzy reached into her memory.
"Don't be so insensitive Lizzy. It's not his fault he only had one eye."
"It was, he got caught shagging Donnie Aces wife, didn't he? And we all know how he liked to play with knives…."
"Besides the point," Frances coughed. "Anyway, Raymond was a dear friend of your father, it really affected him when he died. They were like brothers when they were younger."
"Can we just get to the point Frances," Lizzy rolled her eyes at Jane. "We're gonna be at Netherfield in about a minute."
"Yes, yes, can't keep you from that," Frances crowed. "Billy Collins has been living out in Vegas see, working for an extremely big hitter over there, De Burg, De Bourgh, something like that, and he's coming to London on business. He grew up hearing the stories about his father and yours and he asked us if instead of getting a hotel he could stay with us for a couple of weeks. So as you see, this is another great opportunity! Fate is dealing us the right cards this month Lizzy, oh yes it is! So he's arriving tomorrow and I want you and Jane, but mostly you, to be here for dinner at about seven o'clock! Ok, tara now!"
"Frances … FRANCES!" Lizzy shouted down the cut-off phone. "Fucking bitch!"
"What's she up to now." Jane laughed.
"Since she thinks she succeeded in setting you up with a rich boy she's found one for me as well. You remember eye patch guy? Yeah, his son. Works for someone called De Bourgh out in Vegas."
"Never heard of her, I'll ask Charlie…"
"Don't. I have no plans to go along with her ridiculous schemes. But we do have to go to dinner at their place tomorrow night, it's not worth pissing her off by not showing up."
"The Netherfield, love." the taxi driver threw over his shoulder, pulling up outside the grand building, one of London's premier hotels. Bingley must have an awful lot of money behind him.
"How about we just turn around and go home?" Lizzy moaned. "It's not too late."
"Shouldn't complain, love," the driver grinned at her through his mirror. "Most people would kill to be coming to a party in a place like this…"
"You ever met any rich people mate," Lizzy replied. "Pricks, the lot of them."
"Come on." Jane laughed, handing over the money to the driver and pushing her out the door.
Lizzy reluctantly got out of the cab and took in her surroundings. The fucking Netherfield, she thought. Who'd have thought she'd end up here? Just a few years ago she was living on the streets with no family, no one she could call on at all. And now? Well, the thought brought little comfort. She glanced across the road to see a bar opening for the lunchtime crowd. Saw a last-ditch opportunity for an escape.
"You go on Jane, I'll follow in a sec."
"Oh no you don't." Jane followed her gaze to the bar, grabbing her arm to prevent her escape.
"I just need to have a quick cigarette." Lizzy tried.
"You don't smoke."
"Tie my shoelace?" she tried again.
"You're wearing straps."
"Make poverty history?"
"I think that one may be beyond even your capabilities Lizzy." Jane laughed, marching her towards the entrance.
"The deaths of thousands are on you, Jane!" Lizzy shouted, drawing a few curious glances from the street.
Jane laughed again, pushing her through the door that was opened for them, and they walked into the belly of the beast.
"So I said, 'Louise darling, that's not real Gucci!'" Caroline finished her story to the sound of fake laughter.
Lizzy bit back a groan as she took another sip of her Long Island, wincing slightly due to the strength. Don't get her wrong, she could drink most folks under the table, often did especially in her younger days, but these cocktails were unfamiliar. All made by a professional, all with the finest liquor and probably double the strength you'd find in the average bar that Lizzy would be seen in.
It was going as badly as she'd expected. The one saving grace was that she had managed to avoid Darcy so far, not that it took much effort. She'd only glimpsed him twice and it wasn't like there were many people here in the first place. Very exclusive, Caroline had whispered to her conspiratorially when they had arrived. In some ways, she was surprised at the scene in front of her, in other ways not at all. Ok, so Bingley and his lot were criminals, but it was clear that they existed in a much more grey area than the Bennets did. Here there were grifters yes, but also lawyers and businessmen, doctors and the odd politician, even a Detective Chief Inspector. Good to see the MET was still as corrupt as ever, she laughed to herself. These were the kind of connections that money bought, and Bingley obviously had a lot of it. Or at least Darcy did. She was beginning to suspect that he was perhaps more involved with Bingley than he was admitting. Because as much as she liked Charlie, she got the impression that he wasn't the best organiser. Caroline had droned on and on about how she had arranged the whole event exactly to her tastes, and it appeared that Charlie didn't know any of these people at all, constantly being introduced by others he'd just met. Of course, he charmed them instantly, it was easy to see how he could be a potent grifter, but if she was speculating she'd say they were mostly here due to Darcy.
The same Darcy who was doing his best to avoid the lot of them.
Again, it bothered her. The more she came into his sphere, the more confused she got about just how this man was the legendary con artist they had all heard so much about. Surely he must be an impostor, she caught herself thinking. She'd met her fair share of good grifters and none of them were as closed off as Darcy, or at least, they didn't let it show. Confidence tricksters. Confidence men. Confidence. Not aloof indifference.
"I must say, Lizzy, your outfit is …. Interesting," Caroline graced her with attention. "Very urban."
By the way she'd said it and the titters it resulted in, you'd think she was wearing a tracksuit and snapback instead of the jeans and shirt combo.
"Thank you, Caroline," she said through gritted teeth. "I put on my best Reebok classics just for you. Excuse me, I need to go and find Jane."
She turned around quickly to avoid the looks of the other guests, but her luck had run out. She turned straight into a hard body and it was only luck that stopped her drink from spilling all over…..oh great, fucking Darcy. It was funny though, she swore she saw the ghost of a smile on his face as he looked down on her. He was very tall, she thought.
"Sorry." she muttered, moving past him after getting no response. Typical.
Her eyes scanned the room looking for Jane. She was going to make her escape, she'd stayed way over an hour and couldn't handle it any longer. She'd last left her talking to Charlie, obviously, but hadn't seen her for about 45 minutes. Charlie was just over there talking to some suit, but Jane was not with him. Looked around the whole room and came up bust. The last place to check was the balcony.
She knew Jane was drunk as soon as she stepped out into the summer heat and saw her leaning precariously on some weird tall plant thing. In all her self-indulgence she had forgotten what a lightweight Jane truly was. Jesus, two beers were normally enough for her to start swaying, God knows what those cocktails could do to her…. Well actually, it was quite evident as she looked at the sight in front of her.
"For fuck sake, Janey, how many do you have?" Lizzy ran over to her, guiding her onto an outside sofa with views over the magnificent sprawl.
"Three, I think," Jane slurred out. "I feel sick."
"Not here Jane!" Lizzy groaned. "You know where we are?"
"Of course I fucking do!" Jane shouted loudly, Lizzy hushing her and casting a furtive look inside to make sure no one had heard. "Oh, God, this is so embarrassing! What will Charlie think of me? Some fucking pisshead? You have to get me out of here Lizzy!"
"Unless you want to abseil down, the only way out is back through that lot. You think you can hold it together?"
"Yes, yes," Jane attempted to stand before promptly falling back down on top of Lizzy. "Or maybe no…."
She couldn't help but laugh. Jane drunk was always funny. She distinctly remembered one incident when Jane was declaring herself in love with some poet after a bottle of wine at an awful bohemian squat party. That had been both hilarious and excruciatingly embarrassing.
"Ok, ok, let's think." Lizzy got down to business.
"He can't see my like this Lizzy! I actually like the guy, like really like him. He's got such good hair and skin and teeth and…."
"Yeah alright." Lizzy interrupted with a laugh.
"And Caroline! She'll think I'm a complete idiot!"
Lizzy bit back the who cares retort as she could see Jane was in distress. She couldn't really see a way out though. The party was dying down a bit, but they'd never make it to the door unscathed, no way Charlie would allow it. She was surprised he hadn't already come looking for her, it could only be a matter of time.
"I don't know how to get out of this one, Jane." Lizzy admitted to a groan.
"I'm gonna be sick."
And just as Jane was vomiting into a plant pot, the door opened and Will Darcy stepped out onto the balcony.
He looked disgusted. He sighed before reaching into his pocket and producing a pack of cigarettes, taking one out and lighting it. He exhaled a stream of smoke onto the city in front of him.
"They'll kill you, you know." Lizzy said, attempting to deflect his gaze away from the mess that was Jane and onto her.
"That is what it says on the packet." he said stiffly, his eyes still looking at Jane with both disgust and a hint of concern.
"Why smoke them then?" Lizzy tried again, finally being rewarded with a cursory glance.
"Why do we do anything that is bad for us? I think the more pressing concern is what Miss Bennet is doing to my Topiary."
"She thought they needed watering." Lizzy said dryly.
Again, she caught the slightest ghost of a smile before it was replaced with a tight frown. Watched him shake his head and take another drag, and noticed how he blew the smoke out away from her. Jane managed to look up at the new arrival, muttering out what could have been an apology before her head dropped again. Lizzy pulled her hair back and rubbed her back.
"My sister is just a bit unwell Mr Darcy…" she began.
"Unwell or just drunk?" he asked scathingly and Lizzy knew there was no point in lying.
"She's not a good drinker, never has been. Look, I need to get her out of here without anyone seeing her. She'd be mortified if anyone else saw her like this. She hardly ever drinks."
Lizzy hated to plead, especially to this man, but needs must. Darcy sighed again, flicking his half-finished cigarette over the balcony.
"She is in no state to leave." he said flatly.
"She can't go back out there! Caroline will destroy her!"
"Caroline is one of my best friends," he said, a warning in his tone. "Do not presume to know her."
Lizzy bit back a laugh. She knew exactly who Caroline was, an uptight, privileged snob.
Darcy pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Ok, fine. We'll put her in the guest suite and tell everyone that she's ill, ok? She can stay here tonight and you can come get her tomorrow. I'm sure Charlie will take care of her…."
"No, we have to go home!"
"Out of the question. If you get a cab she'll throw up in it and it'll cost you a fortune, and I'm certainly not risking my Merc. She needs to stay here Miss Bennet."
"Walker. My name's Elizabeth Walker." she corrected, not knowing why. She never had a problem with people calling her Bennet before.
"That does not change the fact that she is not fit to go anywhere. Look there's a side door at the end of the balcony, we can sneak her in and then go back and I'll tell Charlie that she's ill and will be staying."
"I'm staying with her." Lizzy asserted, again the words were out before she properly processed them. Why had she said that? Of course, under most circumstances she'd never leave Jane like this, but in this situation? With the prospect of a whole evening with Darcy and Caroline awaiting her? She was ashamed to say she'd leave a man behind.
"Very well," Darcy sighed before going over to Jane. "Miss Bennet? Are you finished destroying the shrubbery? I'm going to lift you up now, ok?"
He lifted her over his shoulder and carried her through the doors at the end, Lizzy trailing behind wondering how it had all gone so wrong.