Chapter Ten: Sucker

"Elizabeth, may I have a quick word…."

Lizzy shut her eyes tightly before turning round to face Billy Collins. She had a feeling the conversation she had delayed and dodged for weeks had finally come for her.

It was the day after the poker game at Netherfield and Lizzy had awoke fresher and lighter than she had for a while thanks to her epiphany at the card table. The realisation that she had spent way too long thinking and worrying about Darcy and what his friends thought of her both made her feel disgusted with herself for letting such trivial things get to her and pleased with herself that she had been able to eventually recognise it for what it was and try to change it. She had been in a foul mood ever since they had arrived, she'd been horrible to her friends, self-righteous with those police officers, who incidentally were still harassing Jane slightly, and had all in all been a bit of a bitch. She knew that snaky side was in her character, but it was when it tipped from friendly piss-taking to outright nastiness that she knew she was going wrong. She couldn't blame it all on Darcy; she had to take her share, but he and Caroline had inspired it in her. Enough was enough now. She'd go back to being the real her. She was attempting to build some bridges with Frances and Tommo today, so she was at the townhouse. Unfortunately that had given Collins the perfect opportunity to get her alone, with the aid of Frances. Really should have seen that one coming….

Darcy and that lot would be leaving about now, she thought as she checked her watch, another delaying tactic to avoid Billy. Darcy was going back to Pemberley, back to Edinburgh, and wouldn't return, his job was done. Charlie and Caroline were going back home to Manchester for a week or two, indeed Caroline had made noises about her perhaps staying up there permanently. That struck her as slightly odd, I mean someone like Caro would surely look down on the North West in comparison to the bright lights of London, but there you go, she wasn't going to complain. Charlie insisted he would be back as soon as possible and it was pretty much a done deal that he and Jane would become official when he returned. Jane had confided to Lizzy that if she was offered a spot in his new crew she would turn it down. Lizzy had reacted incredulously at first, I mean what an opportunity, but Jane had made sense, saying that she wasn't in it for that, she just wanted to be with him without any other pressure. Lizzy was delighted for her. Her sister was in love…..

"Elizabeth?"

Crashing down to earth.

"Yes, Billy, what can I do for you?" she asked, turning around to face his sweaty countenance.

"Well, you see um…" he stuttered. "I um, let's say… um, I leave for Vegas in a couple of days. My business here is all but done, all the instructions have been given. No need for me to stay any longer away from her ladyship. Um.. But you see um…. I have been most impressed with you and I would like to repay the kindness your sweet family has shown me. I know we discussed one of Mr Bennet's daughters taking up a position at Rosings, underneath me of course, and I am delighted to say I have chosen you for the job! It will be hard work but you will be given extensive training by myself so you can match Lady Catherine's high standards. I took the liberty of booking your plane ticket, we leave from Heathrow in two days!"

A couple of days ago, Lizzy would have been furious, would have mocked him completely, would have found insults hidden in every syllable. But now, she just felt a little sorry for the man. She didn't like him, but he was just a bit pathetic, lonely, obsessive, weird, ultimately harmless and it was even a little sweet of him to offer her this opportunity. Of course, she had no intention of taking him up on it, she wouldn't work for him as a fucking PA for any money in the world. But she would let him down gently, he was owed at least that.

"Vegas? It's certainly a tempting offer, Billy, and you honour me with it, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to decline. I cannot be so far away from my family and I'm not sure I'm suited for the role of PA…"

"Nonsense, Lizzy!" Collins laughed, not in the slightest bit put out. "We'll have to iron out some of your more um street tendencies, and you will have to stop all this silly short con business, but your family can come and visit whenever they like…"

"I'm sorry, Billy." Lizzy tried again.

"Oh, I see what you're doing," Billy smiled. "The old playing hard-to-get routine, eh? I know what you women are like, and I know what grifters are like as well. Trying to make sure you get the best deal, aren't you? Smart, very smart, what drew me to you in the first place. Smart indeed. The position comes with its own fully paid-for lodgings just a stone's throw away from my own place, it's not as big of course, but it is a very generous space. The salary is impressive, you will not find a better deal out there. Now, I'll show you the contract I've drafted…"

"ENOUGH!" Lizzy finally lost her cool, before quickly reigning herself back in, remembering what she had told herself earlier. "It is such a generous offer, Billy, and I'm truly sorry to disappoint you, but it's just not for me I'm afraid. I assure you, you'd regret giving me the job within a couple of weeks and then where would we be? Both of us would be unhappy, and that's not right, is it?"

"But… do you realise the opportunity you are being presented with?" Billy stammered, incredulously. "A chance to get out of the game you are in, a chance to make an honest and lucrative living in Las Vegas! Vegas itself!"

"I know, Billy," she touched his arm gently. "It is with a heavy heart that I refuse. I hope we can still be friends."

With that she rushed out of the room, ignoring his calls. She ran out onto the street, keen to get as far away as possible. Put her hood up and began to walk quickly down the street, but she wasn't going to get away that easy…

"ELIZABETH BENNET, GET BACK HERE THIS INSTANT!" Frances screamed from behind her, drawing the attention of the people sitting outside the cafés who looked on in surprise quickly turning into slight amusement at the sight of Frances tottering down the street.

Lizzy sighed and turned around, ready to face the music, ready to argue back if necessary. This was her life. Hers.

"Just what are you playing at, young lady?" Frances hissed at her, grabbing onto her arm. "Do you realise how hard I've worked to get you this opportunity?"

"I'm sorry Mum, but I can't work for him," Lizzy wrenched her arm free. "You know me as well as anyone, surely you know it's not me. Besides, I'd be fucking useless as a PA."

"You'll learn Lizzy," Frances dismissed. "It's time for you to grow up, child. Do you want to be like Charlotte Lucas, still running short cons into your late twenties and thirties?"

"I will not go," Lizzy repeated.

"For God's sake, Lizzy," Frances threw her arms up in the air. "I give up with you, I really do. You've always been trouble from the moment Jane took you in. I have no idea why your father holds you in such regard. You are stubborn, ignorant, arrogant, so sure of yourself, and for what reason? What have you actually achieved with us, achieved in life, Elizabeth? Oh, I dare say you can work the Monte as well as anyone in the family, can work the Pigeon without compare, but in the important stuff? With that, you have made no progress whatsoever in either action or attitude. Do you understand what you are being offered here, child? Maybe I don't give you enough credit, in fact I'm sure you do understand. But still you stand here throwing it all back in my face, all the years I've looked out for you, tried to help you…"

"STOP!" Lizzy shouted, tears springing freely. "You've never fucking tried, Frances. You've always hated me, always criticised me, always found the worst in me. And you've never been afraid to express it, have you? Well, I'm sorry I'm not Jane, sorry I'm not Lydia and Kitty, sorry I don't match up to your expectations…"

"I took you in!" Frances shouted. "You'd be nowhere without me, still on the streets. And this is the thanks I get!"

"Fuck off!" Lizzy screamed, they were causing quite the scene.

"No, Lizzy, you fuck off. If you don't reconsider what Billy is offering, you will never set foot in my house again, do you understand? You will not be welcome to use our name anymore. Elizabeth Walker…."

"Frances, go inside please." the voice of Tommo spoke up as he strode towards them, an uncharacteristically serious expression on his face.

"Thomas, darling, do you know what she has done!" Frances cried.

"I am aware. Now go inside, I want to speak to my daughter alone."

"But, darling…"

"GO, NOW!" Tommo exploded, it was the first time Lizzy had ever seen him shout before. It was imposing and caused Frances to hurry off inside. Lizzy wiped her eyes on her sleeve. She had vowed years ago that she wouldn't allow Frances to make her cry ever again, but she had failed. Frances had cut her to the bone. They'd never got on, but Lizzy still loved the woman, she was the only mother she'd ever known despite her faults. And to hear those words coming from her mouth …. well it made her feel smaller than ever. Gone was the tough Lizzy, she was stripped down, shrunken, and now she was that scared child that Jane had found slumped in a shop doorway all alone….

"Oh, Lizzy…" Tommo engulfed her in a hug. She clung to him tightly, tears flowing again, soaking his shirt collar.

"I'm sorry, Tommo," she sobbed. "Please, don't make me go back, don't make me work for that man."

"Hush now," Tommo soothed. "You think I'd let you go and work as a glorified secretary for that odious creature?"

Lizzy laughed and felt a weight lift, but she was still crying.

"Besides, I need you here with me," Tommo laughed. "Where would I get my entertainment without you? As much as I love your brothers and sisters, they are not all the sharpest tools. Even Jane has grown quite the bore with all this falling-in-love nonsense. No, no, your place is here. Don't listen to Frances, Lizzy, she doesn't mean it, not really."

"She does."

"No, she doesn't. She loves you, Lizzy, whatever you may think. She's just disappointed, that's all. She wants what is best for you, or at least what she thinks is best."

"Why did you marry her, Tommo?" she asked for the very first time. It had always struck her as the oddest thing in the world. He was so sensible and level headed, content with who he was and where he was. She was the complete opposite.

"I ask myself that question every day," Tommo chuckled. "And I still don't have an answer that I'm wholly happy with. I suppose I fell in love quickly and somehow managed to stay in love, just about."

Lizzy snorted.

"Does my answer not satisfy you?" he asked. "It is the only one I have. Perhaps it is unexplainable, maybe you are too young to understand. I don't know. But I do know this, you will always be welcome in my home, you will always be a Bennet, ok? Nothing anyone says will change that, absolutely nothing."

Lizzy detached herself from the hug and smiled at him. He smirked and lit a cigarette.

"Now, let's stop all this crying nonsense, ok? It's way too dramatic, way too Lydia."

Lizzy laughed before her eye caught something over his shoulder. Billy Collins, struggling out of the townhouse with his things, Frances imploring behind him. Collins spied Lizzy and looked at her for a moment before huffing and turning away, attempting to get down the front steps.

"Oh dear," Tommo chuckled, amused by the sight. "Looks like you've hurt the poor man's feelings, Lizzy. I suppose I should go and smooth things over."

"Yes, you probably should." Lizzy frowned at Frances who glared back.

"Take care, Lizzy, and remember what I said. Also, know that me and my wife will be having a very serious conversation about her behaviour. No one insults my favourite daughter like that."

"You know, you're not supposed to admit to having a favourite child," Lizzy smirked, her anger and sadness slowly evaporating. Even managed to feel a slight twinge of amusement at the whole ridiculousness of the situation they found themselves in.

"Don't tell the others, although I'm pretty sure they already know. Now, excuse me, Lizzy, I have to go and sort this shitstorm out and then have a good shout at my awful wife."

He kissed her on the cheek and was away, calling out to Billy. Lizzy smiled and turned on her heel, walking away from the madness. She just wanted to see Jane and Charlotte, she just wanted her friends.

Jane had found her curled up on their sofa some hours later, eyes red and puffy. She had comforted her instantly, listened to her ranting and just generally been the perfect human being she was. Lizzy felt better after a while, a little annoyed at how much Frances had been able to hurt her, but better all the same. Their peace was interrupted by Lydia bursting in. Showing the lack of tact she was known for, she plonked herself down on the sofa and began to gabble on about something or other, only pausing once to ask Lizzy if she was ok, before carrying on without heed for an answer. Lizzy was therefore grateful when the doorbell went, getting up to answer and her heart swelling to see Charlotte standing on her doorstep.

"You want to get out of here?" Charlotte asked, instantly picking up on Lizzy's upset.

"Yes. A million times fucking yes."

They took the tube down to the river and strolled along the South Bank. Something was troubling Charlotte, Lizzy could tell that, but she didn't ask what it was. She would tell her when she was ready. They got a coffee and sat down on a bench overlooking the Thames, watching the world go by for a while in companionable silence. It was what Lizzy needed.

"This was where we first met, do you remember?" Charlotte broke the silence with a tone of wistfulness, reaching into her pocket and taking out a tatty pack of cigarette papers, beginning a ritual they had not performed in some time.

"Of course," Lizzy laughed. "I was with Jane and Mark, just after Tommo took me in. We were sat right over there with those skater kids and then you strolled up to us, all punk attitude. I fucking hated you!"

"I know, right? And you were the rudest little girl I'd ever laid eyes on," Charlotte smirked, sprinkling the tobacco and green into the paper. "All, fuck you and that. Right little bitch!"

"Says you!" Lizzy chuckled. "You had fucking stickers on your boots!"

"I predated hipster." Charlotte giggled.

"So, you're to blame then?"

"I'm not proud of it."

Charlotte went silent, going to work, licking the paper and rolling it up, twisting the tip. Brought her lighter out and began carefully burning the end in rotation. When she was finished she stuck the spliff in her mouth and lit it properly, inhaling deeply, exhaling slowly. Got a few looks from around them as the sweet smell began to permeate the air, but she didn't care. Lizzy took it from between Charlotte's fingers and took a toke, only coughing slightly.

"Easy there, Bennet." Charlotte laughed.

"It's been a while." Lizzy defended, trying again and feeling the calm descend. She wondered why she'd ever stopped smoking weed…..

"But yeah, that first day," Charlotte picked up the previous thread. "You were so sure of yourself, going on about what a grifter you were going to be, how one day you were going to play the long con. I thought, fucking hell, this girl has no idea whatsoever."

"You didn't think it, you said it!" Lizzy grinned.

"I did, didn't I?" Charlotte took the spliff back. "And then you said you'd prove it."

"God, I am an arrogant little shit, aren't I?" Lizzy sighed.

"It's part of your charm. Anyway, we came up with that game. Five hours, two teams, we started with no money and whoever had the most at five o'clock was the winner, the better grifters. The short con challenge."

"I'd forgotten…" Lizzy smiled into the memory.

"We drew lots. I was so fucking annoyed when I got paired with you. The two of us v Jane and Mark. Great, a whole day stuck with this stupid girl."

"That was a day though. Do you remember that fake boat tour we did?"

"Fucking hell!" Charlotte began to chuckle. "You found an empty boat, nicked a sign, and then just started shouting at the top of your voice. BOAT TOUR, BOAT TOUR! TENNERS IN! We must have made about three hundred quid in five minutes."

"Sat them on the boat and then just ran away!" Lizzy finished, taking a mock bow.

"And the rest was history," Charlotte said. "Of course, Jane and Mark fucking battered us. We were so sure we'd won and then they came back with about 5k. God, Jane used to be the best."

"We caught up though." Lizzy grinned.

"You did," Charlotte sighed, suddenly serious. "You learnt so quickly, Lizzy. You're one of the best short-con players around these days."

"So are you." Lizzy narrowed her eyes, getting the feeling things were about to get more serious.

"No, I'm not," Charlotte laughed humourlessly. "You said it yourself, Lizzy, I'm nearly thirty and I'm still working the Flop. Still scraping a living, day by day. I'm not a grifter, not really. I don't think I ever was."

"Yes, you are!" Lizzy asserted, looking her friend dead in the eye. "I'm sorry I've been so horrible, Char. I didn't mean any of it. Fucking Darcy and Caroline were getting to me, I've been a right bitch the last few weeks."

"Yeah, you kind of have," Charlotte murmured.

"I'm sorry, ok?"

"I know," Charlotte sighed. "It's just difficult, you know? I mean, what the fuck am I doing? Still running around like I'm twenty, not progressing, disappointing my family, watching my friends soar while I just stay on the level. I'm stuck Lizzy, so fucking stuck."

Lizzy fell silent and watched her friend. She wouldn't make eye contact, was looking down and determinedly making her way through her spliff. She'd never seen Charlotte like this before. She was like Lizzy, tough, full of front, not letting much get to her, always the coolest person in the room. Never seen her small and defeated before. Her heart was breaking.

"What's going on, Charlotte?" Lizzy asked, placing a hand on her shoulder, rubbing in circles.

"I'm… um…. Billy Collins came to see me this afternoon…"

"Oh, God!" Lizzy exclaimed, the picture becoming clearer. "Hey, don't fucking worry about that shit, Charlotte. Trust me, you did the right thing. Did you turn him down gently at least? I tried to but he went a bit mad, stormed right off. Went straight to you obviously. What an arsehole! Who next, fucking Lydia? That would be quite funny actually, seeing her laugh right in his face….."

"Lizzy…." Charlotte tried to interrupt.

"Yes, you're better than that," Lizzy continued on obliviously, getting more worked up. "Is that where it's coming from then, all these doubts? Look, Char, something will come up soon, ok? Something you deserve. You're a good grifter, you just need the right opportunity…"

"LIZZY!" Charlotte shocked her. "I didn't fucking turn him down, ok? I'm going to do it. I'm going to work at Rosings Park with him."

Lizzy drew her hand away quickly, startled. Charlotte was still looking down at the floor and couldn't meet her eye. What the hell was she doing? Ok, so Charlotte wasn't the best grifter in the world, but she got by. She had skills, was a good poker player, was intelligent. She was also the funniest person Lizzy knew, a loyal friend, one who never cared what anyone thought of her. And now she was doing this? Going to work for that fucking creep? As a secretary?

"You can't be serious," Lizzy stated, springing up and beginning to pace.

"I can. I'm leaving the day after tomorrow."

"No, absolutely not," Lizzy raised her voice. "I won't let you. You're not thinking straight Charlotte, you're just having a bad day. The man's an idiot, an odious, pervy little shit. No, you can't work for him, it'll be a disaster."

"I knew I'd be able to rely on your support," Charlotte muttered, causing Lizzy to get angry.

"What did you expect me to say, Charlotte?" she fumed. "Oh, great job, what an opportunity to be a secretary, away from all your friends? I'm sure you'll have an absolutely swinging time with Billy boy Collins and her ladyship Catherine. Well done, Char, fucking ace decision-making there, kid…"

"YES!" Charlotte stood up, getting in Lizzy's face. "That's what I fucking expect you to say. You are my friend, Lizzy, my best fucking friend! I need you to be happy for me, ok? For once, it's not all about you!"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Lizzy snarled, not backing down.

"Oh, come on!" Charlotte pushed her lightly in the chest. "Do you ever stop to think just for a second that maybe your opinions and judgements are just that, fucking yours? They're not gospel, the world isn't always how you see it! So yeah, Billy's a bit weird, a bit of an idiot. So the fuck what? He's offered me an opportunity, Lizzy, one that I've decided to take. I'm not good enough to play the long con, not good enough to be the next Will Darcy. I have to take what I can get. Just cos something's not for you, doesn't mean it's not for everyone. Can't you just accept that?"

"I can't just sit by and watch you make the biggest mistake of your life!" Lizzy threw her arms up in the air.

Charlotte looked at her, anger in her eyes. Let out a deep breath.

"Well, thanks very much, Lizzy," she said coldly. "Sometimes I think Frances is right about you after all."

"Don't fucking say that!" Lizzy warned in a low tone, her whole body now shaking with anger.

"Hurts, doesn't it?" Charlotte said flatly. "Hurts to have your friend turn on you when you need them most. I don't know why I expected anything else, Bennet. Why at all…"

With a last glare, Charlotte threw the forgotten spliff into the river and walked away.

"Charlotte!" Lizzy called, but Charlotte didn't turn around, just thrust a middle finger up in the air.

Lizzy howled in frustration and span around to face the river, breathing heavily and clutching onto the railings for support. Watched as the spliff began to disintegrate, drifting away down the river…..