Chapter 25
A terracotta colored sweater, matching skirt and warm stockings were Elizabeth's choices for tonight's date. On the other end of the bed, the outfit she had discarded only a moment ago was trying to catch her attention. What to wear, that was the dilemma -- trousers or skirt. It was cold, so trousers weren't a bad choice. She really looked nice in those. She could keep the sweater and wear the trousers, with those boots and the long coat. It was decided. The skirt definitely looked more feminine.
As she dressed, she reviewed the plan for tonight. Darcy said they would have dinner at a nice restaurant in Sheffield, though she knew nothing else about this date. By the way this was coming out, sex would not be an issue tonight. It was fortunate, because she wasn't sure of what her reaction would be if it were suggested. Technically, this was only their second date -she wasn't sure if the previous one should be counted- but they'd been through so much that she felt they had known each other for ages. The tongue step was overcome yesterday and it came up to be utterly delicious. She felt uncommonly lightheaded every time he kissed her so the only thing that could stop her from moving ahead tonight was her pre-established rule for sex on dates. She was hoping that he wouldn't suggest it because she was more than willing to agree.
"Lizzy?" Maddy knocked on the door of the bedroom.
"Come in, Maddy!" Elizabeth replied merrily. Her aunt opened the door, phone in hand and Elizabeth asked her, "How do I look?"
"Lovely." Maddy's smile wasn't genuine. "Your mother is on the phone. She wants to talk to you."
From her aunt's expression, Elizabeth realized that something was wrong. "Mom?"
Darcy pulled his sweater down over his head while humming a merry tune. He checked his reflection in the mirror and frowned when he saw his hair. He had this tuft on the back of his head that made his hair ungovernable when it reached a certain length. He had passed it a few weeks ago and he had been able to handle it until now, but tonight it had turned uncommonly rebellious. He licked his fingers and unsuccessfully tried to smooth it down. There was no way he could fix that now so he just combed his hair back with his fingers and resigned to look as if caught by the wind.
As he put his shoes on, he revised his plans for the evening. First, dinner in Sheffield: he had reservations. Then coffee in some nice, secluded place -if she accepted, of course- and then take her back home, like the gentleman he was. It was funny, because this was the same dilemma he had on their first date. Sex or not. Definitely not tonight. He didn't want to risk a rejection; not because of the rejection per se, he could handle that, but because he didn't want to bring any sort of tension between them and the best way to do it was avoiding conflictive issues, that is, sex. He could always give her very subtle hints that she could reply to subtly or bluntly, but playing cat and mouse wasn't what he wished for tonight's date. He wanted a perfect date, nice, romantic and prosperous. So, unless she jumped on him and undressed him -appealing but improbable- this would be a proper date between two adults. No sex.
Four knocks at his door told him that his sister was there. That was the code that had been established many years ago so he would know it was her and not someone else. It would be fruitless to yell 'come in' or 'get out' when she wasn't able to hear him so, in his youth, if he was in bed, he used to turn on and off the lamp as a reply. Georgiana checked the light coming from under the door and knew if she was allowed in or not. One meant 'get out of here' and two that she could come in. But that was years ago when he was a teenager and she was just a little girl that idolized her elder brother and followed him all around the house. He grew up and everything changed. Since his father died, his door was always open for his sister.
He opened the door and she followed him into the room.
"And our guests?" he asked as he tried to fix that strand of hair that was determined to stay out of place.
Georgiana shrugged her reply and walked closer to help him. She always succeeded in getting his hair to behave so Darcy smiled gratefully when she did it.
"How do I look?"
She looked him up and down and pursed her lips.
"What?"
'Too dark,' she said with signs.
Gray sweater and almost black trousers. He liked it. His frown told her that he was not going to change so she went to his closet and brought two different outfits. Darcy glanced at the dry green sweater and at the wine colored turtleneck she was offering with a raised eyebrow.
"No, the green one." He chose the one of his liking.
Darcy changed into the sweater Georgiana offered and she smiled appreciatively. With signs, she asked him if he was coming back tonight.
A soft laughed preceded the "That's none of your business," then he replied, "Yes, I am. Though I don't know why should I inform you about it."
Georgiana suggested that, if everything came out all right with his date, he could invite Elizabeth to come to Pemberley for the weekend.
"Let's see what happens." Smiling, he placed his hand on her cheek. "I must go. Wish me luck."
With her awkward voice, she said, "Good luck."
Darcy adjusted his coat round his neck as he waited for someone to open the door. The weather was cold and the sky looked like it was going to snow.
"Hi, William." Maddy opened the door.
"Hi, Maddy, how are you?" He smiled.
"I'm fine. William," she hesitated. "There's a problem. I don't think that Elizabeth will be able to go out with you tonight. In fact, she's planning to travel to Meryton right now."
"What? What happened?"
"Her mother called a moment ago." Maddy lowered her voice. "There's some kind of problem at home."
For a moment, Darcy was speechless. "But ... can I talk to her for a moment?"
"Yes, please." Maddy allowed him inside the house. "Maybe you can convince her to stay for the night and travel tomorrow morning."
Darcy followed Maddy into the living room and saw Elizabeth sitting on the couch with her face in her hands.
"Lizzy," Maddy called her out of her trance. "William is here."
"William." She looked up. "I called your house to tell you that I must cancel dinner, but you had already left. I'm sorry, I can't go with you tonight."
He was at a loss of what to say or do so he just sat next to her on the couch. She looked calm, very pale and sort of absent, but calm nevertheless.
"There was a problem at home. I must leave for Meryton tonight," she told him.
"What kind of problem? Can I be of help?" he asked her.
"No, it's OK. I just have to go."
"Lizzy," her aunt interjected. "Why don't you wait until tomorrow morning? There's no point in leaving right now ..." She turned to Darcy. "William, Ed is away, attending a seminar. I would prefer if she doesn't go all by herself ..."
"My sister is missing, Maddy," Elizabeth replied, sounding a little more tense now. "I can't leave my mother to face this on her own."
"Your sister?" Darcy was stunned. "But how? For how long has she been missing?"
"Only a few hours. In fact, my mother wouldn't have even noticed that she was missing if she had not called at her friend's house, where she was supposed to be." Elizabeth shook her head as her fears and anger emerged. "Could she be any more stupid? She lied! She said she was staying at a friend's house and she lied!"
"Lizzy," Maddy tried to calm her. "She'll probably be back in only a few hours. Teenagers are always doing these things. I'm sure she went to a party and she'll be home by the time you reach Meryton."
"She probably doesn't even know that my mother found out that she has lied. I'm sure that she'll show up tomorrow morning as if nothing had happened," she said. "But I can't leave my mom alone in this, Maddy. I'm going home."
Darcy touched Elizabeth's hand. "I can take you Meryton if you want. Maddy is right, it would be better if you don't go by yourself."
"No, thank you, William," she replied. "There's no need for you to go. Just drop me at the train station."
"No, I'll drive you," he insisted.
Elizabeth looked up at him and the facade she had been holding up until now started to crumble. Her lower lip trembled and her eyes watered with tears.
"What if something happens to her? This is my fault!"
Frowning, he put his hands on her shoulders. "What's your fault, Elizabeth? Will you tell me what's going on?"
Elizabeth's body started shaking. She leaned on his chest as she began to cry. "Mom thinks she's with George!"
"George?" He pulled her away from him so he could look at her face.
Between sobs, Elizabeth told him what she knew. "Mom said something about George. Lydia was staying at a friend's house but when mom called to ask her something, they told that her she wasn't there, that George had been going for her after school lately and that today they left together! Can't you see? It's my fault! I never told Lydia what you told me. I never said that she should be careful with him and now she's involved with him!"
"Is she sure about that?" He frowned.
"Yes." Elizabeth sniffed. "Mary, her friend, saw them leaving together. She said that Lydia had been boasting in front of her friends about her new boyfriend for some time now."
He swallowed his anger.
"Mom also said something about modeling," she added with teary, distressed eyes. "I'm almost afraid to ask what that means."
Darcy remained silent for a moment as his face transmitted the anger and worry he felt about the situation. "Come, I'll take you home." He squeezed her hand. "We have a long drive ahead."
"William," she protested, "There's no need for you to ..."
He cupped her face with his hands and spoke in a tone that was at the same time tender and firm. "No, Elizabeth, I won't let you go on your own. I'm taking you."
His voice sounded so comforting and transmitted so much strength that she suddenly felt more confident about this quest she was going to face and that she didn't know where it was going to take her.
"All right." A genuine, grateful smile relaxed her tense features. This wasn't something she wanted to do on her own.
"Good girl." He smiled sweetly. "Let's go."
He rose and pulled her up.
"I feel more at ease knowing that you are taking her, William; thank you," Maddy said with obvious relief. She then turned to Elizabeth. "Don't worry so much, Lizzy. I'm sure that by the time you are home, Lydia will be there."
"I wish I could have your optimism, Maddy, but I doubt it," she replied with a sigh.
Maddy walked them to the door. "Please call me as soon as you are there, will you?"
Darcy nodded and Elizabeth replied, "I will, don't worry."
"Good luck, darling."
During the first fifteen minutes on the road they were both silent, thinking about what they would find when they reached Meryton. Neither was sure of what would be the appropriate course of action. They had so little information; Elizabeth was still trying to figure out how this happened and Darcy trying to understand the facts that had led into the mess they were heading to.
Darcy glanced in her direction and saw her biting the nail of her thumb. "Elizabeth," he broke the silence. "Do you mind telling me again what happened? I've been through this once, not exactly like this, but similar, and maybe I can be of help."
She sighed heavily. "I'm not sure of what has really happened, so there's not much that I can tell you that you don't know already."
"Try," he said in that calm, convincing voice he used when he was directing. "I'm sure that we'll able to come up with something."
"Yes, maybe you are right," she smiled. "From what my mother said, Lydia had been seeing George for some time, whatever that means. I feel so guilty; I told my mother about what you said in your letter, though we never told Lydia. I never imagined that he would stay in contact with her after we broke up." She saw him swallowing and his jaw tensing with that information, but he said nothing and continued to drive with his eyes fixed on the road. "Lydia told my mother that tonight she was going to a friend's house to watch a movie. On Saturday mornings, she usually goes to the club to play volleyball so mom called her at Mary's house to ask Liddy if she was going directly from there. They told her that Lydia wasn't there, that there was no movie and that George went to get Lydia after school today and that they left together."
"How old is she?"
"Sixteen."
"You mentioned something about modeling."
Elizabeth ran her hand through her hair. "Mom didn't talk clearly about this. She just said that Mary mentioned something about modeling. She told her friends that she was going to be a model or something."
Darcy seemed deep in thought, his air gloomy and his brows furrowed. As she observed him, Elizabeth felt suddenly revolted, betrayed by her own sister, as if Lydia's stupidity had ruined the peace she was finally achieving. She knew she was being selfish by thinking this but she was more worried about her mother than for her sister. She didn't think that Lydia would be in serious danger, she was probably partying around without even thinking about the consequences or if she was hurting someone. But she was sure that Amanda was suffering a lot because of this. She had made so many sacrifices to give them a proper education and Lydia was paying her back in this way.
"Is this the first time she has disappeared?"
"It's not the first time she came home late. Actually, she has come home later than this. Mom told me that in these last weeks she had turned ungovernable, that she goes to parties with her friends and that she comes back late at night. But nothing out of the ordinary for someone her age, mom always knew where she was, or so she thought. The difference tonight is that she lied or maybe that she was discovered lying."
"Did your mother call the police?"
"No, not yet. She's not sure of what to do." Elizabeth glanced at her watch. "It's early, not even nine, and she still has hopes that Lydia would come back on her own. She called her friends asking them if they knew where she was but no one had any idea."
"If she calls the police, they'll start a search."
Elizabeth closed her eyes as she thought of the embarrassment that that would bring them all. But then her fears began to surface as she thought about the perils her sister could be exposed to.
"I can't believe this is happening."
"Elizabeth." Darcy knew that this was a very difficult moment for her and her family but wanted to speak clearly and acquaint her with the facts that she would probably face when they arrived home. "As you know, I've been through something similar, not so serious, but I know how it works. Now, assuming that your sister is with him and that something happened between them and that everything was done with her consent, being sixteen, your sister, technically, is over the age to consider this sexual abuse." A quick glance in her direction told him that she was becoming quite distressed with this knowledge. "However, if you can prove that he duped her with her innocence and compelled her to do things she wouldn't normally do, he could be charged with abuse. Now, depending on what that modeling thing means, George could be caught for inducing her into pornography and sexual abuse of a minor. That's a serious crime and he'll probably end up in jail. But know that going against him would mean that this will turn public."
Elizabeth wanted to die the moment he mentioned the word 'pornography'. Though she considered that it could be a possibility, she didn't even dare to think that something like that could be happening. She shuddered when she imagined how this would affect Lydia and her mother. The entire town would learn about Lydia's activities, parents will use her as a bad example for their children and there would be repercussions at school. Her life stank the way it was now but with this subject out in the open, it would be ruined.
"Do you think she could be in danger? That he could harm her in any way?"
"I don't know," Darcy said evenly. He didn't want to alarm her, but he didn't want to lie about this either. "I haven't heard from George in nearly 5 years, except for that meeting in Africa. The only thing I can tell you is that he liked to party around. At college, I heard that he was selling pills, I saw him smoking marijuana a couple of times, but I've never seen him with heavier stuff. In spite of his dissoluteness, he was quite 'healthy' in his actions. But I told you, that was a long time ago."
Elizabeth bit her lip and looked out of the window. Apart from that somehow scary incident during their first date together, she couldn't deny that George's behavior with her was normal. Even when he was being forward he seemed like a regular, thirty-year-old forward man.
"He always acted completely normal when we were seeing each other," she said quietly, somehow apprehensive about talking about him to Darcy.
"Hopefully, he's still the same," he replied, though the 'but I doubt it' he was thinking remained unsaid.
"I can't believe she's so stupid. That she did something like this." Her growing panic and frustration were surfacing again. "But why did she do this? He has nothing to offer to her!"
"She's just a girl, Elizabeth. She doesn't know what she's doing."
"But she probably slept with him! Who knows what has happened between them during all these weeks! There are diseases she can get!"
Darcy remained quiet for a moment, thinking of what to do. He just couldn't stay passive in this and look at the entire thing like a spectator. "Elizabeth, I would like to discuss this with your mother first, but I think I know where to find him. If she doesn't want to call the police yet, we can try to find her."
"What would you do? Would you not go to the police?"
"It's a very private decision. As you said, it would be embarrassing to start a search if she's at a party with her friends. They'll turn the town upside down, look in every hotel and park and check all her friend's houses. Not to mention that they'll keep this for the record. But, if they find her with George, you'll have to face him in court. Everyone will know about this, her schoolmates, the entire town. George will be judged for his crime, yes, but all that your sister did with him will come into the light."
"Are you saying she should not call them?"
"No, I'm not saying that; calling the police is always the right choice. I'm just telling you what you'll be exposed to."
"You said something similar happened to you. Was it with Georgiana?"
"When that incident with George happened, I pressed charges against him. Georgiana was sixteen and staying at a boarding school for deaf children. It was almost impossible for him to abduct her from that place or take advantage of her; all their encounters were quite innocent so the damage was only emotional. The judge that took the case dismissed it almost immediately, saying that there was no actual crime. I sued the Institute for allowing him to visit her without my consent and everything ended there, or so I thought, because the judge then questioned my aptitude as a guardian of a teenaged deaf sister. He said that I was too young and too busy to take appropriate care of her and that this was also my fault for not supervising her education the way I should. He even objected to my job, saying that my directing profession was taking me away for long periods of time and that I was not there when she needed me. I had to turn down all the projects that would keep me away from home and we were monitored during a whole year. My uncle, Richard's father, was assigned as her co-guardian until she reached eighteen. Fortunately, my lawyers prevented him from taking her away from me completely. In sum, because of this scoundrel, I spent a small fortune in lawyers and almost lost custody of her."
"That's terribly unfair," she said.
"I guess that we were stuck with the most traditionalist and old fashioned judge in Derbyshire. But those are the rules."
"I don't know what to do." Elizabeth shook her head.
"This is your mother's decision, but we can go to George's place," Darcy replied tentatively. "And hope that she's there."
Elizabeth bit her lower lip and looked at the road ahead almost sure of the question he would ask next.
Darcy cleared his throat and hesitated before asking, "Do you know where he lives?"
"No," she replied quietly, embarrassed of that part of her past and how it affected them both. Darcy was being polite and acting almost unmoved by her past relationship with George but she could see that he was not at all indifferent to it. She didn't want to hurt him, but she knew that this was something she should clear up with him. "I don't. He once mentioned that he lived in Southwark, in London, but nothing else. But I know his phone number."
He pulled out his cell phone from his pocket and gave it to her. "Call him. Don't speak. It's just to check if he's home."
Elizabeth dialed the number. "I reached the machine."
Darcy frowned and shook his head, wondering where George could have taken Lydia. "There's a chance that I could learn where he is. But I would like to talk to your mother first."
Elizabeth remained silent for a while. She had planned to tell him about her relationship with George, maybe not at this point of their understanding, but she sensed that this was a good moment to bring that into the light. He would surely start making conjectures about them if she didn't and it would end affecting what they had.
"William, about George and me ... we ... we were dating when you asked me to dine with you." She glanced in his direction and only saw him staring seriously at the road. "Well, we weren't exactly dating because we barely saw each other during that time; he was always travelling, or saying he was travelling. We didn't even ..."
"It's all right, Elizabeth." He looked at her with a smile. Though this was something that had been torturing him for some time, he knew he had no right to get angry or jealous or even question her for what had happened in the past. They weren't a couple at the time so there was no need for her to tell him about that. "You don't have to explain it. I asked you out without even considering if you were seeing someone else. If there is someone to blame there, it's me."
"Thank you." She smiled and then, moved by an impulse, she moved closer and kissed his cheek. "But we'll share the guilt on that one; I didn't tell you about him either."
"As you wish." He touched her face and returned his hand to the wheel. "Why don't you call your mother to tell her we are on our way? Maybe she can tell you more about this. Ask her if she called the police."
Elizabeth did what he asked. Amanda was grateful that Elizabeth was on her way, though a little surprised that it was the same Mr. Darcy, the man she had so vehemently hated, who was driving her home. The last time she and her daughter talked about that gentleman, Lizzy made quite a scene and said that she didn't want his name mentioned again. She was dying to know more, but she was aware that she couldn't ask -or better, that Elizabeth wouldn't be able to reply- with the man sitting so close.
Two hours later, they reached Elizabeth's former home. Amanda made some tea and offered them something to eat that they both declined. The 'Lydia issue' took their appetites away. They conversed about the subject for nearly an hour, Amanda told them the entire story again, and Darcy repeated what he had said to Elizabeth on the way to Hertfordshire.
"I don't know if it's time to call the police yet." Amanda looked at her watch. "It's not even midnight. Lydia has arrived later than this. What if they start a search and she shows up?"
Elizabeth started pacing the room. "Mother, I just can't sit here any longer. We must do something!"
"I agree with Elizabeth," said Darcy. "I can go after George. If she's not with him, you can call the police."
"I don't know, William." Amanda shook her head. "I don't want to give you any more trouble."
"It is no trouble at all." He glanced at Elizabeth. "But it is your decision."
Elizabeth met his eyes and was at a loss of what to do. She didn't want to involve him in this disagreeable affair but she just couldn't sit and wait for something to happen.
"I think you are right, William," said Amanda. "God knows where that child is and what she is doing. If that will help us to find her, do it."
"How are you going to find him?"
"I'll call his mother," he replied.
They called information and Darcy asked for Myrna Wickham's number and was given her address.
"Do you think it's appropriate to call her at this hour?" Elizabeth asked as he dialed.
"Myrna is not exactly a proper person. I wouldn't be surprised if she is hosting a party at this same moment."
As Darcy predicted, George's mother was awake and entertaining company when he called. Their conversation was more a negotiation than a chat and, from the tension in Darcy's shoulders as he walked the room with his cell phone pressed against his ear, Elizabeth could guess that the woman was not willing to supply the information he needed without obtaining something in exchange. He never raised his voice or demanded anything, he just spoke smoothly, even suavely at times, though his face betrayed how revolted he felt for having to talk to her. But if something could be said about Darcy, it was that he was perseverant and convincing and after a long discussion -where he agreed to send her whatever she was demanding-, he obtained George's whereabouts.
"I know where they are." Darcy closed his mobile.
Both Amanda and Elizabeth were looking at him with wide, expectant eyes.
"They?" Elizabeth asked. "They are together?"
"Myrna said he's with this girl he's seeing lately."
"And where are they?" inquired Amanda.
"Henley. I know the place." He rose and spoke while putting on his coat.
"I'm going with you." Elizabeth did the same.
He would have preferred to go on his own though he couldn't stop her from coming with him. "All right."
They parted, leaving an anxious Amanda behind.
In the darkness of the car, Elizabeth began to feel the real dimension of what was happening. She was scared, worried and anxious. She didn't know what was waiting for them when they reached their destination and as she glanced at Darcy's face as he drove, she could see that he was in similar state. He was visibly tense, he looked preoccupied and concentrated, and was breaking the speed limit every time he had the chance so they would be there as early as possible.
"This cost you money, didn't it?" she said softly.
He preferred to be honest with her. "Not much."
She remained silent, wondering how much this 'not much' meant. "I can't believe she sold her own son for money."
"They deserve each other."
"How is that you know this place they are staying?"
"Myrna comes from that town. My father bought a cottage by the river so they could go there while they were still married. It's a lovely place; I've been there once. It's also the only property she obtained in the divorce that she didn't sell away."
"You seem to know her quite well," she said in a small voice.
"Though I never liked her, she was my stepmother, don't forget about that." He stole a quick glance in her direction.
"You even know where she lives." She regretted it the moment she said it. She had no right to inquire about his personal affairs.
"That's because we own the house where she lives." He chuckled in amusement. She sounded jealous.
"I'm sorry," she apologized, "I shouldn't have said that. I don't know why I did it."
"Don't make yourself uneasy," he said smilingly. It didn't bother him that she wanted to know about him; it was quite flattering, in fact. "This is an arrangement I inherited from my father. Myrna seems incapable of administrating her own money so when she lost everything she obtained in her divorce, she came up with this clause that said that she should be provided a decent home for the rest of her life. We preferred to buy a house and pay her bills instead of going to court. A cheaper and less problematic arrangement."
"I guess that it must be horrible to have to stay in contact with her after all these years."
"I'm not in contact with her. Usually an accountant handles this stuff, but I couldn't call him in the middle of the night, so I called her, that's all."
She smiled and turned her eyes towards the road. For a few miles, she was quiet. Everything seemed so unreal. She was in this car, with this famous director, with the man she once loved and hated and with whom she had lived the most intense moments of her life, tracking her youngest sister, who ran away with his biggest enemy. But what was keeping her in awe was the fact that he was doing all this when he had no reason to do it. He could have left her at her mother's house and then leave, like any other casual acquaintance would do, but no, he was here and she knew that he was not going to stop until this issue was resolved. He was doing this for her.
"Thank you, William," he said in a soft, tender voice. "For this, for everything."
He looked at her and returned his eyes to the road. He didn't reply, he just smiled and inclined his head towards her hand when she touched his cheek. With his eyes always on the road, he turned his head slightly and kissed her palm. Her fingers played with his hair for a while and her hand came to rest on his knee, where it remained the rest of the way to Henley.
In spite of the speed, it took them more than an hour to reach the cottage. Darcy parked outside the gate and turned to Elizabeth.
"You stay in the car." He cupped her cheek as he spoke. "I'll be back as soon as I can."
With big, scared eyes, she said. "Be careful, will you?"
"I will."
He pressed his mouth against hers, but before she could react to return the kiss, he was out of the car. Now, she could only pray and wait until he and Lydia were safely back.