Chapter 32
For many reasons, that Christmas at Pemberley turned special and unforgettable for each one of those who became part of that celebration. For Elizabeth, it was magical. In the past, Christmas had not been something to look forward to or to be happy about. There had always been something that would make it sad or meaningless. Money issues, Thomas leaving them or meeting an unfriendly family would ruin the spirit of the festivities and as years passed, Elizabeth had grown to dislike the holiday season. But not this one, it was just wonderful. She was truly in love for the first time and the most wonderful man in the world was in love with her. Everything was perfect, the man, the company, every single detail of that evening had contributed to make it unforgettable. Even the man she had just come to know as her father, the man of whom she was starting to think with fondness, came to wish her a Merry Christmas, making it even more special.
Two days before Christmas, Darcy decided that the house wasn't looking festive enough and in that Director manner of his, he commended Elizabeth for a new decor. So, that same day, with the exception of Jane, the women of the house departed towards Manchester to do some shopping. Budget unlimited, that was the premise and they returned with all these things they hung around the house that made it look so beautiful. Amanda, enthusiastic about Christmas as she had never been, directed the work in the kitchen and produced the most exquisite turkey they had ever eaten. They all sang together, they laughed and they had a time to remember.
For the master of the house, this Christmas was also different and especially joyful too. His childhood had not been a happy one and it was an important change to have the people he loved most with him that night. His parents, from what he recalled, didn't have the happiest of marriages and their conjugal problems were accentuated with Georgiana's birth. His father never accepted his sister's deficiency and that only made their relationship more strained. When his mother died, Christmas became sad and when his father introduced Myrna and her son George into the family, it turned unpleasant. So, celebrating Christmas, for him until now, had been more a formality than an enjoyment. But this one was different. The woman he loved so much was there, her family, his sister and his good friend were there. Even his little sister was singularly happy that night, too. His Georgiana had always been fragile and introspected but that night he was able to see her like the lovely young woman she had turned into and not the shy little girl he had been reluctant to see grow up.
Christmas passed and all that happiness remained. Elizabeth had turned into a wonderful companion and after only one week of 'living together' they became so close to each other that neither could remember a time when they weren't. They understood each other to perfection. Maybe Elizabeth didn't find his snores so 'adorable' anymore and sometimes she could get really annoyed when he left the wet towel on the floor, but she was learning to live with some of his 'habits' and helping him to modify the others. And he was willing to change, well, maybe not exactly change, but adapt himself to the circumstances.
Also, slowly, Elizabeth was taking over what had been his domain and her so feminine touch could already be seen in his manly quarters. A few aromatic candles spread around, her perfumes rested over his vanity, photos of her family on the nightstand and cosmetics, creams and other feminine products in his bathroom. The only thing she could not touch yet was the remote. Oh no, the man owned it, no way she could even think of holding it, even less try to suggest a change of channels when he wasn't even watching. But as she wasn't very interested in having it, she didn't mind if he wasn't willing to relinquish the command of that part of his life yet.
Though they both knew that they had a future together, marriage and long term commitment was something the couple was not discussing openly. This was, as they both thought of it, a sort of adapting process and as the days passed and they became better acquainted, it became more than obvious that their future belonged together. But absolutely the best part of this first attempt at living together was their nights and not just because of the sex, which was excellent for both, but because that was their time. While readying themselves for bed, they talked, they exchanged opinions about their day, their impressions and their expectations, they really began to know each other.
"I can't believe it's midnight," Elizabeth dropped her body on the bed. She fell flat on her back, with her arms extended to the sides in a crucified position.
"I didn't realize it was this late." He unbuttoned his shirt while kicking his shoes off. The shirt was thrown to a chair and his trousers followed it. "But Georgiana wanted to talk to me and I didn't want to leave it for tomorrow."
While she couldn't get a sign of the silent chat between the siblings, Elizabeth noticed that it was serious and that Darcy seemed troubled about something. Her eyes followed the flight of his trousers towards the chair. He actually hit the target, but the weight of the belt made them fall on the floor. She shook her head.
"Is everything all right?" She asked him.
"It is, I guess." Darcy walked towards her and stood at her feet. Elizabeth raised one leg so he would remove her boot and then the other. "She wanted to ask my permission to move out of the Institute and into her own house." Her Wellies fell noisily on the floor.
"I didn't know she needed your permission to move." Elizabeth's eyes followed him as he walked towards the bathroom. She rose from the bed, frowning at the sight of his clothes on the floor. She picked up her boots and put them away inside the closet and then went for his clothes, folding them neatly on the chair so they wouldn't get wrinkled. He never wore the same garment twice, so it was completely useless that she did that, but she liked to leave everything in perfect order before sending it to the laundry.
"She doesn't. What worries me is the fact that she thinks that she needs it. I wish she were more confident. She's old enough to make her own decisions." He said from behind the door of the bathroom.
Was he peeing while he spoke? He was, because he flushed the toilet next. "Did she say that she wanted your permission?" She saw him crossing in front of the door in the direction of the sink.
"Not exactly." From the sounds that came from the bathroom, he was about to brush his teeth. He always opened the tap fully before doing it. "She said something about wanting to move into her own place and what would be my opinion if she did."
Pensively, Elizabeth walked towards the bathroom and leaned her shoulder on the doorframe. That didn't sound like someone asking for permission. "Maybe she's just being considerate. You are her guardian ..."
"I was her guardian, Lizzy," he glanced at her through the mirror, "and I don't object if she moves, I think it would be a good experience for her, if she is careful enough. Though I would like to check on the place first and I would prefer if she has a trained dog to help her. But I think that if she believes that she needs my opinion, it's because she's not ready to live on her own."
Elizabeth chuckled. "I think that she already decided that she's moving and she's only asking so you wouldn't feel that you are not in charge anymore."
"What?" He almost choked with the toothbrush he had just introduced into his mouth. Was she implying that his sweet, shy, fragile Georgiana was a manipulative brat?
"Come on, don't look at me like that!" Elizabeth laughed at his astonished expression. "I have a teenaged sister, we girls do that all the time! And admit it, Will, don't tell me that you didn't feel important when she asked you if she could move, 'cause I won't believe you."
With knitted brows, Darcy reviewed his conversation with his sister. Sign language was about transmitting ideas, not exact words, so their 'chat' could be interpreted in different ways. And now that he thought on it, the little thing had twisted her signs in a way that it would seem that she was asking when she was only informing him that she was moving. Shaking his head, he turned to face the sink and leaned his weight in one arm.
"I'll strangle her when I get hold of her."
Elizabeth wrapped her arms about him, leaning her chest and cheek on his back. "She just knows that you like to be in control. She's allowing you to exert it one last time."
Darcy bent and rinsed his teeth with Elizabeth still attached to his back. He rose and looked at her through the mirror while placing his hand over hers, which were linked over his tummy.
"She's already a grown up woman, isn't she?" His smile combined pride and longing.
"She is, even if you don't want to see her as one."
"We've been through so much, Lizzy, this is not easy for me."
"I know, Wills."
"No, you don't." He sighed. "She was such a helpless little thing when she was a child, so sickly and fragile, she suffered so much ..." he looked down. "Dad never accepted Georgiana's deafness, he wanted perfect children. It was very hard for her after mom died. And then, when I sent her to school, many things happened. It took her years of therapy to overcome her shyness. I'm not even sure I did the right thing, she's so unsure of herself."
"You did. She's a wonderful girl."
Darcy shook his head. "Sometimes I think that I've been more like a father than a brother to her."
"Maybe you were, but now it's time that you let her grow on her own."
These were the moments that Darcy adored about their life together. When they worked, it was great, sex was fantastic, but conversing with her, it was the best. Elizabeth always said the right thing, she had this ability to calm him down, ease his worries, to make him full and happy with just a phrase or a smile or word of love. And, regarding his sister, she was helping him to cut that cord for his and Georgiana's sake, he needed to let go. There was a pause before he spoke and when he did, his eyes were shining with heartfelt delight.
"You are really great, did you know that?"
"You aren't bad either, sir." She smiled while her hands did these circular movements on his belly. She just loved how his 'not so flat' abdomen felt under her hands. This was her big man, in appearances, the imposing director, so tough and self sufficient, but with the most sensible heart she had ever known. "I thought Jane was the pregnant one here." She teased him.
"Some women find my tummy very sexy." He said smugly.
"Some women?" She raised her eyebrow.
"Hordes of women."
"Arrogant." She playfully slapped his stomach.
Darcy turned around to face her. He wrapped his arms around her and bent to give her a fresh breath, mint flavored kiss. "And you are so lovely."
He gave her one last kiss on her nose and he left the bathroom so she could get ready for bed. As was his habit, he waited for her while watching TV. Elizabeth joined him and found that, as was his habit, all the pillows, including hers, were arranged behind his back so he would be more comfortable. He mumbled a 'come here' and lifted his arm for her to lie reclined against his chest.
"Will?"
"Mmmmmm." He was watching -for the second time- a short movie his team found about a musical play, filmed in 1933. He was too concentrated to say anything else.
"Where can I learn to speak with signs?"
"What for?"
"Because of Georgiana, sometimes we have trouble understanding each other and I thought it would be great if I learn to sign."
This time she had his full attention on her. He even stopped the movie to talk to her. "Would you do that?"
"Yes, why not? Charles learned, didn't he?"
"Yes, but that's because he wanted to improve his corporal expression. He's an actor and body language is very important to transmit feelings."
"I'd like to learn, too."
It pleased him that she wanted to learn, but also, there were things she didn't know that he wanted to tell her about the world that she was beginning to be part of. He hesitated, not sure if Elizabeth would be able to understand his point of view on the matter, though he needed to tell her how he felt about this.
"You don't need to learn to sign to talk to her."
"I think I do, it would be easier, for her and for me. We can't ask for your help whenever we have trouble understanding each other."
"I don't mind translating every now and then, Lizzy."
"Oh, yes, you mind. Georgiana asked for your help today and you waved her off. And I understand why you did it. You were busy and we were interrupting you constantly and ..."
"No, that wasn't the reason, Lizzy. I'm never too busy for her." Darcy turned to his side so he could see her better. "Let me tell you something so you can understand how it is." Elizabeth nodded and he proceeded. "Georgiana was able to develop oral communication and that's a gift. She can read lips and though she's not an expert, she learned it, something that not every deaf person is able to do. If she doesn't practice, she'll lose those abilities. I don't know if you noticed, but since you and your family are here, her oral language has improved significantly and that's because she needs to talk. She's making the effort to communicate with you. I'm afraid that if ..."
Elizabeth placed her hand on his cheek and spoke with the same earnestness. "Will, let us decide how we want to converse."
As it had happened many times, Elizabeth's point of view was the right one. Slowly, a smile softened his features. "I'll tell you where you can learn. It's not difficult."
"Would you teach me?" She smiled.
"The basics, yes," he said, "though it would be better if you study with a teacher. I don't know if I'll have the patience."
She chuckled. "You've never been very patient with me at work, so I think it's better if I hire one."
Darcy rested his head on the pillows. One arm was around her, holding her body close to his and the other moved up to caress her hair. "What am I going to do without you when this vacation is over?"
Elizabeth raised her hand to touch his face, those were exactly her thoughts. "We'll be close enough. We'll be working together, I can find an apartment near the office ..."
"Apartment?" He knitted his brows.
"I can't live with Maddy and Ed forever, William. Now that I have a job, I can afford it."
The picture that Darcy had drawn in his head was an entirely different one. He had imagined driving Amanda and Lydia back to Meryton and then bringing Elizabeth's stuff back to his house in Matlock, he even considered taking her to the Gardiners' but, moving into her own apartment? Oh no, that never crossed his mind.
"On your own?"
"Yes, what's wrong with that?" She wanted to be with him, but for some reason, she wanted to have her own place, for once. "For the last months I've been living like a gypsy: in a tent in Africa, then in that matchbox in Kent, in a hotel full of fleas in France and then with my aunt. I don't want to battle with Lydia to the use of the bathroom every morning or go through my mom's hair curlers to find the toothbrush. William, I want a place that I could call my own."
"And what about putting your toothbrush next to mine? There aren't hair curlers in the cabinet of my bathroom." Elizabeth blinked twice and as he wasn't sure if she understood what he had just said, he went directly to the point. "Come to live with me."
"With you?" Elizabeth raised her eyebrows.
"Yes, with me, in my house in Matlock or here at Pemberley. Wherever you chose."
She was speechless. For some reason, the picture she had formed in her head for the end of this vacation was a completely different one: go house hunting with him, painting the apartment together -pink for the living room and pale yellow for the bedroom- and making love on the floor before the furniture arrived. But not once she had pictured herself moving her stuff into his house. She knew that if that happened, there would be no choosing the fabric for the curtains, no fluffy cover for the toilet, no pink living-room, just introducing her things inside his manly bedroom.
"Well?" He asked, on seeing that she was not replying.
How to tell him this without hurting his feelings? "I ... Will, I want to live on my own, have my own house, my own place."
"But, you can have your own place. You can transform one of the rooms into your study and lock me out if you don't want me there. What do you say?"
Oh God, he was so cute when he begged like this. She bit her lip to repress a smile. "It's not the same."
"Why?"
"Because it isn't! I want to have my house and chose the color of the walls and ...
"You can even paint the bedroom in a color of your liking. In fact, you can redecorate the entire house."
"William, stop it."
"But I have this large house and this large bed and this big bathroom that will be so empty and lonely without you. I'll have to go and stay at your place and you'll come to stay with me and it will be a waste of money because, in the end, you'll pay the rent when you are spending more nights at my house than at yours. I promise I won't leave the towel on the floor and ..."
"Will," she put her forefinger in his lips to stop him, "you are whining."
He nodded and she giggled.
"Now, jokes apart," Darcy smoothed her hair behind her ear, "I don't want to be away from you, Lizzy. I want you with me, forever."
"Forever?" With her finger, she traced a line around his ear and then along his jaw to his chin.
"Forever. I want you in my house, in my bed, every day, for the rest of my life, do you understand?"
"I do."
"Fast learner. That's what I like about you." He moved closer.
"Good teacher," She arched her neck for his lips to kiss. "That's what I like about you."
"I still have a few things I could teach you."
"Such as?"
He proceeded to put at her service his seducing artillery, just a few little tricks he couldn't show her that first night together, nothing that she had never done before, but that, with him, felt so different and exquisite. As the sensuous movements began, they fell from the pile of pillows to lie flat on the mattress, Darcy on top of her.
"Now," he was ready to enter and she was ready to receive him, "would you come to live with me?"
Their bodies became one and nothing else was said. They were too busy kissing, breathing, loving each other to ask or to reply. And when pleasure came, it was violent, explosive. It lifted their souls and shook their bodies and left them spent and exhausted.
The aftermath was the usual one. Together for a while, soft caresses and the necessary clean up in the bathroom. When they were back in bed, they cuddled together under the sheets.
"You never answered my question." Darcy put his foot over her feet to warm them up. How he wished she would use her slippers, for once.
"What question?"
"You know which one."
"Oh, Will," she sighed, "please let me think about it."
"Do not trifle with me, Elizabeth. If you don't want to move in with me tell me so at once. My expectations and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever."
"What?" She giggled. "Where did you get that from?"
"I don't know," Darcy smiled drowsily, "I read it somewhere."
"Just let me think about that, Will. I promise I'll answer you before the end of the holidays."
"Before New Year." He blinked slowly.
"You are pushing me."
"I'm anxious." Darcy's eyelids became heavy and he struggled to keep his eyes open.
"Before the end of the holidays." She spoke softly while caressing his face with her fingertips. The consequences of her tender fondling were evident. He was falling asleep.
"All right."
"Thank you." She gave him a brief kiss that he barely responded to.
Elizabeth watched him, smiling, with her heart so full of love that she couldn't understand how she could refuse his proposition. This was her big, tough man. When he was tired, and especially after making love, there was no way he would stay awake, he always fell asleep in the middle of the conversation. She gave him another quick kiss on the lips and nested in his arms, she fell asleep, lulled by the sound of his snores close to her ear.
"Number three in the corner," Charles bent and closed one eye to calculate the shot. The cue hit the ball and the shot was perfect. The ball entered the sack on the corner.
Darcy raised his eyebrows. Charles' pool had improved significantly in the past weeks. He shouldn't have bet with him on this one.
"Number two in the side." The actor slid the cue in between his fingers and was about to shoot when ...
"Did you read the script Mike sent you?" Darcy asked.
That was the worst shot of Charles' life. "Fuck! I can't believe I missed it!"
The director smiled. He didn't do it on purpose, really, he didn't. He walked around the table and studied his next shot.
"You don't know the piece of shit he sent me." Charles vented his frustration against his agent. "A cosmic policeman that is fighting against some kind of insurrected aliens inside a starship that is lost in the middle of the space. Super expensive production. These people think that they can replace the failures in the script with special effects. It's the most ridiculous plot I've ever seen."
"Ludicrous. And the money?" Ball seven in the side. It wasn't an easy shot, he only needed to do it softly, with a little effect so it would ...
"Eight million dollars."
Darcy missed the shot and the cue almost ripped the green fabric of the table. Charles smiled. He didn't do it on purpose either. Calmly, he circled the table, searching for the right angle of his next shot.
"And what about your new movie?" The actor made another good shot. "I read a little of the script the other day, it's great. That Jason is an amazing character."
Darcy shook his head. Why did he bet with him? "Did you like it?"
"Are you kidding?" Two more balls were out of the game. "That is the type of role I want to play. He's weak, he's ambitious, he loves like a real man, he is a real man. I'm tired of physical roles where the longest line I say is 'freeze, put your hands up'."
Oh, fuck. Number one was out, number four followed and now number six was the only one left. Fuck, fuck. He won.
Charles walked towards his friend and extended his hand, palm up. Reluctantly, Darcy placed ten pounds on it.
"I think this is the best part," the actor smiled devilishly, "watching your face when you pay."
"There is nothing worse than a bad winner, Chuck," Darcy smirked. "You used to be a good man."
"I'm taking revenge for all those times when you humiliated me after I lost, Darce, you aren't a good winner either. Do you want to play another one?"
"Oh, no," Darcy left the cue and walked towards the bar. "Let me wash down this defeat with a whiskey."
Glasses in hands, the friends sat down in opposite armchairs.
"And what are you going to do about with this movie?" The director asked.
Charles shook his head. "I'm not going to do it. I'll tell Mike not to send me any more action hero roles."
"Chuck, if you are serious about your change of image, you should find yourself a new agent. Mike's too mercenary. He's thinking on his commission, not on your career."
"You are right, as always." The actor sighed. Charles stared at his glass for a moment before saying. "Darce, I never really thanked you for everything you did. You are indeed a good friend."
Darcy raised his eyebrow, this was really unexpected. "You don't need to thank me, I've been more like an obstacle than of help lately, I almost ruined everything with Jane and ..."
"That," Charles replied playfully, "was a misstep that was thoroughly compensated with the rest. Now," the actor chuckled, "speaking seriously, I owe you many things. You showed me the right road, you reunited me with the woman I love and you received us in your house. This Christmas wouldn't have been what it was without your friendship."
"Christ, you are becoming emotional. Are you sure you didn't have too much to drink?" Darcy teased his friend.
"All right, you mock me if you want. You know what I'm talking about. These festivities had never been important for me. Mom died when I was a child and my father was drunk before midnight. This is the first time I spent Christmas with a real family. And I'm not just talking about Jane and the baby, or how our stay here is helping her to carry along her pregnancy without major problems, I'm talking about you and Lizzy and the rest. I really enjoyed every minute I've been at Pemberley and I want to thank you for this."
Both men raised their glasses in a silent toast.
"And you and Lizzy?" the actor asked. "From what I see, it's getting serious."
"It is." The director smiled.
"Then, we should toast to the 'Secret of the Mountain," Charles raised his glass again. "That movie not only enlarged our bank accounts significantly but also helped us find the love of our lives."
Darcy sipped his scotch with a pensive smile. That movie couldn't be more special for him.
"Back to that movie you are going to direct," Charles said after a moment, "I would like to audition for Jason's character. I know you are thinking of Ewan McGregor for the role but would you give me a chance?"
The director sat back on his armchair and observed his friend carefully. Charles was serious about this and while asking him to play that role never crossed his mind, imaging his friend with a fedora hat and braces wasn't difficult. Charles was too beautiful for the Jason Long he had pictured but now that he saw him better ...
"Are you up to a camera test?"
"Sure." Charles grinned.
"Now? I received the new dialogues and I want to hear how they sound."
"Sure!"
The gentlemen went to Darcy's study to get the large VHS camera and then to the living room, where Darcy had left the script.
"Okay, stand near the window, I need more light," Darcy commanded while placing the camera on his shoulder.
The women, that had been merrily planning the New Year's supper, immediately turned their attention to the two charismatic men that had just entered the room. There was no way they could look somewhere else. Charles caught his wife's eye and winked at her before looking down at the script that he was holding in his hands. As for the director, the world didn't exist when he was behind the camera so he just did what he loved to do: film.
And the magic started, right there. With fascinated eyes, Elizabeth, Jane, Amanda and Lydia were able to witness the amazing process of an actor composing a character. In a matter of minutes, Charles Bingley became Jason Long, the director of the play, a passionate, complex man who was fighting against the attraction he felt for the woman that was captivating his heart.
"Can you manage a Brit accent?" Darcy asked him as he filmed.
"Like yours?"
"It could be."
If there was something Charles was good at, it was accents. On several occasions he had imitated his friend's, mostly to tease him, but this time he used his natural skill in a more productive way. And he was just great at it. Charles' reading was getting better and better -he was reading the girl's part too, and the director wanted to try something different.
"Wait," Darcy stopped him, "I like it, but I need a woman's voice," he pulled his eye away from the lens and saw Lydia sitting near the window, observing them. "Liddy, would you help us with this?"
"Me?" the girl pointed at herself.
"Yes, you. We need a girl's voice."
Lydia looked at her mother then at her sister and back at the director. "Sure." She joined them and stood next to Charles so they could read together.
The moment had turned surreal, each one was moved for several reasons. Jane, so absolutely proud of her husband, he was indeed the best. Amanda, swooning with this dramatized scene of her youth, played by her own daughter, which wasn't even similar to what she lived in the past but that sounded so fantastic that was moving her to tears. And Elizabeth, she couldn't be more in love with her man right now. Everything about him was amazing: his talent in producing this movie, his love for her and his super caring and considerate attitude towards her family. Darcy could have asked her to read, or her mother, but no, he saw that Lydia was isolated from the group and made her part of the action. If there was someone doing everything within his reach to make Lydia walk back onto the right path, that was William Darcy.
Darcy left the camera on the table and gave Lydia a few more indications of how he wanted her to sound. The girl was so emotional for being able to act next to Charles Bingley that she was having difficulties with her lines. But Darcy succeeded in calming her down and then Amanda jumped in to help her and when they finished, they were all so pleased and proud and happy with how it came out that, like when Darcy obtained a good shot on the set, everyone clapped.
"Mr. Darcy," a maid called the master's attention.
"Yes?" He glanced over his shoulder. He was sitting on the armrest of the couch, with Elizabeth sanding beside him, holding her waist, looking so absolutely satisfied with how this came out.
"Mr. Lucas on the phone, sir."
"Thank you, I'll get in my study." He then turned to Elizabeth, whose face, because of his position, was leveled with his. "I'll be right back, little thing. Duty calls."
"Go." She smiled broadly.
Darcy never had any kind of problem in demonstrating his happiness in front of the others and this time he showed it without inhibitions. He pulled her close so their chests were touching, grabbed her butt firmly and gave her a noisy and tongue-ish kiss. Elizabeth giggled, Amanda fluttered and Lydia sighed at such a genuine and ardent demonstration of purest adoration.
The conversation with his friend and partner and future father in law lasted over half an hour. There were many things they needed to discuss, the pre-production of Appearances was on its way and they were talking to each other practically every day. When Darcy was done with that, he called Elizabeth to his study.
"Lizzy, your father wants to talk to you."
Elizabeth was still in a daze about what happened a few moments ago and greeted her father with unusual excitement.
"Hello, John!" Elizabeth collapsed in Darcy's armchair in his study. "You can't imagine what I've just seen!"
"Lizzy," John laughed on the other end, "how are you?"
"Great," she smiled, "I'm sorry, but I've just witnessed the weirdest scene of my life. Charles was reading Appearances' script and my mom read along with him! Could you imagine that? She was reading Lucy's lines!"
"William told me about that experiment and he said it came out great. I'm dying to see that tape."
"And Charles, he was just fantastic, you'll love it."
"Wills said he was good, but I didn't believe him. But if you say so, I'll consider him for the role."
"He's amazing, you'll see." It was quite funny. Charles was playing her own father, and they didn't even look alike.
"What scene were they reading?"
"I'm not sure, I think it's the part where the characters meet."
"Just a warning. It didn't happen exactly like that."
"I know, mom was telling me exactly the same thing." Elizabeth giggled. "She said: this has nothing to do with the real thing, Lizzy, it sounds much better. Had your father talked like that at the time, I would have swooned at his feet with the first word."
"I can well believe it." Sir John Lucas chuckled, and he thought himself a smooth-talker. "Lizzy, darling, I already asked William about this and he said it's your decision, not his. I would like you and William to come to a sort of celebration that we are having here at home, what do you think?"
Elizabeth's heart began to race. At his house? "When?"
"Tomorrow night. It's not a big party, less than 60 people, just closest friends and family. Dorothy and the children are so desirous to meet you."
For a moment, she couldn't even find her voice to reply but when she spoke, she sounded genuinely happy. "I'd love to go."
Her father was even happier and he didn't mind making it obvious. "That's fantastic, my child. I've been dreaming of this for a long time. See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow."
"Bye, Lizzy." He said.
"Bye, dad."
Elizabeth hung up the phone, still incredulous that she said what she just said.
In the living room, everything was in uproar when Elizabeth returned. Darcy was at one end of the room, conversing with Amanda, who was listening with huge eyes and holding her bosom in a way that seemed that she was securing her heart to stop it from jumping out of her chest. Lydia was in a state close to ecstasy, walking around the room, reading the script to Charles Bingley who, sitting next to his wife, was coaching her. It was like entering the Twilight Zone.
"Lizzy!" Amanda yelled, "come here! I have something to tell you!"
What was all this euphoria about? "Yes, mom."
"You'll never believe this!" Her mother cried. "William offered me a part in his movie!"
Elizabeth's eyes turned to Darcy, who was sporting the proudest, most self-confident grin she had ever seen. "What?"
"Could you believe this?" Amanda replied. "I'm back on the stage!"
Elizabeth didn't know if she was happy or scared about it. "And the flower shop?"
"Who cares about it?" Amanda waved her away. "I'll be an actress! I'll be acting again!"
"But, what kind of role? Who are you going to play?" Elizabeth's eyes went from mother to boyfriend.
"The florist," Darcy said. "Since I started working on this script, I've been thinking of this character. It's the woman who sells flowers at the entrance of the theatre. She only appears a few times in the movie, but she's always there to give Lucy a word of wisdom when she doesn't know what to do. I created her thinking of your mother."
"Isn't he just adorable? He created that character just for me."
Darcy smiled at his future mother-in-law and she melted into a puddle. "When I saw you the first time at the flower shop, I thought: all this beauty shouldn't be wasted. I must take her to the big screen."
"You are such a bad liar, William. You were about to commit suicide that day!" Amanda placed her hand on the man's forearm. "You don't know how I regret not being able to help you at the time. I tried, you know, but Elizabeth wouldn't let me. She completely refused to hear about you. Obstinate, headstrong girl. Though you already know that, don't you, dear?" Darcy nodded smilingly, "I'm sure she's got that from her father. She's nothing like us Gardiners, we are so nice tempered."
"Mom!"
"I'm going to tell Lydia about this," Amanda waved her daughter away. "She'll be delighted."
Elizabeth was still too shocked to say a word. Her mother trotted away and she looked at Darcy with astonished eyes.
"Did you talk to your dad?" Darcy changed the subject, knowing that she needed some time to process what had just happened.
His voice startled her out of the chaos her mind was still in. "Yes."
"And?" Darcy raised his eyebrows.
"He invited me -us- to his house tomorrow night."
"I know, he told me. And what was your reply?"
Elizabeth frowned and shook her head as her emotions began to settle down again. She looked at Darcy, who opened his arms to her and she walked into his embrace, seeking the refuge and comfort that his arms were offering. She hugged his waist, rested her head on his chest and sighed.
"I said yes." She felt his arms about her and his lips kissing her hair. She was feeling so much better now. Until know, she didn't realize how much that invitation had scared her, but now, in his embrace, everything seemed fine.
"Great." He rubbed her back. "Don't be afraid, my love, everything will be all right. I'll be there with you."
After a pause, she said. "You offered my mom a job."
Darcy rested his cheek on the top of her head while rocking her body. "I did."
"And Lydia," Elizabeth saw her youngest sister talking excitedly with Charles and Jane and her mom. "What's going on with her?"
"I think she has just discovered her vocation. She has good aptitudes for acting, she only needs to develop them."
She observed the others, comforted by the warmth of Darcy's embrace. "She looks very happy."
"She is."
"Thank you, Will." She sighed.
"You're welcome, Liz."