Chapter 32

This chapter is dedicated to Roya and Anne Marie. Thank you for the hospitality, the menu planning conference at Foreign Cinema, and the Cha Cha Cha re-enactment, even though we were too full to fight over the last Cajun shrimp.

Fall is perhaps the most pleasant season of the year in San Francisco. Summer-vacation visitors to the city are often surprised by cool temperatures and pervasive fog, provoking the quote often attributed to Mark Twain: “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” But autumn settles gently over the city, bestowing the gift of clear, sunny days and moderate temperatures that linger until winter nudges it aside, claiming center stage.

On a crystal clear Saturday morning in mid-October, Elizabeth dashed through her condo building’s parking lot on her way home from dance class. She checked her watch and made a face. I don’t see how I’ll ever be ready in time. But a shower and change of clothes was essential. She eyed the gray sweats she wore over her leotard as she unlocked the door to the main lobby.

Not exactly the way I want him to see me for the first time in almost two weeks. Shrugging, she rushed through the lobby and stabbed the “Up” elevator button.

A few minutes later, she flung open the door to the condo and hurried through, peeling off her sweatshirt as she made a beeline for the bathroom.

“Lizzy, is that you?” Jane emerged from her bedroom carrying a laundry basket.

“Yeah. And I’m running late.”

Jane stopped in the doorway to the bathroom. “If it would help, I can drive you down there.”

“No, it’s okay. I saw Chloe on the elevator, and she said if I needed a few extra minutes to get ready, she could wait.” Elizabeth was getting a ride to the airport from their neighbor Chloe, who was headed in that direction for a lunch date.

“All right, if you’re sure. By the way, what time is dinner?”

“Our reservations are at seven.”

“Foreign Cinema, right?”

“Right. And I think it’ll be warm enough tonight to sit outside.”

“Well, I’m off to the laundry room. Tell William I said 'welcome back,' and enjoy your reunion. I’ll see you later.”

Elizabeth shut the bathroom door, stripped off her clothes, and stepped into the shower. Had she examined her reflection in the mirror, she would have seen the glow that spread across her face as she replayed Jane’s words. Our reunion.

William had been in New York visiting his family and handling Darcy Arts Trust business for several days. Eleven days and twenty-seven minutes, not that I’m keeping track. He had originally planned to return to San Francisco earlier this week, but Georgie had begged him to stay to see her play the piano in a concert at school. Elizabeth had adopted her best understanding-girlfriend tone when he had reluctantly shared this news, but the four additional days had lumbered by at glacial speed. To make matters worse, they had talked on the phone only briefly yesterday, their busy and incompatible schedules precluding one of their usual late-night conversations. But I’d better get used to it. Once he starts touring again, this is what it’s going to be like most of the time.

She didn’t like thinking about that, preferring to focus instead on the recent past. The month of September, bracketed at one end by Charlotte’s birthday party and at the other by William’s departure for New York, had been almost absurdly happy on nearly every front. Her job was everything she had hoped it would be, and it was a joy to be home, sharing the condo with Jane, seeing her father on a regular basis, and exploring the city she considered the best place on earth.

Above all, she was in love, and that heightened the other pleasures of her life. A quiet walk in Golden Gate Park was all the sweeter with William at her side, their hands joined as they wandered the winding paths. An evening spent grading exams had its charms when she could look up from the papers on her lap to smile into his warm brown eyes. She had rediscovered San Francisco while showing it to him, with its scenic beauty, its staggering array of choices for dining, and its vibrant cultural scene.

They had sampled a wide range of these charms together, from leisurely strolls along the water to the black-tie opening night of the opera, where they had mingled with the cream of San Francisco society. With a handsome prince at my side, and black heels instead of glass slippers. The evening had unfortunately featured another element of the Cinderella story—Catherine de Bourgh as the stepmother, and Anne as one of the stepsisters, holding court in their private box on the mezzanine.

Catherine had issued William an invitation to accompany them—actually, he said that it had been phrased more as a proclamation than as a question. He had refused citing an unspecified previous engagement, yet another reason why it had been imperative to escape detection by her employer that evening.

Ducking the de Bourghs had involved, among other things, skipping the post-performance gala reception. William and Elizabeth had nonetheless ended the evening in style, snuggling on the dance floor of the opulent Starlight Room atop the Drake Hotel. And then her prince had taken her home, his Ferrari a worthy replacement for a pumpkin coach.

The Ferrari reminded her of another evening, and she pressed her lips together, her shoulders shaking in rueful laughter as she stood under the cascading spray of water. Their drive-in movie date had been memorable, though not for any reason that had aligned with William’s hopes. He had failed to realize in advance that a small, sleek convertible without a back seat was a poor choice of vehicle in which to recapture his lost youth. At first he had clenched his jaw, his eyes crackling with annoyance as Elizabeth dissolved into fits of helpless giggles at his contortionist attempts to embrace her across the car’s center console, but eventually he too had been overcome by the humor of the situation. They had abandoned the drive-in to proceed to phase two of the date, and had soon settled companionably into a booth at a nearby diner enjoying an ice cream soda—with two straws, as planned.

She turned off the shower, wrapped herself in a towel, and mechanically began to dry her hair, still musing over the past month. Their argument the night of Charlotte’s party had paved the way for a new measure of trust between them, leading to deeper and wider-ranging conversations. One particularly revealing topic had been William’s stories of his childhood. Though he spoke of it matter-of-factly, she had pieced together a poignant image of a lonely little boy with dark, solemn eyes, adrift in a world of adults—beloved by the women in his household and praised by strangers, but isolated from other children.

At an age when most boys spent their afternoons and weekends honing their skills and forming friendships on a variety of playing fields, William had already been a rising concert artist. This had made him different, peculiar—words that struck terror into the heart of the average adolescent. Now that Elizabeth understood the extent to which he had always felt like an outsider among his peers, it no longer seemed odd that he exhibited confidence to the point of arrogance in professional settings, yet retreated behind a wall of diffident reserve in social situations, reserve that she had once misinterpreted as pompous conceit.

Of course, I wasn’t always misinterpreting. Sometimes he really is pompous. And a bit conceited. With an indulgent smile, she bent forward from the waist, continuing to dry her hair as it hung toward the ground. Love hadn’t blinded her to his faults. She was well aware that he treated nearly every unfamiliar person or situation with skepticism, if not outright scorn. Yet those few who managed to chip their way through his almost impervious shell—and it still astounded Elizabeth that she had joined that select company—were privileged to know a different man: one who was loyal and generous, whose feelings ran deep, and whom she loved more with every day that passed.

His frequent stubbornness—born of a high regard for his admittedly formidable intellect—was another challenge, but Elizabeth had learned that humor and unassailable logic allowed her to hold her own in their skirmishes. In one area, she had done better than hold her own: his health. With her encouragement—and some nagging, let’s be honest here—he had begun to take better care of himself, and his body had responded. The crowning moment had come two weeks ago, when Dr. Salinger had given a triumphant William permission to resume a limited regimen of running.

Elizabeth had volunteered to take up jogging in order to keep him company, though her real objective had been to make sure he followed the doctor’s orders and didn’t overdo. But by their second jaunt together she had to admit that it was hopeless—she was no match for even an out-of-shape William, whose long strides allowed him to pull far ahead of her almost immediately. He had been polite, of course, slowing down frequently to allow her to catch up, but at the end of the run she had announced her retirement as his training partner. She sensed that he wasn’t disappointed—he seemed to prefer running in solitude, and she would simply have to trust him not to overtax himself.

She was certain that the doctor’s prohibition against sex had long since been lifted—otherwise it seemed improbable that William would be permitted to run—yet the physical side of their relationship had not advanced since the night of Charlotte’s party. In fact, they had taken a step backward. It was as though they had approached the edge of a precipice and peeked over, only to scurry back after seeing the size of the drop that awaited them. Or, at least, it was that way for me. I’m sure he didn’t see it like that.

Her hair dry, Elizabeth gathered it into a ponytail on her way to her bedroom. She dressed quickly in casual clothes and raced from the apartment, snatching a jacket from the closet on her way out the door. She’d have to put on her make-up in the car.

Once she arrived at the airport, she began to feel silly. Who on earth hitches a ride to the airport in order to meet somebody? But her teaching schedule had prevented her from seeing William off on his trip to New York, and the other night on the phone he had spoken of his many solitary arrivals at airports. Had his wistful tone not convinced her to meet his flight, the broad hint that followed would have done the job. He had been careful to inform her not just of his arrival time, but of his airline and flight number.

Not that he’ll be alone this time. His foundation was in the final stages of selecting the winners of its young composers’ grants. He had returned to New York for part of the process, and Sonya was joining him in San Francisco to continue their work.

Elizabeth arrived at the United Airlines concourse with a few minutes to spare. As she stood with other passengers’ friends and relatives just outside the security area, all craning their necks to look down the crowded concourse, she noted a rotund, black-suited limo driver holding a placard bearing the word “Darcy.” and her heart fluttered in her chest.

At last she saw William a short distance away, and she drew in a quick breath. Did he get even more gorgeous over the past … eleven days, two hours, and twelve minutes? She silently cursed the other passengers who had the nerve to step in the way, obstructing her view as he approached, powerful and sexy and utterly irresistible.

Sonya was beside him, looking cross and tired. Elizabeth felt a touch of sympathetic amusement when she noted that Sonya seemed to be laboring to keep up. William needed frequent reminders that not everyone was over six feet tall with long, strong legs.

Her eyebrows shot up when he turned and spoke to a man whom she belatedly recognized. William hadn’t mentioned that Richard was coming along on the trip, but there he was, walking alongside his cousin, a glint of sardonic humor in his eyes.

William scanned the waiting crowd, an expectant look on his face. When at last he saw her, a look of pure delight spread across his features and he quickened his pace, leaving Sonya and Richard behind. She expected that the presence of his friends or the fear of being recognized in the bustling terminal would inhibit the warmth of his greeting, and she forced herself to stand still, though nothing could contain the joy dancing in her eyes. But he swept her into his arms the moment he reached her side, and they held one another tightly in wordless contentment.

His lips brushed the top of her head and she heard him breathe her name. She lifted her head from his shoulder and basked in the warmth of his sweet, boyish grin, wondering how she had survived for the past eleven days—not to mention the past twenty-six years—without him.

“Hi.” he said softly.

“Hi yourself.” She raised her face for his kiss as his mouth descended toward hers.

“Okay, you two, break it up.” It was Richard, standing close beside them.

William straightened up and directed a silent stare of profound resentment at his cousin.

“Shut up, Richard.” Sonya snapped.

“Kidding!” Richard’s rakish grin almost made Elizabeth laugh. “Please, do us all a favor and kiss the girl. You’ve been talking about her nonstop for over a week.”

Elizabeth knew better than that—William wouldn’t talk nonstop about anything—but she noted his sheepish expression as he turned back to her. “I should never have let him come along.” he grumbled. They kissed gently, his eyes promising that a more effusive greeting would follow later.

Elizabeth smiled at Sonya. “Welcome to San Francisco.”

Despite her obvious bad mood, Sonya managed a half-smile in return. “Thank you. It’s good to see you again. And I apologize for the bad behavior of my traveling companion.”

Elizabeth thought she sensed smug satisfaction behind Richard’s penitent air. “I’m sorry.” he said. “I imagine you’ve been told that bad behavior is my specialty.”

Elizabeth extended her hand to Richard, her eyes twinkling. “I heard something to that effect. But I hadn’t heard that you were coming out here for a visit.”

“I just decided yesterday. I’ve been getting bored with my decadent lifestyle in New York, so I thought I’d seek out some fresh forms of decadence.”

“And I’ve been regretting agreeing to it all day.” William’s weary tone suggested that he wasn’t joking.

“Since when did I give you a choice? And don’t forget that you’re living under my folks’ roof out here, old man. A little gratitude would be in order.”

“I’m very grateful—to Aunt Eleanor.” William shot back over his shoulder as he sought out the limo driver, who was standing off to one side.

“They were like this the whole way out here.” Sonya muttered to Elizabeth, rolling her eyes. “The Bickersons Meet the Odd Couple.”

Elizabeth’s eyes flashed to Richard, anticipating his barbed retort, but he was engrossed in watching a curvaceous blonde swivel past. She stepped closer to Sonya. “What’s the matter with them?”

“Oh, they mostly do it to amuse themselves. It’s rare for a sincere word to come out of Richard’s mouth, and William does his best to keep up. But I think he’s had his fill of Richard’s teasing this time.”

“Is the teasing about anything in particular?”

Sonya cocked her head and raised one eyebrow. “As a matter of fact, it’s mostly about you. We’ve all noticed that William has been, for lack of a better term, pining for you, and Richard’s been having a field day. He’s about as unsentimental as they come. Anyway, you’d think the two of them were fourteen-year-olds.”

A smile played around the corners of Elizabeth’s mouth. “I’ve been on the receiving end of some of that myself, from a good friend of mine.”

“She’s probably just jealous. Ain’t love grand?”

Before Elizabeth could respond, William returned with the limo driver in tow and shepherded the group toward baggage claim. As she walked beside William, his arm securely around her waist, her heart pounded at the import of Sonya’s statement. Don’t read too much into it. It’s just an expression. Besides, he’d never have talked to her about his feelings, so she’s just making an assumption about him being in love … just like she is about me.

All the same, Elizabeth’s face glowed as she rode the crowded escalator to the lower level of the noisy terminal. Love is grand, as a matter of fact, even if you aren’t 100 percent sure that he loves you back.

William felt an unexpected sense of homecoming as he set his keys on the table in the penthouse’s marble-floored foyer. He was pleased to find a note from Mrs. Hill, indicating that she had visited that morning per his instructions to prepare for his return.

“My God, has it really been more than five years since I’ve been here?” Richard wandered into the library, avidly absorbing the details of the room. He ambled from there into the living room, stopping in front of a window to inspect the commanding view of the city afforded by their hilltop location.

“How old were you when your family moved away?” Elizabeth asked.

“Thirteen.” Richard answered quietly without turning around. “New York is a terrific place, but San Francisco … But I don’t need to explain—you’re a native too.”

“I know exactly what you mean. You know, I left at the same age as you, for school. This is the first time in years that I’ve been here for longer than a break between semesters.”

Richard stepped away from the windows. “I think you said your parents live in Cupertino.”

“Right. It’s nice down there, but I’m really enjoying city life. I guess I got used to it in New York.”

“So, which room is mine?” Richard asked.

William, who had lost track of the conversation while his eyes devoured Elizabeth, didn’t answer at first. After Richard repeated his query with barely concealed amusement, a flustered William motioned in the direction of the hall. “The master suite or your old bedroom—your choice.”

“You’re not using the master suite?”

“It sent me into floral overload the first time I saw it. The walls, the bedspread, the curtains …” William shuddered. “Flowers everywhere. I moved into the guest suite.”

Richard snorted. “Not that a wall full of flowers threatens my masculinity, but I think I’ll bunk in my room for old time’s sake.” He fetched his suitcase and disappeared down the hall.

As soon as Richard was gone, William grabbed Elizabeth’s hand and drew her into his arms. “Now I can finally say a proper 'hello' to you.” But it seemed that no sooner had their lips met than he heard Richard’s footsteps and his jovial voice.

“Okay, my suitcase is stowed. Now let’s get some lunch. I’m—Oops.”

William allowed Elizabeth to pull out of his embrace, but he kept one arm draped lightly over her shoulders. He’d waited too long to touch her, and he wasn’t letting anything—particularly not his cousin—interfere. “Go away, Richard.”

“Fine. I can take a hint.”

“Apparently not.”

Richard chuckled. “Okay, okay, I’m going. I’ll head over to the Fairmont and see if Sonya wants to get some lunch. But you know, if you really want me to stay gone for a while, you could lend me the Ferrari.”

“Goodbye, Richie.” William emphasized Richard’s detested childhood nickname.

“This is your fault, Elizabeth.” Richard grumbled, but his eyes were twinkling. “Just because the old man here would rather hole up with you, I’m about to be launched on the unsuspecting city of San Francisco without a chaperone.”

“I’ll make a quick call and warn the women to take cover. I assume the men are safe?” Elizabeth gave Richard a saucy grin.

William smirked, gratified by the approval in his cousin’s eyes. He had suspected that Elizabeth would have no trouble going toe to toe with Richard.

“Well, enjoy yourselves, not that I need to tell you that. If there’s a tie on the doorknob when I get back, I’ll take a long walk around the block.” Richard’s footsteps echoed in the entryway, followed by the thud of the door.

William gathered Elizabeth back into his arms. “Alone at last.”

“A tie on the doorknob? So he thinks that we’re going to—”

“Don’t worry about him.” William murmured, though he too had noticed Richard’s assumption about their plans for the afternoon. Not that it’s a bad idea. “I want you focused 100 percent on me.”

“I think I can guarantee you that.” She stroked his cheek, her fingers warm and gentle against his skin.

This time nothing interrupted the rapturous sensation as her soft lips fused with his. He poured all his love, and all the loneliness of the past several days, into the kiss, until Elizabeth was clinging to him in helpless surrender.

He raised his head, clasping her tightly to him. “I missed you.” he whispered against her hair, inhaling the clean scent of shampoo mingled with the sweet, exotic fragrance she wore.

Her breath was warm against his neck as she deposited soft, spine-tingling kisses in a path up to his jaw. She raised her head, her eyes soft. “Me too.”

Their lips met again in a slow, deep, thorough kiss that awoke every nerve ending in William’s body. He groaned softly as her hands caressed his neck and threaded through his hair. But as time passed, their kisses grew gradually more playful, and they brushed and nibbled one another’s lips, rubbing noses and giggling like delighted children. She makes me feel like a boy … and yet very much like a man, both at the same time.

She took his hand and led him to the sofa. William sat down and she snuggled next to him in the circle of his arm, her legs curled under her, her hand resting over his heart. The sounds of the traffic below receded to the edges of his mind, leaving him enveloped in quiet contentment.

“How have you been feeling?”

He grinned, glancing at his wristwatch. “Mrs. Reynolds would be disappointed—it took you over an hour to get around to asking.”

Elizabeth pursed her lips. “Ah, yes. Poor persecuted William. How dare we all show concern for your welfare?”

“I know everybody means well. And in your case, it doesn’t bother me.” He traced his fingers along her arm in a slow, soft caress, and she nestled closer to him. “I feel fine. I still can’t run even half the distance I used to, but I can feel my stamina rebuilding slowly.”

“Okay, but what about the other things? Headaches? Fatigue? Breathlessness?”

“No, I’ve been fine.” He had a slight headache at the moment, but it was the first one in several days, and he didn’t want her getting upset over nothing. Anybody would have a headache after getting up at six in the morning and having to listen to Richard for hours on end.

“Good.” She kissed his jaw. “I really do worry about you, you know.”

He stroked her soft, cool cheek. “Yes, I know, and I’m glad you do.” He bent his head to kiss her, his mouth lingering on hers, savoring its sweetness.

When at last he lifted his head, slightly breathless, she settled back against him with a soft sigh. “Are you hungry?” she asked. “I assume you got breakfast on the flight, but that was quite a while ago.”

But what I’m really starving for isn’t in the kitchen. He shoved that dangerous thought aside and answered the question on behalf of his growling stomach. “Yes, I’m hungry.”

“We could go out and get something.”

“There’s no need. Mrs. Hill was here this morning, and she left lunch for two.”

She sat up and gave him a mischievous grin. “You didn’t mention that while Richard was here.”

“Certainly not. I said it was lunch for two.”

“Mmm. My favorite kind of lunch.”

After another lengthy embrace, which William was sure had raised his body temperature into the danger zone, Elizabeth stood up and pulled him to his feet and they proceeded into the kitchen. They found a container of homemade vegetable soup in the refrigerator and a loaf of fresh-baked bread on the counter. As they worked together to prepare the simple meal, Elizabeth said, “I was surprised to see Richard with you.”

“It was a surprise to me too. He just told me yesterday evening that he wanted to come.”

“So it’s not business-related?” She paused in slicing the loaf of bread, and he heard a slight hitch in her voice.

William frowned slightly. “No—why do you ask?”

“I thought maybe you were getting ready to resume touring, and he came out to work with you on the arrangements.”

William sighed. “No, he’s not here for that reason. But—”

The microwave beeped, announcing that the soup was ready, and he retrieved it and poured it into two bowls. He carried them to the table, and Elizabeth set down a basket of bread.

“I considered telling you this on the phone.” William said, pulling out a chair for her and then seating himself. “But I thought it was better to wait till I got here.”

“So I was right—you’re ready to start touring again.” Her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Almost. I saw Dr. Rosemont last week, and afterwards she and Dr. Salinger talked. When I saw her again a few days ago, she said they felt that I could resume my schedule in January, based on my recent progress.”

“I’m so glad. I know how hard it’s been for you to wait around, without even a time frame.” Her smile was warmer now. “So will you stay out here till then?”

William hesitated. “They also gave me the go-ahead to start back on a limited basis in November.”

Her smile died. “So soon? Are they sure you’re healthy enough?”

“I have just one trip planned for November, but it’s a long one.” He absently swallowed a spoonful of soup.

“How long?”

“Ten days. Remember, I think I told you about the Liszt festival the Sydney Symphony is doing? The one I was hoping it wouldn’t be necessary to cancel?”

Elizabeth nodded.

“They’ve been holding out, waiting to see what would happen—making backup arrangements just in case, but they really wanted me. I’m supposed to perform over two weekends. It’s different from popping in and out of town and doing three performances in as many days. I’ll have time to rest on the days in between. And I was thinking …”

“What?” She sipped from her water glass.

“Why don’t you cancel some classes and come with me?”

She smiled, but her eyes were full of regret. “Oh, I wish I could. And it means so much that you asked. But I can’t cancel that many classes.”

“Then get a substitute. Please, Lizzy. I’d love to explore Australia with you.”

Elizabeth hesitated, a wistful look in her eyes. “I’d love it too.” She spoke slowly, more to herself than to William. “I guess I could probably reschedule my voice students ….”

This sounds promising. But then she frowned and shook her head.

“No, I’d never manage to find colleagues to sub for all my classes. And I’d probably get fired for disappearing for that long in the middle of the semester.”

“There must be some way to work it out.”

She reached across the table and touched his arm. “I don’t think so. I’m really sorry.”

“So am I.” Blissful images of romantic exploration of Australia’s beaches crumbled into ashes, replaced by the specter of an endless progression of lonely days and nights. He set down his spoon, no longer interested in food.

She gave him a sad smile. “I meant what I said before—I really missed you, even more than I thought I would. It got me thinking about what it’ll be like once you go back to New York for good.”

“I know. I’ve been thinking about that too.” New York had to be his home base, for the sake of his family and his career, but he didn’t want to return there without her. Yet her sister and the rest of her family were here. Not to mention the job I got for her. That was a fresh source of worry, one he pushed aside for later consideration.

“I understand your situation.” Her tone was matter-of-fact, but William noted that she was absently trailing her spoon through the broth in her soup bowl. “Your life is back there, and I can’t expect you to be here all the time. I mean, we’ve never really talked about the future, not in any detail, anyway.”

“No, but I know what I want.”

“Which is?” Her spoon froze in position.

“For us to go on seeing one another, of course. I thought you understood that.”

Her mouth curved up in a tremulous smile. “I thought so, but I’m glad to know for sure. It’s what I want too.”

He stood up, leaned over the table, and kissed her. “Then we’ll make it happen. Now, are you absolutely sure you can’t come to Australia?” He returned to his chair.

“Not for that long, at least not during the semester. And it’s too far to pop in for the weekend. But what about the rest of November? When do you get back from Down Under?”

“I don’t recall the exact date—Sonya would know—but it’s about a week before Thanksgiving.”

“Are you flying back here, or to New York?”

William reached into the bread basket and retrieved a thick slice of Mrs. Hill’s homemade bread. “New York.”

“And staying there through Thanksgiving?”

“Yes.” All of the Darcys were well aware of Gran’s firm dictum that they appear en masse at the townhouse for Thanksgiving dinner, but William had no intention of being separated from Elizabeth for as much time as that would imply. He had at first considered defying Gran, but then a far better idea had occurred to him, and he had set the wheels in motion before leaving New York. He took a breath, about to explain, when Elizabeth spoke again.

“I ask because my Aunt Madeline called the evening before last and invited me to go to the Caribbean over Thanksgiving break. Uncle Edward has a medical conference the weekend before, and she wanted me there to play tourist with her while he’s in meetings. She said we’d stay on through the end of the week and just relax.”

“Did you accept?” If so, she’d simply have to tell them that she’d changed her mind.

“Not yet. I wanted to find out your plans first. I thought you’d probably be in New York, but just in case you were going to be here instead, I wouldn’t have wanted to leave you by yourself. Anyway, I guess I’ll call her and say yes. It sounds like fun, don’t you think?”

William shook his head, responding not to her question, but to the idea. “Don’t go with them. Come to New York with me instead.”

“What?” She set down her soup spoon and regarded him in silence.

“Come to New York and spend Thanksgiving week with me. And my family, of course.”

Her eyes widened. “But—I mean, it’s so nice of you to ask, but—”

“I’m not asking to be nice. I want you there with me.”

Her face held a constantly shifting mix of delight and doubt. “I’d love to. But … are you sure? Your family hasn’t seen much of you lately, and they might prefer to have you to themselves.”

“I’m absolutely sure. I want them to get to know you better. And vice versa.”

“Thanksgiving is a big deal in most families. Are you certain I won’t be intruding?”

William reached across the table and took her hand. “Of course you won’t. Everyone is looking forward to having you there.” He assured himself that it wasn’t too big an exaggeration.

The doubt fled from her face, leaving her eyes shining with pleasure. “Then of course I’ll come. I’m so glad you asked me.”

“Excellent. I’ll let Gran know. She’ll be writing you to issue an invitation of her own.”

“That’s sweet of her.”

“She’s old-fashioned about these things. She still talks about the days when it wasn’t proper for a young single lady to visit a gentleman—so she visited one of his female relatives instead.”

“And we certainly wouldn’t want to do anything improper.” Elizabeth said the word “improper"rdquo; with an exaggerated British accent.

“Good. I’m glad that’s settled.” William turned his attention back to his lunch.

“I’m sorry to have to say no to Aunt Madeline, though. In fact, I didn’t tell you the most interesting part of her invitation.”

William’s mouth was full, so he raised his eyebrows to invite her to continue.

“Uncle Edward’s conference is in Barbados.”

Pemberley was located on a hilltop on the east coast of Barbados. William swallowed his bread quickly so he could speak. “That is interesting.”

“Isn’t it? I was going to ask if you had a caretaker who could give me a tour of Pemberley while I was there, and that way I’d be able to visualize it when you talked about it. So your invitation does deprive me of that.”

“Then I suppose I’ll have to invite you to Pemberley some time and take you on the tour myself.”

Elizabeth stood up from the table and walked around to him, resting her hands on his shoulders. “I can’t think of anything I’d like more.” She leaned over, her lips capturing his, and he pulled her onto his lap, losing himself in the rapture of their kiss.

As she and Jane stepped out of their cab onto Mission Street, Elizabeth wondered what William would think of their destination for the evening. During the day the Mission District was an invigorating—if somewhat seedy—area to explore. But after dark the seediness seemed to seep out of the shadows and dominate, coating the streets and buildings with a veneer of decay and a hint of danger. Certainly the gaudy neon sign above the nearby taqueria and the drug dealers loitering on the corner attracted more attention than the silvery double doors leading into Foreign Cinema, a trendy eatery in an improbable location.

The doors flew open and William strode through. Even in the dim light Elizabeth could see lines of tension around his eyes. “I’ve been watching for you,” he said brusquely, ushering Elizabeth and Jane through the doors. “I didn’t want you walking around alone in this neighborhood at night.”

“Hello to you too,” Elizabeth replied, stretching up to deposit a quick kiss on his cheek. “I guess you haven’t been down here before.”

“I should say not,” he sniffed, though his eyes warmed as he leaned over to touch his lips to hers.

“I hope you noticed that I made sure the restaurant had valet parking so your precious Ferrari would be safe.”

William snorted. “I’d never even consider bringing it down here. We took a cab. There wouldn’t have been room in the car for all three of us in any case.”

That’s right—I keep forgetting about Richard.

“Welcome back, William.” Jane had been standing quietly to one side during the preceding exchange.

“Thank you. It’s good to be back. I hope you’ve been well.”

William took Jane’s hand in his briefly. Elizabeth couldn’t help but notice that his smile, though sincere, was subdued. She could still sense a reservoir of aloofness in him where Jane was concerned, but he had made progress over the past several weeks. Elizabeth knew that his efforts were for her sake, which was gratifying. But he doesn’t deserve too much credit. I mean, how could anybody not like Jane?

William escorted the sisters down a long hallway with polished wood floors and plain white walls. Tealight candles in small glass jars flickered on both sides, perched on narrow shelves that ran the entire length of the hallway.

“Did you see Charles at all while I was in New York?”

Jane glanced up at William, nodding. “He came up to play with the group last Saturday night.”

Elizabeth smiled in satisfaction. It had been Charles’s second trip to San Francisco since the night of Charlotte’s birthday party. His stated purpose had been to perform with Golden Gate Jazz; however, on both evenings he and Jane had found time for private conversation. Jane continued to insist that the romantic relationship was over—that Charles had displayed nothing but a friendly interest in her—but as long as they were in contact, Elizabeth was convinced that there was hope.

William approached the hostess’s station. “The rest of our party is here now,” he said.

“Yes, sir. We’ll have your table ready in just a few minutes. The others went back to the bar, if you’d care to join them.”

William squared his shoulders and lifted his chin. “Our reservation was for 7:00, and it’s nearly ten past. Why isn’t the table ready now?”

“I’m sorry, sir. We had to rearrange things to accommodate the extra member of your party. And as you can see, it’s very busy tonight, so it’s taking us a few minutes.”

From the set of his jaw, Elizabeth could tell that William was fuming despite the hostess’s explanation. She threaded her arm through his. “Let’s go to the bar and order some drinks. They’re supposed to serve some interesting cocktails.” She addressed the hostess. “You’ll come get us when the table is ready?”

The hostess nodded, and Elizabeth led William firmly through the dimly-lit restaurant to the bar along the back wall, with Jane a few steps behind them. “Relax,” she murmured. “I’m sure it’ll just be a few minutes, and she’s right—I forgot to call and tell her there would be five of us instead of four.”

“They still shouldn’t keep us waiting,” he insisted, his eyes stormy.

Yeah, I suppose he doesn’t wait for a table very often. Elizabeth decided that a change of subject was in order. “You look very handsome tonight,” she said softly, stroking the sleeve of his dark gray blazer. He had paired the jacket with a lightweight black sweater instead of his usual white dress shirt. She suspected that his closet was filled with dozens of identical shirts, all flawlessly tailored and crisply pressed.

“Trying to distract me with idle flattery?” He appeared to be doing his best not to smile, but she felt the tension leaving his body.

“You bet.” She squeezed his arm. “Is it working?”

A reluctant grin lit up his face. “Of course.” His eyes skimmed her slowly from head to toe. “And speaking of flattery—”

“Wow.” It was Richard, gesturing toward Elizabeth and Jane with his half-empty martini glass. He turned to Sonya. “Figures, doesn’t it? Will makes an entrance with not one, but two gorgeous women. Obviously the William Darcy Magnetic Field is in good operating condition this evening.”

“The William Darcy what?” Elizabeth’s eyes betrayed her confusion.

“Never mind,” William replied, darting a stern glance at Richard. “Let’s establish the cardinal rule for his visit. Don’t listen to a word he says, because none of it is true.”

“Actually, that’s not a bad rule,” Sonya said, her expression deadpan, but she winked at Richard.

“Jane, I’d like you to meet the comedy team of Fitzwilliam and Lawrence,” Elizabeth said with a smile. “Better known as Sonya Lawrence and Richard Fitzwilliam. This is my sister, Jane Bennet.”

Sonya and Jane exchanged polite greetings. Richard deposited his glass on the bar and switched on a dazzling smile as he accepted Jane’s proffered hand. “Pay no attention to these slurs against my character. They’ll give you a completely twisted picture of me.”

Sonya and Jane seated themselves on barstools while the others clustered around, examining the menu of signature cocktails and placing their orders. While they chatted and waited for their drinks, Elizabeth examined her surroundings, and noted the others doing the same.

“Unusual place,” Richard remarked.

He was right. The overall effect might have been best described as “industrial chic.” It had the look of an old warehouse, with high ceilings, concrete walls, and minimalist décor consisting mostly of polished wood. Large windows opened onto a courtyard offering outdoor seating. A movie was being projected on the courtyard’s rear wall.

“What’s the film?” Sonya asked.

Jane craned her neck to peer at the screen, which was partially visible through the windows. “It looks like Cinema Paradiso.” She consulted a card on the bar. “Yes, it is. I just loved that movie.”

The others nodded or spoke up in agreement, except for William. Elizabeth couldn’t tell if he was staring at her, or just staring absently with no idea where his eyes were trained. She stepped closer to him, slipping her hands beneath his jacket and resting them on his waist. “I know you’d be more comfortable at Boulevard or Acquarello,” she said quietly, so the others wouldn’t hear, “but I thought it would be fun for Sonya to go someplace a bit out of the ordinary. And even though I didn’t know Richard was coming, I think it works well for him too.”

He brushed a wisp of hair off her cheek, and his hands came to rest on her shoulders. “Don’t worry about me—I’m happy to be here.”

“You don’t need to pretend. I saw that discontented look on your face a minute ago.”

He shook his head. “It wasn’t about the restaurant. I was thinking how much I missed you while I was gone.” He sighed. “And how much I’m going to miss you when I have to leave again.”

She slid her hands up his chest. “But isn’t it kind of silly to worry about it now, when we’re spending a nice evening together?”

“Good point,” he said with a sheepish grin. “Oh, and allow me to apologize.”

“For what?”

“For this.” His hands cradled her head and he bent down, his lips lingering on hers. The sweetness of the kiss made her long for another, and another after that. But they weren’t alone—family, friends, and strangers were watching—and she knew that was the reason for his pre-emptive apology. They rarely engaged in public displays of affection much beyond hand-holding.

“You’re forgiven,” she whispered, and his sweet, infectious grin provoked a wide smile from her. They touched foreheads, eyes closed, sharing a blissful private moment in the middle of the crowded room.

“Hey, lover boy, your drinks are ready.”

William kissed the tip of her nose and released her, haughtily ignoring Richard’s jibe.

“Like I said earlier,” Sonya murmured in Elizabeth’s ear, “it’s jealousy, nothing but jealousy.”

Elizabeth’s expression was rapturous as she slid another spoonful of chocolate pot de crème into her mouth. The movie had ended and begun again as they sat in the courtyard enjoying their meal, though they had paid the film scant attention beyond an occasional comment on a favorite scene.

The food had been excellent, from the several varieties of oysters Elizabeth and Richard gleefully sampled to the desserts and after-dinner drinks over which they were all lingering now. The weather had been perfect for al fresco dining, though as nightfall brought cooler temperatures Elizabeth was glad for the long sleeves on her lightweight sweater.

The most memorable element of her evening had been William’s intoxicating presence beside her—his spicy scent, the deep accents of his voice, the breadth of his shoulders beneath his soft black sweater, and the warmth of his body whenever he brushed against her. He had done so frequently, usually accompanied by a dark-eyed, lazy half-smile.

With such an inviting distraction at hand, it had been difficult to pay proper attention to the rest of her tablemates. Fortunately, Jane, Richard, and Sonya had carried on a lively discussion during the meal, allowing Elizabeth to insert periodic remarks without needing to carry much conversational responsibility. William had spoken only rarely, but the others were familiar with his taciturn nature and had no reason to find his behavior unusual.

She savored another spoonful of the pot de crème, licking her lips in delight. Then she refilled the spoon and extended it, brimming with the rich concoction, toward William. “Want a taste?”

His eyes flared, but it was her lips that appeared to command his attention, not the spoon. “Yes, please,” he murmured in a husky voice, quirking one eyebrow.

Their heated gazes locked as she pushed the spoon gently between his open lips. When she withdrew the spoon slowly, he breathed, “Delicious.”

A quiet cough from Richard reminded Elizabeth that they weren’t alone. Flustered, she turned her attention back to the others at the table. Jane and Sonya were quietly discussing San Francisco weather, politely failing to notice the heat radiating from the other side of the table. Richard, though, gave William a brash grin and raised his glass in a mocking salute.

Elizabeth hated couples who engaged in what amounted to public foreplay, and she had no intention of acting that way herself. She resolved to behave better for the rest of the evening. A quick glance at William showed him lifting his chin, staring at Richard without embarrassment or apology. I guess considering Richard’s reputation, he’s in no position to pass judgment!

She smiled across the table at Richard, regaining her composure. “I was surprised you were willing to come with us tonight, with the Yankees playing such an important game right across the bay.” The American League baseball playoffs were in progress, and tonight’s game was taking place in Oakland.

“So Will told you I’m a baseball fan?”

Elizabeth nodded.

“There’s a truth and symmetry in the game that I find remarkable. I know that sounds like philosophical crap, but …” Richard shrugged. “I’m a philosopher by training, so I come by it honestly.”

“Oh, no, is he talking about baseball?” Sonya groaned. “Quick, somebody, find some toothpicks to prop our eyelids open. We’re going to need them.”

“I’ll try to stop before everybody gets to the eyes-glazing-over stage.”

“His favorite movie is Field of Dreams. And he’s constantly quoting from a book called Baseball and Philosophy.” Sonya rolled her eyes.

William nodded. “One time Sonya brought The Quotations of Chairman Mao to a meeting and they played Dueling Quotations. I seriously considered jumping out my office window after about fifteen minutes.”

“Pay them no mind.” Richard smiled at Elizabeth, waving a dismissive hand at his detractors. “It’s a remarkable book. A professor of mine at Yale wrote one of the essays, called ‘Baseball and the Search for an American Moral Identity.’ It should be required reading for everyone in this country.”

Elizabeth found his enthusiasm, despite its unlikely catalyst, charming. It was interesting to see Richard minus his trademark devil-may-care irreverence. It occurred to her that perhaps William wasn’t the only member of the Darcy family who built walls to hide behind. “William said that you took him to his first game when he was nine.”

“My father actually took us—Aunt Anna wouldn’t let Will go anywhere without an adult back then—but it was my idea. Later we were allowed to go on our own. Will didn’t enjoy baseball the way I did, but I think he liked the change of pace.”

“It was like running away, but it wasn’t against the rules,” William remarked.

Richard snorted. “It wasn’t much like running away, not with Allen waiting to drive us home. Gran and Aunt Anna didn’t think much of the idea of us—mostly Will, really, I don’t think they gave a rip in my case—taking the subway to the Bronx.”

Considering what Elizabeth had already heard about William’s sheltered childhood, that didn’t surprise her. “So, anyway, what about tomorrow’s game? Are you going to try to go?”

“Definitely. Sonya dug around and found me some tickets. That’s assuming the Yankees win tonight, of course—otherwise it’s all over. Are you a fan?”

“A casual fan, you might say. Did William tell you we went to a Giants game a few weeks ago?”

“No, he didn’t. I don’t suppose you saw Barry Bonds break the home run record?”

Elizabeth sighed. “We weren’t that lucky. Still, I had a great time, though I’m not so sure that William did.”

“I enjoyed it,” William insisted, sitting forward in his chair.

Elizabeth had watched in affectionate amusement that evening as William maintained a scorecard with great solemnity, a skill he had learned in those early days at Yankee Stadium with Richard. The Giants had lost, but it had been a pleasant evening all the same, enhanced by the magnificent views afforded by the ballpark’s bayside location.

“A good cigar would be just the thing right now.” Richard leaned back in his chair, staring into his glass of port.

“I didn’t know you smoked.” Elizabeth wrinkled her nose.

“I don’t, except a cigar now and then. Even the old man over there has been known to indulge in a good cigar on occasion.”

Elizabeth grimaced at William. “You’re kidding.”

He shrugged, sipping his cognac. “I’ve probably had fewer than five cigars in my life, all at Pemberley.”

“You’re making me want one even more,” Richard said in a plaintive tone. He turned to Jane. “They have a local brand in Barbados that’s damn good. I bring home a box or two every time we go down there.”

“Charles told me a story once about the three of you smoking cigars at Pemberley.” Jane leaned her arms on the table. “He said Mrs. Darcy smelled the smoke and threw you out of the house. Apparently she was pretty angry.”

“I’m sure she was,” Sonya said with a sidelong glance at the two men. “Mrs. Darcy hates smoking, and she especially loathes cigar smoke. One time Richard thought he’d get away with lighting up in the roof garden at the New York house. Let’s just say he never tried it again.”

“I didn’t hear about that,” William said. “Sorry I missed the fun.”

“Yeah, but you can imagine. You know what happens when you get Gran’s dander up.”

William’s grandmother sounded even more formidable than Elizabeth had gathered from their two encounters in New York. And I don’t think I’m her idea of a proper girlfriend for William. Thanksgiving in New York is going to be … interesting. She sighed loudly, earning her a concerned glance from William.

“Are you okay?” he asked softly. He’d had his arm stretched across the back of her chair since finishing dinner, and now he rested his hand lightly on her shoulder.

“I’m fine. What about you? You look tired.” She had noticed him yawning behind his hand occasionally for the past half hour or so. Although his health was improving, she knew that he still grew fatigued easily.

William set down his empty glass. “I think jet lag is catching up with me. Is everyone finished?” He signaled a passing server for their check.

“I’m ready to go back to the hotel,” Sonya said with a yawn. “Long day. But this restaurant was a great choice, Elizabeth. Thanks for including me, even though I’m just the hired help.”

Richard snorted. “If we ever started treating her like the help, you’d hear the squawking all the way downtown. Of course, come to think of it, I’m just part of William’s entourage too.”

“Is that what you tell the women you meet?” Elizabeth asked.

“Hardly. I tell them I’m one of the idle rich, with piles of money but no ambition. You’d be surprised how well that works. I heartily second what Sonya said, by the way. Thanks for making the arrangements tonight—great restaurant.”

“I’m glad you liked it.”

“And now, since my cousin and his hired help are such wimps, I suppose it falls to me to uphold the reputation of New Yorkers. What do you say, Jane? Want to show me some hot night spots?”

Elizabeth didn’t like this development—she didn’t want to risk Jane becoming Richard’s next conquest. But Jane accepted the invitation before Elizabeth could intervene.

“I want to go to the ladies’ room before we leave,” Elizabeth said, pushing back her chair with more force than she had intended. “Jane, want to come with me?” William, who had been handling the check, jumped to his feet to assist her. Richard belatedly rose to do the same for Jane.

As soon as they reached the ladies’ room, Elizabeth went on the offensive. “I don’t think you should go anywhere with Richard. Sure, he’s charming, but from what I’ve heard he’s the original Mr. Love ’em and Leave ’em. And his definition of love is ‘one night between the sheets.’”

Jane, who was refreshing her lipstick, smiled at Elizabeth’s reflection in the mirror. “Don’t worry, Lizzy. I’m not going to be the next notch on his bedpost. He’s not really my type, but he’s intelligent and he’s good company, so what’s the harm in showing him around the city? Besides, this way you and William can go back to our place and be alone for a while.”

“That’s what I was afraid of—you’re doing this for my sake.”

“No, really, I’m not. Not entirely, anyway. But you and William need some private time together. It was so obvious tonight. In fact …” Jane stared at Elizabeth intently, and then shook her head. “No, never mind.”

“What?” Elizabeth could feel her face growing warm.

“Well … okay, I guess it’s best if I just say this. If things go further tonight than they have so far, and you need protection—”

“No, that’s not going to happen.” The words sounded confident. But her heart, undoubtedly egged on by her body, whispered, “Are you sure?”

“Hear me out. I’m just saying, there’s a box of condoms in my nightstand, in case you need them. No matter what, I want to make sure you’re safe.”

“Of course, and I wouldn’t even consider—but, really, we’re not going to—” Elizabeth couldn’t seem to finish a sentence.

Jane dropped her lipstick into her purse and squeezed Elizabeth’s hand. “I don’t mean that I think you’re planning to sleep with William tonight. You’re the only two people who know if you’re ready to take that step. It’s just that from watching you together, it seems like it could happen very soon, whether you’re planning it or not. So—”

The door opened, and Sonya peeked in. “William arranged for some cabs, and they’ll be here in just a minute. Everything okay?”

Elizabeth took a shaky breath. “Everything’s fine. Ready to go, Jane?”

After a last inspection of herself in the mirror, Jane nodded, and the three women exited the ladies’ room.

William stood outside the door waiting for them. His hand on the small of Elizabeth’s back, he led her down the long hallway. She ordered her knees to stop trembling, but to no avail. I guess they’re not following instructions tonight. With a small shrug, she passed through the double doors and into the cool night air.

Copyright © 2006 by the author Last updated August 30, 2006