Chapter 9
Elizabeth clicked the “disconnect” button on William’s cell phone and slipped
it in the pocket of her denim jacket. She inhaled deeply, smelling the “new building”
scents of fresh paint and varnish. The walls of Crissy Field Center were painted a warm shade
of goldenrod, complementing the gleaming floors. Soft voices echoed through the hallway, which
was sparsely populated by other visitors.
Seeking a way to pass the time, she considered entering the small bookstore; however, instead she approached a bulletin board listing a series of upcoming environmental education programs. Soon, she heard William’s deep voice coming from behind her.
“I’m sorry I kept you waiting.”
She turned and found him standing close behind her. He had changed out of his running clothes, and wore a royal blue polo shirt and a pair of heather gray sweatpants. Elizabeth thought he looked wonderful—tall, lean, and powerful. She noticed that he had tamed his hair somewhat, though a few unruly curls still strayed onto his forehead.
“No problem. I just got off the phone with Jane a minute or two ago.”
“So, can you stay for coffee?” he asked, a hopeful light in his eye.
“Yes, for a little while, anyway.”
“Good. I’m glad. How is Jane?”
Elizabeth considered her words carefully. “She’s unhappy, of course, but she’ll be fine. Jane is very strong.”
“It certainly seemed that way last night in the lounge.”
She smiled with pride. Even William had noticed Jane’s dignity under pressure. “Jane and my aunt and uncle are making calls about the cancellation of the wedding, but they have as many people as telephones, so they don’t need me. I can’t stay too long, though—I need to be back before my parents arrive, and I may have to wait a while for the bus.”
“No need for that. I’ll give you a ride home.”
“But it’s out of your way. I don’t want to be an inconvenience.”
“It’s no inconvenience. I’ll be happy to give you a ride.” William’s tone brooked no disagreement. He placed his hand on the small of Elizabeth’s back, drawing her forward with him towards the café.
She was nonplussed by his sudden self-assurance. It contrasted sharply with his awkward, shy demeanor last night and even earlier this morning. Not for the first time, she found herself puzzling over the true nature of William Darcy.
“What about Charles?” she asked. “You still need to call him, don’t you?”
“I changed my mind. He’s probably still asleep, and if so, it’s better that I don’t disturb him.”
They
placed their orders at the counter and then carried their coffee and bagels to a table offering
a panoramic view of the marsh and the Golden Gate Bridge.
“Very nice,” William said. “This was a large land reclamation project, wasn’t it?”
“That’s right. Crissy Field was pretty much of an eyesore—an old military airfield fallen into disuse. The salt marsh was closed off and turned into a parking lot decades ago. Two years ago they re-created the marsh and opened it to the bay again. I guess the birds and animals are beginning to rediscover it.”
“So I see.” He pointed at a heron standing at attention by the water’s edge.
“How beautiful!” Elizabeth beamed as she watched the long-legged bird.
William swallowed a bite of his bagel. “Before I forget, do you still have my cell phone?”
“Oh, I’m sorry!” She retrieved it from her jacket pocket and handed it to him. “I know most New Yorkers go into withdrawal if their cell phones aren’t handy. They ought to just have them surgically attached to their ears.”
He chuckled softly. “Actually, I hate my cell phone. I’m always looking for excuses not to carry it. It drives my secretary insane when I don’t have it with me.”
“But I thought wealthy businessmen were required by law to carry them at all times,” Elizabeth teased.
“Ah, but I’m not a businessman. That was my father, not me.”
She saw his face grow pensive. “Are you thinking of what Mr. Bingley said about your father? I meant to say something last night. Mr. Bingley was horrid to you. I’m so sorry.”
“I appreciated your support very much.”
“I couldn’t believe he had the gall to insinuate that your father was anything less than completely proud of you! What father wouldn’t be thrilled to have a son who’s as talented and successful as you are?”
William stared intently into his coffee cup, his hands wrapped around it as though he were trying to warm himself. Elizabeth reached across the table and touched his hand. “I’m sorry,” she said gently. “I didn’t mean to bring up a subject you’d rather not discuss.” When he failed to respond, she removed her hand and sat back in her chair, embarrassed by her impulsive action.
After a pause, he looked up at her, his eyes full of raw emotion. He opened his mouth and seemed about to speak. Then she saw his expression grow remote, a neutral mask descending as though he had pulled down a window shade. He sat back in his chair, his eyes scanning the room.
“Don’t worry about it,” he said in a dismissive tone. “Mr. Bingley never met my father, and he doesn’t know anything about my family’s private matters. He was just striking out blindly because he was angry.”
What was that about? Elizabeth shrugged. She had no hope of unraveling the mystery that was William Darcy—at least, not over breakfast. “All I know is, after last night I can see why Charles is so scared of his father.”
“Mr. Bingley amassed a huge fortune in a fairly short time—he started at age eighteen with nothing. You can’t do that without being forceful and controlling.”
“And that makes it okay?”
“That’s not what I meant. I’m just explaining where it comes from.”
“Well, I’m sorry to say it, but he’s a horrid, hateful man. How dare he insult my sister, and issue ultimatums?”
“Now, Elizabeth, although he was unconscionably rude, think about what he actually asked Charles and Jane to do. I don’t think he was unreasonable in his requests.”
“His orders, you mean.”
“First, he insisted on a pre-nup. That’s essential. He has to protect his family’s assets in case something goes wrong.”
“Jane would never—” Elizabeth began, leaning forward in her chair, but William interrupted.
“Money makes people do strange things. Suppose they did get a divorce, and Jane believed that she was the wronged party. She might be tempted to punish Charles through financial means.”
Her grip tightened around her coffee cup. “Jane isn’t like that. She’s fair and honorable. She’d never behave that way.”
“Perhaps not under ordinary circumstances, but she might be influenced by your … by others. Others who would see the situation differently.”
She sipped her coffee in silent indignation while he continued.
“And the other thing Mr. Bingley wants is for Charles to move to Los Angeles. Mr. Bingley is in his late 60’s—he needs to start training his successor. That seems reasonable to me.”
“And Jane’s law practice doesn’t matter?” She set her coffee cup on the table emphatically.
“Compared to a multi-million dollar business?” He shrugged. “No, it doesn’t. Certainly Jane must have realized that in return for the privileges of marrying a wealthy man, she’d have to make a few small sacrifices.”
“And giving up her career and leaving her family seem like small sacrifices to you?”
William sat back and folded his arms across his chest. “I wouldn’t expect you to understand,” he said, his voice calm and matter-of-fact. “You have no idea of the obligations that come with wealth and social position.”
Why, you arrogant … “And what about Charles’s obligation to the woman he loves?”
“I’m not saying that he didn’t make mistakes. He had an obligation to tell her the truth, and he didn’t, and I don’t blame her for being angry. But shouldn’t he be able to count on Jane in spite of that?”
“Count on her to do what?” Elizabeth gritted her teeth. His imperturbable tone was even more infuriating than his words. “To tolerate being lied to and patronized?”
“He ought to be able to count on her loyalty and her unconditional love.” William leaned forward in his chair. “Isn’t that what people in love are supposed to do—to stand by each other, no matter what? ‘For better or worse’?”
“I see what you mean, but in this case it had to do with—”
“Incidentally, I understand that she refused to sign the pre-nup.”
“And so you think all she wanted from him was his money?” Her voice was tight with fury. “How dare you?”
“I don’t mean to upset you. And I’m not saying that she was necessarily after his money. But if she doesn’t care about the money, why not sign the pre-nup?”
Elizabeth wanted to defend Jane, but she was so angry that she couldn’t find the words. What happened to the sweet, gentle man who kissed me on the beach? And who is this arrogant jerk sitting in his chair?
He leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled, and spoke in the pedantic tone of a teacher lecturing a recalcitrant child. “Her refusal to sign makes it look like she was only interested in the money, whether that’s true or not. That will just make things more difficult with the Bingleys.”
“I can’t believe you’re suggesting that any part of this is Jane’s fault. She didn’t do anything wrong. She simply refused to live the rest her life under the thumb of a nasty, bitter old man whose son doesn’t have the guts to stand up to him!” Elizabeth glared at him.
He lifted his chin in a haughty gesture that had her grinding her teeth. His tone was serenely self-assured. “As I said before, your upbringing didn’t give you the opportunity to understand what it’s like to be born into a wealthy family. Most people only see the perks, but there are major obligations.”
An angry retort nearly flew out of Elizabeth’s mouth, but then it occurred to her that perhaps if William grasped Jane’s perspective, he could help Charles and the Bingleys to understand. She swallowed hard and said, “But everyone has family obligations, not just rich people. And Jane—”
“I understand why you’re upset, and as I said before, I don’t mean to make you feel that way. Of course you’re loyal to Jane. That’s to be expected, and I admire you for it.”
She stared at him in disbelief. His indulgent smile and condescending tone left her momentarily speechless. And he was giving her permission to be loyal to her sister! How charming.
“But you’re a smart, strong woman, and once you’ve had time to think about what I’ve said, I’m confident that you’ll be able to get past blind loyalty and see the situation objectively.”
Elizabeth shoved back her chair and jumped to her feet. She had no intention of being patronized any further. Her hands gripped the edge of the table as she skewered William with a cold stare. “I’m flattered by your confidence in me,” she said in a tone that she hoped was as arrogant as his. “But I have to go now—my parents will be arriving soon to commiserate with my sister on the fortune she just lost.”
“Elizabeth, there’s really no need for sarcasm,” he said haughtily. “As I’ve explained—”
“I beg your pardon, but I think there is,” she snapped, her eyes two green ice cubes laced with poison. “Thank you for the coffee.” She grabbed her denim jacket from the chair back and turned to go.
“Wait. I said I’d drive you home.” He rose to his feet.
“No, really, it’s not necessary. I could use the walk to the bus stop to clear my head,” she replied, noting the perplexed look in his eyes. “Stay and finish your breakfast. Goodbye.”
“Elizabeth!” He called after her as she left the table, but she ignored him.
As she walked across the polished floor towards the building exit, her quick footsteps echoing in the hallway, her face was a mask of undisguised fury. The nerve of that arrogant, insufferable jerk! And to think that I dreamed about him! And let him kiss me! Well, as always, I’m a WONDERFUL judge of men. She could feel his eyes on her as she walked away, but she didn’t look back.
Elizabeth was still fuming when she arrived back at Jane’s condo. She now regretted holding her tongue toward the end of the conversation. William wasn’t interested in understanding Jane’s point of view—he simply wanted to look down his nose at her. And at me, because I’m not a rich snob like he is. She wondered again why he had kissed her, since he found her lack of social sophistication such a failing. I guess it’s just as I thought last night. I’m good enough for some idle flirtation, a dance, and a kiss or two. Oh, and for “dinner or a concert,” no doubt followed by a busy night in his bed, if he had his way. But for anything beyond that I’m unworthy.
She used the spare key Jane had given her to admit herself to the condo. The living room was filled with the cacophony of four voices speaking at once. Jane was talking on the condo’s telephone line, while Madeline, Edward, and Charlotte sat in separate corners of the room, speaking into their cell phones.
Charlotte flipped her phone closed. She joined Elizabeth in the center of the living room.
“Hi, Liz.”
“Hi, Char. So, how was the rest of your night?”
Charlotte’s smile was wicked. “Very, very satisfying. And what have you been up to?”
“What do you mean? Just taking a walk and getting a cup of coffee.”
Charlotte grabbed Elizabeth’s arm and dragged her down the hall to her bedroom.
“Okay, first off, I’m proud of you,” Charlotte said. “I’m glad to see you wearing something sassy for a change. That top is great, especially on a body like yours. But the fact that you’re wearing it tells me that you weren’t just out for an innocent walk.”
Elizabeth frowned into the mirror, pulling her hair into a pony tail. “I spilled shampoo on my clothes, so I had to borrow something from Jane. This was all she had. Stop making everything into a big deal.”
“So you’re saying that you didn’t see William Darcy this morning?”
Charlotte laughed as Elizabeth’s eyes darted towards her in surprise. “Aha! I knew it.”
“You scare me sometimes, Char. Did he leave invisible radioactive particles on me, and you have some weird sensor that recognizes them?”
“Totally unnecessary. You’re all worked up. You can’t leave your hair alone, you’re twisting the buttons on your jacket, and if you don’t stop grinding your teeth you’re going to wear them down to little stumps. There’s only one person in San Francisco who makes you behave that way. So what did he do now?”
“I went to find him on his morning run, because Jane wanted to know how Charles was doing. At first we took a walk together, and it was … nice.” An unwelcome memory of William’s warm mouth brushing hers flooded her mind. She caught herself touching her tongue to her lips, and angrily pushed the image aside. “But then he turned back into his true self—patronizing and unbelievably arrogant—and he said some terrible things about Jane.”
Elizabeth briefly described their argument, but omitted the events preceding it. Charlotte listened intently, a frown furrowing her brow. When the story was finished, Charlotte remarked, “That poor guy.”
“Poor guy? Excuse me? Did you listen to what I said?”
“Yes, I did. I feel sorry for him because I doubt the chef at the Ritz-Carlton has Sautéed Foot on the menu, and that seems to be William’s favorite thing to put in his mouth.”
“I can’t believe you’re making a joke out of this.”
“Relax. I agree, he crossed the line with some of his remarks, though I know you, and you’re probably making it sound ten times worse than it actually was. But he had no right to suggest that Jane might be a gold-digger. I’m mad at him for that, just like you are.”
“And his idea that she should give up her law practice and everything else, and let Mr. Bingley push her around for the next 50 years?”
“I know what you’re saying, but William is Charles’s best friend. He’s supposed to be on Charles’s side, just like you’re supposed to be on Jane’s. You know, it was inevitable that you two would fight about this.”
“And his patronizing crap about how I’m too stupid to understand his world?”
“Did he actually call you stupid?”
Elizabeth sighed loudly. “No, but he might as well have.”
“Well, that was arrogant, spectacularly so. He has an absolute genius for saying things in the worst possible way, doesn’t he?”
“When you walk around looking down your nose at everyone, you’re likely to say arrogant things.”
Charlotte hesitated. “But as I think about it—and you’re not going to like this, but hear me out—I suppose he does have a point. How could we understand what it’s like to grow up as the son and heir of one of the richest men in the country?”
“Big deal. He doesn’t understand how I grew up either. Besides, it doesn’t give him the right to be so smug, and so absolutely sure that he’s right about everything.”
“Of course, you would never be that forceful expressing your own opinion on the subject,” Charlotte teased.
“But that’s different! Jane’s doing the right thing. I know it.”
Charlotte stared at her, eyebrows raised.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes and grumbled, “Okay, okay. Point taken.”
Charlotte nodded, a knowing grin on her face. “Liz, has it ever occurred to you that you have very powerful emotional reactions to this man? Even the negative ones? He’s really gotten under your skin.”
“Oh, please tell me we’re not going to get into pop-psychology nonsense about how love and hate are two sides of the same coin.”
“You said it, not me,” Charlotte said with a smirk.
“Yeah, well, I do have strong reactions to him—I want to punch him in his egotistical nose.” But even as Elizabeth said these words, an image of their kiss floated back into her mind. She forcefully shoved it aside, furious with herself.
“His nose may be egotistical, but it’s awfully handsome, so do the world a favor and don’t break it.”
Elizabeth and Charlotte laughed together, and Elizabeth felt herself relax. Her respite, though, was brief. The doorbell rang, and soon afterwards she heard Mrs. Bennet’s querulous voice in the living room. Smiling ruefully at Charlotte, she said, “I think we’d better get out there.”
The Gardiners, as expected, were of tremendous assistance in calming Mrs. Bennet’s frenzied grief over the cancellation of the wedding. In addition, Mr. Bennet, to whom Jane had spoken earlier, had told his wife the basic facts of the case on the way to San Francisco in order to save Jane from having to hear her mother’s first and most volatile reactions. Mrs. Bennet was now moaning quietly while Madeline sat beside her on the sofa, holding her hand with weary solicitude.
“Really, Francie, it’s not the end of the world,” Edward reassured his sister from his perch on a stool at the breakfast bar. He exchanged a long-suffering glance with Mr. Bennet, who sat beside him.
“It is for Jane. This was her one chance to marry a rich man, and it’s all gone. Why didn’t she just agree to whatever he wanted? I would have expected that kind of stubbornness from Lizzy. But Jane, my sweet, obedient girl? I just don’t understand.”
Jane had already attempted several times to explain the situation; however, Mrs. Bennet seemed to prefer not to understand. “Please, Mom, just try to accept that I did what I had to do,” she answered, her voice strained.
“How can I? You were going to be so rich, so important! Even with this pre-nocturnal thingie he wanted you to sign.”
“Mom, it wasn’t just the pre-nup,” Elizabeth interjected. “There were other issues. Charles was lying to Jane.”
“I don’t see why that matters so much. I’d be happy to be lied to once in a while if I could do it while living in a $3 million house. Honesty in a man is overrated,” Mrs. Bennet sniffed.
“I must say, Jane, I think your mother’s right about that,” Mr. Bennet said genially. “When she asks me if I like her new dress, or if it makes her hips look too big, telling the truth never so much as enters my mind.”
“Andrew!” Mrs. Bennet wailed, while Elizabeth covered her mouth to hide her smile.
“Francie, he’s just teasing,” Madeline said.
“And I had such hopes that the Bingleys would take an interest in Lydia, you know, with her being down in LA. Perhaps they would have invited her to stay sometimes, or to be a guest at their country club. I’m sure they know lots of rich young men who would love to meet her.”
Elizabeth coughed to disguise her snicker.
“Well, at any rate,” Mrs. Bennet continued, “at least you won’t have that Mr. Bingley for a father-in-law. Who knew he was such an awful man! But, oh, dear, the Bingley family fortune! The house in Pacific Heights! All gone. Oh, I simply can’t stand it!” Mrs. Bennet burst into tears, while Madeline patted her hand gently.
Elizabeth was tired of her mother’s histrionics, and embarrassed by her continual focus on Charles’s money. She left her seat at the dining table and approached Mrs. Bennet. “Mom, you’re making this even harder on Jane. Please, can’t you try to calm down just a bit?”
“How can I be calm? It’s a disaster. And when I think how happy we all were at the dinner table last night. Mr. Bingley was so interested in dear Lydia’s acting career. And so was Mr. Darcy.”
“Mr. Darcy?” Elizabeth felt a sinking sensation in her stomach. “What did you tell William Darcy about Lydia?”
“Oh, just about her latest acting role, and her new job. He said that he had noticed Lydia the minute she walked into the room last night. And of course he would—Lydia is so lively and attractive that young men can’t help but notice her. In fact, for a moment I thought that perhaps—but, no, she’s a bit young for him.”
Elizabeth laughed silently. William and Lydia. Ha! It would never happen, but if it did, it would serve him right.
“But now that I think of it,” Mrs. Bennet continued, raising her eyebrows significantly, “he also took quite an interest in your singing career, Lizzy.”
“Oh?” Elizabeth glanced anxiously at Jane.
“Mom, Lizzy doesn’t want to hear about this right now,” Jane interjected hastily, crossing the room to stand next to Elizabeth.
“Of course she does. A wealthy, famous man shows interest in her career, and you think she wouldn’t want to hear about it?”
“What did he say?” Elizabeth asked warily.
“He said that you should have pursued opera.” Mrs. Bennet sighed. “Your teachers tried to tell you that—and so did I—but would you listen to them?”
“I know that he believes that,” Elizabeth replied, ignoring her mother’s reproof. “He said something to me about it too.”
“He especially thought you should have gone into opera since you were such a failure on Broadway. But he said it was too late now.”
“He said I was a failure?” Elizabeth spat out the word “failure,” her voice rising in volume and pitch.
“Lizzy, he didn’t mean it that way,” Jane said quietly, touching her sister’s arm.
“He most certainly did!” Mrs. Bennet retorted.
Elizabeth looked at Jane. “Did he say it or not?” she asked, her diction precise.
“Not in those exact words, no.”
Elizabeth nodded. “But he said it. In front of my family. Who else was at the table?”
“Lizzy—”
“Who else?”
Jane sighed. “Charles, the Bingleys, and Caroline.”
“Wonderful,” Elizabeth hissed. Then she remembered Mr. Bingley’s insulting speech to her in the courtyard: “I will not be criticized by a failed, no-talent actress.” She had wondered how Mr. Bingley knew anything about her career, and now she understood. He was merely repeating what William had said. William, who had stood by her side last night offering silent support. William, who had kissed her so gently, and looked at her with such warmth. William, who had been condescending and arrogant over coffee just a short time ago.
“That reminds me!” Mrs. Bennet cried. “Did you know that William Darcy is having an affair with Caroline Bingley?”
“No, he’s not,” Elizabeth said, pressing her lips together.
“Of course he is. You didn’t see them together at the dinner table. Very cozy, if you ask me. She had her hand on his knee under the table, and on who knows what else.” Mrs. Bennet wagged her eyebrows rakishly.
“Mom!” Elizabeth gasped, shocked.
“Now, Francie—” Mr. Bennet began, but Mrs. Bennet babbled on breathlessly.
“And I heard Caroline tell her sister that she and William were going to spend Saturday night alone together. She said they’d have the house in Pacific Heights all to themselves after the wedding, since Jane and Charles were staying at the Ritz.” Mrs. Bennet paused, her face clouding over. “Oh! The wedding! The house! Oh, dear!”
While Mrs. Bennet resumed her piteous wailing, Elizabeth joined Charlotte in the kitchen, her face grim. “If I’m ever tempted to get within fifty yards of William Darcy for any reason, please, just shoot me. I’ll suffer a lot less that way.”
“Is this about what he said about your career, or about the Caroline Bingley stuff? Because I’m pretty sure that the only way he would ever spend a night with Caroline is in her dreams.”
“Why should I care about that? He can sleep with anybody he wants. In fact, I think he and Caroline deserve one another.”
Charlotte smiled sympathetically. “He’s really got you riled up, hasn’t he?”
“You bet he has.”
“Liz, what else happened between the two of you this morning? You’re not telling me everything. I can tell.”
“It doesn’t make any difference, because I never want to see that man again.”
Charlotte shook her head slowly, frowning. “Right, Liz. You go on telling yourself that. I know you’re really steamed at him right now, and I don’t blame you. But personally, I think that ‘the Lizzy doth protest too much.’”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes and didn’t answer. She preferred not to think about whether or not Charlotte might be right. She was going to stay away from William Darcy in the future, and that was her final decision.
William pulled under the portico of the stately Ritz-Carlton hotel, surrendering his car to the valet parking attendant. He checked his watch as he walked toward the elevators. It’s later than I thought—I wonder if Charles is awake by now?
William unlocked the door to his suite, and was surprised on entering the room
to see that it was unoccupied. Charles’s suit jacket was draped over a chair,
and the blanket with which William had quietly covered him the night before was
in a heap on the floor, but Charles himself was missing. Perplexed, William checked
his bedroom and bathroom. He next proceeded down the hall to the Club Floor lounge,
thinking that perhaps Charles had gone there in search of coffee. The concierge
looked up, greeting William as he entered; however, no one else was in the room.
A smile touched William’s lips as he looked at the red armchair in which Elizabeth had sat the night before. She had been lovely, her skin glowing in the firelight, her face gentle in repose.
He was somewhat concerned about Elizabeth’s reaction to his analysis of Jane’s situation. He realized that he should have softened his remarks to avoid offending her. She had been angry by the time she left him, and he regretted that. But he had to admit that it had been strangely exhilarating to see her across the table, her cheeks flushed and her eyes blazing. It hinted at a passionate nature that he found extremely attractive and hoped to explore further in the future, once her initial resentment had abated.
In the long run, William was not particularly worried about Elizabeth’s anger. As he had told her, he was confident that she would eventually appreciate the logic and sense of his arguments. She just needed time. Once the events of yesterday had retreated further into the past and Charles and Jane had moved forward with their lives, she would be able to view the situation with more objectivity than she could be expected to achieve now.
Of course Jane is disappointed and unhappy about the cancellation of the wedding. And it’s probably very embarrassing for her family, after their expectations for Jane, to have to call everyone and tell them the wedding is off. It’s no wonder Elizabeth is upset right now. I should have been gentler with her. I should have realized that she wouldn’t be ready to hear the hard truth.
On the other hand, William had seen evidence that Elizabeth’s wrath, though fierce, was short-lived. She had been angry and sarcastic the previous evening when she sang her song, yet a short time later she had stood in his arms as they danced, her head resting contentedly on his shoulder. And this morning on the beach … William smiled at the memory of their kiss. To his immense satisfaction, he now knew that the attraction between them was mutual. This knowledge had given him confidence that he had previously lacked where she was concerned.
Yes, everything will work out fine. She was momentarily angry, but he had no doubt that a sincere apology, followed by a romantic dinner at an exclusive restaurant, would restore her good opinion of him, and they could move forward from there.
Move forward to what, though? Realistically, where can this relationship go, despite our attraction to one another? Charles’s situation certainly shows that it’s dangerous for a man to get involved with a woman who doesn’t understand the world he lives in. And heaven knows my parents suffered because Mamma could never really adjust to what was expected of her as Mrs. Darcy.
As William walked the short distance back down the hall and re-entered his suite, he found himself reflecting on his parents’ unhappy marriage. Edmund Darcy and Anna Forlini had met in Rome while Edmund was managing Darcy Industries’ European operations. Edmund, in his mid-20’s and inexperienced with women outside his family’s social circle, was dazzled by Anna’s dark beauty and her collection of bohemian friends. He found himself swept along on a romantic tide and, much to his parents’ dismay, he had impulsively married her just a few months after they met. William was born a year later, his arrival briefly interrupting Anna’s burgeoning operatic career.
Before William was two, Edmund was called back to New York to assume control of Darcy Industries following the sudden death of William’s grandfather. Almost overnight, Edmund’s romantic impulses were embalmed under the weight of responsibility. He became distant and cool, emphasizing responsibility and duty above all else. Anna never recovered from Edmund’s insistence that she abandon the operatic stage, which he found an unseemly occupation for the wife of a business leader. Edmund expected his wife to manage their social lives while he managed the Darcy empire; however, Anna hated the life of a Manhattan socialite. They were soon estranged, and before long Edmund was rarely seen at the Darcy townhouse except when his presence was required for the sake of appearances.
William suspected that he was the only reason Anna had not returned to Italy. His father would never have permitted the Darcy heir to be taken out of the United States, and Anna would never have left her son. So she sacrificed her dreams for my sake. She would have been happier if she’d never met my father. And he wasn’t happy either. The marriage caused them both a lot of pain.
A knock at the door roused William from his reverie. When he opened the door, he found Charles and Caroline standing together in the hallway. Charles looked terrible, his features haggard and his eyes bloodshot, and William suspected that his unfortunate friend felt every bit as healthy as he looked. Caroline, though, was annoyingly bright-eyed and chipper. William stood aside to allow them to enter, wishing he could think of a way to admit Charles to the room but leave Caroline languishing in the hall.
“Where have you been, Charles? I was surprised to find you gone when I got back from my run.”
“You were running, William? How wonderful,” Caroline cooed. “I do love a man who takes good care of his body.”
William exhaled a gust of air as Caroline’s avid gaze devoured him. He was grateful that at least he was no longer wearing his shorts and tank top. “So, Charles? What’s going on?”
Caroline began to speak, but William shot her a warning glance and she fell silent, sulking.
“I went to see Father,” Charles said, his voice strained.
“And?”
“I proposed the compromise that Jane suggested.”
“Which was?”
“I would take a leave of absence from the company for a year and get a job somewhere else.”
“Do you really think that’s best for you?” It sounded to William like a way for Jane to have her cake and eat it too. She could stay in San Francisco without cutting ties to the elder Bingleys—and their money.
“It doesn’t matter, because he turned me down flat. Wouldn’t even listen. It was almost as though he already knew what I was going to say.”
“He really was terribly overbearing,” Caroline agreed. “I felt so sorry for you, Charles, and I was surprised that you were able to tolerate it. But you’re so much more accepting of the insulting behavior of others than I could ever be.”
William frowned at Caroline. What is she up to now? “Why don’t we all sit down?” he suggested, motioning towards the living room of the suite. He carefully selected a chair instead of the couch to prevent Caroline from sitting beside him. Though I wouldn’t put it past her to plop down on my lap.
Charles collapsed onto the sofa, pulled out his cell phone, and began to dial. “I need to try to reach Jane again. Her line has been busy for ages.”
“Oh, yes, that’s because they’re making calls about the cancellation of the wedding,” William said.
“How do you know that?” Charles asked, frowning.
“Oh—I meant, that’s probably why the line is busy.” William wasn’t ready to admit that he had seen Elizabeth that morning, especially not in front of Caroline.
“Well, I’ll try a few more times, but then I’m just going to go over there uninvited,” Charles declared. “I need to talk to her right away.”
“What about?” William asked.
“I’ve been thinking about what she said last night. I should have listened to her. But I was upset about the blow-up with Father, and feeling so guilty about lying to everyone that I couldn’t think straight.”
“What did she say last night? You haven’t told me much about what happened.”
“I’m sorry, Will—I’ll tell you later, but right now I have to reach Jane. I can see now that I have to choose between Jane and Father. I hate to have to do that, but obviously I can’t please them both, not if Father won’t even listen to my suggestions. And if I do have to choose … then I choose Jane. She makes me happy.”
“Good for you, Charles! I knew love would conquer all in the end,” Caroline gushed.
“What do you intend to do, Charles?” William asked.
“I’m going to see Jane. And if she’ll still have me, I’m going to marry her. No pre-nup. No moving to LA. I hope Father will still want me to work for him under those conditions, but if not … well, there are other companies and other jobs.” Charles’s voice wavered slightly but his face was resolute.
“You’re so brave, Charles. It’s inspiring, isn’t it, William?” Caroline chirped.
“Caroline, why is this of so much interest to you?” William asked.
“Why, what a question, darling!” Caroline exclaimed. “I love my brother and I want him to be happy. And obviously Jane makes him happy.” She smiled at Charles, who sat beside her on the sofa.
Caroline’s sham affection for Charles sickened William. “And it doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that if he marries Jane and is disinherited, that means one fewer heir with whom to split the family fortune?”
“Why, William, what a terrible accusation!”
William stood up and went to the bar, pouring himself a glass of ice water. He walked back to the sitting area and stood glaring down at Caroline, towering over her. “I find it curious that you’re so much in favor of this marriage, when last night at dinner you were telling me how tacky the Bennets were, and how Charles could do much better than Jane.”
Caroline jumped to her feet. “My goodness, darling, you are in a bad mood this morning. You must be tired and sore from your run. Sit down and I’ll rub your shoulders. Wouldn’t you like that?”
“No,” William snapped.
“Oh, of course you would, darling,” Caroline said, taking his hand. “Now, sit down and I’ll make you feel all better.”
William glanced down at Caroline’s hand gripping his. He saw himself strolling on the beach with Elizabeth earlier that morning, her soft hand entwined with his, in sharp contrast to Caroline’s unwanted touch. Hot anger flashed through him. He yanked his hand away from Caroline’s and turned on her, cold distaste in his eyes. “Basta!” he shouted.
“What did you say?” she asked, her eyes wide with alarm.
“It’s Italian for ‘Enough!’” Charles chimed in from his seat on the couch.
“I’ll thank you to stop … well, taking liberties with my person,” William sputtered.
Caroline was clearly taken aback, but she recovered her aplomb quickly. “‘Taking liberties with your person’?” she laughed. “My goodness, how formal you are all of a sudden!”
William turned to Charles. “I apologize for this. But I can’t let it go on any longer.”
“No need to apologize to me—she deserves it. Carry on—I’m going to call Jane again.” Charles flipped open his cell phone and hit the “Redial” button.
William turned back to Caroline. “I’ll be blunt so there’s no misunderstanding. I don’t want you mauling me.”
“Mauling you? Why, William, what a terribly rude thing to say!”
“I don’t want to be rude. But it’s the truth. All last evening, you had your hands all over me.”
“Well, what if I did? You didn’t seem to mind in the least,” Caroline purred seductively.
“You’re mistaken,” William said, his eyes glacial. “I tolerated it for Charles’s sake, because I didn’t want to cause unpleasantness at the dinner last night. But I do not intend to tolerate it any longer.”
“I just can’t see why you’re overreacting, William. My goodness, if two dear friends can’t link arms or share an innocent kiss—”
“Charles is my friend. You are my friend’s sister, nothing more. We are casual acquaintances, not ‘dear friends.’ I’m tired of you acting as though some sort of intimacy exists between us, and giving other people the wrong impression.”
“But, darling—”
“And I am not your darling. My name is ‘William,’ and in future that is what you will call me,” he proclaimed imperiously, squaring his shoulders and pulling himself to his full, imposing height.
“My goodness, you’re attractive when you’re arrogant,” she gasped, licking her lips, her eyes gleaming. “Come on, now, darling—”
“I meant it, Caroline.” William’s face was stern.
“I don’t see why it’s such a big deal, dar—William.”
“Because ‘darling’ is a name that lovers call one another. We are not lovers, we have never been lovers, and we will never be lovers.”
“You should never say ‘never,’” she said peevishly. “One never knows about these things.”
“I am not attracted to you. I can’t think of any clearer way to put it. I’m sorry to be so blunt, but I want you to understand how serious I am about this. I don’t want you addressing me by an endearment that should be reserved for use by the woman I love.”
“And who might that be?” she asked, a suspicious glint in her eyes.
A pair of green eyes in a delicate face surrounded by dark wind-tousled curls materialized in William’s mind. What on earth? “I wasn’t thinking of anyone specific,” he lied, his eyes averted.
“I see,” she drawled, her keen eyes watching him closely.
“At any rate, I hope I’ve made myself clear.” William stood looking at Caroline, his posture ramrod straight, his eyes narrowed.
“Yes, you have. But I still consider you a dear friend, despite the very shabby way you’re treating me.”
“It wasn’t my intention to treat you badly. I just wanted to make sure we understood each other.”
Charles flipped his phone closed. From the glum look on his face, he was clearly still getting busy signals on Jane’s line. “Well, I’m out of here,” he announced, jumping to his feet, but then wincing and massaging his forehead. “I’m going to go see her and hope she doesn’t kick me out before I have a chance to explain.”
“No, wait, Charles. Let’s discuss this first,” William said. Charles needed to think things through, and William intended to ensure that he did.
“No, Will, I’m sorry,” Charles replied, walking towards the door. “I need to get over there. I can’t bear to think of the way she must be suffering, and it’s my fault. I have to fix this.”
William followed him to the door, speaking emphatically. “This will just take a few minutes, Charles. I think it’s vital that you hear me out. Jane will still be there when we’re done.”
Charles stopped, his hand on the doorknob. He turned back and stared at William for a moment, and then spoke. “Okay, Will, what is it?”
William glanced at Caroline, who was standing nearby wearing a combative expression. “Could you please excuse us? I want to talk to Charles privately.”
She eyed William defiantly. “Charles is my brother, and even if you don’t think so, I love him. I’m staying.”
Charles turned to his sister. “I think Will is right. This will go faster if he can speak his piece uninterrupted. So if you’d just—”
“But I won’t interrupt!”
“Please, Caroline,” Charles said.
She stared at him with mournful eyes. “So this is the thanks I get for supporting you and wanting the best for you,” she sniffed.
“I appreciate it very much, but I need to talk to Will right now. Why don’t you go and see Father? Maybe you can calm him down.”
“Caroline, please do as Charles asks,” William intoned in a commanding voice.
“Oh, all right,” she said, jumping to her feet. “I must say, the two of you have been terribly rude to me today.”
William opened the door for her. She flung a reproachful glance at him before stalking into the hall, closing the door behind her. He shook his head, and the two men returned to the living area of the suite and sat down across from one another.
“Charles, I’d recommend that you be very careful about taking Caroline’s advice.”
“Don’t worry. She hasn’t influenced me. I made this decision on my own.”
“Well, still, be careful of her. I think she’s trying to drive a wedge between you and your father for her own benefit.”
Charles shook his head slowly. “Will, you’re too suspicious and cynical. I know Caroline can be a bit self-absorbed, but do you really think my own sister would set out to do something that rotten?”
William shrugged. “Just be careful, okay?”
“I will,” Charles assured him. “Now, let’s get this over with, whatever it is. I really want to go see Jane before it gets any later.”
Okay. I only get one chance to do this right. “First of all, you’ve known Jane for only a few months. Aren’t you blowing her importance to you out of proportion, in choosing her over your family?”
“I don’t think there’s a minimum time requirement to know when you’ve met the right woman.”
“But you can’t possibly be sure so soon. You still barely know her,” William said, Elizabeth’s face floating around the edges of his mind.
“I’m absolutely sure. Jane is the one.”
“Shall I remind you of some of the other times you’ve told me that?”
“But I didn’t truly understand what it felt like to be in love back then. It’s entirely different with Jane.”
William shrugged; Charles apparently wouldn’t listen to reason on this point. “Second, are you sure you want Mrs. Bennet for a mother-in-law? I’ll grant you, Jane and Lizzy … Elizabeth … seem well-bred, but their mother is dreadful. And those sisters! If you stay here in San Francisco I’m sure the Bennets will be on your doorstep constantly.”
“I don’t care. I’m marrying Jane, not her family.”
“That’s naïve. Aren’t family issues a large part of the problem between you and Jane right now?” William hated to be so blunt, but Charles needed to acknowledge the facts.
Charles opened his mouth to speak, but then closed it again, frowning.
William nodded. Perhaps he was finally getting through. He leaned forward in his chair, intent on pressing his advantage. “And has it occurred to you that you’ve never had to support yourself? You’ve lived your life with almost unlimited financial resources. You have no experience with paying bills, or living on a budget. If your father disinherits you, you’ll be on your own.”
Charles sighed, slumping back against the sofa cushions. He was silent for a moment and then sat forward again, his face brightening. “But it’s not as though we’ll be destitute. Jane has her law practice. I have business experience and contacts—I’ll find a good job. And I’d rather have Jane than the money.”
William hesitated, hating what he had to say next. “There’s something else. I didn’t want to say this, but I think I have to. I’m not convinced that Jane’s feelings for you are anywhere near as strong as yours are for her.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Jane loves me.” Charles stood up abruptly.
William noted the hurt expression on his friend’s face, but he forced himself to proceed. “Does she? I’d like to think so, but I’ve seen evidence to the contrary. And don’t you think you should be absolutely certain of her feelings before you give up your family, your job, your income—everything you’ve ever known—for her?”
Charles sat back down. “All right. What’s your evidence?” His arms were folded across his chest and his mouth was set in a defiant line, but William saw a flicker of doubt in his eyes
“Don’t you find it strange that she was so unemotional last night while breaking up with you?”
“But that’s just Jane. She doesn’t show emotion in public.”
“What was she like when you talked privately?”
“She cried … a little bit, a couple of times.” Charles thought for a minute, his eyes growing distressed. Then he shook his head. “No, Will. She loves me. I know she does.”
“There’s something else. I didn’t want to say this in front of Caroline, but I saw Elizabeth Bennet during my run this morning.”
Charles raised his eyebrows in surprise.
William continued, “She said Jane was somewhat upset but would be fine. Jane and some of their family are calmly making calls to cancel the wedding—that’s why her phone is busy. So even Elizabeth thinks that Jane wasn’t much affected by what happened.”
“You must have misunderstood. I’m sure Jane is devastated this morning, just like I am.”
“Not according to her sister. Look, I’m not saying that Jane doesn’t care about you in her own fashion, but she doesn’t seem to me like someone who falls deeply in love. She doesn’t seem like someone for whom you should sacrifice everything else in your life.”
Charles sat staring at the wall, his shoulders slumped. With a reluctant sigh, William kept going. As hard as it was, he knew that he owed it to his friend.
“I also overheard a conversation between Mrs. Bennet and Jane’s aunt—Mrs. Phillips, isn’t it?—last night. Mrs. Bennet was eagerly anticipating the day when some of your money started heading in her direction. She said she encouraged Jane to marry you because of your money, and that she raised Jane to look for a rich man.”
“But that doesn’t make sense. Jane said she didn’t mind if I walked away from the money,” Charles muttered, frowning. “You must have heard wrong, or there’s some other mistake.”
William shook his head confidently. “No. There’s no mistake. Look, I hate to have to tell you these things, but you need to know what you’re getting yourself into. Maybe she thought there would still be some money left over, perhaps some trust funds your father can’t touch.”
Charles bent over, elbows on his knees, his head buried in his hands. “This can’t be true. Not my Jane.”
“Well, maybe it’s not true. But if you’re not absolutely sure, don’t you think you should be cautious?”
“I thought I was sure.”
“And are you certain that you’re ready to walk away from your family? Forget the money for a moment. I know your father is difficult, but I have the impression that he’s still important to you.”
Charles looked up, his eyes brimming with pain. “Yes, he is.”
“And obviously you’re important to him. He wants to give his business, the work of his entire life, to you. That’s a remarkable gift.”
“I know. The problem is, even though I hate to disappoint him, I don’t want it. You should understand that—after all, you’re not running Darcy Industries.”
William had tried to avoid mentioning his own situation, but it seemed that he had no choice. “That’s right. I’m not. And that’s exactly why I’m giving you this advice.”
“But didn’t that work out for the best for you? You got to have the musical career that you wanted. You didn’t get stuck behind a desk.”
“I know, and I could never have given up my music—it means too much to me. But maybe I could have done both. It might not have worked out, but I was never even given the chance to try. I wish—” William stopped abruptly, embarrassed to be revealing his private thoughts.
Charles looked at him, surprised. “I knew your father didn’t want you to become a musician, but I never knew you had second thoughts about Darcy Industries.”
With a deep breath, William continued, his voice full of feeling. “Regardless of the way he expresses it, your father cares very deeply about sharing his life’s work with you. You don’t know how lucky you are to be able to say that. And I hate to see you throwing it away for a woman, especially one who doesn’t seem to be completely committed to you.”
“What should I do, Will?” Charles asked in a hushed tone, his shoulders slumped in defeat.
“If I were you, I’d go to Los Angeles and train to run the business. You can always change your mind later if it doesn’t work out. But at least if you find that it’s not the right choice for you, you’ll know you made an honest effort. You won’t ever wonder what might have been.”
“And Jane?”
“After things have cooled down, you could call her, maybe arrange to come up to San Francisco on weekends and spend some time getting to know one another better.”
“Oh, c’mon. She’ll never speak to me again if I move to LA.”
William raised one eyebrow. “That sounds pretty inflexible to me. Shouldn’t she want what’s best for you if she loves you? Shouldn’t she be willing to stand by you, and not insist on staying in San Francisco just because that suits her?”
“But—”
“And there’s one more thing. If you decide that you do want to run the company, I think you should consider whether or not she’s the right sort of wife for you. She doesn’t understand your world, and neither does her family. That could make for a disastrous marriage. You might make her absolutely miserable by forcing her into a position she’s not equipped to handle.”
Charles buried his head in his hands again. “I’m so confused, and so tired. I don’t know what to do.”
“Why don’t I drive you home, and you can rest for a while. Then later we can talk more, if you want. You’ll make the right decision, I’m sure.”
Caroline Bingley had made a useful discovery on Friday night when she had visited William’s suite. It was relatively easy to balance the door so that it was open just a crack. The acoustics of the room carried conversations from the living room through this crack in the doorway and out into the hall. She had stood outside, listening to the end of Jane and Charles’s argument. While she hadn’t heard every word, she had heard everything that really mattered. Specifically, she had heard the compromise that Jane had proposed to Charles.
A one-year leave of absence for Charles, indeed! Why should he get to goof off for a year and then come back and take over? And Daddy was actually considering it when I first told him about it! Charles is like the Prodigal Son. It doesn’t matter what he does, Daddy falls over himself to kill the fatted calf and throw a party. Meanwhile, I do everything Daddy asks, and what do I get? Nothing. I have to grab everything for myself.
Caroline had hurried back to her parents’ suite last night with her news and had manipulated her father into thinking that a leave of absence for Charles was an irresponsible, childish request. And he performed SO beautifully when Charles arrived this morning to pitch the idea. Caroline chortled to herself when she remembered her father’s apoplectic reaction and Charles’s deer-in-the-headlights befuddlement, magnified by his hangover.
She was in eavesdropping mode again, listening to William’s conversation with Charles. And, damn it, William’s convincing him not to defy Daddy. Caroline had been furious when Charles and William had ejected her from the room. She had been so close to achieving her goal, having covered every eventuality. Well, every eventuality except for William Darcy’s pride and cynicism.
Caroline had discovered three weeks ago that Jane had never seen the pre-nuptial agreement, and since then she had been formulating her plan. After an initial bout of panic which she quickly and decisively stifled, she had seized this tantalizing opportunity to gain the upper hand among the Bingley siblings. Caroline congratulated herself on her foresight in forging a friendship with Jane, meeting her periodically for “just-us-girls” lunches and thus leading to her discovery of this tasty tidbit.
Instead of going immediately to her father to report Charles’s subterfuge, Caroline had quietly held onto the information. By waiting until the night before the wedding to blow the whistle, she had intended to create chaos. She had certainly succeeded, beyond her wildest dreams. Never had she imagined that her hapless brother might be disinherited as a result of the conflict. She had merely intended to demonstrate his unfitness to run the company, in the hopes that her father would hand her the mantle of succession.
Men think they’re so smart. But they’re all balls and bluster, no brains, so easy to manipulate with a few words of praise and a pat on the head. Except for William, that is. He’s proving to be a challenge, but I’ll get him under control eventually.
Caroline’s other ambition in life, besides running her father’s business, was to marry William Darcy. She was not in love with him; she had never been in love with any man. But William had four advantages over other men. First, he was wealthy, which Caroline considered a non-negotiable requirement in a husband. Second, his family was socially prominent. Third, he was famous and knew other famous people. And fourth, he was gorgeous and sexy. While Caroline did not consider this an absolute necessity in a husband, it was a pleasant fringe benefit in William’s case.
This fourth factor, Caroline knew, was a two-edged sword. She sometimes failed to keep her lustful reactions to William under control, and she recognized that this failure had led directly to the humiliating lecture he had given her. She had made this mistake once before, a few years ago when William was visiting her father’s home in Lost Angeles, and William had attempted to avoid her ever since. She had promised herself that she would be careful to allow William to pursue her, instead of being the pursuer herself. But then he started panting after that tacky chorus girl and barely noticed that I existed. Fine eyes, indeed.
Still listening through the door, Caroline heard William suggest that he drive Charles back to the house. That’s good. I’ll check in with Daddy and then go over there. Maybe I can undo William’s influence. Or, if not, maybe at least I can get William out of this snit he’s in.
------
* Note to those familiar with San Francisco: This part of the story is set in
2001, which is why in “story time” Crissy Field Center is newly opened.
Copyright © 2006 by the author
Last updated
September 23, 2006