Section I, Next Section
Disclaimer: This story is based loosely on the movie of the same title, which starred Lauren Bacall, Marilyn Monroe, and Betty Grable, respectively Lizzy, Jane and Anne!
Author's note: Hi all! This story is not very long or thought-provoking, nor is it eyebrow-raising or guffaw-filled. For better or worse, it's just my little foray into comedy... Well, anyway, here it is!
"All right ladies, the HTMAM tea club is open for business!" Elizabeth banged her spoon on the table in the diner for emphasis.
"Lizzy, what does HTM... what does it mean again?" asked Jane.
"It stands for 'How to Marry a Millionaire," sighed Anne. "But you can't say that phrase out loud."
"Oh, I won't. Don't worry about me, I can keep my mouth shut... But who are we not supposed to be telling?" asked Jane.
Elizabeth put her head in her hands. "Jane... I'm going to go over this one more time. We are trying to marry rich men, but it won't work if we tell them what we're after." Jane continued to look perplexed. "This club is for us to put our heads together and come up with some sort of a plan."
Jane nodded slightly; a clue slowly forming. "So we are scheezers?!"
"Shhh!" cried Anne as she looked around the diner. "We are not scheezers, we are three intelligent..." she stopped and looked at Jane, then began again. "We are three women who are trying not to get stuck in a hapless marriage with a poor loser."
"Oh, I get it now!"
Both Anne and Elizabeth doubted it.
"Okay, let's start again. Now this meeting has come to order to formulate a plan of attack." Jane was about to interrupt, but Elizabeth ignored her. "With our combined skills, we can't lose!"
"What skills, Lizzy?" asked Jane.
"Jane, your looks can attract any man, whether he be deaf, dumb, or blind, even dead." Jane blushed furiously, while Elizabeth continued. "However, it's up to Anne and I to pick out the one who would benefit you most."
"And how can I help you?"
Anne turned her head, but Elizabeth answered. "Just stay beautiful... that's all."
Jane sat quiet and reflective for a few moments, then a bright idea hit her. "I think we should pool our resources!"
Elizabeth and Anne looked both surprised by the outburst and dumbfounded by the wisdom of it.
"What do you mean, Jane?" asked Elizabeth.
"Oh, I don't know. I just heard it once from some businessmen and I just couldn't wait to use it! It sounded so... so... trés interesting!"
Anne bit her lip to hold back a giggle.
Elizabeth inserted. "Yes Jane, you're absolutely right. We do need to pool our resources. And with that intro, I think that the only way this is going to work is for us to live together."
"Why?"
"Well, we all work in the same area. If we lived together, we could rent a very nice apartment downtown Atlantic City rather than our little tenements in the underbelly."
"We could also get a car!"
"Well Jane, I hadn't thought about that... But you may be right, we will have to have transportation to get around at first."
"I know somebody who could get us a car, a nice car," inserted Anne.
"Who?" asked Elizabeth.
"Just some guy I know, Willie Elliot. He works for D de B Autos."
Elizabeth frowned. "And just how do you know him?"
"Lizzy don't worry, it's not like that at all. He is always calling us for chauffeurs..."
"I didn't know the Taj Mahal hired out chauffeurs," said Jane.
"They don't," Anne frowned. "His employer, Mrs. de Bourgh insists that out of work actors should have regular jobs and calls regularly to employ them in one service or another."
"So he works for the 'Lady' herself?!" exclaimed Elizabeth in wonder.
"Oh yes. I haven't met him, but we always have a nice conversation over the phone. He sounds so sweet..."
"Anne," Elizabeth admonished. "No droopy eyed whipping boy for you..."
"I'm surprised that you haven't met anyone at your job, Anne," interrupted Jane.
"Well, no one actually comes into the office level, not even 'The Donald'. It's all phone calls and messages."
"Oh," frowned Jane.
"Well girls, how 'bout it?"
They all agreed to turn in notice on their apartments and move out the end of next month.
"Now all we have to do is find a place," said Elizabeth.
"Well, I could see if we have any listings... I'm sure they do, since they have to keep up with all the actors, and stage people."
"And I'll um... I'll, um..."
"Jane, you could ask some of the people you meet on the floor."
"Thanks Lizzy," Jane smiled. "What will you do?"
"Well, I can ask my friends at Caesars' and since I sing most nights, that will make me the one who goes to check the places out during the day."
"Agreed!" exclaimed Anne.
"We have a lot of work to do in the next few weeks," sighed Elizabeth. "I suggest we adjourn this meeting and get to it!"
The next few weeks were a whirlwind. Jane had found a couple of places, Elizabeth had found a few more, but Anne was a wealth of information. Elizabeth went to all the places and found 2 that she liked best, but she needed the others approval.
"Wake up, Jane! We've got to get there before they're taken!"
"I'm up Lizzy, just stop shouting!"
"Well, it wasn't me who was out all night drinking cheap champagne with a wannabe playboy!"
"I thought he was cute," said Jane as she threw her covers off.
"Cute and poor... Jane if you wore your glasses more often, you would have seen the label on the bottle."
"I can't be caught dead in those glasses! You know what Mama always says, 'men don't make passes at girls who wear glasses'!"
"Yes, dear Mama... She will be so thrilled when she finds that we got ourselves some rich husbands."
"You did all that and didn't even let me know?!"
Elizabeth looked puzzled. "Did all what?"
"Got us rich husbands. Boy, that was easy! What's mine's name?"
"Jane," she sighed. "I didn't say I found us husbands."
"You did! You said 'Mama will be so thrilled when she finds that we got ourselves rich husbands.' So I want to know how did you meet them and which one is mine?"
"I was talking future!"
"So was I! I would at least like to know his name so I can send out the wedding invitations..."
"No Jane..." Elizabeth rolled her head around her neck to ease her now tension headache. "I meant whenever we do find rich husbands, she'll be thrilled."
"Oh." And with that Jane went into the bathroom.
Elizabeth and Jane met Anne on the train and plotted their route. They would look at the one Elizabeth liked the least of the two and then the one she liked best, and would have lunch in between.
Although the rent was quite high, they thought they could pull it off with a little creative economizing, so they took the one that Elizabeth liked best. It was already completely furnished with some of the finest art décor and furniture any of them had imagined, and underground parking, and you could see forever; it was so high up. The apartment was just below the penthouse suite on top of a very tall building; the D'Arcy Arms and run by Lucas Management.
On the train back, they talked and planned some more.
"Did you get a look at our neighbor!" squealed Anne.
"No, what did he look like?" asked Jane.
"Jane, there are times when you should wear your glasses..."
"Anne, you know that's against the rules: only when we are inside our apartment. Alone."
"I didn't see him either, Anne. What did he look like?" asked Elizabeth.
"Tall, dark and handsome," she sighed. Both ladies perked up. "He was on the elevator when I was timing it."
"Why were you timing the elevator?" asked Jane.
"To see how long it takes to get up to our floor from the lobby."
"Why is that important?" asked Jane.
"In case you're entertaining one gentlemen and another one calls..." inserted Elizabeth.
"I don't get it."
Anne hid her giggle as she was sitting directly across from Jane, while Elizabeth rolled her eyes.
"Jane, there are three elevators. If you wanted to see the 2nd gentleman and get rid of the first, you know exactly how much time you have."
"I still don't get it."
Elizabeth and Anne shrugged and changed the subject.
"So, now it's time for plan B!"
"What's plan B, Lizzy?" asked Jane.
"Plan B is how do we make ourselves available to the opposite sex."
"But we're always available!"
"No Jane!" Elizabeth exhaled in exasperation. "The rich opposite sex."
"We must hobnob with the rich and famous," said Anne.
"Well Anne, since you work for 'The Donald', you tell us."
"Jane, that's the most sensible thing you've said all day!" teased Elizabeth.
"Ooh, thank you Lizzy!" Jane smiled brightly at the compliment.
"I can check all that out on Monday."
"How about that car thingy?" asked Jane.
"That's where we're going tomorrow," Anne smirked. "Willie's already got two or three selected for us. All we have to do is go there and pick it out."
"It's not going to cost us too much, is it Anne?" asked Elizabeth.
"No Lizzy, one of the owner's is somewhat of a nut. He buys old cars, fixes them up, and sells them at a low price."
"What an oddball!" laughed Elizabeth. "What is he, some kind of philanthropist or something?"
"He just doesn't want to see great cars go to waste, or so Willie says."
"Sounds like he has money to burn!" Jane percolated. "Maybe we should check him out too?"
Elizabeth and Anne both looked thoughtful; that was the second sensible thing Jane had said all day.
"So what time should we meet?" asked Elizabeth.
"They have late hours on Sunday, so why don't you meet me on the 12:15 p.m. train. We'll have to catch a bus after that, then take a taxi..."
"Where in God's name is this place, Anne?!" asked Elizabeth.
"Long Island!" Anne exclaimed in her old New Jersey accent.
They all laughed.
Although their parents lived in Jersey City, New Jersey, the three girls transplanted themselves in Atlantic City to get away from their 'hick' family as they called them and live a life of luxury. The life of luxury had not yet come, but they took measures to make sure that it would come sooner than later than never. After high school, each went onto further their education; Anne Elliot went to secretarial school, Jane took modeling courses at Barbizon School of Modeling, and Elizabeth went to a New Jersey conservatory of music, somewhere in Newark. A few years later, Elizabeth moved to Atlantic City, Jane followed her and Anne after toiling with the idea for 2 years came hence this fall.
Anne (age 27) works as a legal secretary at the Taj Mahal. Jane (age 26) is a cigarette girl for Harrah's and sometimes she even appears in some of the revues as a dancer. Elizabeth (age 24) sings in a night club called L'il Bits which is housed inside of Caesar's.
"Do you have the address, Anne?"
"Yes, Lizzy. I'm not like someone I know."
"You're talking about me, aren't you?" asked Jane.
"If the shoe fits..." teased Anne as she began to laugh. "Here it is."
The taxicab driver took them to address and they got out. Each was in awe of the auto dealership; the huge building was white concrete, with bright lights and clean cars. They looked around, but saw no one.
"You guys stay here and I'll look around back."
"Why are you going back there, Lizzy?" asked Jane.
"There's probably a garage around back... Mechanics always get in earlier than the salesmen," said Elizabeth.
"How do you know all that?" asked Jane.
"I've known a few mechanics in my day," she sighed.
"All right, Lizzy," said Anne. "We'll stay here in case a salesman or Willie pulls up."
Elizabeth walked around back and heard an engine running. She walked through the open door of the garage. "Hello!" No answer. "Hello!" Still no answer, so she walked towards the car that was running which was, of course, way in the back of the garage. Elizabeth espied someone's feet hanging out from under the car. "Hello!" she yelled. Again, no answer. She leaned under the hood and through the roar of the engine, she bellowed. "Excuse me!!!"
The person clunked his head on the transmission at the shriek. "Ow!" Elizabeth jumped back. "Who the...?" he scooted from under the car. "Uh... hi," he wiped his hands on his overalls. "Can I help you?"
Elizabeth frowned in disgust. But as he came closer toward her in the large semi-darkened room, disgust turned to something else...
"Can I help you?!" he repeated loudly.
"Um... yes!" Elizabeth admonished herself for her all-too-familiar lack of self-control for the hunky opposite sex. "I, I'm supposed to be meeting a Willie Elliot here! Do you know when he'll be in?!" she yelled over the engine roar.
"Excuse me!" he said as he ran around her to shut the engine down. "Willie Elliot, huh?" he mumbled, then he looked at his watch. "He should be here by now!"
"You don't have to shout! You turned the engine off!"
"If that's true, then why are you shouting?"
She looked into his deep chocolate eyes and felt like melting. "I, uh, um, I'm not shouting," she pouted.
He laughed. "Don't worry, you're hearing returns after a minute or so."
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Thank you," she said curtly and walked away.
"Hey! Hey lady! Miss!" he ran after her. "I didn't get your name," he said as he walked beside her.
Elizabeth closed her eyes. He's a mechanic, get over it! "Elizabeth Bennet." Why did I do that?!
"Pretty name for a pretty lady," he smiled.
She stopped. "I don't believe I've ever heard that line before!" she sneered sarcastically, before walking off again.
"The name's Wi..."
She cut him off. "I don't need to know anymore, thank you!"
"You'll need to know my last name when we get married, don't you think?" he chuckled as he followed her.
She stopped and spun around. "Look, there's no way I'm going out with you, let alone marrying you, so be a good employee and get back to work!" she hissed.
"Oh, so you're one of those..."
"One of what?"
"A snob."
"I am not a snob," Elizabeth pronounced haughtily. "I just refuse to waste my time on slop jockeys, fetch-it boys, or grease monkeys!" she emphasized on the last to make it more of an insult.
He stopped cold. "If that's the way you want it."
"That's the way I want it."
And with that he closed the door to the garage and she went back to the front.
"There you are!" shrieked Jane. "Willie Elliot and Anne are over there and... What happened?!"
"Nothing that a little bath won't take care of," Elizabeth sniffed.
"You look mad!"
"I am mad!" They walked over to where Anne and Willie were standing. "You have the rudest, most incorrigible mechanic back there!" Willie gasped as Elizabeth took a breath. "I want him fired!"
"I'll check into it right away, Miss! No one at D de B Auto's should be rude to customers. Please accept my humble apologies?"
Elizabeth looked at the groveling man. "Yes, well... Make sure that you do!"
"Lizzy," Anne interrupted. "These are the 3 autos that Willie was telling me about."
"Can you leave us be for a moment, Willie," Elizabeth smiled through gritted teeth.
"Sure-dee-doody-do! I'll just check on that mechanic and..." he stopped talking when the ladies walked away.
The ladies looked over each automobile as though finicky cats looking for particular prey.
"I like the yellow one!" exclaimed Jane. Both Anne and Elizabeth ignored her. "I like the yellow one!" she repeated.
"And why is that dear sister?"
"It's pretty! Trés pretty!"
Elizabeth rubbed her temples. "Jane, we are not here to buy a pretty car. We are here to buy a classy, upscale car that spells money."
"Oh, I forgot," she pouted.
"I like the blue one. Blue means business," inserted Anne. "It has the least mileage and it purrs like a kitten."
"There's a kitty in there?!" inquired Jane. "Poor little thing!"
Anne spoke before Elizabeth had a chance to blow up. "It's just an expression Jane. Car talk, ya know," she winked.
"Oh..."
Elizabeth mouthed a 'thank you' in Anne's direction. "What if something goes wrong with it?"
"They have a three-year warranty on all parts. We can bring it in for regular check-ups and all!"
"That sounds too good to be true, Anne," Elizabeth raised an eyebrow.
"I know, but Willie says that this is all true!"
Elizabeth grimaced. Oh Lord, Anne is falling for a car salesman! "And you believe a car salesman?"
"Well, uh, yes. He seems trustworthy and he's so nice..."
"Get it in writing," Elizabeth interrupted. The sooner they made the deal, the sooner she could get Anne away from the mealy-mouthed salesman.
Within a few minutes, Willie Elliot appeared. "Uh Miss?" They all turned around. "Did you say the guy that bothered you was a mechanic?"
"Yes. Why?" asked Elizabeth.
"Because um, uh, no one's back there."
"What?!"
"Uh, our mechanics don't work on Sunday's..."
"That's strange," Elizabeth said thoughtfully. "Is anyone else here?"
"Uh yes. One of the owners, another salesman and the Sales Manager."
"Hmpf. Never mind then. Let's get this over with," she dismissed with a regal wave of her hand.
"The owner says to make sure that you are completely satisfied with your purchase..."
"Why is that?" asked Anne.
"Well, I, uh, told him about what happened and he was, uh, very sympathetic."
"Yes, well, tell him we said thank you."
"I'm sure he'll be delighted. Now, have you chosen one?"
Anne happily answered. "We like the b..."
"We're not sure," interrupted Elizabeth. "We're thinking about the blue Mercedes, but the price is a little beyond our reach and the three-year warranty seems a pittance."
"Well now, how about if you write a price down and number for the year warranty you want, and I'll take it to the owner and see if he approves?"
Elizabeth took the pen and pad offered and wrote down a ridiculously low figure and extremely lengthy year for warranty and handed it back to Willie Elliot.
He looked at the offer, grimaced and said. "I'll be right back!" and away he ran.
Anne had been looking over Elizabeth's shoulder and almost laughed out loud at what she had written. Instead she held her tongue until Willie had gone. "They are not going to accept that!"
"I know," shrugged Elizabeth. "But that's when the negotiations start."
"Ah," uttered Anne.
A few minutes passed and Willie Elliot came running back. "The boss has accepted your offer," he smiled.
"What?!" exclaimed both Elizabeth and Anne.
"Okay buddy! What's wrong with this car?!" asked Elizabeth with narrowed eyes and a menacing scowl. "You're not going to pass a lemon off to me!"
"There's nothing wrong with the car!" he sputtered. "It's one of the finest on the lot!"
"Then why are we getting it so cheap?" asked Anne.
"Because the boss wanted to make you happy. He felt it the least he could do..."
"Where is this boss?" Elizabeth had her suspicions.
"He, uh, just left," said Willie Elliot as he wiped his sweaty brow.
Elizabeth glared down upon him. "If I find one thing wrong with this car, it'll be back here faster than you can say lawsuit!"
"Yes ma'am!" he quaked. "If you'd like to come into the office? We can get it all down on paper and you can take your car home."
Elizabeth and Anne looked at each other in wonder.
"Sure!" smiled Jane.
They all followed Willie Elliot.
Tell me he's lazy
Tell me he's slow
Tell me I'm crazy
Maybe, I know.Can't help lovin' that man of mine.
Can't help lovin' that man of mine.
Elizabeth had just finished off her last set of the night at 'L'il Bits'. She hurriedly went back stage to wash and dress because she was meeting Anne and Jane at a ritzy nightclub in an hour. She stepped into her spaghetti-strapped black Lycra form-fitting dress and admired herself in the mirror. She twisted her hair up on her head and let a few tendrils fall down to frame her face and neck. Finally, she put on a little glossy lipstick and went out the door.
Elizabeth stopped at the bar downstairs. "Bobby how was business tonight?"
"You're packing 'em in Liz! Those old buzzards just love that old show tune crap!"
"Anything for me?" she asked demurely.
"You got it!" The bartender handed her an envelope full of money; it was part of the deal. The more the customers drank, the higher her extra money went.
"Thanks!" Elizabeth took out a few bills before folding the envelope and putting it into her purse. "Can I get a dry martini before I check out?"
"Sure thing!"
The bartender walked away for a few minutes, but came back with Elizabeth's drink.
"Here you go," he placed the drink in front of her.
She handed the bartender a ten-dollar bill.
"Nope," he waved her off. "The guy down at the end of the bar bought it for you."
Elizabeth looked down at the end of the dimly lit bar and saw a man sitting there. She thought she and the bartender were the only ones left, but she felt obliged to thank him, so she stepped around the stool and walked towards the kind stranger.
"Thank you... for the drink that is," she smiled sweetly.
"No problem, Elizabeth." He swung around in his chair to face her.
"You!!!"
"Yep. Me."
"Look, you, you, you... Argh!"
"Calm down, please? I'm not here to kill you or anything..."
"And how do I know that?!"
"I could've killed you back at the dealership..."
Elizabeth gasped. "Bobby!!!" she screamed.
The bartender ran the length of the bar. "Is this guy bothering you, Liz?" he asked as he pulled something out from under the cash register.
"No my friend, I am not bothering her." He backed away. "I just wanted to buy the lady a drink." And with that he left the club.
"What was that all about?"
"I don't know, Bobby. Maybe I'm just tired," she exhaled as she put her head in her hands. "Sorry."
"You want me to walk you outside?"
She sighed. "Yeah, just let me finish my drink first."
Later, Elizabeth joined Jane and Anne at the appointed club. The men were already lined up and buying drinks for the ladies when she came in. Jane could always pull the men.
"Lizzy, what took you so long?" asked Anne.
"Long story, I'll tell you later."
"Lizzy, let me introduce the immediate men," giggled Jane.
Elizabeth looked around as Jane introduced her to 6 men, albeit, each man had to re-introduce themselves, since Jane got them confused. She liked the looks of them all, they looked rich, intelligent, but she would scrutinize each in her own special way.
As Elizabeth watched the men buy them drinks, she looked at the wad of bills they pulled out. Elizabeth was shrewd when it came to money; it wasn't the thickness of the wad that impressed her, it was the weight of it. A fifty-dollar bill was less used by most people and therefore was more rigid and crisp, unlike a one-dollar bill that has probably passed through a million hands and was quite flexible. Any wannabe could wrap a fifty around a bunch of one's, but a real player-a high roller, had more inflexibility in his bankroll.
Elizabeth decided on 3; one for her, one for Jane, and one for Anne. She then dismissed the others and they all settled into a cozy little party, however, in the back of her mind, she still thought of the strange, yet gorgeous mechanic.
After going to another nightclub with the 3 gentlemen, the ladies said their goodnights and parted ways with promises to call their respective prospects before the weekend was over.
"So, what happened tonight Lizzy?" said an exhausted Anne as she flopped into the living room chair.
"Yeah, what happened?" asked Jane. "When?"
"Well, I was at the bar getting a drink before coming to meet you two and this guy wanted to buy me a drink. So I went up to him to thank him, you know. And it was him!"
"Who him?" asked Jane.
"The mechanic!"
"What happened then?" asked Anne.
"I don't know... I said something and he said he could've killed me before and..."
"Did you call the police?" asked Anne.
"No, Bobby was there. And then he left."
"Do you think he's a stalker?" asked Jane.
"No. I just think I overreacted... I had 2 encores and I was just pooped, I think."
"What did he look like?" asked Anne.
"I've only seen him in nearly dark places, so I would guess tall, dark, and handsome..."
"Hey, maybe he's our neighbor!" exclaimed Jane.
"Yeah, right!" sighed Anne. "But Lizzy, do you think he might be dangerous?"
"No, not really. He could've waited for me outside, if that was true. And like he said he could've killed me in the garage."
"Would that have been before or after he proposed to you?" asked Jane.
Anne shook her head and stood up. "Goodnight, Gracie!"
Elizabeth laughed. "Goodnight, Anne."
"Who's Gracie?" asked Jane.
"Never mind, Jane. Goodnight."
Elizabeth left a bewildered Jane to her thoughts.
A few weeks passed. Those 3 young men at the club proved to be a good steady outing for the ladies, but they handed over no jewelry or declared their undying love to the girls. Lust maybe, but definitely not love.
"Hey girls, look who helped me with the groceries!" yelled Jane as she put her packages down on the kitchen counter.
Elizabeth and Anne ran out of their rooms and stopped cold.
"Howdy," the man took off his cowboy hat and bowed his greeting, he even included a sweeping wave of his hand.
"Hi," they both said in unison.
"This is... Oh, I'm so bad with names. What's it again?"
"It's Wickham. George Wickham. It's a pleasure to meet you all."
"Nice to meet you too," smiled Elizabeth as she scanned him over in her mind. Not too bad looking, nice specks of gray in his hair, expensive coat, manicured nails, etc.
"So, is this your place?" asked Wickham as he walked around the kitchen like he owned it.
"Yes, it's ours," replied Anne. "I'm Anne," she held her hand.
He ignored her. "Very nice," he smiled at Elizabeth. "Very nice."
He looks familiar. Elizabeth smiled back. "Do you live around here?"
"Me? No. No, I was just visiting an old associate in the penthouse and..."
"And that's when he saw me!" exclaimed Jane.
"That was very nice of you. Thank you for helping my sister, Mr. Wickham."
"My pleasure... and please, call me George?"
"All right, George. So where do you live?" asked Elizabeth.
Hmm, straight to the point, aren't you? "I live in Texas..."
"Ooooh Texas! Are you a big oil man?" asked Jane.
"Well," he drawled. "I wouldn't call my company big..." He saw Elizabeth frown. "But, I do own 13 oil wells and some consider my company one of the biggest" he smiled toothily.
"And what is the name of your company?" asked Elizabeth.
Wickham smiled. "Westco Oil."
"I don't think I've heard of them."
"Oil refineries are not normally well known, unless they have subsidiary gas stations. We sell to companies all over the world."
"Ah!" smiled Anne.
"Ooh!" thought Jane, out loud.
"Well, since you are a stranger to these parts, why don't you come by for dinner sometime?" asked Elizabeth.
Definitely the one with the money! "I have a better idea. But first, I need to know your name. I met Jane and Anne, but I have yet to hear the sweet name your mother calls you."
"I'm Elizabeth." Another compliment on my name.... Could it be him?
"Beautiful," he leered with just a touch of sincerity. "Now that we've been properly introduced, why don't I take you out to dinner tonight." Elizabeth was about to protest. "All of you."
Anne and Jane readily agreed.
"Why don't I stop by around 8:00 p.m.?"
"Sure!" exclaimed Jane.
"Then I look forward to tonight, then," he smiled at Elizabeth again. "I should go."
"It was nice meeting you, George," said Anne.
"The pleasure was all mine."
"Likewise, I'm sure!" exclaimed Jane.
And with that he left.
"Ooh Lizzy!" exclaimed Anne. "Looks like you reeled one in!"
"Anne, be serious..."
"Anne's right, Lizzy! That man was all over you! He would've swept you into the bedroom if we weren't here!"
The ladies went on talking as they put the groceries away, while Wickham slowly closed the front door.
Dinner was pleasant and Wickham's company was very amiable. It was apparent to all, where Wickham's attentions lay; he all but ate Elizabeth.
Elizabeth enjoyed Wickham's company, but felt eerie all the same. She couldn't shake the fact that she felt she knew him from somewhere... Then, on top of that, Elizabeth felt as though someone was watching her, boring a hole right through her. A few times, she twisted uncomfortably in her seat and finally she looked in the direction where the heat emanated, but to her dismay the crowd had obstructed her view. This dominant gut feeling distracted her from checking out Wickham's wad.
That night when she lay in her bed, she felt those eyes upon her again. There was something familiar about them; a dark bottomless chocolate sort of familiarity.
Two weeks passed and Wickham made his presence known at the apartment door, almost every single day; either to escort Elizabeth to and from the nightclub or just to be in her company.
Wickham had seen Elizabeth pick up her money from the bartender each night and assumed she owned the club. He also surmised this by the name of the club; L'il Bits, he thought was just a play on her name. He would woo her, marry her, take all her money, and then move on.
"Thank you. Thank you, very much. Whew! That's it for me." The crowd buzzed hopefully around her. "Come on now! Do you want me to sing another one and possibly lose my voice or do you want me back tomorrow?" The crowd was split in their opinions. "Well, I want to come back tomorrow, so Goodnight!"
This was becoming a familiar scene to Elizabeth; she was bringing the people in, in hordes and they kept begging for more. She loved the adulation, but still prayed for her big break. Someday, someday soon!
As she passed through the crowd, someone placed something in her hand. She looked down and saw a single red rose with a note attached to it. She looked around the throng of people but saw no one she recognized as a possibility. But at the last moment possible, she saw a familiar figure walk out the door.
How dare he?! She angrily pushed her way through the crowd and ran up the back stairs to her dressing room. Elizabeth threw the rose in the garbage and paced and cursed; much more than the situation required. But, after a few more minutes she calmed down. He probably spent a whole days pay on that rose! She retrieved the rose and read the note.
It read:
I did not intend to frighten you.
Forgive me?
Elizabeth swallowed hard and trembled as she remembered his eyes, his smile, his face... Suddenly she snapped out of her private reverie. He's a mechanic, for God's sake! Forget him Liz! You always do this!!! She walked into the bathroom, showered, changed and left to go out to a very late night dinner with Wickham.
"I didn't think you'd make it tonight."
Elizabeth shrugged and Wickham went on charmingly. After a while, he noticed that she wasn't as talkative or attentive to him.
"Is anything wrong?" No answer. "Lizzy, have I done something?"
"What?"
"You're distracted. Poor thing, you're probably tired. I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking. I should take you home."
"Yes. I think that would be best."
"Goodnight..." he leaned in for a kiss.
Elizabeth turned the key in the door and opened it. "Goodnight," she smiled wanly and closed the door on him.
Hmm? Wickham stood in the hallway for a few minutes, pondering the events of the evening. Probably playing hard to get. Don't worry baby, two can play at that game!
"Lizzy, where are you?" teased Anne as she packed their lunches.
"What?" she asked as Jane giggled.
"Wickham certainly is turning you into a brain dead twit!"
Elizabeth ventured no answer. Jane and Anne looked at each other, knowingly.
"Well Anne, how goes your love life?" asked Jane.
"It's going pretty well. At the end of the month, I'm going away to The Poconos for a special weekend."
"Who with?"
"Willie Elliot."
Upon hearing this, Elizabeth now snapped to attention. "You've got to be kidding me! Anne?!"
"What?" Before Elizabeth could go on a tirade, Anne continued. "Look Lizzy, things are going well for you, I just want somebody to treat me nice too!"
"But Willie Elliot...?"
"He's nice and sweet and decent. He even comes down to the office to visit me every so often."
"But he could be your cousin or something!"
"I already checked that out Lizzy..."
"How?"
"You know my father still clings to that stupid Family Bible and he still insists that he's a descendant of royalty of long ago kingdoms..."
"Is he still running for King of New Jersey?" asked Jane.
Anne frowned. "With every fiber of his being." She sighed and murmured under her breath, "That's why I left home..."
"But Anne... Willie Elliot?" repeated Elizabeth.
"Look Lizzy, I know I'm not as pretty as you both are, so I'm going to jump at the chance to be with someone that makes decent money, drives his own car, and has his own place!"
"You are just as pretty as me and Jane, that's nonsense and you know it! And you can do better than Willie Elliot!" Elizabeth exclaimed angrily.
"I didn't say I was marrying the guy! I said I was going away on a weekend excursion!"
"More like a weekend diversion..." Elizabeth mumbled.
"Oh, it's back to the plan again! Look my goals are still the same, I just need someone to... stroke my ego a little. Can't a girl in the 90's have a little fun?"
"I'm sorry, Anne," Elizabeth sighed. "You're right."
"Go back to bed, Lizzy," said Anne as she kissed her on the cheek. "You look so tired."
"I will. You two have a good day at work!"
"Later!" cried both Jane and Anne as they walked out the door.
"I haven't slept in weeks!" Elizabeth chastised herself. "I need a diversion myself..."
Elizabeth, however, went back to bed. A few hours later, after dreaming of deep browns on a ruggedly handsome face, she woke up feeling a little better. Elizabeth padded around the apartment looking for something to eat, when the phone rang.
"Hi Lizzy."
"Hi George," she yawned.
"Are you just getting up?"
"Basically."
"Then why don't I take you out for lunch?"
"No thank you. I'm meeting the girls for lunch."
"But Lizzy, I wanted to see you one last time."
"One last time?"
"Yes. I'm going back to Houston tonight."
"Tonight?! Why didn't you tell me?"
"It wasn't planned, I just found out this morning. A board meeting... you know," he sighed.
Elizabeth just was not in the mood. "I'm sorry George," she glanced at the clock. "It's already too late to call them. When will you be back?"
"Oh, I don't know. A few weeks, maybe."
"Will you call me?"
Not in this age of caller ID! "I don't think so... It's going to be a lot of dinner parties, schmoozing, etc. Got to keep those board members happy!"
"Oh."
"Will you miss me?"
"Of course I will! You'll call me when you get back, won't you?"
"I sure will. Take care, Lizzy."
"Goodbye George."
Elizabeth didn't know why she didn't want to see Wickham. She liked him well enough, but he didn't do anything for her, chemistry wise. Her thoughts went immediately to the mechanic; she had thought she seen him here and there; she thought she saw him in the lobby of the apartment building, at the grocery store, and again in the club. She just couldn't shake those penetrating brown eyes and those dark curls.
"Snap out of it Lizzy!" she chastised herself again. "You don't need that kind of diversion!" Elizabeth paced the floor for something to do. She had to get her mind off of that mechanic and onto Wickham, if she was going to marry him. "He's not ugly... and he's rich! Very rich!" She kept pacing and pacing until she came up with an idea that would get her out of the apartment. "Anne, you want to meet me for lunch?"
"I can't today, Lizzy. There's actually going to be people meeting here today," she chuckled. "Gotta go! Later!"
Elizabeth frowned as she hung up, until she remembered Jane was not doing a show this day.
"Jane, you want to meet me for lunch?"
"Sure! Today?"
"Yes Jane, today."
"Come down around noon. Okay?"
"Okay."
"So where do you wanna go?" asked Elizabeth.
"I heard there's this new diner down the block. Biggie's I think."
"That greasy spoon franchise?"
"Yeah, that's it! I heard the food's great and you look like you could use a nice fat hamburger," Jane winked.
"Hmm... I haven't indulged in long while. Let's do it!"
They walked down the street, into the diner. There was a crowd, so they took seats at the counter.
"Can I help you?"
"We'd like to see the menu, please?" frowned Elizabeth.
"Sorry. It's been a busy month..." he apologized, but stopped as Jane looked up at him. "Hi."
"Hi yourself," Jane smiled sweetly.
"Menu's please?" asked Elizabeth again; a bit peeved.
"Huh? Oh, sorry." He practically threw the menu at Elizabeth.
"Thanks," she said sarcastically as she witnessed the exchange between the two. This always happens to Jane! If she can't find a sweet smile in a loser, no one can!
Finally, the young man had to turn his attentions away from the lovely Jane, because more people came flooding in.
Elizabeth and Jane finally got their food, ate it and paid their bill. As they were being tossed and turned by the crowd, Elizabeth bumped into something hard.
"Ow!"
"Sorry, did I..."
She startled as she looked up, but then she exclaimed in disgust. "Argh!"
Not wanting to make a scene, he bowed. "Excuse me," then he brushed past her to venture up to the counter.
"You finally made it!" called the young man from behind the counter.
"Charlie, you old dog!" They clasped hands as long-time friends would do. "Seems like the place is a hit!"
Elizabeth watched this exchange for a moment, furrowed her brow and walked out. He couldn't be following me, could he?!
"He's kinda cute!" said Jane.
"Which one?"
"The guy behind the counter!"
"Um, uh, well, I really didn't look," shrugged Elizabeth.
"I think he likes me!"
"Jane... If you wore your glasses more often, you'd be able to see he was a loser from a mile back."
"I'm not going to mess up the plan, Lizzy," sighed Jane.
They parted ways.
Elizabeth went back to the apartment to prepare herself for another long night at the club.
Elizabeth had seen him again at the club. He had been in her dreams almost every night but now he appeared in the flesh. She determined to talk to him this time; she had yet to acknowledge the rose and the card. She had yet to put him out of her mind forever. And this time she was ready! So, after her set, she espied that he was still there. Before the crowd could ask for an encore, she left the stage and walked over to him as he was paying his tab.
"Excuse me?" she tapped him on the shoulder. He swallowed hard and did not answer. "Excuse me!" she said louder. He turned around and smiled nervously. "I overreacted... I'm sorry."
His smile brightened considerably, dimple included. "No, I'm sorry."
Now she smiled nervously. Thought you could forget him, didn't you?! "Did you enjoy the show?"
"Yes. Yes, I did... Please, you must be tired, won't you take my seat?"
She hesitated, but then her libido took over. "Thank you."
"Elizabeth, I came off rather..."
"No more apologies, okay?" He nodded. "I don't even know your name."
"It's Will. Will Darcy. Can we start over?"
She smiled and stuck out her hand. "It's nice to meet you Will, Will Darcy." Darcy bent down to kiss it. Elizabeth felt a tingle all the way up her arm to her cheek. "How did you know where I worked?" she whispered.
"I've been in here before."
"Ah." A few awkward moments passed. "Obviously you enjoyed the show... if you came back, I mean."
"Obviously... Pardon my manners. Would you like a drink?"
"Yes, thank you. Were you just leaving?"
"Yes."
"Don't let me stop you."
Stop me! Wild horses couldn't drag me outta here!!! "I'm not in that much of a hurry."
"Would you join me then?"
Darcy nodded. They sipped on their drinks in silence. Eventually after a few of the patrons left the club, Darcy managed to snag a seat next to Elizabeth. They felt a little easier in each other's company but surprisingly talked till almost 5:00 a.m.
"Lizzy, are you gonna stay here till the sun rises?" asked the tired bartender.
Elizabeth pulled Darcy's arm and looked at his watch. "Oh my goodness! Look at the time!"
"I'm sorry..."
"Don't apologize," she smiled. "I had fun."
"Can I take you home?"
"I only live a couple of blocks away, I'll walk."
"In those heels?!"
She looked down at her shoes and laughed. "I forgot to change!"
"I'll wait."
Elizabeth smiled and ran up to her dressing room.
On the walk home, Elizabeth asked.
"What were you really doing at D de B Autos?"
He smiled. "Fixing my car. The garage isn't supposed to be open on Sundays, so..."
"You thought I'd get you into trouble, so you disappeared," she smirked.
"Well, I did hear that you tried to get me fired," he raised an eyebrow.
"Then I guess your theory was right!" she giggled.
He chuckled. "Something like that."
"Did you really think that line was gonna make me fall for you?"
"Which line?"
She smiled. "The pretty lady, pretty name one."
"No," he laughed. "I thought the one about you marrying me would." Elizabeth stumbled. "Are you all right?" he asked as he held her arm. She looked down at the ground (like we all do when we trip over something that isn't there) and nodded. "Good! I'd better get you home, then."
After a few more blocks, Elizabeth again felt ease in Darcy's company. He was definitely easy on the eyes, no matter how dark it was. He emanated warmth, no matter how cold. He smiled, no matter what she said. He was pleasant company, no matter how they started out. He was all that and a bag of Chips! But he wasn't rich...
They stood outside the apartment building.
"Well, this is where I live."
Darcy gulped. I had no idea! "Nice place."
"Do you... Would you like to come inside for a minute?"
"No thank you. It's pretty late."
"It's rather early," she smiled.
He smiled as he noticed the gray sun coming over the horizon a bit. "Yes it is. But some of us have to work during the day."
She was lost in his smile and was darn near leaning in for a kiss. "Umm hmm."
"Can I call you sometime?" he asked as he came a little closer.
"Yes. I'm in the book."
"Great..." he shifted uneasily. "Well, good morning to you then. Have pleasant dreams."
"Oh, I will." The moment the words slipped out, she blushed, yet stood tall. You're darn skippy I will!
He raised an eyebrow, but said nothing else. Darcy opened the outside door for Elizabeth, watched her wait for the elevator and disappear into it.
"Hello, may I speak with Elizabeth, please?"
Elizabeth's heart fluttered. "This is she. Who's calling?"
"This is Will Darcy. Ho..."
"Oh hello!" she said cheerily. "How are you this bright and cheerful afternoon?"
"Fine. And yourself?"
"Just fine." There was an awkward pause. "Did you call me for some reason?"
He chuckled. "Yes. How about some lunch?"
"You bringing or am I going?"
"Whatever you want."
You... Argh! Don't think that! "I need to get out. How about I meet you. Unless you're on Long Island!"
Darcy laughed heartily. "No. I'm still in Atlantic City."
"Oh Good! Because I don't know how I would've been able to meet you for lunch!" she laughed.
"Why don't I pick you up in about an hour?"
"Sounds good. See you then!"
"How'd you get up here?" asked Elizabeth as she opened the door for Darcy. "They normally don't let anybody up here until they call up first."
"Well, uh, there was no one at the desk," he fibbed quickly.
Elizabeth didn't respond, she just grabbed her coat and they left the apartment.
Darcy took Elizabeth to a nice little restaurant at the far end of the beach. They laughed and talked like long-time friends.
"Oh, I forgot to ask how the car's running?"
"Good. Very good! We just love it."
"I'm very glad to hear that. It would be very unforgivable to offend the lady twice."
"I'm sure!" she said in her best Jane impression.
They walked in companionable silence to the taxicab stand.
Darcy walked Elizabeth up to the front of her building. "I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"
"Will... I thought you said you had to work today?"
"Well, um, yes I did. I came here to work on a few of the Bentley's and Rolls' for some of our best clients," he lied.
"Service at the door?"
"Most definitely."
"Won't you come up?" Darcy looked thoughtful, but said nothing. "I won't bite."
"I'm not..."
"Look, it's no big deal. Just come up, warm yourself for a few minutes and leave."
"No. Thank you, I'd better get back to work."
"Okay," she smiled through her disappointment. "I'll see you tomorrow then?"
"Most definitely."
Elizabeth walked though the door that Darcy opened for her, waited at the elevator and waved to him before going up.
For nearly a week, Elizabeth and Darcy met every day for lunch.
Darcy had been in love with Elizabeth from afar for more than a year. He had seen her act at Caesar's one night and now he had his opportunity to pursue her. But I'm going to take it slow. She was young and headstrong, but beautiful. If it's going to be for a lifetime, then we need to know each other a little more.
Elizabeth was mad about Darcy, she couldn't stop thinking about him; she hadn't once thought of Wickham. If I get rich first, then it won't matter who I marry! He was a little younger than she was used to; she always dated older men. He wasn't younger than her, but he was younger than she was used to-much younger. He could be molded. He was not ambitious enough, but he was gorgeous!
"Lizzy, I don't have my share of the rent money..."
"What?!" she roared. "Why not?!"
Jane cowered. "I quit my job."
Jumping in between Elizabeth and Jane, Anne asked, "Jane, why did you quit your job?"
"I want to be more than a cigarette girl."
"So... you have another job, right?"
"No."
"Jane, how do you expect to live without a job?!" shouted Elizabeth. "How do you expect us to stay here without your contribution?!"
"Lizzy, I'm not going to say another word unless you promise to stop shouting at me!"
Elizabeth held back her stinging discourse.
Anne interceded. "Jane... you know how much we depend on your share of the rent, utilities, etc."
"We've managed before..."
"Yes we did, but I had to sell everything we owned the last time you decided your talents were being wasted!"
"Lizzy, calm down!" hissed Anne.
"We can sell this furniture!" exclaimed Jane.
"It's not our furniture, Jane!"
"It isn't?" Jane turned around in the room. "Why isn't it?"
"This apartment came furnished, remember?" Anne breathed in exasperation.
"No," she answered thoughtfully. "But it's pretty though... Trés pretty!"
Elizabeth collapsed in a chair, unable to speak. Jane went to her bedroom, while Anne just stood in the middle of the room, pondering.
One Sunday evening, Darcy had been invited to dinner as Elizabeth had the night off.
"Liz, wasn't there a painting over the mantle piece?" he asked.
Jane answered. "It's at the hock..."
"It's being cleaned!" Elizabeth interrupted.
"Cleaned?" he repeated.
"Cleaned," she mumbled as she glared at Jane.
"And so is the loveseat!" chimed Jane with a smile.
Anne choked on her salad. Elizabeth changed the subject.
Eventually, Anne managed to get Jane a job at the Taj Mahal as a change girl. Still they were more than 1 week behind in their budgeting. Elizabeth even found a gig during the day to help out. Darcy had gone back to Long Island.
"I've been trying to get in touch with you for a week now."
"I'm sorry Will, I've been... busy."
"Meaning what?"
"Meaning just what I said. Busy." She didn't want to tell Darcy that she had been working days and nights for the past 10 days.
"Liz, is there something going on?"
"Nothing at all."
"Okay. Look, I'm coming back in town tomorrow, can I take you to lunch?"
"Tomorrow's not good for me. How about the day after?"
"Okay." There was a long pause. "Do you need anything?"
"Like what?" she snapped.
"I don't know." Darcy had his suspicions regarding the missing furniture and painting. "Do you?"
Elizabeth hesitated. "No." Yes!
"Fine then. I'll see you later."
"Sure."
"Lizzy!" Anne sniffled through the phone.
"What's wrong, Anne?!"
Anne cried "He... he's married!!!!!"
"Who?" No answer, just more crying. "Willie Elliot?!"
"Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees!" she cried more.
"But... Anne, calm down and tell me where you are?"
A few moments passed. "I'm in The Poconos," she sniffled and blew her nose.
"Is he still there with you?"
"No. He left and I have no way hoooooooooooooooome!" she cried more.
"Anne, please calm down?" Anne quieted after a few more moments. "Tell me exactly what happened."
"Well, we came up here and everything was going rather well for the first few days. Then yesterday, I woke up and saw him putting on his clothes. I asked him where he was going, he told me he was going back to his wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiife," she cried some more.
Elizabeth put her head in her hands. "Anne, Jane has the car. But as soon as I find her, I'm coming up there. Okay?"
"Okay," she sniffed. "But you'd better get here soon, there's a snow storm coming in a few hours."
"A few hours?! I can't get there in a few hours, not even in good weather!" Anne wailed horribly. Elizabeth quieted her. "Is there someone around you, any neighbors?"
"No. There's no one up here, there's no snow. That's why Willie... wanted to... come heeeeeeeeere!" she began crying again.
"There must be someone up there?"
"Only the forest ranger..."
"Who?"
"The forest ranger."
"Does he live close by?"
"I think he lives in a small hunting lodge on the other side of the mountain."
"Then call him and see if he'll help you."
"I guess I could do that..."
"Before you hang up, give me his name and phone number."
"Okay." Anne went into the kitchen for the list of numbers posted on the refrigerator door; she grabbed it and ran back to the phone. "It doesn't list his name, but here's his number: it's 555-8901."
"Okay, I got it. Call me the moment you're safe, okay?"
"Okay. Thanks Lizzy."
"For what?"
"For not saying I told you so."
Anne hung up before Elizabeth could say anything else.
Elizabeth called Jane at work, but they said she hadn't come in that day. Elizabeth was quite perplexed and more than a little distressed.
Darcy called and Elizabeth burst into tears over the phone. He told her he would be there in a second and sure enough he was there faster than Elizabeth could have imagined; had she had her wits about her.
Darcy soothed and comforted Elizabeth until she was able to calm down and tell him what happened.
"But what if she doesn't find him? What if she doesn't have anything to eat? What if there's no gas or electricity?"
"Shhh," he quieted. "You lie down here and I'll fix you something to calm yourself."
Darcy went into the kitchen to fix some tea and sandwiches; he took longer than he should have, but Elizabeth was not in the mood to time him.
A little while later, the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Is this Elizabeth Bennet?"
"Yes it is. Who's calling?"
"This is Captain Wentworth..."
"Who?"
"Your friend Anne asked me to call."
"Is she there with you?"
"Yes, but she's sleeping now. She was very upset. I made her some cocoa and she'll be fine. She doesn't want you to worry and I assure you that she'll be all right."
"How do I know that?"
"Well, um, you have my number, right?"
"Yes. And?"
"Call back in about 2 hours and if she isn't awake, then I'll wake her and you can talk to her."
"I guess I have no choice."
"I've notified the local police that we're here, in case the storm gets too ugly. So, you can check with them if you want."
She sighed. "Thank you."
"I'll make sure she's up and ready to talk to you then, okay?"
"Okay... You sound rather young to be a Captain."
"I'm 32. Graduate of the Naval Academy and I fought in Desert Storm. My ship was hit while we were docked, I was wounded and now retired. Is that enough information for you?"
She laughed despite herself. "Yes. Thanks again, Captain."
They hung up.
"Well, at least he seems safe enough."
"I'm sure she'll be all right. Don't worry," said Darcy as he walked up close to Elizabeth.
"Don't worry? You're talking to the biggest worry-wart in history!"
Darcy pulled her close. "I don't believe that."
She leaned into his chest. "You ought to."
He raised her chin with his finger. "Why?"
"Because, that's something I inherited from my..."
Elizabeth never finished her sentence. Darcy placed a soft kiss on her lips, intending only to comfort her, but it turned into something much more. They had never kissed before and before long it turned into a passionate embrace.
Darcy stayed with Elizabeth for over an hour until he decided that he had to go. Things were progressing further along than either had intended.
Elizabeth sat dreamily on the couch and remembered every kiss and caress Darcy bestowed upon her.
Long after he left, Elizabeth pondered over Jane's disappearing act until she came bursting through the front door.
"Lizzy, guess what!"
"Where in the hell have you been?!"
"First you have to guess what, then I'll tell you," she pouted.
Elizabeth ignored her. "Jane I was worried sick about you and Anne..."
"I got married!"
"... and Anne is stuck up in... What did you say?!"
"I got married! Today!"
Elizabeth startled, blinked, and repeated. "What did you say?"
"I got married today," Jane said slowly. "Jeez Lizzy, are you deaf?"
Elizabeth sat heavily into the nearest chair. "How? Why? Who?"
"Charlie Bingley! I'm Mrs. Charles Bingley!"
Elizabeth felt her head spinning. "Who?"
"The guy behind the counter!"
"What guy?"
"At Biggie's! You know... the one that smiled at me that day."
"Jane," she said slowly. "Tell me that you didn't marry a loser?"
"He's not a loser, Lizzy! He's a hard worker and he loves me and... Oh forget it, I knew you wouldn't understand!" Jane ran into her bedroom and slammed the door.
Elizabeth laid her head on the back of the chair and closed her eyes. Oh God! What are we gonna do now? Anne and I can't afford the rent here without Jane! We need money and soon!
Elizabeth rose from the chair and paced the living room. She had to think; she had to plan; she had to scheme. But first, she needed to talk to Jane.
Elizabeth knocked. "Jane, I'm sorry. Can I come in?"
Jane threw open the door and embraced her sister. "Oh Lizzy, I knew you'd come around!" Elizabeth said nothing. "He's so sweet and wonderful!"
"Jane where are you going to live?" she mumbled through Jane's long tresses.
"What?"
Elizabeth leaned back. "Where are you and your husband going to live?"
"I don't know," she shrugged.
"Does he have a place?"
"I don't know."
Elizabeth squelched the urge to scream. "What do you know?"
"Not much."
"Jane, let's just sit down and talk." Maybe I can get her to annul this farce of a marriage! "Have you made any plans for the future?"
"We're going to have lots of kids!"
"But where will you all live?" Elizabeth was losing her patience.
"Well, I'd thought I'd still live here for a while and Charlie will stay wherever he is for a while and we'd meet somewhere in the middle..."
"You don't even know where your husband lives?!"
"Lizzy, I'm not going to talk to you if you're going to continue to scream at me!"
Elizabeth sat on the bed. "You'll have to forgive me, Jane, but I'm a little confused. Please help me understand?"
"What do you wanna know?"
"Could you start at the beginning?"
Jane looked puzzled. "Well, I was born in a little town called..."
"Not that beginning!" Elizabeth put her head between her legs to calm down. "Sorry. I meant the beginning of your relationship with Charlie."
"Oh that!" giggled Jane. "Well, after we went there for lunch that day, I started going back every day for lunch. We'd talk in between his customers, and well, one thing led to anther and another... Then he asked me to marry him!" she sang.
"Let me get this straight. Has he ever called here?"
"Nope," answered Jane as she pulled her suitcase from the closet.
"And you don't know where he lives?"
"Nope," she repeated as she threw some essentials in her suitcase.
"And you've only seen him at lunch time?"
"Nope. I mean yep," she said as she looked in her bureau for something sexy.
"And he's never once taken you out at night?"
"Yep," she repeated as she threw in some undergarments.
"Why not?"
"I told him that he couldn't take me out at night, because that would mess up our plan to marry rich men! Jeez Lizzy, you pounded that into my head a thousand times... Of course I wouldn't forget it!"
Elizabeth blinked; she was struck dumb and said nothing else for more than a few minutes.
"So we're going to stay at a hotel for our honeymoon." Elizabeth nodded. "I just didn't want you to worry about me, okay?"
And with that, Jane finished packing, kissed her sister's cheek, and left a stunned Elizabeth in the room, until the phone rang.
Elizabeth ran to get it. "Hello!"
"Lizzy, I thought you were going to call in 2 hours?"
"Anne?"
"Yes!"
"Oh Anne! Are you okay?"
"Yes, but look, it's snowing like a bandit here, so I'd better free the line up. I just wanted you to know that I was safe and sound. Thank you! Later."
Anne hung up before Elizabeth had a chance to tell her the 'good' news.
Elizabeth had no time to really think on things, she had to be at the club in less than 90 minutes. She got washed, dressed and ran out the door.
That night, Elizabeth had a terrible nights sleep. All of her dreams started the same way: she was being evicted from the apartment. The first nightmare was that she was homeless and living in her car. The second, that she had to go back home to live with her parents. The third, that she had to move back into that little dumpy apartment that she had just left. The fourth, that she had to marry Darcy and move into his little dumpy apartment, wherever that was. But the last seemed to brighten her spirits somewhat, that she married Wickham and they lived in a spacious house with a garden and a white picket fence.
The phone woke her. "Hello?"
"Hi Lizzy, I'm back!"
"George?"
"Yes baby. Were you sleeping?"
She knew what she had to do. "Oh yes. But I had pleasant dreams, they were all about you..."
Sounds promising! "I'm interested. How about lunch tomorrow?"
"Sure thing!"
"I'll be there around noon, then."
They hung up.
Wickham and Darcy accidentally met in the elevator of the apartment building.
"I hope to God you're not coming to see me?" he sneered.
"No, I'm not! I have a girlfriend in the building, is that all right by you?" Wickham smirked.
I wonder what tramp he managed to charm the skirt off of? "Far be it for me to suspend any pleasure of yours," gritted Darcy.
"Thank you. You're so kind," Wickham spat, sarcastically.
They rode up in silence. The door opened on the 39th floor and Wickham got out. Darcy looked strangely at him and peered out the door as Wickham turned the corner in the hallway.
Darcy let the door close and rode up one floor to the penthouse. "Nah, it couldn't be Lizzy! She's too smart for him!" Darcy went into his apartment. "I think I'll invite her out to an early dinner. She'll appreciate that."
Elizabeth went out with Wickham and pretended as much as she could that he was her choice, and he did so as well. But, Elizabeth went back to the apartment alone.
Later, Darcy called. "Elizabeth, how 'bout an early dinner?"
Elizabeth sighed; this was something that she was dreading. "Sure."
"Is 6:00 p.m. okay for you?"
"Yes."
"Is something wrong?"
"No."
"Okay... Then I'll pick you up at 6:00 p.m."
"Okay. Later."
She hung up without giving him a chance to inquire further.
Darcy arrived promptly at the appointed time. Instead of him coming to the apartment, she met him in the lobby. They caught a taxicab to a little Chinese restaurant. They ate, mostly, in silence.
As they drank coffee, Darcy asked. "Are you going to tell me what's wrong?"
She looked into his deep chocolates and decided that now was not the time to tell him. "Nothing's wrong. I'm just tired."
"You can call the club, can't you? I'm sure they'll let you off for a night."
"No. I always feel better when I sing."
"Please tell me what's wrong? Please?"
Elizabeth broke down. "Jane got married! I haven't heard from Anne in two days and..."
Darcy jumped from his seat to the chair next to hers, embraced her and comforted her. "Shh, you worry too much," he whispered in her ear.
At length, she quieted. "I don't know what I'd do if you weren't here!"
"I'll always be here for you," he smiled and kissed her.
After a few minutes, Elizabeth looked past Darcy at the clock. "Oh man! I'm gonna be late!" It was the truth, but it was still an escape.
Darcy called the waitress, hurriedly paid the bill and they caught a taxicab to her club.
Elizabeth jumped out of the cab without a word.
Darcy leaned through the taxi's open door. "I'll be right inside, okay?"
Elizabeth said nothing as she disappeared through L'il Bits' door.
Darcy was content to watch her from a distance.
Wickham took Elizabeth out to lunch again. He noticed her somber mood, but decided it was time for the kill; his funds were running low and the little chits he took out while Elizabeth worked were screwing up his money. At the apartment door, he pulled her roughly against him and kissed her.
Instead of resisting, as her whole body wanted to do, she complied. As the kiss drew out longer, she threw her arms around his neck and pretended she was kissing another. At length, Elizabeth pushed Wickham away and promised to see him the next day.
"Lizzy, you'll never guess..."
"Anne Elliot, I've been trying to get through to you for several days now!"
"The snowstorm was horrible, but they finally got the phone lines up this morning."
"Oh."
"Anyway, I have some news, but you'll never guess..."
"Jane got married."
"Jane got married?! Oh, how wonderful..."
"To a loser of the first order!"
"You can't hide love, Lizzy..."
"Whatever!" She frowned. "So how did Jane get a hold of you?"
"I haven't talked to her."
"But you said you had news and I thought it was about Jane."
"No, no. I got married myself!"
"What?!" Elizabeth fell to the floor.
"Did you drop something, Lizzy? I heard a loud noise."
"When... Who? Why?" Elizabeth felt nauseous. Oh God!
"This morning to Captain Wentworth!"
Elizabeth swallowed the bile rising in her throat. "Congratulations!" she half-heartedly exclaimed.
"Oh, don't be so upset Lizzy! I love him, he loves me, I knew our plan wouldn't come to any fruition, at least for myself. I've loved him for a long time now, and these 5 days locked up with him have been absolutely..."
Tears ran down Elizabeth's face. "Anne, I'm happy for you. Really."
"Sure Lizzy, whatever you say. I'm sure you'll find your Prince Charming very soon and he'll be plenty rich to boot!"
"I'm sure," she sniffled.
"Well, I've got a few more calls to make: my family, my job."
"Your job?"
"Yes, I'm quitting. I'm moving up here with Frederick! I'll call you in a few days! Later!"
Anne hung up. Elizabeth cried her eyes out.
Elizabeth continued to see Wickham during the day and Darcy continued to wait for her each night at the club to walk her home. It was getting harder and harder for her to break it off with Darcy.
"Lizzy, marry me?"
"But, but this is so sudden!"
He produced a ring. "I know it is, but I can't go on like this. I want you... I want you to be my wife."
"Yes!" she cried out and hugged him. "Oh yes!"
All of her dreams were coming true, but when would reality hit her on the head?
Darcy called every hour, but Elizabeth refused to talk to him. She saw his number on the caller ID and let the answering machine pick it up. How would she tell him? How would she tell the man that made her toes clench whenever he looked at her, that it's all over? She thought she had the guts, but she didn't. She would avoid him at all costs; maybe he would get the point.
He didn't; Darcy showed up at the club.
"Elizabeth. Liz," he ran after her as she walked briskly down the street. "Liz!" he exclaimed as she ignored him. "Liz, please talk to me?" he asked he jumped in front of her. "Please?"
"It's late and I have an early day tomorrow."
"You can still talk to me."
"Will please?! I need to think... I'm getting ready to make a big change in my life and I need time alone!"
Darcy stopped stunned as Elizabeth ran away.
Two days later, Elizabeth was in a restaurant eating alone, when Darcy walked up to her table. She, of course was startled at his appearance, but kept her calm as he sat down with her. He tried talking, but she just clammed up.
Darcy paid for dinner and they left the restaurant. Elizabeth was silent during the taxicab ride and Darcy wondered what was troubling her. He asked but she did not answer. He tried to pull her close, but she moved away. He scooted over to her and placed his arm around her, she shrank by the door. When the taxicab pulled up to the door, Elizabeth jumped out and ran into the club.
Darcy paid the driver and ran in after her. She ran up the stairs to her dressing room and slammed the door in his face. The significance of the slamming door would have had more effect had it not opened back wide. Darcy leaned in and saw Elizabeth softly sobbing on the couch.
"Tell me, please?" he asked as he sat down beside her. She said nothing, just shook her head. He pulled her into his arms. "I can't help you, if you don't... Is it Jane or Anne? Is it someone else in your family?"
He asked, but she did not volunteer any answers.
She removed his arms from her person. "I have to get dressed," she said as she stood up and walked to the closet. "I don't undress in front of just anybody," she said curtly.
"Sorry," he said sheepishly.
Darcy walked through the door, closed it and went back downstairs to the club to wait.
Darcy nursed the same drink all through her performance, pondering on what he had done to his ladylove. After her show and encores, he waited at the bottom of the stairs for her.
"You're still here?" she asked as she strode past him.
"I wanted to walk you home."
"Suit yourself," she shrugged.
They walked on in silence for more than halfway.
Darcy stealthily grabbed her hand. "Elizabeth," he whispered as he pulled her close to him.
She tried to pull away, but he resisted. "I'm tired. All I want to do is go home, take a hot bath and go to sleep." He kissed her cheek, then nibbled her ear. "Don't do this to me, Will! My resistance is low," she shivered against him.
He backed off and they walked the rest of the distance to the apartment in silence.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Elizabeth. I'll call you tomorrow."
She said nothing and disappeared into the lobby.
Elizabeth did not take that bath, nor did she sleep. She felt something deep down in her heart for Darcy; it was beyond what she had ever experienced before. In her young life, breaking up with him was going to be the hardest thing she ever had to do. But how could she do it? Especially when he looked through her with those piercing, brown eyes! Or when his touch seared her skin. Or when his soft warm lips played against her own. How could she do it?
Instead of calling, Darcy showed up at her door. Elizabeth let him in the apartment; it was time for the letdown.
Elizabeth sat down on the couch, then looked down at her hands. "I don't think we should see each other anymore."
"You don't think? You mean you haven't quite made up your mind yet?"
"Um, yes. I don't want to see you anymore."
"Why?!" he exclaimed. She had no answer. "Elizabeth..." he sat next to her. "Is it something I've done?" She shook her head, but still said nothing. He leaned in closer. "I could make you happy, try me?"
Elizabeth turned her head away from him as tears ran down her face. Darcy reached over, cupped her chin, and turned her face ever so slowly toward him. He caressed her cheek with his thumb, wiping away her tears. Finally, she looked into his eyes and melted. He leaned in even closer and whispered against her lips.
"I could change your mind..."
He kissed her softly, tenderly, she, in turn, swallowed a sob and accepted his kisses.
At length, she pushed back. "Oh Will!" she cried.
"Shh..." he quieted her. "Whatever you want me to do, I'll do it."
"You can't," she sniffled.
"How do you know?" he smiled.
"I'm getting married."
He chuckled softly. "I haven't asked you yet."
"I'm getting married next week," she stated as calmly as possible.
Darcy's mouth dropped open, he blinked, he stared, but he did not say a word.
"I wanted to tell you earlier... but you made it so hard!" she grabbed a napkin and cried into it.
Darcy's heart was cringing inside his chest and his blood was ceasing its flow; still he could only look on her in bewilderment. At length, he calmly walked out the door without a word.