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"Nervous?" Jane asked as she fluffed the train of her sister's wedding dress.
"Not at all." Morgan patted her hair which was in a tight chignon. "I've never been more sure of anything in my entire life. You just know when it's right...when you meet the right man."
"Oh, my you all look so lovely!" Lola voice was light. "Are you sure you don't want to reconsider your jewelry, Moe?"
"Mom, I told you I don't want to wear anything but your pearl earrings. I want to keep my jewelry simple."
"Are you sure you wouldn't want to wear these? Lola withdrew a small velvet case from behind her back, opened it and revealed its contents in one smooth motion.
"Great-grandma Catherine's pearls!" Morgan gasped. "How did you ever get them?"
"Anne thought they'd go nicely with your gown....so, she brought them with her just on the off-chance you'd want to wear them."
"She's here! Anne's here!" Lizzy was amused when Morgan smoothed her hands on her dress as if trying to make herself presentable. "She actually came here...and she wants me to wear the pearls."
"Yes, she's here. And, yes, she wants you to wear them. Actually, she said that she would be honored if you would wear them."
"Of course, I want to wear them. This is too much!'' Morgan grabbed Lizzy's hand. "Anne really came. Oh, how am I to bear so much happiness?"
"Oh, darling..." With an expert hand, Lola repaired the damage the happy tears had done to her daughter's makeup. "It's your wedding day. You're supposed to be happy."
"Lord knows I hate to be the bearer of bad news," Jane's voice had barely concealed contempt. "But, do you honestly think Anne is going to be able to restrain herself from making comments through the entire wedding and reception? Mom, she is going to be surrounded by our friends. Do you honestly want to subject them to her? Do you really want her to stay?"
"Of course, I want her to stay!" Lola was pink with indignation. "It is true that we do not always get along, but she is my sister, Jane." She shut her eyes, "If only you had talked to her this morning when she arrived. She apologized and seemed so sincere. She practically begged to be allowed to stay for the wedding, what would you have me do?"
Jane snorted. "I can think of quite a few things I could have done to her."
Seeing Loa's frown, Lizzy intervened. "Janey, how can you be so unfeeling? It is clear she is trying to make peace with your mother. Maybe you could try too?"
"You truly amaze me, Lizzy. This is Anne Williams we are talking about. You remember, the woman who treated you like dirt at Pemberley and then argued with you at Nationals?"
Lola observed her daughters' friend closely. "You had a fight with my sister?"
"It was nothing of consequence."
"If it was nothing of consequence..." Jane placed her hands on her hips, "why won't you tell us what it was about? What's the big secret? "
Lizzy shifted uncomfortable at the harshness in her friend's voice. "Does it really matter now? She came here today so she could be with her family. Can't you imagine how hard it was for her to come here today when she wasn't sure how she was going to be received?"
Her mother added, "For Morgan's sake, can't you make an effort to get along with your aunt for one day?"
We just found out about Anne being here and we are already arguing amongst ourselves. Jane saw the look of discomfort on her sister's face. "Okay! I'll be civil to her." The room seemed to let out a sigh of relief, but she added quickly. "Not because Anne deserves it, but because this is Morgan's wedding day."
After a sharp knock, Tiger Gardiner poked his head into the room. "Honey, you are running a little behind schedule. The minister sent me to check on you. I think he was afraid you were standing Brian up at the altar."
"She's coming, Tiger." Lola finished fastening the string of pearls and stepped back to admire her daughter. The necklace only served to draw attention to the dozens of tiny pearls clinging to Morgan's bodice.
"Do they look all right?"
"They look perfect." Lola whispered. "She is going to be so happy to see you wearing them." To the rest of the room, she directed, "Well, ladies, let's get this show on the road." There was a bustle of activity as the bridesmaids grabbed their bouquets. Following closely behind them, Lola turned when she reached the door. "Tiger, I'll tell them you want a few minutes."
"I'd appreciate it, Lola." .
For a long moment, father faced daughter and neither spoke. "Just look at you!" His voice quivered. "I never thought I would ever live to see a woman who looked as beautiful as your mother did on our wedding day...but, you....you are stunning, Moe."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, baby." He tried to keep the tears in check. His daughter was getting married. She would no longer bear his name. " Are you sure about this?"
"Yes, I am."
She sounded so determined. Memories from her childhood washed through him and he stepped forward. "You know a father is supposed to give their daughter words of wisdom on their wedding day..." He cupped her face in strong hands. "...but for the life of me, I can't think of much to say. The only advice I can offer you is every marriage - every life - has low points. If your love is strong enough, it will see you through the worst that life throws your way. Hang on to your love, Moe. Don't ever forget about it or shut it away."
"I'll hold on with all my might." Morgan stepped away from him and the moment passed. She dabbed at her eyes, arranged her veil and took Tiger's arm under her gloved hand. "I'm ready, daddy."
When the processional began, Cierra craned her neck to get a glimpse of the first bridesmaid. From Caroline's description, she knew Lizzy was short so the Amazon walking down the aisle was definitely not her. The next woman was short, but had a long, pointy nose. Cierra wrinkled her own. Lord, I hope that's not her. The third woman was in her mid-thirties. The fourth looked like she was about four months pregnant. This is going to make for an interesting photo album. Cierra saw and immediately discounted a fifth, then a sixth woman. Geez, how many maids were in this wedding? A short woman with a timid smile entered and Cierra felt Darcy stiffen next to her in the pew. Folks, we have a winner!
Feeling pleased by the success of her deductive powers, Cierra leaned back in her seat and thought about the phone call from Darcy the previous night.
"Cie!" Darcy was annoyed, "Well, will you?"
"Hm..." She could not decide which polish she preferred for her toenails. Pink was feminine, but was it too feminine? The coral was nice, but would it clash with her dress? She eyed the frost shade. Decisions, decisions. "I'm considering my options."
"What options?" He sounded almost frantic. "Either you want to go or you don't."
"Well, Mr. Rude, did you ever stop to think that maybe I already have plans for tomorrow? In fact, what makes you think you can call me on Saturday night and I won't already have plans for Sunday?" Nothing. Which considering it was Darcy was not exceptional by itself. She grabbed her fingernail polish remover and some cotton balls from her vanity. "Quit sulking, Dar."
"You know I hate it when you call me that. It's like something out of one of those Tarzan movies. Me, Dar. You, Jane." It took a second, but he added, "And, I'm not sulking."
"Sure you aren't, Tarzan?" She heard his exasperated sigh as she peered at the bottles in her caddy. She selected two and read their names. Candy Apple Red and Berry Exotic. Someone actually got paid to think these names up? She giggled.
"And, just what is so funny?"
"Nothing." Oh, if you could only see me now! She knew it would give Darcy ammunition for weeks. "Mind telling me why you want me to go to this wedding so bad?"
"Frankly, I don't care if you go or not."
"Obviously, you do care if I go. This is the fourth time you've called me in the last hour."
"You've been there the entire time!"
She was prepared for his indignation and let it roll off her back. "Hey, I was neck deep in a bubble bath and I don't answer the phone naked... not even for you." She decided on Candy Apple Red because it reminded her of her 1970 Chevelle. Installing that RAM air package would just have to wait until she got back from this adventure. She had decided to go to the wedding after hearing his first message, but she wasn't quite ready to share her decision with him just yet. "Why are you so afraid to go to your cousin's wedding?"
"I'm not afraid. I just thought you might enjoy the trip."
"Ewww... I can barely contain my excitement. An all expense paid trip to Kentucky! Boy, you really know how to sweep a gal off her feet, Dar. I'm sure it would be the high point of my social calendar..."
"Look, I wouldn't have asked you, but I won't know anyone else there but my family ..."
"And the great Tarzan Williams might actually have to speak to *GASP* common people." She concentrated on her pinky toe, then smiled wickedly. "I thought that Lizzy girl was going to be there...."
"S--she'll be there."
Darcy stuttering. Interesting. Very, very interesting. She went back to her painting. "Carol told me that you two were pretty close. Doesn't she possess the ability to entertain you for an evening?"
His voice was sharp. "Cie, what would you have me tell my mother ?"
Touchy, Darcy? She had to admit that she was disappointed he didn't take the bait about the entertaining comment, but she decided on another line of inquiry. "Speaking of your mother, how does dear old Anne get on with Lizzy?" She thought she could hear bones cracking. This was almost too easy. She almost felt guilty. Almost. .
"What does you going to the wedding have to do with Elizabeth?"
Cierra rolled her eyes in the mirror. MEN! Just what she would give for one with a brain in their head? "Well, I'll expect an introduction to the woman who has enchanted all of Hartford..." She blew on her toes, adding. "That is, if I decide to go."
"If you decide to go!" Darcy sounded like he was being tortured with bamboo shoots. "Never mind! I'll find someone else. If you can't help a friend out..."
"Oh, all right, grumpy." She looked at her toes pleased with the end result. "What time should I be ready for you to pick me up, Dar?"
As she made her way down the aisle, Elizabeth tried to swallow her fear as people turned to stare at her. She felt the blush rise to her face and she commanded her body to continue it's forward momentum. When she reached the altar, she turned to face the congregation and come face-to-face with Anne Williams. She felt the shock of the icy blue eyes as they regarded her and she involuntary stiffened. She relaxed when she saw George claim his wife's hand in his. The gesture was sweet and disarming. Next to him was Georgiana who was squirming in her seat, but grinning ear-to-ear in typical Bug fashion. Beside her was Darcy, whose attention was firmly placed away from her watching the back of the church.
Her gaze passed through the group around the Williams. Guilt consumed her when she realized for the first time Richard was not in attendance. Because he didn't want to see her, he was missing Morgan's wedding. She tried to force the image of his hurt eyes out of her mind, but the image felt almost permanently burned on her brain. This was all her fault. His pain had been entirely of her own doing. She felt angry tears well up in her eyes and brushed one back with the back of her hand. It was a wedding. It was perfectly natural to cry at a wedding.
When she was glanced up, Darcy's eyes were on her. She gave him a watery smile as she brushed another tear from her cheek. He had a concerned look on his face, but it vanished when the woman next to him leaned over and whispered in his ear. Lizzy watched as Darcy's jaw tightened perceptively and he refocused his attention to the back of the church.
Lizzy had never seen Darcy react so openly to a woman before and was curious by the exchange. She watched as the woman whispered in his ear again and then placed a possessive hand on his shoulder. He shook his head and commented over his shoulder. Whatever his answer, the woman laughed softly. Lizzy could almost hear it...it would be a sultry and throaty laugh. The kind which turned men into a pools of jello.
Unaware she was now holding her bouquet in a death grip, Lizzy barely registered the collective gasp of the room when Morgan made her entrance because she was giving the woman her complete attention. The woman was well formed. She had on a daring red dress which amplified her tanned skin and her chestnut hair hung loose in a straight plait down past her shoulders. Lizzy determined the most startling thing about the woman was the easy self-assurance she possessed.
But, there was something else about the woman. Something that she couldn't quite put her finger on...and it was that something else which grated on Lizzy's nerves. When the woman in red took Darcy's hand in hers, she felt the acid in her stomach come to a low boil.
Lizzy had a funny feeling she wasn't going to enjoy meeting this woman one little bit.
Darcy felt his eyes stray to Elizabeth. In a few short months, school would resume and he would be thrown in her path on an almost daily basis. Part of him despaired a few months were not going to be sufficient to pull his mangled will from her power, while another part of him complained it was too long to be parted from her company.
Cierra nudged his shoulder. "She is quite remarkable, Dar."
"Well, they do say there is nothing more beautiful than a bride on her wedding day."
"Oh, were you looking at Morgan --" He saw Cierra batted her eyelashes in fake innocence. "And, here I thought you were enamored with her bridesmaid...you know, the one standing beside Jane. The one you've been staring at since she got to the altar..." His eyes were traitors and sought Elizabeth on their own accord again. Finding her attention focused on Morgan and not on him as Cierra implied, he felt disappointment.
"Dar, you just leave everything to me and I'll have her eating out of your hands in no time..." She blew on her fingernails. "You have no idea what a powerful tool jealousy can be."
Darcy knew Cierra meant well. She had, no doubt, worked out an infallible plan in her mind to get Elizabeth and him together. However, the problem was the plans her mind concocted rarely, if ever, played out in real life with success. Elizabeth's friendship was not something he would risk lightly. He sighed. "I know you think you know what is best for me - but please don't try any of that psychological mumbo jumbo stuff on her..."
"It is not mumbo jumbo." Cierra's smile did little to put him at ease. "Look, is it so wrong if I want to give my friend a helping hand?"
"I don't need nor do I want 'a helping hand' in this matter."
The corners of her mouth dipped. "But...."
"No buts. Listen to me. I said and did some stupid things when I first met Elizabeth..." He paused to organize his thoughts. "And, it took a long time for us to finally be friends. I won't jeopardize her friendship now so you can be amused for a day."
Cierra pouted. "You know you can trust me."
"Yeah, right." Darcy hadn't trusted her completely since she had almost drowned him in his wading pool when they were four. He took her hand in his. "Please, Cie, for me. Promise me whatever you have up your sleeve, you plan on keeping it there..."
"On one condition..." She squeezed his hand hard. "Answer me this. Do you or do you not want her?"
"It's not a matter of what I want." He shut his eyes. Richard's face the night after the play swam before him. "She's been through a lot lately...she's fragile."
"Fragile, huh?" It took all his control not to look at Elizabeth when Cierra glanced in her direction. "She doesn't strike me as a fragile woman..."
"She just had her heart broken..."
"Really?" The gleam in Cierra's eyes momentarily angered him. "I don't understand what you are waiting for then...this is your big chance. If you are such good friends, why don't you just offer her a shoulder to cry on?"
"I can't." The sound of frustration in his voice surprised him.
"Why not? She's single. You're single. What's stopping you from going after her?"
"She was Richard's girlfriend." He was glad everyone's attention was on Morgan. "He broke up with her the last week of school..."
"Didn't you try to warn her?" Cierra' face was flushed with anger. "Didn't you tell her he was a dog? I can't believe you let her date Richard."
"He was..." Would Cierra even believe him if he told her Richard had broken down in helpless tears more than once during that last week of school? "He was as hurt as she was over their breakup. He loves her, Cierra. I imagine after a summer apart, he is going to come to his senses and do whatever he can to get her back."
"And, let me guess, as long as you think Richard has feelings for her, you aren't going to allow yourself to follow your own heart?"
He remembered the haunted look on Elizabeth's face whenever someone mentioned Richard's name or she saw him at a distance. He gritted his teeth. "Cierra, I told you we are only friends."
"Well, I never thought I would live to see this day..." She said removing her hand from his. "I never thought I would see the day that Darcy Williams would lie to my face."
"DEARLY beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this company, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony...."
The words of the priest sent Anne back to a soggy April afternoon nearly twenty-five years earlier.
Lola pulled the door to her bedroom shut. "No matter what you say, I'm marrying him."
"But, you two barely know each other..." Anne had done her best to raise Lola since their parents' death five years earlier, but sometimes the seven-year age difference between them felt like a lifetime. "You need more time..."
"I don't need more time!" Lola started for the main staircase carrying a heavy suitcase. "You can't dictate my life forever, you know?"
"I'm not trying to dictate your life. I'm just trying to help you not make a mistake you will live to regret...we need to take some time to decide what is best for you."
"I don't need your help deciding what is best for me! I know what I want!"
"What about college? You used to want that?"
She shrugged her small shoulders. "I'll go later."
"If you go through with this marriage, I'll cut you off!"
"So?" Lola shrugged again. "I'll manage."
"I'm your legal guardian and you are underage. You can't marry without my blessing."
"I'll be 18 next month and I won't need your blessing."
"Does he know it is in my power to withhold your inheritance until you are 21?"
Lola rolled her eyes. "Tiger isn't marrying me for my inheritance..."
"So, why is Tiger so anxious to marry you? He is nearly twice your age - he is almost old enough to be your father. Are you sure you can trust him, Lola?"
"Aren't you the one who told me I could trust him?" Anne could see her sister's unshed tears. "Aren't you the one who introduced us? Didn't you insist I spend time with him? Get to know him?"
It was true she had pushed for a friendship between the two, but she had never expected this. "I thought he would be a mentor...help you decide on what courses to take in college. I never dreamed he would seduce you...I thought Tiger was a man of honor..."
"Man of honor? If you only knew..." Lola's laughter sounded almost like a sob as she stopped at the base of the stairs and put her suitcase on the floor beside her feet. She seemed to sag as she turned back to face her older sister. "There -- there is no easy way to say this so I'm just going to say it. Okay? I'm pregnant." Pregnant. Anne grabbed the banister as the shock worked its way to her knees. "Tiger wanted me to tell you when I found out, but I was so scared...scared you'd talk me out of..." Lola bit her lower lip. "When he found out, he promised he would take care of me...and our baby."
"You can't be pregnant...you're just a little girl..."
"I'm not a little girl anymore!"
She steeled herself. "Have you considered your options?"
"Options?"
"Yes, options. Marriage to Tiger is only one option." Anne heard her voice rising and lowered it. It would not due to have her sister's personal life broadcasted to the entire staff. "Have you considered adoption? Abortion? You are so young..."
"Abortion? That is what I thought you would suggest..." Lola hauled her suitcase off the floor with an impatient jerk and started for the front door. "I'm keeping this baby and I'm keeping Tiger...with or without your help."
Who giveth this Woman to be married to this Man?
"I do." Tiger handed Morgan to Brian, but in Anne's mind she saw George hand her baby sister to his friend. In the end, she listened to her husband's impartial advice and signed the necessary paperwork giving her sister permission to marry Tiger. As a wedding present, she had given Lola access to her inheritance and sprung for a short holiday in the Cayman Islands for the newlyweds.
Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as you both shall live?
Anne wondered how she could have missed her sister's growing discontentment. It seemed so obvious now. Morgan arrived in July and Marcus the following October. Even though Lola took to motherhood with an interest Anne had never before seen in her sister, having two babies little more than a year apart must have been a daunting task for a woman barely nineteen.
Although Tiger was an enthusiastic, hands-on father, he was also absent for long periods of time. He started Gardiner Communications with Lola's inheritance and he was driven to make it a success. He was driven to prove himself capable of providing Lola with a lifestyle she had grown accustomed to having being one of the "Wentworth girls."
For the first years of her marriage, Anne had to admire her sister's Herculean efforts of maintaining the charade of being a deliriously happy wife and mother. It would have been the Christmas right after their fifth anniversary that the cracks in her sister's marriage became apparent to Anne.
That holiday season had started out auspiciously enough. John Fritz, George's estranged stepbrother made the trip to Connecticut for the first time since he had sold his interest in the pharmaceutical company to George. On Christmas Eve, Lola and her children were added to the party. When asked, Lola explained Tiger had business in England and wouldn't make it back in time for the holidays.
Anne knew now she should have zeroed in on Lola's evident unhappiness. In fairness, Anne realized she had been consumed with her own problems. It was the first year she was responsible for the William's New Year's Eve Ball, since George's mother had passed the year before. Darcy had taken ill shortly after Lola's arrival and she had understandably worried and fretted over his health. She also became responsible for entertaining John while George worked. It had been a stressful occasion. But Anne could not shake the feeling she had once again failed her sister. She should have said something, done something...anything to have prevented what eventually happened.
It was early on New Year's Day morning. The guests were gone. The caterers and cleaning crew already had the main hall and the ballroom almost returned to their former glory. Morgan and Marcus were snug in their beds in the guest rooms. Darcy was asleep in his crib in the nursery. She had gone downstairs to drink a cup of tea in silent congratulations at the success of her first Ball when a strange noise coming from the den drew her attention. Thinking it was George, who wanted to make sure everything was secure before turning in, she opened the doors to the den without knocking.
Her sister committing adultery with John was something Anne would never forget...her sister disrespecting her home under the very rooms where her children slept was something Anne would never forgive. The following morning both parties made quick getaways. Lola and her children drove home to nearby Wethersfield. To Anne's immense relief, John left on the first flight he could find back to the west coast giving George the excuse he missed his wife and their newborn son too much to remain longer.
It was almost March before Anne heard from Lola again.
"A---Anne..."
"Lola..." Her heart had raced with fear at the pain in her sister's voice. "What's wrong?"
"Tiger... left me." Lola's voice was coming in gasps. "He said he wouldn't stay unless...unless I had...an a..abo..abortion..."
"Abortion?" Anne was confused. "Calm down, Lola. I can barely understand you. Why would Tiger want you to have an abortion?"
"I told Tiger about New Year's...I had too. It wasn't fair not to tell him...I told him it would never happen again. I was lonely...I'm always lonely when he is away. I told him I loved him. I know now that I only want him. He said he understood, that we could work things out...but only if I have an abortion. He said he couldn't raise another man's child...he said that I had to have it, Anne, or he would leave me. I can't, Anne. I can't do it...I told him I can't. This baby never did anything...I did. It's my sin...and I told him I have to live with the possibility that the baby I'm carrying isn't his... he said he didn't have to live with it. He told me he was going to divorce me. He said every man had his limit...and he had reached his..." Lola took a deep breath. "This morning, he packed his suitcase and told Morgan he was going on another trip. He kissed the kids and he left. I don't know where he is...if he is safe. And, I'm so scared, Anne. He's the only thing I've wanted...and now he is gone. Tell me what to do...tell me what to do to get him back...I just want him back."
Jane was born in June nearly three months prematurely. As her daughter fought for her life, Lola kept constant vigil at the hospital. Because Tiger was with her most of the time, Anne had been convinced the two would reconcile. She was surprised when after Jane was released from the hospital, Tiger signed the divorce papers giving Lola a more than equitable settlement nearly double her original inheritance and pledging a monthly support of not only Morgan and Marcus, but Jane as well. In the end, he gave his name to the daughter he was not sure was his own.
GOD the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his favor look upon you, and fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace; that ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting. Amen.
Anne let her eyes rest on sister. Have I ever told Lola she made the right decision having Jane? Anne could not imagine a life without her youngest niece. Jane was a vivacious, witty and talented young woman. Anne's eyes slipped to the altar and she marveled at the woman before her. When was the last time I told Jane how special she was to me? Tears pricked her eyes as Anne realized she couldn't remember herself.
The reception was in full swing. Since arriving at the reception hall, George had searched for Elizabeth, Marcus or Lola in vain. Jane was dancing with the best man. Morgan and Brian were surrounded by a group of well-wishers, which seemed determined to keep them on the opposite side of the room. Even Darcy had been spirited to the dance floor by Cierra. It seemed like the Williams' clan was not too popular at this little gathering. George knew it had been difficult for Anne to swallow her pride and he could see her disappointment etched on her face. She had hoped, he believed, her attendance today would be all that would be required for forgiveness.
"Care if I join you?" George glanced up surprised at being addressed by a stranger. The man who belonged to the husky voice was every bit of sixty years old. In his large hands, the man cradled a huge slab of wedding cake and a tall glass of milk. Intrigued, George replied. "Please do."
"Thanks!" The man eagerly took a seat. "I've looked all over and this looks like the perfect hiding spot. This is just the first dessert I've had in months and I intend to enjoy every mouthful. If either my wife or daughter caught me..." The man glanced cautiously over his shoulder, "They would have a fit. It's against the doctor's orders. Darned doctors what do they know anyway? Eat right, don't drink, don't smoke. They might as well tell you not to breathe if they intend to suck all the enjoyment out of life."
George cast an amused look at Anne. She looked positively mortified as their guest exhibited very few of the qualities she found acceptable in a proper dinner companion.
"OUCH!" Darcy's toes throbbed as Cierra's foot found them again.
"I'm sorry." The air of innocence she managed was not convincing.
"No, you are not. You did that on purpose."
"I think my mind was otherwise agreeably engaged." She smiled evilly. "And, I think yours was too."
"I already told you I don't want to talk about..."
"Want some advice?"
"From you?"
"Boy, you are a grouch! Yes, from me. I am a woman, after all." She arched an eyebrow at him daring him to contradict her. He silently reserved comment. Right now he did not want to say or do anything that would cause Cierra to become irked. Besides, she was, so far, honoring the promise she gave during the ceremony. Sighing, he asked. "What is your advice? Go over there and grab her out of Marcus' arms and lay a big wet kiss on her?"
"Why, for once we think alike!" Seeing his face, she became serious. "I understand your hesitation, I really do. You think she isn't ready to move on after Richard and you don't want to do anything to risk your friendship. Right?" She searched his face. "But, don't you like you should be honest with her? Just tell her you love her and..."
"I'm not in love with her." He saw the disbelief on her face. "I think it is more like I'm obsessed with her."
"Obsessed?" She ran her tongue over her lower lip. "Obsessions can be fun."
"Fun? You think I am enjoying this! You have no idea what this feels like. You wouldn't understand because you've never felt like I do..."
A hurt look passed over her features. "Well, if you want to keep your secret safe, you might want to stop staring at your cousin like you want to do him bodily harm."
"I don't want to do him harm. I'm not jealous of Marcus."
"Are you sure? They seem pretty chummy to me?"
"Not chummy enough for Marcus, I'm sure." He immediately regretted his words. He knew Marcus was not a threat for Elizabeth's attention. He knew Marcus could not have strong feelings for her or how could he have watched her with Richard at Pemberley?
Cierra had pulled back from him. "Not chummy enough for Marcus?"
"Evidently, they were an item during her last two years of high school while he was in college..." He glanced over at the couple dancing. He was pretty proud of the fact he didn't feel the slightest bit jealous of Marcus. "From what Jane told me it wasn't very serious and you can see they are still close friends."
"Close friends?"
"Mmmm...mmmm...good." When the man finished the cake, he leaned forward elbows resting on both sides of his empty desert dish. "Did you enjoy the ceremony?"
"Yes, we did." Taking in the man's atrocious table manners, Anne prayed he wasn't Brian's relation. "Are you here for the bride or the groom?"
"No," The man swallowed another bite of cake. "The bride. And you all?"
Anne's reply was curt. "I'm Morgan's aunt."
"I guess that must make you all the Williams." He extended a hand across the table. "I'm Ben Bennet. I've heard a great deal about you from my daughter, Lizzy."
"I'm George." George immediately took the outstretched hand. "This is my wife, Anne and my daughter, Georgiana."
"So..." Ben fished a pack of cigarettes from his jacket pocket, retrieved a single one and lit it all the while looking at the small child. "You must be Bug?"
Georgie nodded then hid under the table. Ben met George's gaze. "Shy?"
"Except it seems, around your daughter. She has a way with children." Anne saw Ben frown as he lit his cigarette. "Not anxious to be a grandfather, Mr. Bennet?"
"I wouldn't mind a bit." He exhaled a stream of smoke. " But, then again, I'm not in any hurry. I don't think Lizzy is ready for motherhood any time soon."
"Well, when she is ready then, she will be an excellent mother."
"Yes, I suppose that is true if she slows down enough. She has a long list of goals and I don't think having children is even on the list. She pushes herself so hard sometimes..."
"Hard to please, is she?"
"No, not at all. She is very easy going. Except with herself." Ben spun his lighter on the table running his finger over the inscription. "I think she feels she still has to impress us even after all this time..."
Anne's heart went out to him. How would it feel having someone like Elizabeth as a daughter? How did one go about closing wounds so early made? "I was surprised to learn you adopted her."
Ben sat up in his seat lighter forgotten. "She told you about the adoption?"
"No...not exactly. Coach Brown told us at Nationals."
"If Lizzy didn't tell you about it, I would forget it if I were you." Ben drew deeply on his cigarette. "As far as Fanny and I are concerned, she is our daughter. Always has been."
George shot Anne a glance as he slid the ashtray across to Ben. "She didn't mention a brother or sister during her stay with us. Is she your only child?"
"Yes, she is." Ben flicked his ash into the tray.
"She's a fine young woman," Anne tried to make up for the earlier awkwardness. "You should be very proud of her."
"It would be difficult for you to find a prouder father, Mrs. Williams."
"Benjamin Harlan Bennet! What on God's green earth do you think you are doing!!!!" Taking a quick final drag, Ben snubbed the cigarette out in the ashtray. "If I've told you once I've told you a million times!! You aren't supposed to smoke anymore!!!" She held out her hand expectantly. "Give me the pack. You know what the doctor said about it! Are you trying to drive yourself into an early grave? Have you no sympathy on my poor nerves? Don't you know..."
"Fanny, this is Lola's sister and her family." Ben interrupted as he pocketed the rest of the cigarettes. "Why don't you rest a bit? You've been running around here all night trying to make sure everything is running smoothly. You must be quite tired by now."
Fanny's diatribe ceased momentarily so the pleasantries could be exchanged. "Mrs. Williams, you don't mind if I call you Anne, do you? I've heard so much about you from Lola I feel like we are practically best friends. And, I've read all about your lavish parties...do you really know Colin Firth? I saw your picture in People at that benefit dinner...is he as handsome close up?" Anne realized responses were not really expected of her as long as she nodded in the appropriate places.
Lizzy noticed Darcy and the woman in red among the other dancing couples. "Do you know the woman with Darcy?"
"I know her." Marcus acted like it pained him to admit the acquaintance. "But, I don't think she is necessarily 'with him.'"
"Why is that?"
"She is Cierra DeBourgh."
"So?"
"She's ..." He took his time deciding the right words. "She's weird."
"What do you mean by weird?"
"She is one of those women's libber freaks." Seeing Lizzy's interested look, he said. "She drives around Cambridge in this loud car...I think she's crazy."
When he wasn't more forthcoming, Lizzy prompted. "She goes to Harvard?"
"Unfortunately."
She smiled at his tone as he continued. "Really? That bad."
"She is the most impossible woman I know! She turned the Political Science course we took last semester into a debate class. In fact, she turns everything into a forum to talk about how the men are exploiting women." Marcus' face turned a bright pink. "She spends her afternoons handing out flyers which mainly state being male is a crime."
"Sounds like you've read one or two of those flyers."
"I tried to be open-minded, Lizzy." He shrugged. "I mean she is almost like a distant relative so I tried to be supportive..."
"Relative?"
"Yes, she's Anne's goddaughter. So, I guess that makes her my what...my god-cousin or something?" He shook his blonde hair. "Anyway, her mother is some big wig society woman that knew Anne since the cradle."
"Does she want to be a lawyer too?"
"Yeah, a HUMAN rights lawyer. Can you believe it?" Marcus smiled good-naturedly. "Her father is the top corporate attorney for the Williams Pharmaceutical Co. I bet they have some good dinner discussions at the DeBourgh house."
Lizzy had to bite her lip to keep her mirth hidden, offering as light heartedly as she dared. "Maybe, you won't have that many classes together?"
"Yeah, right. She is in every class, every stinking single one. It is almost like she is my curse. We even had the same creative writing course last semester and everything she wrote had to do with women's suffrage or suffering or something." He shook his head. "I told you she is a fanatic. She even wrote poetry where the main point was a woman doesn't need a man to be a success..."
"Marcus, a woman doesn't need a man to be a success..."
"I know that. See, this is what I mean!" He rolled his eyes heavenward. "You know I'm not a sexist pig... she only makes me sound like one." He continued to whine. "Is it so wrong to be attracted to a woman who will let me open doors for her, hold her chair - I like a woman to be soft and feminine...is that such a horrible crime?"
She glanced at the stunning woman. "She seems awful soft and feminine to me."
"I can't believe she is wearing a dress." His expression altered. "Maybe you're right about her and Darcy, Lizzy. The Cierra I know wouldn't be caught dead in a dress."
"Well, it is good to see Darcy finally getting over Caroline." Lizzy forced a smile to her lips. "And, it sounds like Cierra will be able to keep him on his toes..."
"You can count on Cierra for that at the very least." Marcus watched Cierra leading Darcy back off the dance floor and smiled. "Poor Darcy. Out of the oven and into the fire...he doesn't know what he has gotten himself into there. Better him than me."
"Oh, there you are." George said rising as Darcy and Cierra returned from the dance floor. "This is our son, Darcy and my goddaughter, Anne DeBourgh. Darcy, this is Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth's parents."
Darcy's eyes wandered over the couple in front of his mother as conflicting emotions swallowed him. On one hand, he wanted to get far away from HER parents. On the other hand, dare he leave the table and leave them to the company of his parents? He shuddered hoping he was not too late to prevent his mother from insulting the very people he had hoped to avoid. In the end, Darcy took his seat after bobbing his head in their direction.
"So, you are the great Darcy Williams I've heard so much about." Fanny's words caused Darcy's heart to race. How much of their tempestuous freshman year had Elizabeth shared with her parents? " I swear, last summer, Jane wouldn't give Lizzy a moment's peace without mentioning your name. Darcy this...Darcy that. You were all that girl would talk about..."
He barely heard Cierra's question. "Have Elizabeth and Jane been friends a long time?"
Fanny smiled. "Oh, yes. They've been friends since they were little girls."
"How did your families meet?" It was clear to Cierra the Bennet family did not move in the same social circle as Lola's family.
"They met camping, Ms. Debourgh." Ben's answer was short.
"There really isn't much else to do around here. I hate it, but Ben insists we go. And you know," Fanny paused like she was giving away a secret. "you sometimes just have to give into the designs of your husband to keep the peace."
George laughed. "So, you camp often then?"
"We try to spend at least a week at Lake Rosings every summer." Ben's eyes rested on George. "The first year we took Lizzy, Lola rented the campsite next to us...the rest is history."
"Oh, you have to tell them the entire story, Ben."
"Fanny..."
"You probably know that Jane use to walk in her sleep when she was little. Well, the first night we stayed at the campground, it seems Jane had wandered off. Lola woke the entire campground up screaming like a banshee...in fact, that is how we met her...Ben began to organize the men to start searching at first light and I went to get the extra flashlight out of Lizzy's tent because she didn't like to sleep in the dark we let her have one. I bet you will never guess who I found in her tent?" Fanny laughed. "There the two of them were...zipped up in one sleeping bag looking like two peas in a pod. Ever since, the two have been inseparable...best friends."
"You've gotten awful quiet, Lizzy, what are you thinking about?"
Lizzy heard Marcus, but it was another's voice that reverberated in her head. ' I want to know what you are thinking...what you are feeling.' She tried to block out the memory of Richard the night of the play. "What's wrong with me, Marcus?"
"Absolutely nothing."
"He was so good to me." She shuddered trying to hold back her own tears. "And I couldn't...I just couldn't...I just couldn't give him what he wanted."
"Lizzy, you have to quit torturing yourself like this about Richard."
She continued in the same dull tone. "It's my fault he isn't here today."
"Lizzy, don't do this to yourself."
"Come on...we both know it's the truth." He brushed her hair softly with a practiced hand. "You don't think Morgan blames me for him not coming?"
"Don't be silly. Morgan doesn't blame you."
She pulled back from him to look him in the eyes. "Do you blame me for hurting him?"
"You can't make yourself feel something you don't, Lizzy." It was the truth. He couldn't blame her for not returning Richard's regard any more than he could blame her for not returning his own.
"I should have been honest with him from the beginning, but I ..."
Marcus was intrigued. "But what, Lizzy?"
"I don't know. I just got so caught up and confused. I thought I was doing the right thing. Richard was always asking me out. Jane was pushing me so hard toward her cousins...you remember last summer. And, Darcy! Every time he talked to me he called me Richard's girl..." She rested her head against his shoulder. "I just wanted to make everyone happy...I thought it was what everyone wanted..."
When would she learn? He smiled sadly. "But, what did you want, Lizzy?"
She sighed loudly. "I just want to be left alone. I just want to study, work and run." Marcus knew it was all she had ever wanted. The truth behind her assertion they were more like brother and sister than lovers was glaring. Accepting the truth, he felt like a weight was lifted from his shoulders. " I never dreamed Richard would develop those types of feelings for me..." He heard the disbelief in her voice and it broke his heart. One of Lizzy's biggest flaws was her inability to love herself. "I thought I could do it, Marcus. I really never dreamed I'd hurt him..."
"Richard will be all right." The failed relationship with Richard would be, for Lizzy, another badge of her failures. "In fact, I'll bet he is out breaking hearts by the handful right now."
"You really think so?"
"Yes, I do." And, he seriously hoped so for both of their sakes. If Richard backed down from his decision to stay away from Lizzy, she would bend to pressure. "What? You think getting over you is hard? I can speak from personal knowledge ...getting over you was one of the easiest things I ever had to do."
"Marcus, what would I do without you?"
"You'll never have a chance to find out. Ever. The times we shared are some of the most beautiful memories I possess..." He saw the apprehension in her eyes and he rushed to put her at ease. "I didn't understand what you were trying to say on New Year's, but I understand it now. If we had continued dating or even married, we would have never been able to make each other happy. Our friendship has withstood the test of time. You will always be very special to me, Lizzy."
Her smile was magnificent. "Thank you for understanding."
"Can Lizzy come back to Pemberley soon?" Bug peered over the table at the Bennets.
Darcy did not want her back at Pemberley. He wanted to forget her ever being at Pemberley. Strange how nothing was going the way he planned it. He was getting a headache, but he reminded his sister. "She probably has other plans for the summer."
"I'll share her..." Georgie offered. "She can play with both of us."
"Georgiana!" Seeing the stricken look on his sister's face and the satisfied look on Cierra's, Darcy mentally kicked himself for his outburst.
"I miss her and...Darcy can be very nice when he wants to be, can't you..."
"I'm sure Darcy is very nice." Ben eyed him carefully before moving on to his sister. "And, I'm sure my daughter would enjoy seeing you again, but Fanny and I would miss her terribly. You wouldn't want us to suffer without her company, would you?"
"No." Georgie did not sound convincing. "It's just I wanted to show her my new horse. He is brown and black and white. I named him S'more because Lizzy taught me how to make s'mores..." She buried her little face into Anne's shoulder completely undone by talking so much to strangers.
"I hope it was not trouble having Lizzy during your New Year's celebration."
"Mrs. Bennet, I assure you it was no trouble at all. It was our pleasure." Anne ran patted Bug's golden curls. "In fact, it just occurred to me, I have extended an invitation for Jane to join us this year for our family trip to France. We usually spend a month in our home there just outside of Paris. Perhaps, Lizzy would like to join us as well. There is plenty of room and it would give Jane someone young to take in the sights with..."
Georgie threw her arms around her mother's neck. "Oh, yes! That would be so much fun...please, please let Lizzy go to Paris with us..."
Darcy choked loudly and Cierra thumped him on the back.
"Oh, my! What generosity!" Fanny's awe was immense. "What a fine thing for our daughter! I'm sure she would not want to disappoint you..."
"Fanny, don't you think it would be best if we let Lizzy decide her own summer plans?"
"As if there is any question she would choose staying in Kentucky over going to France. Just where is that girl?" Her eyes swept the dance floor and a satisfied smile spread over her features. "But then, perhaps, you are right, Ben. Maybe it would be better for her to stay in Kentucky..."
"I understand that Lizzy and Marcus use to date." Darcy was puzzled by Cierra's remark.
"Oh, yes, they were quite the couple..." Fanny gushed. "In fact, Marcus asked her to marry him last summer before she went to Xavier."
Darcy felt his stomach drop to his knees. "Marcus asked her to marry him?"
"Why yes! And they would have had such a wedding..."
"Fanny..." Ben warned with a whisper. "Remember where you are."
"Why Marcus even offered to wait until she got this doctor nonsense out of her head, but would Lizzy listen? Oh, no! Our daughter is nothing if not very stubborn. She never even gave us an explanation. She just up and stopped seeing him. I didn't even learn about the proposal until Lola told me that Marcus had to return the ring he bought her. You can well imagine my reaction. I threatened never to speak to her again. Can you imagine turning down a Gardiner? I was beside myself..."
Not only would this display have mortified Marcus, George had a strong understanding of what it was doing to his wife and son. Even Cierra's normally peach complexion was an unnatural pasty color. Something needed to be done to stop Fanny's monologue. "So, what type of work do you do, Ben?"
"I was a teacher for close to thirty years. I taught shop, car repair and ran the choir program. Since retiring last year, I try keeping the old hands busy doing painting, carpentry, car repair...things like that." Ben rubbed his callused hands together. "I hate being idle..."
"Oh...pooh...you just love getting dirty. " Fanny turned to face the others. "Men are nothing but big children."
"I have noticed that myself." Cierra leaned on her elbow. "Don't you agree, Darcy?"
"I do not." He replied dryly.
"Well...there are exceptions to that rule. I wasn't trying to say Darcy here was a child...I mean, it is obvious, he is very grown up...like his father."
"So..." Ben was obviously amused. "What do you do, George?"
"I was a pediatric surgeon for many years, but now I'm in research and development."
If Ben had been embarrassed by his earlier expressions about medicine, he did not show it one bit. "Why don't you practice anymore?"
"When my father retired from our family business, I took over the day-to-day operations. I hope my son follows in my footsteps and I can hand over the reins of the company to him one day soon while I'm young enough to enjoy retirement."
"I'm sure you won't have to wait too much longer." Ben agreed. "He looks like a fine young man."
Darcy felt an uneasy feeling that Ben was teasing him. He remembered the months of discord between Elizabeth and himself and felt increasingly uncomfortable. These people were beneath him in class so why did it feel as if their acceptance, if their good opinion, was vital to him. Had she shared the entire history of their past with her parents? Ben winked at him and Darcy cleared his throat. "Thank you."
"Speaking of following in footsteps..." Anne drew the focus away from her son. "I understand Elizabeth works at the nursing home with you, Fanny?"
"Yes, she does."
"Working at the home must be very rewarding." Anne cupped Georgie closer to her.
"Of course it is rewarding, but then again it probably isn't as glamorous as what you do..." Fanny's brow furrowed. "Now, what is it that you do, Anne?"
"Do?" Darcy shot a nervous look at his father at his mother's dull response.
Georgie laughed, "She spends my daddy's money."
"Georgiana!" His youngest never ceased to surprise him. George shot a look at his wife whose face had gone pasty. "You know your mother does a great deal more than..."
Bug offered. "Well...she throws big parties too."
"Children never appreciate that stuff until they are older. Besides, Lizzy told us about your New Year's Party. She hardly ever notices that stuff. She is more willing to talk your ears off about medicine than worry about finding the perfect dress." Fanny clicked her tongue. "I know she doesn't talk about much else when she is at home. I really shouldn't complain since she does better with Ben's doctors than I do."
"Lizzy keeps my doctors on their toes. I'm no good at any of that medical jargon stuff. I'm so confused by the time they are done with all those tests they've run it is good to have someone looking out for me. Heck, I think my doc actually schedules my appointments around the time Lizzy is going to be home so he knows I'll follow his instructions to the letter." The parallel became clear to Darcy. He wondered how much of Elizabeth's compulsion to be a doctor stemmed from her father's medical condition.
"Remember how she was when you had gall bladder surgery last year?" Ben laughed.
"It was down right funny and unnecessary for Lizzy to make such a fuss over me...why she practically camped out in my room the entire week I was there."
Anne smiled. "I'm sure she only wants the best for you."
"Yes. And, we want only the best for her as well."
"Lizzy is such a peculiar girl. I'll never understand her." His wife's gaze was drawn back to Marcus. "All she can think about is burying her head in books. Why she just told us last week she has another ten years of school to go before she is going to treat patients. Ten years! Can you imagine?"
Cierra eyed her fingernails distastefully. "You don't see the Williams obsessing over the years it will take for Darcy to become a doctor."
"Why should they? Ten years is a different thing for a man."
"And, why is it different for a man?"
"I'm sure you misunderstand Fanny, Cierra..." Anne's attempt to intervene was unsuccessful as her goddaughter waved her off with an impatient hand.
"I think I understand her perfectly. I'm just waiting to be enlightened as to why in this day and age it is all right for a man to be educated but the idea of an educated woman scares the Dickens out of people."
Fanny bristled noticeably. "I'm not saying I don't want my daughter to be educated..."
"You know most parents would be proud if their child had the determination and intelligence to study medicine." Darcy almost moaned out loud. Cierra was in full steam.
"If you don't think I'm proud of my daughter, you mistake the matter entirely! I'm just afraid that after ten years of studying..." Fanny's eyes trailed back to her daughter laughing up at Marcus. "She'll find she has let all of her opportunities at real happiness pass her by. I'm afraid she'll be full of regrets and find herself all alone."
"I seriously doubt you will have to worry about your daughter being alone." Darcy detected the bitterness in Cierra's voice. "Men practically fall at her feet." What hurt Cierra so deeply? He barely had a chance to ponder the question before he saw Elizabeth, and Elizabeth alone, making her way toward their table.
"Jane, why are you hiding out here?" When Lizzy decided to find her parents, Marcus had decided to locate his sister. He was surprised to find Jane alone at their table.
"Better hiding out then telling off our aunt."
"Uh-oh, what has she done now?"
"She saw the painting I did...the one hanging in the den of us...and do you know what she told mom?"
Marcus dreaded the expected insult. "You know...it doesn't matter what she thinks..."
"She said I had talent, Marcus! She told mom she wanted me to take me to Paris with her this summer and introduce me to some artist friends she knows!"
His mind was trying to work through his own shock. Not only had their aunt complimented Jane's work, but she also wanted to take her niece to France. No one was given an invitation to France. No one. "When are you supposed to leave?"
"Mom told me to pack after the reception." She stamped her foot. "But, I'm not going...how can anyone even expect me to be excited to go anywhere willingly with that woman? Mom told me she would not hear any argument about it. I'm going with them when they return to Pemberley. She decided for me."
Marcus placed a calming hand on his sister's forearm. "I do understand how you must feel about them making the decision without you. But, you have to admit Anne has been acting ... differently lately ..." He waved his hand toward the room. "She's here. It seems like she is systematically trying to "right" her "wrongs" as it were. I think it would be foolish of you to let such an opportunity pass you by."
"I know." Jane did not look happy admitting the truth.
"You've been moping around here all summer, nursing a broken heart..." She began to protest but Marcus held up a hand to stop her. "Everyone has been worried about you. Mom, Moe, Me...even Lizzy. Maybe a change of scenery would be good for you. Give you a chance to stretch your legs and develop your art further."
"So, you think I should go with them?"
"Go to France or stay here, but that really is only geography." Marcus stood. "What really is at the heart of the issue here is if carrying all this pain over the past is more important to you than forgiving your aunt and perhaps learning to love her. This "trip" seems to be her way of trying to reach out to you...to apologize to you."
Before Marcus reached their mother across the room, Jane had made up her mind.
When she realized whom her parents had befriended, Lizzy immediately excused herself from Marcus to find a way to separate the two families praying she wasn't too late. She wasn't exactly sure which she was more afraid of...her mother saying something incredibly embarrassing or Anne cutting her parents down with some scathing retort.
"Lizzy!" Bug launched from her spot on Anne's lap and ran around the table to greet her. "I've been waiting for you to come over and say hi! Mommy said I couldn't bother you since you were so busy with the wedding." Lizzy was sure that wasn't Anne's only motivation for keeping her daughter from her. "Anyway, I wanted to tell you I got a new horse and I named him s'more..."
"What a delightful name, Bug."
"That is what I thought, but Mr. Badden, our trainer, said it wasn't a good name for him...but daddy said I could name him whatever I wanted. I can't wait to show him to you but we'll be in France for awhile..."
"I'm sure S'more will miss you terribly." Bug's arms reached for her neck. Seeing no other option, Lizzy bent down and swung her onto her waist.
"I'll miss him too, but we'll only be in France for six weeks. And when we all get back to Pemberley, I'll let you ride him. And, we can swim in the pool and go on picnics...we will have so much fun. We can even make s'mores again...maybe even camp out like you did when you were little like me..."
Lizzy wasn't sure why Bug was talking as if she was going to be in Connecticut this summer. "I'm not going to be at Pemberley this summer."
"I thought you would stay with us for a little while when we get back from France." Bug pouted then brightened. "We can do some of those things in France I guess..."
"France?" Lizzy was thoroughly confused. "I'm not going to be in France either..."
"But, mommy said you can go with us..."
"We would be very happy to add you to our party, Elizabeth." Anne tried to make the warmth in her voice apparent.
"Thank you, but I cannot accept your offer."
"Now Lizzy don't be so hasty. This could be a chance of a lifetime. Just think of the people you could meet..."
Lizzy prayed her mother could be reasoned with. "Mom, you know I can't go."
"We would have so much fun together." Bug buried her face in her neck. "Please. Please, I'll be really good. Darcy won't be mean like he was over New Years..."
"I'm sure we would have fun together, but I've committed myself to working..."
"Lizzy, I'm sure Paul can do without you for six weeks."
"Fanny, we said we would let Lizzy make up her own mind about the trip. She said no and let it go."
She silently thanked her father with her eyes but remained standing trying to figure out a way to get her parents away from their present "society."
"Since everyone at this table seems to have forgotten their matters, let me introduce myself. I'm Cierra DeBourgh. I've heard a great deal about you, Lizzy."
Lizzy smiled. "To be fair, though, I've heard a great deal about you from Marcus."
"Two seconds into our acquaintance and my reputation is already ruined. That has got to be a record even for me." She batted her eyes in an exaggerated fashion. "I can only imagine what you must think of me."
"Don't be alarmed about your reputation with me. I assure you any woman who can keep an intelligent man like Marcus off-kilter has got to be worth knowing."
"It is funny that you would say something like that." Darcy could practically hear the purr in her voice. "I was thinking the exact same thing about you."
"How about that dance now, Cierra?" Promise or no promise Darcy did not trust his friend to keep her word to him while in Elizabeth's presence.
"I'm not in the mood. Perhaps, Lizzy here could be prevailed upon to take my place?"
He mentally cursed seeing the satisfaction spread over Cierra's features, but he faced Elizabeth with a shrug. "I'd be happy to dance with you."
Lizzy felt mortification curl her toes, but Ben was on his own feet. "Sorry, son, but I always get the last dance of the evening with my daughter...it is family tradition."
When they reached the dance floor, she leaned into his ear. "What family tradition?"
"Well, the tradition can start tonight." Ben pulled his daughter close. "Besides, I couldn't watch you get railroaded into actually having to dance with that man. Your mother would never have left it go and he did strike me as a proud, most disagreeable sort. He would no doubt believe dancing with you was somehow beneath him." A small part of her shriveled as she accepted the truth behind her father's appraisal. No, she was not as beautiful or gifted as Caroline or as self-assured and comfortable as Cierra. She was just Elizabeth....in truth, she was not even a Bennet.