Beginning, Section II, Next Section
"Elizabeth, it won't be any different if you go to England. People will still be judging you from your looks. It'll be the same everywhere you go. But there are some people who will learn who you are and love you for that, not your looks. You just have to do a lot of sifting before you get rid of the sand and find the gold. I asked you if I could introduce you to some of my acquaintances. It's a way to start. I can't guarantee they'll all be perfect matches, but you might find some friends and even a boyfriend. Just give it a try. If anything, you'll learn to date."
Elizabeth gave a wry laugh. "Let me think about it."
The next day, Elizabeth found a basket on her desk. In it were a bouquet of many different coloured roses, a bottle of Ribena, and a bag of Fruit Pastilles, Smarties and Whispas. Elizabeth picked up the note, and read:
"You can always find what you're looking for if you look hard enough."
She couldn't wait until her lunch hour when she saw Will. She had more than a thing or two to say to him. She didn't like the looks she'd been getting from some of her female coworkers.
Elizabeth met him outside of Au Bon Pain but waited until she had sat down with her favourite French pastry, pain au chocolat, before she started on him.
"Where did you get it? Did you overnight the stuff in from England?"
"No. I bought it here. I told you you could find what you want if you look hard enough. Obviously, you're not looking hard enough. There's a store called the Best of the British in Newbury. I had some of your favourites sent down here."
Elizabeth could only shake her head. After a minute she remembered her other bone to pick. "Did you put the basket there yourself?"
"Yes, why? I didn't touch anything on your desk."
"No, but obviously a few of my female coworkers saw you and now shoot daggers into me with their eyes every time they pass me!"
"Sorry. I wouldn't have imagined anything like that happening."
"Obviously not. God knows what the gossips are saying about us."
"So what? We know it's not true so what does it matter what they think?"
"I have a reputation to uphold. I don't want to be the slut who slept with her boss. As long as you don't promote me or give me a raise for a few years, I'll be a little more fine."
"Too late."
"What?!"
"Just kidding. What do you want me to do about it?"
"What CAN be done?"
"Nothing. But I have a reputation to uphold, too."
"No one thinks twice about when a handsome CEO sleeps with a lowly employee. But they do condemn that employee. Especially when there are hundreds of women who would love to be in that position."
Will blushed furiously and decided he didn't like the way this conversation had turned.
"I'm not willing to change anything I do just for a bunch of gossips. We'll still go to lunch, I promise not to send anymore gifts via your desk, and we'll ignore and deny all false accusations and claims, right?"
"I guess it's the best we can do."
"Now, I asked you yesterday if you'd consider dating some of my acquaintances. What do you say now?"
"I'm still not liking the idea, but I guess you won't stop bugging me until I agree."
"Great! I know just who to start with. He's a lawyer and I know him through my club."
Elizabeth wondered what she was getting herself into.
The evening of her date with Will's lawyer friend found Elizabeth in a state of raw nerves. Poor Jane tried her best to calm her friend. Jane had dressed Elizabeth in an emerald green velvet turtleneck and cream trousers. Her hair was pulled up with the combs again, and she had borrowed Jane's silver necklace and earrings. Every five minutes, she would look at herself in the mirror then look at the clock, and then plop back down on the sofa beside Jane.
"Calm down, Elizabeth. You're making me dizzy. What's your problem with this ordeal?"
"I don't know, Jane. I just feel like I have all these expectations to live up to. I mean, what if I'm not good enough? He's a lawyer for Pete's sake! I only went through four years of college and got a lousy English degree! What could we possibly talk about for over an hour."
"I think you'll do fine. Talk about music, travels, books. Ask him questions about his profession. Some people love to talk about what they do. But if he seems reluctant, then don't push him. He could be one of those people who don't like to talk about work during their leisure time."
"I must have missed all the courses they offered in college on this stuff."
"You can't take classes on it."
"Then my mother seriously deprived me of a good upbringing."
"Would you have listened if she had tried to teach you?"
"No! But I don't remember her trying to teach me."
"Do you have your purse?"
"Yes," she said, pouting. "I hate purses. They're such a pain to keep track of. Why not use my pockets?"
"I told you. It'll make you look bulgy at your hips. You'd look ridiculous."
"Why do I need all this stuff anyway? Lipstick, keys, money, mascara- all right, I would need the money and keys, but not the makeup!"
"If it comes off, you'll need it to touch up!"
"Why wear it at all? I hate not being able to rub my eye if it itches or eat or drink without leaving lipstick marks."
"I cannot wait for this guy to come and take you off my hands!"
"I hope he has a flat tire and can't come. Or maybe he has severe indigestion. Does he have my number? No, he doesn't. So he's stranded in the middle of the Central Artery and doesn't have my number. Do you think I can change out of this now?"
"No. An hour late is when you can start changing."
Elizabeth folded her arms across her chest in a pout again. They watched CNN in silence for five minutes before Elizabeth started again. "Why would he want to take me out anyway? Do you think Will bribed him? Paying him to raise my ego?"
"You know Will would never do such a thing."
"Well did you hear what he did to me at the office?"
"From what I heard, he gave you a cheer up basket because you were threatening to move to England."
"Yes, but they saw him!"
"So? They're just jealous of you."
"Why?"
"Because you have Will in the palm of your hand and they don't even have his dust trails!"
"I do not. We're good friends, that's all. Why does everyone see more than there is?"
"You mean to tell me that you've never seen Will in a romantic light?"
"Well, he's gorgeous, I have to admit, but nothing beyond that, no."
Jane gave her skeptical look, but Elizabeth was saved from further inquisition by the doorbell. "Out of the frying pan into the fire," she muttered as she grabbed her coat and purse.
"Have a good time, dear!" Jane called as Elizabeth shut the door.
Elizabeth cleared the grumpy pout off of her face by the time she reached the bottom of the stairs. Waiting outside the door was a man of medium build with dark blonde, straight hair. Will had described him enough for her to recognize.
She put on a smile as she exited the building. He smiled toothily back and said, "Miss Bennet? How do you do? I'm Bobby Fenton."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Fenton."
Elizabeth dreaded the evening already. They drove in his handsome BMW to a nice, swanky restaurant near the center of the city. They made small talk on the way, talking about various things. Once they had sat down, they waited until after they had ordered before they began the effort of conversing again. Elizabeth noticed he chose a wine, but she declined his offer for the same, and chose a coke instead.
There was an awkward silence before Elizabeth took Jane's advice and asked him, "Where did you go to law school?"
"I went to Harvard law school."
Elizabeth refrained from showing how impressed she was. 'Calm and composed,' she told herself. 'I go out with Harvard lawyers all the time, right?'
"What firm do you work for?"
"I have my own firm."
"Is it very big?"
"It's a fairly good size."
"What type of law do you do?"
"Civil suits, mostly."
"I see."
Elizabeth felt like she was carrying the conversation, and refused to do so anymore. Let him pick the next subject, she thought, rebelliously.
Elizabeth had to wait for some while before Mr. Fenton realized he might actually have to say something. "Do you like dancing?"
"No, I hate it."
"Oh."
Another long silence.
"Do you like sports?"
"I like soccer, but I haven't played in a few years. How about you?"
"Oh, I watch golf and tennis on TV when I have the time."
Another long silence. The food came and there was only the sound of eating for a few minutes.
Elizabeth could stand it no longer. "What do you do in your spare time?"
"I don't have much spare time. But I like to go to clubs and... meet people."
"Do you like to read?"
"Only the latest Grisham books."
"What do you think makes him such a popular author?"
"Oh, umm, I don't know. I just like the stuff about the lawyers."
Elizabeth knew very little of Grisham, but even she knew it had stuff about lawyers in them. Wasn't that movie with Matt Damon and the short man from Taxi a Grisham book? She couldn't remember and doubted that her dinner companion would.
"Do you go to the movies much?" she asked him.
"Every once and a while."
"What movies do you prefer?"
"Oh, I like the ones about law. My favourite is A Few Good Men."
"Is that the one with Jack Nicholson, Tom Cruise, and Demi Moore?"
"Oh, I don't remember the character's names, I just remember the witness shouting to the lawyer 'THE TRUTH?! YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!'"
Elizabeth sunk as low as she could in her seat and pretended to wipe her mouth while covering her face as much as possible. She just knew that everyone was staring at them.
Quickly, she said, "What type of music do you like?"
"I like the stuff on the radio."
"Really!" she answered sarcastically. "Which station?"
"Oh, I flip around."
"That is very interesting!" cried Elizabeth, and began saying the Lord's Prayer in her head, asking for the evening to end.
Elizabeth declined dessert for the sake of getting home faster. During the drive, they didn't speak a word to each other. Elizabeth had exhausted all her conversation topics and Mr. Fenton didn't seem like he could produce one any time soon.
Elizabeth's relief was tremendous when they finally reached her apartment door. She got out without bothering to wait for him to open the door for her.
At her building's entrance, she turned back and with a slight hesitation, said, "Thank you Mr. Fenton for a most interesting evening. I learned a lot from you."
"Thank you, Miss Bennet. Maybe I'll see you again."
"That would be something!" Elizabeth said with a forced smile. She entered her building with a short, "Good evening."
Elizabeth ran up the stairs in a fit of exaltation over the horrid evening ending. Jane was waiting up for her when she got in.
"Well? How did it go?"
"Oh Jane! I haven't had such a horrible evening since I left my mother! He was an idiot! He couldn't think of anything to say on his own and barely answered my questions. What was Will thinking?"
"I don't know. I'm sorry you didn't have a good time."
"Not having a good time' is understating it! I was mortified in the restaurant."
Elizabeth threw herself down on the sofa resting her head on Jane's lap. Jane took the combs out of her friend's hair and ruffled her curls.
"Why don't you curl up with Pride and Prejudice for an hour and then go to sleep?"
Elizabeth did as Jane advised and was soon chuckling away at the awful Mr. Collins and cringing at the appalling Mrs. Bennet. Maybe the evening could have been worse after all. But it didn't mean Will was going to get off lightly the next morning.
Elizabeth had enough resentment and grumpiness left over in the morning for her to call Will immediately, hoping to wake him up. It didn't help her mood when Will cheerfully answered the phone after two rings.
"Did I wake you?" she asked.
"No, I was just getting ready to eat breakfast."
Elizabeth's mood sunk lower and her temper rose. Jane knew Elizabeth well enough to see the volcanic lava beginning to bubble. She grabbed the phone from Elizabeth before she could begin her tirade.
"Will?" said Jane. "Yeah, I think you should avoid Elizabeth for a couple of days. Just until her temper cools off. ...No, that's rather an understatement apparently. ...Yeah, she'll be fine after a while. ... I know you had good intentions-"
"Good intentions, indeed!" fumed Elizabeth, sitting in her grumpy pouting position.
"-no, that won't be needed. ...Talk to you later, bye." Jane hung up and tactfully didn't say a word to her roommate.
Jane served Elizabeth some toast and marmalade and some hot chocolate. She made herself coffee and ate a bowl of cereal.
"What do you want to do today?"
"Aren't you and Charles doing something together?"
"No, he's spending the day with his sisters."
"Ahh, the elegant Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst! Have you met them, yet?"
Jane shook her head.
"You're fortunate, or I should give Charles more credit than I have. You wouldn't like them very much."
"I'll form my own opinions upon meeting them. I'm sure we'll get along fine."
"Suit yourself."
"So what do you want to do today?"
"Let's go for a long bike ride and take a picnic with us."
"Sounds good. We might have to pick up some things at the grocery's on our way out."
"That's fine."
Will cautiously approached Elizabeth's table on Monday. Without looking up from her book, she said, "You haven't been taken off probation, sonny."
"I'm sorry, Elizabeth," he started, sitting down across from her. "He's usually a pretty lively guy."
"Around other guys? What does he talk about? The women he finds?"
"Jane said he didn't act improper-"
"No, but he didn't do much of anything."
"I'm sorry, I'll do better next time."
"Next time! Who said there's going to be a next time?"
"You can't give up just because one date didn't work out."
"No, but I can fire my current scout."
"Who else would you get to do it?"
Elizabeth ignored the question since she didn't have an answer.
A few weeks later, Will was let off probation and he set her up with another acquaintance. Elizabeth wasn't as nervous with this one as the first. She just figured that if she could weather through Bobby Fenton, anyone else wouldn't be so bad. Jane took this to be a good thing.
Mr. Greg Hunter was an architect and a boisterous man. Elizabeth got the impression that he was rather full of himself and laughed more at his own jokes than she did. The most irritating thing for Elizabeth was that his eyes watered when he laughed, and he was constantly taking out his handkerchief to wipe his eyes.
Mr. Jordan Thomas was way too serious and every time Elizabeth tried to lighten the atmosphere, she got what she thought was a disapproving stare. Elizabeth quit after the third try and spent the rest of the evening in oppressed solemnity.
Mr. Luke Potter seemed too false for Elizabeth. She felt like his laughs weren't genuine and she was discomforted by not being able to discern his real feelings. She skillfully maneuvered out of a second date with him.
Mr. Robert Rigby was too smooth and sleezy. Elizabeth felt like he should have black hair slicked back and a thin, curled, waxed moustache. She shuddered so much that her dinner companion thought she had a cold and took her home early. Elizabeth didn't complain.
After this final attempt, Elizabeth really did fire Will. Will decided maybe blind dates weren't the way to go. So instead, he convinced Elizabeth to go with him to balls and dinner parties.
In order for her to attend these upper society events, she had to go as Will's date. This didn't bother either of them, but it did seem to create some speculation wherever they went. However as soon as it was made clear that Elizabeth was very much available and the formidable Fitzwilliam Darcy didn't bat an eye when his date was taken away by other men, the flood gates were opened. As long as there was a certain amount of hush over her background and connections, Elizabeth became very popular. She wasn't sure if she liked the attention, though.
In the beginning, she always declined to dance no matter who asked her. When Will finally asked her why she did not dance, she whispered, "I don't know how, sir."
Will could see that they would have to do something about that soon, or he wouldn't be able to bring her to the balls. So Elizabeth found herself enrolled in dancing lessons. She had never been comfortable enough with her body to like dancing before, but discovered that the kind of dancing with steps to learn was more enjoyable than the 'just move with the music' type. After three weeks of lessons, Elizabeth could pass as a normal lady dancing, but still didn't enjoy it that much nor ever became really comfortable with the past time.
Elizabeth was amused to discover that none of the people she had had lunch with that one day in Marché's remembered who she was or recognized her. Elizabeth just found it easier to make the transition between her circle and Will's. Elizabeth never felt truly accepted into Will's social circle, and always felt like the visitor or the guest star.
Elizabeth's popularity and apparent intimacy with Will Darcy got her a few enemies. Who should be at the forefront but Miss Bingley. Elizabeth had never had any notion of anyone forming serious designs on Will. He had certainly never spoken of it before and she hadn't witnessed anything to cause suspicion.
But it was at a Thanksgiving ball that Elizabeth learned the wrath of Miss Caroline Bingley. For some time, Elizabeth had felt Miss Bingley's dislike, but she had thought Miss Bingley didn't remember her from their luncheon. Apparently this was still true. Miss Bingley decided to confront her rival in the ladies' powder room.
"I have no idea why you're trying to catch Mr. Darcy's attention when it obviously isn't working. I declare, you're making a fool of yourself in front of everyone by throwing yourself at his feet."
Elizabeth gave a short laugh, and said, "I haven't the faintest idea of what you are talking about."
"I know he brings you out of pity, but you mustn't mistake his goodness for anything more than it is."
"Thank you Miss Bingley for your wise advice, but I assure you it isn't needed. Both Will and I have a strong understanding of our friendship. 'Friendship' being the key word."
"You may deny it to everyone, but I have seen how you fawn all over him."
"If you could produce one example of my fawning over Will, I would give you twenty dollars."
Miss Bingley didn't seem to accept any of Elizabeth's returns. She kept on playing her pathetic message. Finally, Elizabeth said, "Miss Bingley! If you want Will so much, fine! Try and catch him. I'm not standing in your way. You're deluding yourself into thinking it's me who's thwarting you, not your inadequacy and incompetence. Good evening."
This didn't seem to help the situation, and Elizabeth just left the room in disgust.
Elizabeth seemed to have many admirers and Will hoped she would favour one of them, but it didn't seem to happen. She was polite and kind to all, but attentive to none. Will wanted to give up, but he had one more trick up his sleeve.
Will wrote to his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, inviting him to visit for Christmas. Colonel Fitzwilliam accepted the invitation, and planned to arrive the week before Christmas Eve. Will kept this piece of news to himself until his cousin's arrival.
"Are you going home for Christmas?" asked Will over lunch one day.
"No, not this year."
"Why don't you talk about your family much?"
"I don't hear from them very often. We're not that close. I'm closer to my aunt and uncle Gardiner."
"The ones from Abingdon?"
Elizabeth nodded. "You don't talk about your family much, either."
"Well actually, I have some news. My cousin, Richard, is here."
"The Colonel?"
Will nodded. "I was wondering if I could set you up one last time."
"With your cousin?"
Will nodded again.
"I don't know... What's he like?"
"Gee, that's rather a generic question. Obviously he's a disciplined man, being in the army, he's tall and dirty blonde with blue-"
"Not his looks. What are his tastes, his pursuits?"
"I'm sure he reads books, I'm just not sure what kind. He likes jazz music and reggae, but appreciates good classical music, too. I think he plays a lot of sports and probably likes watching all sports when he has the chance. Overall, he's a jolly chap and I like him."
"Well, all right. I'll agree to this last blind date for your sake."
"Thanks. Is tomorrow good?"
"Yeah... tomorrow is ok."
"He'll pick you up at 7:00 and take you out to this little pizza place he loves. So dress casual. This time, I mean jeans and t-shirt casual."
Elizabeth smiled, and said, "I think I like him already."
The following evening, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, handsome and debonair, rang Elizabeth's doorbell. She came downstairs wearing dark blue jeans and several sweaters. He nodded and smiled a hello and then led her through the cold wind to his car. He brushed off some of the snow, and opened her door. She got in and realized it was Will's Lexus. Colonel Fitzwilliam got in and quickly started up the car and got the heater going.
To break the silence, Elizabeth said, "I see you've borrowed Will's car."
"Yeah, and it'll be my neck if anything happens to it."
Elizabeth grinned, and decided that for once, this might actually be a pleasant evening. They drove to the other side of Boston and into Little Italy chatting and talking amiably about this and that. Elizabeth didn't remember ever being to the region and was interested in the difference in layout and design of the place. The streets were very narrow and the buildings two or three stories high with windows and balconies with baskets hanging outside. Granted the baskets were dead this time of year, Elizabeth still wished she could see what it looked like in spring. Colonel Fitzwilliam pulled into a space on the side of the road and they both got out.
Colonel Fitzwilliam led her down several streets before they came to a little pub and pizzeria on a corner. He opened the door for her, and she entered the crowded establishment. Elizabeth's companion greeted the men behind the bar like old friends and was promptly led to a table in full view of a television showing a hockey game. A group of men sat at the bar watching the same game, boisterously cheering or complaining about the referees. Colonel Fitzwilliam ordered a pitcher of Sprite and they decided to share a pizza.
"This place has the best pizza I have ever tasted, and I've traveled quite a bit."
"In the army?"
He nodded then asked, "Do you like hockey?"
"I've never had the opportunity to play it, being a girl growing up in Florida, but I've enjoyed the few live games I've watched."
"I used to play when I was in high school. I was a defender."
"I would never have been able to tell! Where's the broken nose?"
Colonel Fitzwilliam smiled wryly and said, "I took a few beatings, but didn't sustain any lasting damage like that. I wasn't in it long enough. I still have most of my teeth, too."
"Will said you play a lot of sports. What else have you excelled at?"
"Soccer, and track as well as hockey and golf."
"Golf! That sport seems the odd one out."
"My father insisted I learn, in case I went into business. He said too many decisions are made on the back nine for me to miss. So I learned."
"I've never enjoyed watching the sport, and I never played, despite living with one at the end of my backyard in Florida."
"I wouldn't think you would enjoy it."
"Why do you say that?"
"I think it requires more patience than you have."
The pizza arrived, and Elizabeth had to admit it was very good pizza, though she wasn't sure if it was the best. Elizabeth enjoyed herself immensely. They watched the hockey game at the exciting points, and talked pleasantly for a couple of hours. Finally, Colonel Fitzwilliam noticed the time and said, "Will's going to get suspicious and come looking for us if I'm not home soon."
Elizabeth blushed and hid it by getting her jacket. They walked back to the car through the cold wind and snow. It was slower driving back to her apartment due to the worsening weather. She assured Colonel Fitzwilliam she didn't need him to walk her to her door. She paused before getting out, and said, "I've never had as enjoyable a time on a date before. Thank you very much for a wonderful evening."
Colonel Fitzwilliam smiled handsomely, and said, "I'm flattered I earned your approval! I'd love to do it again, soon."
"Drive safely."
"I will. Good night."
"Good night."
She got out and slowly walked up to her apartment. Colonel Fitzwilliam made sure she was in the door before he drove off.
The following day Will called her. "So how did it go?" he asked.
Elizabeth could tell by the sound of his voice that he was smiling. She couldn't help but smile herself. "It actually went well."
"Finally!" he said. "I got the full debriefing from Richard last night. You were out a lot later than you've ever been before."
"That's because I enjoyed his company. The others were barely tolerable."
"Are you going out again?"
"I don't know. I wouldn't mind it."
"Elizabeth, you're so stubborn! Why don't you just admit you really like him!"
"Because that would be too easy."
Will sighed. "Anyway, I have a Christmas present to give you, but it would require an evening. Are you free on Thursday night?"
"Where are we going?"
"It's a surprise, but I will say it's out of the city."
"Oh. Well I am free Thursday."
"Good. Dress formal."
"How formal?"
"A nice evening gown."
"Where are we going, Will?"
"I'm not going to ruin it by telling you," he said. "You won't get a peep out of me... or Jane or Charles."
Damn, thought Elizabeth. She was really curious.
Elizabeth's holiday began Tuesday and Colonel Fitzwilliam called her. "Would you like to go ice skating with me? The weather is nice."
Elizabeth agreed and after bundling up in her warmest clothes, met him outside her door. They went to one of the many rinks filled with people.
"Colonel Fitzwilliam, I've only been skating twice in my life before this."
"Really?"
"I grew up in Florida."
"Still I thought there would be rinks."
"One came to my town for a month at Christmas time but I never went."
"It's just like roller blading."
"That's what everyone says, but it doesn't feel the same. Besides, I've only gone roller blading twice, too."
"You haven't had a very proper upbringing, have you?"
"Nope. Books are all I got from my father and advice on how to catch a husband is all I got from my mother. Obviously I didn't listen to my mother very much."
"If you feel like you're going to fall, hang on to me."
Elizabeth nodded, though she hoped it wouldn't come to that. Much as she liked Colonel Fitzwilliam, she still didn't feel comfortable enough to fall into his arms without seeming like a flirt. Through out her 'coming out' Elizabeth tried her very best not to appear like the flirts she'd seen other women look like. Ever since middle school, Elizabeth had abhorred the flirtations of her female classmates. She thought they would look less foolish by plopping themselves on the boys' laps than the false laughter, hanging on shoulders and fake fragility. At all the high society functions Will took her to, she acted as propriety would command her, never acting a part other that which was genuine and honest- and definitely not seductive.
Elizabeth laced her skates up tightly and stood up wobbly, leaning heavily onto the banister. When Colonel Fitzwilliam was ready, Elizabeth took her first few steps onto the ice. At first, she stayed next to the side, holding onto it with one hand. Finally, the Colonel persuaded her to let go, and she shuffled along, her arms out wide to balance herself. Elizabeth was disgusted at the Colonel's ease on the ice. He zipped around the rink and slid to a stop in front of Elizabeth with a wide grin. She scowled at him.
"If you're going to tease me, then I'll just take the skates off. You're not making this any easier."
"I'm sorry, I'll be good," he lied.
"Didn't Will want to join us?" she asked.
Colonel looked at her closely for a minute and then said, "He had some business to take care of before Christmas came."
"Do you know where he's taking me?"
"Yes, but I've been sworn to secrecy, too."
"Can't you give me a hint?"
"You'll like it, I've heard."
"No, a real hint."
"My lips are sealed, madam."
Elizabeth sighed in frustration.
After a trip once round the rink, Elizabeth gained more confidence and skated a little faster. At one point, Colonel Fitzwilliam grabbed her hand and tugged her along with him. At first she yelled at him to let go or she'd fall, but found that she could actually keep her balance at this speed. She did not, however, feel comfortable with him holding her hand, and at the first opportunity, pulled it away on the pretense of keeping her balance.
Elizabeth was more nervous about the other people gliding past her and the show off in the center doing double axles and spins than keeping her balance on a couple of thin blades.
Colonel Fitzwilliam continued to try and frighten her by pretending to shove her as he passed and by coming to sudden stops in front of her. Elizabeth kept her cool and was rewarded when Colonel Fitzwilliam fell flat on his bum. Elizabeth laughed so hard she had to crouch down to the ice to keep her equilibrium.
They weren't out on the ice long before Elizabeth's feet began to ache unbearably. They left the ice and she tugged off the skates in relief.
She explained to the Colonel, "I've always had wide feet. I usually have to buy shoes wide especially or wear men's shoes. My pinky toe is deformed because I wore shoes that were too narrow when I was a child. So these skates were too much for my poor feet."
"If you bought a pair of your own, they would be more comfortable. Rented skates rarely fit well. I had a friend who used to put his hundred dollar skates on his bare feet and soak them in hot water and then let them dry on his feet. It would send his mum bonkers, but it seemed to work for him. You never saw his feet with blisters."
"I don't think I would have the guts to do that."
"I think they had to be made of good leather to do that. Kangaroo leather, I believe."
They walked home and Elizabeth wanted to ask him up to her apartment for some hot chocolate, but first thought about how hurt Will would feel since he'd never been up, and second thought about the personal items strewn about the place and the pile of dirty dishes in the sink. Nah, she said to herself. Maybe another time.
"Thank you very much for a lovely time."
"You should do it more often and it'll become easier with time."
Elizabeth nodded. "When are you leaving?"
"I have to go back to my post two days after Christmas, but hopefully I'll see you before then."
Elizabeth shyly ducked her head and mumbled a maybe. She entered her building and refused to look back.
When she got upstairs, she soaked her feet in hot water in the bathtub and nursed a mug of hot chocolate.
Thursday, Jane was leaving to spend Christmas with her family. Before she left that morning, she gave Elizabeth a slip of paper. "This is your Christmas present. I rented a fur coat to match your gown for tonight."
"A fur coat!"
Jane smiled and kissed her cheek before walking out with her luggage in hand.
Elizabeth was left staring at the receipt in her hand for the rental of the fur coat. Where were they going? she asked herself.
At five o' clock, she dressed in her evening gown. It was made of shiny black velvet with no sleeves and a high neckline. The velvet showed off her figure to her best advantage. To compliment, she wore satin gloves that went up above her elbows. Around her neck was a necklace of diamond rhinestones and from her ears, matching earrings. In her hair, the combs had rhinestones on them too. Finally, on her feet she wore black high heels. She had already picked up the black fur coat, and was a little relieved to see that it was a synthetic fur. Elizabeth hadn't felt comfortable wearing a dead animal on her shoulders.
At five thirty, Will rang her doorbell. Elizabeth grabbed her purse and coat. She put it on and wrapped it around herself to keep out the cold. Elizabeth stopped short when she saw a sleek black limousine waiting in the street. Will stood outside the building door in a full length black coat, gloves, scarf, and hat.
Elizabeth recovered herself somewhat and walked out of her building. Will smiled when he saw and gently took her arm to lead her to the limo. Elizabeth had thought for a split second that the limo wasn't for them. But the chauffeur holding the door open for her squashed that theory. Elizabeth had never been in a limo before and sat down in not a little awe. Will grinned at her reaction.
Elizabeth regained her senses and affected a calm and composed air. "Is this yours or did you rent it?"
"No, it's mine," Will replied with a small smile.
Elizabeth had never gained any real conception of Will's wealth. Tonight she was going to experience a bit more than she had ever before.
"Where are we going?"
"I'm not telling you, yet."
They chatted as they drove through the streets of Boston. When Elizabeth recognized where they were headed, she asked, "Will, what are we doing at Logan International Airport?"
"We're catching a flight."
"To where?"
"Not telling," he said, with a smile.
The limo drove onto the airport and stopped beside a private jet. The chauffeur opened Elizabeth's door and she got out. It was bitterly cold with the wind blowing over the water. Will got out and led her to the jet. The door opened and Will gestured for Elizabeth to get in. She climbed up the steps and into the jet. Will was close behind her, and once they were inside, the flight attendant closed the door.
"Sit down," Will said to Elizabeth who was looking around rather stunned.
She did as she was told and sat down in the comfortable seat. She buckled her seatbelt and looked around in wonder. There were only ten other seats. Will sat across from her with a table between them. Will had a smug, pleased look on his face.
Once they had taken off and settled in the air, the flight attendant served a small meal.
"Is this yours, Will?"
He smiled and nodded. "I travel a lot in this one. I don't use my other jet as much."
"You have ANOTHER one?"
Will nodded again and ate his meal.
Elizabeth could hardly swallow her food, though it was excellent quality.
When they landed, another limo was waiting for them. "This one is rented," Will answered before she could ask.
Elizabeth soon recognized the city to be New York. "What are doing here, Will?"
"You'll find out soon enough. I'm not going to spoil your surprise."
Elizabeth was not at all sure how to take all of this in. She had a feeling of dread mixed with apprehension over what was to come. Despite all the evenings in the company of Boston socialites, Elizabeth did not feel up to this kind of grandeur.
The limo pulled up in front of what Elizabeth knew to be Carnegie Hall. They got out, and joined the crowd of people walking into the Hall.
"What are we seeing, Will?"
Will just shook his head and took her arm to lead her into the Hall. A few people recognized Will and said hello. He stopped and talked politely to them before moving up the staircase to the second level. He led her out onto the second tier of seats and to the front row. Will helped her off with her coat and took his off, revealing a very nice, black tuxedo. He handed the coats to an usher who took them away. They sat down and Elizabeth turned to him. "What are we seeing, now that we are here and about to start?"
Will handed her a wrapped present from his pocket. She sighed in frustration and opened the present. It was a leather-bound libretto of Handel's Messiah. She looked up at Will and whispered, "We're seeing the Messiah?"
Will smiled and nodded, thrilled at her delight. The lights dimmed and Elizabeth sat back to enjoy the concert. From the opening strains, Elizabeth knew she could never be so content as she felt then. Will watched her face light up at the first solo, a tenor. "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people." She mouthed the words along to her favourite solo, an alto solo; "O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, get thee up into the high mountain, o thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength, lift it up, be not afraid, say unto the cities of Judah: Behold your God!" But his favourite time was the Hallelujah chorus. Elizabeth literally squirmed in her seat. "Hallelujah, for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth! The Kingdom of this world is become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign for ever and ever. King of Kings, and Lord of Lords." In the climax, she took his hand and looked at him with ecstatic gratitude in her bright eyes. He'd never noticed how beautiful they were before. Then she looked back to watch the concert, but didn't let go of his hand. They sat this way all the way to the last Amen and the last note.
After the production had ended, Will kept her hand and led her through a door and down dimly lit corridors. "Where are we going now, Will?"
"Haven't you learned not to ask, anymore? I'm not going to tell you."
They eventually came out into a room and Elizabeth was shocked to see the soloists drinking water and chatting. Will led her over to the conductor and said, "Robert, great performance!"
The conductor turned around. "Will! I didn't know you were planning on coming! You should have warned us."
"I was bringing my friend here as a surprise. May I introduce Miss Elizabeth Bennet? Elizabeth, this is Mr. Robert -----."
Elizabeth curtseyed demurely. "How do you do, Mr. -----?"
"How do you do, Miss Bennet? Did you like the performance?"
"Did I?! It was heavenly!"
Mr. ----- laughed.
"I've never heard the Messiah live before, sir."
"I'm glad you liked it. Do you know our soloists, Will?"
Will shook his head. "I noticed you didn't bring Collins back."
"No, I finally stood up to your aunt and refused to invite him back on the stage with me."
"Good for you."
"Come, I'll introduce you to them."
Elizabeth clutched Will's arm as Mr. ----- introduced the four soloists and the choral conductor to them. Elizabeth shyly curtseyed.
"This is Mr. Darcy, nephew to Lady Catherine de Bourgh."
This seemed to have some significance to them, which Elizabeth didn't understand. Why was Will so recognized? What did he do--or his aunt for that matter?
Elizabeth couldn't believe she was in a conversation with the alto soloist. "Did you like the performance?" the diva asked.
"Of course. I have always loved the Messiah and I have never heard it performed so beautifully as tonight!"
"I'm glad."
"Is it difficult?"
"No more so than most operas."
"I noticed you've done many other roles. Which one was your favourite?"
"I must say I loved to do Buttercup in Gilbert and Sullivan's HMS Pinafore."
"I am not familiar with much Gilbert and Sullivan."
"If you are so fond of Handel, Gilbert and Sullivan may not be in your taste. Still, they have a distinct sound which is refreshing."
"Have you performed any Purcell?" asked Elizabeth.
"No, but Sarah has."
The soprano turned at the mention of her name.
"Didn't you do 'Dido and Aeneas' once?" asked the alto.
"Yes, I did. But that was in college."
Elizabeth asked, "What's the most difficult part of being a famous soloist?"
"The travel is pretty hard, but as long as I love what I do, I feel privileged. How many people get to do what they love as their career?"
"I know I don't."
"Well what do you love to do?"
"I love to write."
"Why not become an author?"
Elizabeth laughed. "I'm nowhere near good enough to make a living from writing."
"How do you know? Have you tried?"
Elizabeth stared at the woman. "No, but I know enough about literature to know my work isn't very good."
"Tosh. Do you think Stephen King and JK Rowling is literature? No. But it does bring in the money. There are lots of women who make a lot more money than I do singing pop music, but what they sing isn't renowned in the classical world. It's a different style. You may not write like Sylvia Plath or Jane Austen or Louisa May Alcott, but people still want to read what you write for entertainment. I know people don't listen to my arias when they want something light to sing along with."
Elizabeth knew there was a deep message being sent by this amazing woman, and she was receiving it with all senses open. This practical stranger taught her more than her mother ever had.
Elizabeth wanted to talk more with the alto, but Will was tugging her arm and saying they must be returning to Boston. Elizabeth turned to the lady, and said, "It was a dream come true to meet you, thank you so much."
The alto smiled and said good bye. Elizabeth and Will said farewell to Mr. ----- and departed from Carnegie Hall.
When they were in the limo driving to the airport, Elizabeth asked Will, "How do you know Mr. -----?"
"My aunt has been his patron before and I met him when she had him over to visit. Did you enjoy the evening?"
"Do you really need to ask?" said Elizabeth, looking at him.
Will smiled and shook his head.
Elizabeth vowed she would never forget that evening. She treasured the libretto Will had given her, and often looked through it and listened to a recording, singing along to the alto and tenor sections. She had said to Will when they were travelling back to Boston that she hadn't realized some of the tenor solos were even sung by a man they were so high. Will had laughed and said he was grateful his voice wasn't that high. "What is your voice part?" she had asked, and he had replied he was a baritone. Good, thought Elizabeth. Baritone is a pleasant range.
Elizabeth also wouldn't forget the look on Will's face when she asked if he wanted to come up to the apartment for some coffee or hot chocolate. Elizabeth still didn't know what the look meant. When they got in the door, Elizabeth had explained, "With Jane gone, it's cleaner than it's ever been. That and my last few days of vacation to get it tidy. It's my New Year's resolution to be neater." They had discussed the concert and other things for half an hour before Will said he would leave. Elizabeth walked him out and thanked him again for the most wonderful evening of her life.
Elizabeth spent Christmas by herself. She didn't even bother to cook herself a big meal. But she did buy some crackers and had some of her grandfather's Christmas pudding. She couldn't remember a Christmas without pudding with white sauce and custard. She had both because her father was from the north of England and had white sauce with his pudding, and her mother was from the south of England and had custard with hers. Elizabeth had the best of both worlds by having two servings, one with each sauce. Elizabeth did miss the mincemeat pies and the meringues, though. She promised herself that next year she would be in England to celebrate Christmas.
With nothing to do in her small apartment and the weather being too cold to venture out for long, Elizabeth found herself looking through some of her old junk. She found a few of her old novels she had written in high school and began to read them. She laughed at her naïve younger self and shook her head. Some of it she didn't remember writing at all and couldn't believe she had penned. Other parts she remembered well and also where the inspiration came from.
These reflections caused her to think about what the alto soloist had said. Maybe she should start writing again. She had enjoyed it before. She returned to her old novels about female warriors, evil sorcerers, handsome princes, and noble kings. Before she realized it, it was dark outside. She got up, stretched her aching back and turned on the television to watch the Christmas specials before going to bed.
On Boxing Day, Colonel Fitzwilliam called and said, "I'm leaving tomorrow and wondered if you'd be up to doing something together."
"What were you thinking of?"
"How about just browsing through all the post-Christmas sales in the shops?"
"Sure. I might get around to doing my Christmas shopping, then."
Colonel Fitzwilliam laughed and they agreed to meet by the Christian Science centre in half an hour.
They walked around the shops, occasionally finding one that was open to browse through. Mainly they just enjoyed each other's company. Elizabeth eagerly told him all about the trip to New York to see the Messiah. Colonel Fitzwilliam politely listened, sensing she was dying to tell him though he'd heard a synopsis from his cousin. They didn't stay out long since it was so cold and Elizabeth felt guilty keeping him from his family the day before he was to leave. They walked back to her apartment, and they said good bye.
"I'll try and keep in touch. I'm not too good at correspondence, but Will can keep you up to date."
"I hope I'll see you next time you're in Boston," Elizabeth said, shyly.
Colonel Fitzwilliam nodded, and Elizabeth went inside.
Jane was back the next day and they spent a day together catching up on the gossip. Jane was thrilled to hear about Elizabeth's Cinderella story about her trip to New York. Jane had very little to tell about her trip home.
On New Year's Eve, the four friends went to a party. Elizabeth didn't enjoy it very much since there was quite a bit of alcohol and she felt uneasy around the tipsy partyers. She also disliked dancing, especially the kind at this party. So she planted herself by a window, stared out at the fire works and watched the Times Square broadcast on the television. Will knew better than to try and persuade her to join in the fun, because she didn't find it fun. He did, however, pull her into the crowd just before midnight.
They watched the ball drop in Times Square and counted down until the New Year. The noise was tremendous when it arrived. There was cheering and someone was drunk enough to have small firecrackers inside. Elizabeth felt herself swept into hug after hug and kissed several times on the face by people she didn't even know. Elizabeth did know when she was thrown against Will. Somehow she just knew it was Will before she looked up. When she did, they stared uneasily at each other, silent amid the noise of the party. Finally, Will leaned down and kissed her lightly on the cheek. They parted and Elizabeth had to recover herself quickly to look happy and kiss Jane's cheek then Charles'. It was one o' clock before Elizabeth got home, and by then, the fleeting moment in the crowd had been forgotten.
The day after New Year's Day, Elizabeth was back to work and her old routine. Sure, she had New Year's resolutions like losing more weight, spending less, and being neater, but she knew they would go out the window within a month. She had never been able to keep her resolutions.
(Author's Note: the next scene really did happen to me, not in Boston but in the black market of Puebla, Mexico. I was staying with a friend's family who didn't have running water after 10 in the morning in the bathrooms! This section is dedicated to my good friend in Will's place, Christina S-L. Thank you for being there for me...eventually. :-)
When spring arrived, Will asked her if she had been to Quincy Market before. Quincy Market was a collection of old buildings transformed into a market full of shops, restaurants and entertainment. Elizabeth hadn't ever been, and they agreed to go that Saturday.
However when Saturday arrived, Elizabeth was feeling unwell. Her stomach was uneasy and she had to visit the restroom several times, but wanted to go anyway. Will came by and they took the T to the Quincy Center.
Will noticed Elizabeth wasn't feeling well and asked if she was ok to go. She nodded bravely, though the swaying train made her feel queasy. They got out and walked into the market. Elizabeth wanted to enjoy what she saw, but couldn't seem to focus on anything. She numbly walked to the ladies' room and got some relief... until she realized there was no toilet paper. In misery, she crouched in her stall for some minutes, deliberating on what to do. Finally she decided there was no choice but for her to pull her pants and go to another stall. Elizabeth winced as she pulled up her pants and shuffled to the next stall with paper with as little movement and as unnoticeable as possible.
After her lengthy ordeal in the rest room, she found Will looking at the shops. For a few minutes she walked beside him, trying to concentrate on the beautiful things around her and the interesting people walking by. Will stopped at a stall selling used videos and Elizabeth waited for him. She felt awful. She could feel her stomach angrily flopping upside down and inside out. She began to feel faint. "Will," she murmured. She tried again, louder, plucking at his sleeve. "Will."
"Hold on a minute," he said.
"Will," she tried to call again, but it didn't come out more than a mumble again. She felt people staring at her. Her vision began to fade into darkness and her mind fumbled to form a coherent thought. She knew she should feel Will's arms supporting her, but her mind couldn't register. She knew it was Will's voice, but couldn't understand what he was saying. She did feel a stool being placed beneath her and perched on the edge, but she wasn't sitting on it properly. She had to support herself on her wobbly, unstable, weak legs. She tried to look around but couldn't seem to be able to see through the dark haze. She could only see eyes staring at her. She knew she couldn't communicate with them and it disturbed her. But the eyes kept penetrating the darkness.
Finally, her vision became clearer and Elizabeth became more aware of her surroundings and people talking to her. She lifted her head and found Will looking at her with deep concern. She tried to smile and say she was ok, but only managed a small lift of her lips.
"Can you make it to a cab?" he asked.
Elizabeth bravely nodded, and Will helped her stand up. He thanked the man in the booth and they slowly walked out of the market. Elizabeth leaned heavily on Will and kept her eyes on the ground in front of them, afraid of the eyes staring at her. They made it to the streetcurb and Will hailed a cab. He helped her in, and said, "513 Chestnut Street."
(Author's Note: Here is where the autobiography ceases and the wishful thinking begins.)
During the short drive, Elizabeth revived somewhat.
"Where are we going?" she asked, weakly.
"My place."
Elizabeth never knew where Will lived. He could have lived in New York for all she knew. She looked out the window. The street had brick sidewalks and what looked like the old-fashioned gas street lamps. There were brick row houses lining the street in Victorian, Federal and Greek Revival styles and periods. There were charming window boxes filled with flowers and there was beautiful decorative ironwork on and around the houses. Elizabeth knew they must be in Beacon Hill.
The taxi stopped in front of a particularly large and grand house. Will got out, and reached in to help Elizabeth. She tried to get out without his help, but wasn't strong enough. Will's hands gently supported her and helped her up the steps of his home.
He opened the big front door with the elaborate brass knocker and Elizabeth found herself in a big entranceway. Will led her up a big flight of marble stairs and into a what seemed to be a living room. He sat her down on the sofa and said, "Lie down for a bit."
"I need to go to bathroom," she said.
Will helped her up and led her through a door and down a hallway. He showed her to the bathroom and said, "Can you make it back to the sofa all right?"
Elizabeth nodded and closed the door. Will paused for a moment before going down to the kitchen. He picked up the phone and called Elizabeth's apartment while he put the kettle on to boil.
"Hi, Jane, it's Will. Elizabeth isn't feeling well and practically fainted in the Market, so I'm keeping her here for at least tonight. Could you get some of her things together and call me. I'll have them picked up. Thanks, bye."
When the water boiled, Will made a cup of tea. He added a teaspoon of sugar and a dollop of milk. He stirred the cup and grabbing a saucer, headed back to the living room. He found Elizabeth curled up on the sofa.
"Feeling better?"
"A little, thanks."
"Here, drink this."
Elizabeth sat up and took the cup.
"Do you like Gatorade?"
"Yes."
"What flavor?"
"Any but the lemon ice."
"Do you just want to rest and watch a movie?"
Elizabeth nodded, and blew in the mug to cool it.
"Well I had rented Wedding Singer but hadn't watched it. How's that?"
"Fine."
Will put the movie in and settled in a leather armchair. Elizabeth curled back into a fetal position on the couch. She was embarrassed at having to go to the bathroom so much through the movie but Will didn't say a word.
Half way through the movie, the phone rang. Will picked it up.
"Oh, hi. Hang on a minute." Will left the room and said, "Thanks for calling. ...I think she has an upset stomach. ...Yeah, she should be fine in a couple of days. ...I'll have someone come by and pick it up. ...Hmm, hmm. ...Yes. ...That's great. I also wanted to know of any movies that Elizabeth would want to watch. She's watching Wedding Singer right now. ...Shine and what else?... I don't know...that's a good one...sure. Thanks. My man should be by to pick it up within the half-hour. Thanks again, Jane. Bye."
Will hung up and then dialed a number. "Jackson? Yes, this is Will Darcy. I need you to go to Elizabeth's apartment and pick up some of her things from Jane. And I'd like you to pick up some Gatorade from the store. ...I don't know, grape would do, I think. ...Yes. One last thing, could you stop by and rent Shine and Pride and Prejudice for me? ...The A&E version. ...Yes. I'll pay you. Thanks. See you soon, bye."
Will went back into the living room. "Who was it?" asked Elizabeth.
"Actually it was Jane. I'm having some of your things picked up so you can stay here for a bit."
"Oh, you don't have to do that, I can make it home."
"Nonsense. You'll just topple over in the train. It's not like I don't have enough room or any company expected. Stay here until you're better."
"Thank you," she said, shyly.
Forty-five minutes later Jackson came with Elizabeth's things, the movies and the Gatorade. Will put her bag in his guestroom and took the movies and Gatorade into the living room.
"Here, drink this. It should help. Drink as much as you can. And I rented a couple of movies for us."
"Thank you, Will."
"No problem."
They spent the day watching Shine starring Geoffrey Rush as a pianist with a troubling yet miraculous life. At the end, Elizabeth was nearly in tears. To lift her spirits, they watched Pride and Prejudice. By the time they had finished it, it was late.
"I doubt you're very hungry."
"No, thank you."
"Finish off that Gatorade and I'll show you to your room."
Will showed her to the guestroom and said, "I'm just three doors down if you need anything, and you know where the bathroom is."
"Thanks again, Will, for everything you've done."
"Don't mention it. Have a good night's rest. If you can't sleep, my library is at the end of this hall."
Elizabeth smiled and went into the room. It was much bigger than any bedroom she had ever stayed in. Against one wall was a huge canopy bed. There were a couple of oil paintings of the English countryside by John Constable on the walls. There were two tall windows covered by drapes opposite the door. Between them was an old-fashioned writing desk with an old chair. Elizabeth walked over to it and opened it. Inside were old-fashioned paper, ribbon, wax and seal, even a quill and an inkpot. It reminded Elizabeth of the desk Darcy used to write his letter to Miss Bennet in Rosings.
Elizabeth changed into her pajamas and went to the bathroom one last time before she climbed into the huge canopy bed. The mattress must have been made of feathers, for Elizabeth sunk into the middle beneath the feather duvet. As she drifted off into a blissful sleep, the final song from Shine played through her head: Vivaldi's "Nulla in Mundo Pas Sincera" sung by Jane Edwards with Geoffrey Lancaster on the harpsichord and Gerald Keuneman on the cello.
Will let her sleep until 9:30 the next morning before waking her up. He shook her gently. She was curled on her side with one hand under her cheek and the other resting on the duvet. Her curls were in a wild mess and her cheeks had the rosy glow of sleep. In other words, she looked irresistible. But we all know Darcy to be a gentleman, and resist he did.
"Elizabeth, wake up. Elizabeth, it's 9:30."
Elizabeth woke up and looked at Will sitting beside her on the bed.
"Are you hungry?"
She nodded sleepily.
"I'll fix you some porridge and when you've showered and dressed come down to the kitchen, all right."
Elizabeth smiled slightly and asked, "Where is the kitchen? I'll get lost without directions in this place."
"It's on the first floor. Just follow your nose."
Will left her room and went downstairs to start breakfast. Elizabeth lay contentedly in bed for a few minutes before getting up and showering.
When she came down, she looked refreshed and better than the previous day. She sat down at the kitchen counter and watched in silence as Will pottered about the kitchen in his dressing robe and slippers.
When they sat down to eat, she asked, "Didn't you shower yourself, this morning?"
"Not yet. I've been up and about for a while, though. Did you sleep well?"
"Wonderfully, thank you. That bed doesn't let one stay awake in it for more than five minutes."
Will grinned and offered her more milk. She declined.
"How are you feeling today?"
"Still a little queasy but better."
"That's good. We can stay here and veg again or go out."
"I don't think I'm up to going out right now."
"I have 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit', if you wanted to watch that, or we could rent more movies."
"That's good. I haven't seen that one since it came out. I remember being scared of that judge person."
"The guy with the red eyes and arm that becomes a saw mill?"
Elizabeth nodded and shuddered.
"Jane added one of my favourite movies in with my stuff. It's called 'Sliding Doors', and it has the same actress who plays Emma and the leading actress in Shakespeare in Love, Gwyneth Paltrow."
"I remember her. I think I saw her in 'As You Like It' in Williamstown recently."
"This movie is one of those 'what if' films. What if she hadn't caught the train. It's a chick flick so I'm content to watch it on my own if you have stuff to do. You must be a busy man, but you never seem to do much."
"That's because I get other people to do a lot of my work for me. No, really, I do work an awful lot. I just always make time for you."
Elizabeth didn't quite know how to respond to that so she didn't.
"You can see my office if it would assure you that I do actually have several businesses to run."
"I don't need the assurance, though I am curious."
"Come on. I'll show you."
Will led her down the hall from the kitchen into a den-like room with a massive desk dominating it. There were also three wooden file drawers and a bookcase. On the desk papers were strewn everywhere in piles. In the center was a big computer and to the side was Will's laptop. At the other end of the office was an armchair in front of what Elizabeth suspected to be videoconference equipment. Elizabeth was impressed. She'd never really seen much of this side of her friend.
"I guess I have to believe you now. Unless you have a brother or someone who does all this work while you run about having fun."
"I wish," Will laughed.
They went back upstairs and Elizabeth settled back into the sofa comfortably. Will made her drink more grape Gatorade. After a second bottle, she groaned, and said, "I'm never drinking grape Gatorade again."
They watched two more movies and then Elizabeth lay down in her bed to nap and read while Will did some work.
Will insisted she take off from work on Monday. "It's my company and I say it can survive one day without you while you regain your health. Stay home and rest."
Elizabeth didn't see a way she could go against him, since he was really her boss. So she stayed home from work on Monday, returning the following day. By Thursday, she felt like her normal self.