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William decided to stop by Richard's office Monday morning. William tended to arrive at his office by 8:00 a.m. and keep very regular hours, but Richard usually arrived even earlier and left when his work was done. That sometimes meant that Richard was out of the office by 2:00 p.m., but more often than not he left well after 7:00 p.m. William entered the office and poured himself a cup of coffee from the carafe on Richard's credenza.

"Good morning, Fitz," he said as he took a seat opposite Richard's desk.

"Morning, cousin. How did the rest of your weekend go?"

"Very nice, thank you. I had lunch with your mother yesterday. She was in town to see an exhibit at the Met and asked me to join her," William volunteered between sips.

"And where was dear old dad?" Richard asked him as he rose and sought his own coffee.

"Aunt Kathy said something about him going to the Giants-Patriots game at the Meadowlands." Richard laughed.

"Dad must have come home in a lovely mood after that blowout." Not being much of a football fan, William let the remark go. "Are the progenitors still in town or did they go back to Greenwich?"

"Your mother went back to Greenwich. I can't speak for Uncle Fitz," William said. "How was the rest of your weekend in Pennsylvania? Did you ever manage to shake Marisa?" William asked, trying to make conversation.

"Yes, actually...I had dinner with Lizzy Saturday night." Richard didn't have to wait for William's reaction. William's face contorted into a scowl and he opened his mouth to speak, but Richard spoke first. "And before you start in on me, it was at her insistence and we were chaperoned the whole time...except while we were in the car," Richard finished lamely. William's scowl was unchanged. Richard sighed and tried to ease William's fears.

"We talked. I told her how I wanted things to be and why." William finally found his voice and beat back the accusation that had sprung to his lips.

"What did she say?" he asked tightly.

"She wasn't thrilled about it, but I think that was mostly her guilt talking. I think she's willing to give you a fair shot, but she's going to feel awkward about it for a while," Richard warned.

"That makes two of us," William admitted.

"Three," Richard sighed. William squirmed slightly in his seat, recrossing his legs to mask his discomfort.

"So who was your chaperone?" he asked, trying to lighten the mood.

"Olivia Crenshaw, Lizzy's host. She's a phenomenal cook and a really interesting woman," Richard said.

"Yes, she is. I had an opportunity to sample her cookies when I stopped by the house," William slipped in.

"Lizzy told me about your visit. I think Olivia was a bit surprised to see Lizzy leave the house with you and return with me."

"Olivia seems like the kind of woman who could handle such a challenge. She's pretty quick on the uptake." Richard nodded but didn't encourage William's subtle attempt to promote Olivia.

"I've got a meeting with Bill Collins in a few minutes. If you don't want to be bored to death, I suggest you escape now," Richard grinned. William took his advice, although for reasons other than the one his cousin named. He rode up to his own office hoping that Collins wouldn't tell Richard about their meeting or the favor that William had asked of him. William need not have worried. If Collins did spill the beans, Richard did not mention it when he encountered his cousin in the elevator hours later. When he reached his office William found a note on his desk and immediately called in his secretary.

"When did this message come in, Jo?" William demanded.

"It was on my phone mail when I came in this morning. If I recall correctly, it came in sometime yesterday." William took the slip of paper she handed back to him and smiled. He went to his desk and opened his laptop.

Why did you call my office? I'm never there on Sundays. And why on my secretary's line?

After a hearty breakfast to ward off the frosty morning, Olivia and Lizzy repaired to the office to get some work done. Lizzy smiled as soon as she saw William's message.

I pulled out that enormous phone list, closed my eyes and chose the first New York City number my finger landed on. William chuckled to himself. He was heartened to know that in spite of her anger at the time she thought enough to take the list to Pennsylvania.

I can't believe I'm going to ask this, but why didn't you just e-mail me?

There's no pleasing you, is there? Do you read your e-mail on Sundays?

Rarely.

I see. Well, I rarely write e-mails on Sundays, except when certain people in Japan insist upon it. So, I thought I might try something new.

Why did you call on Sunday?

I believe that you required an answer by Sunday. I distinctly recall your issuing an ultimatum before you left.

I don't see an answer to my invitation on this phone message.

Do you think I'd reveal my answer to a complete stranger?

What is your answer?

Would you be adverse to returning to Pennsylvania?

Not if you're saying yes to our date. Lizzy took a deep breath before she hit the send button.

I am saying yes to the date. William's cry of "Yes!" could be heard by his perplexed secretary as well as a friend of hers who had stopped by the office. They exchanged a curious glance and returned to their conversation.

Would you be adverse to another venue, if you don't want to return to New York?

Not if it means getting into that helicopter! I'm afraid of heights.

I was thinking of a leisurely drive into Philadelphia. I know a wonderful restaurant there.

Considering that there're only two restaurants in all of Elverson--and I couldn't imagine you in either one of them--I think that a foray into town might be wise. Not that the thought of you in a pizza joint isn't intriguing...

I've been in pizza joints. I lived on pizza when I was at Harvard! Lizzy laughed, imagining pizza served on Royal Doulton and beer being poured into Waterford crystal goblets.

I think I'd better get some work done or Charles will have my head.

May I call you later? William gnawed at a knuckle while he awaited her reply.

I like this "asking" habit you seem to have picked up.

I like to have an answer when I get into the habit of asking something!

Aha! I knew you the old you was in their somewhere.

What's that supposed to mean?

The assertive, oozing with confidence, dare I say slightly pushy, William Darcy!

Is that how I appear to you?

Of late, yes. That's why I was a bit reluctant to see you. I wasn't ready for your hard sell, Mr. Business Man.

I wasn't aware that I was doing a "hard sell." I prefer to characterize myself as eager.

That does sound so much better than pushy, doesn't it?

I thought you had work to do.

So I do. Goodbye.

Lizzy turned away from the laptop laughing. She knew that William would be frustrated that she hadn't answered his question, and she kept an eye on the Companion as she worked on a presentation for Cherry Blossom. Olivia, who'd been listening to Lizzy's barely suppressed laughter all morning, left the office to answer the door. She returned with a card and an invitation to both women for lunch with George Knightley.

"Pretty card," Lizzy said when she looked up. "But somehow I wouldn't have thought that was George's style."

"It isn't," Olivia replied as she put the card down on her desk. "George Knightley delivered his invitation in person. The card is from Richard Fitzwilliam." Lizzy's eyes flew to the card, and before she even asked, Olivia handed it to her.

I wanted to thank you again for a lovely dinner and a most entertaining evening. If you are ever in New York, I hope you will allow me to return the compliment. (On second thought, maybe I'd better take you out to dinner and we can skip the part where you offer to do the dishes.)

Sincerely,

Richard

Lizzy felt a twinge of jealousy as she handed the card back to Olivia. She turned around and tried to push it from her mind as she continued her work. At around noon, the women went up to their respective rooms and dressed for lunch. They drove the short distance to the farmhouse in silence and Lizzy could not help remembering her last sight of Richard. She tried once again to purge thoughts of Richard from her mind as George Knightley came out to greet her and Olivia.

William waited until he was through with all his major business for the day until he pulled out the now well-worn piece of paper bearing Olivia's address and telephone number. He dialed the number and heard Olivia's cheerful voice asking that the caller leave a message and phone number. William declined to leave a number. He sat back and wondered if Lizzy was deliberately toying with him. If so, he decided, he would play along for the time being. He put down the receiver and attempted to distract himself, but over the course of the next hour he dialed Olivia's number four times more. Finally, on the sixth try he heard Lizzy's voice.

"Hello, William," she said.

"How did you know it was me?"

"Olivia has caller ID. You've been a busy boy this afternoon, haven't you?" Lizzy teased as she looked over the last six calls logged in to the caller ID box.

"I prefer to think I was determined," he smiled.

"What is this predilection you have for reframing all your faults into euphemisms?" Lizzy laughed.

"Is wanting to talk to you a fault?" William challenged.

"No, but perhaps you might not look so kindly on such tenacity if one of the Darcy Corporation's employees made six phone calls on company time. Long distance, no less!" Lizzy teased.

"That's why I always want to be the boss!" William retorted. "Where have you been all afternoon anyway, if I might inquire?"

"You might inquire, sir. Olivia and I were invited to lunch with George Knightley. And we didn't need a helicopter to keep the appointment," Lizzy smiled.

"I've heard rumors that there were some people who managed to find meals without them, but until now I dismissed them as nonsense," William replied in good humor. "Did you get your work done for Charles?"

"Yes. I sent off a zipped file this morning, and I imagine he's already sent back his comments and suggestions. How about you? Have you gotten any work done between phone calls?"

"Well, between phone calls, and e-mails, and thinking about you, I did manage to get a bit of work done, actually." Lizzy felt her heart's pace quicken slightly and couldn't reply right away. William was unaware of her problem, however, and he asked her to hold on for a moment while he spoke with his secretary. He came back on the line and told Lizzy that his late appointment had just arrived.

"You must not keep your visitor waiting on my account. Goodbye William," Lizzy breathed.

"Goodbye, Lizzy. I'll speak with you again soon." William hung up the phone and welcomed one of his oldest and most respected clients into his office. It was nearly three minutes before William heard a single word he said.

Over enormous hamburgers and pints of their favorite brews, Richard and Charles settled into a comfortable booth at Freddy's and got caught up on recent events.

"You and Jane?" Richard prompted, and Charles's face split open into a huge grin.

"As if nothing had ever happened. Maybe better," Charles sighed. "To think that last week at this time, I was..." Charles recovered himself. "I owe you, Richard. I don't know how I would have gotten through it if you--."

"There's no need to thank me, Charles. You would have done the same for me," Richard replied.

"I only wish I could." There was silence for a few minutes while they ate, each absorbed in his own thoughts. "I hope your parents understand about my behavior," Charles said suddenly.

"They understood perfectly, when I explained it to them. They've completely forgiven you--well, mother is still mourning the loss of that vase...but my father and I found a suitable replacement in a Sotheby's catalog, so all's well that ends well," Richard concluded happily.

"Sotheby's?" Charles squeaked, and swallowed hard. "I...I insist upon paying for it. It's the least I can do."

"Nonsense, Charles. You actually did us a favor breaking that accursed thing. Dad and I have always hated it." Richard sat forward and leaned on his elbows. "In fact, if you promise never to repeat it, I'll tell a funny story." Charles nodded.

"One night, shortly after I graduated from B-school, my Dad and I sat down with a bottle of fine single-malt to discuss my future plans. I didn't have any at the time, so it was a long discussion and the amount of scotch in the bottle got quite low. We were at the dining table, and out of the blue, my father looked up and declared that he'd always hated my mother's favorite vase. I confessed that I hated it, too. Well, I don't recall exactly how it happened, but the next thing you know, we were taking pot shots at the blasted thing with pewter saltcellars," Richard said nearly hysterical with laughter.

"What are salt cellars?" Charles asked.

"What are salt cellars? You've had a deprived childhood, my boy! How do you heathens salt your food in New Jersey?" Richard deadpanned. "Anyway, we managed to nick the table, darn near broke the pier glass, but didn't so much as scratch the vase. My father was only too happy to see it gone the night you knocked it over."

"What's a pier glass?" Charles asked with a mouthful of onion rings.

"Charles, I always thought that Saddle River was a civilized place." Richard laughed again, but Charles persisted and Richard eventually defined a pier glass as a huge mirror and a saltcellar as a small bowl in which salt is served. The friends finished their meal and settled back to talk.

"I heard that Lizzy was staying near where you were in Pennsylvania." Charles explained to Richard that he had seen William on Saturday. Richard nodded.

"I agreed to go down to Pennsylvania to get away from everything and before I was there twenty-four hours, I saw her. It did afford us an opportunity to talk things over."

"How did it go?" Charles asked gently.

"We got through the 'let's be friends' thing all right, but I don't know if we can really do it, at least not yet." Charles shook his head empathetically.

"Are you sure that this is what you really want?" he asked.

"It's too late to change my mind now," Richard stated evenly. "William has made his move and there's no going back."

Part 5

Jane had just turned the key in the door when the phone began to ring. She quickly dropped her things and ran to grab it just as her answering machine message began to play.

"Hello?" Jane cried breathlessly.

"Did you just come in?"

"Lizzy! How good to hear your voice! How are you?"

"I'm fine, Jane. How are you?"

"I'm good, too," Jane managed, as she shrugged out of her coat and slid into a chair. "William told me that he saw you on Saturday."

"Yes, he appeared out of nowhere, in a helicopter, no less!" Lizzy paused and took a breath. "Jane, I'm sorry I didn't call you sooner. When I arrived in Elverson, I swore to myself that I would have no contact with anyone in New York for at least a week. Well, that didn't apply to Charles, but that's just business."

"I can understand that, Lizzy, and I was willing to give you all the space and all the time you needed."

"I appreciate that, Jane, but I really never meant to exclude you. I was just afraid that if I told anyone where I was--."

"Did you think I'd tell William?" Jane surmised. Lizzy snorted.

"He didn't need any help from you."

"I know. His sister told him," Jane said, and Lizzy scoffed a second time.

"She didn't tell him anything he didn't already now. He had already enlisted one of Richard's staff to track me down."

"Are you spending a lot of time with Richard down there?" Jane ventured cautiously.

"Richard was down here only for the weekend, and I only saw him once. He had dinner with Olivia and me."

"How is Olivia? Please give her my regards." Lizzy turned and conveyed Jane's greeting to Olivia, who was working at her computer nearby. Olivia took the phone and she and Jane exchanged pleasantries. Lizzy took the phone back and there was a brief silence before Jane asked the question that had been on her mind since Saturday.

"William said that he asked you out on a date."

"Yeah, I'm seeing him on Saturday," Lizzy said, but revealed no more.

"So?" Jane prompted.

"So, what?" Lizzy shot back. Jane sighed.

"Lizzy, are going to give William a real chance, or are you just seeing him in order to get the two of us off your back?"

"Do you really want to know the truth?"

"Yes," Jane said, doubtfully.

"I'm doing this...I'm seeing William because I promised Richard that I would." William had told Jane of Richard's plan to unite Lizzy and William when he called her from Japan, but Jane was nonetheless surprised by her sibling's revelation. She was unaware that Lizzy knew about it, especially since Richard had continued to see Lizzy upon his return to New York.

"Richard wants you to see William?"

"Yes, Jane. Richard and I won't be seeing each other anymore," Lizzy stated evenly.

"Why not? Did something happen?" In spite of her earlier doubts about Richard as a suitor for his sister, Jane was concerned when she heard Lizzy's hollow laugh.

"No, Jane nothing happened. At least nothing was supposed to happen--."

"I don't understand," Jane began, as Lizzy continued to ramble.

"Don't mind me, Jane--I guess I'm just feeling sorry for myself, again. I never could take rejection well, although I suppose it would be mean spirited of me to call it rejection. But it is a rejection, Jane! You know how when you're at a wedding and someone forces you to go up and try to catch the bouquet against your will and you're mad and embarrassed to be pushed up there, but then you really try for the darned thing and you don't even come close to catching the bouquet and you're pissed off because you didn't and you want to kill the girl who got it and she's looking at you all smug and all you can do is stare at those stupid flowers and wonder why you bothered in the first place, even though you still want them?" Olivia turned in her chair and stared at Lizzy oddly.

"Lizzy?" Jane tried to interject.

"It's not really a good analogy, I suppose, because I wasn't really trying to catch Richard. No, I guess that it is sort of a good analogy, but I'm not mad that I didn't catch Richard. I'm mad that he didn't want me to catch him, or disappointed, I guess. I wish he had told me that he wanted to be caught by some other bridesmaid, or better yet, that he had another bouquet all picked out for me hidden in the back and I wish he hadn't pushed me up there to the front of the line so I could see all his pretty flowers and want to...well, never mind about that. I guess William's quite a bouquet in his own right," Lizzy giggled. "He is your basic English garden, very lush and brimming with all manner of beautiful...yeah, that's it, I think.

"Lizzy! I have no idea what you're talking about!" Lizzy shook off her strange mood.

"I'm sorry, Jane. I keep going in and out of this funk lately." She sighed and glanced over at Olivia, who was still eying her suspiciously. Lizzy turned back toward her desk.

"I assumed you knew all about it, by now."

"Knew about what?" Jane asked, completely lost.

"I'm sure William told you that Richard wants to see William and I get together."

"Yes, he told me that when he was still in Japan. But he didn't tell me what happened between you and Richard."

"Nothing happened. Richard avoided me for a couple of days when he first got down here and then he came and told me that he didn't want to see me anymore." Lizzy sighed heavily and tried to suppress the quivering in her lip. "I feel...I don't know, Jane...sometimes I feel that it's okay. I mean he's not the first guy who ever broke off with me, but--."

"It's the reason he did it that bothers you," Jane suggested.

"Yes! Richard actually decided on the night of our first date that I was perfect for his cousin and has been plotting to bring us together ever since." The tears that threatened to rise to the surface disappeared, replaced by mild despondency.

"While he was still dating you?"

"According to William, Richard got in a bit deeper than he intended to. Part of me is really angry at him for putting me through this, part of me is hurt, but most of me wants to forgive him..."

"And how do you feel about William, in light of all of this?"

"William was the one who actually told me about it, last Monday after we left Freddy's. I was furious at both William and Richard when I first heard about it. I had already decided to get away for a while. Charles and I had discussed it that afternoon. But after William told me that Richard was in...that's what made me decide to leave immediately."

"Richard was in love with you?" Jane gasped.

"William said that he is, although Richard has never--." Lizzy recalled the look in Richard's eyes when they parted Saturday night and she struggled to maintain her composure as she felt the tears rise again. "I left town vowing to never speak to either one of them again. But within days I began to look at things differently, and I realized that I missed both of them. I hadn't realized how much they had both managed to weave themselves into my life. William e-mailed me and we began to communicate again."

"You're evading my question. Lizzy," Jane said.

"No, I'm trying to answer it," Lizzy said as she wiped away the single tear that ran down her cheek. "I was very mad at William at first. I was insulted that Richard thought I would be better off with someone else and I was incensed that William would go along with such a scheme. But I've since come to realize that he really likes me for myself and would have, even without Richard's prompting. But I can't help feeling that there's something...I don't know...sleazy about his going along with his cousin's plan. I don't feel comfortable with my role in this crazy scheme of his either. And yet, I like William, and I find myself liking him more and more." Lizzy sighed again. "Maybe I should have listened to you in the first place. If I had let you set me up on that blind date with William last spring, none of this would have happened."

"Are you admitting that I was right about you and William?" Jane blurted disbelievingly.

"No...I mean it's still too soon to tell. But had I gone out with him then, whether or not things worked out, I wouldn't be in this mess, and Richard wouldn't be, either."

"It sounds as though...you really care about Richard, don't you?"

"Anyone who knows Richard couldn't help but care about him," Lizzy said evasively. Olivia turned her attention back to her work, but she kept her ears open.

"I know," Lizzy said, suddenly brightening. "Let's trade places. I'll take Charles and you can take William and Richard off my hands. I can't imagine why you never explored that option in the first place."

"What option? I was already seeing Charles when I met William and Richard. I admit that when William and I began to spend a lot of time together after Emma's death, we did have to deal with our mutual attraction, but we knew it wasn't meant to be. I was in love with Charles, and he had just lost someone. Besides, he prefers brunettes to blonds," Jane smiled.

"Hey, how are things between you and Charles? I left before I had a chance to find out how things went in your meeting last Monday," Lizzy asked. "All Charles told me in his e-mail is that you two are on solid ground again. I'm so glad for you both."

"You know, within two minutes of looking into those big puppy eyes of his, I couldn't even remember what we were arguing over in the first place. You were right--I completely overreacted that night and I put Charles, you, and the entire Fitzwilliam family through three days of hell unnecessarily." Jane paused for a moment. "Lizzy, we're beginning to talk about marriage again."

"Thank goodness! Well, at least one of us has straightened out her love life," Lizzy said self-deprecatingly.

"Lizzy, you will give William a fair chance, won't you? He might just be just the thing to straighten out your love life, if you let him." Lizzy sighed.

"If only it was that simple. What about Richard? "

"Richard? I thought he took himself out of the picture?"

"Not completely. He's still William's cousin and I really do value his friendship, if we aren't destined to be anything more to each other. If I were to become involved with William..."

"I see your point," Jane admitted.

"Part of me still thinks it would be better if I don't see either of them," Lizzy said as Olivia turned around and raised her eyebrows at Lizzy's back.

"Then Richard would have sacrificed you for nothing. Maybe...this may sound cruel, Lizzy, but maybe the best thing you can do for Richard is exactly what he wants."

"Hah! I should have expected such an answer from you! But you're probably right," Lizzy sighed. Olivia squinted at Lizzy, trying to figure out what was being said on the other end of the line.

"When are you coming home?" Jane turned the discussion to a more pleasant topic.

"I want to spend a bit more time with Olivia, so I probably will stay down here until sometime next week, unless Charles needs me at the office. He's been trying to set something up with a potential client he's been trying to woo for months. If he can get an appointment, I'll come back for the presentation."

"What about your date with William?"

"That'll take place down here in...oh, my lord! What am I going to wear? I didn't plan on seeing anyone down here! I didn't even bring a slip, much less a dress!"

"I think that I'll leave you to figure that out on your own, sis," Jane laughed. She hung up the phone, but Lizzy held the receiver for a full minute after she had gone.

"Lizzy? Are you all right?" Olivia tapped on her shoulder. Lizzy started. "You weren't like this yesterday," Olivia said, pulling her chair over and sitting near Lizzy. "What's going on?"

"What do you mean?" Lizzy asked blankly.

"That stuff about Richard and bridal bouquets...what was that all about?" Lizzy laughed it off and assured Olivia that she was okay. Olivia wasn't convinced, but she rose and went into the kitchen. Lizzy followed after her.

"Why don't you let me cook tonight?" Lizzy offered.

"Now I know you're not okay," Olivia quipped as she ceded her place at the stove.

William drummed his fingers as he waited on the line. He could never stand being kept waiting and he had a meeting in ten minutes.. He looked at his watch for the third time and was about to give up when a voice came on the line and confirmed his dinner reservation. William hung up the phone and made a note in his appointment book before he called his secretary.

"Jo, have you made those hotel reservations?"

"Yes, Mr. Darcy...two reservations at the Sheraton for Friday night through Sunday. Anything else, sir?"

"Uh...yes...no, nothing that cannot wait. Thanks, Jo." William leaned back in his chair and thought about the coming weekend. He would finally have his chance with Lizzy. He had made a reservation at one of Philadelphia's most famous restaurants. His secretary had scoured the Internet and every tourist guide and magazine to give William a wide range of options for the evening's entertainment. Upon his return to his office, William found an e-mail message from Lizzy awaiting him.

I'm trying to decide what to wear on Saturday. Any suggestions?

Don't wear anything that clashes with my ensemble. I really hate when that happens.

I meant any suggestions about what I should wear.!

Women's clothes, definitely. In fact, the more womanly, the better!

I should probably give up now, but I'll try one more time. Where are you taking me? I want to dress appropriately.

I'm not sure I want to tell you where we're going just yet, but suffice to say, women's clothing would be appropriate. And dress warmly--I really hate it when women dress in skimpy outfits to attract a man's attention and then spend all evening complaining about how cold they are.

Does that happen often?

You'd be surprised. Haven't you ever done that?

I think every woman has done that at least once. Except Olivia: we went to a party one night when we were at Pratt, and all the girls wore short, sexy little dresses and high heels, and she wore an ankle length skirt and boots because it was November. Well, before the evening was out, the temperature dropped and it snowed, and everyone froze except Olivia. And just to maker matters worse, all the guys hit on her because she stood out in the crowd. I didn't speak to her for days.

She sounds like a perfectly rational woman. Why don't you ask her what to wear?

I did and she suggested that I wear something elegant and comfortable.

Hey! That's what I'm planning to wear! If you show up in the same outfit, I'll scratch your eyes out! Lizzy laughed so loudly at the screen that Olivia heard her from the second floor.

You're not being very helpful. Lizzy pouted as she hit the send button. William smiled.

Lizzy, I'm sure whatever you decide to wear will be fine.

I didn't bring anything down here that's appropriate for a date. I was running away from you, remember? William raised his eyebrows at her frank admission.

Well, that was your first mistake!

Are you talking about my running away or my bad packing?

You're right! That IS two mistakes!

I spoke to Jane today. I actually admitted to her that I should have let her set us up last spring. Lizzy bit her lip while she awaited his response. The agonizing three minutes cost her a fingernail.

What brought that on? Lizzy froze for a second, then told him the truth.

I thought that if we had met earlier, we might have spared Richard all his pain. William sighed and thought for a moment before he turned to the keyboard.

There are lots of reasons why I would have wished to meet you earlier. But that would be the best one.

Richard and I have promised to remain good friends, regardless of what else happens. Do you have a problem with that?

No, of course not. I would never presume to interfere in your friendship with Richard. In fact, I'm glad to hear that you two will remain friends.

Me, too. I was afraid that he wouldn't want us to, or that it might be too awkward if you and I were to start seeing each other.

Let's just worry about one thing at a time, shall we?

My outfit?

I meant Saturday night-I guess your outfit is relevant to that discussion.

So, any advice?

Listen to Olivia, but watch out. I meant what I said...well, not really. I could never do anything to harm your beautiful eyes. Lizzy felt a tiny thrill run up her spine. She giggled when she read William's addendum.

I'll wring your neck instead. Lizzy felt emboldened by his playful attitude.

Don't you like my neck as well as my eyes?

Lizzy, if I'm going to have to pick a spot on you that I don't like, we could be at this for a while. Lizzy fanned herself as she typed her reply with one hand.

So how will you exact your revenge then? I'm almost willing to go shopping for an elegant and comfortable outfit just risk finding out.

I'm almost willing to encourage you, for some reason.

Maybe you like a woman with moxie.

Or maybe I just like a woman with good fashion sense.

I prefer my explanation.

So do I, even if I have no idea what moxie means.

It means attitude, guts, chutzpah.

Or nerve?

Perhaps. Is there anything else you hate to see on a date? I wouldn't want to offend you on our first night out.

"Our 'first night' out--I like the sound of that," William said aloud. His phone rang and William was summoned to his next appointment.

No orange. Must dash. Lizzy ran upstairs to Olivia's room, where she found her host pulling a selection of items from her closets.

"So, what are your marching orders?" Olivia asked, amused at the glowing smile on Lizzy's face.

"No orange," Lizzy said enigmatically.

"You're perfectly safe from that in this house," Olivia shot back. "So, you and William had a nice little chat, I take it. You look considerably better than you did yesterday at this time."

"I know, Livy. I think I'm really beginning to look forward to Saturday night," Lizzy admitted as she began to look through the stack of clothes on the bed.

Charles looked up when Charlotte came into his office. He offered her a seat and she looked at him a little sheepishly.

"I looked over everything you gave me," she began sheepishly.

"And?" Charles prodded.

"I'm not sure I can do this," Charlotte confessed.

"On Friday morning, Bates will drive down to Philadelphia with your luggage and check in at the Sheraton. There'll be a car waiting for you to take you to the airport for a 4:15 flight and Bates will meet you at the airport on the other end," Jo read from a list, as Richard casually strolled through the open door to William's office. "You have a Friday night reservation at Le Bec Fin, and for Saturday--."

"We'll pick this up, later, Jo," William said when he saw Richard, who was looking at William's secretary with great interest.

"You know, they could have used her at the Pentagon during the Gulf War," he quipped as he slid into a chair. "Planning something important?"

"Just the weekend," William said a bit awkwardly. He wasn't sure he should discuss his date with Richard.

"Ah, with Lizzy, that's right. Where are you taking her? I heard Jo say something about a hotel."

"That's for me and Bates. I'm going down to Philadelphia for the weekend and Lizzy and I are going to have our date there." Richard nodded thoughtfully, and William found the confidence to say more. "I'm taking her to see Branford Marsalis on Saturday night... She does like jazz, doesn't she?" William looked to Richard for reassurance, but Richard just shrugged his shoulders.

"She probably does. I took her dancing at a swing club on our first date. Lizzy loves swing, so she ought to like jazz," Richard said in a tone devoid of emotion. William took pity on Richard, even if he couldn't decipher what was going on in Richard's mind. He was about to turn the subject to something less volatile when his private line rang.

"William Darcy." Richard looked at his watch. "Hello, Lizzy!" William said warmly. When Richard glanced up, William quickly tried to dampen his enthusiasm, but Lizzy did it for him.

"Would you mind if I canceled our date in Philadelphia?" Lizzy said to a stunned William. Seeing the expression on his cousin's face, Richard rose and left the room with a little wave. William flopped into his chair.

"May I ask why?" he managed, as his fantasies began to crumble into dust.

"Well, Charles has an emergency at the office, and I'm afraid I have to come home tomorrow," Lizzy said slyly, and William nearly leapt out of his chair again.

"You're coming home?"

"Yes, William, I'm coming home," Lizzy said indulgently.

"That's great!" William nearly shouted. In the outer office, Richard and Jo exchanged a quizzical glance.

"Well, I'd like to say I agree with you, but it does mean cutting short my visit with Olivia." Chastened, William leaned back in his seat.

"Yes, of course. But I cannot say that I'm sorry to see you back in New York. I've been making plans for Saturday in Philadelphia and--."

"I hope I am not going to put you to too much trouble," Lizzy interjected.

"No, no, not at all," William quickly reassured her. Courting her would be so much easier if she was in New York. William immediately began to look forward to spending a great deal of time in Lizzy's company. "When will you be here?"

"Tomorrow," Lizzy said slowly, as she suppressed a laugh. "That's what I meant when I said that I'm coming home tomorrow." William beamed.

"Great!" he said. "Then maybe I can see you sooner than Saturday night."

"Well, for the next few days, I expect to be pretty busy. I've got a lot of prep work to do on our presentation and then we'll have to wine and dine the client," William tried to will himself to be patient but he wanted to see Lizzy immediately. "Would Friday be okay?" William was so busy being annoyed at the prospect of a delay that he almost missed her question.

"Friday? Friday would be wonderful!" William smiled.

"Good. Being at home will make it a little easier to find something elegant and comfortable to wear, too," Lizzy teased. William cupped his chin and propped himself on his elbow. As he did so, he caught a glimpse of Richard in the outer office through the door.

"Lizzy, I've got to go. Someone is waiting for me."

"I'll talk to you soon," Lizzy said.

"Telephone or e-mail?" William asked.

"Your choice," Lizzy replied before she hung up. William hung up on his end and joined Richard in the outer office.

"Is everything all right?" Richard asked as the two headed for the executive lunchroom.

"Oh, yes. Lizzy's just coming home sooner than she'd planned. It seems that we'll have our date in New York instead of Philadelphia," William informed him. He suddenly stopped mid-stride. "I'll join you upstairs, Fitz. I need to have a word with Jo," he called over his shoulder. Richard smiled and shook his head. Then he sighed and went to the lunchroom alone.

"I don't care why she's coming home, I'm just glad that she is," Jane told Charles after he told her that he'd asked Lizzy to come back and handle an important client presentation. Charles had been almost apologetic when he told Jane the news, but Jane almost danced for joy.

"But Jane, I promised to give Lizzy all the time she needed, and she's had little more than a week to herself," Charles reasoned.

"I know, but from the sound of things, being away wasn't doing her all that good. Both Richard and William showed up in Pennsylvania, and Lizzy sounds as though she's about to go off the deep end. I think coming home may be better for her," Jane replied as she attacked her salad.

"Maybe not. She'll have to contend with both of them here as well," Charles reminded her.

"Yes, but she's planning to go out with William on the weekend. I think that once the two of them really get to know each other, things may begin to right themselves in her head."

"What about Richard?" Charles said aloud before he caught himself. An earlier argument about Lizzy's relationship with Richard had almost cost Charles and Jane everything they'd built together over three years. But Jane leaned across the table and kissed Charles's cheek.

"Lizzy cares about Richard a great deal, just as you do. She's trying to be very sensitive to his feelings, although he seems to be in denial about what his feelings for Lizzy are."

"I know," Charles sighed. "I tried to get him to confront them, but I don't think he is even willing to admit them to himself." Jane lifted her head and looked into Charles's eyes.

"Maybe we can find someone else for him," she suggested. Charles vehemently rejected the idea.

"From now on, the only relationship I'm interested in promoting is our own, which reminds me: what are you doing for the Thanksgiving holiday"

Richard placed an order with one of the wait staff and glanced at his watch. William seemed to be taking a long time. He sighed and began to play with the ice cubes in his water glass. His cell phone rang and he stepped outside the lunchroom to take the call.

"Hello, Richard."

"Hi, Lizzy," Richard replied, attempting to mask his surprise. "How are you?" He asked, glancing around surreptitiously for a sign of William.

"I'm fine. I just wanted you to know that I'm coming back to New York tomorrow."

"I just heard a rumor to that effect," Richard smiled, touched that Lizzy thought to call him personally.

"I just wanted you to hear it from the horse's mouth," Lizzy smiled.

"Maybe you should come back if you're already confusing your own mouth for a horse's after only a week in farm country," Richard quipped. There was a brief lull in the conversation.

"How are you, Richard?" Lizzy asked seriously.

"I'm fine," Richard said airily, as the elevator doors opened and William appeared. "Look why don't we talk soon and plan our inaugural monthly lunch," he said hastily. "I'm afraid I'm about to go into a meeting right now," he added as William came within fifteen feet of him.

"I look forward to it. Bye, Richard," Lizzy said.

"Bye, Bright Eyes," Richard said softly, and turned off the phone as William reached him. "I've ordered your usual, over-cooked hamburger with the works," he told Richard, as they claimed their table in the dining room. William glared at him as two deluxe hamburger platters were placed before the two bachelors. William's hamburger was well done while Richard's was fairly rare.

"Are you sure yours had stopped breathing before they put it on that roll?" William sneered.

"Are you sure that they didn't actually give you the chef's shoe?" Richard retorted, but in a manner that was unusually subdued. William observed Richard as they ate their meal. Richard was not himself, and as William watched Richard eat in silence, he couldn't help feeling responsible.

Charles came out of his office at the first cries of "Lizzy!" By the time he reached the reception area, Lizzy was surrounded by a throng of coworkers.

"For goodness' sake, she's only been out of the office for seven days!" Charles said as he extricated Lizzy from her friends and the merely curious. Charles led Lizzy to her office. Once inside, he hugged Lizzy warmly.

"Welcome back, Liz," he said. Charles looked upon Lizzy as his sister in law already, and he wanted to do all he could to help her through her crisis. "I wasn't expecting you so early. Have you been home yet?"

"Yes. I left Elverson around 7:00 this morning and stopped at home to drop off my stuff. I also stopped by the shop and saw Jane on my way in, so everything's squared away and I'm ready for action. What's happening with our reluctant client?"

"Fred Wentworth is in town for two days, so I'm afraid our schedule is going to be kind of tight. Caroline's having lunch with him right now. We'll join them for dinner tonight, and tomorrow we do the hard sell," Charles said, ticking off each point on his fingers.

"Wait a minute; since when is Caroline involved in the business?" Lizzy demanded. Charles grinned sheepishly.

"After all that time I spent trying to get an audience with Wentworth just to pitch our product and failing miserably, it turns out that Caroline has known him for years," Charles revealed. "So, I called in a favor and she set things up." Lizzy smiled knowingly.

"Don't tell me: rich, handsome, and single?"

"And gay," Charles smiled, "But don't tell Caroline." The two shared a laugh before the adjourned to Charles's office to discuss the presentation. Hours later, after Lizzy had gone home to change, Charles and Lizzy entered a fashionable restaurant in midtown to meet their client. They were escorted to a table where Caroline and Fred Wentworth were already waiting. Caroline made the introductions and the newcomers took their places at the table.

"Lizzy," Caroline drawled. "How was your little vacation in...where was it again? I 'm not familiar with the back wood resorts." Charles and Lizzy looked at Caroline oddly. She and Lizzy had never been friends, but Lizzy had never heard such a catty remark escape her lips.

"I wasn't at a resort, Caroline," Lizzy said sweetly. "I was staying with a friend of mine in Elverson, Pennsylvania."

"Elverson? I have a friend there, George Knightley. You don't know him, by any chance, do you?" Lizzy smiled and was able to inform Fred that she did, indeed, know George Knightley. The two talked for a few minutes about the country around southern Pennsylvania, and Caroline quickly grew bored. She began to scan the room and her eye caught a surprising sight. When there was a lull in the conversation, she tapped Lizzy's arm.

"Lizzy, dear, isn't that Richard over there?" Lizzy turned her head and sure enough, she saw Richard standing by himself at the bar.

"Why yes, Caroline, it is," Lizzy managed, taken aback at the unexpected sight. Charles started to say something, but Caroline spoke first.

"Well, if you were planning to meet him after our little gathering here, why didn't you just ask him to join us for dinner?" Lizzy stared at her blankly. Charles sputtered; he doubted that Lizzy had made any plans with Richard and didn't want to see Lizzy forced into an awkward situation. The client became curious as to what everyone else found so interesting and soon the entire party at the Bingley's table was staring at Richard.

"Don't be shy, Lizzy," Caroline prodded. Then she began to rise. "I'll go get him myself."

"No!" Lizzy hissed, jumping to her feet. "Richard and I didn't plan on meeting tonight. But I would like to go over and say hello." She made eye contact with Charles before she crossed the room. Richard was standing at the bar nursing a beer, completely unaware of Lizzy's presence until she said his name. Richard had just put his mug down and he spun around at the sound of her voice.

"Lizzy!" he said as he hugged her. "What are you doing here?" Lizzy explained that she was with a client. Richard looked over and nodded at Charles.

"How about you?" Lizzy asked. "What brings you to this neck of the woods?"

"I live in this neck of the woods, remember? Well, close to it anyway. I'm actually meeting someone for dinner, if she ever gets here." At the word "she," Lizzy felt her throat constrict, and she fought not to show it. She tried to think of something else to say, but Richard was looking past Lizzy. "Here she is now." Lizzy slowly turned around and confronted a petite woman. She was rather pretty, but slightly bookish in appearance. She didn't seem like Richard's type to Lizzy, but then, Lizzy figured, she wasn't entitled to question Richard's choice of date. She barely heard Richard make the introductions.

"Lizzy Bennet, Anne Elliot." Lizzy smiled weakly and nodded, but Anne's eyes lit up.

"Lizzy Bennet? Why we've spoken on the phone dozens of times," said Richard's assistant. Lizzy recognized her voice as soon as she spoke. But that didn't ease the knot in Lizzy's chest.

"I'd..." she gestured to her table. "I'd better get back over there," she said and smiled again. Richard reached out and stroked her cheek.

"We have a lunch date next week, right?" he said with one of his irresistible smiles. Lizzy could only nod before she turned away. She went to the ladies' room for a minute to compose herself before she returned to the table.

"What was that all about?" Caroline asked bluntly when Lizzy returned to the table. "Who is that with Richard? Isn't he joining us?" Lizzy cheeks turned bright red as she answered Caroline's questions.

"Oh!" Caroline replied. She turned her attention back to Fred, leaving Lizzy feeling flushed and slightly humiliated. Charles reached out and squeezed her hand and Lizzy managed a smile at him. Fortunately for Lizzy, Richard's table was some distance away from her own. She managed to steal an occasional glance in Richard's direction. He and Anne seemed to be having a pleasant conversation, and Lizzy found herself trying to explain Richard's being out with his assistant, and chastised herself for doing so. She fought to maintain her concentration on the discussion at her table, but both Caroline and Charles had noticed her distraction. It was Fred, however, who relieved Lizzy's torment, by suggesting that Lizzy was probably tired, having driven up from Pennsylvania and having to entertain a client, to boot. Charles offered to take Lizzy home. After making arrangements for the meeting to take place in the morning, the group left the restaurant. At his table in a quiet corner, Richard breathed his own sigh of relief.

"Why didn't you ask her to join us?" asked Anne. "I don't mind sharing my birthday dinner with your girlfriend." Richard smiled, but he looked rather pained.

"She's not my girlfriend, Anne."

"Oh. I thought..." Richard shook his head and the matter was dropped.

Lizzy would have liked to just go straight up to bed, but she felt compelled to invite Charles in to see Jane. Of course, that meant inviting Caroline as well, since he had brought her with him instead of dropping her off in Manhattan first. Lizzy had not forgiven Caroline for her earlier remark, and she fumed to herself as she went into the kitchen to put on coffee.

"Where's Jane?" Caroline asked to no one in particular, and just as she spoke, the front door opened and Jane walked in, followed by William.

"William!" Caroline cried, brightening considerably. "This is an unexpected pleasure." William managed a greeting but could not return the compliment. He immediately looked around for Lizzy. "If you're looking for Lizzy, she's in the kitchen sulking," Caroline said petulantly.

"Sulking?" William repeated, as he shrugged out of his coat. He and Jane had just returned from having dinner at a small restaurant near her shop, and he had been in a very good mood and looking forward to an early reunion with Lizzy. Caroline seemed determined to be an impediment.

"Yes," Caroline replied, ignoring the sharp look that Charles was giving her. "She saw Richard on a date with another woman at the restaurant where we took our client for dinner." Charles started to speak, but stopped when Lizzy entered the room. William didn't see her enter, but he heard the crash as Lizzy dropped the plate bearing slices of pumpkin bread that she was carrying to the coffee table. William immediately went to her assistance. He stooped and began to pick up the mess but Lizzy continued to glare at Caroline for a moment before she bent over to help him.

"Ouch!" William exclaimed as he lifted his hand and stared at the drop of blood that was dripping from his finger. Lizzy gathered up the remainder of the mess and took William by the hand and led him into the kitchen. She put the broken plate and ruined food on the table and drew William over to the sink to rinse the blood off his finger. She gave the task all her concentration, which William found rather amusing. He lifted a strand of hair that obscured his vision of her face.

"Hello," he smiled.

"Hello, William," Lizzy said without looking up. William could see that she was blushing. It took him a moment to figure out that her reluctance to meet his eyes had something to do with Caroline's statement. He reached over with his free hand and lifted her face toward his. Lizzy closed her eyes for a second, as though she was bracing herself, and then she looked him in the eye. William smiled, then leaned forward and kissed her. It was a chaste and friendly kiss, but it lasted just long enough for Caroline to enter the room with a shard of glass to discard, and the sound of her yelp made the couple jump.

"Well, isn't this cozy?" Caroline sneered. "Tit for tat, Lizzy?" Lizzy's face reddened again, but this time in anger.

"Just what exactly is that supposed to mean?" Lizzy and William asked in unison.

"Nothing," Caroline replied airily as she swept out of the kitchen. But as soon as her back was turned, she made an angry face. Jane passed her in the hall and noted her expression. She entered the kitchen with the rest of the debris from the broken plate as Lizzy put a bandage on William's finger.

"Will the patient live?" Jane teased as she glanced at Lizzy's handiwork.

"Maybe," William smiled, his eyes on Lizzy. "If I get the proper TLC." Lizzy quickly turned away to hide her red cheeks yet again. She put the carafe of coffee on a tray along with cups and saucers and William insisted on bringing it into the other room as Jane cut more pumpkin bread. William claimed a seat near Lizzy and talked with her quietly as Jane and Charles unsuccessfully attempted to distract Caroline.

"So have you found something to wear Friday night?" William began.

"Not yet. Perhaps I should have you look in my closet while you're here just to make sure that our 'ensembles' don't clash or match." Lizzy smiled back, before she realized the implications of such an invitation. William decided that he liked the color of Lizzy's blushing cheeks.

"Tell me, do you also blush when you're reading my e-mail?" Lizzy averted her eyes for a moment, feeling her face burn even brighter.

"I'm not sure I should tell you what I do while I'm reading your e-mail," she said innocently, but William would not let her off too easily.

"You might be amazed to know what I do while I'm reading your e-mails," William leaned over and said in her ear. Lizzy's eyes went wide; she shut them tight and then opened them just as quickly. William chuckled at her reaction, drawing the attention of the others in the room. They stared as Lizzy excused herself claiming a need for a glass of water. William watched her go and waited for her to return. Lizzy took in the smug smile on his face as she reclaimed her spot beside him.

"You're a wicked man, William Darcy," she whispered.

"Why?" he said calmly. "Just because I like the Beatles?" Lizzy rolled her eyes and William laughed again.

"What is so funny?" Caroline demanded. "We are all simply dying of curiosity."

"I'm not," Jane smiled.

"Nor me," Charles piped up. Caroline glowered as Lizzy and William returned to their private conversation. Lizzy asked William about Friday night but he insisted that he hadn't made any plans. After a few minutes of watching the pair playfully argue and tease each other, Caroline announced that she was exhausted and that Lizzy needed her sleep before the big presentation in the morning. Lizzy reluctantly agreed and suggested that it might be wise if she turned in a little early. Jane and Lizzy walked their guests to the door. William was sorely tempted to kiss Lizzy again, but didn't care to invite the comment or speculation that might ensue. He promised to speak with Lizzy soon and said goodnight to Jane before he went to his car. Charles kissed Jane goodbye and followed William out to the street, where Caroline told him to go on without her. She ran down the block after William. He turned when he heard her call out breathlessly.

"William? Would you give me a lift into town?"

"I thought you came with Charles?" William responded a bit harshly. He was annoyed at Caroline's earlier stunt.

"He did, but Charles lives in the Village and my apartment is much nearer to yours." Her argument was rational, and since Charles was about to pull out in his own car, William offered Caroline a ride. They rode the first few blocks in silence.

"Lizzy was really shocked to see Richard with another woman tonight. I think she was devastated," Caroline said with a sidelong glance at William. Other than a tightening of his jaw, there was no sign of a reaction. "Poor Lizzy," Caroline continued. "I wonder how long Richard's been cheating on her. Be careful, William; she's probably just trying to use you to get her revenge."

"He's not cheating on her," William growled dangerously. "Richard would never cheat on any woman he..." William stopped himself. What would it accomplish to reveal the truth to Caroline, who would only use that knowledge for her own gain? William reached over to turn on some music and he purposefully turned it loud enough to preclude the possibility of conversation. Caroline took the hint and was quiet until they reached her home.

Lizzy, meanwhile, retired to her bed. She lay awake for hours alternately speculating on Richard's appearance at a restaurant with his secretary and thinking about William and their date on Friday night. Finally, she forced herself to not think of men named Fitzwilliam and dreamed about baking peach cobblers with Olivia.

Friday dawned bright and cheerful, but by mid-morning the city was drenched in a cold, hard rain. William called Lizzy and asked if she'd mind a change of plans for the evening.

"I didn't know what your original plans were so I guess I can't really object," Lizzy reasoned. "What do you have in mind?"

"Well I had planned on going to Windows on the World, but there won't be much of a view in this weather," William began. "And I wanted to take you to the Metropolitan to hear a Placido Domingo recital, but it's been canceled due to illness, so--"

"So far, you're batting a thousand. It's a pity, though: I've always wanted to dine on top of the World Trade Center and I love Placido Domingo," Lizzy pouted.

"Would you like to come over for dinner tonight? We could dine at Windows on the World another time," William promised.

"At your place?" Lizzy asked ingenuously.

"Yes, at my place," William replied. "Gee will be out at some event at Barnard, but Mrs. Reynolds is an incredible cook and she has offered to make her specialty for the occasion."

"What's her specialty?" Lizzy asked as a stalling tactic. She wasn't sure she wanted to be alone with William on his own turf. Richard had flatly refused to take Lizzy to his apartment after they had been seeing each other for almost two months and now William was trying to lure Lizzy to his home on the first date. Of course, she now knew that Richard had his reasons. She also knew that she was overreacting to William's invitation, but she couldn't help it. And she was not sure that if she refused she wouldn't be doing their budding relationship irreparable damage. Finally she agreed to dine at William's house.

"Will you promise to behave yourself?" Lizzy teased, but William understood her nonetheless.

"I'll be a perfect gentleman," he said.

"There's no such thing!" Lizzy rejoined.

"I know, but if I told you I'd be an imperfect gentleman, you'd probably refuse to come." Lizzy laughed, the tension broken.

"Do I still have to do the elegant and comfortable thing?"

"If it pleases you. Quite frankly, in this weather I'd opt for jeans and wellies."

"What on earth are wellies?" Lizzy chuckled.

"Wellingtons. You know, boots?" William explained.

"Oh. I'm sorry. You were speaking English!" Lizzy found her own remark hysterical and William listened with delight as Lizzy laughed for some time. "As it happens, I'm wearing jeans and wellies right now. Can I just come up to your place from work?" William said that he'd pick her up at the office and hung up the phone and called Mrs. Reynolds. At precisely 5:00 p.m., Bates appeared at the reception desk of Cherry Blossom. Lizzy was standing at the copier and invited him into her office.

"Have a seat, Bates," she said as she began to pack things into her bag. "Is Mister Darcy downstairs?" she asked, referring to Bates' employer as he did. Bates said that he was waiting in the car. Lizzy reached for her coat as Bates picked up her bag and followed her out of the offices as Mina and Lisa stared after the odd pair.

"Hello, William," Lizzy said as she got into the car and took her bag from Bates.

"Hello, Lizzy," William smiled. He had a cell phone at his ear and a pen in his hand, taking notes in his omnipresent leather-bound appointment book. A few seconds later, he finished the call and apologized for not greeting her properly. "I had a bit of business to finish up," he said as he pocketed the phone. Lizzy noticed the differences in their outfits.

"I guess I'm in no danger," Lizzy said as she looked at William's handsome suit and tie. Lizzy was attired in a pair of jeans, hiking boots, a buttoned-down shirt, baggy woolen sweater and hooded technical rain gear. William made the same comparison.

"Those aren't wellies!" William pointed at Lizzy's footwear accusingly. Lizzy looked at her feet.

"Well, they are boots," she reasoned. William patiently described what a proper pair of Wellingtons looked like as Lizzy interrupted him with inane questions. In the front seat, Bates was well entertained as the car slogged its way uptown through slow, heavy traffic. After forty minutes, the limousine came to a stop in front of the Darcy residence. Bates held the door open as William and Lizzy mad a dash for the house. Lizzy removed her wet garments and her boots and padded into the library while William excused himself to change clothes. Lizzy wandered around the library remembering her first meeting with William in that room. Lizzy ran a finger along a mahogany bookcase, reading titles every now and again. She went to the window and was just able to make out the garden through the rain. Lizzy heard a sound behind her and turned to see William, now in a pair of well-worn jeans, a cream-colored Henley shirt and bare feet, open the bar cabinet. He took out a bottle of brandy and held it up for inspection. Lizzy nodded and he poured out two glasses. William crossed the room and handed Lizzy a snifter. She wrapped her hands around the bowl of the glass to warm the amber fluid as William led her over to the couch.

"Mrs. Reynolds says that dinner will be ready in about fifteen minutes, William said, and took a sip from his snifter. Lizzy leaned back and sank into the leather couch. William asked about her presentation to Wentworth and Lizzy told him how it went. They made easy conversation until Mrs. Reynolds came in to tell William that dinner was ready. Mrs. Reynolds looked pointedly at William's feet before she left the room and William excused himself and went to the front vestibule for a pair of slippers. "She really runs the place," William smiled as he led Lizzy to the dining room.

"Do you think she disapproves of my feet?" Lizzy asked. William looked down at Lizzy's feet for the first time and laughed at her colorful socks. "I don't suppose that those are fit to be seen in Wellingtons?" Lizzy sniffed as William continued to laugh. William pulled out Lizzy's chair and then took his own seat at a table that would easily seat a dozen people for dinner. Mrs. Reynolds had outdone herself. She had used the finest linen, china, and crystal in the house, which contrasted starkly with the attire of the diners. An assortment of autumn blooms was interwoven with maple leaves and ivy made up the floral arrangement. Lizzy admired the table and rose to pull off her bulky sweater before she began her appetizer. William helped her roll back her cuffs.

"Whose shirt is this?" William questioned, and then thought better of it. It was apparently a man's shirt, and he was not sure he wanted to hear Lizzy's answer.

"It's mine. I bought it at a thrift shop. I love men's shirts. Actually, I like to sleep in them in the spring when it's still too cool to go without pajamas," Lizzy revealed innocently, as she poked at the crab cake and salad on the plate before her. William's appetizer was completely forgotten as his imagination ran wild. Lizzy gently tapped her water goblet with her fork, and William's eyes came back into focus. Lizzy told William about crabbing at the New Jersey shore as a small child. William told Lizzy about summers spent in Dover, Cape Cod, Scotland, Vermont, and Newfoundland, as he finished his salad and Lizzy sipped his wine. Mrs. Reynolds cleared the dishes and brought in the entrée of Cornish hens stuffed with wild rice served alongside autumn vegetables. William and Lizzy scarcely acknowledged her presence. Over the entrée, William horrified Lizzy with tales of hunting grouse on the Fitzwilliam estate in Scotland.

"You shot poor innocent birds?" Lizzy made a face.

"You eat poor innocent birds," William said pointedly with a nod at her nearly empty plate. "Not to mention that you've deprived the world of unknown numbers of crabs by catching them for your supper," he smirked.

"It's not the same thing," Lizzy pouted. William noticed, with amusement, that Lizzy' appetite for poultry never faltered as she decried the sport of hunting. William poured out a second glass of red zinfandel for each of them as they continued to argue their respective points.

"I don't suppose you have any qualms about all the lettuce that bit the dust so that you could look good in a bathing suit?" Lizzy slapped William on his forearm and he dropped his fork on the table. Mrs. Reynolds clucked at William as she came in to clear the dishes. William looked at her in silent protest of his innocence, but Mrs. Reynolds swept out of the room as Lizzy burst out laughing. William rose from the table and led Lizzy back to the library to continue their conversation.

"I don't suppose lettuce played any role in the acquisition of your physique?" Lizzy quipped as she followed William up the stairs, appraising him from behind. He turned to let her pass through the door before him. Lizzy and William's eyes met, and William wondered that she had felt it necessary to exact a promise of good behavior from him; Lizzy seemed to be the one openly flirting with danger. William offered to put on some music and Lizzy asked him to play a recording of Placido Domingo. William showed Lizzy an impressive stack of CD's and Lizzy chose La Boheme. Lizzy had never seen the opera so William put the music on and read the libretto to her during the overture. Lizzy leaned against William on the sofa as they followed the storyline through each aria and Lizzy fell in love with the sensuous music of Puccini. Mrs. Reynolds slipped in quietly with a tray of coffee things and asked if she should bring in dessert as well. Lizzy declined dessert and complimented Mrs. Reynolds on the fine meal. William suggested that Mrs. Reynolds bring in some fruit, but when that lady returned she also brought a small plate of handmade French truffles. She winked as she placed the plate before Lizzy and left.

Lizzy snuggled next to William, enjoying the residual buzz from the wine she had consumed at dinner. William dangled long-stemmed strawberries over her head as Lizzy shrieked in mock terror. They got into another argument over the necessity of importing out of season fruits just to satisfy the jaded appetites of wealthy New Yorkers. William retaliated by refusing Lizzy any more strawberries and only offered her slices of pears and apples, which he cut one by one and carefully fed into her waiting mouth.

When William explained that the truffles were imported from France and came in several varieties Lizzy insisted on trying a bit of each one. William pulled off one of her socks and began taunting Lizzy with "This Little Piggy," until Lizzy nearly fell onto the floor. Completely stuffed and exhausted from laughter, Lizzy selected a second opera recording and settled into William's arms. He hadn't finished reading the libretto before Lizzy fell asleep. William smiled and closed his eyes, savoring the moment. The rain beat a steady tattoo, Domingo sang, and in William's mind this was perhaps the most perfect evening of his life. He gently stroked Lizzy's hair and kissed the top of her head before he, too, dozed off.

"Hey! Aren't you supposed to be the host?" William opened his eyes and found himself staring into Lizzy's own sparkling pair. Lizzy was standing over him and William couldn't remember her leaving his side. He blinked.

"I'm sorry, but I couldn't keep my eyes open. Must've been the long lull in the conversation," he smiled and Lizzy was forced to admit that she, too, had fallen asleep.

"It's quite late, William," Lizzy said, as she crawled back into her place in the crook of his arm. "After one; I think I should go home," she yawned. William absently played with a lock of her hair as he replied.

"Or you could spend the night here," he said, adding quickly, "We've got five bedrooms." Lizzy twisted around in her place and pulled aside the drape to peer out the window. She turned back and agreed to stay over. William rose to get a phone so that she could call Jane, but when he returned a few moments later, Lizzy was stretched out and fast asleep on the sofa. William dialed Jane's number and spoke with her briefly. Then he shut off the music and carefully lifted Lizzy in his arms. He carried her to the nearest guest room and laid her on the bed. He went down the hall and knocked on Mrs. Reynolds' door. William apologized for awakening her and explained that Lizzy would be staying. Mrs. Reynolds went into Georgiana's room and found a suitable nightgown while William waited in the hall. She shooed him off to bed, took the gown into Lizzy's room and gently woke Lizzy.

"Here, dear. You put this on and I'll fetch a robe and slippers for you from the guest closet." Lizzy got up and groggily slipped out of her clothing and into the gown. She was under the covers and asleep before Mrs. Reynolds returned with the robe and slippers, and a toilet kit. Georgiana came in at around two in the morning, having been dropped off by her boyfriend. She stole upstairs quietly. She was surprised to find her brother standing at the open door of a guestroom leaning on the doorframe staring into the dark.

"What's going--." William clamped a hand over her mouth just as she saw the sleeping form in the bed. Georgiana pulled William's hand away. "Lizzy?" she whispered as William pulled the door shut. William nodded and headed for his own room.

"So how was the date?" Georgiana persisted. William turned back to her and smiled. Georgiana returned the smile and gave him a kiss on his cheek before she headed for her own room.

Lizzy lay in a wide canoe, floating on lake somewhere. She rested comfortably on an assortment of pillows, and she was dressed in a white gown adorned with lace that fluttered in the breeze. The setting was idyllic and Lizzy closed her eyes and breathed in the aroma of the flowers that grew along the edge of the lake. The only sounds that tickled at her ears were birds singing in the distance and the lapping of water along the sides of the boat. Lizzy became vaguely aware that her head was resting in a man's lap, and she smiled when she noticed the black shoe beneath her right arm. She wickedly ran a finger along the inside of the man's muscular calf that was hidden by a pair of charcoal pin-striped slacks until a hand reached down to stop her progress. She grabbed it and brought to her cheek. Feeling hard metal, Lizzy turned the hand over to look at the ring on the fourth finger. Around the cabochon garnet read "Harvard Business School." Lizzy recoiled and dropped the hand.

Lizzy sat up in bed, panting and slightly disoriented. It took her a few moments to get her bearings and remember where she was. She slipped into the thick terry robe and slippers and padded down the stairs. She went into the library where she had spent hours with William and stood in the doorway remembering how comfortable and secure she had felt in his arms. Lizzy had to make a conscious effort not to draw a comparison between William and Richard's arms. Lizzy sighed and went to the sofa and curled up at one end. The moment Richard had come into her mind Lizzy's complacency was lost and she wished she could turn the clock back six hours and be in William's arms again, when Lizzy had not a care in the world. Lizzy's reverie was interrupted by the sound of a whistling tea kettle and she followed the sound down to the kitchen where, to her surprise, it was Bates, rather than Mrs. Reynolds, she found at the stove.

"Good morning, Lizzy," Bates greeted Lizzy warmly. "Care for a nice cuppa?" Lizzy gladly accepted his offer and sat down to a cup of honey-laced lemon tea. Lizzy and Bates discussed Puccini, Cornish hens, and French truffles before Mrs. Reynolds appeared in the kitchen. At that point, Lizzy excused herself and returned to her room to shower and dress. She heard music coming from down the hall as she ascended the stairs. Navigating by sound, Lizzy found William's room and knocked on the door.

"You're up early. Come on in," he called. Lizzy smiled as she came into the room and caught a fleeting glimpse of William's bare chest as he slipped a tee shirt over his head. When his head emerged from the shirt, William was surprised to see Lizzy standing before him.

"Oh! I thought you were Gee," he confessed as he turned around to tuck his shirt into his jeans. Lizzy quickly surveyed the room. The décor was masculine and austere, the only sign of human habitation was the rumpled bed linens. "What time did you get up?" William asked conversationally.

"Around seven, I think. I was wondering if I could borrow a shirt to wear," Lizzy said as she gave in to her curiosity and went to examine a painting on the wall more closely. She was, in fact, suddenly nervous about being in his room, but William seemed oblivious to her discomfort as he walked over to a pair of ceiling-high rosewood doors and drew them open. Lizzy's mouth fell open when she saw the neat stacks of folded sweaters and shirts.

"If you want a dress shirt, they're over here," William said behind her. She turned and he opened a second set of doors. Lizzy was loath to make a selection from so many choices. She decided to look for a turtleneck, and William led her to a specific set of shelves. "These are cotton, these are cashmere, and these are wool," William said. Lizzy closed her eyes and pulled out a chocolate brown cotton turtleneck the color of William's eyes. She thanked him and retreated to her room. When she came out of the bathroom, Lizzy pulled on the turtleneck and imagined that she felt William's arms around her once more. She chastised herself for being silly and went downstairs.

Lizzy and William enjoyed a hearty breakfast of Irish oatmeal with fresh fruit, sausages, scones, and pots of Irish breakfast tea. William asked Lizzy if she had any plans for the day. When he learned that she was free he smiled.

"Good, we can pick up our date from where we left off last night. How would you like to take a trip to Connecticut?"

"Where in Connecticut?" Lizzy asked with some trepidation. She was afraid that she might run into Richard if she went to Greenwich.

"It's a surprise," William teased. "I'm going to show you something I like to do on weekends when I can get away." Lizzy was still dubious, but she gave her consent. Mrs. Reynolds packed a lunch for the couple and William went upstairs to retrieve a heavy woolen sweater. Lizzy pulled on her boots and sweater and soon she found herself being led to William's garage a few blocks east of the townhouse.

New York City's fashionable people mostly lived below 34th Street before Frederick Law Olmstead built Central Park, the city's crowning jewel. Opening during the Victorian era, it prompted an exodus north, and the park to this day remains surrounded by luxurious townhouses and mansions. Many of the houses that faced the park have long since been replaced by high-rise apartment buildings, but for several blocks east and west of the park there still exist some of the city's most beautiful Victorian Beaux Arts row houses. There weren't any cars when those houses were built and the residents of the great houses built carriage houses a few blocks away from their homes to house their stylish equipage. Many of the carriage houses still exist, although most of these houses have been converted to residential or commercial use. But William Darcy's carriage house was still used for its original purpose. It housed his cars in the space originally designated for carriages, and above the garage were quarters for Bates and his wife. William explained all this to Lizzy as they walked the short distance to the carriage house, and Lizzy laughingly reminded him that there were also carriage houses in Brooklyn Heights, many of which predated the house he lived in, since Brooklyn was settled during the Federal period. William blushed slightly, much to Lizzy's amusement, but she was distracted when the door of the garage was opened and Lizzy saw three sleek black cars before her.

"If Darth Vader owned a garage, this is what you'd find inside," Lizzy murmured, as she looked first at the limousine, then at the Mercedes, and finally at the imposing Lexus SUV.

"Who is Darth Vader?" William asked as he opened the doors of the Lexus and placed the picnic hamper in the rear seat. Lizzy smiled at him oddly as he helped Lizzy climb in and buckled her seat belt. Lizzy inhaled the scent of his freshly washed hair as he leaned over her and she struggled with the urge to run her hands through his curls. William walked around to the driver's side of the vehicle and got in.

"We're off," he smiled, as he pulled out of the garage. In minutes they were on the highway. Lizzy watched William drive in silence for a while. He smiled at her and reached out to take her hand. Lizzy brought it up to her face and kissed it, noting that it was absent of any adornment. She held the hand in her lap and thought back to her dream, struggling once more to push thoughts of Richard from her mind.

"You go to flea markets?" Lizzy gasped when they pulled up at a huge flea market in the Connecticut countryside. It never occurred to her that a millionaire might share her love of hunting for obscure treasures in the quaint little stalls of outdoor markets. William took Lizzy's hand and they made a quick tour of the grounds before beginning their shopping in earnest. Lizzy wasn't really interested in shopping. She was content to hold William's hand and listen to him describe things his grandmother in Derbyshire had on her mantelpiece, and she derived a secret thrill every time another woman looked at William admiringly. William squeezed Lizzy's hand and she returned her attention to the case before her. It contained pillboxes of Sterling silver, ivory, porcelain, and other materials. Lizzy began to examine them more closely. Lizzy had a thing for pillboxes and wondered how William knew of her collection.

"Pick one out," William urged. "I'd like to buy you a souvenir of our first date." Lizzy looked at him and then turned back to the case. She knew which one she wanted immediately and pointed to it. "Are you sure?" William asked. It wasn't the fanciest or the most expensive one in the collection. William thought perhaps that Lizzy didn't want to appear greedy, so he asked her several times if she was sure of her choice.

"Yes, this one. It's just like the one my grandmother had when I was a girl. Jane and I were playing in her bedroom and I accidentally knocked it down and broke it. Grandmother didn't make a fuss, but I was heartbroken," Lizzy said wistfully. William immediate purchased the pillbox at the offered price.

They wandered about the fair and Lizzy bought a souvenir plate with Pennsylvania tourist sites on it for Olivia and an old potato masher for Jane's collection, and William bought a few first editions of books and a pair of framed drawings. Lizzy let go of William's hand after a while and wandered off on her own for a few minutes and came back with something for William. It was wrapped securely and she would not let him open it till later. William suggested that they take a break from shopping and eat something. They went back to the Lexus, retrieved the picnic hamper, and found a shady spot beneath a tree, where William spread an old tartan blanket. Lizzy opened the hamper and found that it was lined in the same plaid and was outfitted with china plates, silver-plated flatware and crystal glasses.

"Did you get this at a flea market?" Lizzy asked as William opened a Thermos bottle and poured out hot mulled apple cider, which Lizzy found delicious. William smiled.

"No, this hamper has been in the family for about thirty or forty years. I brought it here from England, where it was made. William offered Lizzy a roast beef sandwich along with an array of condiments, cheese and apples, and oatmeal cookies that William confessed weren't quite as good as Olivia's. After they ate William rested his head in Lizzy's lap and they talked about their mutual love of collecting things. Lizzy indulged in the opportunity to play with William's hair. She ran her fingers through his curls as he talked, and she peeked at the baby curls that lay close to the hairline and ran the tip of her finger over them.

"What are you doing?" William suddenly asked. Lizzy, who had been stroking his hair absentmindedly, looked down at William's upturned face and giggled.

"To your hair?" she smiled, for the front of William's hair was in complete disarray. "Nothing," she whispered as she quickly reorganized his curls. William sat up and looked into Lizzy's eyes.

"Do I get to return the favor?" William challenged, and before Lizzy could answer, he took Lizzy's face in his hands and kissed her so suddenly that it took her breath away. William pulled her closer as he planted soft kisses on her lips, her nose, her cheeks and her ears, all the while running his hands through her hair. When he pulled away, Lizzy was overwhelmed by the dozen sweet, yet ardent kisses he had given her.

"You know, if my life depended on my ability to stand up right now, I'd be doomed," Lizzy whispered, and William smiled at her smugly. He settled back into her lap and pulled her arms around him.

"So what is my prize?" William asked presently.

For that?, Lizzy thought. How about an open invitation to repeat the gesture anytime? Lizzy smiled to herself and reached over and grabbed the parcel she had bought for William. He sat up and ceremoniously unwrapped it. It was a small sailboat; the kind a child might sail on a pond. William sat up and admired its classic lines. "You know, I had a boat just like this when I was a boy."

"When I saw that, it reminded me of your stories about your summers in Cape Cod," Lizzy said. William leaned over and kissed her again, this time more reverently. "Thank you. This will have a place of honor in my library." He checked his watch. It was getting late and Lizzy helped him pack the hamper and stow it in the car before they returned to the flea market for one last look. Lizzy found a baby quilt made in the forties and decided that she must have it. William haggled with the vendor until he drove the price down by fifty percent, then he bought it for Lizzy.

"You didn't have to do that," Lizzy said as she accepted the gift.

"I know, but since I negotiated the deal I felt honor bound to close it."

"Remind me to never go into negotiations with you," Lizzy said as she took his arm. A wry smile curved William's lips and his eyes sparkled, but he said nothing. The trip back to the car was spent discussing Jane and Charles's planned engagement and listening to jazz music. It was late in the day when they reached Brooklyn. Both William and Lizzy were exhausted and he declined her offer to come into the house. William kissed Lizzy goodbye at the door, and when it closed behind her, Lizzy knew that she had fallen in love with the right Fitzwilliam.

On Sunday morning, Lizzy sat down at her computer and began to type at a furious pace. She had resumed her almost daily correspondence with Olivia via e-mail as soon as she got home, a practice they had engaged in since Olivia's return to Elverson after college. Now she had much to say about her date with William.

Olivia! I have just spent the most wonderful, romantic, beautiful, terrific, fabulous, incredible 24 hours in my life!!! I am absolutely, positively, unashamedly, hopelessly, thrillingly, ecstatically, deliriously in love with William Darcy! I can't believe it! I can't explain it! I don't care why, I don't know how, I just know what! I love him! I love him! I love him! I love him! I love him! Richard Fitzwilliam is a genius! How did he know? How could he possibly even imagine? Even I couldn't ever imagine what I'm feeling in my wildest fantasy! I'm in love, Olivia! The world is beautiful! I want to run the streets of Brooklyn and kiss everyone! No, no, no! I want to kiss William and William alone! He kisses like...I can't think of anything to describe it. When Richard kissed me the earth moved but when William kissed me the earth got up and left the galaxy; how could Richard possibly even imagine that William's kiss could be so wonderful that I would instantly, irrevocably, and totally fall in love. Olivia! I am soooooooooooo happy!!!

So I take it the date went well?

OLIVIA!!!

How can you ask such a silly thing?

Well, you haven't said anything about it. What did you do?

First we went to his place for dinner, and then we listened to music, and then we slept, and then we went to this huge flea market, and we had a picnic, and he kissed me! Oh, my God, Livy! For a whole minute I forgot that the universe existed. Olivia, in the history of kisses there was never such a kiss. In the Hall of Fame of Kisses, Oh Baby!! And then he took me home and kissed me again. I had to go upstairs and lie down for an hour to get my breath back! I couldn't talk, I didn't want to talk, I wanted to remember his touch, his taste, his smell, the velvety soft hair on the back of his neck. Ooooooh! I can't even talk about it without my pulse quickening!

So you like him and the date was nice. What was that bit about sleeping?

I stayed over at his house--in the guest room, of course. But I fully expect...Oh, my! I'm having very wicked thoughts!!!!

I expect that you are!

Aren't you excited for me?

You're excited enough for both of us and everyone in Chicago.

Oh, Livy! Don't do this to me!!

What?

I know you're about to say something severe, like get a grip, or you're exaggerating, or worse.

Nope! I am not going to do anything of the kind.

You're happy for me?

Of course, I'm happy for you. Is William equally besotted? Lizzy paused, her hands over the keyboard. She didn't know if she could answer that. But she fully intended to find out.

Continued In Next Section