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Lizzy pulled away from William and hearkened to a distant sound. William, undeterred, continued to lavish kisses on her throat.
"Do you hear something?" Lizzy said.
"If it's a rapid, pounding sound, that's my heart," William smiled. Lizzy smiled back, but she rose to her feet and looked into the living room as Richard and Olivia entered the house.
"Hello?" Olivia called as she pulled off her jacket. Lizzy went into the living room, reluctantly followed by William.
"Hey, you two!" Lizzy cried, offering hugs and kisses to each of the new arrivals. "How's life in P-A?"
"Snowy," Richard grumbled. "I've never seen a house buried under three weeks of snow before. We spent Friday night in an igloo, the house was so hard to reach."
"I bet you've never shoveled snow before," Lizzy laughed as Richard took a seat on the couch.
"I know he's never shoveled snow before," William quipped.
"He still hasn't," Olivia smiled. "He took one look at the house and headed for the nearest home center. I am now the proud owner of a snow blower." She took a seat beside Richard, who was looking defiantly at his mocking cousin.
"What are you laughing at? You've never done a day of hard labor before, either. What would you have done: ordered a fleet of helicopters to blow the snow over onto Knightley's property or buy Lizzy a house in Florida?" Lizzy and Olivia exchanged an amused glance.
"I would love a cup of tea. Want some, Mr. Cranky?" Olivia teased. Richard shot her a look, but she ignored it as she rose to head for the kitchen. "By the way, Lizzy, we brought you back a few things," she said, indicating the basket that sat at Richard's feet.
"My goodness!" Lizzy exclaimed. "What is all that?"
"Well," Olivia began, as she returned to the living room, "It all began when we reached Easton and stopped to get groceries. Richard--."
"You're going to blame me for this? Have you ever gone into a market with this woman? I've done it three times in the past four days and I think I've developed a tick from the trauma."
"Look, I admit it; I read labels. I like to know what it is I am eating."
"Every time you encounter it? Do you honestly believe that Heinz pickles are any different in Pennsylvania than in New York?" William and Lizzy burst into laughter.
"That doesn't explain this largesse," Olivia continued. "I asked Richard to pick up a jar or two of jam while I went to the produce area. He came back with six."
"Well, I don't know what Lizzy likes!"
"I like jam." Lizzy said helpfully.
"And when we went to the Amish market he decided that you needed fudge, but he couldn't decide what kind, so..."
"I like fudge," Lizzy chuckled.
"Well, I hope you like three bean salad, corn relish, sweet pickles, and heaven knows what else he managed to find.
"Sausage!" Richard said brightly.
"Yes. And cheese, and cinnamon buns--a dozen cinnamon buns," Olivia shook her head. "Oh, and Mr. Indecisive also brought back a dozen soft pretzels." Lizzy smiled and dug into the basket.
"Mr. Indecisive can shop for me anytime," Lizzy said as she pulled out a pretzel and broke off a piece.
"Well, I'm not sure I approve," William said squinting at the contents of the basket. "You don't really expect her to eat all of this herself, do you?" he said to no one in particular. Richard smiled wickedly at William.
"I have to admit, I've gone shopping with William several times and he's not nearly so bad. We came back from Ikea with only one computer desk, didn't we?" Lizzy cooed at William as she fed him a bit of her pretzel.
"Why do you need a new computer table?" Olivia asked as she accepted a pretzel from Lizzy. She broke it in half and gave a piece to Richard.
"Because," Lizzy said, her eyes aglow, "I have a new computer! Want to see?" She led the way into the dining room where the new computer was still installing software.
"A DARCO; why am I not surprised?" Richard quipped as he sat down at the desk and began to read the titles on the stack of CD-ROM's awaiting installation.
"Cool!" Olivia declared. "I have one of these in my office. Did they load a graphics and animation package? Mine was set up with Lightwave 3-D and just about every font and clip art program known to man. It is so cool to work with!" Lizzy glared at William, who shrugged.
"I can get it for you, if you want," he said. "And if there's anything else you need, just let me know." Lizzy put her arms around William and kissed his cheek.
"See? They both have that "eager to please" thing happening," Olivia said as she headed for the kitchen to make the tea. Lizzy followed her, leaving the men to discuss Lizzy's new acquisition. "I have to admit, I am not totally comfortable with it. I mean, it's one thing for a man to pay your way to dinner or pay for the groceries or whatever. It's another thing when a man goes into Home Depot and buys you a major piece of top of the line equipment. In the Range Rover just now, Richard started talking about my needing a new car."
"He's planning to buy you a car?" Lizzy gasped, although she knew that William would do the same for her in a heartbeat.
"He took one look at the old Impala in the driveway and declared it a deathtrap. Anyway, I changed the subject when he brought it up, and I hope he forgets about it. Maybe I should go out and buy a new car for myself as a preemptive strike," Olivia said as she filled the teapot. Lizzy took out a plate and went to fetch the cinnamon buns and other perishables from the basket.
"You know," she laughed as she returned. "If Charlotte were here, she'd say you were crazy not to take advantage of his offer."
"I'm not Charlotte," Olivia replied with a shudder of distaste.
"And boy, am I relieved to hear that," Richard said as he entered the kitchen. He had no idea what Olivia's comment meant, but he was certainly happy that Olivia was the woman she was. He kissed Olivia on the temple and sat down at the table. Lizzy called in William and the foursome sat down to tea and buns at the kitchen table.
"Have any of us had a proper dinner?" Olivia asked. Everyone shook his or her head. "Just asking," Olivia said as she stuffed a chunk of bun into her mouth.
"So what else have you two been up to this weekend?" Richard asked. "And before you get to that, tell us what happened Friday with the legal eagles."
"Well," William began as he put aside his mug. "According to Jennings, there is enough evidence to terminate Lily Church, based on depositions from Caroline, Jason Keller, and statements made by others who are willing to testify against her, if it comes to that."
"Hallelujah!" Richard cried as he slapped the table. Olivia put her hand over his to calm him.
"If it comes to that, you say. Do you think she'll contest the termination? I mean, I'm not up to speed on the Darcy Corporation's personnel policy, but I assume she's entitled to due process."
"She is," William nodded. "As to whether or not she contests the termination, Jennings seems to think that your actions might be a major factor in her decision. You can sue her for defamation of character and slander if you want to, and if you do you have my full blessing." William assured her. "But Jennings believes that if you agree not to sue, she'll probably agree to go quietly." Olivia clutched Richard's hand tightly as she tried to digest the information.
"I really have no desire to sue," she said finally. "All I want is a public retraction and an apology." Richard squeezed Olivia's hand and nodded his approval. William nodded as well.
"Then that's what I'll push for," he said.
"But why should she apologize? I mean, you're asking her to admit responsibility. Why should she agree to that? What's in it for her?" Lizzy asked.
"I can make it a condition of a severance agreement. If she refuses to comply with Olivia's demand, I can withhold part of her severance pay. If she complies, she can have the full amount." Lizzy let out a low whistle.
"And they say 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.' Remind me to stay on your good side, Mr. Darcy," Lizzy breathed.
"I always do," he countered with a waggle of his brows.
"All right," Olivia said abruptly. "Let's change the subject. What's the deal with the computer?"
"Well," Lizzy began, "Jane and Charles had a couple of social functions to attend this weekend, so she's staying in the city at his loft, so William volunteered to come over and keep me company."
"What a guy," Richard mugged.
"Not really," Lizzy smirked. "He found out that a local church was having a flea market and he wanted to go."
"I wanted to see you, too," William exclaimed defensively.
"Anyway, when we got back from the flea market, I went into the dining room to do a little work. Charles and I were thinking about adding a quivering gif to a new client's web site."
"You still haven't told me what a quivering gif is," William reminded her as he unwound his cinnamon bun. Both Richard and Olivia laughed. "What? Do you know what it is?"
"It's a gif with DT's," Richard quipped. William frowned at his cousin.
"It's a shaky image script, William. That's an image on a web site that is animated so that it appears to...well, shake," Olivia explained.
"You have become such a brown-noser since you went to work for him," Richard complained. Olivia placated him by stuffing a piece of cinnamon bun into his mouth.
"Go on, Lizzy," Olivia said.
"William was horrified that I only had a laptop to work on at home, so he whips out his cell, makes a couple of calls and that," Lizzy jerked a thumb toward the dining room, "Is what showed up, and on a Sunday, no less."
"Well, Fitzwilliam/Fitzwilliam is a round the clock operation," William explained. "I just pulled a computer from a shipment they'll be installing next week." Richard's mouth fell open. "I'll have a new one sent down to you on Monday," William quickly added. Richard rose and went back into the dining room, and quickly scanned the contents of the computer's program list. William followed him and offered his assurance that none of F/F's proprietary software had been installed on the computer. Lizzy and Olivia brought in their tea and chatted at the dining room table while Richard continued the installation of files.
"By the way, Richard," Lizzy said suddenly, "Remember that favor I asked of you?" Richard nodded. "Well, Caroline has seen the site." Richard flicked a glance at William, who was absorbed in reading the description on a software program box. Richard went and sat beside Lizzy.
"How'd that happen?" he asked softly.
"No need to be secretive; William has seen it too," Lizzy revealed.
"What are we talking about?" Olivia asked.
"Karoline's Korner." Olivia gasped.
"She's seen it?" Lizzy nodded and recounted the entire story of how she had come to have lunch with Caroline and her subsequent visit to Cherry Blossom. Richard immediately forgot about the website question and focused on more important concerns.
"So she and Charles have spoken?" Lizzy nodded again.
"I can't say what they spoke about because I don't know. She came back to the office with me and went straight in to see him. She came out about an hour later. I didn't ask her anything; she just said that Charles had shown her the site and she thanked me for talking her into coming. I took that as a sign that things went reasonably well," Lizzy concluded.
"That site is one heck of an icebreaker," William quipped from his place at the computer. All eyes turned to him momentarily.
"Did Charles say anything?" Richard asked.
"I really didn't want to pry. He passed by my office a while later and seemed a little subdued but okay. I didn't get the impression that he'd regretted seeing his sister."
"So are you really going to buy her share of the business?" Olivia asked.
"No, I don't think so. I can't believe I blew up at her like that. I did the same thing to her that she had done to Charles," Lizzy said remorsefully. "I think she understood that."
"Maybe that helped her to understand how she'd made Charles feel," Richard suggested. "I'll give him a call tomorrow and see how he's doing."
"I think that'd be a good idea," Lizzy replied, patting Richard's hand.
"All right, now we've exhausted two unpleasant topics," Olivia observed. "How about something fun?" she asked with a wicked smile. Richard was instantly wary.
"What are you up to?" he asked. Olivia smiled at Lizzy.
"When I got online at home I found an e-mail from Anne." Lizzy smiled.
"Crazy Anne?" William lifted his eyes.
"Who's Crazy Anne?"
"She's a friend of ours from Pratt. She went back to Europe after college, but she talks to us from time to time, usually when she's found some interesting bit of new software or found an outlandish website for us to look at," Lizzy explained.
"Well, this time she had a couple of web sites for us," Olivia said. She leaned across the table and whispered in Lizzy's ear. Lizzy responded with a squeal and ran out of the room.
"What was that all about?" Richard asked. William followed Lizzy into the living room. She was rummaging in an armoire.
"Are you all right, darling?" Lizzy spun around and pointed a camera at him.
"I'm fine," she replied with a broad smile. She returned to the dining room, where she aimed the camera first at Richard and then at Olivia.
"Hey!" Olivia cried. "Not me!"
"Oh yes, you, too!" Lizzy laughed. She went over to the computer and saw that there was a minute left on the current installation. "We have a minute, Livy. I suggest we have a conference." Olivia rose and followed Lizzy out to the kitchen. William and Richard exchanged a confused glance.
"Women: can't live without them, can't figure out what the heck they're up to ninety percent of the time," Richard intoned. William shook his head.
"Ninety-five," William corrected. Richard laughed and finished the gesture in a long, groaning stretch. "You're sore, aren't you?" William asked smugly.
"No, I am not sore. I'm the one who works out regularly, remember?"
"I doubt that pumping iron is sufficient preparation for hard physical labor," William sneered. Richard squinted at his cousin.
"And what makes you such an expert? Your idea of physical labor is to stand up while ordering takeout," he snorted.
"I beg to differ," William said smugly. "I just constructed that desk." Lizzy laughed as she reentered the room.
"Mr. Macho, here assembled that computer desk. And he did a very good job of it, I might add," she said with a kiss to his forehead. She and Olivia went to the computer and began to work on something.
"So," Richard continued. "You didn't fell any trees or use any power tools...do you even own any tools?"
"Do you?" William countered.
"Boys!" Olivia cried in warning. "If you two can't play nice we won't let you come over any more." She winked at Lizzy, who smiled back. "So let's see," Olivia said as she looked at the screen. "Oh, my! He is precious."
"Yes, I have to admit, the big lug is terribly cute, but don't expect him to win any prizes. I have to agree with you--he'll do better on the other board." Lizzy agreed. "Now, I'm afraid that you belong here, too..."
"And you!"
"And me," Lizzy confessed. William and Richard exchanged a curious glance and they rose in unison to join the women at the computer. But Lizzy was too fast and all they saw was an installation screen. Richard reached for the mouse, but Lizzy held it out of reach while Olivia pulled Richard's arm away. He resisted briefly, but he soon gave up and put his arms around Olivia.
"It's getting late," Richard said, glancing at his watch over her shoulder. "We ought to be going." Lizzy arched a brow at Olivia, who smiled apologetically.
"I had to promise my handsome friend here that I'd go back to Manhattan with him tonight or else he wouldn't have brought you your goodies."
"I appreciate your sacrifice," Lizzy said with a not quite straight face. Olivia shrugged.
"You know I'd do anything for you, Lizzy," Olivia said as she hugged Richard tightly.
"I know, I know," Lizzy said with a wink over Olivia's shoulder at Richard.
"I should be getting along, too," William said. "I have a lot to do tomorrow morning." Lizzy pouted. "You could come back to Manhattan with me," he offered.
"No," Lizzy said. "I probably should stay and get this thing up and running. It would be a pain to have to come home and finish this the next time I want to do some work. But thanks for the offer." Richard and Olivia said their goodbyes and left so that William and Lizzy could have a private leave taking.
"Are you going to tell me what you and your sneaky friend were up to just now?"
"Oh, I guess it wouldn't do any harm," Lizzy replied. She went to the computer and typed www.geekornot.com.
"This is a site where people can vote on a scale of 1 to 10 whether they think a person looks like a geek or not...and I guess how geeky they look." William frowned.
"Why did you put Richard there?"
"Because he's a geek. And so are Livy and I. Look." Lizzy brought up Olivia's picture, the one taken just minutes earlier.
"Where's yours?" William asked.
"I haven't had a chance to upload it yet."
"You aren't thinking of putting me up there, are you?" William asked suspiciously.
"No, sweetie, of course not! You're going on the "Hot or Not" site. Livy made me promise to put Richard there, too."
"I beg your pardon? I don't want my picture online so it can be ogled by hordes of strange women!"
"Oh, come on, of course you do!" Lizzy teased. William was forced to pause a minute and think. "Gotcha!" Lizzy whispered. "Besides, have you any idea how many times your picture appears on the World Wide Web--and I'm not talking about news or technology sites?"
"How many?" William asked, suddenly worried.
"Honey, I can't count that high. At least if I upload your picture I can bask in the knowledge that no matter where you rank on that list, I'll be the only one with intimate knowledge of exactly how hot you are. Only I will have kissed these sensuous lips," Lizzy purred as she ran a finger over his mouth. "Only I will have had those eyes look upon me lovingly," she whispered as a wry smile formed on William's lips. "And I know that if you look hot in that photograph I upload," she cooed into his ear, "It'll be because you were looking at me when it was taken." William was smiling broadly by now.
"That settles it" he said. "Your installation will have to wait. You're coming home with me." Lizzy didn't waste a minute arguing. She went to the computer and went to www.hotornot.com
"Did someone die?" Danielle asked when Richard strolled into her office Monday morning.
"Huh?"
"You're wearing a tie!" Danielle pointed out. Richard looked down at his tie, which was covered in the F/F logo.
"I wear a tie occasionally," he answered defensively. "Besides, Olivia wore a dress today and I didn't want--." He paused when he saw Danielle's arch look.
"Dressing to impress? It must be serious!" she laughed.
"It is...very serious. But I think you know that. Which reminds me: Olivia and I had a long talk this weekend and she showed me the business plan you and William were kind enough to cook up for her behind my back," Richard said accusingly.
"No pun intended..." Richard glared at her. "Look, Richard, it was for a good cause. Besides, I didn't exactly feel that there was anything wrong with it. Business to business websites are hot, and William's concept is well thought-out and he believes Olivia is the right person to make it happen. He even lined up a number of clients who have signed letters of commitment. The site ought to be huge when it launches in this market, and when it opens in the Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles areas..."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! What?" Richard cried.
"I thought you said that you read the plan," Danielle said as she held out her mug for Richard to refill.
"I guess I missed the fine print," he shrugged. "I had other things on my mind this weekend."
"A certain lady, perhaps?" Danielle teased.
"Yes: Lily Church," Richard said grimly. He looked at his watch. "And if I want to speak with Olivia before her meeting with William and the lawyers, I'd better get upstairs." Richard hastened to the elevator, coffee mug in hand, and went up to the 38th floor. Lydia was standing at the reception desk chatting with Alicia. When they saw Richard approach, they fell silent. He spared them a polite greeting and headed for Olivia's office. When he got there, she wasn't in. Richard took a seat and waited for her, sipping his coffee and drumming his fingers on the desk nervously. Finally, after what seemed like an interminable length of time, Olivia came in looking very pale. Richard was instantly alarmed.
"I'm all right," she said anticipating his question. "My nerves just got the better of me and I just lost my breakfast," she confessed meekly.
"Well, that's part of the reason why I came up. You seemed so nervous since you woke up this morning I thought I'd drop in and offer my moral support." He hugged Olivia tightly and she rested her head on his shoulder. "Livy, have you ever considered seeing a doctor about your anxiety problems?"
"I did, years ago. Why?" Richard shrugged.
"You're likely to encounter a lot more anxiety with all you've bitten off with the Companion project and this new website. I'm worried about you," he admitted.
"I'll be fine, I promise." Richard looked deeply into her eyes. "All right!" she conceded. "I'll see someone. But I don't know any doctors in New York."
"I'll give my doctor a call and see if he can see you. But in the meantime, I'm here for you, you know that." Olivia nodded. "Would you like an escort upstairs?" Olivia nodded a second time, and Richard walked Olivia out to the elevator, where Olivia wrung her hands and Richard glared at the two women at the desk as they waited. When the elevator door opened, Christopher was inside it, on his way up to see William.
"Showtime," Richard said. Christopher responded with a curt nod.
William had gone into the office earlier than usual and had spent the past hour alternately writing notes and pacing the floor. When he had completed his notes, he called in Jo, who was usually in at that hour, to type them up for him. It was only then that William allowed himself to relax. He sat back in his chair. He wanted the morning over with. He glanced at his clock and wished that it was already noon. No, William thought. That would deprive me of the satisfaction of calling Lily Church to account and watching her squirm and that is a pleasure I do not wish to forego. But William recognized that it was bound to be a tense morning, and that wasn't how he liked to spend his Mondays. He leaned back in his seat and thought back to that first Monday morning when he had found a response to his e-mail from Lizzy. That message had changed his life, although he didn't realize it at the time. But now he was fully aware of what that first contact with Lizzy had meant, and how much she had come to mean to him since their first exchange of teasing e-mails. William turned to his computer.
I've been meaning to ask...how does your office look?
Looks fine, why do you ask? And good morning to you, too!
I thought we said good morning earlier. And I asked because I was thinking about the good old days...when you admired me for my cleaning prowess.
Your cleaning prowess has fallen low on my list, I'm afraid. I've come to appreciate your other talents so much more.
*sigh* No one appreciates my ability with a feather duster anymore.
Hey! I didn't say that! Aren't you supposed to be preparing for your meeting?
Done. This is the calm before the storm. I was just sitting here thinking of you.
Any particular reason?
None whatsoever. I am always thinking of you.
Jo poked her head in to tell William that Christopher and Olivia were waiting outside.
I have to go.
Lizzy smiled at the screen and typed a reply.
Good luck in your meeting. I'll be thinking of you as well. William didn't see the message until later; he went to the door to greet Christopher and Olivia.
"Why don't you come in, too, Richard? You were named in the rumors. You have as much right to be here as Olivia or I do." Richard was only too happy to stay. The four sat down, William in his leather armchair and the others on the leather couch beside it.
"Marina ought to be here in a moment," William began as the door opened. Marina came in and joined the group. "You know Olivia Crenshaw and Christopher Brandon. I don't believe you've ever met my cousin. Richard Fitzwilliam is on the board of DARCO and is the president of Fitzwilliam/Fitzwilliam. Richard, Marina Sanchez-Pena has been with the company for a while but she was only recently promoted to Director of Personnel." Richard extended his free hand. The other still grasped Olivia's, although from the way they were seated it was very difficult to tell.
"How do you do?" Marina said.
"I was about to start the meeting by explaining that Jennings will be in shortly to speak with Olivia to discuss her legal options. Then he is going to speak with Lily Church and inform her of the charges being brought against her."
"Why?" Richard asked.
"Because I wanted everything handled in a precise and legal matter, and quite frankly I didn't trust myself to broach the subject with her. I didn't tell you two what I found out on Friday. In addition to spreading rumors about Olivia's allegedly sordid history..." William paused when he saw Olivia's face redden. "...Lily Church's handiwork has gotten to the press." William rose and went to his desk and Richard and Olivia exchanged a glance. William returned with a trade journal and dropped it in Richard's lap. Richard looked up at William, questioning.
"Page ten; the item is circled." Richard reluctantly released Olivia's hand and turned to the page in question. He read the item in a press briefs column:
Richard saw red, as Olivia's mouth fell open.
"I can't believe the gall of that woman! How could she--?" Richard put his hand over his mouth to prevent himself from saying the words that sprang to his lips.
"You're sure she's responsible for this?" Olivia asked in a small voice.
"Not a doubt," William said. "Look at the byline on the column." Richard picked up the paper and read it.
"Carl Wysocki. So?" William looked at Marina.
"Carl Wysocki is Lily Church's husband."
Lizzy left the conference room with a cup of coffee in her hand and a cookie between her teeth. She was about to head back to her office when she noticed that Charles's door was open. Impulsively she went and knocked on the doorframe. When Charles turned away from his computer screen to see who was knocking, Lizzy pasted a broad smile on her face.
"Excuse me, sir. I am hoping you can help me." Charles returned the smile.
"Come in, young lady. Have a seat." Lizzy sat down and offered Charles a cookie. He accepted it gratefully. "Now what can I do for you?"
"It's my sister, you see. She's been missing for days. I was hoping that you could help me locate her," Lizzy said dramatically. An enigmatic smile crossed Charles's lips as he played along.
"Can you describe her for me?"
"Oh, yes sir. She's tall, blond hair, blue eyes...rather ordinary looking, actually," Lizzy teased as she watched Charles suppress an exclamation to the contrary.
"Where did you last see this...ordinary looking woman?" he asked as he glanced at the picture of Jane that smiled at him from his desk.
"I last saw her Friday morning," Lizzy said, wiping away an invisible tear. "She was accompanied by a dangerous looking blond-haired man wearing a grey coat and a lascivious smile."
"Ahem...uh...ahem. I think...I'm sure, that is, that your sister is quite well. Yes, very well." Lizzy raised an accusing eyebrow.
"Any hope of my ever seeing her again?"
"Really, Lizzy, you'd better get used to the idea of not seeing Jane on a daily basis. I intend to keep her all to myself once we're married," Charles smiled.
"I see, and you've been practicing," Lizzy teased.
"Yes, I suppose you could say that," he replied with a dreamy look in his eye. "Now was there anything else I can help you with?"
"Nope." Lizzy rose to her feet and headed for the door. "Oh! I nearly forgot; I tested that shaky image script and I think it's the perfect app for that page. Want me to let Mina know?" Charles nodded. Lizzy smiled and headed for her office, but she stopped and came back when she heard Charles call her name.
"Yes?"
"Lizzy, I just wanted to thank you for dragging Caroline over here on Friday. I don't know what you said to her, but thank you." Lizzy hesitated, torn between curiosity and respect for the siblings' privacy.
"I just told her what was in my heart. I probably shouldn't have, but if some good came out of it, then maybe it was for the best." Lizzy gave in to her curiosity. "So have you two made peace?"
"Sit down." Lizzy entered the office and closed the door. "Caroline told me everything: about the lie she told about Olivia, what she planned to do to you--all of it. She didn't ask for forgiveness, but she expressed her remorse for all the trouble she had caused, including putting Richard in the hospital. And, when she was done, she...she's decided to give me her share of Cherry Blossom." Lizzy gasped in surprise.
"She's giving it to you?" Charles nodded.
"I was willing to buy it from her, but she was insistent. She said that something you told her prompted her decision. What did you say?" Lizzy looked at Charles blankly.
"I...I'm not sure. I was spewing forth like Linda Blair in "The Exorcist"! I said a lot of things...Oh! I did say at one point that Cherry Blossom was the realization of your dream, or something to that effect. Can that have been it?" Charles shrugged.
"Whatever it was, I thank you."
"Is Caroline okay?" Lizzy asked cautiously.
"I think so," Charles sighed. "She was very subdued when she came in, but she perked right up when she saw your website."
"You're joking!" Lizzy accused.
"I most certainly am not! She said you were more vindictive than she had given you credit for."
"Well! That's high praise, coming from Caroline." Lizzy grew serious. "I'm glad you two have patched things up."
"Well, we've started to, anyway. She's flying out to California to visit Louisa for a few weeks. She promises to come back a better person. I told her I'd settle for the old one, if she promises not to get into any more mischief." Lizzy smiled and left Charles's office feeling somewhat relieved.
"Would you like to meet alone?" William asked Olivia when Jennings arrived. Olivia glanced at Richard and shook her head.
"There's nothing we have to discuss that can't be said in front of you all. Besides, Richard and I have talked it over and as I told you before, I don't want to sue."
"Have you been apprised of exactly what your options are?" Jennings asked. William suggested that he lay out the options so that Olivia could make a fully informed decision. When Jennings was done with his presentation, Olivia reaffirmed her decision not to sue.
"All I want is a public retraction and an apology." William nodded in agreement and told Jennings that he wanted that to be a condition of the severance terms. When Jennings had received his marching orders he left to go speak with Lily Church, accompanied by Marina. Christopher left for a business appointment of his own, and Richard escorted Olivia back to her office. William returned to his desk where he noticed Lizzy's message and smiled. But he turned away from his screen and stared out the window, contemplating how he'd deal with Lily when she came up to his office and how he'd cope with the bad publicity Lily's interference had caused the Companion project. It also occurred to him that he'd need a new publicity director. William closed his eyes and started thinking about strategies for dealing with each of these challenges. It was roughly an hour later when William got the call from Marina that he'd been waiting for. William sat for a few minutes in silence, trying to compose himself. He was determined not to let his anger get the better of him. He took a few deep breaths and checked his script. Finally, he received a buzz from Jo, who told him that Lily Church was waiting to see him. William took another deep breath and rose to his feet as Lily Church entered his office.
She looked different than he expected. He had no illusions that Lily would appear contrite; on the contrary, William rather expected that she would make a futile show of defiance. But the woman who stood before him did not look defiant or contrite. She looked defeated. The smell of cigarette smoke told him that she gone outside to try and calm her nerves with a quick hit of nicotine. Her eyes looked haggard, and William wondered if she had been sleeping well. He wondered for a moment what Lily's conscience looked like, but he quickly decided that he didn't care.
"Sit down, Ms. Church," William said in an even voice. He continued to stand, fully cognizant of the fact that his height advantage made him even more imposing. Lily sat down and stared at the window beyond William's desk. "I understand that you have met with Ms. Sanchez-Pena and Mr. Jennings," William began. Lilly nodded curtly. "Then you know why you've been called here." Lily was unresponsive, which didn't surprise William. Nonetheless, he found it annoying. He was silent for a full thirty seconds, which William deliberately counted out in his head. He was certain that he saw Lily's spine begin to weaken as she waited. A tiny smile flitted past William's lips.
"Why did you make false allegations about my employee, Ms. Church?" William said finally. Lily looked up, then.
"I don't know what you mean, William," she replied with surprising composure.
"I mean that you willfully spread a rumor involving Olivia Crenshaw in which you not only called into question her competency for the position she was hired for, but my reasons for her appointment. You willfully spread rumors not only about her, but also about my judgment as a businessman. Do you deny this?"
"Yes I do! Why should I want to do such a thing? When those two came to me this morning, I was completely shocked. All I can imagine is that this is something Jason set up as a means of avenging himself on me before he left."
"Why should your assistant want to do that?"
"Jason and I had a falling out. That's why he decided to leave. Obviously, he wanted to make sure that he had the last laugh." William strolled around the desk and opened the file that was lying there.
"I have a deposition from Jason Keller," he said. "Were you shown this?"
"No," Lily said warily as she strained to see what he held in his hands. William took a seat. He would enjoy what came next.
"According to this, you came into the office on December 26th of last year and first told him about a supposed relationship between Olivia Crenshaw and me."
"I did nothing of the kind! Why should I make up such a thing?"
"Why indeed?" William replied. "Tell me, something, Ms. Church. When did you set up the meetings for Ms. Crenshaw and myself with the press?"
"I made arrangements for the interviews on the 28th. The reporter who does the tech news for the wire service was on vacation for the whole week before Christmas and he wasn't back until then," Lily said after thinking for a moment.
"I see. So you met Ms. Crenshaw for the first time on the 18th and were given her portfolio. And you called the reporter on the 28th. Did you discuss Ms. Crenshaw with Jason Keller in the interim?" Lily looked at William, confused, but she quickly realized the trap that she'd laid for herself. "I'll answer for you; Jason Keller was on vacation the entire week before Christmas and returned to the office on the 26th. So there was no opportunity for him to know anything about Olivia Crenshaw prior to your introduction of the rumor on that day." Lily's mouth fell open. William casually tossed the file back onto the table and rose to stroll around the office while she took in his revelation. But Lily was a woman well able to think on her feet.
"That doesn't prove that I started the rumors, and you know it," she said venomously. William smiled. If she wanted to pull the gloves off, he was not above escalating his interrogation.
"You're absolutely right, Ms. Church," he said in a deceptively pleasant voice. "But as it happens, that doesn't matter. You are still guilty of having violated corporate policy about confidentiality and ethics."
"I...I--." Lily fell silent when William picked up the copy of the trade journal and tossed it onto the desk in front of Lily.
"How do you explain this?"
"I had nothing to do with this!" she lied.
"So you never spoke about the rumor with your husband, then? You never suggested that the Companion project was in trouble and that I hired a former lover and placed her in a position that she was in no way qualified to fill just so I'd have a convenient excuse to tank the entire thing at some future date?" he demanded, allowing his anger to touch his voice for the first time. "Tell me: where on earth did you come up with such an outlandish idea?" he asked. Lily blanched, but she quickly recovered herself. She looked down at the hands she was wringing in her lap.
"I didn't make up the story. I heard it from someone." William, standing behind his prey, smiled broadly. Lily saw his reflection in the window before her and was chilled by it.
"From whom?"
"Caroline Bingley," she said without hesitation.
"I don't believe you," William countered just as quickly. Lily leapt from her seat to confront William.
"It is true and you know it is! I saw Caroline on Christmas day. She told me all about how you had been involved with Olivia Crenshaw and then threw her over for Lizzy Bennet. When Olivia threatened you with a palimony suit, you bought her off with a job at DARCO on the Companion project. And you also pushed her on your cousin to get her out of your hair," Lily accused. "Caroline told me all about it! She told me how she walked out of your house on Christmas morning after Olivia had picked a fight with her. I just repeated what Caroline said!"
"Not that it matters," William said casually as he returned to his desk, "But I know you're lying."
"I am not lying!" Lily shouted. "Here," she said, grabbing for the receiver of William's phone and punching in a number. She handed the receiver to William. "You can ask her for yourself." William calmly took the receiver from Lily and hung it up.
"Sit down!" he demanded. Lily complied and William leaned forward. "As I was saying, it really doesn't matter, Ms. Church, because I am not firing you for starting the rumor--."
"Caroline Bingley is wholly responsible!"
"Caroline Bingley is not my employee, Ms. Church, you are. She never signed a confidentiality agreement. Any action she may have taken to defame Ms. Crenshaw is not my professional concern. But you, Ms. Church, are my concern. You are fired, Ms. Church, for bringing Caroline Bingley's rumor to the Darcy Corporation and spreading lies both inside and outside of this company like a cancer. You are fired, Ms. Church, because you have violated not only the bounds of company policy, but also the bounds of common decency. You are fired Ms. Church," William added, his voice rising slightly, "Because you are a discredit to your profession, a blemish on the reputation of a company I have spent years carefully building, and if you don't mind my saying so, you are a miserable self-willed, selfish human being who is not worthy to be a part of it. You are a liar, Ms. Church! Caroline Bingley never told you that story. I know that because I know for a fact that Caroline knows that I only met Ms. Crenshaw after I became involved with Lizzy Bennet, that she was the one who picked a fight with Ms. Crenshaw, and that she left my house on Christmas morning because her own brother asked her to. Most importantly, Ms. Church, I know that you are a liar because I know that Caroline Bingley never even heard of the Companion project before you mentioned it to her, and she likewise had no way of knowing that Olivia Crenshaw was my employee because that fact was never even discussed in her presence during the entire course of the time Caroline spent in Connecticut." William paused to draw breath after venting his spleen and watched as Lily virtually crumpled before his eyes. He sat and waited until he had completely schooled his emotions. He wanted Lily to meet his eyes, but she was intent on staring at the burled wood of his massive desk. Finally, William spoke.
"Mr. Jennings apprised you of your options, Ms. Church. You have the rest of the day to evacuate your office and until the end of the week to make your decision about the terms of your dismissal. You'll deal with Ms. Sanchez-Pena about that. Our interview is over." Lily looked into his eyes. The sheer coldness of his gaze discomfited her and she rose and left the office without another word. When the door closed behind her, William ran his hands through his hair and closed his eyes for several minutes before he was able to call Bates and ask him to bring his car around front.
William felt the need to escape the office and he got into the limousine with no idea of where he was going. On impulse, he thought of the one person who might make him feel better no matter what, a person who always was willing to listen to his troubles and support him unconditionally. William reached for his cell phone and made a quick call. Minutes later, he was headed north toward Connecticut. William pulled out his phone once more to dial Richard and update him on the morning's events.
"Will you let Olivia know?" William asked.
"Of course. She's lunching with her team today but I'll stop by and fill her in this afternoon." Richard replied. "You sound kind of spent."
"I am. I've decided to take off the rest of the day," William revealed as he loosened his tie.
"Wicked boy! And how do you expect to spend your time off?" Richard pried unabashedly.
"I'm having a very special lunch with a very special lady."
"Give GB a big kiss and hug for me," Richard answered, much to William's surprise.
"How did you know I was meeting with Grandma Bess?"
"Too simple; one, I just got an e-mail from her saying she just received an offer from a gorgeous young man and I haven't made one, and two, the other special lady in your life is sitting right here next to me, stealing my pickle. I'm having lunch with her and Charles. Want to talk to her?" William spoke briefly with Lizzy before he put his phone away and napped until he reached the family homestead. Hours later, he smiled on his way back to the city, ready to put the past behind him and ready to confront the future.
"Thank you for inviting me to lunch, William," Grandma Bess said.
"You're welcome, Grandma Bess," her grandson said absently as he stared at his menu.
"You know, if you nibble on my ear a little, my reputation will be made in this town," Bess teased. William looked up from his menu with a shocked expression.
"So you are listening to me!"
"Of course I am! What makes you think I'd come all the way up here to ignore you?" William replied defensively. Bess smiled at him.
"I do believe that you came up here with the best of intentions, William, but you obviously have something else on your mind." William reddened slightly. He confessed that he had called his grandmother because he needed to escape the reality of life at the office for a bit.
"Do you mind?" William asked sheepishly.
"Mind? I am always glad for any excuse to see any of my grandchildren and always thrilled to be seen in the company of such a gorgeous man!" William smiled self-consciously. "What's on your mind, my darling?" William told Bess all about the Lily Church affair.
"Well, I'm certainly glad that's over with. Richard told me how upset Livy had been when she first heard about it." William agreed that there were probably few people at the Darcy Corporation who'd be sorry to see Lily go. Bess looked at him a moment when he had done with his tale.
"What else is on your mind?"
"Nothing. Other than that and getting the Companion launched, I have no problems at all," William insisted. But Bess watched him sip his wine and was unconvinced.
"How are things between you and Lizzy?" she asked without preamble. Her question caught William completely off guard.
"Fine. Never better, in fact. Why?" Bess regarded her oldest grandson for a moment.
"You look a little depressed. I was hoping that--."
"Oh, no. Everything between us is fine."
"And she is as crazy about you as you are about her," Bess suggested.
"I certainly hope so," William replied warily. "What are you driving at?"
"Have you any doubts about her feelings for you?" Bess persisted.
"Not a one. Have you?" William asked, laying down his fork to give his grandmother his undivided attention.
"No dear. Anyone with eyes can see how much in love you and Lizzy are."
"Then why are you giving me the third degree?" William asked. Bess put a hand to her grandson's cheek.
"Because I can see that you're worried about something. Does it involve Lizzy?" William gave up any pretense of innocence and pushed away his plate.
"She has been on my mind a lot lately, yes."
"Problems?"
"No! Opportunities, if anything; you know that Charles and Jane are getting married soon? I was kind of hoping that--."
"Good things come in threes?" William looked up quizzically. Bess quickly averted her eyes to her plate and became absorbed in pushing around her salad.
"I guess I was hoping that Lizzy and I could start thinking about our future too, but Lizzy's not ready," William said somewhat dejectedly. Bess waited for him to continue. "I mean, we're very happy together. I even think she believes that we'll be married someday, but she's not ready to think about marriage."
"I see. You've been dating...how long has it been?"
"About four months," William sighed.
"I see. That is an eternity to a Fitzwilliam male, isn't it?" Bess smiled.
"Four months isn't such a short time for a courtship," William argued.
"Neither is six months, or ten, or even--."
"I see your point, Grandma Bess," William conceded. "And I'm not rushing her. I just wish she was ready."
"Oh, so you want her to marry you before she finds out what a worthless reprobate you are." William laughed.
"It's just that having her up here over the holidays made me long for a wife and a home, a bunch of kids running rampant over the property..."
"And I'd be delighted to have a few more great grandchildren added to the fold. But good things come to those who wait." William sighed and Bess reached out and squeezed his hand.
"I'm not impatient, just envious, I guess. And I don't know how to help Lizzy get past her fear of commitment."
"What makes you think she has one?" Bess asked gently.
"Something Jane told me. It seems that Lizzy has been squeamish about the idea of long-term commitments since her parents died unexpectedly when she was rather young," William confided.
"That's not so unusual. Events like that leave deep wounds, Will. You know how it was for you after Emma died." William looked into his grandmother's eyes.
"That was different. I mean, I cared about her, but I never made any serious commitment to her. What I went through after her death was more about me than Emma."
"That's exactly what I mean. Lizzy isn't grieving her parents. She's questioning her own courage to commit to someone she can't bear the thought of losing," Bess explained.
William thought for a moment, and nodded as understanding dawned.
"But she's allowed herself to love me...that's a commitment in and of itself!"
"Well, I suppose she didn't have much say in that. Poor girl fell in love with you in spite of herself. But marriage requires a conscious decision, and it means significant changes from the life she's built for herself to a life built around you... That isn't easy for any woman." William scoffed at her remark.
"I'm not that kind of man, Grandma Bess. I would never expect to have her base her whole existence on me. In fact, I'm eager to build my life around hers. I love that she has her own identity and a share in a company she loves working for. I'd never deprive her of any of that. I wouldn't even ask her to change her name if she didn't want to..." William ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
"Would you like to share a crème brulee?" Bess smiled. William signaled the waiter. When the dessert was served along with coffee, Bess attempted to explain things from her perspective.
"It's amazing what the love of a good woman can accomplish. You've both become so focused, so serious, especially Fizz. I've never seen that scamp so concerned about the future as he's been since he became involved with Olivia. It's rather interesting to see how much you two have matured since the summer."
"Fitz is contemplating marriage?" William asked incredulously.
"I didn't say that," Bess replied.
"But you said something about good things coming in threes. You aren't trying to tell me...?"
"I'm not trying to tell you anything. If you want to know Richard's plans you'll have to ask him for yourself," Bess answered in a tone that brooked no argument. William sat back in his chair and thought back to the domestic scene he'd intruded upon at Richard's place a few days earlier. He glanced up at his grandmother, but her eyes revealed nothing. That cinched it, in William's mind.
"...But it's different for us women," Bess was saying. "When a man contemplates marriage, he thinks about making a home for wife and children. He thinks about his finances and his life insurance. Maybe he thinks about giving up his bachelorhood, but not much else. For a woman, marriage means changing her whole perspective. If Lizzy were to marry you, even if she retained her maiden name she'll be thought of as William Darcy's wife. She'll be living in your homes, and bearing your children."
"They'll all be hers, too!" William insisted.
"In your eyes perhaps, and maybe in hers as well. But the rest of the world will see things differently, especially given your wealth and social status. All the years she spent becoming the woman she is and most of the world will see her a little more than an appendage. That was the norm in my day. It was the lot of any woman...she was no one if she didn't marry and no one if she did. But things are different today, Will. Lizzyis somebody and she'll be loath to relinquish that identity, even if she gains you in the bargain." William was pensive as she spooned a bit of custard into his mouth.
"So is Richard engaged or what?" he asked after a minute. Bess playfully cuffed him.
"It's a wonder she puts up with you at all," Bess shook her head.
Over the ensuing months, things returned to normal at the Darcy Corporation. The scandal quickly abated after Lily Church published a formal apology and retraction in the company newsletter. Lily was also forced to make a public retraction of the story in her husband's column in the trade journal. William was forced to hire a public relations firm to come in for a short time to do damage control on the DARCO project's image, and after much thought, he decided against replacing Lily Church and Jason Keller and eliminated the public relations office entirely.
Olivia fell into a routine where she spent two weeks out of each month in New York and the rest of her time in Pennsylvania. When she was in New York she stayed with Richard, and when she was in Pennsylvania, Richard spent every weekend and whatever time he could spare with her there. As Lizzy found herself free of her houseguest, Lizzy spent more time with William, accompanying him to London on a business trip, and spending a long weekend in Vermont and a week in the Bahamas. She had tested her keys in each location, and William promised that before the end of spring she would have the opportunity to test the key to his apartment in Tokyo. One Friday morning in late March found Olivia and Lizzy lying side by side on massage tables at Elizabeth Arden. Lizzy was having her monthly treatment, one of William's Christmas gifts to her. Richard had treated Olivia to her day of beauty at the famous spa.
"So what did he say?" Lizzy asked as she felt the muscles of her back loosening under the expert fingers of her masseuse.
"His reaction was rather subdued," Olivia replied. "He liked the color--but then his Mercedes is the identical shade of blue. He also liked that I bought a German car and said he was glad it wasn't a lime green snowball like yours."
"I love my Beetle!" Lizzy cried in her car's defense.
"So do I, but I preferred the roominess of the Golf."
"Was that all Richard said?" Olivia nodded.
"I think he was a little disappointed. He really wanted to buy me a car. But I didn't want him to. Besides, since I've been involved with him I've been hard-pressed to find anything to spend money on. I really wanted to do this for myself," Olivia declared.
"So you didn't discuss it with him?"
"Yes, we talked a bit. But he really didn't understand my perspective. He doesn't understand why I would rather finance a car when he could simply write a check for it in full. By the way, if he asks, you are not to tell him when my birthday is," Olivia warned.
"Why on earth not?" Olivia shrugged.
"I just don't trust him. He's going to try to do something to make up for not letting him buy me a car. I just know it."
"Your boyfriend wanted to buy you a car and you wouldn't let him?" Olivia's masseuse cried in disbelief. Olivia turned over and shot her a look. The masseuse blushed crimson.
"What'll you pay to buy my silence?" Lizzy laughed. "I could use the money. I know of something I can spend a lot of money on."
"Oh? Do tell!"
"Charles has offered me a full partnership in Cherry Blossom. He said he thought about it a lot after that scare back at Christmas, and he decided that we should be equal partners in the firm."
"That's great, Lizzy! So, are you going to go for it?" Olivia asked as she rose from her bench. Lizzy got up as well and the women shrugged into their robes.
"I don't know. It would be an awful lot of money, even if Charles is offering me a generous discount. I'd have to take out a loan."
"Can you put a mortgage on your house?" Lizzy shook her head.
"Well, I suppose I could, but it's not my house...well, not mine alone. Besides, we still haven't decided what's happening with the house once Jane and Charles are married. I'm beginning to think, though, that I'll either be moving to the top floor or moving out entirely. Charles is spending more and more time at the house and I have the feeling he's beginning to think of it as home," Lizzy joked.
"You aren't considering a move to Manhattan, are you?" Olivia said euphemistically. Lizzy sat down on a bench.
"I don't know. William has brought up the topic a few times, but I haven't let it go very far." Olivia sat down beside her.
"Why? Is there something wrong?"
"No! Heavens, no! Things couldn't be better between us. I just don't know if I'm ready for marriage."
"Have you two been talking about marriage?" Olivia gasped. Lizzy shot her a look.
"William has been talking marriage. I've been talking cold feet," she said as she rose. The women went into the hair salon and took adjoining seats.
"Think I should let it grow out?" Olivia said to no one in particular as she ran her fingers through her hair.
"I think you should dye it red," Lizzy replied.
"Been there, done that. These locks will never wear Kool Aid again," Olivia said, referring to that brief period in her college days when her hair sported a carmine red streak. "I have a professional image to worry about now." Olivia made a face in the mirror. "Geez, I sound like such a grown up!"
"I want to be a grown up, too," Lizzy pouted, her mind on Charles's proposal--if she could just raise the money. "I was a fool. I should have taken Caroline's offer. Then I'd be able to afford to buy half the company," she smiled at her perverse logic.
"No more dye for you, either," Olivia said as she leaned back to have her hair washed. "I think it's seeped into your brain."
"Do I look like I'm getting fat to you?" Richard asked.
"You don't look any different to me," Jane replied as she speared a large shrimp from his plate of stir-fried shrimp and noodles. "You're as buff and hot as you always were." Richard glanced up in surprise and amusement, and Jane quickly averted her eyes to her own plate. The pair was sitting cross-legged on the stage of the huge dance barn on the Darcy property. At the far end of the space, Olivia and Charles were pacing out the floor with a measuring tape and in the middle of the room Lizzy and William were slow dancing to music only the two of them could hear.
"What makes you think you're getting fat?" Jane assayed when she'd suppressed her blush. "I thought you were a workout fiend."
"Oh, I am. But it's getting hard to keep up. Livy's been testing recipes on me and although she has the metabolism of a hummingbird, I don't." Jane laughed as she looked across the floor where Charles and Olivia were in conversation. Richard looked up as well, in time to see William dip Lizzy and then silence her giggle with a rather passionate kiss.
"Do you mind?" Richard cried. "Some of us are trying to eat here!" William made a face at Richard, but Lizzy let out a cry and headed for the stage. Abandoned by his dance partner, William reluctantly followed. Lizzy dug into the large basket and helped herself to some of the lunch that Olivia had packed for the three couples, who were spending the weekend in Connecticut making plans for Jane and Charles's autumn wedding.
"Oh, I love Livy's Asian noodles," Lizzy smiled. "Oh, and summer rolls!" Lizzy exclaimed as she opened a container. William sat on the end of the stage and was handed a plate and a cold beer.
"Did you tell her?" William nodded towards Olivia.
"Nah, let her have her fun," Richard replied.
"Tell her what?" Jane asked.
"That we already know the barn's dimensions. We've held more functions here than I care to count," William said. "The space is 40 by 100 feet. The windows are five feet wide and ten feet high. There are drapes for them somewhere. Mrs. Reynolds knows where they are and what colors they are. And she can also describe in perfect detail all the kitchen facilities in the back," William managed between mouthfuls of summer roll.
"Oh, for goodness' sake, you two. Livy! Charles! Come here!" Jane cried, with disparaging looks at the cousins.
"You called, my love?" Charles replied as he approached the stage.
"Yes. The Fitzes here apparently already have all the measurements you need, as well as all the details about the space," she smirked. Olivia raised an eyebrow.
"Why didn't you two just tell us back at the house?" she asked as she retracted her measuring tape.
"You didn't ask," Richard explained. "Besides, Fitz wanted to take Lizzy dancing." Lizzy smiled lovingly at William, who returned the look. "Hey! I'm still eating," Richard warned.
"I don't get nauseous when you look at Olivia lovingly," William remarked.
"I don't look at her the way you look at Lizzy," Richard argued.
"Oh, yes you do," Lizzy and Charles replied in unison.
"Why not?" Olivia pouted, much to everyone's amusement. Richard demonstrated what he considered to be the sort of look William gave Lizzy. Olivia laughed and William pretended to be offended. The six ate their lunch of summer rolls and noodles, and then washed down almond cookies with jasmine tea while Olivia pitched an idea to Jane and Charles. "I've been thinking about something for the free site," she began.
"Free site?" Jane inquired.
"Yes, I'm going to have two web sites. The first will be a site only accessible to those who own the Cook's Companion or who have subscribed to the service, and the other one will be an events planning site that's open to the general public. The Cook's Companion site will be geared toward professionals in the food industry and it will allow them access to a wide range of resources for restaurants, caterers, and events planners. The other one will be geared toward anyone planning parties, weddings, or other special events. And that is where you guys come in." Jane and Charles exchanged a look.
"What's this?" William asked, lifting his head from its resting place in Lizzy's lap.
"I know I haven't run this by you yet, boss, but I had a marvelous idea," Olivia replied.
"Hey, as far as your sites go, you're the boss. Let's hear it."
"Well, I was thinking that it would be really cool to have actual event schedules on the site for people to look at, something to give people an idea of what they need to think about. So...I was wondering if you two would be willing to have your wedding plans made public on the Internet." Jane and Charles exchanged another glance.
"What does that mean, exactly?" Jane asked cautiously.
"It would mean that I'd put up this calendar that I've been mapping out for you all this weekend, and people would be able to follow your wedding plans over the next seven months as your wedding approaches. We'd do all your planning online, using the services accessible from the site: the gift registry, your invitations, your gown, flowers, and so on."
"You're ordering a gown online?" Lizzy asked Jane in surprise.
"Well, I've been looking at them online," Jane admitted. "Sooner or later I do plan on going to a salon, though."
"That's okay, Jane. The idea is that you can save yourself a lot of time and give yourself more options using the web site. It'd be great PR for the site and it wouldn't entail your doing any more than what you and Charles are doing already, except that I'd take a few pictures of the happy couple and put them up on the page."
"Sounds cool," Richard smiled.
"Would you cover the wedding as well?" Charles asked.
"That would be up to you two. But that would be a great finale," Olivia suggested. "Think about it, will you?"
"I like the idea," William said, "If you two wouldn't think it an invasion of your privacy. And speaking of PR, Olivia, you know we have a meeting with the Gardiner Group on Monday. If you two can give us an answer before then, we could include it in our discussions with them."
"What's the Gardiner Group?" Lizzy asked.
"It's the public relations firm I hired to do publicity for the Companion launch next month. As you know, I eliminated my in-house public relations department after the Lily Church debacle."
"...And good riddance," Richard murmured.
"I can't say I disagree with you," William concurred.
"Well, I promise that we'll give your idea some thought and let you know before the weekend is out," Jane said.
"So, Jane and Livy, what's this wedding going to look like?" Lizzy inquired.
"Livy has this great idea for an autumn theme," Jane began with a smile.
"If it involves the best man doing something with pumpkins, I hereby register my protest," Richard quipped. Olivia ruffled his hair, much to William's amusement. He could remember a time when such an action immediately put Richard's sisters into mortal peril.
"No, Silly Man. No pumpkins. But I was thinking that a lovely shade of pumpkin would be ideal for Lizzy's gown. It'd complement her coloring very nicely."
"And William's," Jane smiled impishly. "I've been meaning to bring this up, Will. It's customary for the bride to have all her closest friends in the wedding party. Would you like to be a bridesmaid?" William squinted at Jane.
"I'm very flattered, but I think I'll have to respectfully decline," he countered. "I've already been asked to be a groomsman."
"Aw..." Lizzy pouted. "And we were looking at dresses last night that would have been perfect for you...if you did a full body waxing," Lizzy giggled. In response, William reached up and ruffled her hair, although Lizzy didn't take it as well as Richard had. She grabbed his hand and a small struggle ensued between the couple, as the others continued to discuss the wedding theme as Richard helped Olivia pack up the remains of their lunch.
"How big a shindig is this thing going to be?" Richard inquired.
"Oh, it'll be rather small," Jane said.
"Small as in a few good friends or small according to Kathleen Fitzwilliam: anything less than 200?"
"Very small, then. We're thinking about 100 to 150 people at most."
"Of course, when Caroline looked at the list of guests, she instantly thought of another 30 people she deems absolutely necessary," Charles chuckled, but Jane shook her head.
"I don't know any of them. She can invite them to her own wedding. I just want our families and our good friends there."
"Here, here!" Olivia said as she toasted the couple with her mug of tea. Richard looked at her.
"How many people would you like to see at your wedding?" Olivia colored slightly.
"I...I've always liked the idea of a really intimate wedding, no more than 50 people...but preferably about 20." Richard nodded thoughtfully, ignoring Olivia's questioning look.
When Lizzy finally subdued William and turned her attention back to the discussion, she had missed a good deal of what had been said. The others were preparing to leave, so she walked out to the car with Olivia and Charles to get caught up. Richard, meanwhile, decided to take the opportunity to play out a dramatic scene on the stage before they departed. As William leapt from the stage, Richard spontaneously grabbed Jane's hand.
"Jane, why don't you forget about marrying that jerk and run off with me?" Richard said, dropping to his knee and emoting at the stunned woman. "He'll never make you happy. The man is a terrible housekeeper and he snores. I know this from personal experience." At the foot of the stage, William snorted.
"How could you tell he's a terrible housekeeper when you're such a pig yourself?"
"No heckling, please! I'm trying to perform here," Richard cried.
"Yes, I see," William quipped. "Very trying..." he groaned. Olivia had poked her head back into the barn and now came forward.
"He's a pretty decent housekeeper when he's at my place," she said smugly to a surprised William. "Does dishes, makes beds and everything."
"Well, in that case, I'll take him," Jane laughed. "You're absolutely right about Charles." Richard laughed and jumped down from the stage before he helped Jane down. Jane walked out with William, leaving Olivia to shake her head at Richard.
"Looking for a better offer?"
"There is no better," Richard replied. He gave Olivia a rather convincing kiss before he escorted her to his Range Rover for the ride back to William's house.
Shortly after dinner, Lizzy decided to give Grandma Bess a call. She had only seen her once since Christmas, although they stayed in touch with weekly e-mails between them. After a few minutes on the phone, Lizzy returned and announced that she was going over to the Fitzwilliam homestead to see Bess in person.
"Would anyone care to join me?" Olivia agreed to go. She was staying with the Fitzwilliams this visit, as she had done on all previous visits to Connecticut since the holidays. She wanted to go back to the house to change out of the sweater she had spilled tea on earlier. The two convinced Jane to join them. "Yes, let's make it a proper ladies' visit and we can send Hugh over here to hang out with the men."
"No need. My dad is in Ottawa at the moment," Richard volunteered.
"Cool! Well, you boys have fun. I'm taking your keys, Will," Lizzy called on her way to the door. William, Charles, and Richard exchanged glances from their respective positions on the couches in the den. William smiled and closed his eyes. Charles and Richard turned on the television and found a hockey game to watch.
"It's so good to see you again, Lizzy," Bess said as she hugged her warmly. "And Jane, every time I see you you're more beautiful."
"She's already got that glow about her," Kathleen concurred. "You're going to make a stunning bride. Come in, come in, and sit down. I want to hear all the details you've come up with." The women made themselves comfortable in the spacious family room, and over a bottle of wine they discussed the preliminary plans for the wedding.
"You are welcome to stay here before the wedding, Jane," Bess suggested. "You'll need a place away from your fiancé the night before the wedding and a little breathing room out of the line of fire. It sounds as though there will be a lot going on at William's place."
"Oh, yes! You must come and stay here. Mother and I will be at your disposal to help out in any way that we can."
"Thank you, Bess and Kathleen, that's very kind of you. I'd love to come and stay here."
"What about you girls?" Bess asked Lizzy and Olivia a few minutes later. "When do I get to dance at my grandsons' weddings?" Both Lizzy and Olivia blushed, but it was Lizzy who recovered first.
"I think Livy and Richard will beat William and me to the altar." Olivia's mouth fell open.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that."
"I would." Lizzy said with a knowing smile. Olivia looked at her quizzically and wondered if Richard had told her something.
"Well, I don't know who's going to be first, but I'm seriously considering getting two bouquets to throw with a targeting mechanism installed on each one," Jane laughed. "Both of them are so ready for marriage." Lizzy gasped at Jane's statement.
"Not me! Not by a long shot!"
"Why not, dear? William tells me that things couldn't be better between you and he's more than ready to settle down," Bess revealed. Lizzy blushed crimson, earning a smirk from Olivia. "And I know how Richard feels about you, too, dear, so don't think you can escape my question, either. What are you two waiting for?"
William left the men to go and read in his study, leaving Richard and Charles to stretch out on the couches to enjoy the game. They were quite comfortable an hour or so later when the women returned.
"They're just as we left them!" Jane exclaimed as she entered the den. "Why am I not surprised?"
"Hi, baby," Olivia cooed as she carefully bent to kiss Richard so as not to block his view of the game. He sat up so that she could sit beside him just as Lizzy entered the room.
"Hey! I distinctly recall leaving three gorgeous men in this room. We appear to be one short," she pouted. "Where's William?" Richard and Charles shrugged. "I'll put some water on for tea before I go and conduct a room to room search," Lizzy smiled. She headed for the kitchen and Olivia joined her. "You know, I still can't get over Grandma Bess; she laid it on thicker than usual today. I think she'd like nothing more than to see us barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen ASAP," Lizzy laughed.
"That's not true, Lizzy. She just loves her grandsons and can't wait to see them both happily settled, and since she's decided that they've each found the perfect woman," she paused to gesture at herself and Lizzy, "She can't understand what we're all waiting for."
"Well, you and Richard certainly are ready for marriage. The two of you have become quite domestic of late. What was all that in the car this morning about compost?" Lizzy asked as she warmed the teapot.
"We're laying out a new garden at the side of the house. Why?" Olivia asked innocently.
"William said that Richard's only exposure to compost prior to meeting you was the stuff he accidentally produced in his closet as a kid." Olivia rolled her eyes as Lizzy laughed.
"Why does everyone keep telling me that Richard is a slob? Granted, he likes to throw his clothes around, but he does pick them up eventually, and he cleans his apartment all the time. Of course, he also has a part-time housekeeper there..."
"You know, I couldn't help noticing that you've got a little bulge happening on your biceps. If I didn't know better I'd say that Richard's got you exercising." Olivia smiled.
"You know I've always hated to exercise, but we made a deal. In exchange for my giving him cooking lessons, I've agreed to begin weight training. Of course, Richard had to go out and get smaller weights for me," she laughed.
"Ah, the couple that plays together stays together," Lizzy smirked.
"Yes, and speaking of budding domesticity, you have William knitting!"
"Well, that was more his own idea than mine," Lizzy admitted.
"I like that vest of his. Whatever happened to yours? You know, William asked me if I had any patterns that were a bit more challenging. I'm taking him to a yarn shop in the city next week." Olivia taunted. "And did I see correctly or were you scanning the paper this morning for flea markets and antique shows you and William could sneak off to tomorrow?"
"I like flea markets," she replied reasonably.
"And Sotheby's? I understand you've been to two auctions this month?" Lizzy shrugged and changed the subject.
"Well, at least you don't hear us discussing how we should plow the back forty and plant crops." Olivia playfully slapped Lizzy's arm.
"We're just putting in a flower bed, not that it stands a chance if I keep spending so much time away from home."
"It's really serious between you and Richard, isn't it?" Lizzy asked seriously.
"I wouldn't be living in his place half the time if it wasn't, Lizzy. What's your point?"
"My point is: you are going to beat me to the altar by a mile!" Lizzy exclaimed with malicious glee.
"Is that why you offered us up to GB for sacrifice at the altar?" Lizzy groaned at the pun.
"Well, you do show all the signs..."
"And you and William don't?"
"...And unless I'm going blind, you obtained some of the hardware as well." Olivia looked up from the tray where she was laying out cookies.
"Huh?"
"When we were at the spa yesterday, I noticed a flash of diamonds at your waist," Lizzy hinted. She crossed her arms and waited for an explanation.
"So?" She had completely forgotten about hiding her engagement ring from Lizzy at the spa.
"So? Don't you think you have some explaining to do?"
"About what?" Olivia asked as she turned and reached for the kettle, which had begun to boil.
"That little token on your waist is from Richard, isn't it?"
"Yes. What about it?" Olivia asked as casually as she could make herself sound. Lizzy continued to wait. "I haven't asked about the second tennis bracelet on your arm, have I?" Olivia countered.
"Oh, this?" Lizzy lifted her wrist and touched the strand of diamonds alternated with rubies. "It was a Valentine's Day present. But I believe we were discussing your jewelry."
"No," Olivia countered, "You were. I was about to remark on your apparent eagerness to deflect Bess's attention away from yourself." She put the kettle back on the stovetop and turned to Lizzy. "I still don't understand why you have such cold feet, Lizzy. You and William are crazy about each other. He's the only man you've ever dated that I've totally approved of--except for Richard, of course, and he's off limits. And I know William wants to get married." Lizzy poured milk into her cup and sat on one of the counter stools.
"I know...and I want to marry him, too, someday. Don't you think I spend all my time here imagining what it would be like to call this place home, or what it would be like to have a brood of kids sliding down the banisters, as Will puts it? There's a part of me that would love to be his wife. I'm just not ready yet."
"What will it take for you to be ready?" Lizzy shrugged.
"You know I'm a coward about commitment, but in my heart I am as committed to William as I will ever be to another human being. He's all I want in a life companion. Last year at this time, I would have never imagined it would be possible for me to love someone as much as I do William Darcy."
"Have you tried telling him that?" Richard asked as he strode into the room. "Fitz loves mushy declarations." Lizzy colored slightly. "Me, I prefer actions to words," he said with a suggestive waggle of his brows to Olivia.
"This was a private conversation, Silly Man," Olivia said as she watched Richard sip her tea. "If I let you have that and a cookie, will you go away like a good boy?" Richard held out for three cookies and a kiss before he headed for the door.
"I mean it, Liz. If you haven't told him, you ought to," he said from the doorway. Lizzy bit her lip.
"Richard!" Lizzy impulsively called after him. Seconds later, his handsome face reappeared in the doorway. "April 2nd!" She smiled. Olivia gasped and threw a cookie at Lizzy as Richard nodded and walked away, confused.
"You rat!" Olivia cried.
"Well, you're being coy about that chain and diamond charm, so I felt a bit of retaliation was in order."
"Retaliation, huh? Just wait until William and I have our shopping date. I have a long list of things about your past to warn him about."
"William and I have no secrets," Lizzy sniffed. Olivia burst into laughter.
"Really? Then I can't wait to hear his take on the 'sleeping bag incident,'" she laughed. Lizzy shrieked and ran after Olivia as she headed back to the den.
Richard knocked on the door to William's study before he opened it and looked in.
"Yo, cuz!"
"Yo, cuz?" William repeated disdainfully.
"What are you doing hiding out back here? The ladies are back." Richard sat down and offered his cousin one of his cookies. William smiled as he accepted it.
"You know, I should have marketed these," he said as he examined the oatmeal cookie. William bit into it as Richard observed him
"So what have you been up to?" he asked again.
"Just looking at the family tree," he replied as he scrolled down the screen. His eyes went from Richard Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Dugan, to their four children: Stewart, Peter, Kathleen, and Anne. Only two of the children survived. William's mother Anne succumbed to cancer when he was 20; Peter Fitzwilliam died as a child due to a congenital heart defect. William's eyes moved to Bess's grandchildren. Stewart, in spite of being the eldest, was the last to have children--Matt and David. Kathleen was the first of the Fitzwilliams to marry, and she and Hugh Fitzwilliam had given Bess her first grandchildren, twins Corrine and Caitlin. William was the next to be born to Anne and her husband George Darcy, and Richard came along a few months later. Georgiana was the second youngest of the grandchildren, being nine months older than David. William stared wistfully at the screen, prompting Richard to rise and see for himself what had so captured William's attention.
"The page looks great," Richard commented. "Lizzy really did a nice job on it." William nodded vaguely as his eyes went to the next branch on the family tree. Bess had only two great grandchildren, Caitlin's two girls. William recalled Corrine revealing at Christmas that she was trying to get pregnant. But he was more concerned about his own lack of heirs on the Darcy branch of the tree.
"Thinking of having kids, Fitz?" William asked unexpectedly.
"Now?"
"After you're married."
"Oh. Yes, as a matter of fact Olivia and I have already worked out a deal for sons." William looked up.
"Grandma Bess told me you were considering becoming engaged."
"She did not!" Richard countered. He knew that was highly unlikely because she was one of the few people privy to the fact that Richard had already given Olivia a ring.
"Yes she did," William smiled. "Why are you denying it? Anyone with eyes can see you're as ready for marriage as you're ever likely to be. You two even sound like an old married couple," William laughed. "I never thought I'd live to see the day. In fact, I can remember a few months ago hearing you say that I shouldn't mention your name in the same sentence with the word marriage."
"Did I?" Richard sat on the edge of William's desk and scratched his head. "I don't remember. But if I did, I'm sure I said it before I met Livy."
"Oh, so you admit it, then; you are considering becoming engaged."
"No, not exactly. But I am thinking about building a house and settling down with Livy in the foreseeable future."
"Doesn't that entail an engagement somewhere along the line?"
"Only for the unimaginative. Cut right to the chase, I say. Just get married and get on with it." William grinned.
"And does Olivia agree with this philosophy?" Richard shrugged.
"I haven't consulted her yet. But I'm fairly certain I can get her to go along with it. I plan on taking her out to the site tomorrow and showing her where the house will be. Want to come? We could use someone with your vision."
"Are you sure you'd want me there? It sounds like it ought to be a fairly private moment." Richard looked at William oddly.
"Oh, no, not at all," he said when he figured out William's meaning. "She already knows about the house. Livy's even been collecting magazines so we can decide what kind of house we want." William straightened up in his seat.
"This sounds really serious. And Olivia's agreed to this?"
"Agreed to what? My building a house? Of course she has, why shouldn't she?" William shook his head.
"You've been dating what, five, six months now?" he asked.
"Technically? Tomorrow's the start of April so...geez! It's Monday!"
"What's Monday?" William asked, perplexed.
"Livy's birthday. And that little minx refused to tell me..." Richard grumbled. "Anyway, it's only been three months. What of it?"
"You've only been dating three months and you're talking about marriage and building a house and children..."
"Amazing, isn't it? Who would have thought I would turn thirty and suddenly become such a normal adult?" Richard beamed.
"Well, I wouldn't go quite so far," William interjected. "But it has been such a short time, Fitz."
"It's the Fitzwilliam curse. We are an impetuous lot."
"Oh," William mused as he rested his chin on his hand.
"Come on, don't try to tell me that you haven't been thinking about marriage," Richard prodded as he resumed his seat across from his cousin.
"Well," William said, sitting back and putting his long legs up on the desk. "I have, but frankly, Lizzy wants to wait a bit. She says she's not ready for marriage." Richard observed William's brooding expression.
"If it makes you feel any better, I just heard her say that she feels quite committed to you, even if she's not quite ready to tie the knot."
"Did she?"
"Yes, she was telling Livy with something about your being more than she bargained for." William's eyes promptly opened wider. "Uh, no, no, that wasn't it. I think she said..." Richard snapped his fingers and smiled. "That's it! Her exact words were, 'Last year at this time, I would have never imagined it would be possible for me to love someone as much as I do William Darcy.' Looked like she meant it, too." William smiled.
"Thanks, Fitz."
"Hey, I'm only repeating what I heard." Richard looked at William for a moment. "So, cuz, what are you going to do to get Lizzy to the altar?"
"What am I going to do?" William uncrossed his legs and rose to go to the liquor cabinet. He fetched a bottle of single malt and two glasses. He peeked into Richard's teacup as he returned to his seat. "Here, 'normal adult.' Try some of this while I try and come up with an answer to your question." He handed Richard a glass.
"So you've already been thinking about it?" Richard said as the bracing liquid slid easily down his throat.
"It's very nearly all I've thought about since Christmas. I want to marry Lizzy," William declared out loud with what could only be described as a pout. Richard burst into laughter.
...The long-awaited DARCO Companion series, originally scheduled to launch in December of last year, may be put on hold permanently by internal controversy over the appointment of a creative director by the CEO, William Darcy. Unnamed sources close to the company charge that Darcy appointed the director without the approval of the Companion team and that many suspect that the appointment was forced on them for the express purpose of creating an excuse to scrap the troubled Companion project entirely.
Part 22
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