Fitzwilliam/Fitzwilliam ~ Section XXVI

    By Judy-Lynne

    Beginning, Previous Section, Section XXVI, Next Section

    Part 23

    The limousine came to a stop on an unlikely place for a yarn shop. William lowered the window and peered out at the bustling street dubiously.

    "It's on the third floor," Olivia smiled as she slid out of the car. William followed her lead and soon they were in an elevator and on their way to the door of a yarn store that was completely invisible to the wholesale district below. Olivia smiled at William as they stepped out of the elevator. "By the way, Richard is back at the office pretending to be angry at the fact that we're spending a second lunch hour together this week."

    "How do you know he is only pretending?"

    "Well, he knows that we're going to a yarn store, and that I am buying yarn for the sweater I promised to make him this year, since his grandmother is no longer alive." William held the door and allowed Olivia to precede him onto the store. William was immediately taken with the huge array of yarns that surrounded him on three sides. The shop owner came out to greet Olivia, who had been shopping with her since her days at Pratt.

    "Olivia, good to see you again. Oh, and you brought your young man this time. Now we can see what color is best for his sweater." Both Olivia and William looked at the woman oddly for a moment.

    "Oh! Oh, no, Anya. This is not my 'young man,' this is my friend, William." William instinctively offered his hand and realized sheepishly, as Anya reluctantly took it, that one didn't usually shake hands with proprietors of yarn shops. "William is a knitter and I wanted him to see this place. As for my young man," Olivia smiled, and pulled out a photograph. "That is Richard."

    "You have excellent taste in men!" the matronly shopkeeper smiled as she watched William wander toward the shelves. "And in friends as well," she said with an expressive smile. Olivia pretended to be shocked, and the two women giggled as they headed for the Scottish wool Olivia wanted for Richard's sweater. William, meanwhile, became entranced by the dizzying array of colors. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the pattern that Olivia had found for him. It was for another vest, but this one had an intricate pattern of five colors worked together. He walked toward the shelves bearing sport weight yarns and paused to read the pattern as he stood before the shelves.

    "Need help?" William looked up to see a young woman standing beside him. William shook his head and smiled briefly, hoping she would go away, but she peered at the pattern for a moment before she smiled up at him again.

    "That looks like a very challenging pattern."

    "I like a challenge every now and again." The woman's eyes lit up and her smile broadened.

    "You have a beautiful accent. Where are you from?" William suppressed an urge to roll his eyes.

    "Connecticut," he said tersely. He looked around in search of Olivia and then took a few steps along the shelves as he feigned interest in a ball of mohair yarn.

    "Oh, you can't use that yarn for that pattern, sir...see? It calls for a sport weight yarn."

    "I am aware of that--." The woman took hold of his wrist and drew him toward a different shelf.

    "Aren't your customers allowed to look at any yarn in the store that strikes their fancy, or are they only permitted to look at yarn they have patterns for?" The woman blinked back at William and smiled.

    "Oh, sure. You can look at any yarn you like, but here's the yarn you want to buy. This is the yarn called for in your pattern, see? You'll need five olive, two of the burgundy, two of the teal--." She began to pull out the skeins of yarn as she spoke.

    "Suppose I wanted to use another color scheme?" The saleswoman looked at him oddly.

    "Well, you can, if you like..."

    "Thank you," William said. He strode over to the rack of baskets and picked up one. Ignoring the armful of yarn the saleswoman still held, William selected his own colors for the vest.

    "You really should use the original color scheme, you know. It goes so well with your coloring." William gave the woman a wan smile and went back to the mohair. "If you're interested in that yarn, I can find a pattern for you. We don't have many patterns for men's sweaters using mohair, I'm afraid..." The woman fell silent as William picked up a ball of pale chartreuse mohair. "Sir, that color doesn't really do anything for you."

    "On the contrary, it makes me very happy," he smiled. He left the confused salesperson and went over to Olivia, who had a basketful of charcoal grey wool at her feet. Anya was in the back room looking for even more.

    "William, you and Richard are about the same size, right? Anya?" Olivia called. Anya came out of the back room. "Take a look at William and tell me what you think." The shop owner looked at William appraisingly.

    "I think you do need at least three more balls of yarn. And," she added in a lowered voice. "I think if I was thirty years younger..."

    "Anya!" The woman blushed and laughed as she returned to the back room. Olivia turned to William.

    "Did you find what you needed?"

    "Yes," William said with a glance back at the saleswoman who was hovering nearby. "Tell me, what do you think of this?"

    "Great color!" Olivia said. "What are you going to do with it?"

    "I think this color would look wonderful on Lizzy, don't you?"

    "Well, you'll never know if you're thinking of making her do the knitting." William smiled.

    "Maybe I should make her something." Anya came back with more yarn for Richard's sweater and William asked her about a pattern for a lady's sweater out of mohair.

    "So, you knit for your girlfriend, hmm? What a catch you are," she said as she accepted William's credit card at the counter. "I hope she knows what she's got."

    "She knows!" Olivia said as she steered William toward the door. Olivia smiled at William's bewildered expression all the way to the car.

    "What was it you were telling me about online yarn stores?" he asked as the car headed back uptown.

    "Come on in, the door's open!"

    "Livy? Where are you?"

    "In the kitchen!" A moment later, Lizzy and Georgiana appeared and Olivia greeted each one with a hug. "Coffee?"

    "Please!" Lizzy said.

    "None for me," Georgiana replied. "Where's Richard?"

    "He's in the dining room talking to Grandma Bess." Olivia watched her go. "Is she any better?" Lizzy shrugged.

    "She's taking the break up rather hard. Garren was Gee's first serious relationship and she's been in the dumps for two weeks."

    "I know the feeling."

    "Don't we all?"

    "Well, it'll do her good to get out with the boys today. She needs a diversion," Olivia said as she gestured with her head for Lizzy to join her in the other room.

    "And I should think that it's impossible for anyone to be depressed in Richard's company for very long."

    "This is true," Olivia laughed, "And especially at a Yankee game."

    "She and Richard have always been very close. I know that Gee spent a lot of time with him after he broke up with me," Lizzy recalled as the two carried their mugs of coffee into Richard's sunny living room. "He'll be good company for her. William has been somewhat ambivalent about the break up. He's been there for Gee, of course, but he's secretly relieved that she's out of that relationship. You know how big brothers are--no man is good enough for their little sister." Lizzy looked around the living room. "This place doesn't look any different."

    "Have you been here before?"

    "Once," Lizzy said. "Will and I came by one morning to check on Richard when he was convalescing after his head injury. But I don't see any signs that a woman lives here now."

    "Look in the refrigerator," Richard said as he bounded into the room and kissed Lizzy on the cheek. "It's got food in it. The cupboards, too!"

    "So you never ate at home before Livy came to stay?" Lizzy teased.

    "Well, no, unless you count beer and pistachio ice cream as food," Georgiana smirked.

    "Hey, where's tall, dark and sports clueless?" Richard asked. Lizzy rolled her eyes.

    "If by that you mean Will, he's downstairs in the car. He couldn't find a parking space."

    "In the car? He means to drive to Yankee Stadium? Hah! He doesn't even know where the Bronx is! Fitz is probably the Yankees' only corporate sponsor who has never seen them play," Richard laughed as he went to get his jacket. Olivia smiled at Lizzy.

    "Sometimes being with him is like living with a twelve year old."

    "I heard that!" came a disembodied voice from the hall.

    "I have news for you; living with any man is like that," Lizzy opined.

    "And I'm telling Fitz what you said," Richard threatened when he came back wearing a Yankees baseball cap and a denim jacket. He threw himself on the sofa next to Olivia. "Buy something pretty, okay? And have fun." He pressed something into Olivia's hand and kissed her before he rose to take his leave. Olivia looked down at the charge card with her name on it and quickly slid it into her shirt pocket. When he and Georgiana were gone, Olivia and Lizzy kicked back and relaxed.

    "Alone at last," Lizzy smiled. "Now I want to know every detail of your birthday celebration. What you told me on the phone was sketchy at best."

    "Well I was tired when I spoke to you. I've had an exhausting week. I've had twelve-hour days since Tuesday."

    "Not to mention a late night on Monday," Lizzy hinted.

    "No," Olivia smiled, "Actually, we retired kind of early," she said with a significant smile. Lizzy burst into laughter.

    "All right woman, out with it!"

    "Well, first of all, I got a phone message from Richard saying that he wanted me to go home early and change into something sexy and beautiful and he had a limo waiting to take me home so I didn't have to brave rush hour traffic in a cab. I got home and changed into a hot little black dress, Richard met me downstairs in the limo, and we were whisked off to Aureole. We had our first date there. We were shown into a private room, where there was one table and a baby grand with a musician tickling the ivories, as they say. It was all wildly romantic: champagne, caviar, fabulous meal, dancing in Richard's arms..." Olivia sighed dreamily. "And then he gave me my present: a little something from Harry Winston."

    "Who's Harry Winston?"

    "Harry Winston the jeweler? As in, the man who set the Hope diamond, Harry Winston? Wait a minute; you have to see this for yourself." Olivia left the room and returned shortly with the two boxes. "Here." Olivia handed Lizzy the larger of the two boxes. She opened it and her eyes bulged.

    "This is major!"

    "I suspect it's 'I should have taken the car' major," Olivia said as she took the necklace from the box and placed it around Lizzy's neck. "Not that this cost what the car cost--at least I hope it didn't. Anyway, he actually bought it as a gift for me to wear to the launch."

    "The guy's got good taste," Lizzy said admiringly. "Let's see it on you." Olivia put on the necklace and earrings.

    "Beautiful! So we have to find you a dress to wear with these." Olivia nodded. "We'd better get going then. Why don't you wear them? That'll make it easier."

    "You sound like Richard. He also thought I should traipse around Bloomie's wearing diamonds and jeans."

    "Why not?" Lizzy laughed. "The necklace is elegant enough to wear for day, and it'll make you feel decadent. Come on." Olivia grabbed the car keys and jacket and the pair headed for the garage.

    "I thought we were walking to Bloomingdale's."

    "Oh, I thought we'd drive up to Westchester. We'd have a larger selection of stores and we can avoid the hoards of tourists. Besides, Richard said I could drive the Jag today and I'm kind of psyched to get behind the wheel."

    "Where's your car?"

    "In Connecticut. We had driven up separately, but Richard drove me back to the city, remember? Let's go. Hey, I haven't even told you the part about Tony Bennet yet!"

    An hour later, the two friends were prowling the racks of Neiman Marcus. Olivia found a dark blue slip gown with a short jacket.

    "No, Livy! This is a party; you need something with a bit more dazzle, a little pizzazz." She held up another dress that was also blue, but decidedly sexier.

    "Lizzy, it may be a party, but it's also a business event. I don't want to show too much skin."

    "You don't have that much skin," Lizzy quipped. "Maybe we ought to stop at the lingerie department and get you a little confidence booster."

    "Lizzy!" Lizzy soon found something she liked and the two women tried on their selections. Lizzy begrudgingly admitted that Olivia's choice was flawless. Its austere lines complemented the necklace perfectly. Lizzy would just have to convince Olivia to remove the jacket at some point. The friends repaired to a restaurant for a bite to eat.

    "I need something light," Lizzy murmured as she scanned the menu. "I ate like a pig the other day. Which reminds me," she looked up. "What is going on between you and Jade Ng?"

    "What do you mean?"

    "I had lunch with her the other day and she made some rather snippy comments about you." Olivia put down her water glass.

    "I didn't realize that you two had kept in touch since the holidays."

    "We didn't; she just called me out of the blue on Monday. You never mentioned that you had seen her, either."

    "Well, until Monday, I hadn't. She came in as a last minute replacement for a guy who'd been working with us since February. With any luck, he should be back with us in a couple of weeks."

    "Well, that explains something," Lizzy mused.

    "What?"

    "Jade said that you weren't interested in hearing any of her ideas." Olivia snorted,

    "Look, she was at that meeting because Gardiner needed a warm body to double-check the last minute arrangements. It was hardly the time for anyone to be coming up with new ideas and, by the way, she didn't offer any."

    "Maybe it's because you're so intimidating when you fix your mind on something." Lizzy smirked. Olivia looked up.

    "Did she say that or are you bringing up some emotional baggage of your own?"

    "Well, you know how you get..." Lizzy bit her lip, realizing that she was probably projecting her own feelings, and cursed herself for unintentionally defending Jade in the process.

    "Look, I admit it's been a very rough week, and I may have been a bit...bossy. But Ed delegated the publicity stuff to me, and Ken and I had it all worked out long before she came into the picture, so her view of things is likely to be somewhat skewed. Besides, she really ticked me off."

    "So I gathered," Lizzy smiled encouragingly. The pair compared accounts of their dealings with Jade as they ate their sandwiches.

    "I knew that rumor about me and William would get out and rear its ugly head again someday," Olivia sighed.

    "Then you aren't after my man?" Lizzy teased. "Too bad you didn't mention it earlier. I just poisoned your water." Olivia shot her a look.

    "You know, it sounds to me as though she's the one who's after a man. I suspect she doesn't like me because I succeeded with Richard where she failed."

    "You mean she dated Richard?"

    "Honey, I've met few women in New York who haven't," Olivia laughed.

    "Doesn't that bother you?" Olivia shook her head.

    "Nope. It's become something of a standing joke between us. Richard is a reformed serial dater. Anyway, Jade went out with him very briefly--maybe twice--just before he met you. He stood her up because of some kind of emergency with Grandma Bess and she wouldn't forgive him."

    "And any woman who doesn't understand the relationship between the Fitzes and their grandma is doomed," Lizzy sighed.

    "You can say that again. Lizzy, take care; Richard seems to think that Jade is some kind of gold digger. She dated Christopher for a while when she was in Europe, but he wasn't interested in a commitment and she walked out on him, no doubt hoping he'd come after her. He didn't. Then she tried to glom onto Richard, but walked away when she thought that he wasn't capable of a commitment--."

    "Boy was she wrong about that!"

    "Yes, well, I bet that the reason she's making nice with you is that she is angling for something."

    "Such as?"

    "Such as a concentration of wealthy bachelors in our immediate circle."

    "But Richard is committed to you, William is committed to me..."

    "...And I wouldn't put it past her to come after either one of them with a wedge. She's man hunting." Lizzy laughed.

    "Well, I wish her luck. I already made it quite clear to her how things stand between William and me, and as for Richard, I don't think there's any way anyone could make him think of another woman." Olivia smiled. "The man just gave you the keys to his Jag, the kind of jewelry you usually only see on Oscar night, and that little card you hid in your pocket earlier. You're not too replaceable in his book."

    "So you don't think Jade is a threat?"

    Hah! I'd just like to see her try anything," Lizzy scoffed.

    William got a call on his cell phone on the way home from the ballgame. It was from Grandma Bess.

    "I had no idea you had my cell phone number," William smiled.

    "Oh, I have all manner of things in this phone Richard gave me. He programmed everything you can imagine in here. I must have at least six numbers for you. So where are you?"

    "I...along with Gee and Fitz...am on my way home from the Yankee game."

    "Oh, and how is my girl?"

    "Hi, Grandma Bess," Georgiana called from the backseat of William's SUV. She leaned between the two men in the front seat and shouted into the speakerphone.

    "Hello, dear. How are you feeling?"

    "I'm better Grandma. You were right: I do always feel better after spending time with Richard." William shot Georgiana a look over his shoulder. Richard smiled and his cousin kissed his cheek. William scowled at Richard and turned his eyes back to the wheel.

    "Well, don't be a sourpuss about it Will," Bess said as if reading his mind. "You know you feel the same way about your cousin." Georgiana burst into laughter when William turned and kissed Richard's cheek. "I just wanted to remind you that I am coming down to the city on Monday."

    "Cool, Grandma! Are you staying with us?"

    "Yes, Georgie. Kathleen and Hugh won't be coming down to the city until Wednesday but I thought I'd like to spend a little time with my grandchildren."

    "Cool, GB!" Richard echoed Georgiana's enthusiasm. "I hope you realize that it may be something of a madhouse down here, but we're all looking forward to seeing you."

    "And I'm looking forward to seeing you too, Fizz. Are Lizzy and Olivia with you?"

    "No, they went shopping."

    "Oh, well then, I'll have to get in touch with them later. I was hoping we might arrange a ladies' lunch for sometime during the week."

    "Well, don't plan on holding it till after the launch, Grandma. Olivia is likely to be very busy till then," William warned.

    "Slave driver!" Richard taunted.

    "Hey! I'm not doing anything to her! She's working hard of her own volition."

    "Well, you boys can argue among yourselves. Georgie, why don't you and I plan on spending some time together on Monday night?" Bess suggested.

    "Sounds good to me, GB."

    ""I'll see you Monday then."

    "I'll send Bates to pick you up," William suggested. "That way you won't have to deal with the traffic and parking."

    "You're always so thoughtful, Will."

    "I'll give you a call sometime tomorrow to finalize arrangements."

    Olivia drove down the FDR Drive with a tiny smile on her face. Lizzy noted it, but couldn't tell if it was the pleasure she derived from driving Richard's Jaguar or something else that caused her to smile, so she asked Olivia what was on her mind.

    "Life is pretty good, isn't it? I mean, did you ever imagine, back in the days when we sat in the old apple tree and dreamed about our future that one day life would be like this?" Lizzy's own smile was instantaneous.

    "No way could I ever have imagined life like this. For all that I dreamed of finding the perfect man, landing the perfect job...I never dreamt that it would actually pan out like this. Or that it would feel so great. How about you?"

    "Not even close. Who knew a Richard Fitzwilliam existed on this earth? After the fiasco with Stephen I basically gave up all hope of finding Mr. Right and practically became a hermit."

    "So, Richard is Mr. Right, then?" Olivia shot a glance at Lizzy.

    "Don't start. By the way, there's something I've been meaning to ask you for a while. When William tapped me to head up the Cook's Companion creative team...never mind. Am I taking you back to my place, William's, or yours?"

    "Mine. I have a date tonight and I want to get home and prepare myself."

    "Where are you going?"

    "Some charity event that William is involved in. Black tie, lots of celebs...I can wear the dress I bought today."

    "Maybe you'll show up in the papers again," Olivia teased. It was becoming quite routine for Lizzy to appear in society columns on William's arm. Only recently, however, had her name begun to appear along with his as his "steady companion."

    "Maybe," Lizzy shrugged. "By the way, about what you were saying earlier...I was just thinking about that recently. When William went after you for the job it entered my head that he could have made that offer to me. Of course, I don't have your background in the food industry, which is what made you his choice in the first place. But I was happy for you because it was a great opportunity for you and even better, it brought you to New York."

    "Which fed into your plans to link me with Richard," Olivia reminded her.

    "You should be kissing my feet in gratitude, woman!" Lizzy laughed.

    "Maybe later," Olivia deadpanned.

    "You know, something else occurred to me. William didn't offer me the job for another reason."

    "Nepotism?"

    "No...he respects the fact that I already have a career and a business of my own. He's very proud of that. When he introduces me at those celebrity galas he always mentions that I am the vice-president of Cherry Blossom. To offer me the job with him would be almost to deny my accomplishments, you know what I mean?"

    "Yes, and you're right. William has a great deal of respect for you as a professional. Which reminds me...have you spoken to him about Charles's offer yet?" Lizzy averted her eyes and shook her head.

    "He's not going to be pleased about your keeping it from him, you know, even if you have no intention of speaking to him about the money."

    "I know...I just haven't found the right situation in which to bring it up. I'm just afraid that he is going to want to talk about the money. He offered once before."

    "So what are you going to do?" Lizzy shrugged.

    "I just don't want him to feel obligated to help me do this."

    "I think you're the one who doesn't want to feel obligated, Lizzy."

    Lizzy stood in front of her mirror and gazed at her appearance with satisfaction. She was wearing the gown she had bought on her outing that afternoon, and she couldn't wait to hear William's opinion of it. Lizzy glanced at the clock on her nightstand. William was unaccountably late and by more than twenty minutes. And because it was so rare for William to be detained and not call to let her know why, Lizzy began to worry. She called his cell phone, but got no answer. Her heart pounding, Lizzy dialed the house.

    "Hello Mrs. R. Has William left yet? He was supposed to pick me up about twenty minutes ago and I'm beginning to worry about him."

    "Oh, he left about fifteen minutes ago. He was on his way out of the house when Georgiana had another one of her crying episodes and he couldn't bring himself to leave until she calmed down."

    "Oh. Well, I wonder why he hasn't called me. And he's not answering his cell."

    "Maybe he forgot it. He was quite frazzled before he left. But I'm sure that Bates has his phone. Let me give you the number." A few moments later, Lizzy was listening to Bates' account of an accident up ahead on the FDR Drive that had trapped the limousine between Canal Street and the Brooklyn Bridge. Lizzy sighed as he handed the phone to William.

    "I'm terribly sorry, darling. This whole evening hasn't been going well," A glum William explained. "Gee started bawling again and I couldn't just walk away from that. She's still blaming herself for the break up and...."

    "...And you told her that it wasn't her fault that Garren didn't appreciate her, right? What is this, the fourth time you fell into that trap?"

    "Why does she keep defending him? She just turned on me and began shouting," a confused William exclaimed as Lizzy rolled her eyes. "You're on her side, aren't you?"

    "I'm not taking sides in this battle, Will, and neither should you. That's the whole point." William sighed.

    "Hey, want to chuck this whole thing tonight and go to Coney Island for hot dogs instead, assuming I can get to Brooklyn at all?"

    "What do you know about Coney Island and hot dogs?" Lizzy asked, momentarily diverted. "And no," she laughed. "I got all dressed up to go out tonight and I'm not wearing this dress to Nathan's. But I have another idea: why don't I grab a cab and meet you at the Waldorf. By the time you extricate yourselves from that traffic jam I ought to be in Manhattan."

    "Are you sure?"

    "I'm sure. I'll meet you in the lobby." William apologized again and handed the phone back to Bates. He was forced to endure twenty minutes more of the standstill before Bates was able to escape the drive and double back uptown on a side street. Nonetheless, when William entered the lobby of the Waldorf-Astoria, Lizzy was nowhere to be seen. He was thus in low spirits as he paced the lobby waiting for her arrival. A waiter brought him a glass of wine, which he nursed as he waited.

    Olivia heard a voice that was decidedly not Richard's as she entered the apartment. Curious, she hung the garment bag containing her purchases in the closet and made her way down the hall and peered into the living room. Three men were sprawled on the sofa and chairs drinking beer. Their laughter ceased as one by one they noticed the woman standing in the room's entrance. Richard was the last to look up.

    "Hello, Angel," he smiled and rose to his feet. "I'd like you to meet a couple of friends of mine from B-school. Frank, Skip, this is--."

    "...Angel. How do you do?" Frank shook her hand. Skip took her other hand and would have kissed it had Richard not slapped his wrist.

    "So, how were things in heaven when you left?" Skip asked dreamily.

    "It's Olivia to you, and I do very well, thank you," Olivia replied with amusement. "If you boys would excuse me for a minute..." Olivia backed out of the room and went to take off her jacket and freshen up.

    "So, she's a model right?" Skip began as soon as she left the room.

    "Did I hear a tinkle of keys as she entered just now?" Frank waggled his eyebrows. "I thought you learned your lesson last time."

    "What are you talking about?" Richard asked.

    "Let's see...about three years ago...Renee...you had to change your locks and your phone number as I recall."

    "Ah, Renee the psychopath," Richard recalled. "Don't worry, Livy's cool."

    "Well, if she becomes uncool or psychopathic, I wouldn't mind living dangerously for a while," Skip managed before Olivia returned to the room. She noticed Richard's dark look at him but missed Skip's comment. Olivia sat down beside Richard, who put a protective arm around her and kissed her temple.

    "Did you find a dress?" Olivia nodded as she took the bottle from his hand and helped herself to a swig of beer. "Would you care for one of your own?" Olivia said yes and Richard rose to fetch it.

    "I think Angel is a perfect name for you," Skip smiled.

    "I think Skip is a perfect name for you," Olivia smiled enigmatically.

    "So why haven't I seen you on the cover of Vogue?" Frank asked. Olivia shrugged good-naturedly.

    "Perhaps because they only put fashion models and celebrities on the cover of fashion magazines," she suggested.

    "Livy's a creative consultant at DARCO, and she also is about to launch her own web site next week." Richard replied before Olivia could say anything more. He handed her a bottle and sat down again.

    "You mean you really aren't a model?"

    "Does that line of questioning actually work for you Frank?" Richard asked.

    "Beauty, brains, and a body that--." Skip assayed.

    "Hey!" Richard interrupted. "I thought you two just stopped by to say hello. Isn't your movie going to start soon?"

    "I take it your not going to join us then," Frank surmised. Richard shook his head.

    "How about you, Angel? We'll let you pick..."

    "That's it. Out!" Olivia laughed as Richard hustled his friends out of the apartment. When he returned to the living room, he plopped onto the sofa beside Olivia. "I thought they'd never leave. Now about that dress..."

    "William?" He turned and saw Jade standing next to him. He recognized her face, but for the life of him he could not recall her name. Making small talk was the last thing he wanted to do at the moment, so he smiled politely, hoping she would go away. Jade, however, launched into a conversation that William barely heard as his eyes scanned the lobby for any sign of Lizzy. After a couple of minutes, a few acquaintances appeared in the lobby and William used them as an excuse to leave Jade. But she followed him over to the two couples. The wife of one of William's business associates noticed Jade standing behind Will and asked if he would introduce his date. William immediately turned and looked over the woman's head toward the lobby before he frowned in frustration.

    "I'm afraid my date still hasn't arrived yet. I wonder what's keeping her?" he looked at his watch as the confused woman looked pointedly at Jade.

    "I'd be happy to substitute for Lizzy," she said as she took hold of his arm and smiled broadly. William looked down at the petite woman.

    "What did you say?" he asked as he gently extricated his arm under the pretense of switching his glass to his right hand. William looked up then and caught a glimpse of Lizzy entering the lobby. His face lit up as he took in the sight of her crossing the floor in a column of pale pink chiffon. He wandered away from the group, absently handing his glass to a waiter.

    Lizzy, for her part, felt like Cinderella making her entrance at the ball as she crossed the threshold of the venerable hotel. She looked around for her Prince Charming as she crossed the lobby. She saw William standing amid a small group of people at the top of the steps. A handful of paparazzi was taking pictures and Lizzy was momentarily blinded by a flash in her eyes. She paused...when her vision cleared she saw William standing alone at the top of the steps. She held out her hands to him as he came down to meet her.

    "You look marvelous," he whispered as he kissed her just below the base of her ear.

    "Too good for Coney Island?" William laughed as he took her hand and led her into the party. He took her straight to the dance floor where a slow ballad was playing.

    "You don't waste any time, do you?"

    "Life is short," William replied, gazing deeply into Lizzy's eyes. Lizzy smiled back, amused by William's impish grin. "What?" he asked at length.

    "You're up to something, Mr. Darcy."

    "I am not! I merely felt an overwhelming desire to take you into my arms just now and the dance floor supplied a convenient excuse. Lovely dress; is it new?" Lizzy nodded.

    "I found it today while I was helping Livy pick out something to wear to the gala next week."

    "And what will you wear next week?" William asked as he rubbed his cheek along her temple and inhaled her perfume.

    "The dress you bought me in Paris..." Lizzy looked across the room and spotted Jade speaking with another woman. "What on earth is she doing here?" she murmured to herself.

    "Hmm?" William replied dreamily. Lizzy smiled and looked up at him.

    "Will, just out of curiosity...would you still love me if I developed fat hips?" William pulled away slightly and looked at her, trying to figure out the trap she was laying for him.

    "How much bigger are we talking?"

    "Will!" Lizzy gasped in mock horror.

    "Well, I need a frame of reference. Are we talking say, Grandma Bess-sized hips or are we talking Bobo the elephant hips?"

    "What's your cut-off point?" Lizzy giggled.

    "Well, seeing as they'd be attached to the woman I am hopelessly in love with, I'd say my tolerances are fairly generous."

    "Well," Lizzy pouted, "If you think my hips are too large for you..." William pulled Lizzy closer to him.

    "If we weren't in a room with 700 other people, I'd show you exactly what I think of your hips." Lizzy gasped again as the dance ended. Lizzy took William by the hand towards the refreshment tables.

    "You, sir, are in need of a cold drink." Lizzy led William to the bar and ordered him a drink. A group of women were standing behind her and she could not avoid hearing their conversation.

    "I wish someone would look at me the way William Darcy looked at her."

    "I wish someone who looks like William Darcy would look at me, period."

    "So, let's see the dress," Richard said

    "Nope," Olivia replied. "You'll see it next week."

    "That's an eternity, Livy," he whined. Olivia laid her head on his shoulder and pouted at him.

    "I think you'll live till then."

    "I don't want to," Richard pouted in reply.

    "Well, then the issue is moot. What should we have for dinner?" Olivia rose and would have left the room had Richard not pulled her back into his lap.

    "Hey, you're wearing your jewels," he observed before he buried his face in her neck.

    "Lizzy suggested that I wear them so that I could see how they looked with the dresses I tried on."

    "I believe I had that idea this morning."

    "So you did. You're pretty smart for a Harvard man," Olivia giggled as Richard tickled her in retaliation.

    "So let this smart guy see what you bought."

    "All right." Olivia drained the contents of her beer bottle and handed it to Richard before she rose and went down the hall to get the garment bag. She returned with it, along with a shopping bag.

    "Okay. Here is the dress," she said as she pulled it from the garment bag.

    "Pretty color," Richard smiled.

    "And I think it complements the necklace, don't you?"

    "Very nicely. Are you going to try it on for me?"

    "Don't push your luck, Silly Man," Olivia warned.

    "So what else have you got there?" Richard asked, peering into the garment bag as Olivia carried the dress to the closet in the guest room.

    "I bought a suit to wear to the launch," she called from the back of the apartment. She reappeared a few moments later. "And a pair of shoes to go with the dress because I really don't have any dressy shoes in New York." Richard held up a bag that obviously did not contain shoes, which Olivia snatched out of his hands.

    "Well, I found a few other necessities, okay?" She grabbed the shopping bag before Richard could delve into it again.

    "It sounds as though you gave your new card a real workout," he quipped as he followed Olivia into the guestroom. He flopped onto the bed and watched her hang up the suit. Olivia was silent for a minute, then turned and sat on the bed beside Richard.

    "I didn't use it."

    "Why ever not? That's why I gave it to you."

    "I know, but I do have money of my own. William pays me very nicely."

    "I know you have money of your own, Angel. That's not the point," Richard answered as he ran his finger along her chin. She captured his hand and held it.

    "What is the point?"

    "I just wanted to do this for you. I guess I want to provide for you. That probably sounds silly, but I do."

    "I know you do, Richard," Olivia replied as she stared at his hand.

    "But you won't let me."

    "Please don't be offended, but I...I--." She dropped his hand and rose to her feet. "It's kind of late and I'm starving. Can I start dinner while we argue?" Without waiting for an answer, Olivia walked out of the guestroom and headed for the kitchen. Richard scrambled off the bed and followed her.

    "Excuse me, did I understand you to say that we were arguing?" he asked when he reached the kitchen, where Olivia was searching through the refrigerator. "You know most couples argue about spending money. I don't think we can argue about your refusal to spend it."

    "Do you think you can persuade Betsy to stop moving things from where I put them?" Olivia asked testily. Richard put himself between Olivia and the refrigerator and took hold of her shoulders.

    "What's the matter? And don't tell me about the cleaning woman. What's got into you?"

    "You don't have to give me a charge card to prove you love me," Olivia replied, her eyes on the floor. "You don't have to buy me a car, or pretty jewels, or anything else, okay? I just...you don't have to do that."

    "I know. But it looks so right around your neck," Richard said with an endearing smile. Olivia forced herself to look away. "Livy, I wish you'd tell me what this is about. You know I confuse easily." A tiny smile crossed Olivia's lips and Richard seized his advantage. He pulled Olivia to his chest and wrapped his arms around her. "What's wrong baby?" he whispered in her ear.

    "I don't know; I just feel funny when you buy me things. I feel..."

    "Kept?" Olivia flinched at the word, but she nodded.

    "A kept woman doesn't hold down a job that requires her to put in twelve or sixteen hour work days, or spend her lunch hours with her smooth-talking, nattily-attired employer while her keeper cools his heels with a Big Mac." Olivia looked up at him in surprise. "Gotcha! I knew that the thought of my eating fast food would scare you." Olivia laughed in spite of herself.

    "I was reacting to your jealousy of William," she teased.

    "I'm not jealous of William. Why would I be jealous of him?"

    "He's a better knitter," Olivia smiled as she hugged Richard tightly.

    "Perhaps, but I'm a better cook, and just to prove it..." Olivia pulled away and looked up.

    "Yes?"

    "I'll choose the restaurant," Richard grinned. He kissed Olivia lightly and led her out of the kitchen.

    Lizzy came into the library of the townhouse late Sunday morning to find William reading the Times.

    "So you decided to get up after all," he smiled as she curled up beside him. Lizzy reached up and pushed his glasses up on his nose before she kissed him. She picked up a mug and poured herself some coffee from the carafe on the table and reached for a section of the paper. A moment later she sat up straight and gasped. William helped her to clean up the coffee that had spilled onto her robe before Lizzy went upstairs to change, the section of the paper still in her hand.

    When she reached the bedroom, she looked at the page of the paper that had caused her to spill her coffee. On the society page were two photographs that had caught her attention. The first was of Lizzy as she crossed the lobby. The caption read One of society's elite makes a fashionably late arrival. But it was the other photograph that had caused Lizzy to gasp. It was a picture of William and two other men she knew to be business associates. Lizzy also recognized their wives, having met them on several occasions. But there was a third woman in the picture who appeared to be clinging to William's arm. Lizzy turned on the lamp and peered at it closely. Her initial suspicion was confirmed. It was Jade.

    "You know what the trouble is with women?" Richard put down the vessel in his hand and snorted at his glum cousin.

    "If I knew the answer to that, we wouldn't be sitting here commiserating, you wouldn't be sulking over whatever it is Lizzy did that confused you, and I'd be in Oslo collecting the Nobel Peace prize." William squinted at Richard, who shrugged. "You really didn't expect me to have an answer for that, did you?" William stared at him for a moment, before returning to his funk.

    "Lizzy barely said a word all morning yesterday," William confided before he drained the contents of his glass. "She thinks she has fat hips." Richard laughed.

    "If every woman who thought she was fat had hips like Lizzy's..." he paused at William's look of warning, "The world would be a much more pleasant place." William smiled at the sentiment.

    "Now if you can just convince Lizzy of that..."

    "We're having lunch," Richard informed his cousin, earning another look. "Hey, you took Livy out twice last week. I hang out with Lizzy maybe once a month these days."

    "True...and I'm going to be busy all day anyway--."

    "With Livy?"

    "With the whole DARCO team, yes. Say, does Olivia ever complain about having fat hips?" Richard cackled.

    "Livy is more likely to complain about not having any hips. Besides her thing is money. She actually got upset the other day because I gave her a charge card."

    "Why was she upset?"

    "She says she feels funny when I spend money on her. She wouldn't let me buy her a new car when that deathtrap she was driving finally gave out, and she balked when I offered to decorate her new office."

    "So you went ahead and did it anyway?"

    "I managed to have her office done, but she bought a car behind my back. Mind you, she has no qualms about my dropping a couple a hundred on a dinner at some restaurant she's dying to try, or my spending a small fortune on cooking ingredients I've never heard of." William laughed.

    "Count your blessings. I've dated many a woman who was all too happy to spend my money," he said.

    "I know, but...well, she finally agreed to accept the card. I made her pay for dinner Saturday night." William furrowed his brows.

    "You made Olivia pay for dinner with the charge card you gave her." Richard nodded. "And you're going to pay the bill eventually? And you're happy about that?"

    "Yes, it's a small victory. I figure if I get her to use the card once, she'll be likely to use it again." William mulled over that logic in his head as Richard looked at his watch. "It's getting late, my friend."

    "So it is. We'd better get out of here. By the way, where is your better half?" Richard smiled at the term.

    "She's upstairs already. She said something about doing a walk-through of tomorrow's press conference with Ed."

    "Oh." William pulled out his wallet.

    "I already got it," Richard said as he put away his cash.

    "Thanks for the breakfast, Fitz."

    Don't mention it, Fitz. I mean that; if Livy finds out that I skipped breakfast with her to eat with you she'll probably skin me alive."

    "Why should she begrudge you a breakfast out with your closest relation?"

    "I told her I wasn't hungry." William rolled his eyes.

    Lizzy sat at her desk going over the information given her by a new client. She was hoping that inspiration would strike and a design concept would spontaneously emerge, however, the client's materials were so disorganized Lizzy was struggling to come up with a coherent design. Charlotte knocked on her door and poked her head in.

    "I saw you in the style section of the Times yesterday," she said. Lizzy groaned inwardly, but she looked up smiling. "Was that the dress William bought you in Paris?"

    "No," Lizzy sighed. "It's a little something I found at Neiman Marcus on sale." She turned her attention back to sorting out the materials on her desk, but Charlotte pulled up a chair and sat down. Lizzy braced herself for the inevitable. She looked at her clock and decided to tolerate no more than three minutes of intrusion.

    "So who was the woman with William?" Lizzy clenched her jaw.

    "She wasn't with William, she was just standing next to him."

    "But he's got her arm around her."

    "She's holding onto his arm, Char. It's hardly the same thing. And she's an acquaintance of ours."

    "Gee, Lizzy. I wouldn't let anyone take a picture of my man with another woman like that. It makes it look as though you--."

    "Char," Lizzy cut in, "I didn't let anyone do anything. Photographers walked around taking pictures. I was hardly in a position to tell them what to shoot and what not to."

    "Then you shouldn't let William out of your sight. I know I wouldn't," Charlotte reasoned.

    "No, you wouldn't. But then..." Lizzy cut off her nasty retort about Char smothering her last boyfriend until he couldn't take it any longer. "...I don't have to worry about what anyone might think, do I?"

    "You know, you're really casual about all this." Lizzy glanced at the clock and wondered why it was moving so slowly.

    "Char, I really don't care about the photo, all right?" Lizzy said testily. "I'm swamped with--."

    "Maybe you should be. William still hasn't put a ring on your finger. If I were in your shoes--."

    "You're not in my shoes, Charlotte," Lizzy said, trying to modify the tone of her voice with minimal success.

    "No," Charlotte sighed. "I only wish I had a rich and handsome boyfriend to worry about."

    "You know why you don't have a rich and handsome boyfriend to worry about? In fact, you know why you have no boyfriend at all? Because you spend all of your time meddling in my life instead of getting one of your own!" Charlottes's mouth fell open.

    "That's harsh, Lizzy."

    "I'll tell you what's harsh, Char. Coming in here every Monday morning and having you pry into my personal life so you can give an unsolicited post-mortem and useless advice!" Lizzy snapped.

    "Geez, Lizzy, I was only trying to help," Charlotte said meekly. But that was the final knot in the noose that Charlotte had made for herself. Lizzy leapt to her feet.

    "Help!?! What the heck makes you think that I want any help?" Charlotte jumped when Lizzy shrieked. She knocked over her mug and spilled the dregs of her coffee on the floor in the process. Lizzy immediately regretted her outburst and dug in her drawer for a few napkins. "I'm sorry, Char. I shouldn't--."

    "No, no...I get the hint. Charlotte picked up the mug and left the room. Lizzy sighed and fell into her chair. She ran her hands through her hair. A second later, Charles poked his head in.

    "What's going on in here?" Lizzy looked up and shook her head. Charles gave her a questioning look, but he retreated and closed the door. Lizzy sighed and closed her eyes for a minute. Then she opened them and reached for her phone.

    "Ms. Crenshaw's office," Lydia answered.

    "Look, I know she's probably busy, but--."

    "Ms. Crenshaw has moved to her new offices. I'll connect you." Before Lizzy had a chance to respond, she heard a click and the phone ringing once more.

    "Olivia Crenshaw," a laughing voice replied.

    "Have I called at a bad time?"

    "Are you kidding? I've been looking for an excuse to take a break all morning. Hold on a sec." Lizzy held and heard a muffled discussion between Olivia and one of her new staff. "Okay, girl. What's wrong?"

    "Oh, Livy! Life is the pits sometimes," Lizzy pouted.

    "Oh, so you want me to pry it out of you. I saw your picture in the news yesterday, by the way. You looked gorgeous. Richard cut it out and taped it to the bathroom mirror with a note threatening to dump me and try and steal you back from William if I didn't behave." Disarmed momentarily, Lizzy laughed.

    "You are living with a certifiable nut job, you know that?"

    "Yeah, but he's an amazing kisser. So what happened?"

    "I just got into an argument with Char."

    "Really? Do tell!"

    "Actually, the whole thing began with the pictures in the paper...not mine, Will's."

    "Oh, I didn't see his picture. I never even got to see that section of the Times or I would have used his picture to make a counter threat," Olivia smiled.

    "Maybe not. It was a picture of William standing with a couple of his Darcy Group associates and their wives. And get this: standing beside William, with her hands all over him is Jade Ng."

    "What?" Olivia gasped.

    "Well, I'm exaggerating. She was holding onto his arm, but Char made it out as though they were wrapped in a compromising embrace."

    "Jade was at the dance?"

    "Yes. Imagine this: Will and I arrange to meet in the lobby of the Waldorf-Astoria. The moment I arrive, he whisks me into his arms and is funny, charming, wicked and romantic all evening. He never lets me out of his sight; we go home and spend a passionate night in each other's arms..."

    "You will come to a point sometime soon? I'm on a break, not a sabbatical," Olivia deadpanned, although Lizzy never stopped talking.

    "...I'm sitting there flipping through the paper and the first thing I see on the society page is a picture of William and Jade."

    "And four other people."

    "Well, yes."

    "So where were you when this picture was taken?"

    "I assume that the picture was taken before I arrived. The only time I left Will's side he was sitting at our table in the middle of a boring conversation about the stock market and when I returned from the ladies' he was still there."

    "So you're assuming that he was flirting with Jade, saw you come in and threw himself at you, then romanced you all night so you wouldn't suspect anything?" Olivia challenged.

    "No!" Lizzy cried. "I think nothing of the sort!"

    "Don't you?"

    "No," Lizzy repeated, a bit less certainly. "I admit, I was annoyed when I first saw it. But I know it wasn't William's fault that he got trapped in a photo with that hussy." Olivia laughed.

    "So what did Char say that made you snap her head off?"

    "Oh, she said some nonsense about not allowing William to be seen with other women and not letting him out of my sight..."

    "Well, he is rather stunning in a tux...he's no Richard, mind you, but still quite the hottie."

    "Livy!" Olivia giggled. "Anyway, I've been listening to Char's little jabs and digs for months now and frankly I'm sick of it. She keeps telling me how to manage my relationship, and yours too, by the way!

    "Oh, good! I could use some pointers about managing Richard! You wouldn't believe what he sent me by e-mail this morning." Lizzy plowed on, venting her frustration and ignoring Olivia's tease.

    "She comes on all envious, but the subliminal message is that she resents our good fortune and thinks that we don't deserve such happiness because we aren't handling things the right way."

    "Forget about Char, Lizzy. Tell me what this is really about," Olivia asked. She was suddenly very sober and her question gave Lizzy pause.

    "What do you mean?"

    "I mean the reason why Charlotte was so upsetting to you today is the fact that she struck a nerve. That picture of William and Jade did arouse some feeling of insecurity in you, if only momentarily, and whatever she said hit that sore spot."

    "Geez, I hate it when you hang out your shingle," Lizzy quipped. "But you're right, I guess. I was upset for a while when I saw that picture."

    "Of course I'm right, and you knew I'd 'hang out my shingle.' That's why you called me," Olivia replied smugly.

    "You're insufferable! But I need your sage advice. Am I overreacting?"

    "To Char? Probably not. But as for the picture...well, after our discussion on Saturday I'm surprised you'd let something like a little photograph get to you. You know William is crazy about you. Anyone who's seen the two of you together knows that. Heck, everyone at DARCO knows it. William wore his vest to work last Friday and proudly told everyone that you encouraged him to take up knitting again. And when someone on our team asked if that was the reason why he seemed to be more relaxed of late, he said that it had nothing to do with the knitting and everything to do with the woman who inspires his every breath. As you can imagine, I nearly threw up," Olivia teased.

    "He said that in a meeting?" Lizzy was shocked.

    "Not a meeting, just a roomful of people who were already stunned by the fact that--for the first time ever, apparently--William actually dressed down for casual Friday." Olivia smoothly shifted back to the point. "Now get off this Jade thing. The worse thing you can do is take her seriously. You do realize that you'll be seeing her if you come to the launch tomorrow, and the gala Wednesday night."

    "Yes, but I probably won't make the morning press conference. Charles and I have a presentation of our own to make, but I will do everything I can to make your launch in the afternoon. I wouldn't miss that for anything in the world."

    "Thanks, Lizzy. It wouldn't be the same without you there."

    "Charles is coming, too."

    "Great! I'll see you then. And remember--the worst thing you can do is give Jade any opening to get to you. She hasn't a ghost of a chance of getting William; the only thing she can do is upset you, and then, only if you let her. Don't!"

    "I'm glad you're my best friend, Livy Crenshaw," Lizzy declared.

    "Me, too. Seeya."

    Lizzy went back to work in better spirits. A short time later, when Charlotte passed by her open door, Lizzy called out to her. Charlotte awkwardly looked in.

    "I wanted to apologize for going off on you earlier. You're right. It was very harsh and I'm sorry." Charlotte was silent for a moment.

    "I...I want to apologize, too. I had no idea you thought I was meddling." Lizzy sighed.

    "I know you didn't mean to be, but...well, let's just forget it, okay?"

    "Okay," Charlotte said with a weak smile. She walked on and Lizzy returned to her work. Her phone rang and she picked it up absently.

    "Hello, Bright Eyes." Lizzy's face immediately brightened.

    "Richard! To what do I owe the pleasure?"

    "I just wanted to let you know I'm going to be a few minutes late."

    "Late? Late for what?" she asked, and then smacked her forehead with her free hand when her eyes fell on the calendar. "Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry, Richard. I'd completely forgotten about our lunch date today."

    "Gee, thanks. Here I've been looking forward to seeing you all morning and--."

    "I'm sorry! I've been swamped with work, and then had a last-minute request from one of our biggest clients...Richard?" All Lizzy heard on the other end was silence, and then a couple of small sniffling noises. She began to laugh. "Richard? Are you crying?"

    "I'm trying to but it won't come. Give me a minute or two. I used to be very good at making myself cry as a kid. It came in very handy for throwing blame on the evil twins." Lizzy laughed.

    "I'm really sorry, Richard. I usually schedule our dates on days when I can take a long lunch, but--."

    "Shall I have the driver turn the car around? I think I'm really going to cry now..."

    "No! And stop that!" Lizzy laughed. "We can still have lunch, but I have a 1:00 meeting, so we can't do our usual routine. What would you say to eating in?"

    "As long as it's not a rejection, I'm there."

    "I would love to see you, Richard. I can use a laugh today. I'll treat."

    "Fine."

    "Do you have any preferences?"

    "No, but keep in mind that only Olivia Crenshaw can make me eat artichokes and like them." Lizzy laughed again.

    "I'll see you in a little while."

    William returned to his office after three consecutive meetings with Darcy Corporation subsidiaries. He checked the list of messages on his desk and picked up the phone.

    "Christopher! When did you fly in?"

    "I arrived late last night. How are things progressing?"

    "Not much change from when I spoke to you on yesterday. All is in readiness. We did run-throughs today of the press conferences for both the Companions and the web sites. You know, you're right-we probably should have farmed out the traveler's site instead of doing it in-house. Why didn't we ever think of that before?"

    "I guess one explanation is that we had already developed the software and site before we decided to bring Olivia on board with the Cook's Companion. Were you thinking of shifting it to her stable?" William shook his head, not that Christopher was aware of the motion.

    "She wouldn't be interested and it would be a major diversion from her business plan. If the Cook's Companion takes off as well as we'd like, she'll have her hands full launching the site in other areas. I wouldn't ask her to bite off more than she can chew right now." Christopher winced.

    "Will, if that was meant to be a pun..."

    "No, I wasn't trying to be clever. Lord knows I'm way too tired for that. Are you coming by today?" Christopher looked at his watch.

    "I think I may. I want to see how the construction on the new offices is going. Shall I come by in say, two hours?"

    "I'll look forward to it." William hung up the phone and looked at his own watch. He picked up the phone again and dialed the townhouse." Hello, Mrs. Reynolds. Has my grandmother arrived there yet?"

    "No, sir. Bates called me when he left Connecticut so I could time Mrs. Fitzwilliam's lunch, but they haven't arrived yet."

    "How long ago was that?"

    "Oh, about twenty-five minutes ago."

    "You'll let me know when she appears?" William finished the call and headed for another meeting. He flipped open his cell phone on the way to the conference room as he walked.

    "Richard, have you heard anything from Grandma Bess today?"

    "Not a peep; why?"

    "She hasn't arrived in town yet."

    "William: traffic."

    "Yes, yes, I know. I suppose she'll arrive sometime during my meeting."

    "And sometime during my lunch with Lizzy. Any messages?"

    "Just the usual." Richard rolled his eyes.

    "Got it." Lizzy looked up as Richard knocked on the door to her office. She leapt out of her chair and hugged Richard warmly before she offered him a seat. He placed a small shopping bag on the table and pushed it toward her. She peeked into it and looked up.

    "What's this for?" she asked as she pulled the box of Godiva chocolate from the bag.

    "You're wasting away. You ought to eat more." Lizzy eyed him suspiciously, but told him to wait a moment while she went to retrieve their lunch from the conference room refrigerator.

    "You don't mind if we eat in here, do you?"

    "Not at all, although I should go down and say hello to Bings before we eat." Richard rose and went two doors down the corridor to Charles's office.

    "Yo, Bings!" Charles got up and shook his hand.

    "What brings you here today? I haven't forgotten an appointment have I?" Richard laughed.

    "No, it's Lizzy's turn to forget our appointment. I just stopped in to say hello and make sure you're still on for tomorrow night." Charles nodded enthusiastically.

    "Jane and I will be there. Of course, she'll miss both launches because she has to be at the shop in the morning and through midday, but she'll meet us at the restaurant later."

    "Great! I'll see you then." Richard returned to Lizzy's office and sat down before a Bento box filled with all manner of Japanese delicacies. Lizzy poured out some tea she had brewed for the two of them.

    "So what's the joke, Richard?"

    "No joke. I've been talking to Fitz. He sends his undying love and devotion, by the way."

    "Talking to him about what?" Lizzy asked suspiciously as she stirred her miso soup.

    "He said you think you're getting fat, and I'm here to convince you to stop thinking such nonsense. Not only is it patently untrue, you make Fitz look pathetic."

    "Pathetic? What are you talking about?"

    "We had breakfast this morning and he looked flatter than the pancakes on his plate." Lizzy looked surprised.

    "Wait a minute...all I did was ask him if he'd still love me if I had fat hips!" Lizzy laughed. "I never said I thought I was getting fat!"

    "He said you wouldn't speak all morning yesterday. He was depressed because he thought you were depressed." Lizzy's eyes clouded over for a second but that was sufficient to catch Richard's attention. "Oh, I get it," he said as he dipped his sashimi into a bowl of sauce. "This is about the picture of Jade and Fitz in the paper. Please tell me you aren't jealous of Jade, Lizzy."

    "I don't have anything to be jealous of," Lizzy said with conviction. She was rewarded with a brilliant smile.

    "Good girl."

    "I understand you dated her." Lizzy prodded a piece of oshinko as she attempted to gain some insight from the man who had some experience with her would-be rival.

    "We went out a couple of times, yes. She's nice enough--strictly practice, though. Jade has about as much substance to her as ether."

    "Practice?" Richard colored slightly.

    "Long story short: women fall into two basic categories: practice are women you date but never take seriously. Keepers are women you wouldn't be afraid to introduce to Grandma Bess."

    "So I take it Livy is a Keeper." Richard nodded solemnly.

    "So what was I?" Lizzy asked tentatively.

    "You were--and are--a keeper, just not mine."

    "I see. So William also subscribes to this notion of categories?"

    "Oh yes. He and I devised the categories and the criteria for each one. Fitz eagerly volunteered to do a lot of the research. We've both seen more than our fair share of practice over the years, but we knew we were growing up when we actually began to seek out keepers. They're few and far between, as you might imagine." Lizzy smiled

    "Speaking from the distaff side, I have to agree with you. Very few keepers have crossed my path."

    "So where would I rank?" Richard asked.

    "You're a keeper, just not mine," Lizzy echoed Richard's conclusion. He smiled and lifted his mug in a toast. He sipped his tea and looked about the office.

    "I can still remember the first time I came into this room."

    "Before you wrecked it, you mean?"

    "Me?"

    "You and Charles, according to Will," Lizzy replied.

    "Hey! You've been operating under a false assumption about my role in that whole affair. You've only heard Fitz's side."

    "Really?"

    "Yes. He's actually the person who started the whole fight."

    "I find that impossible to believe." Richard sneered at her.

    "Do lies really sound better when spoken with a foreign accent?" Lizzy's smile suggested a ready answer, but Richard didn't pursue it. "Would you like to hear the true story of what happened that night?"

    "Oh, please tell me," Lizzy taunted.

    "Well, Charles sent me in here because he knew that your computer wasn't fried. I brought in my equipment, booted it up and began downloading files from your computer. Fitz, meanwhile, went to check on a few of his other tenants in the building to see if they'd suffered any damage from the storm. When he returned he had nothing to do for a while, so he went into the conference room and stretched out on the table. I should explain that we were at my mom's place in Connecticut when the call came from Charles and we got here around 9:00 p.m. At around 10:30, Fitz tried to catch some Z's but there was a sudden desire among the female staff to take a late night yogurt break. So Fitz got up and came in here to sleep. I was exhausted as well. Dad and I had been doing an inventory of all the buildings on the grounds...the guesthouses, garages, playhouse, and the other outbuildings...and Will helped out. So we were both beat, and I had to sit here through over an hour of downloads. So I began to sing to keep myself awake." Richard put down his chopsticks and began to sing.

    Meet William who's been most everywhere From Zanzibar to Barclay Square But Richard's only see the sights a boy can see from Greenwich Heights What a crazy pair!

    But they're cousins....

    Lizzy began to laugh.

    "You can imagine that my voice, lovely though it is, was not conducive to sleeping. So Fitz woke up."

    Though William adores the minuet

    Lizzy picked up her napkin, balled it up and threw it at Richard as he continued to sing an altered version of the theme to the Patty Duke show.

    "Aha! That's what William did! He grabbed the first thing that came to hand...something out of your wastebasket...and threw it at me."

    "I don't blame him," Lizzy managed through her laughter.

    "I threw something back, war ensued. End of story." He opened his mouth as if to sing again, and Lizzy quickly stuffed a shrimp into it. "Incult! You don't know talent when you hear it," Richard sniffed. Lizzy wiped tears as she tried to regain her power of speech.

    "You know, if no one had wrecked my office we might never have met," Lizzy realized wistfully. She looked up at Richard and smiled impishly. "So tell, me: what did you send Olivia by e-mail today?" Richard blushed.

    "Madam, please! I can't tell you everything!" Lizzy pouted. "Let's just say that it probably entailed one of the more creative applications of a quivering gif in the history of the Internet and leave it at that." It was Lizzy's turn to blush.

    "Through e-mail, Richard?" He shrugged.

    "I sent her the link. It's really convenient having a secure server at one's disposal," he winked.

    "And what's all this about your building a house?"

    "Hey, a man needs a little space. Having a bedroom across from my grandmother's isn't as appealing as it used to be, now that I have taken a roommate. We've chosen a site, started drawing plans, and next week we're meeting with an architect."

    "And Livy's up for this?"

    "Oh, yes. She'll probably sell her house and move her stuff up here before spring is out." Lizzy's mouth fell open. Richard reached over and closed it. "Don't tell her I said so...she doesn't know yet. There isn't any rush, but I intend to make her a permanent fixture in my life as soon as I can manage it."

    "That's why you gave her the charge card."

    "Yes, among other things."

    "The necklace? That was beautiful, Richard."

    "Thanks. I was out shopping with my mother a few weeks ago and saw it. I thought it would be a nice gift to celebrate the launch, but the birthday was a more convenient excuse."

    "You're such a sweetie. But she's never going to use that charge card, you know."

    "Wrong! She's already used it twice. We cut a deal. I agreed to leave her alone about it if she used it three times. I made her pick up the tab for our dinner Saturday night, and we went into the Gap yesterday and she bought a year's supply of underwear."

    "What?" Lizzy laughed.

    "One set in every color. Maybe that's two years' worth; anyway, I think she did it just to get the deal over with." Lizzy laughed. "What would you buy if Fitz gave you a charge card?" Lizzy shrugged.

    "I can't think of anything I'd want off the top of my head. Maybe that's a good sign of a keeper," Lizzy concluded brightly.

    "I'll have to add it to our list."

    "Perhaps you no longer need that list," Lizzy hinted. "It sounds as though your bachelor days are numbered."

    "As far as I'm concerned they're already history." Richard admitted. "So does Fitz, by the way." Lizzy's eyebrows went up. "Does that surprise you? Come on, Lizzy, William's fate was sealed long before he even met you. He'd probably be loath to admit it, but he fell in love with you long before I found out about your correspondence in Japan. In retrospect, I should have known something was up even earlier. Fitz--the non-geek of the two Fitzes--suddenly became addicted to his computer. He checked his e-mail with a zeal men generally reserve for only two things, neither of which I ought to be discussing with you." Lizzy's eyes widened for a few seconds. Then she smiled.

    "I guess I have to admit in retrospect I kind of fell in love with him then, too. Of course, I thought he was you, and I thought you were suffering from some kind of personality disorder. I still think so sometimes," Lizzy said as she reached across the desk and patted his cheek. "Boy that was confusing. I went running down to Elverson to see my shrink--that's Livy, to you--and I think even she knew that I was in love with William, although she told me to make up my own mind about things. Looking at it now, Will and I were sort of destined."

    "Then why won't you put the guy out of his misery and start picking out china?" Lizzy looked down at her hands to avoid Richard's intense gaze.

    "You and Livy deserve each other, you know that? You're both shrinks."

    "You're avoiding my question, Bright Eyes."

    "Oh, look at the time: it's 12:58! I do have a meeting to go to, you know." Lizzy rose to her feet as Richard squinted at her. "I am so glad you came down, Richard. You really brightened my day. Here, have a chocolate." She opened the box and Richard picked one, never taking his eyes off of her. Lizzy gathered up a folder or two of materials and headed for the door.

    "You can avoid me, but I wouldn't keep dodging Fitz for too much longer," he warned.

    "I won't," Lizzy whispered, mainly to herself. She stood on her toes and kissed Richard's cheek before she disappeared into Charles's office.

    William checked his watch nervously.

    "Do you have somewhere to go?" Christopher asked. It was the third time William had checked his watch in ten minutes. The men were touring the future New York offices of Brandon, Ltd. checking the progress of the construction.

    "No," William grumbled. I'm just worried about Grandma Bess. "She left Greenwich shortly before noon and has yet to arrive at the house. And it's been nearly two hours."

    "Perhaps she's made a stop."

    "Perhaps. But it's unlike her not to call."

    "Does she have a mobile?"

    "Yes. Richard gave her one for Christmas. She left it in Greenwich. I've spoken to Aunt Kathleen twice."

    "Was she driving?"

    "No, I sent...Bates!" William snapped his fingers and excitedly pulled out his cell phone. "Hello, Bates. Where in bloody blazes is my grandmother?" Christopher laughed at William's overreaction. "What on earth is she doing in Soho?" William sidestepped a pile of construction debris. "Oh." He closed the phone and looked at Christopher. "Shall we take a look at your office suite?" William strode off toward the corner offices.

    "Wait a minute! Have you located Bess?"

    "Yes. Apparently, she went to Cherry Blossom to visit Lizzy," William said, relieved to know his grandmother was safe but slightly disturbed that she hadn't seen fit to inform him of her planned side trip.

    Lizzy came out of Charles's office after approximately forty minutes and headed for the receptionist's desk to drop off a few envelopes in the outgoing mail bin. As she passed her office, she thought she saw a flicker of movement. She thought it inconceivable that Richard had waited for her return, so she approached her office with caution. When she peered in, she immediately realized that there was indeed a Fitzwilliam in her office, but wasn't Richard.

    "Grandma Bess!" Bess looked up and rose to her feet. Lizzy embraced her warmly, just as she had greeted Bess' grandson earlier. "What on earth are you doing here?"

    "I was in the neighborhood," Bess said easily. Lizzy doubted her, but offered her refreshment. "Oh, no, the young lady who showed me in gave me a cup of peppermint tea. How are you, dear?"

    "I'm fine, just so surprised to see you!"

    "I hope I haven't come at a bad time..."

    "There's no such thing as a bad time for you, Grandma Bess. Richard was here for lunch a little while ago."

    "Oh, then you've had more than your fill of Fitzwilliams today. I won't take up too much of your time. I just stopped in to give you something." Bess pulled out a small jewelry box and held it before her reverently. "A while ago I gave Olivia something that was given to me by my late husband. I thought it only fitting that I give you something as well, but it took me a while to settle on just the right thing." She extended her arm toward Lizzy, who gingerly accepted the box.

    "Bess...are you sure you want to do this? I mean--."

    "What's in that box doesn't have a great deal of monetary value, but in terms of sentimental value, it's priceless." Lizzy opened the box with trembling fingers and saw a pearl choker. It was non-descript save for its clasp, which was in the shape of a bow made of pave diamonds. Lizzy gasped.

    "My husband--Richard the elder, as Fizz calls him--gave this to me when we became engaged. I wore it on my honeymoon, and on many occasions after that. Later, when my daughter Anne married William's father, she wore this as the 'something old' on her wedding day. She wore it many times after that as well. She would come and borrow my 'lucky pearls,' as she called them. She wore them to William's graduation from Eton as well as Cambridge. Heh, I had to ship them to Derbyshire for the second one. She had left them in Greenwich, you see, and wouldn't allow the graduation to go forth without them." Lizzy smiled as she ran her fingers along the pearls. Tears clouded her vision.

    "Are you sure you want me to have them? I would think you'd want to hold onto them since they have such sentimental value."

    "Don't be dense, child! I am passing them onto you because of their sentimental value. I want them to be where William can appreciate them. They've been with him all the best times of his life. I think the best place for them, therefore, is around your neck, since you're the only thing he ever pays attention to anyway." Lizzy laughed and rose to hug Bess tightly.

    "I promise to take good care of them, Bess."

    "You'd better. I'd like to think that someday a daughter or son of William's will receive them." Lizzy opened her mouth but Bess raised a hand to forestall her protest. "And don't tell me that you're not ready to think about marriage. I'm not here to rush things or to push you into anything you're not ready for. But so help me, Lizzy Bennet, if you don't marry that boy someday I'll go to my grave a bitter woman and haunt you the remainder of your days on this earth."

    Olivia and Richard sat side by side on the love seat in the corner of her office sharing a quiet breakfast before the onslaught of the day's activities.

    "I can't believe your decorator put a tea service in here," Olivia said as she lifted the fine china cup to her lips.

    "You don't know Constance. She thinks of every last detail. Besides, it's probably my mother's fault. She was in here with Constance one day and saw the color scheme. She's just as bad as Fitz when it comes to antique shows and flea markets. This was probably in the butler's pantry for ten years before she found a place for it."

    "Do you think I can convince my assistant to grind beans, brew up a pot of coffee and serve me from a tray the way you did this morning?" Olivia teased.

    "I doubt it, but I'd be honored to do you that service every morning."

    "I must say, Fizz, you do make a good cup of coffee. But what about when you go to the Internet security conference next week?"

    "I'll only be gone for two days. You'll survive." Olivia pouted sweetly for a minute, but before Richard could react to it, she abruptly changed her expression.

    "Speaking of security, why is that strange man out there going over the machines?" Richard chuckled.

    "You mean Collins? He's my top man. He's doing a final check on the security systems."

    "I hope he's going to that conference with you. I don't like the way he looks at me and I wouldn't want him dropping by in your absence." Richard laughed.

    "No woman likes the way he looks at her. But he's very good at his job and that's what I pay him for." Richard lifted a piece of muffin to Olivia's mouth. She balked, but his beseeching smile made her succumb.

    "Thank you for taking such good care of me these last few weeks, Fizz. I know I've been cranky, and exhausted, and I've been far too busy to give you the attention you deserve lately, but your support means a great deal to me," she said as she stared into his eyes. He took hold of her hand and kissed it.

    "I've been there, you know. I know what it is to start up a business, and even with Fitz's years of experience at my side, it was quite an ordeal. I was happy to be of use to you when I could." Olivia ran her hand along Richard's cheek.

    "I especially appreciate your letting me go to sleep early last night. I really needed it." Richard laughed.

    "Letting you? Two minutes after you asked me to massage your shoulders you were dead to the world. It would have taken an atom bomb to wake you!"

    "I know," Olivia smiled. "I was beat."

    "You're telling me...even the Sleeping Beauty treatment didn't work. In fact, after I kissed you, you swatted me and told me to stay off the bed or your mom would have a fit!"

    "I did not!"

    "Did, too! And you called me 'Ralphie.' Is there anything you'd like to confess?" Richard asked as Olivia broke into laughter.

    "Ralphie was my dog as a kid. You do kind of resemble him, now that I think about it--big feet, soulful eyes, faithful companion, always hungry, and you take up more than your fair share of the bed..." Richard smiled.

    "I like being on your side with you."

    "That's what he always said!" Richard leaned over and kissed Olivia to stop her teasing.

    "So are you ready for your big day?" Olivia sighed.

    "It's more like DARCO's big day."

    "Hey, you were an integral part of the Cook's Companion team, and you have two web sites going online today. It's your day as much as DARCO's, maybe even more."

    "I guess you're right."

    "So how do you feel?" Richard asked as he poured out more coffee. Olivia looked at her hands in her lap.

    "Well, my hands are trembling, my heart is racing..."

    "I just kissed you, remember? Now tell me how you feel about the launch."

    "Silly Man!"

    William sat down at his desk and opened the folder that Jo had placed there for his review. It contained a detailed schedule for all the half-dozen or so launch-related events that were to take place that day. As he pored over the schedule, Bess surveyed his office.

    "This is a very handsome office, Will, but you know, it isn't you." William nodded in acknowledgment, but he hadn't understood a word of what his grandmother was saying. "It's cold and austere, it doesn't reflect your true personality at all." William looked up and smiled.

    "You sound like Lizzy, describing the master suite of the townhouse."

    "She's right! It's so cold in there it's amazing you can ever get warm." William smiled to himself.

    "We manage." Bess went to the sofa at the far end of the office and sat down.

    "Now this is more like you," she said as she ran her hands along the buttery soft leather. "Warm, rich, smooth..." William looked up again and smiled at his grandmother as he answered his phone.

    "Morning, Fitz. Not bad," William replied in response to Richard's query. "Grandma Bess is comparing me to the furniture."

    "Favorably, I hope!" Richard laughed. "How is the little darling? Should I come up and relieve you so you can get some work done? I have an easy schedule today."

    "No, I'll send her down to you. She'd probably like your décor better," William countered.

    "I'm in Livy's office at the moment. We just got in a little while ago."

    "Even better. She's on her way." William hung up and rose to his feet.

    "Am I being put out?" Bess asked coyly.

    "Not at all, but Richard and Livy want you to see her new offices." William led Bess to the elevators. "Livy's suite is on the tenth floor. Just turn right as you exit the elevators." William kissed his grandmother's cheek just before the door opened. She smiled back at him as she stepped in. He returned the smile, but his mouth fell open in shock as Bess stuck her tongue out at him just before the doors closed.

    Olivia and Richard sat side by side on the love seat in the corner of her office sharing a quiet breakfast before the onslaught of the day's activities.

    "I can't believe your decorator put a tea service in here," Olivia said as she lifted the fine china cup to her lips.

    "You don't know Constance. She thinks of every last detail. Besides, it's probably my mother's fault. She was in here with Constance one day and saw the color scheme. She's just as bad as Fitz when it comes to antique shows and flea markets. This was probably in the butler's pantry for ten years before she found a place for it."

    "Do you think I can convince my assistant to grind beans, brew up a pot of coffee and serve me from a tray the way you did this morning?" Olivia teased.

    "I doubt it, but I'd be honored to do you that service every morning."

    "I must say, Fizz, you do make a good cup of coffee. But what about when you go to the Internet security conference next week?"

    "I'll only be gone for two days. You'll survive." Olivia pouted sweetly for a minute, but before Richard could react to it, she abruptly changed her expression.

    "Speaking of security, who is that strange man out there going over the machines?" Richard chuckled.

    "You mean Collins? He's my top man. He's doing a final check on the security systems."

    "I hope he's going to that conference with you. I don't like the way he looks at me and I wouldn't want him dropping by in your absence." Richard laughed.

    "No woman likes the way he looks at her. But he's very good at his job and that's what I pay him for." Richard lifted a piece of muffin to Olivia's mouth. She balked, but his beseeching smile made her succumb.

    "Thank you for taking such good care of me these last few weeks, Fizz. I know I've been cranky, and exhausted, and I've been far too busy to give you the attention you deserve lately, but your support means a great deal to me," she said as she stared into his eyes. He took hold of her hand and kissed it.

    "I've been there, you know. I know what it is to start up a business, and even with Fitz's years of experience at my side, it was quite an ordeal. I was happy to be of use to you when I could." Olivia ran her hand along Richard's cheek.

    "I especially appreciate your letting me go to sleep early last night. I really needed it." Richard laughed.

    "Letting you? Two minutes after you asked me to massage your shoulders you were dead to the world. It would have taken an atom bomb to wake you!"

    "I know," Olivia smiled. "I was beat."

    "You're telling me...even the Sleeping Beauty treatment didn't work. In fact, after I kissed you, you swatted me and told me to stay off the bed or your mom would have a fit!"

    "I did not!"

    "Did, too! And you called me 'Ralphie.' Is there anything you'd like to confess?" Richard asked as Olivia broke into laughter.

    "Ralphie was my dog as a kid. You do kind of resemble him, now that I think about it-big feet, soulful eyes, faithful companion, always hungry, and you take up more than your fair share of the bed..." Richard smiled.

    "I like being on your side with you."

    "That's what he always said!" Richard leaned over and kissed Olivia to stop her teasing.

    "So are you ready for your big day?" Olivia sighed.

    "It's more like DARCO's big day."

    "Hey, you were an integral part of the Cook's Companion team, and you have two web sites going online today. It's your day as much as DARCO's, maybe even more."

    "I guess you're right."

    "So how do you feel?" Richard asked as he poured out more coffee. Olivia looked at her hands in her lap.

    "Well, my hands are trembling, my heart is racing..."

    "I just kissed you, remember? Now tell me how you feel about the launch."

    "Silly Man!"

    William sat down at his desk and opened the folder that Jo had placed there for his review. It contained a detailed schedule for all the half-dozen or so launch-related events that were to take place that day. As he pored over the schedule, Bess surveyed his office.

    "This is a very handsome office, Will, but you know, it isn't you." William nodded in acknowledgment, but he hadn't understood a word of what his grandmother was saying. "It's cold and austere; it doesn't reflect your true personality at all." William looked up and smiled.

    "You sound like Lizzy, describing the master suite of the townhouse."

    "She's right! It's so cold in there it's amazing you can ever get warm." William smiled to himself.

    "We manage." Bess went to the sofa at the far end of the office and sat down.

    "Now this is more like you," she said as she ran her hands along the buttery soft leather. "Warm, rich, smooth..." William looked up again and smiled at his grandmother as he answered his phone.

    "Morning, Fitz. Not bad," William replied in response to Richard's query. "Grandma Bess is comparing me to the furniture."

    "Favorably, I hope!" Richard laughed. "How is the little darling? Should I come up and relieve you so you can get some work done? I have an easy schedule today."

    "No, I'll send her down to you. She'd probably like your décor better," William countered.

    "I'm in Livy's office at the moment. We just got in a little while ago."

    "Even better. She's on her way." William hung up and rose to his feet.

    "Am I being put out?" Bess asked coyly.

    "Not at all, but Richard and Livy want you to see her new offices." William led Bess to the elevators. "Livy's suite is on the tenth floor. Just turn right as you exit the elevators." William kissed his grandmother's cheek just before the door opened. She smiled back at him as she stepped in. He returned the smile, but his mouth fell open in shock as Bess stuck her tongue out at him just before the doors closed.

    "I can't wait till all these events are over. I want to go home this weekend and chill out," Olivia said as she ran her fingers through Richard's hair.

    "Sounds good to me."

    "I mean Elverson. I haven't been there in six weeks thanks to all the pre-launch stuff. Lizzy wants to come down, too."

    "Does that mean I won't be welcome?"

    "Of course not. In fact, Lizzy was thinking about bringing William along so she could give him a glimpse into her childhood environment. But somehow I can't see William sleeping in a double bed in my guest room."

    "Are you kidding? Fitz would sleep in the bathtub if it meant spending quality time with Lizzy. Don't worry about him."

    "Are you sure?" Olivia asked as she rose to answer the phone.

    "There's a Mrs. Fitzwilliam here to see you," the receptionist announced.

    "Yes, I'm sure. We may even talk him into doing some yard work." Olivia looked at Richard dubiously before she went out to the front desk to welcome Bess.

    "Good morning! Oh, how lovely you look! I've never seen you in business attire," Bess remarked as Olivia led her into her office. Bess stepped into the room and paused to take in the surroundings. Unlike the outer offices, a common space decorated in bright colors and modern furniture, Olivia's office was decorated in soft, warm tones, creating an atmosphere that was both cozy and serene. The walls were a very pale, creamy peach, and the guest chairs and drapes were covered in a floral print. The one outstanding feature of the room was the deep plum leather high-backed chair behind the massive oak desk. The only concession to Olivia's profession was the state of the art computer system that sat in plain sight on the desk's return. Richard hugged his grandmother and offered her a seat.

    "I was a little disappointed that you didn't come by William's house to see me yesterday," Bess scolded her grandson.

    "I'm afraid that's probably my fault," Olivia volunteered. "I was here late last night moving in and Richard stayed to help out."

    "Oh. Well whatever effort it took, it was worth it. Your office is lovely," Bess smiled.

    "How does Livy compare with the love seat?" Richard quipped. Bess shot him a dark look.

    "So what is it you're gong to be doing down here?" she asked Olivia.

    "I'm running the Cook's Companion web site and the "Celebrations, Etceteras" site."

    "Oh," Bess replied, although confusion was plain on her face. "Why do you need this big office to run your sites? I run my site all alone...well, you and Lizzy and Fizz help me out every now and again, but--."

    "No, GB. Olivia's site is different. She's got paid advertisers, dozens of links, and pages where the information has to be updated every day. She'll have a staff of about six to start, but by the end of the year she'll probably have to double that," Richard explained.

    "And Lizzy does the same thing?"

    "Sort of," Olivia replied. "Cherry Blossom designs and hosts web sites for a number of clients. In my case, I own the sites I'm running."

    "Well, I wish you every success. I must admit that all this web stuff is still too much for me to understand." Bess turned to Richard. "And what do you have to do with Livy's new business?"

    "Well, my company does Internet security, so my job is to make sure her systems are secure, and I've just been designated official coffee maker to the CEO," Richard said with a wink.

    "And where are your offices?"

    "Upstairs on the fifteenth floor."

    "So you're all spread out," Bess concluded.

    "Oh, yes. Fitzes are all over the building," Richard teased as he looked at his watch. "I should get upstairs. It's almost nine. I'll be up for the press conference," Richard said as he leaned over to kiss Olivia and then Bess.

    Continued In Next Section

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