Beginning, Previous Section, Section III
Jump to new as of August 18, 2003
Elizabeth and Jane drove from Washington to Connecticut in Fitz's SUV. They would need the extra space, for Kit would be returning to the Capital with them after her graduation. Her internship started immediately.
The traffic on I-95 was heavy, as usual, and the sisters had ample opportunity to catch up on all the news.
"So, why isn't Fitz coming with us?" Jane began.
Lizzy hardly knew what to say. She hadn't wanted to bring Fitz along, because she did not want to subject him to their mother's speculation about marriage for her second daughter.
"You know," she paused, knowing that Jane would understand. "Mama can be so..."
"Persistent?" Jane finished. That was exactly the word Lizzy had been looking for. She noted that Charles had also not made the trip, though she noticed a ring on Jane's finger.
"What about you?" Lizzy needled just a bit. "I don't see your..."
"Fiancé?" Jane completed. "I noticed you staring at the ring, Lizzy." Jane's smile seemed to envelop the vehicle and Lizzy couldn't help smiling too.
"If you don't want Mama to notice, you'd better take it off before we get there." Lizzy advised. Jane knew she was right, but she also knew that she ought to tell the family.
"It's so new, this engagement," she began. "I want to keep it to myself for as long as I can, but please forgive me for not telling you sooner, that was wrong of me."
They soon stopped at a rest area for coffee, and Jane slipped the ring Charles had given her onto a long chain, which she hoped would be able to wear without detection. It would be a challenge not to pull the ring out and look at it--the sparkling diamond reminded Jane of Charles' smile and his eyes. Lizzy poked her head into the ladies' room carrying two coffees to go and a couple of cinnamon rolls. She couldn't help rolling her eyes at her sister, but she was glad that her turn to drive had come.
The Governor's Mansion was buzzing with guests and activity. Kit had several friends over, with their families, for a pre-graduation dinner. She had changed so much in the last six months that it was good to see her friends sticking by her. Only Kylie seemed to value her sister less now that she was interested in more than boys and shopping. She did not seem happy tonight when she was far from the spotlight.
Lizzy spoke to Kit after the crowd had left. She was disheartened, but Lizzy thought she handled the matter well--better than she herself would have at 18.
"I know Kylie seems like she's completely lost interest in me, but she's still so young," Kit said with a slight note of regret in her tone. "Some day in the not too distant future, I'm sure she'll have some kind of life-changing experience, and..." Lizzy looked at Kit as if to say she knew Kit was just saying all those things, and they both laughed for a minute or two until the entrance of the very girl they had been discussing interrupted them.
"Lizzy! Lizzy!" Kylie shrieked as she saw her elder sister. "I've been invited to Washington as an intern in Senator Wickham's office! So I'll be riding with you and Jane when you go back, right?"
Kylie and Dee seemed to have the whole thing worked out. Kylie would descend upon the Capital city and, as a houseguest of Bunny and Buddy Phillips, she would take the social scene by storm. Neither of them mentioned the work that might be expected of Kylie, and it was clear to Elizabeth that they had not given this a thought.
Elizabeth struggled to keep her composure. She had no idea that Kylie had kept in touch with the senator, and she did not think her 15-year-old sister was anywhere near ready for such an appointment, not even as an intern. This had to be a mistake. She made a mental note to bring up the matter with her father at the first opportunity.
The next two days were crowded with activity. Kit graduated from high school and attended all the necessary parties surrounding those ceremonies. Back at the house, comparing the difference between Kit's packing and Kylie's attempts to pack proved very amusing.
"Kylie, that's mine!" Kit exclaimed as Kylie grabbed for a blue sundress from the dry-cleaning pile.
"It looks better on me, you're so flat-chested," Kylie shot back at Kit. "Besides, we're going to be in the same city, there's no reason why you can't just call me if you want it."
"Aunt Bunny and her husband live in Arlington, which is hours away from Lizzy's place, besides, the dress belongs to me." Kit tried to reason with her sister. "And it doesn't fit you, anyway," she added under her breath as she folded another pair of shorts and put them in an overnight bag. Most of her things had been shipped to Pembroke House earlier in the week and Mrs. Reynolds had volunteered to make sure they got to Lizzy's house without delay.
"Girls, girls!" Dee shouted above the din of Kylie's insistence and Kit's grumbling. "Watch that racket or they'll hear you in Maine. Oh, my nerves!"
"I wish I were in Maine right now," Lizzy said to herself, or so she thought.
"Now now," said Bob as he came up behind his second daughter. "Your mother and sister haven't your sense, Lizzy. You can't expect them to behave as just plain folks even on the plainest occasion."
Lizzy thought to herself that she could expect anything she wanted, but she didn't argue with her father as he led her away to the relative quiet of his private office. This would be as good a chance as any for them to talk about Kylie's internship.
"Senator Wickham has not the best of reputations," Lizzy confessed mildly. "And besides, I can't imagine why he would have offered an internship to somebody with as little experience as Kylie. It's not as if he can expect any favors from you. Can you imagine another possible reason for Wickham to offer her a position in his office?"
"I'll admit that I know very little about George Wickham, but I do know that he was a great favorite with George Darcy, and that goes a long way with me," Bob tried to soothe Lizzy's concerns. "As to Kylie's qualifications, she won't be doing anything beyond getting coffee and smiling at visitors in the front office. I know she can do the smiling part, though I'm not sure I'd trust her to get me coffee."
"She carries the Bennet name, Dad." Lizzy said, not dissuaded one bit. "And..."
"Elizabeth, I appreciate your concern, but I'll never get a moment's peace if I don't allow Kylie to go to Washington for the summer," Bob finally admitted his real reason for giving in. "I still have a state to run. It's not a large state, but Connecticut must be managed. You understand that, don't you?"
She did, she understood, but she didn't have to like it.
"She can't be too much trouble to you while she's staying with the Phillipses, and I am confident in my assessment that Washington as a whole is too savvy to pay Miss Kylie anywhere near the amount of attention she expects. She'll be back here before Independence Day." The governor was quite sure that all would be well, and Elizabeth had no choice but to abandon her goal of a peaceful summer in Washington.
Marie and Jamie waited until that evening, after the graduation festivities, for an announcement that surprised Dee most of all.
"I never, ever thought that you would be the first of my girls to get a husband, Marie, always hanging around a barn." Dee nearly shouted, while looking pointedly at Jane. Jane and Elizabeth tried to diffuse the situation by sincerely congratulating Marie.
"Jamie is wonderful, and he has a brilliant future," Lizzy said quietly. "Fitz is so impressed with him, he'll be one of the youngest legislative directors on the Hill, even if Fitz is only in his first term." She trailed off, thinking of Fitz, blushing slightly, but enough that her sisters noticed. Marie beamed at the young man who would be her husband, and he smiled back at her, clearly delighted. Jamie was talking to the governor and Kit, who stood slightly away from Dee and Kylie, who could still be heard above all the conversation.
"Well Mama, this will mean all the more parties to be seen at when I am in Washington," Kylie preened and Dee smiled proudly at her favorite daughter. "I am sure I will need several new dresses in addition to the ones you already promised me. I want to go shopping tomorrow before we leave!" Elizabeth rolled her eyes. She couldn't stop Kylie from working in Wickham's office, but there was no way she would allow her youngest sister to ride with them. Never!
The whole Bennet family was pleased with Marie's choice and that night's dinner turned into a celebration with champagne and lively conversation. Jane squirmed with guilt because she hadn't said a word about Charles.
Jane and Elizabeth talked over a cup of tea before bed. It was a custom that remained from their younger days, when they shared a bedroom and secrets.
"I do think Marie will be very happy with Jamie," Elizabeth began. "Though she may be a bit young to marry. I assume they'll wait at least a year."
"Marie will be so much older in a year," said Jane. "But she is very mature for 21, very focused. I think she's ready to make this step."
And what about you? Elizabeth thought, though she did not ask the question out loud. She knew how much Jane had been through, and how sudden everything seemed to have happened with Charles.
"I'm sure, Lizzy. I've never been as sure about anything," Jane answered. "I love Charles, and he loves me, but he has not met our family and I think it would be wrong to tell Mom and Dad that I'm getting married, and my future husband is a total stranger to them."
Lizzy nodded. "Plus you like keeping secrets." Jane started to deny it, but they both ended up laughing because they knew Lizzy was right.
"I'll let people know in good time, but it will be my time, all right?"
Lizzy agreed, and with a fond embrace, the two sisters retired to their bedrooms. Tomorrow would be a busy day and they needed their rest.
Washington began to swelter two weeks before Congress recessed at the Memorial Day weekend. Liz was grateful for the break because the political pressures of the season got almost as hot as the weather. Most members used the recess to visit their home districts spend time with family; Liz was a little different. As an unmarried woman, from a political family, her obligations were a lay in a different direction, and she planned to spend most of June in Connecticut. She needed to use that time to get a sense of how her constituents felt about the issues. Before her election, she hadn't realized that the pundits would start predicting for the next campaign so soon after the last one was done. It was important that she make a good impression back home.
Lizzy's stayed the last weekend in Connecticut with Cornie, who opened her home and her gardens for a meet and greet on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Bob and Dee came from the state capital. Congresswoman Bennet shook hands, smiled and listened to people's concerns, and then her mother approached.
"Where's that darling Fitz?" Dee demanded, cornering her second daughter. Lizzy patiently explained that Fitz was in his own district, that they had separate responsibilities as Members of Congress, and that recess was nothing like summer vacation. Her mother was not listening. If Liz was not talking about her own romance, Dee wanted news of Kylie.
Lizzy would not grant her mother's wish on one subject, and she could not on the other. She had no idea how Kylie was doing in her dubious internship, although the last time she had heard anything of Senator Wickham, he had left Washington on a junket at the expense of a biotech company. Dee seemed to be satisfied with this explanation. Privately, Liz had no idea what Wickham's legislative director would do with such a young charge. She recalled that the LD's name was Denny, and that nobody on the Hill had anything bad to say about him. This constituted Lizzy's only reason to hope that Kylie might learn something during her time in Washington.
"If you want news of your youngest, you ought to call Mrs. Phillips," Liz stated plainly. "Now, if you will excuse me, I need to get back to the voters of my district." Dee was left with her mouth hanging open. Several feet away under a shady tree, Bob and his mother shared a chuckle at her expense. Liz looked at them with longing. At that moment, she wanted nothing more than to join them.
After everybody had gone, Lizzy and Cornelia relaxed on the porch.
"In the old days, a woman would never have thought of a life in public service," she told her granddaughter. "I'm so proud of you, and of Jane, and Kit as well. You girls do the families proud." Cornie smiled. Her father had served as a Supreme Court justice. He wasn't controversial, and he wasn't revered such as men like Justice Holmes, but he had been a fair jurist and a member of the highest court in the land. Cornelia Bennet had always been in awe of her father.
Liz had always been in awe of her grandmother, who seemed to be prepared for absolutely everything. They talked of Jane's engagement, and Lizzy delivered a favorable report on Charles. She delivered equally happy news about Marie's Jamie, and Kit's work.
"What about you, Lizzy?" Cornie asked.
"I am trying to be prudent, dear grandmother." It was true. When Liz thought of her relationship with Fitz, she could not help remembering that they had known each other a relatively short time. She was absolutely sure of him; she was equally sure of her own affection, but Elizabeth Bennet had seen enough relationships to know that they depend on more than the two people at the center.
"Fitz is special," she told her grandmother. "I want to... I want to see how things go for a while. There's no need to hurry, is there?"
Each time Lizzy returned to the capital, she felt like she missed Fitz by a matter of hours. In addition to his time in New York, he traveled to California to make several appearances with Char. Fitz and Elizabeth would be separated until the beginning of July, and Elizabeth tried hard to keep busy when she was in the city.
Marie spent the bulk of her time at Catherine DeBourgh's farm, though she came into town every so often.
"Mrs. D. is, how shall I put this?" Marie mused out loud, knowing that Catherine was Fitz's aunt. "She's extremely competitive." Marie said she hadn't felt so much pressure to win, even at the Olympic trials, but Marie insisted the pressure was good for her, and that she was riding better than ever. She and Georgiana were fast friends by now, and Jamie had promised to come see her during the English Steeplechase season, as often as he could get away.
Elizabeth had lunch with everybody she'd ever met, and her scheduler booked her on several television panels, yet the month of June felt endless. Very early on the last Saturday of the month, she walked the few blocks to Jimmy T's for breakfast. She sat down at a booth and concentrated on the Post, hoping to pass the time as she ate alone. The weather was surprisingly nice for almost July, and she considered playing tourist for a day. "With my luck, I'll get my picture taken at the Air and Space Museum and the headline will say something terribly embarrassing." Elizabeth ordered a waffle and bacon and continued to read the Style section.
What shall I do today, she wondered. A movie, perhaps? She heard a slight commotion at the door as Cynde greeted a regular. Perhaps breakfast at home might have been a better idea, Elizabeth groused to herself. She stretched out her newspaper, raising it in front of her face. Though it couldn't block out the whole world, at least this new group of happy people wouldn't stare at her sitting by herself.
She read the news for a minute or so, until a bit of movement at her table disturbed her. Elizabeth exhaled and set her face into an expression that was best described as peeved. Surely some reporter now sat across from her and would begin asking questions at any moment. "Look," she said without moving the paper. "I know it's a slow news month and all, but do you mind letting me eat breakfast in peace. You may call my press secretary on Monday if you want an interview."
The person started to get up. "Since when do you have a press secretary?" said a very familiar voice. Fitz! In an instant her arms were around his neck as his embrace lifted her off the floor.
"How did you know where to find me?" she asked. Her eyes never left Fitz's face.
"Oh, I just came for breakfast." They shared a laugh, and then he confessed. "I stopped by your place first, and Kit answered the door. She said you were probably here."
"Remind me to thank Kit, um, later."
Fitz and Lizzy both had family commitments for Independence Day, but more than anything, they wanted to be together, so they decided to compromise. First they would drive to Middleburg for the Barbecue at Rosings with Fitz's Aunt Catherine, and then they would proceed to McLean, where the Phillipses lived in shocking opulence.
To be frank, the pair would have attended neither party had family not been involved; Aunt Catherine could be high-handed at times, even if she meant well. But the drive to Fauquier County was beautiful, and as soon as they left the suburbs, Fitz stopped to put the top down. Elizabeth tucked her hair up in a red baseball cap and enjoyed the sunshine coming through the trees almost as much as she enjoyed looking over at Fitz as he drove.
His face, in profile, was relaxed as he kept his eye on the two-lane road. He needed to concentrate to handle its curves and hills, and Elizabeth wondered if he remembered she was in the car. His hands gripped the steering wheel at the three and nine o'clock positions. Fitz was so precise, she thought, and such wonderful strong hands.
She sighed.
"What's on your mind?" he asked.
"You are," she responded, her voice filled with smiles and blushing.
"You know how much I love you, right?"
Elizabeth was about to suggest that he tell her again when they spotted the sign marking the turnoff for Rosings Farm. The pretty words would have to wait.
"Aunt Catherine's idea of a barbecue is one where the help is dressed better than the guests," Fitz quipped. With her family in politics, Liz was used to fancy parties, but she found them tedious at best.
"Well, Marie and Jamie will be here, and Georgiana. I'm sure I'll find somebody to talk to." Liz said as she surveyed the array of very expensive cars on the makeshift parking area. "I should be smart and watch my tongue, though," she continued. "I never know where the next campaign contribution is coming from." They laughed together as they walked closer to the house.
The first order of business was to meet Aunt Catherine. Elizabeth approached her as she would approach anyone else, with a smile and a handshake.
"Hi, I'm Liz Bennet," she said, grasping the older woman's hand and shaking firmly. "You must be Mrs. DeBourgh. You have a lovely place here."
Mrs. DeBourgh seemed horrified as she dropped Liz's hand and addressed Fitz.
"How are you, nephew?" She gave him no time to answer before she went on. "I understand your little friend is also in Congress."
"Yes, I'm a representative from Connecticut." Liz responded, choosing to ignore the slight.
"What do you think of that, Darcy?" Ice dripped from Catherine DeBourgh's words.
"I think Congress is lucky to have Elizabeth grace its halls, Aunt Catherine. She's made a great name for herself already." he responded calmly.
Finally she spoke to Elizabeth herself. "You're Marie's sister, I believe. She's an adequate horsewoman."
"She's an Olympian, Mrs. DeBourgh," said Elizabeth, who was beginning to lose patience.
"She was an alternate." Catherine responded. "Perhaps if she works very hard for the next few years, she may make the team as a competitor someday."
"We're very proud of Marie's accomplishments." Liz started to scan the crowd for a familiar face, but Mrs. DeBourgh was not finished with her questions.
"Do you ride, Miss Bennet?"
She confessed that she did not, and she was about to comment that she had always wanted to ride when she was cut off by another statement that was not a question.
"You have a number of sisters. They must ride, then."
Elizabeth smiled. "No. I'm afraid that Marie is the only equestrienne in the Bennet family. Mrs. DeBourgh seemed shocked, and Elizabeth continued before she could interrupt.
"We were all encouraged to pursue our own interests, ma'am..." she began, but Mrs. DeBourgh's attention was distracted by something. Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief until she noticed that she had grabbed Fitz's arm and was pulling him toward the house.
"Anne! At last, there she is..." she remarked. "Darcy, you haven't made a proper greeting to your cousin. Isn't she looking well?"
Liz noticed Mrs. DeBourgh gesturing in the direction a small young woman wearing glasses and reaching for her handkerchief rather often as she stood in the shade of an umbrella.
"She's very sensitive to the sun, you know..." As Elizabeth could not hear any more, she walked toward where Elliot Williamson stood.
"Fancy meeting you here, beautiful!" El greeted her warmly. "Georgie is around here somewhere, shall we go find her?" Liz thought that Elliot hadn't changed one bit, and she smiled. Fitz caught up with the group after a few minutes. From the conversation, Elizabeth gleaned that Catherine DeBourgh cherished an expectation that Fitz would marry Anne, who was her daughter.
"Actually, she's... I don't know what she is exactly." Elliot explained to the non-family members while the family members laughed. "Anne is either Lew DeBourgh's daughter from his first marriage, or she was born to his mistress and Catherine adopted her at some point. Nobody's ever been sure, but Anne is not a blood relative."
They spent the rest of the afternoon in easy company with family. About 4, Liz and Fitz said they'd hit the road. Marie sent her regrets, as she was traveling to Kentucky the next morning for a competition.
Whereas Catherine DeBourgh's house and estate dated back before the Civil War, Buddy Phillips' mansion dated back exactly one year. It sat on a relatively small piece of property for all the features they'd packed onto it.
"Four million for the grounds alone," Bunny said to a guest as Liz and Fitz arrived. "Then another two million for the house, and I don't even want to think about the furnishings!" She spotted her niece and immediately abandoned her guest, teetering toward Liz in gold high-heeled sandals with sparkling flowers on the toes. Bunny's toenails were painted a glowing pink to match the flowers.
"Lizzy, honey!" She shouted across the patio, waving her arms in the air. Bunny's bracelets jingled with every movement as she greeted her niece with air kisses.
"Aunt Bunny, do you know Fitz Darcy?" Liz asked more quietly than her relative did.
"Well, I know of him! Buddy just can't say enough nice things about you, but he didn't tell me you were such a looker!" Bunny said. She looked at Elizabeth as if to say 'nice job, kid.'
"It's my pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Phillips," said Fitz with a note of bewilderment in his voice. Bunny did not notice it.
"The bar is right over yonder," she told Fitz. "There's anything you could possibly want to drink! And Buddy is at the barbecue, so go say hey."
Aunt Bunny required all the news of the family, and Elizabeth delivered it as quickly and with as little detail as possible. She glanced around the crowd for her sisters, most of them were expected.
At last, she saw Kit next to the pool with a group of young people.
"I saw Ky for a second when I got here, but she disappeared." Kit said. "She was wearing way too much makeup, and I hope she went to wash her face." Kit made a face of her own, and Liz thought of reminding her that she might have dressed the same not so long ago, but now she admired Kit's outfit: a red tank swimsuit and white shorts with her curls tucked in a pony-tail tied with a festive blue scarf.
Fitz approached behind them and greeted Kit with a brotherly arm around the shoulder. "You're looking very patriotic today, Miss Kathryn."
"You remembered!" She smiled brightly and stood on tiptoes to kiss Fitz quickly on the cheek. "Thank you so much."
"You will always be my Kitty Kat, little sister," said Liz as Kit made a face.
For all the pomp of the Phillips' mansion, they did know how to throw a fine summer party. They provided tons of food, ample beverages, and a DJ had set up a portable dance floor some distance from the pool. Liz felt much more comfortable here because she knew many of the guests. Liz still had not seen Jane and Charles, nor had she spotted Kylie, but as she danced with Fitz, it hardly mattered.
"Remember the first time we danced?" he asked her as the sun set.
"Mmmmmm." She leaned her head against his chest. "I remember."
George Wickham arrived as the sun went down. On his arm was a woman Liz hardly recognized. The Senator eyed his date like a wolf inspecting its prey. Her dark hair was piled on top of her head and sprayed within an inch of its life. She wore a hot pink bikini top that barely contained her bosom, although she did not seem to be heading for the pool. Her shiny black shorts were cut low enough to reveal her belly button and tight enough to reveal everything else and there was a vest to match, but it stayed unbuttoned, merely emphasizing her curves. The woman's platform sandals matched both the shorts and the top, and Elizabeth could not stop staring at her.
After a few seconds, she realized why.
"Kylie!" she whispered in shock as the couple passed her.
Liz sank onto a nearby bench, and Kit joined her a moment later.
"Lizzy, I had no idea."
No, of course not. "I cannot believe she'd be so stupid. There are news photographers here, and she arrives with a Senator, who is also her boss.
"She hasn't got a brain in her head." Liz muttered to herself.
Posted on Saturday, 14 June 2003
Elizabeth wondered once again what had become of Jane. The fireworks were scheduled to start in less than an hour, and she and Charles had yet to make their appearance. Fitz tried to reassure her, but he also knew that she was looking for a way not to think about Kylie's entrance, and in that he would just as soon join her.
"I'm sure they're fine, Liz," he said as he brought her a glass of wine.
"I'm sure they are," she agreed. The wine was crisp and cold, and Liz was grateful to have something to do with her hands for a bit. Fitz accepted his host's offer of a tour of the grounds while there was enough daylight to see the place, and Liz went to greet Char, who had arrived a few minutes earlier.
"What a party! I wouldn't miss it for the world, Buddy!" her bright voice could be heard over the din. She made her way through the crowd, shaking hands as she went, saying "good to see you" and "we'll have lunch soon!" with every other step. Finally she reached Liz.
"Girlfriend, what happened to you?" To Char, Liz looked sick from too much sun, perhaps, or too little sleep. Liz pointed to a table on the other side of the pool where Kylie sat on a man's lap as they traded tequila shots.
"She looks like..." Char began.
"I know what she looks like." Elizabeth snapped. She looked at her friend's concerned face, and immediately felt remorse. 'Do you have any clue who the, uh, gentleman is?' Char raised an eyebrow at her friend's liberal use of the term, but she didn't know the guy's name.
"Oh Char, how am I supposed to maintain a reputation based on my own actions with such a sister on the loose? Think of Roger Clinton, and Billy Carter!"
"And neither of them wore patent leather hot pants," Char said dryly. Privately she thought that Elizabeth was making the situation worse by fretting over it, but she could see that Elizabeth had learned a lot in her six months as a congresswoman.
For a moment, Liz was stunned at her friend's remark, and then she realized how silly she was being. Char had done nothing more than state fact. Liz laughed out loud, laughed until a tear ran down her cheek. Charlotte was correct. She was drowning in self-pity over something she could neither control nor influence. She relaxed visibly when she realized the Bennets were in luck that night, for Buddy's security was among the best in town, and there were no photographers present.
The two friends walked around for a bit. Char continued to work the room and Liz was looking for Fitz when she heard the sound of her phone.
The party was in full swing, and Liz could hardly hear the caller. She walked inside and up the grand staircase into a guest bedroom.
On the other end of the line was Jane, who had news. She and Charles were in Maine; and they were married!
Married: Jane and Charles were, really, truly, happily married with a minimum of fuss. Jane must have been a beautiful bride, Liz thought wistfully.
On the family's behalf Liz couldn't believe it, but for all her beauty, Jane's tastes were modest and simple. The elopement made perfect sense. She was also grateful that Jane had been spared the sights and sounds of Kylie as she made a spectacle of herself and a mockery of good manners. She would have been horrified.
"Are you telling me that this is your wedding night and you're wasting your time calling me?" Liz asked.
"No no, we were married yesterday," Jane said. "On the third! Do you think Mama will be very angry with me?" Elizabeth had little doubt that Jane did not care one bit about her mother's opinion.
As Jane shared a few details of the quick decision not to wait, but to drive to Maine to be married in a small church in the woods with only a few local church members in attendance, Elizabeth looked out the window. Kylie was now hopping from lap to lap at the table. Elizabeth now feared for Kylie's young reputation. She offered sincere congratulations to her dearest sister, and promised to save the surprise for Jane and Charles to reveal in person. Right now she had a more pressing matter to attend to. She took one last glimpse out the window and saw Kylie Bennet, the youngest daughter of Connecticut's governor, niece of House Speaker Buddy Phillips of Louisville, Kentucky and sister to Representative Elizabeth Bennet, of Longbourn, Connecticut, slip and fall into a swimming pool at Mr. Phillips Arlington, Virginia, home on July 4 during a celebration of Independence Day attended by about 200 guests.
So much for Kylie's behavior not being a Story. "Remind me to cancel the Post," she said to no one.
Elizabeth returned to the party and crossed the expanse of the patio, all the while trying to understand the behavior of her youngest sister. who should have been the least experienced out in the world, yet here she was at 16, all but unchaperoned and wearing... Were those the clothes their mother had bought her? 'It can't be possible!? she whispered to herself.
The people surrounding Kylie did not notice Elizabeth as they jumped into the pool, most still fully clothed, though the more sensible among them removed their shoes first. They were hangers-on, flatterers, perpetual party crashers. Kylie's new friends were the sort of people with empty heads and full social schedules; their chatter and laughter gave Liz a headache as she looked at the group. Every last one of them was just as silly and vulgar as Kylie herself had become.
'Lizzy! Lizzy!' Kylie hollered as she noticed her standing at the edge of the pool. 'that outfit does nothing for you,' she said, laughing. 'You've got to let me take you shopping if you ever want Fitz Darcy to marry you! ' When Liz did not respond immediately, she shouted 'Lizzy! Did you hear me?'.
'I heard you, Kylie.' She confirmed. 'I am certain they heard you in Baltimore, Kylie.' she asked in as level a tone as she could manage. 'And you really ought to go and change. Why don't I see if Aunt Bunny can send somebody to get you a robe?' Elizabeth paused to make sure she said the right thing. 'I can't imagine that Mama would want you to be seen in public like that.'
Kylie would agree that her wet hair was quite a disgrace, but protested that her mother would have approved the outfit if she had seen it; and that Dee herself would have worn such clothes if she weren't the First Lady of Connecticut. 'Besides, Lizzy, I have attracted the attention of some very important men wearing this outfit, and isn't that the point?' The young girl cast a boldly flirtatious look at somebody standing a few feet away. Elizabeth turned to see that the new object of Kylie's fascination was none other than the disreputable Senator Wickham.
'You cannot be serious, Sister,' she said hopefully.
'the senator is is more than twice your age!'
'Oh, but he's such a hottie!' said Kylie, as if that were the only matter in the whole world. She climbed out of the water and sauntered toward Wickham with nothing good on her mind.
Liz turned away, dumbfounded and unable to look any longer.
What little she knew of Wickham came from Elliot Williamson, of all people. In years past, Wickham had had some curious connection to the Darcys, but it had been most decidedly severed for some reason. Elliot didn't know precisely, or he wasn't saying; Elliot was the sort of man who made it his business to file away every bit of information he could find, because it could always come in handy.
She felt a hand on her shoulder, turned and sighed in great relief to see Kit. As quietly as possible, they retired to the shadows. 'this is way over the top, even for her,' Kit stated. They were still able to hear their sister's boisterous laughter, but they were even more disturbed by the sight of her companion and his inappropriate attentions to Kylie. They felt all the embarrassment that Kylie did not.
'Would you be a darling and get me another drink, Senator Sweetie?' Kylie gushed, still laughing.
'Maybe she would listen to me and stop this nonsense,' Kit stated plainly as she rose from the bench. At the same time, Liz went in search of their Uncle Buddy in hopes that he might do his duty as host and as Kylie's supposed protector.
She had not walked more than a few feet when she ran straight into Fitz's arms. Try as she might to hide her agitation, Fitz was aware of his beloved's discomfort.
He wanted to know the source of her troubles so that he might do something to ease her mind, but she would allow nothing more than that she had tried and failed to find her uncle.
'But I am very pleased with what I did find,' she said as she slipped an arm around his waist. They walked to the edge of the terrace to get a better view of the fireworks. Liz noticed that Kit had managed to get Kylie's attention away from Wickham, and more, that she had actually managed to wrap Kylie in a towel and engage her in conversation.
'Funny,' Fitz said softly. 'I just this moment escaped from Mr. Phillips recitations on his Civil War memorabilia. Did you know that the South is going to rise again?'
With no doubt that her younger sisters former closeness would allow Kit's sense to prevail over Kylie's determination to make a splash, Liz turned to face Fitz with a huge smile on her face. They shared a tender kiss as the fireworks display lit the night sky. 'Hmmm. We'll see about that,' she quipped good naturedly.
She had the devotion of the most wonderful man she had ever known, she had his arm around her waist on a lovely night in the middle of the summer. Plus she had Jane's delicious secret. She was authorized to tell Fitz, but she was planning on having a glorious time teasing him with it before she told.
At that moment, Elizabeth could not imagine a better life than hers.
'Why are you smiling so?' Fitz whispered to her.
'If you are very good,' she said.
Posted on Friday, 27 June 2003
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bingley snuck back into Washington under the cover of night.
"You know, my love," Charles beamed at his very new wife and then had to struggle to complete his thought at the briefest sight of her lovely face.
"Where was I? Right. Caroline is going to freak out as soon as she learns where we were and what we were doing over the long weekend." They drove past yet another rest area on I-95, as Jane knew someplace special to stop in Baltimore for cups of late-night coffee to see them through the last leg of their journey home.
"We don't have to tell her, do we?" Jane said, and then she laughed. She knew that her dear husband had not known her as long as her sisters, and that eventually he would learn her sense of humor. "I say we put Caroline and my mother in a room together and see which one makes it out with her hair still tidy," Jane continued, and they both laughed, The couple shared so much, including a similar sense of humor.
Jane knew that the social climbing Caroline could pose no threat to their happiness, and her husband guessed the direction of her thoughts. "I'll be the first to admit that she can be unpleasant when things don't go her way, but one syllable from her against you or our marriage and... well, I don't know exactly what, but I will not have her bothering you."
Although they had many friends and family who would have been most welcome on the day Jane Bennet made Charles Bingley the happiest of men, the fact was that they each had at least one close relative who would have wanted them to have a fancy Event of the Season type wedding. They were in complete agreement that that was the one thing they did not want, so around the middle of June they started planning. Because of the holiday, almost nobody in Washington noticed their absence, which helped keep the secret.
Jane remembered the church in Hull's Cove from summers camping in Maine, so she contacted the minister and made arrangements. He said he would invite some members of his congregation to they wouldn't be all alone. Jane hired a local caterer to provide a hearty breakfast for the group of kind strangers. Charles found a local florist to decorate the church with seasonal flowers, ribbons of pale linen and lots of greenery. Jane called the local newspaper and found that their photographer did freelance work, and that he had no previous bookings for that morning. Charles located the Windward Bed and Breakfast, then he packed a white linen suit with a pale blue shirt and a white tie. Jane found the perfect 1920s style dress from a California designer, and with the miracle of modern technology conveyed her wishes and measurements perfectly. The fabric was a pale ivory blend of silk and linen had it shipped directly to the Windward so she wouldn't be tempted to show it to Lizzy or Kit and spoil the surprise.
They dined on Maine's famous lobster the night they arrived. They ate outdoors at a picnic table on the deck of a seaside restaurant that seemed to have been there forever. The steaming seafood came out in a bucket with fresh corn and potatoes, and plenty of butter served with icy cold bottles of beer. The happy couple watched the sun go down and walked back to their lodgings arm in arm.
On the second night of their stay, the owner of the inn prepared a special dinner for them and served it in a private room before they retired to their separate chambers for the night. They agreed that they would not see each other again before the ceremony.
Charles had one more surprise for Jane. He had brought a weary looking briefcase with him, figuring that he would have a little opportunity for work related reading since Jane would not be around to distract him, but he had something else entirely in the bag.
She looked at him as he fumbled in the bag, wondering what he was up to. At last, he pulled out a large, square case, set it on the table and nudged it toward a very puzzled Jane.
"Go on, open it!" Charles smiled in anticipation.
"Where did you?" Jane said through her smile, though how had he might be the more interesting question.
Charles was very happy to answer. "Remember the rubies that Fitz gave to Liz on the night of the Inaugural? She handed the pearls to me, because I was standing closest to her when Fitz replaced them with the other necklace. She didn't have any pockets!"
Jane's mouth dropped open at the thought of her great-grandmother's pearls being with Charles all this time.
"I tried to give them back to her but she told me to hang on to them. Perhaps she knew we were going to run off together before we did," he finished.
"I knew you were not capable of this kind of subterfuge, Charles," she said, unable to contain her joy that this one family tradition would be maintained. All the Bennet women for many yours had worn this pearl necklace with its magnificent diamond clasp on the day that they married.
Tomorrow would be her turn. She sighed and gazed across the table at the man she would call husband for the rest of her days. A single tear fell from her eye.
"Jane? What's wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong, silly. I just cannot believe how happy I am right now!" They looked at each other for a long time, committing everything about that moment to memory for later years.
Early in the morning, the innkeeper's sister spirited Jane and her dress away to prepare. The wedding was scheduled for 10:30. A stylist wove Jane's long hair into a pretty French braid and then helped with her makeup, very simple on this day, not much more than a bit of lip gloss and a touch of powder. There should be nothing heavy to detract from the natural beauty of the bride. She changed into her dress and allowed one of the women to position her had on so it would stay. There was a pale blue ribbon running through the lace on her sleeves. The dress flattered her figure, and her happiness made her even more beautiful than usual. The ladies agreed that she looked perfect, just like something out of a movie.
Back at the inn, Charles was having problems with his tie and second thoughts about the pale blue shirt. He couldn't seem to tie a Windsor knot to save his life!
"Do you really think it looks OK?" he asked Frank, the desk clerk, who was a no-nonsense Yankee. "Maybe I should wear the red tie. Or I brought a blue one."
"Just how many ties did you pack, Mr. Bingley?" Frank eyed Charles warily.
"Twelve," he responded, and then he chuckled at his answer. Frank could see that the young man before him did not take himself too seriously and chucked along. "Well, I guess they don't take so much room."
Within a few minutes Charles was ready to go to the church to await his beautiful Jane. As he waited, he reflected on his good fortune. He had not believed in love at first sight before he met her, but fate had given him plenty of time to think about it. He was glad, as he thought, about the way things had worked out. Still, if he could have spared her the hurtful sight of Elliot with another woman, he would have. He would do anything to keep her from pain.
Charles' reveries were interrupted by a soft knock at the door. "If you are ready, sir, I think it's about time to start."
Jane waited alone outside the small stone church. The circumstances of her wedding meant that she would not be given away and would not have her beloved sisters at her side, but Jane thought about this in the minutes she waited and she was all right. "I am a modern woman, and this is an unusual wedding. Besides, I am getting exactly the wedding I wanted."
The chapel by the sea had been there so long, none of the townspeople could remember when it was built. A soft breeze blew from the direction of the cove, the flowers were in full bloom. The sky was blue and the day was perfect in every way.
"What have I done in my life to deserve this?" She asked herself in mock-seriousness. She could hear her sister's voice in her head 'Oh Jane...' Dear Lizzy. She could not wait to tell her sister about the wedding.
As she walked down the aisle to the recorded music of a string quartet, she saw Charles at the end. His joy was evident and Jane felt butterflies of excitement in her stomach. The aisle was not long, and she was glad of that.
"Hi," she said, looking shyly at Charles.
"Hi," he replied. Jane handed her calla lilies to the minister's clerk and the minister went on about the business of getting the couple married.
"I understand that some young couples like to write their own vows," he said in the middle of the ceremony, pausing so they could say whether they had.
"We didn't really have time," said Charles.
"And the traditional vows are so beautiful." Jane added.
"Not half as beautiful as you, my dear..." The minister cleared his throat and Charles turned three shades of pink.
Words were spoken, promises were made, and they were married.
Charles looked over at his new wife in the passenger seat and was surprised to see that she was not sleeping. She had a particular look on her face-a soft smile and gentle light in her eyes--as if she had just waked from the nicest possible dream.
"What were you thinking about, just then?" he asked softly.
"I was just remembering our wedding." She answered in a dreamy voice.
He smiled to himself because he had just been thinking about exactly the same subject.
"Hey, what time is it?" Jane was suddenly more alert.
"About 4:15. Why?"
She announced that they should be just in time for a hot glazed and a cup of coffee to sustain us on the rest of their way, and instructed him to take the next exit then right at the second light. Obviously this was not the first time Jane had been to Baltimore for doughnuts.
Charles did not know that his slim wife was a fan of Krispy Kremes! He would spend the rest of his life learning every little thing there was to know about his Jane.
"It just this moment occurred to me," he began as they entered the neon lit doughnut shop. "Which apartment are we going to? We never have talked about where we're going to live now that we're married."
Jane reasoned that since her building had a garage and Charles didn't even have a driveway, they proceed to her place, but they could discuss the matter in detail when they were rested. And after she had her doughnut.
Posted on Thursday, 31 July 2003
It happened that Charles and Jane rejected Mrs. Bennet's insistence on a glittering Manhattan reception, complete with press coverage and security details.
"Mama, I wish that you would not trouble yourself with our celebration," Jane said in as mild a tone as possible, under the circumstances. "I am afraid you have missed the point of us 'running off into the wilderness' as you put it. All we wanted was to be married to each other, and that was best accomplished without too much... help." She put it diplomatically.
"Now what we want is to celebrate with our dear friends and family. I hope that you, Papa and all my sisters will join us in Washington for our reception." Jane was confident before she became Mrs. Bingley, but since her marriage, that confidence had deepened and she began to trust in her ability to stick to her convictions where her mother was concerned.
Jane related the whole to Lizzy over lunch the next day, and Charlotte joined them at Café Atlantico, one of the stars of Washington's new downtown restaurant district. Her presence guaranteed them a great table, and when the chef realized they had arrived she came running out from the kitchen and refused to allow them to order off the menu, instead, plate after plate of remarkable little dishes from the tasting menu arrived for their approval. Char had worked her magic once again.
The three women planned during the meal, but for the most part, Char planned while Lizzy and Jane watched in amazement. Char still felt very guilty over the situation that immediately preceded Jane's breakup with Elliot, and she wanted to do something to make up for her part in that. Of course, everything had worked out for the best, but that wouldn't stop Char from doing what she felt was her duty to a close friend.
"We could have it at the Mayflower, but that's so stuffy," Char started. "Or one of those new boutique hotels. I love the Monaco, though the ceilings in the ballroom are so high, but not the Topaz! The bathrooms on the first level are dreadful!"
Liz and Jane both laughed at their friend and between them they convinced her that though she appreciated the help, Jane did not want that much fuss. She started to hint that they would just have the reception at her apartment when Liz had a great idea.
"Why not have the reception at Pembroke House? I am sure Fitz wouldn't mind." Even if he had minded, he could not have resisted both his beloved Elizabeth and his old friend Char.
The three walked through a group of tourists wearing matching t-shirts as they left the restaurant, each satisfied with the plan.
With the help of a couple of eager summer interns from the University of Southern California, Char was so efficient in her planning that there was little left for anybody else to do, except show up. Dee was not particularly happy, but Jane was overjoyed.
Fitz made sure that somebody would be able to meet the caterer and the florist in the morning. The bartenders and waiters arrived at 5:30 and by 6:30 the receiving line was underway.
Jane was cool in a white silk pant suit with an aqua shell, Elizabeth wore a sage green sheath, Dee had chosen a peach ensemble that featured a jacket made of elaborately embroidered lace, and glittering buttons the size of golf balls.
"Mama, Papa, may I present Miss Caroline Bingley," Jane said as her sister-in-law shook hands with the Bennets. "Caroline, these are my parents, Governor and Mrs. Bennet."
Caroline wore an outfit in coral lace and matching silk with a jacquard pattern of ostrich feathers. It featured exactly the same buttons as on Dee's jacket. "I just love your Nolan Nolan!" Dee said as she grasped Caroline's hand.
In Dee Bennet, Caroline recognized a woman who had married well, and she admired that. "It is a great pleasure to meet you, Ma'am," she said, inclining her head just the slightest bit. "I've heard so much about your good... work." Caroline had to bite her tongue to keep from saying 'luck'.
Dee was as flattered as Caroline intended, and the two women wandered away from the receiving line.
"Do you think we can end this thing now that Mother has met somebody who's interested in her?" Jane asked her father.
The governor laughed heartily. "Jane, my sweet, that is the best idea I've heard in at least two hours. Let's all enjoy the party now. That will give me a little time to chat with your husband."
"All right, everybody!" the governor announced to the people who were still waiting to meet and greet. "By the power vested in me by the great state of Connecticut, which will just have to suffice, I hereby declare you all received and this reception officially started, and it's about time!"
His words were met with cheers from the guests, and the champagne was flowing within a few minutes.
Fitz hoped to spend the afternoon with his beloved at his side, but each time he wanted to approach her, he saw that once again she was occupied with some friend or relation, and he was starting to dislike them all. His sense of reserve would not permit him to interrupt her conversation in order to drag her away for a private moment.
Elizabeth's thoughts were not at all dissimilar. She and Fitz had been very busy since Congress went back into session after the July Fourth recess. They were working on legislation, and both had to meet with constituents as well as lobbyists from so many different entities.
"It's true," she responded to a cousin who was talking about the hustle and bustle of the Capital city. "A congressman's work is never done."
But never more so than today, she muttered under her breath as she walked away before another person could engage her in what passed for conversation. She hoped that if she snuck out into the courtyard, Fitz might follow. He was leaning against a bookcase looking more than a little peevish, but she could not catch his eye across the crowd.
Liz had been enjoying the quiet for a minute, but not much more, when she heard the door and knew that she was no longer alone in the summer afternoon. She turned around with a brilliant smile that fell the second she saw who had joined her outside.
What in the world could Catherine DeBourgh want? What was she even doing here?
"Mrs. DeBourgh," said Elizabeth. "What a pleasant surprise."
"Miss Bennet, do not mistake my purpose for singling you out. I certainly do not mean to bestow any stamp of familial approval on you."
Elizabeth had no idea what the older woman meant. She kept her seat on the bench and waited for Mrs. DeBourgh to continue. Perhaps an explanation would be forthcoming, but Elizabeth was not going to hold her breath.
After a few silent moments, she felt that she must say something. "In all honesty, Mrs. DeBourgh, I have no idea why you came into the courtyard, so I assume you wanted some fresh air, as I did." Since she had nothing more to say to Catherine DeBourgh, Elizabeth said nothing more.
"Do not be coy with me, Miss Bennet. I came to warn you away from any further involvement with my nephew."
Elizabeth blinked several times in disbelief. If she had any expectations what Fitz's aunt might say, this was far from the list of topics she considered.
She faltered, but slightly. "I..." She began out of necessity more than desire for conversation. "I have no idea what you are talking about, Ma'am."
"If you expect my nephew to marry you, you're out of your mind. There are so many reasons why a union between the two of you would be..." She searched for a word, but Liz cut her off before she could finish.
"You have some nerve coming here on this of all days, while we are all celebrating my sister's marriage to Charles Bingley, who happens to be your nephew's dearest friend, to inform me that I cannot marry Fitz." Liz said.
"Look at your family!" Mrs. DeBourgh began. "Your father's family is a ragtag collection of liberal Democrats. The mayor of Northampton, Massachusetts! I cannot imagine a more permissive place. And your mother's family is a bunch of ne'er do well beauty queens. They pollute this stately house even now."
Elizabeth was shocked at the outburst, and had no idea what had brought it on.
"Mrs. DeBourgh, I think the only possible response to your slurs against my very respectable family is for me to leave you here in the courtyard so that you may ask yourself exactly what you hoped to gain by crashing a wedding reception held at the home of your dear nephew, with the idea that it would be an ideal situation to insult the bride's family," Elizabeth said. "You astonish me, Ma'am."
With that she walked back inside, where the assembled party was unaware of the exchange that had taken place outside. Mrs. DeBourgh's ranting could not be heard over the string quartet.
Fitz approached her with a glass of champagne in each hand. "One of those had better be for me," she said.
They smiled at each other, and for a too brief time the hubbub slipped away from them.
Fitz raised his glass and looked straight at Elizabeth. "To the loveliest woman in the room."
Elizabeth returned the toast with a twinkle in her eye. "Yes, here's to Jane!" They laughed together, and they rejoined the party with a renewed sense of humor.