Posted on Tuesday, 3 June 2003

It was eleven p.m., and the Lanesborough was quite full. Or at least, the tables were, for the bar was quite deserted. A simple glance at the calendar could explain the enormous quantity of couples sitting at the tables and holding hands, or whispering, or just staring at each other with a sickening look of giddiness. It was Valentine's Day, and as gift shops and flower stands tell us constantly, it's a time to spend money on your beloved and to make him or her happy. Of course, they probably don't understand that a small gesture can be far more romantic than a dozen of red roses.

A lonely figure entered the café and seated itself at the bar. The young woman was clearly not happy, and the fact that she was alone, combined with a beautifully wrapped package gave away the reason. She quietly asked for a cappuccino, and was soon absorbed in the contemplation of the coffee cup before her. She didn't notice the entrance of the young man, just like none of the couples had noticed her entrance earlier. He also sat on a stool at the bar, and asked for a coffee. He seemed pensive, and stared at the floor for a short while, until a pair of shoes caught his attention. The feet inside the shoes were little, and the person who wore them had, in his opinion, good taste. They were high heels, classic in design. His gaze went upwards, to find a pair of shapely legs, visible to a little above the knees through a slit in the owner's skirt. It was a black skirt, which ended in enticing womanly curves and a slim waist. The hands which were on the bar, were small, the fingers long and well shaped. Her arms were long and sheathed into the sleeves of her white shirt; there was something in her air altogether with drew him to her. Her neck was graceful, and her face pretty, with a straight nose, full red lips and big eyes with long eyelashes. Her skin was the colour of cream, and in contrast her hair was black, with rich curls and arranged in a simple yet elegant knot. Her eyes were fixed on her coffee cup, and so he couldn't see what colour they were, at least until she looked up at him inquisitively. He quickly tore his eyes from her green ones and looked at the primly wrapped package. It had a red heart with 'I love you' written in gold attached to it. The young man smiled ruefully. "If you really mean it, he's a lucky man." He said.

"What? Who?" The girl asked, staring at him in amazement.

"That," the man pointed towards the red heart, "I said that if you mean it, your boyfriend is a lucky man."

"I don't have a boyfriend." She answered, bitterly.

"Oh." The young man paused. "But that present is not for you."

"How do you know?" She asked, astonished.

"If it were for you, you would have opened it already. No woman can resist the urge to open a present the moment they receive it." He said, smiling sadly.

"You're probably right." she nodded, with a sad smile of her own.

"Unrequited love?" He asked hesitatingly.

"No. I don't think I ever loved him, or else I would miss HIM, and not just the idea of having a boyfriend. We dumped each other today." She said, blushing.

"My girlfriend dumped me today, too. I never loved her, and I think I'm suffering mostly of hurt pride, because I really thought she felt something for me. In the end she was only interested in my money." He said, staring at her.

"We could make a club!" She laughed, "But the truth is, it's quite depressing to be alone on Valentine's Day."

"Yes. You sort of long for someone, anyone really, to share the day with. All you see, after all, is couples everywhere!" He said, looking towards the tables.

"I even took the day off to be with my boyfriend, but... There you are. I'm just not in the mood for work today. Everyone I know has a terribly romantic date, and so I have to sulk alone." She said, jokingly. Then she laughed heartily; "I don't know why I bother you with my love life, or rather lack of it!"

"Don't worry. I feel the same way, you know, and it's nice to talk to someone who isn't grinning like an idiot and staring at someone else."

"Ah, yes, Valentine's Day does have that effect on people." She looked around with an amused smile, "I just wish I could spend the day having fun, too."

"Say, would anyone do?" He asked boldly, looking at her intently.

"I guess. Why?" She asked quizzically.

"Well, it seems to me we are in the same situation. We could make the best of it and spend the day together; no ties, no commitments, just an enjoyable day. A symbiosis of a kind, what do you say?" He said quickly, his eyes never leaving her face.

"We don't even know each other!" She exclaimed, "I don't even know your name."

"So what? I feel connected to you somehow, I can't explain it. And we can spend the day finding out about each other, don't you think?" He smiled, and offered her his hand, "By the way, my name is William Darcy."

She took his hand, but instead of shaking it, he took it to his lips. "I'm Elizabeth Bennet." She managed to stutter.

"So, what do you say... Elizabeth?" William asked, savouring the sound of her name.

She hesitated, looking at him carefully. He was handsome, that was true. He had to be more than six inches tall, with broad shoulders and a body she wanted to put in a plate. His face was open and friendly, although he had an enigmatic air about him. The dimples that had appeared on his cheeks a few times made her swoon, but it was the eyes that got her. Rich brown eyes, so deep she could feel herself drowning in them. And that hair! She loved long hair, and his mass of curls seemed so soft that her fingers ached to run across it. She couldn't explain why, but she trusted him.

"All right." She said, smiling, "Dumped people should stick together, I guess."

"That's the spirit!" He smiled back, "Now let's finish our coffee so we can begin our romantic perfect day." They did so quickly, William insisted on paying the bill, "I'm going to be the perfect gentleman today. You MUST let me have it, I won't give way."

She acquiesced eventually, and they were soon out of the café. He took her bag, with the package inside, and offered her his arm.

"The perfect gentleman, eh?" She smiled, as they started walking.

"At your service, madam. Gallant and well-bred, that's me!" He said, with a mocking bow.

She laughed out loud, and kissed him on the cheek. "I'll have to be the lovely and affectionate lady, then."

"You play your part admirably. And now, my lady, if you please, let's walk towards the first point in our schedule. My girlfriend never liked this, but I love it and I'm trusting your so far, excellent judgment on this one." He said, good-humouredly.

"Why thank you! I don't have a choice, then?" She laughed.

"Yes, you do, but I'd rather you chose this afternoon's activities. I'm afraid this needs sunshine and a hearty meal afterwards, at least for me."

"Well I can't vouch for the weather, but I'm all for the hearty meal. And it's just as well, I'll have more time to come up with some romantic thing I've always wanted to do."

"That's my girl. We're nearly there." He added, as the entered a park.

"Hyde Park? Oh, I love it!" She exclaimed. William was surprised both by her sincere enthusiasm and by the warm sensation that invaded him at the sight of her eyes sparkling with delight.

"Yes... And no. Just wait, oh impatient one, it's a surprise!" He said, playfully.

She giggled and rested more confidently on his arm. He noticed this, and smiled to himself. The walked by the wonderful flowers and huge trees. William even picked a rose from a bush and offered it to her with a flourish and a smile. Elizabeth blushed, and smiled prettily back. In no time they reached a huge lake, with lots of ducks and a few punts, which drifted aimlessly around it, occupied by couples far too busy to care about their destination.

"Oh! Are we going to take a punt?" Elizabeth asked excitedly.

"That's the plan. You like the idea, then, I take it?" He said, looking for approval. She beamed at him, and started running towards the little dock at the other part of the lake.

"Last one to reach the dock has to punt!" She cried, laughing.

"Not fair! You got an early start!" He exclaimed, running after her. She ran really fast, and when William reached the dock, quite breathless, she was already there, her cheeks flushed, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"You," William said admonishingly, "are a cheat, madam!"

"How dare you, sir! I merely failed to inform you about the start of the race; I can be a little forgetful at times..." She answered, winking.

"Forgetful, huh?" He said, barely suppressing a smile. They paid the man who rented the punts, and they were soon in the middle of the lake. William punted well, and Elizabeth sat opposite him admiring his technique.

"I'm not really in the best outfit for this," he commented, pointing to his suit, "had I known I would have worn a pair of chinos, and I would have left this damned tie at home!"

"Well, I can fix that," Elizabeth smiled, and bent towards him as she removed his tie. William felt her hands around his neck, and his skin tingled. It was absurd, how could this woman affect him so? He had just met her!

"Thanks." He said, gratefully. "So, tell me about this boyfriend of yours, I didn't quite understand that 'we dumped each other' part."

Elizabeth frowned, but she could see only frank curiosity in his eyes, and after all, she would never see him again after today...

"I wanted to surprise him, so I went to his apartment early. He's unemployed, you see, but he didn't know I'd take the day off. So I went there at ten or so, and found him in bed with my little sister." She laughed bitterly, "Of course I told him it was over, and he replied that he was going to dump me anyway, and that I was the most frustrating woman he'd ever met."

"He was a fool." William said quietly, taking her hand in his, "You are a wonderful woman."

"Thanks," she smiled at him with gratitude, "I guess I should've known better than to trust that rat of George Wickham."

"George Wickham?" He exclaimed with alarm, "HE was you boyfriend?"

"You know him?" Elizabeth was stunned.

"Unfortunately, yes. He nearly seduced my little sister, too! I was lucky enough to catch him at it and to leave him with a black eye. My dear Georgiana needed years of therapy to get over it!" He said, with a checked voice.

"Once a rat, always a rat." Elizabeth answered, seating herself beside him and hugging him comfortingly.

"I guess." He smiled sadly.

"Tell me, was your girlfriend an acquaintance of mine?" Elizabeth teased him. "But I don't think I have any friends who are out of their wits..."

"I can't picture her as your friend." Darcy said softly, "She was mercenary and quite ruthless. She found out I had lost a lot of money in an investment and thought I was broke, so she dumped me. I believe she is now with a former boyfriend who is twice her age."

"Wow!" Elizabeth said, not really knowing what to say.

"So you see, you can't possibly know Caroline Bingley."

"Caroline Bingley? Charles Bingley's sister?" Elizabeth cried.

"Why, yes." Darcy said, confused.

"It's a small world, William Darcy! My sister Jane is Charles's girlfriend!" She exclaimed, laughing.

"Not 'the' Jane? The angel?"

"The very one!"

"Boy! I think we should stop shocking each other and let our past be for the moment. I don't know about you, but I'm famished." He said, smiling apologetically.

"Not very romantic, but reassuring!" She laughed, "Come on, my brave punter, let's get you some nourishment!"

Darcy knew the people at the Pont de la Tour quite well, so it took him five minutes to get a table, even though it was packed and there were several couples waiting for one. Elizabeth shot William an amused look.

"I assume you come here quite often?" She teased.

"Well, let's say they know me here. Ah, Eric!" He smiled as an old man approached them, "How is Susie?"

"Got over her cold, Mr. Darcy; unfortunately now Helen and Mike have caught it!" Eric answered.

"Ah, you have a real problem now! What I would call a domestic hecatomb!" Darcy laughed.

"Yes, sir, we don't get a moment's rest. Who is this enchanting lady Mr. Darcy?" Eric asked, with a glance at Elizabeth.

"Elizabeth Bennet, let me introduce you to one of the wisest men I know. This is Eric Wheeldon, Eric, this is my..." William looked at her for a second and smiled, "my Valentine, Elizabeth."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Bennet. And it's good to know your taste is improving, sir. What will it be?" He said, smiling beatifically.

"I'll have the Chef's salad for starters, and then the Filet Mignon. The Filet is exquisite, Elizabeth, I recommend it."

"I'll have the same as you, then. Thanks, Eric." She smiled at the old man, who took her menu.

"And the wine?" Eric asked, looking at Darcy.

"We'll have a Spanish red wine, please. I'll let the choice to you." William winked at the waiter, who shook his head as he left.

"There's a rumour saying that there is an incredibly expensive red wine bottle hidden in the wine-cellar... And if someone knows that cellar, it's Eric. But he either doesn't find it or is saving it for himself. I've been teasing him about it for ages." William explained.

When Eric returned with their wine, a quite normal bottle, William tasted it and pronounced it to be excellent. Eric left them then, and the couple began to chat about their likes and dislikes

"Do you like vegetables?" William enquired.

"Yes, all save one. I never could stand celery. What about you?"

"Brussels sprouts. Yuck!" He said, wrinkling his nose.

"What about desserts?" Elizabeth smiled.

"I have a sweet tooth, I confess. Especially for chocolate."

"Me too! And whipped cream!" Elizabeth sighed. "Delicious."

William looked at her warmly, trying not to think about a combination of Elizabeth and whipped cream.

"What have you been reading, lately?" he tried to get on safe ground again.

"Oh, I'm reading Don Quixote right now. A friend of mine, Charlotte Lucas, told me it was a fine tale about madness. She said it was just like a day at my working place."

"You are a shrink?" William asked, interested.

Elizabeth sighed with frustration. "Why can't anyone remember the word 'psychologist' anymore?"

Their salads arrived, and Elizabeth made a face as she saw the celery.

"I can eat that." William said, smiling.

Elizabeth quickly passed him all the celery and sighed happily as she tucked into her food.

"What about your last read?" Elizabeth asked.

"Um, it was Harry Potter and the Goblet of fire." William had a terribly sheepish look on his face.

"No way!" Elizabeth said, staring at him. William blushed, and she broke into a laughing fit.

"I'll have you know it's not as childish as it sounds!" He tried to protest, "Stop laughing, damn it!"

"I'm sorry! I just never thought... You don't look like someone who would read Harry Potter."

"Your Filets, sir." Eric arrived interrupting the conversation.

Elizabeth looked at Darcy thoughtfully as he embarrassedly cut his Filet. He looked up suddenly, and caught her at it. He smiled, slowly and whispered, "A penny for your thoughts."

"I was thinking you are very sweet." Elizabeth said, smiling.

"Thank you! If I can take it as a compliment, that is."

"You certainly can." Elizabeth winked at him. They finished their food in silence, and then decided to order a chocolate mousse to share. Eric brought a beautiful crystal cup full of the delicious-looking dessert.

"Mmmmm!" Elizabeth sighed with pleasure as she had a spoonful, and William couldn't repress a chuckle.

"Don't laugh, I'm seriously regretting this mousse sharing!" She said, as she smacked his arm playfully. Just then, a man with a basket full of roses approached them.

"Sir, won't you buy the lady a rose?" He asked, offering a red rose wrapped up in cellophane.

"Yes, why not?" Darcy answered, smiling at Elizabeth.

"Thank you sir! Your girlfriend is very beautiful, if I may say so."

William grinned widely and looked at Elizabeth so intensely she blushed and looked down.

"Yes, she is very beautiful."

They soon left the Pont de la Tour, not without saying goodbye to Eric. After Elizabeth had kissed him, he turned to William and gave him a hug.

"Don't you dare to let this one go." He murmured into Darcy's ear.

William turned a deep shade of red. Elizabeth looked at him quizzically, but he took her by the hand and out of the restaurant.

"It's your turn to decide what we should do." William said, once they were out.

"I know. What do you prefer, grapes or strawberries?" She asked, with a sly smile.

William stared at her in amazement, "Um, strawberries. Why?"

"Just wait and you'll find out. Stay here, I'll be back in five minutes!" She ran away leaving behind a very confused William Darcy. He paced and frowned, finding hard to believe the misery of even five minutes without her. He greeted her returning figure with a bright smile, feeling ridiculously relieved.

She was carrying a brown paper bag, which he eyed curiously.

"Right, our destination is Regent's Park." She told him, as they got into a taxi, "I know we've already been to one, but I want to show you something". 'Something' turned out to be a small clearing near the lake, with soft grass, flowers of every possible colour and a wonderful view. Elizabeth sat down beside a tree and rested her back against the trunk.

"I've always wanted to do this. Now, lay down and put your head in my lap."

William did as he was bid, and found himself being fed strawberries while he gazed into Elizabeth's face.

"Now we do look like one of those sickly romantic couples." He commented.

"I know, that's the idea." She giggled. "Now tell me, do you do this much? I mean, spending the day with a complete stranger."

"No, this is the first time. But I could make a habit of it, if I found more women like you." He smiled. Elizabeth gently put another strawberry in his mouth, grazing his lips with her fingers.

"You know, there's something missing here," she said, thoughtfully, "but I don't know what."

"I could start singing if you want," he said, with a cocked eyebrow, "although I wouldn't recommend it. Or I could recite some poems."

"That's it!" She said. She reached out for her handbag and pulled a little notebook out of it.

"You carry a book of poems around?" William asked, amusedly.

"No, I just write down any poem, or the lyrics of any song that I find interesting, or that moves me deeply. I wouldn't like to forget them." She explained. "Now, let me see if I can find one that is soppy enough..."

"I'm all ears!" Darcy looked at her expectantly.

"Here it is!" Elizabeth exclaimed joyously, and began to read with a clear, sweet voice,

The feast with gluttonous delays
Is eaten...
... night is come; and yet we see
Formalities retarding thee...
A bride, before a 'Good-night' could be said,
Should vanish from her clothes into her bed,
As souls from bodies steal and are not spied.
But now she's laid; what though she be?
Yet there are more delays, for where is he?
He comes and passeth through sphere after sphere;
First her sheets, then her arms, then anywhere.
Let not this day, then, but this night be thine;
Thy day was but the eve to this, O Valentine.*

When she put down the book and looked at William, she found a look in his eyes that reached deep inside her, arresting her. His eyes bespoke of passion and desire, of tenderness. She couldn't break the eye contact, she could hardly breathe.

"Tell me," He said, in a husky voice, "do you like strawberries?"

Relieved at his change of topic, but still keeping her eyes fixed on his, she answered, "Yes, I like them very much."

"And yet it would seem I have eaten all of them." Darcy continued.

"Why yes," said she, with a quick glance towards the paper bag, "so you have."

"I'm exceedingly ashamed, I think I should make it up to you." He said, propping himself on one elbow.

"There's no need to..." Elizabeth never did end that sentence, as William kissed her sweetly. She could taste the strawberries in his mouth, and she felt a delicious warmth spread all through her body.

His lips reluctantly freed themselves after a short while. He looked at her with concern, and Elizabeth, trying to convince herself that the best kiss she had ever experienced was a mistake and the result of an impulse, not of real affection, got up.

"We... Why don't we go to the cinema?" She said, quickly.

William looked abashed. "Um, yes, why not." He said, sheepishly.

They spent the taxi drive to Prince Charles Cinema in silence. After a short argument, they agreed to watch 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' after Elizabeth admitted that she too liked the books.

They were quite shy with each other until the little girl sitting behind them began to whine.

"Mummy! I can't see! This man's too tall!"

Elizabeth laughed hysterically at William's shocked face. He politely offered to swap seats, which the child's mother quickly agreed to. They spent the next two hours laughing and whispering like two teenagers. At one point, Elizabeth even hugged him and hid her face in his chest to avoid seeing a giant spider. She quickly backed away though, but William then carelessly put his arm around her shoulder. The film ended too soon for them, and as they realised it was already dark outside it came like a hard shock that their perfect Valentine's Day was almost over.

"I should take you home, I guess." William said uncertainly as the exited the cinema.

"Yes, we should get going. We could walk, I live nearby." Elizabeth said in a neutral voice, not looking at him.

It was mildly cold, and as they walked, commenting the film, William observed she was shivering.

"Here," he said, wrapping her in his coat, "let's use another typical romantic film scene."

She thanked him quietly. It took them only fifteen minutes to reach Elizabeth's home, a cosy little two-storey house.

"So." She said, standing in front of the door.

"So." He repeated, staring at the floor.

"Thanks for a wonderful day." She said, handing him back his coat.

"No, thank YOU." He said, earnestly.

They stood still for a moment. Then she spoke, shakingly, "It's what we both want, isn't it? No ties, no attachments."

"It was what I wanted this morning. I'm not so sure now." He said, softly.

She looked at him, her bottom lip quivering, her eyes open wide.

"I want to be with you, I can't stand the thought of not seeing you again. I want to take you with me, to love you, I want to..." He stopped sharply and took something out of his pocket. "My sister made me take this to the jeweler's not long ago. It was my mother's, and she never took it off, except a day before she died with my father in a car crash. It had lost a stone, and we never found out until Georgiana went through Mum's stuff. I picked it up this morning," he added, with a smile, "I never thought I would need it so soon." He opened the jeweler's case to reveal a beautiful ring. It was a wedding band, adorned with an emerald surrounded by two square-cut diamonds. William got down on one knee, and asked a speechless Elizabeth, "Will you marry me?"

"We've known each other for less than a day." She said, weakly.

"I know. And yet, I've known I love you almost since the first time I saw you."

"You know nothing about me." Elizabeth objected.

"I know enough. I know you are strong, because you managed to stay calm after what you endured this morning. I know you are lovely, and witty, and intelligent. I know you are so good you don't hate your sister for what she did to you, which also shows you are loving and loyal. You were generous enough to let me have all the strawberries, you are charming and gentle, and most important of all, I've never been so sure of anything as I am of the fact that I love you."

Elizabeth's eyes filled with tears. "And if there's anything else I need to know, I'm more than willing to spend the rest of my life finding it out." William added, tenderly.

Elizabeth pulled him up and gazed into his eyes. She softly traced his mouth, caressed his brow, his cheeks, she took a strand of curly hair and stroked it, and then she held the lapels of his coat in her hands, and looked long and hard at his face.

"Are you learning me by heart?" he said, stroking her hair.

"No," she answered. "I know you by heart, somehow. You are inside my heart." And they put their arms round each other and kissed as if they would never let each other go.

They were married two days later.

Many years afterwards, when Christine Darcy asked her mother why she and her husband never celebrated Valentine's Day, Elizabeth answered,

"Your father makes every day be the most romantic day of the year for me. All he has to do, " she smiled, "is to breathe."

*John Donne