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Chapter 30
Liz stared in shock at the sight in front of her. Could it be real or was it but another figment of her imagination? Was it really him? But how could it be? She had only imagined sharing quiet moments at the church with him, but how could it come to pass so? Was her mind playing cruel tricks on her again or had the heavens given her another chance? At length, Liz managed to utter, "Um...hi?"
William, who seemed to be in equal shock, returned with, "Hi."
Then, there was silence. There was so much Liz wanted to say and do. She wanted to tell him how much she regretted having hurt him and beg him to forgive her. She wanted to lose herself in his tender embrace so that she could make him understand how her feelings were different and how her love had never changed. She wanted to confess her undying devotion to him that would only cease with her life. But she could not move or utter a word, but simply contented herself with looking at his face and staring into his eyes. His face appeared strained as if he were carrying a great burden of late, and in a sickening moment, Liz realized that it might be because of her. He appeared to be equally shocked to see her and whether it was a pleasant surprise remained to be determined.
"Liz," he finally said. "I, ah..., I didn't expect to see you...here," he said awkwardly. "When did you arrive?"
"This evening," replied Liz, shortly.
"And where are you staying?" he inquired.
"At the Inn," answered Liz, stealing a glance at him. He looked surprised and a flicker of pain flashed through his eyes. All the memories that had plagued her must have struck him.
"Oh, and how are you?" he asked, gently.
"Pretty good."
"And your family, Jane, and everyone."
"They're all doing great," answered Liz, a trifle surprised at his persistence in carrying on the conversation. She would have thought that he'd be dying to leave her presence. Apparently not.
"I just got here myself," William informed her.
"Oh, really?" she said, wondering whether Mrs. Reynolds knew about his arrival and if so, why she'd hidden it from her.
"And is Ben okay?" William asked shortly thereafter.
"Yes, they're all fine," said Liz, with a little smile.
William smiled in return and for a moment, they stood there in front of the altar, facing each other with only a priest missing. There was so much to be said, so much to be shared, but neither had the courage to say what was in their heart. If eyes could convey messages, there was an honest confession in Liz's eyes and a quiet acceptance in William's. After standing awkwardly for a few minutes, William suggested that he walk Liz to the Inn. She began to protest, but said nothing. They started towards the door, side by side, mirroring each other exactly.
William was quiet, not because he had nothing to say, but rather because he had too much to say. There was no way to begin expressing his feelings on seeing Liz again and at their church, too! Who could have imagined it possible. It was almost as if it were a stroke of luck. As they stepped outside, the bitter New England cold hit them and Liz instinctively moved closer to William, her arms almost touching his. William savored this briefest of contacts, wishing that he could put his arms around her and protect her from the harsh weather. But he couldn't. She was so near yet so far and he felt an invisible barrier of silence between them. In a desperate effort to overcome that barrier, he said,
"I was wondering if...well, there's someone who I'm sure would like to see you, if it's alright with you - my sister, Georgia."
Liz looked at him, then smiled slightly. "Of course I'd like to see her. It's been too long anyway."
"Yes, the last time you both have met was at last Thanksgiving."
"Yeah," uttered Liz, instantly transported back in time, relishing the past.
They were almost at the Inn door and Liz turned to William. "Do you want to come in?" she asked.
William hesitated, then said, "No, thanks, I'd better get going. Georgia will be waiting for me."
"Oh," was all that Liz could say. "Goodbye."
"Bye, Liz."
Liz watched him walk away and then, entered the Inn. She found Mrs. Reynolds in the kitchen and promptly approached her. "Did you know, Mrs. Reynolds?"
Mrs. Reynolds didn't need to ask what Liz was referring to. Handing Liz some cookies, she said, "Yes, dear, he came in to see me this morning."
"Why didn't you tell me?" asked Liz.
"I thought it'd be best if you found each other on your own," replied Mrs. Reynolds. "It's a small town. You couldn't not see each other forever."
"I still wish you had told me," said Liz sulkily, munching on the cookies.
"Why?" asked Mrs. Reynolds.
"So that I could have been...I don't know...better prepared...?"
"Better prepared for what?" pried Mrs. Reynolds and on receiving no answer, continued. "There's just one thing I want to say, listen to your heart. It never lies."
Liz looked at the old lady and sighed, "I'll try."
"That's the spirit," Mrs. Reynolds smiled warmly. "More cookies?"
The next morning
"This one or that one? Which do you think?"
"Oh, William! Just put something on, we're just going for breakfast!"
William sighed, smiled and went back to his room. Georgia Darcy smiled after her brother left the room. He was so hopelessly and madly in love that he oftentimes made a fool of himself and this morning was one of those occasions. They were going to visit Liz and he had spent half an hour in trying to pick the right clothes. Georgia had tried to tell him that Liz did not care about his clothes, but he wanted to appear his best. Georgia was glad, nonetheless, because it was a vast improvement over the past 2 months after he'd come back from DC. He had been such a mess, brooding for hours in a dark room. Frankly, Georgia had been concerned about his health and had suggested a trip to Lambton, Vermont. She knew the sentimental value that the town had for William and hoped that it would provide some alleviation to all of William's pains. Little did she know what was in store.
When William returned home after the walk to the church, quick observer Georgia noticed a visible change in his demeanor. He seemed to be in shock, and retired into his room. It took Georgia the better part of an hour to finally extract some information from him and when she did, she was as shocked as her brother. Who could have known that her little plan would work out so well? Who could be better to ease William's pains than the cause of those pains themselves. And, Georgia anticipated seeing Liz herself for she was the closest thing to a sister that Georgia had. All in all, she had high hopes that the morning's planned excursion would result in the ultimate reuniting of her family.
At length, William emerged dressed in a simple, business casual suit that Georgia heartily approved of. Without much further adieu, they departed for their destination, the Lambton Inn. Georgia watched her brother while they were in the car and she couldn't help but say, "It's going to be fine, William. Just relax."
He glanced at her briefly and said, "Am I that obvious?"
"Pretty much," answered Georgia. "I know you must be a little nervous, but just take it easy. It's only Liz."
"Take it easy?!" exclaimed William. "You don't know how much depends on this."
"I do know, Will," said Georgia softly. "Do you think I'm blind? But all I'm saying is that if you get too nervous, you'll become tongue-tied and that won't help you any, will it?"
"I guess not," said William ruefully.
"Then, relax, ok."
"Easy for you to say," muttered William under his breath.
They arrived at the Inn and went inside. Mrs. Reynolds welcomed them and informed them that Liz was out, but she'd be back soon. William and Georgia decided to wait at the main reception area. Georgia sat down while William took to nervous pacing. Georgia knew better than to ask him to stop. It was a good release for his nervous energy, anyway. A few minutes later, the front door opened and the lady in question, herself appeared. She saw them and approached the waiting area.
"I hope you've not be waiting long?" she said to William.
"No, not at all," replied William, as if he would have noticed had they been waiting for an hour. He could not help but stare at Liz appreciatively. She was dressed in her jogging clothes since she never missed running her 2 miles no matter what the weather. The exercise had given a radiant glow to her normally pale complexion and a few tendrils of her hair came loose from her efficient bun. She was sweating and slightly out of breath, but William could not have imagined a more beautiful sight. It reminded him of so many winter mornings when Liz would get up at an ungodly hour to jog. She would return to find William sleeping still and would wake him up in her own special way. There would always be a teasing tug-of-war with the blanket before they both ended up in a hot shower, together. So, how could William see her sweating and smell her familiar smell without being reminded of all those mornings and many more?
Georgia cleared her throat to break into William's reverie and he realized that he'd been staring. Georgia then advanced forward and hugged Liz. "Oh, Liz, I've missed you."
"And I've missed you, Georgia," smiled Liz. "How's school?"
"Great!" replied Georgia.
The two women chatted amicably for some minutes while William contented himself by just watching them. Then, Liz suggested that they have breakfast after she took a quick shower. At the mention of shower, William looked quickly at Liz. She locked eyes with him for a moment, then looked away, blushing. So, she hasn't forgotten either. thought William with satisfaction. He watched her leave to shower and thought ruefully. How I'd like to follow her... Liz reappeared within minutes, looking fresh. William followed her and Georgia to the breakfast room inhaling her scent and trying to place it. It was a pleasant, aromatic scent, perhaps of her body wash. Lavender or jasmine or something equally fragrant. There were just so many little things that William loved about her...her sweet smell, her damp hair, her eyes, her hair, her quick wit, her determination. What had begun as a purely physical attraction turned into something bigger and more meaningful, into a deep commitment, love and respect that nothing could alter, well, not in this lifetime, at least. His love for Liz transcended the mere physical; it was truly a union of the mind, body and soul.
Throughout breakfast, although, Liz paid much of her attention to Georgia, her mind was focussed on William. It was not possible to be with him and not think of him. He appeared much more calm and composed than she could claim to be. Her internal turmoil was hardly visible through her apparent outward calm. She seemed to be engaged in polite conversation with Georgia, but inwardly, tried in vain to make sense of her life and answer all the questions that inevitably posed themselves. Did he still love her? Perhaps so, but did he care enough to risk getting hurt again? Probably not. Did she love him? With all her heart, but what was she to do? Talk to him, ask him to take her back? But her pride wouldn't allow that. What, then, was the answer? It was unbearable to sit across the table from him, pretending nothing had changed because everything had changed. As Liz found herself looking into his eyes again, she at once, saw such a wave of pure, unadulterated love that all her fears dissolved. However, the next second his eyes turned to stone again. What was he thinking about as his eyes burned through her? She felt vulnerable under his gaze as if he could divine everything that passed her mind. And perhaps he could, because Liz was certain that her face was as transparent as his was not. And who knew what he saw there?
Georgia, on the other hand, knew exactly what she saw. She saw two people very deeply in love, fighting to hide their feelings which were quite apparent. Any observer could have seen that they were in love simply by the way they looked at each other constantly while pretending they didn't. Georgia knew that Liz was probably not listening to a word she said, but she didn't mind. It was not about her, it was about Liz and William. And just look at them. It's as if the world has ceased to exist for them and they're all alone. That's what they need to be. All alone. I'd better get out of here.
"Um...I think I'll go on," said Georgia, breaking the spell. "I haven't seen any of the sights."
"I'll come with you," said William, knowing how dangerous it would be to be alone with Liz in his current state of mind.
Georgia reluctantly accepted, but before leaving, she said, "Liz, will you have dinner with us tomorrow?"
Liz glanced at William, then said, "Yes, I'd love to."
"Great! I guess I'll see you then!" said Georgia. "Bye!"
"Bye!" said Liz as her visitors took their leave. She watched with pain as well as relief. Oh g-d, help me do the right thing...I need some guidance more than ever. What should I do?!
Meanwhile, in Brighton, Mexico
Lydia lay on the beach, enjoying the sun and the hot guys. This was what life was made of: sun, surf and cute guys. They all winked at her as they passed and she winked back. All in all, she was having a grand time. Then, all of a sudden, a lifeguard appeared and said, "Senora, I am sorry, but this is not a topless beach."
Lydia looked at him suggestively. "Why, don't you like what you see?"
The man looked uncomfortable as he said, "I am just doing my job. Please take this towel while you get some more appropriate clothing."
He handed her the towel and walked away. Lydia stared after him and said, "Party pooper!"
A handsome stranger who lay nearby, came over to Lydia, apparently having observed the exchange. He sat down next to Lydia and said, "I couldn't help but hear that. That man doesn't know what he's talking about. You wanna come with me to a real party?"
Lydia's ears perked at the mention of a 'party' and she smiled. "Of course! I'm Lydia Bennet."
"And I am George Wickham."
Chapter 31
As William and Georgia walked through the streets of Lambton, William could hardly contain himself. In just a short time, his entire world had changed, and for the better, too. He had seen Liz again and had good reason to believe that she did, in fact, love him. William had no other reason to believe it than what he saw in her eyes. He could not support his claim or substantiate it with any evidence. But his heart told him that he was correct. It wasn't simply the fact that she looked at him, but because of the way she looked at him. William almost felt like she was trying to convey something through her eyes, something that she had not the courage to say. William instinctively felt that she had forgiven him and had believed all that he had said in his letter. She had seemed a little drawn and quiet, but not violently opposed to him. Maybe he was being presumptuous in thinking that she still loved him, but his gut feeling on that matter was loud and clear. And William decided that he could not let the opportunity go by so easily.
Being in love was such a bundle of contradictions that William had not come to be accustomed to it yet. It was a wonderful, wonderful feeling that elevated him beyond any heights imaginable, but it was also a painful experience that caused much sorrow and anguish to the heart and soul. Love was a free spirited bird that had a will of its own, flying the vast, boundless skies, never giving a reason for its flight. Love was an inexplicable phenomena that few lucky people experienced and cherished forever. There were many persons in the world who believed themselves to be in love, but more often than not, it was simply lust or something equally frivolous.
But William was one of the few lucky ones to actually know what true love was. He knew what it felt like to love someone so passionately that his entire world revolved around her. He knew the thrill of waking up in her arms, holding her and cherishing her. He knew the pleasure of gazing at her lovely face and feeling more alive than he'd ever felt before. He also knew the dejection and pain of not being with her, knowing that she was miles away, perhaps with someone else. Yes, William truly knew what it was to be love and he was not prepared to throw it away without a fight.
William, therefore, resolved to go to Liz the very next morning and talk to her again. And suddenly, his world was not so gray anymore. With every step that he took, he felt alive and filled with a sense of joy and purpose. He could feel the beauty of the crisp, New England winter day and smell the smells of nature. He saw with eyes, but did not see what was there, instead, he saw what he wanted to be there. He saw his Elizabeth, his dearest, loveliest Elizabeth. She was smiling at him as if beckoning him to come to her. William smiled slowly as the vision vanished. There was suddenly some purpose in his life again. Elizabeth was his woman and he was not about to let her go so easily.
Liz wanted to revisit some of the town's old sights, but she feared that she might run into William again. It was no so much William that she feared as she did the feelings evoked when she saw him. She couldn't trust herself to react in a rational, controlled manner. She was afraid of letting herself and her emotions go. She was afraid of revealing too much of her heart and of getting hurt once again. Liz could not afford to take that chance. She had been hurt already and couldn't allow it to happen again. It would completely destroy her. If only she knew what he was feeling... If Liz could be assured that he did, in fact, care about her, Liz was willing to risk everything, so much did she trust him. But how could she believe that when he had barely spoken to her? Maybe he had not forgiven her for their last encounter when she had accused him so unjustly. Liz knew that he was not totally indifferent to her, but did he simply not care that much about her anymore? It was simply too confusing.
The next morning
Liz woke up facing the same daunting that had plagued her the day before. She was no closer to finding an answer to those questions, but she was determined not to let her fears hold her back anymore. She was in Lambton to renew her memories of the wonderful town and William or no William, she was going to do just that. With that firm determination, Liz stepped into the bathroom to take a long, relaxing bath. When she emerged, her head was much clearer, helping her to think straight and make the decision to visit the old sights again.
As Liz got ready, the phone suddenly rang, and curious, she picked it up. "Hello?"
"Lizzy?!" It was Jane.
"Jane, what's up?" asked Liz, pleasantly surprised to hear from her sister.
"Lizzy," Jane let out a little sob. "It's Lydia..."
"Oh my god, what happened?" Liz panicked, some very frightening images flashing through her mind.
"She's missing," sobbed Jane.
"Missing?! What do you mean she's missing? She's in Brighton."
"No, she's not, Liz," answered Jane. "I got a call and have been trying to reach you."
"I was in the shower, but what happened?" Liz was anxious.
"She...she was arrested at the border for illegal possession of drugs," said Jane. "She was with another man, someone named George Wickham, I think, but she escaped. Liz, a police officer is dead. They think Lydia did it while trying to run away."
Oh my god "And where is she, do they have any idea?"
"They think she's in Texas," replied Jane. "But she could be anywhere. Oh, Liz, what are we going to do?"
"Did you call dad?" asked Jane. "Yes, he's flying into DC tomorrow. But I wanted to ask you a favor, can you come back, too? I'll understand if you don't want to..."
"No, no, of course, I'll be there by night," said Liz, dazed. "Bye Jane...hang in there."
Liz hung up, stood motionless for a few moments, then burst into tears. Stupid, stupid, stupid Lydia. How could she get involved in something like that? Stupid girl. And George Wickham?! How did he get to Lydia, in the first place? Was it some sort of revenge against William? Did he hope to avenge himself by hurting her family? Liz did not know what he wanted with Lydia, but it must have been Lydia's own fault in engaging in such behavior. It suddenly struck Liz that time was a-wasting and she should be leaving for DC. She rushed towards the door to go and tell Mrs. Reynolds that she was leaving. No sooner than Liz had reached the door than it opened and William himself appeared. On seeing her tear-streaked face, he exclaimed,
"Good god, what's wrong, Liz?!"
Liz looked at him with teary eyes and just thinking of the awful truth, burst into tears again. William could not see her like that and led her to a chair. He made her sit down and pulled up a chair next to her. "What's wrong? Are you sick? What? Please, talk to me, Liz."
"No, I'm fine, it's just...I just got a call from Jane with the most awful news," Liz paused, then continued. "My youngest sister, Lydia was arrested while trying to cross the Mexico border for possession of drugs. She escaped while killing an officer. William, George Wickham was with her." William stiffened and got up. Liz said helplessly. "She's always been so wild, but I never thought it would come to this. And to think that I could have stopped her. I, who knew what kind of person Lydia is. I should never have let her go off by herself. I should have called home or something. Now she is lost forever. Even if they do find her, her life is ruined. But she is not all bad...it must have been Wickham's influence. If only I could helped her... but it's pointless now...there is nothing I can do."
Liz hung her head as William paced and said, "I am so, so sorry. This is something that should not happen to anyone...but what's being done to try and find her?"
"My dad is flying into DC tomorrow and I am leaving now," replied Liz, looking up at him earnestly. "And I imagine that the entire police force of Texas is looking for them as well. But it's useless...we can do nothing to save her...she's a fugitive."
William watched her struggle to keep her composure and fail. She erupted into tiny sobs again and William was powerless to help her. He wanted to take her in arms and kiss those tears away, but he contented himself by laying a comforting hand on her shoulders. She calmed visibly and tilted her head to rest on his hands. William savored the moment, knowing that he had to find a way to help Liz. He could not bear to watch her blame herself for her sister's follies. The wheels of his mind already started to rotate in search of some way to find Lydia and Wickham. He was so lost in thought that he was silent for several minutes. Then, recollecting himself, he gathered his coat and said,
"I'm afraid that you've been wanting me to leave," he said gravely, searching her eyes for some comfort or the hint of a promise. "Good luck, Liz." Then, with one serious, parting glance, he left.
Liz stared after him certain that any hopes she might have of reestablishing her relationship with William were gone. He despised her and her family, now more than ever as was evident by his contemptuous silence. He'd been kind to her, to be sure, but that was only for the sake of what had been rather than what could be. Liz had absolutely no expectations from him, not anymore, she had no right to because he'd made himself very clear. She cried inwardly at the loss of her one true love and the death of all her hopes and dreams, forever. She dried her tears and busied herself in packing with only one thought in mind: I will never see him again.
Chapter 32
On the long drive back to DC, Liz had ample time to contemplate the sudden turn of events. While the situation was very unfortunate for Lydia, the implications it held for Liz were overwhelming. During her short stay at Lambton, Liz had felt closer to William than she ever had in recent times. It had appeared that they might even come to an understanding, however, in light of the recent developments, Liz knew that any hopes she might have held would come to naught. William would never suffer to connect himself with a family so tainted by controversy. Liz cried inwardly for all that she'd lost, but it was her own fault for having even thought that there was a possibility that her dreams of William might come to become reality. Liz sighed and shook her head, reprimanding herself for being so selfish when her sister was undergoing such a terrible ordeal. There were more important things than her heart at stake, it was a question of Lydia's life and future.
Liz arrived at DC and instantly headed towards Jane's house where, she assumed, everyone would be gathered. Her assumptions were proven correct as she found her father and Ben there. Liz hugged her sister before kissing her dad on his forehead. She glanced grimly at Ben before saying,
"So, what's new?"
"We haven't heard anything," Jane shook her head.
"How's mom holding up?" asked Liz.
Mr. Bennett half-smiled as he said, "When I left, she was looking all over for those awful smelling salts she uses. But I'm sure she's gotten over it by now."
Liz attempted a feeble smile. "So, what are we going to do?"
"What can we do?" asked Jane. "Nothing."
"I'm sure they'll find her soon," offered Ben.
"I'm sure they will," sighed Liz. "And that's the scary part. How did she even get involved in this mess?"
"It's all my fault," said Mr. Bennett. "I shouldn't have let her become this wild and out of control. I shouldn't have let her go to college all the way here."
"You can't change how she is dad," Liz said. "I don't think anything you could have done would change the way Lydia is. You tried to do the right thing and unfortunately, it didn't work out, but you're not to blame."
Mr. Bennett shook his head, then looked lovingly at his daughters. "I guess there isn't much for me to do. I'll probably fly back to Iowa in a few days. Maybe we'll hear from Lydia by then?" They all nodded in agreement, but in their hearts, they did not truly believe.
Later that night
The starry night was cool and gorgeous beckoning all to come and be a part of the glories of nature. Liz sat on the front porch staring at the stars and contemplating her life and the ironic jokes fate played on her. She was so lost in her own little world that she did not see Ben come in behind her and it was not until he was seated on the steps, besides her, that she became aware of his presence. She looked at him, then, looked away. They shared a few moments of companionable silence before Liz said,
"Have you ever tried to count the stars in the sky?"
"No," he answered. "Why, have you?"
"Yes, many times," Liz replied. "They are like little, tiny gems in this velvety blanket. I believe there's great meaning in these stars. There is always some special star looking at us and guiding us."
"I haven't found my special star..." Ben said softly.
"Maybe you haven't looked hard enough," answered Liz, glancing at him. She paused briefly, then said, "William was there."
"Where? Lambton?" Ben seemed surprised.
"Yeah," she said. "It's really, really over between us now."
"Why, because of Lydia?" Ben guessed.
"Yeah...and other things as well," Liz stopped, then looked at Ben. "I'm sorry, I don't even know why I'm telling you this. I'm sure you're not interested." She looked at him earnestly, then dropped her gaze.
He said, "Go on, I'm listening. Whatever you want to say..."
She sighed, then said, "Oh, I don't know...I just thought, well, maybe I had some hope that William and I...well, you know...but it's finally over. I guess I'm relieved in a way. At least, now I can get on with my life. I don't have to keep looking back and wonder if I did the right thing. I won't have to feel guilty all the time. But...but, I can't help feeling that a part of me is dying...one chapter of my life is over and I feel sad as well as happy. Oh, I'm completely boring you!"
"No, no, not at all," Ben smiled graciously. "I don't know what to say. I can't really pretend to give you any advice, but all I can say is that it'll be alright. It'll work out, don't as me how, but it always does."
Liz smiled and on impulse, lay her head on his shoulders. "You're such a sweetie, Ben. Please don't ever change."
"I won't," Ben whispered, wrapping his arm around her. For you, anything. And so, they sat close, saying nothing, sharing a quiet moment, staring off in the distance, lost in their own thoughts.
Meanwhile, somewhere in New York City
The filth of the neighborhood would have been enough to disgust and discourage even the most determined visitors, but William had no room for such petty considerations. He was in pursuit of a criminal and he intended to succeed, no matter what the cost. He had parked his car in a relatively safe area before continuing on foot. His chase would take him to the less desirable facets of the city, but it had to be done, if he wanted to help Liz. And he so desperately wanted to help her, not because he wished to hold her in his gratitude, no he hoped she'd never discover his role in the mess, but he did want to ease her suffering and bring Wickham to justice. He recalled with pain her tear-stained face and quiet sobs, it had been obvious that she blamed herself, but if anyone, he was to blame for not having Wickham put away in a safe penitentiary long time ago.
William walked for about quarter of an hour before he stood in front of a dilapidated, old apartment building. Graffiti decorated the building and the surrounding walls. William took in a deep breath before proceeding inside, knowing that the confrontation might prove ugly. He slowly climbed the stairs, so as not to reveal his presence. When he was finally on the third floor, he mentally steeled himself and knocked on an apartment door. Within seconds, the door flew open and a middle-aged woman appeared. At first, she did not recognize him, but then, her eyes flew open and beads of sweat formed on her forehead. She attempted to shut the door, but William was already half-in. He smiled, nay sneered at her and said,
"Mrs. Younge, we meet again."
"You can't come in here like this, I c-can call the cops," she threatened, backing up.
William smiled again, "Go ahead, be my guest. You'll only make my job easier."
"What do you mean?" Doubt crept into her voice.
"Oh, I think you know what I mean," answered William, slowly inching forward. "I know all about your...ahem...inventive means of earning a living...what is it now? Drugs?"
The terror was now visible in her eyes. "Don't call the cops! Please!"
"I was not the one who wanted to call the cops, remember?" A note of triumph was evident in William's voice.
"What do you want?" asked Mrs. Younge
"Just information," said William. "about your old friend, George Wickham."
"I can't help you, I haven't heard from him in months. God knows what he's up to."
"Oh, I think you know a lot," said William.
"No, I don't," she insisted. "Look, if I knew where he was, I'd tell you, but I don't."
"You're making it very difficult for me," said William smoothly. "I don't want to turn you in...well, maybe I do, but I won't do it unless you make me do it. It's your call."
"I don't-"she began to say but when William cut her off.
"Where is Wickham?!"
"I don't know."
"Where is he?!!" William said again, his voice higher.
"I told you I don't know," she looked at him with a pleading face.
"Okay, if that's the way you want..." he reached into his pocket for his cell phone.
"No wait! Don't!" she sobbed. "I can't tell you...he, he'd kill me."
William replaced the phone. "No, he'll be put away in jail. Just tell me and I promise he won't hurt you."
Mrs. Younge did not loom convinced, but seeing the determination in his eyes, she said, "Dallas, Texas. He's going to try and make a run for it soon, but he's in Dallas right now."
"Dallas is a big city," William prodded.
Mrs. Younge sighed and gave him an address. He took the piece of paper and smiled, "See that wasn't so hard. Thanks for your cooperation." He was heading out when she called out,
"You won't call the cops?"
"No, I promise," said William and left.
2 days later; Washington DC
"Ben!! Ben!!! Hey, where are you?!" Liz yelled as she entered his office.
"Here I am," Ben emerged from the adjoining room. "What's up?"
"They found Lydia!" she exclaimed.
"How? Where?"
"I just got a call from Dallas. They found her and she's coming home!!"
"Wow...what about...?"
"The charges? They were dropped," Liz sat down on a chair, dizzy from excitement. "Apparently Lydia was an innocent victim...George Wickham was arrested for possession of drugs and murder of a cop. Gosh, I can't believe this. She's coming back. Wait till I tell dad and Jane. They'll be so relieved."
"I'm so happy for you, Liz," smiled Ben. "I knew it was going to work out."
"Thanks Ben, you've been such a great help these past few days. I'll go, give Jane a call." She approached Ben, gave him a quick kiss and almost ran out of the office. As she was leaving, Rick appeared and she said, "Hi Rick! Bye Rick!"
Rick watched her leave, then looked at Ben quizzically. "What happened?"
"They found her sister, Lydia," Ben informed him.
Rick tried to appear surprised. "Oh really?" He had known it for some hours because William had called. He wanted to tell Liz straight away, but William made him promise he wouldn't disclose William's involvement in the matter. Rick had resisted at first, but eventually gave in. He was puzzled, it didn't make sense. Why would William want to hide the fact from Liz? Wouldn't it help his case? But Rick had given up trying to understand love, it made people do funny things.
"About tomorrow's exhibit..." And the discussion began.
The next day
Mr. Bennett postponed his scheduled return to Iowa. Lydia was due to arrive soon and he was pacing Jane's living room. Liz and Jane watched him quietly in sympathy. They had spent the morning conveying the news to their mother and it had been a spectacle in itself. She had cooed and declared that she had known all along that her Lydia would never get involved in something illegal. Jane had tried to point out, in vain, that Lydia had been involved, otherwise she wouldn't be with this criminal. But there was no imparting sense to Mrs. Bennett. When they had hung up, all of them had headaches.
"I hope she at least learns a lesson from all of this," said Jane.
"I hope so, too," sighed Mr. Bennett. "I really hope so, but if she thinks she's out of the hot water, she's wrong."
"Don't be too hard on her, dad," said Jane.
Mr. Bennett shook his head, "You can't be too hard on her, Jane. I think it's time she learns some discipline."
At that moment, the doorbell rang and the sisters exchanged glances. It must be Lydia. They were apprehensive, not knowing what to expect. Maybe she had learnt her lesson, maybe she was repentant and sorry. Maybe she had been an utterly innocent victim and was traumatized by the incident. They truly didn't know what to expect. Jane opened the door and Lydia entered.
"Hi!!!! Oh, dad, you're here too!! Well!!!!"
Whatever they might have thought, they had not expected this. "Lydia?" said Jane.
"Oh, Jane, I had such a lovely time in Mexico, there's so much sun there, and I didn't really think that when I'd come back, I'd be arrested!!"
"Lydia," Jane entreated, but to no avail. Lydia would go on.
"It was so exciting. The police chased us and George really gave them a run, but we were caught. That sucked, but we still got away, you know."
"Lydia!!" cried Jane, glancing at the shocked faces of Mr. Bennett and Liz. "An officer was killed. This is very serious. Try to understand."
"But I do!" said Lydia brightly. "George didn't mean to kill him, it was an accident. Then we got scared and ran. Wait till I tell my friends. They'll all be so jealous. I bet none of them had such an exciting holiday!"
"You won't be seeing your friends any more," Mr. Bennett said. "You're going to transfer to Iowa."
"But dad!!" wailed Lydia.
"No buts, young lady," said Mr. Bennett with finality. "If you so much as complain, I will have you sent away to a nunnery."
Lydia instantly shut up, then looked at Jane for sympathy. Jane looked away and at length, she gave up. "Oh well, what's for lunch?"
Later that day
Liz needed fresh air to get away from Lydia. She decided to take a walk, but her hopes of a solitary ramble were dashed by Lydia joining her. Liz sighed heavily, failing in her attempts to dissuade Lydia from joining her. They walked in silence for a few moments before Lydia began talking about her adventures and experiences. Liz had had enough.
"Shut up, Lyddie, I don't want to hear it."
"But Lizzy! I haven't told you everything," Lydia exclaimed and continued. "And so, where was I? Oh yeah, so we were hiding out in this little motel in Dallas and I thought I'd die of boredom. I mean, we didn't go anywhere, not even clubbing. I was thinking of calling home, but George thought it was a bad idea. And anyway, so then, one day, who should come into our room, but William Darcy!!!! I -"
"What did you just say?" Liz interrupted her, certain that she hadn't heard her correctly.
"I said that William Darcy came to our room and...oh s**t, I wasn't supposed to say anything. I promised them I wouldn't tell anyone. They'll be so mad."
"Then, don't tell me," said Liz, her curiosity burning. She went back to the house as soon as possible, but her head was spinning with questions. William had seen her sister. Why? He had been in Dallas. He had voluntarily seen Wickham, a man whom he justly despised. What did it all mean? All the possibilities and questions boggled her mind. But she dared not allow herself to ponder it for too long because without the possession of the full facts, she would only indulge in idle conjecture that was very dangerous indeed. So, first, she needed to find someone who had the facts and she knew just the person she needed.
The next morning
"Rick," Liz entered his office. "Can I see you for a minute?"
"Sure, Liz, come on in," Rick watched her sit down with curiosity. She seemed...preoccupied, almost dreamy and he had a feeling she wanted something from him. "How can I help you?"
"By telling me the truth," stated Liz. "about William and his role in Lydia's rescue."
Rick shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "How do you...?"
His question was lost as Liz said, "So, you know. Why didn't you tell me?"
Rick knew he was cornered. "He made me promise not to tell you."
"Why?" she repeated.
"Frankly, I don't know," Rick sighed. "I assume Lydia told you?" When Liz nodded, he said, "That oughta teach William, trusting someone like Lydia. No offense."
"None taken," Liz assured him quickly. "So...? Tell me everything."
"Well," Rick began. "The day that you left Lambton, William called me. He wanted to dig up this woman that we know, a Mrs. Younge. She used to be Georgia's governess and was a good friend to Wickham. I helped him locate her new address and the very next day, he found her. She gave him Wickham's temporary address. He flew to Dallas and found Wickham. After some effort and lots of legal wrangling, he had Wickham arrested and Lydia was set free on grounds that she was an innocent victim.
"I don't know how he pulled it off, but I do know that he has some connections in the Dallas police force, so it might have been a personal favor. Anyway, so once he made sure Lydia was safe, he flew back to New York and the Dallas police informed you that Lydia had been found. He called me and told me all about it, but made me promise not to share it with you. He doesn't want you to know that he had anything to do with it. But I guess, that didn't work too well. And there it is. The whole truth," Rick concluded.
Liz was stunned, speechless. "Thanks for being so frank, Rick. I owe you one."
Still shaky, she left Rick's office and walked to her own. She had not assimilated all the information yet. All her theories were proven correct. William had, indeed, saved her sister. He had come to her rescue and used his influence to set her free. They owed him everything. If he hadn't intervened, Lydia would have been convicted for felony. William had done all that and had not even sought to make his benevolence known. Why? He had wanted to have it hidden for her and if it hadn't been for Lydia's indiscretion, she would never have known. Liz was chilled to realize how dangerously close she had come to not having found out the truth. But why? Liz echoed her thoughts. Why did he do it? It can't possibly mean anything...why would he...? Oh, I don't know.
She didn't know, but she could dream. And she dreamed that he had done it for her and that he'd come to claim her, take her in his arms and make her feel loved again. But is that what she wanted? Who am I kidding, of course that's what I want. In all her trials, the only constant in Liz's life had been her unwavering love for William. She had left their marriage, to be sure, but that did not imply that she did not love him. It was too complicated, but Liz had truly believed that both their lives would be much better if they were no longer bound together. However, ever since his letter, she had slowly begun to change her opinions. Perhaps, separating had not been such a good idea, after all. He had proven that Wickham's accusations were false and that he had never meant to hurt her. So, if William came to her today, would she accept him? I don't know...g-d, I don't know.
Meanwhile, in New York City
William was at his desk, hoping to concentrate on the task at hand, but his mind kept wandering. Where was Liz? What was she doing? Was she as miserable as he was? He hoped not. Lydia was probably home by now. What had Liz's reactions been? Had she forgiven him yet? She would never know, he decided. He could not bear to have her gratitude. He wanted to win her love and not get it by playing knight-in-shining-armor. He had wanted to help her, to be sure, but to be thanked for it would be insufferable. One good thing had come out of the entire mess...Wickham had been incarcerated. Now, he could breathe in relief.
"William, you're back!" Caroline suddenly entered his office without ceremony.
"Yes, Caroline, as you see."
"You went to Dallas, right?" she asked him brightly. He nodded and she said, "Did you find Lydia?"
"How do you know about that?!" he demanded.
"I overheard your conversation with Rick. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to," she smiled sweetly.
Sure you didn't. "Well, I found her, alright."
"And...?"
'And put Wickham in prison, where he belongs," William spat out, his hatred evident.
"But how can they let Lydia go and put him in prison? He might have actually killed the guy, but she was with him all the time --- " Caroline froze as she realized her faux pas. She had said too much. William arose from his seat and said menacingly.
"How can you possibly know that?"
Chapter 33
Caroline did not reply immediately, so William said, "How can you know about what Wickham is being convicted for?"
"You, um, you mentioned it when you were talking to Rick," muttered Caroline.
"No, I did not," said William. "Caroline, what does this mean? How do you know?"
"I heard it from you, I told you," she said defensively, not daring to look at him, nervously playing with her rings, cursing the moment she'd come into his room. Dammed luck!
"You know you didn't, I know you didn't, so why don't you tell me the truth. How are you involved in this? Did you know about it? Caroline, say something!" he thundered, a sense of foreboding overcoming him. His instincts told him that Caroline was at fault and somehow involved with Wickham, but how could that be possible? He closed the distance between them as Caroline stepped back until she was against the wall and he looked down at her.
"I don't know anything, William, let me go," she trembled.
"Caroline," he said threateningly. "I will find out the truth and it's better if you tell me right now." She was shivering. "I won't hurt you, just tell me what's going on."
She looked at him for a moment, then said, "You're not going to like this."
"Try me."
She sighed, then said, "Few weeks ago, when you were in DC, Wickham came to me and threatened to kill me unless I helped him. He wanted someone who was close to you, so that I could keep him informed about your whereabouts. I didn't have a chance, I tried to resist him, but to no avail. So, when he plotted to implicate Lydia in a crime, I knew about it but there was nothing I could do to stop him."
William had walked away. He assimilated the information before turning towards Caroline and saying, "Why'd he do it?"
"I'm not sure...maybe to get to you...I don't know, he didn't exactly confide in me," Caroline paused briefly to see his reaction, then continued. "William, I'm really sorry. I tried to tell you, but I didn't want to get you involved in the mess." She approached William. "Will you forgive me?"
He sighed, "It's not your fault, Caroline, don't worry about it."
"Oh, thanks for understanding!" she sighed with relief.
"Well, I've got to make some calls, so excuse me," he said.
Caroline nodded and hastily departed. Once outside, she gave a huge sigh amazed at how close to complete ruin she had been. And he actually bought my story. What a sucker! She was confident that he had believed her little concoction and was very pleased of the ease with which she had extricated herself from the situation. Stupid Wickham, how'd he manage to land himself in jail. Well, I don't need him anyway. I can do this by myself.
The next morning; New York
William stared at the telephone, waiting for the call. He had spent the past day pondering on what Caroline had told him and he had a hard time believing her. There were so many implausible premises in her story, for instance, why would Wickham contact her, of all people, to aid him? How did Wickham even know her? Why this elaborate scheme simply to involve her? It hardly made any sense and William began to have doubts that Caroline was speaking the truth. But what motive could she have to lie so blatantly? Whatever happened in the past, Caroline had never proved herself to be bad person. However, for the sake of his peace of mind, William had resolved to settle the matter once and for all. He had, therefore, called his old friend Jeremy Lewis in the Dallas police and had outlined his plan to determine Caroline's truthfulness. Now all that remained for William was to await Jeremy's call.
The phone rang and William answered it. "Hello?"
"Hey Will, it's me," said Jeremy. "I did what you asked and I must thank you for quite an entertaining evening."
"Why, what happened?" asked William anxiously.
"It seems that your friend, Caroline is a fake, Will," said Jeremy. "We told Wickham that Caroline was bringing blackmail charges against him and at first, he denied knowing any Caroline, but we persisted and told him that it would add an extra 5 years in his sentence and that did it. He flipped totally and told us that Caroline was his co-conspirator and that she'd been working with him. He made tapes of their conversations and had them stowed away in that motel he was staying in. I heard them, Will, and they seem pretty incriminating to me. So...what do you want to do?"
William said nothing.
"Will? Are you there?"
"Yeah, Jeremy, thanks a lot. I...I can handle it from here. Thanks."
"Okay, anytime. Take care." Jeremy hung up.
Oh god!! William thought. All his fears were confirmed. Caroline was a fake, an imposter. Who knew what was her motive was, but the truth was that she'd been wedged in his life for so long and there was no count of the damage she might have done. The mind boggled at the mere thought. After the first wave of surprise, William experienced a surge of anger. She was such an accomplished liar that she had almost had him convinced of her innocence. How very smooth. But she was a vicious, conniving money-grabber who had plotted against him and Liz with Wickham. William was repulsed at the mere idea of them working together, trying to make his life miserable. It was time for Caroline to pay. William stormed into her room and glared at her.
"You conniving, two faced, little ------ !"
Caroline looked up in surprise. "William, you're upset."
"Dang right, I'm upset," he said. "No need to pretend anymore, Caroline, it's over. I know your little secret. Your friend Wickham spilled the beans."
For a second, Caroline just stared at him, shocked, then said, "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, just quit that game, won't you?" he thundered. "I have hard evidence...some tapes that he made. Why, Caroline, why? Why'd you do it?"
She refused to look at him. "You don't understand. It's not like that. I didn't mean to hurt you." She glanced at him, and seeing his anger, hurried along. "I don't know why I did it, but rest assured, I didn't intend to cause anyone any problem. You have to believe me, William. It's true."
He looked at her fake tears and was disgusted. "Oh, gimme a break. Do you really think I'll fall for your little-Ms-Innocent act again? I know better than that. You were working with Wickham. You can be convicted for it."
"So, you're going to turn me in, is that it?" she looked at him with a defiant turn of her head.
"I didn't say that," William replied, suppressing his anger. "But I do want you out of my life...forever. I want you to tell me of any plans you'd made with Wickham. You'll quit this job and move as far away from New York City as you possibly can. If I so much as see you again in this city, I'll have you arrested. You lied to me, Caroline, again and again. You tried to hurt Liz and her family. I'll never forgive you for that. Never." He gave her a final, dismissing look, but to his surprise, she stood up, looked at him and said,
"Whatever I did, I did it for us, William."
"There is no 'us', Caroline, can't you see that?"
"But you don't see...there's always been something between us, but you've been too blind to notice," she said. "It's unmistakable, it's undeniable. You can't fight it, no matter how hard you try. That's why your marriage didn't last. Somehow, Liz sensed what was between us."
"Oh, please!" exclaimed William, scoffing. "That's all very touching, but we both know it's not true. I can't believe in anything you say anymore, Caroline. So, why don't you do us both a favor and get out of here."
Caroline glared at him and felt her dreams slipping away quickly. She was furious and in her anger, spat out what would have been wise to keep. "Fine! If that's how you want it. Be that way! But you wanna know what's ironic? I ruined your precious marriage. You wanna know what happened in Hawaii? Nothing, absolutely nothing! I staged the whole damn thing. Isn't that why she divorced you? Well, that's just too bad."
William looked at her taunting face and clenched his fists. He muttered slowly, "Get out, get out right now before I hurt you." He held himself back with great effort.
Caroline stared at him, knowing fully well that there was no hope of her getting back on his good side. It had all been lost. She had also foolishly revealed her little secret regarding Hawaii. But that doesn't matter. He's not getting back with Liz. Not now, not ever. She shot him a triumphant look and then, without another word, walked out of the office, leaving William behind to try and understand what he'd just learned. My god, she was lying! The whole time! It never happened! I knew I couldn't do anything like that. But she spoiled everything...Liz left because of her. He sank into a chair, wondering what the best course of action might be. I have to find out if there's any hope. I have to see Liz again...this changes everything...if only she'll believe me. And his resolve was made, he'd go to DC and try to win Liz again.
That evening; Washington DC
The long drive had not rendered him tired in the least, rather William was filled with a sense of anticipation and hope. He had thought of nothing but Liz on his way to DC and could only conjecture his reactions on seeing her again. More importantly, how would she react when the truth was revealed? Would she believe him and if so, what next? William had no satisfactory answer for this question or any other that sprung in his mind. He was much too excited to think clearly, and, at any rate, there was no gain in such speculations. He would find out her answers soon enough, and those answers would seal his fate forever...favorable or otherwise. William thought with frustration of all the time they'd lost because of Caroline. He was certain that the divorce would never have happened had Hawaii not occurred. But there was no use in such considerations. That was all in the past, and what remained was the future. And William was determined to make it a happy future.
Dusk was falling when William pulled into the parking lot of Liz's office. He assumed that she'd be working late as she normally did. With restless energy, he stepped out of the elevator and rushed to her office. On arriving at the door, he discovered the room to be dark and sure enough, she was not inside. William cursed his luck. She must be at home. He turned on his heels and was just about to step into the elevator when he heard his name being called.
"William!"
He turned around and saw the person he'd least expected to see. "Ben?"
"Hey," said Ben catching up with him. "What're you doing here? Looking for Liz?"
"Yeah," William nodded.
"I thought so," replied Ben, then was silent for a few moments. "Umm...do you remember the day that you left for New York...you came to my house...?"
"Yes, I remember," acknowledged William, beginning to get nervous, unable to determine what Ben wanted to convey.
"Well, I just wanted you to know that I think you were wrong."
"Excuse me?" said William, surprised.
"Yeah, you heard me. You were wrong in leaving Liz like you did. You said that I should take care of her, that I should love her. Well, I do love her and I want to take care of her, but there is no chance of that ever happening. She loves you, always has. You'd be stupid to let her go so easily. There are not many women like her in this world. You're very lucky, William, believe me. You'll find her at her house. Go and do the right thing. She's waiting for you."
William just looked at him for a few seconds. "I...I'm sorry about this. You-"
"Oh, don't worry about me," said Ben shakily. "I'll get over it, I hope. It's my fault for pursuing her when I knew that her heart belonged to you."
"Thank you," said William, not knowing what to say. He awkwardly shook hands with Ben. With another look, William was gone. Ben stared after him, thinking of what he'd just done. He had just let go. He had just lost her forever. But, he thought, sometimes in love, the greatest thing one can do is to let go...if it makes her happy.
10 minutes later
William pulled into her driveway and sat in his car nervously. His encounter with Ben had served to boost his confidence, but on seeing her house, it waned again. William recalled the last time he'd been in her house. What a disaster that had been! He was scared of saying the wrong things, of offending her in any way. There would not be another chance. William realized the importance of what was to occur. If she refused him....he didn't even want to ponder that awful thought. He would not know what to do. But there was no use in thinking of such morbid things. What if she did accept him? William could not indulge in those fantasies either. At length, he got out of his car and walked to the door. With a deep breath, he rang the bell. The door opened.
"William?" Liz looked at him, a note of surprise in her voice.
She didn't shut the door on my face. A good sign? "Hi," he greeted her.
"I, ah..., come in."
She's inviting me in! A definite good sign! he thought. She led him into the living room and bid him to be seated. She offered him something to drink and he declined. She sat down on the couch opposite to him and looked at him expectantly.
"I...I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd come to see you," he said. God, how stupid you sound!
"I'm glad that you did," she said, half-smilingly.
"How have you been?"
"Good, I think," she answered him. "How's Georgia?"
"Fine, thanks. She was disappointed that you couldn't have dinner with us."
Liz did not reply. She studied his face earnestly for a few moments. Why was he here, she could not imagine, but she knew that she had to say what she'd been wanting to say ever since she'd found out. "William," she said suddenly.
"Yes?" he looked at her, both hopefully and fearfully.
"I can't go on any longer without thanking you for your kindness to my poor sister." On seeing his look, she continued. "Don't blame Rick, it was Lydia who first told me that you'd been involved. And you know that I wouldn't rest till I found out everything. My family doesn't know about this, but I'm sure they'd like to thank you as well. So, I want to thank you on behalf on all my family."
William was quiet for a few moments, then said. "If you must thank me, let it be for yourself alone. Your family owes me nothing. Much as I respect them, I believe I was thinking only of you."
Liz blushed and stood up. William walked up behind her and said, "I know what you thought of me before, but Liz, things have changed. I found out that...that Caroline was involved with Wickham and plotted with him."
Liz spun around. "Really?"
"Yes, and there's more. She told me that nothing happened in Hawaii. Nothing! It was all her fault. She staged the whole episode to suit her own purposes."
"Really?" repeated Liz, tears springing in her eyes.
William stepped closer. "Yes, really. Have I ever lied to you? Liz, you are too good to play with me. I have not changed and believe me, my love has not either. I love you still with all my heart. Now if you still feel as you did before, tell me, and I'll never bother you again. But I'll not stop loving you."
The ball was in her court. Liz looked into his intense eyes and sighed inwardly.
Conclusion
Liz looked into William's eyes, drowning in its fire and intensity, unsure of what to think or how to feel. His assertions about Caroline, she did not doubt, but she was hesitant to admit to herself, the multitude of emotions that the declaration opened. Her first reaction was disbelief, but William's eyes assuaged those concerns and urged her to accept it as the truth. However, when he uttered those precious words of love, she held her breath and knew not how to respond. This was what she had been fearing and the moment of truth had arrived.
"I...I love you, too, William," she said, looking straight into his bottomless eyes. There was so much to think, feel and express, but Liz could say no more. It would suffice to say that she had no words to express her feelings at that moment.
"Then, marry me?" he said, smiling, and moving closer till he was standing inches away, his eyes exerting a magnetic influence on her.
"What?!" she exclaimed in surprise, taken completely off-guard.
"Marry me," he repeated. "And why not? I love you, you love me. Forget Barney, but it's true. So, what should hold us back?"
"I...I don't know what to say," she stammered.
"Say 'yes'," he urged her, grinning.
There was a note of playful cheerfulness in his voice that reminded Liz of the old days and tugged at her heart. She looked at his earnest face and smiling eyes and knew that chances of her offering any real resistance were very meager, indeed. However, she was not ready to submit to him quite so easily, not without a fight, anyway.
"I can't," she replied, stepping back to put some distance between them.
He stepped forward. "Why not? Liz, why can't you be happy? What's stopping you? I told you, Caroline was lying. I did not cheat on you."
"It's not that," she said shakily.
"Then what?" he demanded. Seeing her hurt look, he softened visibly and said, "Look, if you don't talk to me, I'll never know what's bothering you. That's what ruined our marriage before and it'll ruin any chances of future happiness again. Please, Liz, tell me what you're feeling right now. Tell me what's bothering you. Tell me why you don't want to be with me."
Liz could see the hurt in his eyes, so she closed her own to block out all the emotions. She sighed and led him to the couch. Once they were seated, she sighed and said. "If I only knew what I was feeling, I'd tell you, William, but frankly, I don't know. I'm very confused...I love you and always have. That's never been the question. But love is not always the answer. We need something more to survive...we need to have trust and stability...we can't have that if we're always apart. You don't know what it's like to wake up every morning, all alone, not knowing where you were. I trusted you, William, so I never worried about who you were with, but the tension, the strain, began to take their toll on me. I could never see you leave for another important meeting without a heavy feeling in my heart...
"I'm not saying that I was unhappy, just unsatisfied. I dare say many people can live like that, but not me. It was no life for me. As much as I loved you, I just couldn't bear it any more. I began to see that we might have made a huge mistake because we were so young when we married. It occurred to me that I might be holding you back. I know how important your work is to you and I didn't want to stand in your way. And then, the whole Hawaii thing happened. That's when I filed for divorce. It doesn't mean I stopped loving you, it just means that I couldn't live with you anymore."
She paused to look at him. He was quiet, absorbing every word. "So, what about now?" he ventured. "What happens now?"
She looked at him helplessly. "That's it, I don't know. We've been apart for months now and it's been hell, for both of us. I thought I could forget you and move on, but that didn't work. And I don't know what happens now..."
He was quiet for a few moments before looking at her and saying. "Listen to me, Liz, we can make this work, we really can. I'll quit my job, we can move to a small town...maybe in Iowa, if you want. I'll do whatever you want. But don't ask me to live without you. It's no life, for either of us. You've seen how miserable we were. We're meant to be together. You have to accept that."
She smiled slightly. "You know that won't work. You'd be bored out of your mind and besides, you'd be frustrated and start hating me. I couldn't bear that to happen. There's no question of you quitting, William, it'll not do."
"Okay, then," he said. "I won't quit my job, but we can still give 'us' another try. We're more mature and can handle it. It was my fault for taking you for granted. But I know that's wrong. I'll cherish you, I'll cut down my travels. I'll try my best to be with you when you need me. Liz, we can make it work, if we try. We have to make it work. There's no one else I want to spend my life with and grow old with. There's no one else I want to have children and grandchildren with. You must see, there's no other way. Please, please, try to see, Liz. I'll ask you for the last time. Will you marry me?"
She looked at him earnestly for a long time as if making her decision, a decision that would affect them both for a lifetime. And then, she softly said, "Yes."
"What did you say?!" he exclaimed in disbelief.
"Yes, I'll marry you, William Darcy. I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you and no one else."
Before she even finished her sentence, William leaned over until his face was inches away from hers. He muttered, "I love you so much," and began to kiss her. As the kiss deepened, Liz wrapped her hands around her neck, unwilling to let go. This act seemed to fuel William's passion for he kissed her with unrestrained love. It was a symbol of months of longing and separation. It was a triumph of love and suffering. The world seemed to melt away and time stopped. It was pure, unadulterated love, untainted by worldly lust or deceit. In the arms of one another, they found themselves and a haven for all eternity. As their passions unfolded, they found the true meaning of togetherness and undying devotion. There can be no words to describe their feelings or emotions, but it was evident that any misunderstanding that might have existed dissolved away in face of that single, tumultuous kiss.
When they surfaced, Liz opened her eyes and looked at William in wonder. "Wow."
He smiled, his arms still around her. "I missed you."
"I missed you, too," she said, her eyes not leaving his for a second. "We should have done this sooner."
"You think," he smiled. "But seriously, I don't want anything to come between us again. Promise me, Liz that you will never leave me again."
"I promise," she said solemnly.
"And whatever happens, I'll not let you go again...I promise," he said, his eyes conveying the sincerity of his convictions. "I've lost you before, and I never want to lose you again. It's too painful."
She nodded in silent agreement. He held her tight, not wanting to ever let go. He pulled her even closer and muttered small endearments into her ears. They were at peace, with the world, with themselves and with one another. Sitting in front of the fireplace, they were a picture of utter contentment. Finally, he pulled away and looked at her. "Did the letter change your mind about me?"
She smiled and his heart skipped a beat. "Yes. I'm so ashamed to think of what I said. I don't know why I believed Wickham...I guess I just wanted to believe him, but I should have trusted you more. I should never have let Caroline or Wickham come between us. Maybe we wouldn't have had to go through this...it would have saved us so much pain and heartache."
"Don't blame yourself," he said softly. "We're stronger for all the heartache. I can honestly say that I've never loved you more than at this moment. Dearest, loveliest Elizabeth...you don't know how happy you've made me. If you had refused, I don't know what I would have done, how I would have survived...you're my life."
She kissed him again and smiled, "You're such a sweetie."
He smiled back. "I also want to say that...well, I know how difficult it must have been for you to lose our baby...I wish I could change things. I wish that I could have been there with you. I'm so sorry for all that you had to go through, alone. You had a right to despise me then."
A stray tear rolled down her face, which he wiped. "It was difficult, but it was because of you that I managed to survive. Even in those dark days, I never stopped thinking about you. But I don't want to think of those days anymore. It's much too painful."
He gently kissed her nose, promising himself that he'd never let her suffer like that again. Aloud, he said, "Now about the wedding..."
She smiled. "What about it?"
"How soon can we have it?"
"A month?"
"That's much too long," he said.
"I think we owe our families a proper wedding, Will..."
He sighed. "You're right, of course, but how can I bear not being with you for an entire month."
She simply smiled as she hugged him and pulled him close. "You'll manage, I dare say." Then, she giggled.
"What's so funny?" he asked.
"Wait till I tell mom. She'll have a fit."
"Oh no," he groaned.
"Better yet, I'll let you break the news."
"So much for cruel and unusual punishment," he muttered and they both burst out laughing.
A month later, Iowa
"...I now pronounce you husband and wife," the priest looked at William with a genial smile. "You may kiss the bride."
William lifted Liz's veil and took a sharp breath. She was breathtakingly beautiful in her simple white gown, her hair put up in a bun with a few loose tendrils framing her oval shaped face. He bent forward to kiss her as she looked up at him with a smile of wonder and contentment. His lips claimed hers and they were lost in each other, forgetting the time and the place. They were so involved that all the whistles and the catcalls brought them back to their senses and they quickly separated. Liz glanced at him and blushed while William whispered, "I love you," before they walked down the aisle, man and wife. William looked over at his new bride and could not believe how lucky he was, indeed, he had dreamed of this day for so long that his mind cast a doubt on its reality. Then, she glanced at him and smiled. It was an innocent smile that beckoned him to come closer and William cursed the rituals that dictated them to appear at the reception for right at that moment, there was nowhere he'd rather be than in the arms of his one true love. But let's get it over with. He thought as they proceeded to the reception.
A little later; Bennett Farm
"Oh, you look lovely, Liz, you really do!!" exclaimed Mrs. Bennett as she admired her newly wed daughter. "I knew this day would come, I knew that god couldn't deny me the happiness of seeing my daughter get married. I'm so happy!!! And William, you look quite dashing yourself! Take good care of my girl, won't you? But of course you will! You two look so cute together. Oh!!!"
"Um...thank you, Mrs. Bennett," William smiled at Liz.
"Call me mom," urged Mrs. Bennett. "No formality now."
"Fran," her husband approached them. "There's some trouble with the food..."
"I'll be right back," said Mrs. Bennett as she quickly left.
Liz smiled at her dad, "Thanks dad!"
"No problem, Lizzy," replied Mr. Bennett, his eyes moist. "You look positively radiant. I'm very happy for you." Then, he looked at William, who seemed a little uncomfortable. "I have a high respect for someone Liz loves so much. Welcome to the family, William."
"Thank you, sir," William said. "I'll take good care of her."
Mr. Bennett smiled and kissed Liz on her cheeks. As he left to attend to other guests, Liz's eyes caught a couple on the dance floor.
"Who is Jane dancing with?" she asked William.
William looked and replied, "My best man, Charles Bingley."
"Don't they look cute together?" she smiled.
"I guess," William answered, stealing a look at his wife. "But don't try any matchmaking."
"I wouldn't dream of it!" she exclaimed in a tone that declared her intentions were quite different.
"Liz!!" Rick and Georgia came to greet them.
"Congratulations pal!" Rick smiled while Georgia hugged her brother.
"So, where are you going for your honeymoon?" asked Rick.
Liz and William exchanged glances, then said, "Lambton, Vermont."
Georgia giggled and smiled. "How lovely!"
Liz caught sight of her sisters in a corner and said to William, "I'll go and talk to them for a bit." She gave him a quick kiss, excused herself from Rick and Georgia and approached her sisters.
"Mary! Kate! It's so good to see you," she hugged them. "Hi Trey," she greeted Mary's husband.
"Congratulations Liz," Trey greeted her.
"Liz, this is my boyfriend, David," Kate introduced the tall gentleman at her side.
"It's a pleasure," David smiled politely.
Liz chatted with them for a few moments and then, awkward silence ensued. She shifted uncomfortably before addressing Trey, "Um...I didn't see your brother anywhere. Is he here?"
Trey looked at her earnestly for a long time. "Ben is here, I think."
"I just wanted to talk to him," said Liz with a pleading look in her eyes.
Trey sighed as he exchanged glances with Mary. "You'll find him outside. He needed to...get away," said Trey with a significant look.
Liz thanked him and headed outside after quickly scanning the crowd. She had hardly spoken to Ben this past month, not having the courage to face him. He had been very polite when informed of her impending wedding, but was very cool and distant. It hurt Liz to see him thus and she wished in heaven that there were something she could do to ease his pain. But there was nothing she could say or do, really, that did not sound artificial. On this happiest of happy days, Liz resolved to heal their breach, as best as she could. Once outside, she spotted Ben at a distance and approached him.
He heard her footsteps and turned around. "Liz."
"Ben."
Silence.
"You look very beautiful," he said, looking into her eyes.
"I...thank you."
Silence.
"Shouldn't you be inside?" he asked at length.
"Well, yes," she conceded. "But I wanted to talk to you."
"Really?" Since when have I become so important? he wanted to say to her.
"Yes," she nodded, knowing that the battle was half-lost. "I'm really, really sorry, Ben, you don't know how sorry I am. I just...it's just...I don't know what to say."
"Then don't say anything," he urged her, moving forward. "It's just one of those things, I know. You don't owe me any apology. Never think that you do. I don't want you to be sorry for being happy. Don't think that I am such a bitter person. I am very happy for you, Liz, as much as it hurts to see you like this, I really want you to be happy. That's all."
A single tear escaped her eyes. "You don't deserve this, Ben."
He reached out and wiped the tear away. He looked at her intently, then smiled. "Don't worry about it. If I had to do it all over, I wouldn't change a thing."
She looked at him in wonder. "How can you say that? I hurt you so much."
He shook his head. "No, you don't understand. As much as this hurts, I wouldn't change a thing because it would be worse if I hadn't known you...I would never have known what true love feels like." He smiled gently. "If anything, I should thank you for being who you are."
She smiled with him. "Thank you."
"What for?"
"For being who you are," she whispered. "You'll always hold a special place in my heart, no matter what."
"That's enough for me," he declared. "I don't want anything more." They stood together for a few moments, silent, tension in the air between them. Then, he said, "You'd better go in. Your husband will be looking for you."
And the moment was lost. She nodded. "Won't you come in, too?"
"Maybe later."
She looked at him for a last time. He smiled at her encouragingly as if asking her to go. She smiled back, her eyes moist. Then, as if to break the spell, she turned around and walked back towards the house. When at the door, she turned around to look at him. He was staring at her. With another look, she disappeared inside.
"I was looking for you," said William, as soon as she went in. "Liz? What's wrong?" he asked on seeing her grave demeanor.
"Nothing. It's just...nothing."
"Are you sure?"
She looked at him. "Yeah, I'm sure."
"Shall we dance, then?" he asked.
A brief hesitation. "Yes."
William led her to the dance floor and slowly put his arms around her, pulling her closer to him. He sensed that she was upset and knew not how to comfort her. He looked into her eyes and finding, no clue there, simply sought to drown her in his own. There was a small, tender smile playing on his lips, as if he had a secret no one else could divine. Soft music began to play and they began to gently sway to the music, in sync together and in perfect rhythm.
Unforgettable, that's what you are
Unforgettable though near or far
William softly crooned the words into her ears. Liz looked up at him in surprise. She smiled, but the smile did not touch her eyes. He closed the distance between them as he pulled her even closer. She reacted by putting her arms around his neck and resting her head on his shoulders. There was nothing to say, really. He wished that she would confide her worries, but knew that there was no use in rushing her.
Like a song of love that clings to me
How the thought of you does things to me
Never before has someone been more
She looked at him again, her eyes trying to convey some message. He looked at her as if to ask a question, but she shook her head in negation. He said nothing, honoring her wishes. There was a haunting sadness in her eyes that he wished would disappear. He wished that he could kiss away the unshed tears and remove the heavy load from her heart. But how? He had no clue what was bothering her. Was it him? Had he done something to displease her? That thought worried him and he looked at her again.
Unforgettable in every way
And forever more, that's how you'll stay
Suddenly, her body stiffened and instinctively, he knew that the cause of her worries had appeared. Out of the corner of his eyes, he spied Ben standing at the door. So that was it. Ben. He knew that her innate sadness stemmed from that one person. She was sad because she had hurt Ben, unwittingly yes, but hurt him nonetheless. From the tension in her body, he could divine that she must have talked to him. He knew how painful it must have been. He felt sorry for Ben, but it was one of those occasions in life when he could do nothing to help her. It was a question of love and there was no way he could help her or save Ben from pain.
That's why, darling, it's incredible
That someone so unforgettable
Thinks that I am unforgettable too
Other couples began to join the dance floor. She held on tightly to him as if scared that she would lose him. He held her close as if reassuring her that nothing would happen. Then, she spied a couple join the dancing. Her face lightened visibly. He looked in the direction she was looking at and then, he saw them. Ben and Charlotte. Dancing together. Together. He looked at her. She smiled, but this time, her smile was real. It reached her eyes and touched them like it had not before. He smiled back. She was happy, and that was enough for him. He sighed in relief.
Unforgettable in every way
And forever more, that's how you'll stay
That's why, darling, it's incredible
That someone so unforgettable
Thinks that I am unforgettable too*
As the song ended, William whispered, "I love you so much."
"I love you, too," Liz whispered back.
They sealed that sacred declaration with a kiss, temporarily transported far away from the present, to a place where love reigned supreme without artifice or deceit and where dreams did come true.
Once upon a time, a handsome prince married a beautiful princess and after many trials and tribulations, they loved each other still and lived happily every after...
* Unforgettable by Nat "King" Cole
The End.