Elizabeth received this news without visible reaction. “Have you spoken to Will?” Her voice was soft, yet firm.
“Oh yeah.” She laughed. “I asked him what we were going to do once you were released and he said, quote: ‘This is her home. My limo and my security will pick her up and bring her here,’ unquote.”
Elizabeth smiled brightly, covering her face with one hand, and then a second, as she fought to keep control over her emotions. She was exhausted and overwrought and just needed to hold it together a little while longer.
Linda pretended not to notice. When Elizabeth dropped her hands and surreptitiously wiped her eyes with a napkin, she asked, “I take it you have heard that before?”
“Oh yeah,” she smiled and nodded, remembering. “So, what is the plan for this morning? Do I have to go to the courthouse?”
“Yep. We get to drive over, lots of flashing lights and whatnot, and then you get to leave, no doubt in a big media blitz.”
“I wish I could call Will and get his advice on how to handle this. He’s much better at playing the bad boy than I am.”
“Well, what did he tell you before?”
“He said to hang tough.”
“Then do it. You have been falsely accused. Let it show.”
Elizabeth nodded thoughtfully. “Yep, I guess I better get used to this. It’s not like we’ll ever have a life without the media.”
“Ah, the price of fame,” Linda sighed.
Elizabeth smiled. “When will I know that they have Wickham?”
“Paul is going to call me and I’ll call you.”
“Paul?”
Linda giggled. “Agent Holmes.”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes and sipped her coffee. She was grateful for the chance to think about something other than what she would tell Darcy and how he would take it.
***
In the end, it was easier than Elizabeth ever expected. Transported to the courthouse in a police car, she was spared a media gauntlet by entering the courthouse through an underground garage. Linda was waiting when she arrived. They were escorted into a small room and waited there for twenty minutes before being informed that they could leave. The Feds wanted a certain amount of media attention, so they asked Elizabeth to go out through the front when she left.
There was a knock on the door and Rebecca entered. Elizabeth was flooded with relief at the sight of her face. “Oh my God. It’s so good to see you.”
Rebecca dropped her professional scowl for a moment and smiled. “Are you ready to go?” she asked warmly.
“Oh yeah. More than ready.”
“Good. There is a gang of photographers out there, so I’ve got two of my people to help with security. Linda, you’ll walk with us to the limo, right?”
Linda nodded.
“I don’t know why they wouldn’t let us use the underground lot. It would be so much easier,” Rebecca complained.
Elizabeth feigned ignorance, and the three women exited the room. Waiting outside were two large burly-looking men, reeking of bodyguard. Rebecca took point and whipped out her cell. “Tommy, we’re coming out.”
Elizabeth walked with Linda, a bodyguard on either side. She felt like she was playacting. Surely there had to be a mistake. Famous people got this kind of treatment, not her. She was just… somebody?
Rebecca parted the crowd like Moses at the Red Sea. Elizabeth wore the dark sunglasses Linda gave her and tried to keep her expression calm. She focused on simply walking, knowing the last thing she wanted to do was trip and fall on the courthouse steps.
On the street, the long black limousine was waiting. Tommy opened the door and Elizabeth slid in, followed by Rebecca and one of the bodyguards.
Elizabeth was surprised to find the limo wasn’t empty. Sitting silently in the far corner, dressed in dark clothing, was the tall figure of a man. “Will!” she cried.
As soon as the door was shut, there was a quick rearranging of seats and Elizabeth found herself ensconced in his arms. “Will? Will?” she repeated, touching him to be certain he was real.
Darcy’s face held an expression of heartfelt relief as he held her close. “It’s okay, it’s all right,” he murmured softly to her. “How are you?” he asked as the car moved forward, his eyes carefully examining her.
Elizabeth felt all her hard-won control dissolve, and tears slipped from her eyes. “I’m okay,” she choked out before her face bunched up and she began sobbing in his arms.
Darcy held her tight, stroking her hair and back and hating himself. Every tear, sob, and gasp was his fault. Elizabeth’s sobs subsided by the time they reached Manhattan, and she sat in a daze for the rest of the ride to the Village, her head pillowed by his chest, his heartbeat reassuring in her ear.
The limo drove past the reporters and straight into the garage. Rebecca and the bodyguards exited first and then gave the signal for Darcy and Elizabeth to exit. They walked smartly as a group to the elevator and when the door shut, Elizabeth felt as if she was going to drop to the floor. Darcy squeezed her hand tightly, his eyes never leaving hers, giving her his strength.
They entered the loft to find everyone waiting for them. Jane quickly snatched Elizabeth up into a hug, and she was passed like a hot potato to everyone there, receiving hugs and words of encouragement.
“Thank you,” Elizabeth said, smiling through teary eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m just really tired.” A soft murmur of understanding passed through the group.
“Elizabeth needs to rest,” Darcy announced. “I think it would be best if everyone went home now, and we’ll meet later. Caro, when do we need to be at the Garden?”
“Well, we,” she indicated Faust and herself, “have to be there around noon, but you artists,” she smiled at the word, “can lounge about until four or five.”
Darcy nodded. “Rebecca, help everyone get out. Rachel, I’d like you to stick around in case I need you.”
With that, everyone began to depart, each giving Elizabeth at least one more hug. Elizabeth fled as quickly as she could to Darcy’s bedroom, and she wasn’t surprised to see him enter a minute later.
“I thought you would be in the shower already,” he said lightly.
Elizabeth smiled weakly and then her expression drooped. “Will, I have to tell you something.”
Darcy felt himself go numb. He was certain that this was it. The experience had been too much and Elizabeth was going to break up with him now. He sat carefully on the bed, close, but not touching her. “What?”
Elizabeth sighed. “The charges against me have been dropped.”
Darcy eyes widened. “Already? Lizzy, that’s great news!”
Elizabeth held up her hand. “Wait, there’s more.” Slowly she told him the whole story, her hands moving restlessly in her lap the whole time.
Darcy listened without interrupting until she was finished. “You were never in jail?” he asked weakly, trying to understand.
“No,” Elizabeth shook her head and smiled sadly. “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you, Will. I wanted to. I wanted to so badly.” She drew up her knees and wrapped her arms around them, resting her head there.
Darcy struggled to understand what had happened. He laced his fingers together and touched his index fingers to his lips. “I didn’t sleep at all last night, I was so worried about you.”
“That makes two of us,” Elizabeth replied gently. “I know you blame yourself for what has happened, but I need you to know that I don’t. Wickham’s actions are his own, and I don’t feel anything but love for you. I’m sorry you were so scared last night, and believe me, if there had been another way, I would have taken it, but I had to do it. I love you too much to not do everything I can to get that bastard out of your life.”
Darcy roughly pulled her to him and held her as tightly as he could. “Elizabeth, you’re so brave. I can’t believe you did that for me,” he whispered.
“Well, I did it for me too,” she added. “I can’t believe he tried to frame me like that.�
��
They rocked together, comforting and soothing each other, until Darcy pulled back and gently cupping her face in his hands, he kissed her lips with soft, loving kisses. “Are you ready to get cleaned up?”
Elizabeth nodded tiredly and let him help her off the bed and lead her to the bathroom.
There he gently undressed her, then himself, and turned on the shower. Elizabeth stood numbly still, letting him care for her.
“Will,” she whispered when he brought her under the hot water.
“Shhh, it’s all over now, Elizabeth,” he told her firmly as he gently began washing her body. “Just try to forget about it for now.”
Elizabeth let him wash her all over. By the time he was finished, she was trembling. He drew her close and let her weep, giving her the primal comfort of skin against skin. Finally she lifted her drained eyes to him.
“I’ve got you now; you’re safe.”
Elizabeth lifted her trembling lips to his and kissed him deeply, desperate for the succor she found in his mouth. They kissed until their exhausted bodies could take no more, then Darcy gently dried her off and led her to the darkened bedroom. There they snuggled together under the coverlet, the sheets cool against their tired skin.
Elizabeth was uniquely comforted by finally being in the place that she had needed for so long. Her mind wandered freely as her body sank heavily into the soft mattress. She realized something and giggled softly. “So, Char and Richard?”
Darcy’s voice was warmed with relief. His heart was lightened to hear her sounding something like her old self again. “I don’t know exactly what happened, but they talked.”
Elizabeth laughed. “Knowing them, I can guess what happened.” Darcy laughed softly with her, and they relaxed in the comfort and familiarity of the moment. Elizabeth wanted to ask him about playing her song, but she drifted to sleep before she could, exhaustion finally overcoming her.
***
Elizabeth awoke disoriented. The cause was immediately clear: she was alone. If Darcy had been there, she would have known exactly where she was, but he was missing, so it took a minute for her brain to piece her location together. She sat up and saw by the clock on the bedside table (the same one that had awoken her for that flight a lifetime ago) that it was 7:19 p.m. She puzzled at Darcy’s absence until she saw a note and a cell phone on his pillow.
Opening the note, she read:
My dearest, loveliest Elizabeth,
Call me.
Your Fitzwilliam
Elizabeth hit the button that was programmed with Darcy’s number and waited for him to answer, her lips curling into a smile.
“Lizzy?”
“Hi.”
“Hang on a moment.” She could hear him moving. His voice was relaxed, warm, and touchable. “I had to get away from the meet-and-greet. How are you, Sleeping Beauty?”
Elizabeth smiled. “Missing my prince.”
“Well, I tried kissing you back to life, but you just rolled over.”
Elizabeth laughed.
“I’d like for you to come down for the show. I understand if you are too wiped out to perform, but I want you here.”
Elizabeth was touched by the earnestness in his voice. “Then I’ll be there.”
She could hear him smile. “Great. Rachel is there and I’ll send Tommy up with the limo. They have instructions.”
Elizabeth suddenly had the sensation that he was planning something and her stomach tightened in anticipation. “I’ll see you soon.”
“I love you.”
“I love you.”
She hung up and found a robe draped across the bottom of the bed, clearly for her. He had planned for her, just like he always would. For once she found this didn’t offend her; instead, she was touched by his thoughtfulness and love. She realized that the two biggest control freaks she knew had accepted, with surprising ease, letting someone else have control. Smiling to herself, she put the robe on, opened the door, and called out to Rachel, “So, what would you suggest I wear?”
Chapter 21
Darcy turned off his cell with a smile. Inside, he felt a sense of deep contentment. He loved the sound of her voice, thick with sleep, knowing she was in his bed. A part of him was appalled at his possessive feelings, and there was no way he would tell Elizabeth about them, but he couldn’t deny them either.
He was pleased and comforted to know she was safe and well, in his home. Having lost that simple blessing for even a few hours had magnified its value to him. And that value wasn’t going to recede for quite a while.
“Hey.” Charles’s voice arrested his meditations. “Time to get ready.” Charles looked at the phone in Darcy’s hand. “Is she coming?”
Darcy smiled and nodded, not needing to explain anything more.
Charles looked pleased. “Good. Are you sure you want to do this?”
“What? You think I can’t?” Darcy’s tone was playful, not defensive.
Charles matched his mocking tone. “I just wouldn’t want to see you choke.” He tilted his head. “That would suck.”
Darcy smiled. “You just play your bass. I’ll be fine.”
Charles smiled back. He knew that Darcy would never have taken him up on his offer, but friendship had demanded that he make it.
***
Darcy collected his acoustic guitar from the instrument area and joined Jane and Charlotte, being mic’ed in preparation for the concert. Richard and Charles stood nearby.
Darcy wore his leather pants and a black clingy T-shirt. He didn’t want to take anything away from Jane tonight. Jane stood quietly, letting the sound technician wire her and test her equipment, her expression calm and distant.
Charles studied her, reflecting on how easily someone else could look at her and believe her indifferent. He knew that was far from the truth. Behind Jane’s still blue eyes, he knew she was distressed. The news that the charges against Elizabeth had been dropped had reached them the same way it had reached the rest of the world: on the television, flickering in the darkness of his bedroom. There, in their private cocoon, she expressed her feelings of relief, crying on him, and then finding comfort in his body.
After they learned the details, first from Rachel, and later from Darcy, she became defiant. Long Borne Suffering were not victims and they would perform that night. Charlotte’s fearlessness matched Jane’s, and Darcy immediately volunteered to take Elizabeth’s place. They spent little more than an hour rehearsing the three songs they would perform. It wasn’t a full set, but it was a statement.
Now, as Jane prepared to go onstage for the first time without her sister or her manager, Charles knew the apprehension that filled her, yet he was impressed by her cool resolve. He felt deeply touched and honored to know that he was one of the few whom his private Jane would trust with her feelings. She was like a beautiful work of art only exhibited to a very select few. He found it was yet another reason to love her, his heart won over once again.
She looked up and her eyes met his. He stepped forward and took her into his arms, holding her close and shielding her for a moment with his body. As he embraced her, letting her ground her fears in him, he was struck by the memory of the first time he held her, on that jet so long ago. He realized that while Jane might not have trusted her heart to know she loved Charles until much later, the way she trusted him with her fears was all the reassurance he should have needed.
He kissed her lips lightly, careful of her makeup, and his eyes spoke comfortingly to her.
Charlotte couldn’t help but look around, her eyes seeking people she knew wouldn’t be there, as her hands rhythmically moved in their mindless dance.
“You okay, beautiful?”
Charlotte focused on her lover, and she couldn’t repress the smile that came to her. Love, the experience of being in it, continued to surprise her, with tiny and immeasurable delights that she had never known before. Hearing Richard call her beautiful and knowing now what it meant, sent a tiny electric shiver up her bac
k, interrupting her thoughts and playing havoc with her senses. She was goofy with love and relished it.
She laughed, her emotions too high to bottle up, and nodded. Richard took her hands in his and brought them up to his lips.
“Big house tonight.”
Charlotte voiced a sound of agreement. “We’ve played bigger.”
Richard’s eyes crinkled. “You’re not going to do it, are you?”
“What?”
“Let me play the big strong man while you swoon in my arms.”
Charlotte laughed again. “No.” She took her hands out of his and wrapped her arms around his neck. “But if you want, I’ll be happy to swoon in your arms when we get back home.” She lifted her eyebrows seductively and Richard kissed the rich sweetness of her lips, pressing her slight body to his.
She was amazing, growing in beauty and confidence by the moment, each second becoming more and more desirable and beloved to him. He was awestruck with the knowledge that his love had effected this change in her. And while he knew his demons might return, he believed that he would never stop craving the remarkable woman in his arms.
“I love you, Char,” he whispered in her ear, delighting in the response he provoked with his words. She purred happily before kissing him. As he tasted her once again, he knew he was lost. Gone. Done. Take him off the market and put him out to pasture. This smart, sassy, beautiful, sexy woman wanted him, and he would be happy to follow her around for the rest of his life.
Caroline approached the group and shared a smile with Darcy at the two couples. “She’s coming?” she asked softly. Darcy nodded and Caroline found herself pleased for him. “Good.” Then she raised her voice. “Jane, Char, it’s time.”
The two couples released each other and the women shared an awkward smile. Their routine was broken and they were uncertain what to do next.
Charles stepped up and said, “Come on,” in a low, easy voice, leading them along the dark path to the stage edge. Charlotte had earlier explained her discussion with Alex to Jane, who accepted it, both of them knowing nothing would be final until they had conferred with Elizabeth. But it did leave them in an uneasy position on this night.
Fitzwilliam Darcy, Rock Star Page 48