First Impressions: A Modern Retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (Meryton Medical Romances Book 1)

by Ruby Cruz

  I felt a modicum of relief. Maybe I’d be saved from dinner. “I only brought a few outfits with me and they’re pretty much the same as this one.” I gestured to my jeans and sweater ensemble. “I didn’t think we’d need to get dressed up.”

  Luke sighed. “Honey, this is the city. Okay, nix the sightseeing. We’re going shopping.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Braving the Dakota

  Two hours later, when I emerged from Luke’s bedroom and stepped into the living room, Luke whistled. “There’s my smokin’ hot friend that I know and love.”

  “You realize I’m going to have to wear this dress every day for the next month to justify the cost.” I self-consciously smoothed the satin skirt of the Calvin Klein sheath Luke had convinced me to buy.

  “You, my friend, look stunning and Dr. DeBourgh will be sufficiently wowed that she’ll overlook having a common nurse in her midst.”

  “She has a thing against nurses?”

  “Not a thing, really. More like a chip on her shoulder.”

  “Ah, another nurse-hating doctor. Must run in the family.”

  “Dr. Darcy doesn’t hate nurses in general. He just doesn’t like incompetent ones.”

  “Don’t you start, too. Lydia, Mary and Kate may be silly and man-crazy but they’re perfectly good nurses.” Luke didn’t say anything so I continued, “Come on, I know you don’t like them, but you know they’re not bad nurses.”

  “They’re not bad, just sloppy sometimes. Before you argue with me, just consider that maybe your loyalty to them and your intense dislike of Darcy is clouding your judgment. Think about it. Lydia is usually so busy complaining about her love life that she forgets to clean her patients half the time, Kate has gotten just as bad ever since her divorce finalized, and Mary is so focused on all her committees and councils that she forgets patient care should be a priority.” At my expression he added, “I’m just saying.”

  Despite the truth of his statements, I refused to relent. “Well, I’d still take them any day over Darcy. He’s just so…toxic, he infects everyone around him with bad manners and bad attitudes.”

  “I’ve never heard one patient complain about him. In fact, they all seem to like him, said he’s thorough and knowledgeable. Look, I’m not defending his attitude, but maybe he’s not as bad as he seems.”

  “Whatever. Stop arguing with me. You’re supposed to be making up to me for dragging me to this dinner tonight instead of taking me out on the town.”

  Colin emerged from his room at that point, dressed primly in slacks, shirt and tie, and sports jacket. When he saw me, he nodded in approval. “Well done, Miss Bennett.” He turned to Luke. “Shall we?”

  “Let’s do this.”

  We headed out the door and down the street where Luke, the tallest of us, flagged a cab. After a couple of moments, a yellow taxi stopped on the curb and the three of us piled into the back seat. I was self-consciously squeezed between Colin and Luke and the driver asked us in a heavy Indian accent where we were heading. Colin gave him the directions and the driver silently assented.

  “Why didn’t we just take the subway?” I asked curiously, not particularly liking being squished in the backseat of a dingy cab.

  “Dressed like this? Plus, you’ll thank me, with those shoes you’re wearing,” Luke eyed the heels he’d encouraged me to buy along with the dress. “It might not be a shorter ride, but it’ll at least be a little more comfortable for you.” I seriously doubted that as he wasn’t playing the sardine in this scenario.

  The drive uptown took about twenty minutes in traffic and the entire time Colin droned on about the various landmarks we passed, the history of the area and notable restaurants. I half-listened as I gazed out the window at the darkening sky. The city seemed to be coming alive, the lights within and on the buildings almost fighting off the twilight.

  Finally, the cab pulled up next to a large, impressively gabled building. Across the street I could see Central Park. “Welcome to the Dakota,” Colin announced importantly.

  After Luke and I climbed out and waited for Colin to pay the driver, I commented, “I thought the Dakota was supposed to be for the ultra-exclusive and super rich. I mean, doctors make a decent living but I didn’t think they made enough money to be paying a multimillion dollar mortgage.”

  “Darcy’s family comes from old money, Mayflower ancestry, Daughters of the Revolution and all that. They’ve owned this apartment since the building was built over a hundred years ago.”

  “So you’re saying he’s rich.”

  “More than rich. Your friend Dr. Darcy was gifted with the fabled silver spoon.”

  After Colin exited the cab, he led us to an elaborately gated entranceway. A guard in a pillbox greeted us and, after we mentioned Dr. DeBourgh’s name, were directed through the archway and into the courtyard. I never would have imagined such a place in the city. The bronze fountains, the ornate architecture, seemed like something out a different time period, as if the archway had been the entrance to a time machine. Colin led us across the courtyard and to a small lobby and elevator. The journey to the ninth floor seemed interminable in the close elevator, with Colin shifting excitedly in his shoes and Luke squeezing my shoulder reassuringly. Finally, the elevator stopped and we stepped onto a small landing. Colin confidently strode towards the doorway opposite the elevator door, gave a short knock and we were greeted by a middle-aged man wearing what appeared to be an old-style butler’s uniform.

  The butler led us further into the apartment and to the sitting room where a fire had been laid in an ornately covered fireplace. The furnishings were adorned with elaborately carved wood and upholstered in silk brocade. The walls were papered with complementary silk and above the fire place hung a very good Monet reproduction; at least, I thought it was a reproduction.

  On the loveseat sat a handsome middle-aged woman. Her features were too strong to be called beautiful, although there was a striking attractiveness about her. She had meticulously plucked eyebrows above brilliant blue eyes that sported a tad too much makeup. Her shoulder length hair was straight and black with a streak of grey blossoming from her right temple. She might have been even more attractive if she hadn’t had the condescending frown marring her face.

  She stood when we entered the room. Colin made introductions and when she grasped my hand she did so firmly and I was a little surprised to find her hands to be quite hot and dry. “You are Elizabeth Bennett. Colin has told me much about you. You were his first choice for running the Manhattan trials.”

  “Yes, but I had to decline because of family obligations.” Her piercing blue eyes seemed to see right into my brain and made me shift uncomfortably.

  “Family is important,” was her final response, though she somehow made the statement seem more like a criticism.

  Fortunately, the butler returned at that moment with Darcy and another man in tow, and I was saved from further scrutiny at the moment. Darcy did not seem at all surprised to see me and acknowledged me with a slight tilt of his head. There was an awkward pause until Luke held his hand out to the other man who was wearing a dress blue army service uniform. “Luke Carlos.”

  “Lt. Colonel Edward Fitzwilliam, but you can just call me Ed. I’ve been buddies with Darcy since prep school. And you are…?” He held his hand out to me, his friendly eyes flashing with some untold joke.

  “Lizzy Bennett.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Lizzy Bennett. I take it you already know my esteemed friend Will.”

  Somehow, I’d never thought of Darcy as a “Will.” It seemed too mundane of a name. “Yes, we happen to work at the same hospital. The same one, in fact, where Luke was recruited. I was in the city visiting him when Dr. Debourgh was kind enough to invite us to dinner.”

  “Ah, I see.” I was slightly pleased to catch a glimmer of disappointment in Ed’s eyes when it became evident he thought Luke and I were together. Luke caught it too, and winked at me whe
n we were directed to make ourselves comfortable. Ed Fitzwilliam was attractive enough, with close-cropped pale blond hair and friendly blue eyes. His uniform emphasized his stocky build.

  The butler took my drink order and as I waited for him to bring it, I chose a spot near the fireplace and as far away from Dr. DeBourgh’s prying eyes as possible. I was hoping that Luke would follow me but his boss called him to her side to provide a maintenance report on the apartment building. Colin joined Luke at his idol’s side, probably anxious to prevent any missteps from his protégé.

  I thought I would be spared having to converse with Darcy but he approached me. Okay, I can be polite and civil. I’ll take the high ground, I thought.

  “What brings you to the city, Dr. Darcy, other than seeing your aunt, of course?”

  “I had some business here,” was his brief reply. “Your sister and niece, they are well?”

  “Yes. They are currently visiting our aunt in Philly. It’s a nice break for Jane. She hasn’t had a real vacation in quite some time.” Even though time had dulled my anger towards Charlie and his wordless desertion of Jane, the sharp tang of bitterness still remained strong enough to keep me from asking about him.

  Darcy seemed to sense the direction of my thoughts and steered the conversation to safer territory. “What about you? Are you staying in the city long?”

  “Just a few days. I have to be back at work on Wednesday. Yourself?”

  “I have a few days off as well. I thought I would visit some friends and family while I was here, especially since I heard Ed was on leave.”

  Upon hearing his name, Ed joined us by the fireplace. “Talking about me already, Will? Don’t believe a word he says. He notoriously analyzes your every flaw and lists them for you one by one.” I could see Darcy bristling at Ed’s words, though they were good-natured. “Seriously, though, if you need someone to watch your back, William Darcy’s your guy.”

  “Thank you, Ed, for your sterling endorsement of me.”

  “No problem.”

  Dr. Debourgh chose that moment to call her nephew to her side. Darcy hesitated, glancing briefly at us, before joining his aunt.

  Ed grinned at me. “Darcy mentioned to me that you work with him at one of the hospitals.”

  “Yes, I’m a nurse.” I quickly steered the conversation away from my work. “What about you? Where are you stationed?”

  “Fort Bragg. It’s been awhile since I took any leave so I was able to arrange some time off through the holidays.”

  “That must be nice, being able to spend time with your friends after such a long time.”

  “Don’t get me wrong, I love serving my country and enjoy my position, but there’s nothing like family at the end of the day. I’m not very close with my parents so when I met Will, he and his family sort of adopted me. Ever since then I’ve considered Aunt Catherine, Darcy and Ana as my family.” Ed’s eyes acquired a faraway look and, for a moment, he was silent. A small grin flashed onto his face as he realized there’d been a lull. “Forgive me, you didn’t come here to hear me cry about being homesick, and that’s definitely not the impression I want to leave. After all, you’re the first pretty girl I’ve had the fortune of conversing with since I arrived.”

  I felt the flush creep onto my face and it hadn’t been caused by the heat of the fire. “I’m not sure if I should be flattered or offended by your comment. After all, by your admission, you haven’t had much to compare me to.”

  Ed’s mood lightened considerably and he laughed. “Fair enough, Lizzy Bennett.”

  “Did you grow up here in the city?”

  Ed shook his head. “I’m an army brat. We’ve lived everywhere: Hawaii, Germany, Texas, North Carolina. When I became old enough, my parents sent me to the East Coast for prep school. Darcy was from the area, sort of took me under his wing. I spent a lot of time out on his farm in Jersey during weekends and holidays. After my parents divorced and went their separate ways when I was at West Point, I don’t know, I seemed to find my way back here during breaks. It was easier and closer to come here than to have to choose between my parents, I guess. Enough of my boring life story, tell me more about you and what brings you to the city and my adoptive aunt’s not-so-humble abode.”

  After a few moments of light conversation, we were called into the dining room. If I thought the sitting room had been lavishly decorated, that was nothing compared to the dining room. Deep plum-colored wallpaper, elaborately carved wainscoting, a freaking multi-tiered crystal chandelier, mahogany furniture that looked like it had been plucked straight from a pre-Georgian romance…it was a struggle not to ogle at my surroundings. A part of me could understand why Dr. DeBourgh required semi-formal attire at dinner – anything less would have appeared ridiculous next to the lavish décor.

  I seated myself next to Luke and was pleased to see that Ed had chosen the other seat next to me. Darcy sat directly across from me and next to his aunt. I’d been conversing so easily with Ed that I’d nearly forgotten Darcy was there. After the first course was served (a delicious salad of frisée, poached pears and shaved goat cheese), Dr. DeBourgh addressed me. “Nurse Bennett, when you declined the offer to work with us, you cited family obligations as your reason. I understand you are currently aiding in the upbringing of your niece.”

  Dr. Catherine’s frigid blue eyes met my own. Aha, here comes the interrogation. “Yes. I help my sister watch her daughter Chloe.”

  “And your sister is currently unwed?”

  “Yes. Chloe’s father declined to be involved in her upbringing so Jane felt it best that they part ways.”

  “And both you and your sister are working full-time as nurses.”

  I nodded. “We share the responsibility of taking care of Chloe.”

  “And Chloe does not attend daycare?”

  “Jane did not feel comfortable having strangers care for her daughter, so it’s just the two of us, and on occasion, our mother.”

  “I’ve never heard of such an arrangement. Your parents have no objections?”

  Because I did not think the Bennett family dynamics were any of her business, I simply answered, “No. The arrangement has worked for us so far.”

  Dr. DeBourgh’s expression just dripped with disapproval. “I myself never had children, but I have always considered my work to be my progeny. And, similar to you, I have aided in the upbringing of my niece and nephew, though my role has not been quite as...extensive as yours. I suppose you have not been able to pursue any further schooling now that you have the responsibility of a child’s upbringing.”

  “No. My sister and I have no intention of pursuing a higher degree.”

  This news seemed to confuse Dr. DeBourgh even further. “But surely you are not settled in your professions already, being so young.” Could she be more prying?

  “We are perfectly content with our jobs and feel that saving for Chloe’s education is more of a priority at this moment.”

  “Well, yes, I have always believed that a fine education provides the backbone of a person’s future.” With a turn of her head, she dismissed me and addressed Darcy. “William, how is Georgiana doing with her studies?”

  “Quite well. Ana has completed most of the groundwork for her capstone project and her professors seem very impressed with her progress.”

  Dr. DeBourgh sighed. “I never understood why Georgiana was so insistent on starting her own business while still in school. If she had consulted me, I would have advised her to get her feet wet at a larger company, get her experience, and then apply for her MBA. It’s a much more lucrative career path.”

  “Ana is passionate about her goals,” Darcy explained, though it was quite evident the Doctor was firm in her opinion.

  “There comes a time when passion should not be superseded by common sense.”

  “Is it common sense to pursue a career path that you don’t want just because it pays more?” I’m not sure if it was the wine that had loosene
d my tongue but the Doctor’s words were beginning to irk me.

  “People work to make money,” Dr. DeBourgh stated baldly.

  “You’re right, most people work because they have to make money to live. What’s so wrong with trying to find a career path that’s fulfilling? If you’re going to work, why not find a job that isn’t going to bore you to tears or make you miserable every day? If your niece would be happier starting her own business, then I say good for her for following her dream and not yours.”

  Dr. DeBourgh stared at me coldly before saying, “You give your opinion rather decidedly for someone who knows very little of the situation. Tell me, are you happy being a nurse?”

  “Yes, very much so.”

  “You enjoy changing bedpans and taking orders from your superiors, some of whom make ten times your salary?”

  “I enjoy collaborating with the patient care team to ensure that my patients are getting the best care possible. I may not make the amount of money that you do or live as comfortably, but the rewards I get as a nurse aren’t always financial. I like to think that I do more than just help people. I like to think I’m affecting their lives in a positive way by advocating for them and their quality of life. I’m proud of what I do for a living.”

  Dr. DeBourgh appeared shocked upon receiving my answer, but pursued the subject no further. Luke whispered to me, “Well done, though I wouldn’t count on another dinner invitation in the future.” He squeezed my knee reassuringly before returning to his salad.

  ~

  After dinner, we adjourned to the conservatory which was just as elaborately furnished and decorated as the other rooms I had seen. A beautiful grand piano stood just near the far wall. I was immediately drawn to it. Small framed photos stood on the lacquered surface, indicating that it probably had not been played in a while. I examined the photos, the subjects of which appeared to be mostly family.

  I was particularly drawn to a portrait of Darcy, who could not have been more than sixteen when the picture had been taken. He was wearing an equestrian uniform and standing next to a handsome chestnut horse. He was smiling; actually, it was more of a smirk than a smile, but he looked so young and happier than I’d ever seen him. I gazed at another photo of Darcy with a pretty dark-haired girl whom I guessed to be his sister. This one was taken more recently; she wore a high school graduation gown while he sported the familiar dark and serious expression on his face. Ed joined me by the piano and noticed what had captured my interest.