Compulsively Mr. Darcy

  “Oh, Will.” Georgiana reached for her brother’s hand.

  Darcy briefly clasped his sister’s hand. “Everything fits now: her frugal behavior with money and her constant fretting about my spending in Vietnam. She kept making comments about budgeting and how one can live simply and still be happy… and I misunderstood. It never occurred to me she was talking about me.”

  Richard snorted. “How could she not know how much you’re worth? Anyone can check…”

  Darcy shook his head. “She’s not one to Google a person to find out how much they’re worth. A woman who volunteers at a hospital in a Third-World country is not someone who would do that.”

  “Don’t give her any false expectations of long-term financial support or commitment from you,” Richard said. “What you’re telling me proves my point: you don’t know each other well enough to rush into anything.”

  “She didn’t know my monetary worth, yes, but I was worthy enough simply as the man she loved for her to want to help me. I don’t need her money, but I…” Darcy paused. Eyes blinking rapidly, he turned toward the car’s window.

  Richard turned toward the window also, to the view outside, of New York City cabs and cars and buses whizzing by. How could he convince Darcy he was moving too fast with this woman?

  Darcy faced him again. “I need her. Do you have any idea how bloody great it feels to be loved like that? To be valued simply as a man for my true worth and not my bank balance?”

  Subdued by the emotions he heard in his cousin’s voice, Richard swallowed his remaining protest.

  “Well, I think she’s wonderful.” Georgiana hugged her brother. “I’m glad, Will. You deserve the best.”

  “She is the best,” Darcy said in the tone of a man who had found a rare gem and knew it.

  Georgiana giggled. “You mean, as of right now, she still doesn’t know you own DDF?”

  Her brother smiled at her. “Nope.”

  “Are you going to tell her?” Richard said.

  “Of course,” Darcy said. “At least she’s in New York with me now. My hands can’t handle any more washings, worrying about where she is.”

  Richard’s eyes met Georgiana’s briefly before turning back to her brother. “Does she know about your… uh… hand-washing habit?”

  “She’s a doctor; of course, she picked up on it.”

  “And what does she think?”

  “It’s not a big deal to her. She simply accepts that part of me.”

  Hearing that, Richard allowed a little hope in, though he still would maintain his vigilance to make sure this woman was not a good fake.

  “When will you tell her about DDF?” Georgiana asked. “I want to be there when you do.”

  “I want to see this too.” Richard tried to keep his skepticism from showing in his voice.

  Darcy said, “I need to tell her soon, before she accepts a job.”

  “Oh, but she might go back to Vietnam to finish her volunteer work,” Georgiana pointed out. “I want her to stay here.”

  “She shouldn’t go back to Vietnam right now, regardless, because of Wickham.” Darcy then told them about Wickham being in Vietnam, of Elizabeth’s role in his imprisonment, and now his recent release.

  “That bastard. Is that why you were frantic to go back there today?” Richard said. It made sense to him now, his cousin’s panic earlier. Wickham might try to harm the doctor.

  Darcy nodded. “He’s probably planning some sort of revenge on her—and me. I was told he would stay in prison for months at least. I should have foreseen he’d bribe his way out of prison. I thought he was broke.”

  “Now, wait a second, don’t start beating yourself up. She’s here now with you.”

  “Are you going to have security on her too?” Georgiana’s hesitant question brought an instantaneous reaction in her brother.

  A frantic note in his voice, Darcy immediately ordered the driver to go back to the hospital. “We left her alone there without security. I can’t believe I forgot.”

  Richard tried to calm his cousin. “Darce, chill, man. She’ll be fine. He’s not here yet. What could have happened to her in the last thirty minutes?”

  “You know as well as I do he has friends here who would do his dirty work for him with just one phone call.” Darcy’s hands visibly shook with his agitation.

  “What are you going to do? Stick to her all the time, not let her out of your sight, like you do with Georgiana?” Richard impatiently asked. His cousin’s reaction disturbed him. This was going backward. After the Wickham episode last year, Darcy had become too protective of his young sister. Security details constantly surrounded her and shadowed her every move. That, and the stress of watching her brother’s guilt-ridden despondency and his tendency to panic over her safety, had stifled the already depressed Georgiana.

  And now, Darcy had picked up another person to obsess about. Witnessing his cousin’s agitation, Richard hoped this Elizabeth was made of stronger stuff than Georgiana, to withstand Darcy’s compulsive controlling instincts.

  “I’m going to do everything I can to make sure she’s safe, just as I do with Georgiana, especially since Wickham is on the prowl again with more reasons to hate me,” Darcy said in a determined voice.

  Georgian stared down at her hands.

  Richard sank in his seat, frustrated. The rest of the ride back to the hospital was made in silence.

  They finally pulled up close to the medical center and stopped at a light. The driver prepared to make a right turn into the waiting area. A group of doctors crossed the street, heading toward the hospital’s entrance. Dr. Bennet was in the middle of a sea of white coats, animatedly talking and gesturing with her hands while the others walked alongside her and listened.

  When her group reached the sidewalk, Darcy lowered his window. The noise caught her attention and she turned in the direction of the car. Upon seeing Richard’s cousin, her face visibly bloomed. After a long moment during which the two lovers simply smiled at each other, she turned back to her companions. She waved them off and headed toward the car.

  Richard swallowed. In the thirty some years they had grown up together, he had felt many things for his cousin. He felt compassion for Darcy losing his parents at a young age and respect for the mantle of responsibility Darcy had willingly assumed as Georgiana’s guardian. He felt great pity, he was ashamed to admit, for Darcy being afflicted with debilitating, compulsive habits. He felt a need, always, to protect his vulnerable cousin, a man as close to him as a brother.

  But he had never felt jealousy until now, until he unwittingly witnessed that look of pure adoration in the woman’s face as she caught sight of the man she loved, neuroses and all. The softened look in her eyes as she gazed at his cousin made Richard feel Darcy was the luckiest man on earth.

  Richard began to understand a little why Darcy was so certain this was the real thing.

  “Hi, love,” she greeted his cousin.

  CHAPTER 20

  Sweet Surrender

  Elizabeth was now safely in the car with him. The tight band around Darcy’s chest eased. He let out a relieved breath.

  “Dr. Bennet, my cousin told me you’re in New York looking for work?” Richard said.

  “Elizabeth, not Dr. Bennet, unless you’re paying me to give you some pain and bad medical advice,” she answered, before turning to Darcy and telling him the details of her job offer. She concluded, “It’s only for a month, but it’s a foot in the door for a chance at a more permanent spot later.”

  “Hurray!” Georgiana exclaimed and blushed when they turned in her direction.

  Elizabeth smiled at her. “Thank you.”

  “Congratulations, sweetheart. I’m sure you won’t have any problem landing that permanent spot.” Darcy kissed her temple. “They would be lucky to have you.”

  “Speaking of bad advice,” Richard said, “my cousin’s not happy with the company he’s interviewing. I’ve been telling him to forget about numbers and spreadsheet
s in some dreary accounting department, and go for something he loves instead. You think that’s bad advice?”

  Elizabeth eagerly leaned toward him. “Yes. I mean, no. I think it’s a great idea.” She turned back to Darcy and said in an encouraging voice, “You should do something with the arts. Work for some nonprofits again.”

  “Are you an art connoisseur, Elizabeth?” Richard said.

  “Hardly.” She laughed. “I’ve been to museums, that’s about it. I love New York. Some of the best museums are free.”

  “Darce here has some contacts from his… uh… previous work with some of the museums. He could get you in for free at any museum,” Richard said.

  “Really?” Elizabeth asked Darcy.

  Not knowing how to respond, he simply nodded. When she turned toward his sister, he glared at his cousin behind her back.

  Elizabeth spoke to Georgiana. “Since William can get us in for free, perhaps you could go with me on my days off?”

  “I’d love to,” Georgiana said.

  “Darce likes looking over grants for art museums,” Richard stated.

  Darcy took hold of Elizabeth’s hand to get her attention. “Sweetheart—”

  “Nonprofits don’t pay much,” Richard interrupted. “Perhaps he could supplement his income. He owns a few designer duds. He would make a killing being a professional male escort. Better pay than any accounting work.”

  Georgiana giggled while Elizabeth stiffened and frowned at Richard.

  Darcy squeezed her hand. “Sweetheart. He’s teasing. Jane told me of your plans in coming here.”

  Elizabeth turned her frown to him. “Jane told you? Why? She knew I didn’t want you to know until I had it settled.”

  “Your sister had to call and warn me.” He explained about Wickham. “You’ve been avoiding my calls and not answering my emails. Do you know how worried I’ve been?”

  “Um… I didn’t want to lie to you.” Elizabeth blushed and glanced at Richard and Georgiana, obviously embarrassed they were witnessing the conversation. “My cell phone from Vietnam didn’t work here. I had to get a new one. I was going to call you but I wanted to wait until I had a position settled and my financial planning done.”

  Richard straightened. “Financial planning?”

  “Yes, I met with a financial planner. I must say, I couldn’t make sense of any of that stuff he gave me to read. He gave me a binder this thick to study for homework.” Elizabeth held her fingers three inches apart and made a face.

  “Why did you have to meet with a financial planner?” Richard said.

  “None of your business, Richard,” Darcy said, not liking the suspicious tone of his cousin’s voice.

  “Estate planning,” Elizabeth said. “To be financially responsible. They told us we should learn about it when I graduated from medical school, but I was never interested before.”

  “I see.” Richard directed a pointed glance at Darcy.

  Elizabeth caught the glance. “I wanted to understand so I can talk to William about financial matters… and his work. I’m a bit embarrassed at how little I understood terms like ‘commodity and options’ transactions and ‘tangible personal property.’”

  Darcy squeezed her hand again. “Don’t worry about that, love. I don’t understand your medical terms.”

  “Do you have much debt from medical school?” Richard asked. “Do you have many assets?”

  Impatient with his cousin’s doggedness, Darcy barked, “Bloody hell, Richard, leave off.”

  “No, it’s okay, William. He’s just curious,” Elizabeth reassured him and turned to Richard. “I went to a state school and I received a big scholarship. My school debt is minimal. I can easily manage the payments without working too hard. I don’t have any assets to speak of, however. I understood that term. But don’t worry, an infectious disease specialist in a New York City hospital earns a decent salary, more than I’d know what to do with, to be honest.”

  “Sweetheart, we’ll talk later, in private.” He threw Richard a definite warning glance to cease. This time, he was clear that he wouldn’t allow Richard to pester Elizabeth anymore. His cousin nodded, acknowledging the message.

  They pulled up to Elizabeth’s hotel a few minutes later. She took him aside, whispering, “They charged me for the night already. It’d be such a waste not to use it.” She blushed and glanced at Georgiana. “You could join me. It’s more private.”

  He resisted the temptation to immediately rush her up to her hotel room and lock the door. “Sweetheart, I’d feel safer with you at my home.”

  “Okay. But I insist on sharing tonight’s fare. A private taxi must cost a lot.”

  “Shhh! We’ll talk later. Let’s go get you packed and checked out,” he said. When she invited Georgiana to come upstairs and keep her company while she packed, he made to follow them.

  Richard restrained him with a touch on his arm. “Give them some private girl time to get to know each other. Okay, I’ll concede that she’s probably not after your money, but…”

  “But what?”

  “But she doesn’t know anything about art or business. I’m surprised you’d fall for someone so… so lacking in culture and sophistication.”

  “I had so-called cultured and sophisticated women and they did nothing to me or for me.” Well aware that Richard was simply being protective, Darcy tried to check his anger. “I know why you’re having a hard time accepting her. You’re not used to someone like her. She may be a bit innocent and naive, I’ll admit that, but she is exactly what you see, no artifice or pretense. She doesn’t admit interest or knowledge in things just to impress or capture anyone’s attention. I’m just lucky she’s interested in me. And don’t you worry. She’s cultural and sophisticated enough where it counts. She knows how to handle snobby prats like you.”

  Darcy left his cousin and went to pay Elizabeth’s bill. When she came down and discovered he had done so she became upset. She scolded him, saying he needed to save his money. She continued to harangue him on the way to the car as he carried her bags. While the car headed to his townhome on the east side of Manhattan, she refused to look at him or let him hold her hand, muttering under her breath about people who don’t know how to budget and are too spendthrift for their own good.

  Sighing, he ignored the snickering of his cousin and his sister and told the driver to make a detour.

  ***

  They reached his office building minutes later. He pointed to the DDF in front. “See that? It stands for Darcy, Darcy, and Fitzwilliam.”

  “Cool. You have the same name as the building. Hey, have you ever gone in there and said ‘Hello. I’m Mr. Darcy’ and gotten a free cup of coffee?” Elizabeth immediately joked.

  Georgiana laughed aloud, while Richard said, “He does that everyday, only he doesn’t need to say it. They know who he is.”

  Elizabeth looked at Darcy. He waited. She quipped, “Wait! They have both of your names on there. You should get two cups of coffee.”

  He tried again. “I own the building. My grandfather was the first D, my father the second D, and the F was Richard’s father.”

  She turned to stare at the building, then back at him. She furrowed her brows.

  He added, “I’m rich, very rich.”

  Her mouth opened then closed. She squinted her eyes to make out the building’s letters in the dark. She pursed her lips and frowned. After a long minute, her eyes brightened. “I don’t have to meet with the financial planner again.”

  She was clearly more excited by this thought than the news of his wealth. Darcy bemusedly shook his head and agreed, “No, you don’t.”

  “He’s not just an accountant. He employs departments of accountants,” Richard said.

  “I can throw away the binder then?” she said. They all laughed at the relieved tone in her voice.

  Darcy hugged her tight and buried his face in her hair. She brought laughter into his life.

  She pushed him away. “Then, why was Charles pa
ying for your trip?”

  “He wasn’t. I don’t know what gave you that idea. I always pay my own way.”

  “Then, what was that about the company you lost last year that made you sad? Was that why you didn’t like your work anymore? Because you lost the company?”

  “I didn’t lose the company. I just didn’t care about it enough to acquire it. And I like my work fine. I was in a funk about it for a bit, that’s all. When and what did Bingley say that gave you the impression I’m unemployed and poor?”

  She told them about what Charles had said that day outside of Merry Bar, after Darcy had abruptly left.

  “You misunderstood him. But why didn’t you ask me about my work?”

  “But I did. And you always said—”

  “I always said I didn’t want to talk about it,” he finished, chuckling ruefully. He could see why she had concluded what she did. “I did tell you I work in acquisitions and mergers of companies. What did you think I meant?”

  “That you worked in acquisitions and mergers, whatever that means.”

  Shaking his head, Richard laughed aloud. “It’s a good thing I saw you standing in front of a whole auditorium earlier.”

  Angry that Elizabeth now looked embarrassed at Richard’s words, Darcy challenged him. “And did you understand her stuff?”

  “No, not a word. It was way above my head. I felt very stupid.” Richard faced Elizabeth. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. I was living up to my own hair.” He pointed to his blond locks.

  “I wasn’t offended,” Elizabeth said. “I should be more well-rounded in my education. I’m afraid I’ve spent most of my time in a laboratory and a hospital.”

  “Time well spent,” Darcy said. “You have nothing to apologize for. You stood as an expert in front of a whole auditorium full of doctors and felt confident enough to make jokes.”