Foundation of Love: The Gypsy Blessing 2

by Wendi Sotis

  William was proud of Georgiana when she turned down an invitation to join the younger crowd. Not that he expected his shy sister to leave the safety of her friends, but that was beside the point.

  ~

  Elizabeth was mortified. It seemed like her mother and younger sister were having a contest to see who could humiliate the family most often in one evening. She honestly could not tell which one had scored the most points so far.

  Not that it made it any less embarrassing, but at least the neighbors were used to seeing her family act in such a way. Their guests were not. Charles had been fully absorbed in conversation with Jane, and Richard was busy entertaining Anne and Georgiana, so none of them had seen or heard much of what happened—but William! She was not sure whether it was more distressing or confusing to realize how anxious it made her feel to know that William had been watching every moment of their disgrace unfold.

  When she noticed that even her father was getting in on the act by laughing at them all, she turned away and walked down the path toward the lake.

  ~

  Many times in the past, William had seen the look on Anne’s face when her mother had embarrassed her beyond measure. It was always painful to him to see his friend suffer in such a way, but this was much worse. Seeing that same expression marring Elizabeth’s beautiful features made him feel as if a knife had been thrust into his chest. Although he knew she had walked away to be alone, he could not help himself—he had to follow her.

  Surprised she was not on the bench where she had found him only hours before, he walked on. The trees lining the path cleared, and he stopped to absorb the sight before him.

  The lower part of the sky was burning orange, the clouds above radiant with crimson and lavender; the glorious combination of colors reflected in the glassy surface of the lake. Elizabeth stood on the shore, her alluring figure silhouetted against the sunset.

  William paused for a moment, drinking it all in, then took a few more steps, coming up beside her. “It’s a shame that the beauty of a sky like this is always so short-lived.”

  She did not take her eyes off the sunset. “When I’m in a mood like this one, I might agree with you, but usually not.”

  Turning to look at her, his breath caught at how angelic she looked in this glowing light. “What is your usual opinion?”

  She gestured toward the sky. “This might last only a little while, but there is so much more to see. An awe-inspiring display of stars will soon replace this sunset, and while a magnificent sunrise will certainly blot them out, a glorious blue sky will be revealed. Even in storm clouds, there is wonder.” Elizabeth turned to look at him. “The sky is always the same; it is what occurs around it and within the observer that changes the way it can be perceived. It’s the same with people.”

  She turned her head to look at him, and he raised his eyebrows in an attempt to encourage her to continue.

  “What people are inside essentially doesn’t change—some are beautiful within, and others have always been ugly—but what happens to them influences their priorities and how they act in any given situation. A person with a good soul might do something that others might think distasteful or foolish, but if it is done for the greater good or to protect someone she loves, those who learn the reasons might even consider it noble.”

  He tilted his head slightly to the side. “And others only appear to have a beautiful soul, but deep down they are vicious.” William paused a few moments, thinking of Wickham. “They might perform what most would consider a decent act, but only for selfish reasons.”

  She nodded. “An observer might not want to see the ugliness of their intentions.” She sighed and looked out over the water. Several minutes passed before she spoke again. “For some odd reason, my mother thinks she is helping my sister by supporting her. The most surprising thing is that she won’t even listen to Jane’s or Tom’s opinions of Lydia’s behavior.”

  Although it might not be the most polite thing to do, William refused to pretend that he did not understand what she meant. “Have you tried?”

  Elizabeth chuckled without humor. “My mother and I don’t share many opinions. I think you witnessed an example of just how seriously she takes what I say.”

  “And was tonight an example of how your father usually reacts?”

  He saw her temper flare in her eyes, but when she blinked, it was gone. She whispered, “Several times this evening, I have thought the same thing you’ve implied.” She closed her eyes and sighed again. When she opened them, only sadness remained. She looked away. “I haven’t been able to figure out what happened to him... why he does this now. In his defense, in the past, every time he tried to prevent Lydia’s wild behavior, it seemed to do nothing but cause arguments between him and my mother. Then it was like one day he woke up and decided to give up where Lydia was concerned. I’ve spent a lot of time wondering if there was a reason for the sudden change.” She shook her head. “But if nothing else, it proved that his reprimands and punishments were keeping her partially in check. Once he stopped, Lydia became much worse. It’s not as if he’s blind to it now—she was more than a little upset that he kept her living at home to attend the community college nearby and forbade her from applying to Longbourn University or the University at Rosings, where Tom goes to school. When I asked my father why, he said the rest of us would have been too busy chasing after Lydia to graduate.” She shuddered. “I hate to think what kind of trouble she might be getting into without any of us around to keep an eye on her, but maybe she’s starting to grow up. Somehow, she’s been managing to earn passing grades.” Elizabeth laughed. “I’m starting to sound as optimistic as Jane!” She turned to face him. “I have never discussed this subject with anyone before, not even Jane. How did you manage to get me to say all that?”

  Warmth spread through his chest while thinking that Elizabeth had opened up to him as she had done with nobody else, but the realistic side of his personality soon squashed the flicker of hope growing within. “It wasn’t difficult. All I did was ask some simple questions. I just happened to be here when you were ready to put it into words.”

  “Maybe...” She paused. “You know, Lydia was supposed to go away with some friends this weekend. When we heard she would be home instead, Jane and I almost canceled your visit. I’m sorry we didn’t, Will.”

  She regrets confiding in me. He tried to swallow his disappointment.

  Elizabeth continued. “Today must have been very uncomfortable—for you especially. I, for one, would understand if you left in the morning.”

  He searched her eyes. Was she really thinking of his comfort? He could find no double meaning there. Part of him wanted to get as far away from her mother and sister as he could, but that would mean he would have to leave Elizabeth behind.

  “If we left, we wouldn’t be able to see the house you grew up in.” Responding to the look of confusion on her face, he blurted out, “Landlords usually feel more accountable when they’re renting to someone they know.” He cringed. What a stupid, cold-hearted thing to say.

  He was relieved when she did not seem to take offense.

  “The good part is that I doubt much more can go wrong at that house!”

  His eyebrows rose as he lowered his chin and looked at her, the question in his mind apparent on his face.

  She chuckled. “A while back, I was staying there alone while my parents were away. For some reason, the house seemed determined to prevent me from having a quiet week alone to study. I had a houseful of men there instead.” Elizabeth laughed at his expression. “It’s a good thing I know so many contractors who were willing to help at a moment’s notice or I’d have had no water or electricity in the house all week. And since I personally oversaw their work, I can officially guarantee the house is up to code, Mr. Darcy.”

  She held out her hand for him to shake. As he took it, a pleasant warmth traveled up his arm and spread throughout his body. The air between them seemed electric. Their gazes locked. An overwh
elming need to pull her into his arms came over him, but he stopped himself when he saw confusion in her eyes. He dropped her hand and looked away.

  He cleared his throat. “I think we’d better get back to the party before someone notices we’re both gone.” William gestured toward the path that led to the house.

  ~%~

  Sunday

  Early the next morning, William wandered into the kitchen looking for coffee and found Charles and Richard with Mr. Bennett. “Good morning.”

  They all returned his greeting. Richard seemed well rested, but Charles looked about as tired as William felt.

  “Well, well. It looks like you didn’t sleep, either, William.” Mr. Bennett’s eyes danced with repressed mirth—just like Elizabeth’s did from time to time.

  Confused, William asked, “Either, sir?”

  “Yes, it seems that Charles here didn’t rest well, and now you, too. Such a shame! Perhaps you boys should think about switching rooms?”

  William was surprised when he heard Mr. Bennett chuckle as he left the room without waiting for an answer. The older man hesitated at the door. “We’ll head on over to our old house after church.”

  After Mr. Bennett was out of sight, Charles whispered, “No offense, but I don’t want to switch. I might not have slept much last night, but I doubt I’d rest at all if one of you were sleeping in Jane’s bed.”

  William’s eyes widened. Elizabeth had said that her father assigned the rooms. Judging by Mr. Bennett’s comments, it was no coincidence that Charles had been placed in Jane’s room. And that could mean only one thing. Mr. Bennett knows how I feel about Elizabeth!

  ~%~

  William stood looking up at an attractive Dutch Colonial home—the former residence of the Bennett family. It seemed well maintained. Elizabeth had said there were six bedrooms, but he could not imagine how they could fit in this house unless they were extremely small. Although William was still thinking about whether or not to let Georgiana stay in Meryton this summer, having an extra bedroom for her would be necessary once construction began so that she could visit him there. It was close enough to the university for her to visit every weekend, if she wished.

  He felt, rather than saw, Elizabeth come up beside him. She spoke as if she had been reading his mind. “Seeing it from this angle is deceiving. Additions were made without changing its appearance from the street. Let’s go inside.”

  Mr. Bennett showed them around the place. As Georgiana would be at school and he would be using Meryton as his home base for a while, William felt it would be best to have their housekeeper, Mrs. Reynolds, live here, too. What was meant to be a master suite on the ground floor would be ideal as an apartment for her. The bookcases on both sides of the wall would be the perfect insulator to keep the noise from the spacious family room from bothering her at night, when the men would be de-stressing after a long day at the jobsite. Mr. Bennett’s old library could be turned into an office with little alteration. William felt sure that Mrs. Reynolds would adore the modern kitchen and separate dining room. The yard had a deck and a heated swimming pool, and Richard and Charles demonstrated there was more than enough lawn to accommodate their spur-of-the-moment touch football games.

  Upstairs there were four bedrooms; though, as Elizabeth had indicated, one could say there were five. Down the hall from the main cluster of bedrooms, above the garage, there was a large room that Jane told them had once been a storage area but was later converted into a den with a storage room beyond it. William could see that the larger space would work perfectly as a place to hold meetings and spread out plans for examination.

  Truly, the house was ideal for their purposes, and William’s reservations about renting the house where Elizabeth grew up were swept away.

  When Charles claimed the bedroom that had once been Jane’s, William became more quiet than usual. In an effort not to choose Elizabeth’s room, he allowed Georgiana and Richard to choose their bedrooms before him, thinking that he would take whichever one remained. But it was no surprise to him that it ended up being Elizabeth’s.

  ~

  Giving a tour of her old house had made Elizabeth a bit sentimental. Wishing for one more look at the backyard alone before someone else was living here, she exited through the side door near the garage and headed toward the back of the house.

  Noticing one of the garage doors was left open, she walked over and peered inside, and was surprised to find William standing in the middle of the room. He turned to face her. The smile that spread across his face sent a jolt thorough her body.

  “You were right—it is perfect.”

  Her chuckle echoed off the walls of the empty three-car garage. “Don’t say that I was right in front of my mother, or you’ll get stuck listening to a half-hour recital of my siblings’ glowing attributes being compared to all my faults, just to prove you wrong.” She took a few steps closer. “I know you’ll probably have trailers set up on the jobsites, but keep in mind that this road is zoned for residential and business. Your neighbors would be doctors, dentists, lawyers, and other business owners. Many already use their houses for both their home and business. By living here for now, you have the option of using this as a more permanent office until Pemberley is built.” Elizabeth furrowed her brow. “Can I ask why the first groundbreaking will be at the hospital site and medical office complex instead of your future home or office—or even the hotel?”

  “It’s what’s best for the community. The nearest hospital is almost sixty miles away, in Longbourn.”

  “I’ve heard that somewhere before.” She raised both eyebrows, reminding him that she grew up here. “I understand Anne’s mother has generously donated millions toward the hospital’s construction.”

  William stiffened slightly. “The Heart Center will be named in memory of her late husband, Lewis de Bourgh.”

  Elizabeth bit her bottom lip, fighting back a smile. “You don’t like Mrs. de Bourgh?”

  His eyes widened. “I didn’t say that.”

  “You didn’t have to.” Elizabeth walked over to an exposed beam on the wall of the garage, and ran her fingers along the notches carved into the wood, which commemorated her and her siblings’ heights at various ages.

  William’s voice brought her back to the present. “Have you met Anne’s mother?”

  She turned toward him. “Not yet, but didn’t Anne say she’ll be at the groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday?”

  William frowned. “Let’s just say that she’s the type of person who would never think of staying in town long enough to spend time with her daughter for her birthday or a holiday, but she wouldn’t pass up an opportunity like this.”

  Elizabeth arched one eyebrow. “Opportunity?”

  “To get her picture in the paper and attend the first board meeting.”

  “Oh.” Elizabeth nodded. “Unfortunately, from what I’ve already heard from Anne, I’m not surprised.”

  “At the meeting, we’ll discuss doctors she—and others—have proposed to take on the administrative duties.” He seemed concerned. “I have experience serving with her on another board of directors. Nothing is simple any time Mrs. de Bourgh is involved.”

  “Are you on the board of the hospital, too?”

  He reddened slightly. “Yes.”

  Elizabeth smiled confidently. “Then no matter what Anne’s mother says or does, I know everything will turn out for the best.”

  Since there wasn’t much to see in here, Elizabeth assumed he’d be leaving. She headed toward the door, but stopped and turned to look at him when she realized he wasn’t following her.

  William was staring at her in a way that made her breath hitch and her insides turn to mush. His eyes had darkened to a deep blue, and it was as if they had a magnetic quality and drew her toward him. Somehow, she resisted. If only that look meant what she wanted it to mean...

  She had to end this before she said or did something stupid. Elizabeth broke their shared gaze and took a step toward the open doo
r, then looked back. “Are you coming back to the house?”

  William simply nodded and trailed after her.

  ~%~

  ~Monday

  After speaking to Mr. Lucas before the County Executive’s car joined the Memorial Day Parade, William carefully made his way down the crowded sidewalks until he reached Meryton Building Supply. Walking across the parking lot, he recognized the Bennetts, Anne, Georgiana, Charles, and Richard, who were all busy handing out bottles of water to the people who had marched in the parade. Something about the scene was not right... then it hit him. The store was closed to business.

  He came upon Elizabeth first. “With everyone off from work, I’m sure after the parade some will be busy doing home improvements—the parade ends at your door, no less. It would probably be one of the busiest days of the year for your store. Why would your family close it?”

  “Memorial Day is not just a day off from work to go shopping or a long weekend to take a trip to the beach. Come with me.” She walked quickly across the parking lot to a marble slab under the “Welcome to Meryton” sign and waited for him to catch up.

  While passing through town, William had seen it there, but he had never paid much attention to it before, thinking it was a list of local politicians from the past or something similar. Standing this close, he realized it was a memorial to fallen soldiers. Each golden plate attached to the marble was engraved with a hero’s name, rank, date of birth, and the date and place he died. The most recent plates had a photo engraved alongside the name of the soldier who had fallen.

  “As you can see, this village has suffered quite a few losses in the past seventy years or so.” Elizabeth pointed to one engraved marker, another, and then another. “My great grandfather fell in World War II. My grandfather died in Korea.” Elizabeth ran her fingers tenderly across the name on the last marker. William noticed her bottom lip quiver. Looking at the photograph engraved into the plate again, he realized he recognized the man from many of the photos on the wall of Elizabeth’s bedroom.