by Wendi Sotis
Elizabeth placed her hand over his. He stopped twisting his ring and laced his fingers through hers, covering their entwined hands with his free hand. When he met her gaze, all she could see was complete panic. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see his chest rise and fall so rapidly, she was afraid he’d hyperventilate.
Elizabeth smiled. “Did you know that the only fifteen-letter word that can be spelled without repeating a letter is uncopyrightable?”
“What?” His voice came out with too much force, but she understood the reason behind it.
“I asked you whether you knew that the only fifteen-letter word that doesn’t have any repeated letters is uncopyrightable.”
“Can I ask why?”
“I’m pretty sure you can manage it.”
He furrowed his brow. A few seconds later, she could see he understood. “May I ask why?”
“Yes.”
He rolled his eyes. “Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why did you say that?”
She shrugged one shoulder. “Is there a reason I shouldn’t have said it?”
His knee stopped jumping. “It’s a strange thing to say.”
“Yes, it is.” She nodded.
“You’re not going to tell me why you said that?”
She shook her head.
“Can I ask—” He stopped to correct himself. “May I ask why not?”
“Yes, you may.”
He took a deep breath, and she felt some of the tension leaving his hands. “Why won’t you tell me the reason you said that?”
Elizabeth giggled. “I’ll tell you what—I’ll let you have twenty guesses as to why I said it. If you guess correctly, I’ll let you know.”
“Is it some sort of code I’m supposed to figure out?”
“No.” She held up one finger.
They went on this way for several minutes. Before long, Elizabeth was laughing, and William had relaxed considerably. Finally, the limo came to a stop.
He stared at her for a few moments before he whispered, “You were trying to distract me.”
She smiled her widest smile ever. “It only took eighteen questions.”
William never took his eyes off hers as the door was opened by someone outside, and Richard got out, followed by Anne, Charles, and Jane.
Elizabeth could see through the doorway that Richard was speaking to Georgiana, who had ridden in the other limo. Richie was pointing at their car.
Georgiana poked her head through the open door. “Are you two joining us, or did you want to take another ride around the block so you can arrive fashionably late?”
“We’re coming,” William said hoarsely. He cleared his throat and whispered to Elizabeth, “Thank you.”
William unbuckled his seatbelt and slid toward the door, then handed her out. He wrapped her hand firmly within his arm and covered it with his own. “Are you ready?”
She smiled brilliantly and nodded. He returned it, displaying his dimples. Dozens of flashbulbs nearly blinded her.
She held onto William’s arm a little tighter. With my luck, I’ll fall off these heels right in front of the cameras and embarrass him. Elizabeth looked around at all the photographers and then back at William. “Why are they taking pictures?” I should have let him walk up alone. A “most eligible bachelor” shouldn’t be seen with someone like me.
“I asked a few high-profile friends if they’d buy tickets to this event. It’s a good cause, so they did. Wherever they go, paparazzi are sure to follow. Hold on tight; I tend to walk past them quickly.”
“I’ve seen your picture on the covers of those gossip newspapers at the supermarket checkouts occasionally, but it never occurred to me that they’d come all the way upstate to Meryton just to take photos.”
“Tomorrow, we’ll have to go check out the supermarkets.” He smiled again and more flashbulbs when off. They passed through the front doors to the hotel.
“They must like your smile to take so many.”
“I don’t think they’ve ever seen it before,” he replied under his breath.
Elizabeth heard what he said, but she couldn’t believe her ears. A minute later, she realized he was right. She had seen plenty of pictures of him through Anne, but had been shocked the first time she had seen him smile. Now, he smiled often, and most of the time, it was at her.
Maybe I’ll list it as an accomplishment on my resume. “I can make William Darcy smile.”
~%~
~The Ball at the Netherfield Hotel
William had relived their interrupted dance in the conference room many times, and it always left him longing for more. Tonight was the night, times three, and maybe more if Elizabeth was free. He might even dance to a fast song once he was sure there were no paparazzi in the ballroom. Dinner had just been cleared from the table, the band was readying to play, and he was her first dance partner of the evening.
As the band struck their first notes, even though Elizabeth was talking to Jane, he took Elizabeth’s hand and interrupted them. “Sorry, ladies, but you’ll just have to finish later.” He gestured at Charles and his eager expression on the other side of Jane. “Charles and I have this dance.”
He helped Elizabeth with her chair. “Do you mind if I leave my jacket here?” He indicated his tux coat hanging from the back of his chair. “After being casually dressed on jobsites so much lately, I’m not used to formal wear. It’s not very comfortable.” Not to mention, it’s another barrier between us.
“As long as you don’t mind that I take off these shoes later. I don’t think I can take wearing them all night.”
“You can take them off now, if you want to. I promise I won’t step on your toes.”
She seemed to consider it. “Later.”
As he led her to the dance floor, William wondered why she had blushed.
Once there, he faced her and slid his arm around her waist. The warmth of her hand on his shoulder caused him to pull her closer than he should have. When she didn’t object, he began to lead her in the dance. The enjoyable feeling of her body moving with his made him thankful he had left his coat at the table. He examined her features. She seemed distracted and didn’t meet his gaze. Maybe he should put some space between them?
She looked up at him just then as if in answer to his thoughts. She said softly, “Thank you for saving me from that subject. Sometimes Jane’s passion for fashion design gets to be a little too much for me, especially in a setting like this.” She looked around them to see if anyone had heard what she said.
William stifled the urge to beg, Look up at me!
Too caught up in his determination not to miss one moment of holding her in his arms, he hadn’t heard one word of her conversation with Jane, but he made a guess. “What is her verdict on the ladies gowns here tonight?”
Elizabeth smiled up at him.
Much better.
“Jane says mine is the most beautiful gown here, and she wishes she had made it. Of course, in my opinion, her designs that the others of our group are wearing come in a close second.” She spoke the next so softly that he had to lean in to hear it. “I hate to say it, but Mrs. Lucas gets both our votes on the worst. That color does not suit her at all.”
He turned his head to look at Elizabeth. His breath caught as he almost brushed her lips with his. Even if it had happened only by accident, he doubted that he could have stopped himself from taking more had they connected. He smoothly backed his head away a couple of inches and took a deep breath, but inhaling her scent that fully was not very helpful. He looked away. Stay in control, Darcy!
As he looked around the room, he saw Mrs. Lucas and almost laughed. Pulling Elizabeth a little closer, he leaned toward her ear and whispered, “What could have possessed a woman with red hair to wear a clashing shade of orange?”
Elizabeth let out something between a breath and a moan then whispered, “If you want to remain ‘just friends,’ you’ll have to stop doing that, or you’ll drive me insane.
”
William’s entire body stiffened. That had to have been his imagination! He pulled away to look at her. Desire darkened her eyes as she returned his gaze. He almost kissed her, but someone bumped into him, reminding him of their surroundings. When he tried to speak, he realized his respiration rate had increased dramatically. That was fine because he just had to try this again.
He moved in to whisper into her ear once more, “What did you just say?”
When Elizabeth made that sound again and shivered, it almost did him in. If he could only develop laryngitis, he’d have an excuse to whisper to her all the time!
He tried to move away from her this time to gauge her reaction, but she had tightened her hold on him.
Elizabeth asked in a panicked voice, “I said that out loud?”
He leaned down and whispered, “Yes. Can you please say it again so I know I didn’t imagine it?”
She winced.
He couldn’t stop himself from brushing his lips against her temple at her reaction.
There had to be a way around that agreement she had signed! It was just his luck that, at the very moment he needed to concentrate most, all his blood was racing away from his brain.
Think, Darcy!
The answer came to him in a flash.
It’s the only way.
William frantically looked around the dance floor. He froze when he found who he was looking for.
~
It was a good thing William was holding her up, because, if he hadn’t been, Elizabeth’s sense of mortification was so deep that she was sure she’d be curled up in a fetal position on the floor by now. How could I have said that out loud?
“Come on.” William said distractedly.
With his arm firmly wrapped around her waist, he dodged other couples and danced Elizabeth to Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. When he tapped the gentleman’s shoulder, Elizabeth hadn’t the slightest idea what to expect.
Gardiner turned, looked at William, then at Elizabeth, and his expression changed to one of confusion.
William looked directly at Gardiner. “Your firm is fired.”
Mr. and Mrs. Gardiners’ eyes opened wide in shock.
“What!” Gardiner exclaimed as the same time as Elizabeth.
William interrupted Mr. and Mrs. Lucas, who were passing by in the dance. “Please, I need you to witness this.” He turned to Gardiner and stated firmly, “Gardiner & Associates is most definitely fired from the Lambton Village Project. Darcy Construction and I are no longer your clients.”
William thanked the Lucases and turned to Elizabeth. “We need to talk—in private—right now.”
As William pulled her away from the dance floor, Elizabeth could see realization dawn on her uncle. His grin matched his wife’s, who obviously had already figured out what was going on.
Everyone understands what’s happening except me! Why are they happy about being fired?
Elizabeth tugged on William’s arm, and he stopped. “Will! Please don’t... don’t ruin everything because of something I said. If you’re uncomfortable with me, then Uncle Ed can find someone else to work with you.”
“It wasn’t because of what you said... not entirely, anyway.” He looked around at all the staring faces. “Please, Elizabeth, can we talk in private?”
She nodded.
He led her out of the ballroom and headed toward the lobby, then stopped to look around.
“Perfect,” he muttered, and then took her down a hallway that she knew led to an indoor arboretum.
Once they were inside, he took her to the far side of the room, behind some tall plants, to give them some privacy in case someone else came in.
Elizabeth caught his gaze. “Why did you do that—fire Gardiner & Associates? What about Lambton Village, Will? Your father’s dream... your dream...”
William stepped closer and took her hands in his. “Because I love you, Elizabeth, and I can’t go on for even one more minute without your knowing it.”
Her eyes widened. “You love me?”
He cupped her face in his hands. “Yes, I love you. I’ve tried so hard to keep it from showing.” When she didn’t say anything in response he tried to explain. “I wasn’t sure how you felt... I didn’t want to pursue you if it meant you’d lose your career.”
She shook her head in confusion.
“The agreement you signed when you started working there says that you can’t have a romantic relationship with a client.”
Elizabeth was still in shock, but after a moment, she remembered to breathe. “When I signed it, I didn’t think it would matter.”
“It would have been my fault, because I couldn’t control my feelings. I thought I could do it—just spend time working with you. If you cared about me, too, the rest could come later after the project was over. Part of it was selfish; I didn’t want to lose your talents on the project. It’s like you read my mind. You take what I want right out of my head without my ever saying a word to you, sometimes even before I know what I want myself. But every minute I’m with you, it becomes more difficult to control myself. I thought it was some corny cliché that a man could fall more deeply in love every moment, but it’s not. It’s definitely not. I tried not to hope that you cared for me that way, but after what you did for me earlier in the limo, and what you just said, I just can’t do that friendship thing any longer.” He leaned close to her ear and whispered, “If you’ll have me, I’ll make sure we’re never ‘just friends’ again.”
She whimpered and, without realizing what she did, she tilted her head to give him better access to her ear.
He gasped softly and stepped closer still, whispering again, “You have no idea what that sound does to me.”
“What sound?”
“The one you just made... and before, on the dance floor.” He brought his lips to her ear and whispered, “Every time I do this...”
She must have done it again, because he inhaled sharply. Elizabeth almost melted into a puddle when he moved his lips to her neck and trailed kisses along it.
She’d been right before: he was going to drive her insane, but maybe her sanity had already fled. This couldn’t really be happening—but it certainly felt real. If she had lost her mind, she hoped nobody would ever find it.
“Mmmm... that sound is even better.” He moved away slightly and examined her features. “Please tell me I can kiss you, Elizabeth.”
“I think you just did,” she whispered.
“That’s only one way I’ve been dreaming of kissing y—”
~
His words were cut off when she stood on her tiptoes and gently pressed her lips to his. He returned it just as gently, deepening with each subsequent kiss.
She tastes as good as she smells.
When he was in danger of losing himself completely, he returned his lips to her neck.
She turned her head and whispered into his ear, “I love you, too.”
He pulled back to look in her eyes. “Say it again.”
Her smile came from deep within her as she returned his gaze. “I love you, Will. I always have, since I received your picture on my phone that first day. No, even before that—the first time I heard your voice on the phone, something inside me knew.”
Joy filled his soul as he pulled her fully against him and closed his eyes. After a few deep breaths, inhaling her scent, he said, “Elizabeth, I’ve loved you for so long—from the moment I first laid eyes on you.”
She moved so she could see his face. “Having you remember it that way is wonderful, but I can’t let you get away with it. You hated me when we first met. That’s why I reacted the way I did—to keep from getting hurt.”
His hand rose as if by its own volition, and his fingertips traced her single upraised eyebrow, then the curve of her cheek. His thumb brushed over her full lips. “If you need proof as to how far gone I am, Elizabeth, I’ll tell you everything.
“I first fell in love with you when Anne sent me a photo that included you. I was
under your spell immediately, so much that I didn’t even realize it was the middle of the night when I called Anne to find out your name. When Anne said you were seventeen, I was...” He cleared his throat. “I was very disappointed.”
She shook her head gently. “But on the phone, you were always horrible to me...”
He nodded. “Before you moved in, Anne was the only one who answered that phone, so when I heard your voice the first time, I was very confused. It took only a moment to realize that incredible voice belonged with this beautiful face.” He caressed every inch of her face with his gaze. “Knowing I was talking to you tied my tongue. Every word came out wrong. After that, I couldn’t stop from making a complete fool of myself every time I spoke to you. To be honest, I think that preparing myself to hear your voice before I called only made things worse.” William displayed his dimples. “But I was a glutton for punishment. I pretty much stopped calling Anne’s cell phone just so I could speak to you again.”
Her amazed expression encouraged him to continue.
“Every time someone spoke about you, you sounded more like the woman I’d always dreamed of being with someday. I was afraid to meet you... afraid I’d find that you didn’t live up to my expectations.” He chuckled. “The day I met you, I was a complete mess. You were even more beautiful than the photographs that Anne had sent. I was totally blown away. The power you could have held over me... it was terrifying. Fear and logic sabotaged every word that came out of my mouth and everything I did. I couldn’t believe the stupid things I was saying, so I just stopped talking.”
He closed his eyes and frowned. This was the last thing he wanted to bring up right now, but he had to get everything from the past out in the open... even the worst. He continued.
“It seemed impossible that you could be as perfect as you were, so I thought it had to be an act. When I accused you of helping Wickham, I was grasping at straws, trying to find fault with you. The moment it came out of my mouth, I knew it was wrong. When I realized you had heard it, I wanted the ground to open and swallow me up.