by Ruby Cruz
“Yes,” I answered simply.
He placed the ring on my finger, the filtered sunlight catching on the diamond and making it sparkle like the brightest of stars. I threw my arms around his neck and he lifted me off my feet and I hung on, determined never to let go.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Gaining Clarity
As happy as Darcy and I were, his aunt’s disapproval of our relationship still nagged at me. I couldn’t let her naked condescension of me go. It was like a dormant infection in our relationship, something that would fester and eventually overwhelm us until we could no longer fight it.
A few weeks after Darcy made our engagement official, I stopped in New York on the pretense of seeing Luke, who was still happily employed at the DeBourgh Group, despite Dr. DeBourgh’s threats.
I had just completed an informal interview with Emilia for a nurse position at the free clinic. The position paid peanuts in comparison to my current job, but ultimately felt like a better fit given it would give me experience in the setting I eventually wanted to work at as a clinician, and I highly respected the other staff.
After I took the train from Montauk to Manhattan, the cab dropped me off in the financial district, where the DeBourgh Group occupied three floors of a prominent high rise. Even though Luke and I had passed the building during one of our tours of the city, I’d never actually been inside, and I was mildly impressed by the modern and tasteful décor and efficient layout. Luke met me in the lobby and escorted me to the executive suite, which was two floors above his own office.
He had assured me that Dr. DeBourgh was scheduled to be in her office that day and had made an appointment for me through her personal assistant. I was surprised she agreed to meet with me - maybe she thought she could attempt to bribe me again into leaving Darcy.
“She’s in a mood today, so just be careful in your choice of words.”
“Duly noted. I shall try to keep my sharp tongue in check.”
Terry smiled at me warmly. “The doctor is expecting you, Miss Bennett. Good luck.”
I was shown into Dr. DeBourgh’s office, and upon entering, my first impression was that of a spectacular view of the skyline through two walls of glass stretching to the ceiling. After taking in the view for only a couple of seconds, my mind registered Dr. DeBourgh seated behind her desk.
She stared at me with her cold blue eyes, her black hair with silver streak perfectly coiffed as always, her navy suit pressed and her hands folded primly in front of her. “Please have a seat, Miss Bennett.” Even her voice was soft, her tone controlled, much more different than our last encounter. I was also aware of her address of me - “Miss Bennett” as opposed to “Nurse Bennett.” Maybe there was hope after all.
Her gaze was expectant as she cocked a sculpted brow. I had been the one to request this meeting, after all - guess I had better get the show on the road.
“Thank you for agreeing to see me. After our last meeting, I wasn’t sure if you would be so accommodating.” She made no reply, so I continued. “I guess I’ll get right down to the point. You know that Will has proposed marriage to me. I have accepted and am fully aware of your disapproval of me as a future wife for your nephew.”
Her expression hardened, her eyes boring into me, but I took a breath and forged ahead. “I know you don’t think I’m good enough for Will. I don’t hold a prestigious job or parentage. I don’t have a lot of money. You think my family is an embarrassment. But what I can tell you is that I love Will with all my heart and soul, more than I ever thought I could ever love any one person. And I know he feels the same about me.”
She sniffed at that, but I continued. “I know I probably can never earn your approval or your respect. But that’s not what I’m asking for.”
“Then what are you asking?”
“For your tolerance and perhaps your acceptance. It would destroy Will if you weren’t a part of his life. He has so little family left, I know he would be crushed if you decided to no longer be a part of his family because of his association with me. And I think I understand you enough that you would feel the same way if you were no longer a part of his life. Despite what you may believe, I hold no bad feelings towards you.”
“I sincerely doubt that.”
“I admit I was very angry at you for trying to interfere and keep us apart. But I’ve forgiven you. And it’s your prerogative to believe what you will. But I tell you the complete truth when I say that I would love for you to continue to be a part of our lives. We are getting married and we plan on having a family. Do you really hate me so much that you would miss being a part of Will’s life, of his children’s lives?”
She didn’t answer me, her face remaining cold and impassive, so similar to the mask I’d seen so often on her nephew’s face.
The silence stretched for a full minute before I spoke again. “Well, I’ve said what I’ve needed to say. What happens next is on you.”
When still I received no response, I stood up and turned to leave the office. Just as I was about to exit, she called out, “That was quite the impassioned speech, Miss Bennett. My nephew has always had a weakness for women with strong opinions.”
I stopped and turned to face her. Because I wasn’t sure how to respond to her comment, I waited for her to continue. When she did, her words surprised me. “I don’t doubt William’s level of devotion to you. After all, he has proven his willingness to flout his family name by refusing to take on a full-time role in my company just to remain in close proximity to you.”
“Will wants to remain close to me, yes, but he’s doing it also because he loves taking care of his patients. He’s a brilliant physician, one who truly cares about the welfare of people in his care. He’d never admit to you that this decision to return to his practice isn’t only about me, but because he feels guilt for abandoning patients he worked so hard to get healthy the past few years in Meryton. True, there are other doctors in Meryton who are completely competent in taking care of those patients, but you know your nephew. Once he feels responsible for someone, he makes sure that person is taken care of, whether they want to be or not.”
“You do understand him.” She said it as a statement, her tone pensive.
“I think I do. I can’t say I will ever fully understand some of his preferences or quirks, but I love him all the more for them, because they make Will the man he is. I would never try to change him, no matter how frustrating he can be. I admit our relationship isn’t perfect, but I promise to do my best to make our relationship a happy one.”
She stood from her seat and stepped from behind her desk to approach me. She stopped within an arm’s length of me, and I was almost afraid she was going to slap me, her expression was so intense. “Would you agree to sign a prenuptial agreement forfeiting any of my nephew’s wealth should your relationship dissolve?”
As repugnant as the request was, I nodded. I didn’t need or want Will’s money. “Yes.” I took a fortifying breath, then said, “As long as we’re on the topic of requests, I also have something to ask.” She didn’t respond, just raised an eyebrow. “I want you to promise not to use my friendship with Luke as leverage against me again. If he’s not performing in his job, fine, but don’t threaten to fire him just because of your dislike for me.”
She continued to stare at me intently before pursing her lips and nodding. “Very well. I agree. He is, after all, quite competent in his role and, I dare say, a valuable asset to the company.”
“Good.”
“Well, then, if you must insist on continuing your association with my nephew, I suppose the prenuptial agreement shall have to suffice as assurance of your sincerity. But hear me well, Miss Bennett. You may have my nephew’s heart, but you shall never gain my trust or confidence. I associate with you merely for the sake of William and nothing more. Do I make myself clear?”
My stomach clenched, but I held back the feeling of nausea permeating me. “Very much so. Thank you. I’m g
lad we could come to an understanding.”
She nodded and turned away from me to return to her seat behind the desk. “I shall have my lawyer draw up the requisite paperwork to be delivered by courier to your home. And I shall have Terry contact you regarding the engagement party.”
“What engagement party?”
“We must keep up appearances. After all, we are, as the tabloids say, New York royalty. Good day, Miss Bennett.”
~
When I texted Luke to let him know I was done with my meeting with Dr. DeBourgh, he met me back in the lobby. I gave him the abbreviated version of our conversation and when I reached the part about the prenup, his face reddened. “I knew she was a bitch, but that’s low, even from her. Please tell me you didn’t agree to it.”
When I didn’t answer, his face reddened further. “You didn’t! Come on!”
“What was I supposed to do? I don’t want Will’s money, you know that. Plus, once I finish school, I’ll be making a comfortable living. It’s not like I’m looking to buy a dozen yachts or anything.”
“I know, but it’s the principle of the thing. She still won.”
“It’s not about winning. I don’t care if she doesn’t approve of me and thinks I’m a gold-digging whore. I love Will and I want to be with him, even if it means I have to play nice with his aunt. As long as she’s not hiring an assassin to kill me…”
“I wouldn’t put it past her,” he muttered.
“…I can do this if it means Will and I can be together without any guilt on my part.”
“You’re a much better person than I am.”
“I sincerely doubt that. I just love Will more than I care about any indignities she may throw my way.”
~
When I returned home much later that evening, Darcy was covering for another cardiologist at the hospital. For once, I was grateful he wasn’t home, because it gave me a chance to set up what I’d picked up on the way back from Long Island and my interview with Nina.
“Oh, Miss Lizzy, please be careful up there! Are you sure you don’t want me to call Mr. Harper? I’m sure he would be happy to do this for you.” Mrs. Pratchett clung to the ladder beneath me as I leaned precariously over the fireplace mantle.
“It’s very late and I want to make sure this is up before Dr. Darcy returns from the hospital. If I wait for Mr. Harper, it might ruin the surprise.”
I leaned over the ladder, drilled the hole in the wall and hammered the plastic anchor into place. “Okay, hand it to me. Be careful. It’s quite heavy.”
There was a heart-stopping moment when I nearly lost grip of the painting and almost dropped it and myself on the ground, but I was able to catch myself in time. When I climbed back down the ladder, Mrs. Pratchett was visibly relieved.
We stood next to each other and admired my handiwork. “Oh, my, that is a sight, Miss Lizzy. Dr. Darcy will be thrilled to see it.”
“It is beautiful. Chase did a magnificent job with it.”
When I’d met with him earlier in the day, he’d insisted on meeting me in Montauk after my interview rather than at his gallery. “You’ve travelled far enough as it is. Plus, you’re a paying client, so I insist on coming to you. Call it a perk.”
We’d met at a restaurant not far from the clinic. I’d wanted to unwrap the painting from the paper, but he’d shaken his head. “Not in direct sunlight. But here’s a preview.” He retrieved his camera phone and showed me a picture of the painting before it had been wrapped and crated.
“It’s wonderful. Better than I could’ve hoped. You didn’t charge me nearly enough.”
“Consider it an engagement gift to you and Will. Besides, I feel like I owe you.”
“What do you mean?”
“After everything Dr. Catherine has put you through the past few months, trying to keep you and Will apart. She even tried to get me to hit on you, which I was tempted to do on a few occasions.” He grinned at the shocked look on my face. “Don’t worry, once I met you, it was painfully obvious how much you and Will were in love and I never had a chance.” He glanced at the wrapped package. “I know you’ve said you don’t need or want my friendship, but consider this a peace offering as well as an engagement gift.”
“Of course. And I only said I didn’t want to be your friend because I didn’t trust you, and given what you’ve told me about Dr. Catherine, I was right not to.”
“I’m sorry about that.”
“No worries. This more than makes up for it.”
The grin faded and a wistful expression crossed over his face. I was tempted to ask him about it but decided not to. Whatever his thoughts were, he had a right to his privacy.
“Thank you,” I said sincerely and gave him a friendly hug. “And speaking of engagements…Dr. DeBourgh is planning on hosting an engagement party at the Hamptons manor. I hope you’ll be there. It wouldn’t be right if you weren’t.”
As I relayed the date and time with him, his expression became more neutral before he looked up and grinned at me. “I wouldn’t miss it.”
As Mrs. Pratchett and I gazed at the painting, she commented, “It’s like a fairy tale wood.”
“What is?” a voice behind us said.
We’d been so engrossed in our study of the painting, we hadn’t heard Darcy come home. I ran across the room and grabbed his hand. “I wasn’t expecting you home so soon. Did the case go okay?”
“There weren’t any coronary artery blockages so it was shorter than normal.” His eyes spied the ladder and followed it up until they rested on the painting hung above the fireplace mantle.
“Do you like it?”
“It’s our spot,” he stated as he stared at the painting in awe.
Mrs. Pratchett glanced between us and excused herself to make some tea. She had been right. Chase had captured the setting beautifully. The style he’d used was different than what I’d seen of his work at the gallery. The colors he’d employed were more vibrant than those seen in life, but they gave the painting an other-worldly look. It was definitely more true to life than his abstracts, but I preferred this. He’d captured the magic of our little haven without sacrificing its essence.
Darcy stepped behind me and wrapped his arms around my shoulders. “Chase painted this, you said?”
“Yes, this is the painting I commissioned. Do you like it?” I repeated.
“It’s magnificent.” He leaned down and kissed my cheek, his arms around me tightening. “It reminds me of you.”
“How’s that?”
“Do you remember when we first went hiking together? It was when Charlie was still living at Netherfield.”
“Of course I remember. Caroline kept complaining about the bugs.”
“There was a moment when you stumbled on the path and nearly fell.”
“Yes. Chloe was in the baby backpack, and you caught me and prevented me from falling on top of her.”
“I grabbed your arm and the sunlight hit your hair and your face just so. It was just for a second, but you looked like an angel, bathed in light. That’s what this painting reminds me of.”
“Really? I thought you hated me back then.”
“No, you hated me. Remember, it took you a very long time for you to stop thinking I was the devil incarnate.”
“Well, you made such a horrible first impression by insulting my appearance at Riley’s that first day we met.”
“I’m grateful you’ve changed your mind about me since then because I love you.”
“And I love you.”
He turned me in his arms and kissed me tenderly. “What is the painting for?”
“Well…” I stepped away from him, my eyes drawn again to the masterpiece above the fireplace. “I wanted to give it to you for your birthday and Christmas, but I think Chase was right. It is definitely a much more appropriate engagement gift.”
“Chase knew we were engaged?”
“Not at the time, but he knew
we were destined to be forever. I thought he was hitting on me at first, which he admitted he sort of had been,” Darcy’s eyes flashed, but I shushed him, “but ultimately I think he’s just a little jealous of what you and I have. I think he’s been searching for someone for quite some time.”
“Well, he certainly has been thorough in his search. His parameters have been quite encompassing.”
“Some people take longer than others to find the person they’re meant to be with. And sometimes the person you’re meant to be with is standing right in front of you, just waiting for the chance to tell you how they feel.” I reached up and cupped Darcy’s cheek, felt the brush of stubble against my fingers.
“I believe I was the one who first took the leap.”
“Yes, but remember, I was the one who asked you for forever first. And that brings me to the second part of the gift. I spoke to your aunt today.”
“You did? When?”
“On the way back from Long Island.”
“You were a busy girl today.”
“I know. Anyway, I stopped by her office and we had a chat.”
“I hope she wasn’t rude to you again.”
“Will, you know your aunt. She can’t help but be rude. But I’m over it. She’s given her consent for us to be together.”
“I told you, I don’t need her consent.”
“No, but I do. I don’t want to be the woman to take you away from your family. As imperious as she may be, she does care for you, and you and Ana are the only family she has left. I would never be able to forgive myself if I took you away from her.”
His expression morphed from one of slight consternation to awe. “You amaze me, Lizzy. I never thought you would be able to win her over.”
I thought of my conversation with her and the number of ways she tried to interfere in our relationship. “I’ve hardly won her over, but she and I have come to an understanding that you are more important to us than any misgivings she and I may have about each other.”