Lizzy grinned. “Yes, I have the lovely aroma of eau de lumber and paint.”
Jane wrinkled her nose. “At least it’s not eau de sweat and whatever those noxious gases are from your framing nail guns.”
Lizzy laughed and dropped her a wink as she pulled her gown from their closet. “It gets all the guys.”
She quickly stripped off her work uniform of a t-shirt with their company logo and jeans, tossed them into the hamper, and shimmied into the turquoise gown. She turned around so Jane could zip up the back. “I hope you can do something with my hair even though it’s been in a ponytail all day.”
Jane pulled the hair band out and watched with a critical eye as her curly locks tumbled down around her shoulders. “I think we can work with it. Thank goodness your hair already has some natural body. It makes my job ten times easier when there’s something there to work with.” She tugged Lizzy over to the dressing table and pressed her into the seat where the curling iron and various other tools were already plugged in and ready to go.
Lizzy eyed them with distaste. To her untrained eye they looked like various torture implements, but she trusted Jane to do a good job and knew the end result would be worth the effort.
Jane was in the midst of piling her hair up on top of her head when Lydia burst into the room unannounced. “Jane, can I borrow your shoes? Kitty won’t loan me hers.” She pouted prettily.
“That’s because the last time you borrowed something from her, you returned it in pieces,” Lizzy reminded her.
Jane was far kinder. She gestured towards the closet. “Sure, Lydia. They’re in there. But I want them back before you go to bed tonight.”
“Sure thing.” Lydia rummaged briefly in the closet and then emerged victorious. “Here they are! Thanks, Jane!”
“No problem.”
They were silent until Lydia flounced back through their door, slamming it behind her as she went. They could hear her calling to Kitty through the door, “See there, Kitty! Jane let me borrow hers! They’re cuter than yours anyway!”
“They are not!” Kitty cried.
Elizabeth tilted her head forward as Jane put the finishing touches on her up-do. “You really shouldn’t let her run all over you like that. It won’t hurt her if you tell her no every once in a while. It might actually be good for her.”
Jane chuckled and tucked one last stray curl into place. “I wasn’t going to wear that pair anyway. I have a pair of red pumps that match my dress better. Besides, I like to keep the peace. It makes it easier to sleep at night.”
“If you say so,” said Elizabeth doubtfully.
Jane turned her around. “Close your eyes so I can do your makeup.”
Elizabeth followed her instructions dutifully. “Sometimes I wish it was just the two of us,” she sighed.
“Don’t say that!” protested Jane. “It wouldn’t be the same without Mary, Kitty, and Lydia.”
“Exactly,” grumbled Lizzy. “You have to admit, things would be a lot quieter and calmer around here.”
“That is true,” stated Jane. “But we would also be the sole focus of Mamma’s attention if that were the case. I don’t think you want the full force of her nerves turned on you.”
“You are right,” admitted Lizzy. “I would hate to have her matchmaking eye turned on me.” She feigned a shudder, which earned her a playful slap from Jane. She grinned widely. “Thankfully, Mamma is far more interested in seeing you wed than worrying about my lack of a love life.”
“You’ll find some nice young man one of these days who appreciates you for who you are, cynicism and all, and all that will change,” teased Jane.
Elizabeth snorted and then stilled as Jane protested that she was messing up her makeup. She tried to hold herself steady, even as she fought the urge to fidget. “Are you almost finished?”
“Just a dab of lip gloss…There, you’re done. Open your eyes.”
Lizzy obeyed, and almost didn’t recognize the face looking back at her in the mirror. “Wow,” she said, staring at her reflection in shock. “That doesn’t even look like me.” She leaned forward to inspect Jane’s handiwork more closely.
Jane met her eyes in the mirror. “Sure it does. It’s you, only enhanced.”
“You made my eyes look amazing.”
“I had a great base to work with. Your eyes are beautiful.”
Lizzy sighed wistfully. “I wish I had the way with makeup you do, but, alas, it is a talent I do not possess. I shall have to be content with a ponytail and waterproof mascara.”
“And more often than not, just the ponytail,” Jane teased, while Lizzy blushed, knowing it was true. She was more interested in seeing her jobs completed correctly than making sure she looked presentable when she left in the morning. More often than not, she came home covered in sawdust or paint anyway, so there really wasn’t much of a point.
A knock on the door heralded Mrs. Bennet’s shrill voice in the hall. “Girls! It’s time to go! We wouldn’t want to be late and miss our introduction to Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy now, would we?”
Lizzy and Jane exchanged bemused glances and rose to meet their mother in the hall.
*****
The ballroom that Bingley Hotels and Hospitality Services had rented out for the evening was filled to capacity with nearly every inhabitant of Hertfordshire. Contrary to the rumor mill’s speculation and Mrs. Bennet’s hopes, Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy were not on hand to welcome their guests to the event.
Instead, they were ushered inside by two very polite and formal attendants, divested of their coats, and shown to the ballroom, where food and drink were available in abundance. Mrs. Bennet immediately sought and found Mrs. Lucas, and scurried off to join her near the drink table, intent on finding out the latest tidbits of gossip about their hosts.
Mr. Bennet disappeared to find his cronies, who had taken up residence on the opposite side of the ballroom from Mrs. Bennet. Kitty and Lydia hastened to join their university friends, who had congregated near the dance floor and Mary gravitated towards one of the tables along the wall, leaving Jane and Elizabeth alone.
The sisters moved off to the side of the room, claiming a table for themselves to deposit their handbags at and taking a glass of champagne from the circulating waiters. They settled down to wait, sure in their knowledge that the grand announcement and the subsequent dancing would happen soon.
Their mother had been sure to time their arrival at the perfect interval to take advantage of the evening’s entertainment without a large portion of meaningless mingling and chatting. As much as Mrs. Bennet enjoyed gossiping, there came a point where she was more interested in hearing herself talk than she was in the exchange of information. Jane and Elizabeth always tried to orchestrate their exit so that time was at a minimum, and thus their embarrassment would not be too great.
With such an outspoken mother and two silly younger sisters, they had experienced their share of embarrassment.
Lizzy fiddled with the stem of her champagne glass. “What do you suppose the announcement could be about? The papers have already reported their plans for Netherfield Park.”
“I suppose it is more of a formality than anything else, and a way to curry favor with the locals by including them.”
Lizzy brightened as she caught sight of her friend Charlotte Lucas in the doorway. “Look! There’s Charlotte. Surely, she’ll have some news for us.” She waved to catch her friend’s attention and gestured for her to come join them.
She gave Charlotte a hug as she came up to them at the table. “It’s so good to see you! It’s been ages since you’ve been able to tear yourself away from London to come visit.”
Charlotte returned the embrace with a laugh. “Well, you know, the roads run both ways.”
The ladies settled into their seats.
“So, what have you heard about our new neighbors?” Lizzy asked. “I hear your mother is the official source of information.”
Charlotte shook her head. “Somehow, I
don’t think she knows much more than you do living just down the road from Netherfield Park. From what I’ve heard and read, Mr. Bingley is quite the gentleman, and very well-liked both as a person and as a business mogul. But it is his friend and colleague, Mr. Darcy, who is the real catch. Rumor has it he owns half of Derbyshire. Mr. Bingley has grown his holdings from the ground up, but Mr. Darcy comes from old money. He even owns one of those huge houses you love so much, Lizzy.”
Jane and Lizzy exchanged glances.
“Don’t let Mamma hear you say that,” said Lizzy. “She’s already trying to marry Jane off to one of them. Although, to be fair, she only cares that Mr. Bingley or Mr. Darcy have money, not how long they’ve had it.”
“Lizzy!” Jane protested. “Charles seemed quite agreeable at the coffee shop. I am sure he already has a girlfriend or fiancée. The good ones are always taken.”
“He didn’t mention a girlfriend or fiancée when we met him, and he certainly showed a lot of interest in you if he did have one. I know you found him handsome,” teased Lizzy.
Charlotte’s mouth dropped open. “You’ve met them?”
“Only Charles Bingley,” answered Lizzy. “We ran into him at the coffee shop when we were out buying gowns for tonight. We have yet to meet his friend, Mr. Darcy, but I am quite anxious to make his acquaintance after your description. He sounds delightfully pompous.”
“You haven’t met Bingley’s sister Caroline, then?”
“No.”
“I heard she’s quite the termagant.”
“Ohhh,” said Lizzy. “Do tell!”
“I’m sure she’s not that bad,” said Jane. “Those gossip magazines always make people out to be far worse than they really are. You cannot believe everything you hear.”
Lizzy laughed. “Dear, sweet Jane, you are always so quick to think the best of people. I wish I had your forgiving nature.”
“Perhaps if you were a little less ready to believe the worst of people you would be better able to emulate it.”
“Bravo, Jane!” Lizzy commended her with a cry. “There, you have quite put us in our place. No more gossip, Charlotte. We shall have to be content to hear about your time in London.”
With a twinkle in her eye, Charlotte did so. She was a secretary at a law firm in London that handled high profile cases, and she always had interesting stories to tell about their prima donna clients. She entertained them thusly until the time arrived for the big announcement.
The lights dimmed and a spot light appeared at the back of the room, highlighting a podium set up on a stage that Lizzy had not even noticed was there until that moment. A gentleman stepped up to the microphone, introduced himself as a representative of Bingley Hotels and Hospitality Services, apologized for the interruption to the festivities, and then introduced Charles Bingley.
Charles stepped up to the podium and smiled broadly at the audience. Beside her, Lizzy heard Jane let out a wistful sigh and had to hide her smile as Charles began speaking. She stole a glance at her sister and noticed she was watching the proceedings with rapt attention.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I want to thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to be with us tonight. We here at Bingley Hotels and Hospitality Services are excited about the new opportunities that have opened up to us in Meryton. As many of you already know, we have recently acquired a lovely property in the area, Netherfield Park. What some of you may not know is what we plan to do with the property.”
He looked around the room and his eyes lit on Jane. Lizzy didn’t think it was possible, but his smile grew even wider. Jane blushed under his intent gaze.
“I am proud to announce that Netherfield Park will be our new flagship hotel. We will be beginning renovations this week, and work is slated to be completed around the middle of November. I have brought with me tonight some key members of my team that are here to make that happen.” He turned as several people stepped out on to the platform behind him. “I would like to take this opportunity to introduce my vice president in charge of marketing, who also happens to be my sister, Miss Caroline Bingley, and my good friend, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, who oversees our Derbyshire branch.”
He went on to name the rest of the people on the stage, but Lizzy heard none of it. She was too curious about the first two. Caroline Bingley had a crowning mane of red hair to match her brother’s, but whereas his floated in wild abandon, everything about her was polished and controlled. She gave a little wave when her brother mentioned her name, but otherwise there was very little evidence of emotion on her mien. If anything, her stiff back and raised chin gave the impression of haughty superiority. Lizzy disliked her immediately.
Mr. Darcy, she thought, was a more complex character. He looked decidedly uncomfortable in the spotlight, even if most of the attention was still on Charles. She had a name to put to the face, now, since he was the same man she had brushed into that day at the coffee shop. She tested it on her tongue, and found that it fit him. Fitzwilliam Darcy. She remembered the intimidating frown that had marred his good looks that day, and had to smile. Here was someone that took himself far too seriously. For all that, she could not seem to tear her eyes away from his high cheek bones, sculpted jaw, and piercing blue eyes. His dark hair looked like someone had spent hours setting every strand in place, and then he had undone all that hard work in the space of a second when he had unconsciously ran a hand through it.
As she watched, his gaze flashed up and met her eyes as if he had felt the heat of her gaze on him from across the room. Startled, and more than a little unnerved by his uncanny insight, she dropped her gaze and tried to focus on Charles, who seemed to be wrapping up his speech.
“We will be looking to staff the facility locally once renovations have been completed. We hope that our presence here in Meryton will provide a boost for the local economy and will be mutually beneficial for us all. We look forward to many years in Meryton. And now, let the party really begin!” He gave a little wave and stepped down from the podium into the crowd.
He made his way directly towards Jane, seeking her out with single-minded determination. Before he could make it halfway across the room, Lizzy could tell she wasn’t needed. Jane was flushed pink and bright eyed. Whispering to her sister that she was going to step outside with Charlotte to get some air, Lizzy grabbed her clutch and left her sister to enjoy herself.
She could barely suppress her giggles until she and Charlotte had made it out on to the terrace. She asked, “Did you see her face?”
“Her face?” said Charlotte. “Did you see his? He’s half in love with her already. She must have made quite the impression at the coffee shop. He obviously remembers her.”
“How could Jane not make a good impression? She is all that is amiable and pleasant. I am not at all surprised to find he has developed an interest in her. I should be a great deal more shocked if he had not.”
“She should take care to encourage him, then. She may never meet another man of his caliber.”
“Why, Charlotte! You sound positively conniving! Are you suggesting Jane should pursue Charles because of his wealth and social standing?”
Charlotte chuckled lightly. “No, indeed. I am simply stating that although Bingley undoubtedly likes your sister, he may never do more than like her if she does not help him along.”
“If I can perceive her regard for him, he must be a simpleton, indeed, not to see it, too.”
“Remember, Lizzy, he does not know Jane’s disposition as you do. I wish Jane success with all my heart, but what we perceive as being shy and becoming might seem to him to be a lack of interest.”
“I cannot believe him to be so blind. Surely a man with his business acumen has some powers of observation.”
“Believe what you will, but I have encountered it many times in my line of work. She cannot be sure of his heart and regard, and he of hers, until there is a ring on her finger and the marriage license is signed.”
“It is not sound, Charlotte, and
you know it.”
They had walked as they talked, and now they found themselves in front of a second set of doors leading into the hallway outside the ballroom. The clutch in Lizzy’s hand began to vibrate, alerting her that her cell phone was ringing inside it.
“Pardon me, Charlotte.” She opened the little bag and extracted her phone, checking the caller id. She frowned at the number. “I have to take this.”
“Go ahead,” Charlotte encouraged her. “I’m going to slip back inside and find my family. I know they’re here somewhere, and I want to make sure Maria isn’t getting herself into trouble.”
Lizzy gave her friend a quick hug. “Check on my sisters while you’re in there, will you?”
Charlotte nodded as she slipped through the doors, and Lizzy pressed send and lifted her phone to her ear. “Hi, Jack. What’s the problem?”
She paced in front of the doors as she talked, worry crinkling her brow. The painters she had left to finish up at Lucas Lodge had hit a snag and needed her direction. Lizzy sighed and rubbed her temples. “You’re sure you can’t handle this without me?” Her contractor answered in the negative. “Okay. Give me half an hour to get home and change out of this dress and I’ll be there.”
She hung up the phone with a sigh. There went her lovely evening. She glanced down at the beautiful turquoise gown ruefully. She hadn’t even had an opportunity to dance in it. Oh well. Work was work, and she always had to be on call should a problem come up with one of her projects. It was one of the reasons their business was so successful. No detail was too small for her attention, and no problem too big for her to conquer.
Fumbling to put her phone back in her purse as she came through the doors into the hallway, voices just beyond the potted palm that half-concealed the door she had just come through stopped her in her tracks.
“Come, Darcy,” said Charles. “You must dance. You look ridiculous sulking in a corner like this.”
“I most certainly will not. You know I detest dancing, especially when I don’t know anyone. Your sister is already on the dance floor, and there isn’t another woman in the room who it wouldn’t be a punishment for me to stand up with.”
Pride and Precipice Page 3