Page 16 of Without Pride and Prejudice
A man wearing a white shirt with a turned-up collar and a dark waistcoat with tails opened the doors for us. “Welcome.”
“I can’t wait to see you in a cravat,” Monroe whispered in my ear.
I chuckled, looking forward to seeing her back in her dresses.
There were two things I was not looking forward to seeing—or should I say, hadn’t expected to view. As Monroe and I entered the house, there in the marble hall stood the last two people I wanted to see: Tony and Winnifred.
“Angry people are not always wise.”
MONROE
“TONY,” I SPLUTTERED, HARDLY BELIEVING my eyes. I wished I could say my peepers were lying to me, but there, standing near the gold-plated fireplace, was my ex-fiancé. If that weren’t horrible enough, none other than Lady Winnifred Roberts, a.k.a. Lady Whiny, was walking our way across the black-and-white-checkered marble floor, her enviable wavy auburn hair bouncing like she was starring in a shampoo commercial. Her steps were even and deliberate as she zeroed in on the prize—Fitz. Fitz, who gripped my hand tighter. Fitz, who was making me feel things I wasn’t sure I should be feeling.
Winnifred’s steely amber eyes homed in on the way Fitz and I clung to each other, incredulity and outright loathing swirling inside them. Believe me, I was just as surprised as she was. I wasn’t sure what to make of Fitz’s affection either, but oddly, I got the feeling he meant it to be more than friendly. And it had me behaving oddly around him as well. On the drive here I’d allowed myself, for the first time in ages, to truly marvel at how beautiful he is. But did Fitz really want to cross the friendship line? Did I want to? Our backgrounds weren’t exactly a match made in heaven. The only noble thing I knew how to do properly was curtsy, and I knew that wasn’t enough to flourish in the kind of circles Fitz lived in. Those circles scared me.
I didn’t have time to think about it—not only was Lady Winnifred quickly closing in, but Tony wasn’t far behind her. He didn’t appear happy to see Fitz and me looking as if we were a couple either, judging by his splotchy red face, set to explode. But he also didn’t seem surprised to see us here together, as if he knew we were both coming. How could he have known that? And why did he seem upset by it? He’d broken up with me, and I hadn’t spoken to him in three months. Tony hadn’t wanted to come here when we were together, so maybe he was just upset I’d brought another man on our would-be honeymoon he’d paid for. Best parting gift ever.
“Darling,” Winnifred said breathily in her smooth-as-silk voice. “I’m so happy to see you.” She kissed Fitz’s cheeks while not so subtly trying to push me out of the way.
Fitz tightened his hold on me, which came as a surprise. I’d always figured he would end up with the daughter of the earl. She was beautiful and had all the right qualifications, none of which I possessed. Which made me think Fitz’s odd behavior was just that—odd. I didn’t really belong in his world, and although Fitz had never come out and said that, he no doubt believed it as well.
“Winnifred, what are you doing here?” Fitz snarled.
“Your mother told me you would be here, and she arranged this surprise. So, surprise!” She laughed a perfectly delicate laugh. “I’m playing the part of Caroline Bingley.”
Was this a joke? If so, I didn’t find it funny at all. This was my last big hurrah with Fitz. Well, maybe. From the way Fitz held on to me and the way he glared at Winnifred, there was a possibility he was planning more hurrahs in the future. Or maybe I was just delusional. One thing was for sure: Fitz’s mum hated me. This confirmed it loud and clear. She’d sent Winnifred here to ruin my honeymoon. Or friendmoon. Whatever you wanted to call it.Why did she care so much? And how was I supposed to enjoy Fitztalking Darcyto me with Winnifred around?
Tony swaggered in front of us, landing next to Winnifred, who sneered at him for having the audacity to stand so close to her. He looked just the same as he had three months ago when he’d called off our wedding. Tony still had his hair cut high and tight, patterned after his hero, Ryan Reynolds, and had donned his favorite fit-me-right jeans that showed off his tapered waist and a tight tee that revealed his muscular build. Apparently he was still hitting the gym at least two hours a day. While he was still gorgeous, I wasn’t the least bit attracted to him. Something had changed in his countenance. It no longer held the sweetness that once existed. The way he’d so cruelly broken up with me didn’t help.
“Hey.” Tony looked between Fitz and me, a vein popping in his neck.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, flabbergasted at this strange turn of events.
“Well, I thought it would be romantic if I showed up for our honeymoon.” That sounded like a lie. “But it looks like you’ve already replaced me. I should have known,” he scoffed. “Or should I say, I always knew there was something between you two.”
Before I could say anything, Winnifred guffawed in derision. “Are you having a laugh? Alastair and her?” She pointed at me as if I were so low on the food chain, she couldn’t even speak my name. “It’s impossible.”
That snapped something in me, and instead of telling Tony he was off his rocker and that there had never been anything romantic between Fitz and me, these words fell out of my mouth: “Oh really? For all you know, Fitz and I stopped off in Vegas and tied the knot in the prettiest little bow before coming here.” I don’t think that was actually possible, given we lived indifferent countries and we’d have to do a bunch of legal things to make that work, but I went with it.
A collective gasp from guests and staff rang through the marble hall. Oops. I guess I’d said that a little too loudly. I’d overlooked the fact that Fitz was widely recognized—not sure why I’d forgotten that, seeing as moments ago Lady Catherine de Bourgh had practically slobbered all over him. And she clearly shared Winnifred’s belief that I was beneath him, judging by the withering looks she’d given me as we’d arrived. Honestly, it had never bothered me before because I’d always known my place in Fitz’s life, but for the first time, I wasn’t so sure. Something had changed between us. I could feel it.
“Please, Alastair, tell me you didn’t make her”—Winnifred pointed her shaky finger at me—“the Duchess of Blackthorne.”
The Duchess of Blackthornerang in my ears like someone had shouted it through a bullhorn. It was so jarring, it hurt. I knew what came with that title, and I’d never wanted it.
“I knew it,” Tony spewed under his breath. “Friends my a—” He got cut off by the exaggerated voice of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, a.k.a. Agatha.
“Welcome to Pride and Prejudice Park.” She did her best Dame Judi Dench impression.
I dropped Fitz’s arm and turned around to see Agatha sweeping in with a gorgeous couple trailing behind her. The woman with beautiful red hair wearing a blue dress looked around in awe at the beloved place I’d dreamed about visiting since I was a teenager and watched ... well ... the miniseries I’d been forbidden to mention, even though it had changed my life. In all the weirdness, I hadn’t had time to admire the grandeur of the opulent mansion with gleaming marble floors reflecting the light of the crystal chandeliers. Exquisite artwork adorned the walls, and there was a grand staircase, which I’m sure led to heaven. Instead, I’d made a fool of myself, per usual. This time,I hadn’t even been trying to help anyone. And this time, I felt the sting of my blunder more acutely—even more than when Tony had left me.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered to Fitz. “I know you wouldn’t wish me to be your duchess. Could you imagine?” I laughed, even though I didn’t feel all that happy.
Fitz stared blankly at me, his mouth opening and closing several times as if he didn’t know what to say. I’d never seen him at a loss for words. Sure, I’d seen him use very few words, but this was different.
“Are you married?” Winnifred demanded while she seethed on the other side of Fitz.
“I am not,” Fitz breathed out so only those next to him could hear.
