“Jane did.”
“But she was a student too,” he said, shocked.
She nodded. “She went to class. She was a senior. My dad was busy with some infighting in his department, and Barbara was working long hours and trying to take care of Mary and Lydia. Maddie came by, but Ava and Alex were just babies, and she couldn’t do much.”
He peered closely at her, almost afraid of the answer to his question. “And your mother?”
“Sylvia was on tour. She sent a card. And a happy-face balloon.”
“You were what—nineteen?”
She nodded.
Five years ago. He had been hitting rock bottom, and she had been recovering from life-changing surgery with only her sister for support. Another thought hit him: she always referred to her mother as “Sylvia.”
Elizabeth picked up the remote. “Look, the Mets are winning. Would you like to check on the Yankees?”
He closed his eyes and swallowed. He’d seen the hurt in her eyes. He’d studied her long enough to see how well she hid her emotions, and he’d have to make an effort not to hate her parents. They still hadn’t discussed her mother’s appearance at the engagement party or her absence from Elizabeth’s life. The telling of his story had been bleak enough.
Now, sitting in his office, he shook off the memory. He preferred to think about how she’d reached for him and they’d made slow, tender, careful love in the double bed in her tiny room. The bed squeaked, and the floor creaked, and he knew it was a terrible location for such activities long-term, but being under her sheets and making coffee in her kitchen, surrounded by all things Elizabeth, made the tiny twinge in his back worthwhile. Darcy picked up his phone and scrolled to the picture he’d taken of her on the beach in his sweatshirt, smiling at the camera. At him. He smiled and distractedly dialed his cousin’s cell.
“Finally,” Rich exclaimed. “You broke my heart, man. I thought you’d tossed me over because Elizabeth looks better in a bikini than I do.”
Darcy waited a beat. “I hear manscaping is all the rage. Why don’t you get deloused and waxed and buffed and give that bikini a go? I’ll call all my friends for a pool party.”
“Ha,” Rich barked. “All your friends…that would only take you two minutes. Besides”—he sighed dramatically—“Bingley is engaged. I’ve lost my chance with that blonde angel.”
Darcy couldn’t help but laugh. “Okay, what do you want?”
“Dinner.”
“I’m busy. Elizabeth is coming over.”
“Well. Good for you.” There was silence for a minute. “Everything is good then?”
“Everything is brilliant. Fantastic.” Darcy couldn’t wipe the smile from his face. Absently, he wondered whether Sara had noticed his good mood. He heard Rich clear his throat.
“That’s great. Iwasgetting a bit worried about you and your celibate lifestyle. Didn’t want to say anything, but I was afraid thatitwould fall off from disuse.”
Darcy rolled his eyes. “You are a moron.”
“Yes, as my mother mentioned all weekend when I showed up without Sophia while you were entertaining the lovely Elizabeth. My parents are quite eager to meet her, you know.”
“Should I be afraid? Should Elizabeth?” Darcy was only half joking.
Rich assured his cousin that his parents seemed pleased but were obviously intrigued by any woman he’d taken to Pemberley. “I said only good things about her. From what I’ve seen of Elizabeth, there are only good things.”
“That’s true. She’s spectacular.”
“I’m happy for you both,” Rich said sincerely. “But it’s going to take some time to get used to seeing you smile all the time.”
After a brief discussion of Annabella’s latest dustup, Rich secured a promise to meet for drinks on Thursday before the family dinner. Darcy hung up and spent the rest of the day trying not to dwell upon all those good things Rich had alluded to.
Elizabeth couldn’t remember ever having a fuller social calendar. On Tuesday, she and Darcy met Jane and Charles for dinner and suffered through congratulations, hugs, and sly glances at their entwined hands. Elizabeth, noting that Charles never stopped smiling,wondered whether his cheeks would ache the next day. He insisted they all gather at Netherfield for the upcoming Labor Day weekend. The new “happiest couple in the world” exchanged wary glances.
“Just us!” Charles insisted. “No dreadful sisters—none of that. I ceded the place on Lexington to Caroline, but Netherfield is mine. Ours!” He kissed Jane’s hand and nodded emphatically. “I even had the locks changed!”
It was impossible to say no to such an opportunity, especially when Darcy promised to teach Elizabeth to ride. He meant hishorse, he added later when they were alone. He smiled naughtily as his meaning dawned on her.Has he always been so witty?
