Chapter 21
Now that my driver knew where the entrance was for Liz’s home, he drove me directly to the door so I could pick her up for the ball. As soon as he pulled up to the curb, I hopped out and strode inside the vestibule of sorts then rang the buzzer.
“Yes?” came Mrs. Hill’s voice a moment later. My face burned. Would Mrs. Hill cause that reaction for the rest of my life?
“Hi, Mrs. Hill, it’s William Darcy. I’m here to pick up Elizabeth for the Pemberley Ball.”
“Yes, of course. Come on up.”
The next door clicked when it unlocked, and I entered, ensuring the door closed behind me. While Liz had mentioned the entry had monitored surveillance cameras and she had security on site for the businesses as well as the apartments that remained in several of the buildings, I still wanted to do my part to ensure she was safe.
The elevator opened as I approached. Mrs. Hill had likely pressed the first-floor button to send it down. The ride up was quick, and when I stepped out into the large foyer, Mrs. Hill waited for me.
“Don’t you look handsome,” she said with a smile. Meanwhile, I was a little warm under the collar. Ever since the housekeeper had mentioned that she’d cleaned the frosting from the coffee table, I hadn’t been able to look the older woman in the eye. Thank the good Lord it wasn’t Mrs. Reynolds! I would’ve probably searched for somewhere else to live, letting her keep the penthouse for herself.
“Thank you.”
“I let Lizzy know you’d arrived. She should be down—”
“I’m coming,” said Liz who stood at the top of the curved staircase.
My jaw surely dropped so far it hit the floor when I first noticed her. The navy gown she wore boasted of two straps over her creamy shoulders, the silky fabric making a deep “V” between her breasts. A bead and rhinestone trim cupped the underside of her bust before the fabric draped in a soft wave to the floor. Her thick curls were pulled away from her face. As she continued down, the back had a similar line, dipping down almost to her waist, but her shoulder blades were blocked from view by her luscious curls that trailed down her back. The look complemented her well. Her hair was so often worn up for work that I loved seeing it falling around her shoulders. A diamond strand glittered around her neck with a larger teardrop in the hollow at the bottom of her throat while two dangly matching earrings hung from each lobe.
“You’re stunning.”
She grinned and gave a flirty bat of her eyelashes. “Why thank you. You look pretty good yourself.”
“Only pretty good?”
She laughed. “Okay, good enough to eat.”
“I believe that’s my cue to leave,” said Mrs. Hill who handed me a long, navy wool coat. “For the ride over. It’s supposed to snow tonight. She’ll freeze without something to cover her up.”
I nodded. “Thank you, Mrs. Hill.” As much as I despised the thought of hiding all that lovely skin, Liz would certainly freeze without something to shield her from the cold.
My hand slipped around Liz’s waist when she reached me, pulling her in for a light kiss to her lips. Just like the night at the gala, she wasn’t wearing a lot of makeup, but I didn’t want to mess up anything she’d worked to do.
“Are you ready?” I asked.
I held open her coat, and she slipped her free hand into a sleeve. “Yes, but for some reason I’m nervous.” She traded her clutch to her other hand. “Isn’t that ridiculous?”
“I admit I’m a bit nervous too. We’ve never been anywhere as a couple, so I think it’s normal.”
She turned so she was impossibly close. “Is that what we are—a couple?”
My heart dropped into my stomach. “That’s what I’d thought. Do you feel differently?”
Her palm pressed against my tie, smoothing it. “No, but I didn’t want to assume.”
I covered her hand with my own. “I don’t just sleep with anyone, much less smear frosting all over them and lick it off.”
One of those adorable snort laughs escaped before she covered her nose. “Point taken.”
I held out my hand, and she extended hers. As I tugged her toward the elevator, my chest, for once, didn’t have that almost empty place I’d lived with for the past few years. Liz had somehow filled it. Since I met her at the gala a few months ago, she’d wheedled her way into my heart. I was in love with her, but she wouldn’t be ready to hear that. She’d been hesitant enough when I told her I was falling. This was moving fast, and though I didn’t have any qualms about us, she might need more time to accept what was happening between us.
“You’ve gone quiet,” said Liz once the doors to the elevator closed.
“I’m just happy, here and now, with you.”
She laughed. “In an elevator?”
I kissed her temple. “I think I could be in the worst place imaginable and still be happy because you were there.”
“You exaggerate to flatter me, sir.”
I lifted her chin so she could see the honesty in my gaze. “No, I’m telling you the absolute truth.” Her cheeks turned a beautiful blush, and she entwined her fingers with mine as she turned to face the doors.
When we exited the building, my driver opened the door, so I could help Liz into the car. Once we were both inside, he shut the door and rushed around to hop inside and move the vehicle into traffic.
The ride to the ball wasn’t long, and I didn’t wait for my driver to get out of the car and extend my hand for Liz. Photographers jumped forward to take our photo, and I did my best to behave normally as they snapped tons of pictures. Our marketing department always had a red carpet of sorts for the charity event, but I’d always despised it.
Liz’s eyebrows rose when she stood. “Oh, I hadn’t expected this.”
“I should’ve warned you. I’m sorry.”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m not upset. I just hope I don’t look too bewildered in some of the photos.”
Members of Pemberley Books marketing team were stationed along the entrance. As always, they cued us where to pose as we moved up the walk. One of Richard’s assistants ushered me over to give a quote to one society page reporter who was waiting for my arrival.
By the time we were inside, I blew out a heavy exhale.
Liz chuckled. “You hated every moment of that, didn’t you?”
“With a passion.” I faced her. “Let me take your coat. We can check it at the desk there.”
The attendants worked quickly, so I was able to lead Liz into the ballroom within minutes. As I’d expected, the room was decked out with Christmas trees and lights. The decorations also included some for Hannukah, the menorahs lit appropriately for tonight’s place in the festival of lights.
“It’s beautiful,” said Liz in a breathy voice.
“The planning committee does an excellent job.”
“Lizzy!” Gigi emerged from the crowd and hugged Liz. “I’m thrilled you came! Tonight is always dreadfully boring, so it’ll be nice to have some company.”
“Gi, Liz came with me tonight.” I put my arm around Liz’s lower back.
My sister’s eyes about bugged out of her head. “Seriously!” She bounced on her toes. “I’m so excited for you, William!” She threw her arms around me. “Now you won’t be so lonely when I move out.”
Gi and I’d made plans for her to move closer to college, and for her to live with her friends—on the stipulation they live in a building with security. I owned one nearby—not that my penthouse was that far, just on the northern side of midtown. Thankfully, an apartment was available. The building manager needed to overhaul it. The former tenant had been in the flat for decades, and the carpet and decoration was still living in the early eighties.
“You’re moving out?” asked Liz.
“Years ago, I purchased a building not far from Julliard—an additional investment so to speak. One of the larger flats opened up a month ago and the one next door comes available in two months. I’m going to renovate both into one, so she has plenty of room for her and her friends.”
Liz squeezed my hand. “Sounds like the perfect place.” Her gentle smile as well as the gaze she was giving me made my chest want to puff out. She approved. I could tell.
My sister clasped her hands in front of her like a little girl. “Exactly! So now that the two of you are together, I know my brother will be taken care of.”
“Gigi, we’ve only been seeing each other for a few days.” Yes, Liz’s tempering of my sister’s enthusiasm certainly burst my bubble. Few days or not, I was all in. She’d mentioned she wasn’t into casual sex or flings; wouldn’t that make me more as well?
Gi waved away Liz’s comment. “I don’t care. I know it’ll work out.”
“Hi, Lizzy,” said Richard as he walked up. He kissed Lizzy’s cheek then glanced where my arm was wrapped around her middle. “Don’t tell me you let this grump bring you? When he won’t dance with you, come find me. I’ll twirl you around the floor. My mother didn’t make me take lessons for nothing.”
“You forget that I had to take those lessons with you, Dickie.”
Richard gave that annoying chortle he used when he was hell-bent on pestering me. “But you haven’t ever used them. How do you know you won’t step on her toes?”
“Maybe Will doesn’t need to do something often to be good at it.” Liz’s one eyebrow was lifted and arched just so. She was talking about more than just dancing, and I could’ve laid a big, wet sloppy kiss on her right now in appreciation.
Richard’s head jolted back a little. “Is that right? I’m glad he doesn’t disappoint.”
One of my cousin’s staff approached and whispered in his ear. “Excuse me a moment.”
“Richard’s right,” said Gigi. “You should dance with Lizzy. You can avoid Aunt Catherine. She’s going to have a stroke because Annie brought Char. If I were you, I’d steer clear.”
I immediately glanced around the room. “How’s Annie?”
“So far, doing a brilliant job of avoiding her mother and pretending Cruella isn’t here. She’s with Char on the dance floor at the moment.”
Liz stepped forward but took my hand to lead me toward the dance floor. Since I knew what she was up to, I drew her back some so I could step to her side. When we approached Annie and Char, I took Liz in my arms and began to dance. With it being a work function for me, I didn’t pull Liz as close as I would’ve preferred, but close enough that it’d be obvious we were together.
As we swayed to the music, I caught a glimpse of my aunt, who, by the puffing of her cheeks, was blustering to her assistant Collins. The little toad was red-faced and speaking quickly, no doubt attempting to placate my aunt while kissing her ass at the same time. It was a skill he used often although not always very successfully.
“Have you seen your aunt?” asked Liz.
“She’s furious. She’s gesturing toward Annie.” I winced when my aunt’s arm flew up in my direction. “Now, she’s motioning toward us.”
“Us?”
“Unfortunately.” I rotated us so neither of us could see Aunt Catherine. “Liz, do you know who my aunt is?”
She drew back enough that I could see her face. “Yes, she’s Cruella deBourgh. It’s come up once or twice.”
I gave a bark of a laugh. “I’d forgotten about that. I only asked because I wanted you to be prepared.”
“Prepared for what?”
What possibilities were there? A raging inferno? Nuclear meltdown? Nothing was off-limits with my aunt. “For anything—anything at all.”