Chapter 23 #5
“If you still want a relationship with Jane, that’s her business, her choice.
But if you ruin her wedding by singing when she’s asked you not to or by making a scene with us, she will cut you out too.
” Elizabeth smiled grimly. “She’ll be thrilled to know you practically blackmailed her new husband, making him leverage his friendship with Fitzwilliam to stop you from singing. My God.”
Sylvia’s face was rapidly losing color; its hot red anger was now nearly white with shock.
“My lease is up at the end of the month,” Elizabeth said, her voice strong and clear.
She glanced at Darcy and squeezed his hand.
“But the landlord asked to get in early to do some work. We have movers and cleaners coming to the apartment on Thursday, so you and Bernard will need to be out by Wednesday.”
“Where am I supposed to stay?” Sylvia blustered. “I’m on vacation. Where will I go?”
“Home, wherever that is. Because it’s never been here with me—with Jane and me—and you can’t start now. Go live your life as you always have.”
Sylvia cleared her throat and glared at them both. “I want to stay in New York and start a business.”
Elizabeth hoped Sylvia didn’t see the tremor that rippled through her, though she knew Darcy had felt it. He stepped back into the conversation.
“I see,” he said. “Do you have investment capital, or are you here to seek it out?” Sylvia’s narrowed eyes prompted him to continue.
“I understand you and Bernard have some business ventures in Florida that are not going well, and that’s why you’re here in New York.
” His voice was cold and hushed. “Did you come here hoping to throw yourself into the paths of rich men through Jane? And now that you know about us, through Elizabeth?”
“I never… That is not at all what…” Sylvia sputtered, her eyes darting wildly past them and toward the crowd.
“Go back to Missouri or Florida or wherever it is you wish to be. We’ll have someone at the apartment at noon on Wednesday to collect the keys.”
Elizabeth smiled grimly. “Jane will be on her honeymoon and unavailable to help you. Her doorman will not let you in.” She looked at the woman one last time.
“Goodbye.”
Louis Armstrong’s voice faded away and an up-tempo tune began.
“Have a good trip home, madam.” Darcy gently tugged Elizabeth’s hand, desperate to move her away from this memory, hold her, and breathe her in.
They squeezed past Charlotte and her dance partner.
Bill Collins? His rival for Elizabeth’s affections that night at the Seaport?
Good God. Another argument for elopement.
“Damn. I do believe that man has insulted my wife.” Ted Bennet stood mumbling on the edge of the dance floor, watching Darcy and Elizabeth move away from Sylvia while his ex-wife stomped toward her plus-one.
“Excuse me?” Barbara leaned forward.
“I, er, I was watching the best man insult Sylvia.”
“Did you call her your wife?”
He coughed and turned around. “No, my ex-wife, who is the mother to my eldest daughters. He just said something horrible to her.”
“And well he should have,” Mary mumbled. “She’s awful. I feel bad for Jane and Lizzy.”
“Do you?” asked Ted, amused.
“Fitzwilliam is cool,” Lydia said. “I’ve never seen Lizzy smile so much as when he’s around.”
Ted settled his focus on Elizabeth and the enigmatic gaze she was sharing with Darcy.
“Ah, felicity, laughter, and joy. But as Shelley once said about—”
“Enough.” He turned at his wife’s sharp tone. “This is your eldest daughter’s wedding, and for two days, all you’ve done is complain and whine and act like a mean uncle, not a father. You’ve embarrassed yourself.” Barbara rolled her eyes. “Get down from your ivory tower and man up.”
He stared at her, his mouth open.
“You have three more daughters and none of them will want you at their wedding if you act this way. I won’t want you there.”
“Now see here, Barb—”
His wife moved a step closer and poked him in the chest with a red-lacquered nail.
“Jane and Lizzy owe you nothing more than what you’ve given them for the past ten years.
You’re interested only when you can make a joke out of it.
They deserve more from you, Ted. They’ve chosen good men who are behaving better than you are. ”
Barbara turned to her shocked daughters. “Come on, girls. They’re playing Motown. Let’s dance.”
Ted watched his family walk off and join the Gardiners on the dance floor. Jane was in her husband’s arms, and Elizabeth was standing off in the shadows with Darcy. He shook his head and headed to the bar.
Elizabeth leaned into Darcy. “Are you all right?” he whispered.
“Yes. Very.” She smiled and pulled him down into a soft kiss.
“You were magnificent, love. I’m very proud of you.”
“Took me long enough.” Elizabeth raised her chin, meeting his worried eyes.
“It’s sad and awful and exactly what I needed to do.
And I couldn’t have done it without you.
Thank you.” She glanced over at Sylvia and Bernard.
He appeared to be calming her down through a combination of liquor and a back massage.
Darcy followed her gaze. “I’ll have someone keep an eye on her.”
“Wow.”
Darcy felt her tremble. “What is it?” he asked, stepping back to search her face.
Elizabeth looked up at him, her eyes bright. Her lips held the hint of a teasing smile. “I was right about you after all, Mr. Noir. You do work for MI6. All this stuffy business folderol is a cover.”
“Ah, you’ve found me out.” Relieved, he smiled. “I believe spy protocol requires that I take you to a small, undisclosed location for a full interrogation.” He bent close to her ear. “The cloakroom would suffice.”
“Oh, you and your strip searches.” She looked up at him. “Before I came over, you gave her the full-on Mr. Noir, didn’t you?”
He nodded. “Not nostalgic for that one, are you?”
“Mr. Noir, Ferdinand… I love them all.” She ran her finger along his jawline and nuzzled his neck, making him shiver in that way she loved. “I missed you last night. How was your sleepover with Charles?”
“You mean the Energizer Bunny? I hope he doesn’t crash and burn before they even check into their room. He was still bouncing off the walls when I went to bed, and he was in the kitchen drinking coffee when I woke up.”
Elizabeth smiled and refrained from mentioning that Jane had been in much the same state.
“I suppose I should tell him that Sporty, Ginger, Scary, Baby, and Posh Spice will definitely not be making an appearance tonight.” Darcy gave her a sheepish grin and tucked a loose hair behind her ear.
His finger slowly whispered down along the sculpted neckline of her soft, pink dress.
“You look so beautiful, sweetheart. I love you with your hair up.” He kissed her softly on the ear.
“The next slow one is ours. Our first dance.”
“We’ve never danced,” she marveled.
Diana Ross’s voice faded and Frank Sinatra’s drifted over them. Darcy led her to the dance floor.
“I only want to dance with you. Always.”