Chapter 24 #3
Ninety minutes later, Lydia and her camera did as she’d promised Darcy and snapped a shot of Elizabeth’s expression when she walked into the skybox and happily discovered her surprise birthday party.
Besides the photo-snapping Lydia and an unusually excited Mary, there was Charlotte—laughing hysterically at the sight of Darcy in a black half-zip sweatshirt and orange socks—with a slimmer, buffer and far more hirsute Bill, and Rich with his latest interest, Katie, a second-year resident at New York-Presbyterian Hospital.
All were dressed alike, in UM’s black and orange colors.
Charlotte appraised Darcy’s attire and pronounced that black with orange accents was a much better look for Mr. Noir than that “bloody pumpkin style” that was last year’s hot look.
He looked sheepish until Elizabeth hugged him and said he hadn’t been too far off the mark with his now infamous comment about orange being “a bloody fashion crime.” After all, she said in a warm, intimate voice meant only for his ears, it had caused him to notice her.
Taped to two empty seats were photos of the very tanned, very relaxed, and endlessly honeymooning Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bingley. The captions, suggested by Charles and transcribed by Charlotte, included: “Look! No tan lines!” and “No one warned me I could get sand in there!”
Mary and Lydia hadn’t been to a UM football game in years and had certainly never sat in a skybox.
Lydia confided that she was applying to the college.
Her mother had paid the application fee and helped with her essay.
As good as she was with hair and makeup, she thought maybe it would be nice to see why her sisters all loved campus life, and the school had a pretty good visual communications program.
Mary actually looked rather proud of her little sister.
Rich’s date mentioned how much she’d loved Midwestern campus life in her undergrad years.
“Once you’re in medical school, you never see blue sky or football games,” Katie said.
“It’s almost worse during residency. I have no life.
Good thing our schedules jibe pretty well.
” She looked at Rich, who was beaming at her.
After UM’s victory, the group dispersed to the cars Darcy had secured for them.
Rudy took Rich and Katie, and Darcy led a confused Elizabeth to his Rover, parked in a remote lot, a green balloon tied to its antenna so they could find it.
She gave him a curious look, prompting him to explain, “Rich drove it out.” As their car sped away, an exhausted, slightly tipsy Elizabeth sighed with contentment.
“That was amazing. Thank you.” She leaned over to kiss his cheek and murmured, “You look quite fetching in orange, you know. I’m looking forward to peeling you. ”
She laughed at her own bad joke and moved closer until he cleared his throat and reminded her that he was driving and her hand needed to stay on its side of the seat.
A pouting, properly chastised Elizabeth glanced out the car window and, puzzled, turned to Darcy.
“We’re going away from the city. Where are you taking me? ”
“It’s a surprise.”
Elizabeth nodded, wondering when this man who liked things scheduled to the nanosecond had evolved into one who liked planning surprises. He had been drawn to her lively intelligence and subversive wit, though, so perhaps she’d had some influence here as well.
It was past five when they pulled through the gates of Netherfield.
“Oh.”
“That vowel is getting quite a workout today, darling.”
“Well A, E, I, U, and sometimes Y should not feel neglected,” she said offhandedly as she climbed out of the car. “You brought me here? Does Charles know?”
He smiled. “I have a key. And it’s practically our anniversary, give or take, so I thought it might be a nice birthday getaway.”
His eyes settled on her, a hesitant expression on his face. “It’s not as elegant as the dinner you gave me, and we’ll have to shift for ourselves, but is it all right for your birthday?”
Elizabeth threw her arms around him. “Such a know-it-all Birthday Fairy. You thought right; it’s wonderful!” She took a deep breath of the cool October air. “Crunchy leaves smell so good. And the trees are so pretty.”
She stood on her toes and kissed him. “I love it, Will. I do.” She held his face between her hands and gave him a serious look. “This is my best birthday ever.”
He smiled. “Well, then, mission accomplished. Mine was too.”
He gave her a quick kiss and turned to open the trunk. She watched him pull out two overnight bags.
“That’s a lot of clothes for one night. What did you pack for me?”
“Well, nothing for the nights; you won’t need to wear anything then.” He gave her a sly look. “That allowed room for hiking boots and lots of flannel.” He leaned closer. “You’re quite sexy in plaid flannel, you know.”
Nights? Plural? Her eyes widened when she saw the two large picnic hampers and a cooler. “Mrs. Reynolds was in on it too?”
“Well, yes. She wanted to make sure you had all your favorites for your birthday.”
“Oh, she is so sweet. You are so sweet.” Elizabeth smiled and quirked an eyebrow. “Still, that’s a lot of groceries.”
He set the cooler on the ground and looked at her, his brow furrowed. “There’s enough to stay through Monday. Mr. Philips was keen on giving you a birthday holiday.”
“You called my boss and got me the day off?”
“Um, yes?” He rubbed the back of his neck. “If you’d like. We can go back tomorrow if you’d rather.”
“No, Monday is perfect. There’s that charmingly strategic mind at work again, getting me a day off.” She picked up her bag and the smaller hamper. “You like earning those gold stars, don’t you?”
Elizabeth stopped at the front door and turned to look at Darcy.
“So is this a do-over?”
“Pardon?”
“We’re here at Netherfield at nearly the same time as last year but in such a different place emotionally. Did you want to forge new memories or re-live some of the old?”
Darcy laughed quietly. “Well, I wouldn’t mind taking your shirt off on the sofa, again.
Or falling asleep next to you—anywhere.” He swallowed hard and looked away toward the barn.
“I wanted to come here and push away all the regrets so all our thoughts and memories will be happy. I’d like to be able to laugh at my”—he caught her expression—“our mistakes.”
She waited for him to finish.
“I want to start your next year, and mine with you, in a lovely place.”
Elizabeth gave him a tender smile. “It’s perfect.”
When Elizabeth headed down the hall to the room she’d slept in the previous year, Darcy stayed her hand and steered her into a larger suite. “This is my regular room.” Her eyes lit up at the vase full of dried heather and sunflowers and the thickly cushioned window seat.
“Love, I know it’s your birthday, so I want to grant your every wish. You mentioned how you’d like to peel me, but how about I unwrap you first? You’ve been twenty-five for most of a day, and we haven’t had a moment to…”
“I know!” she cried, sounding indignant. “Let’s be honest, less than twenty-four hours ago, I was a happily sated twenty-four-year-old sexual dynamo, but now I’m just a woman who is a quarter-century old, dressed like a pumpkin, and plagued by a neglected libido.”
He burst into laughter. “Oh, no pressure there, my sweet. I’ll do my best to relieve you of your pressing concerns”
Sometime later, once he had regained his wits, Darcy drew her close, kissed her cheeks and whispered silly words about birthday fairies.
She curled into him and giggled, but after a few minutes of cuddling, her fingers roamed across his chest. “Never let it be said I got all stodgy when I hit twenty-five,” she whispered breathlessly.
Elizabeth watched him through half-closed eyes. “I love how you put your higher education to work, Mr. Darcy,” she said in a low, sleepy voice. He smiled lazily.
Eventually, the couple roused themselves, changed into clothes with nary a trace of orange or black, and took a tour of the first floor.
Darcy, who’d been to Netherfield many times, didn’t notice anything different about the old house, but Elizabeth’s eyes swept every room.
“Wow, I hadn’t noticed that bookcase before,” she exclaimed in the library.
“Charles bought books! Hey, isn’t that chair from the Lexington Avenue apartment?
” A walk through the kitchen and an inspection of the refrigerator drew a startled observation.
“No low-fat peach yogurts? Guess Charles really did take full custody of the place!”
The final room they entered was the one most laden with memory. Elizabeth smiled at the long, familiar sofa. “Hello, old friend.” She sat down on it daintily and bounced a few times. “Yup, the old Fitzwilliam hasn’t sprung its springs! Still firmly packed and coiled.”
Darcy’s hands twitched, but he stayed still. “Is this the moment I tackle you and tickle you into submission?” he asked drolly.
She smiled at him and fluttered her eyelashes. “Resistant to my charms, are we?”
“Never.” He grinned. “But I am hungry. And perhaps a bit tapped out,” he added, looking sheepish.
“Same,” she agreed with a sigh. “We’re such old folk. But I could use some wine.”
“Ah, memories. Follow me.”
They ate hummus and crackers and homemade leek soup while the lasagna bubbled in the oven. Apparently, Darcy had given away a few secrets to Mrs. Reynolds. Elizabeth asked him about it.
“She knows only that we both weekended here with Charles and Jane and that a lasagna was burned. She’s learned no secrets from me, but she’s observant of the trails we leave behind, love.” He gazed at her with a soft expression.
“Yes, I know I’m rather messy with the crumbs and the underwear and the tea leavings.”