Chapter 8
The next morning, Jane, Lydia, and Wickham showed up at Netherfield. Lydia immediately pulled Jane off to look at books on wedding ideas in the library.
I was in the kitchen, finding some breakfast, when Charles and Wickham walked in and took seats at the bar.
“Hey Darcy.” Wickham observed me. “I’m sorry about yesterday with the play. Lydia was just trying to help. She really wants to bring the two of you together.”
I set my plate on the counter a bit too harshly. “I asked her to keep my involvement in your wedding quiet.”
“And she has mostly, but come on, you can’t tell me that deep down you don’t want Lizzy to know.”
Charles took a bite of the muffin left out on the counter. “Did she have to do it in such an unconventional manner?”
Wickham straightened, looking slightly affronted. “I like her unconventional ways.”
“It doesn’t matter,” I cut in. “If Lizzy had any feelings, Rosalie smashed them when she walked up and declared herself my girlfriend.”
Charles’s brows drew together. “Rosalie Trent? Why would she do that?”
“Because my aunt and uncle want me to marry her and take my place as king,” I said. “She has arranged a dinner tonight with the Trents to press the matter.”
Both men stared at me in shock.
“What about your reason for coming here? The Moonrot?” Wickham asked.
“And finding your parents’ killers?” Charles added.
I ran a hand over my face. “Uncle wants me to do that and assume the throne. But I turn twenty-eight soon anyway, and then I don’t have a choice.
So I talked Uncle James into waiting, because once I’m king, I won’t have as much time to dedicate to searching for my parents’ killer. Both he and I are aware of that.”
My friends fell silent. Each probably processed what that might mean for the women they loved.
“Do you think it’s a lost cause?” Charles asked.
My heart twisted for Lizzy and all that it would imply if it were. “I hope not.” I clenched my jaw before responding. “I’m going to do whatever I can to make sure it’s not.”
Charles nodded. “How can we help?”
I blew out a long breath. “I’ll update you if I come up with something.”
“What about Lizzy?” Wickham asked. “Did you tell her that Rosalie isn’t your girlfriend?”
I pushed the bagel away, my appetite gone. “I think it’s a stretch to assume Lizzy cares that much.”
Charles and Wickham traded a look.
“Don’t let it go,” Charles said. “Take action.” It was easy for him to say. Things had worked out for him.
I had no reason to think they would for me and Lizzy. “She just wants help with her dad.”
“Or,” Wickham said with a shrug, “that’s not all she wants.”
Charles nodded. “I got a second shot with Jane. Turns out, saying how I felt was the only way I was ever going to find out.”
I wished for them to be right. In my mind, I recalled the kiss, and how she’d moved closer, putting her hands on my chest. Of the soft look in her gaze after we’d parted. I’d wanted the play to tell me her feelings. Perhaps it had.
“Either way, you should tell Lizzy that you and Rosalie aren’t dating,” Wickham said.
“And tell Rosalie and your aunt. You can maybe get each of them alone tonight at dinner. Or” —he sat up with a clever smile—“I know. Invite Lizzy to your dinner tonight at Lady Catherine’s.
That will send a strong message to everyone about what you want. ”
“She’s already coming. She kind of invited herself.”
Charles raised an eyebrow. “She invited herself to your dinner with your girlfriend’s family?”
“Well, she didn’t think at the time that Rosalie Trent was my girlfriend. Which she isn’t, I—” I shook my head. This was a disaster.
My phone, resting on the counter, vibrated. We all leaned forward to see who it was.
I had a text from Elizabeth Bennet.
“Speak of the devil,” Wickham said. “You can get things cleared up right now.” He rose. “Charles, shall we?”
Charles was grinning. “Good luck, man.”
The two men walked from the room with far too big of grins on their faces.
I snatched up my phone and read the text.
Hey, so I didn’t realize that this dinner tonight was with your girlfriend. And I understand it’s awkward, but I still want to be there to get information out of the Trents.
I imagined how strange it must be for Lizzy to ask, but I could tell this was her love for her father speaking. She didn’t care if it was uncomfortable treating the family of the girl I was supposedly dating as suspects if it meant finding a cure. I quickly texted back a reply.
She’s not my girlfriend.
Why did she say she is?
Can I explain tonight?
There was a pause as the little dots flashed on and off on my screen.
Will I be butting in at the dinner?
Probably. But I’ll make sure I take the blame for it.
Sounds super awkward.
I’m in.
If there was something my Aunt Catherine hated, it was unplanned uncomfortable situations, although she created her fair share of them with her own comments most of the time.
But having Lizzy there actually made me excited about attending.
Maybe my friends were right. That kiss between us hadn’t been nothing.
She had to have felt something. After dinner tonight, I’d tell Lizzy about my feelings and let the chips fall where they may.
Before that, I’d have to make sure the dinner itself didn’t end in disaster.
I picked Lizzy up at Cupid’s Confections. “Have a good time,” Kitty said, and Lydia giggled.
Lizzy shook her head, shrugged on her coat, and we got into the car.
“Thanks for bringing me despite… the situation,” Lizzy said.
“The most important thing is discovering how to heal your father.” Plus, I’d rather attend a party with Lizzy any day than go to some stuffy dinner with the family of a woman I had no interest in.
“And who killed your parents?” Lizzy added. She was quiet for a moment. “So why did Rosalie claim to be your girlfriend?”
“My uncle and aunt wish for me to marry her. He proposed it while I was away on my skiing trip, and then she showed up. I made it clear last night that we aren’t a thing.” Honestly, I was lucky that they hadn’t cancelled the dinner altogether. My aunt and the Trents must not have given up yet.
Lizzy stared out the window at the couples walking up and down the street holding hands. “She’s a pure-blood, highborn fae. Her mother is on the council. She’d be a good match for you.”
“A while ago, I might have believed that I should go along with someone who checks all the boxes. But now…” My grip tightened on the steering wheel and I shook my head. “I will decide who I marry, and nobody else.”
She didn’t respond right away, but then asked softly. “And tonight?”
I exhaled slowly. “Tonight isn’t about me. But in order to get the information we’re looking for out of the Trents, I may need to pretend I’m at least open to the possibility of dating their daughter.”
“I shouldn’t have come. It will make them mad if they think you’ve brought another girl to dinner, even though it isn’t like that between us.”
“Which is why I asked if Georgiana could say she invited you.”
“Oh smart. That shouldn’t be too hard to believe since Georgiana and I are friends.”
“Yeah, she enjoyed getting to know you when we were snowed in at Pemberley.” And she wasn’t the only one who’d enjoyed it.
“I enjoyed getting to know her, too.” Lizzy gave me a soft smile.
“Anyway, she agreed on one condition.” I cast her a sideways glance.
“Oh? What is that?”
“We comply with whatever she and my cousin Anne have planned for us after the dinner.”
“I see.” She squared her shoulders. “It’ll be fine. If that’s the bargain, I can go along with it.”
We pulled into the driveway and parked. After getting out of the car, we walked through the massive double doors into the grand foyer at Rosings.
A cascade of floating roses immediately greeted us, drifting lazily from the ceiling, their petals glowing faintly in soft pink and crimson hues.
A heart-shaped chandelier hovered above the center of the marble floor, each crystal catching the light like captured starlight.
Along the sweeping staircase, garlands of velvet ribbon and enchanted roses coiled elegantly around the banisters, letting off a gentle puff of rose-scented mist.
I surmised by the coats hanging on the rack that most everyone had already arrived.
Lady Catherine walked up in an elegant red dress with hearts embroidered around the hem, her eyes flashing. Her hair was twisted into an updo. “My nephew, what… I mean, who is this?”
“Aunt, you’ve met Lizzy Bennet before.”
“Yes, I have,” she said in her no-nonsense voice. “Why is she at my dinner?”
“I invited her, Aunt,” Georgiana hurried into the foyer, her small dachshund Waffles trailing happily at her feet.
Georgiana and her boyfriend Henry were staying at Rosings for the festival, and she must not have wanted to leave the clingy little dog alone at Pemberley.
My sister took Lizzy by the arm and smiled at her.
Lady Catherine huffed, put out. “I will tell the servants to set another place at dinner.” She gave Lizzy one more disapproving glare before storming off.
I gave Georgiana and Lizzy an awkward grin. “Off to a good start.”
“You know Aunt Catherine, she’ll get over… well, actually no, she won’t. She enjoys holding grudges. I think it’s what she does for fun.” Georgiana cast an apologetic glance at Lizzy.
“Don’t worry, I can withstand her barbs,” Lizzy said.
“Come, I’ll make sure you sit next to me. And after…” Georgiana wriggled her eyebrows at me. “You’ll have to see what will be awaiting you outside.”
Instead of feeling anxious or uncomfortable, I was curious about what my sister and cousin had waiting for us. Perhaps tonight would end up being the perfect opportunity to tell Lizzy how I felt. Despite the anticipated awkwardness of the evening, a small bit of hope surged through me.