Chapter Twelve #2
“He came into the café last Thursday. But things have moved kind of quickly since then, which is why I’ve been a bit distracted this week.”
“Oh my God; this has been going on for a week?”
I heard the hurt in her voice and winced. “I’m sorry, but I knew how busy you’d be with your court case, and I wanted to tell you in person.”
Bianca exhaled slowly. “Wow, I’m impressed. I’ve never known you to keep a secret this long. So, tell me everything.”
I smiled at her enthusiasm. “He’s called Will, and he’s cute and thoughtful and just a really lovely, genuine guy. I know it’s not been long, but I already feel like I’ve known him forever.”
“And I take it from the radiant glow in your cheeks that the sex is good too?” Bianca said with a grin.
“We haven’t actually done it yet; he’s quite old-fashioned.”
“That’s so cute, but you must be gagging for it by now!”
I laughed, but the truth was, I hadn’t been gagging for it at all.
In fact, aside from the brief moment the other morning, I’d barely thought about sleeping with Darcy.
It wasn’t that I didn’t fancy him; it was just that I couldn’t quite imagine the two of us together sexually.
I remembered when we were on the bus and his hand had brushed my thigh, and how I’d not felt any spark.
Was that because he was a fictional character, so it felt a bit morally ick, or was it some unconscious loyalty to Elizabeth?
Either way, sexual attraction wasn’t the be-all and end-all, and Darcy and I had many other compatibilities that made up for our lack of spark.
“So if you haven’t been shagging like rabbits, what have you been doing all week?” she asked.
“We’ve mainly just hung out at my place, watching TV, cooking together, and getting to know each other. We’ve talked about so much stuff; I’ve even told him how I used to write, and he’s got me keeping a diary.”
Bianca’s face lit up. “You’re writing again?
That’s massive, Zoe—even more exciting than meeting a hot man!
” I laughed as B raised her glass and clinked it against mine.
“Seriously, though, I’m so glad you’ve finally met someone you can be honest with, and who isn’t going to suck the life out of you like that vampire Crispin. ”
I nodded, trying to ignore the Fear, who’d raised its ugly head to remind me I hadn’t been completely honest with Darcy, given I hadn’t told him who he really was.
“Speaking of Crispin,” I said. “We met him and Petra on the bus the other day, and Will gave Crispin the most amazing put-down about his book. I wish you could have seen his face, it was amazing!”
“Oh my God, I love Will even more now,” Bianca squealed. “Encouraging you to write again, bringing Crispin down a peg… This guy sounds perfect for you!”
I laughed again and took a sip of wine. Was Darcy perfect for me?
He was great company, and I felt like I could be myself around him, plus he was an excellent listener whom I’d told things I hadn’t told Crispin in the four years we were together.
And although I knew Darcy wasn’t watching me in the same way he longingly watched Elizabeth in the book, I was pretty sure he enjoyed my company too.
Besides, this was Fitzwilliam Darcy, my and Mum’s dream book boyfriend, so if he wasn’t perfect for me, then who the hell ever would be?
“He’s a good man with a good heart, and a thousand times better than Crispin,” I said.
“Eeek, this is so exciting! I hope you’re going to bring him to the party on Friday.”
I almost choked on the swig of wine I’d just taken. The thought of Darcy in a nightclub was so bizarre that I was tempted to laugh out loud.
“Eh…sadly he already has plans,” I said when I’d recovered enough to speak.
“That’s a shame. What about inviting him out next Wednesday? I can get Steve to come along too.”
I tried to imagine Darcy sitting in the chair next to me, chatting to my best friend and her fiancé.
It was a weird idea, but I could kind of see it.
In Pride and Prejudice, Darcy was definitely someone who preferred intimate groups to big crowds, and Bianca was smart and opinionated, so I knew he’d admire her.
And although I couldn’t exactly see Darcy bantering with Bianca and Steve in the way that someone like Nick would, he’d still…
I stopped myself. Why the hell was I thinking about Nick Baskerville right now?
That Jane Austen–hater was the last person I’d ever want to bring to the pub with my best friend.
“Oi, back in the room, Knight,” Bianca said, grinning as she prodded my arm. “I can tell you’re daydreaming about Will, as your cheeks have just gone bright pink! So what about next Wednesday, then? We can go for cocktails at Soma and then to that new Mexican place in Soho I want to try.”
I opened my mouth to say yes and then stopped myself. As appealing an idea as it was, there was no way I could bring Mr. Darcy out to dinner; going to a cocktail bar in Central London would be far too overwhelming for him, let alone trying to keep his identity a secret in a crowded restaurant.
“What’s wrong?” B said, her smile turning to a frown. “You look like I just told you E. L. James wrote a new Christian Grey book and you have to read it on pain of death.”
I swallowed, suddenly feeling a bit sick. “Nothing, it’s just… I’m not sure you’ll ever get to meet Will. He’s not from around here, and although he doesn’t know when he has to go back home, it might be soon.”
“Where’s he from?”