He was running terribly late. It had taken hours to get the sound just right on the latest track he'd recorded and he simply couldn't break away until they'd nailed it. He really only needed one more song to wrap up the album. His producer had been pressuring him but the song that kept recurring in his mind was not one he actually wanted to record. As much as memories of her made him cringe, because really, what HAD he been thinking in dating her, the song was almost writing itself. He needed another inspiration.

As he pulled up the drive in the his silver roadster, he could hear the jazz band starting another set. Damn, he was almost two hours late. His mum would kill him. Perhaps she hadn't noticed? Yea right. Mum was right by the garden doors. "Well, look who decided to turn up to his mother's party. Nice of you to drop by Fitzwilliam."

Guilt spread across his face. "Sorry mum. Truly. Everything looks wonderful. You've really outdone yourself this year."

"Flattery will get you almost anywhere but is not going to excuse the fact that Caroline and Louisa Bingley showed up two hours ago on your invite and you haven't been here."

"I'm sorry, who?" Will spluttered, amazed at the gall of those two women. How dare they simply show up at his mum's birthday party without an invitation.

"The Bingley twins. Caroline claims she was invited by you and apparently wherever she goes her sister must come with?"

"Excuse me mum. They were most definitely not invited." He was about to make his way over to Caroline to find out why in blazes she was here when his attention was arrested by the laughter erupting from the lips of a beautiful girl. Big brown eyes, fantastic legs and loose brown curls surrounded her heart shaped face and all this beauty was focused on his cousin Richard. "Uh mum? Who's with Richie?"

"Oh that's Elizabeth, your cousin's date. She is lovely. So smart and funny. He's really got quite the catch there." Anne Darcy smiled. Those two always seemed to compete for women, except in the case of Caroline. Richard seemed to recognize right from the start to stay far away.

William was about to introduce himself to Richard's latest find when he found his arm gripped by ice cold fingers. "You're finally here William. We've been waiting for hours for you finally to arrive. Let's go upstairs and get you properly attired."

"Caroline. What are you talking about? Actually, don't answer that. Rather, why are you here?"

She laughed. That annoying high pitch giggle. Who laughs like that anyway? Is it supposed to sound cute? Attractive?

"You are so funny. As soon as you mentioned your mother's annual garden party this weekend I knew you wouldn't want me to miss it so I cleared my schedule to be here. Of course, everyone understood that I would have to be at your mother's party."

William actually couldn't deal with Caroline at this moment. Her insinuation into his life continued and at some point it needed to stop. But more important things always seemed to take precedence. This afternoon the important thing was the beautiful girl Richard seemed to have found. Was she attracted to him? If she was, his cousin had certainly struck gold. Wandering away from Caroline, her voice droning on in the background, he found himself face to face with a goddess.

"Hi." He stared dumbly at the woman whose mere presence had encouraged him to cross the patio.

"Hi." She looked expectantly at him waiting for an introduction. She knew no one here aside from Rich and Annie. Of course, everyone, except for those auburn haired women (truly it was orange but auburn sounded much more politic, even in own's own head), had been exceptionally welcoming thus far. She didn't expect anything less from this newcomer.

"Um. I'm Will. Richard's cousin. My mum mentioned you'd came with him. I wanted to welcome you to Pemberley." She blushed. She was even more beautiful with the pink roses which graced her cheeks.

"It's been lovely to be included. Both of your cousins insisted I join once it was determined that it would be best for Annie if someone could drive her here. I was more than happy to have the opportunity. I've seen pictures of this estate on the telly but feel privileged to actually attend a garden party," Elizabeth gushed.

It was Will's turn to blush. Yes, he was actually blushing at her praise. Searching his brain for a topic, anything really, to keep the conversation going, Will began to speak just as she did. "Oh please go ahead," Lizzy offered.

"I was just going to ask if you've had a tour of the house yet."

"No, but I've spent time wandering the gardens though. They are simply stunning."

"The peonies are my mum's favorite so I think how much one likes the gardens is often ruled by their opinion on that particular flower." Will couldn't seem to stop himself from rambling on about topics of little consequence. What he really wanted to know, he didn't feel he had the privilege to ask.

"Lucky for me I love peonies too." Lizzy was smiling slightly to herself, unsure where this conversation was going. She thought this guy was hot, not to mention a ridiculously talented rock star, but she couldn't figure out how to transition the conversation to a new topic. Gardens were safe and she wasn't sure if she should take a risk. Fortunately for her, Will finally got the courage to depart from the banal.

"How long have you known my cousins?" He asked innocently.

"I've known Annie for two years now. Her usual flat mate Charlotte is my best friend from home. I've stayed over a few times and we got to know one another. Now, lucky me, I'm subletting from Charlotte for the summer so Annie and I get to share some space."

William nodded his head, hesitated and then blurted out his next question. "So have you and Richard been dating long?"

Her warm laugh was the only response at first. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to laugh. Your cousin is really a great guy but we're not dating or anything. I think he told people we were because this woman was hanging on him when we first arrived. I really need him to clear that up. A number of people have said something about it, including his mum and yours. We can't let this misunderstanding continue."

Relief flooded his brain. He hadn't realized how much he did not want her to be dating his cousin. The idea to provide Elizabeth with a tour of the house was on the tip of his tongue when that same cold hand wrapped itself around his bicep. Caroline really did have terrible timing.

"Will darling. I know you are just trying to be a good host but really, you can't simply walk away when we're talking. Let's get you upstairs and I'll pick out something suitable to wear before I have to head off. We can't have you embarrassing me." Caroline was tugging on his arm, pulling away from Elizabeth. He was about to tell Caroline off when Richard seemed to swoop in, wrap his arm around Will's dream girl, whisking her away to the dance floor. Caroline looked over at his cousin and Elizabeth, a slight curl to her lip. "Oh thank goodness I was able to get you away from them. You are simply too good; being gracious and a host to your cousins' wayward guest. I mean really. Bringing a complete unknown to your mother's party. It sounds as if she just invited herself along. What could she be thinking? Did she tell you she's watched shows on the television about the great houses of England? Clearly she's not of the same class that we are." Caroline was droning on and on and Will felt weighed down. Why did she always have to rain on his parade. He'd actually been enjoying himself at this garden party, for the first time in years, and all she could do was criticize. Her comments continued. She had no shortage of views about the way people were dressed, the way people danced, etc. Simply no one met Caroline's exacting standards. He'd had enough.

"Caroline, I think we need to talk."

"Of course dear. I'm always here for you. I know we haven't been as close lately but I'm prepared to take you back."

"No, I don't think you understand. I don't..."

"Will love, let's talk this over a bottle of Bordeaux at my apartment tomorrow night. I promised Louisa I'd get her back in time for dinner with her dreadful fiancé. I simply can't stay any longer but I know you appreciate my effort coming to this party. I'd only do something so selfless for you."

Before he could respond, Caroline pushed him into his bathroom with a change of clothes she'd selected. He looked down at the outfit. It was one she'd actually purchased for him a few months ago. Correction. She hadn't actually spent her own money on the items in his hands. She'd selected it on one of their shopping trips when they actually had been dating. Reflecting on his misspent months he shook his head. This had to stop. He re-entered his room to find her rifling through his closet.

"Caroline OUT!"

She spun around in shock. "What? Will you haven't changed."

Pure unadulterated anger consumed him. How dare she rifle through his things. He really couldn't even think clearly. "GET OUT!"

"Well, I never!" She huffed. "We will certainly talk about this tomorrow."

Unable to speak further he simply pointed to the door until she left. Falling down onto his bed he stared up at the ceiling, drawing deep breaths into his lungs in an effort to calm his racing heart. It was then he knew. He had to write this song because maybe if he put it out to the world, she would finally get the message. Grabbing a notebook and one of his old guitars propped against the wall, he began to scribble furiously. The words and then notes poured out of him. He had never written a song so quickly. Typically he labored to get the notes to line up with his messages but there was no such difficulty here. An hour after she had left, he recorded a voice memo on his phone and sent if off to Caroline with a simple text: I have written to this song for you.

"Love Yourself"

- Credit goes to Justin Bieber

Purged of his unpleasant thoughts, he decided to go find that lovely girl with the sparkling eyes.