Hello All,
I is back! Another year down, another year to go!
Thanks for those of you who are still reviewing and reminding me to get my ass into gear to finish this pet project.
Faithinfools xx
Cause I have no right to love you No Right To Love You - Rhys Lewis
When I chose to walk away
I have no right to miss you
When I didn't wanna stay
And I have no right to need you
And I knew what my heart was gonna lose
I have no right to love you
But I do, I still do
"Lizzy dear!" Aunt Maddie shouted, calling her wayward niece back from where she was currently running around in the autumn leaves that had swept around the dirt track. "Come on, we've got a lot of ground to cover before we get back!" Lizzy shook her head and giggled.
"Coming Maddie!" She shouted back, running through the green grass that lined the path. They had been exploring the vast Peak District for the past 10 days, their journey almost at it's end. Lizzy felt more relaxed than she had been for the past 4 months, the tense feeling in her shoulders had slowly but surely gone and she felt at ease. In a state of peaceful bliss she would've called it. She reached her Aunt and Uncle and together they walked back to the car in comfortable silence, admiring the great peaks, grass, rivers and life that sprang from the roots of the trees to the clouds in the sky.
"Lizzy! Stop woolgathering girl and get in the car!" Ed shouted at her laughingly. She just shook her head as she popped into the backseat of the SUV.
"Where to next Uncle Ed?" She asked him. "We're not stopping just yet are we? There's so much light still left in the day."
"Hush now young Padawan, us old folks can't quite keep up with you young folk anymore." Aunt Maddie replied in a croaky old voice.
"Pish posh Maddie, you ran the London Marathon just last year! You're more fit than I am." Lizzy said mock exasperatedly. "You two put me to shame I tell thee, shame!"
"Tsk tsk Lizzy, you shouldn't provoke the elderly like that." Uncle Ed said smiling in response. "Look, I need to fill up on gas anyway, while I do that I'll go in and ask for a map so we can figure out exactly where we're going next, with you two in the car navigating I wouldn't put it past us to get completely, hopelessly lost." He said shaking his head as he pulled up and got out of the car. "Now, don't discuss anything inappropriate while I'm gone, unless it's about what a hunk I am." He said jokingly.
"Eww Edddd!" Lizzy cried, covering her ears and closing her eyes while Aunt Maddie laughed. As soon as her husband left the car Maddie whirled around to look at Lizzy.
"So whats going on Lizzy?" She asked seriously. Lizzy looked at her in confusion.
"What do you mean what's going on?" She asked.
"Seriously? I have to go through this?" Maddie said, raising an eyebrow, waiting. She rolled her eyes. "Well first, we get a hysterical call from Jane begging us to take you on our tour of the peak district even though we already asked Jane and she accepted our invitation. Then we come pick you up and you look like you're being dragged to your doom. And on this trip you've been completely spaced out, don't think I haven't noticed Lizzy, sometimes I'll talk to you for a good minute and a half and you still won't be with me. I've given you 10 days to figure out what the shit is going on with you but now you have no choice but to tell me before I scream." Maddie said all in a big huff.
"Honestly, there's nothing going on." Lizzy said nonchalantly.
"Elizabeth Bennet, don't you lie to me now. I practically helped raised you." Maddie said sternly. "I'm not stupid, don't treat me like I am." Nothing further came from Lizzy's lips and Maddie sighed. "Sometimes it helps you know, talking about what's eating you up inside."
"Alright, long story short there's this guy and he does my head in, we argue about everything and anything and before I left we had the biggest argument, one I didn't think we would ever forgive each other for but then he wrote me a letter, explaining…. Well… everything and now I don't know what to feel." She trailed off quietly.
"It sounds like this man has made a big impact in a very unexpected way." Maddie said quietly. "Is this why you've been a bit out of it recently?"
"I… Yeah…. I'm just a bit confused that's all... And it's killing me that I don't know what to do or how to do it or how to fix any of it." She replied, her brow furrowed.
"Do you… Do you have feelings for this man?" Maddie asked. "Because it sounds like you do."
"I don't… I don't think so." Lizzy replied, confused. "I have a boyfriend Maddie." She said strongly, her voice wavering slightly. "And I really do like him."
"Lizzy… Honey, are you trying to convince me, or are you trying to convince yourself?" She replied gently. "I think you need to have a long hard think about what you want out of all this. Something tells me the next few weeks are going to be some big ones for you and if you don't know what you want, you're going to end up hurting yourself." She replied.
"I managed to get a map! Boy that fella is a talker, he wouldn't let me go and get back to my girls!" Ed chuckled as he opened the door. "Alright, I know the vague direction we're going, Maddie you better take the map and point me in the direction we need to go or we are definitely going to end up sleeping in the car for the night." Maddie rolled her eyes and they were off again.
Lizzy sat quietly in the back seat, watching the English countryside pass by, the greenery, paddocks, sheep and cows flying past her in a blur. What was Maddie on about? She didn't have feelings for Darcy, where did she get that insane notion from? Besides, she was in a committed relationship with Richard and she liked him, a lot. But there was something unsettling about the way Darcy looked at her, those icy blue eyes, something about them felt like they were seeing straight through her, like they could dismantle all the walls she had spent years building up in seconds. She shivered. No. She was with Richard and an attraction to Darcy wasn't something she was willing to even consider as a remote possibility in her mind.
"This looks like a nice place to stop. Pemberley Estate, have you heard of it before Ed? It's near where I grew up, it's absolutely beautiful in this season. The leaves are just stunning and the gardens…" Ed looked at his wife with a wry smile.
"You could just ask you know." He chuckled.
Lizzy shook her head and smiled at their bickering, gazing out of the window, Pemberley… that sounded familiar but why… She couldn't remember for the life of her as she continued admiring the beautiful scenery outside her window. After about 10 minutes, she froze. Wait a minute… Pemberley Hotel/Resorts… Pemberley Estate… Georgiana Darcy… William Darcy… Crap.
"Uhhh Maddie, I think we should go to one of the other estates, I don't think that the owners would appreciate us showing up unannounced."
"Please Lizzy, we already called ahead, where has your head been at for the past few hours?" Maddie looked at her meaningfully, "their housekeeper is expecting us, she said the owners won't be around today, they're at some charity benefit." Lizzy felt somewhat more relaxed but was still as jittery as a rabbit, ready to make her getaway. They drove through the gates down the long windy gravel driveway that was lined with beautiful pine trees. All three gasped as they spotted the house in the distance. It's imposing white walls stood high with green, winding ivy curling it's way up the aged stone. The stone arched and curved it's way around the building with small delicate touches of antique stonework on the edges of the walls. The mansion itself was quite possibly the biggest house Lizzy had ever visited. A large fountain caught her eye as its water flowed gently down towards the pond below, the ducks happily swimming in its depths. As the car got to the top of the driveway, Lizzy turned to view the lands below the house, the rolling hills and various green pastures, deep forests awaited her aching feet. She smiled gently, it was certainly very Darcy.
"Come on then poppet!" Maddie called, "we're waiting for you." Lizzy rolled her eyes and smiled, bounding out of the car, coming to an immediate halt in front of a stern woman with grey hair tied up neatly in a bun, with hawk eyes watching her every move.
"Hello." The lady said, staring down at Lizzy through her thin rimmed glasses.
"Hello." Lizzy replied.
"Lizzy, this is Cynthia Reynolds. She's the housekeeper/manager of Pemberley Estate." Maddie introduced her. "She used to look out for me when we were both younger." Maddie laughed.
"Indeed. To keep Miss Madeleine out of trouble." She replied dryly. "Always getting yourself up to no good weren't you?" She said rolling her eyes.
"Pish posh Cindy, you know you miss it." Maddie said cheekily.
"Funnily enough I don't." She said giving her a wry smile, her eyes still watching Lizzy inquisitively.
"And this is my husband, Edward Gardiner." Maddie said, introducing the man, clearly still gawking at the size of the house next to her.
"Pleasure." Mrs Reynolds said. "Come in, please, let me give you a tour of the home."
"Thank you." Together all four walked through the house, entering room after room of stunning design, high arched ceilings, immaculate marble floors and homey touches.
"We have now toured all of the wings except for the west wing which is the family wing and off limits to any and all visitors. Partly for the privacy of the owners and partly because they are currently redoing and renovating some of the rooms down that wing." Mrs Reynolds explained. "Lastly but not least we have the family gallery. This room contains multiple priceless pieces of multiple generations of the Darcy family. As you can see they start quite early in the Renaissance era down this end and travel all the way to the current Darcys." Together the four meandered their way down the gallery as Mrs Reynolds continued her talk on the history of the Darcys. Lizzy was caught up in the beauty that was the paintings and statues as she walked apart from the group until she stopped at the very last one at the end of the hall. A portrait of Mr Darcy, Mrs Darcy, Darcy and Georgiana when they were children sat in it's impressively large frame. "It is a very accurate depiction of the family at the time." Mrs Reynolds said coming up next to Lizzy.
"It is very well done." Lizzy replied.
"I am serving scones and tea in the kitchen for your Aunt and Uncle if you would like to join us." Mrs Reynolds offered. Lizzy turned towards her to see her guarded eyes watching her closely.
"Actually Mrs Reynolds, I was just about to ask if it was okay that I have a wander around the gardens, it is such a beautiful day outside, it would be a shame to waste it." She asked politely.
"Of course Miss Lizzy, though perhaps join us in about an hour, I believe that is when Miss Madeleine was thinking of leaving and checking into your motel for the night."
"Thank you Mrs Reynolds." Lizzy said before opening a small door out onto the alfresco behind the house and running down the stairs, laughing at the freedom of the gentle rolling hills and slight breeze blowing her wayward hair around her eyes. She started off down the path towards the many pine trees that lined the edge of the forest but was stopped by the soft neighing. She looked towards her left and spotted a gorgeous, large barn with rustic maroon coloured wooden doors with white edgings. Next to the barn was an equestrian field, currently bare. Lizzy smiled and ran down towards the barn, pausing as she heard a quiet melodic voice singing.
"So I bid my goodbye and never knew.
So close, was waiting, waiting here with you…"
She walked quietly into the barn, slipping through the ajar door and walked through the barn towards the stables, peeking around the corner her eyes widened with what she saw. One William Darcy. Singing. In a pair of old jeans, scuffed, brown leather boots, a slightly open flannel, rolled up to show his bulging biceps, brushing a black horse.
"Oh. My. God." Lizzy said, gasping as she covered her mouth. Damn it. His blue eyes immediately looked up, startled. Lizzy started. "Well shit." He stood up suddenly and the horse moved skittishly in fright. Lizzy turned and ran. She didn't look back once. Not even when he called her name, scaring the horse again. She ran and ran right back up to the house, not pausing once to catch her breath, her heart in her throat. She dashed into the kitchen, startling the 3 others.
"Lizzy?" Maddie asked concerned.
"We… have… to… go… now…" Lizzy said breathlessly. Maddie furrowed her brow.
"But we just got here… I suppose we can leave a bit earlier than planned… Are you sure?" Lizzy nodded quickly, unable to speak. "Okay… How about you meet us at the car and we'll just help Cindy clean up in here before we leave." Lizzy nodded and mouthed a thankyou to her Aunt. She walked quickly out of the room, aware that all 3 occupants' eyes were on her. God. What was he doing here?! He was supposed to be at a stupid charity benefit. Heck. She shook her head in astonishment. God, that was embarrassing, why did things like this always happen to her?
"Elizabeth?" A voice called out in the distance. Oh no. Oh no no no. God please don't let it be him. Not now. She walked quicker, her footsteps carrying her out of the foyer and onto the front steps towards the car. Steps got louder behind her as a hand reached out and gently touched her arm. "Elizabeth, please." She closed her eyes tightly, willing for him and this moment to go away. Funnily enough he didn't. She let out a small sigh and turned around to see Darcy, the same one from the stables not 10 minutes ago. "Hi." He said, his eyes watching her in disbelief.
"Hi." She replied quietly. He reached out to cup her cheek in his hand, her face instantly molding into his callused yet gentle hand.
"I just… Is this real?" He said softly, his blue eyes looking into hers.
"I think so… I mean I can't teleport or anything or warp time, that would be totally cool if I could you know, Doctor Who style… Oh my god I'm babbling… please make me stop." She said, putting both hands on her mouth in horror. He chuckled as he withdrew his hand from her face.
"I… I had always imagined you being here but never once did I think it would be real…"
"Well… I didn't… I mean I wouldn't have come if I knew you were here…" She said, his shoulders dropped an inch and his smile became troubled. "I just… I didn't know… I didn't want to impose…"
"You couldn't have known… I was at a charity event but something was just calling me home… Besides, I don't do well in big crowds…" He said wryly.
"No… I guess not." Lizzy smiled hesitantly.
"Ahh… Mr Darcy, you have found one of our guests." Mrs Reynolds said as she walked towards them with Maddie and Ed. Darcy looked back at her inquisitively. "Mr Darcy, this is Mrs and Mr Maddie and Ed Gardiner and their niece who you already seem to know." She said, eyebrow raised. They all shook hands.
"This is a beautiful estate Mr Darcy." Ed said admiringly.
"Please, call me Will, and yes I'm very fortunate to be living in such a beautiful home and grounds. Have you had a walk around the grounds yet?" He asked politely.
"No, not yet but I believe we were just off, have to check in for the night you see." Ed said giving his wife a querying look.
"Oh where are you staying?" He asked.
"The Rose and Lamb. Just down in the town." Ed replied. "We're only booked in to stay a couple of nights and then we're off again. On the last legs of our journey."
"Oh right… Well, please by all means stay longer here, in fact, stay for dinner. I'm happy to send a message down to the Inn, I'm sure they won't mind a late check in." He turned to Lizzy. "It would be a pleasure having you here and –" He was interrupted by a giant squeal.
"OH MY GOD! LIZZY!" Lizzy saw a flash of blonde hair before a small body crashed into her from the side, knocking her off her feet. Lizzy grinned as she looked up at the leggy blonde on top of her.
"Hi Georgie. It's good to see you too." She said laughingly, hugging her tightly.
"Georgiana." Mrs Reynolds said sternly. "It is not polite to go knocking guests off their feet."
"Sorry Mrs Reynolds, I couldn't help it." Georgie grinned, helping Lizzy back to her feet. "And you." She punched Will in the arm. He looked at her shocked
"Hey! What did I do?" He said astonished.
"You didn't tell me she was here. I had to come out all by myself and what do I find? Lizzy and her…." She looked at Ed and Maddie quizzically.
"Aunt and Uncle." Lizzy whispered.
"Aunt and Uncle just leaving. How could you Will?" She said, putting her hands on her hips.
"I was just trying…"
"Trying isn't good enough, Lizzy you're staying and your Aunt and Uncle too."
"Well I was just about to accept your dinner invitation but I'm honestly happy to stay with my Aunt and Uncle at the inn Georgie, plus you and your brother seem busy enough here without me snooping around." She said.
"Nonsense, please stay, come on, I haven't had a girl over in ages plus Will won't tell me what clothes look good on me, especially lingerie." Will quickly placed his hand over his sister's mouth muffling her words.
"Yes, please stay. It would mean a lot… to both of us…" He said hesitantly, his eyes boring into hers. Damn it.
"Okay." Lizzy said, withholding a sigh. Georgie squealed and quickly grabbed her arm, pulling Lizzy to her bedroom, words spilling out of her mouth a million times a minute. She looked back shrugging her shoulders at the others who laughed at her expense.
"Mr Gardiner, have you been out by the lake? There's a lot of fish out there that have been left alone for far too long, would you care to join me?" Will asked nervously.
"Of course I'd love to, love a good spot of fishing myself… If that's alright with you dear of course." He said exuberantly. Maddie rolled her eyes at him.
"Oh go on then, I'll catch up a little with Cindy while we're here." Together the two women watched as the men walked off before heading inside and back into the kitchen.
Despite Lizzy's quite pronounced arguing, it was arranged that she would stay with the Darcy's for a few days while her aunt and uncle would continue their journey around the area and would arrive back in 4 days to pick her up and head back to the mountain. It was Georgiana who had pleaded and pleaded with Lizzy herself for more than 2 hours before she finally gave in, besides, living with the Darcys couldn't be that difficult…. Could it?
Lizzy woke up slightly disorientated. "Elizabeth! Get up woman! We only have 3 days, THREE DAYS." Georgie said in a huff as she collapsed on Lizzy's bed.
"Alright, alright. Don't get your knickers in a knot." She huffed, rubbing her eyes. "I need some more sleep and your beds here are awfully comfy." Lizzy settled down back onto the bed.
"Woman! Do I need to go over there and physically remove you?"
"Mmmm physically remove." Lizzy murmured. "AHhh!" She yelled as she felt a pillow hit her head as Georgie jumped onto the bed and started hitting her in the face with a pillow. "Okay okay okay!" She yelled. The pillow was relentless and her eyes narrowed. Suddenly both girls were jumping up and down on the bed, feathers flying everywhere.
Will had woken up and already gone on his morning ride. He had just gotten changed out of his riding gear when he walked by Elizabeth's room to hear screaming and yelling. Curious, he poked his head in to find both women jumping up and down on the bed, surrounded in fluff and feathers, whacking each other over the head with pillows. He shook his head bemused. "Women." He said under his breath. Immediately both women stopped their fighting and turned towards him, eyes narrowed.
"What did you say?" Lizzy asked him, hands on hips.
"Yes brother, you were saying?" His eyes widened as he turned and sprinted from the room. "Get him!" Georgiana yelled as both girls jumped off the bed and ran after him.
After successfully cornering Will into submission and fluff the three ate breakfast together before Will left to attend some of his state business. Together Georgie and Lizzy spent their days wandering around the house, talking on endless topics and enjoying each other's company. Will would join them for breakfast in the morning and would seemingly reappear every time Lizzy found herself alone. Georgie didn't like the outdoors around Pemberley as much as she did, blaming her allergies and hayfever. So Lizzy would spend the afternoons and evenings wandering around the estate and it was at these times she would stumble across Will. Will talking to the gardener about his family and young children, promising to send them a gift for Christmas, Will talking to the stablehands about how he could improve the stables and working conditions, Will chopping his own firewood for the numerous fireplaces around Pemberley, Will was everywhere. No matter where she looked he was there, always helping, always accommodating. The more people she talked to around the estate, the more they told of the things young Will Darcy had done for them and their family. He would often join her on walks and together they would playfully argue over any and every topic or sometimes they would just walk in silence, enjoying each other's company. Lizzy got a kick out of wondering what argument they were going to have next and found herself starting to anticipate their meetings with excitement. They never talked about anything personal. And Lizzy knew, she knew there was something there, she could feel the palpable electricity every time they accidentally touched or his hand would grasp hers to help her over a fallen log. As soon as that last barrier was down she knew she would be in trouble and so she avoided any and all topics that were pertaining to her life or his. This way she reasoned they could still be friends, still work on the friendship that was quickly building without ever moving dangerously over the line.
On the last day of her stay she had been walking by the house when he had appeared. Together they made their way to their favourite spot in the garden. Will had shown her the garden swing on her first evening and together they had sat and watched the sun set in silence. They had gone back every evening since. She sat on the bench swing and motioned for him to sit down on the other side with her. "You know, if you had asked me if I would ever had imagined myself sitting next to a crumpled shirt, old jeans wearing, relaxedish smiling Darcy on a bench swing at his house – if you could even call it that, a few months ago, I would have bet a ridiculous amount of money against it." He laughed – a real laugh. She glanced at him out of the side of her eye and smiled, his laugh was beautiful, like an infectious ball of light that instantly made everything brighter. She studied this new, relaxed Darcy, he was kind, gracious, a good boss, no one ever had anything to say against him, he clearly cared for his sister and by god he was gorgeous. Something she had refused to admit properly until now.
"I would have bet against it too." He said, smiling at her. They swung together in silence, enjoying the comfortable quiet and beautiful scenery of Pemberley in all it's golden glory. They continued to sit and watch as the sun started to set over the horizon. "I used to come here, with my parents." Darcy said into the quiet. Lizzy turned to look at him, her eyes watching his with worry.
"They sound like they were the greatest parents any child could've hoped for." She said in return.
"They were. It was my dad that introduced me to snowboarding. I still remember the first time I made it down my first green run by myself without falling over. I felt on top of the world." He whispered. "I almost quit when they died, I couldn't bring myself to look at a board again let alone get on one."
"How did you do it?" She asked him.
"I'm not sure to be honest, just one day, I remember looking at the slopes from my hotel window and thinking, why not. He would have wanted me to. But it wasn't easy, I almost quit another 5 times that week but I remember thinking that I wasn't a quitter. My parents didn't raise me a quitter and I wasn't about to start now." He said. "Don't get me wrong, it was hard, some days it still is. Some days I feel guilty as hell for still being able to live my life and they're stuck in the beyond somewhere only able to watch." He looked at her then, "but then something or someone comes into my life and tells me it will be all worth it in the end." Silence greeted the two of them as they sat slowly rocking back and forth on the swing.
"I was 16. My career was just taking off, there were talks of nationals, the Olympics you name it. I was there." Lizzy began, her breath quickening as she began to panic, the memories coming back.
"You don't have to." Darcy said softly. Her eyes hardened and her breath steadied.
"No, I do. I want to. I need to. One summer we decided to get away, the whole family. Henry…" Darcy held his breath, he had heard Richard talk about a 'Henry' once, Lizzy had felt something for him, what, he hadn't known. Lizzy took a deep breath, "Henry was my twin brother." Darcy let out a deep breath. "We were inseparable, we did everything together, my secrets were his secrets and his were mine. He looked exactly like me but male, we boarded together." Lizzy chuckled darkly, "He was the one that got me into it, I wanted to do everything that he did. No matter how dangerous or dastardly, we were in it together. That summer we decided to go rock climbing, out on the mountains, we had all the gear, we had had lessons the previous day, the other girls hadn't wanted to go with us so we went alone. We found one of the biggest rocks we could find and we went for it. Together we made it to the top and the feeling was incredible, exactly like when you make a jump or trick for the first time. We sat up there for a while, just taking in the scenery before we decided to make our way back down. We did it together, just like we did everything." Lizzy shook her head, reaching to grasp the locket at her neck. "We were foolish, foolish and young. We started to race each other down and as we moved quicker and quicker, one of the hooks must have slipped or the rope broke, I still don't remember but all of a sudden I was falling and Henry had let go of his rope purposefully next to me, catching me and holding me close and we fell together. He broke my fall." Lizzy whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I remember the pain, so much pain, he was next to me, he was so pale…" She said, her eyes lost in the memory. "He told me I was going to make it, he… he told me to stay strong, get back up and follow my dreams. He died that night. By the time help came my voice was hoarse from screaming and he… Henry was dead." The silence stretched between them. "I don't remember much about the months after that, when I came to again, I was in hospital, strapped to multiple machines, multiple broken bones, bruises, but nothing, nothing came close to knowing that Henry was gone. My sisters – some were too young to understand at the time but Jane did, she comforted me, my dad he held me close but my mother… She blamed me for his death, she still does, and I haven't ever forgiven myself for it. It took me a few years to get back up on my feet and start boarding again but that fear, that fear of falling, the fear of having no control, I don't go on any of the lifts that go too high above the ground, I can't go off the big jumps for fear of falling." She said sadly, "I just can't do it… No matter how hard I try…" She unclasped the necklace from her neck and opened the locket for him to see. "He gave this to me, before he died, I haven't taken it off since, it's the only thing I have left." She said, smiling sadly at the photograph of them in the locket, her tears dripping down her face.
"Oh Elizabeth," Darcy breathed, he opened his arms and she fell into him, those two words the only ones she needed to hear before the flood waters broke and her tears came in full force. He held her tight, murmuring into her hair as she cried her heart out.
She was still sniffling a few minutes later and looked up towards him apologetically, "I'm sorry. I've gotten your jumper all wet and gross." She whispered.
"I'll get a new one." He said simply. "I… I'd do anything for you." He said, staring into her eyes. Elizabeth could feel herself getting drawn into the deep dark depths of his eyes. It was like the gravitational pull towards the sun, the Earth couldn't stop itself, even if it tried and she couldn't stop as she felt herself lean in towards him. His eyes settled on her lips as he moved his head down to capture her sweetness. Elizabeth could feel his breath on hers and the alarm bells started to ring. Rich. Richard. Her boyfriend. She couldn't do this and neither could he. Her hand came up as she placed it flat on his chest.
"Don't." She whispered, her voice breaking. "We can't."
"Please." He whispered back, the longing and desperation clear in his voice.
"No." She said, her voice firmer now as she pushed herself off of his chest, looking away. He stood up suddenly, almost causing her to fall off the swing.
"FUCCCCKKKK." He yelled in rage. He let out a scream of frustration and crouched down on the ground in front of her. "Go, please go." He whispered. "I can't take it anymore." Her heart broke.
"But Will –" She started, he interrupted her.
"No, you're right. We can't." He looked up at her and she shuddered, his mask of indifference had set back in. She stood up and started walking. After a moment he followed her back to the house.
Elizabeth's night was restless, she couldn't get a single ounce of sleep as her mind tried to process what was happening. She loved Rich? Right? Or was it Will that she was falling for? She cared for both men but could she physically love both? Her thoughts were treacherous in themselves. It was tearing her apart. She had to leave. She couldn't be here. Where everything reminded her of him. Elizabeth got out of bed and called a taxi before moving around her room quietly, pulling her clothes and toiletries out of their cupboards, shoving them all into the bag that lay on the bed.
After she double and triple checked her room for anything she might have left, she gave up reasoning that Georgie would get it back to her if she did leave anything. Picking up the bag, she crept down the silent halls that were Pemberley and made her way to the front foyer. Elizabeth opened the door and shut it quietly, the taxi lights were visible in the distance and she ran. Ran as fast as she could, her hair streaming out behind her into the night. She turned to look back at the imposing mansion that was Pemberley as she opened the door of the taxi. There was a single candle burning in one of the windows and she knew it was him. Goodbye she mouthed and turned away into the taxi. "The Rose and Lamb please," she said breathlessly as she sent Aunt Maddie a quick text telling her she was on her way.
Will hadn't been able to sleep, the thoughts, devilish thoughts, of Elizabeth kept running through his head. So close. So close. But they couldn't. She was right. Rich had gotten there first. Damn his ability to talk to anybody and everybody. Why couldn't he have inherited any of that jovial manner? If he had maybe she would have been his. But she wasn't. He couldn't see her anymore. It was too hard. It hurt too much. He got up to look out the window and rubbed his eyes, doing a double take before discerning that it was Elizabeth. She had a packed bag in her hand, her auburn hair streaming out behind her. He watched as she stopped by the door of the taxi to look back at Pemberley. He knew she could feel him watching her, he held his breath as he watched her eyes try to search in the darkness for him. She mouthed something to him and he knew what it was instantly. Will put his hand up on the cold glass of the window and whispered back, "Goodbye."
Intense I know,
As always, don't forget to R&R! xx