“Alright,” she heard herself saying. “I’ll ask him.”
“Wonderful! How about this Sunday? No, wait, that’s too soon. I need time to plan the menu. Next Sunday? Or perhaps the Sunday after? We could do Christmas Eve, make it special . . .”
“Mum, slow down. I’ll ask him what works and get back to you.”
“Don’t tarry, dear. Good men get snapped up, especially this time of year.”
After her mother ended the call, Elizabeth sat on her sofa, phone in one hand, the disastrous scarf in the other, and contemplated the magnitude of what she’d just agreed to. Clever, careful, private Darcy was going to meet the Bennet family. All of them. At once.
Waffles padded over and rested his head on her knee, looking up at her with a sympathetic expression indicating he understood the gravity of the situation. Or maybe he just wanted a treat.
“What have I done, Waffles?”
He whined and settled himself against her legs, a warm, heavy golden anchor in the storm of her panic.
Her phone buzzed again. The group chat had continued without her and Lydia had changed her name at least once.
Jane:Lizzy, are you alright? You went quiet.
Elizabeth:Just got off the phone with Mum. I may have made a terrible mistake.
Lydia (scene_steelr):What mistake??? Did you tell her about the biscuit tin???
Elizabeth:Worse. I told her I have a boyfriend.
Kitty:YOU HAVE A BOYFRIEND???
Lydia (scene_steelr):DETAILS. NOW. NAME, OCCUPATION, AGE. SNAP?
Elizabeth:His name is Darcy and I think I just agreed to bring him home for dinner.
Jane:Oh, Lizzy. How do you feel about that?
Elizabeth looked around her flat—at the manuscript pages scattered across her coffee table, at Waffles now snoring against her leg, at the scarf.
Elizabeth:Ask me again after I’ve figured out how to tell him.
Lydia (scene_steelr):Bring him out tonight!!
Elizabeth:Not the smallest chance.
Kitty:Come on Lizzy!! We promise to be good!!
Mary:I could prepare a list of appropriate conversation topics.
Elizabeth:As tempting as that sounds . . .
Jane:Would you like me tocome over? We could talk.
Elizabeth smiled, feeling some of the panic ease. Even though it was late, she knew Jane would take the train into the city with a bottle of wine, some sensible advice, and a calm presence that made everything seem manageable.
Elizabeth:Thanks, but I think I need to sort this out on my own. I’ll call you tomorrow.
Lydia (scene_steelr):We’re going to meet him though, right?? Soon??
Elizabeth:Eventually. If he agrees.
Kitty:He’ll love us!! Everyone loves us!!
