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She pulled Elizabeth from the patio and into the glorious living room; Uncle Thomas trailed after them and closed the French doors. “We have plans for this evening?” Aunt Madeline asked Elizabeth. “Did it slip my mind?”
Elizabeth stared at her flip-flops. “We discussed trying that new restaurant that was reviewed in the paper.”
“The one where we didn’t even get reservations?” Her aunt snorted. “I think we can forgo that pleasure for an opportunity when the President of the United States invites us to his house for dinner.”
“Of course. It’s fine,” Elizabeth said hastily. She was half appalled and half thrilled at the idea of remaining at Pemberley.
Uncle Thomas stepped toward Elizabeth until they were face-to-face. “Lizzy, has something happened with the president? Has he made you feel uncomfortable? We won’t stay if you think he’s a creep.”
“It’s nothing like that.” The words tumbled out of Elizabeth’s mouth. “I…he…he and I…” She blew out a frustrated breath and started again. “We never seem to be on the same wavelength. He’s so proud and acted like such a snob when he talked to my family, but at times like these he’s trying so hard to be pleasant. I don’t understand why his behavior changed.”
“I can guess a reason or two why,” Aunt Madeline said with a small smile. Elizabeth was certain she didn’t want to know what her aunt was thinking. “I would like to stay. Goodness knows we won’t get an opportunity like this again.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure of that, my dear,” Uncle Thomas said enigmatically.
Elizabeth returned to the patio and informed Will that they’d rearranged their plans so they could stay for the night. She didn’t believe she’d ever seen him smile so broadly.
Afterward, things happened quickly—which probably wasn’t unusual around the president. He had an agent drive Aunt Madeline to their rental house to pack up clothing for everyone. Elizabeth chatted with Fitz and her uncle while Bing and Will attended to some presidential duties. By the time her aunt returned, everyone was more than ready for a couple of hours at the beach.
***
The beach at Pemberley was one of Darcy’s favorite places in the world, and he was thrilled to share it with Elizabeth. Her aunt and uncle were very pleasant company and a great addition to the party.
Darcy had been eagerly anticipating the sight of Elizabeth in a swimsuit, but his own reaction overwhelmed him. Her bikini was blue and covered more skin than many such suits. Still, it left little to the imagination, and Darcy had spent many hours imagining what he was now able to see. Time and again he resolved to sit back in his beach chair and enjoy the vast cloudless sky and rhythmic sounds of the waves, but his eyes were drawn back to Elizabeth’s bikini; he was helpless in the face of such an alluring sight.
It wasn’t just her incredible hotness in the bikini that drew his attention. She was so clearly enjoying herself, alternately floating in an inner tube or splashing with her aunt and uncle. Her eyes sparkled, and she laughed with abandon. When she swam, she cut through the water with a blithe lack of self-consciousness. If he joined her in the water, could she teach him that kind of spontaneity? Could spontaneity even be learned?
Darcy’s board shorts were not loose enough to completely conceal his…reaction to her presence. He was compelled to place a towel over his lap—and still couldn’t avert his eyes from her form. Hopefully her aunt and uncle were enjoying the beach too much to notice his stares; otherwise, they might worry the danger of kidnapping hadn’t passed.
Caroline had arrived a couple of hours ago and was stretched out on the beach chair next to his. Her designer bathing suit consisted of a complicated set of straps that would surely become hopelessly tangled if she actually attempted to swim. Of course, the suit’s true purpose was to show off her slender figure, which it did very well. Nevertheless, Darcy’s gaze was never drawn to her.
Behind her oversized sunglasses, Caroline observed Elizabeth frolic in the surf as well. “You would think her family could afford a more flattering swimsuit for her,” she sniffed.
“I think it’s quite flattering,” Darcy said mildly.
Caroline rolled her eyes. “Puh-leeze! It’s at least two years out of date. And look how brown she is; I bet her skin will be dry and wrinkly before she’s forty.”
“It’s just a light tan. I think it gives her a healthy glow, don’t you, Bing?”
On Darcy’s other side, Bing glared at his friend, not happy to be dragged into the discussion. “I suppose,” he replied noncommittally.
Caroline settled back into her chair with a moue of displeasure. “I don’t see why you invited them to spend the night,” she complained. “They’re nice enough people, but we don’t know anyone in common. Her family has some money I suppose; the danger of bankruptcy seems to have passed for now. But they all went to public school, for heaven’s sake. What on earth will we find to talk about at dinner?”
Darcy managed to hide a grin. “I’m sure we’ll muddle through.”
“I don’t see the appeal.” She regarded Darcy over the rim of her sunglasses.
Darcy gritted his teeth. “You don’t need to. They’re my guests, Caroline.”
She huffed and shook her hair back from her face. “Maybe I’ll see if Fitz would like to go for a walk.” Rising gracefully from the chair, she stalked over to the towel where Fitz had fallen asleep while sunbathing and prodded the man with her toe. Soon the pair was strolling down the beach.
Naturally, Darcy’s attention returned to Elizabeth like a homing pigeon. Bing chuckled and Darcy sighed, watching her push her aunt around on the inner tube. “I can’t help it.”
“She is very attractive.”
Darcy deliberately misunderstood his friend. “Bing, she’s married and at least twice your age.”
“Ha, ha,” Bing said. “Even Caroline noticed your…attraction.”
