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Elizabeth sighed. Better that she let her mother get it all out now instead of when she saw her this weekend—though she knew this entire scene could be reenacted in front of Will anyway.
“Oh, now, that's much better. I can see your jewelry better with the magnifying glass. Yes,verypretty. Emeralds...oh, and diamonds too. But your hair! Why didn't you put it up? It always looks such a mess, tangled around your shoulders like that. You could have shown off those earrings better had you put it up in a nice chignon or something of the sort.”
“I like it down. Will likes it down.”
“Oh, well then, if he likes it down, you be sure to wear it down as much as possible. But it wouldn't hurt to run a brush through it now and then, would it?”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes and changed the subject. “Um, we had a nice weekend on the Vineyard.”
“Yes, I've talked to my brother, and he said you had a lovely dinner together. I hope you don't feel the need to tell William all about our family. We don't want to scare him away, do we? He's probably used to dating girls from well-to-do families; you're probably the first who isn't…well, just not from his circle, I suppose.”
Elizabeth pursed her lips. “He knows all about our family, Mom. He knows he's slumming it.”
“Elizabeth Rose! That’snotwhat I’m saying.”
“Yes, it is,” Elizabeth answered, losing the will to do battle as quickly as it had come on. “Will knows very well where and what our family came from.”
“Well, no need for you to go on and on about it. If he doesn't ask, you don't tell. But enough about that, tell me about the ball! Who else was there?”
“It was a fundraiser. Jane and Charles went, didn’t she tell you?”
“Yes. They’re coming to visit this weekend. You and William will join them?”
“Yes, we'll all stop for a quick visit.”Very quick.
“Oh, that's nice. Maybe Lydia will come as well. She stopped by last week to grab something but was in and out. She has a new boyfriend, George Whitman or Wickland or some such.Thisone has potential, she says. More money, and a bit more adventure in his blood. He's just what she needs—someone who can appreciate her spirited nature.”
“Oh yeah, he's just what she needs,” Elizabeth mumbled.
“What?”
“Nothing. Um, I have to go. I'm almost home, and I have plans with Will tonight.”
“All right, don't keep him waiting. Butpleasedo something with your hair! I know you've been riding that foolish bicycle back and forth to work. I can only imagine what it looks like when you get home.”
“Bye, Mom. See you this weekend.”
Elizabeth continued her ride home, replaying the conversation in her head, and burst out laughing. She must have looked ridiculous, pedaling along and cackling like a fool, but she didn't care. The whole conversation was absurd, and her mother was never going to change.
* * *
Thursday afternoon arrived quickly,and Will was grateful for it. His time in Boston had flown by, and his last order of business was to make arrangements for his trip to California. He would leave the same day Elizabeth left for South Carolina.
Being in California while she was gone would make her absence more bearable and would give him a chance to further rectify the situation with Richard. He’d spoken with his cousin again today, and Richard had mentioned two vacancies within the company, and that Lauren was looking to possibly transfer into one of them. He thought it was a step in the right direction but still couldn't abolish the fears that lurked at the back of his mind. He needed time and the opportunity to get to know Lauren better, and this trip would provide both.
He pulled up to the softball field and parked, his eyes immediately lighting on Elizabeth as she stretched while chatting with a few of her teammates. His gaze lingered on her legs, then traveled slowly to her face, and he smiled when he saw she was watching him. She arched a brow provocatively, making him laugh.
They walked toward each other, meeting halfway, and she kissed him softly.
“Hi,” she said.
“Hi.”
“I missed you.”
“I missed you too.” He grinned and shook his head. “What are we going to do when you're in South Carolina and I'm in California?”
“Have lots of phone sex.”
