AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Don't youdareshow anyone those pictures! And so what, I screwed him in your house. What's the big deal? It's just sex. Oh, I forget, that's an unfamiliar thing for you.”
“At least my picture won't be splashed all over the internet or in some filthy magazine.”
“I don't care if those pictures end up anywhere! If your ownboyfriendthought it was you giving George a blow job, what do you think everyone else will think?”
Elizabeth was stunned silent. It was then she realized her sister was beyond feeling any remorse, and this whole conversation was a waste of her time. Her shoulders sagged, and she exhaled heavily.
“I don't know why I even bothered.”
“What's that supposed to mean?” Lydia asked.
“Coming here, trying to make you see what a mess you've made. I don't know why I bothered.”
“I've made no mess,that'swhy you shouldn't have bothered.”
“That's what you think, because you can't see beyond yourself. You're an immature, selfish, stupid girl. And someday, it'll come back to bite you.”
Lydia rolled her eyes.
“You can roll your eyes all you want, but I want you to answer a question for me. Did you always use protection with George? Did you make him wear a condom every time?”
Lydia's face flushed.
Elizabeth smirked. “Congratulations. You've had sex with everyonehe'shad sex with, and I bet that’s a pretty long list. And you know what else?”
“What?” Lydia asked timidly.
“I'm sure George took pictures that show your face as clear as day. He probably kept those for himself. You better start watching the internet—they could pop up anywhere. Oh, and one last thing.”
“Shit. What?”
“Dad isn’t too crazy about the pictures.”
Lydia's jaw dropped. “Youdidn't.”
Elizabeth grinned and lied through her teeth. “I did.”
Her father didn’t even know the pictures existed, but she thought it only fair that Lydia fret about it for a while.
“I can't believe you!” Lydia whined, sounding truly panicked now.
“And I can't believe you brought a sexual predator into my home and stayed there all weekend. I guess we're even.” Elizabeth paused. “I'm finished with you. I don't want anything to do with you. I'm sorry to say it, and I hate that this is what our relationship has come to, but...I just don't like you. Honestly, there's not much to like.”
And with that she dropped the pictures to the floor, making sure to step on them as she walked out of the house.
* * *
Will heardfrom one of the detectives early Friday afternoon, and was shocked but pleased to learn that Bill Collins had been taken into custody the previous day.
“Mr. Collins gladly gave up the whereabouts of his cousin. We have the name of his hotel as well as the name of the company he's taken employment with. Rest assured, Mr. Darcy, we'll find him.”
“What does my sister do in the meantime?”
“She waits. It may be several days depending on how quickly we can find Wickham, and what he's willing to tell us when we do. If he denies everything, we'll have a battle on our hands. But his cousin sang like the proverbial canary, which is helpful. We’ve also searched the room where Wickham stayed with his cousin in Falmouth. We found pictures stuffed under the mattress in Wickham’s room of several women. Some were explicit, others weren’t. One was of your sister—not explicit—and we're hoping to find out from Collins who the other women are, if he knows them. Obviously, we'd like to talk to each of them.”
Will assumed the explicit photos might be of Lydia, and wondered if any of the others were of Elizabeth.
“I appreciate you keeping us informed. Please let me know if anything further develops.”
