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“You were staring. It’s rude. I know you don't like me, and the feeling is mutual, so you don’t have to worry about mefoistingmyself on you.” Her hands went to her hips as she stared up at him. “And if you're trying to intimidate me, you may as well give up. I amnoteasily intimidated.”
He’d thought her eyes were bright before; now they shot sparks. “I have no doubt that I wouldnotbe able to intimidate you. Which I'm not trying to do, anyway. I was just...looking.”
He was saved from what would surely be her arch response by Charles.
“Darcy, you’re pathetic,” Charles said over the music. “Are you going to dance or just stand here all night?”
“I think I'd be hard-pressed to find someone in here I would be remotely interested in dancing with.”
“You’re ridiculous,” Charles said. “Pull the stick out of your ass and have a little fun.”
The opening guitar licks of an old song came through the speakers, and Jane grabbed Elizabeth's hand.
“I requested this for us! Let’s go!” she yelled, tugging Elizabeth away from Charles and Will and toward the dance floor.
The men watched as the sisters danced and laughed and sang along. It was comical, actually, but they were obviously comfortable and weren't the slightest bit self-conscious.
Charles leaned toward Will and nodded toward the women. “Isn’t she the most beautiful thing you've ever seen?”
Will was tempted to ask which Bennetsister his friend was referring to, but wisely remained silent.
* * *
The following day,while outside on her lunch break, Elizabeth called Jane to fill her in on what happened when William came to pick up his pictures—though Jane still didn’t know the mystery manwasWilliam. For some reason, Elizabeth felt compelled to protect his privacy; it was the least she could do, having invaded it so thoroughly.
“What's your schedule like this week?” Jane asked.
“Softball practice starts today. And I have a staff meeting after work on Thursday, which is actually a staff meeting slash cocktail hour. Bill likes to use it as an excuse to socialize.”
“And how is the lovely Mr. Collins?”
“Still trying to get me to go out with him.”
“Tell him you have a boyfriend.”
“That's a good idea. Maybe that will get him to back off. Do you and Charles have plans Friday night?”
“Not yet. We should go out. How about Whimsy? I haven't been since last year.”
“Oh, that's perfect. Should we ask Lydia to join us?”
“Probably. She’s dying to meet Charles. I’ll call her. Oh, I almost forgot! Don't make plans for the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. Charles is having a big cookout at the beach house. A lot of our friends and coworkers are coming, and I'd love for you to meet them.”
Jane worked as a paralegal in Boston, and had met Charles when she began a new job at the law firm where he worked as an associate. After weeks of casual flirting, they’d started dating in January.
“Charles invited Mom and Dad too,” Jane continued. “I'll need you there for moral support.”
Elizabeth’s eyebrows rose. “He’s meeting Mom and Dad? You must be serious about him, because I know you wouldn’t let Mom within twenty feet of him if you weren’t. And of course I’ll be there. It sounds like just the thing to kick off the summer.”
“Will is going to be there as well. Maybe you guys can start over.”
“There isn’t anything to start over.”
“Okay, I'll leave it alone. There will be so many people, maybe you won't even bump into him.”
“One can hope.”
* * *
