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Mrs. Bennet eyed Will. “So, you're Lizzy's new beau.”
“Mom, this is William Darcy,” Elizabeth said.
Will held out his hand. “It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Bennet.”
“It's nice tofinallymeetyou, William Darcy,” Mrs. Bennet said pointedly, and grasped his hand. “Why don’t we all enjoy some fresh air on the patio?”
While everyone went outside, Elizabeth hung back and grasped Lydia’s arm. “I heard what you said when we were walking in,” she said when they were alone. “You need to remember something—Denny didn’t stick around for you either.”
Lydia frowned. “What's your point?”
“My point is, what happened in the past is in the past, and it needs to be left there.”
“Okay, fine. I get it.” Lydia’s voice softened. “I had no idea you were seeing Willy. How long have you been together?”
Elizabeth shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. “About a month or so.”
“That’s great.” Lydia sighed. “Um, I’m sorry for what I said earlier. Anddamn, Lizzy…Willy is hot. Good for you.”
“He is, isn't he? But can you please stop calling him Willy?”
Lydia grinned. “I guess I can do that.”
They went outside, and Elizabeth saw that her mother had cornered Will by the dogwood tree in the backyard. The open and expressive features she’d grown used to were shuttered away, hidden behind a mask.Definitely not a good sign.
Lydia joined Charles and Jane, and the three immediately began planning their next outing to Monday Night Madness. Elizabeth saw that her father was sitting alone and keeping a watchful eye on his wife, and went to join him.
“Your young man is in real estate,” he said.
“Yes.”
“It looks as if he's making quite an impression on your mother.”
She turned to see her mother beaming at Will, and felt a swell of nervous anxiety. “What do you suppose they're talking about?”
“Oh, knowing your mother, they're talking about high society in Boston, how many cars he has, how much money he has invested, and just whatishis net worth? Does he have any other homes? Has he ever been married before? Engaged? How many children does he wish to have—or does he already have some, hidden away somewhere?” He paused. “How long does he plan on sticking around?”
Elizabeth remained silent, and her father turned to her. “Shall I go on?”
She stared into her father’s eyes, mirror images of her own. “No, Dad, you can stop.”
“Very well. You know what your mother is about.” He tilted his head. “Tell me about him, Lizzy.”
She looked down at her hands, feeling deflated by her father's remarks. “What do you want to know?”
Mr. Bennet sighed. “How did you meet?”
“We met...accidentally. We didn't like each other at all, not at first. But then we kept seeing each other, and we started to talk a little more...” She smiled softly. “He’s wonderful.”
“He's quite handsome too, isn't he?”
“I think so.”
“Handsome and wealthy. He ticks all of your mother’s boxes. A perfect ten.”
Elizabeth ignored him. She couldn’t come up with a suitable reply, and that was exactly what her father was counting on; a clever, witty rejoinder in response to his provocation.
Mr. Bennet acknowledged her silence with a pat on her knee. “Sorry, Lizzy. You know how your father can be.”
