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Elizabeth shook her head, already finished with their conversation, and watched her mother lead Will to the patio, her arm looped through his.
“Now, Lizzy, this one’s a keeper,” Mrs. Bennet announced, and then rolled her eyes. “Well, we thought Jason was too, but we all know—“
“Mom!” Jane interjected. “How about some lemonade or something?”
“Oh! I’m so sorry! I can't believe I haven't offered something cold to drink.”
Jane rose and grasped her mother’s elbow. “Come on, I’ll help,” she said, and they disappeared inside the house.
Elizabeth rose from the chair and started for the house, but Will stopped her before she went inside.
“Are you okay?”
“I'm fine, I'm just ready to leave. We’ve been here long enough.”
“What about Charles and Jane?”
“They'll go when we go. I’ll talk to Jane.”
She left Will outside and walked into the house, closing the sliding door behind her.
“Oh, Lizzy, I was just telling Jane she should take you shopping,” Mrs. Bennet said. “Look at the nice outfit she's wearing! She looks lovely.”
“Mom, knock it off,” Jane said, her patience clearly running thin. “Lizzy looks great.”
Elizabeth wore a denim skirt, not too short, and her off-the-shoulder green blouse with a black thin-strapped camisole underneath. Before they’d left his house, Will had commented that he remembered the blouse from Monday Night Madness, and had thought of little else but her bare shoulders for several days after that.
“But men like to see their women in frilly things,” Mrs. Bennet stated. “Dresses, lace, heels… And show a little cleavage! Work with what the good Lord gave you.”
“Ugh, really, Mom?” Elizabeth responded with a roll of her eyes. “Should I take up pole dancing next?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. But you know, you'll need to keep this man's attention somehow. Whatever you did with Jason didn't work, so you’d better come up with a better strategy for William. A man who looks like that, with all that money… I'm sure he isn't lacking for female attention, and you're not getting any younger.”
Jane's mouth dropped open. “Mom!What iswrongwith you?”
“I don’t think my wardrobe will be the deciding factor in my relationship with Will,” Elizabeth said, determined to brush off her mother’s remarks.She will not do this to me. Not today.
“I'm just making a point: one has to think of everything. I'd hate to see this one lose interest and wander off too.”
Before Elizabeth could respond the door opened and in walked Will and Charles, followed by Mr. Bennet.
Mrs. Bennet rambled on, as if they weren't even there. “A little makeup wouldn’t hurt. And you should wear something to flatter your figure, though it will never be what Jane's is.”
“Mom! Stop!” Jane nearly spat.
Elizabeth sighed, knowing the three men had heard every word. Her gaze went to Will, who was watching her closely, his eyes soft on hers.
“Time to go?” she asked him.
He nodded. “We have to pick up Georgie.”
“Where are we going for dinner?” Jane asked, glancing between Charles and Will.
“Elizabeth suggested the pub in the commons,” Will said.
“Perfect,” Jane said.
“Oh, you kids, going to a pub?” Mrs. Bennet chimed in, and rolled her eyes. “Leave it to Lizzy to suggest apub. You should all be going to a nice restaurant.”
