Hello,
I've been invited to a lovely New Year's get together on Goodreads. Sophie posted this on her blog Laughing with Lizzie and I will post it too.
This is my entry telling you what Darcy didn't in '45 days in Europe with Mr. Darcy': his New Year's party in Dubai.
While Lizzy was at home with her family, he was partying hard.
Now you´ll know what he was up to...
rated T, modern
She's got a lot of nerve
A
’45 days in Europe with Mr. Darcy’ vignette
‘Come on, Darce! I won’t have you alone in the corner in such a stupid
manner!’ Charles Bingley approached his longtime friend Fitzwilliam Darcy
sporting an annoying smile. ‘Such a nice party, it's almost midnight and look at
you! Sulking!’
‘Return to your date, Bingley.’ Darcy answered deepening his frown. ‘She’ll
waste her smiles if you are not there to appreciate.’
Bingley laughed. ‘You should include ‘loosening up’ in that New Year’s
resolution list.’
Darcy averted his eyes from the beautifully art deco decorated salon to the
friend he met in boarding school when they were boys. Frequently Darcy
regretted having adopted Bingley as
his protégée those many years ago. He could be really obnoxious.
‘In fact, I’m working on it now.’ Darcy answered.
‘I wonder.’ Bingley took a sip of his glass.
‘First New Year’s resolution: Don’t
allow anyone to tell me what I should do.’
Bingley laughed. ‘So many pretty birds here tonight. Not one is using
burkas!’ He wiggled his brows.
Darcy shook his head. More than two weeks in the United Emirates and
Bingley was still fantasizing what was beneath the women’s robes. If they had chosen
a nunnery to spend the holidays, he would surely have similar thoughts. ‘You
are dancing with the prettiest one. Why should I settle for less?’
‘She is lovely, another angel!’ Bingley grinned and winked to his date
who was giggling with some friends a few steps away. ‘How about that one in the
scanty grey dress?’
Darcy turned his head to the side and crossed eyes with said girl again.
They had been stealing glances since he arrived. She was pretty, but… ‘Not
enough to tempt me.’ He answered.
‘Brazil is a long way from here, Darce. Chill.’ Bingley tapped his
friends’ shoulder and returned to his angelical date.
“Exactly seven thousand, three
hundred and seventy eight miles. A sea, a gulf and the evil Atlantic Ocean
separating the rich Dubai from the tropical Rio de Janeiro.” Darcy thought and
again whisked his cell phone from his pocket. As soon as he unlocked it, there
she was. Lovely, smiling, Venice’s sunset behind her.
Second New Year’s resolution: realize
things won’t fall at your feet, chips frequently fell where they shouldn’t.
Seven thousand miles composed a very big distance but it wasn’t impossible.
A little effort, a lot of constancy and a handful of persuasion should do it.
With a sigh he closed the photo and pulled up the mail Georgie had sent him
that very morning: “Big bruv, you chose to spend the holidays away from home but
that won’t keep me from nagging. Here’s a list of resolutions – take note!”
Third New Year’s resolution: if
the responsibility is yours, take it. He had messed up and tried to mend
things, but it wasn’t easy. Remorse, anger, frustration, pent up hotness: all
mixed up in him. He groaned and drained his glass. ‘I need another drink.’ He
grumbled to himself.
‘All alone, old sport?’ A melodic voice quoted Fitzgerald in a whisper close to his ear. A
little too close, in fact.
Darcy turned his eyes to the pretty woman in the gray scanty dress.
Amazing legs, great body, full mouth. More than enough to tempt him.
‘Yes. You?’ He asked.
She moved her designed eyebrows and tilted her head to the side. ‘So it
seems.’
He raised his eyes to the waiter passing by with a tray of champagne
flutes and extended his hand to trade his empty for a new one, passing close to
her shoulder. The girl turned, curious of his intentions and the long gray
fringes hung from her low neckline to hemline, added to the sparkling sequins
beneath it, flattered her figure. He blinked and sipped his new drink.
‘American?’ She asked.
‘British.’ He answered.
‘I’m South African.’ She offered. ‘Ella.’
‘William.’
‘Enjoying the party?’ She flirted blinking her smoky eyes.
He raised his eyebrows. ‘It can always improve.’
Forth New Year’s resolution: No
one can have it all. Accept tradeoffs. He was a world away from her, he
tried to mend things and was making (slow) progress but why bark at the wrong
tree? He snorted to himself; she would flip with the use of a proverb. The
pretty girl smiled sideways in question and he shook his head.
Nothing, it was nothing, really.
Except it was. She had a lot of nerve, that Elizabeth Bennett. Fool him
for several days and then, literally, shut a door in his face. They flirted –
he was sure she did flirt, he was not, could not have misunderstood her the
whole time. She did flirt deliciously, and he loved every moment of it. Amsterdam,
space cakes, Venice, wellies, Milan, vespa, the Tropic and their night together
seasoned with perfectly cooled grappa. And the morning after was heavenly,
perfect, hot, unforgettable.
Darcy was a bit afraid to turn into a school girl mooning over a crush. "Tradeoff, no one can have it all", he repeated to himself. ‘You dressed the part,
very Daisy-like.’ He smiled charmingly.
Ella battled her lashes at the handsome man in black tie. ‘We match, you
are absolutely Gatsby-like.’ She reached
forward and groomed his lapel. ‘White jacket suits you. Better than the
traditional black.’ She said based only
on her will to flirt – she had never seen him before.
It didn’t matter; she wouldn't have to try very hard. Darcy was on the mood to let her numb the squeeze in
his chest.
Fifth New Year’s resolution: careful
with the grey, the world is made of black and white. Things either are right or wrong for you. Learn to identify
what works and what doesn’t. If Lizzy was that out of reach – geographically
and emotionally – it was time to admit it was helpless. The grey girl beside
him, however…
From the corner of his eyes he saw Bingley’s satisfaction in seeing
him with this girl. He hated that look and elected it the reason for his vague uneasiness.
The unfamiliar atmosphere of a New Year’s party themed as Fitzgerald’s
The great Gatsby was also weighing on him. Art deco room, black and white and… golden – no grey. No indecisions, no unnecessary layerings, all very
tasteful and exuberant. White sets of antlers, white feathered boa, black
dishware, floating white roses and lilies in crystal glasses. No tulips though.
Oh, her tulips!...
Darcy reminded himself to nod and smile agreeing with grey Ella who was chatting about
something.
Tulips had brought Elizabeth to him. An array of colors, pinks, yellows,
blues… and hedge. He chuckled secretly. “Hedge
mazes, big helpers.” She was an explosion of colors - no black, no white
and no grey in Lizzy.
‘… dance floor?’ He saw her bright red mouth move but didn’t quite get
what she was saying. But the grey girl took his glass from his hand and ushered
him to the luxurious salon’s dance floor, her dress having a movement of its
own about her.
But if felt foreign; this girl was almost as tall as he was, she moved
freely and confidently, she hugged him differently. Not the same as Amsterdam, La vie en
rose, a black dress in a shorter girl, a throaty voice, a sexy tattoo in her
right instep, a tasty kiss. Elizabeth.
‘Forty minutes to midnight, let’s find some refreshments and step on the
balcony?’
He nodded just as his phone double beeped.
Sixth New Year’s resolution: learn
to focus on what matters, stop forgetting your goals and allowing
distractions.
Lizzy Bennett sent you a text.
“It is said that whether we won or
lost, the old year improves the new with lessons learnt. I say it’s the size of the party that determines how good the incoming
year will be. For me, it won´t be that promising. :( Party in Dubai for
me! :D Happy New Year, Darcy.”
First his
breath caught, then his heart jerked, next his brain commanded and his fingers
moved.
“Happy New Year, Lizzy! I can make you as
many promises of joy as you wish, my bird. I can even fulfill most of them.”
Seventh New
Year’s resolution: efficiency is the key.
Be precise, be clear, quit all curves to reach a straight patch. Be bold,
geometrical, direct. Very art deco-ish. How fitting.
“Very tempting… But I feel I have to ask:
are you drunk?”
He chuckled.
Yes, he had drank a few glasses of champagne, how could he not? Pretty girls in
short fringed dresses crossed the salon with enormous champagne bottles that sparkled and flirted more than refilled glasses. Yes, he drank to numb
the frustration of not having Lizzy with him. Yes, he drank to not compare the girl in grey with her.
“I may have been drinking for quite a while.
But it’s not nearly as nice as last time. No grappa and worse company.”
Clear, spot on message. Grappa and Lizzy mixed perfectly, the tangy
taste and her sweet kisses complimented each other that night making his head
spin. Her touch, her caresses…
But also her shouts and the fire in her eyes. Spiteful words, wrong
conclusions, stubbornness.
'There you are!’ Darcy heard.
Eight New Year’s resolution: don’t
waste precious time. If it’s not what you want – or deserve, give it up, be
it a person or an activity.
He smiled weakly to Ella and she knew this was not the man she would be
kissing at midnight. “Ah, well…” She
sighed.
Lizzy didn’t answer his message but he was sure she understood him. He
was planning to overflow her mailbox with fireworks’ pictures so she could blog
as much as she wanted, but he would love to receive one from her. Those eyes,
that smile, a white dress … Elizabeth.
When he told her about the Great Gatsby Réveillon in a text a few days
earlier, Elizabeth had been ecstatic. Instead of texting back she sent him
several voice mails demanding details, pictures, everything. Darcy was not sure
he wanted to attend such a big party, it was a Bingley thing. He would rather
find an exclusive club with a nice view to watch the fireworks, butLizzy
liked the idea so it changed his inclination.
That’s what she did best; make him see things in a different view.
‘Ah, yes of course. Different way to read people.’ Darcy told himself. He left the balcony in search
of his friend and found him laughing in a group of pretty girls, his angel and
the grey girl included.
‘Bingley, the New Year’s resolution list Georgie sent me.’ Darcy said.
‘The bullshit you deleted?’ Bingley chuckled.
‘Didn’t yet, I’m still considering it.’ Darcy pulled up the mail in his
phone. ‘Here.’ He pointed with his middle finger while holding his sweaty
champagne flute. ‘Ninth New Year’s resolution: If you’re interested, tell the woman. If it works out, good. If it
doesn’t, move on. Act upon it.’ He read and Bingley frowned. ‘Jane Bennett. Weeks
ago I told you what Lizzy said.’
If Snoop Doggy Dog weren’t singing so loud, one could hear Bingley’s
wheels in motion in his head. ‘What time is it in Rio?’
‘Early evening. They are spending the holidays in Petrópolis though.’
Darcy answered, Bingley nodded and reached for his own cell phone.
When he asked Lizzy her plans and she said ‘home with family’, he
considered inviting her to Dubai. She had traded the Holidays shift at the
cruise line with a colleague, so she had a few days free. But he lacked the courage, he was afraid she would refuse him again. Now he regretted not trying, she would love
to be there, he would love to have her there. Close to his lips, to his hands, to his
arms.
Tenth New Year’s resolution: get
off your ass and make things happen. Courage and attitude. Progress may not
be linear; you may stumble, but pick yourself up and keep on.
As Darcy saw it, Georgie sent only one same message worded in ten different ways.
‘You stay in my mind so I have to make you mine’, Snoop sang.
Bottom line: Fitzwilliam Darcy
was in love with Lizzy Bennett, and would have to make it work.
---
Thanks Rita W, dear, for betaíng and for the delightful lunches we had here in Rio!
character, wouldn't she?