� 2004 Copyright held by the author.
Chapter 5
As Christmas approached, so too did the Holly Hop, Longbourn�s annual holiday semi-formal dance held just before the school break. Every girl at Longbourn was encouraged to ask a date to the dance. The main topics of conversation all across campus were �What are you going to wear?� �How are you going to wear your hair?� and, most importantly of all, �Who are you going to invite?�
It was a foregone conclusion Jane would invite Charles to the dance. That they were deliriously in love was no secret, judging by the blissful looks and dreamy glances they exchanged. As a favor to some of her dateless girlfriends, Jane asked Charles to drum up a few of his acquaintances to be much needed blind dates. Jane�s first thought being Will, she offered to find Lizzy a date, but Caroline beat her to the punch, and unexpectedly, Will had accepted her invitation. Lizzy thanked Jane for her concern, but assured her she was planning something on her own.
At first Lizzy didn�t know whom she was going to ask. There just didn�t seem to be anyone out there that thrilled her � a veritable dearth of �dream dates.� Why couldn�t Lydia�s �Mystery Date� board game be real? she mused. Unconsciously or not, Lizzy avoided one obvious person, one who made it clear he was eager to be her man. George Wickham. He had called a few times, asking Lizzy for dates. She couldn�t make up her mind about him, and each time he asked, Lizzy found an excuse to say no. He was certainly handsome, but there was something about him she couldn�t quite pinpoint. He seemed a little �dangerous� to her. However, with the Holly Hop fast approaching and Lizzy still dateless, a feeling of desperation enveloped her. George Wickham was looking better and better. He�d certainly cut quite a figure in tie and jacket, and she couldn�t help feeling a slight nervous thrill at the prospect of going with him. He does kind of look like a Beatle, she thought reflectively. She finally decided to ask George, and give him a chance for that date he kept asking for.
Lizzy felt nervous phoning him, it went against the grain for her. She was taught to wait for the boy to call you. She could hear her mother�s litany of do�s and don�ts in the back of her mind. �Boys never go with girls that call them! Wait for them to call you.� But what else could she do? Since the Holly Hop was Longbourne�s event, she couldn�t very well wait for a date to call her. Tapping her fingers fretfully on the receiver, she waited for him to answer the phone, nearly hanging up after the fourth ring. When he answered, it seemed sudden.
�Hello?�
�Hello, George? This is Elizabeth Bennet, I hope�um� you aren�t busy or anything,� she said nervously.
Today was payday and George had been about to leave his flat en route to a poker game with four co-workers from Korvettes, a pimply crew of green rubes he was certain to take for all they had.
�Elizabeth,� he lied smoothly, �I�m never too busy for you.�
If she hadn�t been so desperate � yes, she had to admit it � she was desperate for a date, Lizzy would have rolled her eyes at the absurdity of his obvious lines. Is he for real? Although she was gratified he sounded interested, he also sounded much too smooth for her own taste. With no choice but to forge ahead she got to the point. �I�m glad to hear that. I wanted to ask you something��
�Ye-es?� he said, leadingly.
Heart beating wildly, she asked all in a rush, �We�re having a dance Saturday night, it�s a semi-formal, and I was wondering if you wanted to come with me as my date?� She held her breath waiting for his answer.
�Next Saturday?� George had to think quickly � was there a poker game that night? It didn�t matter. He�d been trying to snag the delectable Elizabeth Bennet ever since he met her, but so far his efforts had been unsuccessful. Maybe this is just the opening I need.
�I�d be honored to go with you.� With his answer, she closed her eyes as relief spread over her. Yes! I have a date!
�Thank you!� Enthused by her success, she proceeded to give him the details of the dance and when it began.
�It sounds wonderful, Elizabeth, I�m really looking forward to it.� George said as he eyed the clock. �But, as much as I relish the sound of your voice on the phone, I must go now. I was just on my way out.�
�Oh, that�s all right.� She was still too excited and relieved to notice his smarmy tone. �I�m sorry to keep you,� she said apologetically. �I�ll see you next week.�
�Yes, thanks for inviting me.� His voice dropped as he put on the charm. �I�ll be thinking of you� until then, Elizabeth.� Later, when she had time to review their conversation, it struck her as artificial. Now, that she had him as her date, a tiny feeling of doubt crept into her brain, but she pushed it away, convinced it was her overactive imagination getting the best of her.
�Good night, George. Thanks again!� She hung up the phone, thrilled that she got a date all on her own for the Holly Hop. She ran down the hall to tell Charlotte and Jane her happy news.
With so little time before the dance, Lizzy nearly gave up finding just the right dress to wear. Fortunately, with Jane as her advisor, she found what she was looking for in time: a shimmering deep red dress, perfect for the holiday season, with a low round front neckline, close fitting bodice, and a plunging back. A delicate overlay with tiny iridescent beads cascaded over the very full skirt with tucking at her sides beneath the waistline, which gave the shimmering skirt a draping effect. The color set off her dark hair and pale skin beautifully. Jane planned to do Lizzy�s hair, piling it on top allowing a few curls to escape, creating a romantic and seductive picture.
Jane�s dress, elegant in its simplicity, was a silver-blue silk chiffon, a gown fit for a princess. Filmy and strapless, cut close in the bodice, it accentuated Jane�s trim waist. Flaring out at the hips, it appeared to float over layers of crinoline. Her pearl necklace and matching earrings would complete the graceful look she hoped would please Charles.
George Wickham was pleased with what he saw before him. He ticked off the attributes mentally, Attractive, stylish - check. Good build. Teeth - straight. Hair - perfect. Satisfied, he adjusted the lapels on his jacket and glanced at his reflection in the store front window one last time before entering the formals shop.
"No! No, that won't do at all!" A loud, grating voice came from the rear of the store. "It has to be just right." The voice continued snootily, "Will Darcy expects nothing less than perfection. It has to be taken in more!"
George's ears perked up at the mention of his nemesis. Curious to hear more, he casually strolled toward the back of the store, nearer to the voice that captured his attention.
"Yes, ma'am," was the obedient reply from behind the dressing room door.
"Watch it with those pins!" screeched the voice. George raised his eyebrows with a smirk. Whoever she is, Darcy deserves her!
He took his time perusing menswear until a tall, heavily made-up, self-important looking young woman exited the dressing room in too much of a hurry. She gave George a fleeting glance on her way to the sales counter. George turned his back to her, feigning interest in the dinner jackets on display.
"This has to be ready by Saturday." The woman told the sales clerk in no uncertain terms. "I have a very important event to attend that evening. I must look my best. My date for the Holly Hop is Will Darcy,� adding importantly, �the heir to Darcy Pharmaceuticals.�
George stole another look at her, sizing her up. Her manner said she had money, but no style or grace. He was incredulous. What was Will thinking? George found it hard to believe Will's standards could drop so considerably as to let him be seen with such a person. The Darcy family was one of quiet dignity, never flashy or obvious like this minx before him. He looked at her critically while her back was to him.
He bided his time, waiting for the young woman to leave the store before leaving himself � without a purchase. In light of what he had just learned, he made a decision. There would be no need for formal wear.
Finally, the day of the dance arrived. Jane, Lizzy, Charlotte and nearly every girl at Longbourn primped and prepared all day long for the big night. Lizzy and Charlotte were both nervous. Lizzy was edgy, thinking of an entire evening with the attractive and dangerously thrilling George Wickham as her date. Charlotte was jumpy for a different reason. She was anxious about her blind date, one of Charles�s friends from Princeton. While not the most attractive girl at Longbourn, Charlotte tried her best to make the most of her looks. Practical, she admitted freely to herself and her closest friends that all she wanted in life was to get married and have a family as soon as she graduated, if not earlier.
At about three o�clock, when the girls were just about to begin their preparations, Lizzy heard her name called from down the hall; a phone call for her. Surprised, Lizzy looked at the clock. Who could be calling now?
�Hello?� she said cautiously.
�Elizabeth?� said the muffled voice. �This is George.� Between coughs he croaked, �I�m afraid I have some bad news.� Lizzy nearly gasped when she recognized George�s voice and the words he said registered.
�George?� she said worriedly, a sinking feeling growing in her stomach. �Are you okay?�
�I�ve been sick as a dog � a stomach thing. I won�t be able to go to the dance tonight.� As she heard the words all the air went out of Lizzy�s lungs.
�Oh!� was all she could manage to say at first. �I�m so sorry.�
�I hate to do this to you, but it came over me so suddenly.� He apologized, �I would have let you know earlier, if possible. I hate to think what a spot this must put you in.�
�I understand.� She was numb, but wished for him to feel better, even though all she wanted to do was hang up the phone. �I better let you go.� She could barely muster any compassion for George at that moment; she felt miserable and overcome by disappointment. �You better get back into bed, George, don�t worry about me.�
On the other end, George hung up the receiver and turned to his companions. �All set. I�m back in the game.�
Lizzy trudged back to her room, where Jane and Charlotte were waiting.
�Who was that on the phone?� Charlotte asked, noticing the crestfallen look on her roommate�s face.
�That was George. He can�t come tonight. He�s sick with a stomach flu.� Lizzy plopped down on the bed, utterly deflated.
�No!� Jane and Charlotte said in unison. Jane put her arm around Lizzy�s shoulders, comforting her. �Don�t worry, Lizzy, you�ll still be able to go tonight. I�m certain Charles will find you a date.�
�Who?� Lizzy asked glumly. She didn�t want a blind date. She had been looking forward to going with George � and, deep down � she wanted to see Will Darcy�s reaction.
�I�m not sure, but I�m certain he�ll be very nice,� Jane reassured Lizzy. Lizzy didn�t like the idea, but having no choice she went along.
�Oh, Lizzy!� Jane said breathlessly. �You look absolutely gorgeous!� She was delighted with the way Lizzy turned out; her date would flip when he saw her � whoever he was. Lizzy had to admit she was very pleased with how well she looked. The reflection in the mirror didn�t even feel like her. I hope he likes it�whoever he is. Will Darcy�s face flashed before her for a fleeting moment. Briefly, she wished he were her date. Then she remembered with distaste he was going with Caroline. There was no love lost between them � ever since the weekend at Netherfield, she and Caroline ignored one another whenever they crossed paths on campus. To Lizzy�s amusement, Caroline pretended Lizzy didn�t exist. A senior like Caroline Bingley would never give the time of day to a lowly freshman, especially if that lowly freshman was in the dubious position of being at the top of Caroline�s hit list.
The dance began at seven o�clock, and as the girls finished their last minute preparations of lipstick and perfume, the phone rang. It was the desk downstairs telling them their dates had arrived. Apprehensive, Lizzy grabbed her wrap and purse and made her way downstairs with Jane and Charlotte.
The dormitory lobby was already crowded with young men, corsages in hand, waiting for their dates. Amidst the sea of dinner jackets and evening attire, four particular gentlemen stood in front of the rest at the foot of the grand stairway. As each group of elaborately dressed girls came down the staircase with chatter and laughter, all of the young men looked up in anticipation. A collective sigh would emit from below at the wondrous site before them as the girls appeared in their finest gowns.
When Lizzy saw Will standing at the foot of the stairway, she felt a sudden lurch in her stomach as she was instantly reminded � again � that he was not her date. Her stomach refused to cease its somersaults when she saw the shy smile on his face and the noble expression in his dark eyes. She couldn�t miss the look of admiration he gave her. She couldn�t help but return it, as she noted how handsome he looked in his silk tie and dark suit. His hair was neatly combed for the evening, not the unruly mop of curls Lizzy was accustomed to seeing. In his hand, he held a box with a corsage in it. The sight of that corsage hit her, bursting their little cocoon of intimacy. It�s not for me. It�s for Caroline. Determined not to let him spoil her evening, she reminded herself of his haughtiness and arrogance. He and Caroline deserve each other.
Although William thought he was prepared for the moment when he would first set eyes on Elizabeth again, he was overcome by the sight of her. Completely unaware of Jane or Charlotte, Elizabeth had his undivided attention as the threesome came down the stairs. His eyes were only for his Elizabeth, forgetting the minor detail that she was not his that evening � nor any other evening for that matter. He caught his breath at the sight of her, slowly exhaling in awe of the beauty before him. His eyes widened as he noticed the pleasing display of cleavage her dress afforded. She was brilliant in her alluring red gown. It accentuated the smallness of her waist and curves of her body, and she appeared taller with her glossy, dark hair worn up. He unwaveringly smiled up at her, taking in every inch of her as she continued her descent.
Lizzy gave him an arch look as she walked past him to approach Charles and the two other men beside him. Charles immediately greeted Jane, complimenting her appearance before he introduced Lizzy and Charlotte to their dates. Charlotte�s date was Maxwell Saunderson, a shy looking young man who was a little short in the height department. He seemed somewhat tongue-tied, but anxious to please.
Lizzy�s date was not exactly what she�d hoped for. Bill Collins was an awkward, lanky young man, who was a definite devotee of the �greasy look.� Pushing up his thick black tortoise-shell glasses, he stepped forward and bowed clumsily before her.
�It is an honor, Miss Bennet, or may I call you�Lizzy?� he asked, bowing. With him bent before her, Lizzy fought the urge to gag as she stared at his hair in horror. He stood up, grinning, then realized he was forgetting to give her the corsage he was holding, and held it out to her.
�Is this for me?� she asked, still incredulous that this was her date.
He was a bit nonplussed, but remained polite. �Yes. I hope you like it.�
�Oh, yes, thank you.� It took every ounce of self control for her not to turn around and run away screaming. Out of the corner of her eye she saw from Jane�s face that she felt terrible about Lizzy�s lackluster date. Dumbly, Lizzy pinned the painfully garish evergreen corsage onto her dress. A Christmas tree corsage? Happy thought, indeed. She made a note to herself to misplace the thing as soon she could manage it. As she finished arranging it so it wasn�t too noticeable, she realized someone silently approached and was standing beside her. She looked up and saw Will gazing down at her, with kindness in his dark eyes, as if he knew what she was thinking.
�You look very lovely tonight, Elizabeth,� he said quietly. Lizzy hated herself for blushing at his compliment.
�Thank you,� she said, determined to keep her head high.
A hush came over the group as Caroline began her grand entrance down the staircase.
Lizzy looked up scornfully, half-expecting Caroline to say, �I�m ready for my close up, Mr. DeMille.� Caroline outdid even herself. Rumor was that her dress had been made especially for her at one of the chicest couturiers in New York. No doubt started by the woman herself. Lizzy thought. Who else would create such a ridiculous story? The dress was a stunning black and white satin strapless evening gown that Caroline wore with long black opera gloves; her hair coifed to perfection. At her ears were glittering diamond earrings which matched her diamond necklace. Her eyes looked especially large. Probably those fake eyelashes. Lizzy smirked. Caroline regally advanced on the group.
�Will, darling!� Holding out her hand, she waited for him to take it. He noticeably gulped and pulled at his collar.
Lizzy was momentarily amused � and distracted � from the unpleasantness of her date as she watched the spectacle before her.
Will was resigned. I have made a pact with the Devil. He took his overdressed date�s arm and led her towards the ballroom. If this is what I have to do to be near Elizabeth, so be it.
The ballroom was decorated in holiday themes of gold, red and green, making it look especially festive. A large resplendently lit Christmas tree stood in one corner of the room while a bar and a refreshment table were set up in another. The large dance floor in the center of the room was the main focus of the evening; with music blasting and lights dimly lit, it was oddly reminiscent to Will. It was in this very room that he and Elizabeth had first met.
Bill Collins could not be more pleased with his date. He did not hesitate to ask Elizabeth to dance two dances right away. Assured that his expertise in the art of dancing would impress her; he believed she would immediately recognize his magnificence and jump at the chance to dance with him as much as possible. He would also try his best to live up to the reputation of a �Princeton Man� and was confidant she would be awed that he was a member of the ultra exclusive Ivy Club.
Lizzy was not looking forward to dancing with him. She allowed him to lead her to the dance floor as an especially lively song was playing. Holding his hand, much less dancing with him made her cringe inside. It�s going to be a long evening.
It was torture. Bill was one of the most outlandish dancers she had ever seen. Mortified to be with him on the dance floor, she wished that floor would open up and swallow her whole. How am I going to get through this? Arms flying and legs moving frantically, he wasn�t even keeping in time to the beat. At some points, he seemed to be completely unaware of his partner, so engrossed was he in his own movements. She stood back from him, trying to hide her horror. Her only thought was to finish this dance and get away from him as soon as possible; her moment of release would be ecstasy.
Will watched the scene before him with a glint of amusement in his eyes. He gave Caroline his usual, �I don�t dance� line, freeing himself to observe. He shook his head at Bill Collins. What a character. He couldn�t help but feel sorry for Elizabeth. She looked as uncomfortable as a person could be, but he admired the grace and poise she exhibited in spite of her dancing partner. As the final bars of the second song came to a merciful ending, he watched relief spread across her features as she dashed away from the source of her torment.
Will had been apprised earlier of Elizabeth�s unexpected need for a blind date. Jane had told Charles that Lizzy needed a date because hers, George Wickham, had become sick and could not attend. Will had blanched at the name. That good-for-nothing reprobate. He couldn�t bear the thought of her with him � dancing with him. Better a fool like Collins than a slippery eel like Wickham. How fortuitous he backed out at the last moment. Will was sure the stomach excuse was a sham.
A little later in the evening, Lizzy and Charlotte found a moment to talk and compare.
�Are you enjoying yourself?� Charlotte asked. Lizzy rolled her eyes.
�What do you think, Charlotte? At least, I don�t have to dance with Bill for a while, I told him I was tired � he is exhausting.�
�Will Darcy looks at you a lot, Lizzy. He definitely likes you.�
�Probably just finding fault with me,� she said, trying to convince herself more than anything. �I wish he weren�t here, he only makes me feel uncomfortable.� Lizzy looked around to see if she could see him before adding, �I�m convinced we�d never get along.�
�I wouldn�t write him off too quickly, if I were you, Lizzy.� Looking beyond Lizzy she added, �Here he comes.�
The opening riffs of a new song came on. Will would not take �no� for an answer. He watched Elizabeth dance with that fool long enough. Now that she was talking with her friend, and Collins was nowhere in sight, he seized his chance.
Lizzy turned in surprise just as Will came up to her with a determined look on his face. His dark eyes never wavered from hers as he took her hand, pulling her toward him. Lizzy was speechless. A familiar jolt of electricity ran through her fingers as he pulled her out onto the dance floor. Standing across from him, her astounded eyes were riveted to his.
How dare he drag me out here, without even asking me! she thought resentfully, though the song was irresistible. I�ll show him! Grinning up at him, she grabbed her skirt, hiked it up provocatively and began to twist to the music. Her eyes dared him to follow.
Well, shake it up baby now (shake it up baby)
Twist and shout (twist and shout)
Come on, come on, come, come on baby now (come on baby)
Come on and work it on out (work it on out)
Will grinned back. �Is this a contest?� he shouted to her over the music, matching her twists. His eyes never left hers as he followed her movements. I can match you easily.
Well work it on out, honey (work it on out)
You know you look so good (look so good)
You know you got me goin' now (got me goin�)
Just like I know you would (like I knew you would)
She laughed out loud at him. �You want a contest, Will Darcy?� she yelled back, with an impish grin. �You�re on!� She let loose enthusiastically, daring him to follow her.
Well, shake it up baby now (shake it up baby)
Twist and shout (twist and shout)
Come on, come on, come, come on baby now (come on baby)
Come on and work it on out (work it on out)
Will kept up with Lizzy, taking her dare. They continued to twist as the music controlled their actions. The rest of the room disappeared.
You know you twist, little girl (twist, little girl)
You know you twist so fine (twist so fine)
Come on and twist a little closer now (twist a little closer)
And let me know that you're mine, woo (know you�re mine)
Will leaned closer and closer to Lizzy, their faces inches apart.
Ah, ah, ah, ah
His heart beating rapidly, he thought if he got any closer to her, he would kiss her. Will nearly got his wish.
Suddenly realizing how close they really were, Lizzy lost her bravado and her footing, and stumbled slightly. As she tripped forward, their lips practically met but for Will�s quick reflexes. He reached out, breaking her fall. Pulling her close to his chest, he delighted in the feel of her in his arms. Their eyes met and both felt the intimacy of the moment. Time seemed to stop. The music reached its crescendo. As if on fire, Lizzy jumped back, carrying on with the song, afraid of what may have happened had she not come to her senses. Savoring the brief moment and wishing it were longer, he followed her lead and let it pass, continuing to dance energetically.
Yeah, shake it up baby now (shake it up, baby)
Twist and shout (twist and shout)
Come on, come on, come, come on baby now (come on baby)
Come on and work it on out (work it on out)
It was exhilarating twisting up, twisting down, meeting the other�s moves.
You know you twist, little girl (twist, little girl)
You know you twist so fine (twist so fine)
Come on and twist a little closer now (twist a little closer)
And let me know that you're mine (know you�re mine)
Breathless, they worked themselves up, bodies in perfect rhythm. There was no denying it � they were good together.
Well shake it, shake it, shake it, baby now (shake it up baby)
Well shake it, shake it, shake it, baby now (shake it up baby)
Well shake it, shake it, shake it, baby now (shake it up baby)
Ah, ah, ah, ah*
Having thoroughly enjoyed every minute of their dance, Will guided an out of breath Elizabeth over to the refreshment table. Her face was flushed and excited, her eyes sparkled, and with a feeling of d�j� vu, Will grabbed a Coke for her, popped off the cap and handed it to her, all the while grinning.
�Now,� he said smugly, �aren�t you glad you didn�t come with George Wickham?�
Lizzy froze at his words. A feeling of alarm descended upon him as she gave him an icy stare.
Oh no, not again. There was no doubt in his mind what she was thinking.
*Twist and Shout performed by the Beatles, written by Russell/Medley � 1960 and 1963 Screen Gems-EMI Music Incorporation, USA. EMI Music Publishing Limited, London WC2. All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured.
� 2004 Copyright held by the author.