Page 13 of Pride, Prejudice, & Pretense

"Fanny thanks her mom and dad. It’s very nice."

He pointed to the building across the street, indicating a mirroring room on its tenth floor. "That's where Bingley and I will be."

As if on cue, Charlie stepped in front of the mirroring window and saluted them. Darcy shook his head but saluted back. "Lovesick fool."

Lizzy snapped her head toward him. "Lovesick?"That's news.

He nodded, disapproval in his posture. "He's fallen for a woman in D.C., but for some reason they're trying to keep it secret. He hasn't told me anything about it?I've just figured it out. He was on the phone with her last night. When I took him the pizza, I could hear him through the door, though he hung up before I got it open."

"Listening at the door?"

Darcy shrugged. "Spy. Habit. I wasn't trying to listen. Bingley was talking excitedly."

“And you couldn't be mistaken about him?"

"Couldn't be? Yes, Icouldbe. It's logically possible. But I'm not. You have to grant that, for a spy, Bingley's remarkably open-natured. He might as well have newsprint on his face. And he and I go back a long time. I see the boy in the man."

Lizzy turned away, chuckling, both from surprise at this news and from pleasure for Charlie. She waved at him through the window. She liked him and hoped he was happy. Whenhe moved away, she swung around and breathed in the new apartment. "The decor is nice. I like the solid colors."

Darcy nodded. "Good. The fridge is stocked, as is the pantry. The foyer closet has some outerwear. Oh, and there's jewelry in a box on the bedroom dresser. The bedroom closet has several pairs of shoes."

He shifted his weight from foot to foot, silent for a beat. "I guess I should go. I'll be back at 7 p.m. so that Ned and Fanny can go to Rosings."

"Okay." Lizzy felt a little of the uncertainty he seemed to feel, although she could not have said what the uncertainty was about. It just seemed free-floating.

Turning, he walked to the door. She followed and locked the door behind him.

Once he was gone, she walked through the apartment slowly, opening all the doors that were closed, peeking into closets and the bathroom (surprisingly large, with a spacious shower), the pantry, the kitchen cabinets?making sure she knew what was what. It was a nice apartment, nicer than the one back in D.C. that she lived in herself.

She had a piece of paper that Charlie had given her that morning that mapped the locations of all the bugs in the apartment. It was currently tucked into her purse, but she remembered them. She went around and checked them, too. All were carefully hidden. Across the street, Charlie and Darcy would be able to see and hear what was happening in any room of the apartment. The bugs would be active only by plan, only when she knew. Right now, neither of the men should be listening or looking.

Going back to the bedroom, Lizzy put the clothes away, hung up her dresses. She opened the jewelry box on the dresser and considered the pieces, choosing a simple gold chain with a heart pendent and a gold watch to wear with her black dress. From thecloset, she chose a pair of black heels and put them beside the bed.

After that, she took the files from her purse, carried them to the marble counter and sat down, kicking off her shoes. Like an actor, deep cover had made her good at memorization. Unlike an actor, forher,failing to remember could have fatal consequences. Hers was not a forgiving business of multiple takes. It had to be right the first and only time.

She went back to memorizing Fanny's life and her love life with Ned. Later, she'd go someplace nearby for that pedicure.

***

Lizzy was in the black dress and heels, jewelry on, when she opened the door to Darcy. He was in a black tux. As he gazed at her, she gazed at him. She was struck afresh by his size, the width of his shoulders, his wavy hair. "Good evening, Ned."

He blinked several times before he answered in Ned’s midwestern voice, leaning toward her slightly. "Good evening, Fanny. You look wonderful."

She nodded her thanks.

"Let's hope Wickham thinks so," she said softly, "since it's all for him."

Darcy straightened. "Yes, well…let's go. I have a car downstairs."

Rosings was massive, hulking. It looked more like an English country estate with vast grounds than a house near Chicago. It was lit brightly, festively, but it still had a brooding air, Lizzy thought.But maybe it's the dark.

A long line of cars moved slowly along the half-circle driveway, each depositing passengers at the front of the house. When their car reached the entrance, Lizzy got out first, helpedby a man in a white coat stationed there for that purpose. Darcy got out after her.

Music wafted out of the house. Steps led up to the large doors with another man in a white coat standing by them.

Darcy took Lizzy's hand. Though she should have predicted the gesture, if anyone had asked her?if she had asked herself?she had not anticipated it, and it surprised her. She looked down at their hands for a moment before she responded to his gentle tug and followed him.

The white-coated man at the top of the stairs opened the door, and they went inside. The music was louder, the lights brighter. A butler came and took their coats, handing Darcy a fancy claim ticket.

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