Page 26 of Pride, Prejudice, & Pretense

His jaw slackened. "Huh?"

"Oh, come on Charlie, we're friends.Share!I promise I won't tell Darcy."

He examined her, clearly indecisive, his ears reddening. "It's a…workplace thing. Even though we're not breaking any rules, we both want…time for things to…stabilize between us before we make it public. You know how hard it is for an agent to have anything remotely real, much less long-lasting."

"Spies don't fall in love?"

His eyes widened. She was sure he had heard that from Darcy and probably not long ago. "Yeah. Even if that isn't how it ought to be or needs to be, it's how it is. We want to nurturethis while it's tender so maybe it can grow into something sturdy enough to last."

She understood. "Have you ever thought about quitting, Charlie, walking away, leaving the whole shadowy mess behind you, all the awful, evil people…some who are supposedly the good guys?"

Charlie hesitated. "No, but I believe I would for her. If she asked."

Lizzy felt almost jolted, almost envious. "Wow! Well, I'm on your side, Charlie. And hers. Whoever she is."

His answering smile was enigmatic, not an expression she was used to on his candid face. "That means a lot, Lizzy.”

His manner turned professional again. “Oh, Darcy said to tell you that if there's a problem or an emergency, he'll text you as Ned:Miss you.If you receive that text, free yourself from Wickham as soon as possible."

"Will do."

***

For her outing with Wickham, Lizzy chose a pair of jeans, a red sweater, boots, and a beret. After she put the sweater on, it occurred to her that it was exactly the shade of her toenail polish. The garments exposed no skin, nothing like the dress she had worn to the party, and she covered the sweater with a leather jacket. She had inserted a disc into an interior pocket of the small purse she would carry and put another inside one boot. She accessorized with the topaz necklace and a pair of earrings that matched it.

Opening the computer, she waited for Charlie. A moment later, he was on the screen. "I've got strong signals from the trackers. Say something for me."

"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."

Charlie stared at her. "Where the hell did you hear that?"

"My mom. She repeated it to me every day the summer before I started at Haverford. She's a throwback?way, way back. The only degree she cared about me getting was my M.R.S."

"Christ! That must've been some fun for you!"

Lizzy smiled with bitterness. "Still is. Every phone call. I never received that diploma."

He barked a laugh. "Ouch.” He grew serious, scanning his equipment and then looking up. “Okay, I hear you and see what you see."

Lizzy chuckled. “It's strange to have a man's eyes on my breasts, but looking away from them."

Charlie shook his head at her. "Be safe, Lizzy. I'll be around. Count on it."

***

She headed downstairs at 2:45 p.m. Shortly after Darcy had left, Lizzy had texted Wickham the address and received his response:

Looking forward to seeing you and the sights

Carefully worded, George,she thought to herself, the final three words modulating the earlier ones but not negating them. By the time she got downstairs and waved to the security guard, who waved back and smiled, her phone vibrated.

Car outside. Look for the limo

Lizzy had not expected that. He had said he would have a car, but a limo was not what Lizzy, Darcy, or Charlie expected. Still, it was good in one way: easier to tail, harder to hide. It was bad in another, as it had too much room inside. A playground in the rear. She focused herself as she walked outside.

The black limo shined in the afternoon sun, like boots at a military parade. Wickham stood beside it, the inside of the open rear door. A large man in a chauffeur's uniform held the door from the outer side.

Wickham watched her walk to him, watching her the whole way. He tried to disguise it, but his eyes explored her. He thought he had more control over his features than he did, at least where lust was concerned. Lizzy made herself smile at him.

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