Page 11 of Puck and Prejudice

“Perfect!”

She stares at me while Wickham helps himself to the tray of canapés. “Can I help you?”

I don’t answer right away, trying to come up with a reply that doesn’t make me sound like a jerk. But Wickham moans and says, “You’re an angel, Izzie. This is delicious.”

She smiles again, and her cheeks flush. My annoyance doubles, and before I can stop myself, I blurt out, “Please refrain from socializing with guests.”

Her eyes widen. “Excuse me?”

“She wasn’t socializing. I followed her,” Wickham interjects, but I ignore him.

“I’d hate to lodge a complaint with your boss. I let the beer incident slide; I won’t be as lenient anymore.”

Hell. So much for not sounding like a jerk.

“Darcy, come on. Why do you have to be such a condescending ass?” Wickham retorts.

“You’ve been warned.” I turn on my heel and leave, regretting my outburst more with each step.

Sure, my first impression of Izzie wasn’t the best, but my attitude just now did little to warn her about Wickham’s unsavory ways. If anything, I just shoved her in his direction. Now I’ll have to keep an eye on both of them for the rest of the night.

Fuck me.

* * *

IZZIE

“Well, that was fun,” Gavin says as soon as Jackson walks away.

I’m a little shaken by the altercation and don’t comment. Jackson was a jerk, but he wasn’t wrong. Ishouldn’tbe socializing with guests.

“I need to make my rounds.” I head over to the party at a slower pace than normal. I don’t want to catch up with Jackson.

“Hey, don’t let Darcy get to you. He’s an arrogant prick who loves to put people down, especially those he deems are beneath him.”

“Darcy didn’t get to me,” I lie. “Sadly, I’ve dealt with his type before.”

“Well, I’m sorry that I got you onto his path of wrath. I feel it’s my fault.”

You’re not completely wrong, dude, but it was also my fault. I encouraged it.

“It’s okay. Do you want another croquette?”

He smiles cheekily. “Well… maybe one for the road.”

We part ways, and I focus on treating guests with impartial cordiality. Jane’s performance is over, and the set-up crew—not our crew—is getting the garden ready for dinner. That means this is my last round serving canapés.

Once the tray is empty, I head back to the kitchen but stop in my tracks when I spot Lydia and Mari Carmen making a beeline for the main house. Fuck a duck.

I set my tray down on the nearest high table and follow them. I don’t want to lose sight of them. The girls aren’t supposed to go near the house. They have a head start, and I need to navigate the guests without bumping into anyone. Breaking into a run isn’t an option. By the time I reach the house, I’ve lost them.

I use the side entrance and walk into a living room that’s almost as big as my parents’ house. I shouldn’t gawk, but it’s impossible not to when I’m standing in the middle of so many cool things. There are paintings hanging from the walls that I guess must have cost millions.

Focus, Izzie. This isn’t a tour in a museum.

I turn left and continue to look for the girls. I don’t hear them. If they’re being stealthy, it means they’re up to no good. But then I hear giggling ahead. It’s coming from behind a closed door down a wide hallway. I rush to it and push it open, but it’s not Lydia and Mari Carmen that I find. It’s Jane and Chad in a state of semi-undress.

Jane yelps, covering her naked breasts, and Chad turns around, positioning himself in front of her, and forgetting to cover the bulge in his pants.

---