Page 49 of First Impressions
She waited as Anne seemed to think about what to say next.
“We dated a long time ago, that’s true. I should probably clarify that we only started dating because of our families’ close relationship that had imposed on us for a long time that we would eventually end up married to one another. However, once we started dating we learned quickly that not only were we not really attracted to each other that way, but we didn’t do well as a couple; we were much better at just being friends.” Anne paused to take a seat in one of the high-back leather chairs by the fireplace.
“The breakup was traumatic, as I’m sure you’ve read about. Not that it wasn’t for the best; it’s just that Darcy has always been good at being independent and forging his own way. I, on the other hand, for various personal reasons have and still continue to live under my mother’s rule; so, when we split, she was irate and blamed the entire thing on me. Even though I didn’t want to date Darcy, I didn’t want to suffer her disappointment either. Anyway, long story short, over the years we grew back into our old friendship, and since Darcy didn’t want to be bothered with a serious relationship, he would never correct anyone who assumed that we might still be together and I, likewise to avoid my mother’s wrath, continued to allow her to believe that we are together.” Here, Anne moved her gaze from her clasped hands that were resting in her lap, up to meet Beth’s wide-eyed stare, “But I can assure you that we are not, nor will we ever be, engaged.”
Beth looked at her for a moment letting the information sink it. Her story made sense. Knowing firsthand how Mrs. DeBourgh had treated Beth to get what she wanted, and how she had threatened her if she didn’t, she felt sorry for the woman sitting in front of her, trapped by her own mother.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love my mom but she can be harsh when things don’t go her way,” Anne added quickly.
“So why do you let her continue to believe that you and Darcy are going to be engaged soon if that’s not going to happen?” Beth didn’t understand why she just didn’t tell her mom that they were never getting married and let her get over the relationship once and for all.
“Because of you,” was her response.
“What? I don't understand.”
“We were going to tell her; Darcy wanted to be there with me to give me support in case she freaked out, but then at your family’s ball she was watching Darcy closely, and Darcy was watching you closely,” she sighed.
“Ok…” Beth said, still not understanding the problem.
“If I tell her now, she will blame our ‘break-up’ on you and she will be out for blood. I’m sure she’s already threatened you in some form or another since you began working with her; I know she was looking for information on Darcy and I assume you gave it to her, which is why we ended up at your ball in the first place.”
“She is exceptionally persuasive,” Beth agreed, not admitting specifically to spying on Darcy for her. She didn’t want to think about what would happen if Darcy ever found that out.
“He’s trying to protect you from her and her revenge. She’s believed my whole life that I would marry William Darcy; I don’t know what she would do to the person she thinks stole that from her. It’s partially our fault for letting this ruse continue for so long, but then I guess Darcy never thought he would want something different. Anyway, so to protect you and I guess in some ways to protect me, he’s trying to figure out how he can take the blame for ending our relationship because he’s the only one she would be too scared to go after,” Anne looked at her with sadness in her eyes. “We made our bed and now we are being forced to sleep in it,” she lamented, “I’m just sorry that you had to be dragged into the middle.”
“I see,” Beth said slowly, “So you’re really not engaged to him?” Out of everything that was the only fact that her mind, or was it her heart, was clinging to.
“No,” Anne gave her a large ‘I want you both to be happy’ smile, “We definitely are not.”
“Ok, I’m sorry. It’s just a lot to take in. I mean, I had some inklings about your mother’s character and what she wanted to accomplish, but I just never realized the extent. I’m sorry,” the pity she felt for Anne really starting to seep into her response.
Anne brushed her off, “Please, I’m used to and prepared for it. I’ve lived with her for 30 years now, so I know what I’min for.” It still clearly upset her but she was putting on a brave face and changed the subject, “So, have you seen him? Or talked to him?”
“Ahh... briefly, since that night… but we haven’t talked much. Some things have happened with my family since then that he might be responsible for and I just don’t know what to make of it all right now. Especially with everything you just said, it’s a lot to process.”
Anne shook her head. “He’s so stubborn. I keep telling him… well, never mind. He’s a good man, though, in spite of how he comes across.” Her praise came across as more of a plea to believe her, than an actual compliment.
“We should go before someone comes looking for us. I just had to apologize in private before we had to work together all this week with only my mom’s misinformed assertions to guide you.”
As Anne stood up, Beth felt herself walking over to the other woman and giving her a hug. “Thank you.” She didn’t know what else to say, feeling overwhelmed with her emotions. All she could think as they left the room was that Darcy wasn’t dating anyone; he didn’t want Anne.He wanted her.
Chapter Thirty-One
She hadn’t seenhim again the entire week.What the hell. At first, she had told herself that it was because Char and Jane were with her basically all the time and that’s why he had kept his distance. However, when they left Sunday night, she had expected him to show up on her doorstep Monday morning but he never came. The rest of the week followed the same pattern; she woke up every day hoping to see him, knowing that he had said that they needed to talk, but no actual attempt by him to do so.
She’d kept very busy during the days though, working with Anne to solidify the plans for the event, then working with the vendors as they began to arrive later in the week to start setting up. She was also put in charge of photographing the pieces and individual gems that were going to be auctioned off throughout the night sending notices out to the major news outlets in the city as well as posting all the social media marketing herself. Aside from the celebrities who would attend, the gems being auctioned off for charity were the next biggest attraction.
In previous years, the DeBourghs had selected a charity on their own for the money to be given to. Beth had suggested to Anne to allow the auction winners not only to receive the piece that they bid on but to also request a preferred charity that they would like the proceeds to go to; that way Mrs. DeBourgh could still reject the choice but the donors might feel willing to bid more knowing that it could go to a non-profit of their choosing. Anne had loved the idea and conveyed it to her mom, who begrudgingly approved. As much as she didn’t want to give Beth the satisfaction of approving her idea, it was too good of a chance to pass up, especially if it incentivized people to bid more money. Beth wasted no time making sure the appropriate outlets were notified that the DeBourgh White Party, already well known for the sizable contribution it would make to charity, would be letting the participants select their own preference for the donation; thepress was thrilled. In the days leading up to the event, Mrs. DeBourgh had almost double the number of interviews and requests for journalists to attend as they usually had. Not only that, but Anne told her the following day that some of the guests who planned on attending and donating money but not bidding on items, had gotten in touch with her to change their status to participating bidders now that they knew their donation would reflect their personal interests.
The minor changes in the auction proceedings were settled by Wednesday and on Thursday Beth transitioned to working more alongside Victor as the vendors and decorations began to arrive and the space was beginning to be prepared. Aside from having to deal with Victor’s snobbish attitude, everything had gone pretty smoothly on that end.
Even though she would say now that she and Anne were on good terms, they hadn’t really discussed Darcy again. Beth had managed to ask her on Wednesday if he was still staying on the property, but Anne replied that she wasn’t really sure since he stayed in the guest suite in the clubhouse, which was out by the nineteenth hole so he could come and go without anyone seeing him. As far as she knew, he was staying there until after the party but she wasn’t sure.
After their private discussion, Beth realized that she hadn’t asked Anne anything about Charles and if Darcy was the reason that he had left Jane and broken her heart. She felt guilty and angry at herself for not thinking to bring it up the moment Anne had opened up about Darcy and she was determined to speak with Anne alone again so she could find out. After having the night to think about it though, she didn’t know if she should bring Anne further into this whole mess. Even though she felt like she could trust her, she wasn’t sure how much Darcy had told her about what had happened between the two of them and she didn’t want to have to suggest to his ex-girlfriend that she thought Darcy ruined her sister’s chance at happiness because he was scared of his attraction to her. Plus, even though she and Darcy were close, Beth had a feeling that Darcy wouldn’t be discussing Charles’ romantic life with her. Anne’s personality, too, suggested that she would have said something about Charles and Jane if sheknew anything that might help or shed some light. So, Beth worked side by side with Anne and kept her thoughts to herself, waiting for Darcy to show up and make good on his word.
Beth was grateful when it was finally Saturday, the day of the White Party, for many reasons; she was tired of being on the DeBourgh estate, for one. Not that this house wasn’t comfortable or the whole estate wasn’t breathtaking but, aside from Anne, everyone was just about as snobby as its owner. Throughout the week, she had noticed that Mrs. DeBourgh seemed to keep a very close eye on her and ask her very personal questions, something that she would have just brushed off if Anne hadn’t revealed that her mother had noticed Darcy’s preoccupation with her. It was clear Mrs. DeBourgh viewed her as a threat and wanted to keep her as close as possible so she could keep an eye on her. Besides all of that, and even more importantly, she knew for a fact, confirmed by Anne yesterday, that Darcy would be attending the party and she was tired of waiting for the answers that she was owed. She’d run through the typical cycle of emotions that he elicited from her: hope, that gave way to disappointment when he invariably didn’t follow through, which gave way to anger and frustration that she ultimately bottled up, determined to handle it on her own.
No, this time she would be prepared. She replayed exactly what she wanted to say to him over and over again as she sat in front of the mirror doing her makeup.
