I understood. Lydia could be a little too much at times.
"You're still coming, right?" Jane asked. "It should be fun."
We'd had variations of this conversation so many times before, with Jane telling me something would be fun and it turning into a headache for me.
"Of course," I told her as I always did.
I was, after all, excited about this party. Just not for the reasons Jane thought. I didn't want to tell her it was because there would be some unexpected guests. I should've felt some remorse, since Charles had been nothing but kind to me. But my desire to spend more time with Wick eclipsed any feeling of betrayal I had.
Twelve
JANE, BEING JANE, ENDED UP INVITING LYDIA TO CHARLES'S party. It was either because she is perhaps the greatest (and most forgiving) older sister on the planet, or because she was in especially good spirits, since Charles had asked her out on a date for Sunday. That would make two nights in a row they would spend together.
Maybe Jane's mother had been right in giving her old friend Vera a call.
Nothing could ruin Jane's mood, and because I was going to be seeing Wick, nothing could ruin my mood, either. For the first time since I'd arrived at Longbourn, I was genuinely excited to be getting ready for a party.
I spent the majority of Saturday going through Jane's closet, trying to figure out what to wear. I didn't want to wear anything that screamed expensive, since I didn't want Wick to think I was like every other girl at Longbourn. But I did want to look nice for him.
Jane studied herself in the mirror while I debated between which earrings to wear with the jeans and gray, fitted cashmere sweater I'd borrowed.
Lydia came barging in. "My first upperclassman party! I am so excited. Freshman boys are, like, so childish."
Jane studied her sister with wide eyes. Lydia was wearing a very short skirt and had enough makeup on to put a circus performer to shame. Jane grabbed a tissue and started wiping Lydia's face.
"Jane, stop it!" Lydia protested.
Jane was not deterred. "Lydia, you shouldn't cover up your natural beauty."
My hand paused as I was putting on another coat of mascara. Since she hadn't been talking to me, I continued. But a little more lightly than before.
"Now, remember what we talked about." Jane sat down next to Lydia, who nodded.
Jane had only allowed Lydia to come after Lydia agreed she wouldn't talk about money or prom dresses.
"Are we ready?" Jane asked as she studied herself in the mirror one last time. I think she was asking herself more than us. She took a deep breath and opened the door.
We arrived at a large private room at one of the upscale restaurants in town that catered to the faculty, students, and parents of Longbourn and Pemberley. It was a beautiful space, filled with oversize couches, a large window overlooking the river, candles, and a slightly elevated stage where some students were already dancing.
I scanned the room for Wick, but couldn't see him anywhere.
"Who are you looking for?" Jane asked when she caught me surveying the crowd.
"Just having a look around. I want to make sure there aren't any traps."
Jane grimaced.
"Only joking!" I said. I felt my phone vibrate and saw that Wick had sent me a text. "Oh."
"What's wrong?"
My heart sank. "Oh, nothing. Nothing at all."
Wick wasn't coming. He said that he really wanted to, but thought it would be best to avoid a certain gentleman. I glared over at Darcy, who was in a corner with Charles and Caroline.
Any hope I had for a wonderful evening quickly dissolved. Now I was stuck in a room full of people who despised my very existence. Instead of hanging out with Wick, I would have to brace myself for whatever was going to come my way.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Jane looked concerned.
"Yes, fine," I lied. I didn't want to ruin her evening.
A waiter came over with a silver tray filled with wontons and egg rolls.
"Yum." Lydia grabbed a handful of food. "So much better than the crap they serve in the dining hall." She made a disgusted face as she shoved an entire egg roll in her mouth.
Jane sighed.
"Hey!" Charles approached us with a huge smile on his face. "Thanks for coming." He kissed Jane lightly on the cheek before hugging both me and Lydia.
While Jane chose to never see the bad side of people, I sincerely believed that Charles didn't have a bad side. He even put up with Lydia's incessant questions about the party, the food, the private room -- I was surprised she didn't ask him to open up his wallet so she could see how much cash he was carrying.
While Lydia played twenty inappropriate questions, I started looking around to see who was there. The standard cash cliques were in their respective groups, but I did catch a few of the Longbourn girls whispering and looking at us. I looked down at my outfit, but realized that I could be dressed head to toe in designer clothing and they'd still look at me with disdain. I was a reminder that there was life outside the precious little bubble they lived in. And I knew that they despised me for many things, but most of all for thriving despite their best efforts to bring me down.
I brought my attention back to my group and could see Jane's eyes getting wider every time Lydia opened her mouth.
"Charlotte's here," I said, nodding toward the door. "And Lydia, they just brought out something that looks like quesadillas."
As I thought she would, Lydia homed in on the server and mercifully left us.
I leaned in closer to Jane and whispered, "Have fun with Charles. I'll keep an eye on Lydia."
Jane smiled gratefully and went over to a group of couches with Charles. I waved Charlotte over, but Colin, mistaking that my enthusiasm was for him, approached as well.
"Hello, Elizabeth," he said. "It is a pleasure to see you here, and dressed in such a pleasing manner. What blend is that fabric?"
"Yeah, uh, nice seeing you as well."
He leaned in and put his hand on the small of my back. "Elizabeth, do you think I could persuade you to join me on the dance floor?"
"Oh, um. Have you met Charlotte Lucas?"
Charlotte and Colin exchanged pleasantries. I was hoping this distraction would keep me from dancing with Colin.
"So, shall we?" Colin motioned toward the platform where a few couples were moving to a slightly slow song.
I couldn't think of a good excuse, so I decided that I may as well get it over with. I walked with Colin to the dance floor and, once there, he awkwardly grabbed my waist and I cautiously lowered my arms around his shoulders. I didn't realize until we were standing there that he was a couple inches shorter than me.
He started to move and stepped on my foot. "Oh, I'm so sorry," he said, staring at our steps as if they were a math problem he could solve.
"That's okay." I started to move back and forth, trying to not make my movements too sudden.
"Well, you certainly are a good dancer."
"Thanks."
"You know, Elizabeth, you can play the piano, dance, are smart enough to get a scholarship and, might I add, make a mean latte. Is there anything you can't do?"
I forced out a laugh. "Oh, you know ..."