Page 27 of First Impressions (Passion and Perseverance #1)

Chapter Eighteen

Beth woke up the following morning at eleven-thirty, which was surprising to her because she was usually up by seven.

The stress and emotions of the past few days must have really taken their toll and she was thankful that her friend had let her sleep in; she would need all the energy she could get to make it through the night in one piece.

She found Char downstairs arguing with her mom over which dress she should wear, her mom insisting on the black.

Beth suggested that they head back to her apartment for the rest of the day and get ready there together.

Eager to get away from disappointing her mother, Char readily agreed.

From her perspective, Beth hoped that with Char in tow and the excitement over the party, Jane would be reluctant to question either of them about what was going on.

Char packed all of her stuff as Beth texted her sister to let her know that they would be heading over soon.

They made it back to Beth’s apartment by twelve-thirty, having stopped for coffee and breakfast along the way. Jane greeted them with a smile, only slightly diminished as she saw Beth’s still semi-exhausted face.

“I didn’t know you guys were planning on getting ready here. I told mom I would go over there and help Lydia and Kat get ready; I thought I would have been here by myself otherwise,” she said with real dismay. “I can call them and tell them I’m not coming if you want.”

“That’s ok, Jane. It’s probably better that you and Charles arrive with mom and dad since dad is announcing tonight.” Beth hated the guilt and worry she had caused her sister to feel. Just one more day.

“If you are sure,” Jane conceded. “I don’t have to go over quite yet though.”

“Oh, good! I want to hear all about your Charles. Beth was useless except to tell me that things are moving super-fast,” Char interjected, excitedly. At the mention of his name, Jane lit up and began to tell their friend all about her blossoming relationship.

Grateful for the distraction, whether it was intentional or not, Beth left them to go take a shower.

She’d basically been in the same clothes for the past 3 days and she was really starting to smell like it.

She took her time, letting the hot water relax her.

As her mind drifted to Darcy, she realized that she felt numb to his name.

It was like the emotional overload that he had caused left her insensitive to him, a natural defense mechanism to keep her from hurting anymore.

When she finally got out of the shower, Jane was just getting ready to leave.

“I’ll see you later tonight, ok?” Beth said as she gave her sister a hug. “Don’t worry about me. I’m going to stay with Char tonight and we can talk tomorrow.”

What was one more lie? Thankfully, Char hadn’t heard that comment. She just didn’t want to see her sister’s concerned face at the thought of her staying alone tonight; she didn’t want to be pitied.

Jane left and the girls began to get ready for the night ahead.

“The purple dress was definitely the right choice. You look awesome.” Beth admired her friend as she attempted to put on her own makeup.

Char had her hair loosely pulled up to show off the back detailing of her dress; the fit and flare of the style flattered her body type.

She really did look good and Beth hoped that she felt it too.

It was probably a good thing that they’d decided to get ready away from Mrs. Lucas; she would have picked her apart somehow.

“Thanks! I really like yours too; you look like a modern-day Cinderella in that blue.”

“Yeah, because I’m totally Disney princess material.” Beth laughed back in response. She moved back from the mirror to assess the final product.

Nothing too drastic, she’d done her eyes in neutral and gold tones with nude lipstick.

Her hair was pulled back away from her face, but not up, allowing a waterfall of curls to cascade down her back.

Char insisted that her dress was too flowy to have her hair put up in a structured chignon and that she had to wear it down.

She pulled on her dress, strapped into her heels, and took a look in the full-length mirror; her friend was right, wearing her hair down completed the look.

Not that she was going to admit it, but she felt a little like Cinderella as she spun around to check every angle; if only a prideful pumpkin could turn into a prince.

“You look gorgeous, B. Darcy is definitely going to regret his actions, that’s for sure.”

“Yeah, well hopefully I’m not regretting anything new by the end of the night.”

Beth poured them each a large glass of wine, preparing themselves for the evening ahead with their families.

And Mr. Darcy. The thought of seeing him so soon started to twist her stomach into knots.

Oh no. She wanted to be numb to him, to stay numb to him; knots meant she cared and she didn't want to care anymore.

She quickly finished her glass and poured herself another while Char went to touch up her makeup.

Two large glasses of wine without having eaten dinner yet left Beth feeling tipsy and comfortably confident at seeing Mr. Intolerable again as she sat in the back of the black car on the way to the Ball.

They arrived at the Plaza on time, a line of cars blocking the entrance as there were reporters gathered out front to capture the event.

When their car finally reached the entrance, the doorman opened the car door and helped Char and then Beth exit the car into the twinkling camera lights.

It wasn’t the red carpet for the Grammys or anything, but usually, about twenty reporters from local news sources came to document their charity event.

This year it looked like there were almost double that number, no doubt word had gotten around about the new, high-profile guests who would be attending - Charles, Mr. Darcy, Mrs. DeBourgh.

Refocusing her thoughts before her giant frown ended up plastered on the front page of the Times, she smiled and posed with Char for a few photos before making their way inside.

Every time she came here, she realized again how much she loved the Plaza – which is why she insisted that they hold their charity event here; that and the ease and convenience of always working with the same vendors made it an easy sell to her father.

Char went on ahead as Beth checked in with their event coordinator to pick up her room key for the night.

The size of their party necessitated the use of their Grand Ballroom, this year decorated to a ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ theme.

They rotated through themes every few years, improving them each time, but this one was always her favorite.

She walked slowly into the ballroom, taking in all of the decorations, all of her plans coming to fruition.

Ivy and flowers cascaded down from each column and onto the floor.

Dinner tables surrounded a large dance floor, above which were suspended three giant crystal chandeliers.

Each table had a huge decorative vase filled with white peonies and white roses that stood 3 feet tall; off the vases were candle holders, as well as tea lights sitting on the tables, giving the atmosphere an enchanted quality.

Maybe that was because she was already well on her way to being drunk.

Speaking of alcohol, she took note of the two bars, one on each side of the dance floor, each staffed with three bartenders to ensure that lines didn’t become too long.

Before she got too far into the room, she surveyed the guests, trying to see who had arrived.

Off to her right, she spotted her mother who was with Kat, Lydia, and George as they were having their photo taken; they’d bought a giant wooden swing, covered with blooms, suspended from two “trees” for guests to have their photo taken on.

She saw that Lydia and Kat seemed to be arguing over whose turn it was to sit with George for a photo.

He looked up and caught her eyes, his bemused expression making her smile as she quickly turned away before her mother saw her.

Knowing that their presence meant that Jane and Charles, and most probably Mr. Darcy, were lurking around somewhere, Beth decided it was time for another drink.

She stopped at the bar and was requesting a glass of Riesling when she felt a hand on the small of her back.

“Miss Beth, you look stunning tonight,” George said softly next to her ear. His compliment felt nice; fake, but nice .

Beth let her breath go. She knew it hadn’t been Darcy from the beginning; there was no rush, no spark, no nothing.

She wished there would have been, then maybe her future wouldn’t be looking so bleak right now.

Instead, she just felt a little uncomfortable that he was touching her and wished he would move his hand.

“Thank you, George. Lydia looks especially nice tonight, too. I’m glad to see my sister enjoying your company so much.”

“Ahh, yes. Well, I’m glad you find it amusing to leave me at the mercy of both your mother and sisters,” he joked lightly.

“You seemed to be handling yourself quite happily I would say.” Anyone could tell that he enjoyed their attention. Even drunk, she wasn’t going to feel sorry for him. Especially when he was still touching her.

She picked up her wine glass and turned to face him, effectively forcing his hand from her back.

When she went to look at him though, all she saw was the man she truly wanted standing twenty feet behind George, his eyes fixed on them.

She felt heat start to suffuse through her body.

Here we go again. She could see as he visibly struggled to breathe as he took his first full view of her.

Darcy’s body was completely rigid with unreleased anger, his eyes glaring as though he was imagining ripping George’s head from his body, his right hand fisting and unclenching, trying to release some of the tension.

Her mouth parted at the intensity that radiated from him and which seemed about to explode.

“Well, do you think you at least feel sorry enough to save me a dance later?” George’s voice jerked her back to the present and the man directly in front of her.

Don’t look back. He doesn’t want you. He wants you to leave him alone. Leave. Him. Alone.

Throwing on her most sultry smile, she stared George in the eyes as she responded, “I would love to.”

“Perfect,” he said as he picked up her left hand to kiss the back of it. She would have pulled away if Darcy hadn’t been watching .

“Oh, well it looks like you are being summoned by Lydia. You should probably get back to her before she gets upset with me.” She saw Lydia glaring daggers at her from their table.

“Until later, then.” He winked at her and walked off towards his actual date, leaving Beth alone and in direct sight of Mr. Darcy.

Don’t look at him. Beth closed her eyes as George left and took a large sip of her wine. When she opened them again, she did a double take realizing that Mr. Intolerable was walking towards her and boy, did he look like she was in trouble.

She couldn’t do this. She couldn’t be alone and interact with him; she just wasn’t ready. Just as he was close enough to talk to her, she saw her escape.

“Mr. Darcy, thank you so much for coming tonight. I sincerely hope you have a tolerable time,” she said flippantly with a smile on her face.

“If you’ll excuse me, I see some important clients of mine that I must say hello to.

” Without giving him a chance to utter one word, or herself a chance to falter, she brushed past him towards Mrs. and Miss DeBourgh who had just entered the ballroom.

She knew she had shocked him and she knew he continued to stare after her because she felt the heat from his gaze linger on her back.

Wow, did that feel good. Char had been right – making Darcy jealous was the way to go.

It isn’t fun when someone brushes you off without explanation, is it Mr. Intolerable?

She hoped he was enjoying the taste of his own medicine because she certainly was.

Not only had she provoked him, but she’d managed to stay unfazed by his attempt to confront her; with a self-satisfied smile, she addressed her clients.

“Mrs. DeBourgh, Miss DeBourgh, thank you so much for coming tonight. It’s a pleasure to have you here.”

“Yes, yes. Of course.” Mrs. DeBourgh responded distractedly as her eyes were busy scanning the room, probably for the one man that Beth was trying to avoid.

Turning to her daughter, Beth took a good look at the woman who had secured Mr. Darcy.

Anne DeBourgh looked like a model. She had to be at least five foot ten and very skinny, almost to the point where she looked unhealthy.

She had short, chin-length wavy, blond hair, blue eyes, and the perfect smile.

Maybe she was a Victoria’s Secret Angel, for all Beth knew; she definitely looked like she could be one.

Not sure what to expect from someone so gorgeous and rich, let alone Mrs. DeBourgh’s daughter, Beth took the initiative and introduced herself.

“You must be Anne. I’m Beth Bennet from the Gardiner Group. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Yes, very nice to meet you too.” Her response very quiet and meek, making her seem much younger than she was; it wasn’t at all what Beth was expecting.

She expected a coldly confident response, more fitting for someone of her stature and status.

Her tone indicated no desire to be in control of the situation as if that possibility had never even crossed her mind.

With how controlling her mother was, she probably never had much of a choice either.

“Please feel free to pick up some refreshments at the bar. You will be sitting at table number one with my family and me.” As she moved to the side to point out where the bar was, she gave Mrs. DeBourgh a clear view of her quarry.

As recognition dawned on her face, Mrs. DeBourgh smiled and said, “Yes, I’m quite thirsty. Let’s go get a glass of wine before dinner, Anne.” Her daughter, seeing where and to whom they were headed, silently nodded in assent.

“Thank you, Miss Bennet.” The slight smile crossing her face indicated just how pleased she was that Beth had obeyed her demands.