Page 64 of First Impressions (Passion and Perseverance #1)

Chapter Forty-Five

“Beth! Where have you been?” exclaimed Irene in a huff. “The guests will start arriving in thirty minutes and nothing is ready!”

Beth rolled her eyes as she closed her parent’s front door behind her.

It was just about seven-thirty; the party was supposed to be starting at eight and the house looked gorgeous.

Her mother had pulled out all the stops for Jane and Charles’ engagement party and contrary to her belief, Beth doubted that any guest arriving right now would think to question the readiness of the house; balloons and decorations were everywhere, waiters stood at attention with wine, champagne, and finger food, and that was just in the entryway.

Suddenly, she heard music starting to float through the house, a soft jazz that definitely was coming from a live band.

“Seriously, mom? The house looks great! Plus, it’s just Charles’ parents and us,” Beth retorted. When she received no response, she suddenly felt that there was a lot going on for a ‘meet-the-parents’ engagement party and an inexplicable urge to verify her assumptions came over her. “Right, mom?”

“Well, yes, his parents. And a few close friends, you know. We had to invite certain people, especially after Lydia married and left for Chicago without a single party to celebrate,” Irene responded.

“Who else is coming?” Beth demanded.

“Oh, just some close friends of ours and close friends of the Bingleys. Bill and Charlotte are coming too.”

Beth gave up trying to get any information from her mother.

No matter how willing Irene was to spread information on a regular basis, when she wanted to be evasive, not even the Pope himself could get it out of her.

Beth made her way upstairs in search of Jane who would know who was going to be here tonight.

Although, Beth knew her sister would have forewarned her if there was a chance that Darcy would be here .

“Beth! I thought I heard mom talking to someone; I was hoping it wasn’t to herself again,” Jane joked as Beth walked into her old room, her face alight with excitement over what the night had in store.

“Yeah, she was upset that it took me so long to get here but the house looks like it’s ready and the food is being catered, so what could she possibly have to worry about?”

Jane just gave her a knowing look and smiled in response.

“Who all is coming tonight?” Beth began, then remembered that it was Jane she had asked and went the more direct route, “What I mean is, is Mr. Darcy going to be here?”

“No,” She followed her statement with a pregnant pause, “Well, I don’t think so.”

“What do you mean?”

“Charles invited him. I’m sorry, I should have told you. Well, I was going to tell you but Charles invited him and Mr. Darcy declined. So, I thought with everything that happened and your whole emotional state, why bother upsetting you by telling you that he’s not coming.”

What is it with all these good intentions gone bad? Deep breaths, Beth. It’s fine. He’s not coming.

“Are you mad?” Jane asked hesitantly.

“No,” she responded with a sigh.

She was mad, but only at herself for the irrational elevation in her hopes at the thought of seeing him. She shook her head at herself, earning her a questioning stare from Jane.

“Sorry. See you were probably right not to tell me, my mind likes to run away with things.”

“Oh, Beth. I’m sorry; I wish he wasn’t so stubborn. If he loves you, he should be here fighting for you.”

“I’m not so sure about that, but thanks. I’m going to head back downstairs before mom freaks out.” She turned and left the room, unable to stand the look of heartfelt pity in her sister’s eyes any longer.

Back downstairs, her mother was ordering a grumbling Kat and disinterested Mary around frantically. Just as she hit the landing, her mother turned intently toward her.

“Beth! I need— ”

She was cut off by the swift knocking at the front door. Beth gave her mom a shrug of her shoulders to say ‘ looks like it’s time to be done’.

Beth opened the front door to see Charles with whom she could only assume were his parents and older sister. Ushering them inside, the rest of her family materialized out of the woodwork - her dad from his study, Kat and Mary from the back of the house, and Jane from upstairs.

Beth introduced herself before grabbing the nearest glass of champagne and chugging it while everyone else was distracted with introductions and congratulations.

It was going to be a long night.

Within the next forty minutes, Beth could only assume that all of the guests had arrived because she didn’t think their house could comfortably fit any more people.

Char and Bill had arrived a few minutes before and Beth was shocked at how well they seemed to fit together as a couple; she hadn’t had much time to talk to them though since somehow she’d been left in charge of answering the door.

Family engagement party my ass. Unless family included all of her father’s coworkers and their families, her mother’s close friends, Phil and his family, the Lucas’, and then a whole host of friends of the Bingley’s who live in the city that they don’t get to see very often.

She’d had her ‘Welcome to the party. Thank you for coming’ smile plastered on her face for almost an hour and she didn’t think she’d ever get those muscles to relax again.

Her only reprieve was the momentary relaxation while sipping from her wine glass - her third one by now, and even that had been bittersweet.

She felt like every time she paused to assess the crowd, her eyes kept falling on all of the happy couples around her - Jane and Charles, Char and Bill.

She took a deeper drink of her wine hoping to out-burn the ache in her heart.

Relief finally came when she heard her father’s voice from the living room, announcing a toast to the happy couple, which drew the guests out of the foyer and away from her. She went to follow the crowd and swayed on her first step .

Seriously?! You need a break before you make a fool of yourself. Go sit down.

Taking a deep breath and listening to her inner, sober self, she discreetly made her way over to her dad’s study which had been closed off from the party.

She felt bad not being there for Jane, but her sister knew what she was going through right now; Jane would forgive her.

Shutting the door behind her, she trudged over to the armchair in front of the gas fireplace and flipped the switch on.

The bright flames, the only thing lighting the room, flickered as she let herself stare into them, entranced by the blaze, as her mind went blank and her senses tuned out all the commotion going on around her.

Hours passed. Or maybe it was just minutes.

The fire (and probably the alcohol) had hypnotized her tumultuous thoughts, bringing a blessed calm over her mind as she sat.

Her daze broke as a shiver ran up her spine in spite of how warm she felt.

Remembering where she was and more importantly, where she was supposed to be, she stood up taking one last longing gaze at the hearth and wishing she didn’t have to go back and join the crowd.

She began to turn slowly away from the fire, her glazed eyes moving slowly across the room.

Her movements faltered and stopped short as she realized that she wasn’t alone.

Darcy.

They just stared at each other for a moment.

Beth drank in the sight of him: a Greek God disguised as a businessman.

His suit and tie a perfect fit; his hair perfectly modeled; the warm firelight reflecting over his handsome features.

It was only the look of uncertainty in his eyes that marred his ideal image, that convinced her that he was actually standing there and not just a figment of her imagination.

For the first time, he looked like he didn’t know what to say, instead of intentionally not saying anything.

The alcohol-emboldened her as she took a step towards him.

“Mr. Darcy,” she began, her voice only catching a little.

“Beth.” The longing in his voice was unmistakable as he moved towards her hesitantly .

She put her hand up, which halted him in his tracks, despair shadowing his face.

“I want to thank you,” she blurted out, needing him to hear this before anything happened between them.

“I know that no one is supposed to know and I can and will respect your wishes but I have to tell you that you have my and my family’s deepest gratitude for what you did for Lydia.

” She wouldn’t pretend like she didn’t know about the sacrifice he had made, even though he hadn’t wanted her to.

He was taken aback by her comment, relief, and confusion showing in his eyes. “Who told you?”

“Lydia let it slip to me that you were there and then I figured the rest out on my own,” she admitted.

“I see.” Momentary displeasure crossed his face when he heard how careless her sister had been.

“I’m sorry,” she forged on, “I know you didn’t want me to know, but knowing what I do now about George and everything that he’s put you through, I had to say something.

I don’t know what would have happened to Lydia, what she would have done if George had left her or where my mom would be if you hadn’t found them - Lydia is her baby.

I just,” she paused, “I just can’t imagine what possessed you to do such a kindness for us but thank you.

” She fought back the tears that threatened to fall at just the thought of what her family had gone through and the relief that had come once Darcy had intervened.

“Of course. You aren’t a fool, Beth; you have to know that I did it only for you,” he said. Frustrated by her attempt to ignore what she clearly knew to be true, he ran a hand through his hair, destroying its perfect placement.