Page 19 of Second Chances (Passion and Perseverance #2)

Time began to pick up the pace as she caught up with Renée, quickly showing her around the space and what she had done.

It wasn’t long before more guests were rolling in.

Thankfully, Beth wasn’t on the greeting committee for this party, as she was with some.

She stuck lightly to Renée’s side as her guests would stop to give their birthday wishes and congratulations on the film; since all the guests, so far, had arrived with their masks in place, it was the best way to be introduced to the most amount of people - to associate a name with a mask, and to filter out prospective clients for Gardiner .

Darcy had faded into the background as soon as Renée had arrived, giving Beth the space and focus to do her job well.

Beth had no qualms about letting Darcy fend for himself; he dealt with this category of people regularly and didn’t need a babysitter.

She could, however, tell every time he searched her out in the growing crowd as heat suffused down her spine.

She knew each time he passed by her on his way to the bar, because he would trail a finger along her lower back.

One time, he stopped and whispered in her ear, ‘You’re incredible,’ and then ‘You’re so fucking hot.

’ After the first half hour, she needed a respite - she needed something to calm her and hold her over until later.

Well, two somethings: a drink and a Darcy.

Excusing herself from the small group congregated around Renée, she turned around to stop at the bar first because that was closest. She’d lost Darcy momentarily in the crush. Politely requesting another of Renée’s Rum Runners, she began to scan the crowd for the second part of her remedy.

“Looking for someone special?”

Beth started for a second at the voice, her head turning to the right to acknowledge the speaker, momentarily baffled by who was addressing her underneath their mask.

“Caroline, how good to see you!” Beth exclaimed, although she almost felt like she had to fake her excitement and she couldn’t figure out why. Probably the stress of the event getting to her.

“You look fabulous,” Caro replied, “I wasn’t sure that I’d see you here. I only just realized that you were responsible for this event recently, otherwise, I would have mentioned it sooner.”

Ahh, I see .

“Thank you. You look gorgeous as always,” Beth returned her compliment only after which she took a moment to take in Caro’s full appearance - long blond hair pulled back into a high ponytail, her dress was sleeveless with a high neck, very conservative on initial inspection until Caro shifted her weight and the high thigh slit became visible.

Just like Anne, Charles’ sister could have been a model if she had wanted.

Wanting to quickly put an end to the pregnant pause, Beth continued, “Yes, yes, this is all me. I’ve been working with Renée for the past few years. How do you know her?”

Curiosity killed the cat, her mind chided her for succumbing to her nagging curiosity.

“Renée and I go way back, before I moved to Italy. She was actually going to sponsor my work before I moved but, well, life happens. I contacted her the other day, now that I’m back in the States, to tell her about my upcoming exhibit and I mentioned that you were helping me.

Of course, she loves you and just had wonderful things to say; she brought up her party this weekend and extended an invitation to me and now, I’m here,” Caro explained with a warm smile.

Beth believed her, she truly did, but there was just something, something that wasn’t being said. She just couldn’t put her finger on it, but then again, maybe that was the alcohol talking.

“So who are you searching for?” Caro asked again.

Looks like she wasn’t the only one with a nagging curiosity.

“Well, I brought a date this year, whom I’ve unfortunately had to ignore for the past hour or so. I’m starting to think he may have left me here,” Beth joked lightly.

“I’m sure no gentleman would do such a thing to you. Who is he? Maybe I’ve passed him in my travels over to see you.”

The question seemed so simple, her reason, so sincere, yet Beth’s immediate gut reaction was to lie. She couldn’t explain why.

Something just felt wrong .

“Well, he has a mask on too, so I doubt you would be able to tell even if you did know him. At this rate, I’m starting to wonder if I could find him with his mask on!

” Wow, good job on that one, Beth. “Oh, shoot, I have to go check with Renée on what time she wants to cut her cake, if you’ll excuse me. ”

“Of course,” Caro replied with a smile - one that didn’t seem to extend quite all the way to her eyes.

Beth picked her glass up off the bar and took a deep sip as she walked back to the small group encircling Renée.

She didn’t really need to check with Renée, but she felt uncomfortable being prodded by Caro about Darcy - mostly because she hadn’t even thought to come up with any answers to explain him.

Beth positioned herself so that she had a side-view of where she had been just talking to Caro, but Caro was nowhere to be seen.

Maybe it was the alcohol, but she’d had a funny vibe talking to Caro that entire time.

Even more unnerving was that she still didn’t see Darcy; Maybe he did leave. No, he wouldn’t do that.

With Caro nowhere in sight and hopefully, not watching her movements, Beth turned to leave the group again and make her way into the far room, the smallest of the three; it was the last place that he could be.

Just as she made it to the doorway, her path was blocked by a navy, satin tux paired with a devastating smile.

“Beth! You weren’t going to just walk right by me, were you? I thought we were closer than that!” The man behind the teasing smile was none other than Renée’s costar and friend, Patrick Dempsey.

“Patrick! No, of course not. You know me though, always on a mission. I’m glad to see you could make it again this year - the crowd is a bit bigger than normal,” Beth responded warmly as they embraced in a friendly hug.

Darcy. She could feel that he had his eyes on her for a moment, before the electricity was gone .

Both Pat and Colin Firth were frequent guests at Renée’s birthday party, so she had come to know them moderately well over the past several years.

Previously, the party had been such a close-knit group that Beth was treated more like a guest than as the coordinator.

Over the years, Patrick especially had become what she considered a “friendly acquaintance.” She rarely saw him outside of the event, but during this time, once a year, they would catch up and have a good conversation between the two of them.

As much as she really wanted to continue that tradition, she really wanted to find Darcy.

After the hug, Pat had stepped back a little, affording her at least the ability to look into the room behind him. Immediately her eyes began to scan the guests that she could see.

“So, how have you been? How’s work going?” Patrick attempted to continue the conversation in the usual manner.

“Good. I mean, really good,” Beth began distractedly, “I’ve taken on a few new clients, trying to expand the firm’s offerings, so…

” She trailed off as her eyes spotted her handsome target off to right, inside the room; Darcy was facing her direction, but not facing her, and he looked to be in conversation with someone.

Unfortunately, that someone was too close to the wall so that Beth couldn’t see who it was.

“So…?” Patrick prodded gently, his tone suggesting part humor and part concern for her distraction.

“I’m sorry - so, things are going well, just changing a bit, but for the better, I hope,” she laughed apologetically, hoping that he didn’t notice that her eyes were trained directly past him and on Darcy.

Who was he talking to? Why is he so angry? She could see his jaw clenching from here.

“One of these days, I’ll hire you to throw me a party; once I get over the trauma each year of getting older,” Patrick joked lightheartedly, laughing at himself.

His laughter drew Beth’s gaze back to him just for a moment. What did Patrick just say? Her brain took a pregnant pause to register his comment .

“You say that every year, Pat. I know better than to expect a call from you,” she responded to his joke as her eyes moved back to Darcy.

He is yelling at someone. Ok, maybe not yelling loudly, but he was definitely arguing heatedly with someone.

Thankfully, there were speakers in that corner of the room to prevent the conversation from traveling. She wished she could hear what was being said because whatever was going on, it was certainly emotional.

He’s never looked that mad before. Well, except maybe that one time when he punched George.

This was different, even with his mask on, there was a hatred in his eyes, the likes of which Beth had up until now assumed was reserved for George Wickham.

“Earth to Beth…”

Suddenly, a hand was waving in front of her face, bringing her back to the man standing perplexed in front of her.

“I’m so sorry, Pat, I’ve been so rudely distracted,” Beth apologized sincerely as her face flushed and she brought a hand up to her forehead.

“It’s ok, this is a bit larger of an event than you are usually dealing with,” Patrick graciously tried to rationalize her rudeness, his body turning with his words to emphasize the size of the party.

As he turned to his left, he astutely followed Beth’s line of vision and noticed the unknown, well-dressed gentleman, angrily conversing with a mystery person.

“Unless there is something a bit more personal going on…” he trailed off suggestively.

Her face was probably turning beet red. Patrick was always giving her a hard time about not bringing a date.

“Well, I might have brought someone with me this year,” she laughed nervously, but as her eyes darted back to Darcy, he was no longer there. Instead, he was walking purposefully right toward her.

With barely a nod to Patrick, Darcy grabbed her arm and pulled her against him.

“We are leaving now,” he said harshly .

The tautness of his voice, the determinedness of the words - he was on the edge of losing control of his anger.

Beth swallowed as she glanced back to Patrick who was staring at the two of them with genuine concern for her on his face. She gave him a weak smile, not wanting to worry him.

“What? What’s wrong? Are you ok? Darcy, this is my job, I can’t leave now,” Beth replied, shocked and confused, not wanting to upset him further but needing him to understand that he couldn’t keep jeopardizing her professional life.

Darcy turned toward Patrick, his eyes assessing the other man as to how much of a potential threat that he was.

Dear Lord. Men and their jealousy.

“Darcy, this is my friend, Patrick. He starred with Renée in the film,” Beth stammered. Trying to sound reassuring as she placed her hand on his arm.

Darcy turned to face Patrick, stepping partially in front of Beth, to shake Patrick’s hand in greeting.

“Miss Bennet isn’t feeling well, so I’m going to take her home. I’m sure everything is under control here but please convey her condolences to Miss Zellweger,” Darcy stated firmly, his face cold and unyielding.

“Darcy!” Beth exclaimed, grabbing his arm and pulling him to face her. “I can’t leave, I just told you.”

“We are leaving now. I will carry you out of here if necessary so, unless you want to make a scene, I suggest that you follow my story.”

He’s not kidding. His eyes were completely black with sincerity. She was leaving now; how she chose to make her exit he left up to her.

With a weak smile at Patrick, she followed his story, “I’m sorry, Patrick. I have to go. If anyone needs me tell them they can reach me on my cell. Thank you,” she said firmly before Darcy could prevent her from even offering that lifeline to her staff.

With a cold stare at Mr. Intolerable, she turned and walked purposefully through the throng of guests and out of the party, her gorgeous captor at her heels.