Page 26 of Third Time is the Charm (Passion and Perseverance #3)
Col turned to face her surely stunned expression, watching as Darcy, who disliked dancing (who hadn’t danced with anyone at the wedding yet) walked onto the dance floor with Miss Mary Bennet, the shyest and most awkward of all the Bennet sisters.
“Well, that wasn’t what I was expecting,” Col said, lightheartedly. “Nice of him to ask her.”
Nice didn’t even begin to describe it.
Col raised his eyebrows at her, wondering what her opinion of what had just happened was, and a silent question if she now wanted to join him back out on the dance floor for what remained of the slow song.
Beth nodded, letting him lead her out onto the floor by the hand he still held, choosing not to comment about Darcy asking her sister to dance.
They didn’t wander far into the crowd, like Darcy had with Mary, staying instead at the edge of the dance floor.
Col pulled her tight against him and Beth let him, her face looking over his shoulder, catching a glimpse every turn or two of the man who still made her heart race as he graciously danced with her sister.
Darcy hates dancing. Why had he asked Mary?
“Thank you for inviting me,” Col whispered into her ear.
Beth tried to swallow over the lump in her throat. “Of course,” her voice thick with emotion, unfortunately though, not because of his words.
Why had he asked Mary?
You know why.
Seeing Col holding her hand, the look of resignation Darcy gave her before turning to Mary… he’d asked her so that she’d be able to dance with Col without feeling guilty for leaving Mary alone.
Maybe it was because he really didn’t want her anymore.
He could have just been trying to make amends, trying to extend an olive branch to say that he approved of her having a relationship with Col. She needed to talk to him, and she needed to talk to him tonight.
This needed to end tonight – one way or another.
“You ok?” Col asked, as another slow song began, keeping them held tightly together, swaying on the dance floor.
“Yeah,” Beth sighed, “just an emotional day…” Her eyes instinctively looked for Darcy and Mary again in the crowd. She heard Col begin to respond, but lost focus on him as her eyes spotted Darcy’s perfect, dark hair in the crowd, accented by Caroline’s blond hair as she stood in front of him.
Beth felt her heart began to race. They weren’t dancing, just standing in the middle of the dance floor.
She looked for Mary, who she spotted a moment later walking off the side of the dance floor towards Kat.
Her eyes reaching for Darcy again, only to find her view of him blocked by another couple on the dance floor.
A few seconds later and Darcy was back in view, his face hard, anger visibly marking his features, Caroline’s hand resting on his chest; Beth couldn’t see her face, but she must be talking to him because Darcy’s mouth wasn’t moving which meant he must be listening to her.
What was going on between them?
Again, the other guests dancing got in Beth’s way and she lost sight of them again, this time a little longer than the last. A slight turn brought her heart to a full stop; Caroline kissing Darcy.
And then, Col pulled his head back in front of hers, and into her view. “You sure you’re ok? I mean I know I’m a yakker, but you haven’t said anything for the past few minutes.”
Beth nodded frantically, trying to appease him so that she could see what was happening between Darcy and Caroline.
“Sorry, just taking it all in. I think I’m getting a little dehydrated,” she murmured – hoping that moving off the dance floor towards the bar would give her a better view of Darcy and Caro.
“Of course, yeah, let’s go get some water,” he agreed, finally moving out of her way.
But it was for nothing; as soon as Col released all but her hand to lead her off the floor, neither Darcy nor Caroline remained where they had been standing – embracing; they were gone.
She numbly followed Col over to the bar, her head turning frantically trying to find where they had gone.
Just as they made it through the crowd that was gathered at the edge of the dance floor to watch the other guests dancing, she spotted Caroline’s blond head being pulled relentlessly behind Darcy into the side building where the cocktail hour had been.
“Hey, drink this, you look really pale.” The glass of water in front of her face and Col’s concerned voice drawing her gaze back to him. “Let’s go sit down, you look like you’re about to pass out.”
I wish.
His arm snaked around her waist and led her to a spot on the couch next to where Lydia was sitting, chatting with Mary.
“Beth, are you ok?” Lydia asked, her worried eyes trained on Beth.
She nodded. “Yeah, just got a little lightheaded; I think I just need water and to sit for a minute.”
Lydia’s head bobbed in acknowledgment even though her gaze suggested she knew there was more to it.
“Just sit and relax here for a minute, sweetheart, and drink the water,” Col said calmly, his hand rubbing circles on her back.
Beth took nice, slow sips of the ice-cold water.
Maybe it wasn’t what she was thinking; he seemed pretty upset when he saw Caroline earlier, not to mention he’d told her plainly that he didn’t want – no, ‘never wanted’ Caroline.
The initial shock wearing off, Beth felt the color returning to her cheeks and the rational thoughts returning to her brain.
“Sorry,” she said, turning to face Col. “I’m feeling better, thank you.”
“Good – although, I do have to say that I was thoroughly looking forward to catching you and carrying you over here in case you didn’t make it,” he said with a wink, his head beginning to bob to the beat as the band began to play Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It’.
“Yeah? I bet you were,” Beth replied wryly, letting a smile creep onto her face.
“Any chance you might be able to carry me to the car soon, Colin?” Lydia asked jokingly, the semi-pained expression on her face telling everyone that swollen feet while you are pregnant is no fun. Both Beth and Col chuckled.
“I can definitely try and make that happen – unless your sister here decides to pass out first. Unfortunately, she has first dibs on me,” he replied, giving Beth a sideways glance, his words ringing with a serious undertone.
“Hey, are you guys ok?” Everyone looked up at the beautiful and breathless bride as she walked up to their group.
“Yeah, we are great! Just taking a break from dancing,” Beth reassured her sister; the last person she wanted worried at the wedding was Jane.
“Oh, ok, good. I think I might join you… and maybe take my shoes off.” Jane whispered the last part conspiratorially; Jane had been dancing for a while too and now that some of the guests were starting to leave, she finally broke down and came off the floor to take a breather.
“Don’t worry, mom’s inside chatting with Mrs. Lucas,” Lydia said, knowing whom Jane was concerned about. Jane just smiled before digging underneath her dress to slip off her shoes.
“Where’s Charles?” Beth asked, knowing she’d just seen them together on the dance floor not that long ago.
Jane’s face reddened. “I, uhh, I’m not exactly sure,” she said softly, biting her lip. With her shoes off, Jane looked up and Beth followed her gaze, spotting the groom heading towards them with a frown on his face, from the general direction of where Darcy and Caro were.
Jane stood immediately and walked out to meet him before he reached the group. Beth tried to listen, tried to read lips, but it was no use, the band and the distance that they were from her meant she couldn’t hear what was going on.
“I hope everything is ok,” Col whispered in her ear.
“Me too,” she agreed, hoping that Jane would come back to their group so she could make sure of it.
A few seconds later, Charles released Jane from his embrace, his face tight with anger – a rare emotion for Charles to have, and stalked off to the far end of the dance floor, where Beth didn’t see anyone she recognized, except for the Bingleys.
Beth stood and walked the few steps over to Jane, who had stayed standing, watching her husband.
“Jane, what’s going on?” Beth asked her sister quietly, interrupting her trance.
“Oh,” Jane jumped slightly. “Oh, nothing. I mean, it’s fine. It’ll be ok.” Yeah, right. Her voice quavered and she was gnawing on her lower lip – everything was not fine.
“Jane, please,” Beth begged, hating to see the worry on her face. Beth turned her head slightly to see Charles following his parents back over in their general direction.
Jane grabbed her hand. “It’s fine, Beth, really.
It’s just Caroline, but it will be ok,” she replied quickly, plastering a brave smile on her face before she released Beth’s hand and walked out to meet Charles as they passed by, his arm encircling her waist as the four of them headed inside the building where, Beth presumed, Darcy and Caroline still were.
Had Charles caught Darcy with his sister? Was that what was going on?
No, he wouldn’t want Jane in there for that – or his parents.
Beth reluctantly tore her gaze away from the door, making her way back down to sit next to Col.
“Did she say what’s going on? Charles didn’t look happy,” Col asked.
“Not really – something having to do with his sister.”
“She’s crazy,” Mary mumbled, having been silent this entire time.
Beth’s head turned fast to stare at her, unsure if she was referencing Caroline or just talking to herself about someone else. “Caroline?”
“Yeah,” Mary replied, giving Beth a face that said ‘duh!’
Beth’s lips thinned slightly, the thought dawning on her that Mary had been with Darcy when Caroline interrupted them. “Why do you say that?”