Page 27 of Third Time is the Charm (Passion and Perseverance #3)
“Well, first, Charles didn’t want her in the wedding at all,” Mary began with a huff, annoyed that she was having to explain herself.
“So, Jane had to convince him that she was his sister and it was the right thing to do to still let her be a part of the day. But, mostly, because she was really weird and rude for interrupting us in the middle of the song.”
“Oh,” Beth replied, thinking that there was more to the story than Mary just thinking, although rightfully so, that something was weird.
Noticing the look Beth gave at her answer, Mary huffed and continued, “I wasn’t finished. Also, she refused to go away when Mr. Darcy told her that she wasn’t supposed to be there.”
The door to the building opened, catching Beth’s eye before she could respond to Mary, Caroline walking out, rage bubbling out onto her pristine face as she walked directly towards the exit to the courtyard.
Mr. and Mrs. Bingley were right behind her out of the door, taking a few steps behind her before stopping and watching her leave.
Jane slipped out next, her face flushed, and Beth could tell that whatever happened in there was upsetting to Jane.
She gave Beth a weak smile before she was intercepted by two couples, looking to congratulate her before they left.
“Looks like something serious,” Col murmured to her.
“Yeah, really,” she agreed, turning to face him, only to notice her mother heading directly for Jane, her brows furrowed in determination. Oh no. That was not what Jane needed right now.
Grabbing Col’s hand, Beth stood abruptly, leading him over to her mother; she mouthed ‘sorry’ to him just before grabbing her mom’s attention. “Mom, hey, what’s up?” Ugh, not a good start.
“I don’t know, but I’m intending to find out; Jane, Charles, and the Bingleys all disappeared – some of the guests have asked me why. I need to know what is going on.”
“Oh, well I just wanted to introduce you to Col,” Beth said, slapping a smile on her face. “Col, this is my mother, Irene Bennet. Mom, this is Colin Dempsey, my date.”
Her mother’s eyes widened as the reality of whose presence she was in overtook her need for information. “Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Dempsey,” she said in a dramatic apology, characteristic of her blatant need to impress everyone.
Col fell right into step with her plan, engaging her mother in conversation while Beth kept an eye on Jane…
and the door behind her, waiting for Darcy to exit.
The conversation between her mother and Col became a dull buzz, that shattered into silence when Darcy finally emerged with Charles – both looking grim.
Charles leaned in and actually hugged Darcy before giving him a brief nod and walking towards Jane.
Her skin prickled as Darcy’s gaze locked with hers, walking towards her as if his body had no other choice.
Her breath caught, forgetting her surroundings, her mother, her date, everything except the anticipation of being near him again.
He made it around Jane, just a few steps away from her, when she felt the weight of Col’s hand coming to rest possessively on her back, like an anchor being reeled back in from the depth of the sea.
Where she’d been happily drowning.
She saw the look of hurt cross Darcy’s face; the cold sting of reality doused her as she turned to see Col, in slow-motion, lean down and kiss her on the cheek. “I’m one lucky man to have your beautiful daughter on my arm tonight, ma’am,” she heard Col say to her mom.
Her eyes opened, head turning back to look at Darcy, except he was gone.
“Well isn’t that just lovely,” Mrs. Bennet replied, her eyes shining with pride, and the need to share that juicy tidbit with whatever guests and friends were left. Excusing herself, she began to flag down Mrs. Lucas.
“Did I do good?” Col asked with a proud smile on his face. “I’m assuming you were trying to spare Jane from her prying questions.”
She was, and he did. He’d distracted Irene with the enticing prospect of his relationship with her daughter; the problem was that his audience hadn’t stayed limited to only her. His gesture seemed to have convinced Darcy, too. And she shouldn’t be mad at Col for it; but, she kind of (guiltily) was.
“Yes, thank you,” she said with a tired smile. “I think I’m ready to head out, if that’s ok with you?” Beth just wanted to go to bed – family was so exhausting.
Col’s arm tightened around her waist, pulling her against him as he leaned down to kiss her again on the side of her head. God, why did he have to be so sweet? For a second, she let her eyes close and melt against him, willing her body to feel something, to want something, to want him.
But, all she felt was tired.
“Any chance I can steal one more dance from you before our night ends?” he whispered in her ear.
She didn’t have the heart to refuse him. “Of course,” she said, offering him a smile as he led her back into the dwindling crowd one last time.
Her body settled against him again, feeling nothing more than his body heat where they were touching. Beth tried to convince herself that that was a good thing – it allowed her to think straight, to not be overwhelmed, to act rationally; it was what she wanted.
“I know you’re stressed because he’s here,” Col murmured to her.
Her breath caught for a second before releasing. Of course, he would know. He’d been her closest friend over the past few months, the one who knew the most about what had happened; there was no point trying to hide it from him.
“I just thought it would be easier than it was – seeing him again, I mean,” she replied quietly. “I thought all of the hurt and anger that I’d gone through would make me somehow immune.”
His hand began to rub slow circles on her lower back in comfort.
“When you’ve hurt so badly over someone, I don’t think it’s possible to be completely immune.
Even for me, with my mom and the Contest…
every year I stand up to welcome everyone to the event and tell her story; every year, I go into it positive that this year it won’t hurt, that it’s been long enough.
And every year, I’m completely wrong and I get depressed for a few days even though we’re doing such a good thing,” he sighed, the emotion, even now, getting to him.
“I know it’s not quite the same, but for someone who had that kind of impact on your life, instead of fighting against the feelings, it’s better in the long run to just figure out how to cope with them. ”
Beth nodded against his shoulder, tears welling in her eyes.
She loved how he could put aside his personal feelings because he wanted what was best for her; it would be easy to jump on all the horrible things Darcy had said and done, try to convince her that forgetting about him, or hating him, would be easier; but, he didn’t. He was such a good man.
“Not that I have much more advice than that.” He chuckled.
“Because I still haven’t quite figured it out either.
I do wish though that there was something I could do to make it easier for you…
” He trailed off as his voice became hoarse, his feelings for her no longer being shielded.
“I just want you to know that I would never hurt you like that, but, more importantly, that I am always here for you in whatever capacity that you need me.”
Beth sucked in a shaky breath, trying desperately not to cry – Col’s sweetness turning out to be the straw that might break the camel’s back.
“Thank you,” she whispered thickly over her tears.
She sighed in relief as the song came to an end, desperately needing to be somewhere where it wouldn’t be fuel for gossip as to why she was crying.
“Alright, gorgeous, let’s get you back to your room so you can get some sleep,” Col said. Beth was grateful for his support as he kept her held tightly against him as they went to say goodbye to Jane and Charles and Beth’s sisters who were all still in a small group talking.
“Are you guys heading out?” Jane asked, seeing them approach.
“Yeah, I have an early flight in the morning back to Boston, so I should probably get some rest,” Col answered, sparing Beth from being the reason that they were leaving a half an hour before the reception technically ended.
“Oh, of course,” Jane said, approaching him to give him a hug. “Thank you so much for coming. I can’t tell you how much we appreciate it.” Releasing him, she enveloped Beth in her arms as Charles shook Col’s hand.
“Congratulations, sis. You looked beautiful. I hope everything about today was just as you hoped,” Beth whispered to her sister.
“Oh, it was. Thank you for being a part of it; it means the world to me,” Jane replied, beginning to release her, but not before she whispered, “ just talk to him.” As Beth pulled back, she saw the look in her sister’s eyes that said Jane could tell she was struggling tonight with seeing and being around Darcy.
They hugged Mary, Lydia, and Kat, before making their way to the exit; Beth purposely trying to avoid seeing her mother who would be upset that they were leaving early – well, maybe not if Col told her that he needed to.
Either way, she wasn’t going to take the chance.
They quietly slipped out of the courtyard and into the shuttle that was running to transport guests back to the hotel.
The gentle rumble of the bus lured Beth’s eyelids closed, her head gently resting on Col’s shoulder as it brought them back to the hotel. She relaxed against him, her mind registering his subtle scent.
Crisp and clean.
And safe.
“Beth, hey, we’re back at the hotel,” Col said softly as his hand gently squeezing hers.
“Oh, sorry,” she mumbled, drowsily waking up from her slumber. Leaning on Col’s arm, she let him lead her off the bus and into the lobby, stopping just as they entered the Castle.