Charles and Wickham traded a look.
“Don’t let it go,” Charles said. “Take action.” It was easy for him to say. Things had worked out for him.
I had no reason to think they would for me and Lizzy. “She just wants help with her dad.”
“Or,” Wickham said with a shrug, “that’s not all she wants.”
Charles nodded. “I got a second shot with Jane. Turns out, saying how I felt was the only way I was ever going to find out.”
I wished for them to be right. In my mind, I recalled the kiss, and how she’d moved closer, putting her hands on my chest. Of the soft look in her gaze after we’d parted. I’d wanted the play to tell me her feelings. Perhaps it had.
“Either way, you should tell Lizzy that you and Rosalie aren’t dating,” Wickham said. “And tell Rosalie and your aunt. You can maybe get each of them alone tonight at dinner. Or” —he sat up with a clever smile—“I know. Invite Lizzy to your dinner tonight at Lady Catherine’s. That will send a strong message to everyone about what you want.”
“She’s already coming. She kind of invited herself.”
Charles raised an eyebrow. “She invited herself to your dinner with your girlfriend’s family?”
“Well, she didn’t think at the time that Rosalie Trent was my girlfriend. Which she isn’t, I—” I shook my head. This was a disaster.
My phone, resting on the counter, vibrated. We all leaned forward to see who it was.
I had a text from Elizabeth Bennet.
“Speak of the devil,” Wickham said. “You can get things cleared up right now.” He rose. “Charles, shall we?”
Charles was grinning. “Good luck, man.”
The two men walked from the room with far too big of grins on their faces.
I snatched up my phone and read the text.
Hey, so I didn’t realize that this dinner tonight was with your girlfriend. And I understand it’s awkward,but I still want to be there to get information out of the Trents.
I imagined how strange it must be for Lizzy to ask, but I could tell this was her love for her father speaking. She didn’t care if it was uncomfortable treating the family of the girl I was supposedly dating as suspects if it meant finding a cure. I quickly texted back a reply.
She’s not my girlfriend.
Why did she say she is?
Can I explain tonight?
There was a pause as the little dots flashed on and off on my screen.
Will I be butting in at the dinner?
Probably. But I’ll make sure I take the blame for it.
Sounds super awkward.
I’m in.
If there was something my Aunt Catherine hated, it was unplanned uncomfortable situations, although she created her fair share of them with her own comments most of the time. But having Lizzy there actually made me excited about attending. Maybe my friends were right. That kiss between us hadn’t been nothing. She had to have felt something. After dinner tonight, I’d tell Lizzy about my feelings and let the chips fall where they may.Before that, I’d have to make sure the dinner itself didn’t end in disaster.
I picked Lizzy up at Cupid’s Confections. “Have a good time,” Kitty said, and Lydia giggled.
Lizzy shook her head, shrugged on her coat, and we got into the car.
“Thanks for bringing me despite… the situation,” Lizzy said.
