He looked down at the business card. “Well, Ms. Bingley. I’ll let Elizabeth know to expect your call. Oh! And I also included two invitations to Gregory Pillson’s Pastels of Light exhibition reception on Saturday night. It’s bound to bethesocial event of the Tribeca fine art community. Please do come. Elizabeth will be present, of course, and I’m sure she would be delighted to tell you all about the painting’s provenance and the medium.” He smiled widely.
“I’ll try to make it. Thank you. I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name?”
“The one and only, Guy Bernard.”
“Thank you, Mr. Bernard.”
She exited the gallery and stalled in the center of the sidewalk, staring down at the business card clipped to the paperwork in her hand. Shocked to her core, her heart thundered at the unnerving coincidence and how it could upend everything. Everything!
She was gorgeous then, even in a country-bumpkin artsy type of style. She’s probably incredible now! Dammit, he loved his Lizzy sooo damn much. I could never compete with that.
But pages thirty-six and two-hundred-one of the contract clearly state, “Any mention of Elizabeth (Lizzy) Marie Bennet by name or inference will hereby render The Marriage Pact null and void before or after its activation.”
No problem. There was absolutely no way she would ever putherin the path ofhim. First off, he was not and never will be emotionally able to revisit his past with the woman who broke him without A) falling for her all over again or B) freaking out. Secondly, she’d waited too damn long to say, “I, Caroline Bingley, take you Fitzwilliam Darcy to be my lawful wedded husband.”
Still, there was the issue of the painting. William should know about it. It was the right thing to do.
Butshe needed someone skilled and connected to acquire her future assets, bargainable in divorce court should things eventually fall apart, which she hoped they wouldn’t.
Her heart sank. All her childhood dreams of marrying her brother’s friend could possibly go to shit with the reintroduction ofthatwoman into his life. That one incredible night she’d spent in her “friend’s” arms had forever changed her. She loved him then and now loved him more, aching for his reciprocation. The Marriage Pact was the closest she could get to finally winning him.
After their one-night stand, she’d stepped up her attentions, becoming a better friend to him than she’d ever been. Successfully replacing the woman he loved and once relied on, she supported him through his parents’ unexpected deaths and his sister’s high school rebellion following Anne’s passing. Sure, she was a little greedy, but what woman wouldn’t be? This wastheFitzwilliam Darcy, New York City’s top financier, after all. The monetary reward for their relationship was as incredible as she always knew it would be, but she wanted the whole shebang, the true treasure chest: his heart, and it had to be organic for it to be truly meaningful.
Thank God she didn’t mentionherDarcy to Mr. Bernard! Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, then exhaled. “You’re so close to I do. Think like a Darcy. What would they do?” She sighed. “Keep your enemies closer. You could do this without either of them knowing. Elizabeth could be married and then all your fears are for nothing ... unless she’s a cheater and then you’re totally screwed. But, he’snota cheater ... but he might become one for her! But he hates her. Still, you can’t take that chance.” She shoved the paperwork in her bag, then took a cleansing breath. “You got this, Beanz.”
FIVE
June 1
Dressed to the nines in a champagne-colored sleeveless sheath, Caroline exited the town car in front of La Tempera. Flying solo, her stomach fluttered, but she flung her hair over a shoulder and held her chin high, poised to take on the enemy. Louisa, her sister, had bailed last minute, citing Hurst’s lingering headache from his bachelor party the night before. The hopeless romantic was in absolute denial; the man was perpetually hungover.
Spotlit in the gallery’s front window, a thirty-six by forty-eight framed beach landscape drew in passersby. She liked it and thought William would, too, but he was fickle lately and she was having difficulty reading his happiness level. In fact, he insisted on coming to the reception last minute, which made her do some fancy footwork to change his mind, claiming it was abstract art and wouldn’t be worth his time. Stating the ol’ “time is money” credo he lived by, she hit a homer by complaining that society weddings weren’t cheap. Further explaining that she wasjustgoing to introduce herself to the owner who was leaving for Europe in the morning, then she would go clubbing with Louisa. What were a couple of little white lies?
Entering the crowded gallery, she took in the entire scene: well-dressed, well-heeled, and even the avant-garde mingling to sunny jazz music. Everyone looked familiar, yet she didn’t know a soul until Mr. Bernard waved to her. She waved back and smiled, pressing through a group standing at the first painting.
“What a turnout!” she said.
“I knew it would be. Pillson is simply—just simplymagnifique, a bit overpriced, but a faaabulous investment.”
“Indeed. It’s nice to see you again, Mr. Bernard.”
“Likewise. I’m delighted you came.” He signaled the waiter who promptly arrived with a tray of champagne.
“Don’t mind if I do. Thanks.”
“And where is your fiancé this evening, Ms. Bingley?”
“Unfortunately, he had to prepare for an important business meeting tomorrow.” She shrugged. “So, it’s just me, but I’m—”
He cut her short when two people interrupted with effusions and handshakes, and before she could excuse herself, he had already moved on to network and promote. She wasn’t offended and continued to walk through the gallery, stopping at paintings, and picking up pieces of conversation along the way. The artist was extremely talented and admired, and many considered the gallery top-level. It cut her just a little to consider how in just six short years, Darcy’s ex had made remarkable gains in the art world apart from her creative talent, which she’d never seen, but nauseatingly heard about ad infinitum from Darcy’s mother. Of course, any knowledge about Elizabeth Bennet would remain sealed in her vault, lest she planned on nullifying the marriage pact. Onthat, Darcy would have no qualms holding her feet to the fire, or better yet, flaying her skin. The stoic man hadn’t mentioned the bitch in six years, and neither would she.
She stopped at a twelve-thousand-dollar painting titledMorning Mist over Nantucket, considering how it would look in one of the four spare bedrooms.
“It’s one of my favorites. Pillson truly transports the viewer,” a woman said.
Although she’d only met her nemesis once, she recognized her immediately, despite the stunning metamorphosis from “Lizzy.” She was right, the competition was even more attractive today than when she’d met her the first month Darcy hooked upwith her. Elizabeth’s bouncy waves fell to her shoulders and her expressive eyes shone in the ambient spotlights. Those naturally long lashes could poke an eye out! Even the bitch’s ruby, plump lips caused a tinge of jealousy. Internally, she steamed thinking that mouth kissed Darcy in places she still dreamed about but had to wait only a couple of months to do again!
She couldn’t help raking her eyes down Elizabeth’s slender figure, noting the expensive outfit. In fact, she’d admired the same two-thousand-dollar metallic tuxedo dress in Bergdorf. The woman looked every man’s sexy-classy dream, right down to her to-die-for ankle-strap shoes!
