“She did?” Charlotte replied in a shocked voice. “Wow! I’m so happy for them. I thought it was over.”
Elizabeth laughed. “I know. I did too.” Elizabeth went on to tell a quick version of the story. “As a matter of fact, I thought that it was her when you called.”
“Wow,” Charlotte said, a bit thoughtfully. “I’m really happy for them.”
“What’s wrong, Char?”
“Nothing’s wrong; it’s just, well, Richard’s been calling me.”
“No.”
“Yeah.”
“Tell me what happened.”
Charlotte giggled at the excitement in Elizabeth’s voice. “Well, nothing really happened. He’s just been calling me. We talk.”
Elizabeth could hear Charlotte shrugging. “And what do you talk about?”
“Oh, just stuff. It’s nice, you know?”
Elizabeth felt a pang, because she didn’t know. “Yeah,” she agreed. “So, are you two getting back together?”
“I’m not sure, really. It’s not like we ever really had a clear definition of our relationship, so I don’t think you can say we are getting ‘back’ together. But we talk, and it’s good. You know, no pressure.”
Elizabeth had the clear feeling that there was more to it. “How often does he call?” she asked simply, scouting around for details.
“Every night.”
“What?”
“Yeah.” She laughed.
“Char,” Elizabeth’s voice held a note of significance. “Is this serious?”
“Um, yeah. I think it might be,” Charlotte answered, her confidence suddenly gone.
“How do you feel about it?”
“I’m not sure. We talk a lot, but we haven’t talked about us. It’s like he’s purposefully avoiding that topic. So I’m not sure what to think.” She paused. “Lizzy?”
“Yeah?”
“He really wants us to go back on the tour with them.”
“Oh.”
“But I don’t want to do it if you and Jane aren’t fully behind the idea,” she added quickly. “It has to be all of us.”
“Well,” said Elizabeth pragmatically, “I don’t think you have to worry about Jane.”
“True, but what about you, Lizzy? I saw Darcy at the VMAs. What’s going on with you two?”
“I don’t know,” Elizabeth said dumbly. “I haven’t spoken to him at all. I even went to his loft, and the doorman told me he would be gone for a few weeks, so I’m stuck waiting.”
“Do you even want to see him again after all that?” Charlotte was skeptical.
“I do,” Elizabeth said softly. “I really do, Char. I can’t explain it, but I want to talk to him at least.”
“Okay, I get that.” Charlotte understood better than anyone what it was like to have feelings for someone you couldn’t rationally explain. “So, what are we going to do about the tour?”
“Well, I have to talk to Jane, but I say we go for it. It’s only four more months, and if things don’t work out with Darcy, I can just ignore him again.” She was struck by how pathetic her own joke was.
“Are you sure, Lizzy?” Charlotte asked.
“I’m sure,” Elizabeth said quickly and decisively. “So will I see you on Monday for the video shoot?”
“Yep. Have a good time at Tanglewood.”
“Thanks, I will.”
They both said good-bye and hung up. A minute later the phone rang again. This time it was Jane.
“Oh Lizzy! I have wonderful news!”
Elizabeth smiled at Jane’s infectious joy. “Tell me.”
“We’re going to California tomorrow!”
“Really?”
“Charles wants me to see his house and meet his father,” she said somewhat shyly.
“That’s great! I’m so happy for you,” Elizabeth cooed. “Oh! I just got off the phone with Charlotte and you’ll never guess who she’s been talking to!”
“Richard?”
“How did you guess?”
Jane laughed. “So how are they doing?”
“Charlotte says it’s good. They have just been talking, friendly like, but she seems pretty happy about it. Jane?”
“What?”
“Char wants to go back on tour with them. She wanted to know what we think.”
Jane smiled. “Oh Lizzy! That’s great news. Yes, I want to go back on tour.” She slowed down a bit. “Charles and I are very worried about this all. It’s one thing for us to be back together as a couple, but it’s not good if the two bands are still having trouble.”
Once again, Elizabeth found herself in the uncomfortable situation of being the one without a relationship. “I think for now we should plan on going back.”
“Are you going to be okay, Lizzy?” Jane asked, her concern apparent.
“I’m not sure, but I’m going to try. That’s all I can do.”
“It’ll work out for you. I know it will.”
Elizabeth smiled wanly. “Now, you are going to be back in time for Tuesday, right?”
“Yes, we’re coming back Sunday night. Are you going to be okay working with George again?”
Elizabeth sighed. Again, she wasn’t sure. Knowing what she knew now, the last thing she wanted to do was make that second video with him, but she couldn’t suddenly refuse to do it. Not without revealing Georgiana’s secret, something she could never do. And if she did back out, she would be liable for all that money. There was nothing to do but grit her teeth and make the video with him, hopefully as quickly as possible.
“I’ll be okay, Jane,” she told her sister.
“Oh, Charles is back. I got to go. Take care, Lizzy. Say hi to Mary for me.”
Elizabeth said good-bye and hung up the phone. She sat down with a sigh on her bed. It had been six days since she sent the email, and still she had no response. After biting her lip and thinking for a long moment, she found herself looking a number up and dialing.
“Hello,” a crisp male voice answered.
“Oh, um, Faust, hi, it’s Lizzy Bennet.” Elizabeth found herself blushing furiously.
“Hello, Lizzy, how are you? Are you enjoying your holiday?” Faust seemed perfectly relaxed, and his ease helped Elizabeth.
“I am, thank you. And you?”
“Very nice, thanks. Caro is,” he paused, as if he was looking around himself, “um, not available right now. Can I take a message?”
Elizabeth heard Caroline’s voice calling out from a distance, “Who is it?”
“Hang on,” Faust told her. A half minute later, he returned to the phone. “Lizzy? Caro said that she did forward your email to Darcy. Is that what you called about?”
Elizabeth smiled. “Yes, it is. Thanks.”
“Oh good. Glad to be of service, Lizzy. See you soon.”
Elizabeth sighed. She had her answer now, but she wasn’t at all sure if she liked it. Darcy had her song, but he hadn’t replied to it. That meant either he had rejected it and her or… or what? She tried to come up with a reason, other than he wanted nothing to do with her, and failed utterly.
But despite the fairly damning evidence, Elizabeth still couldn’t give up hope. Maybe it was the way he had looked at her when he sang “Feel Me,” or maybe it was Caro’s advice to not give up. Or maybe it was just plain stubbornness. But Elizabeth was not ready to quit yet. She had been too blind in this relationship before, and she had made too many wrong assumptions. She wasn’t going to do that again. She was going to go back on tour, and she was going to tell him what she felt. At least she could do that much.
It was with a heavy heart she tucked herself into bed. She might tell Darcy she loved him, and he might laugh in her face. After what happened in the loft and at the rehearsal, it wouldn’t be impossible.
She wished she could just see him. Every day of waiting just became longer and longer. She closed her eyes and again imagined herself back in his arms. It might be nothing more than a fantasy at this point, but it was the most comforting one she had.
Elizabeth enjoyed the two-hour drive to Tanglewood. She loved looking out the window at the beautiful scenery. The Berkshire Mountains rose up tall and green on either side of the highway. The summer sunlight was fading, but Elizabeth was still struck by the natural wonder of the place.
She exited the Mass Pike at Lee and quickly made her way to the hotel. Elizabeth had hoped to stay someplace nicer, but at this late date, the Day’s Inn was the only place with rooms available.