kept a respectable distance and had remained appropriate. So far, so good.
I hurried into the hallway, glad to have a little more space to lessen the temptation to touch him.
I knew that I shouldn’t feel this attraction. I knew that he had every reason to hate me. Yet, despite it all, he was coming with me, and we were having a lovely evening.
I had no idea how it was going to end. I half wanted it to be in my bed, but the idea terrified me as well. I had no idea what I was doing.
I opened the door to the apartment and held it open.
“Here’s my apartment,” I announced, feeling dumb. “Please come in.”
“Oh, thank god you’re home,” Jane cried, jumping up from the couch and rushing over. Her face was wet with tears, and her hands shook.
“Jane? What’s the matter?” I asked, putting my hands on her shoulders. The poor thing was trembling all over. “What happened?”
Jane’s lower lip trembled. “Lydia’s run away.”
I took a step back in shock and ran directly into Mr. Darcy. He was strong and stable behind me, and it gave me some comfort to know he was there.
“What do you mean, ‘run away’?” I asked, my heart already beating hard.
“Lydia ran away with Wickham,” Jane explained. “They’re in LA. She says he’s going to make her famous, and...”
Her voice caught, and she had to take a breath.
“And?” I pressed. I already knew there was nothing good that could come next. Jane didn’t fluster easily. Something was very wrong with this trip.
“And I checked with his office,” Jane said slowly. “They fired him two weeks ago. He put a girl in a porno without her consent and took the extra money without telling the company.”
“No...” The floor fell out from under me. It was a good thing that Mr. Darcy was behind me or I would have collapsed to the floor. As it was, he had to half carry me over to the couch. My feet didn’t seem to know how to work properly. This was the worst possible outcome to this situation.
“I’m so sorry, Lizzie.” Jane joined me on the couch and took my hand. “I didn’t know what else to do.”
“It’s not your fault, Jane,” I told her. Shock settled on my limbs, heavy and awful. “How did you find out?”
“She left a note,” Jane explained. She pulled a small piece of paper out of her pocket. I could see Lydia’s handwriting on it. “It only says she’s in LA with Wickham for a big role. That’s why I called his office.”
“She would have left me a note, too,” I said, rising to my feet. Mr. Darcy rose with me, making sure I was still steady.
I ran to my room and found a small piece of folded paper on my bed. It struck me as important that I had made my bed this morning, but it didn’t matter now.
My hands shook as I picked up the note and read the messy writing.
Dear Lizzie,
When you get back, I’ll already be in Los Angeles. I don’t want you to worry, but this is my big break, and I couldn’t have you talk me out of it.
I told Wickham that I wasn’t an heiress, just like you asked me to. You were right; I should have told him all along. Now that he knows, he’s taking me to Hollywood! He says he has a gig for me there and that it will make me a star.
I had to borrow some of your money to pay for plane tickets, but I promise I’ll pay you back once I get the money for this part.
You’re going to be so proud of me. I promise.
Love,
Lydia
“Stupid girl,” I whispered, wiping a tear from my cheek. How could she be so foolish? How could I have not seen this coming?