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Chapter Eighteen: Surprised (An Understatement)

Title: Blessing in Disguise Author: rEd RoSe-StArFiRe-RoSeFiRe Fandom: Pride and Prejudice Rating: T Pairing: Lizzie/Darcy Disclaimer: Pride and Prejudice is the intellectual property of Jane Austen. No infringement on that right is meant by this fan fiction. Summary: Modern P&P. Lizzie Bennet is a pre-med student at NYU. Will Darcy is a personal injury lawyer for the Bingleys, who tries to sue the hospital she works at. Never in a million years would she believe that he is her blessing in disguise.

Chapter Eighteen

"This is amazing, Aunt Maddie," Lizzie whispered as she gazed out of her window from her seat in the back of the rental. They had finally arrived in England during the first week of June, which was about a week earlier. They first finished touring around central London and had met with some of her aunt's uncle from college. Her aunt, before moving to California, had been brought up in England in a small county in the north, Derbyshire.

As Lizzie grew up, one of her fondest childhood memories would be the stories that her aunt would tell her and her sisters. Maddie Gardiner had lived in a small town called Lambton, and to this day, it was her aunt's most favourite place in the world.

Touring London had been a dream come true! She remembered each of the historical landmarks – the Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and how she couldn't believe how she was actually here. While she had stood in one of the compartments on the London eye, she had felt herself absolutely blown away by the view. The history, the architecture, the breathtaking culture all had caught Lizzie's breath away.

As she reminisced her past week in the glorious London, she unfortunately was remined of him. She remembered then that Darcy owned a firm in London and was probably there now. She leaned her forehead against the coolness of the window and closed her eyes. She felt her heartbeat race at the thought of meeting Darcy. Shaking her head, she chided herself for such a notion.

"England is an extremely large place. Why would I ever see him here?" she thought to herself. She continued to glance at the landscape outside, admiring the valleys and hills crossing each other as their car weaved on the trails amongst them. She had read up a lot on the Peak District and was particularly excited to see her aunt's hometown and the nearby estate, Pemberley.

When she had researched about Pemberley thought, a mere five miles away from Lambton, she had come across the owners of it – the estate had been passed down generations after generations in the Darcy family.

While Lizzie was worried about crossing paths with Darcy in London, she was absolutely anxious and apprehensive about possibly crossing paths with him in Pemberley. When she had learned that Pemberley was indeed William Darcy's estate, she had finally mustered up the courage to google him. Not that it had tempted her before.

She found out that he had three firms in total, the central firm in London, one in New York and one in Orlando. He had graduated from Oxford with a law degree. He also had the Darcy family business which was in the hotel business. The Pemberley Estates, named after his own family estate, was a multimillion international hotel chain, which was now owned by him and Richard. He also had a younger sister, Georgiana Darcy, who was now completing her A levels and who will be taking over the family business after she graduates university.

After reading up on Darcy, Lizzie felt shocked at how famous he and his family really was. She had to admit – she never knew that his self-worth was as much as it was. And to be loved by such a person? She shook her head, unable to even fathom having a relationship with such a man. Not that it matters, she thought. He probably hates me for everything I said to him. Which decent man wouldn't?

Lost in her turbulent thoughts, Lizzie gradually fell asleep in the back seat of the car.

"Are you sure we have to go, Aunt?" Lizzie asked, her hand suddenly stilled on her piece of toast and her face paled noticeably.

"Lizzie, my dear, are you not feeling well?" Maddie put aside her cup of coffee the following morning where they were having breakfast in a nearby town to Lambton, Bakewell. One of the main goals of this trip was also, for her aunt and uncle at least, to purchase many antiques for their shop back home in California.

Maddie leaned forward to place her hand over Lizzie's forehead. Her uncle, Edward Gardiner, set aside his napkin and placed his hands on the table. He also looked worried as he watched his wife feel Lizzie's head.

Maddie frowned as she sat back in her seat, "You aren't feeling warm, Lizzie."

Lizzie smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes, "No, there isn't anything wrong with me, Aunt. I just was surprised. Do we really need to go to Pemberley?"

This question seemed to catch her uncle's attention, as he narrowed his eyes suspiciously at his niece. "Why do you not want to go to Pemberley, my dear? I am pretty sure that you have heard that it is a grand estate. There is even a magnanimous hotel chain named after the estate."

Lizzie nodded, as she whispered, "I know."

Edward continued, hopefully trying to convince his niece to accept the excursion. "I believe it now owned by William Darcy, the son of George and Anne Darcy. Poor boy – he was left in charge of the hotel business and the estate at such a young age when his parents died in that horrible plane crash. He was only twenty years old, with a mountain high load of responsibilities and a ten year old sister to care for. It would be amazing to meet such a man."

As Edward was caught up in his commentary about the Darcy and his family, he hadn't noticed how pale Lizzie had gotten. Only Maddie did, so when Edward finished, she had instantly remembered a reason why Lizzie could be so withdrawn like this.

"Lizzie, I don't want to pry, but wasn't Jane's Charlie's friend, a Mr. Darcy?" Maddie asked, her eyes never straying from Lizzie's face.

Maddie figured that she was correct when she noticed Lizzie's head snap up, her eyes widened in shock. Maddie smiled slightly as she placed her hand over Lizzie's.

"Aunt, how did you guess?" Lizzie stumbled over her words.

Edward looked confused as he found it hard to follow the conversation, "Lizzie, do you know this Mr. Darcy?"

Lizzie sighed, as her tired eyes looked at both of them. She started, "Um, yes. Jane and I met Mr. Darcy and his friend, Mr. Charlie Bingley when they came to the hospital to…" She trailed off, knowing that the case matter was confidential. "Well, they came to the hospital and Charlie and Jane hit it off immediately. Me and Darcy not so much. I just thought that it would be awkward to see the man of the friend who broke up with Jane, that's all."

Edward and Maddie exchanged skeptical glances but chose not to press for more details. Maddie, especially, figured that there seemed like there was more to the story than Lizzie was admitting. Edward, however, smiled when he took another sip from his coffee, as he confessed, "Maybe you won't risk seeing him there, Lizzie."

Lizzie furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, narrowing her eyes. She asked, "What?"

Edward leaned forward to reach his wife's hand and stroke in gently as he continued talking, "I have heard from a very reliable source that Mr. Darcy won't be in the area for at least another week or so. I heard he's in London for a major case."

Lizzie looked shocked, "How do you know?"

Maddie piped in for her husband while she smiled, "Your uncle is a dear friend of one of Mr. Darcy's associates in the New York office, my dear. I'm surprised you don't know."

Lizzie shook her head as she looked from her aunt to her uncle. She looked down at her plate, unsure of what to think.

"So, Lizzie," her uncle asked after a few minutes, "do you think we can go to Pemberley?"

Lizzie's head snapped up as she played with a loose strand of hair. She bit her lip before she nodded. She smiled apprehensively, "I guess so."

"I'm sure we can spare a few hours, my dear before we get on the road. We wouldn't want to get to Lambton too late," Edward muttered as they stepped outside onto the main road of the small town of Bakewell.

Maddie gave a peck on her husband's cheek before clasping his hand into hers. "I'm sure the few hours of fresh air will do us good, especially Lizzie," she whispered as she pointed to Lizzie, who was standing a few metres away looking up at the sky, lost in thought.

"I am quite sure whatever has gotten Lizzie in the blues, it will pass," Edward said, "I mean, she was the reason why we decided to come to England. Well, and you of course, my dear."

He raised their joint hands to give a kiss on her knuckles. Maddie rolled her eyes before shaking her head. She looked at the forlorn expression on her niece and whispered, "I still think there is something that girl is not telling us, Edward."

Edward sighed as he patted her hand. "Let's not dwell on that. I am very certain that it will pass."

Even they stopped talking on the subject and continued to walk behind Lizzie on that small street, Maddie couldn't help but worry about her.

They had walked around the small market town. They had visited all of the main hotspots of the town – All Saints church being the main one. It had been around two hours later, when her uncle decided that it was time for lunch. They stopped into shop, which on the outside said that it owned the original recipe of Bakewell pudding.

Lizzie whispered as she read the name of the shop, "The Bakewell Tart Shop & Coffee House." She laughed slightly as she commented, "If we are going to go in here, we might as well get ready to burn off those extra calories by walking to Lambton."

Her aunt and uncle laughed as they entered the shop. The three of them had a pleasant lunch, despite the worriedness her uncle and aunt had expressed for Lizzie. They had ordered the Iced Bakewell Tart, which was a delightful deviation from the original Bakewell pudding recipe.

Once they finished their lunch with very satisfied appetites and stomachs, they stepped out of the shop. Edward looked at his watch and concluded that they could spare another two hours before they would have to leave for Lambton.

Lizzie smiled as she asked if they could walk around the town square. Her aunt and uncle agreed. Before they were going to leave the area, Maddie suddenly remarked, "Oh, I forgot my purse. Let me quickly go inside and get it!"

Edward smiled as he offered to come inside with her. Edward asked Lizzie, "Do you mind, Lizzie?"

Lizzie shook her head, as she told them to quickly go get it. As Maddie and Edward entered the shop once again, Lizzie had walked to a nearby shop and looked inside to see a couple of handmade toys. She smiled, as she remembered seeing many of handcrafted toys in her aunt and uncle's shop in San Francisco. She instantly went inside to purchase the handcrafted doll and airplane for a rather good bargain.

When she stepped outside, she accidentally bumped into a large boulder when she hurried out the door. Noticing that it was a person who was her boulder, she immediately apologized as she looked up to look at the man's face.

Her breath got caught in her throat as she widened her eyes in shock. Standing there just mere inches away from her was Darcy, with a mirroring expression on his own face. She felt her hand go clammy, as she desperately tightened her hold around the bag from the shop. To say that she was surprised would have been an understatement.

She felt her mouth go dry as she muttered in surprise, "Darcy!"

He muttered with his gaze intense on her person, "Elizabeth."

Lizzie tried to look anywhere but him as she tried to explain to him, "I, um…"

Lizzie paused to catch a glimpse of his face, who was still intent on staring into her eyes. His eyes still hadn't let her face, as if trying to memorize the details of her face. Or as if he was so in shock, he searched her face to make sure she was real. She wasn't sure exactly why he was staring so intently but she tried to continue as courageously as she could.

"I, um, am touring the country." There, she worded it as simple as she could at that moment. It was true, even though she didn't go into the exact details.

"Oh," his low, deep voice murmured. He finally broke his gaze while he raked his fingers through his wet hair nervously.

Lizzie furrowed her eyebrows as she finally saw what he was wearing at that moment. He was holding a tennis racket in his left hand and was drenching in sweat, most likely from an intensive match or practice. She couldn't help but feel her heartbeat skip a beat after noticing his less than professional attire. He looked so casual in his sports clothes, even though him being wet didn't really help. He almost seemed…normal. And attractive.

Lizzie slightly shook her head as she glanced up at him, absolutely confused and shocked by his surprise appearance.

He asked, "How is your family?"

"They are well," she answered briskly.

"Oh," he muttered before fingering his tennis racket. He asked again, "Um, where are you staying?"

Lizzie looked at him in surprised as she murmured, "We will be going to Lambton in about a couple of hours."

"So soon?" Darcy asked, his voice cracking.

Lizzie looked at him, unsure of what to think of him and she simply nodded.

"How is your family? And all your sisters?"

Laughing softly, she answered, her eyes suddenly bright. Her voice was alight with a teasing note, "Of course. They aren't any different from when you asked me five minutes ago."

Flustered, Darcy felt his face flush, "Right, of course. Well, I wouldn't want to keep you from….Goodbye." He whispered the last word briskly before they both heard a distinctive exclamation.

"Mate, I told you to wait for me! We can walk together to our…" a third man had run up to the pair of them, before he trailed off noticing them both.

Darcy's eyes narrowed, as he felt angry by the intrusion – despite their impending farewell. His colleague, a tall brown haired man with a cheery expression on his face, looked down at Lizzie and whistled. "Well, hello, my dear."

Lizzie raised her eyebrow as she felt herself mentally groan at the presence of yet another man who was – simply put – a player. Darcy did not enjoy the keen interest his colleague had with Lizzie, while he grit out, his teeth slightly clenched, "Churchill, this is Elizabeth Bennet. Elizabeth, this is Frank Churchill. Churchill is an associate at my firm in London. Elizabeth is….a woman I know from the New York firm."

Lizzie raised her eyebrow at her introduction, but didn't interrupt to correct the introduction. She, instead, glanced at Frank Churchill and searched him thoroughly, smiling to herself. Upon seeing Lizzie smile when she looked at Frank, Darcy's heart clenched as he felt the grip on his tennis racket tighten.

She must have noticed the sudden tense atmosphere in the air when she glanced at Darcy. She felt taken aback by the ever so common brooding look on Darcy she was used to see back in New York. Now, she knew though, that it was simply a mask to hide what he was really feeling. And she had an inkling that he didn't like the look she gave Frank.

She smiled, though, despite thinking this, and it caused Darcy's chest to tighten even further. He glanced at her, unable to even fathom that she was here after all these months and was instead of talking to him, throwing ogling glances at the jerk Frank Churchill.

He was surprised however when he heard Lizzie's conversation with Frank.

"So, Mr. Churchill," Lizzie started off, extra sweetly. She knew exactly how to deal with men like him.

"Yes, Miss Bennet. Or would you mind if I called you Elizabeth?" Frank replied, beaming widely.

Lizzie caught a glimpse at Darcy, who looked off to the side, his eyes narrowed in what looked like anger. She looked back to Frank, who looked expectantly at her. She shook her head, "Actually, call me Lizzie. Not many people call me Elizabeth."

Lizzie spared a glance at Darcy again who looked at her in surprise. She hoped that he understood what she meant by her statement. She hoped he understood that he was one of the special few who had the privilege of calling her "Elizabeth." She didn't understand why it mattered to her so much that he understood her, but she felt as though she couldn't bear to have him thinking ill of her.

Darcy, on the other hand, flinched when she said her statement. Not only did he understand the sentiment, he felt as though he had been striken. Darcy was not part of group who would be able to call her "Lizzie." He felt absolutely heartbroken, as he was about to mention that he had to leave before he heard Lizzie's next few words.

Frank smiled as he leaned in closer to her, his eyes never leaving hers. "Of course, Lizzie."

Lizzie took a step back as she finally exclaimed the question she was burning to ask. "So, Mr. Churchill, do you happen to know my friend, Miss Emma Woodhouse. Or should I saw now, Mrs. Emma Knightley? I'm pretty sure I have met you before."

Frank's eyes immediately widened, when he glanced over her once more. His eyes immediately lit up in recognition. "You are Elizabeth Bennet!"

Darcy's eyes widened as he continued the conversation, which obviously had taken a turn away from Frank would have liked.

Elizabeth laughed as she nodded, unsure of what to say next. "Guilty."

Frank's eyes suddenly narrowed as he felt incredibly uncomfortable being next to a woman who had seen him work his business before.

"I don't think Emma would appreciate it if you hit on one of her best friends, even though she is happily married to George. But that also leads to something else – what happened to Jane Fairfax? I thought you had been secretly dating her when you were with Emma?" Noticing his face pale immensely, Lizzie knew that she had hit the mark. She continued, unabashedly, "Or would I be mistaken that Jane doesn't know that you are hitting on foreign woman everywhere you go?"

Frank's eyes nervously glanced at her and then at Darcy. Finally, he muttered, "I have just realized that I need to leave before…um…Jane…well. Darcy, I'll be leaving you. See you tomorrow?" He had nervously asked the last question while glancing at Darcy's face.

Darcy's expression was unreadable as he muttered, "Yes, yes." His eyes looked glazed over as though his mind was not on the present. Frank nodded, and then to Lizzie, he glared slightly before muttering, "I apologize. I, um, - tell Emma congratulations on her wedding to Knightley. He is an honourable man."

With that, he rushed off on the street and turned around the corner. Lizzie and Darcy watched him leaving the street and around the corner, their gaze unwavering from his presence.

Finally, Lizzie looked up at Darcy. He glanced down at her and he was about to ask more about what had just happened when they heard another pair of voices.

"Lizzie!"

She turned around and was relieved when she saw her aunt and uncle running towards them.

"Lizzie! Where have you been? I thought I told you to stay outside the shop!" Edward exclaimed, as he grasped her hand into his. Maddie added to the sentiment, "We were so worried, my dear."

Lizzie nodded, apologizing for worrying them. Instantly, she heard someone clear their throat inconspicuously. She turned around and saw Darcy's intense stare on her, as if asking something. She slightly wavered in her voice when she did introduce her aunt, uncle and Darcy.

Edward was astonished to be meeting the William Darcy in person and shook his hands, echoing his thoughts and sentiment.

Darcy had transformed into an entirely different person, as he seemed to be almost…pleasant. Lizzie couldn't really remember the conversation, because it seemed like a blur. Seeing a nice Darcy was almost impossible for Lizzie to even comprehend in her Wernicke's area.

When Maddie, Edward and Darcy had exchanged a few words with a mute Lizzie, Darcy had found out from Maddie that she had lived in Lambton when she was a mere girl.

He couldn't hide his joy when he found out that they were planning to visit Pemberley on their trip to Lambton. He mentioned, "I'll be in the area for a few more weeks, before I head to London. I would be honoured if you would be guests of our home."

Lizzie had finally snapped out of her thoughts when she stifled a gasp in surprise. Invite them to Pemberley? This was the man who criticized and insulted her family!

Her uncle and aunt seemed like to like the idea, as they turned to ask her. "What do you think, Lizzie?" Maddie asked, "Think we can impose on Mr. Darcy's hospitality?"

Lizzie didn't know what to say and tried to evade Darcy's eager glance as he was anticipating her answer. She knew how excited her aunt and uncle were to visit the Estate simply hours before, and she hated to impede on their enjoyment. She muttered, "Sure, we can go."

Darcy instantly smiled before he formally invited them in two days' time. He mentioned, "I will be going to Pemberley tomorrow, so I believe a day's rest would be sufficient? That will also give you a full day to explore Lambton. A delightful town."

His smile suffused his face as it reached his eyes. He almost looked earnest in his invitation. Unsure of what just transpired, Lizzie chose to keep her eyes away from his attention.

When Edward finally decided that they had imposed on his time for far too long and that they had to leave for the short drive to Lambton, they bid farewell.

Darcy reluctantly said "goodbye" but was eagerly anticipating the party's attendance at his home in two days' time.

He expressed his farewells to the Gardiners before reaching Elizabeth. She finally looked up at him and glanced into his eyes. His gaze was now softened as the smile on his face made him ridiculously attractive. "Goodbye, Elizabeth," he whispered.

Lizzie felt chills up her spine when she heard her name caressed with his deep voice. She muttered incoherently, "Goodbye."

Maddie and Edward turned around and walked towards their car. Lizzie reluctantly turned around and walked in the opposite direction. She didn't know what, though, but something compelled her to turn around. When she did turn around, Darcy was still standing there – his imposing stature so dominating in the small town's street. She held up a hand to wave goodbye. She couldn't see his face carefully from the distance away she was, but she saw him raise a hand as well. She smiled, and then turned around.

When they had reached her uncle's rental, they all got into the seats quietly. When Lizzie slipped into the back and put on her seatbelt, Maddie turned around in her seat and asked, "Did you not say Lizzie that Mr. Darcy was rather arrogant?"

Lizzie looked up at her aunt in slight surprise and then looked at the window. Her uncle had pulled out from the curb parking and turned onto the small street. She muttered, gazing at the summer day, "I did. I'm not sure what conspired such a change. It's as if…" she trailed off, unsure of what exactly she thought.

The only thing she knew for sure was that Darcy was still as attractive as he always had been.

Always exploring and unleashing,

ღ ‘rEd RoSe-StArFiRe-RoSeFiRe’

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