Page 116 of A Searing Acquaintance
“Aren’t you the big talker, giving me orders? Lizabit can’t do it for herself? You have no right?—”
“Yes, he does, Sylvia.” While Darcy had sensed Elizabeth’s approach, Sylvia had not. She looked up, startled, at the sound of her daughter’s voice.
“I can do everything for myself. I have for a very long time.” Elizabeth cursed the shakiness in her voice.
Darcy stood and offered Elizabeth his chair. She shook her head, remaining quite still, and clasped his hand. Then she took a deep breath and gave Sylvia a grave look.
“If you still want a relationship with Jane, that’s her business, her choice. But if you ruin her wedding by singing when she’s asked you not to or by making a scene with us, she will cut you out too.” Elizabeth smiled grimly. “She’ll be thrilled to know you practically blackmailed her new husband, making him leverage his friendship with Fitzwilliam to stop you from singing. My God.”
Sylvia’s face was rapidly losing color; its hot red anger was now nearly white with shock.
“My lease is up at the end of the month,” Elizabeth said, her voice strong and clear. She glanced at Darcy and squeezed his hand. “But the landlord asked to get in early to do some work. We have movers and cleaners coming to the apartment on Thursday, so you and Bernard will need to be out by Wednesday.”
“Where am I supposed to stay?” Sylvia blustered. “I’m on vacation. Where will I go?”
“Home, wherever that is. Because it’s never been here with me—with Jane and me—and you can’t start now. Go live your life as you always have.”
Sylvia cleared her throat and glared at them both. “I want to stay in New York and start a business.”
Elizabeth hoped Sylvia didn’t see the tremor that rippled through her, though she knew Darcy had felt it. He stepped back into the conversation.
“I see,” he said. “Do you have investment capital, or are you here to seek it out?” Sylvia’s narrowed eyes prompted him to continue. “Iunderstand you and Bernard have some business ventures in Florida that are not going well, and that’s why you’re here in New York.” His voice was cold and hushed. “Did you come here hoping to throw yourself into the paths of rich men through Jane? And now that you know about us, through Elizabeth?”
“I never… That is not at all what…” Sylvia sputtered, her eyes darting wildly past them and toward the crowd.
“Go back to Missouri or Florida or wherever it is you wish to be. We’ll have someone at the apartment at noon on Wednesday to collect the keys.”
Elizabeth smiled grimly. “Jane will be on her honeymoon and unavailable to help you. Her doorman will not let you in.” She looked at the woman one last time.
“Goodbye.”
Louis Armstrong’s voice faded away and an up-tempo tune began. “Have a good trip home, madam.” Darcy gently tugged Elizabeth’s hand, desperate to move her away from this memory, hold her, and breathe her in. They squeezed past Charlotte and her dance partner. Bill Collins? His rival for Elizabeth’s affections that night at the Seaport?Good God. Another argument for elopement.
“Damn. I do believe that man has insulted my wife.” Ted Bennet stood mumbling on the edge of the dance floor, watching Darcy and Elizabeth move away from Sylvia while his ex-wife stomped toward her plus-one.
“Excuse me?” Barbara leaned forward.
“I, er, I was watching the best man insult Sylvia.”
“Did you call her yourwife?”
He coughed and turned around. “No, myex-wife, who is the mother to my eldest daughters. He just said something horrible to her.”
“And well he should have,” Mary mumbled. “She’s awful. I feel bad for Jane and Lizzy.”
“Do you?” asked Ted, amused.
“Fitzwilliam is cool,” Lydia said. “I’ve never seen Lizzy smile so much as when he’s around.”
Ted settled his focus on Elizabeth and the enigmatic gaze she was sharing with Darcy.
“Ah, felicity, laughter, and joy. But as Shelley once said about?—”
“Enough.” He turned at his wife’s sharp tone. “This is your eldest daughter’s wedding, and for two days, all you’ve done is complain and whine and act like a mean uncle, not a father. You’ve embarrassed yourself.” Barbara rolled her eyes. “Get down from your ivory tower and man up.”
He stared at her, his mouth open.
“You have three more daughters and none of them will want you at their wedding if you act this way.Iwon’t want you there.”
