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It has been almost a week since Lizzy discovered that her good online friend and Mr William Darcy were one and the same, and Lizzy has not seen him since. It is December. The holidays are fast approaching. This means that they are both busy with their respective friends and families and have barely had time for their usual online conversations, let alone anything more. It has, in Lizzy’s opinion, been an unacceptably long time. She will not stand for it. It is Saturday morning now and she refuses to let anything stand in her way.
Resolutely, she opens her text conversation with William and begins to type.
TheWittyFool: hey! do u want to go out sometime soon?
A few moments pass before William responds. Lizzy waits impatiently, then smiles as the indication that he is typing appears on her screen.
Goodnight_Sweet_Prince: That sounds enjoyable. Where would you like to go?
TheWittyFool: have u been to the library downtown yet? its pretty cool
TheWittyFool: oh hold on
TheWittyFool: here’s a video about it https://youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ
TheWittyFool: >:D
Goodnight_Sweet_Prince: I believe you made an error with the video. It appears to be a music video for a disco song.
TheWittyFool: *facepalm*
TheWittyFool: it’s a rickroll. i rickrolled you
Goodnight_Sweet_Prince: What does that mean?
TheWittyFool: um
TheWittyFool: it’s a meme
TheWittyFool: on second thought i don’t know why i thought you would understand it since you seem to live in the 17th century
TheWittyFool: basically you try to trick people into clicking a link that leads to that music video
Goodnight_Sweet_Prince: Oh. I see.
Goodnight_Sweet_Prince: Anyway, I have yet to get the opportunity to visit the library.
TheWittyFool: cool!! can i meet you there this afternoon?
William’s replies come so fast that Lizzy took a moment to admire his typing speed.
Goodnight_Sweet_Prince: Yes.
Goodnight_Sweet_Prince: Would 1:30 be reasonable?
Lizzy vaguely remembers her cousin Collins having said something about talking to her this afternoon, but she honestly could not care less. She was sure she could deal with whatever obstacles might appear.
TheWittyFool: that sounds great! see you then!! :D
Goodnight_Sweet_Prince: :DDD
TheWittyFool: :D:D:D:D:D
Lizzy puts down her phone with a smile on her face. This is going to be a good day.
(Three hours later…)
Lizzy is putting on her coat and mittens, preparing to head out the door, when Lydia and Kitty finally catch her. She groans at the sound of footsteps behind her. She had hoped that, since Jane is out and not there to conspicuously wish her good luck, her departure could go unnoticed.
“Where are you going?” asks Lydia, an impish grin on her face.
“None of your business,” Lizzy huffs.
“You’re going on a date, aren’t you?” Kitty says in a sing-song voice.
Lizzy groans and shoots them both a glare. “It’s none of your business. Don’t you dare tell mom.”
“First Jane, now you,” Lydia says with a sigh. “Kitty and I are falling behind!”
Lizzy rolls her eyes and leaves the house, ignoring the sound of their giggling behind her. She has more important things to worry about.
The walk to the library is short and not too cold. This may have to do with the fact that Lizzy walks very quickly to keep herself from being distracted by nerves about the upcoming meeting. She has nothing to worry about — at least, she hopes she doesn’t.
She reaches the library. The building is large, ornate, and, of course, filled with books. It is one of her favourite places in the town. She feels herself relaxing a bit simply by standing there. She is about to pull out her phone to text William when she spots a very familiar figure opening the library’s door.
He is just as tall and handsome as the last time she saw him. His severe face softens into what might be a smile upon seeing her. It is a tragedy that Lizzy cannot give the sight the appreciation it deserves, but it cannot be helped, because she is immediately distracted by the beanie William is wearing.
It is bright green. It is fluffy. It has ear flaps . There is a small pom-pom on top. The sight is wonderfully incongruous on William’s serious face. Lizzy has never been so delighted in her entire life.
Her face must have done something interesting, because William’s expression becomes rather concerned as he approaches her. “Lizzy? Are you all right?”
Lizzy feels like she might burst with restrained laughter, but she manages to hold it in.
“I’m fine,” she manages to say.
“That’s good,” he says. “Ah, are your holidays going well?”
“Yeah,” she says. “My annoying cousin hasn’t left yet, but other than that, things are pretty good. How about you?”
“Acceptable,” William says. “Charles is very excited.”
Lizzy laughs. “Yes, he seems like the festive type.”
“He is,” William says with a long-suffering smile. “Your mother also seems like the kind of person who would enjoy the festivities. Do you have to put up with a lot this time of year?”
“Yeah, she can be a bit overenthusiastic,” says Lizzy. “I don’t mind it much, though. I’m used to it. And festivity can be fun.”
William nods. “It can be. Occasionally.”
Lizzy laughs again. “Exactly.”
There is a moment of silence. Lizzy abruptly remembers that she invited William here to show him around.
“So,” she says, “Do you want to see the library?”
“I suppose that’s why we’re here,” William says with a small laugh. “Where would you like to go first?”
Lizzy thinks for a moment. “The whole place is beautiful, but I think I like the reading room best.”
“Then let’s go there,” says William, smiling.
She leads the way to the largest room in the library. There are maze-like rows of bookshelves along either side of the room and two rows of big wooden tables down the middle of the room where a few people are reading. Light streams in from the high windows.
“This is lovely,” William says, gazing around the room.
“Isn’t it?” says Lizzy. “I love coming here.”
They walk slowly down the middle of the room, admiring the plentiful books. William looks like he is barely resisting the urge to disappear into the shelves for the next few hours. Lizzy is about to offer to help him look around when she is interrupted by a very, very familiar voice.
“Elizabeth!” says Collins, standing up from the table. Lizzy had not noticed him because he had been hunched over some books. On further inspection, they appear to be an assortment of dictionaries. There is a cup of tea on the table beside them, as though Collins had settled in to read them avidly. Lizzy decides not to ask.
“Hello,” she says reluctantly. William looks back and forth between them curiously.
“I’ve been looking for you!” Collins exclaims. “Though I suspected you might come to the library — I’ve noticed that you spend so much time here, you know, especially on the weekends — so I chose to come here and wait for you (I’ve been here for the better of an hour), and now my patience has finally borne fruit, for here you are, o loveliest of cousins and most intelligent of women!”
Lizzy stares at him for a moment. She is torn between being confused, annoyed, and impressed that her cousin has somehow made parentheses audible.
“That’s nice,” she says.
“It is indeed!” says Collins. “And now that you are here, I can, at last, ask you the question which I have been desiring to ask you since I first laid eyes upon your face.”
Lizzy blinks. It seems that William is not the only one who's stuck in regency England.
Collins seems to take the blink as an encouragement to continue. “You see, I believe you to be the most fabulous woman I have ever had the pleasure of encountering, and I would be blessed to spend the rest of my days in your wonderful company — only, I believe that asking for your hand in marriage may be rather forward, so, instead, I would like to propose what I believe the children these days call a ‘date’.”
Lizzy stares at him, speechless. She wonders absently if she has tripped and hit her head on a bookshelf.
“Am I correct in thinking that he is your cousin?” asks William, sounding just as baffled as she feels.
“That is immaterial,” says Collins easily. Lizzy wonders if the floor would be so kind as to open up and swallow her whole — or, preferably, to swallow Collins.
“No,” she manages to say.
“No what?” asks Collins.
“No, I will not go out with you,” she says.
“Whyever not?” Collins asks, sounding bewildered.
“There are several reasons. The first of them is that I am literally on a date right now.”
“She is,” says William, taking her hand. Lizzy tries not to blush. Now is not the time.
Collins looks surprised. “Really? Well, I must say, a library is a rather odd place to go on a date.”
“Yes, I suppose it is,” William says, shooting Lizzy a meaningful glance. “We really should be going.”
“Yes, we should,” says Lizzy.
The pair rush hurriedly out of the library before Collins can pack up his dictionaries and follow. They stand in the cold wind outside the building, panting. They stare at each other for a moment, then both burst out laughing.
“Well that was a disaster,” William says between chuckles.
“Absolutely,” Lizzy gasps. “Sorry about that.”
“It’s fine,” William says. “Shall we try something else?”
“Sure,” says Lizzy. “What do you have in mind?”
“I expect that Charles’ place would be rather calm,” William suggests. “His sisters are out shopping for the time being.”
“Would he mind us showing up?”
“I doubt it.”
“Okay! Let’s go!”
They are not far from Charles’ house, so they decide to walk there. At some point, William takes Lizzy’s hand. If the touch makes her shiver a little, no one needs to know. She can blame it on the cold.
William unlocks the door to Charles’ house with a key he had in his pocket. Lizzy sighs happily as they step inside and warmth envelopes them. They take off their coats and mittens — unfortunately, this means that William takes off his beanie, but sometimes sacrifices have to be made — and go to the living room.
“William!” says Charles, bouncing in from the kitchen. Jane, to Lizzy’s surprise, follows after him.
“Lizzy! What are you doing here?” asks Jane.
“I could ask you the same thing,” laughs Lizzy. “I was out with William. We were interrupted by Collins, so we escaped here.”
Jane grimaces. “Sorry. I’m glad you could escape.”
“So am I,” says William, sounding slightly muffled. Lizzy turns to see that he has been enveloped in a bear hug by Charles. She has to hold back a laugh at the long-suffering expression on his face.
“What should we do now?” asks Jane.
“We could watch a movie!” Charles says, finally freeing William.
“What movie?” asks William warily.
“It’s December,” says Jane. “We should watch a Christmas movie.”
“Oh no,” groans William.
“You don’t like Christmas movies?” asks Lizzy.
“Why are you surprised about this?” asks Charles. Lizzy laughs.
“I’m sure we can find one you would enjoy,” says Jane.
“I doubt it,” says William.
Lizzy thinks for a moment, then grins.
“Uh oh,” William says. “I don’t like that expression.”
Lizzy’s grin widens. “What do you think about muppets?”
“Yes!” Charles shouts. “I love muppets!”
William grumbles something under his breath that sounds suspiciously like 'you are a muppet'.
“I suppose it could be worse,” he says finally. He looks like he’s trying to hide a smile.
“Wonderful,” says Jane.
Charles goes over to the TV and pulls up The Muppet Christmas Carol. He and Jane plop down on one corner of the couch, cuddled up next to each other. William sits opposite them, making space beside him for Lizzy. He puts an arm around her when she joins him. She leans against him as the opening credits play. He is warm against her side, and she can feel him breathing. It is surprisingly soothing.
They all become absorbed in the movie as it goes on. William is smiling when she glances up at him, and a few times she even hears him laugh. Lizzy is having a wonderful time.
Somewhere in the middle of the movie, she leans her head on William’s shoulder. William rests his head on top of hers. They hold hands. Lizzy cannot stop herself from grinning.
If this is what happens when a date with William is interrupted, she thinks she does not mind at all.