Waiting for Mr. Darcy (27 page)

“Don't say that, Mom.”

“He's right, you know.” Lauren returned from the bathroom with a couple of Tylenol and a glass of water. “Here, take this for your headache.”

“Thanks.” She quickly took the pills.

“Listen, it might be too late to get in front of this story, but you set the direction it takes from here.” Lauren sat down.

“She's right, Mom.”

“I know. I just feel so stupid. If I had slowed down this week, this wouldn't have happened in the first place. Gabby, I'm so sorry for ruining your big night.”

“Please, you didn't ruin anything.”

“Blaming yourself now isn't the thing to do. You have to look ahead.”

“I know, Lauren.” She chuckled softly.

“What's so funny?” Gabby asked.

“I was going to call you two about having a meeting today to discuss
Pride and Prejudice.
”

“Who's to say we still can't. It might be just the thing to take your mind off all of this,” Lauren suggested.

Kurt Jr. got up. “That would be my cue to leave.”

They laughed.

“Come on, Kurt, don't you want to sit with me for one meeting of the Austen Aristocrats?”

He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. “I love you, Mom, but I'm not into chick flicks, even when they're books. I'm going to hang out with the guys downstairs.”

“That's okay, sweetie,” she laughed.

Kurt began to walk out.

“So you mean to tell us Sally has never dragged you to a chick flick?” Gabby asked.

“No. She's an action/adventure lover like me,” he answered as he left the room.

“It figures my son would find the one girl who would love that kind of movie.”

“He is a charmer. I bet you she secretly watches
Lifetime
when he's not around.” Lauren winked.

They laughed.

“Thanks, girls. I can always count on you to make me feel better.”

“What are fellow Aristocrats for?” Gabby asked.

“Now where are the books? I know you have three of them in here.” Lauren looked around.

“They're on a shelf in my closet.”

“I'll be back,” Lauren said, imitating the Terminator. “That's the closest I ever want to come to an action flick.”

They laughed. Grateful for the distraction, Alicia spent two hours with Lauren and Gabby, engrossed in their favorite Austen book. It took Alicia's mind off the task she had at hand and she was grateful.

Chapter 19

Nigel noticed Gabby's reticence on the drive back into the city. He knew she was worried about Alicia, but after seeing her he'd expected she would be less preoccupied. For her part Gabby was trying to figure out her next move to save the exhibit's good reputation and hers. When they got back, she went straight to the kitchen to make some tea. Nigel followed her.

“Have I done something? You were so quiet in the car.”

“No. Why would you say that?” Gabby asked as she put the kettle on.

He produced the newspaper. “I read the article in the art section.”

Gabby's heart fell. “So you know.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

She got a couple of mugs from the cabinet. “What's there to talk about? This is about a bitter artist looking for her fifteen minutes and a reporter who wanted to sensationalize a story where there is none.” She put the mugs on the table.

He sighed. “I knew I should have insisted on taking my painting out of the mix.”

“You asked and I said no. People loved your painting and it got one of the highest bids last night.”

“What about the other artists?”

“It's publicity. They'll benefit from being a part of the ‘scandal.' ”

“I just think you're being a little too casual about this. I'm more worried about it than you are.”

“Of course I'm worried. As a beginning gallery owner I was a 40-year-old divorced woman with a degree in art history I hadn't used in nearly twenty years. I had to prove I belonged with every exhibit. Every artist I chose had to be the best. It took me years to build my reputation and get the backers and patrons I needed to make the Blanchard Gallery a success. Now someone wants to take that away in one night.” She stopped to catch her breath. “I come from a background where it's all about keeping a stiff upper lip, so I'm sorry if you think I'm being too cool about it, but stick around. I'm pretty sure I can prove how broken I feel inside.” Gabby fought back tears.

Nigel got up and put his arms around her. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you.” He rubbed her back. “Okay, sweetheart, you can let it out with me.”

Nigel held Gabby as she cried. She knew eventually she had to face Bunny and listen to her “I told you so” along with the crow she'd have to swallow for Sunday tea.

* * *

It was a breezy summer evening and Alicia sat on the balcony off her bedroom to look at the evening sky as it turned into night. Harrison brought her a glass of iced tea.

“Enjoying the evening?” he asked as he handed her the tea.

“Yes. This is my favorite time of day, you know.”

“It was Martha's favorite time of day, too.” He gazed at the sky.

“There's something about the color of the sky that's so peaceful.”

“You know what you've got to do to bring peace to your life.”

She sighed. “Yes, I do.”

“Nate's worried it's going to be too much for you.”

“It certainly feels that way.”

“You have to look at it this way. Secrets have a way of weighing you down and you're a woman who likes to move ahead and get on with things. Telling people you have MS will lighten your load.”

“He's right,” Nathaniel agreed as he walked onto the balcony.

“How long have you been standing there?” she asked.

“Long enough.”

“I'm going to leave you two lovebirds alone now. If you need anything, you know I'm only a buzz away.”

“Thanks, Harrison.”

Nathaniel sat down in the chair next to hers.

“Are you enjoying the evening weather?”

“Yes. I've had a rather eventful day for someone who's been in bed most of the day.”

Nathaniel chuckled. “That's life in the fast lane.”

Alicia laughed.

Nathaniel took her hand in his. “I'm just happy that you're all right. That's the main thing.”

“I owe it all to you. If you hadn't taken me to the NYU MS center, I don't know what would have happened.”

“You give me too much credit. Dr. Hubert played a part, you know.”

“And how did you know to take me there instead of another hospital?”

“NYU is one of the best in the city and John is one of the top neurologists specializing in MS in the country. He's also a good friend of mine from my days as a resident.”

“You had the inside track.”

“You could say that.” He kissed her hand.

Alicia smiled. “We still haven't talked about what happened between us.”

“Yes, we have.”

“No, we haven't. We've brushed over it.”

Nathaniel stood up, took her hand and pulled her to him. “How about a kiss?”

Alicia kissed him passionately. “Oh, that was nice,” he said, rubbing her back.

Without a word she kissed him even more fervently. Nathaniel felt something stir inside of him. “Alicia, let's not get anything started we can't finish.”

“Well, if you don't want to finish the conversation, we can finish something else. Unless, of course, you're not up to it.”

He pulled her close to him. “Does it feel like I'm not up to it?”

“No.”

“You were just in the hospital.”

“Yes, but I'm not dead. I'm very much alive and I want make love to you.”

That was all Nathaniel needed to hear. He picked her up and took her inside to the bedroom and laid her down ever so easily on the bed. He took his shirt off and slowly lowered himself as they kissed.

“I love you,” he whispered.

“I love you, too.”

Alicia pulled her nightgown down around her shoulders and Nathaniel took it off the rest of the way. Although he wanted to take her right then, he slowed down to savor every inch of her body as if she were a fine wine. Alicia's senses came alive with pleasure as he explored the breadth and subtly of every curve with his lips, teasing and tantalizing every inch of her body. The more he pleased Alicia, the more he fueled his own passion and longing. When neither could take any more, he removed the last barrier between them and then two bodies became one in the pure rapture of love.

* * *

With a Starbucks coffee in hand, Lauren was stretched out on the sofa completely engrossed in her Sunday political programs when her phone rang.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Lauren, it's Joe.”

“Hi, Joe, how are you?”

“I'm not bad. The question is, how are you?”

“I'm fine, Joe.”

“When I got your message to set up a settlement meeting with Ken and his lawyer for tomorrow, I thought perhaps you had a fever or something.”

“You're hilarious, Joe. Is this what I pay you $500 an hour for?”

“No. The stand-up is a freebie.”

“Oh gee, thanks,” she said sarcastically. “Did you set up the meeting?”

“Yes. We're on for tomorrow at my office at ten.”

“Good.”

“Are you going to tell me what this meeting is all about? I am your lawyer. I should know.”

“Don't worry about it. You'll see tomorrow.”

Lauren hung up the phone and glanced at the newspapers on her coffee table.

“Look at this nonsense.” She picked up one of the papers. “They are just running wild with this story.” She threw the paper back on the table. “I bet Alicia's place is a zoo by now.”

* * *

Harrison bristled at the sight of the reporters in front of the house.

“Look at these vultures,” he huffed as he closed the curtains.

“What's going on?” Nathaniel asked.

“Look for yourself.”

Nathaniel looked at the reporters, news vans and camera people camped out in front of the house. “Good grief, when did this happen?”

“They've been here since I got up at seven this morning and they've been proliferating ever since.”

“I'm afraid to get the papers.”

“You don't have to get the papers to see what's going on. All you have to do is go on the Internet or turn on the television. The phone hasn't stopped ringing either.”

“It's a good thing we turned it off upstairs.”

The phone rang again.

“I'll get it.” Harrison went to answer the phone.

Nathaniel looked out of the window again. “This is unreal.”

“Nate, can you tell Alicia that Barbara's on the phone for her? I know she'll want to talk to her.”

“Not a problem.” He went upstairs.

Alicia had the Weather Channel on. “I figured this was the only safe thing for me to watch today.”

He walked over and kissed her. “You're probably right. Barbara is on the phone for you.”

“Okay, thanks.” Nathaniel left as she picked up the phone. “Barbara?”

“Hi, Alicia, how are you holding up?”

“I'm still here. So tell me what's happening?”

“Word has it that Taylor and the stooges are scheduling a press conference for Monday afternoon.”

“Where they'll announce that I'm taking a leave pending a full investigation, no doubt.”

“More or less.”

Alicia decided she had to start with someone and it might as well be a friend like Barbara. “Thanks for keeping me in the loop, Barbara. There's something I want to tell you before I do my own press conference.”

“What?”

“I wasn't drunk Friday night. I have…”

She cut her off. “You have MS.”

Alicia was shocked. “Yes. How did you know I was going to say that?”

“I figured it out a while ago.”

“How? I thought I was pretty careful about hiding it.”

“Oh, you've done a great job hiding it from most people. But my sister has had MS for thirteen years.”

“I didn't know that.”

“I don't really talk about it.”

“I feel so embarrassed. I wasn't ashamed of the condition or anything.”

“You didn't want people to treat you differently. My sister was the same way. It took her a while to realize that she didn't have to let the diagnosis define who she was.”

“It seems I've done that.”

“Listen, I'm in no position to judge. Heaven knows what I would do if I ever faced something like that.”

“Well, I'm glad I told you, even though you knew.”

“Alicia, I'm honored that you felt comfortable enough to tell me first.” She paused. “So where are you having the press conference?”

“I'll probably have it up here in my backyard, considering half the media seems to be in my neighborhood already.”

Barbara laughed. “You poor thing.”

“Tell me about it. Anyway, thanks for giving me a head's up.”

“You know I always have your back.”

“I appreciate it. I'll talk to you soon.”

“Take care, Alicia.”

“I will.” She hung up and dialed again.

“Hello, Viola Sherwood here.”

“Hello, Viola, it's Alicia.”

“Alicia. I'm so happy to hear from you. What the hell is going on? Taylor's on the phone calling everybody about this press conference thing and she's saying you're leaving. The whole thing is crazy.”

“I know. I need your help today, Viola. I need you to schedule a press conference for tomorrow morning here at my house in Scarsdale. I'm going to tell the world I have MS.”

“Oh, my God, Alicia. I had no idea.”

“No one knew except my family and close friends. I've had it for nearly three years now.”

“Oh, honey, I will get on this now and I'll have everyone there by nine sharp.”

“Thanks. I don't know how you're going to keep it from the others.”

“Not to worry. I know exactly what to do.”

“Thanks, Viola. I'll see you tomorrow.”

“Yes, you will.”

Harrison and Nate entered. “What's going on?” Harrison asked.

“I'm having a press conference tomorrow morning.”

“So soon?” Nathaniel was surprised.

“I don't have a choice. Taylor and some of the board members of Archer Omnimedia are having one tomorrow afternoon. I need to get ahead of it.”

“You have a doctor's appointment tomorrow morning,” Harrison reminded her.

“I need you to contact Dr. Stuart and see if he can come here today. I'm sure he's back by now. We have his number at home, don't we?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, then let's give him a call.”

“Okay. I'll let you know what happens.” Harrison left the room.

Nathaniel looked at her.

“What?”

“You want to call a press conference?”

“Yes. I have to slow Taylor's momentum.”

“This isn't a game. It's your life.”

“You don't think I know that?”

Nathaniel sighed.

“You don't approve?”

“It's not a matter of whether I approve or not. I just think this whole thing is a big-enough circus.”

“I know, but the sooner I get this done, the sooner we can get back to a normal life.”

Harrison entered the room again. “Dr. Stuart will be here at two.”

“Terrific. Harrison, can you contact my parents and Kurt and let them know I'm going to have a press conference on Monday morning.”

“You're having it on Monday. Here?”

“Why not? They're already camped out in front of the house.”

“It's your party,” Harrison acknowledged.

“See, Nathaniel, we are on our way back to normal.”

“I hope you're right.” Nathaniel smiled, but he didn't look completely convinced.

* * *

Gabby changed her clothes three times before she settled on an Empire-style black dress. She figured if she was going to meet her executioner, she'd be dressed for the occasion. As usual, Rosie had on her uncomfortable uniform and set the table up for tea.

The doorbell rang and Gabby took a deep breath while Rosie went to answer it.

A few moments later Gabby heard several voices. “What's going on?” She went to the top of the stairs. When she looked down, she saw two men bringing her father upstairs in his wheelchair.