Foundation of Love: The Gypsy Blessing 2 Read online

  “You must have misunderstood the situation, Lizzy. Richard, Will, and George practically grew up together, though I haven’t heard his name mentioned in a while. They drifted apart when Mr. and Mrs. Darcy died. George told me the other day that he was so upset about their deaths, he quit college and stayed away from the family. He’s trying to get back on track now.” Anne flopped onto the couch between Jane and Charlotte. “George is like an older brother to her. I’m sure Georgiana wouldn’t be interested in him like that.”

  Jane smiled. “I think it’s great that she’s found another friend on campus. She’s so shy. Maybe George will introduce her to some nice boys.”

  Elizabeth sat in a chair across from the other girls. “George Wickham is very charming—I’ll give you that—but I don’t know how nice he is. I have a very bad feeling about him.” Elizabeth saw Jane stiffen. Jane knew all about her sister’s “bad feelings” and trusted them, though Charlotte and Anne usually made a joke out of them. “I don’t know how Georgiana feels about him, but after witnessing the way he was looking at her before he knew I was there, I’m absolutely sure he doesn’t think of her as a sister. And just now, he caught up to me on my way home. Where he was looking made me feel very uncomfortable.”

  “It doesn’t hurt anyone to look. He’s male, Lizzy! What do you expect?” Charlotte laughed.

  “George Wickham never took his eyes off my chest during our entire conversation, Charlotte.” Elizabeth raised both eyebrows. “I said goodbye several times, but he kept following me anyway. Though he wasn’t very specific, I felt very uneasy with his tone when making certain insinuations. I expect men to treat women respectfully, not to act like a dog salivating over a prime cut of meat! To be honest, I don’t like him, I don’t trust him, and I really don’t think we should leave Georgie alone with him.”

  “And I think you’re over-reacting.” Anne grabbed a handful of popcorn and passed the bowl. “If you want to call Will, be my guest, but I’m not going to make a fool of myself.”

  Elizabeth squirmed internally. The last thing she wanted to do was talk to Georgiana’s brother about this... or anything else. He probably wouldn’t take her concerns seriously anyway. Instead, she decided to ask Richard about George when he came to visit next weekend.

  In the meantime, she would keep an eye on Georgiana.

  ~%~

  If intuition had a volume knob, Elizabeth’s had been suddenly turned up to “high” a few moments ago, startling her out of her study-induced trance. Looking at the clock, she realized that she had lost track of time. The library had closed more than an hour ago, and Georgiana wasn’t home yet.

  Elizabeth dialed Georgiana’s cell phone. It rang several times then switched over to voicemail. She left a message. “Please call me as soon as you can, Georgie. I’m worried about you.”

  Aware that Jane would have zero reception at her friend Stacy’s apartment, she tried her cell phone anyway. Just as she expected, her call went directly to voicemail. She went to find Stacy’s number, but Jane’s list of phone numbers was not where she usually left it. Why haven’t I programmed Stacy’s number into my phone by now?

  Elizabeth’s heart stopped beating for a moment when she was startled by her cell phone making that noise. Hesitantly, she slid her thumb across the screen, touched the photo icon, and selected the latest photo—Georgiana was struggling to escape from George Wickham!

  Quickly, she went through her options. Richard had left a message earlier on the landline saying his plane was delayed and he would call when he landed, but he had not called again since. Everyone else was out at study-groups preparing for mid-terms. Both Anne and Charlotte had told her they would be home very late and were turning off their phones to study, so she would not even bother calling them only to leave more messages.

  She dialed campus security. The man who answered the phone did not actually laugh, but he sounded quite amused when she told him that her suitemate was an hour late and that was a problem that required his attention. In most cases, he would have been right, but deep down in her soul she knew that Georgiana was in trouble. If she told him about the pictures, he would probably send a security guard to her room—with a straight jacket!

  Rifling through one of her drawers, she reached all the way to the back. Finally, her hand closed around exactly what she was looking for, and she pulled it out. Stabbing her arms into her coat, Elizabeth loaded the pockets with everything she thought she might need.

  The halls were deserted—where was everyone when she needed them? She knocked on a couple of doors, but nobody answered. The feeling of urgency increased. Georgiana needed help now! Elizabeth would have to go look for her alone.

  Rushing down the stairs and out of the building, she headed straight toward the Music Library, where Georgiana had said she would be. Walking all the way across campus alone at this time of night might not be the brightest idea Elizabeth had ever had, but she could not think of anywhere else to start.

  The clamor of a thunderclap rebounded off the buildings all around her, and it began to pour. Elizabeth pulled up her hood. That’s not going to be very helpful.

  A few minutes later, what sounded like a girl crying caught her attention. She moved in that direction to investigate. In the low light and through the rain, she could barely make out what looked like a couple in a passionate embrace. Elizabeth hesitated, not sure if it was the couple she was looking for, but then she heard a girl begging, “No! Stop!”

  The man moved, and his shadow shifted off the girl’s face. It was Georgiana. The man turned his head, and Elizabeth could see his profile—George Wickham!

  Suddenly thankful the noise of the storm masked her approach, she came up behind Wickham. Elizabeth jumped up, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pulled backward.

  Wickham yelled something she couldn’t understand and stumbled. He reached over one shoulder then the other. Elizabeth shifted from side to side in an attempt to avoid the hands that reached for her. Overcompensating, the combination of her movements and the slippery mud sent them both tumbling to the ground.

  Scooting away from him toward where Georgiana lay sobbing on the ground, Elizabeth took hold of her arm and pulled. “Georgie! We have to go!”

  The younger girl did not react, obviously in shock. Elizabeth stood.

  What do I do now? Carry her?

  Turning toward a movement in her peripheral vision, she found herself face to face with George Wickham. “You little witch!”

  Without warning, he struck her across the face, knocking her off balance. Again, she slipped in the mud. The air from her lungs whooshed out when she landed flat on her back.

  As she struggled to regain her breath, Wickham laughed loudly, then began to move toward the younger girl. Elizabeth gathered her strength—she had to keep him away from Georgiana!

  As Elizabeth pushed herself up onto her knees, Wickham’s head turned, and he changed direction, moving toward her. She angled her left side toward him, eased her right hand into her coat pocket, and grabbed hold of the canister she’d brought along. Feeling the end with her fingertips, she dug her nail under the lid and popped it off. He was in for a surprise.

  Wickham leaned over Elizabeth. Gathering the front of her coat in his hands, he hauled her up off the ground.

  In one swift movement, Elizabeth raised her can of pepper spray, squinted her eyes tight, and sprayed Wickham full in the face.

  He let go of Elizabeth’s coat, sending her sprawling into the mud once again as he rubbed at his face. The sound of Wickham’s screams brought Georgiana to her senses.

  Elizabeth took both of Georgiana’s hands and pulled her to her feet. “Run, Georgiana! RUN!”

  They did just that.

  ~%~

  Georgiana sat on the edge of Elizabeth’s bed, wrapped in blankets to warm her. Her body shivered viciously, vibrating the entire bed. While Elizabeth tried to towel some of the mud out of her hair, something about the way Georgiana looked at her made her frien
d seem a lot younger than she was. Elizabeth tried not to react when Georgiana caught both her hands and squeezed them so tightly, it was painful.

  “Please, Lizzy? Please, promise you won’t call security!”

  “Why not—he’s dangerous.”

  “He isn’t dangerous to everyone... just me. He told me—Oh, Lizzy, please? I... I don’t want to be in the newspapers again. If this gets out, they won’t ever leave us alone.”

  “Again?” Elizabeth moved around behind the younger girl and began to brush the knots out of Georgiana’s wet hair. For some reason, whenever Jane did this to her, it helped to calm her. She hoped it would do the same for her young friend.

  Having switched on only her reading lamp so that Georgiana might not notice the bruise she knew must be appearing on her face by now, Elizabeth could barely make out in the mirror the streaks of new tears running down Georgiana’s cheeks.

  “A few years ago... my parents... they died in a car accident.”

  “I know, and I’m sorry, Georgiana.” Elizabeth furrowed her brow in confusion. “The accident was in the newspapers?”

  Georgiana did not lift her eyes from her lap. “Yes, but... I was with them. I almost died, too, but I didn’t. The paparazzi... they kept sneaking into my hospital room. They... their questions... what they said made me feel very guilty.”

  “Guilty about what?”

  Georgiana sobbed. “I lived.”

  Her answer knocked the breath from Elizabeth’s lungs, and her hand stopped mid-stroke. She dropped the brush and came to sit beside her friend, placing her arm around Georgiana’s shoulders. “Do you think your parents would have wanted you to die?”

  Georgiana only shook her head.

  Elizabeth gathered the young girl into her arms. “Sometimes you just have to cry.”

  After weeping for a good, long time, Georgiana whispered, “I’ve been holding that in for a long time. I didn’t want everyone to keep worrying about me, especially Will.”

  Elizabeth waited, but Georgiana did not continue. “You know you can tell me anything, Georgie, and if you don’t want to talk about that subject any more tonight, it’s okay. But please do explain what happened with Wickham.”

  Georgiana nodded. “George texted me. He asked if we could talk. I told him I had to study. His answer sounded so desperate, I agreed to meet him outside the library when I was finished so we could talk while he walked me home... to keep me safe.” Her bottom lip began to quiver. “The girls in my study group thought it was so romantic.” She took a deep, shaky breath. “I thought I was falling in love with him. When he first kissed me, I thought... I hoped that he really cared about me.”

  Elizabeth hugged her again.

  Georgiana sniffed. “When he wouldn’t stop, I realized that he really didn’t love me, no matter what he said! When I started to fight him, he hurt me and said he’d get back at my brother through me. I started begging...” Georgiana’s voice trailed off. “That’s when you came. Why did you, Lizzy?”

  “I had a bad feeling about you, and I’ve learned to follow my instincts. It’s a good thing I did, too. We have my father to thank for our escape, though. When I left for college, he gave me that can of pepper spray.”

  “Thank you. I don’t know what I would have done...”

  “You’re welcome.” Elizabeth squeezed her shoulder. “You know, I’m sure we’ll both feel much better after a shower. Why don’t you go first?”

  Georgiana nodded. “Okay.”

  As soon as Elizabeth heard the water running, she went into the common room and listened to messages. Richard’s plane had landed while she was out. He should be at the hotel by now. She left the messages running when she left the room to grab her cell phone, but rushed her return when she heard the next message begin. It was for her—from George Wickham.

  ~%~

  Elizabeth found Richard’s cell in her contacts and pressed the call icon. She didn’t get very far into her explanation of what happened when she had to pull the phone away from her ear when he growled, “Wickham? That slime contacted Georgiana?”

  “I see we share the same opinion of him. He’s going to school here.”

  Though she had never heard him speak in such a way before, Richard allowed a couple of curse words to slip out while she gave him an abbreviated version of what happened and what she promised about calling security.

  “She never would have trusted him if she had known what happened. I kept warning Will that he should tell Georgiana and Anne, but he refused, thinking they’d never need to know. He’s so stubborn sometimes.”

  I shouldn’t have waited to tell Richie or Will—I should have called someone right away. “I don’t know what happened with Wickham before, but who would think that he’d show up here, of all places? Listen, Richie, don’t react like this with Georgie. She’s been shaken up enough for one night.”

  “I hear you, Lizzy.” He sighed. “I’m glad you told me first so I didn’t have to hold it in. I’m coming to pick her up right now. I’ll change my room to a suite; she’ll be staying with me tonight. Is Anne back from her study group yet?”

  “No, she’s not. Nobody else is either.” She heard the bathroom door open. “Call me when you get here, and we’ll come downstairs.”

  “Thank you, Lizzy. I don’t know what—”

  She interrupted, “You’re welcome. We’ll see you in a few minutes.”

  Hanging up the phone, she turned to find Georgiana standing in her open doorway, her eyes red and swollen, as if she had been crying again.

  “That was Richie. I’ll help you pack a bag; he’s coming to pick you up.”

  ~%~

  Elizabeth opened the door just enough to peek out and make sure Richard was alone. Opening the door further, she stepped out. Georgiana ran past her, into Richard’s open arms.

  “Thank God you’re okay, Poppet,” Richard mumbled into Georgiana’s hair.

  “You can thank Lizzy, too.”

  “I already did, honey, and maybe I’ll say it again... someday.” He winked at Elizabeth.

  Elizabeth thought it was a good sign to see Georgiana smile so soon.

  He took the bag from Georgiana and noticed that Elizabeth was holding another. “What’d you pack for, a week?”

  “I don’t want to sleep alone. Lizzy’s coming, too... if that’s okay?”

  “Sure. It’s fine with me.” He shot Elizabeth a questioning look.

  “I texted Anne, Jane, and Charlotte, telling them that Georgie and I wouldn’t be at the dorm tonight and they should call me later.”

  A worried look passed over his face.

  “Next week is mid-terms, Richie—it’s normal to be at study-group this late.”

  About half-way to the hotel, Richard cleared his throat. “I called Will. He should be on his way here by now.”

  “Oh...” Georgiana whispered.

  Elizabeth took Georgiana’s hand. “I agreed to leave security out of this, Georgie, but you didn’t think we’d keep this from your brother, did you?”

  “No, but...” Georgiana hesitated. “No. How long before he gets here?”

  “He had already boarded his jet to head home from a job site when I called.” Richard said. “He only had to wait for new flight plans to be filed. Shouldn’t be more than an hour or two.”

  “Oh.” She stared at the dashboard.

  ~%~

  “Wow!” Elizabeth exclaimed upon walking into the hotel suite.

  “What? It’s sort of like your dorm. This sitting room is like the common room. There are three bedrooms.” He pointed. “You girls will sleep over there, I’ll be in that room, and that’ll be William’s room over there.”

  Waiting until the bellhop left, Georgiana moved away from Elizabeth and Richard’s protection. “Excuse me for a minute?”

  Elizabeth stepped toward her. “Do you want me to come along? I’m here to make you feel more comfortable.”

  “No, it’s okay.” Georgiana disappeared into their be
droom, leaving the door open.

  “Want some ice for that black eye?”

  “Yes, please, though it’s probably a little late for that.”

  Richard walked across the room to the bar and loaded a cloth napkin with ice. “Hopefully this will keep it from getting any worse.”

  Elizabeth winced when she placed it on her eye. Trying to distract them both, she asked, “Are ‘sitting rooms’ usually twice the size of my great room at home, and do they all come fully equipped with an entertainment center, a bar, and a kitchen?”

  Richard laughed loudly, but his words were quiet enough for only Elizabeth to hear. “They are when you’re a Darcy.”

  “Ahhh!” Georgie never seemed to mind our tiny dorm suite, but her brother must’ve hated it.

  Richard’s phone started playing Anne’s favorite song. “It’s Anne... I’ll tell her what happened.” He started moving toward his room.

  “Wait! Can you ask her to explain it to Jane and Charlotte, too? I don’t want to have to tell the story again in front of Georgie.”

  “Sure thing.”

  ~%~

  Elizabeth did not realize how many scratches she had acquired from her encounter with Wickham until the water of the shower caused them to sting. After drying off, she was tempted to slip on one of the thick, luxurious robes that hung on the back of the door, but knowing that William would soon be arriving and would probably have questions for her, she got dressed instead. She felt like a little kid playing with all the switches and knobs on the wall, but finally found the one that worked the exhaust fan. Since Elizabeth had remained under the hot water for a long time in an effort to work out some of the stiffness in her muscles, the fan was not very effective with such a great amount of steam. She cracked open the door to the bathroom to clear the air a little faster and heard a male voice that did not sound like Richard’s. Elizabeth chuckled to herself. Who am I trying to kid? I would recognize William’s voice anywhere. For the price they must be paying for these rooms, you’d think the walls would be thicker.