Fitzwilliam Darcy, Rock Star (19 page)

“I should get you a teddy bear,” she said.

“So?” he dragged the word out.

“I think I could clear my busy schedule, somehow,” she grinned.

“That’s my girl.” He smiled and kissed her once, while he pressed his keycard into her hand.

Charlotte smiled, grinding out her cigarette with her shoe. “I’ll see you later,” she purred and went back inside, sauntering for his benefit.

Richard laughed at her performance and took a long drag.

***

Elizabeth heard the mistake, sighing just a second before Darcy’s voice rang out across the stage of the empty theater. The rehearsal was not going well. Charles was a competent musician, but she was asking him to learn a lot of music under a hell of a deadline.

Nor was Darcy helping. Prowling about the stage since they began, he was all over Charles, erupting at every mistake. Elizabeth watched him as he stormed across the stage to confront Charles, and she stepped forward to block his path. “Will, please stop,” she said clearly.

Darcy halted, surprised by the challenge. “He’s doing it wrong.”

“You think I don’t know this?” Elizabeth said, a smile softening her words. “I wrote the song. I just think that yelling is not going to help.”

“This isn’t working,” Darcy snapped.

Elizabeth could see he was concerned about the performance. “It’ll work if you just step back and let me handle it.”

“What are you going to do if he’s not ready?” he asked, his voice low.

“He’ll be ready.”

Their eyes locked, Darcy’s demanding assurance and Elizabeth’s calmly waiting for him to yield. They stood locked in that pose until Darcy turned away and strode off the stage.

“Charles,” Elizabeth said pleasantly, “come over here.” They walked to Charlotte. “Let’s go through just the changes again; it’s always down by a fifth, okay?”

Charlotte lightly tapped out a rhythm while Elizabeth and Charles went through the chord changes of the song. Elizabeth didn’t sing but instead called out the notes to Charles. They made it through once perfectly, and Elizabeth immediately insisted they repeat it. After three repetitions, Elizabeth declared they would try it with the words and they resumed their places onstage.

This time the song was successful. When they were done, Alex and Richard clapped for them, but Charles turned to Elizabeth with a look of dissatisfaction.

“It doesn’t sound like the way Jane plays it.”

Elizabeth frowned. “Oh, that’s because she does a hammer-on to add a little trill.” She put her guitar on the stand and held out her hands. “Here.”

Charles passed over his Stratocaster bass and she demonstrated the technique. “See?” Charles nodded. “It’s not that important to the song. Jane just added it ’cause she was bored,” Elizabeth explained jokingly, and then looked up to find the dark face of Darcy staring down at her.

“You play bass?” he said coldly.

“Yes,” Elizabeth answered, puzzled but not intimidated.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Why should I?”

“Because if I had known, I could have played guitar for you and we wouldn’t be in this situation.”

Elizabeth closed her eyes for a long time. “Yes, you make a good point,” she conceded slowly. “But we’d be in a similar situation, the difference being that you would be learning the songs and I would be playing an instrument that I am less comfortable with.” She sighed and shrugged. “I think this is a better solution, frankly.”

Darcy studied her. Something had clicked when she said “less comfortable,” not “less familiar” or “less proficient.” He realized then that she was also nervous about tonight and immediately backed down. “Sorry, Lizzy. You’re right,” he apologized as he began to walk away.

“Will,” she called out to his back. He turned to see her smiling to him. “Thanks for the offer.”

He nodded once and moved off the stage. Elizabeth nodded at Charles and Charlotte and they began the song once again. When they finished, Elizabeth was disturbed to find Mr. Collins approaching her.

“I want a word with you, now,” he glared at her. Elizabeth looked to Alex with a look that said, “What now?” Alex held up his hands and shook his head.

Elizabeth put her guitar down and followed Collins off the stage. “I am dismayed by your behavior, Lizzy. Who do you think you are, talking to Mr. Darcy like that? May I remind you exactly
who
is the star here? He could have you off the tour like that.” He snapped his fingers. “I very much doubt he appreciated being spoken to in such a manner!”

Elizabeth pushed images of bodily harm being inflicted on Collins away. “Mr. Collins, what I think he doesn’t appreciate is you taking my time away from a very important rehearsal,” she told him coolly. She looked to see the subject of their discussion watching them, his lips drawn into a thin line, and embarrassed, she turned and walked back to the stage.

As she knew they would, by five o’clock Elizabeth, Charlotte, and Charles had the set together. Elizabeth went to take a well-earned break and to find something to eat while Faust ran the sound check for Slurry.

Grabbing a plate from the hospitality table, Elizabeth found a quiet corner in the green room and sat down. Her lips curled into a smile as familiar hands began rubbing the tension out of her shoulders. “Hey,” she said softly.

Alex hushed her. “Don’t talk, don’t think, just relax.”

Elizabeth nodded and followed his directions, letting him work out the knots in her muscles. After a while, she felt limp and relaxed. Alex stopped and sat down next to her, eating the food off her plate.

“Stop that,” she muttered, slapping his hand away. “Get your own food.” She looked at Alex, recognizing the pathetic look he gave her, and passed over her plate with a sigh. “You better get me more.”

“I will,” he mumbled, his mouth full.

Elizabeth stretched out her arms and rolled her shoulders. “So, how are we doing?” she asked.

Alex tilted his head, considering. He was easily recognizable as Charlotte’s brother. They shared a similar build, though he was six inches taller. They had similar nondescript features and coloring, and like Charlotte, it was Alex’s personality that made him truly unique. He had a wonderful head for business and a love of music that had kept him alive in a tough industry. “Well, the good news is that ‘Everything You Are’ is in the top ten, and it looks like the video will make
Top 20
sometime next week.”

“But the bad news is that Jane is injured, so she can’t perform our big hit,” Elizabeth finished for him.

“That’s about the size of it,” he said as Elizabeth sighed. “Don’t worry, Lizzy; it’s simply bad timing. It’s not even a serious setback, really. In a week everything will be fine, and in fact, I think we’ve got much more name recognition because of the injury.”

Elizabeth turned her head to look at him squarely in amazement and laughed. “Only you! Only you could take Jane’s concussion and find something good in it.”

“I’m the eternal optimist, aren’t I?”

Elizabeth nodded. “Yes, you are.” She paused to take a sip of water. “About Mr. Collins,” she began.

“Lizzy, don’t worry about him. We have to tolerate him, but I think you put him in his place today.”

Elizabeth frowned, her eyes thoughtful. “But what if he is right? What if Will was offended by what I said?”

“Lizzy! Since when have you cared about other people’s opinions?”

Elizabeth looked at him and frowned. “I guess since it meant possibly losing our tour.”

“Lizzy, remember, they need LBS as much as you need them. And frankly, I think you are right. Darcy is much more concerned about the show being okay than about you mouthing off to him, especially when he deserved it.” He put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her tight. “Don’t worry, it’ll be fine,” he told her as he kissed her hair.

She looked at him and smiled gratefully. “You’re right. Thanks.”

Alex nodded. “It’s my job, handling you temperamental divas. Now finish eating, then get cleaned up and dressed.”

***

As Elizabeth walked to her place for the meet-and-greet, she could tell something was different. It wasn’t just the obvious lack of Jane, as they had decided Jane would stay out of public view until she was stronger.

But there was more. The number of people who wanted to talk to LBS had been steadily increasing, but overnight it had multiplied. The quantity of people who knew her name and asked about Jane’s condition staggered Elizabeth. She signed more autographs and posed for more pictures than ever before.

At one point a tall man with blue eyes approached her carrying a large bouquet of yellow roses. “Oh, are these for Jane?” she asked, slightly surprised.

“No, they’re for you,” the man said smilingly. “I’m a huge fan of yours, Lizzy.”

“Thank you!” Elizabeth said, delighted. She stopped to smell the beautiful blooms before putting them down. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she said, offering her hand.

“I’m Lewis,” the man said, shaking her hand.

“Lewis?” Elizabeth repeated the name thoughtfully. “Have I emailed you?”

“You remembered?” He laughed. “I’m very flattered.”

“I don’t get as much email as you might think,” Elizabeth deferred charmingly.

“You know, I’m really impressed that you actually take the time to answer your fans.”

Elizabeth laughed. “I’m just so delighted when anyone likes our music enough to take the time to write us.”

As she talked to the attractive man, Elizabeth was entirely unaware that she was being watched. Darcy was staring at her, watching her every smile and laugh with increasing unease.

Finally Elizabeth offered her hand again, signaling the end of the conversation, and standing on her toes, offered Lewis a kiss, which he gladly accepted.

Smiling shyly, Lewis reached into his pocket. “I’ve never done this before, but you’re even more beautiful in person.” He pulled out a keycard to the hotel. “Can I give you this?” he asked politely.

Elizabeth could feel her face turning red. “Oh, thank you,” she ducked her head, embarrassed, “I’ve never received this kind of offer. Um, I’m flattered, but we are leaving tonight, right after the show.” She laughed nervously. “I can’t.”

“Take it anyway, as a memento. You know, your first groupie,” Lewis grinned good-naturedly.

Elizabeth smiled back and accepted the card. “Maybe next time?” she said as she gave him another kiss.

***

Darcy was aware of pain in his arm. The pain flared again and he realized that Richard was hitting him, hard. “Hello? Earth to Darcy?”

“Stop,” he snapped.

“Nice of you to join us,” Richard quipped. “What is your problem?”

“Nothing,” Darcy growled as he watched the man move away from Elizabeth. He was shocked at the jealousy he felt. He thought he was going to bolt across the room when he saw that stranger pull out his keycard. The only thing that stopped him was the question: “And do what?” He had no right to interfere with Elizabeth’s relationships with anybody. Spitefully, he wondered if she regularly slept with her fans. He didn’t know.

Taking a deep breath, he admitted to himself that she didn’t sleep around. He had watched her closely enough to know that, at least. But he was deeply disturbed, not so much by what he saw but by his own reaction to it.

Darcy had never been so glad to see the end of a meet-and-greet. The fans were being led away and he was entering the green room when he saw Alex stop Elizabeth. “Make sure you are extra pretty tonight, Lizzy; the press is here.”

Elizabeth’s eyebrows disappeared into her hair. “Oh!” she exclaimed. “Okay, no problem.” And she moved off to her dressing room.

Darcy stopped Alex by blocking his exit with his body, anger coming off him in waves. “Don’t do that to her,” he said in his lowest voice.

“Do what?”

“She’s nervous and you’re making it worse.”

“She’s not nervous; she’s fine,” he snarled defiantly as he pushed past the taller man. “And, Darcy, don’t
you
do that to her either.”

Darcy scowled at him, retreating to his personal hideout: the instrument area. He was not surprised to find Elizabeth there as well. He watched her walk back and forth, her guitar cradled tightly in her arms, talking softly to herself. Darcy observed her long enough to realize she was talking herself through the set.

She wore her concert outfit, the sleeveless green shirt with the low cowl neckline and black jeans. Her face was pale, and her eyes were wide and troubled. Why was he the only one to see she was clearly in a panic? Not that he was surprised. It was completely natural; she had fans out there, the press was there, she was performing a new set she had barely rehearsed, and she was going on without Jane. Darcy was impressed that she had held it together as well as she had so far.

He was tempted to talk to her to try to reassure her, but then he thought about what he knew of her personality, and he had a better plan.

“Are you ready?” he said abruptly.

Elizabeth’s head jerked up. She hadn’t noticed him watching her. “Yes,” she said distantly as she visibly pulled herself together. “I’m ready.”