𝑷𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒍𝒆𝒚 𝑨𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒔...

hardly able to catch her breath in a whirlwind evening that did in fact consisted of only ‘william’ and ‘please’ , she never experienced anything quite on the level of passion that he delivered. so imagine her surprise when the heiress came to the next morning—-only to find he wasn’t there.

arm had stretched out over the bed, beginning to move up and down in search for his warmth. a heavy thought occurred in the back of her mind ( and a headache parked right in the front ) that he might have figured this was a mistake. with more strength and agility that she actually had, eris quickly sat up, daylight filtering through her curtains to reveal the smudged mascara and wild wavy hair.

“ ….william ? “

eris called out to him in a whisper, leaning over her bed to look for him. greeted only by the usual furniture, rug and the dead silence. but he was gone. really, truly gone.

william darcy, who had essentially always been inseparable from her—-had left into the night. even though their back and forth banter beforehand made her think things were still the same.

eris blinked while she processed it, scooting until her back hit the tufted rococo headboard, comforter covering her naked form. chest began to feel tight with worry and a tinge of hurt, lips pressing into a thin line while she exhaled heavily through her nostrils.

….maybe he’d call.

it wasn’t that she waited around for him… there just wasn’t much planned outside of who she had hoped to spend most of her time here with.

the man who had now avoided her for two more days.

by this point eris had called every long distance friend to talk about it and distract herself, do some actual paperwork on things for the property—and watch way too much television.

…but this was so unlike him.

she was drunk—but not that drunk. she could distinctly remember he enjoyed himself.

another morning of wallowing in her thoughts and in her dressing gown, eris shuffled toward a pile of mail on a table in the foyer, the corner of a magazine catching her eye. pulling it out, eyes widened at the photo of the scene of the crime, the root of her troubles…. with quite the interesting headline. to note, she did think it was a rather nice photo.

“ pemberley playb—- “ eris didn’t even finish reading it out loud before she gave a dramatic gasp, slapping a hand on her chest. a scoff of disgust and disbelief followed. SURELY—he hadn’t talked sweet on her, only to sever this connection with a one night stand. such sweet whispers that he had always wanted her. had his entire personality been a lie? no—she was certainly overthinking it. those big sad brown eyes, he was true to who he’d always been.

BUT THIS ? something was terribly wrong. and he was going to explain himself.

eris cursed under her breath while she held the magazine in hand, slamming it back on the table before she marched upstairs in a hurry to get ready. she tore through every bit of clothing she’d brought with her. wanting to wear something less casual. something that read ‘fuck you, you’ll regret this’. she thought, in her moment of insanity.

some off the shoulder cream colored top and a black high waisted skirt, something so far from ‘old money’ and spoke of her worldly travels. ( though it did still read ‘classy’ on how it wore—unfortunately for her. )

the entire time she did her makeup and hair she was mumbling angrily in the mirror, pearls pinned through her ear holes before she slipped out the door, flinging the door open of her father’s nineteen seventies rolls-royce silver shadow to drive herself over there.

..and it wasn’t that she didn’t want to get rid of the old car—she just hadn’t cared to. hands gripped the steering wheel the distance she definitely didn’t want to walk in heels—parking abruptly amongst the few cars that also had come to tour pemberley today. silk handkerchief was tied over her head in an attempt to conceal her identity, dark sunglasses pushed up against her nose. because what if it wasn’t a mistake? and he banned her from the property?

eris walked much different than them. their strides full of wonder. her stomps against the trail were quick and heavy, a quiet rage fueling each step. birds chirped in the early afternoon sun, a spring breeze rolling over the hills.

how dare it be a beautiful day. the cloud of what william had done completely ruined it.

once she got close to the entrance, body snuggly slid against the walls, constantly looking left, right and all around her shoulder to see who was around. if william wasn’t—she knew exactly where he’d be.

while an attendant was taking care of a couple purchasing a ticket, she snuck behind giant fixtures quickly, hoping to be unseen. but he had eyes like a hawk.

“ ma’am? “

eris froze, sucking in a deep breath through her nostrils. no—it didn’t matter. she’d make a run for it. the woman suddenly began to dash, the attendant handing the couple their tickets frantically before he began to trail after her.

“ ma’am ? ma’am you must pay to be granted entry ! “ eris waved an aggressive dismissive hand at him, beginning to run up the stairs.

“ th-that area is off limits!!! “ he pleaded with her, attempting to run after her. but she was fast in those heels.

but she proceeded, removing the scarf covering her head and tossing it in his face behind her. “ oh you’re so loud ! “ eris whispered harshly, wanting him to shut up already.

he barely missed catching it, the rest of it falling to the floor in front of him, prompting him to trip. he caught himself by the railing, eyes frantic while she gained distance up to the third floor staircase.

pushing himself up, he tailed behind her, chest heaving while she darted down the hall, hands clawing out to grab her, but again—she evaded him.

ah, yes. right here. william was definitely in there. she could practically feel it. once she reached the door, eris violently swung it open, the man whining out behind her.

“ LEAVE US, thank you . “ ripping off her sunglasses, she mumbled with an intense stare between the sliver of an opening between them, pushing it shut with her hip and promptly locking it behind her.

then and only then did she turn around, taking a single deep exhale to catch her breath. and there he was. right at his desk.

“ hello WILLIAM. “ eris pressed suspiciously, peeling herself from the door moments after. sunglasses were discarded on whatever surface she could find, stepping right in front of his desk, a hand on her hip.

“ if I should even call you that. “ jaw squared while she stared into his stupidly kissable face, her own features hot with rage. he was just SITTING here! like nothing was wrong.

There was a feeling amongst the anger and embarrassment that hid low in the pit of his stomach. That dress had looked incredible on her; even better heaped in a delicious little pile on the floor... William quickly closed the magazine without reading the column no doubt filled with speculations of a former affair or a bachelor's growing desperation for a wife to fund a crumbling estate. Who better than a gullible heiress with enough assets to make even the most well-off aristocrat envious? That was if she hadn't blown it all on alcohol and snow during her travels to lord knows where!

He didn't need any tabloid conjecture feeding the complex emotions feuding in his mind over the last two days. What he did need was to clear his head—or numb it.

Making his way over to the half-empty whiskey decanter, he poured himself a rather generous glass. He truly did try to keep his consumption to a minimum during daylight hours, but desperate times called for desperate measures... Though alcohol had been the main source of his current predicament. At least—that was what he was blaming it on.

He swallowed and chased it with a deep inhale. He'd have to call her. There was no doubt about that. And it wasn't as though he didn't want to see her. It was Eris, for god's sake! That first, young love burdened by responsibility and expectation. Unfulfilled by fear. The same fear, he refused to acknowledge, that was plaguing him even now. He'd gotten used to his lifestyle. A little dull pleasure now and then to feel alive but with a permanent wall between himself and whatever lady happened to fall into his lap, just in case she was tempted to look too closely. There was no hiding from Eris. She was——

His body stiffened completely just as he lowered himself behind his desk. He stared bug eyed at the door which burst open to reveal the little devil herself. Watching in disbelief as she locked one of his own gasping and pleading employees out.

She did always know how to make an entrance.

"Oh—good girl," William breathed an enthusiastic sigh as Eris's legs spread wider in acceptance of his fingers. As though that were not reward enough, his reassurance softly followed. In no world in which he had Eris Winslow laid out before him, ripe and ready for the long awaited union of their aching bodies, would William have bluffed about something he meant with absolute sincerity.

"I promise."

There were a million things he could've done—should've done—but leaving in the middle of the night was not one of them. As precious as she looked with her cheek pressed against is chest, sobering gave way to such a dreadful urge for escape. He truly believed that had alcohol not been the catalyst, that their evening may have turned out differently. How was he to face his oldest friend now that the those boundary lines had at last been crossed? William had done what he did best. He left a woman there laying and neglected to call her in the days following. There were thin lines between 'too early' and 'too late' and he truly believed that he had overstepped them both. The problem was, he'd never once regretted such a behavior until it was Eris of all people who he'd been avoiding. Her reappearance in his life was too sudden. Too confusing. How could he have possibly prepared?

Perhaps he should call her, he'd thought at least a dozen times, looking at the black landline which stared menacingly back at him. Never did he pick it up to dial those numbers he still knew by heart.

Two mornings following, he sat down behind his desk to peruse through the various billings and mail which had accumulated over the weekend. He stopped cold when he reached the bottom of the stack where a freshly printed magazine. An image of himself and the heiress climbing into the backseat of a car, plastered beneath a very bold title: Pemberley Playboy's Wild Night with Derbyshire's Loaded Lost Daughter!

“ well I’ll worry about it if she starts to mention she’s running out of compatible bank accounts. “ eyes searched his face, the worry still written all over it. that’s what it was, right? worry. the way his throat bobbed when he swallowed.

“ ….alright? “ letting him know she’d consider taking it seriously. letting that be the middle ground.

really—imagining william with another woman felt like she’d been dropped into the seventh layer of hell and that was her punishment. what did she look like? the girl that would strike his fancy. a tinge of guilt pricked at her chest, wondering if she ever held him back from finding such.

fingers crawled up to comb at the nape of his neck, the other resting on his jaw, waiting in playful anticipation for his final answer.

…his answer didn’t surprise her. it was very william. eris huffed quietly, giving her head a shake. “ ….wow. “ she raised a brow, teasingly impressed.

“ ….you’ll have to have her write me on the farm I’ll move to. so I can tell her everything about you and what you really like.“ it had taken her years to learn it all. with how shut in he was about so many things. hands moving down to his shoulders to make him slightly relax the reigns in his grasp.

oh how she wished he’d ever describe her in such a way.

“ I’m probably never getting married so you don’t have to worry about doing the same for me. “ eris chuckled mischievously, their noses touching. truly, this had turned her off from the idea. if she couldn’t have william… there was no one else worth making a fuss over if she had her way.

“ but, you know…. “ her legs moved up to graze over his calves, acting like she were about to say or do something.

A weighty beat passed between them. Perhaps it was simply William's imagination. Statements far too poignant to be brushed off as simple teasing or pointless jokes. Eris knew what he was really like, but he was not the only one so utterly known. The brush of her nose against his gave credence to his presumptions. His lips parted slightly, but no breath escaped them. He held it deep within his chest, focused on just how alarming the temptation to close the gap between them had become. Would she kiss him back, or would she despise him forever? A moment longer and he would've done it. He would have risked it. But as Eris's leg forced his, he felt Cerberus launch forward. His eyes widening and his arm instinctively enveloping her waist. "Eris!" Once again he tightened his grip on the reins and made his best attempt at gradually pulling it back to deter his beloved but fickle horse from murdering them both. But Cerberus's master had already given him explicit permission with the firm nudge of his leg. With such conflicting commands, he chose which suited him best; to run.

she knew his concern came from a place of care... but how could he think that? how could he be so responsible and so realistic about it? eris frowned deeply, not enjoying the way he dangled her death sentence in her face like that. wanting nothing more than to just rot away in her fantasies.

the rather hopeless heir pouted by giving a grunt, burying her face within his chest, having to had heard enough. really, she could find a place to hide in pemberley. they'd never find her !

his next question made her face shoot right up from the comfort of his warm chest, eyes practically boggling out of her head, staring at him in immense confusion.

" ...... I think you've had too many cerberus kicks to the head. " looking him up and down. " LIKE one of them, really?! " her neck recoiled, disgust written all over her features. " no. never. ever, ever, ever-- " leaning so much in that their eyelashes almost touched, just so he got the memo.

" it's looking like I'll just have to run away. " sighing while her shoulders relaxed. " If you really won't help me hide then you'll have to help brainstorm what remote farm is far away enough where I can just learn to work and live in peace. " the thought suddenly amused her, leaning back a bit more to see his expression.

" and once they think I'm dead and gone---I'll come back. and live with you and your--- " oh. she didn't like saying that out loud. william and someone else. it burned, actually.

"...wife. "

" ....or is that too farfetched for you ? I can't really see you with a wife, actually. " brows furrowed, twisting her lips in thought. " not that it's a BAD thing. I just don't know your type. "

oh how she deeply wished she were his type.

Oh. He'd hit a nerve and he should've known better. Not that he believed any damage had truly been done by the mere suggestion that she take her predicament more seriously. He was already accustomed to her pouting and tantrums to thinking anything of them. Nothing but how adorable she looked when her lower lip inched forward or her perfect button nose scrunched in disapproval.

"It could happen, Eris." he pressed, though without the hope of convincing her. Not when a part of him didn't want to convince her. There was just enough irrationality in the rational young man's heart to hunger for what they couldn't have. As bold as it was to assume that she'd want any part of the fantasy she believed him incapable of humoring.

He couldn't hide the way that he gulped or how his eyes shifted when she was so close to him, wearing him down completely with her unwavering gaze and the warmth of her proximity. Separated only by the illusion of this 'wife' she'd placed between them. An invisible barrier that didn't even exist.

If she did run away... if she did return... she would find him without a permanent lover. Waiting. For her. He simply couldn't imagine anything else. If she was not to be his wife, then a wife he would never have.

There was a moment of quiet. William searching her eyes while she posed the question. As though he was drinking in everything that she was, hoping to find a word that could adequately define 'Eris'.

the way william insisted on having a secure hold on her melted every inconvenience of the day. eris just so grateful in the moment that he'd accidentally come to her emotional rescue.

"yes. tom. " she blinked, awaiting for him to catch up with a flat smile.

and what a great idea this was. forced close proximity to look right into william's big sad brown eyes. which still---had no answer. but with having the father he had? perhaps he didn't want to talk about it. but when did he ever? cerberus continued to wander the estate, his slow strides swaying their hips loosely. arms carefully squeezed themselves on up between them to rest around his neck, a heavy sigh leaving her.

" I've got a whole notebook of ideas. I must show you. I never know which idea i'll get to use that week, not until the last minute. but it's quite stimulating for the mind to be carrying it all with me as it unfolds. " beaming with pride. because all of these men were not stimulating anything whatsoever.

head lulled back in disdain for william's reply, a groan following. " ohhhh don't SAY that--you might will it into existence ! " scoffing while she shrugged her shoulders aggressively in a childish manner. because that would be the end of her fun. then she'd have to find a permeant solution.

As Eris's arms found their way around his neck, a single hand began to loosen its grip on the lead. It hovered, only for a moment, near the small of her back. The temptation to reciprocate, to touch and draw her closer to him, so consuming. But ultimately it affixed itself to Cerberus's reins once more. At one time, it had been the fear of inexperience that had stopped him unveiling his interest. But now—?

For all of Eris's jokes and smiles, William could barely crack a smirk strong enough to be considered sincere. Or at least half as enthusiastic as she seemed to be. The game was amusing for awhile. He'd felt satisfaction every time she'd informed him of her clever antics. He could not spare any of her suitors an ounce of pity when he knew that they did not deserve her. Fortune or no fortune. William could tell that the heat was growing more dangerous by the day, however. With the frequency of which her parents were introducing Eris's suitors, he knew that it was only a matter of time. The same fate had nearly happened to him, though he was still unaware of who had been promised to him. His only saving grace had been his father's profligate spending; the only good thing that had ever come out of John's reckless extravagance.

"As tempting as holding you hostage sounds, I'm being perfectly serious... For all of the money in the world, your average rich sod can't afford a personality. You should at least give yourself the chance to find one that's workable before your parents pick the worst possible option." As parents tended to do. Especially hers.

her smile only widened when he played into it, corners of her eyes crinkling while she giggled with such joy. the comfort william brought her was so appreciative. especially in moments like these, where she felt trapped. eris only hoped it were the same for him.

and then he had to go and ride in on his damn horse. it felt like a dream.

shoulders dropped when her heart seemed to be at the tail end of catching up with her lungs, reaching to take his hand at the same time. one foot was placed into the stirrup while he pulled her toward him, the other leg stablizing herself against the saddle the brief moment they were face to face.

" well... " eris started, sighing with a shrug. " cerberus is fast--but tom was faster. " shaking her head in playful dismay before lifting her knee to slide on, letting that bit of information sit for a moment. " a new record, by the way. eight minutes. " eight whole minutes she spent with him before she could get rid of him. and tom made it far too easy by BEING far too easy.

"Wrong fo—" No, not wrong at all. Intentional. Eris placed her right foot in the stirrup and whipped her left leg around until she was mounted and facing him directly. A light dusting of color powdered his cheekbones. Slotting his own foot back into the stirrup, he grabbed the rein with both hands, caging Eris in to ensure that she wouldn't slip. Cerberus was a large, healthy horse, and it would be a long fall if she did. William would be damned if he'd allow that to happen. "Tom?" Eris didn't leave his inquiry hanging in the air for long. A quiet 'ah' or realization escaped his lips, followed by a subconscious furrow of his brow. Eight minutes was a record indeed. Each suitor's disposal quicker than the last. Yet it took everything within William to ignore that feeling of dread dwelling deep in the pit of his stomach. What would happen when she met a suitor she did approve of? Sooner or later, she'd become engaged, move far beyond Pemberley's reach. Who would he have for a companion? Ms. Taylor? His kid sister? God forbid! But he could not be so selfish as to deny Eris her happiness if she did find someone—

she'd very nearly avoided her mother for the day. almost. until she cornered her in the grand entrance with a young man in tow. another one of her suitors. for them to secure and combine finances. I mean--marry. yes. husband and wife. he had a hardened stare and a stone cold frown, looking about as interesting as a stepping stone. she'd entertain it--for the moment. tom, what a terrible name.

eris obliged with a sweet smile, allowing him to take her by the arm while they walked out to their modest back garden. which couldn't even compare to pemberley. reminding her where she'd rather be right now.

well, maybe she could make this quick.

tom with the hardened gaze and the hardened frown only seemed to smile at the fact that they were alone now. getting all too familiar by moving his hand to the small of her back. it only made eris smile harder, a giggle passing her lips as if she were so pleased by his advances. oh, tom. you stupid, stupid man.

the more he spoke about himself, the more she hated him. not once did he ask about her and he was absolutely brimming with ego. so eris gently guided them toward the fountain, getting the flowing water to be the backdrop of what tom hoped to be a 'romantic' moment. thinking he was skilled by the way he pulled her in by the waist...and going in for a kiss.

eris closed her eyes as if she were going to let him---until her teeth bit down on his lower lip...HARD. as soon as he yelped she let go, maneuvering her foot when he stumbled backwards so that he'd fall right into the fountain with a big SPLASH.

tom was too easy.

grinning mischievously, the bride to be ran off as fast as she could, giggles falling to the wind. and in what direction did she go in? as if anyone had to guess... well, if her mother really cared--she'd have gone after her by now. so it made her think perhaps tom wasn't her best option.

oh well, there'd be another tom next week. maybe she could plan with william to avoid being home then. when she thought she was far enough, she stopped running, catching her breath as her footsteps slowed, the pemberley property coming into view. the air felt much more relaxing here, eris stretching her arms up temporarily while she calmed herself down, adventuring over the grassy hill.

it wasn't long before she caught sight of that familiar horse, the mid afternoon sun just behind him, making the man on it look like a god. heart fluttered at the sight, giving a breathless chuckle while her hand raised to create a visor over her eyes. arm raised to give a long raggedy wave, steps trotting a bit faster to meet him halfway.

she could kiss god for delivering exactly who she wanted to see in this moment.