A Holiday to Remember Read online

  A Holiday To Remember

  A PRIDE AND PREJUDICE NOVELLA

  JENNIFER REDLARCZYK

  REDLARK PRESS

  Contents

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Epilogue

  TWELVE DAYS ~ A Regency Short Story

  Other Books by Jennifer Redlarczyk

  About the Author

  Notes

  A Holiday to Remember ~ A Pride and Prejudice Novella

  Copyright © 2018 by Jennifer Redlarczyk

  Cover Art by Daniel Ichinose ~ Atomatron Designs

  Interior Design by E-book Formatting Fairies

  Published by Jennifer Redlarczyk ~ Redlark Press

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under the copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the publisher of this book except in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical articles and reviews. Thank you for respecting the author’s work. Jennifer Redlarczyk.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons, living or dead, events, business establishments, or locales are entirely coincidental with the exception of those taken from Jane Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice.

  ISBN-13: 978-1983478062

  ISBN-10: 1983478067

  November 2018

  In memory of my first choral director, Allene M. Curl, and to so many music teachers who have devoted their lives to inspiring young people by sharing their love of music, I dedicate this small offering.

  Acknowledgments

  Being a moderator on the Private JAFF forum DarcyandLizzy.com, I wish to thank Brenda Webb, my fellow moderators and of course so many readers who have been very encouraging of my work. In addition, many thanks go out to my Beta team: Wendy Delzell, Jessica Ferree, Betty Jo Kennedy, and to Vicki Sroka who served as a cold reader. Then I would like to make mention of Melinda Reinhart and her Merrillville, Indiana High School Choirs, who were the inspiration for this story. Finally, I would also like to thank my son, Daniel Ichinose, who offered his creative talent in creating the cover design for my book and to my husband Greg who always puts up with my JAFF obsession.

  Thank you all! ~ Jennifer Redlarczyk ♫

  Chapter 1

  Connections

  Meryton Academy for the Performing Arts

  Monday, 4 December

  Present day

  “Liz Bennet! Please tell me I didn’t hear what I just thought I heard!” Charlotte Lucas burst through the doors of the choir room and marched straight to the keyboard where Elizabeth was working out the final arrangements for A Holiday to Remember—part of the music academy’s final showcase before the winter break.

  “Char, I have no idea what you’re talking about, and I’m kind of on a deadline here. Uh … you do remember I have a major rehearsal at six o’clock tonight?” She arched a questioning eyebrow in her friend’s direction before entering the final chords on the master lead sheet in her computer.

  “Right, but for your information, Mr. Billy Collins just told everyone in the teacher’s lounge he has a big date with you on New Year’s Eve. He says he’s escorting you to the Pemberley Foundation’s charity gala at Forest Ridge. What gives? Don’t those tickets start at five hundred a pop? Not to mention any woman who would dare to go out with that nutter would have to be a marble short.”

  Elizabeth stopped what she was doing and burst into laughter. “Char, do you honestly think BC would actually shell out that kind of money just to have a date with me? The man is so tight he probably wouldn’t spend five dollars on his own mother. Don’t worry. The Vocalteens were asked to perform at the gala and will be doing the opening act right after dessert. Since Reeves will be out of town, I’m making do with Billy-boy to run sound. You’re welcome to join us if you don’t have a date. I can always use an extra chaperone. Plus, after the kids leave, the adults are invited to stay and enjoy the rest of the party. There’s going to be a live band, dancing, loads of food and some kind of a silent auction. It could be fun, even without dates.”

  “Sorry, Liz. As a matter of fact, I do have a date.” Charlotte straightened up and fluttered her eyelashes in jest. “And … as much as I’d like to hobnob with the rich and famous, Brexton Denny is taking me to the Signature Room to celebrate the New Year. Who knows, this might turn out to be my Holiday to Remember, if you don’t mind me borrowing the title from your medley.”

  “Go right ahead. The Signature Room is pretty impressive. Is there any chance your Mr. Denny might finally be getting serious?”

  “Not to my knowledge. Still, there’s no way I’m going to pass up a date with a buff trainer from the fitness club, fireworks over Lake Michigan, and a kiss at midnight.”

  “A kiss at midnight,” Elizabeth sighed, kind of dreamy-eyed. “Aunt Maddy says being kissed at midnight by someone special is magical, and although I’ve yet to meet that perfect someone, I believe her.”

  “Girl, you’ve been watching way too many holiday romance movies on your favorite channel, if you ask me. I could never be like you. At any rate, if you need an escort, you can always ask my brother. I know Johnny isn’t ideal, but he’s okay in a pinch. On second thought, what about that cute drummer from the music store? Didn’t you go out with him a couple of times? Maybe you can take him.”

  “George Wickham?! I think not! And no, we never dated. Char, your memory fails you. I only agreed to sing backups for that smooth talker’s band at Lollapalooza1 last summer because he was desperate. Believe me; dating was not part of the chord chart. Besides, I’m hardly interested in a fly-by-night drummer or any freelance musician for that matter. And I’m definitely considering adding your brother to my no-go list of men. If Johnny stands me up for one more transmission or any other mechanical failure, the man is toast. As it turns out, I’ll probably hand him his marching orders once he escorts me to Charles Bingley’s holiday party on Friday. Who knows, I may end up following Jane’s lead and using her professional dating service after all. I mean, who could complain about Mr. Bingley?”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Absolutely! Charles is exceptional. He’s considerate and has a great sense of humor. Plus, he brings Jane flowers, sends her cards, and takes her out to dinner, concerts, company functions, yada, yada…. And to top it all off, it was Charles Bingley who recommended the Vocalteens for the Pemberley gig. As one of the corporate lawyers who work for the foundation, he was happy to submit my PR materials to the marketing director. Mr. Reynolds thinks our Holiday to Remember medley will be perfect for the charity gala.”

  “I agree; it’s bound to be a hit. The kids are already looking pretty good, and you still have until next Thursday to pull it all together for the showcase. Speaking of the gala, I hear the CEO of Darcy Enterprises is pretty hot.” Charlotte wiggled her eyebrows as if in the know. “William Darcy has been in all of the tabloids lately. They say he’s some kind of aloof, mystery man—tall, dark, and handsome. I wonder if he’ll be there.”

  “William Darcy?” Elizabeth frowned. “His sister, Georgiana, was studying piano with Aunt Maddy at the music store until….” Her voice trailed off. “Are you sure he’s connected to the foundation? Mr. Reynolds never men
tioned him.”

  “Small world! According to the web, the foundation is run by Darcy Enterprises.” Glancing at the wall clock, Charlotte changed the subject. “It looks like the bell is about to ring, so I’d better head over to my advanced ballet class. Do you still need help tonight with choreography for the opening number?”

  “I’d really appreciate it, since I’m going to have my hands full with the pit orchestra. If you can take over while we run through my new arrangements, it would mean one less thing for me to juggle at practice.”

  “No problem. I’ll be there. Catch you later.”

  “Thanks.”

  After Charlotte left, Elizabeth minimized her music program and quickly did an internet search on William Darcy, CEO of Darcy Enterprises. “I can’t believe it. It is him! So, Mr. Darcy,” she continued to babble while glaring at the computer screen. “Your Mr. Reynolds booked us for the gala. How was he to know you never wanted to see me again?” She shrugged her shoulders. “Oh well, I guess we’ll just have to make the most of it, won’t we?”

  ~ ♫ ~

  William’s office at Darcy Enterprises

  A few days later

  “Bingley, I’ve been waiting on the paperwork for the new contracts.”

  “All ready to go, Boss!”

  “Do you have to be so cheerful when you come in here? This is work, you know.”

  “Can’t help myself, Darcy. It must be love.” He patted his chest with a melodramatic gesture.

  “Don’t tell me you’ve already fallen for your latest angel.”

  “My Janie? She is an angel, and yes, I’m madly in love.”

  William rolled his eyes. “She smiles too much, just like you, I might add. I suppose that makes the two of you perfect for one another.”

  “Ha, you should try it sometime! The holidays are practically around the corner, and you could use some diversion. You’ve been nothing but a bear since the end of summer.”

  “I’ve had a lot on my plate.” William scowled, directing his attention to the folder Charles had just handed him.

  “Speaking of plates, you do remember the holiday party tomorrow night at my parents’ home in Winnetka, don’t you? With Mom and Dad living in Italy for the past year, the house rarely gets used. Caroline has pulled out all of the stops to impress you. She’s having the party catered by some celebrity chef from the city and even hired a jazz trio to play easy listening music before dinner. Hopefully they can move on to some lively tunes afterwards, since Jane loves to dance.” He grinned.

  “Humph! Spare me the details.”

  “All in all, there should be about sixty or seventy from corporate along with a few other staff members in attendance. And if you’re not into partying, you can always network a little and combine business with pleasure. Say, maybe you can hook up with Jane’s sister, Liz. You know ... the music teacher from the performing arts school? You could hang out with her for a while and probably get some useful advice for Georgiana while you’re at it.”

  “Her sister?” His brows furrowed. “It should be some party with both your and Jane’s sister in attendance. I feel a migraine coming on just thinking about it.”

  “What are you talking about? Liz is nothing like Caro. You might actually like her. She’s unpretentious, intelligent, and a very pretty brunette—quite unlike some of the women you’ve dated in the past.”

  “Bingley, you’re wasting your time. I’m not looking for a date, and even if I were, it would not be with Elizabeth Bennet. For your information, we’ve already met, and it didn’t go well. End of story.”

  “Suit yourself. Maybe she’ll hit it off with Richard.”

  “Right.”

  “At any rate, I expect you to play nice. Per Jane’s suggestion, I recommended Liz’s kids to Reynolds for the foundation gala, and whether you like her or not, Ms. Bennet’s top choir from her school is on the bill.”

  “Great,” he grumbled, adding under his breath, “Serves me right for not approving the entertainment choices myself.”

  “O … kay, I can tell when you’re not in the mood for conversation. Just shoot me a text if you need anything else with regards to these papers.”

  “You can count on it.”

  Soon after Charles left, William deliberately pushed aside the documents and stepped to the window of his high rise office in the Chicago Loop area. Firmly grabbing one of the window sashes, he aimlessly gazed down on Lake Shore Drive and out over the chilly lake.

  ~ ♫ ~

  August, four months earlier

  In William Darcy’s opinion, this particular summer was one of the worst Chicago had experienced in years. Even though it was humid, there was little rain, and the temperatures had stayed well into the nineties with no end in sight. Despite the weather, a multitude of activities continued on as usual, and people from all over the metropolitan area converged upon the city. Chicago summers offered some of the finest food and music festivals in the nation. For the moment, however, he was cooped up in the office working late while his sister attended the Lollapalooza Music Fest with some of her friends from the Latin School.2

  “Oh, the heck with work!” William suddenly burst out in frustration. “I should have just gone along as a chaperone and tried to catch up tomorrow.” As it was, he was a little uneasy knowing Grant Park was mobbed with spectators and that Mary King’s mother was the only adult monitoring an enthusiastic group of teens at a rock concert. Without hesitation, William quickly shut down his laptop and began organizing his papers when his phone chimed. Frowning, he saw the call was from Mary King.

  “Mr. Darcy, Georgie is gone! We can’t find her anywhere. I don’t know what to do,” Mary sobbed.

  “What do you mean you can’t find her? Where are you now?”

  “We’re at the Rock and Rollers main stage by the cooling station west of Balboa and Michigan. We were all watching Dragon’s Lair, one of the alternative rock bands. Georgie said she knew the drummer, George Wickham, a teacher from the music store. She disappeared after their set. We thought maybe she went to talk with him or something, but when we asked some of the guys in the band, they hadn’t seen her, and her cell is going to voicemail.”

  “Listen, Mary, stay calm. My office is less than a mile from the Park. I’ll take a cab and be there as soon as I can.”

  “Okay, my mom and the other kids are all looking for her. Mr. Darcy,” her voice suddenly brightened. “I think I see one of the singers from the Dragon’s Lair near the staging area. I’ll see if she knows anything and get right back to you.”

  “Good. Call me with whatever you find out.”

  ~ ♫ ~

  “Darcy,” William barked, into his phone, despite not recognizing the displayed number.

  “Mr. Darcy, this is Liz Bennet. My Aunt Gardiner is your sister’s piano teacher. I was performing with the Dragon’s Lair tonight and heard from Mary King that Georgie is missing. Where are you now?”

  “I’m in the park walking down Balboa towards the staging area.”

  “Great! I just talked with one of the sound technicians who told me he saw a girl fitting your sister’s description leaving with George Wickham.”

  “Dear Lord,” William cursed under his breath.

  “Wickham’s van is parked nearby in the musician’s lot on one of the greens. As soon as you get here, I’ll show you.”

  “I see Mary now.” He waved and started running. “Be right there.”

  Moments later

  “Mr. Darcy, I’m Liz Bennet. Mary, let your mom know what’s going on and wait right here for her and the other kids. I’ll call you or send a text as soon as we find Georgie. Mr. Darcy?” She gestured across the lawn, and the two of them took off as fast as they could maneuver through a crowd of spectators.

  “Miss Bennet. How long have you known this George Wickham?” he asked tersely.

  “Not long. He was recommended by one of the regular teachers from my aunt’s music store and occasionally subs when he’s in town. I don
’t mean to alarm you, but the man can be somewhat of a charmer.”

  “And he’s teaching children at your aunt’s store?!” he bellowed. “If something has happened to my sister, I swear I’ll shut her down.”

  “Mr. Darcy, can we just remain calm and focus on finding Georgie before you threaten to put your legal team to work?” He made no response. “Wickham’s van is the black one over there in the next row. It looks like the dome light is on, so hopefully she’s inside.” As soon as they reached the van, William jerked open the rear doors only to find his sister lying passed out on the floor with Wickham trying to shake her awake as he hovered over her.

  “What did you do to her, you scum?!” William shouted, roughly shoving Wickham away from his sister and slamming him into the interior wall of the van. “I’ll see you in jail for this.” In the meantime, Elizabeth immediately bent over Georgiana, hoping to rouse her. Her color was ashen and her breathing faint.

  “I didn’t do anything. It was just a little Ketamine3 to help her relax.” He cowered in the corner, raising his arm in defense. “It’s perfectly legal.”

  “Ketamine!” both Elizabeth and William shouted, exchanging alarmed looks.

  Elizabeth pulled out her phone and immediately keyed in 911. “Yes, there is an emergency in the performer’s parking lot, a little southeast of Balboa and Columbus Drive, on the green…. A teen was given Ketamine. She’s unconscious and barely breathing. Her color is not good…. Elizabeth Bennet…. Yes, this is my cell…. Black van, I think Ford ... Five minutes? Please hurry. Thanks.