From Pemberley to Manhattan Read online

  The made Nat laugh to tears. She’d forgotten about that one. They’d been in the Louvre for the third time, a tour that had practically became a habit for them. It was a Sunday, so the museum was packed with people from all over the world.

  When they were passing through the aisle from where one accessed the room where the Mona Lisa was kept, they ended up separated by the crowd. Nat searched for nearly half an hour before she decided to go to the museum’s administration for help.

  Had Darcy accepted to use a cell, that wouldn’t be necessary, but he had made it clear he would never use a device created by a gentleman named after a fruit. One thing, he’d affirmed, was have an artist who’d adopted the nickname Apple. Another matter was trusting in a modern device whose inventor called himself that, and signed with a childish drawing of the fruit bitten. It was simply too absurd to be credible! She didn’t have the heart to argue with him, and didn’t insist further.

  So, there she was, forced to ask one of the security guards to announce Nathalie Estevez Brown was expecting a Mr. Darcy in the museum administration. A few moments later, she heard the announcement, which was made in French, since Darcy spoke the language fluently, and she understood most of it (practicing in France was doing wonders to her once rusty skills).

  “Mr. Darcy, this is the Louvre’s administration. We’d like to inform you that Miss Nathalie Brown is with us, and she awaits you in–” The museum’s employee never managed to finish his sentence, for the alarm sounded in the whole building. Nat was on alert: was it a false alarm? Was there a fire? Or, even worse, a terrorist attempt? To her relieve, but also amazement, it was neither of the above.

  “Someone tried to smash a wall on the second floor!” She heard one security guard explain to the other. What sort of idiot would do something like that in the Louvre?

  Nat decided to wait exactly where she was until the fuzz was over and the employee could finish the announcement. She only hoped Darcy hadn’t left the museum to return to their apartment; there was much she still wanted to see.

  The security guards that had been stationed outside the museum’s administration returned holding a tall, handsome man, who was yelling at them in a perfect French, “Where is she? Where have you hidden her? I demand you let her go! Now!”

  “Darcy?!” Why was the gentleman behaving like… a drunk? His eyes were red with terror, his mouth was contorted in fury, his whole complexion was that of a man in despair.

  “Oh, Miss Nathalie! You are well!” He ran to her, getting loose from the guards, and held her so tight she had difficulty breathing. “I thought they had hurt you in the walls!”

  “In the walls?!” Why was he so hysterical? Why did he think she was in the walls? And what did he mean by ‘in the walls’? Was it a metaphor for something? The guards walked toward them, and Nat feared they’d arrest Darcy.

  “Yes! A voice in the walls stated you were in there with them, and I feared for your life, Miss Nathalie!”

  Oh. Dear. Lord. After so many weeks, after all that time, and Nat still couldn’t comprehend the extent of his ignorance regarding the simplest things of the twenty-first century. She couldn’t believe she’d put them in that mess only because she didn’t consider that technology could scare him. Of course, it must be scary hearing the walls talk! It was hilarious as well, but she refused to laugh in a moment such as that one.

  “Do you know this man?”, one of the guards asked.

  “Yes, this is the one I’ve been looking for”, she answered, gloomily.

  “Well, we’re taking him to the police and–”

  “That won’t be necessary, sir.” A man dressed in a tailored suit stated behind the group. He spent some moments talking in hushed tones to the guards, but Nat made out the words “crazy” and “lunatic”. He then moved away, telling her and Darcy to stay put, that the Professor had sent him and he’d get things straightened out. He spoke to the Director of the Louvre for about a quarter of hour before returning to them with a tiny smile.

  “You’re free to go”, he said. “But you shall not be welcomed here anymore.” Even though Nat hated the fact she couldn’t visit the Louvre again, she took no time taking Darcy out of there.

  They were still laughing about the story as they left the cottage. That was when the bad surprise of the day, which had been incasing them in its dark secrets for long weeks, happened: Darcy was immobilized by four strong arms, while a hand put a piece of cloth with a strong-smelling liquid against his mouth and nose.

  In a matter of seconds, Darcy was out. “Who are you? What do you want?” Nat was leaning over Darcy, trying to protect him from the men in military-like uniforms. She glanced around, looking for someone who could help, but there was no one except for the men.

  “Everything shall be explained soon”, one of them said simply, just before the same hand covered Nat’s face with a cloth that put her to sleep as well.

  ♥

  THAT SAME MOMENT

  ON A PLANE TO PARIS

  “Would you like more champagne?” One of the perks of flying in first class, Fanny reminded herself, as she accepted her third glass of champagne.

  The moment she found out she was going to Paris, with the gorgeous Detective that reminded her of one of her favorite actors ever, she called her cousin Denise, who was a flight attendant. She was able to get first class tickets for economic class price.

  Terry looked satisfied enough, going through the enormous list of movies available for them. She wanted that look on his face, but she’d like it better if he was smiling at her like that on top of her, naked and– “Fanny? Are you okay?”

  “How could I not be okay being treated like a queen?”, she winked at him.

  “You should always be treated like a queen”, Terry said shyly.

  “Don’t you dare complain when I attack you after you say stuff like that, Terry!”, she made him chuckle. It was funny how they were always either fighting or laughing in each other’s presence.

  This guy was irresistible. And such a mystery to her. But a nice, chocolate sweet kind of mystery. He was clearly into her, but he hadn’t tried to sleep with her yet. He kept talking about how he wanted a relationship, something Fanny always ran from, yet now she found herself considering his proposal.

  “Anyway, I can’t say I’m not enjoying myself”, he mentioned, while stretching out. Fanny practically drooled as she watched, mesmerized, his muscles flexing under his cotton shirt. “And I guess that, after we find Nat and Darcy of course, we could visit– Ouch! Did you just bite me?”

  Yes, she had bitten his biceps. “I’m so sorry! But it’s not my fault! You were looking so tasty, and, so far, you haven’t given me any happy endings… So, once we see the full context, it’s really your fault, I simply had to bite you and–”

  “God”, he chuckled, after looking shocked for a full minute, “every time I think I’m starting to get you, you leave me completely lost.”

  “Better than you, who always leave me horny and give me no sugar”, she actually pouted after the embarrassingly revealing remark.

  “You know I want to give all the sugar you desire, as long as we–”

  “Are having more than a one night stand. Yes, yes, I know”, she rolled her eyes, which he thought adorable. She was still pouting like a spoiled child when he spoke again.

  “And having many one night stands doesn’t count either, Fanny. You know I want more than that.” He couldn’t help laughing when she scowled at him. Terry desired her more than any woman he’d ever met, still, he had to tell himself the wait would be worth it.

  “Yes, yes, you want ‘a day relationship’, not only a night adventure”, she repeated, with an annoyed tone, something he’d said to her a few days ago, when she’d appeared at his apartment with a Playboy bunny outfit, stating she was going to a very late and very naughty Easter Party. It took all his will to drive
her home untouched. Well, almost, for they made out for a few minutes in his car. Yet again.

  “Very well, you’re turning into a very good student”, he joked.

  “Oh, but I wanna be so bad with you, Detective”, she said in a hushed tone, a sexy smile playing on her lips. “Besides, I still owe you thanks for all your help.”

  “So now you think I helped. A couple of hours ago you were accusing me of being useless.” He reminded her.

  “Only because you didn’t compliment my new haircut and my new dress”, she spat back, faking irritation.

  Fanny loved the games they played. This was becoming the longest flirt-slash-foreplay she’d ever had in her life. So far, so good, but her self-control was on the brink of exploding into a million chocolate pieces. Fanny always had the guy she wanted, and she never wanted any guy like she wanted Terry. So she’d have him, no matter what! Even if she had to invade the cubicle airlines called a bathroom to get him with his pants down!

  Wait a sec. That’s a great idea!

  She waited patiently for hours, offering drinks whenever she could. Finally, in the middle of the flight, Terry needed to go to the bathroom. Fanny walked to the bathroom he got into a few moments afterward, and stood right in front of it.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” Denise surprised her. It might be great flying first class, but having her cousin breathing down her neck wasn’t that amazing.

  “What does it look I’m doing?”, Fanny pretended innocence. Her cousin must know her pretty well, if she’d already guessed what Fanny was up to. “I’m waiting for my turn to use the bathroom, of course.”

  “No, you idiot! I’m talking about the hottie you brought with you!” Fanny was relieved, even though she felt jealous her gorgeous cousin had noticed the detective’s charms. What was she expecting? Terry was very hot indeed.

  “He wants a relationship, Dee!”, Fanny offered as explanation for her behavior and doubts.

  “I’m sorry. And that’s bad? After all the morons you dated, do yourself a favor: hit that jackpot!”

  That’s precisely what I’m attempting to do, Fanny thought angrily. “Okay, Dee”, she agreed automatically, hoping it would make her cousin leave.

  “I’m serious, Fanny! As soon as he opens this door, I want you to jump in that toilet with him and–” Denise saw her cousin’s expression and figured it out. “Oh. That’s exactly what you’re going to do, right? Well, good luck, hon’. And no worries: I’ll cover for you.”

  Denise had just proven she and Fanny shared the same blood. She waited for a few moments longer, and as Terry opened the door to get out, she got in and locked them both in the minuscule bathroom.

  “What are you doing?”, Terry had been behaving as a gentleman, but that proximity to Fanny made things hard. Very hard indeed.

  “What do you think I’m doing?”, she was already taking her dress off as she spoke.

  “This isn’t what we agreed on!” He was desperate now! She was wearing sexy, black lace underwear, which contrasted beautifully with her pale skin. Oh, he was so lost.

  “Look, dude, you’re asking me to buy a car without a test drive first!” She was now unzipping his jeans. “I want my test drive! I demand my test drive!”

  “I– What?” He was confused, and the fact her hands and tongue were touching very sensible parts of his body was making everything foggy.

  “I might not eat my chocolate now, but I’m definitely going to taste it!”

  Terry was about to ask something, but, as Fanny fulfilled her threat, he forgot all about it.

  ♥

  NINE HOURS KIDNAPPED

  SECRET LOCATION

  “Who are you?”, Nat inquired a third time, agonizing over the pain she believed her captors would apply most diligently on her any moment now. She’d been dozing off and waking up for the past hours, but, finally, the effects of the drug they’d given her seemed to be wearing off.

  At the beginning, as she woke up the first time, she had come up with many terrifying theories. At first, she’d imagined, since she saw Darcy nowhere in the premises, maybe this was a gang that would do unimaginable cruel things to her. The suspicion alone had made her close to tears for a long time, but she had pushed that thought away once she realized her captors were army trained and seemed not a least bit interested in her. They only wanted to make sure she didn’t move.

  Then came her second theory: maybe those were the same people from the Government that had taken her the last time. Since she and her family had provided no relevant information, they had decided to use more… compelling techniques to make her talk. Nonetheless, they seemed to be zero worried about what she might have to say. So she scratched that possibility as well.

  At one point she considered the prospect of having been kidnapped by aliens, something Bobby had suggested to be possible, even though Ethan ridiculed him every time he made such statements. Bobby would have loved if this had been the case, so Nat would have many stories to tell him once she returned, but that also didn’t seem to be the case, once she believed them to be on Earth, instead of out in space.

  They were in a cold, humid room, dimly lit by a few candles spread on the old, squeaking hardwood floor. The walls were also made of wood, she guessed pine, and there was just one room in that construction besides the one she was in.

  She guessed they were in a log cabin, with its few windows boarded up with plywood, the same material some people used to protect windows from hurricanes back in the States. Nat also believed them to be in Europe, even though she had no idea how long she’d been out. That thought gave her an idea. Maybe, it was time to change her question.

  “How long have I been unconscious?” The men didn’t budge. There were three of them in total, all in military uniforms, just like the ones back in Versailles. These ones, however, were covering their faces with masks as well. She could hear the rain outside, and she could smell the woods that surrounded them. She could scream, but that would only make the men mad, and she knew what she needed to do.

  Important information number one: Darcy was alive, for she’d heard him calling for her a few minutes back, and she’d yelled too, making sure he knew she was fine as well. Important information number two: they were far away from the civilization, otherwise these men would have left her passed out, or put something in her mouth to gag her (not duct tape, tough, for, unlike all Hollywood movies shown in tense scenes, Ethan had once proved to her and Bobby it didn’t work at all).

  “You’ve hurt me, haven’t you? You’re perverts!” She decided to push a little further. She finally got something: one of the men baulked. So, he didn’t like having her accusing them. She imagined it to be a good sign: perhaps, they were not there to hurt them. “You’ve raped me on my way here, while I was out!”

  “No, we didn’t!” The guy who had flinched the first time affirmed, his voice giving in his age. He must have been in his early twenties, at most, Nat calculated. “It took us just a couple of hours to bring you here and you were never left alone and–”

  “Shut up!”, the tallest one of them ordered. His voice was hoarse and aggressive, but he didn’t move as he spoke. He didn’t yell either.

  So, they were silent again. At least, now Nat knew she couldn’t have been that far from France. After all, the young guard had told her they’d just had a few hours to move her and Darcy, passed out, to wherever they did.

  Concluding she wouldn’t get anything else from them, she decided to wait. And wait. And wait a little more. Twenty four minutes later, which felt like twenty four years to Nathalie, someone opened the door of the cabin, letting the sunlight in, almost blinding her. The new man in the room was small, about five feet six, had a round belly and smelled of cigars. That was all Nat could tell of him, since he was in a dark suit, mask and a black hat.

  “Let me go!”, Nat commanded-slash-begged, after three w
hole seconds had passed and the small man had pronounced no words.

  “Of course I will”, the man’s voice was like a shriek, and his accent was definitely British. What was it with her and Brits lately? She’d never met any, and now it seemed as she couldn’t get rid of them! At least, his words had brought some hope into her heart. She was tired of being kidnapped. Speaking of which, where the shell was The Professor? He’d promised to protect her and Darcy, had he not? “As soon as you answer my questions.”

  Oh, no. What was he about to ask? “Depends on what you want to know.”

  “Who is the man who was with you?” It was an innocent enough question. And those people, whoever they were, certainly knew the answer. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have gone into so much trouble to take them from Versailles.

  “Darcy”, she answered flatly.

  “Right. Very good”, he sounded like a proud teacher. “And where is Darcy from?”

  “England. Like yourself.” Again, no problem answering that question. They’d heard Darcy speaking (or yelling), so they’d guessed, by now, he was British.

  “And when is he from?”, the little man asked simply.

  “Screw you, fatty.” She would never give these men what they wanted.

  “I am truly sorry to hear that”, the small man said and, surprisingly enough, his tone was not cruel, but calm and even sweet. That crept Nat out even more than if he’d slapped her or yelled at her. “Do it, gentlemen.”

  She had no idea what the little man had meant, but it was definitely something sinister. He was probably ordering them to torture her somehow. It didn’t matter. She wouldn’t sell Darcy out.

  The men entered the only room in the cabin and brought back a TV and a VCR. They turned on the TV and pressed play on the VCR. It was playing an episode of Seinfeld.

  “What the–”

  “When you are ready to talk, just call for us”, the small man said and left the cabin. The three soldiers followed him, without looking back.