First Impressions: A Modern Pride and Prejudice Adaptation

Chapter 43.1

Darcy's father's lawyer had long since retired from practice, but it was perhaps just as well. His protégé and replacement was less than ten years Darcy's senior; she had known Darcy long enough to gag on the question. "Divorce papers? What do you mean, 'do I know about divorce papers?'" she asked incredulously, repeating Darcy's words in a desperate bid for clarification.

"And annulment. In the state of Nevada. Correct."

She managed to splutter out, "These are not for you, right? Please tell me they're not."

"They're not."

"Oh, thank God."

Despite the situation, Darcy smiled despite himself. He could imagine Liane on the other end of the phone rubbing her hand over her face, as she always did when Darcy misunderstood some crucial legal element.

"Are you going to tell me why?"

"It's for a... friend. Of a friend. It's kind of an emergency."

"Yeah, I'd—" Liane caught herself and cleared her throat. "Okay. Fine. I won't ask any more questions. But you're not doing yourself any favors getting mixed up in someone else's marriage. You're neurotic enough."

"I'm asking for legal advice, Liane, not life coaching, thank you."

"Suit yourself. Annulments are hard to swing. They might have to go to court. You said Nevada, right? That would be a Vegas wedding?"

"Something like that."

"Everyone's got a sob story about why they need to get out of a Vegas wedding."

"I think there might be some coercion here."

"So, fraud? The marriage occurred under fraudulent terms?"

"Something like that," he repeated. He wished he knew more of the particulars of the arrangement, but even if he had been cognizant enough at the time, he could hardly have asked Elizabeth for the details without seeming mad or prying, or some combination of the two.

"That's a lot of help."

"I'm doing the best I can!"

"Fine. Fine." Darcy imagined Liane again, this time pinching the bridge of her nose. She had a very narrow bridge and the movement always looked slightly uncomfortable to Darcy, as if she were pressing her fingers into the corners of her eyes. "You—your friend could get an annulment under fraudulent terms. But you need real proof of that. And they might both have to appear in court."

"Damn."

"Not going to happen? But I did say might."

"I doubt it. Can you send me the paperwork anyway? For both annulment and divorce?"

"From Nevada?"

"Yes." Under the desk, Darcy's foot began to tap. He wasn't sure for how many days Wickham had yet been out of the country, so an hour or two longer certainly could not make it worse, but every passing second seemed to prick at him regardless.

"Okay, just checking! Yes. I'll have to order it—"

"Can you email it?"

"Legally?"

"Yes, legally!" His leg joined in the jittering. "Of course, it has to be legal," he said in a slightly calmer voice.

"I'll see what I can do. You do realize I'm not general legal counsel, don't you? This is not my specialty."