to face us. “Maybe they’re gonna announce a second guy.”
“Darcy’s best friend, Mr. Bingley, maybe,” I offer, watching Johnathan and Sebastian on the other side of the room.
“Mr. Bingley would be nice,” Phoebe replies.
“Or Mr. Wickham,” Reggie says. “I could take a scoundrel like George Wickham for a twirl right about now. I bet a man like him would be real excitin’.”
“Gosh, yes,” one of the other contestants nearby agrees as others pile in with their ideas.
A few moments and a lot of eager chatter between the contestants later, they call for order and the camera lights flick back on.
Johnathan stands before us once more, flanked by Sebastian. “Ladies, with Hayley now gone we are down to you as our Lizzies. Congratulations to you all.” He beams out at us. “Now, I’ll hand over to Mr. Darcy to say a few words. Sebastian?”
Sebastian steps forward, looking serious. “Ladies, it’s been wonderful to be here at the ranch, but I’m afraid our time must come to an end. Hayley won’t be the only one leaving.”
What?
“I need to ask each and every one of you to return to your rooms and pack your bags.”
We dart stunned looks at one another. Are we all being sent home?
“I need you to pack your bags,” Sebastian continues after the crew is satisfied the contestants have got sufficiently worked up, “because tomorrow we are all taking a flight to England to stay at Pemberley, my family’s home.” His smile stretches across his face and I can tell it’s the real deal now.
My face on the other hand, probably more closely resembles a deer in headlights.
The women around me erupt in excitement, hugging, whooping, and thanking Sebastian. I do none of these things. Instead, I stand rooted to the spot, my brain on fire. I’m going to England? But that’s a thousand miles away. No, more. A lot more. It’s over an ocean. It’s an entirely different country.
Sure, they said bring your passport, but I figured it’d only be for the contestants who got into the top few, and I had no plans whatsoever of being one of those women.
“Oh, one other thing, ladies,” Sebastian says and the room falls quiet. “You’ll be able to wear whatever you want on the flight. No need for Regency attire. Might I suggest some comfortable activewear, perhaps?” His eyes slide to mine, and I feel a shot of elation.
It cushions the blow.
As we’re herded (cattle, remember?) back out of the room and directed to our bedrooms, I catch Sebastian’s eye once more. He mouths “my room,” and I manage to nod briefly before I move into the hallway, lost in thought.
I feel a hand on my arm and look up to see Kennedy, her face bright with excitement.
“Can you believe we’re going to England tomorrow? England, baby!”
I knit my brows together. “I think I’m still processing.”
“What is there to process? We’re gonna have such an adventure. I’ve never been there before. Heck, I’ve never even left the country. Well, other than to go to Cabo, but everyone does that where I’m from.”
“But it’s England. It’s, like, really freaking far away.”
She looks at me sideways as we lift our petticoats so we don’t trip on them as we climb the stairs to our rooms. “You okay, Emma?”
“Sure. I guess I should have worked out that we’d be going to England if we’re on a show called Dating Mr. Darcy.”
She laughs. “I know, right? This is going to be amazing!”
I chew on my lip. Why does it bother me so much? Is it because of the fact we’re travelling far away from here, from my work, from my life? Or is it something else?
Whatever it is, I’m finding it hard to kick the unsettled feeling that’s sunk in my belly.
Chapter 18
Later that night, once Reggie and Lori are lightly snoring and mumbling in their sleep respectively, I throw on some leggings and a tee and sneak on mouse-like feet down the hallway. As I round the corner a couple of doors down, I literally walk into somebody. I stagger back in surprise.
“Emma?”
“Phoebe?”
“Is everything okay?” she stage whispers.
“I, err, couldn’t sleep,” I reply, flustered. “I thought I’d go for a walk.”
“A walk? Oh. I thought you might have been going to the bathroom.”
That would have been a lot more believable.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“Same.”
I take in her cute tank and PJ shorts. They’ve got teddy bears and love hearts all over them. They’re so Phoebe. “But you’re in PJs.”
“Oh, they’re very