Pride: an austen reimagined novel | 1

Chapter Twelve: Austin

The next day, Lily and Anne were in a taxi cab back to school and I was sitting with Cass and Jax in the kitchen before we, too, headed off. School was back the next day and, as much as I liked the semblance of freedom of London, I'd run into Fleur or Aunt Celia if I stayed past that afternoon.

I wished I could say I was glad they were gone. But, I was only going to see Lily at school when we returned and have no valid excuse in Jax's mind to avoid the girl who plagued mine despite her unsuitability. God, Aunt Celia would have a stroke if I told her I was dating Lily Brewer. Forget dying my hair a radical colour, or even getting another tattoo. Lily Brewer would get me disowned, I was sure. And, I couldn't, in good conscience, leave the burden that was Aunt Celia to Jax.

I had no idea what had got into me the day before with all that talk of flaws and smiling. If I wasn't careful, everyone would know I was starting to fancy Lily, and that would just make things even more awkward. No, it was better I just stop talking to her altogether and move on with my life. Let Jax have the grand love affair, and I could leave everything to his children when I died a childless bachelor.

"If you're so worried about it. Stop being so nice to her," Cass snapped as I lugged her suitcase down the stairs.

"I'm sorry?"

"You're forgiven."

"You complain all week that I'm a grump. What the hell's up you today?"

She glowered and said nothing as we locked up the house and piled into the car.

We arrived back to Netherfield a couple of hours after Lily and Anne would have got back. We dropped our bags off at our rooms and headed to the coffee shop, such as it was, for a late lunch.

"What are you doing about this party, Jax?" Cass asked.

"Having it, of course."

"Of course. And, you're actually going to invite the Military College boys?"

I looked around; there were a lot of them about. We didn't exchange with the Military College every year. Though, a group of us had gone to them the year before. They walked around, all pompous and ridiculous in their uniforms, looking for all the world like animated, horny, toy soldiers.

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Why wouldn't you? Are you an idiot?"

I looked at them and Jax looked affronted.

"Leave him be, Cass. His heart's too big for his brain," I said.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"He'll probably be here."

"He won't be here. He graduated last year," I said.

"Oh..." Jax said slowly. "Well, we'll just not invite him them?"

Him was a source of much contention in our family and I ground my jaw just thinking about him. I'd managed not to deck the loser the year before, but there was no telling what I'd do if I saw him again. I felt my fists clench and I relaxed them slowly.

"Oz, breathe, it's fine. She's fine. Take a deep breath," Cass said, stroking my arm.

Jax looked at me, concern written all over his face. I'd spared him the worst of the details, but he knew something bad had gone down and he knew how it affected me.

"It's all good, brother. Like you said, he won't even be here." Jax smiled.

I felt myself relaxing slightly, knowing they were right. I thought of anything else to take my mind off him.