Darcy's POV

I glanced at my reflection in the mirror at the Netherfield Mansion as I removed the ruined Armani suit coat and took the stained Brioni shirt off.

Placing them on a chair to figure out what to do with them, I thought about my reaction to the incident.

I was fine with Elizabeth spilling wine on me.

Blimey, I've even heard you can get the permission of a manager, then pay a waiter to spill wine on your date to see how the date reacts and how they treated the waiter who did it.

Yes, my shirt and suit coat now were ruined, but they are material possessions. God commanded us not to put our trust in earthly things but in Him alone. He knows I have gobs of money that I will never be able to spend despite trying to give as much of it away to charities as possible, under a pseudonym, of course.

When Elizabeth caught me staring at her there, I was embarrassed.

To say the least.

I do not do that. No matter how much women throw themselves at me for the money associated with my name, I try never to look at them there. I know if I were to, it would be a downwards spiral.

When she squatted to pick up the glass shards, I kept my gaze straight ahead, not daring to look down or help her. She had on a high-necked shirt, but I didn't want to see something that I would not be able to get out of my head.

Despite what the media thinks and likes to portray, I do not lead the rich playboy life. A rather luxurious and comfortable life? Yes. But not a playboy life.

I merely do not find any reason for publicly refuting the ideas the media has of me. Most tabloids regarding me are false, and the people who read the dreadful articles aren't my friends. My limited circle of friends knows the true me and know not to regard the media for an accurate portrayal of myself. Even a smaller amount knows where my money goes, and only fourteen other men know the physical activities and dangers I engage in to help people in horrible places.

Her French- She had absolutely no reason to know French. And yet, she knew it.

At first, I wasn't sure if Elizabeth would speak French because she just said "adieu," a phrase which multitudes of people know the meaning of. So I said a sentence that pertained to the situation, then bam, she spat out a response in French.

Just another thing that I have begun to like about Elizabeth, she is always surprising me.