No longer caring for the game and if anyone discovered her, she fled her hiding spot. There was a narrow staircase next to Mr. Darcy’s study, and Elizabeth raced up it until she nearly collided with Miss Graves.
“Miss Elizabeth!” the older lady caught Elizabeth by the elbows lest she fall down the stairs. “Good heavens!”
“Forgive me,” Elizabeth panted and moved to push past the governess.
“Pray, forgive the intrusion, but you seem unwell. You have been so kind to me, allow me to assist you.”
“It is nothing,” Elizabeth dissembled.
“What could make you run with such abandon and a wild look in your eye? Please, you may tell me. You are not alone in your troubles.”
“What do you mean?” Elizabeth asked. Did she care to hear how this woman also loved Will Darcy? At the weight of her thoughts, Elizabeth flushed then paled. Her legs buckled.
Miss Graves caught Elizabeth and brought her down to sit on the stairs. “I must insist now! Mr. Darcy would never forgive himself if he injured you as well.”
Elizabeth’s brow furrowed and for the first time, she noticed the bruise on Miss Graves’ cheek. Curls which usually framed her face were pushed behind her ear. “I am uninjured, but it appears you are not. Did he…” Tears streamed down Elizabeth’s face to consider the possibility that Will could abuse anyone. “Did he assault you? Did he force you?”
Miss Graves shook her head but would not speak.
“Please, I must know,” Elizabeth said as she laid a calming hand on the woman’s arm. “You had said I was not alone and offered assistance. Why do you not allow me to extend the same courtesy to you?”
A sob wrenched from Miss Graves’ mouth as a shudder wracked her body. “I will confide in you,” she muttered with a shaky breath.
Elizabeth wrapped her arms around the lady and rubbed her back soothingly, the same as she would for one of her sisters. After several minutes, Miss Graves gathered herself enough to speak.
“He did not force me, but he did not take no for an answer. He thought I would submit if injured. I do not know what might have happened to me if he had not heard the noise of an occupant in the nursery.”
Elizabeth flushed as she considered she must have been the cause for the interruption. “You must tell Mr. Darcy. Come, let us go to him at once.”
Miss Graves held back. “No, in my experience it is best to keep my head down. Master Will informs me that the men are to leave in a few days. He promised nothing, but he hopes to keep Wickham,” she spat the name, “from returning to the house.”
Elizabeth started at the information. Mr. Wickham assaulted the lady? What about Will outside of the governess’ chamber last night?
“I must only bear with the fear for a few more days. I have never been more afraid in my life but also never more hopeful. You must understand, I have had to leave several positions due to the unseemly desires of men. They have never been violent before, but there was always the fear of a reoccurrence at the next situation.”
Miss Graves raised her shoulders and strength infused her frame. “I will soon be free of this concern, and I will fight to keep this position. I love Miss Darcy too much and have the greatest esteem for Mr. Darcy.”
“And Master Fitzwilliam?” The words escaped Elizabeth before she could help it.
“The young master?” Miss Graves voice rose in pitch as her brow furrowed. “Well, I barely have said more than a few words to him. I do thank him for assisting me last night. He says he will help me, but I do not want to cause trouble between him and his father.”
“You told him what happened?”
Miss Graves nodded. “I was overwrought. When I came to my senses, I begged him to say nothing, but I do not know that he will.”
“Will Darcy will do whatever he pleases and deems best regardless of the desires of others,” Elizabeth observed wryly.
“I cannot condemn the gentleman for having a superior sense of honour and duty.”
Elizabeth slowly nodded. The woman had correctly summarized Will. His obstinacy could be annoying but came from the best of intentions. How unfairly she had accused and condemned him!
“Forgive me,” Miss Graves said. “I fear I have made this entirely about me and it was you who needed assistance.”
“Do not apologise. I am entirely well, now. I only needed physical exertion and wanted to be away from all the finery of the public rooms.”
“You come from the country, do you not?”
Elizabeth nodded. “I live near a market town in Hertfordshire. I am used to long daily walks in solitude. I fear I do not thrive in proper drawing rooms and under the scrutiny of the most fashionable or rich.”
“You are young yet,” Miss Graves smiled at her. “You may find as you age that more of London and the fine life appeals to you.”
The sound of the door at the top of the stairs opening reminded Elizabeth of their location. They cordially parted but as she returned to her chamber, Miss Graves’ words of fear mixed with hope resounded in her ears. Such conflicting emotions could create great anxiety, and Elizabeth’s heart pounded in her ears as she acknowledged it must be the cause for her mental abuse of Will. She loved him. It both terrified and excited her.
******
After Will had left Elizabeth’s hiding place, he set out to find Wickham. The others would be disappointed he did not play the game with them, but it had never been his intention to do so. If his father would not see reason regarding his favourite, then perhaps Will could convince Wickham to leave Darcy House.
Will found him in the kitchen, trying to charm the cook into a sample of the evening’s meal. “George, I would speak with you.”
Will noticed the nearly imperceptible change in his long-ago friend’s countenance. Pure hatred emitted from his eyes. Will wondered what he had ever done to deserve such malice from the man he had once loved as a brother. The others saw no change in his demeanour, however, and Wickham kept up his usual charm.
“Certainly.”
Will noted that Wickham avoided the issue of having to address him by name. As they were no longer boys or even friends, calling him by an informal name would be inappropriate given the difference in their stations. However, Wickham could never bear to say “sir” or “Master Fitzwilliam” as the servants, and his father, did. Will could almost pity Wickham for the awkward situation. Mr. Darcy had thought he had done a kindness to his steward’s son by raising him with his heir, but all it did was raise Wickham’s expectations and taste for the fine things in life.
Wickham approached. Once out of the hearing of others, he raised his brows and spoke in a derisive tone. “Well?”
Will came in close to the other man. Towering over him by several inches, Wickham had to tilt his head back to meet his eyes. “I know what you have done,” Will said through clenched teeth. “You will not get away with it this time.”
“What is it that you think I have done? Do you have any proof?”
“You have assaulted Miss Graves. You have, at last, met a lady who will not succumb to your charm and abandon her reputation.”
“Oh, I see. You suppose I have harmed her,” Wickham smirked. “I am sorry to hear she has been injured. She is a pretty lass. However, did she name me? Were there witnesses?”
“Those are charming words and I daresay would better suit a man intended for court than the cloth.”
Wickham stroked his jaw. “It would certainly be more profitable, but I would hate to disappoint your dear father. I notice you did not answer my questions.”
Sick of Wickham’s games, Will grabbed him by the lapel, rejoicing when Wickham flinched. “Leave this house. I will provide a handsome sum for you to find your amusements this summer elsewhere. When I return from holiday, I will contact you with arrangements so you never need step foot in a Darcy residence again.”
Wickham pulled back and smoothed out his coat, seemingly unaffected by Will’s display. “I see you are feeling powerful and w
ith deep pockets. Coming of age has given you freedom of money, it appears. However, we both know your father will not support you in any attempt of ousting me while he lives.”
Incensed, Will glowered. “Mind your words, George. One day I will be master of Pemberley, and I will have no charity for you.”
“What a sad day, indeed, that will be. I notice you seem to rejoice at the idea of your father’s demise. I would expect nothing less from an arrogant and pampered but disloyal cur such as you.”
“How dare you put words in my mouth? How dare you—”
“No! How dare you! Perhaps you might need to force ladies, but I have never needed to resort to such.” Wickham raised a brow. “On second thought, they would easily open their legs for your pocketbook. Instead of chastising me, perhaps you ought to consider your friend residing here. I have heard rumours of Young Bennet running with a rough crowd in recent months.”
Momentarily silenced by the shred of truth in Wickham’s words, Will had no ready retort. A servant rounded the corner and hovered behind Wickham.
“Pardon me. The master desires Mr. Wickham for a game of billiards,” the servant said.
“Very good,” Wickham said and nodded at the servant. Without another word, he left Will in the hall.
Controlling the impulse to stalk after them and pull Wickham into his father’s study by the collar, Will clenched and unclenched his fists. When his breathing had returned to normal, he returned to the drawing room intending to ask the gentlemen to join him for a ride in the park. Upon his arrival, he was told Elizabeth felt ill and had taken to her chamber. Was she avoiding him?
Convinced that Elizabeth was upset after their encounter, Will bided his time until the others left to dress for dinner. What could he say to her? Never in his life had he given into his base impulses before. He had never hinted at his growing attraction to her. She was only sixteen and had limited interactions with gentlemen. Most likely, Will had terrified her. He never said anything of courtship or marriage, and she must presume that he had no honourable intentions. The thought that he could in any way be similar to George Wickham disgusted him.
As Will dressed for the evening, he considered his choices for the future. While Mr. Darcy did not support his son marrying his cousin, the older gentleman did have expectations for Will’s eventual bride. The average age most gentlemen married was close to thirty. However, Will did not have that luxury. He was the only son of an old family and a large estate. He was expected to marry young and begin producing the next generation of Darcys to look after Pemberley. While there was no entail on the estate and therefore Georgiana could always inherit. However, Will knew his father hoped for his son to inherit and sire another line for succession. Although Mr. Darcy was friends with Mr. Bennet, Will doubted he would approve of Elizabeth as a match for his son.
Duty and expectation were not unknown to Will. He had always endeavoured to live up to his father’s expectations. Most would call him an ever-dutiful son. In recent months, however, Will’s relationship with his father had become strained due to George Wickham. It was evident to Will that his father did not trust him regarding Wickham. The fact that his employees might be injured or harmed by him frustrated Will to the core. For many years now, he had seen vicious propensities in Wickham. At school, Will had been entirely powerless to protect other boys from Wickham’s schemes or taunts. As for ladies, they had always seem to be willing bed-partners. When the time came for their eventual disenchantment with the cad, typically with a child on the way, Will instructed the housekeeper to provide for them. As far as Will knew, Miss Graves was the only one who refused Wickham what he wanted. In recent years, Will had come to his father several times about Wickham. As Will never had verifiable proof, the other man always seemed to wiggle out of any accusation. His father now had it in his head that Will’s arguments were based on jealousy alone. Will admitted to himself there was some truth to his father’s assertions. As a child, he had been jealous of his father’s attention to the steward’s son. Sighing, Will realised he would not be able to convince his father without Miss Graves’ confession.
Also on Will’s mind was Wickham’s charge against Sam. While Will struggled with the new dynamics of his relationship with his father, Sam had been growing increasingly distant and finding new friends of a different crowd. Sam’s association with Lord Harcourt proved to Will that his friend was in over his head. As much as Will was powerless against Wickham, so he was against Sam’s choices. The most he could do was attempt to explain to Sam the dangerous path he was now on.
Although Sam would not welcome Will’s desire for courtship with his sister, it would perhaps put them on some level ground. Will could not condone the notion of Sam breaking his engagement to his betrothed. However, Will, at last, understood the pull of one’s heart. He had been defenceless against his own heart. He had been taught to resist the seduction of ladies who desired his money and name. Elizabeth seemed entirely unaffected by both. If she esteemed and respected him, it was for his character and because they had become friends. The fire that sparked between them rested squarely on Will’s shoulders. While Elizabeth had not pulled back, she had not instigated their intimacy. Now that he had a chance of passion and happiness his grasp, he could not let it go. Sam would fight Will on desiring his sister; however, in the end, Will hoped Sam could understand why he must follow his heart. To that end, Will knew he needed to support Sam in following his.
Determined to seek out his friend and let him know his growing attachment to Elizabeth, Will felt in control of the situation again. Leaving his chamber, he hoped he would see Elizabeth before dinner. As he walked down the guest wing, he saw her light figure.
“Elizabeth,” Will whispered.
Elizabeth paused and turned to see who called her name. Will reached for her hand and pulled her around the corner so they might have privacy. “Have you been avoiding me?”
“Do you think I have a reason to avoid you?”
“I wanted to apologize for my behaviour,” Will said. “I believe I scared you.”
“What was it that you believe frightened me?”
“If you do not wish to speak on it further, I will abide by your wishes. However, I wish you to know that I have come to feel very strongly for you.”
“As your friend’s sister?”
Will shook his head. “You mean more, so much more to me than that.” Will searched Elizabeth’s eyes. “I told you already that I lose my wits around you. The truth is I never want that to stop. You enrapture me. With you, I see the world in ways I have never seen it before. You bring a lightness to my heart.”
A flush had crept up Elizabeth’s face during Wills impassioned speech. He could not resist the urge to stroke her cheek and touch her soft flesh. “I am falling in love with you, Elizabeth Bennet. And I ought to have considered that you deserved better for your first kiss. “
Elizabeth’s blush deepened, making Will grin as his supposition seemed correct. He had been the first man to ever kiss her. He vowed to himself, he would be her last.
Despite her embarrassment, Elizabeth met Will’s eyes and smiled. “How would you kiss me then?”
Will grinned. He came in closer to Elizabeth. Her back was to the wall and he placed one hand to the side of her head and leaned against the wall. His other hand still held her cheek. Will’s chest rapidly rose and fell, and her eyelashes fluttered in anticipation.
“Like this!” He muttered as his head moved toward hers.
Softly, Will kissed her cheek and turned her head and kissed the other. He kissed her eyelids and felt her lashes flutter beneath his lips. He kissed her forehead. He lowered his arm that had been against the wall and trailed it down her arm, until it circled her waist. Pulling Elizabeth closer, he peered down at her. The image of her waiting, ready, desiring his kiss would remain imprinted in his mind forever. When Will judged her impatient enough, he softly placed his lips over hers. The quiet sigh and feel of her smile against him in respon
se, answered every question he had.
Elizabeth pressed her lips against Will’s in return. Together, they explored each other’s mouths for many minutes until, with a groan, Will trailed kisses down Elizabeth’s neck. Elizabeth’s head rolled backward, giving him greater access. Again, he could feel her rapid pulse and hear her breaths. What began as sweet exploration turned passionate. He now wrapped both arms around Elizabeth as she clung to his neck. Their bodies lined up between them. His hands rubbed up and down her back, measuring her trim waist and lingering on her hips. Elizabeth gasped, and Will stifled it with a deep kiss, his tongue sweeping into her hot mouth.
He was losing control in a hallway near her bedroom. An instinct he would rather not admit he had reminded him of all the beds nearby. The greater and more honourable part of Will recalled she was his best friend’s sister. A step sounded on the hallway and Will sprang apart from Elizabeth.
“Will!”
Will turned to see the angry visage of his friend.
Chapter Six
Sam stormed off and Will gulped, following his friend to his chamber.
“You have precisely one minute to explain to me why I should not pummel you for touching my sister, let alone in such a way.”
“You do not understand.” Will held his hands up to calm his friend. “It is not what it appears.”
“It looks like you were in the middle of seducing my sister right under my nose. I trusted you!”
“I love her!” Will’s eyes widened as he realized what he had confessed. None of this was going according to his plan. He was supposed to ask Sam and Mr. Bennet for permission to court Elizabeth. Then he would ask for her hand. During his summer away, he would have time to consider his method of courtship. They were still so young and his father would probably not approve the match. Will had no reason to think they could marry quickly. He would have to tell her as much. A gem like Elizabeth would not wait forever. However, Will did have some independence now and if push came to shove, they could marry. He hoped for both their sakes that their families would approve and not keep them waiting for too long.
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