“Then let me at least kiss you!” he said, and she nodded. She wanted him to kiss her.
With only one skilful movement, he unfolded the hood above their heads and he bent over her in a way he had never done before. Until then they kissed or embraced standing, while this time he was looking at her from above but she did not protest. She was violently in love with him and wanted his hands to caress every place of her body. Indeed his eager hands moved in a frenzy. His lips conquered hers and made her submit to his rhythms and desire. With slow gestures, always searching her approval, Darcy allowed her dress and her chemise to slip from one shoulder and he lingeringly kissed her naked skin. Then looking in her eyes, he did the same with the left part of her dress unveiling Elizabeth half-naked. Her cheeks were on fire, but she did not protest when his hands unimaginably caressed her. He was kissing her breast until she cried and a wave of pleasure inundated her from her intimate parts to her brain. She shivered on and on in his arms as he continued to kiss her. He stopped and let her feel with her body—tightly near his—the effect she had on him. She blushed and sighed but did not escape his embrace.
She was no more the shy girl from some weeks ago—her hands found his skin under his shirt and it was his turn to moan.
“I want you,” he said, and she could whisper only, “Yes!” She knew exactly what he meant and she wanted him, too. She might be confused and still connected to her old life, but in his arms, she was the woman he discovered in her.
Much later, she managed to whisper, “The others will see we are missing.”
They tried to regain their senses far away from one another. He helped her rearrange her dress but avoided touching her skin— afraid he would not be able to withhold himself and love her there on the narrow and uncomfortable bench.
“Do not worry, we will be the first at the waterfall,” he said.
They did not speak, folding the hood he looked at her as she did her bun and made sure her dress was in perfect order then searched for the parasol that lay at their feet.
When her eyes turned to him, he whispered, “I love you!” She rested her head with her eyes closed and let the summer’s sounds invade her while she remembered what happened between them. His hands daringly touching her naked breast and the way he kissed her. She blushed, recalling the way he pressed his body to hers. It was the most incredible sensation to feel this man who wanted her; it was so natural so beautiful and devoid of any shame. She shivered again despite the warmth and those new sensations invaded her, once again.
They passed a few delightful hours at the waterfall. Elizabeth and Darcy indeed had arrived first because their guests, guided by Georgiana, made a few stops at beautiful places to admire the fields and orchards around Pemberley.
∞∞∞
On the way back, Darcy told her about his conversation with Jane.
“It was decent, your sister has much more sense and rationality than you imagine. She wanted many details and I think my honesty made her forgive my interference. At least to begin to forgive me. I am sure that we will have a good relationship in the future, as soon as she finds her man and happiness.”
“She did not seem angry?”
“She was angry but not so much at me as at Bingley’s sisters. Her conclusion was that they initiated the intervention and I tend to agree. Not because I want to reduce my faults but because telling her the whole story, I remembered some conversations I heard between Caroline and Louisa. And the subject was always about your family. It is most probable that my impression was also based on their words.”
“Gossip!” Elizabeth said.
“Yes, gossip, but they have a peculiar way of gossiping. They always said how wonderful a person was, and only then they proffered their venomous words. One listening to only half of their sayings—as I usually did— could easily think they were honest and their observations pertinent.”
At dinner, they were presented to Countess Lieven, who reminded Elizabeth of Lady Catherine. She had the same kind of speaking and a constant need to be listened by all the people around her. Monsieur de Bisset was a tall and skinny man, dressed as if he were still at Marie Antoinette’s court. He had a white wig and funny shoes and he walked like he was dancing all the time, but people treated him with great respect as if he were the late King Louis XVI in person.
“My sister is overwhelmed by her role in Almack’s,” Lady Russell said to Elizabeth right after dinner. “You would not believe how many people try to obtain her favours. She has to be a little distant and impose a certain attitude.”
To Elizabeth, it looked like the polite and kind Baroness was only trying to excuse her sister and she liked, Lady Evelyne Russell even more.
The evening finished sooner than usual as they prepared for a very active day. All morning would be dedicated to the pairs who wanted to learn how to dance. An orchestra was coming and Georgiana assured her friends that the musicians were staying until her birthday so they could practice two more days.
Just as the gathering prepared to retire the colonel appeared in the parlour. He was welcomed with noisy greetings and real joy. The colonel had that effect on any group; he was the most truthful and happy person, adored by women and respected by men. Georgiana told him that he would be her partner for the waltz and her cousin accepted with a deep bow.
“Just one demi-bow at the waltz,” observed a good-humoured Monsieur de Bisset, who proved to be convivial and affable. He promised the gathering would have a beautiful morning to learn to waltz. Despite Countess Lieven—who rolled her eyes—demanding the pairs to be decided and accepted, by her, before the lesson began.
The men retired for the last drink while the ladies desired to rest, and in a short time, the parlour was empty.
Chapter 18
In her room, Elizabeth found herself somewhat disappointed. She had hoped that Darcy would come to say goodnight. However, the men’s talk could take hours and she could not wait—she was tired. But, once in bed, sleep flew away, cast off by the idea that Darcy might be angry at her. Her whole behaviour had been chaotic since he proposed to her. The need to see him became so great that she put on her dressing gown and paced the rooms or sat on the edge of a chair to await the moment the house would be still and she would go to his apartment. She wanted to see his eyes and tell him how wonderful he was to accept her worries and fears. She was ready to marry and be happy with him. The centre of the covenant was Jane’s happiness. By now it was apparent she would not be happy with Bingley, but with another man, who would eventually appear in the future. Darcy had kept all his promises; he tried to bring Bingley to meet Jane on two occasions and then he told Jane the truth about his interference in her love story.
Her aunt, as well as her father, had been right. Looking back, she could not understand how the woman she had always been turned into this fearsome creature led by superstitions. Her healthy and rational thinking had been her most important skill—and sometimes weapon—in the past.
She decided to consider the covenant fulfilled. Rationally she accepted that Jane would be happy in the near future. However—deep into her soul—she was still unsatisfied and fearful. Only that must be a secret from all the people she loved. Maybe she would seek the advice of a priest—as her aunt suggested—to regain the peace of her soul.
At a certain time, some voices could be heard in the hall and Elizabeth supposed the gentlemen were going to sleep. Standing near the window, she looked outside in the darkness and decided to wait one more half an hour. She yearned to tell him how ready she was—not only to marry but also to be his. She looked at the clock every five minutes. By the time a half an hour had passed a discreet knock at her door made her heart dance. At that late hour, it could be only him.
Darcy looked surprised to find her with her dressing gown on, “I was afraid you were already asleep,” he said while he carefully closed the door.
“No,” she said and blushed, “I was ready to come to your apartment.”
They gazed
at each other intensely and passionately. Still, he finally smiled and teasingly said, “You cannot live anymore without me!”
“I cannot!” she said, and the next moment she was in his arms. “I wanted to tell you how happy I am to marry you.” And Darcy sighed with happiness, holding her tight. “Finally!” he mumbled, kissing her.
“And you were ready to come to my apartment and tell me this?”
“Yes!”
“Even if it may look like you agreed to be mine before the wedding?”
Elizabeth laughed in his arms. “Yes, yes!” she whispered in his ear, making him tremble, but then he took her by the hand and they sat together on the sofa.
“Now, my love, I did not suspect such a change, but I have news for you that cannot wait until morning.”
“You do not want to marry me anymore!” she said, wanting to sound like a joke—but it was not entirely an impassive voice.
Darcy laughed with all his heart, “Yes, I decided to marry Countess Lieven, as she is a rich widower.”
“Excellent choice,” Elizabeth said and kindly hit him on his chest.
He kissed the hand that hit him and said, “You would not believe it, but Charles’s sisters are here, they arrived a half an hour ago…”
“No,” Elizabeth replied, surprised, “without him?”
“Yes, when I made the invitation I included all of them but of course I meant all of them only if Bingley came. However, it seems they interpreted my invitation in a particular way.”
He was concerned that the new guests might disturb the precarious equilibrium he succeeded in establishing during the last day. But Elizabeth smiled.
“Marvellous,” she said. “May I borrow a necklace and a bracelet from that box?”
Her words had a splendid effect on Darcy, he genuinely laughed and kissed her hand, “My lady, they are yours, you do not borrow anything, you just take whatever you want.”
“Then may I borrow a necklace for Jane?”
“Of course,” he said beginning to see her plan.
“And tomorrow morning at breakfast I will sit at the other head of the table, facing you.”
“Finally! Yes!” he shouted, making Elizabeth put her fingers to his mouth, frightened the people nearby could hear them.
He took her fingers and kissed them one by one, noticing how she enjoyed his intimate caress.
“Come, let us go and choose what you want to wear…and borrow for Miss Jane.”
Through the secret passage, they arrived in no time at his apartment.
Elizabeth was eager to be taken in his arms. She made a step to him, but Darcy lightly embraced her and whispered, “If I take down your dressing gown and find your naked body under the nightgown I will not be able to stop.”
“I do not want you to stop, although you are right, we will announce our engagement and…I will move next to you.”
“My love, you made a happy man, happier,” he laughed with a rough voice still holding her. “Let us find the pieces of jewellery before I lose my head and steal your precious treasure.”
Elizabeth smiled before the open boxes; it was a smile he knew too well from the days at Netherfield when he fought with her and tried not to see how in love he was. She was wry. Sometimes even sarcastic and her smile could kill a poor man on the spot. He did not know how much she appreciated the jewellery for its beauty or value. At that very moment—for her—they were weapons she was determined to use in front of Bingley’s sisters. Her engagement and exposing her future wealth would be a decisive coup for the two women.
“I hope Georgiana will not be sad if we announce our engagement,” Elizabeth said with a trace of concern.
“She will be happy! I assure you.”
Elizabeth nodded. She wanted to believe him as a new plan was on her mind.
“I am vengeful,” she said while she chose the necklaces.
“I know,” he said, “and mean.”
“Mean?” she asked, surprised, looking at him.
“Oh, yes, you know well how to handle words to wound.”
“Splendid!” she said. “This time I will handle these gems and maybe Monsieur de Bisset…”
“And me!” Darcy said.
“And you!” she agreed.
She took the boxes and the candle, kissed him lightly on the lips, ready to depart.
“Wait,” he said, “I will come to take you to your room.”
Elizabeth looked at him and said, “I do not need you, my love, I am the mistress of the house!” Leaving him laughing, he watched her disappear in the hall and he did not remember feeling better, in weeks.
Chapter 19
First thing in the morning Elizabeth knocked on the door to Jane’s room. She had a blue velvet box in her hands containing a delicate sapphire necklace. She had searched for a piece of jewellery a lady could wear on that particular morning when a dance lesson was to take place. They decided the evening before to wear party dresses, and the gems were precisely what Jane needed. She had a pale blue dress with ample embroidery at the top and bottom of her outfit.
Jane looked at her and smiled; she was still in her bed and Elizabeth crawled in beside her. At home, it was their highest pleasure to talk—only the two of them—before the others woke up.
They had not spoken yet about the discussion Jane had with Darcy; it was not an easy subject and the box in Elizabeth’s hands made them postpone that talk.
“What is it?” Jane asked while Elizabeth invited her to open the box.
“This morning we have a piece of unpleasant news…” Elizabeth said, choosing her words with much care. “…Mr Bingley’s sisters arrived last night.”
Jane blushed, but she did not say a word.
“Accompanied only by Mr Hurst,” Elizabeth continued unsure how Jane took the news.
“I see!” Jane said. “And this box?”
“These ladies—we know so well—came to give you the final blow. They want to see—with their own eyes their— their victory. But some surprises are being prepared for them. You will appear wearing this necklace, happily dancing with Mr Thomas Russell, as the Countess Lieven decided.”
“Haughty woman!”
“Yes, but for once, her arrogance will be in our favour, as it is almost sure that Louisa and Caroline will not succeed in pleasing the countess.”
“Splendid plan, dear sister,” Jane smiled, and despite her red cheeks, she seemed prepared to face Bingley’s sisters.”
∞∞∞
The morning program made everybody impatient, many of them even proposed not to eat. They were in the dining room much earlier than 10 o’clock, the hour they established the previous day to take breakfast. Louisa and the Hursts found a strange gathering not interested in the meal but trying to obtain as much information as they could from Monsieur de Bisset.
As Darcy had not told them what was going on, Louisa and Caroline looked totally disoriented. They were welcomed by Georgiana, but she could not stay as she had many matters yet to be solved. Seeing Lady Russell, Louisa hoped to find more information, but as they approached Mrs Gardiner entered the room, and Lady Russell’s attention went entirely to her. It was an appalling affront the sisters did not understand. What they did not know was that in the last weeks Lady Russell and Mrs Gardiner passed a great deal of time together and a genuine friendship flourished between them. It had been only natural for Mrs Gardiner to tell Jane’s sad story to her friend. The Bingley sisters found themselves in the middle of a party that had totally other interests than their arrival. What they expected to be a triumphant defeat of the Bennet sisters turned into a complete disaster. Elizabeth and Jane were the only ones to welcome them apart from Georgiana and just a second later, everyone was discussing the waltz. The last one to come to the table was Darcy, but no one seemed annoyed by his late arrival as he said, “My dears, the orchestra is here!” And everybody applauded and hurried to sit at the table. There was a sort of unusual commotion as all of them wanted to be near Monsieur
de Bisset.
In the end, they understood what was going on. Caroline knew who Countess Lieven was, and her astonishment was so great that for long moments she could not speak. Fury began to mount in her. Elizabeth was at the head of the table opposite Mr Darcy; she could not understand what that woman was doing there. She thought it was a mistake due to the confusion from the beginning of the breakfast.
“And where is your dear brother?” Lord Russell asked.
It was the occasion they had waited for and hoped that there was still time to rip the smile from Jane’s face who was seated near one of the Russell siblings smiling and talking with much pleasure.
“He is in his way to London. He would have liked to be here with you all,” Caroline said, sure that she could finally tell what she had come for. Her smile was triumphant. “But we hope we will have a happy occasion to announce this autumn regarding him.”
She hoped at least for some congratulation, but nothing happened; Jane looked as she did not understand or care. Almost at the same time, Darcy said, looking at Elizabeth. “Well, my dear friends, here at Pemberley besides Georgiana’s birthday we will celebrate another event very soon.”
This time everybody was silent, waiting with interest for his announcement.
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet has agreed to be my wife, and we will be married in less than a month.”
In that total silence, Caroline dropped her fork and broke the fine China plate in front of her. She was saved by the noise that followed as everybody wanted to congratulate the future bride and groom—the wickedness annulled by the smiling faces in the room and the genuine interest the fiancés received. Elizabeth looked at Jane and the Bennet sisters smiled…However, only Darcy knew what their smile meant. And he smiled too.
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