November Twenty-Seventh

by Kate Speck

  “Do you still... Did you love him?” Darcy asked with a deep sigh.

  Elizabeth was in tears. “Not now. I thought I did for a while. Perhaps only a few days. I still had hopes that he would see me again at the Netherfield ball and propose then, but he did not come at all and I now know why. After Mr. Collin’s proposals, I left Longbourn with full intent to face you to berate you about Mr. Bingley but I could not speak to you about him. I thought more of what I had allowed him to do and I became disgusted with myself that I failed to protect the one thing in the world that I had as a woman. I placed the blame on myself to allow him such an indiscretion and I felt awful that I was no longer a pure maiden, and that was why I agreed to be your mistress when you made the offer. Although I still held you in contempt for Mr. Wickham’s destitution, I thought myself too tainted to be anyone’s wife and after running away from home so abruptly, I knew I could never marry and sought to obtain an occupation. When you made the offer, I considered the financial security that you would give me and that I would no longer be a burden to my family but have independence to make my own choices. My body would belong to you as your mistress but I would have control over everything else. You were respectable to ladies and after learning that you were in love with me, I knew you would be gentle with me as you might have been with your other lovers.”

  Darcy approached her and knelt by her feet to lift her face with his finger on her chin. “Did it ever occur to you that even if I did not take your virtue but you took mine?” He smiled tenderly. “I have never had a lover before, Ellie. I might have fumbled through the first few times with you but loving you was like breathing and I enjoyed every moment we experienced together. I would never, ever do anything to hurt you. Even if I take advantage of your generosity several times a day, you hold the power to stop me or permit me every time. From the first moment of our union, you were mistress over me and I was under your command. Wickham might have stolen your affections but you have always been pure to me. I am so sorry Wickham wounded you, my love. I should have revealed his wickedness long ago and it is due to my silence that you have suffered. If I had not been so proud, if I had not been only worried to protect my family’s reputation, I should have placed that blackguard in debtor’s prison long ago. I will make amends, Ellie. I will see to it that he never hurts another woman again. I hope you will forgive me.”

  “Forgive you?! You have done nothing wrong!” Elizabeth replied. “I should have behaved a lady! It was my own faul…”

  Darcy kissed her fervently and dipped his tongue into her mouth to wrap around hers. He knelt on both knees as he grabbed her waist and pulled her close to his body.

  After several minutes of kissing, he released her and huffed for air. “You will be my wife. We will marry and we will love each other and we will never part. My wife. Marry me. I want no one but you. My wife, my heart.”

  “Yes, William. I will marry you. I will marry you because I love you. I cannot imagine caring for anyone more in my life.” Elizabeth held both of his cheeks and looked into his eyes. “I love you. I did not think I could feel so much for you and now I know I love you.”

  Darcy lifted his betrothed from the seat and placed her in his lap to embrace her in his arms. He kissed her everywhere from forehead to cheek to nose to ear to chin. Elizabeth felt his hard bulge under her and moaned.

  “William,” she huffed between kisses, “I wish to try it with you. Will you allow me to taste you? Will you help me erase the terrible memory and replace it with a good one?”

  Darcy gulped. “As you wish, my love. I could deny you nothing. Are you certain? I believe I will enjoy it but if you do not, you can stop any time.”

  Elizabeth stood then knelt by the couch between his legs. He had been only wearing his nightshirt under the robe so she could see his massive erection and stroked it with both hands after exposing him. “Thank you, William. I would like to try.” She leaned forward and licked the tip to moisten it. Immediately, Darcy began to moan louder than he had ever done before.

  “That is… it is amazing, Ellie. Your tongue is rough on top and it feels… it is incredible.” Darcy began to groan louder as she wrapped her mouth around him and suckled him while she glided her moist mouth up and down.

  She lifted her head and ran her fists up and down while still holding on to him. “I find it pleasurable, William. You taste good and although I cannot get enough of you in my mouth due to your size, as long as you do not force it deep inside me, you feel good in my mouth.” She continued to take him in and out and swirled her tongue around him.

  “Good god, I do not know if I can take much more, my love. I will need to release.” Darcy grunted as she took him deep into her throat and suckled a little harder. “Blasted! I am going to come!”

  “Release in my mouth, my love. I want to taste you.” Elizabeth redoubled her efforts to increase the suction and pushed him deeper into her mouth.

  Darcy shouted as his head fell back and he closed his eyes, “Ellie!!” And he huffed loudly and shuddered afterwards.

  Elizabeth smiled and she used his shirt to wipe her mouth. She sat next to him in his embrace as he held her tightly against his trembling body.

  “That was incredible. It was so intimate to have you take me like that and I promise to return the favour later. I cannot believe how good that felt.” Darcy kissed her temple. “Incredible.”

  “I look forward to it, Mr. Darcy. Now, I believe we are due for an excursion today. You did promise me a long day of shopping and flaunting me about on Bond Street.” Elizabeth teased. “I hope to return exhausted so we can take a nap together and perhaps repeat our activity several times later today.”

  “Minx!” Darcy laughed. “Yes, I am going to proudly announce to everyone that I am officially off the market. We are betrothed and I am going to show you off to everyone starting today. Wait here one moment.” He kissed her lips and quickly departed.

  When he returned, he knelt at her feet. “Elizabeth Bennet, the love of my life and my soulmate, I love you. Marry me to save me because I cannot live without you. I promise to care for you for the rest of my days and will love you for all eternity.” He pulled out a beautiful sapphire ring. “Will you do me the honour of making me your husband?”

  With tears in her eyes, Elizabeth nodded, “Yes, William. I will marry you because I cannot live without you. It would be my honour to be your wife because I love you and you are my soulmate.”

  Darcy beamed and kissed her lips after sliding the ring onto her fingers. “I love you, Mrs. Darcy.”

  “And I love you, Mr. Darcy.” Elizabeth replied. “This is the most magnificent ring I have ever seen. You have kept it with you? Since when?”

  “One hundred thirteen days and fourteen hours.” Darcy smiled. “The day after your visit to Darcy House, I had it prepared and carried it with me daily. I asked you to marry me on November twenty-seventh and I believe I proposed to you at least one hundred ten times, my love.” He laughed.

  “And I should have accepted you from day one. I never thought I could fall in love with you but with your constancy and care, I should have known you would capture my heart. I hope you do not resent me when you realise what an awful mistress I will be to your homes. Darcy House is immense and I cannot imagine what Pemberley must be like.”

  “Nonsense.” Darcy soothed her worries. “You have been an exemplary mistress here and you only need to please me and your duty is complete.” He caressed her lips, “You have already shown your talents these three months and I need nothing more than to have you by my side. Now, what is your maid’s name? Would you like to have her continue her services as my wife?”

  Elizabeth nodded. “Yes, I like her. She is discreet and she tends to our needs proficiently. She is Nancy.”

  Darcy stood with her. “Have Nancy pack your belongings to move to Darcy House. I will find positions for all of your servants here at our homes, as they have been loyal to us. I already have a special license and although I wi
sh to marry today, I will invite my friend who is a reverend to marry us tomorrow evening with your uncle and aunt and my cousin as witnesses.”

  He stopped moving suddenly and turned to her to hold her around her waist. “I do not mean to make decisions for you, Ellie. I am sorry that I am stating these commands without your insight. I always wish for your opinion and wisdom but I am not used to sharing the burden of making decisions and I apologise. Would it be acceptable to marry tomorrow? I do not wish to delay a minute longer. Once we are married, we can go to Hertfordshire as man and wife and we can reside at Netherfield where I can make love to you loudly and obnoxiously for all to hear.” He laughed to see her blush.

  “Yes, my love. Tomorrow is acceptable and although I wish Jane were with me, I will marry you tomorrow, William. I wish to be never parted from you.” Elizabeth kissed his lips.

  “Thank you, my love. Once we are dressed, if you will write a note to your aunt and to your sister of the engagement, I will have my carr… our carriage bring your sister from Longbourn. She needs to shop for her trousseau and what better opportunity than for her very wealthy sister to invite her to town!” Darcy smiled. “I will inform Georgiana but we will be already married before she receives my letter. If agreeable, I would like to stop at Pemberley for you to meet her before we proceed to Scotland. I still desire three months of absolute privacy with you.”

  Elizabeth kissed his lips again. “You are the best of men. Thank you, William. I know you have made me very wealthy and I will not mind one bit to share it with my sister for her trousseau.”

  “Oh, no, you will not need to spend a farthing of your funds, Ellie. That was for tolerating my constant attentions and you will continue to receive it for the rest of your life. As Mrs. Darcy, you will have another £200 per month.” He chuckled at her shocked face. “You are not mercenary at all, my love, and that is another reason why I love you so much. As my wife, I will settle £50,000 on you and you will have control over your own funds.”

  “You are too generous! You cannot possibly give me so much when I come with you with nothing! I cannot guarantee that my father will release my £1,000 dowry, which would be available only after my mother’s passing. I have nothing to give you!” Elizabeth exclaimed.

  Darcy cradled her cheeks tenderly. “You will be my wife. You will be the mother of my children and you will be my lover and muse and comforter and my confidante. I will share my soul with you and there is no price for such a companionship. I give because I can. I hope you give me what you can; that is all I will ever ask of you.”

  “I give you all of my heart, William. It is all I have and it is all yours.” Elizabeth wrapped her arms around his waist. “Tomorrow. We will be wed tomorrow and I cannot imagine more delight.”

  “I love you, Ellie. I will return to Darcy House to change my clothes and will return in one hour. I have several correspondences to write but I will do so here when I return. I cannot bear to part from you for any longer than that.” He kissed her again. “I love you.”

  Chapter 4

  After quickly donning his clothes, Darcy left to walk the three blocks to his home and shared the good news with Colonel Fitzwilliam, who was breaking his fast, of his engagement and had his valet dress him in his favourite waistcoat so he could parade his betrothed in public today.

  He returned to Elizabeth’s home and sat with her to compose several letters; to his solicitor to finalise the settlement documents, to the reverend to request his attendance and service at dinner the next day, to make the wedding announcement in the newspapers, and to write to his sister of his fiancée.

  Elizabeth wrote her letters to the Gardiners and Jane that she finally relented and accepted Mr. Darcy’s proposal after the one hundred tenth time, and that she was blissfully happy to be betrothed.

  Darcy sent several runners to send off the letters in different directions and had his best carriage prepared to travel to Longbourn with a maid in tow.

  “Ellie, you reached the age of consent as of last week but I would still like to send your father a note for his blessing. Whether he gives it or not is irrelevant but I wish to be respectful to let him know that you will be treasured. I have written him here,” he showed her the unsealed letter, “that I have been courting you for the past three months and call it the anxiety of your lover, but that I had wished for immediate vows to take place after you accepted me. I mentioned nothing of our prior arrangement but that you wished for your sister to stand up with you as well as have her come for a shopping trip. May I send it along with the carriage?”

  “You are so considerate, thank you.” Elizabeth smiled brightly. “I do not know if he will permit Jane to travel but I have included a version of a letter for my mother to read, to explain that I had attached myself to a man of £10,000 a year and that you have been generous to send the carriage and will be purchasing a half-dozen dresses for us each. I had to exaggerate a bit but my mother will think it a great adventure without injury to her purse strings. I am sorry I had to use your fortune as an excuse to bring Jane to town.” She shyly lowered her eyes with discomfiture.

  Darcy was not upset in the least but only curious. “Where did you hear that sum, Ellie? Who told you that I had 10,000 a year?”

  “Well, it was spread about quickly as soon as you and Mr. Bingley stepped into the assembly. My uncle Philips was the solicitor who handled the Netherfield lease and of course his wife, my mother’s sister, told everyone about you and Mr. Bingley’s incomes.” Elizabeth confessed. “I do not know if it is true but I care not about your fortune, William. I know it is no one’s business and I am ashamed of my family’s poor conduct all over again.”

  Darcy caressed her cheek, “And yet even with my 10,000 a year, you still despised me because I behaved like an arse. I have women in town jumping to compromise me for my fortune but I could not turn your eye until I proposed to you a hundred ten times later. You are a wonder, Ellie.” He grinned, “I hope you will not be disappointed with the truth, my love. Bingley has his fortune from his father who left him £100,000 at his passing so he has four or five thousand a year; but I have Pemberley, which is an estate owned clear and free for generations, as well as the property in Scotland and the townhouse in London, and other assets that are leased out to business tenants. I own six blocks of land and buildings in Cheapside and have investments that are spread amongst many different interests. Pemberley alone brings in £12,000 per annum but with my other properties, I, no, we, have over £25,000 a year. You shall never need to economise for the rest of your life, my love.”

  Elizabeth nearly swooned at hearing the figures. Mr. Darcy was incredibly wealthy and she could not imagine the honour of becoming his wife the next day; something that all the eligible ladies of England must have coveted for years. She looked at him incredulously but then saw the love in his eyes.

  “William, you have never loved anyone else before, have you? You are eight and twenty and you had remained chaste all this time. Why did you… You proposed to me a hundred and nine more times than you should have, and you gave up your chastity to keep me as your mistress. All because you love me?” Elizabeth had tears in her eyes.

  Darcy lifted her from the couch where she had been sitting next to him and placed her onto his lap. “If I could not have you as my wife, I could not live without having you in some way. If you had taken a position as a governess or companion, your employer would have eventually entrapped you or forced himself on you and you would have been miserable, Ellie. There are few governesses under the age of thirty who are not importuned by their employers, as I have heard many times from my university friends who used their sisters' governesses or even shared them with their fathers. I could not lose you, Ellie. I considered hiring you for Georgiana but wanted to love you with my body. As disreputable as it was, I wished to have you and make you mine. My initial motivation was completely selfish, in order to fill my lust for you and to have you as my own, but my love grew for you even more and my wishes had
become about your happiness and for your well-being. I have never loved anyone before and I will love no one else. You have my heart completely.”

  They began to kiss devotedly until they separated for air. “It is unfortunate we must leave now for our appointment,” Elizabeth stated while nibbling on Darcy’s ear, “I would have loved to taste you again, my love.”

  “If you will keep that in mind, I plan on ravaging you thoroughly later. I will not release inside you until we take our vows, but there is no way in hell I am going to sleep without you, Ellie. Sister or no, you will be in my bed until our wedding and you will have to continue your duty as my mistress.” Darcy affirmed with a smile.

  Elizabeth giggled, “Yes, master. I will abide by my contract and pleasure you until our wedding day.”

  “And after the wedding?” Darcy asked, as they stood and he kissed her jaw before heading out.

  “Oh, after the wedding, it will be your duty to pleasure me!” Elizabeth laughed merrily as he grinned his broadest smile and nodded his agreement.

  “At your service, my mistress. At your service.”