by Kate Speck
~*~
“How many?! You cannot mean it, William! It is far too many.” Elizabeth exclaimed. “Six is more than enough. You already gifted me two dozen only a few months ago!”
Darcy nodded to the modiste and the lady smiled before giving them a few moments of privacy.
“You must remember that I pay for my sister’s bills and Georgiana is a frugal young lady who is not out yet but she has at least that many dresses. My aunt sees to her shopping but you will be given your due as my wife.” Darcy kissed her lips fondly. “I would give you the world, my love. Your sister will receive her half-dozen next week, but you, Mrs. Darcy-to-be, will have three dozen and this will be only for this season. We still have several more places to visit so no more arguments. The sooner we are done, the quicker we can return home.” He trailed his kisses down from her neck to her breasts. He licked her décolletage then stepped back to take his seat again. “I do not know if I can last three more hours.”
Elizabeth merrily laughed. “As you wish, master.” She winked and called for the modiste and agreed to the three dozen dresses to be completed in two weeks.
They walked down the street to the furriers next to have her outfitted with fur-lined capes and gloves and other accoutrements, and gossip began to spread quickly that Mr. Darcy was accompanying a beautiful lady to purchase many items who was not his sister. He had introduced her to everyone as his betrothed and all could see the usually taciturn man nearly smile in public with his intended by his side, and several people began to follow them to observe them together and to be introduced to the young woman, if they were already acquainted with Mr. Darcy.
“Mr. Darcy!” An elegantly dressed lady called out. She appeared about two and twenty and very pretty and Elizabeth wondered how Mr. Darcy would behave with the attention. They were out together rarely in town and he had reverted back to his taciturn self during interactions with everyone today, unless they were alone or with very few people in the room.
Darcy looked up and groaned quietly.
“The love of your life?” Elizabeth asked with a quirked eyebrow. She knew he had eyes for no one else but also amused to see so many ladies showing him their interest during their excursion these past few hours.
“Yes, Ellie. She is my precious wife. I have ten children with her and I adore her. That is why I wish I could escape her presence and go back home to make love to you instead.” He winked. “Minx!”
Darcy turned and bowed while Elizabeth stood holding his arm. “Lady Victoria, a pleasure. Please allow me to introduce my fiancée, Elizabeth Bennet.”
Lady Victoria stared down at Elizabeth who was curtseying but did not return it and stood tall with her mouth agape. “It is true! Rumour is rampant that you got yourself trapped in a betrothal with an unknown woman and that you were seen with her on your arm all day. How could this have happened, sir? I would have never imagined you to be captured by someone like her after our dance last season!” She spoke louder than acceptable to be overheard by several passers-by.
Darcy immediately stood a few inches from her face and hissed quietly, “Take care, Lady Victoria. My beloved fiancée is standing in front of you and if you dare insult her again, you leave me no choice but to expose certain... secrets of your family to embarrass you. Remember, your father will not be pleased that you have offended me. My good opinion, once lost, is lost forever.”
He stepped back again and stared down at the arrogant woman. “You have something you wish to say to my betrothed, Lady Victoria?”
Lady Victoria, who was pale now, curtseyed deeply to Elizabeth, “It is an honour to meet you, Miss Bennet. Congratulations on your engagement. You could not ask for a better husband. Please excuse me.”
She quickly turned around and departed. Darcy lifted Elizabeth’s hand and kissed it while smiling at her for all to see.
“Whatever did you say to her, William?” Elizabeth whispered. “She was deathly afraid of you!”
Darcy chuckled, “She is a daughter of a menial earl and believes herself to be a good catch. She has a £20,000 dowry and thinks it is enough allurement to capture me, when she has nothing in her head and her father owes me £10,000 from several bad investments and overspending. He will likely have to sell off his estate soon but had hopes that I would marry his daughter so I would forgive the debt. I will not tolerate any poor manners to you. You are due respect as my wife and I will not acknowledge anyone who does not give you the highest regard.” He bent down and kissed her hand again. “I will flaunt you in public today and all will know how much I love you, but if anyone gives you trouble in the future, do not be missish and feel free to speak your mind, my love. I know you are perfectly capable of standing up for yourself and I will support you fully in everything you do.”
Elizabeth beamed and they entered the cobbler store with laughter. The gossipers saw their interaction and rumour spread like wildfire that Mr. Darcy was marrying for love and that his betrothed was a beautiful and respectable woman of the highest esteem.
Darcy pulled Elizabeth to a private corner inside the store and caressed her cheek. “I love you so much, Ellie. I am most eager to be your husband.” Not caring that there might be other shoppers, he kissed her affectionately before continuing their errands.
Chapter 5
“Jane, I will speak with you in my study. Now, daughter.” Mr. Bennet commanded.
Jane left her bedroom where she had been giving instructions to the maid and followed her father. “Yes, papa. Mama is reading the letter from Lizzy again and Betsy is gathering my belongings. You will not bar me from attending Lizzy’s wedding, will you, papa?” Jane nervously asked. “I wish to stand up with her and she with me for my wedding. I know you are upset with her for leaving but you must understand that she had no wish to marry Mr. Collins. He has been married to Charlotte Lucas for three months and I hope you will forgive my sister.” She wiped her tears. “I miss her so much and she seems happy now. Oh, please, papa. I wish to go to her.”
“Oh, Janey,” Mr. Bennet sighed, “I was angry for about an hour after she left home when I realised how I had wronged her. I should have never demanded her to marry that nitwit. I was tired of your mother’s bemoaning, and instead of advocating for my precious daughter’s wishes, I acquiesced to your mother’s relentless grievances instead. No, I wronged your sister and I will regret it for the rest of my life. She left home to live with the Gardiners and now is in this... this farce of an engagement. What is Mr. Darcy to her? He, who never looked at her but to find fault, suddenly proposes and she accepted him because she saw no other choice before her.” He sighed again. “His letter indicates that he cares for her and will treat her well, but I do not know if it will be long-lasting. What if he abandons her and keeps other women? I am certain that he wishes to marry quickly because of his lust. I have not seen the settlement papers and she might be left destitute if he dies without putting her in his will, Jane. I fear that she is making an irrational choice because I made the mistake of taking your mother’s side.”
Jane felt terrible for her father’s suffering and shared what she could. “Papa, she loves him.” Seeing her father’s surprised face, she continued. “She did not always love him, but she loves him now. He has courted her and although she did not feel strongly enough in the beginning to accept his proposals, after the one hundred tenth proposal, she agreed to marry him because she loves him very much.”
“One hundred ten?! How in the world?” Mr. Bennet shouted. “I have never heard such a thing!”
Jane smiled, “He proposed to her every day since November the twenty-seventh and she accepted him this morning because he finally earned her love and respect. Lizzy has been writing to me, papa, and has told me how dedicated he has been for her happiness. He loves her and will settle a large amount on her, papa. Lizzy will be secure for the rest of her life.”
Mr. Bennet sat in shock and contemplated what he was told. His daughter would have funds to never exceed her income with her
marriage to a man of £10,000 a year and would be wife to the grandson of an earl. He felt the mortification once again that he had mistreated his daughter so awfully to the point of her leaving his protection. She would now belong to another and Lizzy would never need him again.
“I am ashamed, Janey. I pushed your sister to run away from home because I did not support her choice and only feared my own situation. I cannot believe I demanded her to marry that fool; that idiot who could not cease speaking of his patroness’ condescension and would have killed Lizzy’s spirit within a month of marriage. No, Janey, it has been my own doing and for once in my life, I will feel how much I am to blame that I failed your sister when she needed me most.” Mr. Bennet breathed deeply. “I will allow you to go. I will send you to my daughter and if you will, I would like to send two letters with you. One for Mr. Darcy and another for your sister. I will never allow your mother to press me according to her insistences again and I will do right by my daughters. I will send some funds for you and your sister’s trousseaux and I hope to God that Lizzy will forgive me. Will you... Could you please let her know that I would love to see her for your wedding and even if she is to stay at Netherfield with her husband, she will be most welcome to return to Longbourn at her leisure? I miss her.”
“Yes, Papa,” Jane replied, as she stood to kiss her father’s forehead. “She will forgive you. She loves us all and wishes to see you and mama again soon.”
Mr. Bennet patted his daughter’s hand and dismissed her to return to her packing. He, for the first time in his life, took action immediately to write his letters and prepare bank notes for his favourite daughters. He would make several visits to Meryton today as well to ensure he was doing his duty according to Mr. Darcy’s instructions in his letter.
~*~
“This is a beautiful townhouse, Lizzy!” Jane proclaimed, after Elizabeth greeted her at the door and walked her inside. “This is where you have been staying these past three months? It is magnificent.”
Elizabeth smiled, “Yes, Mr. Darcy has been very kind to me. He will arrive after dinner to give us time to speak and catch up. He has also sent word to Mr. Bingley to make arrangements when we arrive in Netherfield next week. You will be married in twenty days and finally become Mrs. Bingley!”
“And you will be Mrs. Darcy tomorrow, Lizzy! I can hardly believe it. You have been his... You have been intimate with him for over three months now. Do you have any advice to share?” Jane giggled.
Elizabeth shared a little and advised her dearest sister to allow her husband to care for her and to be patient. The girls laughed and spoke for the next several hours of Meryton news and most importantly, of their father’s regrets and of their mother’s anxiety to ensure they visit the best warehouses.
“And Lizzy,” Jane continued after finishing their meal, “Lydia shared with all of us that Mr. Wickham is about to propose to Mary King. He began to pay her attention when rumours began about her inheritance and after it was confirmed that she received £10,000, he asked for courtship several weeks ago and Lydia suspects he will propose this week.”
“I was right. I was used and discarded because I had no fortune and I should have used better judgment but I was so jaded by Mr. Darcy’s arrogance that I abandoned all propriety and made a mistake by trusting that evil man.” Elizabeth snarled. “He had all the appearances of goodness while Mr. Darcy had all the goodness. I should have slapped him when he kissed me, Jane. I hope our neighbours will discover the truth and that Mary King will not be left ruined. Mr. Darcy told me that he incurs debts and seduces women wherever he goes, and I doubt he has changed his ways after all this time.”
There was a knock at the door and Darcy entered.
He bowed to Jane then kissed Elizabeth’s hand. “How do you do, Miss Bennet? I hope your travel to town was comfortable.”
Jane looked at the handsome man and replied, “Please call me Jane, as you will be my brother tomorrow. The trip was most comfortable. Thank you so much for sending your carriage and for seeing to all the details. I am so very happy to be here to celebrate Lizzy’s wedding tomorrow and I am most grateful for your care of my dearest sister.” She saw Elizabeth beam as she sat next to him and held his hand. “And thank you, also, for your intervention to send Mr. Bingley back to Netherfield. Although Lizzy did not agree with me in the beginning, she has finally come to terms that Mr. Bingley was culpable for leaving and that it was up to him to return to court me properly.” She softly gasped when the handsome man smiled broadly for the first time in their acquaintance. “Charles and I had several conversations about our separation and we know your intentions were noble, Mr. Darcy.”
Darcy kissed Elizabeth’s hand again, “Thank you, Miss Bennet, Jane. Please call me Darcy, and I am very pleased for your future with Bingley. He is a good man and he will certainly benefit from your gentle guidance. I am very sorry for my interference in the first place. Even if the intention was noble, I should not have convinced him one way or another. I am often mistaken for being arrogant and aloof,” he looked tenderly at Elizabeth, “when I am shy and would rather avoid meeting new people, but I have learned that I must behave more gentlemanly to earn a good lady’s respect.”
Jane could see for herself the love between the two and smiled. It was obvious that her sister’s relationship was much deeper than her own with Charles Bingley and hoped her own marriage would soon result in such a love.
“Well, I must confess I have had a long day and am quite tired so I will remove to my rooms to rest. I understand after the ceremony tomorrow evening, you will be staying at Darcy House and I will be removing to Cheapside. I will see you in the morning, Lizzy.” She rose and kissed her sister’s cheek. “Good night, Darcy.”
Jane walked to her rooms, which was located next door to Lizzy’s. She sat on the grand bed of the guest room and thought of the changes in their family that would come in the next few weeks.
After sleeping for an hour or two, Jane was startled awake when she heard several thumps against the wall. She listened carefully, wondering if Lizzy had wanted her attention but soon realised that she could hear her sister’s moans through the wall. The creaking of the bed sounded as if someone was jumping on the bed and Jane flushed red, comprehending that her sister must be having relations with Mr. Darcy.
After another quarter hour of listening to the lovemaking, she slept lightly and awoke an hour later to hear the same noises again and once more in the morning.
“Did you sleep well, Jane?” Elizabeth asked, as they sat to break their fast.
“Where is Mr. Darcy, Lizzy?” Jane asked her sister, unable to meet her sister’s eyes.
Elizabeth replied, “Oh, he already returned to Darcy House to change his clothes. He has several details to see to before our wedding tonight and we will see him at five o’clock at Darcy House.”
Jane finally looked at her sister, “I could hear quite a bit of activity in your rooms, Lizzy. Mr. Darcy was… quite ardent with his attentions.”
Elizabeth laughed, “I am sorry you had to hear it, Jane! I did not realise the walls were so thin and I will make sure to let Mr. Darcy know. He had received this place in remuneration for a debt owed to him instead of demanding full payment in compassion and was planning on selling it before our arrangement was made. He gave it to me and I own it now but we want to gift it for you and Mr. Bingley to use when you come to town. We understand Mr. Bingley stayed with Mr. Hurst while in town and you may wish to escape Miss Bingley once in a while.”
“That is very generous, Lizzy! Thank you for thinking of us. Miss Bingley has been quite rude and I know she will continue to be difficult after my marriage.” Jane responded. “Now, tell me, do you actually… enjoy coupling with your betrothed? I would not think you would allow it so often if it were burdensome.”
Elizabeth grinned, “Has Charles kissed you yet?”
Jane blushed, “Yes, although it was only twice and it was a quick pressing on the lips. I was so flustered and i
t made my heart beat wildly. Is it like that?”
“Oh, Jane, there is so much more to come. Mr. Darcy was not my first kiss, as you know, but he was gentle and patient. I think he was more nervous than I, now that I think of it, but the first time he kissed me, I felt weak in my knees and I could not think straight. The first time we… when we loved, he loved me slowly and told me that he was in love with me. Every night during our lovemaking, he tells me how much he loves me and shows it time after time. He asked me to marry him every night and called me his wife and I fell in love with him.” Elizabeth sighed, “I was in the middle of it before I knew it had begun but because of my spitefulness and stubbornness, I did not admit it to myself until I spoke with Aunt Madeline. She made me realise that I blamed him for my misery when I should have taken my own accountability for my situation. I thought him responsible for taking Mr. Bingley away from you and for papa to press me to marry Mr. Collins. I thought if Mr. Bingley had stayed, your situation would have been secure and papa would have not demanded such a thing. I thought Mr. Darcy the worst of men because of what he had done to Mr. Wickham but to find that I was so wrong about everything, my heart opened and I accepted his love for me. I chose to leave home; papa made his own choice to demand blind obedience; and our family behaved so terribly that if the shoes were reversed and I thought Mr. Bingley mercenary, I would have advised the same thing to you to safeguard your heart. William is wise and intelligent and I know he cannot be without me and I cannot live without him. As I shared with you already, I did not always love him but now, now I love him so very much.”
“I had never seen him so open and engaging as last night. He looked at you with such adoration and he is very handsome when he smiles. He could not sit for more than a few minutes without touching you and kissing your hand, Lizzy.” Jane commented. “It is obvious that he is smitten with you and after nearly four months of your company, I do not believe his passion will fade.”
