Change of Heart

by Tina Marie Noel

  He was flustered as Lydia caught his eye on the next pass of the dance.

  “Miss Lydia,” he whispered furiously, “You shall not touch me again in such an inappropriate manner.”

  “My dear, Colonel,” Lydia insisted, “I know men like it when a woman touches them in such a manner.”

  “Where would you have received such an idea?” Fitzwilliam sputtered on the next pass.

  Lydia grinned, “I have observed my sister Elizabeth with Mr. Darcy. When she touches him like this, it always makes him happy.”

  Colonel Fitzwilliam groaned, “Those two are a horrible influence on young innocent girls such as you and your sisters.”

  “I am not so much an innocent that I do not know how to please a man,” Lydia protested with a sensual purr, “and I want to please you.”

  Fitzwilliam stopped as the dance ended, and he hissed angrily, “You will refrain from such behaviour at once.” He stalked off across the room to find Miss Mary for her dances.

  Darcy found even now that they were married, he could not keep his eyes off Elizabeth. He joined her directly after her dance with Bingley. He reluctantly allowed her to dance with an older gentleman who was a contemporary of his aunt and uncle’s.

  Colonel Fitzwilliam’s dance with Mary was tolerable, although she did go on about Fordyce’s Sermons in such a way it made him wish he did not have to listen.

  “Miss Mary,” He attempted to educate her on the ways of polite society, “You are a highly intelligent and talented young lady.” Mary eyes sparkled with pleasure at his words, “You have many interests of which you could speak, such as music and books…” When she opened her mouth, he knew what she was going to say. He stopped her with his next words, “Books that are not sermons. Most of society, including me, does not like to be proselytized to during a social event.”

  When Fitzwilliam saw the hurt in Mary’s countenance, he wished he could take back his apparent criticism of her character.

  She straightened to her full height as her body showed her tension, “I am sorry for the circumstances which forced you to suffer through the ordeal of my company.”

  With the completion of her statement, Mary disappeared into the crowd before Fitzwilliam could protest and he felt a twinge of guilt because of his behaviour.

  Fitzwilliam noticed the enthusiastic nature in which Darcy claimed his wife for the supper dance, and after the dance he escorted Elizabeth into supper.

  To his intense horror, Colonel Fitzwilliam found himself seated between Lydia and Kitty Bennet for supper.

  “How do you like my new bonnet?” Lydia asked with a flutter of her lashes.

  Fitzwilliam cringed but answered politely, “It is very lovely.”

  “It is not your bonnet, Lydia, it is mine.” Kitty fumed, “Why must you always take what is mine?”

  “It looks much better on me.” Lydia countered, “So it should have been mine all along.”

  Colonel Fitzwilliam ignored the argument as he glanced around the table for someone with whom he could converse. His effort was to no avail because across the table sat Bingley and Miss Jane who were caught up with each other, and they did not notice anyone else. Next to them sat Mrs. Bennet who was discussing wedding plans with Lady Catherine. There was nothing that interested him less than wedding planning.

  He glared at Darcy who sat at the far end of the table with Elizabeth. An air of happiness surrounded the couple.

  “The Colonel’s next dance is with me, Lydia.” Kitty snarled with quiet anger, “So you may not dance with him again.” She waved her arms wildly and accidentally knocked her drink onto Fitzwilliam’s lap.

  Fitzwilliam was stunned for a moment, and he heard Lydia say as she picked up a napkin, “Let me help you.”

  “No, this was my fault so I will help him.” Kitty protested.

  Kitty and Lydia both began to pat Fitzwilliam’s lap to clean up the mess the spilled drink had caused before he could form a protest. Kitty slapped Lydia’s hand away, and both girls glowered at each other. The Colonel pushed back from the table and away from the two girl’s insistent hands.

  Colonel Fitzwilliam was relieved when Darcy appeared at his elbow, “Let me get you out of here before they make a scene.”

  Darcy escorted Fitzwilliam out of the room while Elizabeth spoke to Kitty and Lydia in hushed tones.

  Darcy led Fitzwilliam to his room and pulled a new uniform from the closet as Fitzwilliam undressed.

  There was a smirk on Darcy’s face as he was careful not to touch the inside of the garment. He sprinkled powdered rosehips inside the trousers. Rosehip was a substance that would induce severe itching upon contact with the skin. His cousin took the clothes from Darcy and dressed quickly before the cousins returned to supper.

  After exchanging glances, Darcy and Elizabeth finished their meal and excused themselves one at a time. The Darcys thought that they were being subtle, but most everyone who knew them well suspected the couple were about to find a hiding place for a while.

  Mary and Georgiana were playing a duet to entertain the guests, and as he still felt horrible about his insensitive behaviour with Miss Mary earlier, Colonel Fitzwilliam sat on the piano bench next to the girls and began to turn pages for them.

  “Miss Mary, I did not intend my words to be an insult earlier…”

  “You just felt it necessary to instruct me on proper etiquette during a party.” Mary’s eyes flashed with anger, “I do not know how I could have taken that as an insult.”

  “Cousin Richard, tell me you did not do such a thing.” Georgiana chastised him.

  “I had thought to render you a kindness…” Fitzwilliam disclosed sheepishly, “However, I am a military man, and as such I am around other military men most of the time. I am aware that I am not the most sensitive of men. I do apologize for my failings and hope you forgive my rudeness.”

  “You are forgiven.” Mary answered politely.

  Fitzwilliam was relieved and scanned the room for the Darcys, but they were not within his line of sight.

  When they found each other in the library, Darcy could not keep his hands off his incredibly beautiful wife, and she accepted his attentions with eagerness. He kissed her as he drank deeply of her sweetness. He could not help but move against her in a seductive manner. He heard her moan softly in his ear.

  He undid the top buttons on her dress and slid his hand into the back of her dress to feel the warmth of her silky skin. He picked her up in his arms and lowered her onto the settee. He removed his trousers with a husky moan and pushed up the fabric of her gown. Elizabeth groaned as she felt his erection against her thigh and sighed when he made love with her. She moaned as her pleasure grew. The couple reached the climax of their passion together, and afterward lay wrapped around each other.

  “This is the best ball I have ever attended.” Darcy smiled down at his wife, “I wanted to do this with you when we were in the library during the ball at Netherfield.” He admitted with a wry smile.

  “I am glad our time of waiting is all in the past.” Elizabeth fluttered her eyelashes, “I never did like having to wait for you.”

  With great reluctance, the pair decided they should right their clothing and slip back into the ball.

  Fitzwilliam Darcy was the most relaxed he had ever felt in a crowd full of people, and he had his lovely, exciting wife to thank for that.

  When Alex Ashcombe claimed his wife for the next set of dances, Darcy was irritated as he saw his wife being charmed by the young, eligible gentleman. He knew his aunt wanted them to interact with the highest families of the ton, but he was so jealous of Elizabeth giving her attention to anyone else that he could not stand much more of it.

  When her set with Mr. Ashcombe was over, Elizabeth was amused to see her husband standing at the edge of the dance floor ready to claim her.

  “Mr. Darcy, your lovely wife is the most enchanting creature I have ever met.” Mr. Ashcombe was most solicitous to the other gentleman, “I wondered
if you could tell me where I could find another like her.”

  “My wife is one of a kind,” Darcy retorted behind gritted teeth as he led Elizabeth away from the other man.

  “My darling, is something wrong?” She whispered in his ear and kissed him softly.

  “I hate to see you with other men.” Darcy growled and kissed his wife passionately.

  “You know you are the only man I long for.” Elizabeth whispered as she walked him to the side of the room. She ran a hand over his rear end lightly, “After we get home, you will have me all to yourself, and I can assure you it will be very enjoyable for both of us.”

  His growled low in his throat and narrowed his eyes, “There is no doubt of that.”

  While Colonel Fitzwilliam was waiting to claim Kitty for the last set of dances, he reached down to scratch his stomach discreetly when a persistent itch could no longer be ignored. His arms began itching next, so he rubbed the sides of his arms with his hands as not to draw unwanted attention. Suddenly it felt as though every inch of his body was on fire.

  He tried to leave the room inconspicuously. However, it seemed, at that precise moment, all of his parent’s friends wanted to have in depth discussions with him. His military training aided his restraint as he excused himself from the room and ran for the closest room that would offer him a modicum of privacy.

  He rushed into the library and closed the door behind him. He scratched his upper chest and arms with a ferocity born of necessity. He shifted from leg to leg as he rubbed his legs together to scratch the itch while his hands were otherwise occupied with his torso.

  He tried to unbutton his jacket as he saw Kitty and Lydia enter the room and close the door.

  The two girls rushed to his aid, “Let me help you with that.” Lydia unbuttoned and removed the jacket from his shoulders.

  Lydia and Kitty were tugging the shirt over his head as he began to work on the buttons to his trousers. When he looked up, he saw Mr. Bennet and the Darcys standing in the doorway of the library.

  “Colonel Fitzwilliam,” Mr. Bennet’s tone was condescending, “I would not have expected such behaviour from a man of your station. I would appreciate it if you were to remove your hands from both of my daughter’s.”

  Colonel Fitzwilliam sputtered with incredulity, “I have not laid one hand on your daughters, and it is they who have placed their hands upon my person.” He lifted his hands up in the air and did not notice as his trousers fell to his knees. He took a step back to retreat from the offending hands of Lydia and Kitty. He tripped on his trousers as he crashed backward into a bookcase and caused a pile of books to rain down upon his head.

  A laugh exploded from Elizabeth. She doubled over in laughter as she took in the hilarity of the situation.

  Darcy and Mr. Bennet also began to laugh as Colonel Fitzwilliam picked himself off the ground, “So under the present circumstances, which of my daughter’s…” Mr. Bennet gulped back a laugh, “will be your…” Mr. Bennet sputtered in between fits of laughter, “wife?”

  Colonel Fitzwilliam’s face was red as he spat, “This is not funny.”

  “You did not see it from our perspective.” Elizabeth teased, “Trust me when I tell you, from where we are standing, this is very funny.”

  Fitzwilliam looked down at the wreckage they caused. He observed the state of his own disarray, and he began to laugh. He pulled up his trousers and donned his shirt.

  “To answer your question, Mr. Bennet,” Colonel Fitzwilliam eyes twinkled with mischief, “The daughter, I chose to marry is…” He crossed the room and knelt before her, “Elizabeth.” He picked up her hand, “What do you say, Elizabeth? Will you rid yourself of the albatross that is my dull cousin, and marry me?

  Darcy growled at his cousin, “This is not funny.” Darcy pulled Fitzwilliam to his feet, with rage-filled eyes.

  “You are not seeing this from my perspective, dear cousin.” Fitzwilliam mocked, “From where I stand this is very funny.” He winked at Elizabeth who could not resist smiling as he used her words against her.

  “Cousin Richard,” Elizabeth chastised, “You are a mess, so it would be prudent for you to slip upstairs and change. It is almost time for the last set, and I believe you are scheduled to dance with Kitty.” Fitzwilliam narrowed his eyes and glowered at Elizabeth. “Upon my honour, I swear we have tampered with none of your other clothes.”

  Once the colonel had left, Elizabeth asked her family, “Would you give us a moment?”

  “Of course.” Mr. Bennet led Kitty and Lydia from the library still chuckling with amusement.

  Elizabeth knew that her husband was still angry by the tension radiating from his body. She moved in front of him and pulled his arms around her waist.

  “Do not let him anger you as that is exactly what he wants.” She lifted up onto her tiptoes and brushed his lips with hers. “I am your wife, now and forever.” He pulled her tight against him in a crushing embrace, “You shall never be rid of me.”

  “Elizabeth,” Darcy groaned, “I love you so much, and I am not always able to control my jealousy if another man even looks at you.” He laughed derisively, “I was even jealous of Alex Ashcombe, how absurd am I?”

  “I know on all accounts, my love.” She smiled, “Cousin Richard knows that too, and he deliberately goads you to jealousy to get a reaction from you.” Her eyes twinkled with a playful light, “I just ask that in the future when he tries to goad you just remember the sight of him, with his trousers around his knees and a hailstorm of books hitting his head.”

  “That is a picture I shall carry with me forever.” Darcy smiled.

  Elizabeth rang for the housekeeper and made arrangements for the library to be put back in order.

  As they left the library, Elizabeth placed her hand in her husband’s hand and smiled, “You owe me the last set of dances, and I intend to collect.”

  “It will be my pleasure, Mrs. Darcy.”

  Once inside the ballroom, Darcy led his wife out onto the dance floor for their last sets, and he put everything except her out of his mind.

  Colonel Fitzwilliam re-entered the ballroom in time to collect Kitty for the last set of dances. As the dance started he asked, “What is the plan for our dance? What are you going to do to me this time?”

  “Nothing, I promise.” Kitty lowered her eyes, “All I was to do was spill my drink on your trousers and annoy you a little.”

  Fitzwilliam felt the release of his annoyance with the girl as he noticed how exquisitely she blushed when she mentioned his trousers.

  Kitty’s eyes were filled with worry, “I hope you know that I had nothing to do with this plan.”

  “I know exactly who is to blame for that humiliating incident.” The colonel’s eyes narrowed, “Your devious sister Elizabeth was obviously the mastermind. I will make her and my cousin pay for this diabolical little scheme.”

  Kitty’s eyes grew large, “Oh you should not continue along this path. Elizabeth does not like to lose, and she will retaliate, trust me.”

  “You are most likely correct. I will take that under advisement.” Fitzwilliam smiled with the path his thoughts had taken him. “It might even be time for the three of us to join forces. It is amusing to think of the havoc we could create.”

  Colonel Fitzwilliam’s dance with Kitty came to an end and with that the evening came to a close.

  The family spoke to each guest as they took their leave. Elizabeth’s family and Georgiana were escorted to into their carriages as Lady Matlock detained the newlywed couple.

  Elizabeth felt anxiety as she wondered if the Matlocks or their guests had noticed the chaos that surrounded Colonel Fitzwilliam all evening.

  Aunt Ellen informed the couple of some matters her guests had discussed. “Everyone was enchanted by Elizabeth. Even when those two bitter women tried to discredit her to the other guests, no one paid any attention to them.” Aunt Ellen laughed, “Catherine had a few choice words to say to the nasty women. I never thought I would eve
r see the day when she would be so changed.”

  “Who was talking badly about Elizabeth?” Darcy wanted to know.

  “You know the sister of your friend. I believe her name is Caroline Bingley. She was joined in her bad behaviour by Samantha Miller. The two women were demeaning Elizabeth’s family, connections and place in society.”

  “Those women are just spiteful and bitter.” Darcy sighed.

  “Do not worry about that.” His uncle revealed, “Everyone who matters was captivated by your wife, so your place in society has been established.”

  With a shrewd look, Aunt Ellen placed her arm through Darcy’s arm and then threaded the other through Elizabeth’s arm. “If you were wondering, no one except me noticed the odd behaviour of my son, Richard or the other members of Elizabeth’s family.”

  “You know about that?” Elizabeth stammered.

  “Nothing goes on in this house without my direct knowledge.” Aunt Ellen cocked her head, “I feel my son’s blatant teasing and behaviour toward Elizabeth has gone on long enough. He needed a taste of his own medicine. I believe you have achieved that today, so we will consider the matter settled.”

  The couple bade their goodbyes and entered their carriage. Before the conveyance had even left the driveway they were wrapped in each other’s arms and aware of only each other.

  As they pulled apart, Darcy’s voice was deep with emotion, “I love you so much, my lovely Elizabeth Darcy. There are not sufficient words in the English language to convey the depth of my feelings for you.”

  “I feel the same about you.” Elizabeth’s throat tightened with the strength of her emotions, “It is sometimes still hard to believe you are my husband.”

  “Believe it.” He teased lightly, “Because you are my darling wife, and we shall never be parted.”

  What impact will the love of Darcy and Elizabeth have on their lives and the lives of those who surround them?

  In

  The Changing Hearts

  (Changed Hearts Part 2)