by Wells, Linda
“I know.” She took her hand. “You love him.”
“I do.” Jane sniffed and wiped the tears that sprang to her eyes. “I do. I can hardly describe it, Lizzy. I watched you fall in love with Mr. Darcy, well, when you were actually together. I had no idea that you loved him for years before.”
“How could I admit to a love that would never come to life? It would have broken my heart to say it out loud, and I am sure that anyone who heard of it would call me a foolish girl for entertaining such a ridiculous fantasy.”
“So you kept it a secret until you finally met.” Jane whispered as Elizabeth nodded. “Oh to see you both love so deeply and so fast was overwhelming to me. I wished so much for even the slightest taste of it for myself.” She looked down at her hands and smiled. “And here it came creeping up on me instead.”
“So it was no lightning bolt of instant recognition with him?”
“No.” Jane laughed. “No, not at all. It was … It was warmth and comfort; it was steadiness, surety that he knows precisely what he wants and hopes for. Oh Lizzy, who would think that silly Sir William could have such a wonderful son?”
Elizabeth laughed. “Well who could think that our mother could have produced us?”
“Robert said something of that to me!” Jane said in a low voice. “Lizzy, he as much told me that he means to provoke me to react to him!”
“Good for him! I have been trying for years!” She clapped. “Oh Jane, if you could see how you glow with happiness!”
“I am happy.” She sighed. “Mr. Bingley is a very good man, too. But Lizzy, I …”
“You liked him but did not love him?”
“Yes, but it was … Oh Lizzy, you know the house that Longbourn is. I was afraid that Mr. Bingley is so unsettled that … I would be moving from one chaotic life to another one, except there would be better furniture and much more money.” Elizabeth laughed. “I crave …” Jane fell silent. “Robert sees beyond my looks. No other man has ever looked at me the way he does or cared to hear what I thought.” She looked at her sister. “You told me once that you wished to feel respect for and from your husband.”
“I did.” Elizabeth agreed. “You understand that now. Respect is so important for love.”
“Yes. I do understand. I do not wish to speak against Papa, but … Robert is the opposite of him, and that is very attractive. He knows what he wants and … how to care for his loved ones. I imagine that was a quality you saw in Mr. Darcy and admired as well?” She saw Elizabeth nodding and sighed. “I am so sorry that we have lost so much time, Lizzy. I wish that you did not live so far away.”
“We will have letters, and when we come here, you can come and stay with us.” Jane hugged her and Elizabeth wrapped her one arm around her waist, as they both started to cry. “We can send a carriage to bring you to Pemberley.”
“You know that Robert would not accept that.”
“Oh Jane, you must learn how to work around your husband’s obstinacy.” Elizabeth laughed and they hugged tighter. “I have so much to teach you!”
The two sisters drew apart and wiped each other’s eyes. “I love you, Jane.”
“I love you, Lizzy.” They both looked up when there was a knock on the door. It opened slowly and Georgiana and Mary entered.
“May we join you?” Georgiana asked.
“Of course.” Elizabeth moved back on the bed and made room for the other girls. “I cannot remember the last time that I spent an evening with a bed full of sisters!”
“I never have, this is exciting!” Georgiana jumped onto the bed and drew her knees to her chest. “We heard you talking and Mary said that you and Jane used to do that every night, and that it would not be rude to interrupt. What do you talk about? May we do this at Pemberley? It is so nice to have Mary staying with us now! I feel like our family is really complete now!”
Laughing, the other girls all picked up pillows and whacked Georgiana on the head. “There, now you know what we do to girls who are silly!” Jane reached and fixed Georgiana’s mussed hair, then turned her around to rebraid her plait. “We talk about whatever concerns us. Do you have any worries?”
“No.” She said and bit her lip.
“Yes, you do.” Mary nudged her. “Come on, you can trust Lizzy and Jane.”
“Is something wrong?” Elizabeth took her hand. “Please tell us.”
“I … I have not slept well since …since it happened.” She glanced at Elizabeth’s shoulder. “I am afraid that he will come back.”
“I do not think that is possible, Georgiana,” Elizabeth whispered, “but you should know that I have the same fear.”
“You do?” Her eyes opened wide. “But you are so brave!”
“I rise to the occasion.” She smiled.
“I have not slept well, either.” Mary admitted. “I cannot understand how this happened at all. I have had a difficult time accepting that such evil exists in the world.”
“How sheltered we were at Longbourn.” Elizabeth sighed and squeezed Georgiana’s hand. “And at Pemberley.”
“I cannot wait to go home. When will we?”
“I am not sure.”
“I imagine that once you are there, you will not return for the wedding.” Jane said quietly. “You would not wish to be near Mama that long anyway. Certainly Mr …Fitzwilliam would not wish to be there.”
“No, he would not, but I have not had the opportunity to speak to him yet. Something is on his mind and he does not say when we will depart, let alone speaking of the wedding plans since you have not fixed a date. I am certain that it has to do with … him.” She said quietly. “I do not know if we must go to court.”
“Oh Lizzy!” Mary cried. “You would have to face him?”
“I doubt that Brother would allow that.” Georgiana whispered.
“I do, too. But I do not wish for him to have to go either.” Elizabeth sighed. Hearing the creak of floorboards outside of the chamber door, she looked up and listened, then heard the quiet snap of a door closing down the hallway. She smiled and glanced at the clock. “I think that it is getting quite late, and I should retire. You ladies should carry on.”
“Oh no, please stay!” Georgiana begged.
Elizabeth kissed her cheek and carefully scooted off of the bed to the floor. “No, I need to rest. I will see you in the morning.” She kissed Jane and Mary, and with their calls of goodnight following her, she left the room and walked down the hallway. She smiled at the footman and opened the door to the master’s chambers. In the glow of the moonlight, she saw Darcy lying on his side under the covers, his back to the door. Quietly closing it behind her, she stood still and looked over his imposing form at rest. All she could really see was his fine black hair just touching the bare skin of his shoulder, and his one arm, lying along his side, the muscles highlighted and shadowed with the gentle light, and his long fingers … ah! Elizabeth smiled. His fingers were moving; his thumb was caressing the gold of his ring. Biting her lip, she reached up and carefully slipped the sling from around her neck, letting her arm fall free for the first time in weeks. She winced a little, but the pain was not terrible. Carefully, she removed her nightdress, and had just draped it over a chair when she heard the soft rumble of his voice.
“Will you please come to bed?”
Elizabeth smiled to hear the hint of a whine in his voice. “I am coming, Will.” Lifting the counterpane, she slid in behind him and spooned her body to his, her head resting against his back, his tight bottom firmly in her lap, and her arm around his waist. She heard the sharp intake of his breath when he felt her bare skin against his. They had not loved each other since that day. Darcy’s hand moved to clasp hers. “I do not think we have ever slept this way.”
“No.” He whispered. “I … I …” His voice was halted when she moved their hands down to his groin, and she began to slowly caress up and down his burgeoning arousal. “Lizzzy.”
“Shhhh.” She kissed his shoulder and pressed her breasts agai
nst him. “Relax.”
“I miss you.” Came his muffled reply.
“I miss you, too.” She felt him pressing back against her and smiled, kissing his shoulder again. “Is that why you were listening outside of Jane’s door?” She laughed when his head jerked up, and she gave his now hardened shaft a firm squeeze. “What were you about, Mr. Darcy?”
“You were taking so long.” He sighed then moaned as her hand continued its caress. “And from the sound of the laughter, you might have stayed all night.”
“I might have. It will probably be the last time I am ever alone with Jane like that.” Her movement stopped. Darcy’s hand rested on hers and he traced over her fingers. “It was as if we had never come to London, we were just sisters again, on our bed at Longbourn. She is back to be being Jane again.”
Darcy felt her tears on his back, and entwined their fingers. “You will see her again. We will host her here or at Pemberley, you know we will.” He closed his eyes tight. “And if you wish, we will …perhaps attend the wedding.”
“Perhaps?”
“Oh Lizzy, once I have you home …”
“I know, I never want to leave Pemberley, either. Not for a very long time, anyway.” She sighed. “But how can we not attend? And Mary, what of her? Two of Jane’s sisters not attending?”
“You know as well as I do that distant relatives do not travel for weddings.”
“We are not distant.”
“I meant where we live.” He sighed. “Dearest, I do not know when we will leave here. I must … I must know Wickham’s fate.”
“I suspected as much.” She kissed his shoulder and began caressing him again. “I do not wish to go to Longbourn, either, but I do not wish to hurt Jane or Robert.”
“I was thinking; do they have a wedding trip planned?” Darcy’s hand moved with hers as she slowly stroked. “Wedding journeys to visit relatives are common are they not? And journeys to the Peaks are as well, could they not combine the two? We could invite them to Pemberley, and then they could go on to the Lake District for some time, and then return to us before journeying home?”
“They could never afford it.” Elizabeth whispered, but Darcy heard the excitement in her voice and pounced.
“It would be our gift, I could send a coach, or hire one in Meryton for them to use to Pemberley, then take one of ours to the Lake District, and rent another for the trip back to Hertfordshire.” He turned and faced her. “What do you think?”
She laughed to see his hopeful expression. “You truly do not want to go near Longbourn.”
“No Elizabeth, not after hearing of your mother’s pronouncements against you. No. I would rather not, nor do I wish to be a subject of interest to the neighbourhood.” He kissed her. “We will propose it in the morning?”
“Very well.” She whispered. “But Will, if we are to journey home and it happens to be near their wedding day, perhaps …”
“Yes, then we will attend.” He hugged her. “And move on, not to stay overnight. Agreed?”
“Agreed.” They kissed and he opened his eyes to smile at her, then creased his brow. “Elizabeth, your arm.” He touched her shoulder, then got up on his elbow to tip her forward, and saw the exposed stitches of her wounds. “Dearest, should … Is this safe?”
“I am healing, am I not? It feels better.” She said determinedly.
“Does it hurt?” He looked at her seriously.
“A little, but not enough to stop me from wanting you.” She lifted her arms to hold his face, and he drew in a sharp breath when she bit her lip and winced.
“Are you sure?” Darcy’s voice dropped to a deep whisper and he searched her expression, even as he was moving to hover over her. “It will not hurt?”
She ran her fingers through his hair and felt the slowly receding lump on his head. “Does this hurt?”
“No.” He said firmly and pressed his lips together. Elizabeth drew his head down and they kissed softly. “I need you so badly.” He said against her ear. “I have missed you so much.” Pushing up on his arms he looked down at her teary eyes. “I have missed you more these past weeks than I … I have wanted to love you so badly.”
“And I need you, just as much.” She kissed his lips and guided him forward. When her warmth and wetness touched his sensitive skin, he was lost, and slid into his home, settling his full weight upon her.
“Thank you.” He said fervently. “Thank you.” They clung together tightly, and both audibly sighed in relief. Darcy heard her laugh softly and lifted his head to look into her sparkling eyes. “Everything is well.”
“Now it is.” She smiled up at him and he kissed her. “So, Husband, love me.”
Darcy smiled and kissed her. “Gladly.” He buried himself in her as far as he could then as she wrapped her legs around his waist; he wrapped his arms beneath her shoulders. The stitches were pressed against his forearm and he was careful not to rub there, but every other part of her body was subjected to the massage of his skin on hers. Elizabeth’s hands wound into his hair and they kissed deeply as they rocked together. It was steady and loving and over too soon. “Oh, I needed that.” He rested his forehead on hers as they regained their breath. “I need more of that.”
“I do, too.” She laughed and kissed his nose, making him chuckle and nip her throat. “And we were quiet!”
“Give me a moment love, and I will make sure that you sing.” He growled. “I hope that you were not planning to sleep tonight.”
“Fitzwilliam!”
“No, love. I need you.” Darcy stopped his kisses and caressing her face, lifted her chin before kissing her tenderly. “I need this, deeply. Please.”
“I did not say no, did I?” Elizabeth smiled and hugged him, and whispered in his ear. “I need you, too. Please do not stop.”
“Just give me a moment.” He chuckled when her hand caressed over his bottom to urge him forward again. “And I will take care of you.” Darcy moved off of her and they rested together. “I love you.”
“I love you.” Elizabeth traced her fingers over his long sideburns and he tried to hide. “Are you ticklish here?”
“No.” He smiled when she raised her brow. Her fingers travelled to his mouth and paused over his lip. “What do you see?”
“How did you get this scar? I have always wondered.” He blushed, and she laughed. “Tell me.”
“Richard.”
“Oh come now, is everything that has ever happened to you related to your wayward cousin?”
“Yes.” Darcy sucked on the finger playing around his mouth. “He decided to play valet.”
Elizabeth gasped. “Oh no, did you let him shave you?” He nodded. “Your father must have wished to strangle you!”
“I think that I was fortunate that Richard did not slice my throat when I jumped.” He smiled ruefully.
“Is your scar named Richard?” She giggled then squealed when he rolled back on top of her. “Will!”
“If you continue to laugh at me love, I will most assuredly make you scream.”
They heard the sound of girls giggling in the hallway as Mary and Georgiana left Jane’s room and moved off to their own. Darcy paused and they stared at each other. “I forgot about them!” Elizabeth whispered. “We must be quiet!” He shook his head. “Fitzwilliam!”
“Too many sisters are here.” He growled and began nibbling below her ear. “Too many virginal sisters.”
“Oh Will …” She moaned.
“Shhhhhh.” He suckled as she writhed below him then kissed his way down her body. “Just lie back and enjoy.”
Chapter 21
“Now then, the Gouldings have a dinner planned for Tuesday, and my dinner will be Friday.” Lady Lucas said.“Well that is ridiculous; my sister Philips will be hosting an evening for them on Friday.” Mrs. Bennet pronounced.
Rolling her eyes, Lady Lucas ignored her. “I am the groom’s mother, so my choice takes precedence. I will also be planning another dinner with dancing the next week.
”
“Well, I am the bride’s mother, and my desires take precedence over yours! My sister’s tea is Friday, and WE are hosting a ball … on Tuesday!” Mrs Bennet fluttered her handkerchief. “You have no say in this! Jane does not belong to your son yet! She is still a Bennet until that day, and I forbid her to do …”
“Mrs. Bennet!” Mr. Bennet spoke up. “Enough!”
“Mr. Bennet, you are surely aware that we will be losing Jane forever to the Lucas’s, whatever we want we shall have.” Mrs. Bennet sniffed. “It is bad enough that she is marrying …”
“That she is marrying me, Mrs. Bennet?” Lucas said coldly. “I know of your objections, madam, and I do not appreciate them.”
“I am sure that is not what she meant, Mr. Lucas.” Jane touched his hand and he broke his gaze with her flushed mother to look at her. “Is it, Mama? You and Lady Lucas are just concerned about fitting in all of these events before the wedding date, correct?”
With the eyes of the room upon her, Mrs. Bennet clasped her hands and nodded. “Of course. Why you wish to marry so quickly, I do not understand.”
“It will be five weeks from our engagement, Mama. And I want Lizzy and Mr. Darcy to be present, if possible.” She said patiently. “They will be leaving for Pemberley as soon as they can.”
Glancing at Lady Lucas, Mrs. Bennet preened, “Describe Pemberley to me again, it is a very large estate? Mrs. Darcy made a very fine match with such a rich man! Why she can have anything she desires! Do you know, Lady Lucas, that Mr. Darcy has promised to care for us when Mr. Bennet dies? Is that not so very good of him?”
“Are you implying that my son would ignore his wife’s family if they were in need?” Lady Lucas said tersely.
“Do not look a gift horse in the mouth, my dear.” Sir William chuckled. “If Darcy wants the responsibility, I say give it to him.”
“I rather would prefer that you refrain from discussing my pending demise when I am in the room, and preferably not until I am actually at death’s door.” Mr. Bennet raised his brow to see Lucas’s eyes closed and his hand gripping Jane’s tightly. “And I suspect that my future son would appreciate a change in topic as well before he lets his tongue loose.”
