Revelations

by Kirsten Bij't Vuur

  Your maid and valet have already taken charge of your essentials, so I guess you'll find your room arranged exactly as you like it. See you in an hour!'

  Georgie would be feeling a bit lost in a strange house, they needed to talk to her before they retreated for their bath.

  'My younger sister Kitty is staying here, do you want her to show you your room and keep you company while you freshen up a little?'

  Jane was obviously doing her best to make Georgie feel at home, and to Darcy's surprise Georgie accepted!

  'I'd love her company, yes. Fanny will be helping me, but I've been wanting to get to know Kitty better since we met. I want to run with the young crowd on the wedding.'

  That earned her a sweet smile from Miss Bennet, and Kitty soon came out of hiding and greeted Georgie, the two going upstairs talking and laughing.

  Georgie with another girl? Darcy could not believe it.

  'Kitty has improved a lot since Lydia went away,' Miss Bennet told him with one of her ravishing smiles.

  'Well, and since you took Lizzy away from father he has started to spend some time on her instead. That worked wonders.'

  So something good came of Mr Bennet's greatest loss, that made Darcy feel slightly less guilty about taking his favourite daughter from him. Though his father-in-law must also be relieved to see Elizabeth loved, and forever protected from want.

  'If you'll excuse me, Miss Bennet, I think I'll help your sister into her bath and give her a massage to keep her from stiffening up with muscle cramps.'

  'Could you manage to call me Jane, Mr Darcy? My sister loves you more than anyone in this world, I'd like to close the distance between us a little.'

  'I will, if you'll do as Elizabeth does Bingley, and just call me by my last name like all my friends.'

  'It will be weird, but I'll try.'

  'That is all I can ask, Jane. We'll be brother and sister for years, plenty of time to practise.'

  As if by agreement Elizabeth looked at him, and he kissed her, then lifted her bodily and carried her up the stairs, Simon awaiting them there to lead them to a different room from the one he used to have here, a much larger room with a double bed and a dressing-room attached. The bath was ready, their things were as good as ready, Fanny was still hanging out Elizabeth's gorgeous gowns, but as soon as they entered she stopped what she was doing, curtsied to Elizabeth and said, humbly, 'I've only finished hanging

  out your gowns, ma'am, I've not yet managed to ready your dress for after your bath. I'm sorry.'

  Elizabeth seemed struck by Fanny's demure attitude.

  'We've only just arrived, Fanny, you must be tired yourself. The master and I will be expected downstairs in about an hour, why don't you knock in forty-five minutes and I'll be ready for you in my dressing gown. You can choose a dress and accessories then. Make sure you get some rest, too, Fanny. Simon, you know more about travelling with the master than Fanny does, will you see her settled and allowed a little rest herself?'

  'Yes, ma'am, I do, and I will. I've been here before with the master and I know Mrs Nicholls and the staff. Do I accompany Fanny to assist the master?'

  'Yes, please, Simon. He will need your help to tie his cravat perfectly, or I'll be blamed for letting him grow slovenly. Thank you, both of you, and let us know if anything doesn't go well in your own quarters.'

  Both servants bowed and left the room. Darcy was stunned at his beloved's sudden authority. But that was just the beginning....

  'Now, Mr Darcy, you can undress me and help me into the bath. Don't stand there, looking foolish, get to work! A cold bath won't loosen me up.'

  She was right, of course, but every time she called him Mr Darcy his legs just seemed to give way. He quickly started on her short winter coat, but couldn't help getting distracted all the time, she was so gorgeous, and so tempting. She smelled of horse, of course, but Darcy liked that, especially mingled with her own irresistible scent. Keeping a tight hold on himself, the water must not get cold, they'd have some time afterwards, he removed the coat, her dress, her petticoats, then she sat on the bed and he removed her boots and her long woollen pantaloons. She thought they dampened his ardour, but in fact he found them very enticing, not in themselves, but the removing of them, slowly exposing her bare flesh. When she was totally naked, he restrained himself admirably and requested she take off his coat, so he could lift her into the bath without spoiling it. Coat removed, shirt removed for good measure, Darcy lifted his beloved over the bath but the water was not too hot to lower her in it straight away. She was caressing his bare chest even as she sighed in satisfaction, feeling the heat envelop her.

  Stiff or not, she seemed very heated, and the bath was large enough for two.

  Darcy quickly undressed, leaving items of clothing lying about, not his habit but it could not be helped this once, and joined his beloved in the

  delightfully warm water.

  Starting with her legs he massaged her poor abused muscles, especially the right leg that had been held immobile by the saddle, but the other one, too.

  As he gathered in her legs, the rest of her disappeared under water until her head was the only part above it, but she seemed to like the warm dunking, feeling him up as he tried to knead some flexibility back into her. He was still rather good at ignoring the insistence of his body that he needed to take her, now, in this very bath, and with utmost discipline he massaged her legs until she no longer flinched at a firm touch. Then he gently turned her around in the bath until she was sitting against him, her legs back in the warm water. Still exercising discipline, he massaged her thighs, her stomach, her arms, her shoulders, before he allowed himself to even touch her breasts, and slip his hand between her thighs to explore a part of her he hoped hadn't suffered from a day in the saddle.

  Her gasp of ardour proved it hadn't, and one of her hands groping behind her to stroke him and grasp a part of him that made him groan proved she was as heated as he was. Since the water had cooled unpleasantly anyway and the room was nice and warm with a superb fire, they left the bath, Elizabeth supple enough to get out without his help, dried each other off, and hit the bed.

  Despite the fire it was even more cosy beneath the blankets, and they started fondling and kissing and tasting each other almost immediately, they were so excited by their intimacies in the bath. Darcy was also very heated with keeping his ardour contained all the time, it was time to let it out, and he did. He pinned his much smaller beloved under his tall, strong body, and she immediately gave herself up to him, eager for his attentions, opening herself to him. But somehow that didn't feel right, he liked it so much better when she had bossed him around just now. His frantic lust left him and when she looked at him in surprise at his sudden change of heart, he begged her, 'Will you please call me Mr Darcy again, and give me some more orders? I like that a lot, it gives me the shivers, good ones.'

  A knowing look appeared on her beautiful face, and she said, in the same voice she used to address Fanny, but much less friendly, much stricter, 'And frankly, Mr Darcy, you need them. You have had your own way all your life, it's time you learned to obey someone instead of having everyone running around to please you.'

  It did give him the shivers, he wanted to please her more than ever.

  'Your massage was adequate, but you seem to have been a little negligent, you forgot to attend to a most important part of me. So, Mr Darcy, why don't you sit down between my legs and stroke my poor bottom gently. It has borne the brunt of the hardships I've faced today, and you never gave it any of your attention just now.'

  Having indeed moved down under the blankets to sit between his beloved's legs, he realised she was right! He had indeed totally forgotten her poor behind, and it had indeed borne most of the abuse of a whole day in the saddle.

  'I'm sorry ma...'

  'Silence, Mr Darcy! It's deeds we need, not words.'

  Why was this the most exciting thing that had ever happened to him? Was he hopelessly insane? He did not speak again,
but rather draped Elizabeth's shapely legs over his shoulders, the delicious softness of her woman's parts tantalizingly close to where he wanted them, his face, but he ignored them and started to massage her shapely buttocks gently but firmly. They felt soft and pliant, they were not stiff or painful, the warm bath must have corrected his oversight.

  After a few moments, the strict voice spoke again.

  'You have corrected your error, my good man, you may take your reward.'

  Her legs still holding him he did not hesitate, and she encouraged him, in a surprisingly decided voice still.

  'Yes, that is it, Mr Darcy, you're clearly not a hopeless case. You're very skilled, I'll just have to keep reminding you of all the details and you'll do just fine. Now turn half a circle towards me and let me have your firm, delicious manhood, it at least knows how to treat a lady, always rising before me.'

  Oh, that was so good, they could do this all day, why talk at all, why have lunch, dinner, when he could have this. Suddenly, the overpoweringly soft and warm feeling stopped, and Elizabeth observed in her normal voice, only slightly coloured with heat, 'Wait a second, you sat a horse all day, doesn't that hurt your manhood as well? It's out there all the time, unprotected, squashed between your body and the hard saddle.'

  He did not want her to stop, did all women talk while making love?

  'Mr Darcy, do not make the mistake of ignoring me!'

  Oh, she knew how to make a man do her bidding, and to make things worse

  she was continuing what she had been doing to him, not caring how he would find his voice to answer her.

  'It did at first ma'am, when I was still a boy. But I suppose I got used to it, and now I can sit on a saddle all day, for days, without suffering any discomfort. Thank you ma'am, for being so kind to me.'

  And before she could ask anything else, or comment, he continued where he left off, until she gasped and pulled him in by his neck, grasping it in a surprisingly strong hold. She had no trouble at all showing him what she wanted next, and of course he did not hesitate giving it to her, as she encouraged him to be firm. His own lust driving him as well as her urgent sounds, he pushed himself to his limits until she shuddered in release, then chased his own regardless of his lack of breath and his aching stomach muscles. And then a groan escaped him, as ecstasy washed over him, and he was totally overcome with love for his sweet, perfect little wife. But he hid it on impulse, letting his body drop well beside her instead of on top of her, and curling up as if in shame.

  'I'm sorry ma'am,' he said demurely, 'I don't know what came over me.

  Please don't banish me from your divine presence. I'll be a good boy from now on, I promise.'

  'Oh Fitzwilliam, my love, you're unbeatable, the very best.'

  She stroked his hair, her face mirroring the love he felt.

  'Consider yourself forgiven, Mr Darcy, but do take care to show me the proper respect from now on. Now take me in your arms and hold me for another ten minutes, until we have to allow ourselves to be dressed, then face the world once more.'

  Tonight would be her main challenge, being in company with Miss Bingley for the first time as Mrs Darcy, but she would find it much easier than she expected. She had grown so much, was so self-assured, and looked so much the sophisticated city woman, Miss Bingley would be routed before she could think of attacking. And then tomorrow she would help him face his own nemesis, George Wickham, the man fortune decided to make his brother-in-law.

  They had timed their loving excellently, before they could fall asleep there was a knock on the door, and as Darcy called out lazily, 'Five more minutes and we'll be with you,' Elizabeth kissed him, then hopped out of bed and quickly put on a dressing gown.

  Reluctantly, the bed was so lovely and warm, he followed suit and put on his own.

  'You can come in now.'

  Fanny took her mistress to sit by the mirror in the dressing-room, as Simon led his master to the opposite side of the bedroom.

  'Are you decent under that?'

  Simon would never learn respect but it was Darcy's own fault, he had treated his valet with easy familiarity as long as he had been in his service, they had been more like brothers than master and servant.

  'I'm not.'

  Coming closer, his valet sniffed, then made a face.

  'You smell as if you bathed before having your sports, what is the use of bathing if you're going to make a mess afterwards?'

  That was kind of rude, Darcy should reprimand him for it, but though Simon's way of expressing himself was scandalous, he was right, Darcy smelled the best part of a woman on himself, and he should clean up before getting dressed.

  'You don't ride, Simon, do you?'

  'I'm a city boy, Mr Darcy, I never had the opportunity to learn.'

  Of course.

  'Of course, Simon. I'll explain. Riding all day stiffens up the muscles. Mrs Darcy needed the bath to keep from hurting all day tomorrow. I'll clean up at the wash-stand. Fanny will be scandalized at seeing me in my dressing gown, but she'll get used to it.'

  Simon suddenly seemed to realise he had been very disrespectful, even grumpy at his master.

  'I'm so sorry, master, I am totally forgetting my place. You're always so nice to me and here I am, growling at you for having found love. I had no right, will you please forgive me?'

  'It's not just your fault, Simon. I treated you like a brother, and suddenly I'm married. I'm truly sorry I did that to you, I'm sure we'll find a solution.'

  'Thank you, master, for acknowledging my feelings. I'll mind my manners, and with your permission, I'll fetch the basin here, I'm quite sure Mrs Darcy will be less shocked with my appearance than Fanny will be with yours.'

  'I'm sure you're right, Simon. Better have it your way then. We usually clean up afterwards, you know.'

  'I know, master, and I'm truly glad you're finally happy.'

  Having met Fanny in her dressing gown, with nothing underneath, Elizabeth sat on the stool in front of the dressing-table and watched Fanny choose a dress for her. Of course the girl had to have an idea of what her mistress should wear the first afternoon, when few of the guest had arrived, but it seemed as if her new lady's maid still had to decide on her outfit.

  First Fanny handed her a chemise and a petticoat, and Elizabeth put them on without comment, it was after all what she would have done herself if she had not had a maid. Then Fanny handed her one of the country chic dresses, and a pair of older slippers, more colourful than the new, brown ones. In fact, the only difference with the old days was that Fanny brushed her hair to total smoothness, then put it up in a very fashionable style, and accentuated her lips and cheekbones with a touch of powder. Dress, footwear and hat were exactly the same.

  Between the brushing and the putting up of her hair, Simon walked by to fetch the washbasin, small wonder for Fitzwilliam had not taken time to clean up after their lovemaking. They seemed to have had some kind of disagreement, Simon and his master, Elizabeth had heard Simon's voice just now as if he were the master instead of the servant, and now he looked positively beat. Maybe Fitzwilliam finally corrected his valet's familiar behaviour, as much as she liked Simon, Elizabeth had never understood the lenience with which Fitzwilliam treated him, something Simon obviously realised since he always was way more respectful towards Elizabeth than to Fitzwilliam.

  When Elizabeth was dressed and her hair was done to perfection, Fanny took a new necklace from a small box, a silver one this time, not very elaborate and very stylized.

  The necklace did not have links but rather formed one continuous disk with a cut-out for Elizabeth's neck. It had a sort of tiny hinge in front with which it opened up in two large parts, and a fastener on the opposite side. The disk was not decorated with stones or human or animal figures, but rather with stylized patterns, a very intriguing piece that Elizabeth loved to wear.

  That completed her toilette and by now Fitzwilliam was finished as well, they would be a bit late but Bingley would forgive them. Her belo
ved looked fabulous, he was wearing full length pantaloons and his new shoes, of course he'd want to have them well broken-in on the day of the wedding.

  His coat was as gorgeous and as tight as ever, an older coat, but one that suited him very well. There was a clear difference with an ordinary day,

  though, for his hair was styled very fashionably, it looked as if Fitzwilliam has just gotten out of bed after a night of revelling, when in fact he had a rather neat hairstyle that needed little attention. Simon must have spent quite some time on making it look blown about like this. And his cravat was a veritable piece of art. Wave upon wave of white linen spilled from his throat, it was an incredible difference with his normal cravat, and Elizabeth wondered whether Simon had brought larger cravats, or whether he truly was a master of pleating, starching and tying. Neither of the two would surprise her.

  Elizabeth could not but be pleased with Fanny's work, for Fitzwilliam looked at her with admiration, but he didn't show any signs of being overwhelmed by her appearance. Good, that was perfect. His demeanour a bit oppressed, he truly must have been rebuked, Simon nonetheless looked at his mistress approvingly, still daring to address her.

  'You look perfect, Mrs Darcy, not too little, and not too much.'

  Elizabeth instantly felt herself softening towards him, he might be much too familiar with his betters, he had been a great help to her exploring city life, and getting over her naiveté. They all depended on his quick insight in certain situations, and Elizabeth remembered seeing him totally distraught when they first arrived in London and Fitzwilliam had pushed him to tell who were bullying him.

  'Thank you, Simon,' she said, her voice reflecting the warmth she suddenly felt towards him. 'Fanny did a great job, as did all of you finding these treasures among the old furniture and loads of unused China. I wonder what treasures are hidden in the forgotten chambers of Pemberley, maybe we can have a hunt this spring. And how do you manage to get so many pleats and folds in your master's cravat?'