Marooned With Darcy
Page 7
She frowned at him. “You should be resting rather than engaging me like this, Will. Fitzwilliam means I am content with you, and it is expected I shall call you Fitzwilliam when we are in public, is it not?” At his nod, she leaned closer, brushing her lips against his ear when she said, “However, you will always be my Will, and I will be your Lizzy whenever we are alone. I look forward to our wedding night and being island Lizzy and Will once more.”
He seemed to be breathing a little harder when she pulled back, and he brought the hand she was holding to his mouth to kiss her fingers through the glove. “I am most eager for that moment as well, Elizabeth.”
His eyes gleamed, and she was unable to resist kissing him once more, though they were soon interrupted by a sister who bustled in and scolded them, clearly shocked by their behavior. If Darcy was bothered by her chastisements, he gave no indication. Instead, he said, “She is already my wife in every way that matters, Sister, and the legalities will soon be dealt with. Do leave us alone.”
With a huff of outrage, the sister bustled out of the room while Lizzy smothered a laugh. “How shameful of you, Will.”
He seemed not at all repentant. “I shall not allow anything to come between us, my dear love, including a sister with a starched wimple and even starchier mindset.”
She giggled as she laid down on the bed beside him, uncaring about the lectures they would receive when staff saw her curled up with him so scandalously. It was worth it to be this close to Will, who would soon be her husband, and their future together would be secure.
Epilogue
Four months later, Lizzy was relieved to return to England and set foot on the docks in London, though not nearly as relieved as Will seemed to. He was still a little green, continuing to fight seasickness, which had gotten worse the closer they got to shore as the waves increased. She was experiencing a touch of that herself, but hers was because of her pregnancy. Otherwise, she’d never had trouble sailing.
Jane looked a little peaked as well, and Lizzy suspected it was because she was in a similar state. Her sister’s pregnancy was obvious, where Lizzy’s was not yet, but they were both well pleased their children would be born close to each other. She dared hope they would grow up as close as siblings.
“It is good to be back,” said Charles.
“Most assuredly,” said Fitzwilliam. He’d made no secret of how much he disliked America.
Lizzy had tried to be more openminded, but she had found it equally unappealing. There were some genuinely nice people in Boston society, but it was a completely different environment than she was used to, and she was far more comfortable in the wilds around Longbourn than she was in the cramped spaces of Boston, or in London, for that matter.
She and Fitzwilliam would stay at the townhouse in Grosvenor Street for a few days before they went on to Longbourn to retrieve her mother and sisters. After that, they would depart for Pemberley.
The house Darcy had commissioned to be built on Pemberley land for her mother and sisters should be finished by now, and she was looking forward to sharing the surprise with her family, though she intended to exchange a few sharp words with her mother about how she had almost maneuvered Lizzy and Jane into one of them being forced to marry the undesirable younger Mr. Collins.
Darcy put a hand on her stomach as they started walking down the wharf, the smell of fish making her stomach queasy. “We shall soon move past the smells.”
She nodded. “How is your stomach, Mr. Darcy?”
“Now it is filled with nerves that you are calling me Mr. Darcy. What have I done to displease you?”
Lizzy laughed. “I am simply teasing, Will. Are you well though?”
He nodded. “I am quite well, and as soon as we are settled at the townhouse, and assuming you are up for it, I am most intent on showing you just how well I am.”
Lizzy smiled, looking forward to that. “I like the way you think, Will. I am certain I will be quite well by then too.” He held her hand in his as they walked along, soon meeting with their carriage.
Charles and Jane departed from them, intent on reaching the Bingley townhouse, and she’d see her sister soon enough, since Jane planned to travel with them to Longbourn and then on to Pemberley for a while. Jane was hoping Charles would buy property near Pemberley, and Lizzy hoped for the same. Though they were both married women, they would continue to be close and in each other’s lives on a frequent basis.
For now, she was content to have Fitzwilliam to herself. She hoped she could coax out the wild Will she remembered from the island, and she doubted she would have any difficulty doing so.
In private, they were still Lizzy and Will, and they had not lost the free-spiritedness they had found on the island, nor their deep love for each other. It only continued to grow, and she was confident it would always be that way.
Please sign up for Abbey’s newsletter to receive information about new releases. If you have any difficulties, email Abbey to request a manual add.
About the Author
Abbey is a diehard Jane Austen fan and has loved Fitzwilliam since the first time she “met” him at age thirteen upon borrowing the book from the school library. He is the ideal man, though Abbey’s husband is a close second. Abbey enjoys writing various steamy and sweet Jane Austen variations, but “Pride & Prejudice” (and Mr. Darcy) will always be her favorite.