by Linda Wells
“I do not look forward to it any more than you do, sir.” She stared at him pointedly.
“Well, I am very pleased to know I will not suffer alone.” He stole a kiss. “Extraordinarily pleased.”
Before he could return to his preferred activity Elizabeth spoke. “Could you bear a month? Perhaps tomorrow you could come and speak to Papa, and then after a month we could officially be engaged. I admit we probably should try courting in the same room for a change. Just to be sure that we truly are compatible.” She lifted her brow as she teased.
“There is no doubt in my mind of that.” Darcy growled and recaptured her mouth for several intense moments. Sighing he pulled away and again rested his cheek on her head. “Very well, I actually had not planned on proposing the instant that I saw you, and I did expect that we would court formally.” Then looking down at her, the only expression on his face was the twinkle in his eyes. “I will present my suit to your father after a magical night of dancing, where I was enchanted by you …”
“And I was swept off of my feet by you …”
“And we will be officially engaged in one month …”
“And marry …”
“No more than one month later.” He regarded her with great seriousness. “I will wait no longer, and I wish you at Pemberley for Christmas. Agreed?” His blue eyes searched her warm hazel gaze and she smiled with her first glimpse of the commanding master of Pemberley.
“Agreed.” He nodded and sealed the bargain with many more kisses.
“I should probably be returning home. My family will rise soon.” The regret was clear in her voice.
Darcy obstinately refused. “No, Elizabeth. I have waited far too long to see you, and we have too much to discuss. Once our courtship is official, who knows when we will be allowed this privilege again?” Darcy purposefully tightened his embrace. He whispered seductively in her ear. “Come, there must be some comfortable place nearby where we can rest and talk. I have many things I wish to say to you.”
Elizabeth was very pleased with his resistance but needed to ask. “Will Georgiana miss you?”
“I hope so!” He smiled at her laugh. “Mrs. Annesley will look after her and keep Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst from bothering her.” Seeing her confusion he continued. “Miss Bingley has been quite determined to be mistress of Pemberley for several years now. It is obvious to all but apparently her, that it will never happen. If ever there was a determined fortune hunter, it was she.”
Elizabeth laughed. “Should I be worried about you living under the same roof with such a single-minded woman?”
Darcy kissed her then rubbed his nose with hers. “I lock my door whenever she is about.” She nestled her face on his chest and giggled. Darcy drank in her dancing eyes and rosy cheeks. It felt so good to have such joy in his arms. They finally drew apart and Elizabeth leaned over to retrieve her bonnet and his fallen hat while Darcy untethered his horse. Holding hands she led him to a secluded patch of trees, and disappearing into the growth, she indicated a path for them to follow. He led the horse in far enough so no passer-by would notice him, tied the reins off and following the impatient tug of her hand, he laughed and obeyed her command to move. The path wound about for a short way then turned around an ancient oak tree where they came upon a stream. Protected from the breeze, it was warmer amongst the trees. Darcy removed his coat and spread it on the ground to make a blanket for them.
“Oh William, it will be ruined!”
He laughed. “It will require a good brushing perhaps, but will hardly be ruined. The ground is not wet here.” He sat down and held out his arms. “Come, my love.” Laughing she accepted his aid and sat beside him, cuddled to his chest. He wrapped her up in his arms again, kissing her forehead. “Elizabeth, I have never experienced … never expressed … never knew that I could feel …” He sighed with frustration. He had been doing so well speaking to her without tripping over his tongue. Shaking his head he met her fine eyes. “I am very poor with conversation. I do not know what to say, I have a difficult time … blast!” He saw her surprise. “Forgive me. I just become so angry with myself. I want to tell you so many things but I have never…” He cast his eyes back down and took her hand, caressing it.
“You have never had anyone to talk to about your feelings before?” She asked softly. He nodded. “Well, perhaps when you are a little more comfortable with me it will become easier.”
His head snapped up. “But I am comfortable with you! It is not you, it is …” He closed his eyes.
“You are shy.” She squeezed his hand.
“I suppose I am. A trait you will see in my sister as well.”
Elizabeth decided a change in subject was necessary. “William, in Georgiana’s last letter, she seemed somehow sad. Was it because of your family’s objections to our union?”
Relieved to talk about something that did not require opening his soul he answered. “I am sure their words likely have contributed to her worry. But I have assured her that whatever our relatives, or for that matter, society says, I will marry no other but you.” Elizabeth blushed and looked down. Darcy appreciated her obvious pleasure in his declaration. “Georgiana has also said that she is delighted you will be her sister. What I think bothers her is learning that she may not be my father’s daughter.”
Elizabeth gasped. “You mean that your mother conducted …”
Darcy nodded. “As did my father. It was not a happy marriage.” He closed his eyes as a memory intruded. He felt Elizabeth’s arms holding him and her simple gesture was something that he realized immediately he had craved for a very long time. “Thank you.” She did not press him about it further, remembering the letter from her aunt. After some moments in silence he continued. “I assured her that she is as much a Darcy as I am, but my relatives said that it was up to me to produce an heir. You see, I had previously planned to never marry and leave the heir to Georgiana. Now that her future is in doubt, and there is apparently a good chance that she is not of Darcy blood, they were pushing me to marry a woman of the first circles as soon as possible. They argued quite strongly against you. They felt that marrying a woman of society would aid both of us in retrieving our reputations, and that marrying you would make everything worse.” He saw the hurt in her eyes. “I am so sorry Elizabeth, I told you of this in my letter, perhaps I was not as explicit … but you deserve to know exactly what their objections are based upon.” He hugged her to him. “They have always expected a different fate for me.”
Elizabeth pulled away, leaving him confused. “I wonder if you would have spared me a second glance if you had not already been rejected by the ton. Will you find me, a simple country girl, enough to satisfy you forever? As well as I think of myself, I am aware of my deficiencies. I do not wish to wake up one morning to find that my husband regrets his choice.”
“I do not know what I can say to reassure you of my confidence. I have lived in society for ten years. I know what it has to offer … and then I met you. I forced myself to consider my behaviour of the past towards those in other circles. I hope most sincerely that I would have approached you regardless of my state of acceptance in society.”
She studied him, still feeling hurt. “I would not have been worthy of your attentions, at least not the attentions of a suitor. Perhaps I would have been good enough for a tryst.” Her eyes burned into his.
Alarmed by her obvious anger he quickly tried to explain. “Elizabeth, I admit, I have experienced a great change in my way of thinking of others since witnessing Georgiana’s shunning. I have never been a great participant in society. I hate large social gatherings, I am terrible with conversations with no substance, and I can not pretend interest in society’s activities. I grew up witnessing the devastating effects of an arranged marriage based on need rather than affection and determined never to subject myself to such a circumstance. I now base my opinion of others on their character rather than their status, as I know you do … I have never in my life conducted a … tr
yst … as you call it, with any gentlewoman simply because I could. I never would have come here and attempted such an experience with you. I truly wish to believe that had I come here without this event ever happening to Georgiana, I would have met you and been swept off my feet.” He wrapped a finger around a curl and studied her face as her gaze softened. “Why do you say such things?”
She looked down and felt terrible for the pain she heard in his voice. “Forgive me William, I am feeling unnecessarily insecure, and lashing out at you for your family’s understandable objections. You see … it was recently suggested to me that you and Mr. Bingley would only wish to engage a country girls’ attentions for momentary pleasure, and then leave the neighbourhood to return to the ladies of society.”
Darcy closed his eyes, already knowing the answer to the question. “Who suggested this to you?”
“John Lucas.” She said softly.
Darcy’s anger and jealousy rose. “And on what occasion did he have the opportunity to bestow such wisdom?”
“On several occasions.” She saw his blue eyes turn black with anger and quickly continued. “He heard of Mama’s desire to pair me off with you, and Jane with Mr. Bingley. He has told me many times that you would only wish me for your pleasure. When he asked if I would give him hope and I refused, he became angry and said that I was trying to win the attentions of two men and swore that he would win me in the end.”
Darcy swore under his breath, and pulled Elizabeth back to him, his intense gaze searched her face. “And do you wish for men to fight over you?”
She placed her hands on his cheeks, reassuring him. “No, I told him to find his future elsewhere. I so wanted to tell him that I loved you, but I could not then, there was no agreement between us.”
Darcy kissed her, lifting her onto his lap and possessively to his chest. His hands held her firmly and his voice filled her ear with a terse promise. “I protect what is mine.” His tight clutch communicated more to her than anything he could say. Elizabeth turned to softly kiss his cheek, and gently ran her fingers through his hair. Without opening his eyes, his lips sought hers and they joined in a slow exchange, relieving the tension of the conversation and returning them to the indisputable joy of their promise to marry. Darcy’s hands gently stroked her back and he hugged her. “I need you, Elizabeth. I wish I knew how to tell you, show you …”
“You have dearest, with every touch, and every word. We just need to be together now.” She very softly suckled his lower lip and he groaned. “I think that talking in person will be much more productive than letters.” Her dancing eyes met his passion-drugged gaze.
“You, my love, are a temptress.” He growled as he bent to reclaim her mouth.
The sound of a gun startled them. “We should return.” She whispered. This was dangerous, and he knew it. Hunters were near, and they could be so easily discovered. He nodded reluctantly and she stood, touching her hair, readjusting the pins, and carefully fixing her bonnet over the dislodged curls. He brushed off his coat, putting it back on, then replaced his hat.
He placed his hands on her shoulders. “I love you, Elizabeth. I will take care of you, whether it be relatives, unwanted suitors, or errant hunters.”
She smiled. “I love you, William, and I trust you.” He smiled with the honour. Her eyes sparkled as she reached into his greatcoat pocket.
“What are you doing?”
“Retrieving my gloves.” His hand instantly dropped and trapped hers in the pocket.
“No.”
Elizabeth looked at him with disbelief. “William, I can not walk into Longbourn without my gloves!” He smiled slightly, but his eyes were twinkling, and he shook his head slowly. “Fitzwilliam Darcy!”
“No. I want a keepsake of this moment. I will buy you a dozen more, but I want this pair. They are the last things that touched your hand before you gave it to me.” His voice was deep and hoarse, and it sent a shiver down Elizabeth’s back. She withdrew her hand from his pocket, and he took both of her hands in his, stroking them and lifting first one, then the other to his lips. “Thank you.” Elizabeth removed her hands from his grasp and slipped her arms around his waist. Darcy’s arms surrounded her and they stood embraced in silent communion for a few more precious moments.
They made their way back to his horse, and before leaving the cover of the trees indulged in a last sweet kiss, then stepped back out into the meadow. Darcy walked with her to Longbourn as far as he could before they might be seen. He extracted a promise from her to include riding lessons and morning walks as part of their courtship. He demanded all of her dances that night and Elizabeth laughed, promising three, the first, supper and last. She knew what it would signal to the neighbourhood, and was thrilled about it. Reluctantly they finally parted; both instantly feeling the loss.
BY THE TIME that Elizabeth returned to Longbourn, it was nearly ten o’clock. She had been gone for almost four hours. She crept into the house, hearing the family at breakfast. Removing her bonnet and pelisse, she looked into a mirror, fixing her hair and seeking any sign of Darcy’s attentions. She saw nothing amiss, so taking a breath, smiled and entered the dining room. “LIZZY BENNET! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!” Mrs. Bennet’s screech filled the air and brought all activity to a sudden stop. “Out wandering the fields? Today?! You know the assembly is today. Oh my poor nerves! What will I do with such an ungrateful child! You will meet Mr. Darcy tonight! You must look your best, and where are you, at breakfast with your family? No, out trying to climb a tree or a mountain. If you had twisted your ankle I would never have forgiven you!!”
“I am sorry Mama, I did not think I would be gone so long, it was such a lovely morning that I am afraid that I forgot the time.” She slipped into her seat next to her father who was regarding her carefully. Jane sat across from her and stared with wide eyes. Elizabeth worriedly wondered if she had missed something when she looked in the mirror.
“I expect you to stay in this house for the rest of the day. You must bathe and wash your hair. Your new gown will be here by noon, and I want you and Jane to be ready first.” She turned to Jane. “Of course dear Jane you will be lovely in no time, you require very little help to prepare, but you know that Lizzy needs every extra moment of Susie’s time.”
Jane looked away from Elizabeth and murmured. “Yes, Mama.” Elizabeth closed her eyes in frustration. She wondered if she would ever do anything that would earn her mother’s praise. She opened them to see her father.
“You will be lovely I am sure, Lizzy. Pay her no mind.”
She gave him a small smile. “It is difficult sometimes.” He nodded. “Come and visit with me before you dress this evening.” She nodded, and glancing at Jane she hurriedly ate while the rest of the family finished their meal and departed. Elizabeth escaped her mother’s fluttering and ran upstairs where she found Jane in her room, sorting through her hair combs. “Jane!” She whispered excitedly.
“Lizzy, what is it?” Jane took her hands and laughed as she pulled her down onto the bed. Elizabeth started to speak, then jumped up to close and lock the door. She ran back to the bed and threw her arms around Jane. She whispered excitedly in her ear. “Oh Jane, he proposed!”
“Pardon?” She pulled back. “Who?”
“Shhh!” Elizabeth pressed her hand against her mouth. “William … Mr. Darcy. I was walking and he was riding and we kissed and he asked me to marry him and he will ask father to court me tomorrow and …”
“Lizzy!” Jane whispered urgently. “Calm down!”
Elizabeth caught her breath then lay back on the bed, clutching a pillow and remembering William’s body pressed to hers. Jane lay beside her. “Now slowly, please. You saw Mr. Darcy this morning when you were walking … and he asked for your hand?”
“Yes!” She beamed.
“Oh my!” She smiled in surprise and delight. “He kissed you?” She whispered.
“Oh, yes.” Her smile became dreamy.
“Lizzy!”
Elizabe
th turned to her. “Oh and you would not kiss the man you love when he wraps you in his arms and begs you to marry him.”
Jane’s eyes widened. “Is that what he did?”
Elizabeth cried joyously. “Oh yes, Jane, yes!”
“Oh Lizzy.” She sighed. “But …”
Elizabeth interrupted. “We agreed to keep it secret and conduct a courtship for a month. He will speak to Papa tomorrow.”
Jane smiled. “You have thought of everything, it seems. Mama’s worry is for nothing.”
Elizabeth closed her eyes and sighed. “Jane, did I look different when I came in?”
Jane nodded. “Yes, you did. I could not put my finger on it then, but now Lizzy, I would say that you are glowing.”
She laughed. “I am.” The sisters spent the rest of the morning talking of most of what happened between Elizabeth and Darcy. Some secrets Elizabeth reserved for herself.
DARCY RETURNED to Netherfield in a state of happiness he could not remember ever experiencing before. He swung down from his horse and caught a glimpse at his reflection in the water trough and was taken aback to see a grinning fool staring back at him. He rubbed his face, feeling muscles he never knew he possessed beginning to ache. Laughing softly and taking a breath, he made a concerted effort to school his features back to their normal state of solemn seriousness. He thought he was successful until entering the house and meeting Bingley.
“Darcy, there you are! I was going to propose a hunting party this morning and learned that you took an early ride. Where have you …” He stopped and studied his friend.
Darcy’s brow creased. “What is it?”
Bingley turned to a passing servant. “Have a breakfast tray sent up to Mr. Darcy’s room.” He gave his friend a grin and taking his arm hustled him towards the stairs.
“Bingley!” They ascended the stairs, fortunately avoiding the ladies of the house and Bingley opened the chamber door, pulling Darcy in.
Roberts appeared. “Sir, would you like your bath now?”
