by Linda Wells
“Tie off your reins here.” He pointed to a tree on the edge of a grassy area. Taking the saddle bags, he offered his hand, and led her around a boulder on a very faint trail, and suddenly they appeared on a grassy outcrop high above the valley, and below them spread a perfect view of Pemberley House, the lake, the gardens, and some of the outbuildings that were not hidden by the tall trees.
“Oh, William!” Elizabeth turned and beamed. “What a beautiful place!”
Darcy scanned the beauty before them. “I spied this spot from the valley below when I was a lad. It took many attempts before I finally discovered my way. I spent countless hours here with my books and thoughts.”
She looked back at the prospect. “If you could convince an artist to sit here, would this not make a magnificent landscape to hang in your study, or better yet, in mine?”
Laughing, he took her hand and pulled her against his chest, untied her bonnet and tossed it on the ground. He rested his cheek on her hair. “Why would it be better in your study?”
“Why because I could sit and look upon it and remember what happened here while taking in the view.” She gazed up at him and then turned in his arms.
“What exactly happened here, my love?” Darcy whispered. Elizabeth stood on her toes and held his face in her hands, kissing him softly and slowly. His eyes closed and he moaned. “Ohhhh.” Darcy’s hand rose to entwine in her long curls, and the other pulled her waist firmly against him. Gently his tongue met hers and caressed it, drawing her into his mouth, heightening their pleasure, while his arms wrapped around her body and held her so firmly to his. It was heaven and they had just begun. Darcy’s hand drifted down to cup her bottom and tenderly ran over the tempting, rounded curves. Elizabeth’s hands at last moved to deftly untie his cravat, pulling it loose and without breaking the motion of their stroking mouths, tossed it to the ground. Her hands managed to slide between them and worked open the buttons of his coat; as her searching lips finally broke free of his mouth and brushed down to taste his deliciously exposed neck. “Ohhhhh yes, Lizzy!” He moaned, loving her suckling him there. The buttons free, she pushed his coat and waistcoat off of his shoulders and they dropped to the grass below, and immediately she began pulling his shirt free from his breeches, slipping her hands under the loose fabric and touching his warm skin, then up to caress the thatch of hair on his chest and tease the hard flat nipples. Darcy shivered with the touch, and let go of her long enough to rip off his shirt and pull her back against his skin. Immediately Elizabeth began suckling and nipping the small puckered circles and he moaned, whispering in her ear. The hands continued their work, drifting between them again, to now open the breeches, and slid them over his hips. He stopped her advances by clasping her tightly and tilting her head back, taking possession of her throat, suckling and kissing her aggressively, feeling her tremble and hearing the moan he adored. His fingers set to work now, and quickly he opened the buttons on her gown and pushed it down her shoulders to form a billowing pink cloud as it descended to the grass below. The palm of his hand rested over one of her breasts, and the fingers had barely touched her nipple when she moaned. Tweaking the tight bud, he drew away from her reddened neck and looked, admiring the way her breast spilled over the palm of his hand. “You wore no stays. Thank you, my love.” He bent to kiss the beautiful mounds, while rubbing her body up and down.
Breathing heavily they paused, and Darcy quickly reached for a saddle bag, removed a blanket, unfurled it and taking her hand pulled her down onto the ground. Immediately he drew her nearly nude body to his and began to renew his attentions to her breasts. Elizabeth’s fingers were entwined in his hair, and she was quaking with the feel of his tongue tasting her, drinking from her deeply, while one hand drifted between her legs and into her folds, rubbing, stroking, fondling relentlessly to bring her to the brink of ecstasy. “Do not stop, oh please do not stop!” She cried. Darcy’s fingers lowered and he plunged them inside her wet ring, and withdrew. The eyes that had bewitched him from the first moment of their lives together begged him to continue. Smiling, he rose and kissed her lips, then moved to quickly pull off his boots and the rest of his clothes, removing her boots and stockings just as quickly.
Darcy hovered over her. “What would you like, my love?”
“You.” She reached up to his face, and stroked his cheek, then lowered her hand to caress the arousal that rested on her belly. “I want this, inside of me, please William; do not make me wait.”
“Kiss me first.” He looked at her with intense desire. “Please Lizzy, please kiss me.”
“Come.” Motioning him forward, he moved so that his erection rested on her lips. He groaned as her tongue appeared to taste him. Slowly he entered, watching as he moved in and out of her warm welcoming mouth, the reddened swollen lips swallowing him. “Oh Lizzy, oh I love watching you take me.” Her eyes opened and her hands drew his bottom closer. She could not take all of him, but she tried, and her tongue swirled over him as she brought him such pleasure. Trembling, he withdrew and moved back, regaining his control. Darcy bent and rewarded her with his passionate kiss to her heated lips. “Thank you, dearest, now it is your turn.”
He kissed his way down to her thighs and began suckling her pearl the same way she had just loved him. It took but a moment and her back was arched, her body rippling and the sound of her gasping moan filled him with pride. He lifted his wet face from her curls and smiled to see the expression of ecstasy. Now he was ready to love her and spreading her legs wide, joyously entered her. Elizabeth’s eyes flew open and she gasped. “More darling?” He asked, pausing for the moment.
“Yes, please, more.” Panting he wrapped her legs around his waist and began thrusting vigorously, pounding her slick tunnel, her wetness becoming a froth with the power and speed of his delivery. His arms straddled her and his eyes drank in the vision below, as her breasts rolled and swayed with his frenzied movement. Their moans echoed off of the surrounding rocks, filling the valley below with the sound of their lovemaking. Darcy rode her, giving her everything he had, and she met his hips, stroke for stroke, holding on to his muscular arms and staring up into his eyes. The words he spoke told her everything of his love. This was the moment when he was completely free, when he could tell her his deepest feelings. Elizabeth knew this and waited for it, lived for his declarations and never closed her eyes. She wanted him to know that he was heard. Watching his face she saw his jaw shaking, his body trembled and he was hanging on, waiting for her. When at last her eyes closed and he felt her clasp and milk him, he let go with a shout and released his seed deep inside, finally collapsing onto her and then moving to his side to hold her tightly, their bodies still joined, as they slowly recovered.
Darcy kissed her hair and took a long breath. “Lizzybeth, I can not possibly explain how much I love you.” He nuzzled his face against hers. “How does it get better every time?”
Elizabeth calmed and kissed his ear, “I love you Will, and I think it gets better because we want it to, my desire is to bring you pleasure, and yours is to love me just the same. How could we fail with such goals?”
“Promise me we will endeavour to always be this way.” He finally withdrew lay by her side. “I hope so much that forty … fifty years from now we will be just as caring for each other.”
“You will not be tired of me by then? The same woman for so long?” Her eyes danced and she stroked the damp hair back from his brow. “Perhaps we will not be quite so vigorous then.”
“I think that we are quite accomplished at loving in slow methods as well, dearest. And no, I will not be tired of you. I believe that you and I have very active imaginations, and we will undoubtedly think of unending adventures to make our encounters fresh … but right now, everything is new. I never had any expectation of ever making love outdoors. What would society say of such a thing?” He grinned.
“Well, I believe that we have quite firmly established what our opinion of society is. Let them have their separate bedrooms
and joining only in the dark and with their nightwear in place. Let them lie still and derive no pleasure. We know better.” Elizabeth smiled up to his twinkling eyes. “You know, I especially enjoy loving you after we have had an argument. It is so much better than my mother’s method of hiding in her room in a snit.”
Darcy laughed. “Perhaps we should argue more often, then!”
“No, we will argue only on special occasions. It is hard to disagree with you too often, I am afraid that I am rather susceptible to your charms, even when angry.” She hugged him tightly.
“I will use that to my advantage, you know.” He murmured into her ear. She giggled and he sighed happily. His head rested on the pillow of her breast. Elizabeth shifted and she moaned quietly. Lifting his face his brow furrowed. “Is something wrong?”
“I am just a little tender there, sweetheart.”
“Was I too rough with you? I am sorry.” He looked at her with concern then gently caressed her, again seeing how her breast spilled over his palm. Stopping, he looked to her. “Lizzy …” He watched her face, she was biting her lip. Slowly his eyes drifted down her body and rested on her belly. His caressing hand moved to rest over the swelling that had not been noticed before. He heard a sigh. Trembling, his hands cupped her face. “Lizzy?”
Meeting his searching eyes Elizabeth rose to hold his face as well. “Yes, my love. I am carrying our child.” She heard a quick intake of breath, and rejoiced, seeing the spreading incredulous smile.
“Really?” He whispered, then looked back to her belly and to her face. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” She nodded and laughed to see him looking like a giddy fool. “Yes my love, I felt the quickening only yesterday. I will give birth in six months.”
Darcy laughed and pulled her up in his arms and squeezed her. “I am going to be a father!” The sound of his declaration filled the hills around them. He grinned and kissed her. “How long have you suspected? Why did you not tell me?”
“I have suspected for several weeks, but I know that it is wise to wait before … being as excited as you are. Forgive me for keeping this from …” She gasped with the tight embrace she received. “Have you not noticed that a monthly event has not come, and that I seem to take many naps of late?”
“I have, but … I thought, well, I thought that I was wearing you out.” He looked at her sheepishly.
“Well there is that.” Elizabeth grinned at him and caressed his cheek. “You are rather enthusiastic.”
“Forgive me. Should we curtail our affections?” He asked somewhat worriedly.
“No, perhaps at the end when it is uncomfortable, but I have spoken with Mrs. Reynolds, there is no reason to stop.” She laughed again seeing the expression of relief.
“You have suffered no ill effects? I would have noticed them.”
“No, only a brief aversion to meat, but that seems to have gone by the wayside. I am fortunate.” His face lit up again and she smiled at his joy. “Come, we can not lay out here unclothed, no matter how remote this location.” They dressed enough to achieve some semblance of modesty, and Darcy opened the saddle bags, pulling out bread and cheese and wine. They settled in to eat, toasting their good fortune and continually exchanging smiles of celebration and anticipation.
Darcy studied her bright eyes. “You are more emotional.”
Elizabeth blinked and took a deep breath, then caressed his cheek. “I am.” His eyes filled as well and he kissed her gently.
When the meal was finished, Elizabeth could not hold back a yawn. Darcy rested against the warm boulder, and invited her to lay by his side where she settled for a nap, her hands creeping beneath his shirt to hold on to her anchor. He closed his eyes and drifted into his own short slumber then awoke to see her still sleeping comfortably, her head on his chest. He drew her close, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and rested his other hand over the slightly swelled belly. A feeling of contentment filled him as he looked out over his land. A slight movement brought his eyes down first to his hand, then up to Elizabeth’s peaceful face. He kissed her forehead gently, and he blinked back the emotion in his eyes.
Darcy rubbed his child, and spoke softly. “I promise. I will love you and care for you. I will teach you about your heritage. I will give you a home where you will long to return. I will never give you reason to fear or not respect me, and if you are my heir, I will teach you everything that you need to know to be a good steward of our people and our land, and if you are … my little girl,” his tears began to fall, “I will protect you from harm until the day I must give you away to a good man.”
He wiped his face then returned his hand to his baby. “You have a beautiful, kind, wonderful mama. She taught me how to love, and she will fill our lives with such joy. I can not wait to see her holding you.” Elizabeth’s eyes remained closed, but she was listening to William’s quiet voice. She could hear the emotion. Feeling her embrace he looked down, and spotted her warm eyes upon him. “You heard me.” He said shyly.
“I did.” Her hand brushed his wet cheek, then she sat up to embrace his face with her hands, and kissed his lips. “Thank you, Will. You will not be a father who looks at his child at his birth and ignores him for years, leaving him to the care of his governess. You will be a magnificent father because you know what you have missed from your own.”
“If I am good, it will be because you are my wife.” He kissed her gently and laid his palm on her cheek.
“This is an argument that I fear we will hold perpetually.” She smiled as he enfolded her in his arms.
“And one that I will assuredly win!” He kissed her and recovering from the moment, allowed a smile to appear. “Did you sleep long enough, dearest?”
Elizabeth laughed and drew away, shaking her head. “Oh no, the fussing has begun!”
Laughing, he took her hand and kissed it. “Yes, and my love, I will not relent, so you may as well grow used to it.” Darcy drew her up to rest on his lap. “Bear with me, mama, I am going to be a very protective papa.” He smiled down at her and kissed her nose, then caressed her lips, and began to tenderly love her again.
She sighed and whispered as she melted into his arms. “Of that I have no doubt.”
Epilogue
April 1813
Elizabeth bent and gently brushed the fringe of hair away from his forehead, and listened to his soft steady breathing. His long lashes fluttered slightly and she held her breath, hoping that she had not awakened him. After a small sigh and wiggle, her son settled back down to sleep. She closed her eyes and was startled when two hands crept around her waist.
A gentle mouth began wandering down her throat, a nose nudging away the curls that were in the way of its meandering path. She leaned back against William’s chest and relaxed. “Stop worrying.” He whispered.
“I just hope that the noise will not wake him.”
“Lizzy, canon fire could not wake this child.”
She laughed and turned around to see her husband’s twinkling eyes. “You do make an excellent point.” She held his face in her hands and they kissed slowly. Darcy lowered his hands to her bottom and drew her against him.
“Do you think anyone would miss us if we do not go to the ball?” He whispered huskily.
“As it is being held for your sister one floor below us … yes, darling, I do believe it would be noticed.”
He sighed. “At least it is small.”
Elizabeth stroked the fringe of hair from his forehead, just as she had done for their son moments before. “I believe that both you and Georgiana would have preferred a small ball regardless of the circumstances.”
Smiling, he nodded. “That is true. I will be so relieved when this is over. She survived the presentation. Without Aunt Ellen’s pull, I wonder if she would have been allowed at St. James’s, perhaps we should have waited three years … but now that is done. Douglass had his levee, and now …”
“Now it is up to them.” Elizabeth kissed his nose and carefully restin
g her head on his chest attempted not to disturb the intricate creation of jewels and sweeps that was her hair. “I am so proud of Marshall for waiting; another year might have been too much to ask. I realize that Georgiana likely does not really know what her feelings are, and I know not to press her towards him, but I do feel for Marshall, who does. It had to have been very difficult; there must have been quite a number of young ladies throwing themselves in his path.”
“There were, he lamented it all to me frequently, but also like me, none of them caught his eye.” Darcy held her and drank in her scent. “I listened with sympathy, having lived through it myself.”
“Your ladies were of a different circle.”
“That does not make his any less determined.”
“They are still angry with me for stealing you away.” She glanced up to see his satisfied smile.
Darcy tilted his head down and kissed her. “I think that some have quite come to admire you, my love.”
Elizabeth sought his warm blue eyes. “Really? How? I certainly have not pushed myself to be accepted by them. I do not treat others with disdain, or cater to the whims of the ton.”
“I believe dearest, that there are those who wish they had your courage to be so dismissive.” He laughed to see her grin. “I have certainly received enough quiet pats on the back from gentlemen who admire my attitude.” He stroked his finger along her cheek, then raised her chin to kiss her lips again.
“Your long-held contention that walking away from a fight was the wisest course has been proven correct. It seems that those who wished to hate you are now seeking you out.” Elizabeth smiled and raised her brow.
Darcy nodded and kissed her forehead. “You are certainly aware of how many people wished to be invited tonight.”
She rolled her eyes and sighed. “Not to support Georgiana.”
