by P. O. Dixon
Elizabeth touched his chin. “You are worthy of my respect and so much more. I love you, Mr. Darcy.”
“It warms my heart to hear that, at long last, for I have been in love with you for as long as I can recall.”
“Yes, and it pleases me immensely to hear you say it. Still, I am curious to know when did you first realise you love me?” Elizabeth smiled impishly. “Surely, you did not love me that afternoon when I arrived on your doorstep.”
“I am rather certain I was in love with you, even then.”
“Well, I have to say you did an excellent job of hiding that fact from me.”
Darcy pulled Elizabeth into the cradle of his embrace. She rested her back against his broad chest, as he brushed her hair aside and feathered light kisses along her neckline. “Did I?”
His actions silenced her as her mind drifted to that rainy day in his home and the way he had looked at her. His looks then were as smouldering as his looks of late. Her heart raced.
If this is an indication of how I will feel as his betrothed, I know not how I might survive even weeks of waiting, much less months, to become Mrs. Darcy.
“Mr. Darcy, now that I recall, I believe I heard Mama mention a special licence.”
Having relinquished the comfort of his arms and repositioned herself to see his face, she observed the astounding effect that her words wrought on his handsome countenance.
“A special licence, you say?” He kissed her cheek. “Indeed.”
Chapter 17
Lord Latham was not surprised to hear of Darcy’s impending marriage to Miss Elizabeth Bennet; neither was Lady Gwendolen, for that matter. Darcy had told his friend of his earlier failure to win Elizabeth’s hand, even discussing the ungentlemanly manner in which he had gone about his proposal. Having accepted his friend’s resolve to make amends to the woman he loved, Lord Latham sat his sister down and told her the future she had long wished for with Darcy would never be.
Both brother and sister had decisions to make, and hence they did. Lord Latham, in seeing the joy Elizabeth brought to his friend’s life, decided he wanted such a life for himself. He determined the life that he wanted to lead was not the life his ladylove wished for, and thus he must let her go, affording both of them chances for true happiness.
Lady Gwendolen concluded she would embrace Mr. Darcy’s happiness. He was her brother’s best friend; therefore, their future paths would always cross. She had promised her brother she would never repeat a word of the rumour about Mr. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth. She remained true to her word. She reckoned she had been nothing but honest by enlightening Miss Elizabeth of Mr. Darcy’s hand in separating her sister from Mr. Bingley. Miss Elizabeth had forgiven him; surely, she bore no grudge against her, a mere messenger.
Lady Catherine clung to her vitriol with a vengeance until she learned, by way of a conversation with Charlotte, of a connection between the future Mrs. Darcy and Lady Susan Townes. Indeed, it was the same Lady Townes who was connected to Lord and Lady Langley, and thus Lord Latham and his sister Lady Gwendolen Helmsley. Lady Catherine was intrigued by her discovery. Such advantageous connections as these gave her quite a bit to work with. Yes, perhaps she might make something of Miss Elizabeth Bennet from Longbourn and Hertfordshire after all.
Caroline Bingley received the news of her brother’s engagement with vexation. All her efforts to promote an alliance between Miss Darcy and her brother, not to mention Mr. Darcy and herself, had been in vain. She had lost on both counts to two daughters of a common country gentleman. Nevertheless, Caroline was clever. She did not intend to lose her place amongst Society, afforded to her by her brother and his friend, Mr. Darcy. She wrote warm letters of commendations and praise to both Elizabeth and Jane as a means of assuring she would always enjoy a seat at the dinner tables at Pemberley and Netherfield Park.
Though happy, Lady Susan was not as pleased as she might have been with the news. She had grown rather fond of Sir Robert Boxley. She wanted nothing more than to see him well settled with a respectable young lady such as Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Then again, she had some measure of hope. She rather enjoyed the role of matchmaker. It suited her and gave her purpose.
Mrs. Gardiner received the news of her favourite niece’s engagement with a sense of accomplishment. She recalled how Elizabeth had been forced to spend the night at Darcy House and remembered thinking at the time that her niece protested a bit too much as regarded her sentiments towards the gentleman from Pemberley and Derbyshire. Crediting herself with the thought that in inviting her niece to spend the Season in town, and putting her in the path of gentlemen of Mr. Darcy’s standing by way of Lady Susan, she supposed she had been the means of uniting them.
Georgiana’s fondest wish had long been that her brother would marry Miss Elizabeth Bennet ever since the moment of their introduction, or lack thereof, when she saw her asleep in the mistress’s suite at Darcy House. Happy indeed was she to gain not one, but five sisters. Georgiana, Mary, and Kitty became fast friends, which pleased Mrs. Bennet exceedingly. One daughter settled, two daughters engaged, with the last two destined to be thrown into the paths of many rich men. Mrs. Bennet thanked God for her ample blessings. Her work was done.
* * *
The soft patter of rain against the windows in her new room brought to mind an earlier time. Illuminated by the fire’s warm glow, the room was already familiar to her, replete with its mystery, as well as its promise.
A light rap on the adjoining door interrupted her musings. Her husband pushed it open slowly, pausing at the doorway out of respect to her modesty.
“May I join you, Mrs. Darcy?”
She stood to receive him. “I have been waiting for you.” Nervousness, excitement—Elizabeth embodied all this and more. She loved this man. Darcy stepped inside, closed the distance between them with long strides, and took her hand in his. Raising it to his lips, he kissed it.
“Are we alone for the rest of the night?”
“Indeed. I believe you offered to serve as my lady’s maid this evening.”
“Yes, I promised to demonstrate for you everything that occurred during your first night here. You did not forget.” Darcy took both her hands in his, favouring each of her palms with soft kisses.
“I have managed to think of little else.”
He ceased his tender ministrations and gazed into her dark, bewitching eyes. Beyond-compare. “Then, you shall wait no longer.”
Elizabeth’s fluttering stomach danced in tune with her heart’s racing beat.
Darcy placed his hand against her face. “First, I wish to start by saying that on your first night ever in this room, I did not do this.” Elizabeth closed her eyes in anticipation. Would this be the moment? He had kept her waiting, wishing, longing for that moment through weeks of courtship. His soft lips met hers, tentatively at first, before engulfing them in deliverance of the promise of something wonderful.
Eyes still closed, Elizabeth caught her breath. “You did not?” An inkling of what she had been missing sparked a bit of yearning.
“No.” The caress of his soft whisper against her ear promised more.
“What did you do?”
“Allow me to start at the beginning. I returned to my study, prepared to serve you the tea I had laboured over in the kitchen, and I was alarmed. I did not see you. I thought you had braved the rain and tried to return home on your own.
“Then, I noticed you on the settee, sound asleep.”
“Did you even attempt to awaken me?”
“I knelt beside you and spoke your name. At first, I worried when you did not heed my pleas to awaken, and then you did respond. You sat up, stating your desire to change out of your wet things. I was about to show you into another room for privacy, but upon standing, you collapsed.
Elizabeth gasped aloud. Darcy quieted her with a finger to her lips. “I captured you in my arms and carried you to my room.”
As he re-enacted the events of that evening by picking her up and carryin
g her into the adjoining suite, Elizabeth’s mouth gaped open, forming an enticing, perfect circle.
“What? This was the only upstairs apartment with a warm fire.”
Elizabeth held her feigned protest. Darcy placed her gently on his bed. “My only thought was to keep you as warm as possible until I prepared a fire in the adjoining room.
“You never once stirred. I left you here whilst I prepared the fire, and afterward, I ventured to my sister’s room to select one of her nightgowns.”
“Your sister’s nightgown?”
“I could not leave you in your own clothing.”
“Please continue, Mr. Darcy.”
“I will not demonstrate my next step. Suffice it to say, I returned to this room, found you still asleep, picked you up and carried you off to bed.”
The gentle pressure of his hard body against hers as he sat on the bed quelled her anxiety over what might have happened in the past and increased her longing for what was to come.
“One by one, I unfastened your dress, like so.” He fingered the tiny hooks. “Now here is where I beg your permission to commence showing what I did not do. As I recall, the gown you wore at the time did not have nearly as many buttons as this one, and I most certainly did not do this.”
He paused between each catch and traced kisses along her neckline. Waves of nervous tremors flooded her body with each brush of his lips.
Darcy ceased speaking as he lowered her gown from her shoulder. He was as pleased in that instant as he was the first time with the discovery of the simplicity of her corset. Elizabeth’s slender figure did not lend itself to heavy bindings and the like. He slowly unlaced the strings. All thoughts of how he had managed such an intimate undertaking gave way to the splendour of the soft touch of his lips against her shoulders. Elizabeth collapsed against the cradle of his embrace, granting unfettered access to the length of her neckline. He lowered the rest of her undergarments from her shoulders, reached for the silken nightgown he had chosen and even laid out, and slipped it over her head.
“There, everything was done easily and rather properly, all things considered.” After demonstrating how he lowered the nightgown over her garments, he made fast work of removing her remaining clothing.”
“There you have it, my love. From here, I pulled back the covers and tucked you into bed.”
Breathless with desire, Elizabeth smiled. “So, I was right not to have worried these past months that either of us had crossed any boundaries when I stayed here.”
“Indeed. Now, let me show you all the rest that I did not do our first night alone.”
Her husband slowly proceeded, discarding any and everything hindering his purposes for the evening, and he commenced showing her and teaching her all that he would do every night for the rest of their lives together as man and wife—cherishing, loving, and worshiping her reverently, body and soul.
Acknowledgments & Thanks
The highest praise goes to Miss Jane Austen’s timeless works, as well as the JAFF community and its curiosity to ask, “What if?”
I wish to offer my gratitude to Gayle, Stephanie, and Robin for all your support throughout this effort. Your patience and your advice have made all the difference, and I am eternally grateful. Thanks!
Author’s Bio
P O Dixon writes Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice adaptations with one overriding purpose in mind—falling in love with Darcy and Elizabeth. Sometimes provocative, always entertaining, her stories are read, commented on, and thoroughly enjoyed by thousands of readers worldwide.
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Other P O Dixon Pride and Prejudice Variations
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“Fitzwilliam Darcy has been many things, angel, werewolf, rock star, and cowboy, but King Arthur? Yes! King Arthur! P.O. Dixon's He Taught Me To Hope is a new spin on a most beloved story. And it works!”
“The plot had just the right pacing and the perfect balance of humor, tension, and hot, but chaste, passion to keep the reader captivated.” Leatherbound Reviews
Click here to sample or purchase He Taught Me to Hope
The Mission
He Taught Me to Hope Christmas Vignette
If you enjoyed He Taught Me to Hope: Darcy and the Young Knight’s Quest and you find yourself longing to catch up with the Darcys, why not share Ben’s first Christmas at Pemberley? The precocious young lad has invited everyone. Find out what he’s up to!
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Still a Young Man
Darcy Is In Love
**Highlights**
Refusing to suffer anyone’s pity, the heroine hides the unpleasant truth of her forced marriage from everyone.
Having observed the mourning period for a deceased husband she did not love, she looks forward to enjoying a Season in town.
Her liveliness, her beauty, and her charms attract the notice of unscrupulous people posing as friends.
There’s only one man able to help her navigate the treacherous waters of the ton.
Click here to sample or purchase Still a Young Man
To Have His Cake (and Eat It Too)
Mr. Darcy’s Tale
Fitzwilliam Darcy had the best of intentions towards Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
His sense of duty to his family prohibited him from offering her marriage.
His love for her prohibited him from attempting to make her his mistress.
What then, is a man of means supposed to do when he realizes he cannot live without the only woman he will ever love?
** Thousands of copies sold **
Click here to sample or purchase To Have His Cake (and Eat It Too)
What He Would Not Do
Mr. Darcy’s Tale Continues
If you enjoyed To Have His Cake (and Eat It Too), read this book too.
Having overcome the many seeming obstacles to marrying Miss Elizabeth Bennet, his former employee and the woman of his dreams, Fitzwilliam Darcy must now reaffirm his promise to be a man truly worthy of her affections.
Confronted, out of the blue, with the intimate knowledge of her husband's rakish past, Elizabeth too is obliged to reconsider long held tenets that otherwise threaten to tear them apart.
Find out what a newly married Mr. Darcy would not do for family, for friendship, for honor, for love.
Click here to sample or purchase What He Would Not Do
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