by Wells, Linda
“Do? Nothing, you lie still.” Lady Matlock replied and saw that Elizabeth was close to tears. “Now, now, my dear, this is what we women are made for.”
“This is not what you told me, Aunt!” Elizabeth cried.
“No, it is not. And while there may be grains of similarities in our tales, I firmly believe that Mr. Darcy loves you deeply and will not wish to treat you with such indifference. As I told you at home, your mother’s experience clouded what you heard her say, just as Lady Matlock’s experience affects hers. I think that you and Mr. Darcy will have what I do with your uncle. What do you think?” She took her hand and smiled. Elizabeth looked from one woman to the other and putting her hand to her mouth, ran from the room.
Lady Matlock sank onto the bed. “I frightened her.”
Mrs. Gardiner turned and glared at her. “You certainly did. I wish I had known your purpose; I would have made sure that Mr. Darcy came with us. How dare you presume to teach this lesson to my niece? This is my place, not yours! I am thankful that I spoke to her first, and can only hope that my lessons are the ones that she remembers. Is your marriage so cold?” The Lady stared at Mrs. Gardiner for her audacity then sighed.
“No, but my daughter’s is, I gave her the speech that you must have delivered to Elizabeth earlier, and she was so terribly hurt when her wedding night was as I just described. I thought it would be better to prepare Elizabeth for the possibility, rather than live with the disappointment.”
“Surely you cannot believe that Mr. Darcy would do anything but love her in the kindest way? Have you not seen them together? The man is besotted!”
“MR. DARCY, MR. WICKHAM HIS HERE TO SEE YOU.”
Darcy looked up from where he sat staring at his hands. “Wickham? Did he state his business?”
“No sir.” Foster said tonelessly. “Shall I tell him you are unavailable?”
“No, send him in.” Darcy sat back down and glanced at his father’s portrait, then turned his eyes back to the doorway.
“Darcy!” Wickham came in amiably and offered his hand, which was ignored. He took a seat and smiled. “You look well. The past years have agreed with you.”
“What do you want, Wickham?”
“What, no inquiry after my health?”
“You appear to be breathing. What do you want?”
“I thought that I would pay a call on my old friend, is that so wrong?” He grinned and crossed his legs, then looked around the room. “Ah, I missed this room, I have not seen the like anywhere, except perhaps at Pemberley. I see that you have not changed a thing, why I could imagine your father stepping through …”
Darcy sat forward. “State your purpose or be gone.”
Wickham laughed uncomfortably seeing that Darcy was not going to play along. “Well … I suppose that your time is valuable so I will get to the point.” He cleared his throat. “As you know I have been studying the law …”
“No, I do not know that, I would not be surprised to learn that you have spent the last two years as you have every other year of your adult life, drunk, dissolute, and let me guess, now destitute?” He spoke softly, “Tell me Wickham, have you run through my father’s money and now come to me begging for more?”
Wickham’s charm disappeared. “You know that I did not get what I deserved, Darcy! That living was worth far more than three thousand!”
“You had four. You have no estate, no dependants, there is no reason for you to have gone through that sum in two years unless you wasted it on gambling and whores. I doubt that you set foot in a classroom since you left Pemberley.”
“I want five thousand more.” Wickham declared.
Darcy’s voice remained steady and cold beneath his growing fury. “And I want my parents alive by my side. Unfortunately we cannot always get what we want.”
Wickham’s mouth opened to reply when Elizabeth appeared at the door. “Fitzwilliam, I …” She saw Wickham and blushed. “Forgive me Mr. Darcy; I did not know that you were entertaining.” She saw the anger in Darcy’s eyes just as he saw the distress in hers. He stood immediately and strode across the room.
“It is fine, he was just leaving.” Darcy took her arm and led her into the hallway and whispered as they entered the music room. “Please wait here, Elizabeth. You should not be in this man’s presence.” He returned to the study. “Put that down, Wickham.” He snarled. “And stand up. You are leaving now.”
“Who was that? It was rude not to introduce me.” Wickham replaced the silver letter opener on the desk. “She seemed to be quite familiar with you …Fitzwilliam.” He smirked.
“Do not presume to lecture me on behaviour. Get out, Wickham. I told you never to come near me, my homes, or my family again. You signed the agreement; you have no business with me.” Two burley footmen appeared silently. Foster hovered in the background.
Wickham noticed the reinforcements and stood up to bow. He walked past Darcy then paused and murmured, “She is beautiful, Darcy. Send word when you are through. I do not mind sharing.” Darcy grabbed him and threw him into the arms of his men. They hustled him out and onto the street. His hat was thrown at his feet. Darcy stood in the hallway attempting to regain control, and Elizabeth appeared from where she had been listening with her hand to her mouth.
She flew to his side. “Fitzwilliam, who was that? Are you well?” Darcy looked down into her worried eyes and kissed her hand.
“I am fine, dearest. He is an old thorn in my side who came back to demand more blood.”
“I do not understand.” Elizabeth reached up to caress his face.
“Elizabeth …” He took her hand and pulled her into the study, closing the door behind them. He held her face and searched her eyes. “What is wrong? You were crying when you came to me.”
She held his face the same way. “Who was he?”
“Nobody. Dearest what happened? You were distressed when you arrived and now you are in tears. Did something happen upstairs?”
“I am well now; please tell me what that man …” Her questions were silenced with Darcy’s kiss. He drew away and was gratified to find her eyes closed, and her face relaxed. Gently caressing her cheek with the back of his fingers he tenderly kissed her again, then moulded her body to his, nestling his mouth against her ear.
“Tell me what is wrong, my love.” His lips touched her throat and he rested his cheek in her hair, unconsciously swaying as they stood embraced. It was exactly the reassurance she needed, and she gave in to his desire to help her first.
“My aunt … spoke to me of … marriage today.” She whispered. Darcy’s eyes opened and he drew an unsteady breath. “She told me what will happen between us and … how.”
“How?” He said shakily. “What do you mean?” In response, Elizabeth shyly pressed herself against his body and he sighed when he understood. “Oh my love.” His lips found hers again. “Did it frighten you?”
“No …Yes … I …I was embarrassed, but her assurance that it was something to be shared and enjoyed for both of us made me …made my thoughts wander in unseemly ways.” She opened her eyes when she heard his delighted chuckle. “Fitzwilliam!”
“Forgive me my love, I was only imagining what you might have imagined, and I am eternally grateful for your aunt’s preparation. Her vision of our marriage is the same as mine.” He kissed her gently on her brow, then her jaw, and back to her lips. “But that does not explain why you arrived here in tears.”
“Your aunt also decided to speak to me of the marriage bed.” She hid her face back against his chest. “It was all about submission and duty.” She looked up when he swore under his breath, “You will come to me, take your pleasure, and leave.”
“No, I will not.” Suddenly he let her go then taking her hand, opened the study door, quickly moved into the hallway and started up the stairs. “Come.”
“Where are we going?”
“To show you OUR rooms.” He walked determinedly and came to the door to the mistress’ chambers. Inside he
found the two aunts. “Ladies, please leave us.”
“Darcy, you know that we cannot do that!” Lady Matlock cried.
“I need to undo the damage that you have wrought, Aunt. Submit to me? Who are you to know my mind or my marriage?” He growled. “We will be along soon enough. Please leave us.”
“Five minutes, Mr. Darcy.” Mrs. Gardiner said softly and met his eye. He nodded and the women departed. Mrs. Gardiner squeezed Elizabeth’s free hand as she walked past.
Darcy turned to her after shutting the door. “Now then, I will show you these rooms as I intended. This is your dressing room, which will very soon be filled with the most-envied gowns in all of London.” He took her to the bath and pointed at the tub. “This is where you will soak in scented water, and enjoy the finest soaps and wrap yourself in silk robes.” Feeling the time passing, he pulled her from the room and hurried her along with him to enter the sitting room, and touched a beautifully bound book and set of pens, a silver box containing a bottle of ink alongside it. “This is where you can record your thoughts in this journal that waits for your memories to fill its pages.” Elizabeth looked up to smile at him and laughed as he pulled her out and across to the nursery. “This is the place where our child will sleep.” At last his frenzied tour stopped. He stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his hands over her womb. “Someday.” He whispered in her ear. They stood silently looking at the empty room for a few moments while his lips gently caressed her throat, then found her mouth when she looked up and back to him and whispered, “Someday.”
Breathing heavily he took her hand and slowly led her from her chambers and into his. He again stood behind her, and embraced her waist, placing his hands over hers as they looked over the vast empty bed. Feeling her tremble, he kissed her hair and closing his eyes, nudged some tendrils away from her ear. Tenderly he suckled her soft lobe and he spoke huskily, sending frissons of desire through her body. “And this, my love, my Elizabeth, is where I wish to sleep with you in my arms, every night for the rest of my life.” He turned her around, again holding her face in his hands and looked into her eyes as his mouth hovered over hers. “If you wish.”
“Oh yes, Fitzwilliam, I do.”
Elizabeth opened her arms and he gratefully fell into them while simultaneously encasing her body in his embrace. They kissed slowly and he groaned when her hands ran down his back. “Elizabeth …” His kiss instantly grew deeper and his hands just started to move down her shoulders when a loud insistent knock sounded from the mistress’s chambers. Startled he jumped, then swallowing hard; he gazed at her. “You cannot know how beautiful you are, or how dearly I want our wedding day to come. Please Elizabeth, do not fear me. I cannot bear it.”
“I will not.” She kissed him lovingly and touched his mouth. “Thank you for your reassurance.”
“I am sorry that it was needed.” He stepped away and lifted her hand to his lips. Elizabeth’s gaze moved to his breeches and her hand went to her mouth as she gasped. Darcy looked down then back to her face. She met his eyes and understood the desire that she saw there. He smiled slightly and kissed her. “Go to your aunts, dearest. I will be along soon, when I am presentable again.”
Elizabeth nodded and could not help but steal another look at the prominent display. She bit her lip and startled when she heard his soft chuckle. He kissed her hand then placed it over the arousal, letting her feel the length and hardness, then hearing another knock, kissed his stunned bride and sent her from the room.
“Lizzy?” Mrs. Gardiner asked when she opened the door. “Are you well?”
“Oh, oh, yes Aunt. Mr. Darcy made his …wishes for …everything quite clear.” She drew a deep breath and glanced back in the room, the feel of his desire was very clearly impressed on her mind. The older women exchanged glances and Mrs. Gardiner took Elizabeth’s hand.
“Come my dear, we shall await Mr. Darcy downstairs.”
Lady Matlock led the way through the house and by the time they arrived in a sitting room, Elizabeth had regained her equilibrium. “I … I seem to have had an unexpectedly thorough education today.” She said quietly and the ladies laughed. “Well, it is probably far more than most girls receive!”
“I have no doubt of that, Miss Elizabeth.” Lady Matlock sighed. “Please accept my apology for frightening you so. I did not mean any harm, and I am delighted to see my nephew’s response, although I question his method of reassuring you.”
“Why would you do that? Surely his method should affirm exactly how he intends to conduct his marriage. If it were a heartless coupling he would have dismissed Elizabeth’s fears out of hand and called for tea.” Mrs. Gardiner raised her brows and Lady Matlock raised hers.
“Well, perhaps he would not be quite that dismissive, but I see your point.” She smiled. “I am happy for you, dear. This is rare in our world.”
“Yes, and Lizzy, when and if the time comes for Jane, leave me to do the talking. If she does marry Mr. Harwick, it will be much more like the description that you heard from Lady Matlock than the one you heard from me.”
“Oh how sad!” She cried. “But he is such a kind man!”
“He is, very kind, and I do not see him harming her, but I also do not see him loving her.”
“Harwick? Jeffery Harwick? His wife died in childbirth?” Lady Matlock asked. “Oh, yes, that was a great love affair. He looked upon her with the same adoration that Darcy has for you, my dear.” She smiled with the memory. “I remember how they danced together at our home several times, the tongues of the room wagged with gossip. He was devastated when he lost her. Yes, my husband said that he is courting your sister. It can never be a love match for him again, I am sure.”
“He has made it clear that he needs an heir and that is his purpose in remarrying.” Mrs. Gardiner explained.
“Mmm, so he does. It will be a very advantageous match. It is a very good family, although there is a great deal of tragedy. His sister’s marriage was a disaster. They were hoodwinked into accepting a man who enjoyed his gambling and cards a great deal. One evening he did not come home, and the next morning his body was found in Hyde Park, the result of a drunken duel. We never heard the exact detail of how it came to be. The man who shot him naturally fled the country to avoid prosecution. Mr. Harwick senior had died just after her wedding so at least he never witnessed this sadness. She is a good girl though.” She mused thoughtfully. “I understand there is a plan afoot to bring your father to town?”
Darcy’s voice answered her as he joined them, taking a seat next to Elizabeth and smiling at her suddenly blushing face. “Yes, we intend to show him precisely what his daughters will receive as our wives, and thought that an introduction to Uncle would not hurt.”
“Ah, scare the breeches off of him with a peer?” Lady Matlock smiled. “You are wicked, Darcy.”
“I am prudent, Aunt.” He smiled and tilted his head to Elizabeth. “And you agreed, Elizabeth.”
She startled when he addressed her so informally then smiled warmly. “Yes, Fitzwilliam, I believe that it will do him a great deal of good.”
Lady Matlock looked between the two and glanced at Mrs. Gardiner’s raised brows before returning her gaze to Darcy. “Perhaps we can have a family dinner one night at Matlock House?”
“I would not wish to put you out.”
“You have no hostess yet.” He immediately took Elizabeth’s hand and kissed it. “No, I will be glad to host it. It can be the Bennets, Gardiners, Harwick and the houses of Matlock, and Singleton.” Lady Matlock nodded. “Richard will undoubtedly welcome a good meal, so we can bring him home for the evening, and you, Miss Elizabeth, will help me to do all of the planning, from the menus to the flowers. This will be an excellent opportunity to expand your education.”
“Oh, thank you, I … I hope to learn a great deal.” She felt Darcy squeeze her hand and smiled playfully. “And I hope that I will learn your favourite dishes to include in the menu.”
“Yo
u sound like your mother.”
“Does that frighten you?”
“It does.” He laughed to see her brows rise in mock indignation.
“Just wait until I begin having fits of nerves!” Elizabeth threatened him and he groaned.
“What else do I have to look forward to?”
“Hmm, perhaps I should leave that as a surprise.” Elizabeth’s eyes sparkled and he drew a long breath while he smiled.
“I believe that we have been forgotten.” Mrs. Gardiner said to Lady Matlock.
“I am delighted to see it.” She then cleared her throat. “Now then Miss Elizabeth, we shall discuss redecorating your rooms and walk through the house making note of other changes that are necessary. I am afraid that my brother rather neglected things after my sister’s death, and Darcy has not really had the time or interest to address decorations.” She looked at her nephew. “I am certain that you have work to do?”
His eyes narrowed as his aunt presumed to take charge again. “Yes, it is walking with Elizabeth.”
“Do you really wish to talk about fabrics and wallpaper?” Her eyebrow lifted in amusement. “Even if it is in our company?”
Elizabeth saw his hesitation and laughed. “It is fine, Fitzwilliam, I will find you when we finish.” He nodded and they all stood. She took his hand in hers and while the aunts spoke she whispered up to him. “And my dear love, I have not forgotten your unhappiness when I came into your study. I have learned that you will tell me in your good time, and when the moment is right. Am I correct?”
Darcy’s face reflected his surprise then changed to a warm smile. “Yes, my love, you are correct. It seems that we are beginning to know each other well.” He brushed her forehead with his lips, and laid his cheek on her hair for a slight embrace, looked down at their entwined fingers for a moment, then let go.
As he walked from the room, he heard Elizabeth’s voice suggesting a little loudly, “Now then I have always been fond of a particular shade of orange …” He groaned loud enough for her to hear and was rewarded with her answering giggle. Smilingly, he continued on his way.
