This is a story that I started well over a year ago and began posting here, chapter by chapter, as I had done with all my previous works. It received a marvelous response and I was looking forward to posting the whole thing before, eventually, removing it for publication.
Unfortunately that plan had to change. A large portion of another story I was posting at the time, One False Step, was stolen from this site and published under a different title and author on Amazon. I protested and the pirated story was removed, but the incident prompted me to look into the issue of piracy more and to realize, belatedly, how vulnerable I had left myself when I posted my stories here. It was not just my work that had been stolen, but the work of several other authors as well, and all of us were at risk of losing control of our intellectual property.
But the story pirates didn't just take our stories- they took our ability to communicate with our readers, to entertain them freely, to build up a relationship with them over time. They stole our audiences along with our words and ideas. I was determined not to let the thieves have the last say.
All of that is leading up to this disclosure: Duty Demands will, to the best of my ability, be published in its entirety on this site before it is removed for publication. It will be published slowly over time and the final product may not be up here for long, but it will all be here. I hope you choose to read it knowing that it may be removed faster than you like. If you choose not to read it, I understand, but please proceed with this understanding in place.
If you want to read ahead in the story, you will find most of it already published on one of the larger JAFF blog sites. If you want to know the exact site, please contact me privately. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy this story.
-Elaine Owen
CHAPTER ONEElizabeth Bennet Darcy jumped at the knock that sounded on the communicating door between her room and that of her husband, who had been her husband for all of twelve hours. The sound was expected but still sudden and startling. Without further warning, Darcy entered the room.
"Leave us," he said tersely to the maid, although the instruction was unnecessary. She had already abruptly put down the brush she was using on Elizabeth's long, loose curls. She made a swift curtsey and addressed Elizabeth. "If that's all you'll be needing me for, ma'am?"
Elizabeth did not answer. Indeed, she could not have answered if her life depended on it. The maid left, with a smile of encouragement for her mistress, and Elizabeth was alone for the first time with her husband.
She watched in the mirror as he slowly approached her from behind, noting that he was in a wine colored housecoat that made him more handsome than ever. She herself was clad in the new white nightgown and housedress purchased for the occasion, and lovingly packed for her by Jane just this morning, a lifetime ago. Darcy halted directly behind her and laid a hand gently on her shoulder. "You are beautiful, Elizabeth."
"Thank you, sir." Elizabeth could not get any more words out. Her throat had gone suddenly dry.
"No matter how lovely you looked in your wedding finery this morning, you are even lovelier to me now."
"You are very kind."
Darcy's other hand descended upon her other shoulder, and he bent to kiss the curve of her neck. "I shall make you happy, Elizabeth. I swear it—and the oath shall be kept."
"I shall do my best to please you," she answered unsteadily, feeling the warmth of him on her skin and against her back. What other remarkable sensations awaited her, she wondered. Hill had given her rapid instructions this morning on what was to come, but she had been too nervous to ask many questions, and had instead turned away with dread in her heart. But the moment was now approaching quickly.
Darcy's hands had traveled caressingly down the length of her arms, and he now took one of her hands in his, lifting her to her feet. "Then—shall we?" he asked, motioning towards her bed with his free hand. She nodded dumbly and followed him as he guided her to it. The coverlet had already been turned down, and he indicated that she should get in and pull the blanket up around herself. She did so and waited as he joined her, casting aside his robe.
She understood her duty well, and was determined to fulfill it as soon as possible. She was to produce a son, in accordance with the marriage contract signed by her uncle, the heir needed by Pemberley for the continuation of the family line. To produce that heir she must take Fitzwilliam Darcy into her life, her heart, and her bed. This was the price of her family's security. For her family's sake, she would pay any cost, suffer any indignation, and willingly take on every task asked of her.
Darcy's arms gently enclosed her, and her eyes drifted shut as he began to fulfill his husbandly duties. She was now Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy, and her life would never again be the same.