Prologue

Pemberley, 1834

Warm beams of sunrise wakened Darcy and while rubbing his eyes he reached for his wife next to him. Elizabeth was wide-awake and gazing at him lovingly. Pulling her in a tender embrace his mind went back to the happy time when he had been courting her. Was it really over twenty years ago that the magic of her fine eyes had enraptured him? Time had been kind on her, nothing betrayed her age of forty-two as yet. Her figure was as slender as it used to be, giving birth to five children had not altered that. Their youngest, Abigail, had been born only two years ago.

"What are you thinking about, my love?" Elizabeth rubbed his hand with her own while kissing his cheek.

"I was thinking about your never fading beauty. How do you do it?" He meant every word.

"How do I do what?" Elizabeth played along.

"How do you keep me under your spell? How can you be so perfect as a wife, a mother, a lover and a friend?"

Elizabeth chuckled at his compliment and leaned her head against his chest. "Well, my dear Mr. Darcy, it may have escaped your notice how stubborn, strong-minded and forward your wife is. Aren't those deplorable faults in a wife?" Her teasing was light.

"Not in my wife!" He assured her passionately and claimed her lips before she could even think of a reply.

Her breathing quickened at his touch, her entire body tingled in excitement. Bursting with desire she gave in to the pleasure of his lovemaking, her heart was racing and beaming with love.

"I love you, Fitzwilliam Darcy. So much that I'm afraid to say it..." Her voice faded away, she felt tears welling in her eyes.

Kissing away her tears he caressed her long tresses with his right hand while rubbing her full lips with the other, her lips were quivering. "Never be afraid of your love for me, dearest, loveliest Elizabeth. You know that my heart is yours, now and always. Promise me never to fret at the thought of our happiness and never doubt my love for you." His voice wasn't more than a whisper, it sounded raspy and tender at the same time.

Abigail chose just this moment to wail for her mother. "Mama! Up!"

Both parents followed their daughter's calling to the crib; Darcy's heart was melting as he watched his wife picking up the little toddler.

"Come take her to our bed," he suggested.

Remembering the wonderful times when Abigail had been sleeping in their bed Elizabeth carried her daughter to the bed and lied down with her husband, Abigail lying between the loving couple.

"Isn't she perfect?" Elizabeth's eyes moistened at the sight of her dark- haired daughter.

"Just like her adorable Mama. She has your smile."

"And your wonderful dark eyes," Elizabeth responded with a smile.

"Mama, I up. I go garden?" The little toddler was playing with a curl of her mother's hair.

Before Elizabeth could respond Darcy caught her off guard and planted a kiss on her mouth. "My two angelic girls," he sighed. "Lizzy, I have an idea what we could do on this glorious Sunday!" His smile was as impish as it was loving.

__________________________________________________________

Alexander William Darcy had chosen this Sunday to return home to Pemberley from Oxford. As much as he loved studying the law he regarded Pemberley to be the only home he could ever imagine and, remembering the surprise he was bringing along he returned home just the more excited. Being the Darcys' oldest child he was now twenty years old and determined to make his parents proud in many ways. Mother nature and God had been generous what his natural gifts were concerned. He had inherited his father's handsome looks even though he looked less like a womaniser than his father. Where his father's appearance was tense, masculine and stern his features were soft, joyful and kind. His goodness, inherited from his aunt Jane added to his character as much as the wit he had inherited from his still beautiful mother.

Then his mind took a turn to the woman who accompanied him home. Just the thought of Diana Montgomery made him smile adoringly at the woman who was sleeping by his side. The streets were not rocky, thus her sleep remained undisturbed. As the carriage came to a halt in front of Pemberley Diana stirred and rubbed her eyes.

"Are we there yet?" Her question was dizzy.

Alexander gave her an impish grin and rubbed her hand.

"Welcome to my home, Sleeping Beauty!" His love for teasing his fiancé got the better of him.

Before he knew it she had poked him in the stomach lightly just to kiss his cheek afterwards.

"I can't wait to meet your parents, Alex."

"Me neither!"

Alex helped her out of the carriage and felt his heart beaming with joy at her admiration for his beautiful home.

____________________________________________________________

"What were you having in mind, Papa?" Elizabeth chuckled at her husband's playing with their daughter.

Darcy tickled Abigail's feet while running his other hand through his wife's long dark tresses. "I was thinking of a picnic!"

"Picnic!" Abigail cooed in delight.

"I believe the mistress of the house already sanctioned your idea, William."

"What about the mistress of my heart then?" His hand was rubbing her shoulder now. She beamed at his touch.

"I believe she would adore the idea..." Elizabeth tried to remain calm but her husband's tenderness soon melted her reservation.

"Well, my dear Mrs. Darcy, I believe that we'll be off for a picnic then." He gave her a last kiss and got up to get dressed. Elizabeth remained in bed to cuddle with Abby.

"Abby, honey, isn't your Papa the most adorable man in this world?" Elizabeth sighed loudly.

"Love Papa. An' Mama." Abby added with a grin.

Elizabeth smothered her with kisses causing Abby to giggle in delight.

"Are my girls having fun?" Darcy asked with a grin.

As usual Elizabeth was completely smitten by him. His appearance had not changed in all those years except for a few silvery curls in his raven black hair.

"Will you watch Abby while I get dressed?"

Darcy winked at Abby. "Of course I'll take care of my little girl!"

How wonderful it was to watch this adorable man with his daughter, Elizabeth thought. Of course he loved his four sons deeply but he had a very soft spot for his little daughter. Being born after several years of trying to conceive in vain Abby was the greatest treasure they ever received. Putting on a robe Elizabeth went in her dressing room and soon found a dress suitable for a picnic with her family.

Elizabeth felt as sting as she thought of her boys who were away at present. Alex wasn't due to return home from Oxford for at least two weeks and Charles, Dominic and William were off to visit the Bingleys and Tysworth Hall. Suddenly she felt William's arms around her.

"What is my pensive little wife thinking of?" His voice was close to her ear; she could feel his warm breath tingling her bare neck.

"I'm thinking of the children... William, where is Abby?" Elizabeth brushed a tear from her cheek quickly.

"Right here, Mama." Abby smiled, grabbing her mother's robe.

"Elizabeth, my darling, you were thinking of the boys just now, weren't you?" He was massaging her tense shoulders motioning her to sit down so that Abby could climb up to her lap.

Elizabeth sighed with pleasure at his touch, as usual he melted all the tension away. "Well, yes, I miss them. But I know, I'm acting like a goose. Missing my children who're just off for..." He silenced her with his finger covering her mouth.

"Never think you're acting like a goose because you love our children. It's perfectly natural."

"You don't think I'm foolish then?"

"Why of course not, my love. You know what is foolish though?" His voice was trembling.

"What?" She raised her eyebrows curiously.

"I am missing your kisses!" He kissed her neck.

"William!" Elizabeth blushed.

"That's perfectly alright. Who's foolish now?" He gave her the grin he only had for her and Abby.

"William, stop teasing me!"

"Give me a kiss then," he challenged her with twinkling eyes.

She obeyed him immediately.

____________________________________________________________

A gleaming Mrs. Reynolds greeted Alex and Diana.

"Oh, it's the young master! What a delightful surprise for us all! And he brings a lovely lady with him!"

Alex embraced his old nanny lovingly.

"It's good to be home again, Nanny. May I present Miss Diana Montgomery?"

Diana curtsied and smiled.

"I'm delighted to meet you," Mrs. Reynolds answered kindly.

"Nanny, where are my parents and Abby?" Alex inquired.

"They're outside somewhere, they went off for a picnic."

Alex took Diana's hand and pulled her towards the door.

"I know where they are, we'll find them."

Just as he had thought he found his parents at the lake. His father was playing with Abby while his mother was sleeping in the sunshine. At the sight of his son he jumped to his feet and came towards the couple with a smile, Abby right at his heels.

"Alex! We didn't expect you home until next week at least!" Then he turned towards his son's companion and his heart beamed at the sight of her. Her raven black hair fell down to her waist in huge curls, being a glorious contrast to her dark blue eyes; Darcy knew at once that her hair had a perfume of its own. Her gown, made of pink chiffon underlined her perfectly slender figure.

"Father, may I present Miss Diana Montgomery?" Alex beamed with pride.

"Miss Montgomery, I'm delighted to make your acquaintance. Please excuse my wife, she loves to sleep in the sun and so..."

Just then Elizabeth stirred and beheld her husband talking to a girl whose face was flushed, whether it was due to the sun or to her husband's charms was hard to determine.