Previously:
She called for her mare to be brought around, and while she waited, she looked around for Darcy. He was no where in sight. The groom came back with her horse, and he helped her mount. Sitting atop her mare, she looked for Darcy. Finally she saw him come into view. Her pulse started to thunder at his windswept appearance. Slowly she spurred her horse into action, moving slowly to her knight.
Chapter Three:
Darcy saw his wife riding her mare towards him at a fast clip. Knowing it would be a moment or two before she reached him, he allowed his mask of disinterest slip. He looked at her with all the love he really felt. He wore his mask more as a guard against others than a guard against his wife. She knew she held his still beating heart in her hand. She always would. Likewise, he knew that power he held over her with the love she gave feely. There was one arena he would forbid his cynicism touch ever again, and that was in the arena of the heart.
Elizabeth pulled up her smaller black mare aside Darcy's large gray stallion. Elizabeth saw Darcy gazing down on her with a very hooded look and she smiled at him, brilliantly. She knew that her smiles always disarmed him when he was trying to be guarded. Darcy shifted uncomfortably in the saddle. That made Elizabeth's smile brighten; she hit the mark.
Trying to distract his very persistent wife, he asked, "My dear, did you not say that we would me after luncheon?" He pulled out his pocket watch, "It is an hour and a half until luncheon." He looked at her and smiled his reserved yet boyish smile.
"Exactly!" Elizabeth stated brightly, "An hour and a half too long."
Darcy shook his head and replaced his pocket watch in his waistcoat pocket, "How are you going to explain to Cook that we missed Luncheon because of you?"
Elizabeth straightened with mock indignation, "My fault that we missed luncheon! That would be as inconceivable as me being 'tolerable' or 'not handsome enough to tempt'! Aside from that, if she were to speak to me in a manner unbefitting for the mistress of Pemberly, I would demote her to ladies maid…"
"…That is considerably unfair that you keep bringing up my momentary lapse of judgment against me. And, wouldn't it be a promotion?"
"…And she can wait on my Mama hand and foot when she comes to visit next." Elizabeth shot him a look, "And I was only savoring your downfall, my dear. In the most loving of ways, I assure you."
Darcy grimaced, "You'd not do something like that to a poor woman, would you? I am quite fond of her tarts. Most especially her strawberry tarts. By the way, it is most uncivil to taunt your poor husband." The last was said quickly and in a flippant manner.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes, "Men and their stomachs. No, I'd not do that to Cook. After all, I am quite fond of her, and I think it would be easier to take her notice of leave than to give her to my mother. That would be most unfair of me." Elizabeth started to go on, but then she realized what Darcy had said, "'Poor husband' Indeed!"
Sitting straighter on her horse, she walked it forward a bit and looked back to Darcy, "We all know that I can 'temp' with the best of them and that I am more that 'tolerable'." With a seductive smile, she bolted of down the field.
Darcy broke out in a purely sensual smile as he spurred his stallion into action. Didn't they say that they chase was better than the capture? Well, not in this case. The capture would out shine the chase…and if he had anything to do with it, but leaps and bounds.
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Back at the house an unexpected visitor had arrived; a guest that one would rather not see at the house of the newly wed Mr. and Mrs. Darcy. A woman foul enough to ignite even Jane's temper. A lady we all know as Lady Catherine.
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