In The Gallery

The hour was late, but the Master and Mistress of Pemberley were far from retiring for the night. Darcy and Elizabeth were still in the drawing room where they had lingered after supper. Elizabeth played the pianoforte upon her husband's request, while he stood leaning against the instrument, listening and admiring her play.

Earlier that evening, the servants had been dismissed for the night, and Mrs. Reynolds understanding the newlywed's need for privacy had ensured that all of them were in their respective quarters. Thus, Pemberley was quiet and in slumber save for that one room where Mr. and Mrs. Darcy enjoyed each others' company.

The lights were dimmed and the curtains drawn except for the ones in the window facing the gardens and the lake. The cups of tea Darcy and Elizabeth enjoyed after their meal had long since gone cold. Darcy had switched to brandy, and upon seeing the curiosity in her eyes, offered his wife a taste, to which Elizabeth had declined. It was only on the third offer that she had relented to her adventurous nature.

Her husband handed her his glass, Elizabeth accepted and tentatively sipped a small amount, the brandy burned a line down her throat, making her cough a little. The experience was different but she liked the warm feeling it gave. On the next sip she was more prepared, therefore more confident, Darcy smiled at this.

She handed the glass back to her husband with a triumphant smile, Darcy chuckled and Elizabeth watched as he drank the remainder of its contents. It was an intimate thing, drinking from the same glass, she mused, his lips touching the rim in the same place hers had. Somewhat like kissing. Elizabeth studied Darcy's lips and how they probably tasted of brandy just now, oh but she wanted to kiss him! Alas, her plan would be thwarted for the object of her study suddenly stood up and requested from his wife to play in the pianoforte.

To this Elizabeth agreed, for despite not being able to carry on with her plan, she was very much aware of the sentimentality of his request. The last time she had played alone on the instrument and he stood to watch her, was in Rosings before that disastrous proposal.

Thus they were pleasantly occupied for the next hour, each fondly remembering little moments in their courtship, neither one noticed the time pass. Such was the feeling of contentment that settled over them, they were the only two people in the world. Elizabeth played and sung for her husband, and Darcy watched his wife in complete adoration. Indeed, the way he looked at her was so impassioned that she blushed, her fingers fumbling more than once on the keys.

Darcy watched Elizabeth with a full heart, a pin had come loose in her hair, causing a little dishevelment. He envied the tendril of hair that had escaped its confines, for it caressed her nape the way his hands wanted to. He imagined running his fingers across her nape and trailing his mouth there.

Elizabeth felt his gaze become hot, it was most fortunate that she could call upon her impertinence, for it enabled her to continue without melting into a puddle. Elizabeth smiled archly at her husband and gave him the smallest of winks, earning her such a smile that rendered his face all the more handsome, it took Elizabeth's breath away. She gazed back at Darcy, her fingers forgetting that they played for music.

Darcy went to stand behind Elizabeth as she sat on the bench. He laid one hand on her shoulder, the other he slid to the side of her neck, caressing its softness. She sighed and leaned back, pressed her back to his body. Darcy's hand slid to the opening of her dress, his fingers skimmed the tops of her breasts.

He leaned down and whispered in her ear. "Elizabeth. Wife." Darcy sat down behind her on the bench. "What is this spell that you have cast on me?" He kissed the sensitive skin behind her ear. "You have no idea the intensity of my longing for you, for even when we are together and I am inside you, I still want more." He moved the tendril of hair and kissed her nape, wet, hot kisses that seared her senses.

Elizabeth's breath caught at her husband's passionate words, she turned her face and kissed him, her hand cupped his face. "Fitzwilliam. Husband." she said against his lips, then pulled away and looked into his passion-filled eyes. "I perfectly understand your longing, for it is mine as well. The very thought of your body on mine sends me into a fever."

Elizabeth stood up, faced her husband and kissed him deep and slow. His arm encircled her waist, one hand moved to her chest and sought the opening of her dress, it delved inside and found her full breast, warm and soft to his touch. Elizabeth moaned from the sensations he made her feel. They kissed slowly, each savoring the freedom of physical love as only a husband and wife in love could.

After a while, Elizabeth drew back and kissed her husband's brow. Their foreheads touched. Each saying a silent prayer of gratitude for their union. In the hall, the clock struck two in the morning. Darcy heard this dimly and was roused to the lateness of the hour.

"Mrs. Darcy, I think it is time we retired to our chambers, what say you, wife?" To this Elizabeth replied with a grin "That is an excellent suggestion indeed, Mr. Darcy."
Darcy snuffed out the candles save one which he carried by its holder. He took his wife's hand and led her out into the hall.

The winter moon cast its glow through the tall windows. Husband and wife, arms entwined, crossed the hall and ascended the grand staircase. A small but intriguing smile played on Elizabeth lips, this caught her husband's notice and he inquired what had her smiling.

"Could it be that you are thinking of your handsome husband?" He asked mischievously. Elizabeth replied "Yes, actually. I was thinking of you." She dropped a kiss on her husband's shoulder but did not explain further.

Darcy was intrigued. "Well you cannot leave it at that, Lizzy!" To this she replied with another arch smile. Only his Elizabeth could convey such teasing and mystery in one smile. Darcy found this utterly endearing, she was a breath of fresh air!

He wrapped one arm around her waist and lifted her off the steps, so surprised was Elizabeth that she was barely able to suppress a squeal, she wrapped her arms instinctively around Darcy's neck.

"You ridiculous man!" She giggled. "Put me down, you shall make us fall and break our necks! And then what will the servants say? What will my mother say?"

Darcy was thoroughly enjoying himself. "Not until you tell me your little secret." He said with mock seriousness, his lips twitching with suppressed laughter. "Tis no secret, I shall tell you in exchange for a kiss." Elizabeth replied laughingly.

They had reached the upper floor now, Darcy set the candle on a nearby side table. He shifted Elizabeth so that he carried her in both arms, then pressed his lips to hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled brightly at him then pointed to the direction ahead of them.

"Turn there." She giggled. Darcy did as she bid. Still holding Elizabeth in his arms, they entered the gallery where the portraits of generations of Darcy's hung proud. The light of the moon streamed through the glass panes of the windows providing much illumination to the room.

"So this is my means of conveyance now? I suppose then that I must be grateful that you have strong arms!" She squeezed her husband's arms teasingly. Darcy chuckled at their silliness. She was good for his soul indeed. "Stop here please." Elizabeth pointed to the spot in front of the portrait of the current Master of Pemberley, her husband. Darcy lifted his eyebrows in question but obeyed and set her down on the floor.

Elizabeth took Darcy's hands in hers and led him nearer to the portrait. "I was smiling because I remembered that it was probably upon seeing your likeness here in your home, so free of all the pride and hauteur that I mistakenly saw in you, that I fell in love with you." Darcy drew her hands to his lips, his gaze so piercing that Elizabeth could hardly breathe. "I had convinced myself, you see that I had no regrets in refusing you. But after seeing your portrait, after hearing Mrs. Reynolds talk so heartily of your goodness, that I began to accept that in essentials you were very much the superior."

"Elizabeth." Darcy whispered. His eyes held hers, showing her the depth of his love for her.

"Of course, it did not hurt also that I was reminded of how handsome you are!"

Darcy's laughter rang through the gallery. He gathered her in his arms and inhaled the scent of her hair. For a moment they looked at his portrait. "Do I really look like that?" He asked Elizabeth.

"Are you wanting more compliments, husband?" She teased. "Was the word 'handsome' too subtle for you?"

He nipped her chin. "Minx." He chuckled. "I meant, do I really give that look? I look annoyed."

"Fitwilliam Darcy does not express annoyance, only distaste." She said in mock seriousness. Darcy threw his head back in laughter. Elizabeth was happy to be able to see him laugh so often and so freely, and it further warmed her heart that she was the reason for this.

"Elizabeth, how I love you." Darcy said softly. He kissed her tenderly, she placed her hands on his chest, feeling the beat of his heart.

The winter moonlight reflected on a tall mirror positioned on the opposite wall, this caught Darcy's attention and a gleam formed in his eye. He pulled Elizabeth the short distance, they now stood facing the mirror. She in front, he at the rear.

"What are you about, William?" Elizabeth asked suspiciously.

"Am I not allowed my own secrets?" He teased, then continued "You know that I have loved you far longer than you have loved me." He looked at her reflection in the mirror. Elizabeth started to argue but he quickly shushed her. "'Tis the truth, wife." He said with a smile. "But what you do not know, is that during the long period of my unrequited love for you, and in my complete frustration, I had the most, ah, creative dreams of you." At this Elizabeth's eyebrows rose. "One particular dream, my favorite one, actually happened in front of a mirror."

Elizabeth was astonished. "Do not tell me Mr. Darcy that you plan to enact an obviously naughty dream here in the gallery?" Her heart beat with excitement. In answer he took her hand and cupped it against his crotch, Elizabeth's eyes widened then she blushed, Darcy's member was straining against his pants. His smile was seductive. "But we are not in private." Elizabeth said. Darcy's hands came around to cup her breasts, squeezing them through the fabric. Her head fell back in a moan.

"What if we are seen?" She protested feebly.

"By whom? Everyone has been in bed for hours, Mrs. Reynolds is very strict." His tongue darted into her ear, his one hand moved inside her dress to cup her breast. His other hand pulled the hem of her gown and petticoat up to her thighs. It found the softness under it. Elizabeth's skin tingled from Darcy's touch, her brain refused to work, indeed she could not remember why she tried to dissuade her husband from this for it was all very, very good.

Darcy pulled down the upper part of Elizabeth's gown, revealing her stays which strings he impatiently tore at. When this came off, he pulled down the front of her chemise to reveal her breasts. Elizabeth gasped at her husband's hunger, she reveled at his impatience to have her. Darcy looked hungrily at his wife's reflection, she was a goddess, in the moonlight her skin was like alabaster, his deysire for her was great. "Look at your beauty." He whispered in her ear. "See what I see whenever I make love to you. You make me forget everything but the taste of you on my lips."

In the mirror, Elizabeth's gaze was locked with his. Darcy squeezed her nipple, the sensation elicited a deep moan from her. Seeing him caress her body this way and feeling the effects of it greatly stimulated Elizabeth's blood. She wanted to devour him.

His hand reached under her petticoat once again to cup her core, Elizabeth whimpered, he inserted two fingers into her already wet opening, her mouth opened in a tiny scream. Elizabeth tried to focus on their reflections in the mirror, she looked wanton! Partially undressed, one breast exposed, the other covered by Darcy's large hand, skirts raised, her husband's fingers thrusting in her core. The image was so erotic that Elizabeth felt herself become tighter, her body was racing to an overwhelming release. Darcy knew that Elizabeth was nearing her climax, her inner walls pulled at his fingers, he quickened his thrusts and Elizabeth fell apart in his hand with a cry. He released her breast and covered her mouth with his hand to muffle her screams. Waves upon waves of sensation rocked Elizabeth's body, when the last of the sensations were gone, she leaned limply against her husband.

Darcy's body was rigid with desire, it demanded that he join with her then, he could wait no more. He turned her around to face him and lifted her up, he guided her legs around his hips and leaned her against the wall. With one hand he opened his pants and freed his rock-hard erection. Elizabeth limp with satiation, barely knew what was happening until she felt Darcy's cock thrust hard and sure into her, a scream escaped her mouth. She could feel his erection filling her completely, her slick walls glorying in the friction, her hunger for him instantly rekindled. Darcy found one breast with his mouth and suckled hard, hungry for her taste. Elizabeth was wild with desire, his strong arms supported her as though she weighed like nothing. His strength excited and exhilarated her. She pushed off his jacket, pulled at his neck cloth until it unraveled. She was beside herself in her need for Darcy, she tore at his waist coat then finally at his shirt. Elizabeth's hand explored Darcy's hot skin, she raked her fingernails along his back, Darcy groaned thrusting deeper still and more violently against her heat. Elizabeth cried out, she bit his shoulder then sucked on that same spot. She licked her husband's neck and bit his jaw, his blood raced. Her hands fisted in his hair, and their gazes locked, hot and urgent. Every thrust, every moan fed their white-hot fire, Darcy captured Elizabeth's mouth with his, thrusting his tongue inside as his rod thrust deep and fast in her core.

Panting sounds and deep, sensual moans filled the gallery.
"Come with me, Elizabeth." Darcy said fiercely, "You are so tight, so lush, feel my cock in you." Elizabeth's desire engulfed her, she bit his lip and rocked her hips in time with his thrusts, moaning his name the whole time. "William, you feel so good inside me, do not stop, do not ever stop!" she cried as her body was wracked with her orgasm, her core beckoned him to follow. Darcy could contain it no longer, his hands which cupped her buttocks, squeezed, and with one hard stroke he poured all his yearning and desire into Elizabeth, exulting in his release. Mouths fused, they swallowed each others cries of completion.

Breathing heavily, Darcy pulled out from Elizabeth, then softly set her down. They leaned against the wall, Darcy wrapped her in his arms and kissed her forehead. Elizabeth looked at her husband in pure love. They held each other's gaze for a while and chuckled softly at the success of their recent endeavor.

"I suppose we can cross that out from your list?" Elizabeth teased. Darcy's smile was huge. "Oh no, no my love, that one definitely needs to be redone. It was not performed completely to my satisfaction."

"Oh you beast!" his wife replied with a laugh, nuzzling his neck. She exhaled heavily. "I shall never make it to our chambers now, you have drained me of all energy. You will have to carry me back, Mr. Darcy." Elizabeth said very prettily.

And so her extremely satisfied and agreeable husband did as he was bid.