A/N: This is the last chapter I am posting this evening/morning. I JUST POSTED CHAPTERS THREE - FIVE. Make sure you read those first!
Through the door, they heard a distinct chime followed by another. They drew away from each other. They were much too near for either's own good.
He was ready for her to make her excuses and be off to bed, but she surprised him.
"So, how long of duration is your friendship with Mr. Bingley?"
"Since Cambridge."
"He is a most amiable man and seems of good character. Can you vouch for it?"
He looked at her with questioning eyes. He had come to terms with her sketching his character, as she did so with humor and grace he found more appealing by the minute, but for her to bluntly question his dearest friend's was concerning.
"Charles Bingley is one of the best men I have the pleasure calling a friend. His character is impeachable, and I would vouch for it in any manner required."
She smiled at him. "Loyal, too."
"I do not have the pleasure of understanding you, madam."
Before he realized the umbrage he was exuding, she pointed it out. "Sir, I did not mean offense and pray you forgive me for causing it. You, see, I am a fierce protector of my sister… of all of them."
He still failed to understand her. "I, too feel the same towards my sister as she is the only one of immediate family I have left. But, I do not understand where your question tends toward my friend. He is an honorable man."
"Perhaps, I should clarify that I am a guardian of my sister's heart. Her heart is all that is pure and good, and I do not wish to see it damaged. If it were, I fear it would be irrevocable. Please do not make me explain my concern any plainer."
Ohhhh.
Pictures and scenes of his friend in the company with Miss Jane Bennet shuffled around his mind until they were well ordered and he clearly saw his friend's actions for what they were. While he himself was being a besotted fool pining after one Bennet sister, his friend was pining after another.
Unfortunately, Darcy was in a difficult place. He did not wish to speak anything close to ill of his friend, but he felt he owed Miss Elizabeth the truth.
"I understand the sentiment very well. I suppose Miss Bennet to be much like my gentle sister, Georgianna." Really, he understood much too well, for he had seen the havoc heartache could cause in one so tender.
"I have seen Charles in love many times over with nothing coming of it. I do not know the current state of his affections. But, I do maintain my friend's decency and integrity. He would never raise expectations where he would not follow through. I do believe the best in him."
"Thank you. I will leave it to fate and not warn my sister, nor will I encourage her."
He nodded his silent agreement that he would leave it alone as well. She was correct, fate could determine the future of his friend and her sister.
"So, the younger sister protecting the older sister? Has it always been thus? Should it not be the other way around?"
"Well, Jane can certainly be everything the older sister should be when needed to manage us younger ones. But, she is too sweet and tender by half, always seeing the best in the world no matter how untenable a situation, and she is too willing to take too much on herself, even to her own detriment. I will always do what I can to guard her."
She looked out over the gardens, and he saw the watery eyes she was doing her best to hide from him. She was fidgeting with the fridge on a pillow she moved over her lap and finally gave a smile to the sky.
"I am just enough critical and can see the world for what it is, and I possess an even judgement to foil or temper Jane's overly good nature when needed. It has always been so, and I will always seek to shield my dear sisters from hurt if is in my power."
Fitzwilliam rose and looked down thinking her special combination of sincerity and fearlessness was just what his dear sister needed… it was what he needed too.
"Even judgement, Miss Bennet? Really? I do believe you have called me everything from charming and a man of good sense to proud and disdainful. Pray forgive me if I call to question your even judgement."
She picked up the pillow and threw it at him. He laughed imagining her wanting to do that many times before now but being restricted by the etiquette required in polite company. Oh, he much rather enjoyed spending his time with her this way.
"Are you to point out my defects now, sir? Perhaps it is my own wounded pride that lead me to be a little too prejudice in my assessment of you."
"Wounded pride? Who could wound you so? Surely not me. If anything, I am sure I have gratified your vanity."
Elizabeth pulled her knees up on the bench now that he stood across from her perched on the billiards table. She held her hands out and studied her fingers. "Truly? You are too teasing by half, sir. Let us drop that subject."
"Very well. So, Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn in Hertfordshire. The second sister, but the protector of all. Generous friend and neighbor who puts forth the effort to care for everyone. Impeccable judgement… especially when it comes to gentlemen of questionable character. An impertinent mixture of wit and kindness… even a kind word for our hostess, Miss Bingley. Avid reader. Intelligent. Great walker. Novice billiards player with some potential. Finds amusement in all things such as hiding in the drapes to avoid being forever compromised by a man she may very well despise… You too may be a complex character madam, but I feel I have enough information to form a rough outline. And, I think it is only fair. But, tell me what else should I add to my portrait of you?"
He was too afraid to say aloud everything else he thought of her… beautiful face, shapely hips, full breasts, succulent lips, delicate skin, expressive eyes that pierced through him, teasing, tempting, perfect…
"Well, I suppose you might add very expert dancer."
"I have not experienced it for myself since you saw fit to decline me… twice."
"Fine, in all honesty, you may add resentful… which I believe is the reason for not dancing with you. I dare you to puzzle that one out for yourself, sir. But, you may add a redeeming quality of loving my family with all my heart and owing them my loyalty." She quietly added, "They are not perfect, but they are mine and the family God has blessed me with."
He studied her not understanding what she meant by describing herself as resentful in declining his requests or why she grew so quiet over the subject of her family. But, it made him think of his own.
Georgie was all he had. His mother had been gone over ten years and his father over five. What he would give to have them back, even for a day.
Though Elizabeth's family left much in the way to be desired, she clearly knew the value in having them close… and above the ground. She did not take their presence for granted as perhaps he had done in his youth with his own… or how he took Georgianna for granted until this past summer when the worst had come to pass.
What did it matter the Bennets were sometimes uncouth, vulgar or, as in the case of her father, nowhere to be found when restraint was required? They were good people who loved each other and protected each other. That was everything which was good and honorable.
If she knew how he judged them or the remarks he had made about them on occasion, she would surely never speak to him again. He felt fully rebuked though she had not been direct.
So lost to his own thought, he did not notice her pushing up from her seat to stand in front of him until she reached out briefly and placed her hand over his only to quickly withdrawal it.
"Mr. Darcy, I can sense family is important to you as well. My guess is you are not only a protective older brother as you described, but you are a doting one as well? I cannot imagine having full charge of one who is Lydia's age. It takes a good character to be father and brother so successfully. If Miss Bingley is to be believed by half, it sounds as you have done a wonderful job caring for her."
He raised his pensive eyes to her sweet face. Would she say the same if she knew just how deficient I was in Georgie's care?
"Thank you."
"I should now go to bed, but I cannot leave you frowning so." She crossed her arms and gave him a determined smile. "So, tell me, Mr. Darcy, before I drift back to my rooms, did you really intend to use your hard-won question only to ask me what I would in-turn have asked you?"
Absolutely not. You would not be standing here before me looking so lovely if I had asked for what I wanted. You would decidedly be much more disheveled.
He smirked at the thought and met her quizzical brow with the sardonic raise of his own. "You shall have to win next time in order for me to answer."
"I shall hold you to it then, sir."
He laughed as she dropped a curtsey. What use was a curtsey when she was in her dressing gown and they had skirted all propriety?
He hopped down from the table to return the gesture. As he rose from a deep bow, he grabbed her right hand in both of his own and raised it to his mouth. He took a deep breath and kissed her skin with slightly parted lips, lingering over her with his eyes closed wishing to always have her hand to kiss.
"Goodnight, my dear Miss Elizabeth. Sleep well."
He gave her hand a squeeze, not letting go, and opened his eyes to hers which were wide and blinking. Her bottom lip was trembling as it was caught between her teeth. She looked like a doe caught in his sights as if she knew the final blow was but moments away.
It was so endearing and tempting all at once. His desire to kiss her lips as he had her hand was overpowering. And, when he leaned his head in closer, so close he could sense she was holding her breath, he reluctantly gave her a smile instead and pulled away, dropping her hand. He wanted her to be at ease more than he dared to please himself.
Her hands came up to her face and he could see the deep blush which rested on her cheeks. She closed her eyes slowly, and he fought valiantly to not pull her into his arms when she finally returned his smile.
As quickly as she opened her eyes, she turned to fetch her shawl and book leaving him standing there. Before she turned the handle of the door, she looked to him. "Have a pleasant night… well, what is left of it. And, I hope your sleep doesn't terrorize you as it did this afternoon."
He could only find humor in that and was thankful the moonlight couldn't illuminate him so fully for her to see his own embarrassment from across the room. "One can hope."
To that, she quietly left him alone.
He let out a breath and threw himself into the window propping his feet on a pillow and leaning his head into the corner where he could feel just enough cool glass on his cheek to calm his racing heart. He looked up at the moon wishing it held the answer to the unasked questions which now lied within his chest.
He gravely miscalculated by walking into this room tonight. He had done the exact opposite of what he set out to avoid. He should have walked out as soon as he saw her.
It was not so bad that his honor was engaged.
No, it was worse than that.
He had felt the danger of paying her too much attention, and now he was sure his heart was as good as wasted and gone. It had followed her up the stairs.
The only redemption he could see was that he had only wanted to throw her on the billiards table six or seven times… nine at most. He could easily imagine her at Pemberley, as his wife, on a night like this when they could not sleep.
They would enjoy an evening playing games with each other, laughing and discussing nothing and everything. And, when she gave him that impertinent look or was too witty for her own good, he would lock the door and hoist her up on the table, legs dangling over the edge, where he would stand between them and run his hands from her ankles to her neck feeling every soft place he wished.
He would open her dressing gown, pulling it and whatever was underneath from her body throwing the unnecessary garments to the floor. He would run his fingers through her hair and kiss every captivating inch of her skin for his own pleasure and maybe driving her as mad in the process.
What would it be like to see Elizabeth Bennet lost in passion, passion for him? He could imagine her kissing him with the same vivacity and warmth that seemed to be innate to her.
Ohh…
He could envision her exquisite naked body pulling his over hers as she inched back on the table, her hands roaming under his shirt, her nails tantalizing his skin, down his back, farther, and into his –
"Ahem."
He opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling of the window nook. Please do not be her.
"I… well, I forgot my candle."
He did not respond and only closed his eyes in acute disgrace. She had been gone from his presence for all of two minutes and there he was allowing his carnal thoughts to go too far. Could he not wait until he reached the privacy of his bed chamber? At least he had not acted on them.
"I need some light to get back to my room."
He now chanced to look. It was a mistake. All he wanted to do was go to her and pin her against the wall until she returned each kiss with the same feelings which were pent up in him.
He could see the rise and fall of her breast from where she stood. He almost groaned when he saw her lick her lips before her intensely beautiful eyes met his.
If he moved an inch, he would be done for. He would act in such a way he would require a special license or be faced with pistols at dawn – her father meeting him on the field. Mr. Bennet may have seemed an indolent man, but he was a gentleman nevertheless.
As was he.
Focusing back on the ceiling, he wished her to get her candle and go before he lost all respectability.
He heard her whisper so quietly he could not make out what she said. As much as he wished to stand and at least acknowledge her, it was not possible, but he also could not fail to offer assistance if she had difficulty navigating back to her chamber. It was not as if he could call a maid to attend her.
"Shall I escort you to bed, Miss Bennet?"
No, no, no. "For your safety, of course. Only to your chamber door, that is."
She was silent. But, he still could not look at her. All he wished to do was sweep her up the stairs… to his bedchamber or hers. It did not matter to him which.
"It is probably better that you do not." He hardly heard her reply, but he clearly heard the door open and close.
He began to conjugate Latin verbs until he was master of himself… or at least until he rationally realized that after the night he just spent with her, it was likely he would never be his own master again. Somehow, in the span of three hours, he had relinquished some unknown power to her.
His heart had been fallow for far too long, and tonight something of promise had been sown. Something he never thought possible. If he chose to nurture it, perhaps the bounty would be beyond his wildest imaginings.
He swung his feet down and walked the corridors silently to his room letting the now bright, scattered moonlight show him the way among the shadows.
He was so distracted in thinking of all the possibilities Elizabeth Bennet presented to his future he could not help a small smile from gracing his lips or keep the occasional laugh from escaping where it bubbled in his chest. Thus, he completely failed to realize a candle was not required to move about on a night like this. Not by him, and most likely not by anyone else. No, with the uncovered glazed halls of Netherfield, the moonlight was quite sufficient.
A/N: So... what are you all thinking? I would love to know!
Oh, and I am purposely withholding Elizabeth's POV. Maybe at the end, we will get an idea of her thoughts. I seem to think she just now may be a little less oblivious.
PS - I am working on proofing/editing the next couple chapters of my other story. Hopefully, within the week I can update. (But, don't hold me to it. Work is brutal right now!)