By that evening, all were safely ensconced at Darcy House and under the watchful eye of Mr Darcy. Even Richard made good on his word and arrived with his sharpened blade to Darcy's utter disbelief.
It was not much of a challenge to get the Bennet ladies to pack their trunks, the younger sisters and even Elizabeth's mother longed to see the inside of such a magnificent house. Jane however, did not wish one way or the other. Elizabeth had noticed how quiet she had become in recent days, hoping that the connection with Mr Bingley, now even stronger, was not the cause of such a disheartened mood. Elizabeth knew that this would throw her sister into the path of her husband's best friend, an agony Jane could do without.
The house was now full, a total of two men and eight ladies were now calling it home, temporary but still none the less, home. Darcy had never had so many people under his roof and hoped that there would be enough rooms to lose himself in, if the company became overbearing. He decided to give the morning room over to the ladies, a pianoforte stood in the corner, which he knew Mary would make use of and the light was particularly good in that part of the house, ensuring adequate brightness for any sewing that would be done.
After everyone was settled and the arguments as to who would get which room ceased, they prepared themselves for dinner. Darcy made his way to his wife's chambers, where she was dressing, "Oh William, you are way far ahead of me, I would not have expected you dressed so soon, there is still a full half an hour until Dinner," Elizabeth said as her husband made his way over to her and dismissed her maid. Taking the role of the abigail, Darcy turned Elizabeth around to face her back and commenced fastening the hooks to her dress. After completing his task he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and rested his chin upon her shoulder. Looking at his wife in the mirror he could not believe she was of the same blood as her younger siblings.
"I came up early before my head exploded, are your sisters always like this? I now understand why you went on your long walks each morning," Darcy said rubbing his forehead, hoping to erase his mild headache.
Elizabeth sighed and lent her head against his, which was still resting on her shoulder, "They are rather a handful, it is mainly Kitty, Lydia and my mother, Jane is all ease. However, I am worried about her at the moment, she is too quiet, I will have to speak with her," Elizabeth said as she turned around. Peering into her husband's eyes, she noticed he looked tired, the circles under his usual bright eyes were evidence of the previous sleepless night, "William, you look worn out, maybe you need to take a tonic before you retire tonight and go straight to sleep."
The bleak expression on William's face was something he could not conceal, "You mean we are to sleep in our separate bedchambers?"
"No, but you need sleep, we were awake far too much last night, I know it was to be expected but we both need our rest," Elizabeth said on turning her husband around to face the mirror so that he could see for himself, "Look at those dark circles, they do not become you."
"We can go to bed early then, I need you after the day that I have had, I was looking forward to our time alone." His look had now gone from grim to hopeful, Elizabeth knew that she could not resist him, not when she longed for his company too. She smiled and acknowledged an early night would be a good idea. However, she then pondered on the challenge of how they would retire at such an early hour, without causing suspicion.
On entering the dining room, Lydia gasped at its grandeur, "Lordy, what a site! It is out of this world, such opulence!" she exclaimed and started to spin around with her arms splayed out. On seeing this, Mrs Bennet took action and grabbed Lydia by the hand and told her to behave.
Having experienced on several occasions, Lydia's clumsiness and a vast array of broken ornaments, it would not do for her to act in such a way within the confines of Mr Darcy's home. Heaven forbid she were to knock over one of his priceless ornaments or artefacts, which adorned nearly every surface. "Behave Lydia, you are clumsy enough at the best of times, think of all these fineries and how much of your allowance it would take to repay for any breakages you make," Mrs Bennet chastised under her breath. On hearing this Lydia became sober to the fact that it would indeed take the rest of her life. Could I go without pin money until I drop, she thought.
Everyone took their preferred seats, Elizabeth broke with protocol and sat next to her husband, Georgiana sat opposite and the rest of the party took their places further down the table. The Colonel was not present as he had made prior arrangements to dine with his parents at Matlock House, just a short distance away. Darcy thought it rather convenient as he could see his now youngest sister was rather a handful and to have a person of the militia present would just make matters worse.
"Are you not sitting the other end Lizzy?" asked a confused Kitty.
"No, I will sit next to William, I know it is unusual but I don't want to sit that far away. Mama, if you wish you may do the honours of taking my place, or sit where you like if you do not wish to." Elizabeth said pointing to the chair at the other end.
Mrs Bennet chuckled and agreed, thinking how nice it was to sit in the space reserved for the mistress, she sat with an over exaggerated amount of elegance making Kitty chuckle, "Mama, next thing you will be doing is drinking tea with your little finger sticking out."
"There is nothing wrong with a bit of class," she whispered to Kitty, who was on her right.
"So Lizzy, are you holding hands under the table? Is that why you want to sit next to him?" Lydia voiced rather loudly.
"Do not be so silly, I just wish to sit close by and enjoy his company," Elizabeth said turning her head to gaze upon her handsome husband.
"I must admit if I was married to someone I was so desperately in love with, I wouldn't venture downstairs for a week!" Lydia sighed, thinking about the many redcoats she had encountered the year before, whilst in Brighton.
"Lydia! I think that is enough! Don't you?" Mrs Bennet commanded, shaking her head in bewilderment at the crassness of her favourite. In the present company of someone such as Mr Darcy and his sister, Mrs Bennet was beginning to see how unruly her youngest daughters were behaving, in comparison to the quiet Miss Darcy. Have I been too soft on them, she thought. Mrs Bennet realised that by Elizabeth marrying Mr Darcy, the whole family had been elevated to a higher social standing. Indeed, they had a history of several generations in the gentry but Mrs Bennet, although hopeful that her daughters would make a fine marriage, felt it was too far out of their reach. Now that Elizabeth had managed to catch her rich husband, it would now throw the rest of her family into the paths of other rich gentleman. She surmised that Lydia's, and to a degree Kitty's, behaviour would need to be checked from now on.
"Oh mama, I am just having a bit of fun, Mr Darcy is alright with this, aren't you?"
"Depends Lydia what you meant… oh and please, call me William, as I am family now I think it only right," Darcy insisted and in doing so was able to change the subject in hand rather speedily.
"Oh I thought you would prefer Mr Darcy above any other name?" Jane enquired.
"No, I don't mind in the present company, as I am now your brother, although I hope Mrs Bennet, that you forgive me in not calling you mother. I have not called anyone that for sixteen years and it just does not sit well with me."
"That is fine William, you may call me Blossom if you wish."
"Blossom?" Darcy said thinking it an unusual name.
"Yes, my father had a thing for horticulture, all his children have names associated with plants and the like."
"Oh mama, I have just got the connection, your maiden name was Gardiner, oh how funny that is," Lydia laughed.
"Well I think it is endearing, shows an affection in grandpa," said Mary.
"How so Mary, to call his children plant names is silly, even more so if your family name is Gardiner. For example, look at Aunt Rose, her name was Rose Gardiner before she became Mrs Phillips," Lydia snorted across the table, however her ramblings soon became mute when the first course was brought in.
"Are you well Georgiana? You are rather quiet," Darcy said to his sister, who was giving a good impression of a wallflower. She had sat there for most of the past half hour just listening to the goings-on around the table. How she longed for sisters and now she had five, she found it all rather intriguing.
"Yes brother, I am just taking everything in, it is rather lively to say the least but I am enjoying all the goings-on exceedingly," she said as she saw Lydia grab the ham that had just been brought to the table.
On seeing this Elizabeth remarked, "Lydia, you will turn into a pig if you are not careful with the amount of food you are consuming today, I saw you with all that cake earlier on."
"It is not everyday we get to eat like this Lizzy, this is all rather splendid. I must say Mr… William. Gosh! This is going to take some getting used to... I think you have a very fine cook, much better than Mrs Hill, I could eat all day if this was served to me."
Everyone enjoyed a wonderful meal, the cook took pride in having managed to prepare 3 courses, at such short notice. Last but not least, came the delights that Darcy had particularly requested that afternoon, unbeknownst to Elizabeth. A small parcel was placed before each lady and on opening they all discovered a small assortment of fine chocolate truffles. A plethora of gasps echoed around the room, "Oh William such a treat, chocolate!" Elizabeth exclaimed.
"Well I thought it would be a nice gesture, you nearly did not get them though, one of the footmen was sent out this afternoon to purchase some but only arrived back an hour ago. They were in rather short supply at the Chocolatiers, so had to purchase what he could, then travel across town to the other establishment."
After enjoying their delights, the party moved to the morning room for refreshments. As Darcy was the only gentleman in the party, he forwent the traditional brandy and accompanied the ladies directly. Elizabeth, being host, handed out the tea and coffee with Jane's assistance. She had to pull her sister out of her mood, she had noticed throughout dinner that she had only said one thing, which was unlike Jane who had all the ease of conversation.
"Jane, will you accompany me to the modiste tomorrow, I wish to purchase some more gowns. William gave me my allowance this morning and he gave me extra for my trousseau. I think I need to buy them whilst I am in London as I do not know if there are any decent places to frequent in Derbyshire. I noticed this morning that my gowns are so poorly made and I never wasted much money on fine fabrics, they look worse than the servants clothes." Elizabeth said.
"You were never good at needlework, your head was too far into your book to allow you learn properly. It will be nice to spend some time with you, away from everyone."
"Jane are you alright? You have been very quiet of late."
"I am fine Lizzy, my head is in turmoil over the fact that I will indeed at some point be reacquainted with Mr Bingley, but I will have to approach that issue when it happens. I am thinking too much on the matter and know I should not. We can talk more later, I do not wish to discuss it here, not with everyone present."
"Very well Jane, but we will have this conversation again, I feel terrible that I have put you into this situation," Elizabeth said with remorse.
Jane looked at her younger sibling, how could she think so, she had not only put her reputation on the line for their safety but had fallen in love and was only following her heart when she married the man of her dreams. She could not blame her for her present state of mind.
"Lizzy, do not think that, we will discuss this again, maybe in a day or two." Elizabeth nodded in agreement and continued to hand the beverages out to everyone.
It was a matter of a few minutes before Mary spotted the small pianoforte in the corner of the room, "William, do you think it would be acceptable if I were to play a tune on your pianoforte?"
But before Darcy could respond, Lydia bellowed, "Mary we are not prepared to sit through any of your tunes, they are all rather dreary, we need something lively, maybe we can dance? Did you bring your Playford's Dancing Master with you?"
"Yes, it is in my room, do you wish for me to get it? Oh, if it is alright with you, William?" Mary said eagerly, hoping that at least she would be able to sample the grand instrument.
"Yes it is fine, go get your music."
She made her way to her new chambers as fast as she could without seeming like a tearaway running around the halls of a fine house. When she returned Lydia insisted on her playing Mr Beveridge's Maggot, a tune that everyone knew the dance to. Even though the piece was for more than one instrument, Mary was able to play the tune adequately.
"Lizzy, will you be dancing? I noticed how wonderful you two danced last week, when you filled the room with your waltz," Jane said.
Elizabeth looked at her husband and he shook his head, he was still tired and felt he did not have the energy, even if it was to dance with his wife. She declined but insisted on Georgiana partnering Jane and for Kitty to dance with Lydia as the piece required at least 4 people.
An evening was filled with dancing and merriment, Lydia exclaimed that she could not dance much more after the first hour, indicating that she was too fat to continue. At this point Elizabeth pointed out the effects of too much food on one's body, "It is all that cake and ham, Lydia, it serves you right." Lydia on hearing this pulled a face at her sister and went and sat beside her mother, whom she cuddled up to for the rest of the evening.
"You should have danced my love, they do say practice makes perfect," Elizabeth whispered as she came to hand her husband another beverage, Darcy looked up and gazed into her eyes, which were dancing with mischief. "Do you not think me perfect enough wife?" he whispered back.
"Oh yes, but we can still practice, can we not?" she said as she sat down to his right. Darcy just smiled at her deliciously and without anyone noticing stroked her cheek with the tips of his fingers, sending shock waves through her body.
It was not long before Georgiana decide it was time to retire and therefore Mrs Annesley would also retire and spend the rest of her evening in her room, reading. Darcy could see that the Bennet clan were a long way off of calling it a night, so he vented his tiredness by over exaggerating a stretch and yawning rather loudly.
"One would think you are tired my love, why do you not go to bed, I will be up shortly."
At this, Lydia hummed in a mocking way and winked at her sister. Darcy ignored Lydia's childish response, stood and bid everyone goodnight.
After he was out of earshot, Elizabeth turned to Lydia who was still giggling at what had just happened, "Lydia, if you do that once more I will send you to your chambers where you will remain until we depart for Pemberley."
"You cannot do that, only mother can!" she exclaimed.
"You are wrong Liddie dear," Mrs Bennet said, "This is Lizzy's house, she is mistress and what goes on is up to her, besides you are being rather disrespectful to your new brother, who has done everything in his power to make us comfortable and you repay him with mockery and embarrassing comments. It is about time I take you in hand and check your behaviour young lady. I will no longer allow you to act in such a way, not now that we have been elevated in society." At this, the youngster looked down at her hands which were in her lap, not realising how this may have come across, "I was only having a bit of fun," she voiced.
"But it is at other's expense, now please Lydia, keep your comments to yourself before my husband cannot take it any longer. Now it is time for me to retire, it has been a long day, I hope you all enjoy the rest of the evening."
On entering her bedchambers, Elizabeth saw that her husband had already readied himself and was in bed. "My Love, I am sorry about my sister, I have just given her a few home truths, I am sure she will behave in future. Mother has also stipulated that she will reign her in more now."
"Do not worry yourself, I found it all rather amusing," he said to his wife's astonishment, "Lydia is young and as headstrong as my wife, although I imagine you were never as forward as her."
"No I was not, I was able to hold my tongue when needed. Lydia on the other hand does not have the capability to turn her ramblings off."
"She will learn, now come here Mrs Darcy, I will help you out of your gown," he said with a salacious grin.
Darcy's hand wondered down her back, reversing the work he had done only hours before, "This dress becomes you very well Lizzy, however you are more beautiful without it," he said as he pulled it down her body to expose her stays. Pulling at the laces, it did not take long before Darcy had those thrown to the floor and within minutes his wife was standing there allowing him to gaze upon her bare womanly figure, "Oh Lizzy, you are a goddess, you are so beautiful. How I came to deserve you is beyond me," he said as he took her into his arms and pulled her down to the bed.
"Make love to me Lizzy, I want you, need you so much," he said whilst he rolled her onto his chest.
Elizabeth kissed him tenderly, she ran her hands across his cheeks and into his sideburns, teasing them with her finger tips and sending a shiver through his body. She moved to bite his earlobe and then dipped her tongue into his ear, making him cry out with lust. She had found a pleasure spot and quietly congratulated herself. She continued to kiss and bite her way across his jaw, neck and torso, aiming for his manhood. Darcy knew what was in store, he loved it when his wife took charge, not knowing what she had planned was so arousing. He closed his eyes hoping that this would mimic the blindfold and allowed his wife full reign of his body. "Yes!" he gasped as she took him into her mouth, he could feel her tongue swirling around the tip of his yard, running over his most sensitive spot. "Oh Lizzy, you are such a marvel, a wondrous being," he stammered.
Before Darcy fell over that edge he knew so well, Elizabeth stopped and climbed on top of him. She sank down, engulfing his engorged masculinity within her wet warmth. Darcy immediately sat up and held her in his arms, whilst she rocked a familiar rhythm. Gazing into each others eyes they reached their peak together, stifling their groans of release with a searing kiss. Darcy laid back down, pulling his wife with him, they fell to sleep in each others arms, Elizabeth still with her husband deep inside of her.
It was six o'clock when Darcy woke, they were still in Elizabeth's bedchambers. He had experienced a rather restless night, everything had been turning over in his mind. He was now head of a household full of ladies, what a change it had been from the week before. He was on his own then and now he had Richard and all these women to look after. Whilst looking down at his wife who was cuddling up to him for warmth, he surmised that he would not change anything. He had his Elizabeth, her family were a nightmare, to say the least, but they were good kind people at heart, just a little more wayward than he was used to. He even surmised that he was beginning to get used to Lydia and he even dared to think he found her rather entertaining, in a childish way.
Elizabeth stirred, "Morning Mrs Darcy," he said as he kissed her forehead.
"Mm... morning, what time is it? It's awfully early William, how long have you been awake," Elizabeth said looking through the gap in the drapes and noticing it was still dark.
"It's just after six, I can't sleep."
"I thought you would have slept well, you have exerted enough energy to make you sleep for a week, these last couple of days," Elizabeth said remembering their love making, "Let me rub your shoulders and back William, it may help you rest and you do not have to get up for another couple of hours at least."
Darcy agreed and lay on his front, Elizabeth got comfortable and started to massage his shoulders and back, paying particular attention to the knots in his muscles. "William you are so tense, you really need to wind down somehow before bed and before you say it I do not mean with me."
"Lizzy! You are not saying you would push me out of your chambers, if I am like this?" Darcy said in a panic.
"No, of course not, neither of us will get any sleep if that happened, I mean that maybe I should do this before you go to sleep."
"It is helping, I can feel the tension melting away." Within 10 minutes the room had gone quiet and the only noise was a soft snore coming from Darcy, Elizabeth snuggled back down beside him and went back to sleep.
–
It was around eight in the morning when Kitty went to her mother to ask if the sisters could venture out for the day, "Kitty, you and Lydia will need to take a manservant with you, Lizzy has stipulated that if you are to leave you need to have someone with you."
"But mama! that is unfair, I only wish to go to the market to see if there are some silk threads as I wish to make Lizzy something, to say thank you for all they have done."
"But you need someone with you, what if someone was to come up to you and accost you?"
"Who would do that?" Lydia said in a huff.
"People who live here have money, therefore it only follows that there are a lot of chancers and pickpockets waiting for you to venture out. No, you need to have a manservant with you!" Mrs Bennet said firmly.
On hearing this, Kitty was not happy, she ran out towards Lizzy's bedchambers, hoping that her sister would take her side. On opening the door, she however came to a standstill when she gazed upon not only her sister but her new brother, sound asleep in bed. Kitty just looked, taking in the sight, she thought it so beautiful, both sound asleep and their hold on each other looked so tender. It was a few moments before Kitty realised she was just staring at them, she turned to leave, quietly closing the door behind her. Going back to her mother she surmised, "Fine mama, I will take a footman with me." she said as went back to her bedchambers and continued to get ready for the day.
It was not until nine o'clock before either of the couple woke again, "Hell!" Darcy shouted as he shot up, "I have never slept in this late, Elizabeth why didn't you wake me?"
"Because I was asleep also, I only woke up on your jolt."
"Oh I am sorry my love, I didn't mean to imply it was your fault, I need to make sure I know everyone's business of the day before people leave," he said whilst settling back down next to his wife.
"I think mama and Mary are staying in, Jane will be helping me in my chambers to sort out my clothes. I need to go back to the modiste at some point, I wish to have some items made before we depart, do you think we have time?"
"Yes she is good, Georgie has several dresses made in less than a week. The modiste has many seamstresses working for her, I will take you and Jane later this morning."
"Oh yes, I forgot your rule, are you sure you can spare the time? I could take a manservant if you are busy."
"Nonsense I wish to show my wife off," Darcy said with a grin, "Now Mrs Darcy, where is my morning kiss?"
Elizabeth lay there gazing into the eyes of her lover, who was laying beside her, holding her tenderly, "I love you with all my heart," she said as planted a tender kiss on his lips but it ended all too soon as it was late and Darcy had a full day ahead of him.
The atmosphere was intense when the couple eventually entered the breakfast room. Kitty had sat herself as far away from the head of the table as possible and would not look up from her plate. Now realising her intrusion into her sister's room was not the right thing to do, made her feel a wave of guilt rush through her body. Lydia was sniggering into her toast and marmalade, she knew what had happened as Kitty had the stupidity to tell her rather loud and brash sister of her encounter with the couple that morning.
"Did you have a lovely lie in Lizzy?" Lydia asked.
"Lydia, I would stop right there if you wish to leave the house today, remember what I said to you last night," Elizabeth warned.
"Why can't we go out on our own? We did before," Lydia queried, not understanding the full extent of the situation.
"Because it is not safe out there," is all Elizabeth was willing to say.
"Mama said something about chancers and pickpockets, do you think they are waiting outside to see who is leaving which building?"
"They do have people who watch out for that sort of thing, so you need a man with you, I will not let Elizabeth out on her own so I will certainly be ensuring you have someone with you Lydia," Darcy commanded.
"Oh… Alright, if you insist, Kitty and I wish to go to the market later, can we take a footman with us?"
"Yes," Darcy interjected, "You can take Fred, he can carry your purchases for you. Do you need any money?"
"Oh I wouldn't say no," Lydia beamed with delight, "How about five pound?"
"How about a pound each for yourself and Kitty, that is enough for now." Lydia pulled a face but was still thankful.
After breakfast, Darcy and Elizabeth moved to the study to have a quiet moment. On closing the door, Darcy grabbed his wife and planted a slow lingering kiss on her lips, "Oh Lizzy, do I have to go until tonight to have you?"
"I am afraid so William, we should have not slept so late," Elizabeth said trying to reflect her husband's advances, "We certainly cannot go back upstairs and I am certainly not doing anything here."
"Not even if I lock the door, please? We wont even need to undress, I can just pull your skirts up," he said with a boyish grin.
"Then I will look dishevelled when I leave here and mother will know what we have been up to."
"So? She was once a newlywed, I am sure your father had his way with her in his study."
At this Elizabeth blanched, "Oh heaven forbid William, I do not need that image in my head."
"Then let me take it out of your head," he said as he planted a kiss on her neck.
"Oh, you know that does things to me, but I am determined that you will not have your way with me in here," she said pulling away from his hold and moving to a safer distance from her eager husband.
"Lizzy, you look so beautiful when you are flushed, do you realised you blushed all through breakfast, I was certain you wished for me to place my hand on your knee under the table," he said trying to wind back her affections, but it was to no avail. Moving over to the settee, Elizabeth took a seat to calm herself, she knew that she had been aroused by her husband's attentions to her before she pulled away but could not let her husband get his way.
"No William, I am adamant, my family are on the other side of that door, I will not indulge!"
"Fine, have it your way my love, but may I remind you that not two days ago you promised to obey me, are you now going back on your vows?" he said clutching at straws.
"William, I will obey when it is the right time, the right time is not now, we have to think sensibly in these matters, you are being rather outrageous in your attempts to have me, not you at all."
"I know, you do that to me Lizzy," he said trying to calm himself. He walked over to the window and spotted Lydia and Kitty leaving, then shortly followed by one of the footmen, "Good, your sisters have gone with Fred, I did wonder if they would ignore my request and run off."
"I don't think so, not after your words this morning, you sounded like papa with your commanding that she take someone."
"Did I really, I am sorry, I am just anxious they see the need in this. I do not want to scare them with the truth. That there is a madman out there, possibly with the intent to injure or hurt someone close to me, that includes them."
Elizabeth walked and melted into her husband's arms. "I love that you have taken everyone under your wing, I love you, you are the best man I have ever known. But enough of all this, I think we need to get ready so I can get my trousseau sorted out."
As they left the study, the butler came up to Darcy and handed him the post, "Sir, you have an express."
"Thank you Gladstone," Darcy said as he turned back to the study, "Lizzy I will only be a minute, please go find Jane and ready yourselves so we can leave in half an hour."
Darcy returned to his room and commence to open the express, as he unfolded the letter a small piece of cloth fell to the floor. What is that?Bending down to pick it up he noticed his monogram on the corner and realised what it was, he could see the stains on the small piece and knew it was a small section of his handkerchief he had used during their love making. Dear God! he thought. With unsteady hands he opened the letter and was shocked to see George Wickham's handwriting.
Darcy
As you can see, the enclosed is a reminder of your happy afternoons with your now beloved Elizabeth.
I am sure you do not wish for it to become general knowledge that you bedded her before you wedding day and the unusual circumstances that surrounded such meetings. A neck cloth of all things Darcy, I didn't realised the only way you could bed a woman is for her to be in ignorance, that is pitiful.
To keep my silence I demand five thousand pounds by this time next week. I will send further instructions as to the exact time and place for the exchange and the following items will be returned to you.
One very soiled handkerchief,
One copy of the Hackney driver's accounts, showing your payment to him for a month from your wife's family home to Darcy House on a daily basis,
One signed statement from Mrs Dukes, giving full descriptions of the happenings each afternoon.
If you do not comply, I will have no other choice than to go to one of the London papers, I am sure they will love this.
Hope you will see fit to accommodate my request.
GW
Darcy sank down into his chair, what was he to do? Richard! I must find Richard!
