(A/N) Hey yall! Sorry about the late posting. I changed the chapter at least four times from what it was originally supposed to look like so that took some time to conceptualize and write out. Happy Reading. I will update the 29th!
Previously: Darcy grabbed her by the waist and twirled her around until she was laughing and saying yes simultaneously. When he finally put her down she had to steady herself by holding onto the lapels of his overcoat. When her equilibrium had finally stabilized she looked into his blue eyes and smiled.
"Te amo más que las palabras pueden decir y hasta mi último aliento voy a seguir para mostrarle cuánto."
"Translation please." Elizabeth asked in a whisper
"I love you more than words can say and until my dying breath I will continue to show you how much."
"You should have said your proposal in Spanish. Maybe I would have said yes."
Darcy threw his head back and let out a hearty laugh. "I will keep that in mind next time." He said with a smile as he wrapped her in his arm and kissed her forehead.
Chapter 29- take it to the grave- What if Darcy compromised Lizzie . . . on purpose?
Darcy and Elizabeth stayed wrapped in their embrace for some time.
"My dear, I think I should escort you back to the parsonage. The rain seems to be stopping and we should leave before you catch a chill."
"And what of you Mr. Darcy, are you too invincible to catch a chill?"
"Of course, men do not fall prey to such things!" He said in an exaggerated manner with his chest sticking out.
Elizabeth laughed at his silliness and tugged his arm in the direction of the parsonage so that they may begin their journey back.
"Now that we are courting what would you like me to call you?" he asked her.
"What do you mean?"
"When we are alone, do you prefer Elizabeth or Lizzy? I have heard your sisters refer to you as such."
"Oh Lizzy is fine. What would you have me call you? Alejandro?" Elizabeth said in a terrible Spanish accent."
"No, any version of Fitzwilliam is fine."
"Any version?"
"Fitz, Will, William, Fitzwilliam."
"Fitzy?"
"No." He said with a pouty frown.
Elizabeth laughed at his sullen expression. "I will think about it and surprise you when I have decided."
"We will have to practice your Spanish if you wish to call me Alejandro."
"How can you make it sound so much better than I?" Elizabeth asked, slightly disgruntled at not being able to perfect the accent.
Darcy stopped walking and turned her to face him. "You have to roll the 'r' at the end, like this." Darcy said then proceeded to show her how to pronounce his name. After a few failed attempts Darcy just shook his head and said "We will keep practicing later."
"Wait, I think I have it." Lizzy said as she tried a few more times.
Darcy was not sure if it was the fact that he was watching her mouth so closely or that she was saying his middle name, but whatever the cause the outcome was the same. He grabbed her by the waist with one hand to pull her flush against his body and put his other hand in her hair and tilted her face up towards his. "My name is not important at the moment." He said before he kissed her. This time he was soft and gentle, allowing her time to become accustomed to the idea. He felt her lips relax under his and he began to coax her into the kiss.
Elizabeth was experiencing sensory overload and she loved every second of it. The thrill she felt every time they touched was nothing compared to the lightning what was currently coursing through her blood. She felt him slightly bite her bottom lip and, when she gasped against his mouth, he took full advantage by sliding his tongue into her mouth. The invasion shocked but thrilled her as she responded by putting her hands into his wavy, dark hair. She loved the feeling of closeness with him, but knew that they had to stop before they were discovered. She slowly put her hands on his chest and gave a slight push. "Mr. Darcy, you must learn to control yourself."
Darcy was saddened at the loss of contact but relinquished her. He looked into her eyes and could not feel an inkling of remorse for his forward actions. He held her hand and kept walking towards the parsonage.
On the way to the parsonage neither could think of anything to say. They just looked at the other, blushed, looked away, looked back, blushed and then laughed out loud. "We are being silly, Will."
At his raised brows she defended herself. "I am going to try out all of the names until I settle on one that I like."
"And the verdict"
"I do not like Will. It is too informal for you, even when we are being informal." She said with a laugh.
They continued to walk until the parsonage came into view through the trees. At the edge of the tree line, Darcy saw Mr. Collins tending to the flower bed in the front of his home and he got an idea. A terrible one but he could not help himself, it was too tempting. On the edge of the tree line Darcy stopped Elizabeth and turned to look down into her eyes.
Elizabeth was confused as to why he had stopped them. She turned to face him and ask, but the intensity in his eyes silenced her immediately. His face looked . . . feral. She took a stepped back but he walked forward towards her until she felt a tree at her back. He raised his arms to either side of her and she was effectively caged in. Elizabeth tried to swallow but her throat was drier than a desert. "Mr. Darcy…" She started in a whisper.
"What happened to trying out names?" he asked in a husky voice
She felt the warmth of his breath against her neck and a shiver of electricity ran down her spine. "Fitz..."
"I like that better. What do you think my love?" he said against her mouth in a whisper before he claimed her lips in a fierce kiss.
This kiss was different. Elizabeth felt warmth in her belly that spread through her body and exploded in her heart. This kiss was intense, it was desperate, and it was passion. She was not as experienced as he, but she responded with equal fervor. She grabbed the lapels of his jacket and slid her hands up his chest and around the back of his neck before they settled in his hair. She loved his hair. It was wavy and smooth. The texture was slick through her fingers and made her want to run her hands through it forever.
Darcy was excited by her response. He knew she was a passionate woman by nature, but he was more than thrilled by her response to him. He pulled her against his body and they fit, from head to toe. Every curve and crevice was nestled to its perfect counterpart.
Nearby Mr. Collins realized that his watering can had run out of water and he stood to refill it. He turned around to go fill it up but, when he turned around, he saw two people locked in an amorous embrace near the edge of the trees. He could not see who the man was but he recognized the dress of his cousin. She was wearing that dress at the breakfast table before she left for a walk.
Back up on the hill, Darcy pulled away slightly and looked down into her face with a mischievous smile.
Elizabeth looked into his face and laughed out loud. "Get away from me you terrible man." She said as she pushed past him and started walking towards the parsonage but was stopped by his hand on her wrist before she could get far.
"How am I ever to convince you to marry me if you call me such names?"
Elizabeth sardonically said "I do not think that your chances have been hurt, sir." Darcy smiled like Cheshire cat. "You do not have to look so happy about it!"
"How can I not?"
Elizabeth rolled her eyes at him. "I must go. Charlotte is surely worried that I have been gone so long."
"Meet me at the pond tomorrow morning." He said before placing a kiss to her forehead and walking away.
Elizabeth stayed where she was and watched his retreating back. When he was out of sight she let out a girly sigh before spinning in a circle and letting out a squeal that would have made Lydia proud. She turned to head towards the parsonage and saw Mr. Collins rushing off in the direction of Rosings. Thank goodness he will be gone.
Mr. Collins was in need of counsel. He could not find his wife and had no idea when she would be home so he could tell her about the actions of her friend. My patroness will know what is to be done about this situation.
Hurrying through the halls of Rosings, Mr. Collins felt a surge of pride that he was given free reign to walk around the estate unescorted. He walked to the private parlor where he always consulted with Lady Catherine and waited for her to arrive. Once she did, he stood and executed a deep bow that almost made his nose touch the ground.
"Mr. Collins I do not have time for trivial matters, but my butler said that your news is urgent so I will hear you but keep it short. My nephew is determined to ruin this family with that cousin of yours!"
"Oh Lady Catherine, the news I have is regarding my cousin. I saw her not an hour previous in an ardent embrace."
"With whom?" Lady Catherine asked with outrage and glee.
"I know not. I only could tell that it was she. I left immediately to come here and ask what I should do about her. I do not want her wanton ways affecting my dear wife, Charlotte."
"You must have her thrown out, immediately. I want her out of the parsonage within an hour. I will not have a woman such as her polluting the grounds of Rosings any longer." Or the lineage of this family.
"Yes you are most wise your Ladyship. I will have her taken to the town and on a post carriage right away."
"You do that and alert me as soon as she is out of the county. Make haste! There is not a moment to lose."
Darcy walked into his room at Rosings and found his mother and sister sitting in his bedchamber eating refreshments from a tray that had been brought to them. When they noticed him they both stood and stared at him in anticipation. "Well?" Georgiana asked when he continued to stare at them.
"I offered for her but she did not accept." Darcy stated
"What!" They both yelled. "How could this happen? She loves you I saw it in her face. How dare she deny my son?" Lady Anne said in outrage, while Georgiana paced and mumbled in angry Spanish.
"We are courting." Darcy said with a smirk as both ladies immediately stopped what they were doing and looked at him in shock before wide grins spread over both of their faces. Lady Anne and Georgiana hugged each other in excitement and began to talk of all the things they needed to do with Elizabeth.
"Is no one going to congratulate me?" Darcy asked feeling left out of his own celebration. Both ladies rushed to him to envelop him in hugs.
"What happened? Why are you not engaged? Why are you only courting? What did you say, did you ruin it by saying something stupid."
"Georgiana!" Her mother scolded.
It is a valid question. Georgiana thought. "What happened?"
"I offered for her but she said that she needs time to adjust to our lifestyle. Since coming to Rosings she has recognized the difference in our stations and is not sure she is ready for the responsibility that being my wife will bring her."
"Not what I wanted to hear, but it does her credit that she is being cautious. Your aunt has been on a rampage since you left Rosings this morning." Lady Anne said with a sigh.
"Disappointment will do her some good." He responded with a smirk
Elizabeth was in the guest room that Charlotte had given her humming and staring up at the ceiling. She had been smiling since she got into the house and realized that her cheeks were starting to hurt but was too happy to care. I am courting Fitzwilliam Darcy! She heard the parsonage door open and shut and heard Mr. Collins yelling for his wife. And the buffoon is back.
Not long after she heard a knock on her door before Charlotte entered with a grave expression on her face. "Charlotte what has happened?"
"Lizzy Mr. Collins says that you must leave our house right away."
"What? But why?"
"He says that you are - oh I can't repeat it but he says that you cannot stay the night and that you have to leave now. I have tried to talk with him that a post carriage may not be found but there is no reasoning with him."
"What have I done?"
"He says that you were seen kissing an unknown man."
"The man wasn't unknown, it was Mr. Darcy!"
"Oh my goodness Lizzy." Charlotte exclaimed in shock
"Charlotte it is not what you think. Mr. Darcy and I have decided to court each other. He asked for my hand but I told him I need some time before I am ready to marry him."
"I am not sure that will help your case. Apparently Lady Catherine is the one who told him to have you removed. If she found out that it was indeed Mr. Darcy, I am afraid things will be made worse for you."
"I fear that you are right dear Charlotte, but will you do me a favor."
"Anything."
"Can you pass word to Mr. Darcy that I am going to my aunt and uncles house in Cheapside in London, from there I will be going on to Longbourn."
"I am not sure when I will be able to talk to him Lizzy."
"When he discovers that I have left, he will find you."
"How do you know?"
"Because I know my future husband." She said with a small smile.
"I will send a maid to help you pack." Charlotte said before leaving the room.
Well this is a great way to start a courtship. Lizzy thought sarcastically.
The next day Darcy paced back and forth before sitting on the boulder that he had caught Elizabeth laying on the previous day. He had been there for an hour and she still had not made an appearance. Is she sick, did she get lost, what if someone has accosted her on her way here. I should have walked her from the parsonage. She probably caught a chill after being in the rain yesterday. Why did I not get her home sooner! He continued to pace for a half hour before giving up and resolving to go to the parsonage as soon as he could convince his sister to accompany him.
Darcy stalked the halls of Rosings and was increasingly annoyed. He had checked at least ten rooms and could not find his sister anywhere. Finally he decided to go to her bedchamber. He knocked once before walking in to find his sister curled up in a chair reading a book.
"Georgie why are you still in your rooms."
"Knocking and then coming in anyway defeats the purpose of knocking."
"Why are you still in your rooms?"
"I wanted some peace. Lady Catherine has not been happy with mother or I because we support your decision to marry Lizzy."
"I was trying to find. Would you like to pay a call on her with me?"
"Absolutely! Mother said that she wants to go as well."
Darcy followed as Georgie went running through her dressing room door and the connecting sitting room to knock on the door to their mother's room.
"Mother would you like to go with us to call on Elizabeth?" She asked as soon as she was bid to enter.
Lady Anne looked up from the book that she was reading and smiled at the excitement that was on her daughter's face. She looked around her daughter to see her son and asked "You do not think she will feel overwhelmed if we all go?"
"No she loves to be around people. I believe she will enjoy it." And you may stay with her if she is sick.
Charlotte Collins was not happy. She was content, but she was not happy. Her husband was an idiot, he did not listen to her counsel, and her role as a wife was usurped by Lady Catherine every day. He made her remove her best friend from her home. I wish I could have gone with her. So when the knock from Mr. Darcy and his family came, she was only too happy to tell him everything she knew. "Mr. Darcy, please come in there is something I must tell you."
Lady Anne Darcy knew that look. It was the look her husband got when he was about to blow and her son was so close to losing control that she even knew not to talk to him.
As the small phaeton that they took to the parsonage arrived back at Rosings Darcy jumped down and walked around to help his sister and mother down before turning toward the house and stomping inside. When the butler came towards him for his coat Darcy barked "Where is Lady Catherine?"
"She is in the east drawing room, sir" The butler said with a slight quiver to his voice. He liked the young master very much and respected him for the work he did yearly when he arrived at Rosings. He had also learned his moods over the years, and knew that whatever was about to go on between him and his aunt was not something he wanted to be around for. He watched as Lady Anne and Miss Darcy hurried to follow Mr. Darcy's long strides.
Darcy stormed into the drawing room and saw his aunt in the room with his grandmother but did not care. "What in the bloody hell have you done!" He yelled with uncontrollable fury.
"I did what was necessary." Lady Catherine responded without the slightest hint of remorse as she casually set her cup of tea down.
"You have tried to ruin my relationship with Elizabeth. You have tried to ruin her reputation."
"She has ruined her reputation herself."
"Her reputation is not ruined."
"She was seen kissing an unknown man in the woods. How can you say she is not ruined? All of Kent is talking about what a wanton of a woman she is." She responded with a smirk.
"I was the man! She was not being a wanton. We are courting with the understanding that an engagement will likely follow. She is the only reason we are not engaged at this moment. She says that she needs time to adjust to my lifestyle! Now I understand why."
"Good, then no official promise has been made you can still deny any involvement."
"I will not deny my involvement! She will be my wife and you had better become accustomed to it."
"But she is ruined. Everyone is talking of it."
"And whose fault it that!"
"Hers! She is not worthy of this family, or the title of Mistress of Pemberley."
"The Mistress of Pemberley is my title to give! I will designate who is worthy."
Lady Anne walked up to her son and put her hand on his arm to calm him. "My dears go pack your things; we must be away to London and quickly. Please tell my maid to pack mine as well. I will attend you shortly. Your aunt and I must talk before we leave." When Darcy looked as if he was going to protest, Lady Anne shot him a quelling look that assured him that her orders were not up for debate.
After her children closed the door Lady Anne turned to look at her sister with a calm expression on her face that belied the rage that was simmering within her. "Catherine I do not know the extent of what you have done, and I do not care, but you fix this and you fix it now."
"I will not! He has defied me."
"YOU ARE NOT HIS MOTHER!" She exploded. "I am. I tell my children what to do, I am their guardian and their protector. I will determine who is right for my children. You will fix this or I will make you wish you had never aspired for my child. Do not test me Catherine. You may have the appearance of power but true power does not need to be stated nor flaunted. I have let you run rough shod for far too long and it ends here and now."
"You will not…"
"I will do whatever I must to see my children loved and happy. You are a mother, think of how far you are willing to go for Annie. Leave my son alone. He is not yours, nor will he ever be. This match will not take place. I only allowed you this fairytale dream because, in the off chance that it did happen, you could be happy. But since it is not going to happen, it is time for you to awaken from this fantasy and embrace the cold hard truth. The match is NOT going to happen and the sooner you understand that the better for the entire family."
"How dare…"
"How dare I? You tell me whom my child, my first born son, is going to marry. You tell me that you have perhaps ruined his chance at real love and tarnished the reputation of his beloved and think that I am being daring. You are deluded sister. Look yourself in the mirror and that is where you shall see the problems. He will marry Elizabeth so for your sake and the sake of the family you will fix what you broke or your reputation will be as ruined as you have said hers is. Remember I know all of your secrets. Mother do you remember your prized vase from your great-grandmother, ask Kitty." Lady Anne went to kiss her mother on the cheek before departing the room to go pack her belongings. Leaving an angry Lady Catherine simmering in her chair.
In the carriage on the way to London Lady Anne looked at her son and saw the distress on his face, but accounted it to the situation that was taking place.
Darcy on the other hand was riddled with guilt. I just wanted to speed up the wedding, not ruin her reputation! How could I have known that idiot Collins would not have seen my face. My poor Lizzy. I have done this to her for my own selfishness and she will have to bear most of the burden for it.
Chapter 30- love and marriage- what if they were forced to marry
(A/N): Ok so I need some help! I don't know what I want her to call him when they are by themselves . I used to hate the name Fitz until I started watching Scandal (If you don't watch scandal I seriously don't know what you live for. Its one of the best shows on television hands down. It's on Netflix GO WATCH IT!) But I also like the other names so cast your vote in a review and whichever name gets the most votes is the name I will use for him.
The choices are Fitz, William, Will, and the ever classic Fitzwillam. Review and tell me your pick!
