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"Lizzy, for goodness sake, speak to me! Did I hurt you? I am sorry dearest I forgot myself. I forgot you are new to all of this and I did not mean-" He was not his father, he never lost control. Ever. He had totally forgotten himself; Elizabeth was his gently bred wife, for goodness sake!
"William, stop! You did not forget yourself. I am fine, I am not crying because of that. I was just overwhelmed." she whispered. "I was merely overwhelmed by the pleasure and…" Unable to finish what she was saying she tried to stand from him, but his hands were like a steel band about her waist.
"Lizzy please, we are husband at wife. You can tell me anything, I promise I shall not think any differently of you." Elizabeth drew her thumbs under each eye, taking a deep shuddering breath, now she had started crying she was afraid she would never stop.
Darcy waited patiently, playfully pulling at a few curls pulling a reluctant smile from her.
"There, that is better. No more tears, please. Will you tell me what the matter is? Did I hurt you?" he asked, giving her a small peck on the lips when she shook her head in the negative, too embarrassed to say that she had rather enjoyed his attentions. "Tell me how I can make it up to you. Choose wisely because it is not very often you get a boon like this from me…"
Elizabeth looked up into his devastatingly handsome face, the face of her husband, who had told her he would never love her. But then even when he was rough with her, he was tender and warm, seeing to her pleasure before his own… Perhaps he would not love her in the traditional sense of love, but he did care for her, because if he did not, he would not be so concerned for her wellbeing at this moment.
Elizabeth, was not so overcome that she could not see the perfect opportunity to get him to bend to her will, at least in one aspect of their marriage, "I would like us to either sleep in my bed or yours, regardless of whether we are intimate or otherwise."
She watched him as he hesitated a beat too long, before simply saying, "Done."
"Done? That easy?" she questioned, tucking her head under his chin.
"That easy." he said, his chest rumbling with his chuckle.
"Thank you." she whispered as she relaxed into his embrace, pressing her nose to his neck, so that she could breathe in the earthy masculine scent that was uniquely him.
A short while later, Elizabeth emerged from her bedchamber having bathed and changed and went in search of her husband. After asking a passing footman she discovered that he was awaiting her in his study. When she entered his study, he looked up immediately, a frown still upon his face from the letter he had been reading.
He stood and came around his desk to give her a warm kiss on her cheek, "You look wonderful, Elizabeth. How are you?" he asked, his tone light, but his expression probing.
"I am fine, do not fuss. Is everything well?" she asked.
"Yes, why should it not be?"
She chuckled, dropping her gaze pointedly to the letter he was still holding.
"Oh, 'tis nothing." he said with a small shrug, tossing it into the furnace, "I always burn correspondence that is of no importance, otherwise I am drowning in paper." he elaborated upon seeing her reaction to his disposing of the letter.
"Well, if there is anything you would like to discuss, you have a wife who is happy to share your burdens." She said, in attempt to get him to open up.
"Now, we must make haste, if I am to give you your surprise before dinner is served," he said, cupping her chin and giving her a small wink, before offering her his arm.
"Surprise?"
"Mhmm."
And with that he promptly led her out of his office and to the grand staircase. When they reached the second floor Elizabeth knew, it was finally happening! He was finally taking her to see the library!
"I know you've guessed your surprise, and if you have not, I shall be very shocked as you are one of the most intuitive and intelligent people of my acquaintance!" he said, his eyes shining with humour.
She felt the familiar sting of tears at such a compliment but fought against them, less her new husband think she a delicate flower.
William came to a halt looking at her and then pointing to a large set of double doors before them. Releasing her arm, he walked forward and opened the doors with a grand sweeping gesture, stepping aside to allow her to enter.
"I present to you, Mrs Darcy, our family library." he said, grinning with pride, his dimples making a charming appearance. She couldn't help but giggle, his excitement catching. Then looking past, him she saw the most impressive library she had ever beheld.
The main floor itself was three times the size of the library in Darcy House. She looked at him, her mouth agape and her awe obvious on her features, "This is magnificent!" she said, when he gestured with his hand to look up, before lifting his face skyward. Following his lead, Elizabeth did the same and let out a gasp of pure wonder.
The library extended two more floors and the ceiling was made from stained glass around the sides, but the top piece was clear, allowing an unobstructed view of the stars and the moon already beginning to peak through the twilight sky. Walking further into the vast space, she could see the little touches that she now knew were from his brother and sisters. There was a pianoforte to one side, with a suit of armour positioned as if leaning on the lid of the great instrument and in the centre, there were an easel with neatly stacked brushes and watercolours next to it. The walls were lined with bookshelves taller than she had ever seen on each floor of the library, with ladders to reach the top. The only sections of the library, not covered by books were the floor to ceiling windows and the enormous fireplace, with its white and black veined marble mantle and surround.
"I can understand why this is your favourite room in Pemberley. I see the that your brother and sisters have infiltrated this room," she said walking over to the piano and mimicked the pose of the suit of armour.
William, threw back his head and let out a deep rumbling bark of laughter, one hand clutching at his stomach. It was a delightfully warm and hearty sound, Elizabeth flushed feeling incredibly proud to have caused it. She could see from his awkwardness that it was not a regular occurrence.
"Yes, I am not sure if you have toured them yet, but I did give them each their own room for their use, but I confess I have overindulged them with my time in our youths. Thus every room we all congregate in together has something to keep each of them occupied," he said, moving to run his hands along the keys.
"Tell me about your childhood…" she asked, moving to sit on the bench, pressing a few odd keys herself.
He shrugged, moving to give her room and resting a hip on the side of the instrument, "My childhood was like most boys of my sphere, I suppose… I was very fortunate in growing up here, I used to ride every day and fish with my father and then my mother would play this piano after dinner," he said, a little sadness touching his eyes as he looked away, "or we would go to the Matlocks, they are our neighbours to the east."
"And, what of when the twins and Georgiana were born,"
"I believe the twins were quite a shock to my parents, but I am man enough to admit that I was besotted when they were born and with Georgie too when she was born. I remember Georgie as a babe a lot more and…" he paused with a sigh, before continuing, "and after my mother's passing, I devoted a lot of my time to my siblings. I even went so far as to use my Uncle Matlocks influence, so that I could be tutored from home and only go to school university for my exams."
"And what of your father?" she asked, hardly able to believe he was being so open with her.
It was as if he realised that he had told her too much, "Do you play?" he asked, suddenly changing the subject.
"Yes, but very ill. I do not practice enough. I much prefer walking the countryside, to being indoors." she smiled at the memory of her home in Hertfordshire.
"You do not ride? Did not keep any horses?" he said coming to sit beside her, his thigh touching hers, making her stomach clench with awareness.
"Yes we did keep a few horses, but after a bad experience as a girl, I have never plucked up the courage to ride again…"
"What happened?"
"Oh, nothing so terrible, the horse spooked and I was thrown. I did not sustain any bad or lasting injuries,, but I was frightened enough to allow the experience to put me off." she explained.
"Perhaps, we could teach you on the old mare, Hugo learned to ride on?" he ventured.
"Hugo?"
"Yes, he was terrified of horses as a boy," he said chuckling lightly. "The only way I could persuade him was with, Kitten, who has a lazy disposition and will just about trot."
"Kitten?" she said, with a giggle.
"Believe it or not, Hugo named her!" he said his eyes twinkling.
"Did your father not teach you all how to ride?"
"No, we all had instructors when we were little, I only began to ride with my father when I was proficient enough."
Elizabeth, went to ask another question, when he cut her short, "Elizabeth, I know what you wish to know, but I do not wish to put a dampener on the evening. I am not comfortable talking about that yet." he said levelling her with a look.
Truthfully, he had no plans to tell her anything of his father, but did not relish the idea of another argument and hopefully by telling her his honest feelings in talking about it he might just have a few weeks, maybe even months respite in the questions.
She simply, laid her head upon his shoulder and slipped her hand beneath the top of his waistcoat to rest above his heart.
"Shall we play a duet, one hand each?" she said flipping the page open.
"I am giving you fair warning and I am by no means being humble when I tell you my playing is very poor." he said, placing one hand over her hand resting on his chest.
They began playing their own variation of the piece on the music sheets in front of them, before long they were both dissolving into fits of laughter as they kept tripping over each other's fingers and pushing the other out of the way. It became a fierce competition and soon one hand each was not enough, realising he was losing, William, began bestowing small kisses over her eyes and her cheeks blocking her view until she ceased her movements over the keys, both flushed and breathless looking adoringly into one another's eyes…
After a moment, Williams eyes grew wide and he abruptly stood, catching his foot and bashing his elbow, letting out a howl of pain. Elizabeth looked up at him puzzled, as he absentmindedly rubbed at the pain of his elbow.
"I have just realised, dinner will be waiting for us in the dining room," he said, his expression unreadable.
Elizabeth, could have sworn he had been about to say something before he bolted, but now was not the time to press him for answers.
"Well, let us l make haste, so that the food does not spoil," she said taking pity on him.
With a small sigh of relief, he escorted her down to their meal, which she was glad to find was not an extravagant affair.
"Apologies for only the three courses, we tend to not have so many courses when we are not entertaining." William said, after the final course was served.
"I am but a country girl, we dine simply when we are not entertaining." She said gravely.
"I cannot stand too many courses; I get so bored being seated in one fashion for so long."
"No, you prefer to be standing in a particular fashion…" she teased.
"Ha! Yes, I do much prefer to stand, sometimes I time myself to see how long I can hold one position." he said, leaning over to take a sip of her wine, as he did the evening, they dined together on their sitting room balcony. "What would you like to do tomorrow?"
"I would very much like to explore the grounds, we had a lovely red sky this afternoon, which promises clear sky's tomorrow. Perhaps we could have a picnic?" she suggested.
"Of course, there is a lovely lake, in the middle of the woodland which I believe you would like. Or there are some ruins we could explore, although it is a little far to walk…"
"How far?" she asked, excited to explore her new home and know the history of the ruins.
"It is some ten miles. It sits near the furthest point of the property bordering the Matlocks estate."
"Ten miles?!" she gasped, "Perhaps we can start off closer to home for the purposes of the picnic?"
He nodded his approval and stood to escort her upstairs.
"I forgot to ask, have you decided when you would like for our family and a few select friends to join us for a couple of weeks?" he asked.
"Yes, I was thinking at the start of next month. I was intending to invite as you suggested, my sister Jane and my parent's although I doubt they will want to travel so soon after spending time in London. Hugo, Ella, Georgie, the Matlocks and Mr Bingley, if that is agreeable?" she asked, looking up at him as they entered her bedchamber.
"Of course, although you realise, Mr Bingley will come with his sister Caroline." he said watching her slight grimace, "Do not worry, she might have changed..." he said with a disbelieving grimace of his own, "Perhaps when we return from our picnic, we could sort the invitations so that they can be sent out the following day." he said easily.
"Perfect!" she said, feeling content. The day hadn't started off very well, and with the amount they had been through, she was exhausted!
"Well, I shall leave you to ready for bed, would you like me to join you here?"
"Actually, William, I would like to join you in your bedchamber." She said placing her hands on his chest. Without thinking he bent to kiss her forehead, freezing a fraction afterwards as if he hadn't meant to do so.
"Very well, come and join me when you are ready." he said, awkwardly bowing, and then frowning and shaking his head as he left. Good God man, what is the matter with you? Why are you bowing to your wife?
Elizabeth slapped her hand over her mouth to stifle a giggle, at the addled behaviour of her husband, before starting her evening rituals with Emily in order to ready her for bed.
A quarter hour later she entered his rooms, just as he was emerging from his dressing room in his nightshirt. He froze upon seeing her smiling gently and walked over to his large four poster bed and pulled back the sheets.
"Do you have preference?" he asked.
"No" she replied, oddly nervous.
"Good, because I do." he replied, straight faced making her laugh.
He climbed in on the right and beckoned her over with his hand. She took off her robe and draped it over a nearby armchair and climbed awkwardly onto the bed, when William wrapped an arm around her and pulled her back to his chest, leaving no room for her nerves as he curved his body around hers. She yawned and placed her hand over his resting about her waist, struggling to keep her eyes open. Leaning behind him a moment, he snuffed out the candle on his bedside, making sure it was out before settling in for the night.
"Sweet dreams, my Elizabeth," he said, and for the first time in many years, drifted off into a peaceful sleep almost instantly.