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Dressed in her pale lemon dress, Elizabeth could barely contain herself, her excitement making her lady's maid chuckle. It was morning's like this that she could convince herself that they had married for love after a whirlwind courtship. She had awoken in the arms of her husband who had affectionately kissed her and rang the bell so that they could break their fast on their balcony. She had enjoyed seeing him point out where they would be going for their picnic, telling little facts and funny memories of his youth. He really was opening up to her so much, which meant he must be coming to love her as she did him. Elizabeth had not told him so directly, as she did not wish for him to retreat from her, but would tell him when it felt appropriate.

Finally, Emily had finished with styling her hair, she leapt from the stool and made to leave, but Elizabeth had not made it to the door when her maid cleared her throat with a small giggle. She turned to see her standing, her eyes glittering with humour holding Elizabeth's walking boots aloft.

"Ah, well, I would not get very far without those, now would I?" she said, her embarrassment staining her cheeks.

"If I may be so bold, it is nice to see a happy marriage based on love…" Emily sighed, wistfully.

Blushing even more so, though she could not understand why, after all she had lost her maidenhead on the sheets the young maid had had to strip from the bed, the morning after. Good lord why am I thinking of such things now.

Keeping her gaze averted, she slipped her feet into the brown leather walking boots, that Mr Darcy had generously purchased along with more gowns than she could count and exited the room and heading towards her husband's study.

However, he was clearly as eager as she was, as he was awaiting her at the bottom of the stairs looking devilishly handsome! She was almost tempted to stay ensconced in their apartments and have a picnic another day, but was more eager to explore the grounds of her new him. William wore his buckskin country breeches, his tan topped hessians, black waistcoat with his forest green coat and of course matching white shirt and cravat. To anyone watching it would appear he had no reaction, as he watched her descending the staircase. But to Elizabeth, she noted his sharp intake of breath, his jaw soften and the hunger heat his gaze as his eyes roved over her from head to toe, leisurely drinking her in.

He took her hand and kissed it, his eyes never leaving hers, before tucking it into the crook of his elbow and escorting her to the foyer. Outside the privacy of their rooms, the touch of his un-gloved hands upon the bare skin of her wrist and the way his lips had lingered longer than would be appropriate, still caused an excitement and embarrassment to put butterflies aflutter within her stomach. He sweetly assisted her in tying her bonnet and a draping a shawl over her shoulders. Taking every opportunity to brush against the exposed skin of her neck, jaw and scandalously against her bottom lip, turning away smirking. Elizabeth felt her heart skip a beat at how well she was learning to read him, as unless you knew him better, you would not know that the slight twitch at the corners of his mouth constituted a playful smirk. They declined taking their coats as the weather was warm, with clear skies.

"Shall we?" asked William, placing his hat upon his head and retrieving the picnic basket, then leading her out of the front doors and taking path to their right.

They didn't talk very much as they walked and Pemberley faded into the distance, Elizabeth was eager to stretch her legs. The past few days had kept her busy learning her new duties and role as mistress of Pemberley, that she hadn't noticed that she had not stepped outside, only leaving the house when they had ventured onto their balcony.

When they entered the beginning of the woodland, Elizabeth gasped in wonder at the beauty, the thick copse of trees and their leaves of every shade of green, the smell of pine and the bird song, it felt magical as it enveloped them into what felt like another world. The rays of sunlight filtering through from above highlighting different wild flowers and butterflies. They even spied some deer the further they wandered until William, tapped her shoulder pointing to a thinning in the trees to their left. She stopped looking at him, as if she would know exactly what it was from looking at him. But he would not give her any clues, he just continued his sure and steady stride with her on his arm.

When they reached the breach in the woods, it opened out into the most serene clearing, scattered with bluebells and buttercup flowers, and slightly off centre was a small lake. Without registering the steps she had taken, Elizabeth found herself at the edge of the water and realised she must have let go of William's arm in her distraction of the breath-taking view before her.

Turning back and looking for him she froze when she saw him. He had removed his hat and had tilted his face towards the sun with his eyes closed. He looked beautiful. For the first time he looked like just a man, not Mr Darcy of Pemberley and not the brother and father figure, trying to take care of everyone. He looked like her William.

"William?"

He heard Elizbeth's voice, and looked toward it, she was a vision in her yellow dress, billowing about her in the small breeze, along with the white ribbons from her bonnet. He felt his heart tighten but didn't allow himself to linger on the feeling.

"Do you like it?" he asked, trying to distract himself.

"How could one not like it, it is wonderful." she replied. "Thank you for showing it to me."

"Where would you like to set up the blanket for the picnic?" he asked.

Elizabeth hesitated a moment looking about the clearing, "Perhaps, over there in the shade of the tree's?"

"Would you not like to get some sun on your face? If we sit by the water's edge, we can dip our feet in to cool us and I am more than happy to move to the shade when you have had enough."

She whipped around to face him, "But what if I catch too much of the sun?"

He shrugged, "I do not mind it your would be beautiful whatever colour your skin is, but if you do, we can of course sit in the shade - "

"No, after that wonderful compliment how could I refuse," she interrupted, making him chuckle a little, "I should like to dip my feet in the water, and have a little sun on my face."

He moved towards her then, and she forgot to breathe, becoming lost in the intensity of his gaze. Bringing his hands up, he deftly untied the ribbons securing her bonnet and removed it. William then slowly bent to kiss her left temple, then her right, her eyes fluttered closed as he moved his attention to each of her eye lids, her cheeks and then she sighed as he placed a feather light kiss upon her lips. When he moved away, she looked up at him squinting slightly and he moved to block the sun so that she would not have to strain, and she almost said the three little words, I love you…

He frowned as if he read her thoughts and distanced himself by stepping back, but then he bent to collect the hamper once more and took her hand with his free one and pulled her with him. She followed, feeling foolish for being paranoid, as William lead her over to an even patch of the clearing, where he carefully laid the picnic out. She assisted by removing the food and glasses from the hamper, happy to see it was not a hearty fare, just some bread with cheeses and ham, with a small pot of chutney.

"I can imagine, this is a wonderful place to go swimming in." she said helping herself to another slice of apple, as William, lay leaning upon one forearm with one leg bent beneath another one outstretched. His body looked so long stretched out in that manner. He had also removed his cravat, exposing the tantalising skin at the column of his throat and those three scars. Elizabeth's gaze was constantly drawn to staring at them, wondering what they would taste like should she press kisses over them, when it suddenly occurred to her; she had yet to see William in the nude.

On their first night at Pemberley she had been too embarrassed look at him when had undressed and since then he had explored her body, but she hadn't his. Could I be that bold…? Did gentleman want that from their wives…? She gulped down her remaining lemonade and forced herself to focus on what William was saying.

"Yes, I used to take my brother and sisters when they were little, but Georgie and Ella soon became unwilling to get their hair wet. And Hugo could never resist the temptation to push them in, so they used to spend the entire time screaming."

"Oh, Hugo! I have always wanted a brother like him, but perhaps I may not come here with him in attendance. Just to be on the safe side." She giggled.

"Do not fear, my lady, I will protect you." he said, pouring some more lemonade for them both.

"Mrs Reynolds, tells me that Hugo is a very strong swimmer, is this where he comes then?" she asked.

"No, he swims in the main lake, in view of the house."

She frowned, "I cannot imagine why? With this vista, not to mention the privacy it would be the preferred location for me."

"I do not allow them to swim here alone." William responded; his voice harsh as he moved to sitting up.

"But he is a grown man, and as I understand it a very strong swimmer - "

"You do not understand it!" William snapped, "I would ask you not to venture here alone to swim, and not to put it into Hugo's head that he should go against my authority and come here by himself, am I making myself clear?" he cut in.

"Why are you getting so angry? I was not asking something unreasonable…"

"Well, I am asking you not to undermine my authority, that is all. I am not angry."

"I beg to differ. I will not be dictated to William, not in such a high-handed manner!" she snapped.

"Do not ruin this day, Elizabeth."

"You are the one who is ruining it by being irrational. And why would you think I would tell Hugo to swim here if it distresses you?" she asked.

"Fine, let us leave it there. We have both misunderstood each other. I am just uneasy if anyone should get out of their depth and need assistance but find themselves alone. It is not irrational at all." He retorted, trying to dim his ire.

Looking over at Elizabeth, she had crossed her arms over her chest and was looking out across the lake, her chest heaving in her anger. He could see from the way she had pursed her lips that she had many things to say to put him in his place and was battling with herself not to say them.

He knew he was being unfair, the thought of one of the children coming here alone and drowning, afraid, gasping for air and him not able to reach them… no he could not bear to imagine it. She threw a small stone into the water distractedly and instantly he saw his mother floating in the water and felt the panic he had felt that night, his legs tired as he tried to get to her so that her face was out of the water... Screwing his eyes shut he took a few deep steadying breaths. After regaining control of himself he looked back at his wife, oblivious to his inner turmoil, and yes, he did not want to tell her the gory details, but he could let her in a little. The only problem was Elizabeth, had an insatiable curiosity and once given a crumb she wouldn't rest until she had devoured the whole cake!

Elizabeth had just been about to say something, when William placed his head in her lap, burying his face in her skirt with his hands clasping her hips. She looked at him, ready to give him a set down or shrug him off when she noticed where his collar came away from his neck, the beginning of another scar. She froze, her breathing shallow as she felt the sting of tears. What torment and pain had he been subjected to as a boy. She blinked rapidly to rid herself of her tears and tried to remain still, worried he might spook…

"Elizabeth, please do not be angry with me. After losing both parents' so young, I have always been scared of not being there for my brother and sisters, or losing them. I could not bear it if you thought to come here alone and something were to happen to - "

He stopped speaking when he felt the touch of her nails caress the hair of his nape before her fingers came to rest on the back of his neck, "Shhh," she cooed.

She could feel his pulse beating wildly where her fingertip's rested upon the side of his neck, Elizabeth wanted more than anything to touch the scar, newly revealed and wondered whether he would allow it. Did they come from his father's hand?

William moved away, she had hesitated too long and now she had lost her chance. Tomorrow she would find time to go back to Ella's art room and go through the journals and see if she could find anything further about William and his father. Elizabeth doubted there would be anything about the accident that gave him the scars on his face, neck and arms. Even Mrs Reynolds did not know! But Ella, had seemed to notice the strained relationship between father and son from a young age and confided in her journal about that at least.

As he sat there watching all the conflicting emotions rush across Elizabeth's face, he felt oddly awkward. He had been wrong; he knew she had seen at least one of the scars upon his back and had not tried to touch them as she had before… She could not know where they had come from, but she showed that she had heard him and understood his need to not have her pity him because of them. He had underestimated her.

They stayed a bit longer in the clearing, the tension soon forgotten as they began to discuss, who they would invite to stay the next month and the idea of a scavenger hunt with the guests, as they dipped their feet in the water. Once they had sorted all the arrangements for their guests with William listening and agreeing dutifully, though he would quite happily leave Elizabeth to coordinate with Mrs Reynolds, he suggested they move to sit underneath the shade of a large oak on the edge of the woods. Elizabeth retrieved a book she had had the fore thought to pack and they took turns to read aloud, and before they knew it two more hours had passed.

Once they had reached the house, Elizabeth and William retired to refresh themselves before reuniting in the library and sitting in comfortable silence, whilst he attended to his correspondence and Pemberley's agriculture and tenants needs. She made a start on the invitations, finishing the last of them just as dinner was announced. She found she enjoyed doing such mundane things in his company, the way he would ruffle his hair and twist a lock by his temple when he was deep in thought. The movement of his strong elegant hands as he opened letters and sipped at his coffee, or tea.

Over the course of dinner, Elizabeth watched her husbands movements and became more resolved that she would see her husband in the nude tonight. The only way to achieve this was simple... this nigh Elizabeth would seduce her husband once they retired for bed, and had already instructed Emily as to which nightgown she would wear that evening; it was the most scandalous one she owned. It was a decadent champagne silk nightdress. It did not have the sheer lace panelling or the slits of the one that she wore on the first night. This nightgown had a high neck pulled across her shoulders, but the back of the dress was open all the way to the base of her spine, with a small lace triangle giving a small glimpse of her derrière before it dropped to pool at her feet…

She could hardly sit still in her excitement to wear it for him, he kept throwing her odd looks and asking her if anything was amiss! In truth she might not be so impatient if he were not eating so slowly, but then he was only taking his time in his effort to make her eat a little more, as she had hardly touched her duck confit. It had been raised a brow of two when he had resulted to feeding her a few mouthfuls, but then he stopped thinking the staff might think her a simpleton if he carried on.

After dinner, Elizabeth had wanted to look perfect and taken longer than usual to get ready, dismissing Emily she walked confidently through the sitting room separating his bedchamber from hers and paused, trying to master a sudden bout of her nerves for a minute or two. Finally mustering enough courage, she opened the door and sashayed confidently into his room, only to find him asleep! He lay in his nightshirt upon the bed with book open on his chest and his glasses on. She didn't have the heart to wake him, and so gently and as carefully as she could she removed the book and reached up to remove his glasses, placing them on his bedside table, Elizabeth extinguished the candle wetting it with water from the wash basin as she had seen William do.

Pausing, Elizabeth looked down at the man that panicked about a candle not being extinguished properly. She knew, he thought she had not noticed how he always seemed to watch the candles when they were lit and before bed check two or three times to be certain they were cold, but she had. It was strange he worried over so many things and until he explained why, his little rituals would seem strange…

Climbing into bed, he grumbled something before pulling her into his chest and flinging his leg over her, his chin resting on top of her head in his sleep. She sighed content, feeling safe withing his embrace and allowed herself to drift to sleep. Elizabeth could wait, tomorrow she would seduce her husband…