Hello everyone,

Yet again I am sorry for the delay but homeschooling took its tool on me to be honest. Since we are using all week long the computers I do find that in the weekend I need to take my head out of it.

So here is chapter 8 (I hope you will like it!) but I do not know when chapter 9 would come along (homeschooling has been put on until end of February!( yay 😩) but do not fear I will finish this story as it is all written but need to be polish!

And I have other story written down on paper and I can't wait to share it with you all!

This delay will also goes to "after the rain"

Really sorry about it and will do it as soon as possible!

But now please enjoy chapter 8 :)

The wedding was a quick affair, as they meant to start their journey in the afternoon. It was not grand either, which did not to displease the bride and groom.

Mrs Mac'Claghein gave Elizabeth her old wedding gown, which was a simple white robe with lovely embroidery. Mrs Mac'Claghein and herself were of the same form when Mrs Mac'Claghein was Elizabeth's age. The dress only needed a few stitches here and there, and it fitted Elizabeth perfectly. Not that Mr Darcy would have cared, for he only had eyes for her beautiful face.

On the opposite hand, Elizabeth was in awe of her groom's outfit; Sam insisted that he wore one of his kilts and, with the help of the Colonel, Mr Darcy gave in. For Sam it was a matter of pride, but for the Colonel it was more for the jest and the prospect of many years of teasing his cousin.

Sam sent a messenger to fetch the sporran and sgian dubh of Dunscore. In no time, Mr Darcy looked like a true scot; Sam did not settle for a light outfit.

Mr Gardiner wondered about the colours of the tartan. Sam explained they were the colours of the land, the sea and the rising sun combined with some brown to reflect the coast and red for the setting sun. When Sam added the bag, known as sporran, in front of the kilt, Darcy tried to stop him. But then he realised how much Sam was honoured to display his traditions and he did not wish to disappoint him. Sam and his family had helped them so much that it was a small price to pay. And when he saw the blush on his bride's face and the desire in her eyes, he did not oppose to it even more.

"Well, I have to mention that that is something." Blushed Elizabeth. They might have been intimate while in captivity, but they had managed not to view anything more of each other than was usual. And so it surprised Elizabeth to glimpse a little of her future husband's legs. Not that she was complaining.

"Do you like it? I know it is not conventional, but Sam and Richard pressed on it. I believe in Sam's true intention, but my cousin's aim is certainly different." He eyed his cousin, who talked lively with Mr Gardiner.

Elizabeth giggled.

"Perhaps, but I would not carry out any complaint about it, sir. I absolutely love this outfit, to tell the truth."

He searched in her eyes to see if she was laughing at him, but he could only see appreciation. He offered her a broad grin.

"Well, I am here to please my lady." She returned his smile.

It all passed like a dream, and before they realised it, they were husband and wife, on the course to Pemberley.

The Colonel agreed to travel with the Gardiners, as he stated that his cousin and new cousin's happiness was too much to witness and he was afraid that the marriage prospect might tempt him. His jest made everybody laugh profusely, even Darcy.

Georgiana found herself with the new couple and welcomed this opportunity to become more acquainted with her new sister.

"Elizabeth, you will love Pemberley. It is a wonderful place." Georgiana said for the tenth times since they started speaking about Pemberley.

"I am certain I will, you have described it so plentifully, I already feel like I know the place well."

"And you will have a number of paths to walk that will fill your day." Added Darcy with joy.

"Haha thanks, Fitzwilliam, but I think right now I have walked enough for some time." Darcy chuckled at this.

"I dare say, my dear, I feel rather the same way." With this, he pecked her hair.

Georgiana glanced at the couple's exchanges and beamed. She had dreamed often that her brother would meet someone he loved, and that she cared for him in return. It always worried her; that he would marry a woman for the convenience and not a woman he admired and respected. Her worries started when her brother befriended Mr Bingley; though she liked the man, she could not bear his sisters. She feared that Miss Bingley would try to compromise Fitzwilliam. He would have been miserable. She always pretended to be a friend to Miss Bingley, but the lady's attentions were not real, and it caused her uneasiness. It would have been a different story for Georgiana if her brother had married a woman like Miss Bingley. But as it was, fate had been clement on her and offered her the best sister that one could wish.

Georgiana felt that even if Elizabeth was not from their circles, she was by far the most ladylike woman that Georgiana had encountered.

Everyone she met in the Ton, while on an outing with her brother, showed a fake pretence. No one seemed to like anyone. They all pretended to be the best of friends, except for a few people like Mr Bingley. For the rest, Georgiana found their considerations too much to bear. The experience of Ramsgate was a harsh reminder that she was blessed and cursed with a generous dowry so that most people would seek her for her money or ties. She never learned how her brother, who lived in quite a similar position, dealt with the unwanted attention. Maybe now that her brother was off the market, things would change, and the ladies of the Ton would cease trying to win some connection with her just to have a chance with her brother.

In all truth, Georgiana felt lonesome; when you cannot entrust anybody with your heart or wonders, it was truly a very solitary life. She liked her companion, Mrs Annesley; she was kind with her, but she was older than Georgiana so it was challenging to be as close as sisters could be.

But with Elizabeth in their life things would evolve, she was confident. Their few exchanges in the last two days reassured her that Elizabeth and her would become the best of sisters.

This additional aspect of Georgiana's existence made her smile even further. But she felt that the next few weeks might be hard on everybody. She really hoped the situation with Elisabeth's family would evolve positively.

Everyone in the carriage fell silent, each one of them thinking ahead to where their new life would lead them. Their point of view might differ, but all their minds were occupied in the same direction.

They arrived at their first stop just after dusk. The inn they discovered was not a very luxurious one, but no one disagreed about it as everybody was tired from the day. Everyone was glad to see their beds for the night. Only Darcy and Elizabeth held a little apprehension about retiring to their chamber;not that they were not pleased to go to bed. But the events of the day had just hit them. They were now man and wife, nothing could halt them from being together now but that also unsettled them. They both changed into their nightgowns and found themselves tucked in bed side by side, both staring at the ceiling, both deep in their thoughts, wondering how to open a conversation. Despite having shared the same room during their capture, matters were slightly different now that they were joined in marriage.

Darcy gathered his courage, but words eluded him, and his brave attempt at conversation failed miserably.

"Hum… Elizabeth… if… hum…" Darcy was never a man of many words, but now he was with none. He did not wish to make Elizabeth uncomfortable with their current position, but he could not find a path with which to handle it or most of all, to deal with his own emotions. If he was being true to himself, he craved her, body and soul. But he had imagined their first night differently, and definitely not in some faraway inn. If she preferred to delay until they reached Pemberley, he was content to wait even though it was the last thing he wished.

What a mess!

Elizabeth was much absorbed in her thoughts too. She was scared about their first night, but just for the unknown part. She was not as innocent as a maiden should be, for living in the countryside made her more aware of what could happen between man and wife. Her father had taken her a few times to the breeding of a farm animal. Even though it was not a very ladylike activity, her father always appreciated her company and had requested her opinion about a few subjects.

Also, her many walks around Longbourn had caused her to fall a few times upon hidden lovers. She blushed at those images. One day she had heard cries and assumed a woman was in danger, but discovered her in an utterly shocking embrace with a man she recognised as one of their servants. She was more astonished when she realised that the woman in question was not in peril, but undeniably more than happy to be in her position. Oh, how she had run back home so fast. Lying to her family when they caught her rushing back home; she had explained that an enraged dog had tried to attack her. Her father had stayed with a gun by the door for a few days after that and forbade her to leave the house. She had difficulties talking to that servant for some time, for when she would encounter him she would blush, remembering what she had witnessed.

William cleared his throat, which startled her. He must have spoken to her while her mind wandered.

"Sorry, did you say anything?" She blushed even further.

"Hum… No, that is…" Their eyes meet, and they both laughed uncontrollably.

After a moment, Elizabeth controlled her chuckling and replied.

"Oh, dear Mr Darcy! What a preposterous situation we are in, are we not?"

"What is so preposterous, my dear?" Both turned on their sides and faced each other.

"Well, here we are, both completely stuck and incapable of doing anything while we are married and allowed to do whatever we choose. But if I remember, we were less concerned about it when we were not even engaged." She watched him straight in the eyes now.

That made William chuckled.

"Yes, you might be correct thereMrs Darcy, but I have to add in my defence that I imagined our first night together not here but in Pemberley, in the comfort of our home."

"Oh! Have you? And pray, what else have you imagined about this perfect moment?"

"Well, a lot more romance and a lot less nervousness to start!" They laughed at this. Elizabeth lifted her head on her elbow, and with her free hand, played with the top of his nightgown brushing his face from time to time.

"Why Mr Darcy, the last month was not romantic enough for you?" Darcy toyed with one of Elizabeth's strands of hair before resting his palm on her waist.

"Well, Mrs Darcy, I do not regard it that way" Darcy smiled at her,noticing what she sought to do. Using humour to deal with the stress was Elizabeth's way of coping.

"But I am amazed, for I consider being kidnapped and my hero saving me from the rascals very romantic. All of this plus an epic final with a wedding against her family's wishes. Surely you can recognise how such a great story would send all the London ladies into a whirl-mill of romantic spirit."

He snorted as she turned their adventure into a fascinating novel.

"Well, my dear, I did not realise I married such a talented writer! But you are undoubtedly right, all this sounds much more interesting than what truly transpired."

"I am, but with lots of surprises, sir." Responded Elizabeth joyfully.

"Indeed you are, and I admire you even better for that!" While they chatted, neither of them realised that they both got closer to each other.

Silence settled between them, and both stared at each other; he realised the only thing he wished to do was kiss her, and he did just that, all tension gone.

This first kiss was not the last; many more followed until they lost all senses in their embrace. No more words escaped the intimacy of their chamber. Love was professed many times and from both parties. They forgot shyness with passion, the excitement of discovering each other in the most intimate manner possible.

Elizabeth woke up just before dawn with a feeling of warmth surrounding her. It took her a few seconds to realise it was coming from her sleepy husband, who spooned her. They were both naked, as neither of them wished to dress again. She felt a little ashamed about it, but then she remembered to trust Fitzwilliam. If he had preferred her to cover up, he would have suggested it. And by the way he cuddled her closely, Elizabeth guessed he relished their skin to skin cuddle.

A few images from last night emerged in her memory, which caused her to blush. She decided to turn around without waking him up. She craved to look at him.

When she finally swung around, she encountered a smiling Fitzwilliam, his blue eyes locked onto hers. He was breathtaking, his hair unruly, his beard grown out a bit which Elizabeth enjoyed as it made him untidy and less stiff. She had also grown accustomed to his beard during their capture. They had been given the bare minimum to take care of themselves; the water was scarce, so he had decided not to shave some days to spare the water for more essential needs.

"Good morning, Mrs Darcy!" He greeted her with a kiss on her forehead.

"Good morning, Mr Darcy!"

"Did you sleep well?"

"Even with the short time I slept, I actually did!"

"Oh, dear! Please tell me what kept you from sleeping?" He sounded like a mischievous boy with his knowing grin. Elizabeth enjoyed that new part of his character.

"Well, Mr Darcy! It was a frightful man!" She played along with him.

"Was it now!"

"Oh, yes! He did a number of things to me that were beyond ungentlemanly!" She struggled to feign shock as her wide grin and the lust in her eyes betrayed her.

While she talked, Mr Darcy hovered over her with his wicked smile on his face like he was the predator and she was the prey.

"Please Mrs Darcy, inform me of everything that this awful man did to you!"

She started shrieking, but the next thing she knew, he assaulted her mouth, and they found once more what they had discovered last night.

So any thoughts? I know it is not much for the wedding or the night but this story is not about this particular moment so I didn't think I would drag it too long.

And I do think sometime our favourite couple deserves some privacy (Me : blushing profusely...)

Please do stay safe out there

Have a nice day

Madilizzie