Darcy and Lizzy spent the days immediately after Mr. Creedance's forced departure exploring their newfound delight in one another. Lizzy discovered that Darcy liked it when she pulled on his hair and when she dug her nails into his chest. Darcy found that Lizzy also liked having her hair pulled, but not nearly so much as she enjoyed it when he bit her neck. He admitted to himself that the second discovery was a bit of an accident, since he was trying to surprise her into tightening her grip on his hair, but the result was pleasant for both parties.

The servants, on the other hand, had spent their time learning to knock loudly on doors if they had even the slightest notion that their master and mistress might both be behind it, regardless of the time of day. Mrs. Reynolds herself had been the first person to become an accidental witness to the passions of her employer, when she opened the door to Mr. Darcy's study and been greeted by the sight of his wife bent over the desk, skirts piled around her hips, gripping the edge as if it was the only thing keeping her together, while the man himself stood behind her grunting, gripping her hips, with his pants dangling about his ankles.

Mrs. Reynolds had dropped the tray she was holding and run out of the room—closing the door behind her—while Darcy had come to a sudden halt and made a quick grab for his pants. Elizabeth had stood, letting her skirts fall, and, with all the grace of a child hiding from an angry parent, slipped under Darcy's desk and declared she was never leaving.

That evening, Mrs. Reynolds had refused to make eye contact with either Mr. or Mrs. Darcy (which neither of them noticed, since they kept their eyes firmly on the floor whenever she came into proximity), until Mr. Darcy had entered her kitchen while she was alone and quietly informed her that her work had warranted a raise, and she would now be given an extra thirty pounds a week. Mr. Darcy was sure to emphasize that it was her discretion that had earned her further pay, and then quickly left the room.

"Discretion, indeed. Like anyone would believe me if I told them what Mr. Darcy of Pemberly had been doing…" Mrs. Reynolds murmured to herself as she finished clearing the dining room.

Locks were installed on the study doors the next day, and the Darcys made every reasonable attempt to be quiet and ensure the door was locked henceforth every time Lizzy visited to "assist with his paperwork."

A week after the incident with Mrs. Reynolds, Lizzy woke alone in Darcy's large bed.

"William," she whispered sleepily, while her arm stretched out to locate his sleeping form. What she found instead was a red rose and a note on his pillow. Unfolding the note, she read;

My darling Lizzy,

It was not my intention to leave you alone this morning. One of my greatest joys is watching you wake, only second to the seeing the pleasure I bring to your face when we are together. Urgent business calls me to London, but I hope to only be gone three days. I don't know how I can survive that long without you, my love, but I shall try, as I implore you to do as well.

When I saw this rose this morning on my way to the stables, I thought of you. Such great beauty, but unlike this rose, I am the only one who is permitted to discover all of the pleasures and softness your body has yet to offer. Additionally, I believe the color to be a fine match to the marks I believe you will find this morning on your neck and thighs. See this rose and think of me placing those marks on your skin, bringing you pleasure and marking you as my own. But use caution, my love, and dress carefully, or I fear Mrs. Reynolds may quit our employ, and I don't know how we could replace her. Few housekeepers have her discretion, and I would hate to curb our activities to hide them better from a new housekeeper.

All my love and more,

Fitzwilliam Darcy

Elizabeth sank back into her pillow, feeling a strange mixture of pleasure, disappointment, and nausea. She was delighted with both the rose and the note, but she was saddened that she would not see her husband's face that day.

She was especially disheartened that she would have to await his return to share the news that she expected to welcome his child to the world in mid-November.