Hey guys, thank you for reviewing the first bit. I loved every single one of them! It's so exciting to find out what people think of your ramblings… Two of you were worried about D&E being found out… Well: I thought it would be nice to add another saucy chapter wherein you'll find out that even Pemberley's best hidden secrets can be revealed…
Darcy did not even have time to look at the picture once Elizabeth had finished it. Allthough he had threatened that there would be something in store for her if he couldn't approve of it, in the end it didn't seem to matter much. Being so closely observed by his loved one was very erotic and Darcy made sure Elizabeth got what she deserved afterwards!
While being busy as they were, they no longer observed their surroundings. The pair had not moved from their spot between the trees, as they felt quite safe there…
Just like Rosings, Pemberley grounds were worth to be seen, perhaps even more so. Nature had been given free reign over most of the park, apart from the paths. And so Colonel Fitzwilliam enjoyed an annual walk in this park aswell. He had been looking for Darcy before venturing out, just to inquire if they could go on horseback together. But soon Fitzwilliam came to the conclusion that both Darcy and Elizabeth were nowhere to be seen, so he decided to go on foot by himself. Colonel Fitzwilliam was very familiar with the grounds, but when you embark an unusual spectacle to be seen, even though in a familiar setting, you take another look…
That was unfortunate indeed. If he had known, he probably wouldn't have taken the path he had chosen. But now he had and the sight he beheld was, despite it's indecorousness, quite diverting. He had always observed Darcy to be stiff and unmoveable in his manners. Turned out that the former was at this moment very true, but the latter the exact opposite! And Elizabeth! "Good god, Elizabeth! Oh my, I shouldn't be watching them," the flustered colonel thought. Allthough he didn't expect the couple to be easily distracted by any sound or sight at the present, he wasted no time in removing himself from the scene as quickly as he could!
Darcy and Elizabeth were both in excellent humour! After their little adventure in the park, the couple had welcomed their guests. Among the party were Mr. and Mrs. Bingley, his sister Caroline, the Hursts and the Gardiners. Later the family from Longbourne had made it's presence known to all by the single effort of Mrs. Bennet, who obliged the hosts with an exceedingly high-pitched stream of compliments and exclamations in regard to the handsomeness of the house, it's park and it's owners. Mr. Bennet and his two daughters, Kitty and Mary, could only hope that Mrs. Bennet spilled all her compliments as soon as possible so they wouldn't have to endure any more of her raptures afterwards.
The Darcy's had invited them all to see Elizabeth's new home. Little did they know that all of them would soon see a lot more than just her home!
Dinner was a very happy business. Darcy noted that mosts guests seemed to be in earnest conversation and those who were not, were very much enjoying their meal and their wine, or so he concluded, by the sight of Mr. Hurst. His guests being thus occupied, Darcy felt free to let his mind wander in another direction. He observed Elizabeth at the far end of the table. Her hair was up, but a few strands came curling down her neck. The very neck he had thoroughly kissed this afternoon after she had released him from posing for her picture. His eyes took their own course by going down from her neck to the edge of her gown. The soft curves, the silky skin that was revealed there made him think of the way he had stroked her there, and how he had suckled and kissed her niples. He couldn't help but lick his lips with the reminder of this.
How unfortunate, because his cousin had watched Darcy closely and after the display of only a few hours before, the colonel thought he knew quite well what thís gesture meant. Having the ever consumating Mr. Hurst at his right and the occasional reserved Darcy at his left side, the colonel was in need of a little diversion. Though Mr. Hurst had enough remarkeable qualities to ridicule, the colonel found in Darcy a better victim, after everything he had witnessed today.
"Pemberley is very beautiful this time of year, cousin, what do you say!" announced colonel Fitzwilliam jovially. "It seems you have the power to increase it's beauty even more every year, Darcy!"
"I'm glad indeed that you feel this way, Richard", answered Darcy, "My dear wife is of the same mind. She has taken up drawing and her favourite object is the park, with all the beautiful sights it has to offer."
The colonel smiled. "Beautiful sights indeed Darcy. Just this afternoon I indulged myself and made a little tour."
Before he could continue his tease, Richard got interrupted by Mrs. Bennet. "Pray, Lizzy what do I hear? Since when do you draw? I have never seen your drawings!"
"Why, yes mama, Georgiana's crayons made such an impression on me that I simply couldn't resist trying it. My dear sister has given me lessons and shows me even more beauty at Pemberley than I had expected to find." With this she cast a quick, loving gaze upon her husband.
While the people on Elizabeths side of the table continued their observations on drawing and the inspiration her gardens could offer for that activity, the colonel took this distraction as a cue to test his cousins waters:
"I followed the stream, Darcy. Lots of carp you have here!"
"So are we going to fish someday or what", came the annoyed inquiry of Hurst. Totally ignoring the man, the colonel made the next move. "I came by this lovely spot… The one where you can see the valley from between a few trees lined up next to each other." Seeing Darcy's expression change from pleased about the compliments to worried by his discription of the view, he decided to release the last drop: "You know what I mean, the trees that used to be our favourites to climb when we were young. I didn't dare to make my way too close to this particular place in fear of interrupting the marvellous scenery, but it provided a very nice picture!" The face of his usually composed cousin crimsoned remarkeably now.
Trying to deepen the red shade a bit more, Richard could't resist to tell Darcy how disappointed he was about how his search for his cousin to accompany him on his tour had been in vain this afternoon. "Apparantly", concluded Fitzwilliam with a grin, "you had better things to do then riding out with me!"
This comment indeed hit the mark!
Two aggravated hosts are worse than one. So Darcy decided not to tell Lizzy that they had been caught in the act, so to speak. He wanted to save her the embarrassment. Darcy felt mortified by the knowledge that Richard had seen them, but he was annoyed aswell about the fact that his cousin could so easily tease him. So he had given his wife a good time this afternoon! So what! Why should he feel mortified over that! Richard could only wish for a woman like his Elizabeth! Indeed he was proud to have her, and even more so in the manner he often had her! There was no reason for him to be embarassed, was there? Thus convincing himself, Darcy concluded this wave of inner reflection as a changed man. He would no longer be the object of ridicule! Richard could imply anything he wanted tonight, Darcy would not take the bate, he would not deny nor confirm. He would take the blows as only a satisfied husband could.
Blows were to come, but more to the mortification of Lizzy this time. The topic of drawing had extended it's way from the dinner table to the drawing room and the ladies inquired after Elizabeth's pictures. Georgiana, glad to be able to escape Miss Bingley for a moment, offered to catch Lizzy's file of masterpieces…
While most ladies awaited Georgiana's return, Mary could not resist the pianoforte and obliged the party with an air. Elizabeth turned the pages. Thus distracted, she had no eye for her own file or the ladies watching her pictures. Indeed, she had no reason to be alarmed, because Elizabeth was sure that she had hidden the particular portrait. Her file had a double layer of leather. The better part of the two layers were stitched neatly, but one part gave way and the hole had been big enough to hide a peculiar picture. She was safe…
The different reactions to her talent were to be expected. Mrs. Gardiner, Jane and Georgiana were delighted, Kitty and Mrs. Bennet had no notion of art and were hardly giving it a second thought and the Bingley sisters found fault with every single stroke of coal across the paper. Then Mary observed the arrival of the pictures and even though little could persuade her to abandon her own exhibition of talent, she was quite curious when it came to her sisters efforts. Elizabeth took the file from Miss Bingley's hands to show Mary some of her work. Sadly, her grip was less steady than she expected and the file fell from her hands.
No huge imagination is required to guess what revealed itself in all it's glory… Miss Bingley noted a little piece of paper stuck out of the hiding place in the file. Certain that it was something that miss Eliza would dread to have exposed in public, Miss Bingley grasped this opportunity, litterally. Surrounded by all women in the party, miss Bingley unfolded the paper.
Gasps and screams were heard, some of shock and some of admiration. This, ofcourse, drew the attention of the men aswell. And soon the whole party was gazing at the Elizabeth's piece. Or better, Mr. Darcy's piece. For a moment nobody knew what to say.
Then, Mrs. Bennet was in need of her salts and betook herself from the room. Kitty and Mary were in a peculiar state of shock for they were not able to take their gazes of the portrait. And actually, the same could be said of the Bingley sisters. Perhaps it might be interesting to note that Mrs. Hurst first took a good look at the portrait and then directed her gaze towards her own husband with not a líttle disdain. Georgiana shied away from all the commotion and made her way to the pianoforte, not able to believe that a picture like that could be from her sisters hands and even more so, that her brother had posed naked before her. And in that manner! How was he able to wear his breeches?
The Gardiners were initially a bit shocked, but soon became diverted by observing their favourite nieces' reaction to this exposure. Jane's face was quite flushed as she saw her brother in a way she would never have imagined to see him, but her expression was nothing to her sisters'. The colour on Lizzy's face could only be described as burgundy and she hasted towards miss Bingley to catch the offending piece. Alas, to no avail… Mr. Hurst, who was already in his cups just a bit, thought it nessecary to question the authenticity of the drawing, for he could not believe what he saw! And so he grasped the portrait and held it open and wide to take another good look. The others couldn't keep themselves from laughing as they observed the way he ogled Darcy's likeness.