Chapter 36

Jane is beside herself with joy to see her sister again, and Bingley also shows his gladness clearly. As Elizabeth is received at Netherfield with a warm and loving hug of her favourite sister, Darcy and Georgiana receive a similarly warm welcome from Bingley, who shakes hands with both with intense pleasure.

'It has been far too long Darcy, though you look fantastic, positively thriving and happy. Married life must agree with you.'

Darcy is also very happy to see his good friend again, he has missed his friendly face, and their comfortable closeness, though something will be different with both of them married.

'Miss Georgiana, your brother's marriage agrees with you, too, no doubt about that. Something is different about you, though I cannot say what, exactly. It'll come to me yet. You are very welcome, too, and not just to me. I have a guest who is just dying to meet you, though he will not recognise you from our descriptions. He is expecting a girl, and he will be introduced to a woman. That's it!'

Bingley is mighty pleased with himself.

'That's what is changed, you became a woman!

But please, do come in, it's cold and you'll be tired from the road. As soon as I've greeted my new sister, Mrs Darcy.'

Elizabeth hugs Bingley as if he really is her brother, this is a totally different reception from what she expected, she thrives in the informal, loving atmosphere.

Bingley looks at Elizabeth with true admiration, and asks, 'Did I see you fly down the long slope behind the house on a horse just now, Lizzy? Jane said that just wasn't possible, and I did eat quite a heavy lunch this afternoon, so I admit I may have been seeing things in the low light. Still, you're in a riding dress, and I can imagine life with Darcy can be hard if one doesn't ride.'

Bingley calling his sister-in-law, his friend's wife, Lizzy? When Darcy himself hasn't gotten past Elizabeth yet? Yet Elizabeth is not insulted or even surprised at all. She merely confirms his observation.

'I don't know about your lunch, Bingley, but I most certainly arrived on horseback. Which I can assure you I am feeling at the moment, I've muscles aching I had forgotten about since our first week at Pemberley during our honeymoon.'

'A bath is being filled for you as we speak. Let's go in, I'll tell you how much I admire you when you've recovered a little. Did you meet Mr Bennet in town, did he arrive in good health? And did he return with you as he planned?'

Bingley has taken Elizabeth's arm, and Jane is talking to Georgiana in a surprisingly familiar way, so Darcy takes his wife's other arm, a support she gladly accepts, though her touch is light, she's still walking by herself.

'My father did indeed show up one afternoon, we had a good time together, and he came back with us, until he turned off towards Longbourn not half an hour ago.'

'I should have informed him that his first son-in-law would not be staying with us, I feel responsible for driving him out of his home.'

Elizabeth smiles at her friendly brother and soothes him, 'I assure you he did not reproach you with anything. Fitzwilliam made it up to him by showing my father the library, after which he forgot every discomfort or fear for his own library.'

'That is a relief to hear, I was afraid he'd blame me, though Jane said he wouldn't. I have to admit I'm still a bit afraid of his sarcasm.'

Ha, so Darcy was not the only one to fear his father-in-law!

'Shall we leave you to freshen up for an hour or so in your own rooms, then meet for tea and a nice long chat to catch up? I'm afraid Caroline is here, Darcy, but I suppose she will have to get used to matters as they are now sooner or later.

And my other sister, and a new friend of mine, Mr Manners, who is eager to meet all of you.

Mrs Nicholls planned to give you separate adjoining rooms, but Jane insisted you'd want to share one, which is of course what we would want. I trust she knows you best, Lizzy?

Your maid and valet have already taken charge of your essentials, so I guess you'll find your room arranged exactly as you like it. See you in an hour!'

Georgie will be feeling a bit lost in a strange house, they need to talk to her before they retreat for their bath.

'My younger sister Kitty is staying here, do you want her to show you your room and keep you company while you freshen up a little?'

Jane is obviously doing her best to make Georgie feel at home, and to Darcy's surprise Georgie accepts!

'I'd love her company, yes. Fanny will be helping me, but I've been wanting to get to know Kitty better since we met. I want to run with the young crowd on the wedding.'

That earns her a sweet smile from Miss Bennet, and Kitty soon comes out of hiding and greets Georgie, the two going upstairs talking and laughing. Georgie with another girl? Darcy cannot believe it.

'Kitty has improved a lot since Lydia went away,' Miss Bennet tells him with one of her ravishing smiles. 'Well, and since you took Lizzy away from father, for he has started to spend some time on her instead. That worked wonders.'

So something good came of Mr Bennet's greatest loss, that makes Darcy feel slightly less guilty about taking his favourite daughter from him. Though his father-in-law must also be relieved to see Elizabeth loved, and forever protected from want.

'If you'll excuse me, Miss Bennet, I think I'll help your sister into her bath and give her a massage to keep her from stiffening up with muscle cramps.'

'Could you manage to call me Jane, Mr Darcy? My sister loves you more than anyone in this world, I'd like to close the distance between us a little.'

'I will, if you'll do like Elizabeth does Bingley, and just call me by my last name like all my friends.'

'It will be weird, but I'll try.'

'That is all I can ask, Jane. We'll be brother and sister for years, plenty of time to practise.'

As if by agreement, Elizabeth looks at him, and he kisses her, then lifts her bodily and carries her up the stairs, Simon awaiting them there to lead them to a different room from the one he used to have here, a much larger room with a double bed and a dressing-room attached.

The bath is ready, their things are as good as ready, Fanny is still hanging out Elizabeth's gorgeous gowns, but as soon as they enter she stops what she is doing, curtsies for Elizabeth and says, humbly, 'I've only finished hanging out your gowns, ma'am, I've not yet managed to ready your dress for after your bath. I'm sorry.'

Elizabeth seems struck by Fanny's demure attitude.

'We've only just arrived, Fanny, you must be tired yourself. The master and I will be engaged for nearly an hour, why don't you knock in forty-five minutes and I'll be ready for you in my dressing-gown. You can choose a dress and accessories then. Make sure you get some rest, too, Fanny.

Simon, you know more about travelling with the master than Fanny does, will you see her settled and allowed a little rest herself?'

'Yes, ma'am, I do, and I will. I've been here before with the master, and I know Mrs Nicholls and the staff. Do I accompany Fanny to assist the master?'

'Yes, please, Simon. He will need your help to tie his cravat perfectly, or I'll be blamed for letting him grow slovenly. Thank you, both of you, and let us know if anything doesn't go well in your own quarters.'

Both servants bow, and leave the room. Darcy is left, stunned at his beloved's sudden authority. But that is just the beginning...

'Now, Mr Darcy, you can undress me and help me into the bath. Don't stand there, looking foolish, get to work! A cold bath won't loosen me up.'

She's right, of course, but every time she calls him Mr Darcy his legs just seem to give out. He quickly starts on her short coat, but cannot help getting distracted all the time, she's so gorgeous, and so tempting. She smells of horse, of course, but Darcy likes that, especially mingled with her own irresistible scent.

Keeping a tight hold on himself, the water must not get cold, they'll have some time afterwards, he removes the coat, her dress, then she sits on the bed and he removes her boots and her long woollen underwear. She thinks they must dampen his ardour, but in fact he finds them very enticing, not in themselves, but the removing of them, slowly exposing her bare flesh. When she is totally naked, he restrains himself admirably and requests she take off his coat, so he can lift her in the bath without spoiling it.

Coat removed, shirt removed for good measure, Darcy lifts his beloved in the bath, his touch already hurts her, she's stiffening rapidly, but the water is not too hot to lower her in it straight away.

She is caressing his bare chest even as she sighs in satisfaction, feeling the heat envelop her. Stiff or not, she seems very heated, and the bath is large enough for two.

Darcy quickly undresses, leaving items of clothing lying about, not his habit, but it cannot be helped this once, and joins his beloved in her warm bath.

Starting with her legs, he massages her poor abused muscles, especially the right leg that was held immobile by the saddle, but the other one, too. As he gathers in her legs, the rest of her disappears under water until her head is the only part above it, but she seems to like the warm dunking, feeling him up as he tries to knead some flexibility back into her.

He is still rather good at ignoring the insistence of his body that he needs to take her, now, in this very bath, and with utmost discipline he massages her legs until she no longer flinches at a firm touch. Then he gently turns her around in the bath until she is sitting against him, her legs back in the warm water.

Still exercising discipline, he massages her thighs, her stomach, her arms, her shoulders, before he allows himself to even touch her breasts, and slip his hand between her thighs to explore a part of her he hopes hasn't suffered from a day in the saddle.

Her gasp of ardour proves it hasn't, and one of her hands groping behind her to stroke him and grasp a part of him that makes him groan proves she is as heated as he is. Since the water has cooled unpleasantly anyway, and the room is nice and warm with a superb fire, they leave the bath, Elizabeth supple enough to get out without his help, dry each other off, and hit the bed.

Despite the fire, it is very cosy beneath the blankets, and they start fondling and kissing and tasting each other almost immediately, they are so excited by their intimacies in the bath. Darcy is also very heated with keeping his ardour contained all the time, it's time to let it out, and he does.

He pins his much smaller beloved under his tall, strong body, and she immediately gives herself up to him, eager for his attentions, opening herself to him. But somehow that doesn't feel right, he liked it so much better when she bossed him around just now. His frantic lust leaves him, and when she looks at him in surprise at his sudden change of heart, he begs her, 'Will you please call me Mr Darcy again, and give me some more orders? I like that a lot, it gives me the shivers, good ones.'

A knowing look appears on her beautiful face, and she says, in the same voice she used to address Fanny, but much less friendly, much stricter, 'And frankly, Mr Darcy, you need it. You have had your own way all your life, it's time you learned to obey someone instead of having everyone running around to please you.'

It does give him the shivers, and his stiffly erected member tries to stand up a little more, but it is already giving all it has. It merely moves up and down a bit, anticipating what will come next.

'Your massage was excellent, but your manners can use some improvement, you do not show me the proper respect. So, Mr Darcy, why don't you start by sitting down between my legs, and stroking my poor bottom gently. It has borne the brunt of the hardships I've faced today, and you never gave it any of your attention just now.'

Having indeed moved down under the blankets to sit between his beloved's legs, he realises he did! He did totally forgot her poor behind, and it did indeed bear most of the abuse of a whole day in the saddle.

'I'm sorry ma...'

'Silence, Mr Darcy! I did not give you permission to speak.'

Why is this the most exciting thing that ever happened to him? Is he hopelessly insane?

He does not speak again, but rather drapes Elizabeth's shapely legs over his shoulders, the delicious softness of her women's parts tantalizingly close to where he wants them, his face, and starts to massage her shapely buttocks gently but firmly. They feel soft and pliant, they are not stiff or painful, the warm bath must have corrected his oversight.

After a few moments, the strict voice says, 'You are forgiven, you may reward yourself with a few mouthfuls of what you really want. My good man.'

Her legs still holding him, he uses both hands to open the way to her deliciously soft, most sensitive parts, his action causing her to moan softly in anticipation. Then when takes the first delightful taste, he can feel her shudder, and she encourages him, in a surprisingly decided voice, still.

'Yes, that is it, Mr Darcy, you're clearly not a hopeless case. You're very skilled, I'll just have to keep correcting your attitude, and you'll do just fine. Now turn half a circle towards me and let me have your firm, delicious manhood, it at least knows how to treat a lady, always rising before me.'

Oh, that is so good, they can do this all day, why talk at all, why have lunch, dinner, when he can have this. Suddenly, the overpowering soft and warm feeling stops, and Elizabeth observes in her normal voice, only slightly coloured with heat, 'Wait a second, you sat on a horse all day, doesn't that hurt your manhood as well? It's out there all the time, unprotected, squashed between your body and the hard saddle.'

He does not want her to stop, do all women talk while making love?

'Mr Darcy, do not make the mistake of ignoring me!'

Oh, she knows how to make a man do her bidding, and to make things worse she's continuing what she was doing to him, not caring how he will find his voice to answer her.

'It did at first ma'am, when I was still a boy. But I suppose I got used to it, and now I can sit in a saddle all day, for days, without suffering any discomfort. Thank you ma'am, for being so kind to me.'

And before she can ask anything else, or comment, he digs in once more, determined to have it all. Apparently she wants him to take her this time, for she soon lets go of his member, and he turns half a circle back and increases his efforts with a knowledgeable finger inserted where it matters.

Moving along with it, she moans and merely encourages him in her ardour.

'That is so good, right there, will you please take me very firmly as soon as this..'

She does not get to finish that sentence, for a shuddering high washes over her, and as she lies still, enjoying the aftermath of it, most likely, he covers her with his entire body after all.

Expectant of what is to come, she grips his neck in a surprisingly strong hold, and as he guides his member inside her and thrusts firmly until his stomach touches her most sensitive part, the grip tightens even more, and a tiny squeal escapes her lips.

Overcome by lust himself as he feels her warmth envelop him, he arches his back to reach her neck, then bites it gently, and he gives her as good as he has got.

That is very exhausting, but it's so good his body forces him to keep going, pushing those tiny squeals out of her again and again, until he can feel her release and hear her gasp with ecstasy.

His own release is not far off, and he chases it regardless of his lack of breath and his aching stomach muscles. And then a groan escapes him, as ecstasy washes over him, and he is totally overcome with love for his sweet, perfect little wife. But he hides it on impulse, letting his body drop well beside her instead of on top of her, and curling up as if in shame.

'I'm sorry ma'am,' he says demurely, 'I don't know what came over me. Please don't punish me, or banish me from your divine presence. I'll be a good boy from now on, I promise.'

'Oh Fitzwilliam, my love, you're unbeatable, the very best.'

She strokes his hair, her face mirroring the love he feels.

'Consider yourself forgiven, Mr Darcy, but do take care to show me the proper respect from now on. Now take me in your arms and hold me for another ten minutes, until we have to allow ourselves to be dressed, then face the world once more.'

Tonight will be her main challenge, being in company with Miss Bingley as Mrs Darcy, but she will find it much easier than she expects. She has grown so much, is so self-assured, and looks so much the sophisticated city-woman, Miss Bingley will be routed before she can think of attacking.

And then the day after tomorrow, at the wedding, she will help him face his own nemesis, George Wickham, the man fortune decided to make his brother-in-law.

They have timed their loving excellently, before they can fall asleep there is a knock on the door, and as Darcy calls out lazily, 'Five more minutes and we'll be with you,' Elizabeth kisses him, then hops out of bed and quickly puts on a dressing gown.

Reluctantly, the bed is so lovely and warm, he follows suit and puts on his own.

'You can come in now.'

Fanny takes her mistress to sit by the mirror in the dressing-room, as Simon leads his master to the opposite side of the bedroom.

'Are you decent under that?'

Simon will never learn respect, but it's Darcy's own fault, he has treated his valet with easy familiarity as long as he has been in his service, they were more like brothers than master and servant.

'I'm not.'

Coming closer, his valet sniffs, then makes a face.

'You smell as if you bathed before having your sports, what is the use of bathing if you're going to make a mess afterwards?'

That is kind of rude, Darcy should reprimand him for it, but though Simon's way of expressing himself is scandalous, he is right, Darcy smells the best part of a woman on himself, and he should clean up before getting dressed.

'You don't ride, Simon, do you?'

'I'm a city-boy, Mr Darcy, I never had the opportunity to learn.'

Of course.

'Of course, Simon. I'll explain. Riding all day stiffens up the muscles. Mrs Darcy needed the bath to keep from hurting all day tomorrow. I'll clean up at the wash-stand. Fanny will be scandalized at seeing me in my dressing gown, but she'll get used to it.'

Simon suddenly seems to realise he's been very disrespectful, even grumpy at his master.

'I'm so sorry, master, I am totally forgetting my place. You're always so nice to me and here I am, growling at you for having found love. I had no right, can you please forgive me?'

'It's not just your fault, Simon. I treated you like a brother, and suddenly I'm married. I'm truly sorry I did that to you, I'm sure we'll find a solution.'

'Thank you, master, for acknowledging my feelings. I'll mind my manners, and with your permission, I'll fetch the basin here, I'm quite sure Mrs Darcy will be less shocked with my appearance than Fanny will be with yours.'

'I'm sure you're right, Simon. Better have it your way then. We usually clean up afterwards, you know.'

'I know, master, and I'm truly glad you're finally happy.'

Having met Fanny in her dressing-gown, with nothing underneath, Elizabeth sits on the stool in front of the dressing-table and watches Fanny choose a dress for her. Of course the girl must have an idea of what her mistress should wear the first afternoon, when few of the guest have arrived, but it seems as if her new ladies' maid still has to decide on her outfit.

First Fanny hands her new underclothes, and Elizabeth puts them on without comment, it is after all what she would have done herself if she had not had a maid. Then Fanny hands her one of the country chic dresses, and a pair of older slippers, more colourful than the new, brown ones.

In fact, the only difference with the old days is, that Fanny brushes her hair to total smoothness, then puts it up in a very fashionable style, and accentuates her lips and cheekbones with a touch of powder. Dress, footwear and hat are exactly the same.

Between the brushing and the putting up of her hair, Simon walks by to fetch the wash-basin, small wonder, for Fitzwilliam did not have the time to clean up after their lovemaking. They seem to have had some kind of disagreement, Simon and his master, Elizabeth could hear Simon's voice as if he were the master instead of the servant, and now he looks positively beat.

Maybe Fitzwilliam finally corrected his valet's familiar behaviour, as much as she likes Simon, Elizabeth has never understood the lenience with which Fitzwilliam treats him, something Simon obviously knows since he is way more respectful towards Elizabeth than to his master.

When Elizabeth is dressed, and her hair is done to perfection, Fanny pulls out a new necklace from a box, a silver one this time, not very elaborate and very stylized.

The necklace does not have links, but rather forms one continuous disk with a cut out for Elizabeth's neck. It has a sort of tiny hinge with which it opens, and a fastener on the opposite side. The disk is not decorated with stones or figures, but rather with stylized patterns, a very intriguing piece that Elizabeth loves to wear.

That completes her toilette, and by now Fitzwilliam is finished as well, they will be a bit late, but Bingley will forgive them. Her beloved looks fabulous, he is wearing his shoes, of course he'll want to have them well-broken in on the day of the wedding, his trousers are as tight as ever, and his coat is as well.

It is an older coat, but one that suits him very well. There is a clear difference with an ordinary day, though, for his hair is styled very fashionably, it looks as if Fitzwilliam has just gotten out of bed after a night of revelling, when in fact he has a rather neat hairstyle that needs little attention .Simon must have spent quite some time on making it look blown about like this.

And his cravat is a veritable piece of art. Wave upon wave of white linen spills from his throat, it's an incredible difference with his normal cravat, and Elizabeth wonders whether Simon has brought larger cravats, or whether he truly is a master of pleating, starching and tying. Neither of the two would surprise her.

Elizabeth cannot but be pleased with Fanny's work, for Fitzwilliam looks at her with admiration, but he doesn't show any signs of being overwhelmed by her appearance. Good, that is perfect.

His demeanour a bit oppressed, he truly must have been rebuked, Simon looks at his mistress approvingly, still daring to address her, 'You look perfect, Mrs Darcy, not too little, and not too much.'

Elizabeth feels herself softening towards him, he may be much too familiar with his betters, he has been a great help to her to explore city life, and get over her naiveté. They all depend on his quick insight in certain situations, and Elizabeth remembers seeing him totally distraught, when they first arrived in London and Fitzwilliam pushed him to tell who were bullying him.

'Thank you, Simon,' she says to him, her voice reflecting the warmth she suddenly feels towards him. 'Fanny did a great job, as did all of you finding these treasures among the old furniture and loads of unused China. I wonder what treasures are hidden in the forgotten chambers of Pemberley, maybe we can have a hunt this spring.

And how do you manage to get so many pleats and folds in your master's cravat?'

Simon certainly feels her friendliness, and he replies softly, 'Thank you, ma'am. I've practised for years on the master, he was always very patient to let me try out a new style.'

'I'm impressed. You look very fine yourself, that livery looks as if it was designed for you.'

A knowing look from Simon.

'Don't tell me you designed it.'

A bow from Simon, and Elizabeth laughs and says, 'I might have known. The maids will undoubtedly love it. Well, we're off downstairs, do take some rest, Fanny, for I suppose you were attending to Miss Georgiana before you saw to me. Thank you for your help.'