Chapter 20

Darcy paced in his room. It had been decided that the entire party would travel together to London, leaving tomorrow. Once on the road Elizabeth was expected to share Jane's chambers rather then hire a maid to sleep with her each evening, at Bennet's insistence. Mrs. Wiffle would be staying behind to oversee a special project Darcy was commissioning. He wanted a picture painted of the church where Elizabeth had agreed to be his. He hoped the elderly housekeeper would rest some while keeping busy overseeing it. Tonight he knew that Elizabeth had visited Jane in her chambers to talk in privacy. He still had not determined how to tell Elizabeth about what had happened that afternoon, or if he should tell her or not. Hearing a sound in the connecting room, Darcy stilled. He listened and heard movement that indicated Elizabeth was in her room. Darcy glanced at his watch, it was late but not as late as he expected. He was sure his new father-in-law was hoping that the two would stay together all night. He had commented to Darcy that the two were known to stay up late talking into the early hours of the morning after being separated until they fell asleep together in whichever's room. Darcy had been envisioning how he would go about stealing his wife from her sister's room if this happened, so that she could sleep in his arms again. He had already casually strolled by Jane's door to see if he could hear voices indicating they were still awake. Giggles behind the closed door the second time made him wonder just what it was they were talking about.

If Elizabeth was alone in her room he would not need to attempt to quietly remove her from Jane's. A relief since he had not quite worked out how to do so. He had considered asking a maid to chaperone him into Jane, an unmarried female's bedroom, so he could fetch his sleeping wife, but had considered that the sleeping Jane, his new sister-in-law, might prefer not to have his household aware that he entered her room to steal his wife.

Darcy knocked gently on the connecting door and held his breath. When Elizabeth answered it he stared at her unable to speak. He had not considered that his wife would be in her night dress and that her hair would be in a single braid when he had determined he wanted her sleeping form next to his, and stood staring at her speechless.

"Mr. Darcy, can I help you?" Elizabeth asked.

Swallowing Darcy said softly, "Fitzwilliam, remember Elizabeth."

"Sorry," Elizabeth said blushing. "I am unaccustomed to the less formal mode of address."

"I hope someday you will be accustomed to it. "

"I shall have to practice so I can be a true proficient at it, Fitzwilliam, " Elizabeth said with a smile.

"I would be happy to aid your endeavors to practice by allowing you ample opportunities to do so."

"Fitzwilliam," Elizabeth said.

Now with Elizabeth standing awake in front of him Darcy considered how he was supposed to go about telling her he wanted to hold her while she slept. "Elizabeth," he said and paused.

"Yes, Fitzwilliam," she said looking at him expectantly.

"Travel," Darcy said with inspiration. "I wanted to make sure the travel plans met with your approval. If you would come in we may discuss them comfortably."

"That is very thoughtful of you," Elizabeth said nervously. She had never been in a gentleman's bed chamber and the thought of doing so made her nervous. She reminded herself that he was her husband and it was therefore acceptable for them to hold a conversation in his chambers.

"I think we shall be comfortable here," Darcy said leading her to his bed and helping her to sit. He noticed she was perched on the edge nervously and decided that would not do. So he settled himself on it, leaning against the headboard and drew her towards him gently grasping her hand. She complied and leaded gingerly back against the headboard as well. "I would have liked to have shown you Pemberly but it is unfortunately necessary for us to spend some time in London," Darcy said.

"I look forward to seeing Pemberley someday. This estate is lovely, Fitzwilliam," Elizabeth said.

"It will do for a third or fourth son," Darcy said off hand, distracted by the sound of his name on Elizabeth's lips.

"A third or fourth son?"

"The third may prefer not to live in Scotland and wish to take the slightly smaller one in the South of England, leaving this one for a fourth son instead. "

"And what if there is a fifth," Elizabeth asked playfully. "Shall he enter the army, navy, law or clergy?"

"He will have to settle for Camwood, unless of course Uncle Edmund changes his will and wills his estate directly to our one of our other sons instead of to me. I had always assumed that by the time my eldest was ready to manage an estate he would take over Uncle Edmund's until my passing. "

"You are quite serious about five sons each having an estate, aren't you?" Elizabeth asked in disbelief.

"Of course. If we are blessed with another, I shall of course begin looking to acquire another estate for him."

he"Half a dozen boys, Mr. Darcy?" Elizabeth asked in alarm. "My mother gave birth to all daughters."

"Well no, I hope to have at least one daughter with your features, preferably more."

"Just how many children do you envision? " Elizabeth asked with trepidation.

Realizing his wife was becoming anxious he said, "As many as we are blessed with. There is no set number. I just prefer to be prepared to look to any possible children's futures. It matters not if we have all daughters. Even if we have no children, I will be satisfied that you are my wife and know I am blessed to have you."

"You wanted to discuss our travel plans?" Elizabeth asked changing the subject.

"Yes. I wanted to make sure they met with your approval. Since we are heading directly to London we will be taking a slightly different route. Is there any place you wish to stop along the way?" Darcy asked as he began tracing circles on Elizabeth's hand he held with his free hand.

"No, I have no preferences," Elizabeth said, distracted by his light touch on her wrist as he began to gradually expanding the area of skin he caressed. Elizabeth was tired from staying up so late and as she began to feel relaxed by his light touch her body began to first lean towards him and then to press more heavily against him as he spoke of what stops they would make to eat and sleep as she drifted off to sleep her head pillowed by him.

Feeling the slight weight of Elizabeth's body, leaning against him, Darcy skimmed his fingers down the entire length of her arm. He could tell she was almost asleep so he kept speaking and gently soothing her to sleep with soft caresses to her arm. It was only when her breathing evened out and it was clear she was alseep did he stop speaking of their route. He kissed her hair and whispered, "I love you," before maunuvering her gently into his embrace and guiding the two of them to lay on the bed. With Elizabeth snuggled into his arms, he closed his eyes in contentment.

…

Darcy awoke to feel the same soft feminine form he had been dreaming about in his arms. In his sleep he had begun to touch her. He had dreamed of how she had arched into the touch of his hand yesterday and was surprised to find her doing so again in her sleep as he touched her, the bed covers pushed aside. "Elizabeth?" he whispered uncertain, but not moving his hand from where she arched herself against it. She whimpered and pressed harder against his hand. He tentatively moved his fingers to caress her, watching spellbound as she arched into his touch. He glanced quickly back at her face but she appeared to still be asleep. He realized that as he had dreamed of repeating his attentions to her body yesterday afternoon, he had begun to do so and now his wife was aroused but asleep still. He was familiar with arousal during sleep thanks to his acquaintance with Elizabeth. He had even spent himself during his dreams, not waking up until after his release.

Darcy debated if he should wake her up so he could see if she was willing to let him love on her soft form with his hands or allow her to keep sleeping and keep his hands to himself. Or he considered he could enage his hands in bringing her to release without disturbing her slumber. As her body squirmed against his hand again, he decided that since he had inadvertently aroused her passions during his slumber, it was his duty as her husband to saite them.

Darcy gingerly began to ruch up her night dress so he could have greater access to bring about her pleasure. Once her nightgown was out of the way he stiffled a groan as he felt her flesh arching into his hand. He moved his hand and skimmed a finger around her. She whimpered and arched. He marveled at how soft her skin was. He carefully touched her. She arched up and he inhaled sharply, marveling at how tight she felt around his finger and he could feel his balls tighten in anticipation. He was unsure if she was fully awake or not, but he continued to touch her, stimulating her and bringing her pleasure, watching her enthralled. He could tell she was responsive to his touch, and with a few deft movements of his fingers he had her finding her release on his hand. He gently soothed her flesh with lighter caresses, intended to relax rather then stimulate, as soon as she had orgasimed. His own errection was throbbing but he ignored it as he settled his wife. She rolled towards him peacefully nuzzling into the bed, still aparently dreaming as he tenderly caressed her. He was determined not to think about his own need as he cuddled her to his side. Careful to keep her from encountering his arousal. He attempted to push aside what it had felt like on his hand as she experianced her release or the way her flesh had looked cupped in his palm. He was determined he would not act like a lusty beast and bring himself to relief with his hand while his bride was in his bed, slumbering next to him.