Chapter 27

"Your wife is fine," Lord Bramhurst said gently to Darcy. "When I left the modiste, I heard her laughing merrily with my wife, your aunt and your sister as she went to have her measurements taken."

"I need to see her," Darcy reiterated again desperately. He did not voice his fear that Elizabeth would reject him because of Miss Bingley. "I should have insisted on accompanying them today."

"My wife and I made a love match before it was fashionable," Lord Bramhurst said with a chuckle. "We have been accused of living in each other's pockets more times then I can remember. I can understand your wish to have been with her today. I often find myself with errands near where my wife is shopping, just so I can be close by in case she needs me. It is not a feeling many gentlemen in our circle are blessed enough to feel. Mrs. Darcy is fine, but I know you will not be reassured until you have held her in your arms. When you love your wife there is nothing like the reassuring security of holding her close."

Darcy said nothing, but nodded in acknowledgment.

When the coach came to a stop outside the modiste's, Darcy was out the door quickly and hurrying into the shop with determined strides. "Where is Mrs. Darcy?" he demanded of the girl at the counter. "Where is my wife?"

"Right this way," the girl said quickly as she led him towards a closed door. "Her and her party are in a private room with Madame Flouirete now."

As soon as Darcy set foot in the room he rushed over to Elizabeth and crushed her to him. "I am so sorry, my love," he mummered against her hair fearful that she would push him away, but wanting to hold her close.

Madame Flouirete, Lady Bramhurst along with Lady Matlock ushering Georgiana, quickly left the room to give the couple some privacy. Seeing her husband Lady Bramhurst went to his side to greet him and mummered, "He loves her very much, doesn't he? I had been wishing that one of our boys would have had the opportunity to marry her, but my regrets are lessened to see Meredith's niece in a love match."

In the room Darcy, not releasing Elizabeth's form seated himself and craddled her to him, placing her onto his lap as he whispered how sorry he was again. Elizabeth, squirming around to face him better, raisng her hand to cup his face admonished him with a smile, "You need not apologize for Miss Bingley. She is responsible for her own actions. I believe Georgiana is relieved that the connection to has her has been thoroughly severed and she need not tolerate Miss Bingley any longer. I just hope this does not effect Mr. Bingley and Jane. I suppose I will find out tomorrow from Jane at tea."

"It is my fault that woman attacked you. I love you so much and while you have given me the gift of being my wife, all I have managed to do is expose you to harm. First through Lady Catherine and now Miss Bingley," Darcy said his voice tinged with bitterness.

"So you are saying that you intended to marry your cousin, Miss de Bough?" Elizabeth asked archly.

"Of course not!" he declared, appalled.

"So it would have been some other young woman someday on the unfortunate receiving end of Lady Catherine's ire since you did not intend to fall in with her plans? Perhaps Miss Bingley?"

"Never!" he said vehemently.

"So then Miss Bingley would have attacked some other woman, unless you where willing to fall in with Miss Bingley's plans," Elizabeth said. "They are responsible for their own actions, not you. You, Fitzwilliam, are not responsible for them." She gave him a quick, light kiss and feeling her point made, she squirmed again to adjust her position, but Darcy stilled her with his hands on her waist.

"Elizabeth, " he said tightly. "I conceded your point, but beg of you to stop squirming like that."

Squirming again to see his face better she peered up at him in confusion.

Darcy let out a pained groan at this. He could feel his emotions already heightened from earlier, quickly begin to fuel his desire for Elizabeth, especially after she had unexpectedly brushed her lips across his. His manhood was begining to strain towards her, each innocent movement from her arousing him further.

"Are you okay?" Elizabeth asked in concern and then when she shifted her weight all of a sudden feeling something poking at her, she said in confusion, "What is that?" moving again.

"Oh God, Elizabeth," Darcy said moaning.

"Is that?" Elizabeth asked her eyes widing.

All Darcy could do was nod.

"You want to? Now?" Elizabeth asked in disbelief.

"My body wants too," Darcy clarified.

Experimentally Elizabeth shifted again on him, resulting with her now straddling him and he let out a low moan. Blushing she said, "This feels good? You like it?"

"Yes," Darcy grunted as he thrust himself upward seeking her femine softness that he had better access to in her new position.

"Tell me what I should do," Elizabeth said blushing. "I want to bring you pleasure. Miss Bingley mentioned having been instructed on how to satisfy you. I would wish to receive the same instruction, so that I can please you as well. I do not want you to regret marrying me."

"You need no instruction, Elizabeth," Darcy said as he gently pushed her downward with his hands splayed on her waist, sighing in pleasure at the contact his mind focusing more on the feel of her then her words.

"But I want to learn. If Miss Bingley found a book to instruct her, why should I not as well?"

Pausing in the act of lowering her form back down against him, Darcy comprehending what she was asking, took a deep breath and touching his forhead to hers, said flatly, "Miss Bingley did not receive her instructions from a book."

"Did you teach her? Like you offered to teach me?" Elizabeth asked her tone hurt, jerking back from him.

"No!" Darcy declared. "Never. I have never taught a woman."

"But you have experience with women," Elizabeth prodded him.

"Yes," Darcy said regretfully.

"And I will meet them at balls and dinners. They will all know how you like to be pleased and I do not. They will mock me."

"No," Darcy said quickly. "I have never had relations with any of the women in society. I, in the past, had my, my needs, catered to in a brothel. You will never suffer the embaressment of being introduced to women from my past while out in society."

"You enjoyed these women at the brothel? The way they made you feel? The things they knew how to do?" Elizabeth asked frowning.

"What I feel for you, Elizabeth, is different. I only sought physical release from them. I did not care for them. I was indifferent to them. But I love you. You do not need to learn how to please me."

"Will you keep visiting it?"

"God no. The only woman I want is you. You are the only one I desire."

"But if I do not know how to please you, you will not desire me and wish to visit there again," Elizabeth said her voice cracking. "I want to learn so that you do not. Miss Bingley was right that I have no idea how to keep you satisfied, but I can learn, Fitzwilliam."

"Elizabeth," Darcy said sofly, his hands trailing up her sides to caresses her breasts. "You are all I need or want to be satisfied. Having felt your sweet form against me, I could never find satisfaction with another again. I want you and no one else." Thrusting gently upward against her, he said, "Can you not feel what your very presence does to me? Not even the most skilled courtesan's touch can inflame me like a simple look from you."

"I would like to provide you with pleasure," Elizabeth said flushing, "right now if it is what you want."

"Not right now," Darcy said regretfully. "To provide me with pleasure, I would have to provide you with pleasure. I will not embarrass you by doing so in our current location. If your offer still stands later I would enjoy ressuming our current positions in a more private location. "

Elizabeth swallowed nervously, but nodded.

"Thank you, my love," Darcy whispered in her ear. "I am going to make you scream with pleasure for my ears alone. You are the only one I have ever wanted to make feel pleasure. That is what pleases me."

Carefully removing his wife from his lap, Darcy stood up and taking deep breaths worked on subsiding his errection. Feeling more in control of himself he added, "And regardless of what my aunt decrees, I intend to join you for the remainder of your shopping excursion today."

...

As the women looked over patterns Darcy glanced in the book Lord Bramhurst had handed him. The older man had handed it to Darcy and said, "It will give you something to do at least. Believe me when I say your opinion will not only be unnecessary but unwanted ss well. If you know to much about your wife's wardrobe she will be disappointed to miss the look of surprise and appreciation on your face the first time you see her in a new gown. They never seem to understand that our appreciation is not lessened by prior knowledge and that sometimes it is even heightened by anticipation of her in a particular color or cut."

While the subject matter of the book was interesting, Darcy was distracted by his own thoughts. His mind kept dwelling on the fact that Elizabeth did not want him to seek pleasure elsewhere and what it meant. He knew he had no inclination to do so. Did it signify jealousy and therefore care for him? The thought of another man pleasuring her filled him with horror. He wanted to be the one that pleasured her and the only one. She had said she wanted to please him, something she did just by allowing him to touch her. Did her wish to please him stem from a more tender emotion, such as the one she mummered last night?

Darcy glanced at his wife in frustration as she sat amongst the other females. He wanted to be next to her, holding her hand as she made her selections. Instead his sister was seated next to her, giggling and enjoying Elizabeth's company. The scene brought a smile to his face, lessening his irritation that Elizabeth was not next to him. Watching the two ladies he cared most for bond was worth treasuring he realized, despite his wish to have Elizabeth's exclusive companionship. He had known Elizabeth would be good for his quiet sister and it was gratifying to see Georgiana blossom with Elizabeth's lively manners.

Darcy's opinion had only been solicited once, merely because Elizabeth felt twelve dresses was more then enough. Lady Matlock and Lady Bramhurst were insisting she required more then double that amount, citing at least 30 dresses. Darcy had spoken up asking his aunt if 30 was the minimum she thought his wife needed. His aunt had assured him it was the minimum she would require and that twelve would never do. Lady Bramhurst had agreed with Lady Matlock and then wisely asked Darcy his opinion. Darcy had frowned and said, "If Elizabeth finds the amount required overwhelming, why not make selections for 15 dresses today. Gardiner mentioned he expected a new shipment with fabrics coming in this week. I can accompany her to his warehouse when it arrives and Elizabeth can perhaps find other materials she likes in her uncle's warehouse not available here to have another 15 dresses made up a week from today. And then two weeks from now she can return to make selections for another 15. She will have a better idea of what she preferres having had a chance to wear the first 15 dresses. More can be ordered whenever she needs or wants them now or in the future."

The modiste had instantly praised this suggestion. Under it, instead of one large order for 30 or so dresses, she would have three smaller orders for 15 dresses, 45 total, possibly more since it was apparent Darcy preferred to buy more for his wife. Lady Matlock and Lady Bramhurst agreed it was a sound suggestion and Georgiana begged to be included in the excursion to Gardiner's warehouse.

Elizabeth had agreed reluctantly and then added to Georgiana with a smile at Darcy, "Perhaps we can find some fabrics at my uncle's warehouse to make a plethora of new dresses for you as well."

"An excellent idea," Darcy had agreed.

When Elizabeth was done choosing selections for three more dresses to complete this weeks order, the ladies stood up and began to gather their things. Darcy had stood as well and was watching them when Elizabeth came over to him and slipped her hand in his. He had grasped it eagerly and raising their clasped hands to his lips, dropped a quick kiss on her hand.

Lady Matlock had noticed but said nothing. She was responsible for upholding the family's respectability and she had often leaned on the Darcy name to do so. While an elopement was not as respectable as even getting married by special license in a rush, the other gossip she knew was circulating about her nephew did not help matters. His obvious care for his wife would hopefully put a more romantic shade on his marriage. When she had informed him he would not be joining them today she had been unaware he would be so openly enamoured of his wife. She had assumed he would apear either forbiding or disapproving in his discomfort at shopping, neither where the image she wanted to project. Her role was to migate any gossip. She had enough faith in her nephew's upright honorable behavior to not worry that he had seduced Elizabeth before their marriage to ensure her compliance to the marriage once they reached Scotland. Given the gossip about him though, she knew the ton would be eagerly viewing her figure for an early pregnancy, either from anticipating their vows, or his supposedly insaitable sexual appetite.

Her nephew's obvious love for her though also meant that Elizabeth would likely be soley responsible for keeping his carnal appetite saited, which the ton rummered to be quite large. Lady Matlock new better then to believe the speculation that her nephew could go for days saiting himself on multiple women at once without rest. That behaviour was much more in line with her own husband. Her nephew was a fit, active young man and it was likely he would make many demands on his wife's body though and not wish to entertain himself with any others.

Lady Matlock was aware of Lord Matlock's enjoyment of other women, she even at times encouraged him in it. If he wanted to do something sexually she did not, she would tell him no and then arrange for him to not be needed at an evening entertainment so that he could make his way to Madame - Brothel to do what he wanted. She had also distracted others from entering a room during balls that she was aware her husband was enaged with a woman in for his sexual satisfaction. She did not mind his forays with other ladies, especially when she did not feel like risking having her own dress crushed, but she refused to let a scandal erupt from him being caught.

Lady Matlock deliberately planned to be out of town for a week or so once a year and gave the majority of the servants the week off, only keeping the most discreet and trusted ones, who would recieve a generous bonus, claiming it was in preparation for the yearly deep cleaning and redecorating she oversaw at Matlock House. The reality was that she believed arranging it so that Lord Matlock could have a week of debauchery in his own home kept him from ending up in worse scandals. She enjoyed his physical attentions but knew she did not care for being responsible for keeping him completely saited.

Lady Matlock considered that it would be useful for Darcy to become more familiar with Lord Bramhusrt since it was common knowledge that him and his wife were madly in love and had been for years. He was a gentleman that could perhaps provide insight into a marriage that was a love match. Lord and Lady Matlock had affection for each other, but where not deeply in love. Darcy's own parents had cared for each other and while Lady Anne had fallen in love with her husband, Lady Matlock knew that love was not returned in full measure. George Darcy cared for his wife greatly, but he did not love her in the same manner she loved him. When George Darcy had first seen Lady Anne Fitzwilliam before she came out he had wanted her in his bed. After her come out he proposed and they were married, where he quickly whisked her away from their wedding breakfast to take her to bed. Lady Matlock had attended the ceremony and wedding breakfast and later that week become betrothed to her husband's elder brother. When he had died, the two fathers had agreed to marry her to the new heir instead without any input from her.

Lady Anne struggled to carry a child to term the first six years of their marriage so George was careful not to trouble her with his sexual needs while she was increasing each time. He would visit the same discreet brothel Darcy had frequented before his marriage. Since he knew his wife loved him, he was careful to ensure word of his armorus pursuits never reached her. He shunned the ladies of society that would have been happy to share his bed, so that his wife would never have to be mortified by coming face to face with someone else who had shared the husband she loved's bed. After she successfully gave birth to Darcy, her body never fully recovered so George had increased his trips to the brothel, enjoying his wife's bed less for her own health. Lady Anne had wanted another child and George wished to have a spare so he did not completely abandon her bed. By the time she died from childbirth after Georgiana was born George was to set in his ways of seeking his sexual release at the brothel and avoiding entanglements with society's ladies to consider any other arrangement and his eye was never caught by a woman he felt compelled to marry to bed again.