This was my fav chapter to write. hope you like it! :)
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Sunday April 14th; 1440, nine hours before iceberg.
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Elizabeth entered the grand suite with a look of awe on her face, which she quickly shuttered lest she appear like she was gawking. You could completely forget you were on a boat in this room. The furniture was solid and well built, not uselessly fine but tasteful in its ostentatiousness. The fireplace a beautifully carved masterpiece. The card table looked unused but the plush sofas showed evidence of use and there was a pile of books on one of the sideboards, along with a pile of completed and partially competed letters on the writing desk. Elizabeth could easily see where these two spent their time.
She looked around and smiled.
"I can see why you did not feel the need to come out of here for so many days together. This room is exquisite! I might get lost in here."
Georgiana smiled looking around again "it has certainly been a pleasant room. Come let me show you the private promenade."
Darcy watched as his sister took Elizabeth by the hand and they disappeared through the door to the promenade. He heard laughter and felt a tug in his chest somewhere, everything seemed to be falling in to place, then a knock on the door drew his attention. A steward and a maid brought in the tea and he directed them to the promenade deck.
Elizabeth was marvelling at the space, 50ft of deck just for the Darcys and their friends. The deck was not open, instead having large windows that would open and allow the fresh sea air. There were a pair of deck chairs for lounging, a blanket neatly folded on one with a book on top. a little table with four chairs clustered around were the focus of the tea things and Elizabeth settled in to the seat with a sigh of contentment.
Over tea the conversation was convivial. Georgiana gushed about her new friends in second, Elizabeth chatted about her conversation with Charlotte and their ambitions.
She was surprised when Georgiana exclaimed that her brother had been encouraging her attendance at a university.
Elizabeth gaped at Mr Darcy whilst he entered in to a discussion about which university might be suitable. Clearly a discussion they had already had but with no resolution. Georgiana was torn between some of the choices in America or returning back to England and Elizabeth watched as Darcy allowed her to work through her thoughts, not pushing one option or another.
She re-thought through her conversation about education and blushed when she felt she might have been judgmental of his opinions, more misunderstandings.
"What has you so pensive?" His voice interrupted her musings.
Elizabeth blushed anew at being caught "I was just thinking back on our conversation about reading and education, I thought you were disapproving."
Georgiana looked between the two as Darcy raised his eyebrows in surprise. "I think I might rest." She announced.
Elizabeth rose with her and Georgiana waved her down. "No, no, please stay. You have not finished your tea. I have had a wonderful morning, but it has been very busy and I need to lie down for a bit." She came around the table and clutched Elizabeth's hands. "Thank you, for lunch." She said, earnestly. "I have." She bit her lip, looking down. "I have really enjoyed your company, I hope to see you again soon." She looked up in to Elizabeth's surprised eyes.
"I have greatly enjoyed getting to know you. I am certain you shall see so much of me on the rest of this voyage that you shall be wishing for it's end!" She teased and Georgiana giggled, shaking her head emphatically.
Elizabeth smiled and sipped her tea as Darcy rose and whispered something to Georgiana as he walked her to her room. It was only a few steps away but Georgiana seemed unsurprised, she kissed him on the cheek before looking back at Elizabeth and smiling a broad grin, Elizabeth almost choked as Georgiana winked at her then slipped away.
Once Georgiana had disappeared, Elizabeth rose. "I probably should get back to my family." She frowned, she had not seen Jane since that morning. She had been sad that morning but had emphatically told Lizzie to go and spend the morning swimming. Jane had been planning to go to services and have lunch with a new friend from first class. Elizabeth hadn't found her on her way to lunch but the thought had completely slipped her mind.
Darcy looked at her intently. "I think they are well enough."
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at him. "What makes you say so?"
He raised an eyebrow "I cannot say. But I am certain that you do not need to rush to see their well being."
Elizabeth strolled towards the windows, fingers trailing on the back of the chair she had just vacated "hmmmm, I do not know quite what to make of that." Her voice was arch and teasing "I am all filled with curiosity and think I should return quicker."
Darcy grinned and followed her to the window, leaning nonchalantly against the wall close enough to feel intimate without being imposing. "I did not think you were insatiably curious." Elizabeth raised an eyebrow and then turned to look out of the window. Darcy chuckled "alright, I could have guessed that about you. It puts me in mind, I realised today I have been remiss."
Elizabeth looked up from the horizon, "how so?"
"I have seen all there is to see in first class, but there is so much of the ship I have missed. I wonder, that is, would you mind.." he stopped, a look of annoyance on his face and he ran a hand through his hair. "Miss Bennet, I wonder if you would care for a stroll, to explore? With me."
"You wish to explore the ship with me?" She looked puzzled.
"I suspect you have a unique way of looking at things, I would like to learn."
Elizabeth cocked her head, studying the conundrum in front of her. She was not kidding when she had recalled Mrs Reynolds high praise of the Darcys. She did not know why she had not put the two together earlier. Her opinion of Mr Darcy was set so firmly that she did not think to wonder if she had heard aught of him prior to meeting him that morning on the dock.
His letter had shown her that her hasty opinions were not sound and that maybe there was more to this man than a rich, entitled, stuffy prig, as she had originally thought. He was clearly intelligent and seemed to like her very much, so much that he was willing to change after she had hurled accusations at him. He had been all that was gracious and kind to her aunt and uncle, more so than many first class would be.
She had already decided that she wished for him to think well of her, lunch had proven an excellent start. But this continued time in his presence was dangerous for her equanimity, and if she was being honest with herself, for her heart.
The question she had to ask herself now was: was she willing to encourage him, knowing the expectations she might raise, or the risk she was taking?
The stakes were high, but the rewards could be great.
She smiled a little, she thought it would be worth it.
...
They walked for what seemed like hours. She showed him as much as she could of second, the parts he hadn't seen, before taking him down to third. By agreement they kept an eye out for anyone familiar, and would avoid him if he appeared, but they did not see him. They did not loiter in the common areas, more looking at layout rather than spending time looking at the decoration.
She talked, for what seemed like hours, about the engines. The structure and effort that had gone in to the building of this magnificent ship. She knew the dimensions and number of boilers, the power output and the horsepower of the combined engines. Darcy listened with growing astonishment at the depth of her knowledge, and yet she spoke without making him feel bored or stupid.
She chuckled "you cannot find this interesting."
Darcy smiled "I would never claim to be uninterested."
Elizabeth turned to Darcy, an impish smile on her face.
He narrowed his eyes at her suspiciously "what are you thinking?"
She shrugged one shoulder. "Well, we are here" she gestured around her. They were on F deck, not far from the swimming pool, looking at the squash court, which was currently being used by two rather energetic older gentlemen.
He looked at her, contentment washing through him, her curiosity and sense of adventure seemed insatiable. He could not remember having more fun.
"What does our current location have to do with that cheeky look upon your face?"
Her look changed to a faux look of consternation "really Mr Darcy, I am certain you do not know me well enough to know when I am looking cheeky!"
He lifted her chin with one finger, stepping a bit closer than should be allowed. "I think I have spent enough time looking at you to know when you are looking mischievous!"
Elizabeth felt butterflies in her stomach and a burning sensation where his finger touched her. She blushed and lowered her eyes. He let go her chin and stepped back, pleased with the flash of desire he had seen.
"So. If you are not mischievous, what are you thinking?"
She laughed slightly, raising one shoulder "well, I did not say I was not thinking of something naughty."
He gave her a satisfied smirk and gestured for her to continue.
"Well, one more deck down and there is the cargo hold!"
"The out of bounds cargo hold?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Well, it contains first class luggage, so one could argue our right to go there. You probably have items..."
He nodded. "I suppose."
"And it's not like we will disturb anything!" Her face was the picture of innocence now.
He sighed in mock resignation. "Do you know the way?"
She peered around the back of the stairs they had come down and found more that were going down. They had to go through a few doors marked staff only, or no entry, but they soon found the vast hold. She giggled, looking around. "So many objects. Just things that people just had to bring!"
"Some people have an unusual attachment to objects."
"Do you not Mr Darcy? Can you tell me nothing of yours is here?"
He smiled at her tone, light and playful. "I have some artwork, some paintings of Derbyshire and Pemberley." He said "But other than that, just clothing and money. Our house in New York is furnished. All I really need is Georgiana! And now..." he stopped himself, he had been about to say he needed her, how foolish.
Elizabeth sidled up to him and slipped her hand in his. "Family is all I need."
They looked around for a few more minutes, wondering how much of the objects in boxes were essential to their owners. How funny people were to put so much import in objects. The motor car had her sighing but she refused to touch it, an attack of conscience preventing her from getting in.
"Come on" Darcy said, after they had made a circuit of the vast storage room. "Where to next?"
They went back up to E deck and made their way along Scotland road. Elizabeth noted some of the doors they passed, hidden stair ways and passages across the ship.
They were just rounding a bend in the long corridor, heading towards the aft staircase, when a shout went up.
"Oi! You shouldn't be down here!"
Elizabeth laughed and grabbed Darcy's hand, running as fast as she could. When she reached the steps at the end of the corridor she lifted her skirts slightly and bounded up them two at a time, Darcy a mere step behind her. Grabbing his hand again at the next level, she turned the corner and disappeared through a door, she immediately turned and then stepped in to a recess made by a door. He was not certain but he thought they were back in the second class corridor, on a side corridor off the main thoroughfare.
"I hate to be the one to break this to you," His voice was low, raspy and filled with something that made her feel warm inside. "I am pretty certain we are not being followed."
"Oh!" Elizabeth pulled back from peering around him. "Well then I must seem pretty foolish."
They were both breathing hard and she had pulled him flush to her body in her hurried attempt to hide from the nonexistent chase. Foolish was the last thing he thought she looked. Tempting, delicious, beautiful, vibrant, alive. They all came to mind.
He tilted her chin up. "Never."
Elizabeth stared up at him. Suddenly she became very aware of his presence, the pressure of his body against hers, the way he looked in to her eyes. They had spent many hours in each other's company, she had no idea of the time, but she was in no hurry to leave it. She could say for certain that she had never had such enjoyment in one man's company. She bit her lip, allowing him to tilt her chin up further.
"I do not require any sort of assurances of the kind I demanded yesterday." He whispered, lips inches from hers "but I must know, did my letter make you think better of me? My affections remain unchanged but I realise my proposal was precipitous. I want nothing more than to spend time with you, to be with you. I will take whatever you wish to give, however much of your time and affections you could spare for me. I will take anything, today has given me hope, more hope than I deserve." He stopped and swallowed past the lump that was rising in his throat, closing his eyes momentarily before looking back in to hers. "One word from you will silence me forever and I will leave you in peace, if that is your wish."
She smiled slightly, her eyes soft and warm never leaving his. "I best not say a word then."
Neither could say who moved first, but their lips soon met in a kiss. It started slow, lips against lips, pressure, warmth and softness but soon passions rose, on both sides. Lips began to move, nibbling and brushing against each other, finding their own rhythm. He ducked, lips not leaving hers, he slid his hands around her waist and up her back, pulling her flush against him. Elizabeth moved her hands over his shoulders, one finding it's way into his hair, fingers parting the smooth locks. The other curled around his neck, holding him firmly in place.
She tilted her head to the side, the better to mould their mouths and he tentatively touched his tongue to her lips. When her mouth opened he groaned in pleasure at his first taste of her. Sweetness and warmth and a hint of the plum pudding they had eaten for lunch. The kiss turned hungrier, became deeper and Elizabeth felt herself flushing with warmth. Somewhere, deep inside, a part of her shouted that she should not be doing this without an understanding. But most of her did not care, enjoying the sensations that were rioting through her as his mouth took possession of hers.
Darcy wanted to kiss her forever, to stay there forever, but reality intruded in the form of passengers moving down the corridor, talking loudly. Darcy and Elizabeth broke apart, Elizabeth burying her head in his coat, a little noise of embarrassed distress escaping her, until the couple had gone past.
He chuckled "You can come out now, they did not see us."
She smiled up at him, face flushed and lips delightfully swollen, and ran a hand over her hair. "We should move, I know too many people in second class."
He nodded solemnly and took her hand. "After this excitement, I feel we should find somewhere quiet."
She smiled cheekily up at him, biting her lip in a way that made him groan. "I know just the place, Mr Darcy!"
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A/N . So, I cant find much about marriage and virtue in this era. Most texts suggest a similar attitude to regency, ie any woman caught even thinking something lustful was wanton! but pop culture back then suggests things were a little more liberal in actual fact. So although women of class tended to save themselves for marriage, it wasnt the cultural law like in JA's time. Im assuming slightly more liberality.