Chapter 23

A light tapping on the door alerted Darcy and Elizabeth to Georgiana's presence in the corridor outside their bedchamber. Darcy wrapped his robe around himself, walked toward the source of the knocking and inquired, "Yes?"

"It is I, Fitzwilliam," Georgiana said in a tone of voice just loud enough so he could hear her. "All the others are at breakfast." Darcy opened the door a crack.

"Thank you," he replied. "We shall be down directly. Might Elizabeth...?"

"Yes, but hurry, brother. Now, when no one is here to observe."

Elizabeth hastily donned her gown, and Darcy kissed her briefly. "Go now, Mrs. Darcy! Before I change my mind and lock you in this room for the remainder of the day!"

With that, Elizabeth slipped outside and, with Georgiana as escort, proceeded quickly to her room. She rumpled the bedclothes, put on her dressing gown and summoned the maid to assist with her toilette. Darcy, likewise, sent for his man and bathed and dressed. Once he was shaven and impeccably attired, he went downstairs to breakfast, making certain to arrive at table in advance of Elizabeth.

"Good morning, Darcy," Bingley said cheerfully. "Did you rest well?"

"Quite well, Charles, thank you," Darcy replied.

"It appears Miss Bennet is a late sleeper," Caroline Bingley said, making it clear by her tone that she disapproved. Why the woman would give a whit how late Elizabeth slept was beyond Darcy's understanding, but he refrained from commenting.

When Elizabeth entered the room some minutes later, glowing as only a well-loved woman does, Darcy immediately got to his feet to greet her. She sat next to him, and he put her hand to his lips.

"Good morning, Elizabeth," he said softly. "I trust you slept well."

"Exceedingly well, Sir," she answered mischieviously, thinking albeit most briefly.

Caroline regarded them suspiciously. They seemed entirely too familiar with each other.

Alex Clifton was somewhat uncommunicative this morning, nursing a bad headache due to last night's libations. He made a concerted effort to avoid staring at Charles Bingley, realizing how close he had come to having his weakness exposed the previous evening. He would have to be more careful in future. With this in mind, he took Caroline's hand in his, and in an imitation of Darcy's behaviour with Elizabeth, kissed it so gently that anyone would have thought Caroline was his heart's true desire. Caroline smiled, pleased that his gesture had been witnessed by the others in the party, and when Alex suggested they take a solitary walk together after breakfast, she readily agreed.

Darcy was glad to see them leave. While he had some sympathy for Alex, he had no doubt the man had some idea of Caroline's true nature and chose to overlook it for his own reasons. He accepted that many, if not most, of those in his circle chose a marriage partner for reasons other than love, but still found it difficult to believe that Clifton could not have done better for himself. While not nearly as wealthy as Darcy, his income was substantial and his property extensive, and he was free to marry as he pleased.

I am the luckiest man on earth, Darcy thought, his gaze resting on his wife's beautifully animated face. Not only was I free to marry for love, I have won the love of the best woman I have ever known.

His happiness would have been complete, were it not for the five remaining days they would spend at Pemberley, their marriage a secret to all but Georgiana. Suddenly those five days...those five nights...seemed interminable. He wanted nothing more than to take his wife by the hand and lead her back to his bedchamber, where they would spend the day in connubial bliss.

It was barely nine in the morning, and already Darcy was counting the hours until nightfall when he would have a chance, at least, of being alone with Elizabeth. How would he fill the hours in this first day of their marriage when he wanted nothing better than to be alone with his wife, in her welcoming arms?

"So how shall we spend this beautiful summer day, William?" Elizabeth asked, as though reading his mind.

His eyes burned into hers. You know quite well how I should like to spend this day, Elizabeth!

But remembering he was in the company of others, he forced himself to respond suitably.

"You are right, Lizzy. It is far too beautiful a day to spend indoors. Perhaps a picnic on the grounds would be in order." He leaned back in his chair, his thoughts occupied with the delightful prospect of becoming lost in the woods with his wife. In similar circumstances at Netherfield, their pleasure had been limited, but as they were now married...yes, an afternoon's sojourn in the woods was most appealing.

"That is a capital idea, Darcy!" Bingley replied with his usual enthusiasm. "It would benefit all of us to get some fresh air and exercise. I only wish Jane were here with the baby as well."

I wish none of you were here, Darcy thought gloomily.

Georgiana cast a sympathetic smile in her brother's direction.

"I would so love a picnic, William! I cannot remember the last time we had a picnic at Pemberley; why, it must be several years."

Feeling just a bit guilty at his unwillingness to share Elizabeth's company with his sister and his friend, Darcy responded with a degree of enthusiasm that appeared genuine to all but his observant wife.

"I do believe you are right, Georgiana. I will speak to Mrs. Reynolds about preparing the baskets and we will set out at noon."

After breakfast, Elizabeth went to the library, where she planned to write a brief letter to Jane. She was tempted to divulge her marriage to her sister, but soon thought better of it and decided to wait until she returned to Hertfordshire, where she would tell Jane personally. She was in the process of sealing her letter when Mr. Darcy entered the room, putting his finger to his lips as he closed the door behind him.
"Shhhh. No one knows I am here! Charles thinks I am seeing to the details of the picnic."

"I see," Elizabeth said with an inviting smile. "And how long do you think it will be before someone realizes you are elsewhere?"

"I should say we have at least fifteen minutes, Lizzy."

"Sufficient time, I would think."

"Sufficient for..." he said uncomprehendingly.

Elizabeth's gaze went to the large maple desk in the corner, then back to her husband's face.

Darcy blinked several times, then raised his eyebrows.

"Why, Mrs. Darcy, I do believe you are seducing me."

He went to his wife, lifted her off the floor, and deposited her on the desk. He knelt in front of her, painstakingly rolling up her skirts to her waist, then stood and stroked the soft flesh between her thighs.

"I see you are ready for me, Lizzy, despite the spontaneous nature of our encounter."

"I have been ready for you since you left me this morning, William. I could think of nothing else."

"Is that so?" he asked softly, unbuttoning his breeches. "Is that why you lured me into the library?"

"I did no such thing, Sir," Elizabeth replied in mock innocence. ""I merely sought a quiet place in which to write to my sister Jane, as you can see by the sealed letter lying on the table."

"Might I inquire just how much of your recent experience you disclosed in this letter, Elizabeth?"

"I enumerated all the reasons why I was so gratified to be marrying you, William."

He smiled at her.

"And foremost among those reasons?"

Elizabeth stifled a giggle before replying.

"Your beautiful grounds here at Pemberley, of course. Truly, Netherfield is nothing to Pemberley!"

He stood with his hands on his hips, trying to look stern, a difficult feat with his breeches open.

"I am sorely disappointed at that reply! And here I thought my other attributes..."

Elizabeth could not help but glance at the most prominent of those attributes.

"Well, perhaps you are right William. Pemberley itself is not what delights me at this moment. Its owner, however..."

A wide grin spread across Darcy's face. He had known he was being teased; even so, he welcomed her reassurance.
He drew closer to the desk and gently lowered Elizabeth's shoulders to its surface.

"Let us delight each other now, my love."

She let out a soft murmur of assent, and her lips parted most invitingly, her tongue venturing out to moisten them. Her expression, coupled with that seductive little gesture, caused a most powerful reaction in her husband. He could feel the pulsations throughout his body, in time with the beating of his heart. He had been erect from the moment he discovered Elizabeth's presence in the room; now he was aroused to the point where he required imminent relief.

"I fear this is going to be brief, Lizzy," he said, lifting her legs under her knees and pulling her closer so that the tip of his swollen organ was poised at the opening of her nether lips. He gently prodded her, deliberately avoiding entering her with any depth, so as to prolong their coupling. She shocked him, in a delightful manner, by reaching between her own legs to stimulate herself as he began to thrust within her, each thrust deeper than the last.

"Yes, Lizzy," he said hoarsely. "Take your pleasure along with me.." He withdrew from her completely, then filled her slowly once again.

"I am nearly there, William...so near...slowly, my love...yes, just like that..."

He felt the first flutterings of her orgasm, her inner walls closing more tightly around him.

"More quickly now, William," she said, her fingers still massaging her most sensitive spot.

As thrusting more quickly was exactly what he required for his own relief, Darcy was more than happy to oblige her request. He slid his hands under her bottom, lifting her higher, and she wrapped her legs around his waist.

"Oh, my love, yes, yes," Elizabeth cried, as he plunged into her repeatedly, hard and fast. Her climax was so powerful, she bit her lips so as to prevent crying out in a manner that would alarm the household! Darcy, having made love to her just hours ago, was astounded at the strength of his own orgasm, his entire body shuddering as he spilled copiously into her.

"Oh, Lizzy...my Lizzy..." he said, collapsing atop her. "How I love you...I cannot get enough of you."

Darcy rose slowly from a position most awkward for one so tall in stature. He pulled her to her feet, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I think I shall kiss my wife now, " he said, bending down to do just that.

"Do you see, Fitzwilliam?" Elizabeth said. "Fifteen minutes' time was more than sufficient."

"Perhaps it was sufficient to sustain ourselves for now, Lizzy. Tonight I shall require a period of some hours, I assure you."

"I intend to hold you to that promise, William."

"Tease all you like! You shall spend the night in my bed, and I find I am less and less inclined to care who knows of it. I am sorely tempted to announce our marriage this very afternoon, if only to enjoy the expression on Caroline Bingley's face!"
"And I, in direct contrast to your sentiments, admit I am rather enjoying the furtiveness of our situation. All the thrilling secrecy of an illicit romance with the full blessing of the Church! "

Darcy smiled and shook his head. "Such impertinence!"

The pair smoothed their clothing, making themselves as presentable as possible under the circumstances.

"So tell me," Darcy said, carefully maintaining a neutral expression. "Did you enjoy your first experience in Pemberley's library?"

"Yes, indeed, William," Elizabeth answered as they left the room together. "As you once related to another admiring young lady, it is the work of many generations, although perhaps I did not give its delights the proper amount of attention this morning, distracted as I was by other events. Even from my vantage point atop your desk, however, I could not help but note the sheer quantity of books contained therein."

"Oh, so you were counting books, then, were you, while I was exercising my marital rights? Is this the advice you were given by some well-meaning female upon your engagement, to help you cope with the demands of a passionate husband?"

"No, indeed, Mr. Darcy!" Elizabeth replied, in as shocked a tone of voice as she could muster. "Mama had no way of knowing that you would be exercising those rights in the library!"

Their laughter echoed throughout the house. Georgiana heard it, all the way at the other end of the corridor, and she smiled to herself. Elizabeth had brought such happiness to her brother, and Pemberley itself seemed transformed.

Since the death of their parents, she and William had been alone. Now she had a sister, and she had no doubt that someday soon there would be little ones toddling throughout Pemberley's gracious rooms. Elizabeth's sisters would visit often, and she would welcome having companions her own age.

Elizabeth was here but one day, and her brother had heartily assented to a picnic. She foresaw a future with many picnics, and parties, and holiday celebrations with a dozen people sitting at the long table, where, for a very long time, there had only been two.

I shall have a family.

Chapter 24

It was a fortunate circumstance that Mr. and Mrs. Darcy had not usurped more than their allotted fifteen minutes in the library, for no sooner had they exited the room than Caroline Bingley and Alex Clifton, just returned from their stroll outdoors, returned. Caroline, however, did not fail to notice their flushed faces and easy closeness. Elizabeth not only had her arm linked through Darcy's, she was leaning against his shoulder in a most familiar way. She seemed to want to move away when she noticed Caroline looking at them, but Darcy stubbornly pulled her even closer. I'll be damned if I let Caroline Bingley inhibit my interaction with my wife!

"And what have the two of you been up to?" Caroline asked brightly.

"I have been introducing Miss Bennet to the pleasures of Pemberley's library," Darcy responded.
Elizabeth smiled at his intentional double entendre.

"Ah, yes, I recall that Miss Eliza is a great reader. How fortunate she must think herself to have access to the rare and expensive volumes you have, Mr. Darcy. I am sure that, given her humble origins, she was quite overwhelmed by their number."

"Yes, I believe she was, Miss Bingley, although she has yet to finish counting them. And despite what you term her 'humble origins,' I dare say she has managed to read a far greater number of books than you have."

Elizabeth deliberately stepped on Darcy's foot to silence him. He winced, but he spoke no further.

Caroline's face reddened with anger at Darcy's deliberate put-down. Alex Clifton, although he secretly agreed with Darcy's assessment of Caroline's literary interests, loyally attempted to defend his fiancee.

"I am sure that Caroline's accomplishments are many. Being well read is but one requirement for a well-educated young lady, would you not agree?"

Elizabeth quickly answered him.

"Indeed, you are right, Mr. Clifton. And I find I am not inclined to think of books when there is a picnic in the offing! Georgiana proposed we set out on a picnic, and Mr. Darcy agreed. Of course, the two of you are invited. Do you have any particular preferences as to refreshments?"

Elizabeth thus neatly avoided any further unpleasantness, and the subject turned to the preparations for the afternoon's event. Caroline Bingley excused herself so that she might dress for the excursion, and Mr. Clifton soon followed suit.

"Well, you are quite the diplomat, Lizzy," Darcy said drily when they were alone.

"I do believe you enjoy baiting Miss Bingley, William! I thought it necessary to prevent you from speaking further!"

"And I have a bruise on my foot as a result!"

Elizabeth pointedly looked down at her foot, then at Darcy's, which was twice its size!

"I dare say you shall survive. I do hope you will attempt to control your tongue at the picnic!"

"I shall endeavour to remain civil, Lizzy. But it will be difficult! You know not how tempted I am to reveal our marriage each time that woman spouts one of her insults."

"Oh, William, we have but five days until we leave for Hertfordshire. Can we not remain discreet until then?"

"Certainly, Lizzy, I shall remain discreet in words. But I shall not promise to remain discreet in action. I need you, Elizabeth. You are my wife, and I need you."

He looked so serious, so forlorn at even the thought that she meant them to maintain a distance from each other, that she immediately put her arms about his waist and lifted her face up to him.
"Oh, William, please do not interpret my words as a wish to remain apart from you. I want to be close to you always. Did I not prove that this morning?"

"Yes, you did, Lizzy. But I fear I am greedy for your love. I cannot bear to be parted from you."

"And you shall not be. We shall find a way, I promise."

Darcy searched her face, and smiled at what he saw there. Her face was alight with love and desire, and he bent down to kiss her. Soon he was holding her closer, his mouth hungrily devouring hers, until a cough behind them alerted them to another's presence.

Bingley, his expression disapproving but not truly angry, just shook his head. "Now Darcy, I am going to have to ask you to desist! What if Georgiana had happened upon the two of you before I did, eh?"

She would have had the good sense to tiptoe away and leave us alone, Darcy thought.

"You are right, Bingley, but surely you won't begrudge me the pleasure of kissing my wife...uh, that is, my fiancee."

"Just two more weeks until she will, indeed, be your wife," answered the ever-oblivious Bingley. "Now about that picnic...does Mrs. Reynolds perhaps have one of her famous seed cakes in the larder for us?"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The party of six set out at one o'clock. The men carried the wicker baskets, overflowing with provisions, far more than they could consume in one afternoon. Mrs. Reynolds, after exclaiming that she could not possibly put together a respectable lunch on such short notice, then proceeded to do just that. Cold meats and cheeses, breads, assorted fruits, and a large piece of Bingley's favourite seed cake filled the baskets, along with three bottles of wine. Caroline was chattering away about how much she loved the outdoors...except for the breeze, and the hot sun, and the buzzing insects, and the damp ground...but Darcy barely heard her. He was too busy admiring the lovely sight Elizabeth made in her picturesque straw bonnet, tied at the chin with violet grosgrain ribbons. He could not help but recall their outdoor tryst at Netherfield a few weeks ago, and the memory was so pleasantly vivid that he soon became aroused.

Elizabeth's thoughts were similar, and when she turned to look at Darcy, they both blushed. Every detail of today's excursion served as a reminder. When Bingley spread out the picnic blanket in a suitably shady spot (after they had considered and Caroline had vetoed a half-dozen locations), Darcy and Elizabeth simultaneously thought of the activity that had taken place upon a similar blanket at Netherfield Park.

The ladies occupied themselves in setting out the food, and Lizzy settled herself next to Darcy as they ate. Watching his wife as she ate was a sensual delight for Darcy, and he found he was aroused each time her tongue delicately wiped a crumb of bread or cake from her lips. Soon his arm was around her possessively, and he broke off pieces of the sweet cake and put them into her mouth. He was so daring because, by this time the picnickers, Bingley in particular, had drunk a considerable quantify of wine. Bingley, his spirits elevated by alcohol, was not inclined to be vigilant regarding Darcy's behaviour, and soon Darcy's fingers were lingering on his wife's mouth, caressing her lips.

Elizabeth found Darcy's playfulness contagious, and soon she was licking his fingers as he fed her. He, in turn, whispered into her ear his scandalous notions as to where he wished to feel her tongue that night. Bingley and Clifton were both in a wine-induced fog, not quite to the point of intoxication, but certainly in a condition that impaired their powers of observation. Georgiana attempted to divert Caroline's attention as best she could, but it was difficult to do so, given the blatant nature of her brother's actions.

"I fear Miss Bennet has not been a good influence on your brother, Georgiana! I always knew she was not of your class, but this level of impropriety is quite beyond what I would have expected, even of her."

"I must disagree, Miss Bingley," Georgiana said firmly. "I have never seen my brother so happy. He takes delight in her company, and she in his. I only wish I might find such happiness in marriage myself someday."

"But they are not yet married, Georgiana!"

"Oh...of course...they are not yet married," Georgiana stammered, her face colouring as she spoke the lie. "But they will be, very soon, will they not?"

"I, for one, would not find such behaviour acceptable even in a married couple!" Caroline sanctimoniously pronounced.

"And I think their obvious love for each other portends well for their marriage," Georgiana said stubbornly, her chin in the air.

"Of what are you speaking?" Darcy demanded, his attention diverted by the increasingly adamant tone of his sister's conversation with Caroline Bingley. Georgiana appeared distressed, and he had no doubt it was Caroline's doing.

"Your sister is attempting to defend your indecorous behavious, Mr. Darcy, yours and Miss Bennet's!"

Elizabeth placed a warning hand on her husband's arm. His stormy expression was not reassuring, and she feared what he would say.

"Excuse us, Miss Bingley, perhaps Mr. Darcy and I have been too frivolous today for our own good."

"Frivolous!" Caroline snorted. "You have an interesting way with words, Miss Eliza."

Darcy opened his mouth to reply. Elizabeth, fearing a confrontation that would culminate in Darcy's revealing their marriage, got to her feet and extended him her hand.

"Come, William, you must show me the best place to pick strawberries! Mrs. Reynolds has promised me some of her celebrated jam, if I do my part in providing her with the fruit."

Darcy could have reminded her that there were numerous under-gardeners employed at Pemberley to do just that, but he was willing to pick a bushel of strawberries if it granted him an uninterrupted half hour with Elizabeth.

"That Miss Bennet is a most resourceful young woman," they heard Alex Clifton jocularly announce as they departed. "I adore strawberry jam, Caroline, I simply adore it!"

"The grapes are best saved for making wine, though," Bingley said solemnly. "Fabulous wine here at Pemberley, Clifton, do you not think so?"
"Most definitely, Bingley, might I pour you another glass?"

"I think you both have had quite enough," Caroline snapped.

"Come now, Caroline," Bingley declared. "Another glass of wine among friends, what harm could come of it?"

"Friends! I do believe Alex prefers your company to mine, Charles. Mr. Darcy certainly makes no secret of where his first allegiance lies."

"Good God, Caroline, first you criticize Darcy for his demonstrative behaviour with Miss Bennet, then you extol him. Make up your mind! Alex and I were friends well before the two of you became engaged."

"That is quite right, Charles," Clifton said, reaching over to pat Charles Bingley's thigh. "I loved you long before I grew to love your sister." I shall never love your sister. Never, he thought morosely.

Charles looked down at Alex's hand on his thigh, and Clifton immediately moved it away.

"Uh, yes," he said uncertainly. "You are a great friend, Alex, and we will soon be much more than friends."

Clifton's lips trembled as he responded. "Yes, we shall be brothers."

"Well, I am most gratified that the two of you are so happy together," Caroline said spitefully.

"And you shall be happy as well, Caroline," Alex replied. "I give you my solemn promise."

Caroline might have taken him more seriously, had his eyelids not been drooping due to the sedative effect of the large quantity of wine he had imbibed. She was somewhat mollified by his remarks, however, although she only concerned herself as to whether he truly loved her because of her eagerness to be married.

She spent the next half hour attempting to get herself back into Georgiana Darcy's good graces because, no matter how low her opinion of Elizabeth Bennet, she wanted to ensure her continued welcome at Pemberley after Darcy's marriage.

Darcy and Elizabeth returned arm in arm, holding a basket containing not nearly enough strawberries to justify the length of their absence. Elizabeth's lips appeared swollen and red in colour, due to both a large amount of kissing and consumption of the succulent, juicy fruit. Her bonnet was askew, and Caroline narrowed her eyes. Was that a blade of grass caught in Darcy's curls? And his coat! It was unbuttoned!

Darcy took in the scene before him. Bingley and Clifton were both dozing on the blanket. Caroline sat, arms folded, looking quite vexed, while Georgiana appeared relieved at her brother's return.

"I fear we have neglected you today, Georgiana," Darcy said apologetically, totally ignoring Caroline.

"Oh, do not distress yourself, William. I am most gratified that you and Elizabeth were able to...gather strawberries."

"We shall make it up to you later, will we not, Elizabeth?" he said. "Let us return to Pemberley, where I am sure an excellent tea awaits us, and Elizabeth has promised to play for us."

They gathered up the remnants of the picnic, roused the sleeping Bingley and Clifton, and departed. Darcy and Elizabeth lagged behind the others and Darcy whispered, "Yes, Lizzy, after tea you will play for us, and tonight you will play with me. Agreed?"

"Agreed," she said, as he bent down to kiss her once again.

"Mmmm," he said. "You taste like strawberries."