Chapter 27
The newlywed Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, when they finally made their appearance at dinner that evening, were so visibly content with the events of the day that they were able to react to even Caroline's coldness with equanimity. Georgiana could hardly contain her happiness at the sight of them. Her brother appeared so blissful in his marriage that it was difficult to recall how miserable he had been just a few short weeks ago.
All that intruded on the couple's serendipity was their concern over how the news of their marriage would be received at Longbourn. Elizabeth did not fear her parents, but she knew they would be disappointed when they discovered their daughter had been wed without the presence of her family. Even so, she had ruled out the option of lying to them. They would be told the truth, and together they would decide how they might proceed. Certainly a celebration would be in order; Mrs. Bennet, in particular, would insist upon it.
Because of the events of the preceding days, Elizabeth was gratified that Bingley had insisted on their leaving for Hertfordshire in the morning. The sooner they arrived at Longbourn, the sooner their news might be disclosed and they could live together openly as man and wife.
"So pray enlighten me, Mrs. Darcy," Caroline said brightly. "Will we or will we not have the pleasure of attending a wedding breakfast at Longbourn? In view of the circumstances surrounding your marriage, an elaborate celebration would be rather...de trop...would it not?"
"We have not decided yet, Miss Bingley," Elizabeth quietly responded. "It is something Mr. Darcy and I intend to discuss with my family. There are others' sensibilities that must be considered in these circumstances besides our own."
"It has long been my opinion," Mr. Darcy said meaningfully, "that the ultimate success of a marriage has little to do with the grandeur of the celebration accompanying it. A wedding banquet is over in a few hours, Miss Bingley. I have been exposed to society long enough to observe that there are many who give greater consideration to the celebration of a marriage than to the personal qualities that contribute to the success of the marriage itself. Elizabeth and I have no worries on that score, I may assure you."
Miss Bingley blinked as Darcy took Elizabeth's hand in his. She sensed that his remarks had been designed to insult her in some way, but she was incapable of understanding their meaning. Personal qualities? Surely he could not be implying that Elizabeth Bennet was in any way superior to herself! A suitable marriage that would raise her position in society had been Caroline's goal since she was a girl of 16, while marriage to Mr. Darcy had simply been thrown in Elizabeth Bennet's lap! Only now, when she was older and her prospects had dwindled considerably, would Caroline consider someone like Alex Clifton.
Her own wedding banquet would undoubtedly exceed the Darcys' in grandeur and elegance, and neither Darcy nor his wife seemed to care. It was perplexing, to say the least.
Elizabeth watched Caroline's expression as Mr. Darcy spoke, and she realized that her husband's words had no meaning to Caroline. I feel sorry for her, she thought. She will never know the love that I do. With that thought, she squeezed Darcy's hand, and he looked down at her and immediately understood.
Soon after dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy retired for the night. For the first time, they were able to ascend the Pemberley staircase hand in hand with no care as to who might observe them. The party would leave immediately after breakfast for Hertfordshire, and that was the pretext Darcy employed to justify retiring so early.
Once in their bedchamber, however, their need for sleep was supplanted by their need for each other.
"Why, Fitzwilliam," Elizabeth teased, as her husband began to undress her. "It is but two hours since I put on these garments, and you already seek to relieve me of them."
"'Twas you who insisted on making an appearance at dinner, Elizabeth. Had you left it up to me, we would have had dinner in our chambers and you would have had no need for clothing of any sort."
"And 'tis a shame to undo such a beautifully tied knot," Elizabeth said, as Darcy began to remove his cravat.
"Do it for me, Lizzy," he whispered, lying back on the bed, his hands behind his head.
"So I have been appointed your valet now, have I?" she asked as she undressed him, pausing to kiss his heated skin each time she removed another garment. How she loved the hollow of his neck, and she brushed the sensitive, pulsating spot with her lips. Darcy closed his eyes and enjoyed her gentle touch. Being with his wife so intimately, her bare skin next to his, her love for him apparent in her every touch, her every look, was the fulfillment of his fondest wish.. His apprehension and insecurity had vanished, and what he felt now was an overwhelming sense of belonging.
Elizabeth's hands. How lovingly they caressed him. Having removed his cravat and shirt, she stroked the skin on his chest, then ran her fingertips down his sides, ending at his waist. She ducked her head as she unfastened his breeches, still new enough at this to feel awkward and embarrassed. Even her hesitation, superceded by her need for him, was arousing to him. She wanted him, and her passion overcame what remained of her natural maidenly modesty. She eased his breeches down past his hips, then pulled them off.
Finally she met his gaze.
"You are so beautiful, Mr. Darcy," she said with a smile. "It gives me such pleasure to look upon you thus."
It seemed incredible to Darcy that he could be again so aroused, just hours since the last time he had made love to her. But there it was, the indisputable evidence of his arousal, Elizabeth's fingers wrapped around it. She began to stroke him, her eyes never leaving his, and he gasped in pleasure at her touch.
"Lizzy, please, if you continue in such a manner, I will not be able...I cannot..."
With that, he closed his hand around her wrist and pulled her hand away.
"Did you not find my attentions pleasurable, Sir?" she asked teasingly.
"Far too pleasurable, Lizzy," he responded. "'It would not be fair to take my pleasure without giving the same in return." He settled her back onto the bed so that he could position himself atop her. and in a moment, he was inside her, filling her with that which she had so recently caressed and aroused to its current state.
"I ask the same question of you now," he said. "Are such attentions pleasurable?"
"Oh yes, yes," she said, incapable of a more measured response. Her ability to form words was gone, her only reality the sensation of her husband moving within her, his mouth pressed up against her ear.
"Everything," he whispered. "You are everything to me, Lizzy. I want for nothing, because of you."
She reached up to put her arms around him, holding him closer. She kissed the skin of his shoulder as the sensations overtook her, carrying her over the peak.
Darcy moaned as he felt her tightening around him and stilled his thrusting. Movement distracted him from feeling her, and he waited for her to finish before he resumed, finally plunging into her one more time as he took his own pleasure. He fell back onto the bed, pulling her against his chest, his lips in her hair.
"Sleep here, my angel," he whispered drowsily. "Let me hold you while you sleep."
Elizabeth settled herself in his arms, and it was but a few minutes before the two fell into a deep, contented slumber.
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The steady drumming of rain against the windowpane awakened Darcy the next morning. He carefully disengaged himself from Elizabeth so that he would not awaken her, easing her back down on the bed before he rose and walked toward the window. He gazed out upon the wide expanse of Pemberley's grounds, contemplating how dramatically his life had changed these past weeks.
It seemed ages ago that he had returned from the Continent, yet it had been but a few weeks. He recalled his bittersweet return to Pemberley, imperfect because Elizabeth was not his. Pemberley, which had always been balm to his soul, had not been enough. Even the most beautiful place in the world lost its lustre when the one he loved best had been lost to him.
He would have been content to spend the entire day in their chambers. He envisioned himself sitting with his wife at the little mosaic table near the mantel, sipping coffee, eating breakfast, then returning to bed to make love again. At Pemberley, Fitzwilliam Darcy answered to no one, and he was particularly loath to leave on this day.
At Longbourn, he knew he would have to answer to Mr. Bennet, and he feared it might be unpleasant. He had, after all, taken his favourite daughter from him in a scandalous manner. He would have to answer for such behaviour, and he knew Mr. Bennet well enough to realize that his patience might be tested. He resolved himself to submit without complaint to the verbal barrage his father-in-law would undoubtedly employ to exact retribution for their furtive, hasty marriage.
Or as Elizabeth had put it, much more succinctly, if he planned to be in the company of the Bennet family, he would have to become accustomed to being laughed at! His wife had already started the process, and in self defense, he had become rather proficient himself at the sort of sly, loving teasing Elizabeth inflicted upon those she loved best.
The rustling of the bedclothes alerted him to Elizabeth's awakening.
He turned to look at her. She was sitting up in bed, the coverlet loosely draped around her. She looked utterly adorable, her hair tangled about her shoulders, her body exposed above her waist.
"Oh, my," was all she said, her eyes running down the length of her husband's naked form.
"We shall breakfast in our chambers this morning, Mrs. Darcy," he said with an attitude that brooked no opposition.
"Shall I ring?" she asked, reaching for the bell pull.
"Oh, no, not yet," he answered, approaching the bed. "Better to wait, as I can almost guarantee that your appetite will increase after indulging in the activity I have in mind."
"Is it a strenuous activity to which you refer, sir?"
"Not particularly, Lizzy. Lie back and allow me to exert myself. All you need do is close your eyes."
Passivity was not normally a quality attributed to Mrs. Darcy, but in this case she was willing to make an exception.
And was amply rewarded.
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Having satisfied his wife not once, but twice, a smugly smiling Darcy rang the bell for breakfast. Lizzy reclined on the bed, her eyes following her husband's every movement.
"How tedious it shall be, Fitzwilliam, to sit next to you on a long carriage ride and not be able to..." She smiled, leaving the sentence unfinished.
He knelt on the floor next to the bed.
"And neither shall I be able to..." he said, leaning down to kiss her breasts. "An entire day of not being able to..."
He pulled back the bedclothes up the length of his wife's body, stroking the soft skin between her thighs.
"I fear you must cover yourself now, Lizzy." He stood and reached for his dressing gown, and handed Elizabeth her own.
They lingered as long as they could over breakfast, then parted after a heartfelt kiss. Elizabeth left for her own chamber so that she might bathe and prepare for the journey to Hertfordshire.
She was gone but a few moments when Darcy stared at the empty bed, the impression of her body still on the bedclothes.
I miss her already!
The journey to Longbourn and the accompanying trials and tribulations that would undoubtedly characterize their stay there would have to be endured. Only after they had overcome that last hurdle would they be able to begin the rest of their life together.
It was a challenge, Darcy realized, that he would happily face. He had conquered far greater obstacles in winning Elizabeth's love, and they would conquer this last one together.
And when it was over, he need never face the sight of an empty bed again.
Chapter 28
Darcy and Elizabeth were still soaking in their respective bathtubs as the four other, and somewhat impatient, travelers were finishing breakfast.
Georgiana was eagerly anticipating their stay at Hertfordshire. Elizabeth had been understandably preoccupied these last few days, leaving her in the company of Caroline Bingley far more frequently than she found desirable. Elizabeth's sisters, even the serious Mary, she had always found diverting company. Georgiana had had little opportunity for informal socialization with young ladies her own age, and she looked forward to spending a large amount of her time in their company.
Mr. and Mrs. Darcy were heard before they were seen that morning. Darcy's deep baritone, mingled with Elizabeth's higher, sweeter tones, echoed as they descended the grand staircase.
Their words were not intelligible, but their happy laughter was heard as they entered the breakfast room.
"Good morning, everyone," Darcy said with a broad smile that left no doubt as to his good humour. "I fear we are last down to breakfast despite our good intentions."
"I should say so, Darcy," Bingley grumbled. "All of us are not so blessed as you are! I have been deprived of my wife's company for longer than I find desirable, while you make no secret of your own satisfaction and good fortune!"
"And I apologize, Bingley, most sincerely," Darcy said, rather insincerely. "I am quite famished this morning, despite having had a light breakfast in my chambers."
"I suppose it is you we must thank, Lizzy, for Darcy's pleasant disposition! I fear he has not always been so sociable, particularly this early in the day," Bingley said.
"Very true, Bingley, very true," Darcy agreed, as he tore into a large plate of eggs and sausage. "And I suppose your own typical good humour will be restored once you are reunited with your wife."
"Indeed," Bingley replied, "I had hoped to be on the way to Hertfordshire by now."
"Perhaps Mr. and Mrs. Darcy are not anticipating their return as eagerly as you are, Charles," Caroline said pointedly.
"Not at all, Miss Bingley," Darcy replied. What I am dreading is the prospect of spending the better part of a day enclosed in a carriage with you!
"I am actually quite anxious to see my family, Caroline," Elizabeth said.
"Perhaps Jane and I might intercede on your behalf, Darcy, with the Bennets? Pave the way, so to speak?" Bingley asked helpfully.
"That will not be necessary," Darcy said, inwardly shuddering at the idea. He could only imagine the sport Mr. Bennet would have with him in such circumstances!
"No," he said, "my wife and I are more than capable of taking responsibility for our own actions and handling any consequences that might result."
He looked at Charles and Caroline.
"And that is all I shall say on the subject. Would you care for some more tea, Elizabeth?"
Alex Clifton had not uttered a word beyond wishing a good morning to the assembled party. The difference in his situation, when compared to the happiness enjoyed by Darcy and Elizabeth (and for that matter, by Jane and Bingley) was apparent, and most poignantly. It occurred to him that even if it were possible for him to follow his own instincts with impunity, he would never know true happiness in love. The approbation of society did mean something to him, as did the continuance of the family line.
He did not love Caroline, but neither did she love him. He only hoped he could grow to respect her, and even of that he had doubt. The only acceptable love that was open to him, he thought, was the love of a parent for a child. And the only way he would ever have a child would be through marriage to someone he could not love, not in the way a husband should love a wife.
The thought made him unutterably sad, but resigned just the same. Caroline would not have suited him, even if he had been inclined to favour the companionship of women over that of other men. Elizabeth Bennet would have been an enjoyable companion, but having seen her interactions with her husband, he realized her nature was far too passionate to settle for a marriage of convenience.
Jane Bingley, perhaps, would have suited him. More girlish than womanly, more angular than curvy, and with an understanding, almost docile, disposition, she did not seem quite so challenging as other women of his acquaintance. He could close his eyes and imagine...
No, this will not do, he thought. It was no more morally acceptable to fantasize about his friend's wife than it was to fantasize about his friend himself!
He was to marry Charles' sister, he thought. How ironic it was that Jane herself bore far greater a resemblance to Charles, both in appearance and nature, than did Caroline! Such was his penance in marrying a woman he did not love in such a premeditated manner. Sometimes the punishment truly did fit the crime.
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The rain had slowed to a drizzle by the time the party left the house and prepared to enter the carriage. Still, the ground was quite wet, and by the time Elizabeth reached the carriage, the hem of her skirt was soiled.
"Six inches deep in mud, Mrs. Darcy!" her husband teased. But he bent down to kiss her after he said it, in full view of the others. "My darling country girl," he whispered in her ear, as helped her up into the carriage He sat himself next to her, and Georgiana sat on his other side.
Clifton intentionally slowed his pace as he and Caroline approached the carriage. He did not think it prudent for himself to be seated next to Charles Bingley! He ensured that Bingley was seated first, then helped his fiancee into the carriage before he seated himself.
Darcy put his arm around his wife. "Lean against me, Lizzy," he said, and he closed his eyes. The alternative was to look at Caroline Bingley's face for the next several hours!
"I do hope we shall have the opportunity to visit Rosewood, Alex," Caroline said. "I have no doubt it is sorely in need of a woman's touch, and as our marriage is rapidly approaching, there is no time to waste. Once I have assessed the furnishings, we shall make appointments to visit the best shops in London for furniture and draperies and china..."
Clifton was only half listening to her as she discussed the complete reorganization of his home. Caroline, he thought, might be surprised at the elegance of Rosewood Manor. He had always done quite well himself in that regard and had never needed nor sought the opinion of anyone else. Alex, like his late mother, had exquisite taste and more than adequate resources to indulge himself.
"Really, Caroline," Bingley interjected. "Can you talk of nothing else but how you plan to spend Alex's money?"
"It will be my pleasure to indulge you, Caroline, however you wish," Alex said. Give me children, he thought, and I will give you anything you want.
"Thank you, Alex," Caroline said with some surprise. She was unaccustomed to anyone other than her sister Louisa coming to her defense! On impulse, she slipped her arm through Alex's, and he stiffened in response. Even Georgiana noticed the gesture, and she smiled. Perhaps Caroline's heart had, in some way, been touched?
Darcy feigned sleep for the better part of the morning, but Elizabeth, lulled by the steady rocking of the carriage, lightly napped until Darcy nudged her awake.
"We shall be stopping at an inn soon, my love," he said tenderly, kissing her forehead. The sensation of his wife's warm, soft body leaning against him was intoxicating.
"I must look a sight," she sighed, reaching up to straighten her bonnet.
Darcy smiled.
"Yes, you are a sight, indeed," he said, leaving no doubt in anyone's mind that he found the sight of her most pleasant.
Caroline Bingley reverted to form, her eyebrows raised at the sight of the comfortable but decidedly modest establishment at which the party would rest and have lunch.
"Could we not find someplace a bit more..." she said disparagingly.
"Enough, Caroline," Bingley responded. "It is comfortable and clean and will not take us out of our way." For Bingley, the third quality mentioned was the most important. Diverging from their journey in a way that would delay his reunion with Jane was unthinkable! A mediocre meal in an unremarkable inn was a small price to pay if it hastened his arrival by even half an hour!
As is often the case, however, the modest appearance of the inn was deceiving. The food was plentiful and delicious, the innkeeper and his wife friendly and obliging. Refreshed and satiated by the repast, which was accompanied by a large pitcher of beer, the travelers prepared to set out again after an hour. The plan was to drive straight through to Netherfield, even if it meant they would not call at Longbourn until the following morning.
As the driver prepared the carriage for their departure, Darcy and Elizabeth had the opportunity to converse privately, away from the others.
"Fitzwilliam," Elizabeth said thoughtfully, "would it be too much to ask that I be taken to Longbourn tonight so that I might speak to my father alone?"
"I would prefer to be with you, Elizabeth," he answered.
"I know," she said. "But I am my father's favourite, and I believe I can use that to better advantage if I am alone with him. By tomorrow morning, he will have gotten over any anger or disappointment he might feel at the news of our marriage."
Darcy frowned. The thought of spending even one night away from his wife was unpalatable, indeed. Still, he did not want to be selfish or unreasonable, so he reluctantly agreed.
"All right, then, Elizabeth. If you truly believe it will ease the way with your family, I will spend the night at Netherfield while you remain at Longbourn," he said. "But Lizzy," he added wistfully, "no more than one night."
Elizabeth smiled.
"I will miss you too, my love. Most acutely! But we will both be most fatigued tonight from the journey, and perhaps we would do little else but sleep in our bed." Her eyes danced teasingly.
"Oh, I would not count on that, Mrs. Darcy," he replied seriously, bending down to kiss her. "And even it that were so, I find I sleep far more soundly with you next to me."
Darcy sighed as he helped his wife into the carriage. It was going to be a very, very long night!
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It was quite late when the party reached Longbourn. Darcy reluctantly bade his wife good night, and the carriage departed for Netherfield.
Elizabeth was enthusiastically greeted by her parents and sisters. Tired though she was, she felt re-energized by their company, and answered their eager questions about her stay at Pemberley. It was well past midnight when they retired for the night, and Elizabeth had not had the opportunity, nor the heart, to divulge her marriage to her parents.
I will speak to them directly after breakfast tomorrow morning, she thought. Mr. Darcy had promised to call at noon, and by then, her father would be reconciled to their marriage. She was exhausted by the day's activities, and fell asleep immediately upon entering her bed.
Darcy, however, was not so fortunate. He witnessed Bingley's exuberant reunion with Jane, who clung to her husband and kissed him most enthusiastically. They had barely been at Netherfield fifteen minutes when Charles and Jane hastened to their bedroom, where they would undoubtedly get very little sleep this night.
Darcy got into bed and attempted to sleep, but found it impossible. He stared at the pillow next to him, where Elizabeth should be. It was not arousal he felt this night, but a sheer longing for her presence, for the weight of her body pressed against him.
He closed his eyes, and pulled the covers up to his chin. Sleep, damn it! he told himself. If only he could obliterate the overwhelming loneliness with sleep, he would get through to the morning, when he could leave for Longbourn and reclaim his wife.
But try as he might, sleep would not come. Surely by now Elizabeth had delivered the important news to her parents? It was insupportable that his wife...his wife...should sleep in her childhood bed, just a five-minute ride away!
With great determination, Darcy rose from bed and dressed. He headed for the stables where he roused the stable master and asked for his horse to be saddled. The man looked at him as though he had lost his mind, but he was accustomed to the caprices of the gentry and obeyed.
He set off for Longbourn with great speed, despite the dark. He tied his horse to a tree outside and knocked loudly on the door.
It was some minutes before an alarmed Mr. Bennet, wearing his nightclothes and carrying a candle, answered the door.
"Mr. Darcy!" he exclaimed. "What is the matter!"
"Good evening, Mr. Bennet," Darcy responded.
Mr. Bennet, astonished, waited.
"I am done with this charade, Sir," Darcy said. "I have come to collect my wife!"