Before I begin, I would like to thank everyone for the wonderful response I've been getting to this story! I appreciate each and every review. Please keep it up!
Ok, next installment... It doesn't move the plot forward a whole lot, but I couldn't resist some more mischief. ;)
That night, as Elizabeth readied herself for bed, she began to ponder one very important but puzzling question: did she love Mr. Darcy? It had occurred to her that he had told her of his love, and he called her "my love" many times in the course of their conversation, but she had never reciprocated. She was sure of one thing, that she didn't want to lie to him. They had established their desire for honesty between them during their earlier conversation, and she wanted to adhere to that pattern. As much as she knew he would love to hear it, she determined that she would not tell him she loved him until she was sure it was the truth.
She sat, cross-legged, on the bed with the two letters he had written earlier laid out before her. The letter to Mr. Bingley was short and to the point, and Darcy came across as truly penitent. He had not resisted writing it in the least, which suggested to Elizabeth that he truly had made an honest mistake in judgement, and had not acted out of careless regard for her sister's or his friend's feelings. The letter would be posted in the morning, and, she was sure, that when Mr. Bingley received it he would waste no time obtaining the direction of her Aunt and Uncle's house to call on Jane. Elizabeth sighed contentedly at the thought. Her sweet Jane was finally to be happy again.
And then there was the letter that contained the history of his unfortunate dealings with Wickham. On that score, Darcy was completely absolved. To a large extent, her previous dislike of him had been greatly influenced by Wickham. She could no longer believe him cruel, disloyal, or dishonest. He clearly loved his sister dearly, and had taken on quite a large responsibility at a young age with her care and the running of such a large estate as Pemberly was rumored to be.
It was no wonder that he was a bit somber and withdrawn, he had carried such a heavy burden for several years now. She was sure he was terribly lonely. The thought caused an involuntary constriction in her chest. She placed her hand over her heart. It beat for him, for her William. In such a short span of time her opinion of him had completely changed. His behavior wasn't perfect, by any means, but neither was hers. He did not hold her belief in Wickham's vicious lies against her. Neither did he hold her rude behavior to him throughout their acquaintance against her. He deserved all the best that she had to give. With a deep breath, Elizabeth closed her eyes and willed the last barriers between William and her heart to fall away. She let go of everything that was in the past and let her heart fill with him. A slow smile overspread her features. She loved him, and it felt wonderful, right.
Tomorrow she would tell him.
Darcy awoke with a smile on his face, full of anticipation and joy. He could not remember ever being so happy before. Oh, Elizabeth thank you so much for all you are and all that you have agreed to be to me. I am forever indebted to you, sweet my love.
He rose and dressed quickly, eager to see Elizabeth again. This morning would be the only privacy they were likely to have today, and he intended to take full advantage of it. His need for her was great, but he knew they had much to discuss if they were ever to make it to the alter. There were plans to be made, starting with how her father's permission was to be obtained. He had also promised to tell her of his past, something he was not particularly enthusiastic about doing, but if it was her wish he must honor it. Perhaps she would allow him to wait until they returned to Meryton to tell her. These few precious days before their engagement became known should not be wasted in such a way. He was sure they would not be allowed much privacy once she returned home, and he very much desired to forget he was a gentleman again.
They met at their usual spot along the woodland path. Darcy was sure Elizabeth had grown lovelier overnight. She had only pinned her hair halfway up, so it was left to hang over her back and shoulders as she swung her bonnet back and forth from it's strings. She had chosen a simple gown, but one with a rather daring neckline. Darcy wondered if she had done this on purpose for his benefit. Elizabeth tried to convince herself she hadn't. But even greater than these delights, she had a new glow about her that Darcy could not name. Her eyes, which always danced and shone, seemed even brighter. She was incandescent.
Elizabeth ran into his waiting arms and immediately sought his lips with her own. Their kisses quickly turned passionate. Elizabeth gripped his strong shoulders and leaned completely into his pleasing form, pulling herself higher to deepen the kiss. Darcy's hands traced the curves of her waist, hips, and bottom, enjoying her softness and femininity. He bent lower to accept her tongue into his mouth, caressing it with his own.
After several minutes of this, Elizabeth broke from the kiss and buried her face in his chest.
"I love you, Will," she whispered.
Elated, Darcy tightened his arms around her and placed several tender kisses on her hair and temples. "I love you too, dearest Lizzy."
Darcy bent low, and wrapped his arms under her bottom, lifting her off the ground so that their faces were even with one another. He carried her several steps into the woods and rested her back against a large oak. For a long moment they merely stared into each other's eyes, while his hands supported her weight and her hands caressed his face. Then Darcy began to pull her skirt up around her thighs, allowing her to wrap her legs around his waist, freeing his hands to explore her curves. And explore he did, starting with her shapely legs. Elizabeth moaned when he hooked his finger in her garter and drew one stocking down her leg, allowing it to bunch at her ankle. The feel of his hands on her skin was heavenly, and Elizabeth couldn't get enough.
Moving her hands between them, Elizabeth unbuttoned Darcy's jacket and waistcoat, pushing them both over his shoulders in one smooth movement. Her nimble fingers then began working the knots of his cravat. Soon, the cravat found its place on the ground with the jacket and waistcoat, and Elizabeth began unbuttoning his shirt as far as it would go, and placing moist kisses from his neck to the patch of curly hair on his chest. She let her fingers linger there, enjoying his masculine beauty. He was perfect, every inch of him.
Darcy's lips touched hers very gently, with just enough pressure to coax them open. His tongue pressed slightly against her lower lip, then barely touched Elizabeth's tongue as she tried to draw it into her mouth. He kept his kisses light, teasing, always pulling back slightly whenever Elizabeth tried to deepen the kiss. Soon she was moaning and pulling his hair in frustration. Darcy chuckled at her impatience.
"What do you want, Lizzy. Tell me."
"You know very well," she replied, frustrated and breathless.
"Tell me."
"I want you to kiss me hard. I want your hands all over me, and I want to feel your skin against mine."
With a groan, Darcy complied with her wish. He kissed her with abandon, biting and sucking at her lips and tongue, pressing her hard against the tree with his body. Elizabeth pulled at the fabric of his shirt, wanting it gone, but unwilling to break from their delicious kiss. She was able to slip it over one strong shoulder, which her fingers immediately began to explore. Darcy moved one hand to stroke her breast, pulling the fabric down to expose her nipple. When his fingers began to pleasuring her there, she nearly cried out.
Both froze when they heard a twig snap.
Richard Fitzwilliam was in an exceptionally agreeable mood. He had awoken from a blissful night of exceptionally deep slumber, partaken of an exceptional breakfast of eggs and fried kidneys, and was now enjoying exceptionally fine weather for his tour of the grounds. Foremost in his thoughts was the exceptional beauty he had the privilege of seeing almost every day during his stay at Rosings, and this day was not to be the exception.
Richard had called on Elizabeth, under the guise of calling on Mrs. Collins of course, several times in the past weeks, and he planned on doing so again as soon as he had finished his walk. However, he was privy to the knowledge that Miss Elizabeth was fond of walking, particularly in the morning hours, and he secretly hoped that he might have the good fortune to happen upon her. The good colonel was soon to learn to be careful for what he wished.
He was happily pursuing one of his favorite paths through the woods when he began to hear the most peculiar sounds.
"Well, if I didn't know better," he thought to himself," I would say it sounded as though someone were...erh...in the woods. What a ridiculous notion!"
He strode determinately forward, only to halt in his tracks up hearing what, if he didn't know better, was the distinct sound of a woman...being quite pleased.
Movement in the trees to his right caught his eye, and he turned hesitantly to see what it was, and what is was was most shocking indeed!
What he saw was his cousin's broad back clad in only his shirt, which was, at this moment, being pushed over his shoulder be a very dainty hand. Furthermore, he saw a woman's very lovely bare leg which his fortunate cousin was stroking most diligently. When Darcy moved from kissing the young lady's lips to biting at her neck, Richard was able to determine the identity of the lady, much to his astonishment and chagrin.
"Darcy, you fortunate son of a bitch," he though. "Who knew Miss Elizabeth was so...friendly?"
Suddenly snapping out of his stunned reverie, Richard started, realizing that he must get away somehow without being seen. Unfortunately for all involved, Richard's foot was already poised over a goodly sized twig which produced such a "snap!" which, to Richard, may as well have been a gun shot.
What happened next was pandemonium.
Elizabeth screamed, Darcy started, and Richard cried, "Bloody hell!"
"Damn you, Richard!" Darcy swore, fixing his most murderous glare upon his unfortunate cousin. All the while, Elizabeth struggled to right her clothing, a struggle which proved largely unsuccessful because Darcy had yet to remember to release her leg and breast from his grip.
Richard decided to make a run for it. Darcy, who was not about to let Richard escape the scene unscathed, released Elizabeth a moment too soon, causing her to land with a "Mph!" on the forest floor.
It didn't take long for Darcy to catch up to Richard, halting his flight with a firm grasp of his coattails.
"Richard, you blasted idiot, you are not going anywhere until I extract from you a vow of silence, by force if necessary!"
"No, no! That will not be necessary, cousin. I will keep your and Miss Elizabeth's dirty little secret."
His remark earned Richard a sound twist of the ear from Darcy.
"Richard, I swear on all that is holy, that if you dare impugn my fiancé's honor you will pay most dearly for it!"
"Oh, I would never dream of...your fiance? Since when?"
" Elizabeth agreed to be my wife but yesterday."
"Yesterday. My, my, you do work fast!"
Darcy twisted Richard's ear again.
"Alright! Alright, I surrender. I won't say another word!" Darcy released his hold on Richard's ear. "Except congratulations, and that I am extremely jealous of your good fortune."
"Careful, Richard," Darcy warned.
"Never fear, Darcy, I have done."
"Excellent. Now, Richard, I will have you know that, as I have yet to ask Elizabeth's father for his permission, our engagement cannot become public knowledge as of yet."
"I am as silent as the grave."
"Furthermore, now that you have been...made privy to this information, I will expect you to be of aid in distracting Aunt Catherine from my unexplained absence from Rosings for the next day or so. I need to pay a call on Mr. Bennet, but I would not have Aunt Catherine learn of our engagement until both Elizabeth and I are safely removed from the premises."
"I couldn't agree more," Richard added.
"Wonderful. Now, be off with you. I must see to my fiance."
"Yes, you do that," said Richard to Darcy's retreating, half-clothed back.
"Lucky bastard," he added under his breath.
Well, once again poor unfortunate Richard gets used as a simple plot devise, this time the comic relief! Hope you all enjoyed. I promise meatier material in the next chapter.