Thanks so much for the reviews! I hope this chapter is fluffy enough as it really has no other purpose! Enjoy!
She woke up pressed against a very warm, and very hard pillow. She was startled when she realized it was in fact a person, not a pillow. She knew it had to be her husband. He was still sitting halfway against the headboard on top of a pile of pillows. She was nestled against his chest, his arm draped across her, and her leg hitched around his thighs. She could feel the warmth radiating from him, resisting the urge to curl up against him again.
She gently untangled herself instead. He looked so much younger when he slept, his face was devoid of his ever present worry lines. His hair, which had grown rather long, was a mass of loose, dark curls. His mouth was parted slightly, his breath steady. She was surprised to see the spec of drool at the corner of his mouth, she had to surpress a giggle.
She felt drawn to him. She reached out a hand and gently brushed a lock of hair from his forehead. His skin was much softer then she had imagined. Having not disturbed him from his rest, she felt adventurous. She caressed his cheek, running her hand lovingly across the same smooth skin.
He awoke to a warm hand running through his hair. A second later the same hand was gently caressing his cheek. The hand was decidedly female, soft and small. He dared not open his eyes, lest it all be a dream. He heard her sigh softly.
"Oh William" His wife murmured gently. Her hand was still resting lightly against his cheek. "I can't believe how blind I've been." Her hand found its way to his hair again, "Let me not to the marriage of true minds. Admit impediments. Love is not love, which alters when, it alteration finds, or bends with the remover to remove: O no! It is an ever-fixed mark that looks on tempests and is never shaken; it is the star to every wandering bark, whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken." She stated. He would have laughed at her use of poetry, had he not been shocked in to silence.
A few moments later, he regained his senses, and "woke up."
"Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks within his bending sickle's compass come: Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, but bears it out even to the edge of doom. If this be error and upon me proved, I never writ, nor no man ever loved." He finished her previous sonnet. She gave a small gasp in surprise.
She was startled to hear him speak, and even more so when he completed the sonnet for her. Had he been awake as she stroked his face? She looked up upon him. His blue eyes were slowly blinking open.
"Is it past dinner?" He questioned.
"Dinner?" She asked dumbly. He smirked at her now.
"Yes Elizabeth, dinner. Do you suppose we slept through it?" She looked to her window, where the blinds hadn't been drawn, and noticed it was still fairly light. She determined it was around 6, perhaps 7. That meant that had slept for four hours.
"I do no think we did," She told him.
"Then we best get dressed, do you not agree?" He questioned. She looked at him, a quizzical look upon her brow, for he was acting quite strange. She was not yet 100% used to a carefree Darcy.
"Of course" She replied.
"Elizabeth, you have to remove your hand from my head," He said gently. She felt her face flush. Her hand was still atop his mop of curls. She quickly withdrew it with a sheepish smile. He got out of the bed then, helping her stand.
"I shall return in a half hour to escort you," He told her. He brought both his hands to her face, and kissed her forehead gently. "All shall be well, you will see" And then he left, leaving Lizzy feeling weak kneed.
True to his word, he returned promptly, thirty minutes to the dot. She had dressed herself in a simple dinner dress, a maroon one with gold thread. She saw no need to call for Mira on such short notice. She plaited her own hair, and pinned it up in a simple bun. She was putting a golden hair comb into her bun when he waltzed in without knocking.
'Oh, Mr. Darcy, do come in. Make yourself at home" She joked. She was rewarded with a smile. She loved when he truly smiled, it showed off his dimples.
He approached her at the vanity, and took the comb from her. With deft hands, he quickly secured the ornate piece; she could feel his hot breath against her neck. She felt herself flush again at his presence.
"Are you ready?" He asked. She nodded.
Georgiana was waiting for them in the parlor. She smiled at the two of them.
"You look beautiful Lizzy," She told her.
"As do you Georgie" Lizzy replied. Georgiana was quite fond of pastels; tonight she wore a pale blue dress. She reminded Lizzy of Jane.
At the dinner table, William brought up Lizzy's family, the Bennet's.
"I was thinking that perhaps you should like to see your family again," He told her. She hadn't seen them since the wedding. "Perhaps they would like to visit, and see your new home"
"I should like that very much, thank you William," She said, smiling her brightest at him.
"May I meet them as well?" Georgiana asked. She had been silent through the first few courses.
"Of course" Lizzy instantly replied, then looked quickly to her husband for approval. He appeared to be terse, but acquiesced.
"I look forward to meeting your sisters Lizzy"
The rest of dinner was spent describing the four Bennet sisters in great detail.
"Perhaps I could persuade you two to take a turn about the gardens with me. The stars and moon look quite promising tonight" Lizzy stated, looking out the window of the music room. After dinner they had retired to this room to play and sing.
"It is much to cold, you two go" Georgiana stated, turning her attention back to the piano. William smiled and agreed. She grabbed a shawl from her room, before joining him in the gardens. It was mid January, and it had snowed yesterday.
" It is quite lovely tonight" She commented as she laced her arm through his. He nodded in agreement. They sat down upon a bench in the garden, turning to each other.
"Are you sure you are okay Elizabeth?" He asked, referring to Charlotte's shocking betrayal.
"I am hurt that she did not believe me, and I am worried for her" She admitted. "Perhaps he shall treat her kindly. I pray that she will be happy" she turned her attention to him. "I am sorry to be such trouble William"
"You are far from it Elizabeth" He told her softly. They were only inches apart. Her lips looked so inviting, so tempting. "May, may I kiss you Elizabeth?" He asked. She nodded, he transfixed her. He moved in slowly, so slow that she almost certain he was drawing it out. Her lips met his; they were warm and soft against him. He brought a hand up to cup her cheek. After several more blissful seconds, they broke apart to breathe.
She felt light headed, dizzy. His kiss had sent her mind reeling. She smiled as she blushed; he was staring intently at her. He smiled impishly back when he realized he was staring.
Their gaze held, before their lips were once again upon each other. There was a certain fervor to their movements, a frantic need to be closer. He pulled her onto his lap, and she wrapped her arms about his shoulders, tangling her hands in his hair. He hesitantly poked his tongue at her lips, begging for entrance. She happily obliged him.
They broke apart with a gasp.
"I love you William, truly I do," She told him, breathless. His smile lit up his whole face. He lifted her from the bench and swung her about in his arms. She laughed until he finally released her.
"I love you too Elizabeth" He whispered, bending to kiss her once again.