Chapter 15: Lay a whisper on my pillow

"Then love knew it was called love.

And when I lifted my eyes to your name,

suddenly your heart showed me my way" -Pablo Neruda

The next week could be called dull, at least for Darcy. You see, the young ladies spend their time together almost every day, arranging things for the wedding but for the ball as well. This ball was a tradition to the Darcy family and it was held at Christmas, precisely two week from now. Georgiana, who was still somehow the mistress of the estate, and was supposed to be in charge of the ball, but she wanted the assistance of her sister-to-be. So, Georgiana and Elizabeth were occupied the whole week, leaving Darcy alone. It was only one afternoon, when the two ladies did not share the company of each other.

Darcy, who was in the drawing room, enjoying Georgiana's performance, he decided to speak when he found the chance "How are the arrangements going?"

"Perfectly, I suppose" his sister simply replied.

Darcy took a deep breath and asked what he wanted in the first place "Where is Elizabeth?"

Georgiana smiled and replied "I believe, she is in your study"

Darcy, without saying any further, suddenly stood up and left in hurry the room, but he could clearly hear his sister's giggling from behind. But he did not care; he wanted to see Elizabeth. And that was where he was going.

When he entered quietly his study, he found her looking at some papers and taking some brief notes. She was clearly so concentrated. On what she was doing, for she did not looked up when Darcy approached her. She only realized him coming in, when he decided to make his presence known by coughing.

"You startled me, Mr. Darcy" she said putting a hand on her heart, trying to calm down. "I hope that you do not mind, me being here."

He only shook his hand negatively. For a moment, they did not talk; they just simply stared at each other. "Are you well?" he asked and moved towards her.

"I have not grown unwell since the last time you saw me" she laughed at his silly question. "You do not seem fine. Is something the matter?"

Darcy took a step even closer to her and put his hand upon Elizabeth's "Have you notice that this is the only time we have been alone since last week?"

"Now that you mention it, I believe you are right." She smiled weakly at him.

"You hardly pay any attention to me." he said with a serious look. Elizabeth first looked at him and then she looked down on their hands - Darcy was drawing lazy lines on her palm.

Lizzy took a deep breath to calm herself, for his actions did not help her to concentrate at all. It was strange but she never felt like this before. Every time Darcy smiled to her or touched her, her heart stopped for a second and then she felt butterflies in her stomach. She could even hear her heart beating so fast and dreams playing next to her ear. She did not have any idea why she felt those strong feeling every time they were together. But, that did not mean that they were unpleasant, on the contrary she loved his company and longed for his touch. "I am sorry" she managed to say with a breath.

Darcy took a step even closer and leaned forward, towards her. She could feel his breath on her neck and closed her eyes, just to savour the feeling. She shivered at his whispering "I miss you." Keeping her eyes still closed, she nodded. Darcy put his hand on her waist and drew her near him.

Elizabeth opened her eyes and looked at him. "I miss you too."

Darcy took her hand again and kissed it. He loved the feel and smell of her palm and because he was one of those men who was always ultimately looking to dissolve himself into a woman. He then slowly leaned in and put a kiss on her cheek, making her shiver. "If I start kissing you, I am not sure I would be able to stop"

She laughed a little "I have faith in you."

Darcy touched her neck and said "May I?" She nodded. He then, kissed her neck and she moaned once she felt his touch. He liked her unique smell, and it turned on all five of his senses, wanting to see her naked, touch her while naked, hear her as she moaned while he made love to her, taste her skin, and feel her naked body as he seduced her with the trailing of hungry fingers. But, quickly he restrained himself and turned to look at her. "You are very beautiful"

She laughed again and her laugh was spread across the room. "I am very pleased that you do not find me tolerable anymore"

He smiled a little "Oh no, on the contrary, Elizabeth"

Elizabeth took a step back, breaking their embrace. She then, moved towards the window and turned his back on him, looking outside. Darcy stared at her. He should have asked earlier himself why any room in the house was better than home to him when she entered it, and barren as a desert when she went out again—why he always noticed and remembered the little changes in her dress that h. had noticed and remembered in no other woman's before—why he saw her, heard her, and touched her as he had never seen, heard, and touched any other woman in his life. "When did you realize that you love me?"

Darcy sat on the chair and put his hands on his hair "I am not sure" he paused "I did not realize when it started and when I did, I was already in the middle without knowing it". Her giggle was sounded like heaven's harp to him. "But tell me, when did you realize it my dear?"

"It might sound horrible but I think it was when Penelope came" she replied embarrassed. "Georgiana had told me that you were in love with her once and I assumed from the way you were looking at her, that you still were."

"What happened to your pride, Miss Bennet?" he teased and she looked at him with a cold look. "Do not tell me that you were jealous of her account..." Elizabeth did not speak, because the truth was to embarrassing to reveal. Darcy's eyes widen. "Come closer" he instructed. Elizabeth turned to look at him, amazed; she obeyed nevertheless. "A little more." She took some steps towards him again. "More"

She laughed a little "If I come closer, I would be seated in your lap"

He smiled "Why not? It is a very decent lap." Elizabeth smiled to him and Darcy extended his hand for her to take. Within the second, she was in front of him, seated on his lap. Darcy observed her closer and his heart beat a little bit faster as he kept looking at her eyes. She was even more beautiful from so close. He touched her cheek with his palm. "Do you feel uncomfortable?"

"Don't you think we are being a little inappropriate?"

"No. I am your fiancé, am I not?" he replied seriously. They looked at each other for a second, even though it seemed like eternity.

"I still cannot believe that you chose me"

"Why shouldn't I? You are a rare woman, Elizabeth."

"Did you love her as much as you love me?"

His eyes widen and for a second he forgot to breathe. How could he ask her such a thing? Didn't she know that she meant the world to him? "Nobody has ever measured, not even poets, how much the heart can hold." he paused just to brush her hair "I do not deny that I was in love with her, or that I believed I was, but those feelings cannot compare in the least to the feelings I have towards you, my love. I believe that I have never felt what love was like, until you showed me. Because you see, the best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds. And that's what you've given me. That's what I'd hoped to give you forever.*"

"Fitzwilliam, tell me" she whispered in his ear; he froze "have I told you how much I love you?"

He did not imagine not once in his life that his name would sound so heavenly on his ears, neither that he would long for this person. But he did. He longed for Elizabeth. As he took a deep breath and before she moved her head away from his ears, he instantly touched her waist and pushed her to him so that her body would touch his. Then, within a second, his lips were on hers. They were kissing and that was the beginning of everything.

*I am sure that you all know this quote from Notebook. I love this book so much; it makes me cry everytime I read it. Anyway, I hope that you did enjoy this chapter for I did enjoy writing it. I wanted to mention the matter about Penelope and I wanted to clear out that Darcy did not feel anything for her; even though everyone else believed the otherwise. Also, I wanted to bring the couple closer than they already were. I want to clarify something. Their wedding would be in four weeks and the ball in two. Their courtship practically would last a month, a very decent time considering that Darcy does not have to ask for her hand. The next chapter would be the ball with a little disharmony.

Furthermore, I need to thank first my lovely new beta, Soph. She is a gem truly. You should probably know this, because I have told you already, but permit me to say it gain. You are amazing and I do not know how to thank you for all that you have done for me and will do. Next, I want to thank everyone one of you, who keep supporting me all this time. You give me such a strength and love that I think I do not deserve. So many reviews and almost 200 follows. I almost cried when I saw it. I love you all truly, without even knowing you so well. But, I do. You make me so happy everytime and I need to thank you for that.

Btw, do not forget to tell me your thoughts.