A/N: Rhian Evelscir - thanks for the Colonel Fitzwilliam catch. I hadn't realized I'd named him in the first chapter. I hadn't intended to. Oops! I've fixed it.

(16)

Elizabeth found herself very confused when she first awoke the following morning. It took her a minute of looking around after she sat up to realise she was in her new bedroom, in her new home, and her new life. She was married to Fitzwilliam Darcy, and he had not bedded her out of concern for her feelings. At the same time, he had very thoroughly reassured her than it was not for a lack of desirability. Her thoughts swung back to what her aunt had said, that he loved her and would be gentle with her. After he had touched her with such reverence last night, she felt she could agree with her aunt.

After a while Elizabeth swung her feet out of bed and stood, and then walked into her dressing room, to ready herself for the day. Then she remembered that she had Nel. Should she ring for her maid when she was perfectly capable of dressing herself? She felt a little silly asking for help with the task, but she also did not want to make Nel feel useless, and she knew what was expected of a woman in her new role.

She sighed, decided not to fight her new life, and went back to her bedroom to ring the bell. Still, she was not helpless, so she sat down at her dressing table and began to brush her hair. Left unbraided for the night, it had become a tangled mess. She would need to remember that in the future, if she did not wish to spend an hour every day trying to brush her hair out.

Nel entered shortly, curtsied, and took over the brushing.

"Good morning, Mrs. Darcy."

"Good morning, Nel. I am sorry about my hair, I am afraid I forgot to braid it before I fell asleep. I will try to remember in the future."

Nel shrugged slightly and continued brushing.

"It is nothing, ma'am. A few minutes and we will have you righted."

Nel soon had her hair smooth and moved on to twisting and pinning it up for the day. Elizabeth allowed herself to be dressed in one of the few appropriate morning dresses she had, this one a simple lavender. She supposed a visit to the modiste was in order, if she did not want to wear the same three dresses for the next four months.

When they were finished, Elizabeth hesitated and then asked, "I do not remember how to get to the breakfast room, can you remind me?"

"Oh, Mr. Darcy requested that your breakfast be brought to your sitting room, Mrs. Darcy. It is already there and waiting for you."

Elizabeth was embarrassed at her lack of information, but thanked Nel. She supposed she would have known that if she had spent the night with her new husband. While she was grateful for her reprieve, it felt awkward to know she was still a maiden-wife.

She cautiously entered the sitting room she now shared with her husband. Darcy was already there, sitting at the small table, reading a newspaper and drinking coffee.

"Good morning, Fitzwilliam," Elizabeth said quietly.

Darcy dropped his paper immediately, surprised, as he had not heard her enter, and stood, "Good morning, Elizabeth. I hope you slept well?"

"I did."

He walked toward her and took her hand in his, turned it, and brought the inside of her wrist to his mouth, gently placing a kiss there.

"I am glad," he said simply. He drank in her beautiful eyes for a full minute before he leaned in and dropped a sweet, gentle kiss on her mouth.

He pulled back and indicated the table as he said, "I hope you do not mind that I asked for our breakfast here."

"Not at all."

"Then, if you are amenable to it, I would like to start all our days together," he added.

Elizabeth felt that she should not be surprised that her new husband would want to spend time with her; he loved her, after all.

"If you like," she said with a smile as they neared the table.

Darcy held her chair for her as she sat, and then took a plate, but hesitated.

"I remember you choosing strawberry preserves on toast every day at Netherfield for breakfast. But that was only a few days, and I do not remember the rest of the options very well. Is that your favorite?"

"It is, thank you."

He carefully prepared her toast for her.

"Could I interest you in any ham? There a few types of eggs as well."

He pulled several lids off of warming dishes to show her her choices.

Elizabeth laughed, "I hope you do not intend me to eat all of this! I do believe it is enough to feed four of me."

"I did not know precisely what you would like, and had Cook prepare a few choices."

She smiled at his consideration.

"Well, you may know that I strongly prefer strawberry preserves on toast with tea, but nearly any kind of egg or ham will do. I am not difficult to please, you see. If you have a preference for the same each day, or to change it, I will take whatever you have."

Darcy nearly sighed in satisfaction. How had he managed to find the one intelligent, beautiful, woman who did not need to have everything, simply to prove she had the money to do so?

"If you would like, this is my favorite type of egg."

At her nod, he served it to her plate.

"If you truly like it, we can simplify breakfast in the future. I generally have the same thing daily."

Elizabeth smiled; she was not surprised that a fastidious man such as himself preferred a routine. She took a small bite to taste it.

"Excellent," she said when her mouth cleared, "I think I can happily eat these. You may let Cook know that he need not go through so much effort for two peoples' breakfast."

Darcy acknowledged her with a nod, and then simply watched her for a few minutes.

"Have you already broken your fast?" Elizabeth finally asked, a little disconcerted by his stare.

"I have not. I was waiting to eat with you."

She raised her eyebrow at the empty space before him.

He cleared his throat, "Pardon me, I was enjoying the view. You are quite lovely first thing in the morning. Then again, I should not be surprised, as I have never found you to be anything but lovely."

Elizabeth nearly laughed aloud as he moved to fill his own plate. He had not found her lovely the first time he saw her, but she did not wish to quarrel this morning. Instead, she watched him take a larger helping of eggs and a couple slices of toast with raspberry jam. He refilled his coffee and settled in. Elizabeth was embarrassed that she had not noticed his cup was empty, and was determined to find out how many cups he preferred in the morning.

"And do you always prefer raspberry jam, Fitzwilliam?"

Darcy's head nearly whipped up at the sound of his name. He did not think he would ever tire of hearing her address him so intimately in her lovely voice.

"I do."

"Do you always drink coffee for breakfast?"

"Yes."

"The same number of cups?"

"Two."

Elizabeth smiled again.

"Is that...amusing?" he asked.

"Unsurprising. I do believe I am right that you are fastidious man. It is not a far leap to assume you prefer order in your life."

"I do. Do you consider that a bad thing?"

She thought of the noisy mess of her mother and youngest two sisters. Even her father's book room was a disorganised clutter, and Jane tended to collect...things. She cleaned up after herself, but in their shared room, she definitely took up more space. Living with someone who was tidy and organised, and whom she could not imagine gathering trinkets, would be a novel, but not unwelcome, experience.

"No, I enjoy an orderly life myself."

"I will not deny that I am glad. It seems we are a good match in this."

Elizabeth smiled in response and went about her meal again.

Darcy followed suit for a few minutes before asking, "Do you have anything in particular you would like to do today?"

She hesitated before replying, not wanting him to think she was hoping for it, "You do not have anything you are required to do?"

"Besides spend the day with my new wife?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

She smiled, "I was not insinuating that you should, rather not presuming that you are mine to do with as I please."

After she said it, she realised how it might sound to him and felt heat creep up her face. That was not what she had intended at all!

His could not quite contain his smirk as he said, "And what would please you?"

Grateful that he had not teased her, she moved on, "I would very much like to take a walk. As I am sure you are aware, I prefer to walk every day. I do realise that is more difficult here in town, but I would like to continue as much as I can."

Darcy hesitated for a moment, thinking through his answer carefully, "Certainly, I would not wish to curtail your exercise, and would like to join you as often as you will have me if I can. But Elizabeth, will you...will you please promise me that you will never walk out alone? At least take a footman with you?"

Elizabeth was pleased by his concern, and annoyed that he thought she did not know any better than to go walking alone in London. She was not that countrified!

"I have never walked alone in London in my life, and have no intention of beginning now," she said with a raised eyebrow. "That is an easy promise to make."

He looked relieved at her easy catipulation, and she was glad she had not quarreled with him over it. He had asked her, rather than commanded her, and it was clear that he was worried for her safety. She could not fault him that.

"Thank you," he said, "I could not imagine you doing so, but I wish to know that you are safe. Would a walk to and around Hyde Park suffice?"

Elizabeth wrinkled her nose, "As long as it is not at the fashionable hour. I do not wish to be on display. I am there to walk and enjoy the company I bring with me, not acquire public sightings."

Darcy laughed at the look on her face, pleased that she appeared to include him in the enjoyable company.

"My thoughts precisely. As long as we go during morning hours, we shall be fine. The peacocks do not come out until later. If you would like, we could go after breakfast today."

Elizabeth agreed, and they finished their breakfast. She had not often been to Hyde Park, with her aunt and uncle living so far from it. While she was not interested in the social aspect, she looked forward to seeing the attractions the park itself had. Darcy told her that even she could not find too few walking paths there.

They enjoyed their quiet morning out together. They found conversation easy, and learned more about each other. Darcy had never been so satisfied at Elizabeth's ease with him as he was that morning. As she had happily taken his arm, he drew her as close to him as walking allowed, and still it was not close enough. He relished the feeling of simply being with her in this new found freedom from chaperones.

Neither Darcy nor Elizabeth thought to pay any attention to the time, content as they were. More than two hours passed with them wandering the paths of the park before Darcy thought to check his watch, and realised they ought to return.

Darcy was a little worried about having worn her out, but she merely laughed at him, declaring, "I would be a poor country miss indeed, if I could not handle a few leisurely hours of strolling in a park. Do you not recall my three-mile walk to Netherfield for Jane? This is nothing in comparison to the trudge across those fields. I shall be fine."

Darcy found that she was tired though, despite her protests. After sharing a light lunch, they again sat side-by-side on a sofa in the library while reading. It was not long before Elizabeth's head was resting against his shoulder, and soon she was sleeping. An overwhelming feeling of bliss filled Darcy. That she could be so comfortable with him to fall asleep, and to have her resting against him while doing so; it was indescribable. He found himself incapable of attending to his own book, and set it aside. In his contentment, he rested his head on the top of hers, and soon followed her into peaceful slumber.

Darcy awoke later to the feeling of movement beside him. He was confused at first, as to who would be with him while he slept, and then he remembered his wife. He gently lifted his head from hers and watched her struggle to awaken. She pushed herself off of him, and then looked at him in surprise, blushing.

"I am sorry, I did not intend to fall asleep," she said awkwardly, trying to discreetly stretch her neck.

"Do not apologize. I quite enjoyed it."

She turned a darker red, but did not reply, still trying to ease the stiffness in her neck.

"Will you allow me?" he asked, reaching his hand out to touch her neck.

Elizabeth hesitated, and then turned slightly to allow him better access. At first she found his hands on her too intimate a position in which to relax, but as he massaged her with his strong fingers, she nearly melted. It felt so good. To her embarrassment, she let out a low moan. Darcy's hands froze. She felt them move to her shoulders, and then his breath was on her neck as he kissed her there several times. Her heart raced at the sensation of his lips upon her.

"Elizabeth," he whispered against her skin, causing her to shiver.

She did not know how to react. She was not upset; she was simply overwhelmed. She had never felt this way in her life, and she did not know what to do. She felt an arm come around her middle and pull her into him as he buried his face in the side of her neck, moving his other hand down her arm to hold her hand.

When she did not push him away or brace herself, Darcy found himself barely holding on to his self control. He felt her shallow breathing when he pulled her against him, but could not feel her heartbeat over the thundering of his own. He was just debating if he should try to push this any further when there was a knock at the library door. Darcy sighed, pulled her a little tighter against him for a moment, and then released her to stand and walk to the door.

He opened it to Mrs. Rowley. She took one look at his flushed face and averted her eyes, careful to not look into the room behind him, either. He wondered what she thought she might see, with his clothing all perfectly in place.

"Yes, Mrs. Rowley?" he asked, mildly amused.

"Pardon the interruption, Sir, but I wished to know if you would be keeping your normal dinner plans."

Darcy glanced at the clock behind him in the library, surprised that it was time to dress for dinner.

He turned back to Mrs. Rowley, "Yes, we will take dinner at the normal hour, thank you."

"Thank you," she replied politely, and then made her escape.

Darcy closed the door behind her, and turned with laughter in his eyes to find Elizabeth. She was standing next to their sofa with flushed cheeks and hair coming a little loose.

Not willing to push her farther now that they had been interrupted, he simply said, "I do believe we have scandalized my housekeeper. She is rarely required to remind me to dress for dinner, and I am not entirely sure what she thought we were doing in here this whole time. Her conclusion appears to be much more outrageous than the truth."

Elizabeth closed her eyes, mortified. What was the staff going to think of her, if on her first full day in the house, she was already caught in compromising positions?

Darcy approached her and gently brushed his thumb along her cheek, and then let his hand rest on her shoulder.

"You have nothing to be ashamed of, Elizabeth. We are married and behind a closed door in our own home. The staff knows well enough to knock, and there is no one else here to walk in. Even if there was, we were not doing anything truly scandalous. I have no intention of refraining from touching you, even when my sister is home. While I do not want to expose her to anything she should not see, she will know that I love you, and that I wish to show you that. I hope you do not feel embarrassed by it."

Elizabeth felt herself relax. She had not thought about the fact that she could not be compromised anymore.

"I think it will take me some time to remember that I am a married woman, and the rules are different for me, now. A lifetime of proper behavior cannot be undone in a day, I suppose."

"I think that perfectly normal. Would you like to dress for dinner?"

He offered his arm, and she took it. He walked her to her room, kissing her inner wrist as he released her. As she entered her dressing room, she realised that she had been spending an inordinate amount of time blushing today. He had promised to seduce her last night, and he was most definitely following through. She could admit to herself that it was working, if the end goal was her being more comfortable with his physical affection. Each caress and kiss was less discomfiting and more enjoyable than the last. He made sure there were many of them, too. He took every opportunity to caress her skin and kiss her hand. And those kisses on her neck! Just thinking of them brought another flush to her face.

Nel entered then, and spoke to her of what she wished to wear for the evening. They carried the conversation until her hair was finished and she was dressed, leaving her no more time to contemplate her first full wedded day before she was back in their sitting room.

Unsurprisingly, Darcy was there first. He watched her walk toward him with an appreciative look, taking her in from head to toe and back again, which caused her to flush all over again. At this pace, she would walk around in a continual blush soon.

"Beautiful," he murmured as she reached him.

This time, when he took her hand, he took advantage of the sleeves that did not quite reach her elbows. Elizabeth found her arm being kissed from inner wrist to inner elbow.

Darcy heard her sharp intake of breath and smiled to himself. She might not be in love with him, but the combination of their growing friendship and her obvious susceptibility to him made him truly feel for the first time that it was not an impossibility. Now, if he could just be patient and keep his own ardor in check, he might last until she was truly his.

After dinner, he asked her if she would play for him again, and she agreed happily. Darcy had hoped that she would be amenable to playing for him often, as he adored her expressions as she did so, and the general happiness her music brought him.

He sat himself in full view of her again, and his eyes did not leave her face for two full songs before she turned to playing the chorus from one of her favorites, so as to speak with him at the same time.

"Your expression is very intent tonight, Mr. Darcy. Are you contemplating anything in particular?"

"The pleasure that a pair of very fine eyes on the face of a pretty woman can bestow. It is what first attracted me to you, you know."

"My eyes? Truly? Would you tell my why? I do not wish for flattery, but rather I am genuinely curious."

"Have you never been told before? I am surprised. Your eyes nearly speak without you needing to say words, they are so expressive. They sparkle, they dance, and they draw me in."

He stood and walked to her, and sat next to her on the bench. He reached up and brushed his fingers across her right eyebrow.

"Your eyebrows, when they arch, tell their own story, especially this one. You use them to accentuate what you say. A little lift, a little dip, each says its own thing."

He used his thumb to brush against her upper lashes, "Your lashes are so remarkably fine; thick, dark, and long, drawing one's attention to those lovely eyes. I could never tire of looking at them."

Elizabeth was trembling again, and she closed her eyes against the fervent passion she could see in his. She felt him lean his face down and kiss each of her closed lids, and then gently press his lips to hers. The kiss did not last long, but it was enough to make her heart race again.

"I had no idea," she whispered as she looked up at him.

"I do not know how you have not been told before," he said softly. "They are glorious."

"Thank you," Elizabeth whispered as she looked down, trying to think of a new subject. She was not accustomed to such praise, and she was not ready to handle the strength of passion burning in his eyes. She noticed her ring, and remembered the questions she had about it.

"Fitzwilliam," she asked, "would you tell me the history of my ring? I can see that it is an heirloom, and I would like to know a little of the women who wore it before me."

He took a couple of breaths to settle himself, and switch his thinking from his alluring wife to his mother and grandmothers. He took her hand in his, and gently moved his thumb over the ring while he spoke.

"It was my mother's, and before her, my great grandmother's. I was told that it was made specifically for my great grandmother Darcy. In a time when nearly all marriages were arranged in our class, my great grandparents were a love-match. My understanding is that she was destined for the son of an earl, but before they were engaged, she fell in love with my great grandfather. Her parents did not want to break the match with a titled family, and she was devastated. My great grandfather convinced the earl and his son not to pursue his love, and they acquiesced. Her parents were very angry, and withheld her dowry, though the marriage laws of the time did not enable them to prevent the wedding. My great grandfather had the ring made to show her that he did not care about her lack of dowry, and that they could plenty afford to live without it."

Elizabeth smiled ruefully, "It is fitting then, that you give it to your own virtually dowerless bride."

"Elizabeth, like my great grandfather, I do not care about a dowry. We, too, do not need it." Darcy hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Even when I struggled against my feelings for you, it was never a lack of dowry that stood in my way. I picked this ring because both of the women who wore it before you were loved the way that I love you, with conviction. My parents were a love match, as well. My mother was the daughter of an earl, and her family frowned upon my parents because they had hoped she would marry another title into the family. They did not deny my father consent, but they were not entirely pleased with my mother, and tried to talk her out of it. My father had to stand strong against it and show her that he cared enough to make it worth her family's displeasure."

"You Darcy men seem to have a history of breaking the rules with the women you marry."

"When we find the woman for us, there is simply nothing that can stand our way. You are worth any trial."

Even the trial of my own affections, Fitzwilliam? thought Elizabeth. But she did not say it, as he was very happy tonight, and she did not wish to ruin it. Instead she smiled at him and asked more about his ancestors.

A/N: Elizabeth is rather subdued, but I think she would be yet, she is still overwhelmed. While Darcy needs to work on her acceptance of his physical affection, it keeps her off-kilter. I expect her gentle teasing to return slowly as her comfort in her new situation increases.