Chapter 21

The day of the much anticipated Netherfield ball arrived clear and crisp. The morning dew clung to Elizabeth's skirts as she entered her second mile of her walk, which had taken her through the fields surrounding Longbourn and to a small copse of wood near to the boundary with the neighbouring Netherfield estate. She had left early on the pretence of catching the morning birdsong, but was hopeful that she may engage in a clandestine meeting with her Mr Darcy. They had struggled for time alone since returning from London and, given the ordeal with Miss Bingley, Elizabeth reasoned that she could not even blame her parents for their close-handed chaperonage either. She huffed, though whether from exertion or frustration, she could not say.

Just as she was beginning to let disappointment sink in, she saw his familiar gait approaching her through the woods. He watched as her face broke into a wide smile, and picked up his pace in order to reach her faster. He felt the familiar pull of her presence, and was overjoyed to realise that they had both shared one mind this morning and decided to walk on the chance that they would see each other.

It had been a long and frustrating week, returning from the perfect isolation of Pemberley into the forced company of her family and his friends, and then enduring the stress of their visit to town and all of its import. Not to forget the challenge of being in each other's company, sharing the same air, and not being able to display any of the feelings that either arose in the other. And they aroused many feelings in each other. Mr Darcy thought he might expire with the effort of maintaining his mask of unaffectedness whenever she was around. Here, alone at last, he smiled as if his cheeks could not contain his happiness and reached for her comfort. The two remained for just longer than a moment in a relieved embrace. The skin of her cheek was pressed closely to his broad chest, and his heart leapt to feel her gentle smile of contentment against his shirt.

"Fitzwilliam," she breathed, breaking the pleasant silence. His name sounded like a prayer falling from her lips. "I am glad to stumble across you despite the earliness of the hour. In fact, it bodes very well for our shared future felicity that we are both morning people."

He chuckled softly, warming the crest of her head with his gentle exhale, and mumbled his assent. "For the purpose of shared morning walks?" He clarified with a hint of amusement in his tone.

"Is that not what we are partaking of now, my dear?" She challenged, raising her brow and rearranging them so she was holding him at arm's length. He whined in protest as she took the step backwards.

"I shall not embarrass you by speaking of our married mornings together, but I am for the time being not particularly in favour of resuming walking when there are much more enjoyable avenues to pursue."

She smiled wryly, knowing he had chosen his words deliberately to quiet her. She returned slowly to his side, caressing her way up from the palm of his hand to his neck as she drew closer.

He was so affected by her hands on him, after so long of watching her from across the room, that he almost missed the moment when she raised herself on tiptoes and kissed him. Almost.

But kiss him she did, and he willingly sacrificed himself into her waiting lips. It had been eight days since he had held her under the stairs at Netherfield and Lord, how that particular memory had taunted him during their stay in London. The remembrance was but a shadow of the true Elizabeth giving herself to him. He felt his skin warm deliciously all over at the overwhelming desire she arose in him. And when her small hands roamed insistently across his broad shoulders to finally rest between his hair and his neck, he recognised the perilous precariousness of their situation. He was sure that if her hands were to move into his hair, and start pulling there as they had done during their last rendezvous, he would act upon his baser instincts, which he had tried so hard to avoid. Her temptation was a unique agony.

The difference this time was that there was no expectation of any person interrupting. Of course, they were in the parkland around his friend's estate, but there was no one actively searching for either of them. Of course he would not compromise her virtue, and he was mindful to not cause too much disarray to arise in her appearance. Still, he simply could not resist gently exploring her curves with his hands. She shocked herself with the sensations such exploration brought upon her until, concerned at how far she would permit him to go if he did not stop, she commanded him to return to their walking. He smiled wryly at their pleasant interval's termination, but silently thanked her willpower for preventing any overstepping.

They shared a magical half an hour together, finally able to converse freely about the events of the last few weeks. It had been such a whirlwind, and there was much to come. Sharing their intimate hopes for the future had Elizabeth fairly radiating joy by the time she took the path that headed back to Longbourn. Both parties took a long route home to provide enough time for them to calm their excitement to such a point where it would not be noticed when they returned to their respective companions.

~.~

Georgiana greeted her brother in the kitchens when he returned. She had seen him arrive from her bedroom window, and knew he would be sneaking some sustenance after being gone so long in his walk. His whole demeanour was far too full of sunshine for it to have just been a walk. There was a slight pull to the corner of his mouth that only she would have noticed, and something in his air and manner of speaking when he said "hullo sister" that further aroused her suspicions.

"Have you delegated your conscience and your good character to me today, brother?" She asked. Her tone was just shy of accusing.

"Surely I do not know what you refer to," he hedged.

"Elizabeth is my friend, and it appears she is in need of a knight in shining armour to protect her virtue and her reputation. It is a service I never wished to repay in the same manner as she did so readily for me. But mark my words, Fitzwilliam, you are putting both of your reputations at risk with your untoward behaviour. And I will not stand for it."

He certainly had not imagined this conversation would ever occur this way round, and grimaced sheepishly at his realisation that she was correct.

"I love her," he said in a small voice that made it sound halfway between an excuse and a rare admission of error. She had never heard him sound so sheepish over anything.

"I love her, too," Georgiana asserted, by way of explaining why she was raking him over the coals.

"I know you do," he moped. "I just want these conventions and expectations to hie on home and allow us to all return to Pemberley."

"You do not have to wait long. Imagine, a month from now we will all be happily ensconced in Derbyshire and settling Elizabeth into her role with us."

"Georgiana, which side are you on? Such imaginings will not aid in your course for propriety."

"I understand. Perhaps the waiting will seem less arduous when the knowledge is out in the open. Will you tell everyone today?"

"We will, the marriage announcement went to the papers yesterday, so I can only imagine it shall be being read in the parlours of all who peruse the paper this very moment. And we will celebrate with everyone this evening. I cannot wait to dance with her." His whole demeanour shifted, betraying his obvious excitement at the publication of his happiest news.

"I wish I could join you," Georgiana repined. He paused a moment before replying, considering the options. It was indeed a private ball, and far from the prying eyes of the ton.

"You may join the ball, as properness dictates - but you are not to dance until you are old enough." Georgiana did not seem too perturbed to miss out on the dancing.

"Even better. I may studiously observe your dancing to make sure nothing untoward happens."

He groaned. Audibly. Georgiana blushed.

"We are well within the bounds of properness in a ballroom, Georgiana."

"I know, I know. One hears rumours from certain ladies of the household. I am just trying to make sure that the union I am so overjoyed to witness is not overshadowed by any unpleasantness."

He could not argue with that, but he would be talking to Charles about reigning his utterly improper and ultimately distasteful sister in, especially around his impressionable younger sister. He tried to not let his anger ruin the interlude with Georgiana, aware how soon their alone time would be replaced with similar interludes as a trio. He smiled a bittersweet smile at the thought. It had been just him and Georgiana for so long. He was glad to see that she was mature enough now to not need him so much, but he would always hold the time when she had sought his guidance close to his heart,

Their conversation soon turned to Georgiana's excitement at being reunited with her cousin Richard later that afternoon, when the colonel would be arriving in advance of the evening festivities.