Chapter 18

Lord Carlisle was buried three days later. The magistrate had ruled the death as accidental, after speaking with Dr. Thomas and the servants of the house. The dead man's wife had been in labour at the time, so he had settled the entire matter without speaking to her. He had heard rumours of Lord Carlisle's abuse of his wife, and his debauched lifestyle, and had to admit that such an ending was fitting for the man. And now there was another Lord Carlisle, his newborn son, delivered the morning after his father's death. The world really did turn in a complete circle. New life came just when death had lifted its hand.

Vincent's closest family members came for the funeral. Elizabeth was not surprised at the sparsity of guests. Despite Vincent's claims of a multitude of comrades, he had very few true friends. Not many people could put up with his truculent personality and vicious propensities.

Elizabeth and Darcy had planned their wedding for exactly one year from now. Elizabeth would stay at Campton Manor with Ethan, and Darcy and Georgiana would visit as often as they could until her mourning was over and the two could wed.

Vincent's maternal uncle, who was set to be Ethan's trustee until he came of age according to Vincent's will, was relieved that he would be excused the duty when Elizabeth married Darcy. He had had a conference with his niece-in-law's fiancé, and had been impressed by Darcy, gladly turning Ethan's care over to him. He was a little shocked that Elizabeth was already planning a wedding so soon after her husband's death, but he had to admit that he could not blame her. Even he knew that Vincent had been a cad.

Elizabeth had named Freddie and Rosamond Landsdowne and Vincent's uncle as Ethan's godparents. After the christening, Darcy and Georgiana took their leave, saying they would come to visit again as soon as they could.

Caroline Bingley was sitting reading a fashion magazine when Mr. Darcy was announced, accompanied by her brother. Charles looked unaccountably grim when he told her that Darcy wanted to have a private word with her, but that he would remain for propriety's sake.

Caroline was thrilled. Her plan had obviously worked, and faster than she could have deemed possible! After all, Darcy was here mere weeks after she had put her scheme into action, ready to propose. But his first words at once destroyed all her hopes.

"Lord Carlisle is dead, Miss Bingley."

Caroline gasped in shock. Dead? What in the world had happened? She had enough presence of mind to ask, "Lord Carlisle? What – what has this to do with me?"

"I think you know, madam," said Darcy harshly. She looked over at her brother, but his countenance was just as menacing. "Do you recognize this parchment by any chance?" And he held out the anonymous missive she had written to Lord Carlisle.

She paled but tried to hold on to her story. "Why would I know anything about this? I have no reason to write to Lord Carlisle, especially about some strumpet's sordid affair."

Darcy's jaw clenched and he seemed to be reining in his rage. "The entire letter is a gross falsehood, madam, as you well know. Yet you put Lady Carlisle and her son's lives in grave danger by penning and sending this missive. And you will pay dearly for it."

"I do not know what you are talk –"

"Silence, Caroline!" Charles shouted, and she was startled into silence. Her mild-mannered brother had never used such a tone with her before.

"Word has already spread throughout society about your illicit affair with the deceased Lord Dunbarton. He, being now dead, cannot protest the story. And any protestations you give will be ignored, for I and my aunt and uncle, who have a greater amount of influence in society than you could ever dream of, will deny your innocence at every turn."

Caroline had turned white. All the blood had drained from her head and she felt faint. "You cannot do that," she whispered in horror.

"It is done, madam. And lest you think to find sympathy with your brother, he approves of this scheme wholeheartedly."

"You will not spend another night under this roof, Caroline," said Charles in a tone she had never heard before. "I am releasing your dowry to you tomorrow. Do with it what you will, but you will never speak to me again. Is that clear?" His voice was hard and cold, and she trembled at the sound of it.

"By the way," added Darcy as he turned to leave. "I suppose I have you to thank for part of this. Lady Carlisle and I are engaged now that her husband is dead. We will marry the day after her mourning ends."

Caroline felt sick as she watched both men leave the room and heard Charles order the servants to pack her things. This could not be happening to her.

How could her plans have gone so wrong?

The year of Elizabeth's mourning passed quickly, now that she was free from the tyranny and abuse of her dead husband, no longer worried about her child's safety, and able to be open about her love for Darcy. He and Georgiana came to visit frequently, and Georgiana stayed with her soon-to-be sister at Campton Manor while Darcy stayed with the Landsdownes close by. Every time they visited, little Ethan had grown bigger and bigger, and both brother and sister came to love him as if he were related to them by blood. Georgiana rejoiced that she had a ready-made nephew, and Darcy felt it would be easy to love this son as his own.

After her husband's death, Elizabeth had decided to let go of her grudge against her father. After all, Mr. Bennet would not live forever, and Elizabeth did not want him to die still estranged from her. Ever since he had heard of her pregnancy, he had written to her several times, asking for her forgiveness. Elizabeth decided now to give it. After all, if Elizabeth had not been forced to marry Vincent, she never would have met Darcy, and achieved the happiness she now had. And she would not have her precious Ethan.

So she had invited the entire Bennet family to her wedding, asking Jane to stand up with her as her maid of honour. Darcy had asked Mr. Bingley to stand up with him as his best man. Elizabeth had always liked the cheerful man, despite his sisters, and was glad to greet him again in happier circumstances.

Campton Manor house was full of guests who had arrived a few days ago for the wedding. Darcy's relations, the Matlocks, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and Viscount Sterling had all come in order to support Darcy. His other aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, had sent increasingly vituperative letters to Darcy, demanding that he marry his cousin Anne, but Darcy had ignored them. He had waited a long time to marry Elizabeth, and nothing would mar his joy. His de Bourgh relations had therefore not come to the wedding, but he could not repine that.

Georgiana had been ecstatic when she heard that her brother was to marry Elizabeth. She had embraced Elizabeth with tears in her eyes when she heard the news, telling her how happy she was to have her for a sister at last.

"I could tell that Fitzwilliam was fond of you, even in London," she admitted, making Elizabeth blush. "I thought it such a shame that you were already married."

"Now I shall be your sister in truth," said Elizabeth, "and we shall be a family, never to be parted again."

Now Elizabeth stood with her mother and sisters in her bedchamber, putting the finishing touches on her attire. She had been able to choose her own wedding gown this time, and it suited her perfectly. It was a light blue muslin with white trim, embroidered with tiny flowers.

"I wish you could have come to my wedding, Lizzy," said Mary, "but Samuel and I are glad to be here at yours. You look lovely."

"Indeed, you do," agreed Jane.

Elizabeth had lost all of the baby weight, so she was back to her slim self. She knew Darcy found her beautiful, and that was all that mattered.

"Yes, and now that you are going to marry another rich man, you can finally bring your sisters out in society," said Mrs. Bennet in her strident voice.

"We will, Mama," Lizzy assured her with a beleaguered sigh. This was perhaps the twentieth time Mrs. Bennet had mentioned it since she arrived. Elizabeth did have to admit that Kitty and Lydia were surprisingly well-mannered, making no vulgar or silly scenes. Mary was already happily settled, but Darcy had agreed that they could bring Jane out into society, and then Kitty and Lydia once they were old enough.

Elizabeth was not sure that they would even need to bring Jane out, however. She had noticed how Jane and Mr. Bingley had reacted to each other from their first meeting a few days ago, and felt that they would be perfect together. Now she just had to leave it to the two of them to discover it for themselves. She would have to make sure Jane was invited to Pemberley at the same time as Mr. Bingley soon. She was not above a bit of matchmaking.

First, however, they were going to journey straight to Pemberley after the wedding. Elizabeth did not want to take a wedding trip. She preferred to travel directly to her new home with her son. Campton Manor and the Carlisle townhouse as well as Netherfield belonged to Ethan in trust, but he would be raised at Pemberley by his mother and stepfather. Darcy already loved the child as his own. He would be Ethan's papa in every way that mattered.

When Elizabeth left her room, the Bennet ladies departed for the church, while Mr. Bennet waited to escort his favourite daughter. He had tears in his eyes.

"You look lovely, Lizzy," he said.

"Thank you, Papa."

"I do not know how you can ever forgive me. My brother Gardiner told me the truth of your marriage, and I never meant to make you so miserable. I have regretted it ever since you and Carlisle drove away after the wedding."

"Let us speak of it no more," said Elizabeth. "All that matters is that I am happy now."

Mr. Bennet smiled then, and led her to the church.

Darcy stood at the front of the church, waiting for his bride. He was nervous and excited and happy all at once. Colonel Fitzwilliam had clapped him on the back when he had arrived.

"I knew you were in love with Lady Carlisle," he said smugly. "And now I am proven right, even if you would not admit it."

Darcy could not help smiling. "You were right," he agreed.

Now he watched Elizabeth approach on her father's arm, dressed in a lovely light blue muslin gown, carrying a bouquet of lilies of the valley. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. And now, she was his.

They stood hand in hand and recited their vows, and Darcy could tell by the look in Elizabeth's eyes that she meant every word. He could recall her saying once that she had not meant the vows when she spoke them to Carlisle. He knew she meant them now. All the past sorrow of her life was over. He would make sure she was happy the rest of her days.

The wedding breakfast passed slowly for Darcy. He was glad to greet his family and Elizabeth's, but he wanted to be on the road to Pemberley. He watched as Rosamond Landsdowne hugged Elizabeth, and smiled to think that they had such friends.

When it was finally time to leave, Georgiana got into the carriage with Darcy, Elizabeth, and Ethan. Ethan's nurse and the servants would follow in another carriage with the baggage. Elizabeth had insisted that Georgiana come to Pemberley with them, rather than staying with relatives for a time.

It was a two-day journey to Pemberley, so they would have to stop at an inn for the night. But Darcy did not mind having his wedding night at an inn.

They were tired after a day's travel, and ate dinner together in their private sitting room before bed. Elizabeth was too nervous to eat much. She loved Darcy more than life itself, but she had never liked sex. Still, she resolved not to show her anxiety or reluctance. She knew it was going to hurt, but she would bear with the pain, because she loved Darcy, and she wanted to give him pleasure. She had resolved that she would watch his face during the act, to remind herself that she was not with Vincent, but with the man she loved. And seeing the pleasure on his countenance as he enjoyed her body would no doubt give her some level of fulfillment all its own. And surely she would soon grow accustomed again to enduring the act frequently. It would all be worth it to finally be married to her beloved Fitzwilliam.

"Let me call for my maid," said Elizabeth as Darcy followed her into the bedroom.

"I can take care of a few buttons," Darcy replied. "Surely we can fend for ourselves tonight."

Elizabeth endeavoured to smile at her husband as she turned around to let him unbutton her dress.

He kissed his way down her back at each button he undid and she shivered at the sensation, surprised to feel something so pleasant. Once he had unbuttoned her, she was able to do the rest herself, and she undressed until she was down to only her stockings and chemise. She had never wanted Vincent to see her naked, but she wasn't with that monster now – she was with the man she loved, and she wanted him to see all of her.

She stripped down to nothing, and then reclined on the bed to watch as he finished disrobing.

He was truly a glorious specimen. He had strong, muscular thighs and arms. His toned chest was covered in a light patch of curly black hair to match that on his head. He was aroused, and Elizabeth quailed at the sight of his erection. He was larger than Vincent, but she hid all her misgivings, and tried to smile in a welcoming manner.

Darcy got into the other side of the bed and drew her into his arms. "You are so beautiful, Elizabeth," he said, and she felt warm all over to hear the clearly heart-felt compliment, for she knew he meant it.

"So are you," she replied.

He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her neck as he ran a hand down her arm, then covered her mouth with his. She was a little amazed by how pleasant it felt to have his soft lips moving against hers. The only person she had ever kissed before this was Vincent, and she had never liked it. But she loved Darcy's kisses. In fact, she could happily have lain there kissing him all night; but she knew, with some nervousness, that he would want more than that, and she was determined to give it to him.

The tip of Darcy's tongue touched her lips. She opened her mouth and accepted him into her mouth, tentatively touching his tongue with hers. He groaned and covered her breast with his big hand, fondling and shaping it, then teasing the nipple with his fingers until it was puckered with her desire. Elizabeth moaned into his mouth when he moved to her other breast and gave it the same treatment. She did not know that she could make sounds like that, or that anything could feel so divine.

"Oh, Fitzwilliam," she panted. "That feels wonderful!"

He looked tenderly into her face. "I want to give you everything you deserve, Elizabeth. I want to give you pleasure."

Elizabeth was about to assure him that he was, when he moved his head down to her chest and took one of her nipples in his mouth, at the same time as his finger touched her core, which she realized with some surprise was wet. She moaned loudly instead of being able to say anything.

Darcy's lips and tongue laved her tender bud, while his finger moved up and down her moist folds. She had never grown wet down there before, and supposed it must have something to do with how good she was feeling. Darcy spent several minutes giving attention to her breasts before he pulled away. Elizabeth almost cried out with disappointment, but he had moved so that he was down on the end of the bed and he was looking between her legs.

"What are you doing, Fitzwilliam?" she asked, flushed and panting.

He kissed the inside of her thigh. "I want to give you pleasure, my love, but I have never done this before, so you must tell me if you like it."

"I am sure I will like anything you – Ah!" She let out a cry at the last because Darcy had taken his tongue and licked her sensitive folds from bottom to top. He spent a minute moving his tongue over her as she writhed and moaned, until he finally settled upon an exquisitely sensitive spot at the top of her folds and sucked upon it.

Elizabeth's back nearly bowed off the bed as she cried out with the pleasure of it. "Oh, Fitzwilliam! Oh, Fitzwilliam! Please!" She did not know what she was begging for; but she was sure he knew, and that he would give it to her.

Darcy moved his hand to her entrance, and pushed a finger into her channel. He moved it in and out in a rhythm at the same time as he circled her sensitive bundle of nerves with the tip of his tongue. She became louder and louder as a pleasure she had never known existed rose in her, then crested, launching her into a world of pure sensation. She was aware of nothing for several long moments, and then she found that she had relaxed down onto the bed and felt perfectly sated, as if nothing could bother her ever again. Darcy was lying beside her once more, and she was in his arms.

"Oh, my darling," she panted. "That was wonderful. Thank you so much."

He was kissing her ear and neck. "I enjoyed it," he said huskily. But she could sense that his body was rigid with tension. She could feel his hard length against her thigh.

"Now you must have your pleasure," she said, attempting to hide her reluctance. He had just given her unimaginable pleasure. She could surely give him pleasure in turn without complaint.

He moved to get between her legs and she lifted her arms to wrap around his shoulders. He lay between her thighs and put down a hand to guide himself into her channel. She tensed, but to her surprise and relief, he slid in easily, the moisture of her body making his entry pleasurable rather than painful.

She echoed his moan as he filled her up and began to thrust. She held him close to her as he moved in and out. She reveled in his heavy weight atop her, the scent of his warm flesh and spiced cologne. He moved his head so he could kiss her as he thrust, and she accepted his kisses eagerly. They only added to her pleasure.

She had never experienced anything remotely resembling this in bed before. She was almost incredulous that it was possible for it not to hurt, not to be humiliating and degrading.

Her body was relaxed and replete, enjoying all the pleasure of having the man she loved possess her. Darcy moved inside of her for many long minutes, and Elizabeth loved all of them. She loved feeling his muscles tighten, loved watching his face twist in pleasure, loved hearing his husky moans, loved moving her hips against his as they snapped against hers, loved the puffs of his heavy breaths on her face, loved the increased heat of his body, loved the feel of his thick erection sliding in and out of her in a steady rhythm. There was adoration in his eyes as he gazed on her, and his kisses were tender and passionate.

After a long time, every moment of which gave Elizabeth further pleasure, he began to lose the rhythm. Elizabeth heard his breathing change and then his hips moved erratically for a moment before he drove into her one last time. His whole body shuddered, and he groaned her name, relaxing down on top of her.

Elizabeth wrapped her arms around him, close to tears. She had never felt closer to another human being in her life. And that Darcy had shown her the pleasures and joys of marital intimacy was a gift she could never repay.

They lay together for a long time, limbs entwined, sharing soft kisses until their breathing evened out. Then Darcy finally raised up on his arms and moved to lie beside her on the bed. "Thank you, my love," he said, wrapping her in his arms. They were both still naked, and she loved the press of his bare skin against hers.

"It is I who should thank you. You showed me a pleasure I had not known existed," she replied, kissing his chest.

They lay that way together in a sort of bliss, until Elizabeth found herself dozing off into a deep sleep, still held in her husband's strong arms.