Chapter 20

The next two months passed slowly for Elizabeth. By early March, Sarah had had to take out the seam in her dresses because of the bulge in her middle.

It had also been almost a week with no letter from Darcy, and she was feeling the loss. He had never gone so long without writing before. She was worried that something might have happened to him.

That morning during visiting hours, however, she saw the Landsdowne carriage arrive, and looked forward to a visit with Rosamond. They only lived a few miles away, after all. It was to her surprise, however, that she saw not only the Landsdownes emerge from the carriage, but also Mr. Darcy!

Darcy's first sight of Elizabeth in three months was one of delight and joy. She looked beautiful, her colour high and her smile beaming as she saw him. "Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Landsdowne, Mr. Darcy. I had no notion you were coming visiting today," she said, but her eyes were bright as she gazed at Darcy.

"We thought to surprise you," said Rosamond.

"It is a lovely surprise, indeed," said Elizabeth. "Please, do come in. How do you do, Mr. Darcy?"

"I am very well, thank you, Lady Carlisle. I hope you are well?"

"I am excellent, Mr. Darcy," she said with a shining smile.

Darcy had been starved for the sight of her. It had been so hard to stay away, to remain at Pemberley while he knew she was alone here in Gloucestershire. It had assuaged his anguish somewhat to know that the Gardiners and Jane were with her for Christmas, but once they left, he could tell from her letters how lonely she was. He had written a letter to Freddie Landsdowne, craftily making references to his wish for an invitation. Freddie had always been a good friend, and eagerly extended an invite for Darcy to stay as long as he wished.

Darcy had situated Georgiana with the Matlocks, and made his way eagerly to Gloucestershire. He had arrived the day before, and made some hints that he wished to visit Campton Manor, to see how Lady Carlisle fared. Freddie and Rosamond had exchanged a look, but had agreed. He wondered how much they knew, or thought they knew.

Elizabeth looked very well, the sorrow erased from her countenance, attired in a dress that for once flattered her figure and reflected her personality. She was in a soft pink muslin dress with no jewelry except for his mother's wedding ring. He smiled now, seeing it.

Elizabeth ordered tea for all of them, and they sat down for a pleasant half hour of conversation. Darcy burned with all he wished to say; but he had written her a letter that he hoped to be able to give her before they left; he knew he would have no opportunity to speak with her privately on this visit.

As they rose to depart, Darcy took her hand and bowed over it. As he did so, he passed the small, folded paper into her hand, and knew she had received it when her palm closed about it and she blinked at him with comprehension. Then he turned and left with the others.

My dearest love, Elizabeth read later,

I could stay away from you no longer. I begged Freddie for an invitation and they kindly invited me to stay with them as long as I wish. Do you perhaps have a private retreat where we could meet in secret? I have no idea how long I may stay, but I will remain as long as I can in Gloucestershire. I want to see our babe born. I could stay at Pemberley no longer, knowing you were here alone.

Write back as soon as you can. I await your word eagerly.

Your beloved,

F.

Elizabeth's eyes filled with tears of joy as she read Darcy's letter. She had never imagined that he would find a way to be with her while she was stuck at Campton Manor.

She thought about all her journeys over the Carlisle lands, her visits to the tenants and neighbours, and she had an idea.

There was a little cottage that had lain uninhabited since last summer. It was an old tenant house that was no longer used, far enough away from the other tenant farms so that no one would see if visitors arrived there. It would need some cleaning up, but she was sure she and Sarah could do that with no one the wiser.

The cottage was also in a little glade beside a stream. It would be a perfect place to take a picnic, now that the weather was turning warmer. Elizabeth took Sarah aside and told her of Mr. Darcy's arrival and her plan.

Sarah's eyes shone with pleasure for her mistress. "I am very glad, my lady. I will be happy to clean the cottage for you."

"Nonsense! We can work together," said Elizabeth. "We can ride down there this afternoon. No one need know anything except that we are going on tenant visits."

Elizabeth wrote back a letter to Darcy that night.

My Dearest F,

I am so glad you have come. You cannot know how I have missed you. Or perhaps you can. Your presence here tells the truth of the matter.

I have given it some thought and come to the conclusion that we can meet at a little cottage on Carlisle lands. The house must be cleaned, but Sarah and I will see to that in the next day or so. Perhaps you can come see me there.

She finished the letter with directions to the cottage, ending with her love.

She could not wait to see him again.

Elizabeth and Sarah had spent a day and a half cleaning the little cottage, which had needed more work than she had suspected. Now Elizabeth was waiting for Darcy to arrive. She had a fire lit, and was sitting on the side of the bed, dressed in a filmy nightgown. At last she heard a horse approach, and saw Fitzwilliam ride up on his magnificent Arabian stallion. He settled his horse in the tiny barn next to Elizabeth's sedate mare, and she was in his arms before he even entered the house.

He laughed as he swung her up into his arms. "Hello, my love," he said. "I have missed you so."

"Not more than I have missed you," she said with a grin.

He pushed open the door with his foot and closed it behind him with his heel. "Where is the bedroom, my lady?"

"Down the hall, to the right," she pointed.

He carried her to the bedroom and laid her gently on the bed. She pulled off her nightgown, but he did not immediately begin to undress. Instead, he examined her naked body. "What are you looking for?" she asked.

"I want to see if there are any changes." He sat down next to her on the bed and laid his hand on her waist, where there was a bump.

"Oh! He just moved!" Elizabeth cried. "Could you feel it?"

Darcy frowned. "I am afraid not."

"Perhaps it will take some more months. I remember feeling my youngest cousin move in my aunt's stomach when she was carrying him. She was very far along."

By now Darcy was taking off his clothes, and Elizabeth watched with appreciation as his muscular chest and arms were revealed, followed by his legs. She noticed that he was already erect, and she was eagerly anticipating the moment when he would slide inside her.

He got into the bed next to her and pulled her into his arms for a long and tender kiss. They kissed for a long time, even though she knew he was already ready for her. She could tell, though, that he needed this time of tenderness after such a long separation. In fact, so did she.

Finally, his hands started roaming over her, first her arms and back, then her breasts and finally he slipped his fingers into her core, finding her wet and ready for him. He groaned.

"My love, I can no longer wait," he panted.

"Neither can I," she said. "Love me, Fitzwilliam."

Eagerly he moved between her thighs and then pushed inside her. They both moaned in relief and pleasure at the feeling. He began to rock back and forth, slowly at first, savouring their reunion. Then the tension spiraling between them heightened, and his thrusts became firmer. Elizabeth had wrapped both legs around his back, and was crying out with each thrust. "Harder, Fitzwilliam! I need you… harder!"

He followed her wishes, and soon the creaky bedframe was shaking, the headboard smacking against the wall. With a cry, both of them climaxed simultaneously, and Darcy's seed gushed inside her. They lay tangled together, panting, for several minutes, until their bodies relaxed enough for Darcy to roll off of her. He held her in his arms as they both fell into a light doze.

Half an hour later, Darcy woke to an empty bed. He heard the noise of dishes clinking down the hall, and rose, finding a robe Elizabeth had apparently brought for him and putting it on.

He made his way to the kitchen where Elizabeth was pouring some tea. She also had a tin of biscuits that she had brought from the house. He sat by the small kitchen table.

"These were just made this morning," she said. "I thought you might be hungry after your labours," she said with a wicked grin.

"My labours are not yet over," he said with an answering grin, pulling her into his lap and kissing her neck.

"Not just yet, good sir!" Elizabeth playfully cried. "I must fill my aching belly first! Your child is hungry!"

He smiled, touching her stomach again over the filmy nightgown she wore. "How many months more do you have to go?" he asked.

"Five months, I think. Although Vincent supposes it will be six. I just hope he is not familiar enough with newborns to realize that the child will be too big to be early."

Darcy frowned. "Where is Carlisle?"

"Last I heard, he was in Bath. He has not written to me since I got here. He said he was going to Bath for the Christmas season. He was only going to return once I sent him word that the child was born."

"Then we have some months together," said Darcy with satisfaction.

Now it was Elizabeth's turn to frown. "Can you really impose on the Landsdownes for so long?" she asked.

He sighed. "No, I do not believe I can. But I have been thinking, if you are going to be here at Campton Manor most of the time, I might purchase a small estate nearby. That way I will be close as you raise our child."

"Do not go to such an extreme yet, my love," Elizabeth said. "Let us wait until the child is born, first."

"Very well. I will do as you wish, my love." He kissed her neck again.

"Have your tea." She handed him a cup, prepared the way he liked it.

They sat, snuggled together on the chair, enjoying their tea and biscuits for a quarter hour. "Did you have trouble finding the cottage?" Elizabeth asked at last.

"Not at all. Your directions were excellent. This might be the perfect location for a picnic when it gets warmer."

"That is just what I was thinking," Elizabeth said with a smile.

"I meant to ask, have you seen a doctor or a midwife?" Darcy asked in concern.

"Yes, there is no need to worry about that, my love. Vincent's doctor has been here twice since I arrived, and he said everything is progressing well. You might remember him. Dr. Thomas. The Landsdownes also employ his services and he was there at the house party," she finished in a low voice, as if ashamed to remember the instance of her broken ribs.

"Yes, I remember him," said Darcy in a low tone. "You have no need to be ashamed, my love. None of this has been your fault."

She kissed the corner of his mouth. "I love you, Fitzwilliam."

"I love you too, Elizabeth. Are you fortified enough now for further labours?" he asked mischievously.

She laughed. "I am indeed! For as long as you wish!"

She squealed when he stood, picking her up and carrying her down the hall, then laughed with delight as she bounced down onto the mattress. Soon Darcy had his robe off and was on top of her, kissing her breathless once again.