Please enjoy my this variation of mine... It has been a variation I have been wanting to write but didn't have a clue how to tackle for many moons now!
Apologies for any spelling or grammatical errors in advance...
As mentioned in the blurb this will feature explicit content (Very Explicit) which will not be everyone's cup tea, but all comments and critiques welcome:).
Prologue
London - November 1813
The air was crisp as Elizabeth stood suspended in time; her hands enveloped within Mr Darcy's as the gentleman had uttered the words she had longed to hear.
"Marry me," Mr Darcy repeated once more, his gaze softening adoringly.
He moved one of his gloved hands to cover Elizabeth's flushed cheeks, ushering her to release her held breath in woosh of mist along with a startled escape of laughter.
"Dearest, loveliest, Elizabeth, will you do me the great honour of becoming my wife?" Mr Darcy asked again, embellishing his earlier proposal, his eyes crinkling at the corners endearingly as he watched her closely, a slight apprehension lurking in his eye. "Or have I misjudged your affections a second time?"
"No!" Elizabeth breathed quickly doing her best to reassure him, "I am certain you never imagined a moment where I might be lost for words, Mr Darcy, but you have rendered me speechless in the most wonderful way imaginable. You have not misjudged my affections a second time, I assure you." She replied with an uncharacteristic shyness.
"If that is a yes, then, I will follow you to Hertfordshire in a week's time and ask for an audience with your father." He said rubbing his thumb over her cheek.
"Yes, it is a yes! I will be honoured to marry you, Mr Darcy." Elizabeth gushed laughing, her eyes watering.
"We are engaged!" he whispered reverently, leaning a fraction closer.
"We are engaged." Elizabeth repeated in a reverent whisper.
Breath hitching again Elizabeth felt the pull of an invisible chord swaying her body closer to his.
The intrusive sound of a passing carriage hauled them back into their surroundings just in time, as her young Gardiner cousins and housemaid could be heard coming back to the main path from the pond. It was early in the morning, and they had walked to the small park near her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner's home in Cheapside. They were not alone in the park but had found a slightly secluded spot within a cluster of trees to share a rare moment of privacy. It would not do to cause any sort of scandal. Especially, after the near catastrophic elopement of Lydia and Mr Wickham.
Reluctantly, Mr Darcy released her and stepped away, removing his hat in the process, most probably to give his hands some other occupation to stop from holding her again.
"What do we do next?" Elizabeth asked, her smile immovable as she looked adoringly up at him.
He smiled back at her, his charming dimples on full display for her pleasure - such a small thing for her to have become so fond of, but they felt special to her. Mr Darcy was not a man known to be quick to smile and they were only visible from her recollection, when she had seen him smile it had been at her or his sister, Georgiana.
"How should you like to proceed, Elizabeth?" her name on his lips giving her butterflies.
"I should like to shout it for all the world to hear, but I fear we should not break with tradition, Mr Darcy."
"I would suggest then that we keep it to ourselves and wait until I can formally ask your father for your hand in marriage."
Elizabeth nodded and moved to place her arm within his and turned towards her relative's home to begin the short walk back.
"Besides, it is quite romantic this way, is it not, Mr Darcy?" she said looking up at him through her lashes.
"Shakespearean even." He added.
"Goodness! Let us hope we are not one of his tragedies!" she joked with a laugh.
They reached their destination far too quickly for either of their liking, where Mr Darcy's carriage was awaiting him. Pausing to let the children and the maid go inside ahead of her Elizabeth let go of Mr Darcy's arm turning to face him again.
"There will be no more tragedies here!" he vowed with a wry look, "When do you leave for Longbourn?" he asked, reluctant to say goodbye.
Also, reluctant to let him go, Elizabeth replied as though it was the first time she had been asked, "My Uncle Gardiner will accompany Jane and I home tomorrow morning. Mama has a cold, and she has not been able to shake, and we are anxious to get back. It'll be nice not to have to get the stagecoach."
"I'm sure your mother will take great comfort in having you home and make a fast recovery."
"I am sure you are correct. But I must confess, I am more worried for my Papa's peace of mind!" she laughed.
"Mr Bennet will enjoy hearing all about your time in town and will be most keen to get his hands on the book you have for him, I am sure." He said kindly.
Elizabeth was about to thank him for being the one to locate and purchase said volume but was interrupted by the maid coming to let her know that breakfast was being served.
"I shall leave you now, my Elizabeth." He said brushing a sweet kiss upon her gloved knuckles, before adding, "Oh and once we have announced our engagement, you will never have to get the stagecoach again. You will have one of my carriages, hereafter to be known as our carriages, at your disposal." Mr Darcy vowed.
Can this really be happening? How have I managed to secure my happiness with the man out of such wretched beginnings and misunderstandings? I could pinch myself. Elizabeth thought to herself in a rush.
"I am impatient for this next week to come and go! Once you speak with my father, then we can speak openly about our engagement and spend more time with one another." Elizabeth said wistfully.
"It won't be long, Miss Elizabeth. Look for my arrival a week on Monday." He said addressing her formally as a couple passed by them on the street before they finally said their goodbyes.
Elizabeth, watched Mr Darcy's car disappear as it turned onto the next street, unable to dampen the smile upon her face, completely unaware of how life as she knew it, was about to take a terrible turn...