Elizabeth’s eyes closed, as she let his firm lips take the lead. He nibbled and sucked and she felt the pleasure of his touch pull at her loins.
It was entirely different, and better, to experience such a kiss than to hear or imagine what kisses were like. Elizabeth moaned, reaching up her hand to entangle the back of his hair. Darcy’s abominable cravat kept her from reaching at his neck or skin.
He whimpered as her fingers pulled at his hair, and his arms went around her back, squeezing her tight. They slowly ceased to kiss, and he held her body against his, her head cradled against his chest, both breathing heavily.
“Elizabeth! At last I have the right to call you that.”
“You still must ask my father.” Elizabeth grinned at him. “After all women depend on the wisdom of their males to avoid mistakes in such matters.”
He pulled her mouth to his and cradled her skull in his wide warm hand. “Imp.”
Elizabeth’s stomach was so light that it was a wonder she did not take off and float away like one of those hot air balloons.
Fitzwilliam — her Fitzwilliam — smiled as she did. The look of complete happiness became his face very well. He said, “Say we shall not wait long, a month for the banns to be read. Then you can come home to Pemberley with Georgiana, Anne and I. We will be a happy family.”
“An entire month? You do not plan to drag me off immediately like a borderlander claiming his woman?”
Darcy kissed her again. He pulled her body tight against his; her ribs happily creaked. He declared, “My horse can manage both of us. In the noise of the ball they will not hear us gallop away.”
“Mhmmm.” He could carry her off tonight, with a blunderbuss to frighten off pursuers, the two of them on his horse, her clinging to his back. They would find some cave in the northern moors to hide in for the night, and there enjoy the fruits of love. Elizabeth’s stomach spasmed with the image, and she pressed herself into his body, wrapping one arm around his back, and she dragged her fingers thru his hair.
He moaned into her mouth, making her quiver with delight.
“Drag me off, my frank barbarous lord.”
Darcy laughed and picked her up, and held her in his arms, so that her mouth was level with his. Elizabeth kissed his face and cheeks, and kept her hands around his neck to help support her weight.
After a minute Darcy let her down with anoof. “You are heavier than you look.”
Laughing, Elizabeth replied, “Thatsmacks of insult.”
They stood next to each other, their foreheads pressed tight. Their breathing calmed. It was impossible to stop smiling.
Darcy said exultantly, “Pemberley will be full of joy — you shall love the inside of my house —ourhouse — as much as the outside. We shall be so happy.”
“Ha — you expect my happiness to come from your pile.”
“I know how ardently you admire my hair.”
“Swear to never go bald or take up some strange fashion for close-cropped locks.”
“Not only for us am I happy, Georgiana will be delighted to have you at Pemberley.”
Elizabeth grinned. “She has hinted your case for weeks.”
“Sly girl, I thought her too shy for such stratagems.”
“‘Oh, Lizzy, why have you never married? There must besomeman who is both rich and handsome who likes you’.”
Darcy leaned closer to her, his eyes moving between her eyes and lips. He whispered in a voice that suggested he paid little attention to Elizabeth’s words, “Did she?”
“Those very words.” Elizabeth placed her hand on her breast to swear the truth. Darcy’s eyes followed the movement to linger on her female assets. She added roguishly, “Do you not like my eyes still?”
He kissed her once more and then buried his nose in her hair. Elizabeth nestled her cheeks against his coat. She had never felt so comfortable and safe in her life. Not even with her father.
Chapter Sixteen
Around noon the next morning Elizabeth paced in the breakfast room while Darcy asked her father for her hand. Her heart beat quickly. Despite the way Darcy and Papa seemed to like each other, Elizabeth was restless and anxious. Why she could not say.
