“Wickham, you do not have a chip to play. If you do not let her go, you will die. If you do, I will ask for leniency and Van Diemen’s, not the noose.
Elizabeth was trying to stay as still and calm as possible. Her eyes met Darcy’s, locking into his eyes and her world stopped. It was then she finally understood. There it was. So clear for anyone to see. His eyes blazed with love for her. A love burning into her from his mere look. Now added to it was intense fear. For her. He was terrified.
All the pieces of her world, her heart, her own confusion and emotions, slid into place.Darcy loves me. Everything she knew and learned of him since the very first day they met. His kindness and generosity; his intelligence and capability; his sense of honour and duty. All merged into one cohesive thought.I love him.I love this good, kind, oh, so wonderful man.
And the world came crashing back. Wickham was still crushing her to him. Thank the heavens, Alex was safe.
She tried to convey to Darcy through her own eyes.Trust.And love. Her heart was brimming and overflowing with love for him.
She used a hand to shoo Darcy back. “Wickham, no one will stop you. You can leave.” She tried to keep her voice soft and steady, desperate to reassure the vile creature who found it so easy to take a life. Who now held hers in his hands.
“I know I can, but you’re coming with me.” As one unit, he forced her to move towards the door, compelling Darcy and the guard to fall back. When it looked like they would attempt to surround him, Wickham tsked. “Stay in front of me.”
With no choice, Darcy and the guard backed up, helpless to do anything else.
“I am walking out of here and taking her with me. You will give me twenty thousand pounds for her safe return. Well,” he sneered, “perhaps a little used.”
They were now in the hallway and Elizabeth nearly sagged in relief to have distance between them and Alex. The knife’s pinprick reminded her of the perilous situation she remained in. She could feel her palms grow sweaty, and her heart was thudding so fast Elizabeth feared she might swoon.
Darcy’s hands were fisted, the knuckles standing out in white relief. “I told you, Wickham, you will not leave here alive. Not with Elizabeth as your captive.”
Their strange dance continued. Wickham edged them forward and for every step, Darcy and the other guard stepped back. This continued until they reached the top of the stairs. The other guards were still arrayed along the steps.
“Get back! All of you.” Wickham included his command to the men below.
Elizabeth’s eyes held Darcy’s, trying to communicate to him. He nodded imperceptibly and kept backing up past the stairs so Wickham could begin to descend.
Wickham eased himself backwards down the stairs taking her with him. At the first step, Elizabeth grabbed onto the handrail with one hand, holding it fiercely with all her might. She formed a fist with her other hand lifting it as high as she could within the tight band of the arm imprisoning her. On their next step down she lagged behind, creating a small space between her body and Wickham’s. She struck, bringing her fist down and back as fast as she could, into what she hoped was his most sensitive area, or close enough.
A grunt passed Wickham’s lips behind her and the surprise of her attack loosened his grip enough for her to shove him away with the same arm. The knife nicked her skin as the two separated. She leant forward to ascend up to the landing and Darcy. Wickham, whose only hold had been on her, fell backwards. Elizabeth ignored the diminishing sound of thumps which only ceased with a final crunch.
In an instant, strong arms were once again surrounding her. But these held her close in a reverential embrace. “Elizabeth, God, Elizabeth. Are you well? Dear God. I almost lost you,” was the soft refrain whispered over and over again near her ear.
She squirreled her arms out from Darcy’s tight hold. Once freed, she placed both her hands on either side of his face and pushed him back. A searching look passed between them. Then, she kissed him. At first it was just a press of her lips on his. Then, she began to kiss every inch of his face; his cheeks, his jaw, his eyes and hislips again. All the while saying, “I love you, William. I love you… I could have died and without telling you… with you not ever knowing… I love you. You are my heart, my love.”
Soon enough, he was kissing her back, heat unfurled inside her, even as she felt his ardour rise. She wrapped her arms around his neck and stood on tiptoe, trying to achieve better purchase to hold him as close as possible. She could not hold him close enough.
The two of them were lost to their surroundings until very loud coughing broke through their haze, and they parted. Noticing a small trail of blood, Darcy removed one hand to reach into his pocket. He brought his handkerchief up to press onto a small bleeding wound on her neck.
She leant back to catch his eyes again. “I love you,” she whispered.
His eyes seared into hers. “Marry me?” He whispered back.
She could only nod and reply, “Yes.”
Chapter 36
The cough and clearing of throats called them both back to their surroundings and a cry from Alex reminded Elizabeth of recent events. She swayed on her feet until Darcy steadied her.
He still held his handkerchief to her neck. Now, he removed it saying, “I think the bleeding has stopped. It does not appear to require stitches. Forgive me, my love.” he rasped
“For what?”
“I should have made sure you were well before-”
“Before I threw myself at you?” Her lips twitched and an eyebrow rose.
He kissed it. He was finally in a position to do what he had imagined doing so many times. He kissed it again. “Not exactly how I remember it,” he said in a gravelly voice.
