Sitting on the bed, he reached for Elizabeth’s hands and began chanting, “My love, be at ease. Alex is safe. You are safe. All is well,my love. My Elizabeth, sshhh… You are all safe.” He kept up the litany until her agitation quieted.
“Darcy?”
“Sshhh, my love, yes. You had a nightmare.”
“He had Alex,” came Elizabeth’s mournful cry and she burst into tears. He wrapped his arms around her holding her tightly to him, rocking her slowly. Eventually her tears ceased leaving hiccups behind, until those ceased, too.
As her breathing slowed, he became very aware of her warm skin beneath the thin night-rail she wore. Before his thoughts took him down an ungentlemanly path, he saw out of the corner of his eye Jane peeking through the door.
He knew not how long Elizabeth’s sister had stood there, but now he moved his hands down Elizabeth’s back and arms to take her hands again. He kissed both with lingering kisses. “Your sister is here and must desire to check on you. If you are sufficiently calmed, I shall take my leave. But if you need me, I am directly across the hall.”
Before letting his hands go, Elizabeth kissed them, “Thank you, Fitzwilliam.” Her voice was breathy.
The sound of his name coming from her lips in the dead of night, with the two of them together on a bed played havoc with his pulse. Every instinct told him to slam the door in Jane’s face and lock it, leaving him alone with Elizabeth. Instead, he stood and bowed to both ladies, “Good night.” He then strode out of the room whilst he was still under good regulation.
He watched as Jane entered her sister’s room and closed the door before shutting his own, determined to block off all thoughts of Elizabeth. Though he knew it would be a losing battle.
~ / ~
It was no surprise to either when the couple found themselves awake before the rest of the house the next morning. Both were habitual early risers.
“Good morning, Elizabeth. Are you well?” He examined every aspect of her face, seeking reassurance of her welfare.
“I am well. Tired, but I did manage to get some sleep.” She hesitated. “Will you walk with me in the garden, sir?”
His heart stuttered a moment until she smiled sweetly at him.I shall never tire of her sweet smile.He offered his elbow and placed his free hand on top of the one she wound around his elbow.
Neither spoke as they exited the back of the house. They remained silent as they meandered along the paths, enjoying the tranquillity of the early morning bird calls.
“Fitzwilliam,” Elizabeth said, “please know I do wish to marry you. Very much. However…”
“However?” He could scarcely breathe. Was she regretting her hasty agreement to his proposal?
“For both our reputations and Georgiana’s, we need to wait until my year of mourning is over.”
Darcy let the breath he held out slowly and as quietly as possible. “As much as I wish it were not so, I must agree. There is already too much fodder for the rumour mill to behave in any way other than strict propriety. We also have Alex’s reputation to think of, though that is years in the future. However…”
“However?” Elizabeth twinkled up at him with one arched eyebrow.
He kissed it before answering. “I think we may safely inform our families and loved ones of our understanding.”
Her smile brightened in agreement.
Darcy stopped walking and took Elizabeth into his arms. He kissed her lightly on the lips, once, twice. But he did not take into account the simmering attraction between them. Elizabeth was no maiden, and their shared passion was merely banked, ever ready to flame at the smallest spark.
Eventually, their kisses slowed, and he touched his forehead to hers, whilst her hands played with the hair at the nape of his neck.
Elizabeth murmured, “You have beautiful hair.”
Darcy lifted his head and laughed.
“And you find this funny, sir?”
“I findyouadorable,” he kissed her on the mouth softly, “and remarkable,” he kissed one cheek, “and brave,” he kissed the other cheek, “and breathtakingly beautiful.” He kissed one eyelid, “andyour hair, my love,” he kissed her other eyelid, “had me mesmerized from that morning outside the inn.”
He stood to his height and gazed down at her, his smile slowly widening, brandishing his dimples.
Her insides swooped.This handsome man was hers. She bit her bottom lip. “I do not know how I shall survive the next five months,” she muttered and then blushed prettily.
