“We will find you the right horse, Elizabeth.” He tapped her chin with his index finger, and she weakly smiled up at him.
“Elizabeth, we will be fine.You are one of the strongest people I know.”The tears started to flow, and he knew not what to do.“Elizabeth, please, I cannot bear to see you sad.”
After several loud sobs, she said,“I am not sad, Fitzwilliam; I am the happiest I have ever been in my life.”
“Then why are you crying?”
She snuggled into his chest. “I do not know why I am crying; you married a foolish woman.”
“Elizabeth, foolish or not, I love you with every ounce of my being.”
She looked up at the man she chose as her husband,“I love you, Fitzwilliam. I really love you.” His mouth smothered hers with a kiss long, hard, and passionate. The kiss threw a shadow over any preconceived ideas of love; they melted into each other; an astonishing amount of everything they ever knew disappeared in the new knowledge of each other.
Reluctantly, he stopped the kiss, but he did not release her from his embrace. “Elizabeth,” he could barely breathe, “I do not wish our first time to be in this coach, but I swear if you kiss me as such again, I will not guarantee my ability to resist you.”
“You can not resist my arts and allurements,” she traced his chin line with her fingers; then she giggled. “Lady Catherine warned you of my ability to trap you, Mr. Darcy, but you would not listen to her advice.” Elizabeth nibbled on his lips.
Darcy joined her tease; it was a way to still enjoy her closeness without abandoning social norms. “Although she is quite obstinate, my aunt is a wise woman.” Darcy pulled her closer and kissed the side of her neck, rubbing his lips against her skin.
His action had the desired effect.“Maybe we should . . . talk for a while,” she said, feeling a bit out of control herself. She sat up and looked lovingly in his eyes.
Darcy breathed deeply and resettled himself in the carriage, but he never let go of her hand. His fingertips massaged the lifeline leading along the palm of her hand.
“There is something I did want to discuss with you, Elizabeth.”
She caught a glimmer of seriousness in his tone and turned to receive his address.“I planned to discuss this later, but it will give you time to ask questions.Your father agreed to a jointure, a way Pemberley will remain with you if something should happen to me.”
“Fitzwilliam, please do not talk as such!”
“It is a fact, my Love; if nothing else, I am a practical man. I want to teach you all the aspects of the running of Pemberley. Many will not understand my doing so; it is not characteristic for a woman to assume such responsibilities. Besides you and Georgiana, there is nothing I love more than Pemberley. It must survive; if Pemberley lives, so does my family’s name.You must promise me you will help me save Pemberley.”
“Fitzwilliam, are we in a position where we could lose the estate?”
“No, not financially, but the times change. Men leave the land for the city every day. I need someone who shares my dream for Pemberley.That is one of the reasons I never chose to marry before now. I needed a mate whom I could trust with my family’s legacy.”
“I will do what you want, Fitzwilliam. People will simply have another reason to offer up censure on our behalf, but that will not change what we do for our family.You teach me, and I will share the knowledge with our children; Pemberley and you are my home now.”
He cupped her face in his hands.“I trust you with my heart, my soul, and my name.” His kiss this time held flashes of trepidation as well as hope. When she opened her eyes, he still cupped her face, and his forehead rested against hers. She reached up and took both of his hands in hers.“You have my heart,” she kissed his fingertips, “my soul,” she pulled his hands around her waist and moved in closer,“and I bear your name.” Elizabeth returned his last kiss with one full of her strength and her determination. Afterwards, she rested her head on his shoulder while he stroked the side of her face.They rode for nearly an hour in quiet contemplation of what their life together would bring.
The coach pulled up in front of his Kensington Place home. He alighted and then dismissed the footman with a wave of his hand. No one would assist his wife but himself. Elizabeth took his arm and looked up lovingly into his eyes.“Are you ready?” he whispered, and Elizabeth nodded her head in affirmation. They entered the house knowing their lives would never be the same after this evening.
The butler met them at the door.“Good evening, Mr. Darcy; it is good to see you safely at home, Sir.”
Handing the man his greatcoat, hat, and walking stick, Darcy turned to his servant.“Thank you, Mr.Thacker. It is good to be back at Kensington Place. Mr.Thacker, may I present my wife Elizabeth.”
“Mrs. Darcy, the staff extends its congratulations.Yours and Mr. Darcy’s happiness brings joy to us all.We wait on your desires.”
“Thank you, Mr.Thacker.” Elizabeth blushed with the realization the staff knew this was her wedding night.
“Your rooms are ready, Sir. I will have the trunks brought up.”
“Thank you, Mr. Thacker. We will have dinner in about an hour. I wish to show Mrs. Darcy around the house first.”
“Yes, Sir.” Mr.Thacker bowed and made his exit.
“Let me show you some of the downstairs rooms, Elizabeth, then we will freshen our clothes before dinner.”
Going down the hall, Elizabeth noted Darcy spoke to each of his servants, calling him by name. “Fitzwilliam, do you know all their names?” she whispered.
