“Of course, most of the staff served my parents or are relatives of the staff members. They served the Darcys for many years; no one here served us less than five years.” Elizabeth never thought about how Darcy would treat his staff. She approved of his attitude; she would make an effort to learn the staff’s names too.
Darcy showed her several of the rooms; she found them to be more ornate than those she saw at Pemberley, but they each reflected his tastes for fine art, tapestries, and furnishings. In each room, Darcy brought her to the center and then stepped back to watch her reaction. Elizabeth acted like a small child moving away from a parent to try something new and then running back to thesecurity of the parent’s arms. She would often lightly touch the statues and figurines or rub her fingertips across the tables; then she would giggle to herself and move quickly back into his embrace.
“Fitzwilliam, it is magnificent; I never imagined . . . I should have after being at Pemberley, but I did not expect such a home.” Her eyes sparkled with merriment.
“Then you approve of your London home, Mrs. Darcy?” he teased her innocence.
“Am I your source of entertainment, Mr. Darcy?” She stuck her lip out in a pretend pout.
Darcy lifted her chin and nibbled on the protruding lip. “Mrs. Darcy, you claim to love to laugh.”
“At other people’s expense, Sir,” she pretended offense, “not at my own.”
Darcy laughed.“Let us see some of the upstairs and then change for dinner.” He coaxed her toward the door.
She took his arm to ascend the staircase. “I have arranged for Margaret to attend you while we are here, but you may choose your own attendant once we return to Pemberley. I took the liberty of ordering additional items to be placed in your dressing room; I hope they meet your approval. We may have fittings for new clothes while in London if you like, Elizabeth.”
“Fitzwilliam, you do not need to buy me new things; I did not marry you for your money.” Elizabeth put her arms around his waist. “In fact, your money has not been of what I have been thinking today.” She tilted her chin up and looked in his eyes.
Darcy’s passion rose quickly whenever she was near him.“If not for my money, then why did you marry me, Elizabeth?”
“For your great wit, Mr. Darcy. I would not tolerate children of lesser intelligence.” Elizabeth turned from him to enter the dressing room door.“I will see you in a few minutes, Mr. Darcy.”
“I love you, Elizabeth,” he whispered.
“I love you, Fitzwilliam.”Then she was gone.
Darcy entered his own dressing room with images of Elizabeth playing with his senses.
The meal was delicious, but neither of them showed any interest in the food. They both picked at the offerings, and their eyes never strayed from each other. Eventually, without saying anything, he took her hand and led her to her dressing room again. Darcy lifted her chin and kissed her lips tenderly; then they parted.
Using the lavender oil she preferred for years, Elizabeth bathed slowly, tentative about what the next few hours would bring. Margaret helped her slip on her new nightgown and to brush out her hair. Earlier, when she freshened her clothing for dinner, she bubbled in conversation with the maid about the trip from Hertfordshire to London, but now she was silent, lost in thoughts of Darcy.
Like his wife, Darcy was more pensive than usual, but his calmness possessed an intensity he knew not before. Finishing his ablutions quickly, he entered Elizabeth’s bedroom to wait for her. He lit several candles and took a seat facing the door to her dressing room; yet, the door opened before he could settle his nerves completely, and Elizabeth was framed in the backlight of her dressing room. He remembered her being framed in the doorway at Netherfield with boots and her petticoat covered in mud. He actually thought her lovely then; now she was beautiful. With the light behind her, Darcy could see her lilt body through the gown. They looked at each other entranced by the moment until she stepped slowly into the room, and the door closed behind her. Darcy could not stand to not be near her; he rose and crossed to where she stood.
His touch of her skin sent a shiver through Elizabeth’s body; he cupped her chin as he lifted it to kiss her lips—the kiss warm and tender. She moved in closer encircling her arms around his waist, realizing she never saw him without his jacket, waistcoat, and boots, and then she instinctively slid her hands up under Darcy’s shirt and up the muscles of his back. He trembled as he kissed her again while slowly pulling her closer to him and letting his hands rest on her hips. Their breathing became shallow as the kisses became more intense.
Darcy scooped her into his arms and carried her to the bed,laying her gently back against the pillows. She shifted nervously as his gaze grew in its eagerness. Darcy lowered himself beside her and kissed her repeatedly, his hands searching her body beneath her gown as his lips moved down her neck. Elizabeth reached out and pulled him to her; she was his at last.
Languishing in each other’s arms, Elizabeth snuggled into the curve of his shoulder and rested her arm across his chest. Darcy stroked her forearm with his hand and kissed the top of her head. “Elizabeth,” he began, but she reached up and placed her fingertips on his lips to stop his words.
“May I not beLizzyagain?” she teased.
Darcy laughed and pulled her closer to him. “Your name is Elizabeth Darcy, is it not?” He kissed her forehead as he hugged her tightly to him.
“I am Elizabeth Darcy, but your calling meLizzywas very tantalizing.” She kissed him enticingly and stretched her leg across his body. “May I not convince you to call meLizzyagain?” Her hand slid across his chest and down his abdomen to his thigh.
“Lizzy,” he moaned in response to her touch; then he kissed her more impassioned than before.
This time they slept following their love, satisfied to be in each other’s arms. When Elizabeth awoke, she turned to find Darcy propped up on one arm and looking down at her. Realizing her gown had long since been discarded, she blushed and reached for the sheet. Darcy caught her hand and held it in place.“In this bed, you have nothing of which to be ashamed.”
“I am surprised to find you in my bed, Sir,” Elizabeth teased to cover the uneasy feeling his gaze created in her.“I thought society’s refined husbands returned to their own quarters after . . .”
“Some husbands feel the need for privacy.” His voice was soft and gentle, and he began to trace circles across her abdomen.“But I never want to leave your side, Elizabeth. Where you sleep, I sleep; this isourbed.” Her arms circled his neck, and she began to kissalong his chin line.“Shall I call youLizzyagain?” he teased.
“I hope to never beElizabethever again.” She nibbled on his earlobe as he once again encircled her with his arms.
“I love you, Lizzy,” were the last words he got out before she covered his mouth with hers.
