For six days they sought no one else’s company but each other’s. Although they no longer took their meals in the bedroom, they spent the majority of their time there. Other times, they read together in the library taking turns reading to one another or just sitting close together as they read.“What are you doing, Elizabeth?” Darcy asked as she placed a book back onto the shelf in the library.
“I wanted to save the roses you gave me.” She seemed a bit embarrassed. “I put two of them in this book of poetry so they would be here each time we returned to Kensington Place. The others I dried to make a sachet.” She crossed the room to where he sat and leaned down to kiss his lips. “Constancy in love must be preserved,” she teased as he pulled her onto his lap and kissed her again.
On other days, Elizabeth played the pianoforte, and Darcy turned the music for her; she even rewarded him by singing for him one evening. He thought to try to teach her billiards, but whenever he encircled her body with his arms to show her how to hold thestick correctly, she always turned to kiss him, and the game was lost to their passion.They were never more than a few feet apart. Darcy often came to her dressing room to just be with her while she bathed or to brush her hair. For a love, which took so long to find, they wasted no time in building a bond no one could destroy.
After a week, they decided a walk through the park would do them well as both were of a nature to spend time out of doors no matter what the weather. With Elizabeth on his arm, Darcy felt he saw London for its beauty for the first time. They walked along busy streets, but they saw no one. Reaching Hyde Park, they chose one of the lesser-traveled paths, enjoying the company of no one else. When they emerged from the secluded path to the main one leading through the park, Darcy stopped short hearing someone call his name. “Darcy, is that you my boy?”
“Your Lordship!” Surprise reflected in his voice while Darcy made his bow.
“It is you, Darcy. It is good to see you.”
“If I knew you were in London, Sir, I would have left my card.”
“Nonsense, do not fret so, my boy. Is this your new bride?”The man looked closely at Elizabeth.
“My apologies, Sir. Lord and Lady Pennington, may I present my wife Elizabeth?” Elizabeth made her curtsy to Darcy’s companions. “Elizabeth, Lady Pennington is my mother’s cousin.”
“I am honored to meet you both,” Elizabeth dropped her eyes.
Lady Pennington reached out and touched the side of Elizabeth’s face. “Fitzwilliam, she does not appear to be a witch with magical powers,” her ladyship smirked.
“I see you heard from Lady Catherine,” Darcy added as he pulled Elizabeth closer.
“Do not go on so, Fitzwilliam; no one pays Lady Catherine much attention in such matters. Her strict nature makes her opinions less than appealing,” Lady Pennington assured him. “We received news of Anne’s and Edward’s engagement two days ago. Lady Catherinewas kind enoughto add her note to the announcement.”
“I am glad to hear Edward won Anne’s heart; I hope they will be happy.” Darcy’s affection for his cousins genuinely showed.
“Mrs. Darcy,” Lady Pennington turned to Elizabeth, “would you two care to join us for some tea?”
Elizabeth looked up to Darcy before she answered,“We would be pleased to join you, Lady Pennington.”
They found a confectionery shop, which also served tea, and took a table.The conversation happened naturally although Elizabeth consciously controlled her tendency to be too mirthful. Darcy and Lord Pennington discussed the current political scene while Lady Pennington pumped Elizabeth for details of the wedding.“A double wedding with your elder sister—how delightful! Is Mr. Bingley that amiable young man you brought with you to the earl’s birthday celebration, Fitzwilliam?”
“He is, your Ladyship.”
“Is that not romantic? Sisters married best friends.”
Darcy and Elizabeth smiled at her words of approval. A sudden thought hit Lady Pennington. “Fitzwilliam, please tell me you gave Mrs. Darcy your mother’s necklace for her wedding.That was one of the last things she said to me before she passed.”
“I did, your Ladyship.”
“Good . . . . It was important to her; it was her request for your wife to have it. She always said the green reminded her of Pemberley in the summer and the white, it in winter.Together the jewels were a history of Pemberley worn about her neck.Were they not beautiful, Mrs. Darcy?”
“The necklace was a splendid gift from my husband, but your story made it priceless. Thank you for sharing it with me, Lady Pennington.”
“Of course, my dear.” She reached out and patted Elizabeth’s hand, then she stood to take her leave having finished her tea.“This place was adequate, but I cannot say I enjoyed it as much as Gunter’s on the east side of Berkeley Square.You must have Fitzwilliam take you there in the spring, Mrs. Darcy—just drive up in an open carriage, and the waiters will bring out the finest teas, sorbets, andices. I adore the burnt filbert cream ice.” Then she turned to Darcy. “Fitzwilliam, you chose well; your mother would be happy with your choice. It will give me great pleasure to let the rest of the family know your wife is exactly what you need, and Lady Catherine is a bitter old woman.When you are ready to rejoin society, you will come to stay with his lordship and me.You will bring Georgiana too; it has been too long since we saw her.”
“We will do so as soon as possible, your Ladyship.” Having made his promise, he bowed; taking Elizabeth’s hand in his, he repeated his thanks; he knew any censure from his family for marrying Elizabeth was solved. Lady Pennington’s opinion in the family easily outweighed anything Lady Catherine could offer.
Although it was the middle of the afternoon, Darcy and Elizabeth lounged lazily across the counterpane on the bed. Exhausted, Darcy lay back with his arm across his eyes; Elizabeth lightly kissed the upper part of his arm not because she wanted him again, but her new husband still fascinated her, and she needed to touch him when he was near.
They spent several hours the last couple of days going over the books of expenses for Pemberley and their other holdings. Once she agreed with Darcy to learn about how to run the estate, she took to the information with a desire to please him. How quickly she grasped the basic information surprised Darcy. There was still much for her to learn, but his plan brought satisfaction. Elizabeth’s security and the future for their heirs depended on her understanding about their various holdings. Most gentlemen would never consider sharing such information with their wives; it was not in their domain, but Darcy knew having Elizabeth as his partner, and not his dependent, would offer his family security in these uncertain times. Her strength of character would be an asset for their future success. Lost in his thoughts, he did not expect her to slide her arm across his chest and bring his attention to the present moment rather than future plans. He reached out andencircled her in his arms, turning on his side to enclose her in his embrace. “Fitzwilliam,” she giggled lightly, “would you buy me a gun? I would like to learn to shoot.”
This was clearly not the conversation he expected in the middle of a tender moment. “Dare I ask what brought on this request? Does my embrace drive you to violence?”
Elizabeth started to laugh, and she began to kiss his chest and move up his neck. “You, Sir, create a strong emotional response in me, but I would not call it violence.”
He could barely remember her request by the time her kisses reached and consumed his mouth. “Then why do you need a gun?” He finally got the words out.
