“We cannot.” Her eyes grew larger the closer he came.“We have a house full of family and friends.”
“Mrs. Reynolds will see to their needs. I hoped you would see to mine.” Suddenly, he playfully dipped his hand into the sudsy water and flicked a spray of droplets in her direction.
Elizabeth squealed as she brushed the dampness away from her face with her sleeve.“You are incorrigible, Sir,” she taunted.
By now Darcy stood directly in front of her. “And you, my Lizzy, are exquisite.” He bent his head to brush his lips against her cheek. Without thinking, he scooped her up into his arms and spun her around, teasingly tossing her up as if he would throw her lithe body away.
Laughing gleefully, Elizabeth kicked and squirmed, clawing desperately at his shoulders and arms. “Fitzwilliam,” she gasped, “put me down.”
He stopped suddenly, afraid he had hurt her, but the sparkle in her eyes told Darcy she enjoyed his attention. “Put youdown? Put you down, my Love?” He pulled her to him. “Where should I put you down, my Lizzy?” As he spoke he turned towards the center of the room and the filled tub. “Should I put you down here?” He extended his arms, balancing her body above the tub.
“Fitzwilliam, you would not!” she warned as she tightened her hold on his neck and tried to pull herself even closer to him. Seeing his intentions more clearly, she tried to reason with him. “You would ruin the new silk dressing gown you bought me.”
“I will buy you another,” he said matter-of-factly and then pretended to release her.
“No!” she screamed as his laughter filled the room.
Her ire flashed. “Fitzwilliam!” She began to reprimand him for real, but his mouth found hers, and her anger gave way to the passion of the moment. He clutched her to him, and as he seated them on a nearby settee, Elizabeth nestled into his lap.
“I will buy you another,” he whispered as he kissed her cheek.“And another.” His lips lightly touched the corner of her mouth. “And another.” This time the kiss deepened quickly. “Lizzy, you are the most bewitching woman I have ever met.”
She snuggled closer to him, resting her head below his chin and turning her body into his chest. After a few elongated moments, she tilted her head back, engaging his eyes in a merry dance of love.“Tomorrow when we awake it will be a new year. I wanted this year—the one in which we found each other—to be memorable.Will you remember this year, Fitzwilliam?” Her voice was laced with the dim recesses of her mind.
“I do not know how to describe what you have brought to my life, Elizabeth. Every sensation is so real. Sometimes you are the most impossible woman God ever placed on this earth, but I only find happiness when I am in your presence—when you are in my arms. I will love none but you.”
She kissed him fervently, welcoming the strength of his arms around her. Darcy held her there to him, their arms encircling each other, their legs entangled, their breathing jagged, theirhearts pounding into each other’s ribcages. It seemed that there was nothing he needed more than to be loved by her. The outside world as they knew it stopped—it was only the two of them left in their world.
New Year’s Eve late afternoon brought the carriage carrying Edward and Anne to Pemberley. Darcy met them in the courtyard. “Edward, you are here at last; I feared you would not come.”
“We had somedifficulties,but we are happy to be here, Fitz. May we stay several days at Pemberley? Anne and I need to make some arrangements before we go to Matlock for my parents’ anniversary party.”
“Of course, Edward; you do not need to ask.” Darcy shook his hand. Then he turned to help Anne from the coach. “Anne, it pleases me to see you looking so refreshed. I hope you are well.”
“Edward keeps me from dwelling on my illnesses, Fitzwilliam. I feel so much stronger when I am on his arm.”
Darcy smiled with the knowledge Lady Catherine’s hold on Anne would soon be over.“Let us go into the house, shall we?” He offered Anne his arm, and she actually smiled up at him.
“Darcy, where are Mrs. Darcy and Georgiana?” Edward asked.
“Elizabeth went to find Georgiana when she saw your coach. They will join us shortly.We have several other houseguests; let me introduce you.”
Elizabeth discovered Georgiana in the music room listlessly sitting on one of the window seats and staring outside. “Georgiana, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Anne just arrived. Your brother asks you to come greet them.”
“What?” Georgiana’s distraction caused confusion.“I am sorry, Elizabeth, did you say something?”
Elizabeth came to sit beside her sister. “Georgiana, what is wrong? You have not been yourself the last few days.What bothers you?”
“It is a foolish idea; forgive me, Elizabeth. I am distracted, but I really do not know why.”
“Is your distraction related to Mr. Harrison?” Elizabeth recognized the signs.
Georgiana blushed and turned her head to divert her eyes from Elizabeth’s knowing glance. Elizabeth turned her chin and forced her sister to look at her. There was a long pause, and then Georgiana blurted out, “Mr. Harrison spends his time with your sister Kitty. He and I have not walked the grounds in two days, Elizabeth. He seems to have found other amusements.” Tears filled her eyes.
“Oh, Georgiana,” she hugged the girl closely to her. “Mr. Harrison has eyes for no one but you. He knows your every manner-ism; Kitty is flirtatious, but Mr. Harrison wants a woman who shares his vision; Kitty is not that woman.”
The tears and sobs consumed Georgiana; she could barely speak.“What do I do, Elizabeth?”
“Georgiana, your brother would never agree to a proposal from Mr. Harrison at this time, and I would not support it either. Mr. Harrison will need to wait for you. Your brother would not consider such an alliance until you are at least eight and ten. He feels he just found you himself; Fitzwilliam will not be anxious to have you leave Pemberley.You must learn more about Mr. Harrison before you give your heart to him. Find out does he have the same honor your brother possesses; does he have the humor of Colonel Fitzwilliam. There are many things you need to know about a man before you agree to be his wife; I would not want you to marry unless you foundreal love—real passion. Do not settle on a man who offers only agreeable company. He should accept your opinions and arouse your feelings.”
