“Mr. Collins remarked that had I chosen him, I might have looked forward to living in my childhood home for the rest of my life. I told him he misunderstood me, and he answered that I had overlooked my father’s heir, because I had been determined to secure a gentleman possessed of ten times the consequence.When I took exception to the remark, he apologized, saying that although it was true, he ought not to have mentioned it because it was impolitic. At that point, I excused myself and left him. I refused to remain in company with such a boor.”
Darcy remained silent after Elizabeth finished her account.
“Sir, you are very quiet. I should like to know what you are thinking.”
“Elizabeth, since he is my brother-in-law, I cannot take him to task. Nor can I administer the sort of correction I gave Dunwich. I was merely considering my options, and I find none of them particularly satisfactory.”
She propped herself upon one elbow and peered through the darkness, trying to make out his face.
“Please, Fitzwilliam, promise me you shall take no action. I shall remain at Mary's side tomorrow, and you may be certain I shall never again find myself alone in a room with him.”
She could make out his profile as he stared up at the canopy above them. He was thinking. Elizabeth remained silent until he finally turned to face her.
“Very well. I shall take no action against him. He is a near relation, and your sister lies in this house, laboring. He shall be with us during the hunt tomorrow morning, and I shall send him back to Kent soon after your sister is delivered.”
She settled once more against his chest. “Thank you, sir.”
She lay quietly, listening to the steady beat of his heart. When his hand drifted to the small of her back, she lifted her head and found his mouth.
After that, neither Darcy nor Elizabeth spared another thought for Mr. Collins or any other concern. Wrapped in the quiet of her bedchamber and the comfort of his arms, nothing existed beyond his caresses.
Elizabeth woke to kisses pressed along her collarbone. She felt the roughness of his unshaven jaw against her skin and opened her eyes to find her handsome husband gazing down at her. The shadow of his beard lent him an especially masculine appearance. A soft sound of pleasure escaped her.
He propped himself upon one elbow and looked into her eyes.
“Dearest, loveliest Elizabeth, you are entirely too enticing.”
He caught a lock of her hair between his fingers before burying his face in its curls.
“I am dragging myself away only because I cannot keep Selkirk waiting.”
Bending down, he kissed her deeply. When he finally drew back, a sound suspiciously like a growl escaped him.
“I am a newly married man. How can I be expected to leave my bride to attend to all the demands of family and estate?”
She giggled. “Poor Mr. Darcy. Burdened with a large estate, a fine house, and a wife who adores him. Such burdens would crush a lesser man.”
“You dare to mock me, Mrs. Darcy?” He brushed kisses across her brow, her nose, and finally her lips.
“Goodbye, darling. I must dress, eat, and be off if we are to accomplish anything before the storm arrives.”
“Take care, Fitzwilliam.”
“I will, darling.”
He stole one final kiss before reluctantly slipping out of her bed.
“I have ordered food baskets, and we shall take the gig in case Mr. Collins proves unable to keep up. If necessary, he can drive himself back.”
He rose and, after one last glance in her direction, departed.
Elizabeth rose as well. She ought to see how Mary progressed.
The morning passed with excruciating slowness. Elizabeth felt as though twenty-four hours had elapsed instead of just four.
She stepped into the hall to check on her sisters. Chairs had been moved there especially for them, and both young women rose when they saw her.
“Nothing yet, girls. Mary has dozed off for a little while, so I came out to see how you are carrying on.”
