And he kissed her then, his hands on her hair, then on her shoulders, then her breasts, then lower, to a place she scarcely knew belonged to her, and then her thoughts stopped entirely, as she was lost in sensation, lost to reason, lost in a place she had never before visited or even imagined.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
When Elizabeth awoke the next morning, she was alone. She felt confused in a way she had never before experienced. The events of the past day – and the past night – rushed at her, all at once, and she hardly felt equal to getting out of bed, let alone dressing to break her fast.
What was she to do? Her mother by marriage clearly hated her, her new sister would not speak to her, and becoming a valued mistress of this vast estate seemed like an impossible task. But she loved William, and after last night, she felt that nothing – nothing! – should be allowed to part them.
She would simply have to take on this impossible task, bit by bit, day by day. There was nothing to gain by delaying; she started to get out of bed and then fell back with a gasp. She was sore, her thighs aching with the unaccustomed exercise of the previous night. She swallowed, hard, and then managed to get herself out of bed.
She pulled the cord and an older woman appeared. This one refused to speak to her at all, not even unbending enough to give her name. She rifled through Elizabeth’s gowns, selected one and had Elizabeth dressed in what seemed like a moment. Then she uttered one word. “Hair?”
Elizabeth was completely unnerved; certain that this woman was no friend, she replied, quickly, “No; I can manage.”
Without even a curtsey, the woman vanished as quickly and silently as she had appeared. Elizabeth put her hair up in a simple twist, and left the room. There was a footman at the end of the hall, and she asked him to lead her to the family breakfast room. He bowed and led the way.
She was immensely relieved to see her husband at the table. He rose, immediately, and pulled out the chair beside his own.
“Elizabeth! You are well, I trust?” He looked at her meaningfully.
She understood to what he referred, and she nodded. “I am,” she replied, aware of the footmen in the room. She continued, “William, I would like to speak with the housekeeper as soon as may be; Mrs. Reynolds, is it?”
“Of course,” he said. “I thought a tour of the house, first.”
“Mrs. Reynolds first, please, and then I would very much like a tour of the house.”
She seemed quite determined, and he was concerned. “Is there a particular reason for needing to speak to Mrs. Reynolds?”
As much for the footmen’s ears as William’s, she responded. “The young maid who attended me last night, Carrie, told me that she feared she would be let go if she spoke to me. I promised her that I would speak to Mrs. Reynolds immediately to make certain this would not happen.”
“Elizabeth, that seems – well, quite unlikely. No one would be let go for speaking with you! Are you certain that you understood her?”
“Quite certain, William. Is there a reason you doubt me?”
He shook his head. “No, just that Mrs. Reynolds would never be so unreasonable.”
“It is not Mrs. Reynolds who concerns me.”
He understood her immediately. His brow creased as he considered this, and then shook his head again. “No, she would never stoop so low.”
“Would she not? Carrie confirmed that your mother received your letter announcing our marriage and subsequent arrival.”
Mr. Darcy sighed. “Elizabeth, we must give my mother time to accustom herself to her new situation.”
“Of course, but while she is accustoming herself, I must make certain that Carrie is not harmed.” She turned then, and addressed one of the footmen. “May I have your name?”
He looked surprised, and then replied, “Joseph, ma’am.”
“Joseph, will you please tell Mrs. Reynolds that I will meet her in her office in a half an hour?”
He bowed and left.
“Elizabeth, I must beg you to tread with care. My mother is being unreasonable, I know, but remember that she and Mrs. Reynolds have spent decades together.”
“I will certainly tread with the greatest of care, William! Now, then, is that apple muffin?”
Diverted, he passed her the basket of muffins and their talk moved to other topics. But half an hour later, she rose, placed her napkin on her plate, and said, “Will you take me to Mrs. Reynolds, or shall I ask the footman? I know you must have a pile of correspondence three feet tall!”
“You are quite right about the pile of correspondence, but I will take you to Mrs. Reynolds myself.”
