Page 43 of Love Drunk for Mr Darcy

"I am thinking that I am the luckiest man alive, although do not tell Bingley that. He will probably call me out."

"Then I must be the happiest woman alive," she said, placing a kiss upon his shoulder.

Darcy tightened his arm around her. "I am sorry it took us this long to get here."

"It has been less than a fortnight," she said with a laugh.

"Not for me. I have been falling more deeply in love with you since I insulted you at the Meryton assembly."

Elizabeth lifted her head to look at him. "It is a strange beginning, to be sure. A strange journey altogether. Perhaps all couples should be locked in a cellar for a night. It certainly builds resolve."

Darcy smiled and brushed a curl back from her face. "Then I am resolved to love you for the rest of my days, Elizabeth Darcy."

Her expression softened. "That is fortunate, Mr Pemberley, because I believe I am quite resolved upon the same."

He drew her up and kissed her, slowly this time, with no urgency left between them. When she settled against him again, Darcy closed his eyes and held her a little tighter. He kissed her temple and knew he had found his peace.

Epilogue

The smaller dining room at Pemberley had not been designed to hold quite so many people, but Elizabeth loved the informality of it. Tonight, the people she loved most in the world were packed around the round table with elbows occasionally colliding and dishes being passed from hand to hand while everyone spoke over everyone else. It felt much more like a family dinner than a formal anniversary celebration, which suited Elizabeth perfectly.

Jane sat beside Bingley, one hand resting occasionally upon the gentle swell beneath her gown. Her pregnancy had given her complexion an even softer glow, though Bingley was convinced it had rendered his wife incapable of the smallest exertion. When she leaned forwards to reach for the potatoes, his hand shot out to capture her wrist.

"My dear Jane, allow me."

Jane gave him a patient look. "Charles, I am with child, not made of spun glass."

Bingley placed two potatoes upon her plate. "Dr Matthews said you were not to overexert yourself."

"I do not believe this was the type of exertion he meant, dearest."

Across the table, Fitzwilliam laughed loudly enough to earn himself a warning look from Anne.

"You mock now," Bingley said. "We shall see how you behave when Anne is carrying your heir."

"I shall behave with perfect calm and good sense."

Anne rolled her eyes and Georgiana let out a bark of laughter before covering her mouth as though shocked the sound had come from her. This naturally caused the rest of the party to descend into a very improper fit of giggles.

Elizabeth leaned back in her chair and looked towards Darcy. He had been watching the exchange with amusement, but the moment her gaze found him, his attention shifted entirely to her. A year of marriage had done nothing to cool what lay between them and she felt the familiar flutter low in her stomach as he reached for her hand and raised it slowly to his lips, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Must you paw at your wife like a lovestruck schoolboy every time she comes within reach?" said Fitzwilliam.

Anne punched her husband lightly on the arm. "As if you are one to talk, Richard."

Fitzwilliam looked wounded. "I am the very model of restraint."

Anne raised her brows. "Then I have no notion whose hand is presently on my knee."

Elizabeth laughed as Darcy lifted her hand to his mouth and pressed another deliberate and much louder kiss against her fingers.

"I was given very firm instructions regarding excessive restraint," he said. "And I am nothing if not a thorough and obedient man."

Fitzwilliam shook his head, smiling. "I hardly recognise you, cousin."

Darcy ignored him and kept hold of Elizabeth's hand for another moment before finally releasing it to reach for the wine.

Elizabeth had not paid much attention to the bottle when it was brought to the table. Pemberley's cellars contained more wine than she could ever hope to distinguish between, and Darcy generally knew what she favoured. She accepted the glass he poured for her and took a sip.