Page 64 of Midnight at Pemberley

“Do you think me foolish?”

Darcy smiled down upon her. “I think you are exquisite.” He set her gently on her feet before him, using his fingertips to brush an errant curl from her forehead. “I heard from your uncle,” he said, his voice as caressing as his touch or his lips.

“Will they join us this evening?” she said in distraction.

“Actually, I have a surprise for you, my love. Bingley suggested an evening out. So, I amended your note to Mr. Gardiner. Your uncle accepted for the family. We will dine here and then enjoy the musical entertainment from our box.”

“We have a box?” she asked with a giggle.

Darcy traced her lips with the tip of one finger. “We do indeed.”

“Oh, William!” Her arms laced around his waist. “You are the most generous man!”

“Then you are happy?”

“Happier than I have ever been.”

That was all the confirmation he required. He tilted her chin up to meet his kiss. She moved closer, and Darcy groaned as he held her tightly against him.

“What of Mr. Bingley?” she inquired provocatively.

“Let Bingley find his own wife.”

Caught in the heat of her, all reason left him. He backed Elizabeth towards the bed and pinned her down. He kissed her mouth. Her temple. Her ear. Her neck. Instinctively, her hips moved against him. Darcy’s mouth traced heat across the swell of her breasts before returning to her mouth.

He palmed her breast as he released the kiss, recognizing her growing need. Looking deep into her hypnotic eyes, he said hoarsely, “It is wrong, but I must touch you. Please permit it.” As he spoke, Darcy edged her skirt tail up, exposing Elizabeth’s legs. Yet he never looked away from her eyes. “You are so beautiful.” His hand slid up the inside of her calf, and a small warm pool formed inside her body.

He lowered his head and sucked gently on the side of her neck. His fingers massaged the back of her thigh, and so he sucked harder, lightly raking his teeth over her pulse. A new shiver of pure desire followed.

Totally involved, neither of them initially heard Sheffield’s knock. “Mr. Darcy, Sir,” came the familiar voice.

Darcy closed his eyes in frustration. Then he lowered his wife’s skirt. “Just a moment, Sheffield,” he responded in a strained voice, but Darcy and Elizabeth did not break their gaze. “I apologize,” he whispered, preparing to roll away from her.

But before he could do so, Elizabeth caught the lapels of his jacket and pulled him back. “If you apologize for having to stop what we began, then I accept your regrets.” She turned his chin to her. “However, do not ever make amends for showing me your affections. Touch me. Kiss me. I am yours.” Her lips brushed against his lightly.

Darcy swallowed hard to take command of his body. He straightened his waistcoat and combed his fingers through his hair. Reaching the door, he released the lock. Cracking it open only a few inches, he looked out into the worried eyes of his valet. “What is it, Sheffield?”

“Mr. Redford reports, Sir, that he found your gun and your cane in the recess off the main street where you dropped them while assisting Miss Darcy yesterday. But he found no traces of the sword. I placed the items in your chambers, Sir.”

“Thank you, Sheffield.”

Darcy closed the door as his manservant strode away. Immediately, Elizabeth was beside him. “You sent someone to retrieve your weapons?”

“I could not go myself. I sent one of the hired investigators. Wickham disappeared and Mrs. Younge crumbled into decay. I feared someone might have taken notice of our altercation. The sound of gunfire. The screams. Such is why I rushed you and my sister from the scene. To protect you. I wanted no evidence to link us to that battle. We must consider the sword’s disappearance. Did it crumble as did Amelia Younge? Could Wickham have taken it? Or could someone else have claimed it after we left?”

“What did you tell the investigator?”

“Georgiana hurt her ankle, and a nefarious character attempted to take advantage of her before I brought the carriage around. I chased the man into the alley, and we fought. I was defending my sister’s honor. I dropped my weapons when I carried her to safety, for she was my only concern.”

Elizabeth chuckled. “Another half-truth, Mr. Darcy?”

“It is the way of Society. One becomes accustomed to such shades of verity. People believe what they wish. A man would protect his sister’s honor by chasing her attacker into a service alley. No more needs to be said.” He sighed in acceptance. “I tell others what they wish to hear. I tell you the truth, for you know me as does no one else. I hide nothing from you. Not my fight to end the curse. Not my need to protect those I love. Not my barely controlled desire to possess you.”

Elizabeth caressed his chin, and Darcy turned his head to kiss her palm. “I know you, William,” she whispered in a thready voice. “Neither of us wishes to be found wanting.”

He held her gaze. “You, Mrs. Darcy, could never be found wanting.” He kissed her tenderly. His large palm held her chin, and his thumb gently stroked her lips. “Ah, what a tempting minx you are, but we have guests to whom to attend. Mr. Bingley will wonder at my absence.”

“Mr. Bingley will forget all our offenses once he reunites with Jane,” she claimed.