As he was about to release her hand, he felt the slight grasp of her fingers.
He looked down at her hand and watched as her fingers tightened around his. He then raised his eyes to her face and saw the subtle movement of her eyelashes. The next moment he was staring deep into the dark pools of her eyes.
“Lizzy,” he sobbed as he hugged her body to his. “Oh, my Lizzy, I love you so much.”
Mrs. Reynolds approached the door, and as she did, she tactfully coughed to announce her arrival and to give Mr. Darcy a chance to remove himself to a more discreet location in the room.
~*~
Caroline Bingley’s hands trembled as she read the note that had been delivered by one of the maids. Even if it had not been signed, the distinctive script had told her it could be from no one other than Mr. Darcy. He was requesting her company for a private meeting in the library in half an hour. Her smile was triumphant. At last he had seen her for what she truly was. At last he had recognized her beauty and sophistication. At last he had made his move!
She quickly rifled through her gowns, deciding which one would be most appropriate for such a rendezvous. As she came across the tangerine organza, she hesitated. It certainly was her most revealing, the neckline barely covering enough skin to be considered decent. But after all, when a gentleman secretly summons a lady to a private meeting at midnight, seduction can be the only motive. And Caroline Bingley was clearly up to the challenge. If she was not about to be seduced, she was ready to take on the role of seducer.
She quietly approached the door to the library, but did not knock before she entered. As she peered into the dimly lit room, she saw him there, sitting by the fireplace. His eyes were closed, and his head was resting against the back of the chair. His cravat was untied, and she could see his exposed neck, the sight of which caused her to inhale a slight gasp. At first she thought him asleep, but she watched as he lifted the glass in his right hand to his mouth and took a long swig of its contents. With his eyes still closed, he returned the glass to the table beside him.
She furtively moved towards him and stared down at his resting form. Stealthily she reached for his shoulders and lowered her body to sit upon his lap. Startled by such a manoeuver, Darcy opened his eyes to find his face inches away from a pair of heaving breasts bursting forth from a very low bodice. From his vantage point, he could discern the nipples that hardened by means of his stare.
As his eyes moved up to the face that owned the exposed bosom, his first reaction was to stand, thus removing the objectionable visage that greeted him, but Caroline clung to the chair and held her position on his lap.
“There is no need to get up, Mr. Darcy. I am quite comfortable where I am,” she cooed. She moved her lips towards his exposed neck. “I knew you would come to your senses sooner or later.”
This was just too much! Using all his strength, he pushed forward to stand, promptly depositing Caroline on the floor.
“What game do you play, sir?” she demanded as she looked up from her embarrassing position. “Did you not summon me to a private rendezvous?”
“Yes, I did summon you, madam, but seduction was the furthest thought from my mind,” he retaliated.
When he made no effort to assist in her rising, she had no choice but to awkwardly climb to a standing position. Pulling herself up to her full height, she indignantly asked, “For what purpose then have you sought my company?”
At that moment Charles Bingley entered the library.
“You are late, Charles.”
“I say, Darcy, I got here as quickly as I could,” replied Bingley. “What’s this all about?”
“Yes, Mr. Darcy, what is this all about?” echoed Caroline.
“I have learned of your treachery, madam,” said a barely contained Darcy.
“Of what do you speak?” asked Caroline, careful not to betray her alarm at his accusation.
“I have a witness as to your actions that day in the stables.”
“I think you’d better explain yourself, Darcy. Are you suggesting that Caroline intended to injure Miss Bennet?” asked a wide-eyed Bingley.
“I’m afraid it is all too true, Bingley.”
A quite disbelieving Bingley stood in awe at hearing these words. As he was about to come to his sister’s defence, he turned to her and saw the flicker of fear that quickly passed over her face, a look that made him hold his tongue.
That fear quickly faded from Caroline’s countenance and was replaced with her usual supercilious look of contempt.
“That is quite ridiculous, Mr. Darcy. Who would make such false accusations? Why, of course, it must be Miss Eliza. Has that little chit made claim against me? You can’t possible believe a word she has said. She is most likely jealous of our close association, Mr. Darcy, and wishes to diminish your estimation of me. Why in heaven’s name would I wish harm on that poor pathetic girl?”
“As to your reasons, I can only guess. Your jealousy and your disdain for Miss Bennet have been demonstrated at every turn. You could never even begin to understand a woman of such substance. Your thoughts are for no one but yourself.
“It was not Miss Bennet who witnessed your actions, Miss Bingley; it was one of my grooms, a person so wholly unconnected to you as to have no motive to accuse you falsely.”
“A groom? Did you say a groom, Mr. Darcy?” Caroline visibly relaxed at this news. “What rubbish! How could you possibly take the word of a lowly groom over mine? It is to add insult to injury, sir. I must insist on an apology at once!”
“Hell will more likely freeze over, Madam, before you have heard an apology from me,” declared Darcy.
“Brother, are you going to let Mr. Darcy speak to me this way? Will you not come to my defence?”
“Perhaps the boy was mistaken, Darcy. Can you not even entertain such a possibility?” asked Bingley with scant hope in his voice. “What did the boy lay witness to?”
“He observed your sister strike the horse on its backside with her crop and dig her heels into its flank, directing the horse towards Liz . . . Miss Bennet. Bingley, I do not wish this to cause a breach in our friendship, but the boy would have no reason to make up such a story. I believe he is telling the truth.”
Bingley studied the ceiling for a moment and then let out a breath. “Caroline, go up to your room,” he said calmly.
“You do not believe him, do you? You cannot possibly take a groom’s word over that of your own sister.”
“I said go up to your room, Caroline. I will speak to you later after Darcy and I have finished our discussion.”
When she did not move, he stared into her eyes and said emphatically, “Now, Caroline!”
As tempted as she was to disregard such a command, something in his demeanour told her she should not. His glare followed her until she had closed the door behind her.
Bingley sat down in one of the large chairs before the fireplace. He combed his fingers through his hair, then rested his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands. “I cannot believe she would do such a thing! Louisa warned me, but I would not listen.”
“What do you mean? Mrs. Hurst knew Caroline planned to harm Miss Bennet?” asked Darcy in dismay.
“She came to me after the ball and told me she worried that Caroline was becoming more and more obsessed with you; that she was talking some nonsense about Miss Bennet being a threat to her and how she was prepared to do whatever it took to remove her once and for all from your life. Louisa cautioned me she feared that Caroline would do whatever was necessary to see that Miss Bennet was no longer a temptation to you.”
“How could you not warn me, Bingley? How could you let Miss Bennet be unwittingly exposed to harm?”
“I could not let myself believe that Caroline was capable of such things. She is my sister, Darcy. I wanted to believe there was some goodness in her. I have made excuses for her behaviour so many times over the years, thinking she would change. I could not reconcile myself to the truth that Caroline is of mean spi
rit, a fact that I must now acknowledge.”
Darcy thought Bingley’s words befitting as he recalled using the same words to describe the now exonerated black horse.
“I know you are within your rights to summon the magistrate, but I beg you to allow me to remove Caroline from here and send her away where she will be no threat to anyone.”
Darcy’s next words came out strained, as he was barely able to contain his anger towards Caroline Bingley, imagining the pleasure of his hands around her throat.
“I will trust that you will take care of this matter, Bingley; for if you do not, I will. In the meantime, I do not want to see her, as I might not be capable of controlling my actions. See that she stays in her rooms until you are able to remove her from Pemberley and my sight.”
“I will take care of it immediately, Darcy. You have my word,” said Bingley.
“You can thank God that Elizabeth is recovering, for I would not be so generous if she was not.”
~*~
Elizabeth was reclining on the cushions of the divan in the sitting room off her bedchamber when she heard a knock on the door. The knock came from Mr. Darcy’s room.
“Come in.”
Darcy entered the sitting room, and their eyes met. “I beg your pardon; I thought your sister would be with you, Miss Bennet.”
“She has gone to see about tea. She should be returning shortly,” she said as she sat up straight on the divan, allowing him room to sit next to her.
“I would not wish to intrude on your privacy. Would you rather I leave?”
“Not at all, Mr. Darcy. I welcome your company. I have been made to do nothing for the last two days. I could use a little diversion.”
He smiled a weak smile. “I. . . I would like to speak with you, Miss Bennet, about what happened the other night.”
She watched as he rubbed his brow, looking a bit anxious. Then he clasped his hands behind his back and stared at her a moment before he started a slow pace.
She raised an eyebrow in his direction. “Please sit, Mr. Darcy; you are making me nervous.”
He looked up and caught her gaze, then proceeded to take the seat next to her.
“I do not know if you recall that I was with you when you awoke from your injury. Your sister had just left your room, and I stayed with you until Mrs. Reynolds could be sent for.”
Elizabeth smiled at him. “Yes, Mr. Darcy, I believe I do remember your being there when I awoke.”
He cleared his throat. “As I saw you lying there, I thought perhaps if I spoke to you, you might awaken.”
“That sounds very reasonable, Mr. Darcy. And what did you speak about?” she asked.
He again stood, unable to remain seated. As he paced before her, his expression was almost one of pain.
“I spoke of . . . my feelings, Miss Bennet.” As he said these words, he turned to her and his eyes held hers.
“I see. And what did you tell me of your feelings?”
He stopped directly in front of her and reached for her hand. He held it tentatively between his own. “I told you that I love you, Miss Bennet.”
They stared into each other’s eyes, and there was a moment or two of silence while he waited for her reaction.
She looked up at him and, keeping him in suspense no longer, finally spoke.
“I believe your exact words were, ‘I love you, Lizzy,’” she said as she gave him the most delicious smile.
“You . . . you heard me?”
“Yes, I’m afraid so, Mr. Darcy.”
“All of it?”
“Yes, all of it, including your proposal. So if you are thinking that you can back out of it, I must advise you, sir, that I intend to hold you to it.”
“Oh, Lizzy,” he said as he pulled her up into his embrace. When he released his tight hold upon her, he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her sweetly.
“Tell me you love me, Lizzy,” he whispered.
“I love you, William, so very much.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
Mr. and Mrs. Hurst arrived at Pemberley, unaware of the situation that had developed during their absence. They were greeted by their brother who led them to Darcy’s study where he informed them of the events that had taken place over the last several days.
The couple was shocked to learn of such news, but as Mrs. Hurst observed, “It was only a matter of time before Caroline’s obsession with Mr. Darcy wrought havoc of some kind.”
Caroline’s ultimate fate was yet to be decided; however, Charles had already written to distant cousins in the Scottish Highlands requesting that she be allowed to live with them on their pig farm. He assured them that she would earn her room and board in whatever manner the running of such a farm might require of her.
Caroline Bingley did not take kindly to the fate to which she had been relegated, but, when offered the choice of Bedlam or a pig farm in the Scottish Highlands, she saw the wisdom of the second choice. Of course, she did not go quietly into that good night as she spewed out every abuse she could think of on her family, Mr. Darcy, and, of course, Miss Eliza, while she was being led away most reluctantly to Mr. Hurst’s awaiting carriage.
~*~
Jane Bingley—sweet, compassionate, and caring Jane Bingley—was starting to weigh on her sister’s patience.
“Jane, I assure you I am recovered enough to leave my bedchamber. At least let me go down to breakfast and perhaps sit on the veranda for some fresh air,” stated Elizabeth as she tried to keep a pleasant demeanour.
As Jane finally acquiesced to her sister’s plea, she allowed Elizabeth to go below stairs and breakfast with the rest of Pemberley’s inhabitants.
Darcy stood as soon as she entered the room, and their eyes met. Georgiana was the first to greet her. “I am so happy to see you up and around, Elizabeth. You can never know my relief that you are so well recovered,” said the young girl as tears filled her eyes. The two young women hugged, and Elizabeth assured her she was certainly not to blame for what had occurred.
Mr. Bingley offered his greeting also, almost afraid to meet her eyes, as he conceded some guilt in the matter. She gave him a reassuring smile. “It is your nature, Charles, just as it is Jane’s, to look for the good in everyone. I cannot hold that against you, sir.”
Darcy finally approached her. He reached for her hand and tucked it under his arm as he led her to the breakfast table. Elizabeth blushed but was pleased by his attendance. As they sat beside each other, he took hold of her hand and did not let it go.
There had hardly been a ripple of surprise when Darcy and Elizabeth informed Jane, Charles, and Georgiana of their engagement. Mrs. Reynolds seemed least surprised of all by the news and barely batted an eye. It seemed the happy couple were the only ones who had not been aware of the love they shared for each other.
Darcy leaned towards Elizabeth and whispered in her ear, “I am happy to see you have been given a reprieve, Elizabeth. Was it time off for good behaviour?” he asked with a smile. “I hope to change that very soon.”
She blushed again, but she did not argue the point. Indeed, they had not been able to spend five minutes alone together, a situation they both found quite disagreeable.
Elizabeth assured her sister that she and Charles might return to Netherfield until the wedding. After all, they were newlyweds themselves and should be allowed some private time together in their own home.
“Georgiana will be here to chaperone us. Besides, you know I will not leave Ellie, so there is little point in trying to convince me to return with you to Netherfield.”
Jane informed her they would yet stay two days before leaving, just to make sure that her recovery was complete.
~*~
The next day Elizabeth was allowed to venture as far as the veranda where, at least, she was able to watch Ellie play in the garden. However, she was prohibited from leaving the divan and had to content herself with sitting by Mr. Darcy’s side while Jane looked on, observing them.
On the following
day she practically had to demand that she be able to take a walk in the gardens. Darcy joined her immediately, carrying Ellie in his arms. He set the little girl carefully on her feet, as he tried to avoid touching the now black and blue remnants of the bruises she had incurred that horrible day. He knew those marks were nothing compared to the injuries that might have befallen the little girl if not for Lizzy’s quick reaction. As Ellie’s feet touched the ground, she immediately toddled towards Elizabeth, calling to her, “Izabet!” This caused a slight frown on Darcy’s face.
Elizabeth looked up to him in question, but he simply shook his head and smiled at her to ease her concern. Elizabeth scooped her daughter up in her arms and kissed her face a dozen times or more, causing the little girl to giggle till she was breathless.
The three then set out on their walk, each holding one of Ellie’s hands. When they reached a curve in the path, Darcy looked behind them, making sure they could not be seen from the veranda where they had left Jane’s company.
Darcy lifted Ellie and, holding her in one arm, brought his other arm around Elizabeth’s waist, drawing her near. “Do you think I might at least steal a kiss today, Elizabeth?”
“I do not think you will have to steal it, William, for I am more than willing to give it to you,” she teased.
He bent towards her and placed his lips over hers. They kissed a long sweet kiss—until Ellie made it clear she was missing their attention.
“I hate to admit it,” sighed Elizabeth, “but I will not be too sorry to see Jane and Charles leave tomorrow.”
~*~
As Mr. and Mrs. Bingley seated themselves in their carriage, Jane enumerated the list of dos and don’ts, which turned out having many don’ts and very few dos, that Elizabeth was to follow. Elizabeth assured her sister she would take care and adhere to her advice.
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