She drew him down beside her again. “It was nothing. You cried out in anguish, but I was able to reassure you back to sleep quite soon, so there was no need to speak about it this morning.”
“But …”
She silenced him with a kiss.
“It’s nothing to worry about, William. What you went through — well, nightmares are the least you could have expected. And having to deal with them alone would have caused you many sleepless nights, I don’t wonder. But now I’m here. You need never be anxious again, and I hope they will soon resolve.”
He took her in his arms. “I hope I didn’t cause you much distress, Elizabeth.”
“Not at all.” She snuggled closer. “If I can reassure you that I’m here, you won’t remember them, and you’ll feel rested.”
“Oh, my beloved Elizabeth. Let me show you how I love you.”
She lifted her face to his. Being married to him was the greatest joy she could ever imagine.
Later, in the early dawn, she knew he was gazing at her, and as she lifted her eyes to his, he smiled tenderly.
“My lovely Elizabeth. I hope you had an undisturbed night.”
She lifted her hand to his unshaven cheek. “You look quite roguish — and wildly handsome, too — before you’re shaved.” She pressed her lips to his. “Don’t worry. If there is anything that concerns me, I will tell you.”
“But there is something worrying you.” His hand smoothed her hair away from her forehead, the tingling warmth of his touch sending her heart racing.
“You know me too well.” She pulled his hand to her mouth and kissed it. “I love you so much, but I was wondering if I might ask you something?”
“If you wish to ask anything of me, I’ll be hurt if you don’t.” His lips touched her forehead. “My brave Elizabeth. Anything.”
She snuggled closer. “Well, I know how much effort you have put into this tour, but I was thinking we might not spend quite so long at Bath.” She glanced at his face. “If we go to Pemberley soon, we might both feel more at home without constantly moving on to new places.” Her heart constricted. “I love that you have taken such care to give me a memorable tour, and I don’t want to hurt you.” But she knew with certainty they both needed to settle somewhere, to feel at home. Pemberley would be difficult, it was so enormous. But the sooner they began, the sooner they could learn.
“Is that what you want, Elizabeth? I will do whatever you desire, but don’t say it if it is really for me.” Her husband drew her towards him and she tucked herself into his shoulder. They were made to fit, and she smiled.
“I would love to be somewhere we can make a home together.” She glanced up at him. “And now you’ve managed to get your favourite horse as far as Pemberley …”
He huffed a quiet laugh. “We will do it.” He frowned slightly. “We have to pass through Bath anyway, so perhaps you might enjoy just two nights there. Then, hmm. Perhaps Cheltenham and Stafford.” He dropped a kiss on her nose. “We can be at Pemberley within the week.”
“I’d like to do that, please.”
76
The great glazed doors leading out onto the stone terrace were open. Darcy smiled. Elizabeth would be out there. She loved the view of the wild and untamed peaks, even though she was unable to climb them as she had last year. He crossed the drawing room to go out and join her.
He dropped to his knee beside her chair to embrace her. “Are you well?”
“I’m well, William, but I pray you don’t ask too often, or I may reproach you.”
He laughed. “I think I ought to send for tea.” As her face lit up, he tightened his grip. “Now I know you are improving.”
She levered herself to her feet and took his arm to stroll along beside the balustrade. “Yes. I couldn’t believe it when I could not face drinking tea! It seemed so wrong.”
“It was good to be able to write to Mr. Owen and be assured it was an unusual but recognised sign of your condition,” Darcy said dryly. “I think you would not have told me for many more months if you could have kept it from me.”
She tossed her head. “I knew you would find it something else to be worried about, and wanted to keep you in blissful ignorance as long as I could.” Her hand reached for his. “And I was right, wasn’t I?”
Darcy grimaced. “I’m sorry if I was overly attentive.” Her peal of laughter mollified him rather. “But now all is well, and you are getting better each day.”
She leaned against him. “I am. And I’m glad you invited Mr. Owen here to stay and deliver your child — although I think he was happy to have your physician with him when Annie appeared so precipitately after little Richard.”
Darcy nodded. Those had been bad months for him, his fear of losing Elizabeth looming large in his mind, and then facing banishment from her bed following her confinement. But within two days, she had insisted he join her again, and in the warmth of being able to hold her as she slept, his nightmares began to recede once more.
Now, she was well on the way to recovery, and she’d had her churching last week. Now they could begin to return to normal life — except they were now a real family, and all the larger family were anxious to call. He smiled, and looked down.
“The children are doing well, are they not? I am surprised how quickly their characters are beginning to form.”
She laughed lightly. “I am certain they were formed before they were born. You will recall how sometimes I was kicked with energy and vigour, and how sometimes the kicks were more gentle and contemplative? Now I know there were two of them, I know that Richie was the quiet, thoughtful babe, and Annie the energetic soul. I fear she will overrun her brother completely.”
Darcy nuzzled his face in her hair, the scent of lavender swirling around him, as always. “I think it will make him want to keep up with her.”
“Perhaps.” Elizabeth stepped forward, and leaned on the balustrade. “But soon they will have a little cousin, and now Jane and Mr. Bingley live so near to us, we will see them a great deal.”
Darcy had stepped forward when she did, and kept his arm around her. “I think you must admit he is even more anxious and harassed than I was.”
Elizabeth laughed. “Oh, I’m so happy it’s all over for now and I can think about other things than how much my back hurts and how unattractive I feel — and I can enjoy tea now.”
“Talking of tea, let’s go back to the table. I see the fresh tray has arrived.” Darcy led her back. “And you can sit down.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Reynolds.” Elizabeth smiled at the housekeeper, who beamed at her.
Once Elizabeth was seated, Darcy took the seat across the small table. “So what do you wish to start thinking about, Elizabeth?” He knew, of course. She’d been attentively reading the great bundle of papers that had arrived from Cheapside.
Her musical laugh stirred him as always. “Well, I’m sure you know. You and Uncle Gardiner have done wonders with the business, but I would like to feel I am involved, too. And with the duke and duchess arriving next week, I wish to join the talk of business.”
Darcy pulled his chair to her and captured her hand. “Of course — except over the port, naturally. But I wonder if the duchess will wish to spend more time with you and the babies? Every female visitor we have seems to wish to spend many hours in the nursery — Georgiana in particular.”
Elizabeth shrugged slightly. “I think it’s the talk of twins. Everyone seems to think I have done something clever, whereas I think it was silly.”
Darcy frowned. “Sometimes I cannot imagine what you mean, dearest.”
Her hand tightened around his. “Why, because they will each need to feel they are important, and therefore they need double the attention. Whereas I …” she leaned towards him, “… wish to spend my time making up what I have missed with you.”
His heart turned over. “Perhaps you wish to rest in your chamber for a short while, Elizabeth, before they bring them to us.”
“Well …” she seemed to be think
ing. “If you were to come with me, we could discuss business matters. And I know you have spent an hour in the nursery already …”
He smiled slowly. The way she had said business matters impressed him that her mind was far from business. “I would not dream of permitting you to climb the stairs alone, Mrs. Darcy.”
He lay beside her, the warmth of her body resting on his arm, and he tightened it to draw her closer. The warm summer sun was hazy through the windows, and the peace and silence of the house eased him into relaxing.
“It was a very good notion of yours to suggest I rest for a while, Mr. Darcy.” Her voice was drowsy.
“So formal, Mrs. Darcy,” he teased. “But yes. We ought to continue this habit as long as we may.”
“I think we will neither of us be content with it once I have fully recovered, William.” Her hand waved languidly in the air. “And I doubt Mr. Reed would let it continue. He will contrive to arrange the estate meetings are after lunch.”
Darcy huffed a laugh. “For a steward without estate experience, he has taught me a great deal.”
She smiled, her eyes closed. “You have learned together. Pemberley is very good to us.” She turned her head and rested her face on his shoulder. “I think coming here was the best thing we could have done. At last I feel at home, and I think you do, too.”
He nodded, feeling her hair against his cheek. “You’re right. And everyone of importance has come to us. This next year, I fear we must go to London and undertake our share of visits.”
“Of course we will.” Elizabeth sounded utterly content. “But now we have confidence in our home here and with each other, it will be easier for us to feel at home in Darcy House.” She hesitated, and he knew what she wanted to say.
“I understand. It was a great misfortune that my father did not survive long enough to join us at Pemberley, and see the succession to Pemberley come to fruition.” He sighed. “But he knew what was coming, and the letter he wrote to us was helpful.”
“I agree.” Elizabeth lifted her hand over his chest. “He had made his peace with the world and with us, and his commendation was a bit like a blessing.” She smiled slightly. “I often feel he is happy for us.”
Darcy turned his head. “This is our home and our life now. We belong here, and it’s a fine place to raise our family.” He kissed her gently. “I love you more than ever, my dearest, loveliest Elizabeth.”
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The Lost Heir
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