With such a busy mind, sleeping was out of the question, and having just completed her book, Elizabeth needed something new to read. She felt certain she would not be seen and was, therefore, confident about leaving her room. The house had long been quiet. The whole party had retired at eleven. Surely, no one would be awake at this hour.
Not knowing the habits of the house, she was unaware of the fact that it would be unusual for the library door to be ajar. Paying no attention, she entered the room and cast her eyes around her, first noticing a glow from the fireplace, then a candle burning on the desk, and to her astonishment, Mr. Darcy in a black silk dressing gown sitting behind the candle. He was staring intently into the flame. His hair was tousled and his gown tied without a care for his appearance. The front was open at the neck, revealing the dark curls that covered his chest. He was resting his head on his hand, his fingers curling up the side of his cheek.
A recollection of her situation caused her cheeks to burn. To be seen by him would hardly be modest, yet she could not take her eyes away from him, she could not move herself from the room. Elizabeth had considered her body to be well concealed, but in the dim light of Mr. Darcy’s candle, she realized the flimsiness of her nightgown.
Elizabeth had not paid much attention to her own candle. It had burned quite low and went out just at that moment. She was startled by the sudden change in light and gave a muffled cry.
* * * * *
DARCY RECOGNIZED THE SOURCE FROM whence that small cry issued.
“Elizabeth? Is anything the matter?” He took his candle and moved towards her.
“Please forgive me for intruding. I cannot sleep. I was seeking a book.”
“I was not able to sleep, either. I find myself filled with anticipation for our wedding . . . ” he paused to look at the clock on the chimneypiece, “ . . . which will be in ten hours.”
“I am similarly distracted. Please forgive me for interrupting you. I cannot leave you, though, I —”
“Please, do not go.”
“My candle went out,” she said almost inaudibly.
Although anticipating the discomfort that such a meeting might cause, in no way would he allow her leave without speaking to her.
Or looking at her. She was beautiful . . . and tempting. Very tempting.
“Give me your hand.”
She reached out to him, knowing full well what she would feel when their hands met.
As he took hold of her fingers, a feeling of warmth and excitement coursed up the length of her arm, as it always did when he touched her. She returned the gentle squeeze he gave her and allowed him to lead her to a sofa next to the fireplace. He took his seat in the armchair beside it.
After sitting down, she turned her head away from him, feeling self-conscious because of her appearance.
“Elizabeth, trust me.”
She looked back at him and the look of love and concern on his face removed all her discomfort.
“You should not see me like this, Fitzwilliam.”
“And you should not see me like this, yet we have no reason to be shy around each other.”
“No, we do not. May I ask, sir, what it is you have been doing in here all by yourself?”
“I have been thinking about you.”
Even in the dim light, he could see her smile.
“And what were your thoughts?”
“I was thinking how very much I love you and how proud I will be to call you my wife. I was trying to decide how much I would be willing to share you with the world. I fear that I will want to keep you all to myself for a very long time after we are married.”
He moved from his chair and sat next to her on the sofa. She could feel the heat from his body penetrate her nightgown. Their eyes met, held together by longing and passion. Her heart raced at the thought of being held by him.
His breathing nearly stopped when he saw her tongue dart out of her mouth to wet her lip. “Elizabeth,” he whispered. He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her. As he broke the kiss, he turned her and she felt his hand cross her shoulders to caress her neck as his other hand slid around her waist. Smiling, she leaned back against his chest and felt his arms encircle her.
“You are my life. I love you, Elizabeth.”
“And I love you so very much that I fear my heart will burst.” She rested her hands on his arms and waited until her pulse returned to normal. He found her hand with one of his and laced his fingers through hers.
“So, have you decided how much you will be willing to share me?” asked Elizabeth.
“If we stay in London for too long, we will eventually have to entertain visitors in order not to give offense. Normally, I care not for such matters, but I will not allow the world to think ill of you.” He changed his position on the sofa to one more comfortable. She settled in against his chest.
“We could travel directly to Derbyshire.”
“Yes, but I do not think we want to spend our wedding night in a coaching inn.” Her cheeks colored at the implications. “What is your opinion?”
“No, I do not think that would be comfortable for us.”
“Very well, we will remain in Town for two weeks. I will show you off to my undeserving friends and family, and then we shall travel to Pemberley.”
“I would like that very much.”
They were quiet after this, each comfortable in the arms of the other. The night was dark and soothing, and each was blanketed with a feeling of peace and contentment.
Elizabeth was growing tired, and as their conversation lagged, she unknowingly did something she had always longed to do. She fell asleep in Darcy’s arms.
* * * * *
ELIZABETH WAS THE FIRST TO awaken. Darcy had shifted his weight, and the motion had interrupted her sleep. She was not sorry for it. She loved being held by him.
His arms were still around her, and she could not move without fear of waking him, a risk she would not take. Relaxing her mind, she let her eyes close once again. As certain as he held her now, she knew he would never let her go.
* * * * *
IT SEEMED LIKE A DREAM. He was asleep and Elizabeth was in his arms, yet it felt so real. He had never known a happier moment!
Elizabeth was curled up with one hand around his waist and the other flat against his chest. Her hair blanketed his shoulder. The warmth of her body penetrated deep inside him and drew from him feelings of gratitude that she loved him so well that she would be comfortable enough to fall asleep in his arms. He watched her lips form into a smile. She was so beautiful when she smiled. Her whole face lit up with an expression of delight, and he recalled the last time those lips had touched his. It has only been a few hours ago, but he longed to taste them again.
“Fitzwilliam, thank you.”
“For what, my love?”
“For keeping me warm,” said Elizabeth softly. “The fire went out, and I fear I should have been cold, except for you.”
At this intimation that Elizabeth might be chilled, Darcy ran his hands over her exposed skin.
“Fitzwilliam, I want to look at you,” she said turning in his arms. “I want to see what you look like in the morning before you dress properly for the day. I want the answer to this question, what does the great Fitzwilliam Darcy look like before being attended by his valet?”
“The great Fitzwilliam Darcy?”
“Let me see,” she said as she reached for his face. “You have grown a beard. When I was a girl, sometimes I would see my father before he was shaved, and I would touch his face like this.”
Elizabeth gently rubbed her hand across his skin. “And then I would do this.”
She leaned against him and slid her delicate cheek across his rough skin. “But, I never did this.” Elizabeth kissed him with all the ardor of love and need that she possessed.
Momentarily satisfied but not sated, she broke the kiss. “I have not kissed you in forever, Fitzwilliam. I have missed you.”
Darcy began to speak, but was si
lenced when her lips touched his. Words were not adequate, so he held her close and answered her in the language she understood and with all the passion and desire he felt.
* * * * *
IT WAS TIME FOR HER to return to her room lest they be discovered. The fire had died away, yet there was a glow in the room that announced the approach of daylight.
“Today we shall be married, Fitzwilliam.”
“It will be the happiest day of my life. Come, let me take you to your room before the others awaken.”
He stood and offered her his hand. Standing next to each other, they peered into a large mirror over the mantelpiece. Smiling back at them was a happy couple filled with love and tenderness. “There is one last thing that I must do. I must kiss Miss Bennet for the last time.”
She reached out and began to caress his cheek and favored him with an enticing smile. He responded just as she deserved, and then placing an arm around her waist, guided her from the library and delivered her safely to her room.
He stood for a moment outside her closed door breathing in her scent, which lingered in the air, and lifted his heart in gratitude to heaven for the blessing of having her in his life.
* * * * *
ELIZABETH SAT QUIETLY IN FRONT of a mirror reflecting on her night with Darcy and the many changes that had occurred in her life. There were many attendant consequences surrounding her fall. First, there was Jane and Bingley, and now Darcy and her.
Elizabeth was happy for Jane, but she confessed greater pleasure in her own circumstances. True, it had cost them a great deal, but she and Darcy were finally together. She was so excited about her future with him. He had described Pemberley and the beauty of Derbyshire to her on many occasions, and she was quite eager to see her new home.
And Georgiana! What a companion she would be. While nothing could make up for the loss of her near daily intercourse with Jane, having Georgiana with her would come as near to it as anyone possibly could. She was so full of life and energy. Her heart was in every action that she performed and in every word that she spoke. It was impossible not to be happy around her.
Elizabeth was musing over these pleasant thoughts when she was interrupted by a knock at the door.
“Lizzy, it is Jane. May I come in?”
Jane closed the door and stood behind Elizabeth. She placed her hands on her sister’s shoulders and looked at her in the mirror. “Well, today is the big day. You must be very excited. I know I am!”
Elizabeth turned to face Jane as the latter moved to sit on the bed. She watched Jane’s eyes grow wide as they both realized at the same time, one with a look of surprise, the other with some embarrassment, that the bed had not been used the previous night.
Jane cleared her throat with a smile. “And how was Mr. Darcy when you left him, Lizzy?”
Having observed her sister and Mr. Darcy, this development came as no surprise. The passion they felt for each other warranted an early marriage in and of itself and without any other consideration.
Elizabeth offered a contrite smile. “I could not sleep, and so I went to the library to pick out a book. Fitzwilliam was there. We talked for a long time, and then we fell asleep together on his sofa. I have just now returned here.”
“It is fortunate that you were not discovered by anyone else, dear sister. I can see by the look on your face that you have no regrets, and so I shall trust your discretion and be grateful that you shall be married before dinner.” Jane took Elizabeth’s hand. “I am so happy for you.”
“It means so much to me that you are here and that you and your dear husband will be with us today when we are married.”
* * * * *
JANE TOOK A BRUSH AND ran it through Elizabeth’s hair until it shined. She hoped that this would not be the last time that she and her sister could be together in such an intimate setting. Unfortunately, that opportunity had not presented itself since Jane’s marriage, so she was slow and deliberate in her strokes, savoring the moment.
“Jane, I remember when you brushed my hair every night. It seems so long ago.”
“Indeed, it was not. I have not been at Netherfield that long.”
“It is true that you have not been married long, but I cannot think of you in any other way. In my mind, you have always been with Charles.”
Jane returned to sit on the bed. “We will be leaving from the church to return to Netherfield. Charles has invited Georgiana to accompany us.”
“How thoughtful. You are so very kind.”
“Do you know what your plans are after your wedding?”
“We are to remain in London for two weeks and then depart for Pemberley.”
“Have you not considered visiting in Hertfordshire to announce your marriage to all your friends there?”
“I had not thought about it, but you are right.”
“You must stay with us at Netherfield. Our mother and sisters can visit you there. I know that you would not be comfortable at Longbourn. Will Georgiana be returning to London?”
“No, her home will now be with us at Pemberley.”
“I am happy for her. You need not stay long in Hertfordshire, though I know we would be happy to keep you forever.”
“This all sounds perfect, though I must speak with Fitzwilliam before I can give my full consent to the plan.”
“Of course. Let me call for your maid to help you dress.” Jane laughed. “I suspect that you will not be doing any more sleeping this morning.”
* * * * *
ELIZABETH WAS IMPATIENT TO BE with Darcy, and the task of dressing seemed more tedious than usual. Her maid could sense her eagerness and arranged her hair as skillfully and efficiently as she could. Just as the maid left her room and she was ready to go downstairs, there was another knock at her door.
Fully expecting to see Jane, she was surprised when she found Georgiana standing there. “Good morning, Lizzy.”
“Good morning, Georgiana. You look beautiful this morning.”
“I was too excited to sleep, so I dressed early and have been waiting until your maid left you so that I could have a few moments of your time.”
“Please tell me what I can do for you.”
The ladies sat down near the fireplace.
“After our father died,” began Georgiana, “Fitzwilliam gave me our mother’s jewelry. Some pieces I have kept, others I have had reset, but there is one special necklace from which I will never be parted. My father told me it was my mother’s favorite jewel. Let me show you.”
Georgiana produced a small case from the folds of her skirt. Opening the lid, she pulled out an intricately crafted gold chain from which hung a pendant with a large red stone. “This stone is a ruby, and Mother wore it on all formal occasions. I know that Fitzwilliam will recognize it. I want you to wear it today. It would mean so much to my brother. I never knew my mother, but there is a likeness of her in the gallery wearing this gem. I will show you when we get to Pemberley.”
“Thank you, I would be pleased and honored to wear it. You are very thoughtful, for you must know that I have no jewelry at all beyond this little cross my father gave me.”
“Oh no, I did not mean . . . ”
“I was thrilled when your brother asked me if you could live with us at Pemberley, and I was very pleased to agree to the plan.”
Georgiana and Elizabeth came together in a sisterly embrace.
“I will bring the necklace to the church. You can put it on there so that it will be a surprise for my brother.”
The ladies shared a laugh and then removed to the breakfast room where Mr. and Mrs. Bingley and Mr. Darcy awaited them.
* * * * *
HAVING LEFT ELIZABETH AT HER bedchamber door, Darcy retired to his room and lay down on his bed, savoring the recent memories he had of his beloved.
He was roused by a knock that he recognized to be that of his valet. Darcy had not asked Elizabeth when she planned to go downstairs, but he wanted to be there when she did, so he dressed quickly an
d quietly. His valet assured him that he looked very well in his dark green coat and that his new bride would approve. Darcy smiled and exited the room.
* * * * *
DARCY WAS RELIEVED WHEN HE arrived in the breakfast room and discovered that Elizabeth had not yet come down. When he had left her, she did not look at all tired, and he did not imagine for a moment that she would try to sleep. As for himself, he had never slept so well nor been so warm and comfortable as he had last night with Elizabeth in his arms, and now he looked forward to not being parted from her on any night for the rest of his life.
He started when Bingley entered the room with Jane on his arm. “Ah, Darcy, so I have caught you gathering wool!” Bingley laughed. “Good morning, sir.”
“It is a very good morning, and good morning to you, Mrs. Bingley.”
Jane walked over to Mr. Darcy and led him to a corner of the room near a window as if to admire the view. “Mr. Darcy, I trust you slept well last night?”
“I . . . well, yes, I did. And you?”
“I slept very well, thank you. I saw Elizabeth this morning, and she also had a restful night. Her dreams were very pleasant, and she hopes always to sleep as well in the future. I am certain that you can arrange that for her, can you not?”
“Yes, of course.” He could not hide a smile and turned away from her.
Elizabeth and Georgiana stepped into the room. Darcy immediately went to Elizabeth and kissed her hand, and she smiled at him with eyes that sparkled with excitement. She had not had time to purchase any wedding clothes so she chose to wear her favorite gown of white muslin with gold tambour worked into the bodice. Sometimes a woman may feel insecure as to how she appears before others and particularly on her wedding day, but the satisfaction that Elizabeth derived from Darcy’s gaze as he looked at her settled all discomfort.
Rocks in the Stream Page 31