by Beth Massey
Her husband pulled her to him and situated her body against his as he had done often during the first years of their marriage. He whispered to her. “Sleep Fanny, you must buy wedding clothes tomorrow. We will be sharing a room at least until we return to Hertfordshire. There will be plenty of time to talk.”
As her voice trailed off from fatigue, her husband heard her say, “Yes, we must discuss Jane and Mr Bingley.” Her husband smiled that in essence she was unchanged. What was different was his ability to appreciate her motives.
Fitzwilliam Darcy awoke in the mistress’ chamber of his house in town with a petite naked woman snuggled into the curve of his body. Warmth radiated from her, and her breathing made a slight sibilant sound as she slept. He had been waiting for this for, oh, so many years. In ten days, it would be official; he would have the right to awaken every morning to such joy.
In the need to preserve the appearance of propriety, his sleepy brain realized he must return to Blessing House. It was still dark outside, so he should be able to slip out unnoticed just as he arrived. He pulled away from her, and in her sleep she protested. Her action elicited a smile as he realized she was missing his warmth much as he was missing hers.
He found his robe where he had tossed it and put it on. Once in his bedchamber, he dressed for his trip across the park. Before he returned, he felt the need to gaze on her one last time. To his surprise she was awake, had donned her nightgown and lit some candles. When he came through the door, she ran to him and flung her arms around his waist. “I thought you had already left. I was feeling abandoned.”
He bent to bestow a kiss before he spoke. “I must leave for appearances sake, but rest assured I will never abandon you. In a very few hours, I will return for breakfast. Georgiana, your aunt and Lord Colton’s housekeeper have arranged a plan for meals until the wedding. Most breakfasts for the residents of Darcy and Blessing House will be here. The evening meal for all tonight is across the park. Tomorrow night it is at the Gardiner’s after Jon and I meet with your father tomorrow afternoon. By then we will have the licenses and the marriage settlements will have been completed.”
Elizabeth put her head against his chest and whispered a confession of her own. “Will, I should have answered you earlier, but my courses arrived shortly after I left Derbyshire. I am not sure why I chose to withhold that information earlier today, but our talk relieved much of my anxiety.”
He lifted her chin and forced her eyes to meet his. “My query was an example of speaking from the need to honour my obligations, and forgetting the emotional impact of such subjects. Please believe me, my questioning you was to make sure I was prepared to act quickly to protect you from any unkind gossip.” He paused for a few seconds to gaze longingly at her before he spoke again. “Elizabeth, I would do anything to protect you. I would lie for you. I would fight a duel and be prepared to die for you.”
Elizabeth giggled. “Oh my, Will, you sound like a poet. Even though I do not think Mr Wordsworth or Mr Coleridge should feel threatened by the power of your verse, your sentiment is appreciated by me.”
Will laughed at her evaluation of his words. He gave her one last kiss, and then said in a serious tone, “I must leave you now. Lizzy, before I go, please realize I remain imperfect in expressing the depth of my love for you.”
Breakfast at Darcy House that morning was lively. Richard entertained the unattached Longbourn ladies with tales of training new recruits. Lydia, who only weeks before would have been hanging on the colonel’s every word, barely noticed him—she had eyes only for Jon.
Elizabeth was sitting between Lord Colton and Darcy. She had to chuckle at his Lordship’s efforts to ‘prime the pump’ of Lydia’s passion. Perhaps she should not be so cynical, but she found it humorous to observe his dogged determination, and her sister’s naïve acceptance of his persistence. She lapped up every word, every gesture like Puss lapped up cream. Elizabeth imagined from his closeness to Lydia, that their thighs were touching, and she was certain he was holding her hand under the table… or perhaps their hands were resting on each other’s leg. How lucky that he was left-handed, and she used her right. If that were not the case, he would have been unable to eat anything. Lizzy, whose mind this morning was occasionally replaying memories of being pleasured by her stallion, giggled at the thought of Lord Colton saving his appetite for his wedding night. At least the giant was able to eat the wonderful breads Georgiana had served with his one free hand.
Elizabeth marvelled at how buttery the flaky crescent shaped rolls were. Another bread had deep rich chocolate inside. She asked Georgiana what they were and was surprised to hear the answer.
“Lord Colton’s aunt had her cook send them over. He is French and bakes delicacies like this every morning. The assortment of berries is courtesy of him, as well. Darcy House’s Mrs Thomas provided the clotted cream, and the jam was made from the peaches at Pemberley. I think it a luscious recipe that Mrs Reynolds imagined and had our cook create. It is the hint of ginger that makes it so special.”
Darcy looked up from his paper at the words luscious and peaches. He realized it had been used to describe the food, and not that which he had thought of when he heard those words. Pleasure spread across his face as he observed the ease with which his sister was relating to those assembled. Her family was about to become much larger and livelier, and she seemed to be revelling in the event. Darcy smiled at his sister, and then noticed his betrothed watching her sister and Jon. Before he returned to the news of the day, he took a page from Lord Colton’s book, and squeezed her thigh under the table. As he had hoped, she reciprocated.
Darcy returned to his paper and soon those assembled heard an exclamation. “Jon we have made the paper. Just a short gossipy item that states: Many young ladies of the ton will soon mourn the loss as objects of pursuit, two of the most eligible bachelors from the ranks of the best upper sets. A double wedding is scheduled for Saint James, Piccadilly on the twenty-fourth of this month. The Viscount Colton will wed Miss Lydia Bennet of Hertfordshire. Her sister, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, will marry Mr Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire.”
The announcement prompted much discussion. Lydia giggled with relief at being gossiped about for her wedding and not her elopement. The sisters laughed because Lydia’s betrothal to Lord Colton had more precedence than Elizabeth’s. Soon the table talk turned to preparations for the upcoming event.
Lord Colton informed those assembled for breakfast that his father, brother and sister would be arriving the day after next. “My sister, Lady Eleanor, will be joining you lovely ladies here at Darcy House until the wedding. You will also be able to become acquainted and spend time with my brother Lawrence, when he joins us for breakfast after he arrives. My father will probably only be with us when we dine at Blessing House. He finds it difficult to eat and must rest a great deal. However, he wrote about his joy at being able to attend the wedding.”
The viscount’s disclosure prompted Richard to turn his attention away from the ladies. He was definitely interested in the arrival of Lady Eleanor and was looking forward to those breakfasts. He realized he should announce to those around the table the news that his parents, brother and sister-in-law would be arriving in London in four days time. Darcy had not heard of this before, and resolved to ask Richard in private the details. He had just this morning sent off an express to his uncle informing him of his upcoming nuptials. A similar one had been sent to Lady Catherine. Upon hearing his notoriously indiscreet cousin’s news, he became apprehensive that Richard had already informed his family of Darcy’s wedding. That meant Lady Catherine had probably already heard of his marriage from both her brother and her parson. How would she react when she read of it in the paper?
This day Mrs Gardiner, Mrs Phillips and Mrs Bennet would join the ladies to begin the quest for wedding clothes. Georgiana would lead the expedition by taking all to her favourite modistes. The trip, with so many participants, was sure to encourage more gossip about the upcoming nuptials.
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The ladies left first. Lydia was left alone in the entrance hall with Jon. Her sisters and Georgiana were already in the carriages. Lord Colton was helping his betrothed with her pelisse. Making sure no footman was within view, he gazed longingly at her and said, “Lydia, spare no expense with your gowns. Tell them to charge anything your family is unable to afford to me. His eyes fell to her bosom; and he bent to brush his lips across the tops of both breasts. “Please be sure to show these off. They are so very lovely.”
Lydia felt an odd tug way down in her belly and between her legs at his kiss. Her voice was quite breathless as she said, “Would not you be jealous if other men were looking at them?”
“No, It would please me to see them, and know they were mine to kiss and touch. I would know those other poor besotted fools would only be able to view. As to jealousy, I have no fears you would desire another man… not now, and especially not once we are married.”
Lydia was entirely too inexperienced to realize the supreme arrogance of his statement. Never the less, she joined the ladies outside with a blushing countenance and a smile tugging at her lips. Perhaps she would tell Elizabeth about that feeling she had experienced tonight.
The same morning, many of the women who worked at Teasewell House were assembled when Mrs T entered the breakfast room.
“Good, most of you are present. I have some very important news to relate. My nephew, Lord Colton, and our patron of many years, Mr Darcy will marry two sisters. Miss Lydia Bennet will wed my nephew, and Miss Elizabeth Bennet will marry Mr Darcy on the twenty-fourth at Saint James.”
Susan smiled at those around the table and said, “I believe many of us have had a hand in ensuring those two young ladies will have a very enjoyable life.”
Bella gave her lover a look of mock disparagement. “There is more to marriage than what men do with us.”
The women protested her observation insisting that, indeed, there may be much more to a marriage; but all seemed to be convinced carnal relations was a very important part.
Later, when Susan and Isabel were alone, Susie continued with her argument. “We have been with many men, and the best are those who were trained here to love women properly. They are far superior to those who were not educated here.”
Bella looked thoughtful for a few seconds. “I have had some who were quite adept that were not taught by us. Mr Darcy’s father comes to mind; he was one of my first paying customers. I was fresh from my time with Squire Worthington. The squire, by the way, was a very inadequate lover. I believe Mrs T told Mr Darcy Senior of my circumstances, and he agreed to train me in some tricks to please a man. He made my mouth the accommodating treat it is today. In the bargain, he loved me like very few have since. Many of his tricks, I currently do to you… at least those things I am physically able to accomplish given the differences in your body. If he were still alive, we should both thank him for his tutelage. Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy is much like his father. His father chose me to educate him, but in reality we learned together. I find it humorous that I passed on much of what I had learned from the father to his son.”
“With whom did Lord Colton spend time in the beginning?”
“He had already starting frequenting Teasewell House when I arrived. Clarissa said she had been his first. In fact, he was almost exclusively with Clarissa for the first two years I was here. His brother, Lawrence, also preferred her, as well as Darcy’s cousin, the viscount. Colonel Fitzwilliam preferred me, but he too spent time with Clarissa. She was the most popular with all the men. Darcy and his father both bought her services from time to time. I was jealous and wanted to know why she was preferred by so many customers. Since Darcy and I had become friends, I tried to cajole him into telling me. He said he was not sure and spoke of variety being the spice of life.” She gave Susie a kiss before she concluded her remembrance of the early days. “I believe he was just trying to spare my feelings. I once asked Lord Colton to describe what she was like, but he absolutely refused.”
Susan smiled lovingly at Bella when she said, “Now that Clarissa has retired, you are the most popular.”
“Do not be ridiculous. Those are the words of my lover trying to be, just like Darcy was years ago, diplomatic. The truth is most of the current customers prefer the very young ones. It is true my mouth is appreciated by many, but I am nine and twenty. It is time I retired. Clarissa has been gone for two years. She and I are lucky we were able to last so long.” Isabel seemed lost in thought for a few moments. Finally she said, “Clarissa wrote me from Shropshire when she first retired. She lives in a beautiful stone cottage with pink roses over the doorway. One of her customers had described such a place to her, and that was all she wanted… and to live alone… no man for her… just a cat named Flora keeps her company. You will appreciate her other sentiment, my Suzette. She told me she had said ‘adieu’ to love, and she now found gardening much more satisfying.”
Susan rolled her eyes at Bella. “So are you telling me that when we retire you are going to say ‘adieu’ to love’ and take up gardening?”
Bella’s eyes twinkled with humour. “Not at all, my sweet. When we are retired, I will not have to share you with anyone. I plan to have you once a day and twice on Sunday to spite the memory of our fathers… the most disreputable parsons in all of England.”
It was before nine in the morning when Caroline Bingley took Mr Hurst’s carriage the three blocks from his house in Grosvenor Street to her brother’s house on Bruton Place. She had a copy of a morning newspaper with her. The notice of a certain double wedding had been the impetus to dress rapidly to make this short trip. She hoped she had not missed her brother, as her need to talk to him had become quite desperate upon seeing the item in the paper. Lately, he had been spending most of his days busy with something he had not explained involving Miss Bennet’s uncle. In fact, she had not seen him but once, since they had returned from Derbyshire. His trips to Mr Gardiner’s house in Cheapside had originally given her pause; now with the knowledge of the upcoming weddings, she was pleased with that turn of events. As the carriage pulled up, she hoped she would not be required to wait until evening to talk with him.
She was in luck. He was still eating when she was shown into the breakfast room. She poured herself a cup of tea and sat down at the table. Unfolding the newspaper, she said with a great deal of urgency, “Charles did you know that Miss Elizabeth and Miss Lydia are to marry in less than a fortnight?”
Charles seemed to be ignoring her pressing need to talk and continued to concentrate on his food. “I do. I am to be Darcy’s best man.”
“When did he ask you?”
“Three days ago, but the date of their wedding was not decided until yesterday. Miss Elizabeth was not yet in London when we spoke. It was when she arrived at her aunt and uncle’s that she agreed to Darcy’s request for a double wedding with Lord Colton and Miss Lydia. Caroline, I told you in Derbyshire that Darcy would be marrying Miss Elizabeth. The only reason no public announcement had been made was because of an emergency involving Miss Lydia.”
Charles piqued her curiosity with that news. For one second, she wondered whether the emergency had caused Mr Darcy to have second thoughts. Looking down at the newspaper story, she realized it was highly unlikely the wedding would be called off at this late date with the news of its time and place already making the rounds in the haunts of the ton. Besides, her goal this morning had been to encourage her brother to proceed with a courtship of Miss Bennet. Now that Lord Colton was to be connected to the Bennets, they became a family with whom she would definitely like to be associated. “Charles, is Miss Bennet staying at her aunt and uncle’s in Cheapside?”
Charles’ conversation seemed somewhat flat to her—not his usual open style. He slowly buttered some toast and spread it with jam before he answered. “No, she is staying at Darcy House with the rest of her sisters and Miss Darcy. Darcy is at Lord Colton’s house across Grosvenor Square until the wedding.”
“I must pay
a visit to Miss Bennet.”
At this, Charles became emotional. He looked up from his breakfast and glared at his sister. “You will not, Caroline. I do not believe Miss Bennet would be pleased to see you. Yesterday, she told me how hurt she had been when she was in town and we snubbed her. I made apologies for my rude behaviour.” His face reflected pain. Thankfully, she is once again talking to me; but her feelings are not the same as they were before we left Hertfordshire.”
Caroline was crestfallen by her brother’s news. “What will you do? Do you plan to continue your pursuit of her as you told me in Derbyshire?”
“Not at the present time. Currently, I do not believe I am worthy of her attentions, but I do hope to see her occasionally while she is in London. I am invited to dinner at the Gardiner’s tomorrow evening.”
“Why do you believe you are unworthy? You are a handsome and wealthy young man. You should try again to win her. It was wrong of me to attempt to separate you. The talk we had at Pemberley has convinced me of the error of my actions last winter.”
“Caroline, it is possible you may be trying to mend your ways, but I do not hear the ring of sincerity in your voice. Your thoughts seem mainly to be centred on having a connection with the future Earl of Blessing.
“Brother, I took our conversation to heart; and I plan to attend the Little Season with the view of finding someone to admire and appreciate. My intentions are not to think only about connections and money when I meet a potential suitor—but to judge the content of his character as you suggested.”
“Why then, do you have such an interest in my pursuit of Miss Bennet that you visit me early in the morning?” His eyes seemed to glaze over with disapproval. “When I become the man I hope to be, I will consider asking Mr Bennet to court his daughter… that is if she is still unmarried.”