by Linda Wells
Please forgive me, Fitzwilliam. My confused, selfish, irrational behaviour deprived both of us a relationship that I know we both needed and desired. I pray that your children will have the joy of knowing their father as dearly as I wish you had known me. I wish you a long, happy life with your wonderful wife. I know that if you love her, your mother and I would have as well.
Your loving father,
George Darcy
When Elizabeth entered the study several hours later, she found Darcy leaning on the window frame staring unseeing at the view. She asked what was wrong, and he silently handed her the letter. Finishing it, she embraced him. After a long time, he gently pushed her away and asked her to leave him to his thoughts. He would see her when he was ready to sleep. Although she was unhappy with his withdrawal, she respected his request and with a whispered declaration of her love, left the room.
DARCY SAT ALONE in his study, the pages of his father’s letter fallen from his grasp, and now scattered on the floor at his feet. He understood so many things now, but knowing the reasons did not make it any easier to bear. Suddenly he was a young boy again, feeling so alone, and unable to understand why his father did not seem to love him.
The touch of Elizabeth’s soft hand wiping the tears from his face finally brought him back to the present. She had recovered the scattered sheets, and folded them together. She gently kissed his cheek, and bringing her face close to his smiled softly into his eyes. “Come, my love.” Wordlessly, he responded to the slight tug of her hand on his. He rose and they quietly ascended the stairs to their bedchamber.
When Elizabeth closed the door behind them, he clutched her to him tightly. His body wracked with silent sobs, releasing the pain of the past while holding tightly to his future. He realized then that he should not have pushed her away, and was grateful that she came to him. When he finally calmed, Elizabeth helped him to undress and soon they were naked, lying in each other’s arms. Darcy started to kiss her, and pulling away, she smiled and placed her hand over his mouth.
“What is wrong?”
“Absolutely nothing. I want you to lay back and relax.” She stroked his face and ran her fingers through his hair.
“I need you, Lizzy,” he plead.
“I know.” She pressed him back onto the pillows, and lay on top of him. Automatically, his arms came around her. She gently kissed his lips, and very slowly touched her tongue with his, allowing them to dance together until she heard him groan. She then dragged her mouth, her lips slightly parted, over his face, her warm breath making his skin tingle. She moved on and languorously nibbled his neck below his ear, and made her way to his shoulders.
“What are you doing?” He moaned.
“Loving you.” She whispered.
She now added her gliding fingertips to the trace of her lips and mouth as she worked her way down his chest. When she reached his nipples, she drew them into her mouth while bringing his aroused manhood to rest in the warm valley between her breasts. She gently rocked her chest, allowing him to glide smoothly between her softness. She ran her fingers, barely touching, down his sides, and he dropped his head back, “Oh God, Lizzy. . .”
She moved on, now brushing her face over his arousal, her fingers stroking, feather light, his thighs, his calves, and finally suckling his toes.
Darcy was in such a state of heightened arousal he could barely register a coherent thought. His hands were balled into fists at his sides. His body was reacting with tremors and quaking under her gentle assault. When she slowly worked her way back up and took him into her burning mouth he nearly sat upright. She mimicked the movement of his thrusting with her mouth, her tongue never ceasing its torturous pleasure around and over him. Finally, she pulled away and lay completely on top of his body and allowed him to wrap his arms around her again. Their mouths met in a passionate, hungry kiss. Darcy rolled her over and without hesitation entered her fully. Their bodies rocked together, moving in a steady, unhurried rhythm, both moaning, both straining to be as close together as possible. Elizabeth reached her peak and the arching of her back and the call of his name pushed him finally to his shuddering release.
Their bodies remained entwined, as slowly they regained their equilibrium. He softly kissed her swollen lips, and gazing into her eyes, moved a fallen lock of hair from her face, “I shall always love you, Elizabeth Darcy.”
She caressed his cheek, “And you shall always be my love, William Darcy. You will never be alone again.” They turned, spooning in a lover’s embrace.
“Thank you.” He whispered, so overwhelmed that she wanted him, and so thankful that she loved him. He held onto his anchor and slept.
Chapter 24
Elizabeth awoke to the sensation of a large hand caressing her hair. She opened her eyes and was met with the gaze of her husband, a look of sadness in his soft brown eyes. She touched his hair, entwining her fingers in his curls. “Good morning, love.” She whispered.
“Good morning, my Lizzy.” He whispered back.
She touched his face. “What are you thinking about?”
“The past.” He said, looking down and pressing his lips together.
She wrapped her arms around him. “Would you like to talk about it?”
“Not yet.” He buried his face in her hair, allowing the scent to surround him. “I think that I will go for a ride this morning.”
“Shall I go with you?”
He laughed lightly. “You are learning my love, but for the ride I need today, I am afraid that you are not quite prepared.”
She looked up at him. “You are not going to do anything foolish are you, William? You will not risk yourself to ride away from the devil that is on your mind, will you?” She was concerned. She had heard stories from Richard of his wild rides when he was upset with something, occasionally causing injury.
He hugged her tightly to him. “I promise I will come back to you in one piece. Then we will talk.” He kissed her. “I just need to . . .” He sighed. “I cannot put it into words yet.”
“I think that I understand. I often have taken a long walk to just put things in perspective.” She touched his lips. “I think that I will do that this morning while you ride.”
Now he was concerned. “You will not go too far, will you? You do not really know the estate very well yet.”
She smiled. “I will keep to the path by the lake. Will that be safe enough for you?”
He relaxed. “Yes, now I will not worry as much. Perhaps you should take a footman with you.”
“William, I spent how many years wandering around Hertfordshire alone? Surely I am safe on our own land?”
“I am just afraid.”
“Of what?”
“Losing you.”
Elizabeth kissed him and they held each other tightly. “You are stuck with me, William. You will just have to live with that fact.” He sighed as she ran her fingers down his sides. “Perhaps we can enjoy that enormous bathtub when we return. I think that we will both need it!”
He pulled away and smiled at her. “You always make me feel better, Lizzy.”
AFTER A QUICK BREAKFAST, Darcy left to take his ride. Elizabeth dressed and went downstairs, and was met by Mrs. Reynolds. “Oh, Mrs. Darcy, the post just came. You have several letters. I left them on your desk.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Reynolds. I am going to take a walk on the lake path if anyone is looking for me.” She left to collect her letters. There were three, one each from Jane, Mr. Bennet, and Lydia.
She set off on the long path. Finding a convenient bench, she sat down to read her letters. Jane’s was full of news on their wedding plans. She seemed to think that Charles would have preferred to follow Elizabeth and Darcy’s route to matrimony. She laughed. Her father’s letter was short, but at least he was civil. He was trying hard to make amends, and his note was full of questions about her life. She was still trying to understand him, and was trying to find a new relationship with him. Lydia’s letter was fascinating. She was her u
sual outrageous self, but then she wrote something that made Elizabeth sit up with surprise.
You will never believe it! I was looking in a ribbon shop and behind me I heard a voice saying my name. I turned around, and who could it be but Mr. Wickham! Well, he was as handsome as ever, and I smiled and said hello. Lizzy, he looked me up and down like he wanted to eat me! He even said that he thought that I was as sweet as ever, and that he missed me after he left Meryton. We went for a walk, and he kept telling me how pretty I was, and of course, I liked it, but you know, I have been getting rather close with Mr. Denny during my visit here, and I started to feel that maybe I should not be walking with Mr. Wickham. Then he said that he heard that you had married Mr. Darcy, and he asked me all kinds of questions about you. He does not seem to like Mr. Darcy very much, at all. I do not know why, he is nice when you can get him to talk, and if you like him, it is all that matters, he is rich after all. Anyway, he said that he would like to visit you soon and wish you joy, which does not make sense if he dislikes Mr. Darcy, does it? Then he pulled me behind a building and pressed me against the wall and started kissing me! I liked being kissed, but then I remembered that he did the same thing to you! That makes him a cad does it not? And Mr. Denny would not like it at all, so I told him to stop it, but he just pressed on me harder. So then I remembered what you did to him, Lizzy! I kicked my knee up onto him, and he screamed with pain! He rolled on the ground! Oh what a joke! Mr. Denny happened to walk by and saw him on the ground and asked me what happened. Of course I told him, and he got so angry at Mr. Wickham! He went to his colonel, and I think that he has been released from the militia!
Mr. Denny asked me to marry him the next day. I shall be Mrs. Denny! Does that not sound well? I cannot wait to tell Mama! But I will wait until I get home for Jane’s wedding. So do not tell her! I want to see the look on her face!
Elizabeth sat with her mouth agape. So much information in one letter! Lydia engaged to Mr. Denny, well that is a good match. She will have her man in a red coat, and he was not a bad man, they had spent many months together in Meryton, so they had time to know one another. He would do well to tame her wild sister. But the news of Mr. Wickham was incredible! She thought of Lydia kicking him in the groin and laughed, she must be sure to teach that to her daughters someday!
Rereading the letter, she began to wonder, why would Mr. Wickham be so interested in her marrying William? And would he really come here to wish us well? For what purpose? After the shock of George Darcy’s letter, and reopening all the old wounds, she could not begin to imagine what William’s reaction would be. Whatever Wickham’s reasons, they would not be performed out of kindness or a desire for reconciliation.
She folded her letters and slipped them under the sash of her gown. Taking off her bonnet, she hooked it over her arm and started down the path by the lake, soon disappearing into the trees. She walked for almost a half hour, and had reached the area where one side of the path was forested, and the other opened onto a deep ravine, containing the stream which flowed from the now distant lake. The woods were silent except for the occasional bird call, when she heard the crack of a twig. She looked around and was confronted with the leering face of George Wickham.
“Good morning, Mrs. Darcy, I have come to deliver my sincere congratulations.”
When Elizabeth tried to scream, he grabbed her, stuffing her mouth with a handkerchief. He then pushed her onto the ground, quickly binding her wrists, and remembering too well the power of her knees, he bound her ankles together. Elizabeth struggled and twisted, trying to work the handkerchief out. Wickham saw it and struck her across the face with his palm, then took another length of cloth and tied it firmly around her mouth.
Finally he sat back on his heels, still on top of her. He looked into her terrified eyes and laughed. “Now I believe that we must continue that conversation we were having in Meryton, Mrs. Darcy.” He leaned down and licked her cheek, while roughly squeezing her breasts. “You did not listen to me; you went and married my old friend Darcy.” She struggled. “Did you know that your Papa wrote to me asking for my help in breaking your attachment? I missed out on a potentially profitable exercise when you married. I was vastly disappointed. Perhaps this situation is even better.” He whispered hotly in her ear. “Let us see how much you are worth to him.”
He began rubbing his arousal over her and kissing her neck. He stank of sweat and alcohol. “I was determined to find you after I met your sweet sister Lydia in Brighton. We had a very intimate conversation as well.” Raising her skirt, he grinned at the revelation, and stroked her thighs. “A pity that your legs are bound. Well, no matter, we will get to know each other much better later. I must pay you back for the blow you delivered to me,” he promised as he fingered her core, his eyes dark with lust. “I enjoyed watching your tryst with Darcy in the meadow. I never knew he had it in him.” He licked his finger. “But soon you will enjoy the feel of a real man.”
Picking up her writhing body and throwing her over his shoulder like a sack, he walked to where his horse was tethered and threw her up on the saddle, then climbing on behind he kicked the horse into motion.
Elizabeth knew that if she did not escape soon, he would surely take her somewhere and violate her or worse. She wriggled and twisted. He cursed at her to stay still, the horse bucking at the unusual movement on its back. Wickham raised his fist to strike her when, with an enormous effort, she kicked the horse so it reared up. Falling off she rolled down a slope and suddenly into nothingness, her scream silenced by the gag.
Calming the horse, he jumped off, and looked over the edge of the cliff. He saw Elizabeth’s still body lying far below, partially hidden by some brush. Blood was on her face. He stood staring down at her, not once did the thought of going to her aid cross his mind.
Wickham’s plan after securing Elizabeth was to take her on horseback to an abandoned barn located outside of Lambton. Waiting there was an enclosed carriage. He would place her inside, knocking her out if necessary, and drive the carriage himself to a small cabin he knew on the way to London. There he intended to take out his long festering revenge upon Darcy by repeatedly taking his pleasure with his wife. He would send a ransom note to Darcy from there, and continue to London, disappearing with her into the bowels of the city, and employing an unsuspecting waif to collect his fee at the appointed place and time. Only upon receiving his payment would he release his captive, and disappear forever.
That was his plan, but now with Elizabeth dead, he knew it was only a matter of time before her body was found, and he must adjust his plans to collect his reward and depart the area as soon as possible. He was disappointed that he would not enjoy Elizabeth’s favours, but he rejoiced knowing how deeply he will have hurt Darcy, and he wanted his old friend to know it was he who was responsible. He knew this would be his last chance to ever hurt and profit from him again. Taking one last look at her broken body, he smiled, ran back to his horse, and rode off.
DARCY RETURNED to the house after his intense ride feeling exhausted, and a little better. He was ready to hold Elizabeth and talk now, and upon hearing that she was still on her walk, he glanced at the clock. It was nearly noon. Spotting Mrs. Reynolds, he asked if she knew when Mrs. Darcy had left, and learning that it was nearly four hours earlier, he became concerned and immediately returned to the stable to saddle a fresh horse and set off on the lake path to look for her. Elizabeth was a good walker, but four hours was quite unusual.
He started down the familiar path and was soon into the quiet of the trees. Searching the path and the forest on either side, he heard and saw nothing, until a yellow object appeared on the ground far ahead of him. He kicked the horse to move faster, and arriving, felt a fear rising in him that he had never known before. On the ground were Elizabeth’s bonnet and the scattered pages of her letters.
He jumped down and picked them up, holding the bonnet to his face to catch the scent of lavender from her hair. Panicking, he called out, “Elizabeth! Lizzy!
Where are you?”
Hearing nothing he looked around, desperate for a sign of her. Studying the earth he saw the evidence of a struggle in the disturbed soil. Looking further, he could see the imprints of boots, which led him to the signs of a horse’s hoof prints.
Darcy stood paralyzed with fear. Wherever she was, and whoever took her, it was on horseback. “Lizzy!” He cried out in terror. Who could have done this? Why? What he did know was that he could not bear life without her.
Blankly he stared down at the crumpled letters in his hand. Suddenly, a name caught his eye. “Wickham?” Lydia’s letter said that Wickham had been removed from the militia, that he was asking questions about Elizabeth and himself, and that he wished to “visit” them.
Closing his eyes, he tried to control his rage. “Wickham! He has come to try and destroy my life again!” Darcy ran back to his horse and rode like a madman back to the stables. He alerted the staff that Mrs. Darcy was kidnapped by George Wickham. Instantly the stable hands and grooms saddled horses to begin searching the woods. Word was sent to Lambton to alert the constable, and to search there. Darcy turned his horse around and returned to look for her at the only place he could, the woods. He tried to think of the places Wickham liked to hide during his boyhood.
They went through the trees and the brush, calling her name. The number of riders grew steadily as word spread. Elizabeth had already become much-liked and the concern for the new Mistress of Pemberley was high, especially when it was known that George Wickham was involved. The memory of his misdeeds at Pemberley and in Lambton was still fresh. The search continued unceasingly until nightfall, when Mr. Regar forced Darcy to abandon it until daylight. Darcy wanted to stay out. Elizabeth needed him. She was alone and she needed him. He could feel her calling out to him.