Darcy's Temptation

by Regina Jeffers

  “Mr. Harrison’s after-dinner discussion with Edward took on a unique focus,” Elizabeth admitted.

  Darcy shifted his weight so he could speak to his wife directly. “Mr. Harrison is concerned for Georgiana’s safety due to his interest in her. He feels Captain Rutherford could be a problem; Rutherford opposes all Mr. Harrison believes. The captain has on several occasions questioned Georgiana about Mr. Harrison’s beliefs.”

  “Is that what played out on the dance floor the other evening?” Elizabeth recognized the exchange as being similar to the one she and Darcy had over George Wickham.

  “Evidently. Mr. Harrison offered to withdraw his attentions from Georgiana until I confirm whether the captain should be allowed to be in her company.”

  “Mr. Harrison’s integrity continues to impress me,” she added absent-mindedly.

  “How so?”

  “Just as you once considered helping me find an appropriate match so I might be happy, so does Mr. Harrison offer to withdraw from Georgiana. Do you not see why I view the man as having integrity?” Elizabeth stroked Darcy’s face once again.

  “How did you know I considered finding you another mate?” Darcy asked in disbelief.

  “Your sister likes to relate our courtship to Kitty,” Elizabeth teased.

  “I must speak to Georgiana.” Darcy pretended to be upset, but his smile told Elizabeth his love for her never stopped.“But what should we do about Captain Rutherford?” He brought the conversation back to the issue at hand.

  “Of course, we must learn more of the captain. Is it possible he simply opposes Mr. Harrison’s views without a strong compunction to cause harm?”

  “I suppose it to be so,” Darcy mused. “Yet, if the captain’s allies are more aggressive, we need to know that also.”

  “Certainly, Fitzwilliam.” Elizabeth snuggled into Darcy’s shoulder once again.“We will protect Georgiana together.”

  “You said earlier you did not deserve me; it is I who has grown from knowing you, my dearest Elizabeth.” Darcy kissed her forehead and pulled his wife even closer.

  “I will be happy to return to Pemberley,” Elizabeth said dreamily.“I miss our home.”

  “Do you consider Pemberley your home?” Darcy asked, stroking her arm and listening to the regularity of Elizabeth’s breathing.

  “Wherever you are is my home. Elizabeth traced Darcy’s lips with her fingertips. “But I admit to no longer thinking of Longbourn as my home; I belong to you and to Pemberley.”

  Darcy tilted Elizabeth’s chin to seek her mouth with his. The depth of the kiss increased as Elizabeth edged even closer to him. “You are stunning.” Darcy’s breath came out in short bursts.

  “My love for you cannot be expressed in words, Fitzwilliam.” Elizabeth kissed him again as her hands interlocked behind his head, pulling him down to her.

  In the middle of the night, Darcy felt Elizabeth touch his face. “Fitzwilliam.” She whispered close to his ear. “Fitzwilliam, wake up.”

  Darcy rolled toward her but fought to stay asleep. “What is it, my Love?” Darcy slurred the words.

  “The baby,” she said to his face, “it moved.The quickening began.” Elizabeth’s words held her delight.

  Darcy’s eyes shot open as what she said zigzagged through his subconscious. “Lizzy? When?” He reached out to touch Elizabeth’s abdomen.

  “Just now,” she giggled.

  Darcy kissed Elizabeth deeply. “You are my one true love,” he whispered.

  “Feel, Fitzwilliam.” Elizabeth took his hand and pressed it to her lower stomach.

  The fascination went across Darcy’s face.“What an extraordinary sensation!” he teased.“To think that is our child.” Darcy’s eyes encompassed Elizabeth as he bent to kiss her once again.

  “Our child likes the feel of your hand, Sir,” Elizabeth clasped his hand to her as the child moved sporadically,“as do I.”

  Darcy laughed. “It is so soon,” he thought out loud. “I did not think the quickening would begin for another few weeks. At least, that is what Mrs. Reynolds told me.”

  “So our child has a mind of his own.” Elizabeth snaked her arms around Darcy’s neck and pressed herself to him.

  “His own?” Darcy taunted.“Do you believe it to be a boy?”

  “I cannot know,” Elizabeth said, kissing Darcy’s neck, “but the child will be loved.That is of importance.”

  “Conceived in love to live with love.” Darcy deepened the kiss he planted on her mouth, needing to feel Elizabeth’s desires. “I love you, my Lizzy.” His mouth captured hers again and again, wrapping her in his love and satisfying a hunger he knew only when in Elizabeth’s presence.

  The Darcy party prepared for the departure from Hines Park. Hannah and Henry supervised the placement of the luggage for Darcy’s coach. Anne and Edward, with Mrs. Jenkinson, left earlier.

  “Miss Bennet and Miss Darcy.” Mr. Harrison stood and made a bow. “May I have the pleasure of showing you the gardens before you depart?”

  Kitty did not particularly want to see the gardens; she thought only of returning to Pemberley and seeing Clayton Ashford again, but she saw Georgiana give her a fleeting glance so Kitty knew her response.“That would be most pleasant, Mr. Harrison,” she said, and smiled at the man. “You will join us, will you not, Georgiana?”

  Georgiana dropped her eyes, unable to look at Harrison without betraying her thoughts.“I would enjoy it,” she said softly.

  Harrison led both girls through the maze of hedgerows and beech trees to the garden’s center fountain. Kitty graciously pretended to admire some plantings far enough away from Harrison and Georgiana to allow them to speak freely but close enough to maintain propriety.

  “Miss Darcy,” Harrison spoke anxiously, “please forgive my rashness, but I fear we have only a few moments.” He looked about nervously.

  “Speak what you will, Sir.” Georgiana swallowed hard as she lowered her voice.

  “I spoke to your brother about Captain Rutherford.” Harrison saw confusion come into her eyes. “I cannot explain now—the captain is dangerous. Please trust me, Miss Darcy. That is all I can tell you at this time.”

  “You spoke to Fitzwilliam?” Georgiana’s eyes darted to where Kitty stood.

  “I wanted to be sure you are safe.” Harrison’s urgency enveloped Georgiana. “I must know no harm comes your way because of me.”

  “I do not understand, Sir.”

  “It is complicated; just do not believe the captain, please, Miss Darcy,” Harrison pleaded with her. “You must trust me on this.”

  Georgiana’s response came at last; her eyes rose and looked deeply into the man’s. “I trust you, Mr. Harrison,” she whispered. “I trust you with my life.”

  The intensity between them stood thick among the overhanging branches. Their eyes never left each other. Georgiana knew what Harrison thought at that moment; the desire streamed from him; she felt he undressed her with his eyes. “Georgiana,” his voice caressed her as if his hands actually touched her face.

  “Chadwick,” Georgiana returned his familiarity as a hint of a smile turned up the corners of her mouth. Again, no words came, but meaning and understanding held them together.

  Suddenly aware of the change in their situation, Kitty Bennet loudly cleared her voice. “Please, Georgiana,” Kitty coaxed as softly as she could,“your brother is coming this way.”

  The words reached Georgiana’s senses; bewildered, she turned to Kitty.

  “Mr. Darcy walks this way,” Kitty cautioned Georgiana.

  Georgiana thanked Kitty with a nearly imperceptible nod and then let out a soft laugh before saying to Mr. Harrison, “Did you learn of the local well dressings, then, Mr. Harrison?”

  Harrison, too, snapped to a more acceptable form of address. “Unfortunately, Miss Darcy, they lacked much of what you and your sister accomplished at Pemberley.”

  By that time, Darcy came to greet them. “Ladies, your sister wishes to return to her home soo
n,” Darcy said to Georgiana and Kitty.“Are you ready to join her?”

  “I am sorry to delay your departure,” Harrison politely begged Darcy’s pardon.

  “It is I, Mr. Harrison, who took too much of your time.” Georgiana knew Harrison would not complain.

  “I am not seeking to apply blame,” Darcy stated.“Elizabeth tires easily now, and she wishes to depart soon.That is all I wish to imply.”

  “Then we must leave you, Mr. Harrison.” Kitty judiciously took his arm to return to the waiting carriage.

  Darcy offered his sister his own arm, and she gave him an appealing smile. “You appear very content, Georgiana.” Darcy looked closely at his sister.

  “Like Elizabeth, I am content to be returning to my home.” Her words hid the fact that from now on, her dreams would be associated with this garden and this estate.

  CHAPTER 6

  “Husbands and wives generally understand

  when opposition will be in vain.”

  Jane Austen, Persuasion, 1817

  For a week the Darcys enjoyed their return to Pemberley without interruptions of their time or their peace. Without houseguests, they could set their own schedules and their own interests. Darcy, Elizabeth, and Georgiana returned to regularly scheduled time to deal with estate business.The ladies did not ride out as did Darcy and Mr. Howard, but they did address issues with the tenants.

  “Do you not think we should also set up a regular schedule for visiting the tenants?” Georgiana asked as they sat in Darcy’s study, enjoying an unusually sunny early February day.

  “You are probably correct,” Elizabeth said. “The tenants need to know we care for their needs, and regularly going among them would help relay that concept. My only concern is as my time comes due, the need for the visits shall fall on your shoulders, and I would not want you to feel the burden of that responsibility alone.”

  “Elizabeth, I would enjoy being a part of helping the tenants. It is an area of which I am passionate. In the past, Fitzwilliam would never tolerate my going among them, seeing me as too fragile. Until there was you, my brother considered me too delicate to be involved in the estate. I do not know how you changed his thinking, but I would welcome this as an area of the estate business in which I could be of service.”

  “Of course, Kitty or even someone from the household staff could help during my confinement, I suppose,” Elizabeth offered. “If you are sure, Georgiana, then we should look into how we want to approach this endeavor.”

  “I am sure, Elizabeth.” Georgiana allowed her eyes to meet her sister’s.“It is important to me.”

  They continued to work on a tentative schedule for nearly an hour before breaking for some afternoon tea. “We will consult both Fitzwilliam and Mr. Howard,” Elizabeth added as she closed the journal in which she recorded her notes. “We will start our visits at the beginning of the week then.”

  “Thank you, Elizabeth,” Georgiana said as she handed her sister a cup of tea, and they moved to sit across from each other.

  Elizabeth looked out the study’s windows. “I am looking forward to my first springtime at Pemberley,” she said wistfully.

  Absent-mindedly, Georgiana confided, “I am pleased to be here and not in London this year.”

  “Will you not miss the society London offers?”

  “I shall miss some of the concerts, but not the pressure of London’s society toward perfection. I feared being found wanting.” Georgiana’s ease in speaking to Elizabeth began when they first met and continued as Elizabeth accepted Georgiana’s feelings as legitimate. The young girl needed someone such as her brother’s wife in her life, and although Elizabeth was only a few years older than Georgiana, she took on a “motherly” role.“I shall not miss delaying my coming out for the sake of your confinement.” Georgiana gave Elizabeth a huge smile.

  “Your brother said as much several days ago,” Elizabeth teased.

  Georgiana gasped,“Did he really?”

  They sat in companionable silence for several minutes before Georgiana got enough nerve to broach a subject, which had come to life since her meeting with Chadwick Harrison. She began cautiously, “Elizabeth, may I ask you a very personal question?”

  “Of course, Georgiana.”

  “You and Fitzwilliam have an unusual connection; how did you achieve such openness in such a short time?” Georgiana leaned forward as if to hear the “pearls of wisdom” she expected from Elizabeth.

  Elizabeth actually cackled with mirth. “Oh, Georgiana, if you are looking for me to give you such secrets, I am afraid I have none in my possession.” Elizabeth saw disappointment flit across Georgiana’s face. “Please believe me,” she added quickly, “if I possessed such wisdom, I would gladly share it with you.You know how dramatic the changes were for your brother, but mine were much more subtle. Of course, I owe it all to my husband.”

  Georgiana seemed puzzled.“To Fitzwilliam?”

  “Your brother, when he spoke to you of your hopefully finding a man who would not be intimidated by your intelligence, he spoke of a man like himself.” The puzzling look on Georgiana’s face amused Elizabeth.

  “Does Fitzwilliam believe I should seek a man like him? I am sorry, Elizabeth, but my brother’s moodiness would sorely play unfriendly on my nerves.” Georgiana laughed uneasily, fearing she said too much.

  “I agree,” Elizabeth joined in the mirth. “I believe your brother and I were destined for each other.We serve in perfect complement to one another.”

  “But how did you achieve that complementary relationship? That is what I would like to know.”

  “The relationship must be based on absolute trust; you can hide nothing from your mate.Your brother opened himself up to me shortly after I accepted his advances, but it took me longer to achieve such emotional honesty. He expressed his vulnerability in telling me about your parents’ love, his shyness, his vision for Pemberley, his intimate thoughts, and his constant need of assurance of my regard. Sometimes I felt overwhelmed, sometimes I felt protective.Your brother needed so much from a relationship; I often thought I could not satisfy everything he required of me.

  “Fitzwilliam wanted me to share everything. I assume because he took care of everything for so long, he needed someone with whom he could entrust some of those responsibilities without worrying about the outcome. Why did we fight so violently before my fall? It was because your brother still held vestiges of total control. Like our courtship, each of us needed my accident and recovery to reach an understanding. We found relief only in sharing—an intrinsic need of being a part of each other.

  “The biggest change for me came the day I realized your brother meant more to me than anything else in the world. I no longer thought of my parents and sisters as ‘my family’ or Longbourn as ‘my home.’ Fitzwilliam became everything I needed and wanted in life. I can honestly say I remember little of my life before your brother. It is as if I did not exist until he loved me.”

  Georgiana asked seriously,“So where do I go from here?”

  “You must not rush things. Find a man who really listens to you and values your true self.That is not an easy task, but you will be happier than you can imagine. Do not settle for less, Georgiana. If you want my secret, that is it. Fitzwilliam allows my confidence to grow while still being my constant joy.”

  Georgiana asked quietly, “Are there many men like my brother?”

  “I cannot say,” Elizabeth laughed. “I think, however, what you really ask is Mr. Harrison that type of man?”

  Georgiana blushed and diverted her eyes. “I still prefer his company to all others.”

  “Time will give you the answers, Georgiana,” Elizabeth added softly. “I know it sounds trite when I say be patient, but it is the key. Do not rush into a relationship.” The women sat together for some time, sharing the connection in silence before returning to their duties.

  Kitty Bennet kept herself busy with the renovations for the nursery. At first, disappointment found her when Mr
. Ashford did not appear upon her return to Pemberley. However, she learned by accident he traveled to Kympton to administer to the needs of the curate, who took ill. Although she desperately wanted to see him again, knowledge of Mr. Ashford’s caring nature sustained her.

  So, on an early February afternoon, Mr. Ashford took Kitty by surprise when she espied him walking up the lane to Pemberley. She stood in the nursery watching his stride and mannerisms as he approached the house. Kitty wondered what it would be like to have Clayton Ashford kiss her.Would it be as Mr. Darcy said—like coming home? The cleric seemed nervous, but confident at the same time, and she saw the glint of a smile slip into the corners of his mouth when he looked up at the house. A warmth crept into her being, and Kitty found she had to sit down and gulp for air.“Why do I react this way when I think of Mr.Ashford?” she said out loud.

  The light tap on Darcy’s door announced the presence of Mr. Ashford; the vicar entered the master’s study. He had been a guest at Pemberley a few times already, but this time the situation held a difference—a yearning and a need for something intangible. Studying his employer, Ashford thought Mr. Darcy did not look surprised to see him.

  “Good afternoon, Sir,” Darcy stood and acknowledged the man,“it has been several weeks since we saw you, Mr. Ashford.”

  “I have been in Kympton. Old Mr. Matthews took ill. I planned to call upon you before now, Mr. Darcy.” Ashford shifted uneasily as he took the seat Darcy offered.

  “What brings you here this afternoon, Mr. Ashford?” Darcy took his usual seat behind the desk.

  Fearing he might lose his nerve if he did not speak quickly, Ashford went directly to the point. “I came today, Sir, to seek your permission to call upon your sister Miss Bennet with the ultimate goal of asking her hand in marriage.” Ashford gasped for air, trying to clear his dry throat after looking into Darcy’s formidable eyes.