Darcy's Temptation

by Regina Jeffers

  “I suppose,” Elizabeth responded.

  Darcy, recognizing his wife’s propensity for being outside in all elements, turned to her immediately. “Do you feel poorly, my Love?”

  Elizabeth shifted uncomfortably on the bench. “I cannot speak of feeling more than a bit uncomfortable. If I were not with child,” she said with a blush to her cheeks, “I would suspect my courses were upon me.” Something she would never discuss with her sisters, Elizabeth now explained to Darcy.The irony of how her life changed played across her mind.

  Darcy asked in all concern,“Should we return to the house?”

  “Would you mind if I chose to return to my chambers? I feel so tired today.”

  Darcy stood and offered Elizabeth his hand. “Come, Mrs. Darcy, I will not have you overextending yourself on my account.”

  Elizabeth stood, but a pain surged through her, and she could no longer ignore the situation. “Fitzwilliam,” she gasped and clutched desperately at his arm.

  Instinctively, Darcy scooped her into his arms. “I have you, my Love,” a bit of panic laced through his voice. He took long strides as he approached the side entrance to the estate. He ordered one of the footmen to bring Mr. Spencer immediately. Upon entering the house, Darcy yelled for Mrs. Reynolds’s help, carrying his wife toward her bedchamber.

  “I am sorry, Fitzwilliam,” Elizabeth sobbed, her head buried into the side of his neck.

  Her words brought the fear he felt to the forefront. Could she lose the baby, or, even worse, could he lose her? “Mr. Spencer is on his way, Lizzy; I will protect you; I will let nothing happen to you.” His words seemed useless under the circumstances for Darcy could do little to change what might happen.

  As he laid her back against the pillows of her bed, the fear in Elizabeth’s eyes shot through him. He never saw her this way—this was the same woman who never backed down from him—from Mr. Wickham—and even from Lady Catherine; now Elizabeth looked like a frightened fawn. He felt so inadequate, unable to help her.

  Mrs. Reynolds rushed into the room. “I am here, Mrs. Darcy,” she said as she literally pushed Darcy to the side.

  Elizabeth thought out loud.“It is too early.”

  Mrs. Reynolds began to loosen the lacing on Elizabeth’s dress and corset.“Let us take some pressure off your body,” the woman said thoughtfully.“I suppose I cannot convince you to wait outside, can I, Master Fitzwilliam?” She gave him a look of disapproval.

  “I will not leave Elizabeth.” His eyes searched his wife’s face for some sign of her well-being.

  “Then help me get your wife into one of her dressing gowns,” Mrs. Reynolds demanded as Hannah rushed through the door with the gown.

  Darcy lifted Elizabeth as the women administered to her needs. He kissed her softly and whispered endearments as the world around them bustled about furiously.

  Noting how ashen white his face was, Elizabeth managed a slight smile.“I will be fine, Fitzwilliam.” Her words were meant to convince both of them. Another pain gripped her, and Darcy pulled her to him until she relaxed once again. In his mind he began to calculate how far she was from her expected delivery—not quite six weeks told him Elizabeth could easily lose their baby.

  As he had before his accident, Darcy took a close look at Elizabeth. Her personality filled a room, and he often forgot how small—very fragile—Elizabeth actually was. It never occurred to him Elizabeth’s carrying his child could be dangerous for her. Darcy did not want to lose her; he would forego having an heir rather than to lose the joy he felt the last few weeks.

  As each sharp pain increased Elizabeth’s discomfort, Darcy watched helplessly as tears filled her brilliant eyes. “Look at me, Elizabeth,” he commanded as he took her hands in his. “I will help you through this.” His words soothed her anxiety, and despite her exhaustion, Elizabeth reached out to caress his jaw line.

  Finally, Mr. Spencer rushed into the room, obviously flushed from his ride to Pemberley. He thought about sending everyone from the room, but the trio gathered in Mrs. Darcy’s bedchamber quickly let him know they would not budge.

  “Mrs. Darcy,” Mr. Spencer said as he began to examine her, “we will take care of you. It is early, but not unmanageable.” He wanted to give her some sort of surety.

  Neither Darcy nor Hannah nor Mrs. Reynolds wanted to ask the obvious question so Elizabeth finally found her voice. “Will I lose this child?” Elizabeth’s voice broke in fear. Tears trailed down Hannah’s face, and Darcy looked away, unable to see the turmoil on his wife’s face.

  “I am hoping to postpone that possibility.” Mr. Spencer reacted to the fear emanating from everyone in the room.

  “How do we do that?” It was Darcy’s voice, but the resonance was dulled by confusion and remorse.

  “Listen carefully, all of you,” Mr. Spencer demanded their attention. “I am going to propose something a bit controversial, but, believe me, I observed this to work before.”

  Darcy left Elizabeth’s side.“Well, tell us, man.”

  “Mrs. Darcy has not shown she is in full labor. In fact, I suspect we can stop her pains and delay her delivery. If we do, Mrs. Darcy, you are on complete bed rest from this day until you deliver your child.” He turned to give Elizabeth his orders.

  “Anything, Mr. Spencer,” Elizabeth wiped her tears away.

  Darcy nearly pleaded,“What do we do, Mr. Spencer?”

  “You, Mr. Darcy, are going to find your smoothest brandy because we are going to get your wife drunk.” Mr. Spencer looked pleased with himself.

  This ridiculous idea struck Elizabeth as funny, and she actually laughed out loud. Darcy looked stunned, but he managed to say,“Are you sure?”

  Mr. Spencer turned his eyes on Darcy. Convincing him would convince everyone. “Please understand; Mrs. Darcy’s current pains are not a sign she is ready to deliver this child, but if we do not stop them, she will soon be in full childbirth. My proposal is to let the alcohol relax Mrs. Darcy and her pains. If we can stop these pains now, we can delay her delivery.Whether we can postpone Mrs. Darcy’s ultimate delivery for six weeks is unlikely, but each day we do gives your wife and your child a better chance.”

  Darcy noted Mr. Spencer did not say “a chance of survival,” but they all knew what the man insinuated.

  “Hannah, go get the brandy out of my study.” Darcy gave the order without taking his eyes from Mr. Spencer’s face. Finally, he turned and went to sit on the edge of Elizabeth’s bed. Taking her hand in his, Darcy tried to tease her, “Well, Mrs. Darcy, it appears I will learn all your deepest secrets this evening; I promise to ply you with my finest brandy. Are you game?”

  “You will not leave me?” she asked innocently, her fear in full view.

  “The chance to see you with your guard down? How could I resist such charms?” Darcy tried to sound light, but he worried whether Mr. Spencer’s idea had a chance.

  Hannah rushed back into the room carrying the decanter and two glasses. Darcy took the decanter and poured a generous drink for Elizabeth and a much smaller one for himself.With a slight ironic smile, he handed her the glass. “A toast to my loveliest Elizabeth,” he said, clinking his glass to hers.“You are the mirror of my dreams.” Darcy placed the glass to his lips and took a sip, but with a nod of his head, he encouraged Elizabeth to take a large swallow.

  Elizabeth’s eyes teared up immediately, and she coughed repeatedly as the brandy left a burning sensation in her throat. When she could manage to speak again, she stammered,“You . . . you drink . . . you drink this willingly?”

  “Men like to prove how powerful we are.” Darcy held an amused look on his face.“Yet, it is you women who possess all the power. You consume us.” He sipped again, and Elizabeth followed suit with another large gulp.This time she only had to clear her throat a few times.

  Mr. Spencer hustled the women from the room. “We will be outside, Mr. Darcy.”

  Darcy barely turned his head as they left. His attention remained on Elizabeth. He woul
d keep her calm; he would help her save their child. They sat together for some time, neither speaking but Darcy constantly gauging his wife’s condition. Finally he teased,“Do I know you, Madam?”

  Elizabeth took a more moderate sip of the alcohol; it already took its effect on her. She was at that “giggling” stage of intoxication where everything was funny. She gave him a semi-seductive smile.“Oh, yes, Sir, you know me intimately.”

  “Intimately?” he asked slyly.“How intimately?” He topped off her glass, and Elizabeth sloshed some of it on the cuff of his shirt.

  “That depends on you, Mr. Darcy.” Her words began to slur, and Darcy noted it had been some time since Elizabeth winced with pain.

  “Intimate enough for this?” He allowed his fingers to trace across her shoulder and along the neckline of her gown. Elizabeth openly gasped, and Darcy held his glass to her for another sip of brandy, and then he kissed the last few drops from her lips.

  “Intimate enough for this,” she laughed lightly as she moved Darcy’s hand down her body, letting it come to rest on her abdomen.

  “Our child,” he whispered.

  “Loves your touch,” Elizabeth finished his line.

  He continued to entice her with words of love and sips of brandy for the next three-quarters hour. While his wife became pleasantly drunk, Darcy carefully noted how her pains totally disappeared.

  By the time Mr. Spencer and Darcy’s staff returned to Elizabeth’s room, she was fully inebriated. They found Elizabeth singing and laughing at the top of her lungs. She sat propped against a stack of pillows, arms flailing about like an orchestra conductor.

  Darcy stretched out across the foot of the bed, smiling contentedly, watching her.

  “Sing with me, Fitzwilliam,” she called and then started singing a bawdy number. “There was a fine lady who rode a white horse; she came to London, of course, of course; with rings on her fingers and bells on her toes; she has treasures wherever she goes.”

  Darcy laughed at her and stood where he could speak to the physician. “I wonder where she learned that one. At least my wife is a happy drunk,” he remarked to no one in particular.

  “Mrs. Darcy will have a headache like she has never known before.” Mrs. Reynolds found it all amusing.

  Mr. Spencer asked him privately,“Any more pains, Mr. Darcy?”

  “None for nearly an hour.” Darcy turned to answer the physician.

  “Perfect.” Mr. Spencer looked relieved. “Mrs. Darcy may have just saved her life and that of your child.”

  Darcy breathed at last.“Mr. Spencer, how may I thank you?”

  “Help me keep Mrs. Darcy in bed for a few more weeks. I want her to bring joy back to Pemberley. It has been too solemn too long.”

  Darcy looked back at the giggling Elizabeth.“It certainly is not solemn in here this evening.”

  Mr. Spencer joined in the laughter.“Mrs. Darcy does know how to light up a room.”

  When Elizabeth finally awoke the next morning, she moaned with disgust.“Oh, my head,” she muttered, trying to sit up in bed.

  Darcy leaned down to kiss her cheek. “You, my Dear, were delightful last night.”

  “How long will I feel this way?” Darcy’s look of amusement irritated Elizabeth.

  “A few hours,” he smiled as he helped her reposition herself in the bed.

  Elizabeth looked around to see the blanket lying across the back of the chair.“Have you been here all night?”

  “I told you I would not leave you,” he reasoned. Darcy poured her some coffee.“Do you suppose you could eat something?” he asked casually.

  “Maybe some toast,” Elizabeth added. “Dry toast.” Darcy brought her some from the serving tray.

  “Now, Mrs. Darcy,” he teased, “I want to know where you learned a certain song.”

  Darcy became her constant companion. Elizabeth delighted being with him although being confined to her quarters nearly drove her crazy. Eventually, Darcy began to carry her from room to room. At least, with moving her to where he could watch her, Darcy was able to stay abreast of estate business. Elizabeth read or did her needlework.

  “One week closer,” Elizabeth said as he placed her in her bed.

  Darcy kissed her lips gently. “One week closer—soon, my Love, our child will be with us.”

  Elizabeth pulled him back to her, quickly deepening the kiss she offered.“Fitzwilliam,” she breathed heavily,“I love you more than I can ever express.”

  Darcy had to touch her. He quickly discarded his cravat, coat, and waistcoat. “May I lie with you tonight, Lizzy? I want to hold you in my arms.”

  “I wish to be no place else,” she said softly as Darcy finished stripping off his clothing. Finally, he settled her in his arms; her head nestled into the indentation of his shoulder. They kissed repeatedly. Darcy never felt such intense happiness.

  Sitting back in the coach, Georgiana wondered what would happen when her brother found out what she planned. Darcy would be furious with her actions; he might never forgive her. At a minimum, her brother would likely force her into a speedy marriage, but Georgiana cared not for her loss of reputation. Mr. Harrison’s life was on the line, and she must warn him of the dangers.

  Darcy would question why she did not just send word to Mr. Harrison, an act of impropriety, but one of less severity than the one in which she currently participated. However, Georgiana could be nowhere else if Chadwick Harrison was in the kind of danger she expected. Georgiana knew Mr. Harrison would never back down, and if she did not warn him, he could die in the confrontation. She would be with him when the trouble came; she could be no place other than with the man she loved.

  Mr. Gardiner’s visit to Kensington Place came unexpectedly on Friday afternoon. Georgiana planned a leisurely evening alone; she sent Mrs.Annesley on a visit to the woman’s favorite nephew, and she wanted nothing more than the comfort of her own company. When Mr. Thacker announced Mr. Gardiner’s presence, Georgiana felt a bit annoyed, but she hid her concern from Elizabeth’s uncle.

  “Miss Darcy.” Mr. Gardiner made his bow. “I hoped to find Mr. Darcy at home.”

  “My brother is not here today.” It was the story upon which she and Darcy agreed. “He is addressing some personal business. May I be of service to you, Sir?”

  Mr. Gardiner seemed agitated. “I have some distressing news of which Mr. Darcy should be made aware.” He paced the length of the room.

  “I could reach Fitzwilliam if necessary.” Georgiana tried to sound nonchalant.

  His decision made, Mr. Gardiner broke down and told her his secret. “It is imperative Mr. Darcy is made aware of what I share with you.”

  “I understand, Mr. Gardiner,” Georgiana assured him.

  “I have an associate who brings me news from time to time. He tells me a large contingent of anti-abolitionists plan to oppose Mr. Harrison’s election as a PM.They will address the gentleman at the borough assembly. I suspect Mr. Harrison should be made aware of the situation. He could be in some danger if things escalate.” Mr. Gardiner continued to pace.

  Georgiana tried to steel her nerves. Mr. Harrison meant as much to her as did Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth. Her heart continued to beat, but Georgiana could barely breathe as fear gripped her throat.“Mr. Gardiner,” she said at last,“my brother and I thank you for your devotion to our family. I will address your concerns to Fitzwilliam immediately.”

  Mr. Gardiner retrieved his hat from the table. “Again, Miss Darcy, I beg your forgiveness in disturbing your privacy today.”

  Although Georgiana already planned what she would do, she managed to say,“Think nothing of it, Mr. Gardiner; we are family.” She showed him to the door, and then turned back to the butler. “Mr. Thacker, have the men prepare my coach.” Then she rushed off to her chambers to prepare her bags. Georgiana would be off to Dove Dale in a matter of hours.

  CHAPTER 26

  “Next to being married,

  a girl likes to be crossed in love a little now and th
en.”

  Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, 1813

  On Saturday a post came from Georgiana, and Darcy carried it to Elizabeth’s room to share with his wife. He and Elizabeth clicked off another week of waiting for the birth of their child. Darcy barely left her sight; he made the resolution that Elizabeth and this child were more important than anything else, for without them, he was nothing.“I have a post from Georgiana,” he said as he entered his wife’s bedchamber.

  As Darcy settled into the chair beside Elizabeth’s bed, she asked, “When will you go to London to bring Georgiana and Kitty back to Pemberley?”

  “I considered sending Mr. Howard in my stead.” He shared his thoughts to see how Elizabeth would react.

  “Fitzwilliam, I will be well.” Elizabeth looked on a bit amused.“I will remain in this bed if it means a healthy delivery for our child.”

  “Elizabeth, I cannot leave you,” Darcy argued.“I have been out of your life too long. I should have been here when Mr. Jefferson brought up tenant rights, when Mr. Wickham came uninvited, and when the stable caught on fire. I failed you as a husband, and, no matter what, I will not fail you now. I will be with you when this child is born.”

  “Fitzwilliam, I never considered you as a failure as a husband.” Elizabeth rolled onto her side so she could address him directly.“You allowed me to be a strong, independent woman. In a time when women have no voice, you allowed me to not only speak, but to sing. Life is not merely a haphazard series of events; our life is an exquisite plan, a perfect tapestry. Can you not see that, my Love?”

  “Elizabeth,” he choked with emotions, “I must see this through, or I will never be able to forgive myself.” Darcy moved to sit on the edge of her bed. “If something would happen,” he began but could not finish his thoughts.