The Cumberland Plateau

by Mary K. Baxley

  Tears filled her eyes.

  “Oh, Elizabeth, I’m so sorry. Please don’t cry. Someday you’ll have a husband and a family like your parents did,” he said as he put his glass aside and slid over to comfort her. “You were truly blessed because not all children have what you had. To know about your childhood helps me to understand you better,” Darcy said as he continued to hold and comfort her.

  When she’d calmed, she glanced up. “Yes, I was lucky to have had them. But enough about me. I want to hear about your childhood.”

  “Well, it was not as nice as yours in some ways, but it wasn’t bad either,” he said as he guided her to where he had been sitting. Leaning back, he pulled her onto his chest and held her close. “I have one brother, David, who is four years my junior, and one sister, Georgiana, who is ten years younger. My mum and dad were not as close as yours. Mum did stay home with us, but my father was rarely there. He was consumed with business, and my mother was often lonely. But she did take an interest in David and me, and later in Georgiana. She taught us to ride and play classical piano. She was a master pianist, educated at Cambridge and later at the Royal Academy of Music. For a short while, we were educated at home, too. Mum organized it, but we were taught by special tutors. Then, when we were old enough, David and I were sent to public school and later to Eton. It’s a boarding school of the highest quality. My parents felt very strongly about the educational process.” He released a sigh and gathered her closer, planting a kiss on her brow.

  “I would say that whilst Mother was alive we were content and even happy, especially when Father came home from London to spend time with us. However, Mum died from complications of a fourth pregnancy when Georgiana was four,” he said, sadness resonating in his voice. “The baby, my brother, didn’t survive the birth. From that point on, I only remember being lonely. My father was very busy and could rarely spend time with us.”

  Elizabeth listened quietly, letting him speak.

  “Father spent more time with me than David since I’m his heir, but David never appeared to resent it. When Dad was home, he loved to ride as much as I did, so we often rode together. And when at home from school, David and I would ride everywhere on our country estate as often as we could. I would say we were pretty much like other boys, getting into mischief and playing pranks,” Darcy said as he gently rubbed her back and planted a kiss in her hair. “We were taught by our parents to be well-mannered, with all the skills of an English gentleman. Father feels it’s very important to be able to handle yourself in society, and so we do. I would say that we were both confident boys. We knew we were loved, even if Father didn’t have time to spend with us.

  “Georgiana, on the other hand, spent very little time with us since she was so much younger. She stayed in the care of her au pair until she was sent to boarding school. The only time we saw each other as a family was when we were all home for the summer or on holiday. It’s sad, really, because I know we should have been closer to her, but circumstances prevented it. However, we are much closer today, and David and I both feel very protective of her.”

  Elizabeth stroked his arm, and he spoke as he looked down at her.

  “Like you, I grew to love books and read as much as I could. I was never alone when I was lost in a book.” He laughed softly. “David was more outgoing than me and always enjoyed himself wherever he was. David is very successful in business and helps our father. He’s a good man, but he’s somewhat of a playboy. He says he will never marry.” Darcy sighed. “Father is quite upset with him right now because David likes to date women whom Father feels are potential embarrassments. You see,” he paused to snuggle Elizabeth a little closer, “Father is of the old school. He wants his sons to marry what he considers good women. Models and actresses don’t qualify in his book, and those are the women David dates.”

  She turned her head on his shoulder and glanced up at him. “Hmm…I wonder what he would think of me, William.”

  Elizabeth watched him closely as he appeared to choose his words with great care.

  “If he took the time to get to know you, as I have, he would love you. After all, you’re not an actress or model.” He chuckled.

  She gazed at him and breathed deeply as she filed away his words, wondering what he was not telling her, or rather what he was telling her with carefully chosen words. She had a feeling that Mr. Darcy would not like her or even care to get to know her. She wondered what type of family the Darcys really were.

  They sat quietly for a time, just holding one another. Then William sat them upright and reached back to release her hair from the clip, allowing it to tumble down over her shoulders in a cascading blanket. “That’s enough talk for now, Liz. Have I told you how much I love your hair?” he asked, breathing in the scent of her long tresses as he ran his fingers through them, planting gentle kisses here and there. “It smells so lovely, like roses.”

  “It’s the rose-scented hair oil my mother taught us to make.” She sighed, snuggling into his chest.

  “Hmm…well, I like it very much,” he said softly, moving from her hair, planting kisses down her temple before catching her lips, initiating a soft, gentle kiss. With his tongue, he teased her lips, gently parting them. His mouth moved over hers, his tongue slipping in and out in a slow, sensuous kiss. When a soft moan escaped her throat, he leaned in and pressed even deeper, tasting… exploring… coaxing. The sensation rocked her as she shivered in anticipation.

  If she thought their first kiss had been pleasurable, this one overwhelmed her. Her pulse raced as her heart pounded. She felt as if she couldn’t breathe—that she would faint at any moment. His tongue delved into her mouth as his kiss deepened, growing more passionate. Leaving her lips, he trailed wet, lingering kisses along her jawline to her ear, nibbling and suckling. His warm breath in her ear sent shivers down her back. He then slowly trailed down the curve of her neck to her throat and back up the same path, catching her mouth once again.

  Elizabeth didn’t know a kiss could make her feel like this—as though her blood had been set on fire. All thought of anything, except him, slowly drained away. Her entire body softened against his as a small tremor coursed through her, leaving her shocked with the feelings he invoked. She whispered against his lips, “Nice men don’t kiss like this.”

  “Yes… Elizabeth…yes, they do. I’m a nice man,” he murmured as his mouth closed in on hers once more, kissing her repeatedly, each time more deeply, pulling her into him, tightening their embrace.

  When they finally broke apart, he pulled back to gaze into her shimmering eyes ablaze with passion. “You’re so beautiful…so very beautiful. Liz, I want you.”

  He dipped his head once again and caught her lips while his hand slipped under her sweater and cupped her breast in a gentle caress. As his firm body pressed against her, she felt something she had never experienced before—hot desire. And although her body urged her on, telling her yes, her rational mind screamed no. She was not ready. She was scared.

  “William, we have to stop. I’ve never…I don’t…I…”

  He pulled back, his brow wrinkled, his eyes questioning.

  “Elizabeth, what are you trying to tell me?” he asked tenderly, looking at her in wonder. “Have you never been with a man before?”

  “No,” she whispered softly, dropping her gaze, flushed with embarrassment.

  His fingers curled beneath her chin, tipping it to catch her eyes. “Never?”

  “No, I was…well…that is… I am… I’m saving myself… for the right one… for marriage.” She hesitated, trailing off into an almost inaudible whisper.

  He smiled and seemed to be pleasantly surprised. “Then consider yourself saved.” He laughed slightly, hugging her tightly to his chest in a tender embrace. “I didn’t know virgins existed past secondary school. Elizabeth, you’re truly a remarkable woman, and I admire and respect you for it.”

  “Then you’re not disappointed in me?” she asked, greatly relieved.

  “No
, Elizabeth, in fact, I’m actually rather pleased. I’m an old-fashioned gentleman, and you’re clearly an old-fashioned lady. I’m simply surprised!” He chuckled softly. “As you can probably tell, it is not the same with me. I am a little more experienced, but believe it or not, getting you into bed is not my primary objective,” he said. “Elizabeth, I want more than just a physical relationship with you. That’s why I didn’t kiss you until a few days ago. I wanted us to get to know one another, to develop feelings.” He cupped her face in his hand, stroking her high cheekbone with his thumb. “I’m in no hurry, and my intentions are honorable. I’ve never trifled with anyone. I’m looking for a long-term relationship, not a short-term affair. Today, people pop in and out of bed on first acquaintance, without taking the trouble to get to know one another. That’s a recipe for disaster. I want more than that, and now that I know you do, too, I’m very pleased. We’ll take our time.”

  He pulled them up to a sitting position. A large smile lightened his features. Taking her hands in his, he said, “We’ll have to slow down. I don't want to do anything that you don’t want to do, and I’ll never take from you what you’re not willing to freely give. I’m a man of strong convictions. Now that I know where you stand, I can accept that. I want you, Elizabeth, but on your terms. I’m willing to wait.”

  Elizabeth released a hesitant breath. “I don’t know what to say, since you know what my terms are, but I think I can read between the lines. You say we are both old-fashioned. I suppose that means this is essentially an old-fashioned courtship like people once did. I can accept that. It means that if all goes well, and we fall in love, then you’ll want to marry me.”

  “How very perceptive of you because, essentially, yes, that is exactly what I’m saying. Now, if you don’t mind, tell me how such a beautiful and intelligent young woman like yourself has not already been in love, or have you?”

  She blushed and briefly dropped her gaze. “I’ve never been in love. As I said, I have been waiting for the right man to come along. I dated one boy from the ballet studio when I was seventeen, but there was nothing there. When I was in college, I dated some, but mostly I was too busy, and the men were too immature. None that I met were interested in getting to know me, or to have an intelligent conversation. I want to be loved for the person I am, not to be somebody’s good time at my expense. I think you know what they wanted,” she said. “I preferred my studies.”

  “In other words, you preferred math problems to sex.” He smiled tenderly, stroking the side of her face with the back of his hand.

  “I guess that’s one way of putting it,” she softly said.

  “Elizabeth, that’s very admirable of you. I, too, want to be loved for the man I am and not for what I have or what my position is. I think we have a lot in common.”

  “Perhaps. We’ll see,” she said, relaxing in a contented hug.

  They sat on the sofa and held each other for a little while longer, kissing, but this time with restraint. When Charles came home, Darcy drove Elizabeth to her house. Tomorrow they would spend the weekend at Longbourn where he would meet her family and become familiar with the place where she grew up.

  When he came home and prepared for bed that night, he thought about what had transpired between them. No other man had touched her. He would be her first and hopefully her last. She was fresh, unspoilt…a virgin, clearly different from most women, but in many ways, Elizabeth was just like him. She complemented him like no other, and he was sure he was falling in love with her.

  As he lay there thinking about them and the future, Darcy thought back to Elizabeth’s question earlier that evening about his father. No, his father wouldn’t like her. She was an American and not from the upper stratum of society. This would be a problem he would have to work out. He would enlist David’s help because, if things progressed as he believed they would, he intended to marry Miss Elizabeth Bennett. …if it’s the last thing I do, I will … Sleep would be difficult tonight.

  Chapter Seven

  …you were meant to be mine, and I was meant to be yours…

  Up at six o’clock, Elizabeth began to prepare for the trip to Longbourn. There was a multitude of things she wanted them to do, and if all went well, she planned to have Dr. Darcy back for the five-day Thanksgiving break. She wanted them to ride out over the farm where she would show him the cove…her special place, the site where the first Bennetts had settled. The old log cabin was still there, and was still fully functional. As her thoughts rambled, Elizabeth heard her cell phone’s ring tone. …Damn, the thing’s downstairs!

  “Jane, could you get that for me? I don’t want to break my neck trying to get to it,” she shouted from the upstairs landing.

  “Okay.” Jane answered. “Lizzy, it’s William.”

  “Tell him I’ll be right there,” she said, gathering her duffel bag before rushing down the stairs and taking the phone from Jane’s hand as she walked towards the kitchen.

  “William, are you ready? I’ll be over in five minutes.”

  “Almost. I was wondering if there was anything special you would like for me to bring—some wine perhaps.”

  “Yes, that would be nice. Uncle Henry keeps other things, but they don’t drink wine. However, the rest of us do, so bring two bottles. Oh, and by the way, I almost forgot, bring at least two pairs of jeans with something casual to wear to church. My aunt will insist that we go. Also, we’re going to ride out over the farm today. It will probably be muddy since it’s rained so much this week. I can wash clothes if we need to, but you’ll need extras while I do.”

  “Excellent. I’m looking forward to seeing your home, and I want to meet this black stallion of yours. What is his name?”

  “You’re not going to believe this,” she laughed, “but it’s Black.”

  “Black? Why on earth did you give him that name?”

  “Well, I really loved Walter Fraley’s The Black Stallion, so when my father bought the horse, he let me name him, and that was what I chose. He’s very much like the horse in the book, both in looks and spirit. So I think it fits.”

  “Well, I want to see him. I’ve ridden horses all my life. I’ve even trained a few, and I’ve never met a horse I couldn’t ride. Therefore I’m interested in this one. I also want to see your dogs. I like hounds as well.”

  She hesitated. “William…my dogs were killed last August. They were very special to me. I’ll tell you what happened on the trip down to the farm.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. I know how it is to lose something you love.”

  Not really wishing to talk about this and feeling awkward, she responded, “William, I need to get the Durango loaded. I’ll be over soon.”

  “All right, I’ll see you then.”

  As she slid her phone shut, she turned to her sister. “Jane, I’m leaving now. I’ll see you there.”

  “Okay, Lizzy. Charles and I will be along about dinnertime. We have some things we want to do first. You and William have fun.” Jane smiled as Elizabeth grabbed her bag and headed out the door.

  ~*~

  The trip to Longbourn took about thirty minutes, giving Elizabeth just enough time to tell William about Old Dan and Lady Beth. She told him how she had sat with Old Dan and held him when he died and how she intended to have another pair of Black and Tans someday, however, right now was not the time for that. She was far too busy with school, and to tell the truth, with William. Approaching the farm, she pointed.

  “We’re now turning into the drive of Longbourn proper. It’s about a half-mile to the house. You see that grove of large oaks?” She gestured to the right. “That’s where the house is located. It’s an old plantation style, but it isn’t the original house. The first one was damaged by the Union Army in the War Between the States, and much of it had to be rebuilt. I’ll tell you the Bennett history while you’re here. My ancestors have left a collection of excellent journals, thus I know our history as far back as the 1600s.”

  “Really? That’s fa
scinating. I would love to have a read sometime, if you don’t mind, of course. I love family history and can trace mine back to 1066 to the first D’Arcys who came from Normandy with William the Conqueror.”

  “Oh, now I have to hear yours as well. I love history. I’m somewhat of an amateur historian. I collect historical period writings—especially old journals.”

  As a glimpse of a large antebellum house peeked through the trees, she said, “There, that’s the house now. We’ll just pull around back and park under the covered parking.”

  As the estate came into sight, Darcy took in all that he saw. It was clear that it had been quite a large plantation in its day. The drive, as you neared the house, was lined with oaks forming a canopy over it, much like the streets in Old Town. Rounding the curve, a large two-story red brick house with white columns in the front and a small balcony on the upstairs level came into full view. He remembered Elizabeth telling him there were ten bedrooms on the top level alone, with four downstairs. The walkway to the house was lined with a small hedge, neatly-trimmed and well-kept. There were also several outbuildings scattered along the back. One was obviously a smoke house while the others were an herb and a root building. There looked to be several work sheds and a rather large barn a short walk from the house. The layout of Longbourn was pleasing with the look and feel of a happily situated family homestead.

  Grace, Uncle Henry, and Aunt Lori were very pleased to meet Lizzy’s William after having heard so much about him from Kat and Daniel, and Darcy was pleased to meet them as well. They seemed pleasant and friendly, eager to make him feel at home and welcomed. He could see that the Bennett family was not only warm and friendly, but they were genteel with what he had heard called Southern hospitality, and he liked them very much.