Compromising Mr. Darcy

by Rose Fairbanks

  *****

  Jane sighed as she awoke in her husband’s arms. I could never love another more. She played with a curl that fell on his face.

  “Good morning, love,” Bingley said, his eyes still closed. I love her more each day.

  “What are you thinking?” they asked at the same time, then shared a small laugh.

  Jane began first. “I thought that I could never love another man more than you. I feel like you truly are a part of me.” Tears pricked her eyes; when she truly allowed herself to feel the weight of an emotion, it was nearly painful with its intensity.

  Bingley wiped her tear away. “I was considering how I love you more each day.”

  “Thank you for choosing me,” Jane said. “Now we have each day to spend together for the rest of our lives.”

  “We do,” he said and brought her hands up to his lips. “Now what shall we do today, my dear?” His eyebrows rose suggestively.

  Jane laughed. “That is a delightful plan, but may I suggest breakfast and a bath first?”

  Bingley sighed. “If you insist.”

  Jane began to rise. “I do. I think you can bear the separation.”

  “Hmm…I do not know,” he said as he attempted to tug the sheet covering her lower. Jane playfully smacked his hand away and stood, wincing at the pain she felt.

  “Are you well? You said you did not hurt after last time.”

  Jane shook her head and donned her robe. “I believe the frequency and perhaps exuberance of last night is to blame. I am sure I shall be entirely well quite soon.”

  Bingley rose to her side and rubbed her shoulder. His eyes showed concern. “You are certain all is well?”

  “After the truth was known, Mama and Aunt Gardiner saw no need to talk to me about matters. I had wanted to ask Lizzy, but they have not…” Jane blushed as she realised she was exposing such a private affair to her husband. Surely wives did not speak about courses to their husbands? Oh, dear! What to say when her courses would come?

  “They have not what? You mean… But why not?” Bingley blushed as well. It was none of his business, but he could not cage his curiosity. Was their marriage troubled already? Darcy had never professed to love Elizabeth, but Bingley was sure he did.

  Jane stammered before taking a deep breath. “You have sisters. Might you know about a woman’s monthly courses?” She turned red again.

  “Oh,” Bingley said and looked at his feet.

  “So, you see that would prevent the consummation.”

  “Well, yes, but it would not have been their first time either…” He stopped in mid- sentence at the surprise on Jane’s face. “You did not know?”

  “Elizabeth swore otherwise!”

  “Darcy proposed because of an encounter they had while Elizabeth was here when you were ill.”

  Jane shook her head. “Lizzy said only that he carried her to her room after she saw him in the library.”

  “Darcy said he had no memories of the night, but he had quite a bit of proof.”

  “Oh, good Lord!” Jane cried in horror. “She married him believing he felt something very near love for her, and he only proposed because he thought he seduced her?”

  Tears threatened Jane’s eyes again. “Come, love.” Bingley led Jane to a settee in the room. “You must not fear for them. You saw them yesterday. They are entirely besotted with each other and happy. Allow them to work on their own marriage, for I would much rather you spend all your energies on ours.”

  She dried her eyes and gave him a small smile. “I am sure you are correct. It will all work out for the best. Forgive me for being such a watering pot today. I am not usually so emotional.”

  Bingley kissed her forehead. “There is nothing to forgive. Now I will call for our baths and arrange for breakfast to be sent up.” Jane began to argue, but Bingley put a finger to her lips. “No, we will not be leaving our chambers today, tomorrow, or possibly the day after. My sisters still remain, and they or Hurst are the last people I desire to see so soon after my wedding.”

  Jane frowned. “Mama intended to call today.”

  Bingley shook his head. “Your father promised to keep her indoors, and should she elude him, then we will not be arriving in the drawing room. I believe she currently loathes my sister and her future position, so we do not have to worry about her remaining for long.”

  Jane smiled. “Brilliant, Charles!”

  He gave her a quick kiss before ringing the bell for the maid.

  *****

  Hearing Jennings in his room next door in a discreet attempt to wake them, Darcy began to kiss Elizabeth until she roused.

  “Dearest, it is time for us to depart.”

  “Hmm….too tired, too early,” Elizabeth mumbled and pressed closer to Darcy’s side.

  He smiled as he knew the source of her exhaustion. They had kept themselves well occupied for part of the night in the few intimacies they allowed themselves, but they still had to rise at dawn so they could make the most of the day for their travels.

  “You can rest in the carriage.” When she still did not awaken fully, he got out of bed and stripped it of its counterpane.

  Gasping, Elizabeth sat up. Darcy smirked at the sight. “We must get up, dear.” Hearing a knock on the door, he brought Elizabeth her dressing gown. “Here is your tea, and our baths will soon be ready.”

  Elizabeth mumbled something rather ungrateful, adjusted her shift, and donned the robe. “I can always tickle you, Elizabeth.” Those words finally got her moving to the sofa as Darcy opened the door to retrieve their light breakfast.

  An hour later, they were seated in the carriage and headed for Pemberley. Darcy wrapped his arm around Elizabeth as she rested her head on his shoulder and slumbered. When she awoke, they took turns reading aloud. Elizabeth was pressed close to his side, cuddling his arm. A carriage ride had never been so pleasant before. Darcy released a contented sigh.

  “That was a heavy sigh, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth said, using the same words he had a few days ago.

  “I am just happy,” said he, using her words from the same conversation.

  He was already watching the expression on her face, pleased to see her joy at his declaration of happiness. He leant to her with a tender kiss. Although he lingered, both were sensibly aware of their position in a carriage and attempted to control their passion.

  “Elizabeth, I was uncertain when to say this, but I can go no longer without telling you my heart. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I...”

  Elizabeth placed her fingers on his lips, and he ceased talking.

  Foolish man! She does not want your sentiments. She can never forgive you for your ungentlemanly actions.

  “Darling, please do not say it yet. I know, I do know, and I welcome your affection. It is an honour. But please, say no more for now. Soon I think I will know...”

  “I do not wish for you to feel obligated to return sentiments you do not feel.”

  “But I do feel! I feel so much! I think my heart will burst. I only wish to know. I must make sense of this rationally, but I do feel...”

  It was many minutes before Darcy allowed her to speak again. Grinning to himself as she read from their book, he allowed that he truly was a besotted fool. His greatest wishes would soon be answered.

  Almost from first sight, his baser instincts acknowledged his attraction to Elizabeth, mortified as he was to realise his ungentlemanly thoughts. Very soon afterwards, he believed his greatest wish was simply to marry her and leave his family obligations of a splendid match behind. Now he was married to her. He knew it was a splendid match in every way important to him, and soon they would consummate the marriage, yet even that was not enough.

  Nothing could ever be enough until he earned her love, freely given. Certainly most men would think him foolish, but now more than ever, he knew what a profound statement of trust it would be to have Elizabeth bestow upon him her whole heart. He might be a fool, but he would walk the world over to win that lov
e.

  He truly believed what seemed nearly impossible only a few weeks before. Elizabeth might love him, and he determined that no matter what they were soon able to physically express, he would wait until she could give him her heart as well as her body, even though she had conceded that before.

  After passing several more hours in a combination of reading, rousing debates, teases, a brief nap, and both playful and sensual kisses, they finally arrived at the inn for the night.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Darcy again secured the largest and most comfortable rooms. Elizabeth was slightly uncomfortable with all the attention and deference and certainly rolled her eyes at Darcy taking such large connecting rooms when they both knew only one was needed. Of course, they would always rent two for appearances, but they did not need to be quite so large if one was to remain empty, and it was not as though she desired distance from her husband in any room.

  Elizabeth picked at her food and was quieter than usual. Darcy perceived the change and looked at her with concern.

  “We should go directly to sleep as we have another early start tomorrow, and you seem rather exhausted from the long day,” Darcy said when they finally retired for the night.

  Elizabeth gulped. “I am not exhausted. I am perfectly well.”

  Darcy seemed puzzled. “Very well, would you like to read more of the book we were reading in the carriage?”

  Elizabeth nervously walked to the bed and removed her robe. “No, I have had enough reading for the day.”

  Darcy followed her. “Were you of a mind to discuss something?”

  Elizabeth shook her head. She took a deep breath to gather her courage. “No, I have a much better use for those lips.” She touched the corner of his mouth with a fingertip.

  Darcy grinned and eagerly obliged. He could not explain it, but something seemed different about kissing Elizabeth now. She had always passionately responded to him, but tonight, it felt as though she were truly encouraging more, almost seductive in making him lose all rational thought.

  His hand touched the silky smooth skin of her thigh, not wondering at all how it made it there or exposed the skin, when she gasped into his mouth, breaking his spell.

  “Have I hurt you? Please forgive me…” His eyes widened in the dark when he realised just how high on her leg his hand was. Her shift was bunched above her hips. He wrenched his hand away, conflicted between unspoken feelings of intense desire and anger at his lack of control.

  “No, William, I am perfectly well. Entirely well.” She seemed to be stressing her words, but Darcy could not make out her meaning. Too much thought was impossible at the moment.

  Willing his body to behave, he kissed her forehead. “I am glad to hear it, but I do think we should sleep now. Despite what you have said, you must be uncomfortable after a day of riding in a carriage.”

  “I have been well all day. Better than I have been in nearly a week.”

  “Elizabeth…” Darcy began uncertainly. “Do you mean…”

  She did not allow him to continue speaking and instead pulled his face towards hers. From that moment on, neither of them was able to gather their wits. The feelings evoked by their kisses and caresses, undoubtedly increased due to their restraint during the day, were nearly beyond expression.

  There was one commonly voiced desire, however. More. Elizabeth pleaded for more, and Darcy’s body demanded it as well. When he had stroked nearly every part of her, he instinctively returned to the location that could satisfy their yearnings.

  Elizabeth was not content to be idle and ran her hands over him. Sometimes her touch was light, other times fierce as she gripped him to her. She held his face to her breast as his fingers intently explored.

  “William…” Elizabeth managed to gasp. “William, I know there is more. Make me your wife.” Without conscious thought, he was soon cradled between her legs.

  Some greater sense or reason in Darcy forced his mind to focus. “Not yet. Soon, Lizzy. Soon...when you know.”

  Before Elizabeth could argue or question, he increased his ministrations, and no more sensible words could be said. Elizabeth seemed to have realised that if she could not speak, she could touch and caress as well.

  As Darcy held her in his arms in the night, he realised the only thing he would have liked more was if they had entirely shed their clothes. Had there been more light, he could have seen Elizabeth’s eyes when she took her pleasure.

  Elizabeth’s mind was beyond thought entirely.

  *****

  The second day of travelling was very similar to the first, with perhaps more kisses and embracing and less reading. They did manage to enjoy a debate.

  “I find his argument lacks logic. He cannot argue both that the Romans were too coddled in luxury and that Christianity placed too much focus on life after death. You cannot both enjoy your worldly goods and say they do not matter,” Elizabeth argued. They had been reading The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon, and both were quite familiar with his deductions.

  “Furthermore,” continued Elizabeth, “the very era in history he loathes proves Christianity as very combative. The Crusades were six hundred years before Francis Bacon, John Locke, and Voltaire and nearly five hundred years before peace dissenters like the Quakers. And as an Englishman, he should know our bloody history over religion!”

  “But surely you must agree they had a duty to maintain the government and military instead of hiring others to do so.”

  “Yes, we see throughout history what happens when the very rich forget their obligations to civic duty and think only of themselves. But Gibbon also makes it sound as though the Barbarians could never do justice to Rome simply because of the location of their birth.”

  “Would you trust a Frenchman to lead England to victory?” The question silenced Elizabeth for a moment, and Darcy almost chuckled.

  “No, absolutely not, but perhaps a leader from the colonies could. Or someone from a lesser rank. Lord Nelson earned his position and was only the son of a poor vicar. Ability to lead is not a matter of birth. Clearly we have seen with the recent revolutions that lower ranks can throw off an aristocracy. Indeed, there seems to be a kind of warfare between the two.”

  Darcy looked at Elizabeth sceptically. “Perhaps with the French, but that was not the complaint of the Americans.”

  “In a way, it was. Do they not argue for certain rights? That all men are created equal?”

  “Poverty and inequality will always exist, Elizabeth.”

  “Yes, they certainly will. But my point is that if the rich landlords and senators of Rome were truly concerned not only about the good of Rome but also the good of themselves, they would have perceived the necessity to treat those inferior to them with kindness and generosity. Rome fell because their leaders lacked sense. They cared only for their selfish pleasures and abandoned rational thought.”

  “Could we not agree with Gibbon that the Roman Empire grew too large? It took on too many responsibilities? Is this not what befell France? What he would say threatens England?”

  “A wise thing for you to remember all around.”

  “What on earth do you mean?”

  “I have heard testimony that you are the best landlord and master, and now I have seen it with my own eyes, but you take on too much responsibility. You have cleaned up Wickham’s unpleasantness for most of his life, blame yourself for Georgiana’s near elopement, helped Bingley’s wedding affairs as though it were your fault when they...well, they certainly made their own decisions.

  “On our wedding day, you assured me you would not be squandering our children’s monetary inheritance on another family. And you confessed to feeling as though your father’s affection and time were stolen from you by Wickham. Do be careful to not overextend yourself so that we, your first responsibilities, feel burdensome.”

  Darcy looked at her with concern. “Have I neglected you? I will have matters to attend at Pemberley, but it should not take
the whole of the day like it did when I met with Bingley or was settling things in London.”

  She waved her hand in dismissal. “No, no, you are very attentive to my needs. I know you take your duties and obligations very seriously, but perhaps some of your energy is misplaced. I will not let you shut yourself away. I do not want a separate life from you. I desire your company during the day as well as at night.”

  “Is that so?” He smiled and began to kiss her.

  “Yes,” she said firmly, not at all sure they were still speaking of the same thing. “You desire me day and night?”

  A reply proved unnecessary.

  *****

  Elizabeth smiled as she awoke to the sounds of her maid leaving a breakfast tray. Her husband held her tightly. They lay on their sides with her back against his chest, her head resting on one of his arms while the other wrapped around her waist and held a breast. Nestling in closer, she felt his arousal and smiled again. Their increasing physical intimacy was bringing out a playful side of him, and all Elizabeth could think of now was his promise for more, soon.

  She smirked when she thought of how she would awaken him if they were alone and at their leisure. Instead, she rolled over to face him and gently stretched.

  “William, dear.” He was beginning to rouse, and she chose to kiss his face in an effort to wake him further. His whiskers had grown overnight, and she secretly loved the look and rough feel of it.

  His arms tightened around her, and he opened his eyes, which displayed a burning intensity. “I will never let you go.”

  “I am afraid you must. We need to depart.”

  “No, we will remain here forever.” He nestled her head against his chest.

  “I confess that disappointments me. I had understood Pemberley to be a very grand estate with many rooms with large furnishings. And after so many years living with half a dozen other people, I was looking forward to a great deal of privacy.”

  Darcy grinned and tapped her nose. “Temptress! Very well, if we leave soon, we should arrive before dinner.”