by Abbey North
As her sister had done, she excused herself after a brief moment, departing the room. He couldn’t help worrying she was off to meet with Mr. Dixon in another inappropriate rendezvous, but he firmly reminded himself it wasn’t his business if she ruined herself.
Despite that, he still found himself setting aside his cup of tea a short time later, wanting to speak to Georgiana. If he happened to run into Lizzy along the way, he would issue her a warning as well. He certainly wanted his sister to steer clear of the charming and capricious Mr. Dixon, and he climbed the stairs, thinking the ladies might be preparing for dinner, since it seemed to take them many hours, and he recalled more than one mention of doing so as tea ended.
He was walking down the hall when he saw Meredith and Bertram’s door open. With a frown, he moved closer, eliciting a startled cry as he reached out to put a hand around the arm of the woman standing there. She spun to face him, and he recognized Elizabeth Bennet. He frowned at her. “What are you doing skulking around in here?”
She licked her lips, but she didn’t answer. He looked down, startled to see a pearl necklace in her hand. “Miss Bennet, are you stealing that?” Recalling Meredith’s words about it being missing, he realized she was likely returning it instead. “I have greatly misjudged your character. I shall remain here while I watch to ensure you return the necklace where it belongs.”
She drew back her shoulders, scowling up at him. “Mr. Darcy, you are inferring something that is not true.”
“Return it immediately, Miss Bennet.” His firm tone brooked no argument. She glared at him, stomping across the room in a most undignified manner that reminded him more of one of her younger sisters than herself, pressed it down hard on the vanity table with more force than necessary, and marched back across the room toward him.
“Are you satisfied now, Mr. Darcy?”
He was not. He was angry with her, and angry that he had misjudged her. He’d deemed her far worthier than her family, never dreaming she was the type of loose woman to meet with a man privately, and certainly never thinking she would steal a valuable necklace from her host. “We will meet this evening to discuss this, Miss Bennet.”
Her eyes widened, and she shook her head. “I cannot be with you. That would be completely improper.”
“If you can meet with Mr. Dixon, you can certainly meet with me. We will discuss the terms of the situation at that time.” He fully intended to give her a blistering lecture on the dangers of theft and loose morals. If at all possible, he still hoped to redeem Miss Bennet.
She glared at him, hands on her hips. “If I refuse to meet you, Mr. Darcy?”
He shook his head, allowing his impatience to show. “I am afraid I shall have to reveal your deeds to your father and our hosts.”
She looked devastated at the prospect, hugging herself and shivering. He had to resist the urge to reach out to comfort her. She needed to be harshly dealt with, to learn consequences for her actions before she found herself on a path to ruin that she could not correct.
Her ruination would taint Jane’s reputation and his dear friend Bingley’s as well, and it would also make her younger sisters lose any prospect for decent offers, assuming none of them had yet made matches. He couldn’t speak either way about that, having had little interest in maintaining a working knowledge of the Bennet family, though he admitted to being perhaps more avidly interested than he should be whenever he heard Jane speaking of a particular sister from time to time.
After a moment, her shoulders slumped. “I see. You leave me little choice, Mr. Darcy. I shall meet you.”
Before he could instruct her on where to meet, thinking the library might provide some privacy, but not too much should they be interrupted, she darted under the arm he’d braced against the doorjamb, trying to block her path, and ran down the hall. He shook his head, annoyed with her lack of waiting for instructions. She needn’t think that would buy her latitude though. He fully intended to see what he could do to fix this unethical streak in Elizabeth Bennet.
3
Fitzwilliam was annoyed to not have a chance to tell her where he wanted to meet her that evening, either at dinner or afterward when the men rejoined the ladies in the salon. She seemed to be deliberately avoiding him, and each time she looked at him, there was such a stark look of betrayal about her expression that he was the one who started to feel guilty, though he had only her best interests at heart. That she would try to cast him as the villain of the piece when she was the one making poor decisions only increased his outrage.
When it was time to retire, he accepted she had thwarted him for the day, but there were still two days left of the house party. He would ensure he got her alone tomorrow. He would have preferred at a quieter time in the night, to give them sufficient privacy, but should anyone overhear the intense address he planned to deliver, that would be Elizabeth’s fault, since she had gone out of her way to avoid him.
He was in bed, wearing his sleep shirt, when a knock sounded at his door. He frowned, having already dismissed his valet for the evening, so he assumed it must be one of the Hennessey servants. He couldn’t imagine why they would be disturbing him at this hour, but he was compelled to answer the door.
He cracked it open, expecting to see a servant and not Miss Bennet, wrapped in a night rail. His eyes widened, and he stared at her with his jaw slack. “Lizzy.” He flinched at the lack of propriety when he used her nickname.
“Let me in,” she hissed, sounding angry as she looked around. Clearly, she didn’t want to be seen slipping into his room.
Hardly knowing what he was doing, Fitzwilliam opened the door wider so she could slide inside. Her body pressed against his, causing a predictable reaction, and he cleared his throat as he tried to hide it while closing the door behind him and engaging the lock. “What are you doing here?”
“I have come as you commanded.” She met his gaze with full defiance. “I considered my fate and have decided you are preferable to Mr. Dixon.”
He shook his head, completely confused by her words. “I do not understand.”
“If I am to be ruined, it will preferably be at your hands, Mr. Darcy.” The night rail fell to the floor, and she lifted her nightgown, pulling it over her head in one smooth motion.
Darcy couldn’t catch a breath as he eyed her pale loveliness in the moonlight filtering in from the balcony. She wore absolutely nothing beneath the nightdress, and she’d clearly come with seduction in mind. He was appalled that she would so misconstrue his intentions, and he opened his mouth to explain.
Before he could, she approached him. She seemed wary, but her spine was straight, and her resolve was visible. “If this shall buy your silence, I will pay your price. The last thing I wish to do is be forced to become engaged to a scoundrel like Mr. Dixon.”
Her words filtered through his brain, but he couldn’t quite grasp the meaning of them with her warm, pliant body so close to his as she put her arms around his shoulders. She lifted her head, her lips near his when she confessed, “I have never willingly kissed a man before, so you must take the lead, Mr. Darcy.”
He had every intention of stepping back and clarifying his intentions, but her words were like sweet wine he couldn’t resist. With a groan, he lowered his head to press his mouth to hers. Her lips conformed softly to his, and when he darted out his tongue to taste her, she moaned against him. He’d never heard a more thrilling sound in his life, and he stiffened as he pulled her closer.
One kiss was simply not enough, and he bent her back slightly, making her mouth more accessible. His tongue dipped inside, and she moaned again. Her fingers clenched in his hair, and he was unable to resist the temptation to bend and lift her into his arms.
Fitzwilliam carried her to the bed, lying her down across it. He moaned with more pleasure when her lips parted as her legs splayed, allowing him a glimpse at the thatch of curls there, the same dark color as her hair. He was unable to resist the temptation of them, and he reached between her legs
to stroke her quim as he continued to kiss her with ever-increasing passion.
There was a voice in the back of his mind screaming that he must stop this, that something had gone awry, but it was so difficult to pay attention when he had Lizzy Bennet wrapped around him, her scent permeating his nostrils while her silken depths so nicely cradled the fingers he slipped inside her.
He intended to pleasure her, so he concentrated rubbing his finger around her pearl, which made her writhe and moan. He had to seal her mouth with another kiss to keep her cries of pleasure from waking others in nearby rooms. That would certainly be a disaster.
It was that thought which helped him regain control, but as he looked down, realizing what he was doing, he could see Elizabeth was so close to the edge that it would be cruel to deny her completion. He was trying to regain control and restore his body to a more orderly state, but he couldn’t resist pressing and stroking that little button a few more times until she tightened around him, arching her hips off the bed as she let out a low groan of passion.
He put a hand over her mouth, afraid that if he started kissing her again, this would continue to escalate, and he would lose all common sense. He savored the feel of her walls contracting around his fingers as he held himself inside her for just a moment, enjoying her pleasure before withdrawing.
Her eyes were dark now, widened with passion, and they further widened when he brought his fingers to his mouth, needing to taste her in the worst way. A flare of heat appeared in her gaze as he licked his fingers, but then he forced himself to reach for the blanket and cover her with it. “You misunderstood my intentions, Miss Bennet.” He was proud of himself for sounding so composed.
She was frowning at him now, but as passion faded, uncertainty and perhaps fear started to take over. She clutched the blanket against her. “I do not understand. I thought this is what you wanted so you would not tell everyone about Mr. Dixon cornering me in the stables.”
“I simply intended to… He cornered you?”
Her eyes widened. “Of course, he did. The scoundrel waited until Kitty had gone to play croquet once we admired the new foal. Then he appeared from the shadows and grabbed me. You did not think I had met him voluntarily, did you, Mr. Darcy?” After a second, she gritted her teeth, her anger obvious. “But of course, you did. You are always prepared to think the worst of me and my family.”
He shrugged a shoulder. “You blushed most fiercely and ran away. You seemed quite guilty to me.”
She glared again. “I was humiliated and a little frightened by the unwanted attentions of Mr. Dixon, and then I was further humiliated to be caught by you.”
“Why did it bother you if it was me who caught you?”
She looked away, biting her lower lip for a minute. “You misunderstand me, Mr. Darcy. I would have had that reaction to being discovered by anyone. I was fearful it would force me into a position where I would be ruined, because I would certainly never marry a man like Mr. Dixon. He has hands that roam too freely and words that flow too sweetly to be believed. He is a rake.”
Darcy let out a trembling breath, remorse filling him. “I do apologize for misconstruing that situation, Miss Bennet. Had I realized, I would have called him out on your behalf.”
Her eyes widened with apparent horror at the idea. “Are you mad, Mr. Darcy? That would certainly make everyone in the party aware of what had happened. I would have had little choice but to accept a proposal from him or be ruined. If it were just me, I would not hesitate to pick being ruined over being shackled to a man like that, but there are my sisters to think of as well.”
He nodded. “Regardless, I did not ask you to come here for seduction to buy my silence.”
She was flushing again, and it was most becoming. He had to focus on trying to ensure his supply of blood flowed elsewhere besides his groin. He was already aching from the state touching her had put him in, and he couldn’t afford to lose control.
“I see. I do apologize most fervently. I assumed…” She looked down, her blush brightening further.
“I am concerned about you though, Miss Bennet. I simply wanted to talk with you, to remind you of the rules of decorum, and also to ensure you understand the consequences of theft and loose behavior. It appears I was incorrect in my assessment about your morals when it comes to improper men, but there is still the matter of the theft of Meredith’s necklace. I am encouraged by the fact you seemed to be returning it. Perhaps you understood the sentimental value to her and felt bad. I see that as a sign of possible reclamation, and I entreaty you to change the choices you are making in life.”
Her eyes widened, and then suddenly, Lizzy did the most unexpected thing. She started giggling. First, it was a quiet chortle, but then it shook the bed, and he was forced to reach out and put his hand over her mouth again to silence her. When her laughter had subsided, he dropped his hand, though he wanted to keep touching her. “What do you find so amusing, Miss Bennet?” His words were cold.
“You think I stole the necklace?” She shook her head. “That is quite funny actually, Mr. Darcy, though I do not expect a man like you to have a sense of humor. When Kitty ran from the room, I was worried about her. I had noticed Mr. Dixon flirting with her earlier, so I was afraid she was off to meet with him. That is why I left shortly after her. Instead, I found her about to throw the necklace into the brook. She was standing on that adorable little stone bridge, but I intercepted her.”
He scowled. “Your sister stole the pearls?”
Lizzy shook her head. “No, she did not. She discovered them attached to her glove this morning after she had helped Meredith with a loose hairpin. Rather than tell her, she put them in her room with the plan to do so later, because she was eager to join the other guests. When Meredith started talking about the missing necklace, Kitty was afraid someone would think she had stolen it, so her impulsive and rash plan was to throw it away to avoid discovery.”
He groaned, perfectly able to believe Kitty Bennet’s mind would work that way.
“When I caught her with it, I chastised her for such foolishness and offered to deliver the necklace myself. I did consider giving it to Mrs. Hennessey directly, but she was engaged in conversation with Mr. Dixon. I could not bring myself to enter his sphere again, so I decided to leave the necklace upstairs. You caught me in my grand crime of returning the necklace that was accidentally caught on my sister’s glove due to a faulty clasp. I am certain if you wish to examine the necklace yourself to verify that, Mrs. Hennessey will no doubt allow it.”
Darcy collapsed against the bed, temporarily overwhelmed by the weight of his assumptions and how wrong they had been. He groaned softly, especially when he looked at her still lying on his bed, his blanket covering her from below her neck to her feet, but he knew she was naked underneath it.
She had been willing to sleep with him to avoid having to marry Frederick Dixon. He wasn’t quite certain, but it felt more like an insult than a complement that she considered him the lesser of two evils. Her boldness surprised him, but he also knew Elizabeth Bennet well enough to know when she decided on a course, she was unlikely to let something deter her. Most likely, she had behaved so boldly to keep herself from backing out on what she’d thought was their agreement.
He couldn’t help being offended that she thought he was trying to blackmail her into sex for silence, and he frowned at her severely. “I am appalled you think I would behave in such a fashion, Miss Bennet.”
She didn’t seem remorseful. “What was I to think? You demanded I meet you this evening to discuss the terms of the situation.”
He frowned. “I meant the terms by which you should abide to live a good life. I certainly meant nothing of this sort.”
Her cheeks flared with heat again, and she was glaring at him, so he assumed the color came more from anger than embarrassment now. “You did not push me away or clarify what was your intention until after you had already done shameful things to me, Mr. Darcy.”
He was unab
le to resist the impulse to reach out and touch her cheek. “Did they feel shameful?”
She gasped, but he didn’t think it was entirely from outrage. Her gaze locked with his for a moment before darting away. “It was certainly not what I expected.”
She sounded so prim and proper that it brought a smile to his lips. “I suppose it is not always so. The first time a woman lies with a man can be quite painful, I have heard.”
She nodded once. “Dear Jane has told me that much.”
He found it impossible to imagine sweet Jane discussing the marital act with her unmarried sister, and he suspected it had been a short and stifled conversation. “Perhaps she gave you the wrong impression of it?”
She turned her head to look at him. “How do you mean?”
“Did she portray it as something painful to endure?”
Lizzy licked her lips, her eyes darkening. “No, as a matter of fact, she made me most curious.”
He arched a brow. “Really?”
She looked uncertain for a moment before she nodded once. “Jane described it in a most pleasing way, Mr. Darcy. She said it felt like nothing she had experienced before after the initial pain. I thought perhaps she was allowing her love for Charles to cloud her judgment, but having experienced something similar moments ago, perhaps she was being truthful.”
He loved how color flooded her face, and he longed to lean forward and kiss her again. “I am pleased you enjoyed what I did to you. Of course, there is more.”
She turned her head, her gaze meeting his fully. “I had gathered that from Jane’s description. Of course, I am unlikely to discover that firsthand.”
He frowned. “Why ever not?”
She bit her lip. “I have decided to remain unmarried. There was only one man who piqued my interest over the years, but I could never imagine making a match with him. We are too different, and he is far too prideful.”