by Wells, Linda
“No, of course not, the stationary alone told me the truth before I read the words. I imagine that Mama had that purchased the afternoon that he told her he was ill. ‘She will revel in it.’ Papa said of her. I think that he was correct, observing people one last time.” Elizabeth’s eyes became bright.
Darcy found his handkerchief and wiped her tears, “Will you obey his request that you not mourn him for long?”
“I think that he would be very sad not to be remembered for a little while.” She looked down at her black gown. “He said that he expects Mama to enjoy her widow’s weeds and make full use of her wailing whenever Mr. Collins appears. There is no question of Mary following the strictest letter of whatever is required, of course Jane will as well, and Kitty and Lydia will simply because they live in Meryton and the talk would be deafening if they did not. Maybe it will be good for them to have six months without dances. Mama was considering sending Lydia to Brighton with Mrs. Forster. I begged Jane to speak sense to her. Now there is no question of her going.”
“A blessing in disguise. Like you, I feared her travelling there with the soldiers. I did not anticipate a good outcome; in fact, I … expected a very familiar one instead.”
“Oh, Will!”
“Perhaps I am pessimistic.” He sighed and hugged her again.
“You have reason to be.” Hearing the screeching and cackling of the gulls circling above, they watched as one found a bit of shell and began tugging it around the sand. Immediately a horde of birds descended and the cacophony of arguing and fighting over the completely inedible object rose to a fever pitch. Elizabeth laughed and put her hands to her mouth. “Oh my goodness! Why do they remind me of the ladies of Meryton!”
Darcy chuckled and raised his voice to be heard above the din. “I feel for the shell, it was innocently lying there when suddenly some bird spotted its perceived value.”
“They will pick it apart!”
“And discard it when they are through.” His eyes danced. “Oh … look, the most aggressive one won the prize. See her strutting around with it in her mouth?”
“You believe that bird to be female?” Elizabeth looked back to him.
“Well, just listen to her!” He laughed at her frown. “Now look at the defeated ones. They just go off about their business. All that noise was meaningless, in the end she was left with an empty shell. There look, she has dropped it already.” He pointed as a few of the other birds came to examine and reject the discarded prize. “It was all for show.”
Elizabeth kept her gaze upon his smiling face as he looked out at the beach teeming with birds, now lifting en masse to investigate a fishing boat slowly making its way to shore. “You have had enough of sadness, have you not?”
His head tilted, “What is on your mind, dear? You have that familiar glint in your eye.”
“I will not even ask what that means.” Elizabeth smiled and returned her hands to his. “Georgiana’s situation is nonnegotiable; we must protect her from those who would pick her apart. But I agree with you, the way of mourning should be a personal decision, not one dictated by the crowd.”
“I may believe that in my heart, but I know that reality demands otherwise. We must not draw attention to ourselves in public.”
“I know, dear … but we are hardly known here and I do not expect many visitors …” She bit her lip and looked down at the village. “It would be nice to honour Papa’s wish as well as the rules of society.”
“In some ways, I believe that your father has placed yet another burden on your shoulders by telling you his wishes. It is unfair to put you in this position when your feelings are in such confusion.”
“But I wish to please you, as well.”
“There you go again. And how can you do that?” He smiled as he watched her thinking and offered, “Add a small adornment of some sort to your customary dress?”
“Have you any money with you?”
“Well, yes, of course.” His brow creasing he followed her eyes. “There is very little shopping in that village.”
“I need very little.” She smiled and taking his hand, started to pull him down the slope, and came to a standstill when he refused to move further. “Will!”
“Horses, love. We cannot abandon them. The poor things will be eaten by those ravenous gulls.” He laughed and tugged her hand. “What do you want to do?”
“I want to take off this gown!” Elizabeth looked down upon it. “You were so right this morning when you said not to wear it.”
“I said no such thing.”
“Yes, you did.” She looked at him pointedly.
“I may have implied it … but that was selfishness again.” Darcy watched her biting her lip, indecision played across her features. Drawing her close, he pulled on a curl and watched it spring back into place. “If you would like to remove your gown, would not home be the appropriate place?” He caressed his palms down her sides, over the curves of her waist to rest upon her hips. “I will be very glad to help.”
“No doubt …” Elizabeth whispered when she found her mouth captured by his demanding kiss. “Will …” She breathed when he let go for a moment, then wrapping his arms around her, pulled her in hard to his body, and possessed her mouth again. “Oh my …” Elizabeth swallowed and gasped when his hands moved down her back and cupping her bottom, he lifted her up to press her tight against his groin, and rubbed, even as he stole her breath away with another searing kiss. “Oh, Will!” She sighed when he relinquished her mouth.
“Do you want me, Lizzy?” Darcy said hoarsely in her ear.
“Yes, please …”
“Tell me what you feel.” His teeth found her earlobe.
“I am on fire …” She moaned in his mouth when his lips found hers again. Darcy stroked his hands down her back to press their hips together, “Oh yes …” Elizabeth moaned.
“I want to be inside of you. I want to make you feel alive.”
“Please …”
“Remember when I said that I wanted to be a piston?” His hands roamed over her. “Relentless, powerful, strokes. Deep, deep, inside of you.”
“Oh …”
“Over and over and over again.” He growled.
“Now? Please?” She begged.
“No.” He whispered, and tenderly kissed her before drawing away.
“NO? She stared, her heart was pounding, her breath was ragged, she rubbed her fingers over her swollen lips, trying to recapture the feel of his kisses. “Why did you stop?”
“How do you feel, love?”
“How do you think I feel? I am … I am … aching for you! I have been aching for you for weeks!” Tears of frustration appeared in her eyes and she balled up her fists to pound on his chest. Darcy laughed and caught her wrists. “Why would you tease me so?”
“The cruel answer is to say that I am giving you a taste of how I feel nearly constantly around you.” He was glad to see a bit of pride kindle in her eyes. “But the truth is, I wanted to jolt you out of your mourning for a man who does not want to be mourned by you.” He raised his brows. “He asks you to embrace the life you have chosen and not wallow in the life you so very wisely rejected.”
Elizabeth became still and held his eyes while he held her hand. She felt the power of his love washing over her and saw the encouragement in his look.
She took a breath and drawing herself up, demanded, “Could you not have made your point without leaving me weak-kneed and wanting?”
A smile spread across his face and he nodded as he helped her up onto Daisy’s back, “Certainly, but it would not be half as fun.”
“Fun!” Elizabeth stared. “Fun?”
“Perhaps I am tipping my hat to your father’s sense of humour?”
“Oh no, do not use a supposed tribute to my father as an excuse!”
“No? Well, I tried. Forgive me.” He stepped over to Bruin and seeing that she wanted, even needed him to continue, he nodded to Daisy, “You know, it is a shame you must ride s
ide saddle, I think that riding might have brought you relief. I suppose that you will have to wait for tonight now.”
Dear man. Elizabeth smiled, then narrowing her eyes pointed to his obvious arousal, “Watch yourself, Sir Priapism. You might just be describing your condition as well.” Kicking Daisy, they set off at a trot. “Try and keep up with us, but watch your purse, Mr. Darcy. I would not want it to spill.”
“My purse?” Gingerly he settled onto Bruin’s back. “What purse do you mean?”
“Why that one you carry about your waist, the one that carries the family jewels?” Looking back at him she said softly. “Thank you.”
Relieved with his success, he smiled. “You are welcome, dear.”
“WE NEEDED A DAY LIKE THIS.” Elizabeth said softly.
“We did.” Darcy took a sip of his wine and looked down at her face resting in his lap. She was lying across the sofa before the fire in their chambers, finally alone again after their day by the sea and evening with Georgiana.
Putting down his glass, he set about removing the black ribbons that still adorned her hair.
“What are you doing?” She looked up and smiled.
“Never you mind. Return to our conversation.”
“What shall we talk about?”
He thought for a moment, “Fools.”
“Hmm. Richard?”
“No, just fools in general.” He worked on a challenging knot and bit his lip. “I am a fool.”
“I have known that for ages.”
“You have not known me for ages, love. You have not known me a year.”
“A half a year …”
“Eight months.” He kissed her softly. “Eight wonderful months.”
“Hardly.” Their eyes met and she touched the scar on his cheek. As her eyes brightened, he shook his head. “I am sorry.”
“I just do not wish to weep myself.” Darcy pulled out another ribbon. “And I do want to discard the good we have done today. Let us speak of other things. What were you doing at this time last year?”
Elizabeth considered the question. “I was … packing for London.”
“Truly?”
“Why would I lie?” She laughed and he shrugged. “Oh my, yes … I was going to stay with Aunt and Uncle for two months, my longest visit yet. We did not go out much, but I did enjoy seeing all of the wonderful sights.”
“I thought that you did not go out much?” A dish on the table dinged as another pin was dropped in. “What sights did you see?”
“Oh, the people, the streets teeming with activity. And of course all of the shops and warehouses in Cheapside. Uncle took me to the docks one day. I watched the ships unloading and groups of men gathered around great mounds of oysters and fish as they were auctioned off. And of course Uncle was there in the thick of it, bargaining for whatever his shop needed.”
“What does he sell?”
“He brokers, actually. He buys from the ships and then resells to others for a bit more … I am not entirely sure how it all works, but it seems that if you need something, he is the man to find it for you.”
“That explains the access to fine wine.” Darcy said thoughtfully.
“You and your wine.” She tickled his belly and he curled up in self defence.
“Watch yourself, woman.” He growled above her lips.
“Or else, what?” She challenged him.
“I will show you what.”
“Oh dear, I am sooo terribly frightened …” Suddenly Darcy scooped her up and onto his lap. Elizabeth squealed and started laughing as her face was covered in kisses. “Will!” She batted at him.
“Why did you not visit Park Lane when you were in London?” Darcy demanded. “Why did you not come to me?”
“And how was I to do that? And for that matter, you could have come to Cheapside!”
“Seriously Elizabeth, an arrogant arse like me?” His eyes twinkled merrily. “No, you had to come to me. You should have felt my manly presence and been drawn to Mayfair.”
“Oh, we are full of ourselves tonight!”
“And you would have come to the door, wet …”
“Wet?”
“It would have been raining.” He nipped her throat. “As I was saying, you were wet, and your lovely nipples would have been hard and … begging to be loved.” His palm caressed over her breasts. “And these heavenly orbs of delight …” Elizabeth’s hand went to her mouth as she snorted. “These soft pillows of pleasure, these glorious jewels of femininity would have been straining to escape the confines of your exceptionally tight bodice.”
“Your imagination …” She was silenced when he gathered her up in his arms and thoroughly kissed her. Elizabeth sighed. “What happened next?”
“Why, I invited you in.” His fingers tiptoed around the ties of her nightdress and pulled the ribbons open. “And I would have led you to the library …”
“Why the library?”
“Why not? This is my fantasy.” His hand dipped into her gown and he captured one breast to suckle. “mmmm”
“And then?”
“I would lift you up and …” He swallowed. “I would … make good use of my sword, and you would have been mine forever.”
“I am now.”
“I wanted you then.” Darcy caressed his hand up her leg to her thighs. “I wanted you so much then.”
Sitting up, she slid off his lap onto the floor to the sound of his protests. “Come here.”
“Where?” He watched her backing up towards the fire. “Careful love, I do not want that gorgeous bottom singed.”
“We have a beautiful rug here.” She knelt upon it and lifting her nightdress pulled it up over her head. Darcy stopped and stared as she cupped her breasts and smiled at him. “Are you hungry?”
Instantly his nightshirt was discarded and he nearly dove on top of her. Elizabeth sank into the deep thick fur of the bearskin rug. She looked up into his beautiful blue eyes, and caressed back the long fringe of hair that fell across his brow. “Hullo, Mr. Darcy.”
“Hullo, my love.” He whispered hoarsely.
“What happens next in your fantasy?” Elizabeth asked softly. Her fingers were trailing over his chest, entwining with the soft curls of hair that tapered down to his navel where the very tip of his erection waited, glistening and warm. “Do I touch you?” Darcy’s eyes closed when her fingertip glided over the head and stroked gently, sending waves of pleasure over his body.
“Oh Lord …” His breath was ragged and he remained on his hands and knees while she touched him, caressing up and around, possessively, confidently … Her hands moved over his hips and gently, her fingers skimmed over his spine and buttocks, making him shiver with the sensations firing in his groin until he could take no more. “Your teasing is driving me mad, Lizzy!” He roared. Grabbing her ankles, he spread her legs wide and plunged in. Elizabeth gasped and cried out with a delighted laugh that was soon replaced with gasps as her husband displayed the consequences of his long-repressed desire. They rutted and clutched each other, hands caressing everywhere, kisses, mouths and tongues savouring every bit of skin they could reach.
Somewhere in his mind, a voice begged him to slow down, make it last, somehow. Try to let it go on and on …
Elizabeth sensed his body stiffening as the race for release began to overtake him. “Oh no … not yet, Will. Slow … slow … Hold me.”
In the fuzzy haze he heard her voice, and letting her legs down, he settled over her, slowing, regaining some control as she whispered words of love and lust to his willing ear. They were as close together as they could possibly be. Darcy traced his tongue over the swollen flesh of her lips as he rocked with her and stared into her eyes. Elizabeth wrapped her arms and legs around him. It felt so good, his mind was lost in the feel of her, every nerve was tingling and he was gone, lost, so lost, moving with her, feeling her, sliding into the warm velvet, feeling her body tighten, hearing her soft gasps as she held him, seeking the same abyss he desperately cr
aved. At last with her inarticulate cries increasing, he felt the unmistakable clutch of Elizabeth’s release. He loved feeling her squeezing him; he loved how wet she became, and loved, absolutely, the pleasure that he felt flowing through her.
But he needed his release NOW. It had been too long, far too long since he had loved his wife. Darcy kissed her, and resting his head on her shoulder, drank in the musky scent of their lovemaking mixed with the sweetness of her perfume, and responding to the instinct to possess her, his thrusts became deeper, frenzied, as he pounded into her and met the unrelenting demands of his desire. Completely giving his mind and body over to need, he felt the heat, the blood, his essence pooling into his groin and with a great cry, he exploded at last, filling her with his seed and sending him rocketing into the inky blackness of oblivion.
Slowly he returned to conscious thought, and became aware of Elizabeth’s arms and legs wrapped around his sweat-soaked body.
“Dear Lord …” Still shuddering, he lifted his head, and kissed her tenderly while she stroked his back. At last, he managed to focus on the blushing, dewy woman lying in his arms. “How do you feel, dearest?”
“Wonderful.” Her sleepy eyes opened, “So wonderful.”
“I love you.”
“Oh Will, I love you.” She brushed back the damp hair plastered to his brow. “Do you feel better?”
“If I did not, I would seriously question my capacity for pleasure.” Darcy laughed and reached for a blanket to cover them. “Do you feel better?”
She snuggled against him, “This is the best I have felt in a very long time.”
“I will never hold back from you again.” He said seriously, and tucking her head against his chest, he kissed her shoulder and closed his eyes. “Never again.”
Chapter 12
“This looks better.” Mrs. Shaw noted and finished adding more ribbons on the mourning wreath for the front door. “I am surprised that she doesn’t want to cover the mirrors?”
“She thinks it is silly.” Amy piped up when she appeared with her empty coal bucket. “I heard her talking to Judy about wearing mourning and things when they returned from their ride. She said that her Papa hated the custom and laughed at it, but she knows he would have been hurt if nobody remembered him for at least a day or two.” Setting down her things she set to work turning the rabbits Darcy had shot that morning on the spit.