by Wells, Linda
“mmm no.” He gave her shoulders a squeeze and looking around the room, picked up a morning dress that had been set out for the wash. “Come, slip this on.”
“On?” Elizabeth stood and laughed. “I just undressed!”
“All you need is this.” He tugged at her nightdress and grinned.
“What are you about, Mr. Darcy?”
“You will see.”
“But I was preparing to argue with you!”
“Smelling off roses? I think not.” Determinedly he lifted up the nightdress and sighing at the nude woman before him, slipped the gown over her. “There, now some slippers …” Biting his lip, he spotted a pair.
“Where are we going?”
“For a walk.” He knelt and touched her foot.
“Will! I cannot go walking in these!” She watched as he put them on.
“Why not? I have seen you walk all over the house in these.”
“In the house is the operative word.”
“Is this the best argument you can manage, love? If so, you are truly off your game tonight.
“Forgive me, it is midnight and I have been entertaining guests for hours.” She sighed and watched him slip on the other shoe. “You are not to be stopped are you?”
“No.” Grinning, he took her hand and kissed her. “You are lovely.”
“I am not stepping out of this room dressed like this!”
“Have you no comment for my attire?” Darcy stood away from her and held out his arms.
“Your attire …” She gasped and reached to touch his breeches. “Oh Will, those are the terrible breeches I made!”
“Come, love.”
“Are you wearing anything under those?”
Darcy looked down and back up to her. “What do you think?”
“I think that you are fully on display.” She said admiringly and touched the growing bulge beneath the thin fabric.
“Not quite yet.” Darcy kissed her cheek and taking her hand, he led her to the hallway door. Peeking out, he looked left, then right, and then gave her hand a tug. “Come!”
“Will!” Elizabeth squealed as he hurried down the hallway.
“Shhhhh!”
MR. GARDINER STOPPED tying his nightshirt and listening to the muffled laughter and running feet, he turned and saw his wife staring at the closed door from their bed. “If this was home, I would be commenting about how much the children have grown.” He climbed into the bed and pulled the covers over his legs. “But we are not at home.”
“What gave that away?” Mrs Gardiner looked around the room as he laughed. “Did you and he talk about Mr. Bennet?”
“Oh yes. Yes, Darcy was quite concerned about our opinions of his last days, how he was treated, and how he behaved towards everyone. Did you know that he keeps a regular correspondence with Collins?”
“No, Lizzy did not say anything, but then she was worried about Jane. She carries guilt for her absence, even though she does not admit to it.”
“Jane did well through all of it, and I am glad that Elizabeth was not there. You know that if she had been, she would have taken over.”
“That is what everyone wanted.” Mrs. Gardiner nodded. “I told Lizzy that by her not being there, the others were forced to see what sort of mettle they had. And Jane learned that she had quite a good husband. He was supporting to the end, and when he felt that she had done enough, he took her away.”
“He took her away before my sister established a routine of spending her time at Netherfield. Mr. Bingley is not a fool, despite his easy nature.”
“No, he is not.” They fell into silence for a few moments.
“Darcy … I actually felt like an uncle to him today. He needed to talk; he needed to hear that he was right with his decisions for his sister, and needed to crow a bit about his love for Elizabeth. It felt good that he trusted me.”
“I knew that he would, he just needed to know you.” Mrs. Gardiner kissed his cheek. “Did he speak much of Miss Darcy?”
“No. I do not expect him to, the secret is too deep. But his feelings of disappointment mixed with hope and fear were palpable.” Mr. Gardiner considered his conversation. “Actually, he said very little at all. I think that he felt relief simply finding a mature male who he could trust with some very personal thoughts.” He smiled and Mrs. Gardiner held his hand. “I hope that he has his family soon.”
“Well, if those running feet were any indication, he is intent on working on it.” Mrs. Gardiner laughed when her husband raised his brows. “Oh dear, are you intent as well?”
“How does five sound to you?” He grinned, and turning, blew out the candle. “Come here, Mrs. Gardiner.”
“STARGAZING.” Elizabeth lifted her head from Darcy’s chest and saw his smile. She touched his mouth, swollen from endless kisses, and settled back into his arms. “I was sure that you were taking me to the lake.”
“It crossed my mind, but I wanted to relax you.” He felt her hand tracing gently over his thigh and sighed happily, “It seems that you want to relax me, too.”
He heard the smile in her voice as her fingers tiptoed up his stomach. “You could not manage that in our bed?”
“Of course I could, but this is … I wanted to take you away somewhere. And then it occurred to me that at night, looking up at the sky … no matter where we were we would see exactly this.” Letting go of her shoulder, he waved his hand at the starlit sky. “We could be anywhere right now. Where would you like to go, dearest? Shall we imagine we are somewhere new?”
“Silly man.”
“Tell me.” Elizabeth kissed him, pausing to caress his face and smile into his soft eyes. “Where may I take you, love?”
“What makes you think that I want to be anywhere but right here?”
Slipping his hand behind her head he brushed his lips over her face, pressing kisses to her eyes, her cheeks, her nose … She sighed as his mouth found hers again and they rolled so that he lay above, never breaking the kiss.
“Lizzy …” He moaned against her lips when he felt Elizabeth’s warm hands drawing down his breeches as their tongues slid and explored, deepening the kiss with every stroke of their mouths. Darcy broke away to taste her throat, and then to nuzzle and suckle her breasts beneath her gown. Elizabeth gasped with the feel of his warm breath and the rough tug of the damp fabric dragging across her nipples. Licking his lips, he lifted her skirt and then returning his gaze to her face, watched her eyes as he slowly sank into her. The gasp, the moan, the feel of her warm welcoming body receiving him, the look in her eyes … all of it, only heightened his desire to make her his again. “Sweet Lizzy …” He whispered as they moved together. “Sweet, sweet, Lizzy.”
“Willlll …” Elizabeth sighed, opening herself to him as much as she could. Darcy pushed up on his hands so that his hair hung down, brushing against her forehead as he moved. Elizabeth was not satisfied with that, she wanted his mouth and reached to pull his head down. “Come here,” She commanded. “Do not hide those lips from me.”
“I just wanted to look in your eyes.” Darcy laughed against her mouth as she drew him back into her arms and they rocked slowly, kissing once again. “Sweet Lizzy …” He sighed, dragging his mouth to her throat and drinking in her scent. “My Elizabeth Rose.”
Her head tilted back, she caressed her hands over his shoulders and back and sighed, “You asked where you could take me …”
“Anywhere … I want you to be happy with me, happy and sure of me and my love … It is only for you.” Darcy moaned when she lifted her legs and wrapped them around his waist. He slid in so deeply. “Ohhhh, Lizzy …”
“I am sure, sweetheart. My love is only yours, too.” He lifted his head to see her warm, loving eyes. “So wherever you take me, the view would be the same.” Elizabeth smiled and caressed his face. “This is all I need to see.”
Chapter 27
“Well then? What is the result of the Season? I read no announcements in the papers. I assume that I wou
ld have received a letter had there been news.” Lady Catherine took up her glass of sherry and addressed her niece. “Do not tell me you have wasted another? What are you waiting for?”
“An offer, obviously.” Anne smirked into her glass.
“Do not look so smug, dear sister. If it were not for your money and vested interest in keeping our secrets, do you think my brother would have elevated you from spinster to wife?” Cathy said acidly.
Anne shrugged. “Jealous? Your dowry has done nothing for you.”
“Dowry has nothing to do with it. I am a victim of gossip and speculation.” She looked at Lady Catherine accusingly, “Something you are skilled at employing to your personal benefit.”
“There are times when it is useful. When I have erred, I have admitted it and repaired the situation.”
“Everyone knows that to marry, one must be in the right place at the right time.” Lady Matlock looked between them. “That obviously did not happen.”
“So I may wind up a resident of Matlock forever, and under my brother’s care.” Cathy said grimly and turned to Anne. “You and I will share a home.”
“I am not leaving Rosings, and neither is my husband.”
“If my brother dies, you certainly are!” Lady Catherine set down her glass. “You were born to this, Lady Gladney, and you will take your rightful place!”
“I thought that she was born to be Mistress of Pemberley. My, how she blew with the wind.” Cathy said sweetly, “At least I seek a mate from outside of the family circle.”
“Darcy did not want you.” Anne snapped.
“Darcy was too busy avoiding you to even consider me. He chose a woman worlds below himself rather than take you.” Cathy met her eye.
“Why are you two sniping at each other?” Lady Matlock demanded and turned to Anne. “It is entirely unbecoming. If this is how it will be, I hope that you go and purchase a suitable wedding gift for Richard and remain here instead of journeying to Derbyshire with us.”
“Another cousin you could have had …” Cathy whispered.
“Who would want a soldier?”
“He is not a soldier now.”
“Because of my husband’s generosity!”
“Your husband?” Cathy laughed and pointed at the closed door. “Gladney belongs to Father! It is his generosity that places Richard there! It is he who has allowed him to marry at all!”
“And it is my husband who is furnishing it!”
“Well, he should, he emptied it!”
“He has been making up for his indiscretions. He is living cleanly and contentedly. If you begrudge him that then you are a narrow-minded shrew and I hope that no man ever takes you. You may live your dried-up existence alone.” Anne lifted her chin. “While I enjoy the fruits of marriage.”
Cathy’s eyes narrowed and she leaned forward, “How can you enjoy fruit when the tree has not ever been plucked?” Unbecoming blotches of red spread over Anne’s pale face.
“Cathy!” Lady Matlock cried. “Enough of this! Your bitterness toward your brother is understandable, but I will not tolerate your descent into vulgarity!”
Lady Catherine considered her niece, “Would you prefer to have left Matlock to the wolves? The creditors were circling; in fact, my brother tells me that the wedding came in the nick of time. Matlock’s shine is tarnished, but it will be restored. Obviously one Season was not enough to repair the damage Gladney’s behaviour wrought. It is no reason to heap your disappointment for failing upon my daughter.” She sniffed and looked her over appraisingly. “What have you done to make yourself attractive? I see nothing of it before me.”
“What do you mean? I went to the same modiste as Mother and Elizabeth use.” Cathy looked down at her gown.
Anne pounced, “So now she is Elizabeth. A moment ago you were sneering at her.”
“Quiet, Lady Gladney. You have had your chance to crow. You are above this now; you are the wife of a viscount.” Lady Catherine turned back to her niece. “I was not referring to your dress. If you displayed this complete absence of modesty before any man who approached, I daresay they ran from you, not your family’s reputation.” She spoke with authority, “They want a lamb, not a tigress.”
“Then how did you ever marry?” Cathy demanded and looked at her mother, “And you?”
Lady Catherine and Lady Matlock exchanged looks.
“I always was curious about that.” Anne joined Cathy in her examination. “I hardly remember Aunt Anne, but I do remember that she was rather opinionated like you Mama, she was always telling me what was expected of the mistress of a great house even when I was a little girl. I assumed that it was because I was to marry Darcy. But at the same time, she was much softer. I could see how she would win Uncle Darcy. How did you attract Papa?”
“With her dowry, of course. And an arrangement between the parents.” Lady Matlock focussed on her sister.
“Exactly the same as between you and my brother.” Lady Catherine snapped.
“Is that what it all comes down to? Money?” Cathy said dejectedly. “If that was the case, I would have been married years ago.”
“You were hoping for Darcy, too.” Anne poked at her. “Cousins united.”
“He married no lamb.” Cathy muttered.
“No, he did not. And his marriage was no arranged affair, he wanted her.” Anne said quietly.
The four women grew silent, considering the Mistress of Pemberley.
“Mrs. Darcy expressed her admiration for the gift of funds from Rosings to repair the damage to Gladney. She correctly pointed out that while Rosings’s accounts are somewhat depleted, by putting Matlock and Gladney on firm footing, all of our family will benefit. I can find no fault in her reasoning.” Lady Catherine picked up her sherry. “Mrs. Darcy also fully recommends Miss Kelly as an excellent wife for Fitzwilliam. He needs a woman with fortitude to stand up to him, and Mrs. Darcy assures me that he has found a woman of worth.”
Lady Matlock nodded. “She said much the same to me. Miss Kelly is precisely the woman that Richard needs. She will not hold with nonsense, but she loves him, and he feels equally towards her.”
“Love?” Cathy sighed. “If it is as obvious as Elizabeth displays with cousin Darcy, I am afraid that I will make my permanent home here in London.”
“Watching your brother in love is not the same as watching a man you hoped for, dear.” Lady Matlock assured her.
“It is when you are not receiving the same for yourself.”
“The Darcys’ displays are unfortunate. It is one thing in the privacy of the home, but on the streets!” Lady Catherine waved at a window. “It is most disturbing. However …” She glanced at Anne. “I have noticed that affection expressed is not … ineffective on a man’s well-being. I have thus encouraged it to my daughter.”
“Mama!” Anne hissed.
“It is not a lost cause, Daughter. I believe that an heir may be had by you and Gladney. You simply must apply yourself. It is up to you to achieve.”
Cathy put her hand to her mouth and stared at Anne’s crimson face. She burst out laughing. “You must practice!”
Anne rolled her eyes. “That is not amusing.”
“I wonder if Darcy and Elizabeth still practice …”
“That she is not with child yet amazes me.” Lady Matlock said frankly. “My husband asked Richard when he last visited how they were getting along and Richard said that they were quite companionable. I thought that marrying a country girl would give him a good breeder.”
“I will advise her when we meet at Matlock.” Lady Catherine declared. “I know that she will be grateful for it.”
“You had how many children, Catherine?” Lady Matlock noted.
“If I had wished for more than one child …”
“Cathy, pass me the sherry.”
“THERE YOU GO, LITTLE GIRL.” Harding said softly and patted Hope’s belly after setting her down into the cradle. “Now, you behave and mind Miss Debbie.” He glanced at the
young woman standing nearby with folded hands and her eyes cast down. Clearing his throat, he stepped away. “How are you getting on?”
“I am fine, sir.” She said quietly. “I am in a good place.”
“Good, then.” He nodded and smiling once more at the bright-eyed baby, he left the nursery and walked down the stairs to find Susan putting the finishing touches to her dress. “Hope sends her best wishes.”
“Does she?” Susan laughed. “Did she blow a bubble or coo it into your ear?”
“She spoke eloquently, as well as any lady reading a passage from a favourite book before a library full of her peers.” He touched her shoulder and then turned away to the window.
Susan followed and slipped her hand into his. “How are you feeling, dear? You seem to be returning to yourself a little more each day.”
“I do not even know what that means. Who are you talking about?”
“The man I met at a dance all those years ago.” She smiled.
“That will be a stretch. I was nobody then, just a young barrister. I have seen and done too much to ever return to that young man again.” He looked at her and smiling, touched her face. “You, however, look as lovely as you did then.”
“Oh yes, with greying hair and crows’ feet by my eyes.”
“Yes.” He kissed her. “That is my girl.”
“Your girl is upstairs in her cradle.” She hugged him and he sighed. “Will you come with me to meet Elizabeth’s family this afternoon?”
“The tradesman and his wife.” He felt her stiffen and let go. “What would my brother say? What would my father say? To have people like that under Pemberley’s roof?” He smiled at the frown she wore. “I am only sorry that they are not here to witness it. None of us in this family have any business judging any person’s origins ever again. Not when our girl is upstairs in her cradle.” Watching a smile appear, he kissed her cheek. “Did I surprise you? I am glad that I still can.”
“SHALL WE WALK, or would you care to ride? I highly recommend Fitzwilliam’s new phaeton, he is quite proud of how it flies, but I dare not touch it myself!” Elizabeth laughed when she saw him look up at her from across the room with a crease in his brow. “He has been giving me driving lessons and only trusts me with the simplest of traps drawn by the oldest and most exhausted pony.”