by Ola Wegner
Another factor which added to his happiness was that Georgiana not only accepted Elizabeth, but clearly admired her and felt herself drawn to her much as he was. He always had suspected Elizabeth would be the best companion he could give Georgiana. His little sister smiled more, spoke with great enthusiasm about the future, and even teased him a little, which was, for him, the most convincing sign that she had fully recovered from the events at Ramsgate the year prior.
Only at the blackest hour of the night did he wonder what really stood behind this unexpected decision of Elizabeth’s for an earlier wedding.
His reason hinted to him that there was a possibility that she simply felt obliged to him and her pride could not bear to owe him so much. Consequently, she decided to repay him in the only way she could, giving him what he wanted most from her, being his for keeps in the eyes of God and the law.
As the morning came he rejected those dark thoughts, accusing himself of pessimism, dejection and the propensity to invent the worst possible assumptions.
Was it not true that lately she had not only accepted his company, but sought it as well? She went freely, with a smile, into his arms, welcomed his kisses and embraces, and often initiated the physical contact herself. Surely it had to account for her warm feelings for him.
She was not the kind of woman who would have been able to fake desire and pretend that the man’s touch and caresses were pleasant for her when they were not. He well remembered the times from the first weeks, or even months, of their engagement, when she had been instantly stiffening and backing away from him the moment he approached her closely.
There was no doubt that since then they had made progress. She was friendly; she was charming; she teased him, even provoked him in that sweetly innocent way of hers. She even clung to him the moment he began touching her. She was simply not yet ready to say the words.
“William, … Brother, you are not listening....” Georgiana’s voice drew him abruptly from his thoughts.
“I am, dearest, I am…,” Darcy assured her, though in truth, he had no idea what she was talking about.
Georgiana raised a sceptical eyebrow at him. “Oh, yes, so please tell me what I have just asked you.”
“You have asked me about the wedding,” he answered without hesitation.
That was an easy guess as the wedding was everything his sister and intended talked about these days.
“And in specifics?” the girl pressed.
“Well,…”
Georgiana shook her head with exasperation. “I have asked who will stand for you.”
“Bingley, certainly.”
“Have you asked Mr. Bingley?”
“No, I have not. But he knows, for sure; he expects it.”
“Perhaps, but would you not agree it would be a common courtesy if you asked him?” His little sister gave him a disapproving look. “He should have time to prepare himself.”
“Do not worry, my dear. I shall write to him today,” Darcy assured her.
“Good. We have agreed with Elizabeth to start shopping early tomorrow morning. There is no time to waste.” Georgiana pronounced with dead seriousness, with an air of utmost importance.
To Darcy, it sounded as if she had prepared herself to go on some important mission… and not just to order a few gowns.
“Brother, would you care to accompany us?” Georgiana’s innocent voice rang in Darcy’s ears.
A panic-stricken expression crawled on his face. “Is it really necessary…?” he stammered. “I mean my presence. I will give you carte blanche, and perhaps Mrs. Gardiner will agree to accompany you.”
Elizabeth chuckled, trying to muffle it with her gloved hand.
Darcy looked through narrowed eyes at his companions. “You are making fun of me... again,” he stated grimly.
Elizabeth moved from her place to sit next to him. “Do not be cross,” she pleaded, taking his hand. “Georgiana mentioned to me how much you despise shopping.”
“Despise is too strong a word. But she is correct, it is not my favourite pastime,” Darcy acknowledged.
“I see,” Elizabeth grinned at him before lightly kissing him on the cheek.
Darcy grunted softly with pleasure at her gesture, but he spoke sternly, trying not to show he was a putty in her hands. “We should stop for the change of horses soon. Would you care for tea at the inn?”
***
Darcy did not want to tire the ladies, so the journey to London took almost twice as long as when he travelled on his own. Consequently, it was well after five in the afternoon when they stopped in front the Gardiners’ house. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, together with their children, welcomed them on the entrance stairs.
“Welcome, welcome,” Mr. Gardiner greeted with a broad smile.
Mrs. Gardiner embraced Elizabeth and then Georgiana, to whom the Gardiners had been introduced by Darcy during his previous stay in London.
While the ladies exchanged their pleasantries, Mr. Gardiner and Darcy shook hands.
The children stood quietly behind their parents, peering curiously at the guests.
“We have been hoping you would take dinner with us, Mr. Darcy, Miss Darcy?” Mrs. Gardiner enquired.
“We do not wish to impose…,” Darcy started with little conviction, as he did not want to be parted from Elizabeth yet.
“Nonsense, everything is prepared,” Mr. Gardiner assured him.
Darcy looked at Georgiana for confirmation. “We thank you and accept,” he said, and the whole company entered the house.
***
Dinner passed in an amiable atmosphere, after which the children were sent upstairs and the gentlemen sat in the study while the ladies took coffee in the parlour.
“You look tired, Aunt.” Elizabeth noted when the observations concerning weather and the enquires about the health of Mrs. Bennet and Elizabeth’s sisters had been addressed.
Madeline Gardiner nodded. “I am a little.”
“So perhaps it is too much for you to ask you to go shopping with us tomorrow?” Elizabeth asked with concern.
“Oh, no, Lizzy. I think shopping is exactly what I need. Lately I have had so little time for myself. Edward has been so busy with business, so I spend whole days alone with children at home. There is no time to go to the theatre or a concert, not even a simple walk together. I hardly see him. He is home today just because we were expecting your arrival, Lizzy…. Oh, I am sorry.” Mrs. Gardiner smiled apologetically. “I am whining.”
“No, Aunt, it is all right,” Elizabeth said, and at that very moment she looked at her favourite aunt with different eyes.
But she was just a few years older than herself. Aunt Gardiner was no more than thirty years old. Elizabeth looked at the pretty, elegant woman sitting next to her and saw herself in some ten years.
“I do not wish you to misunderstand me, my dears.” Mrs. Gardiner continued in a soft voice. “I love my family, and I would not change my life for anything else, but sometimes I feel exhausted and suffocated with this daily routine and monotony.”
“What about your plans for travels to the lakes?” Elizabeth asked. “I am surprised you are still in London.”
Mrs. Gardiner shook her head with a sad smile. “Edward’s business has kept him in town. I know he does it for our future; he wants the children and me to have everything we need, but still….” The older woman gave a little sigh. “He promised he would try to find some time in the middle of August. It will be too late to travel so far, so we could go only as far as Derbyshire. I would love to see it though. I have not been there since my maiden years, over ten years now. I am only worried what we will do with the children.… I thought that perhaps Jane and my sister-in-law could take care of them for a few weeks, but as you are in mourning, plus occupied with your wedding, Lizzy, and with your mother’s fragile nerves, I think it would be too much to ask. They are small children, after all. They need constant care all day long; and Emma often awakes at night with nightmares.”
; “They could stay with us at Pemberley,“ Georgiana offered.
The older women looked at her with surprise, but she did not manage to respond because the gentlemen entered. Georgiana immediately turned to her brother and explained the whole situation.
“Certainly, the children should stay with us at Pemberley. If you are to tour Derbyshire, it is the most reasonable solution,” Darcy said. “We should be well settled there by the middle of August. What do you think, Elizabeth?”
Elizabeth raised her eyebrows at him, speaking hesitantly. “Yes, but…”
“…they are small children, Mr. Darcy,” her aunt finished for her.
Darcy looked offended. “I know they are small. I have seen them. They are perfectly well behaved, if sometimes a bit lively; but I find them quite manageable. We will take good care of them. I assure you. Pemberley is a perfect place for children.”
***
Darcy spent a busy morning with his solicitor. There we numerous matters to attend to before the wedding, so he could devote as much time as possible to his bride in the first weeks of their marriage.
He shocked the footman when, upon descending from the carriage, he took three steps in one leap. He felt elated as Elizabeth was to visit today. He had seen her rarely in the last couple days. Georgiana took the responsibility of shopping for the new Mrs. Darcy’s wardrobe very seriously indeed. Consequently, Elizabeth was so exhausted at the end of each day of such excursions that he had no heart to occupy more of her time.
He entered the house, asking the butler. “Where is my sister?”
“Miss Darcy is entertaining Miss Bennet and Miss Gardiner in the drawing room.”
“Miss Gardiner?” Darcy asked with confusion.
The servant raised his brow. “Yes, sir. Miss Julia Gardiner.”
Darcy entered the drawing room to see his women taking tea. Little Julia Gardiner sat next to Georgiana, looking very important and composed, with a big pink bow tied in her carefully curled hair, her posture perfect, her hands ideally clasped on her lap.
“Good morning,” Darcy spoke cheerfully, three pairs of eyes instantly resting on him.
“Good morning, Brother,” Georgiana smiled at him, earning herself a kiss on the cheek.
“How are you, my dear?” Darcy spoke, facing Elizabeth, raising her hand to his lips.
“I am well,” Elizabeth answered, blushing prettily.
Darcy winked at Elizabeth and Georgiana before turning to Julia. “How are you today, Miss Gardiner?”
The girl raised her head towards the tall, intimidating man, and she spoke quietly. “I… I am fine. I thank you, sir.”
“Welcome to my home,” he said.
Julia’s eyes widened as she stared at him. “We have come in an open carriage,” she said at last, clearly enthralled with the fact.
“You have? I hope the ride was a pleasant one.”
“Oh, yes!” Julia cried excitedly, and then she started to babble, her studious manner instantly replaced. “Yesterday the written invitation came to me from Miss Darcy. It was addressed to me, to Miss Gardiner. I have never thought of myself as Miss Gardiner. I know it is my surname, of course, but I was always just Julia Gardiner.” She reached to a small pink reticule, retrieved from it a small cream fragrant card, and showed it to Darcy.
He took it from her and studied it with due attention. “It is written that I am invited for tea,” she informed him.
“Yes, I can see that. It is without doubt a most elegant card, Miss Gardiner,” he said, returning the card to its owner, who tucked it carefully back into her purse.
“We have been speaking, before you came, Brother, about Julia’s lessons on the pianoforte,” Georgiana said, smiling at the girl.
“Miss Gardiner is a student of music; that is interesting. My dear, perhaps you could show our guest to the music room for her to see your pianoforte?”
Georgiana agreed readily, guessing her brother wanted to simply spend some time alone with Elizabeth.
When the doors closed behind Georgiana and Julia, Elizabeth spoke first.
“You were wonderful with Julia. She will never forget this. You have a friend in her for a lifetime.”
“She reminds me of Miss Bennet,” Darcy remarked casually.
“Yes, she does remind me of Jane, very much indeed. When they are together, they look like sisters; much more than Jane and any of us, her real siblings,” Elizabeth spoke distractedly, getting more and more flushed under Darcy’s inquisitive stare. “We had not asked you, but perhaps you would care for a cup of tea?” she asked nervously.
Darcy did not fancy drink at the moment, but he could not refuse himself the pleasure of Elizabeth’s serving him a cup, so he answered with a warm half smile. “Yes, please.”
Elizabeth instantly busied herself with the cups and tea pot at the side table.
“Here you are, still hot,” she said a moment later, handing him the cup with a slightly trembling hand.
“Sit beside me,” Darcy requested, his voice low, his eyes gazing into hers.
His smile grew bigger when she immediately took her seat close to him. He had taken only two sips, all the time staring at her profile, when he put the cup aside.
“Do you not like it? Perhaps you would prefer a fresh one?” Elizabeth enquired.
“No, there is something different which I would prefer now,” he said in a husky tone, leaning forward to touch his lips to the tender skin on her delicate neck.
He kissed her collarbone, then inch by inch, he reached the swell of her bosom.
Her breasts began to rise and fall as her breathing grew more laboured. Nibbling gently at the small birthmark situated just above the lace which decorated the neckline of her dress, his hand cupped the underside of one full mound.
She shivered and moaned, her fingers grasping at the material of her dress.
Smiling smugly, Darcy lowered his head even more, nuzzling her breasts through the thin muslin, noticing the protrusion of her nipples .
“You are not wearing your stays?” he murmured to her stomach.
Elizabeth moaned again, shaking her head, her eyes closed. “No, I preferred not to wear them on such a hot day as today. ”
“I see,” he murmured, tracing his own path back to her neck. At last he kissed her on the lips while she clung to him almost desperately.
He ended the kiss gradually, placing a few smaller kisses on her flushed cheek, then asked. “Would you like to take a tour of the upstairs rooms?”
“What…?” Elizabeth whispered obviously still dazed, her head on his shoulder.
Darcy chuckled and repeated his question.
“Ah, yes, of course.” she said, as if she was not certain to what she was agreeing.
Darcy stood up, still smiling, and enveloped her small hand firmly in his.
“Let us go,” he said, pulling her to her feet.
When they reached the second floor, he began explaining. “On the right, there are guests chambers, and on the left, the family apartments. Are you curious to see your future rooms?”
“Yes, I am,” Elizabeth said, looking around the dark panelled corridor.
Darcy guided her farther and pointed to the nearest door. “Here is Georgiana’s room, over there is the nursery, but it has obviously not been used for many years now, and here is your room.”
Elizabeth looked curiously at the door. “May I?”
Darcy simply made a sweeping gesture with his arm.
Elizabeth opened the door cautiously and walked inside. She looked around the room silently for a long time.
“I know it needs to be cleaned and aired out. It was last redecorated over thirty years ago, in the first years of my parents’ marriage.”
“It is perfect. I love the colouring; and that design on the wallpaper is simply beautiful. I have never seen anything like it,” Elizabeth said, touching the wall. “It feels like silk.”
“Because it is, I believe. It was ordered in France. I heard that s
imilar wall coverings were made for the private apartments of Marie Antoinette at the Petit Trianon.”
“Your mother had marvellous taste. Now I know from whom Georgiana inherited her aesthetic sense. Her ability to match colours and patterns is simply amazing. Were it necessary, she could have done it professionally. If you could have seen her at the seamstress’; she is so confident about the materials, designs and the latest fashions.”
Darcy raised his eyebrows. “Believe me, I have seen her at the seamstress’. I prefer to leave her an open account there and arrange for someone else to accompany her. For some time she even tried to change my wardrobe. She insisted that I should broaden the selection of colours and wear some brighter clothes.”
“Well, I must agree with her on this. You wear nothing besides black, dark brown or very dark green.”
Darcy stiffened. “I like those colours. They suit me very well. I will not let her, or you, make some dandy out of me.”
“Grey or blue would not make you look less respectable, but they would soften your overall image a bit. You would look younger and more relaxed,” Elizabeth said gently; and despite his heavy frown, she added. “During the summer, would you not prefer to wear some light beige instead of dark brown like today?”
“No.”
“I see,” she said, before murmuring more to herself than to him. “I think I can understand why Georgiana has not succeeded in changing your wardrobe.”
“Here is the dressing room.” Darcy opened the side doors while Elizabeth peeked inside curiously.
“And that door?” she asked after inspecting the dressing room and returning to the main room.
“My bedroom,” Darcy answered calmly.
Elizabeth’s eyes widened and she walked near it cautiously.
“You may enter it,” Darcy spoke with amusement. “There is nothing very frightening inside there.”
“I know,” she said nonchalantly, pushing the door open.
She walked around the room slowly.
“What is your impression?”
She pursed her lips. “It is rather dark; and so… tidy, as if no one lived here.”
“I like it when everything is in its place.”
“You do? In that case, perhaps you should not marry me.”