Love Calls Again

by Lucianne Elsworth

  "I must confess I was surprised to see Darcy willing to attend a ball. But then I suppose he missed his friends from Netherfield. Pray, tell me. How did you persuade him into dancing with you?"

  "I do not recollect that I did such thing, sir."

  "I see. A willing dancer, too. If I did not know the depths of your affection, I believe I would be jealous."

  She kept silent.

  "Did you see much of him during the ball? I thought I understood from him that you did."

  "Yes, he was my partner for most of the night. He did not know any other lady besides my sisters and I found myself compelled to accept his companionship. My sisters are far too young to keep him good company, and Jane was too busy to afford it. After all, he is to be my cousin, is he not?" Elizabeth hoped she had silenced him, but he soon afterwards said:

  "Undoubtedly. Did you notice anything unusual about him?"

  "He was exceedingly jubilant and much in his cups," she said with a smile at the recollection. He noticed her smile and could not help the impulse to ask her, thus.

  "Did you like him?" "

  Pardon?" her countenance blushing furiously.

  "My cousin. Did you enjoy his company?"

  "I did," she said frankly.

  "Did you enjoy his company much better than mine?" Lord, I am beginning to sound stupid!

  "Sir, what do you mean?"

  "I mean what you have heard. Did you enjoy his company more than you enjoy mine?" he insisted in earnest.

  "Sir, I am your fiancée. I enjoy your company much better than anyone else's." Goodness, that was a lie! She had enjoyed Mr Darcy's company much better than anyone else's. And his kisses, and his touch, and his… Why was he talking about his cousin? She wanted to forget about him, and here was Richard reminding her of him. This would not do.

  "Are you positive, Eliza?"

  "I am, sir. I love you." That was not a lie. She sincerely thought she loved him. After all she could notafford to love Darcy.

  Such disclosure could not pass unnoticed to Fitzwilliam. He halted and, grabbing her by her waist, pulled her behind a tree, and kissed her lips tenderly.

  "How much?" he then asked.

  "Very much, sir." she answered, her lips almost on his.

  "That is not enough," he breathed with a frown and a pout. He could be so childish.

  "Not enough?"

  "Nay. You should have said that you love me more than you can bear."

  "I love you more than I can bear, sir." she said grinning. Sweet, Richard. He could make her smile so easily.

  "But you still enjoyed dancing with my cousin."

  "I did," she smiled sheepishly. She now knew he was not entirely teasing her.

  "And you also enjoyed his company."

  "Indeed. I confess I have not always enjoyed it, sir. I dare say he has uncommonly improved within these six months I have not seen him." She blatantly teased him, playing with the truth in a shameful manner. "Marriage evidently becomes him."

  "I would not be so sure, Miss Bennet." he said seriously. "I must warn you my cousin has not been his usual self and I would not mind if you avoided being too… friendly with him."

  "How so?"

  "I do not wish to discuss my cousin's demeanour with you, my love. Let us change the subject. Hmm, where is Miss Kitty?"

  Elizabeth looked around. Kitty was nowhere to be found. "She must have turned to go to Lucas Lodge to visit Maria," she concluded.

  Goodness! Silly Kitty! She left me alone with Richard!

  "A very wise chaperone," he said turning to hold her in his arms.

  Elizabeth looked around in desperate search for her stupid sister. Can she not do anything right? Thoughtless, thoughtless, Kitty!

  Richard, then, did the unthinkable. He cupped her breasts with his hands and, pinning her to the tree, began a seduction worthy of George Wickham. Jealousy had a fierce grip on his heart, and he desperately wished to make sure she belonged to him. Elizabeth gasped in surprise and meant to protest. Mr Darcy's touch was still burning on her skin, his kissing lingering on her lips. She was confused and a bit scared, and at the same time, she reckoned Richard was a desirable man. Indeed, quite so.

  What to do? Surely Richard, somehow, being her betrothed, had a right to claim certain degree of intimacy with her. A bit hesitantly at first, Elizabeth, little by little surrendered to his seduction, and to the sweetness of his lips.

  "Richard, someone might see us!" she finally said, tired of struggling with his hands.

  "Hmm?"

  "Someone might see us."

  "Indeed. Come." Taking a fierce hold of her hand, he took her deeper into the wilderness along the road.

  "There," he said triumphantly. "None can see us here."

  "I did not mean this, sir."

  "What? Are you afraid of me?"

  "No, I am not."

  "Do you love me?" he said playfully, lightly pressing the tip of her nose with his.

  "I do."

  "So do I," he breathed, "Let us not lose precious time, then. Allow me to show you the depth of my feelings for you. Come, let me show you." He closed his eyes as he kissed her passionately while pressing himself against her.

  Oh Lord. What is this? I must stop him!

  Yet, she did not, she dared not. She merely allowed him the liberties he evidently desired so badly.

  It was the first time he had touched her so, and she very soon discovered his touch was as enticing as Mr Darcy's. The situation was in itself unsettling. Much as she reckoned Mr Darcy must have tasted of brandy, she still missed the latter's spicy flavour, and his(kiss)… and… (kiss) hmm… what was she thinking? Ah yes… Mr Darcy… (kiss) hmmmm.

  Richard was definitely different. While Darcy had been clumsy and unrelenting, perchance almost beastly (but, she still had enjoyed every bit of it, even more so than Richard's gentle manners), her fiancée, accomplished the same with such gentlemanly airs, that she barely realized he was kissing her bosom! Goodness, how did he get there?And yet, he was. Deliciously so.

  So different.

  Richard Fitzwilliam was inviting, like the recurrent lapping of the sea on the shore.

  Fitzwilliam Darcy was like rough waves, perilously breaking on the cliffs, eroding their resistance with each blow.

  Richard's kissing, meantime, gentle as it was, became incredibly arousing, and she felt she was about to explode when he, ever so generously, began to rub her most intimate regions with his hand.

  Oh Lord! What is he doing?

  Elizabeth felt a now familiar wetness betwixt her thighs.

  He breathed a confession and a promise into her ear. "You know not how much I need you, Eliza. Yet, I can give you but a little example of what awaits for us in our wedding bed." He then replaced his hand with the bulk in his groin, and helped her reach her satisfaction until she wanted no more.

  In this manner, Fitzwilliam took to showing his fiancée the depths of his affection during their everyday strolls. Truth be told, Elizabeth found his attentions more and more palatable, and many a time she had been in danger of losing all composure. Yet Fitzwilliam, unlike his cousin, was a very experienced man, and knew his own "limitations" perfectly well, and not once lost his wit.

  In one of their rambles, however, just as Elizabeth was eagerly awaiting his attentions, Fitzwilliam, looking very serious and grave, thus addressed her.

  "I must have a word with you, my love. I am afraid it is not something easy for me to disclose."

  "Yes?" she said, a bit disappointed.

  "You must remember I told you I was thinking of quitting my position in my regiment. Unfortunately, this cannot be done. I have received and accepted an urgent commission that will take me to the continent for a brief period beginning in three weeks."

  Elizabeth looked up at him uncomprehendingly. "I see," she almost muttered to herself.

  "You do not sound surprised."

  "I am to be the wife of a soldier," she sighed. "I am not surprised he would find d
uty more important than pleasure."

  "You are unbelievable, Elizabeth. I would have expected at least as much resistance as my cousin Georgiana displayed! But no. Your comprehension of my situation astonishes me!"

  "You wish I had cried and pouted and been mad at you?"

  "No, no. I am merely stating that your reaction to my news only persuades me of the goodness of our union. We see things quite from the same perspective. I see we are exceedingly well matched."

  "I must confess I am not at all happy with your decision, Richard. Do not misunderstand me."

  "Neither am I, my dear. Yet it cannot be helped."

  "How long did you say you are staying?"

  "Six months. Perhaps a year."

  "Is it only that?"

  "Why do you ask?"

  "I believe you are hiding something from me." "Well, the truth is we are at war. You must not concern yourself for I am not to fight. I shall be confined to training soldiers. But a war is a war, and we are hired men. So, I cannot assure you that the year cannot be extended any further."

  "How so?"

  "I do not know."

  "Colonel Fitzwilliam. You are telling me we are not to be married after all?"

  "I am telling you that circumstances dictate that our marriage should be postponed until my return. Our engagement should not be exposed to the world until that time."

  "Is that what you have said to my father the other day?"

  "No. I merely told him I have accepted a commission. He suggested that I should tell you all about it, and then we should talk to him again."

  "I am confused, Richard. Do you expect me to accept this or should I argue with you about your decisions?"

  "I do not understand."

  "You seem to have everything under control. So, you go to fight your little war, and I remain here hoping that no sword will slash you in two, or a cannon blow you in pieces, meantime embroidering my wedding dress in the manner of Penelope? Sir, you must be jesting."

  "You are telling me you are not going to wait for me?"

  "Indeed, I am not sir. We must marry now."

  "Elizabeth! My love. It will not do. Your father will not have it. I will not have it!"

  "I shall talk to my father, Richard."

  "It is unfair. I cannot have you do this for me."

  "Pray, Richard. What is it that you suggest?"

  "Our engagement will be concealed for a while until I return. Then we get married. However, if, by any chance, something happens to me, and I am not back by a year, then you are to consider our engagement broken, in which case you are free to do as you wish."

  "What do you mean?"

  "Elizabeth. I told you I do not expect to fight. But… who knows. I might not return in good health. I could not put you under the obligation to be the wife of a cripple."

  "When you come back I would marry you regardless of your health, sir."

  "But I would not. However, in the event that I should fail to come back within a year, when I do come back, if you are not wedded to someone else yet, and I am on my own two legs, then I assure you I shall renew my addresses and you shall decide."

  "So, it is decided?"

  "I am afraid it is the best we can do."

  "Oh, Richard!"

  "Please, Elizabeth. I can endure Georgiana's crying. But not yours."

  "I am sorry. I am grieved. And frightened. What will become of you?"

  "My love. There is no need for us to be so concerned for the future. 'Tis not written yet. Perchance the war will be over in two months and I shall return safe and sound for our wedding in the spring."

  "Yes. You are in the right. Let us hope this stupid game you soldiers play finishes sooner than expected."

  "I agree my love. Meantime I am resolved to make the most of our time together. I can think of many pleasurable activities before parting to the war. Now, Lizzy. Do you think that tree over there offers a good concealment from the house?

  Fifteen

  —

  A Good Memory Is Unpardonable

  To keep their understanding from Elizabeth's family was as difficult for Fitzwilliam as to keep his own hands off her. She was an alluring vision and with every one of his ministrations she had become more and more responsive. There was hardly any secluded corner in the garden in which they had not been kissing, and while Richard had been all hands and endearments, Elizabeth had been all moans and sighs.

  It was a miracle they had not been discovered red-handed. For many a time they had been left quite on their own by their careless chaperone. On such opportunities, Richard had been able to bestow upon his fiancée the most daring shows of affection, which Elizabeth, much to her own amazement, thoroughly enjoyed. She only wished that they were less openly shown while in the company of others, and once or twice did venture to suggest the propriety of self command whilst her sister was around, supposedly acting the chaperone (In truth, Kitty was always too distracted daydreaming to be able to notice anything that would be expected from an enamoured gentleman). Thus warned, Richard endeavoured to behave while in Kitty's presence.

  Richard's second week at Longbourn, however, was coincident with extended rainy weather. Hence, his "courtship" was relegated to Longbourn House, and the company of sisters, parents, and servants, all of whom were unlikely to turn a blind eye to their shows of affection as willingly as Kitty. This was a considerable vexation for Richard, as the day of his departure was approaching unrelentingly. Being housebound had not been in his plans. So, in order to ensure a higher level of intimacy, the ardent soldier dared to slip into Elizabeth's sleeping quarters at a very late hour.

  The house was asleep, and not a sound could be heard from the bedrooms. Richard was not certain which Elizabeth's room was, so he sneaked about the halls and barely rapped quickly at the door he thought might contain the treasure of his musing. He immediately hid himself behind a massive piece of furniture, stalking in a cat-like position, waiting for the results of his daring guess. One might imagine where most of his charm lay… He could be excitingly childish and exceedingly unpredictable.

  At the sight of an intrigued Elizabeth poking her head out of her bedroom, Richard came out of his hiding place, and without hesitation, jumped, rather than stepped into the room, closing the door behind them, his very much flabbergasted fiancée fiercely grasped by the waist. The expression Elizabeth bore upon her face when he finally looked at her was not particularly inviting.

  "Richard, what…?"

  "Do not be afraid, my love. I merely could not sleep thinking of you. We have not had a single minute alone for the last…"

  "Three days," she finished, "I know."

  "Would you rather I take my leave?"

  At this she was silent. Would she rather he leave her or not? Could she trust his chivalrous demeanour? Was she afraid he would take further liberties? Would she like him to take them?

  He sensed her discomfort but was not in the mood to forget his primary goal. So, making a face that would have melted Georgiana's heart, he admitted almost with a pout:

  "I see. It appears you would."

  "No, no," she said, although still hesitating: "S… stay."

  This might have surprised him, or might have not. The truth was he had expected more resistance to his stratagem. Now that he saw himself alone with her in a bedroom, he wondered what she might be expecting from him. He had not planned, not even dreamt, when following the call of the fever of his blood, to take her virginity. For Elizabeth was an innocent.

  Regardless of the ultimate outcome of the meeting, Richard decided he would make up his mind during the process. Hence, without further intermission, he kissed her decidedly on the lips, and commenced to explore her body, now offered to him without the concealment of corset and petticoat.

  Little did he imagine the surprising behaviour of his fiancée. When he had pursued her company in the solitude of a bedchamber, Richard had had the naïve idea that, though a very ardent girl, he would face a blushing and reticen
t partner. Never, in his wildest dreams would have he imagined Elizabeth a willing one. Maidens, he knew, not accustomed to receiving a gentleman's attention, would certainly be shy and detached, demurring and modest… A virgin would always find being in a bedchamber with a man a scary prospect. He had not counted on Elizabeth's prior education in his cousin's arms.

  For Mr Darcy had broken almost all barriers when given his opportunity in the orangery. Elizabeth had learned a lesson. A beautiful one. No one could either complain or take offence of her ability to learn. For she had been subjected to all sort of arousing experiences, both in the arms of her true love, the illustrious though irremediably married Mr Darcy, and her fiancé, the very handsome Colonel Fitzwilliam.

  Who could blame her for her reaction? After all, she was only human!

  Unaware of the blazing ardour behind Elizabeth's innocent demeanour, Richard Fitzwilliam soon took a more daring step. He most shamelessly caressed her bottom, and kissed her cleavage in the way. To his astonishment, Elizabeth did not fight him back as she had done before. No. She seemed to be enjoying his attentions, oblivious to his ungentlemanly behaviour.

  Though such compleat submission to his charms coming from a gentleman's daughter should have been suspicious enough, Richard chose not to dwell on it. Human beings do not usually see what they do not wish to. Seeing she was quite comfortable with their progress, Richard began to fight the barrier of her gown. Especially her décolletage, which little by little, gave way to his fingers and allowed him to hold a perfect round breast in one of his hands. His lips, ever so lightly, administering soft kisses, satiated his hunger from the delicious fruit of its nipple, and at the same time, though unbeknown to him, opened the lid to the most blazing sensuality.

  The moment Richard's hands slid into her gown and touched the bare skin of her thighs, Elizabeth's quivering sighs revealed her emotions, which were decidedly not virginal. She immediately put into practice what she had learnt in the arms of Mr Darcy, and in a fearless manner, dived into the inviting flavours of the exposed skin of his neck, bestowing upon it the most arousing kisses, which soon became wet and sensual as she accompanied them with light caresses on his chest. Of course, she had no idea of the extent of her power over this man's resistance while doing this.