Sharon Lathan - The Trouble with Mr. Darcy

“Do you think him dangerous?”

“I put nothing past him. I know for cert that he has no love for a Darcy and do not want you or our children subjected to his tongue or possible exploitation. Primarily I merely wish to avoid any unpleasantness. Perhaps we will all be shocked and discover him to have matured or tamed or found God. Who knows? But I will not take any chances with my family. Do you understand?” She nodded, Darcy intently examining her eyes for the tiniest hint of disobedience, but in this situation she was in total agreement. “As we have discussed in the past, he is not a man to be taken lightly. I will be watching him closely, so you do not need to fret. I want you to enjoy this time with Kitty. Leave the vigilance to me.”

“You are worrying me, William.”

He smiled, bending to kiss her forehead. “Forgive me, dearest. You really have nothing to be concerned about. I doubt if Wickham will attempt to cross me, and remember that Richard will be here as well. Wickham was always far more terrified of him than me, for some reason. Even now that he no longer wears the uniform, Wickham will be quelled by the presence of Colonel Fitzwilliam.”

He brushed a thumb over her lips, leaning closer while pushing his taut muscled body onto hers. “Now, what say we return to the previous topic? The far more pleasant one involving me loving you.” He lingered, lips a scant hairbreadth away from hers. “I am positive I can drive all other thoughts from your mind, Mrs. Darcy.”

“I would accuse you of arrogance, but in this matter you speak the truth, Mr. Darcy.”

He laughed, rolling to his back with her encased amid strong arms and long legs. Every muscle rippled, Lizzy shivering at the feel of his solid thighs tenaciously clutching her hips and the radiant heat oozing from the steely plains of his torso. He lifted his head to close the small gap for a kiss, but Lizzy withdrew.

“William, I worry for you.” His brow rose questioningly and eyes widened. “Promise me you will avoid Wickham as well. Do not let him bait you into acting foolishly.”

“Elizabeth, I have greater forbearance than you give me credit for!”

“Do you? I seem to recall a rash urge to strangle him with your bare hands not too many months ago! You are a man of great passion, my love, despite your uncommon self-control and wisdom. Your emotions do, upon occasion, overrule your temperance and reserve. Thankfully your shortswords and dueling pistols are secured at Pemberley! Please be careful, that is all I ask. Remember your family in the present and not the conflicts of the past. Promise me.”

“I promise. I will happily pretend the man is invisible as much as is possible. Even if that means being a poor host.”

“It will give you a ready excuse to stand in the corner and glower, since that is what you prefer in large gatherings anyway.”

Darcy grunted at her tease, pulling her firmly to his mouth and tightening every muscle enclosing her body. “Can we stop talking now? My need for you has taken on an urgency that I fear may be interrupted at any moment by a demanding baby. Thwarted sexual satisfaction will put me in a fouler mood, and we would not want that, now would we?”

Lizzy’s laugh and retort were stayed by a fervidly seeking tongue, communication essentially nonverbal from there on. No interruptions occurred, both exiting the bedchamber sometime later tremendously satisfied and in buoyant spirits.

Contrary to Darcy’s tease about the women spending hours dedicated to wedding plans, there really were few left to finalize. Kitty had arranged everything with a straightforward simplicity that drove Mrs. Bennet into nervous fits. Mrs. Bennet had apparently decided that as the final Bennet daughter to be wed, it needed to be an affair of pomp and renown. The morning and early afternoon visitation as the three waited for their assorted guests to arrive would follow a typical pattern.

“I am certain Mr. Hennings could provide a few more flower arrangements in short order,” Mrs. Bennet declared, Lizzy rolling her eyes for the umpteenth time while Kitty calmly waited for her mother to finish the thought before rebutting it. “This is a meager amount! Only four around the altar and the one you will be carrying? Not nearly sufficient!”

“Mr. Hennings has provided what I asked for, Mama. There is no need to burden him further.” Kitty did not look up from her embroidery hoop.

A few minutes later: “I spoke with Mr. Janssen yesterday, Kitty. He said he would be delighted to bake the cake for you.”

“I plan to cook it myself, Mama, as you know since you helped me purchase the ingredients three days ago. The fruit is drying already and the marzipan is prepared. I pray you did not impose upon Mr. Janssen for an item we do not require?”

“No, no! It was merely a suggestion.”

Then again, following a heavy sigh: “I do wish you had prevailed for a special license. His family connections are illustrious enough to afford it and you certainly had the time.”

“That is not the point. We had no need to apply for such a thing.”

“Of course, it should have been you, Lizzy, who had done so,” Mrs. Bennet interrupted, having not listened to Kitty’s response, her eyes dreamy as she continued. “It would have been marvelous to see Lady Lucas’s face when one of my daughters was married after noon with leave by the Archbishop of Canterbury himself!” Her eyes grew mournful as she turned to her younger daughter. “Really, Kitty, if you could only think of your poor mama you would have granted me this one wish.”

“Mama, please!” Lizzy scolded. “The wedding will be perfect as it is. It is Kitty’s happiness that counts the most.”

“Of course! Yes, yes, you are correct, Lizzy. I only want what is best for my dear girl! Are you sure the kitchen staff here is adequately prepared for the occasion? Perhaps we should scrutinize the menu again, add something more. It is such short notice, but it must be stupendous!”

“It is only breakfast. They will handle it superbly.”

“But what about the dinner that evening? Two meals in one day of such magnitude?”

“The bride and groom will be gone and it will just be family, Mama. No need for ostentation. The Netherfield staff can manage it, I assure you.”

And on it went until mid-afternoon and the relieving disruption by the footman announcing the arrival of the Bingleys. Darcy was sent for from his solitude in the library, entering the foyer as the group massed for hugs and greetings.

“Bingley!”

“Darcy old man. How are you?”

“Well, quite well indeed. Mrs. Bingley.” He bowed toward Jane, who smiled and curtseyed.

“William, I expected to see Alexander trailing behind. Ethan has spoken of nothing else nearly the entire journey.”

“I forced him to nap, much to his chagrin, so it is fortunate that Ethan is clearly in the same state.” He inclined his head toward the Bingleys’ nanny, whose arms were laden by the sleeping form of the Bingleys’ young son. “Mrs. Geer, a room has been prepared for you and Master Bingley. Arguston will escort you there, if you approve, Jane?”

“Please. He was a terror, I am embarrassed to admit, refusing to sleep or sit still until we began pulling into the drive whereupon he suddenly collapsed in exhaustion.”

George laughed. “I am convinced your dear son holds not a candle to the youngest Darcy in terms of a wicked temper.”

“I wish I could argue the point, but I am afraid it is the truth.” Darcy grinned, clasping his wife’s hand in the crook of his arm as they filed into the parlor.

It was a bedlam of voices and bodies as they refreshed the new arrivals with tea and spirits, exchanging pleasantries with Kitty gladly answering the identical questions asked of her by Lizzy over the past two days. Jane was paler than typical, but otherwise outwardly recovered from the horrendous ordeal of miscarrying her second baby. Her countenance was cheery as Kitty gushed about the wedding to come.

Lizzy leapt for joy to see Kitty reverting to her giddy self. The past year and a half had been filled with trials and heartache, her present happiness often seemingly not in the fates with her newfound strange reserve a remnant of too many disappointments. Additionally, Lizzy prayed the presence of family and a blissful event would wash the residuals of grief from Jane’s heart—at least as much as was possible after a tragedy of that magnitude.

The cacophony had dimmed only slightly when a fresh outpouring erupted upon the surprise arrival of Mr. Bennet with Joshua and Mary Daniels in his wake. They had halted at Longbourn first, Mary physically evicting her father from his study to accompany them to Netherfield. Hugs, kisses, formal bows from the menfolk, and two more slumbering children were relocated to waiting chambers while fresh tea and edibles were brought in.

Kitty once again embarked on a question and answer session, not tiring in the endeavor. Sitting as the guest of honor on the sofa amid a gaggle of Bennet females, she waxed on as only a bride-to-be can do.

Mr. Daniels greeted his brother-in-law with staid formality, never considering Mr. Darcy more than a client. A tied packet of documents was delivered with appropriate rectitude, Darcy not even cracking a smile although his eyes glittered humorously. George casually leaned against the liquor cabinet, whiskey decanter in one hand and brandy in the other as he served drinks to the gentlemen gathered around.

“May as well get started on the celebrating,” he said jauntily. “Bingley, Daniels, drink up. Get a jump on the other gents at the pub!”