He was pleasantly surprised by her request and most eager to comply. He hastened to retrieve a beautiful silver-plated brush he had only recently purchased, engraved with an elegant, flowing E.D., from a locked drawer in his desk. He took a seat closer to the fire and settled Elizabeth upon his lap, this time with her back to him, as he ran the brush through her curls with care.

Elizabeth relaxed under his tender ministrations, and her gaze began to roam over the many objects in Darcy’s study. It occurred to her then that this was his inner sanctum, his refuge, much the same as her father’s small library was to him. She could not help but admire the understated elegance of her future husband’s good taste.

“You have a wonderful home, Fitzwilliam. It is tasteful and refined while being comfortable, and not the least bit ostentatious. I know I am going to enjoy living here very much, but only because you and Georgiana will be here, as well, and I shall be able to awake every morning in your arms. Apart from the theatre and the opera, I confess London society holds very little allure for me. I believe I will need to seek refuge in your excellent library quite often, sir, preferably with you to keep me company.”

Darcy placed a lingering kiss upon her hair and said, “Our library, Elizabeth. It is now your home, as well, and you can change anything you wish in order to make yourself more comfortable.”

She shook her head. “I have no wish to change anything, and until we are happily married, I shall be perfectly content with being no more than a guest in your home.”

Darcy placed the brush upon an end table and shifted so he could look deeply into Elizabeth’s eyes. He caressed the softness of her cheek, his voice tinged with emotion as he whispered, “In my heart, Elizabeth, you are already my wife. Surely, you know that?”

Her breath caught in her throat as tears pricked the corners of her eyes. Cradling his face in her hands, she drew his mouth slowly toward her own, stopping just short of their lips touching. “Thank you, Fitzwilliam,” she whispered. “You can have no idea how very much I was in need of hearing you speak such words to me tonight.”

Their lips met with a tenderness that soon threatened to overwhelm them both, and as Elizabeth felt her body begin to tremble from the strength of her emotions, Darcy lifted her in his arms and carried her toward the fire. He laid her with care upon the carpet, where he joined her after removing his waistcoat and his riding boots. Then he began to work the buttons on her gown free, his gaze never leaving her eyes, not even for a moment.

Once Elizabeth was fully unclothed, her curls framing her face as she lay before him upon the carpet, Darcy took his time to tease her body with his lips, his tongue, and his hands, lingering along those areas of her flesh he knew to be most receptive to his caresses. Not until after Darcy heard her soft cries and felt her body begin to writhe under his touch did he dare permit himself to give any thought to his own ardor.

Darcy traced her nipple with his tongue as he massaged the small, sensitive pearl between her thighs with his finger. She was slippery and wet, indicating her readiness just as much as the muffled sounds Elizabeth moaned against his lips. Darcy pulled his head back and stared at her, mesmerized, unable to tear his gaze from her beauty, longing to bring her over the edge and into the abyss of ultimate release. Suddenly, Elizabeth’s back began to arch, and her lovely body shuddered violently as he brought her to her completion. When she stilled, Darcy returned his mouth to hers as she assisted him with the buttons on his shirt and breeches.

He entered her slowly and began to move with smooth, long strokes he knew would encourage Elizabeth’s desire to build again quickly. As he increased his rhythm and felt the delicious heat begin to supplant every other awareness, Elizabeth matched his frenzied movements with her own, drawing small grunts of satisfaction from Darcy every time they met.

They pushed their passion for each other ever faster, ever deeper until, with one final thrust, they spiraled into a pulsating oblivion of insurmountable pleasure.

They lay spent, languid and content in each other’s arms, their limbs entwined as they basked in the afterglow of their lovemaking. Elizabeth ran her fingertips over his bare chest as Darcy’s hand played with her hair. She gazed up at him and noticed a distant look in his eyes. “Fitzwilliam?” she asked softly.

“Mmm?”

“You seem far away. Is everything well?”

Darcy placed a lingering kiss upon her swollen lips and stroked her arm. “Yes. I am very well, my love. There is nowhere else I would rather be.” He tightened his hold on her and settled into silence once more.

Though Elizabeth did not doubt the sincerity of his words, she was still not convinced his mind was completely free from anxiety. They remained silent for a while. Finally, Elizabeth said, “Your family seemed very nice. I especially liked your aunt. She is a very clever woman, and I enjoyed talking with her very much.”

“Yes, she is. I believe she liked you, as well, as did my uncle, though I doubt he is ready to admit as much.” Darcy laughed. “I believe you impressed him far more than he ever anticipated. I was very proud of the way you handled yourself with him. He can sometimes be difficult.”

Elizabeth smiled somewhat sadly. “I gathered as much by his speech today, but I can hardly blame him. It is obvious he loves you a great deal and is only trying to protect you. For all he knows, I could be a fortune hunter interested only in Pemberley, your annual income, and your position in society. He is right to be cautious. You know you would do no less for your sister.”

Darcy’s brow furrowed. After several minutes, he asked, somewhat hesitantly, “Did you enjoy your shopping excursion with your family and Georgiana today?”

Elizabeth grew pensive. “It was fine, Fitzwilliam. I very much enjoyed spending time with your sister. She is a remarkable young woman.”

Though Darcy was pleased to hear she liked spending time with his sister, he was not convinced Elizabeth had enjoyed herself otherwise. In fact, he knew it to be quite the opposite, and he longed to speak to her of what had really taken place at Mrs. Duval’s shoppe. Darcy had thought Elizabeth had seemed rather subdued when she and Georgiana had arrived back at Darcy House that afternoon, though she did appear to recover quickly enough, enchanting his relations with her wit, her vivacity, and her natural grace. After speaking with Georgiana after dinner, however, he had a much better understanding as to why she seemed out of sorts.

Throughout the rest of the evening, Darcy had watched her closely, looking for any further signs of distress or melancholy, but, if there were any, Elizabeth—whom he had never known to dwell upon the negative—endeavored, however unsuccessfully, to hide them. If given a moment alone, he had hoped she might open up to him, confide her feelings and her hurt, but, even now, she appeared to have little inclination to do so. If anything, she seemed to be taking comfort from his presence and his love, and for that, Darcy found himself ever grateful.

Chapter 15

They dined the following evening with Elizabeth’s Aunt and Uncle Gardiner in Gracechurch Street, where they—the Bennets, the Gardiners, the Darcys, and Bingley—passed many happy hours in extremely pleasant company. Though their house was not half so large nor so grand as his own—being in Cheapside rather than the fashionable Grosvenor Square—Darcy found himself invariably impressed by the elegant manners and intelligent conversation of the Gardiners, who, to his complete surprise, turned out to be brother and sister-in-law to Mrs. Bennet.

When they arrived back at Darcy House, it was well past midnight, and everyone was anxious to retire for the night. While Elizabeth’s parents and sisters went directly to their respective rooms to commence with their bedtime routines, Elizabeth and Miss Darcy stood together, finalizing plans they had made to visit Hyde Park in the morning. Darcy was seeing to some last-minute business in his study. Tired from their long day, the two ladies were just about to bid each other good night when the door to the drawing room was thrown open to reveal none other than Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

“Where is my nephew!” she demanded as her gaze swept through the room. As soon as her gaze came to rest on Elizabeth, her eyes narrowed with distaste. “And I suppose you are the insolent girl who has drawn him in!” It was not a question.

Georgiana gasped and looked on helplessly as her aunt advanced toward Elizabeth. She somehow forced herself to take a step forward and say, though somewhat meekly, “Aunt Catherine, may I present Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Hertfordshire?”

“I already know who she is!” she hollered in a voice that made her niece cringe. Then, turning to Elizabeth, she exclaimed, “I know it all, Miss Elizabeth Bennet! I know how you refused a perfectly good proposal of marriage from a respectable man whose prospects and station are far better suited to your meager situation in life in order to ensnare my nephew! Oh, yes! I have it on very good authority you have used your many charms and allurements in a shameful manner to seduce him—yes, seduce him, Miss Bennet!—into offering you marriage. Such disgraceful behavior will not be tolerated by his family. Whatever scheme you have been aspiring to will never take place. Mr. Darcy is engaged to my daughter. Now, what have you to say to that?”