Darcy's Temptation (16 page)

“Heavens, no,” Elizabeth gushed.“A picnic would give us only a few hours of pleasure.This promises us a complete evening.”

Darcy took her in his arms and kissed her tenderly. “I love you, my Elizabeth,” Darcy whispered into her ear.“I dreamed of having you in my life for so long, and now my dreams are real.”

Elizabeth shifted her position to rest her head in Darcy's lap, smiling up at him engagingly. He began to remove the pins from her hair, allowing her locks to loosely drape across his legs, and he felt a rush of desire for her.The woman resting on his lap cared about him for himself. Elizabeth cared not for his wealth or his position; she would be happy to be in his arms even if they lived in one of the cottages.The realization of Elizabeth's devotion brought Darcy the contentment that so eluded him for years.

His eyes traced the lines of her face, and he stroked her chin line with the back of his hand. She closed her eyes and allowed her husband's closeness to take her to that special place in her mind where only she and Darcy existed.

“Why do you smile?” Darcy asked, amused at seeing the corners of Elizabeth's mouth turn up.

“I dreamed of your touch.” Elizabeth tightened her eyes to sustain the image.“You and I were dancing at Netherfield, but there was no one else there.We circled, and all I could see was you. I felt your eyes on me; you undressed me and made love to me without even touching me—all the while we were dancing.”

“Could we not dance, unclothed?” His voice held another level of amusement, and Darcy traced her jaw line again.

Elizabeth's eyes shot open. “Dancing unclothed!” she exclaimed. “You are incorrigible, Sir.”

“I just modified your dream and made it my own.” Darcy gave her a look of innocence.

“Come lie next to me,” Elizabeth suggested. “There will not be dancing, but I can promise part of your dream will come true.”

“Be still my heart,” he teased.Then he took Elizabeth's face in his hands and kissed her passionately. He lay next to her and began to unlace the ribbons of Elizabeth's dress. “We are such stuff as dreams are made of,”
¹
Darcy whispered in her ear.

“Dreams are the true interpreters of our inclinations.”
²
Elizabeth laced her fingers into Darcy's thick hair and pulled his mouth to hers.“I hope, Sir, to make our dreams come true.” With that, she explored his mouth with hers.

 

The passion came sweet and unbridled. For a while, they slept in each other's arms, legs untangled. Darcy's breath came relaxed and even against Elizabeth's cheek. She felt the pleasure of his warmth and reached out to stroke his chest. “My Husband?” Elizabeth kissed the indentation of his neck.

“Again?” Darcy teasingly asked as he rolled toward Elizabeth and scooped her into his arms.

“That is what happens when you give me yourself without restrictions.” Elizabeth now kissed his chin line and earlobe. “Umm, you are delicious,” she laughed gently in his ear. “Again,” she said, as if a command.

“Yes, my dearest Elizabeth,” Darcy pulled her hips to his body.“With you, my dear, love is a symbol of eternity. It wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end.”
³
Their kiss became more passionate; he deepened it and increased Elizabeth's desire. “Lizzy,” he began.

“Finally, you call me Lizzy,” she teased again.

Elizabeth sat in Darcy's study, making a list of supplies she and Georgiana would take to the homes of the tenants. They sectioned off the property so they could efficiently visit an area every few days. If the weather became a problem, the ladies could vary the section, traveling the better roads in the carriage. The list completed, Elizabeth sat back, leisurely lounging in Darcy's chair. She liked working at his desk, touching her husband's things and smelling the hint of his favorite scent, strongly masculine in every way. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, letting the hint of a smile cross her lips.

“Are we still dancing, my Love?” Darcy's resonant voice asked.

Elizabeth kept her eyes closed while offering him her signature smile. “My Husband, have you not heard the best things happen in the middle of a dance; a person can do things naturally he would not do elsewhere?” Elizabeth opened her eyes to find Darcy standing directly in front of her. She stood and slid her arms around his waist. As she moved in closer, Elizabeth whispered, “Dancing, in your case, can lead to romance.”

Darcy bent to kiss her lips lightly. “You, my Love, are so tempting. Keep dreaming, my Elizabeth; I find your dreams very inviting.”

“What brings you here, Sir? I thought you rode out this afternoon.” Elizabeth ran her hands up the muscles of his back.

He led her to a nearby chair.“I have news I need to discuss with you, Mrs. Darcy.”

“Is something the matter, Fitzwilliam?” Elizabeth noted the seriousness in his voice.

“I have some initial information on Captain Rutherford.”

“What of him?” Elizabeth reacted to Darcy's tight-lipped manner.“Should we be concerned?”

“I am still unsure of Captain Rutherford, but his father is a vocal force in Leeds. I received a response to my inquiries. It seems some of the Earl's tenants threatened to leave him because of their poor conditions.”

“Lady Pennington swears the estate is very profitable,” Elizabeth protested.

“If the profits are made at the distress of others, I am concerned. I would not want Georgiana in such a place.” Darcy played with the ring on Elizabeth's hand. “It is reported the Earl had a man whipped to death for poaching a deer on the estate. Can you imagine our sweet, sensitive Georgiana in such a situation?”

“Do you remember her punishment for Mr. Jenkins's crime? What a contrast in judgment!”

“The captain associated with more radical factions at Oxford,” Darcy continued.“The Earl owns lands in sugar cane, and the captain's uncle is quite influential in Dutch interests in the West Indies.”

“That still tells us nothing about whether the captain is likely to be a danger to Mr. Harrison or to our family.” Elizabeth shifted her weight to move into Darcy's embrace. Something told her instinctively things were not right, and only his embrace could ease her concern.

Darcy tightened his embrace of Elizabeth. “That is the quagmire, my Love. I feel I must go to Hull to find out for myself about what dangers the captain presents.”

“Fitzwilliam, no,” she gasped as she pushed herself away from him far enough to see his face.

“Elizabeth, I must know if Georgiana is in danger.” His voice demanded she agree.

“How long will you be gone, my Love?” Elizabeth said at last; she fought back the tears.

“I asked Hannah More to meet with me, and she agreed.” Darcy stroked Elizabeth's arm and kissed her forehead.

“Are you familiar with Miss More?”

“My father met Miss More on several occasions. The first time I was a mere child; she was a guest at Sir Charles and Lady Margaret Middleton's home in Kent. Lady Catherine arranged the introductions. I believe that is where Miss More met Thomas Clarkson. When I was nearly seven Miss More and Mr. Wilberforce holidayed in the Peak District. They planned the early abolition movement during that trip. My father met with them twice; he chose not to be actively involved in their campaign although he never openly supported slavery.”

Elizabeth grasped at straws. “Why can Miss More not come here?”

“She is nearly seven and sixty years of age, and her health is poor. Miss More cannot come to me; I must travel to Hull. She promised to answer all my questions.” Darcy knew Elizabeth worried about such a separation.

“Can you not send Mr. Howard?” Tears flowed down her cheeks.

“Elizabeth, you know that is not possible.” Darcy lifted her chin to kiss her mouth.“I do not wish to go, but I must protect my sister.”

Elizabeth fought back the tears. “How will I sleep without your arms around me?” she asked him innocently.

“How may I survive without you nestled close to me?” Darcy answered her.

“When will you leave?” Elizabeth reluctantly accepted his need to protect Georgiana.

He said quietly,“Tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow,” Elizabeth whispered as her tears returned once again.

Jane Austen,
Emma
, 1815

The morning Darcy left for Hull, Elizabeth grieved before his carriage even departed Pemberley's grounds. Against propriety, she embraced him in the courtyard while he waited for his luggage to be secured. He clutched her to him, and Elizabeth rested her head on his chest. He stroked her hair and whispered endearments as he supervised the proceedings. “Elizabeth,” he encouraged her to withdraw,“I must leave, my Love.”

Elizabeth knew her very public display of affection would be the talk of the servant quarters this evening, but feeling bereft of Darcy's warmth before he even left the grounds, she cared not. “Fitzwilliam, please do not go,” she pleaded.

“There is nothing of which to worry,” Darcy cautioned her. “I stay with Lord and Lady Pennington in Nottingham this evening. Perhaps they may tell me more about Captain Rutherford than we already know. I travel to Hull tomorrow. I swear to be home within the week,” he reassured her.

“But Fitzwilliam,” she began, “do you not feel it, too? Surely if I feel it, you do also. Something is amiss.” Elizabeth's words held her fears.

Darcy reached out and caressed her cheek and then lightly kissed her lips. “It pleases me you will so miss me, my dearest Elizabeth.”

“How may I survive without you? It is not fair; you make me depend so dearly upon you, and then you leave me, Sir.” Elizabeth nearly pouted.

“I shall think of you every moment, my Love. I cannot imagine my life without you as my wife. I shall hurry back to once again be in your arms.” Darcy lifted her chin and lightly brushed her lips with his.Then he quickly got in the carriage, rapped on the roof with his walking cane, and left.

Yet, he could not leave without looking back at her, standing in the circular carriageway, tears streaming down her face. Darcy ached at having to leave. He spent nearly a year earning Elizabeth's love and leaving her side, even for a few days, seemed an incomprehensible act.

Elizabeth watched the retreating coach. The distance between them increased by the second until only silence remained. Reluctantly, she turned toward Pemberley, finally entering the foyer. “He is gone,” she said to Georgiana when they met in the drawing room.

“Fitzwilliam will return soon. He loves you, Elizabeth; my brother will not tarry in Hull.” Georgiana smiled at seeing Elizabeth so distraught.

“I know I am being foolish, Georgiana, but I feel I may never see Fitzwilliam again.” Elizabeth sat down in Darcy's favorite chair, touching the arms of it as the emptiness overtook her heart.“Please be safe, Fitzwilliam,” she whispered.

 

Darcy spent the night at Lord and Lady Pennington's estate. “We are pleased you are back so soon, Fitzwilliam,” Lady Pennington told him over dinner. “Why do you travel to Hull tomorrow?”

“I have important business.”

“What kind of business could take you from your bride so soon?” His Lordship asked in an amused manner.

“May I be discreet?”

“Of course,” Lord Pennington said quickly and then dismissed the servants in the room.

Darcy waited patiently until only they remained.“I travel to Hull because it came to my attention your former guest Captain Rutherford has on more than one occasion questioned my sister regarding our family's interest in Mr. Harrison. Harrison believes the captain to be a dangerous individual.”