Darcy's Temptation (59 page)

Hannah rushed back into the room carrying the decanter and two glasses. Darcy took the decanter and poured a generous drink for Elizabeth and a much smaller one for himself.With a slight ironic smile, he handed her the glass. “A toast to my loveliest Elizabeth,” he said, clinking his glass to hers.“You are the mirror of my dreams.” Darcy placed the glass to his lips and took a sip, but with a nod of his head, he encouraged Elizabeth to take a large swallow.

Elizabeth's eyes teared up immediately, and she coughed repeatedly as the brandy left a burning sensation in her throat. When she could manage to speak again, she stammered,“You . . . you drink . . . you drink this willingly?”

“Men like to prove how powerful we are.” Darcy held an amused look on his face.“Yet, it is you women who possess all the power. You consume us.” He sipped again, and Elizabeth
followed suit with another large gulp.This time she only had to clear her throat a few times.

Mr. Spencer hustled the women from the room. “We will be outside, Mr. Darcy.”

Darcy barely turned his head as they left. His attention remained on Elizabeth. He would keep her calm; he would help her save their child. They sat together for some time, neither speaking but Darcy constantly gauging his wife's condition. Finally he teased,“Do I know you, Madam?”

Elizabeth took a more moderate sip of the alcohol; it already took its effect on her. She was at that “giggling” stage of intoxication where everything was funny. She gave him a semi-seductive smile.“Oh, yes, Sir, you know me intimately.”

“Intimately?” he asked slyly.“How intimately?” He topped off her glass, and Elizabeth sloshed some of it on the cuff of his shirt.

“That depends on you, Mr. Darcy.” Her words began to slur, and Darcy noted it had been some time since Elizabeth winced with pain.

“Intimate enough for this?” He allowed his fingers to trace across her shoulder and along the neckline of her gown. Elizabeth openly gasped, and Darcy held his glass to her for another sip of brandy, and then he kissed the last few drops from her lips.

“Intimate enough for this,” she laughed lightly as she moved Darcy's hand down her body, letting it come to rest on her abdomen.

“Our child,” he whispered.

“Loves your touch,” Elizabeth finished his line.

He continued to entice her with words of love and sips of brandy for the next three-quarters hour. While his wife became pleasantly drunk, Darcy carefully noted how her pains totally disappeared.

By the time Mr. Spencer and Darcy's staff returned to Elizabeth's room, she was fully inebriated. They found Elizabeth singing and laughing at the top of her lungs. She sat
propped against a stack of pillows, arms flailing about like an orchestra conductor.

Darcy stretched out across the foot of the bed, smiling contentedly, watching her.

“Sing with me, Fitzwilliam,” she called and then started singing a bawdy number. “There was a fine lady who rode a white horse; she came to London, of course, of course; with rings on her fingers and bells on her toes; she has treasures wherever she goes.”

Darcy laughed at her and stood where he could speak to the physician. “I wonder where she learned that one. At least my wife is a happy drunk,” he remarked to no one in particular.

“Mrs. Darcy will have a headache like she has never known before.” Mrs. Reynolds found it all amusing.

Mr. Spencer asked him privately,“Any more pains, Mr. Darcy?”

“None for nearly an hour.” Darcy turned to answer the physician.

“Perfect.” Mr. Spencer looked relieved. “Mrs. Darcy may have just saved her life and that of your child.”

Darcy breathed at last.“Mr. Spencer, how may I thank you?”

“Help me keep Mrs. Darcy in bed for a few more weeks. I want her to bring joy back to Pemberley. It has been too solemn too long.”

Darcy looked back at the giggling Elizabeth.“It certainly is not solemn in here this evening.”

Mr. Spencer joined in the laughter.“Mrs. Darcy does know how to light up a room.”

 

When Elizabeth finally awoke the next morning, she moaned with disgust.“Oh, my head,” she muttered, trying to sit up in bed.

Darcy leaned down to kiss her cheek. “You, my Dear, were delightful last night.”

“How long will I feel this way?” Darcy's look of amusement irritated Elizabeth.

“A few hours,” he smiled as he helped her reposition herself in the bed.

Elizabeth looked around to see the blanket lying across the back of the chair.“Have you been here all night?”

“I told you I would not leave you,” he reasoned. Darcy poured her some coffee.“Do you suppose you could eat something?” he asked casually.

“Maybe some toast,” Elizabeth added. “Dry toast.” Darcy brought her some from the serving tray.

“Now, Mrs. Darcy,” he teased, “I want to know where you learned a certain song.”

 

Darcy became her constant companion. Elizabeth delighted being with him although being confined to her quarters nearly drove her crazy. Eventually, Darcy began to carry her from room to room. At least, with moving her to where he could watch her, Darcy was able to stay abreast of estate business. Elizabeth read or did her needlework.

 

“One week closer,” Elizabeth said as he placed her in her bed.

Darcy kissed her lips gently. “One week closer—soon, my Love, our child will be with us.”

Elizabeth pulled him back to her, quickly deepening the kiss she offered.“Fitzwilliam,” she breathed heavily,“I love you more than I can ever express.”

Darcy had to touch her. He quickly discarded his cravat, coat, and waistcoat. “May I lie with you tonight, Lizzy? I want to hold you in my arms.”

“I wish to be no place else,” she said softly as Darcy finished stripping off his clothing. Finally, he settled her in his arms; her head nestled into the indentation of his shoulder. They kissed repeatedly. Darcy never felt such intense happiness.

Sitting back in the coach, Georgiana wondered what would happen when her brother found out what she planned. Darcy would be furious with her actions; he might never forgive her. At a minimum, her brother would likely force her into a speedy marriage, but Georgiana cared not for her loss of reputation. Mr. Harrison's life was on the line, and she must warn him of the dangers.

Darcy would question why she did not just send word to Mr. Harrison, an act of impropriety, but one of less severity than the one in which she currently participated. However, Georgiana could be nowhere else if Chadwick Harrison was in the kind of danger she expected. Georgiana knew Mr. Harrison would never back down, and if she did not warn him, he could die in the confrontation. She would be with him when the trouble came; she could be no place other than with the man she loved.

Mr. Gardiner's visit to Kensington Place came unexpectedly on Friday afternoon. Georgiana planned a leisurely evening alone; she sent Mrs.Annesley on a visit to the woman's favorite nephew, and she wanted nothing more than the comfort of her own company. When Mr. Thacker announced Mr. Gardiner's presence, Georgiana felt a bit annoyed, but she hid her concern from Elizabeth's uncle.

“Miss Darcy.” Mr. Gardiner made his bow. “I hoped to find Mr. Darcy at home.”

“My brother is not here today.” It was the story upon which she and Darcy agreed. “He is addressing some personal business. May I be of service to you, Sir?”

Mr. Gardiner seemed agitated. “I have some distressing news of which Mr. Darcy should be made aware.” He paced the length of the room.

“I could reach Fitzwilliam if necessary.” Georgiana tried to sound nonchalant.

His decision made, Mr. Gardiner broke down and told her his secret. “It is imperative Mr. Darcy is made aware of what I share with you.”

“I understand, Mr. Gardiner,” Georgiana assured him.

“I have an associate who brings me news from time to time. He tells me a large contingent of anti-abolitionists plan to oppose Mr. Harrison's election as a PM.They will address the gentleman at the borough assembly. I suspect Mr. Harrison should be made aware of the situation. He could be in some danger if things escalate.” Mr. Gardiner continued to pace.

Georgiana tried to steel her nerves. Mr. Harrison meant as much to her as did Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth. Her heart continued to beat, but Georgiana could barely breathe as fear gripped her throat.“Mr. Gardiner,” she said at last,“my brother and I thank you for your devotion to our family. I will address your concerns to Fitzwilliam immediately.”

Mr. Gardiner retrieved his hat from the table. “Again, Miss Darcy, I beg your forgiveness in disturbing your privacy today.”

Although Georgiana already planned what she would do, she managed to say,“Think nothing of it, Mr. Gardiner; we are family.” She showed him to the door, and then turned back to the butler. “Mr. Thacker, have the men prepare my coach.” Then she rushed off to her chambers to prepare her bags. Georgiana would be off to Dove Dale in a matter of hours.

Jane Austen,
Pride and Prejudice
, 1813

On Saturday a post came from Georgiana, and Darcy carried it to Elizabeth's room to share with his wife. He and Elizabeth clicked off another week of waiting for the birth of their child. Darcy barely left her sight; he made the resolution that Elizabeth and this child were more important than anything else, for without them, he was nothing.“I have a post from Georgiana,” he said as he entered his wife's bedchamber.

As Darcy settled into the chair beside Elizabeth's bed, she asked, “When will you go to London to bring Georgiana and Kitty back to Pemberley?”

“I considered sending Mr. Howard in my stead.” He shared his thoughts to see how Elizabeth would react.

“Fitzwilliam, I will be well.” Elizabeth looked on a bit amused.“I will remain in this bed if it means a healthy delivery for our child.”

“Elizabeth, I cannot leave you,” Darcy argued.“I have been out of your life too long. I should have been here when Mr. Jefferson brought up tenant rights, when Mr. Wickham came uninvited, and when the stable caught on fire. I failed you as a husband, and, no matter what, I will not fail you now. I will be with you when this child is born.”

“Fitzwilliam, I never considered you as a failure as a husband.” Elizabeth rolled onto her side so she could address him
directly.“You allowed me to be a strong, independent woman. In a time when women have no voice, you allowed me to not only speak, but to sing. Life is not merely a haphazard series of events; our life is an exquisite plan, a perfect tapestry. Can you not see that, my Love?”