Mr. Darcy's Forbidden Love-kindle (90 page)

“He began to handle the estate issues that had been neglected while he was in London. I understand that that is his duty, truly I do. It is just that the tenant disputes seemed to take all his time. He would not return until long after I was asleep, and he began sleeping in his bed alone. According to his valet, he did not wish to disturb me. Since he left in the dark of early morning, I had no chance to speak with him then either. I kept thinking that all this madness would end and our lives would return as they were before. In hindsight, I should have written him a note and asked him to awaken me when he got home.”

“Unfortunately, hindsight is always clearer.”

“Now, with the bridge, I have no idea when I shall see him again.” She stared at the lake peeking through the trees in the distance. “My greatest fear is that our first weeks of marriage were an anomaly—something only starry-eyed lovers experience. What if now, given the choice, he would just as soon do his duty as spend time with me?”

“You know that cannot be true. By your own admission, he was a passionate lover before Georgiana came home. I think that when you became preoccupied with Georgiana, he sought an outlet to suppress his desires. That outlet was the estate.”

“If he felt neglected or missed me as much as I missed him, why would he not just say so—or at least try to gain my attention again?”

“Men are strange creatures, Elizabeth. Perhaps he worried that since you had so easily been swayed by Georgiana, you were not as, shall we say,
enthusiastic
about marital relations as he was.”

“But I was enthusiastic,” Elizabeth offered without thinking. “Could he not just ask if he had any doubts?”

“You will learn that something in a man’s nature will not allow him to dwell on that possibility. To learn that it is so would destroy him, thus he keeps those fears to himself. Now, may I ask another personal question?”

“You may ask me anything.”

“I was wondering if you have had your courses since you and Fitzwilliam married.”

Elizabeth’s brows knit as she concentrated. “I have not thought about it, but they should have begun about the time Georgiana returned. That was two weeks ago.”

“I see,” Lady Ashcroft said, smiling perceptively.
That explains the urge to cry so readily.

Elizabeth looked a little dazed. “Is it possible that I—could I be with child so soon?”

“It only takes one time, my dear, and from your description of your husband’s devotion, one time would not accurately describe it.” 

Elizabeth could not help but smile, though she blushed furiously. Audrey slipped an arm around her shoulder. “Let us start back to the house, and I shall explain how we are going to resolve all your worries.”

“Let me fetch my book,” Elizabeth said rushing back to the bench. “I would not want to lose it. It was Fitzwilliam’s first gift.”

Taking her place alongside her aunt, they headed in the direction of the manor house. And as they walked, her aunt laid out her plans.

“First of all, Georgiana shall accompany me to Westcott Manor this evening. She shall reside there with me until my wedding. It shall be just as easy for her masters to meet with her there as here. When she is idle, I shall let her help me with the preparations, which should make her happy. She loves to feel that she is in charge of everything.”

Both ladies laughed.

“Afterwards…”

~~~*~~~

Just before dusk

William let go a sigh of relief and allowed Zeus to slow as soon as Pemberley came into sight. Since receiving the note from his aunt requesting that he come immediately, he had ridden the stallion at a full gallop much of the way. Fearing something had happened to Elizabeth or Georgiana, by the time he reached his home, his stomach was in revolt and, as he slid from the saddle, he prayed that he would not lose what little he had eaten. 

His thoughts thus occupied, he happened to pull back on the reins a little too forcefully, causing the horse to rear after he halted. Instantly, the head footman, Mr. Douglas, hurried to take the stressed animal.

“Good evening, Mr. Darcy, sir,” Douglas exclaimed breathlessly as he held onto the reins of the skittish animal. “It is good to have you home.”

Absorbed with learning the reason he had been summoned, William only nodded, rushing past the old servant and up the steps without a word. And as the front door opened and his master disappeared inside, the man’s brows raised curiously.  “Mr. Darcy must have something on his mind; he is normally more sociable.”

The younger footman seemed unconcerned to have been overlooked. “He is likely just tired.” Taking the reins from the older man, he ran a hand down Zeus’ damp chest. “I had better get this chap to the barn. He needs a rub down and some oats and I shall instruct one of the grooms accordingly.”

Douglas laughed. “If you wish to handle him, I shall gladly defer. That horse has more fire in his belly when he is worn-out than most do when they are rested!”

~~~*~~~

Striding purposefully into the foyer, William was not surprised to see Mr. Walker coming towards him. The butler began to take his hat, coat and gloves.

“Good evening, sir. Welcome home.”

The butler’s serene attitude seemed out of place, and William looked about in disbelief. Why was his aunt not rushing to explain the urgent need for his presence?

“My aunt summoned me. Where is she?”

The voice of Lady Ashcroft came from somewhere behind. “I am right here, Fitzwilliam!”

Turning, he watched her float towards him in her usual elegant manner, seemingly unperturbed. Her steps were unhurried, and she had a slight smile on her face. When she reached him, she placed a kiss on his cheek.

He was thoroughly perplexed. “You do not look troubled in the least. Have I taken your missive more seriously than I should?”

“If you took it seriously, it served my purpose, Fitzwilliam. Now, if you will follow me, we must talk.”

At the new gravity in her voice, his heart jumped into his throat again. “Please tell me now. Has something happened to Elizabeth or Georgiana?”

“Neither one is ill or injured, but if you will be so kind as to come with me, I shall explain why I sent for you.” With those words, she turned and went in the direction of the parlour.

Letting go of the breath he had been holding, William’s colour returned and he glanced skyward.
Thank you, Lord!
Then he hurried to follow his aunt.

Once the parlour door was shut, he began to get a bit irritable because he was exhausted. “If they are both well, why the urgency in your message? From what you wrote, I thought the worst.”

“Just because neither of them are ill or injured, does not mean all is well, Nephew. Do you not wonder why I am here today instead of next week as planned?”

With all that had occupied his thoughts of late, William had completely forgotten when she was to return. At his look of complete confusion, Audrey Ashcroft’s face softened. Smiling, she went to him and cupped his face with both hands.

“My poor darling boy, you look completely done in. Sit down and I shall tell you what has happened while you have been so diligently occupied with things best left to the supervision of others.”

~~~*~~~

Later
William’s Dressing Room

Almost an hour after his aunt and sister had removed to Westcott Manor, William was standing in his dressing room. He had bathed and was now clothed in the black silk robe that Elizabeth liked him to wear. Had he not reeked of dust and sweat, he would have rushed to her side directly after his aunt’s lecture. However, for what he had in mind, a bath would refresh his body and help to stave off the fatigue of his journey.

Spying the small bottle of sandalwood cologne that was always on his dresser, he reached for it. Instantly, his eyes were drawn to his image in the mirror. His brow furrowed as he considered the man staring back. How could he have been so naive as to think he was being reasonable—even sacrificial—in allowing Elizabeth and Georgiana so much time alone? Perhaps it resulted from not wanting Elizabeth to think him so jealous as to complain about his own sister. Yet, his aunt had completely disabused him of the notion that he was being generous by relating Elizabeth’s feelings on the situation as well as her own.

Elizabeth loves Georgiana, but she is wholly devoted to you. Too late she
recognised
that she had erred in giving her sister her complete attention. She deeply desires that your relationship be as it was before my niece came home. Though she has every intention of spending time with Georgiana, she intends the better part of it to be done together as a family.

Now, Nephew, you need to draw a line with Georgiana. While you may have thought you were being
noble
by allowing her to have so many private
tête
-a-
têtes
with
Elizabeth,
you were wrong
! She is your
wife, not Georgiana’s companion! That is not to say they shall not spend time alone, just not continuously.

And with regards to your duties and responsibilities as Master of
Pemberley
, there may well be instances when your presence is needed, but I have learned that the majority of estate problems can be handled by a good steward. You have not seen me rushing to Ashcroft Manor whenever something was amiss. That is because I let Mr. Wainwright do his job. You pay Mr. Pickering a good salary, I imagine, so tell him what you want and authorize him to act in your stead.

Most importantly, never be away from home so long that Elizabeth begins to doubt your devotion to her. She is your strength, Fitzwilliam! If you forget that, you shall fail in all things, but especially in your marriage!

The sting of her rebuke was crushing! Not because he had been proven wrong, but because he had not realised how deeply his fixation on other matters had affected Elizabeth.

Why did you not ask Elizabeth what she thought about your being away? I know you are used to making decisions without consulting anyone, but you are married now. Stop trying to ‘guess’ what she is thinking and discuss it with her. Communication is the key to a successful marriage!

Properly humbled, he was certain that the only good portion of his aunt’s dressing down was learning that Elizabeth missed him as much as he had missed her. Praying under his breath that she would accept his apology, he noted that his hair was unkempt and searched the dresser for a comb. Raking it through his still damp hair, when the usual strands fell across his forehead, he shrugged in defeat. Then heading to the door that led into their joint sitting room, he entered to find it empty.

Fully expecting Elizabeth to be in her bedroom, he was crossing the room towards that door when he spied her out of the corner of his eye. Though night had fallen, a full moon revealed her on the balcony and that she was wearing the transparent silk gown she had worn on their wedding night. As he stood transfixed, a strong breeze began to tousle her hair, causing the gown to cling to her every curve. In an instant he was behind her, pulling her against his body, one arm resting under her breasts, the other around her waist. Burying his face in the crook of her neck, he placed moist kisses over every inch of silky skin visible, begging forgiveness between each scorching caress.

“Forgive me, Elizabeth! I love you so much! I never meant to hurt you. Please say you still love me.”

“I
do
love you, but it is you who should forgive me.  I was so very blind.  I—”

As she turned her head to address him, he could resist no longer and captured her lips. Without breaking the kiss, she turned around to face him. Their bodies melded as his hands slid down to urge her closer.

And as their ardour grew, Elizabeth’s legs began to buckle. William reached down to pick her up and swiftly made his way to the bedroom. Once inside, he set her on her feet, and after undressing them both, urged her backwards toward the bed and placed her there.

Knowing now how wrong he had been and how much he had hurt her, his relief at her forgiveness stirred a desire to claim her in every possible way. Thus, the rest of the night was marked by very little sleep, and William made love to Elizabeth as though he were a man possessed.  After their last particularly satisfying union, she literally collapsed atop him, unable to move while she caught her breath. William stoked her back while she recovered.

“Are… are we to make up in this manner whenever we disagree?” Elizabeth said breathlessly. Then she giggled.  “I would almost be willing to force a quarrel if this is the consequence.”

William rolled over, taking her along so that she now lay beneath him. “You will have no need of creating quarrels, my love. I intend to make love to you in this manner for the rest of our lives!”

And with those words, he proceeded to prove his boast.

~~~*~~~

It was well after noon the next day when a very exhausted but contented looking couple greeted Mrs. Reynolds as they descended the grand staircase, informing her that they were ready to break their fast. She smiled, nodded and then rushed to the kitchen to inform Mrs. Lightfoot, the elderly cook, that a meal was needed without delay.

Mrs. Lightfoot exclaimed in her customary straightforward manner, “They must be starved!  Half the day is past! I cannot imagine anything so important as to keep the master away from my scones!”

Mrs. Reynolds did not reprimand her, as it would have served no purpose. Mrs. Lightfoot carried a courtesy title, but she had never been married and simply had no idea what Mr. Darcy might consider more important than food. Chuckling to herself as she headed to her office, the housekeeper took a deep, satisfying breath and let it go.

It is so good to see the
Darcys
happy again! Thank God for Lady Ashcroft!