The Secrets of Darcy and Elizabeth: A Pride and Prejudice Variation (31 page)

Her father rubbed his hands together, trying to calm himself. Then he turned and poured himself a brandy before responding. “I am pleased you have such faith in him. I do not know the whole truth of what occurred in France, but I suspect you are concealing something from me.” Elizabeth said nothing in response. “I hope you know you can always turn to me if you find yourself in distress of any sort.”

The pain and fear in her father’s voice made her wish to confide the truth right then. But she knew she could not do so without talking to Darcy, so she merely said, “I am not at all distressed for myself. I am perfectly content with my situation.” Far from reassured, her father merely shook his head sadly at this declaration. “I am only concerned about Lydia.”

Her father sighed and stared at his brandy glass. “As are we all,” he said. “The poor, foolish girl.”

Elizabeth made a move to depart, but her father stayed her with a hand. “You and Mr. Darcy have concealed the impropriety of your travels in France admirably, but I hope I hardly need to warn you that you must be properly chaperoned here in Hertfordshire.”

She murmured, “Of course,” and walked toward the door, thinking that the definition of “proper” chaperonage was flexible given the circumstances.

Before she exited, her father called to her, “And, Lizzy, I had not realized how ill you were in France. I cannot tell you how grateful I am that you are still with us.” Tears sparkling in his eyes. “And I intend to thank Mr. Darcy for taking such excellent care of you the next time I lay eyes on him.”

Elizabeth smiled and nodded to her father, then left the room.

As Elizabeth set out for her walk the following morning she thought guiltily that she was violating the spirit, if not the letter, of her promise to her father. She would be with Darcy without a chaperone, but, because they were married, they would not truly require one.

The summer days had been warm lately, but the early mornings were still cool. Mist was rising from the fields as the first rays of early morning light shone on the plants. Elizabeth walked more briskly that usual, excited at the prospect of being with Darcy alone.

As she proceeded along the path to Oakham Mount, she soon noticed a tall figure on horseback. When he reached her, Darcy slid quickly off his horse and embraced her so tightly she could hardly breathe. Scarcely less eager, Elizabeth tilted her head up to receive a kiss, responding with ardent desire as he pressed his lips on hers. She never wanted the kiss to end, but at the same time, it only stoked additional desires that mere kisses could not satisfy. Darcy’s hands traced her curves, enflaming desire wherever they touched – every inch of her body ached for him.

When at last they separated, panting, Elizabeth said, “Mr. Darcy, I believe you have compromised me.”

He gave a short laugh. “This location
is
rather exposed.” His fingers played with one of the curls left visible by her bonnet. “Did you have another place in mind, my love?”

Her smile was impish. “Let me show you one of my favorite hiding places as a child.” He tied his horse to a tree and she took his hand, leading him along the bank of the stream. He followed her into a secluded copse, a grassy area rendered private by the surrounding fir trees. The sun shone brightly through the ring of gray-green branches, creating an intricate pattern of light and shadow.

“This is delightful!” Darcy gasped, turning in a circle to fully appreciate the beauty. “Thank you for sharing it with me.”

“As a child I only viewed this as a perfect spot to hide from my sisters. I never realized what a wonderful lover’s bower it would make!” Darcy laughed at her playful tone.

As she returned his laugh, her eyes lit with pleasure and Darcy thought again how incredibly fortunate he was that she had agreed to be his. Once she was surrounded by family and friends at Longbourn, he had worried she would regret her impetuous decision to marry him. After all she must be thinking that marriage to him would inevitably lead her to leave Hertfordshire and everyone she loved, but she gave no indications of remorse now. Apparently she wished to be with him as much as he wished to be with her; his heart swelled with love all over again.

He kissed her again, pouring all of his love and passion in that one kiss. As he did so, his hands, moving of their own accord, starting to undo the buttons at the back of her dress. Once finished, he realized that Elizabeth’s hands had unbuttoned his waistcoat and were pushing it over his shoulders and down his arms.
How had she learned so quickly how to undress me?
He wondered absently.
Not that I am not grateful.
Her eagerness excited him even more.

Darcy turned back to Elizabeth and quickly divested her hair of its hairpins, causing her glorious curls to cascade around her shoulders. “I wish you could wear your hair down every day of your life,” he murmured. “But I want to be the only man to see it.”

“I do believe you are jealous,” she whispered coyly.

“Always,” he whispered. He laid his coat on the grass and then laid her on top of it, kissing her with a passion borne of many nights of separation.

A long time later, he reluctantly helped button up her dress and watched as she twisted her hair up into a simple knot. He gently kissed the nape of her neck and she shivered. She had related the substance of her conversation with her father. “How long do you think we can maintain this pretense without betraying ourselves?” Her expression was pensive.

“You, my dear, are a very good actress,” he put his arms around his waist. “But I am afraid that if any other men demonstrate an interest in your charms I may respond rather inappropriately.”

“You managed Mr. Fenton well, but, I shall endeavor to avoid other eligible young men,” she gave him an impudent smile. Then she examined the angle of the sun and sighed. “I am afraid I need to return to Longbourn. I do not want to create additional concern, especially now that my father is so suspicious of your motives.” He nodded reluctantly. “Will I see you later today?” She asked.

“Bingley expressed an interest in visiting Longbourn early, so he may already be there. I could join him. The thought of remaining away for so long is simply unbearable.”

“For me as well,” she said softly. “I will look forward to your visit.”

When Elizabeth returned to Longbourn, she found that Bingley was closeted with her father in his library. A radiant Jane came explained to Elizabeth that he had proposed and she had accepted. Elizabeth could not have been happier for her sister.

Later in the day Darcy came to call and had the privilege of being one of the first to congratulate the newly affianced couple. Fortunately he was spared Mrs. Bennet’s effusions on the subject, since Elizabeth’s mother had gone to Meryton to share the good news with anyone who would stand still long enough to listen.

Bingley and Jane sat close together in the parlor, but during one moment when Jane was engaged in a conversation with Mary and Elizabeth, Bingley confided in Darcy. “I had thought to take a couple more days at this courting business so I would not seem overly hasty,” he explained in low voice. “But I received a letter from Caroline yesterday informing me that she will be arriving tomorrow. I knew she is coming because she wanted to prevent my engagement to Jane. I thought if it were
fait accompli
, she would not argue so much about it. I will have to endure some sour looks, but she will understand she cannot dictate my actions.”

“Indeed,” Darcy said. “That was clever.”

Bingley managed a grim expression for a whole minute at this prospect, before a glance at his fiancée restored his good cheer. “There is one benefit of Caroline’s arrival, however,” Bingley continued. “I will be able to invite Jane over to Netherfield.” He smiled tenderly, but then looked uncertainly at Darcy. “And perhaps Elizabeth if you would like?”

“Yes, I would like it. Very much.” Darcy said with a small smile.
If only there were a reason she would need to stay overnight
.

Caroline Bingley arrived the next day and Bingley wasted no time in extending an invitation for Elizabeth and Jane to dine the following day. Miss Bingley was greatly vexed to learn that the engagement she had thought to prevent had already taken place and was even less pleased to find that her presence facilitated a visit by both Bennet sisters. However, Bingley bore her black mood with equanimity. Nothing perturbed him as long as he would see Jane.

Elizabeth and Darcy had discussed the possibility of her staying overnight at Netherfield, but neither could find a plausible reason. Elizabeth imagined her mother would probably encourage any behavior in pursuit of Mr. Darcy, but she was concerned about her father’s suspicions.

Jane and Elizabeth arrived in the late morning and stayed for luncheon. Elizabeth found herself seated as far from Darcy as possible while Miss Bingley had placed herself at his right hand. As they took their seats, Elizabeth had to smile to herself at the transparency of Miss Bingley’s maneuvers – and their futility.
If she only knew the truth,
she would probably seat me in the kitchen
.

Once everyone was seated, Miss Bingley shot Elizabeth a look of triumph which she received with a smile that quite disconcerted her hostess. When Miss Bingley turned to Mr. Darcy, she was even less pleased to see his gaze and smile alighting on Elizabeth.

Conversation was stilted at the table. Jane and Charles were preoccupied with each other, reviewing everything which had occurred since they last saw each other – a mere twelve hours previously. Elizabeth was too far away from Darcy to easily converse with him and he replied in monosyllables to all of Miss Bingley’s conversational forays.

Miss Bingley had clearly devoted much thought to how she could separate Elizabeth from Darcy during the visit. After luncheon, she dragged him off to the music room on the pretext of asking him to help her translate an Italian love song that she was practicing, but once the translation was complete, she demanded that he remain to turn pages for her.

Although Elizabeth missed Darcy’s company in the drawing room as she sat with Bingley and Jane, she had to admire Miss Bingley’s sheer unwillingness to recognize a lost cause. When Darcy finally prevailed on her to rejoin the others, she insisted that he read to her from a volume of love sonnets. Although he humored her for a few minutes, every time he glanced up from the page, he gazed at Elizabeth as if he read only to her. Miss Bingley’s frustration increased every minute as her scheme to capture Darcy’s attention had the opposite effect.

Darcy finished the final sonnet and quickly – before Miss Bingley could devise any other schemes – suggested that they all take a turn in the garden.

As they departed the house, Miss Bingley was detained by the housekeeper on some business, so Elizabeth was able to take Darcy’s arm unencumbered. They deliberately fell behind Jane and Bingley so they could enjoy a private conversation. Low clouds hung in the sky and Darcy studied them anxiously, fearing a sudden cloudburst would ruin their walk and force them back inside.

“I do believe you were laughing at my distress,” Darcy said in an accusing tone.

“You are too severe upon me, sir,” she said playfully. “I merely thought I had monopolized your company long enough. It is incumbent upon me to share.”

He shook his head in mock anger. “No, you were enjoying watching me in her clutches. Or else you would have rescued me.”

“Must ladies rescue gentlemen now?” she responded with a playful gleam in her eye. “I failed to see the need.”

He laughed at this sally, but then his face turned unexpectedly earnest. “I do need rescuing. I have attempted to discourage her in every way possible within the bounds of propriety. I do not wish to be uncivil, but I do not know how long I can suffer her attentions in silence.”

“Very well,” Elizabeth said with a sincere smile for her husband. “In the future I will be alert for signs of distress and will mount a rescue attempt immediately.”

“Thank you.” He stopped walking and stared deeply into her eyes. He wished desperately that he could kiss her, but their location was too easily visible and Miss Bingley might happen upon them at any moment.

Elizabeth glanced up at the dark and foreboding clouds hovering over them. “Oh my, it might storm. It
would
be a shame if the roads were too dangerous for us to return to Longbourn tonight.

Darcy regarded the sky and then Elizabeth with a sly smile. “Yes, that would be shame.”

“Which room are you staying in here at Netherfield?” She asked.

“I believe they refer to it as the blue room,” he replied. “Why?”

Elizabeth smiled, “I was just wondering.”

At that moment, Miss Bingley, having ridded herself of the housekeeper at last, rushed up to them and attached herself to Darcy’s other arm, so all sensible conversation was at an end.

The three of them were returning to the house when Bingley called to them and they joined him in an out-of-the-way corner of the garden. Jane was sitting on a bench and Bingley was holding her foot, examining it. Jane was obviously in pain, but trying to conceal it. Elizabeth rushed over to her sister. “What happened?”

“Oh, it was silly. I was hurrying to keep up with Charles, but my shoe slipped on some loose stones and I took a fall. Do not trouble yourself. It is nothing.” Watching her sister’s drawn face, Elizabeth was quite sure it was something indeed.