Alias Thomas Bennet (30 page)

We remained some moments like that, her fingertips on my temple, and my lips on the palm of her tiny hand. Then she quietly turned and sat on my lap, closed her eyes and lifted her face towards mine. I sat mesmerized while she waited for my kiss. This most beautiful woman, my wife, was offering herself to me for the first time. I could no more deny her than I could ask the sun to rise at night. I gathered her into my arms and we shared a sweet, lingering kiss.

I suddenly became as wild as a man starved, and the nourishment that had been tempting me for so long was now being offered. I deepened the kiss, nudging her lips open with my tongue but taking care to be as slow and gentle as I could in my frustrated ardour. I had loved her for so long, but I knew her history. She was almost as a maiden, only once having known a man, and then in violence. I released her and held myself back to look at her face.

“Fanny, I love and desire you, but I do not expect anything unless it is truly what you wish for. Is this what you want?”

“Thomas, I love you and desire you also. Please make me yours.” With that, I kissed her again, and she returned it with equal passion. Knowing of her love made me need to show her all I had longed for. As her hands reached up to wrap around my neck, mine glided over the generous curves of her body, and she moved on my lap and moaned. I realized that I must control myself, to gently and slowly make love to her in spite of my overwhelming need. I pushed her back and tried to catch my breath. She was panting, and she looked away in embarrassment. I gently took her chin in my hand and turned her face towards mine.

“Fanny. Fanny, please look at me,” I said to her lowered eyes. She glanced briefly then looked at me tentatively through her lashes. “Fanny, I am a man. I have trouble controlling myself around a beautiful woman who is offering herself to me, and I truly want you. I will not reject you, but I am trying to temper my own passion so that I may spare you discomfort.”

She smiled, then met my gaze and leaned in to kiss me slowly and passionately. Her lips were soft as petals. Every sense I had took in her sweetness.

It was wondrous as we explored each other’s bodies for the first time. When we finally joined, I felt like a schoolboy, and in my ardour, I was lost, and completed myself before showing her the pleasure she deserved. I rolled off her and wrapped her in my arms, and when I caught my breath, I said, “I am so sorry.”

“Sir, you have nothing to apologize for. I came to you, and I knew what to expect.”

“But I was too caught up in my own pleasure to attend to yours. I will not be so rushed next time.”

“I am glad you found pleasure with me, and I did not think it was so rushed,” she said innocently, betraying her inexperience.

“My dear, you have a lot to learn about pleasure, and I am only too glad to teach you!” I said. And being young and in love, I was soon ready to do just that, and this time, she learned how making love could be a beautiful experience for a woman.

Afterwards, as we lay wrapped about one another in my bed, she laughed and said to me, “It is fortunate that I insisted the captain marry us, even though it was perplexing to him as to whom he was actually marrying me to, the Earl of Shelton, or Thomas Bennet. I would not have come to you if God had not sanctioned our union.”

She continued with great feeling, “I love you, Thomas. I have loved you since the first time you read in Italian to me. The look in your eyes told me my love might be requited, but I also knew that you had loved your first wife deeply and hoped you would come to me when your mourning was over.”

I was overwhelmed by this declaration and had to swallow hard to overcome my sentimentality.

“My love, I was fascinated when I met you, but you were married to another. I did not allow myself to accept my feelings as more than attraction to your beauty.”

“My beauty?”

“You are so sweet and innocent, my Fanny. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. I lusted for you even when you were married to another,” I said devilishly, and she giggled.

“But you were in mourning! There is at least one sin in there somewhere!” she cried.

“That is true,” I said more seriously. “I needed to love you more than I regretted losing Olivia before I could truly give in to my desires. I could not help but love you more when I saw you with wee Mary.”

“You have loved me for longer than I have loved you,” she said reflectively.

“So it seems, my darling.” I bussed her cheek. “Please stay. Please sleep with me tonight and every night from now onwards. I could not bear to sleep alone now that we are truly one.”

***

April 1812
Hertfordshire

It was dusk when they met again, ten days since she had left Kent. She waited impatiently for Wickham in an abandoned cottage in the quiet part of the woods near Lucas Lodge. She hoped he would recognise how clever she was to have heard important information for him to use in retaliation against Bennet.

Five months ago, Wickham had enticed her to join him in the gardens at Lucas Lodge for a few stolen kisses. At first she thought it was her imagination that she could be of interest to him because she had so little to offer such a man—only a small portion and a lack of beauty in most people’s estimation. However, assurance of his regard was solidified when he suggested they find a place more conducive to their interludes. With great enthusiasm, she collected some blankets and showed him this romantic location.

He was kind in taking her virtue but insatiable sexually. Her morals declared her actions to be wrong, but the affront to her sense of decency was nothing compared to the self-importance derived from being the woman he chose above all those that he flirted with. She was jealous of his obsession with Miss Elizabeth Bennet and his constant desire to pursue her for revenge against Mr. Bennet, but he assured her that it was to her benefit as well as his, and promised that as soon as his luck changed and he had the money due him, they would be wed. She allowed herself hopes of a bright future once he had obtained a better situation.

When his attempt to ruin Miss Elizabeth was outwitted by Darcy, he lashed out with a verbal assault, saying he heartily blamed her for his lack of success and had expected her to be more conniving. It hurt her when he said he would have left her without a word except that he needed her connection with the Bennet family since he was in hiding. Now she requested a meeting in a location where he was in danger of being caught for his crimes, and a small amount of her gloried in making him sweat.

“My darling!” she said as she reached out to embrace him, but he pushed her away. It was obvious from his tense manner that he was not fain to meet under such circumstances.

“I am not happy that we did not see our plans fulfilled in Kent. You should have made more of an effort to assist me. So what is so urgent for me to come to you here? Do you not realize what a risk I am taking so near to Meryton? I am under much more danger being this close to the regiment.”

“I am sorry, but I had no choice. I needed to speak with you. I have information that could help you get your revenge against Mr. Bennet.” She was glad to see she had his attention once again. She had no doubt that he would be very pleased with her once she told him what she had learned. Hardly able to contain her excitement, she eagerly related her news.

“When Mr. Bennet rushed Elizabeth home ahead of our plans, it turns out that Mr. Darcy came to Longbourn as well, and he has met with Mr. Bennet. I have news of great importance to share with you, about Mr. Bennet and Mr. Darcy.”

“I am listening.”

“You thought you had reason enough to harm Mr. Bennet when you were out for revenge.”

“Of course, I had reason enough. He ruined my life and livelihood. I will look to retaliate until the day I die. Bennet is more abhorrent to me than even Darcy.”

“Then you will be desirous to know what I have discovered. I was on my way to call on Kitty Bennet when I overheard Mr. Bennet talking. I stayed nearby and listened, and he exposed some interesting information regarding the eldest Miss Bennets.”

“Were you seen?”

“I don’t think so. The dark servants came by, but neither of them greeted me, so I think I was well hidden. I don’t think anyone in the room saw me.”

“The dark servants?”

“Yes, he is called Mr. Akuete. He is the steward for Mr. Bennet and his wife is the housekeeper.”

Wickham scowled. She suspected he felt the Akuetes too low for his notice.

“And they didn’t see you at all?”

“No, if they had, they would have said something to me.”

“Next time, be more careful. Now, why did you summon me here at such a risk to my freedom?”

“What would you say if I told you that Jane and Elizabeth have large fortunes and that Mr. Bennet and Mr. Darcy have access to a lot of money?”

“I would be very interested!” Wickham exclaimed.

“And there is more! Let me tell you what I overheard about hidden identities!” she said, pleased that she now had his undivided attention and not the sulky disapprobation to which she was accustomed.

Chapter 19:
Wicked schemes and a night at the opera.

April 1812
Meryton, near Lucas Lodge

“Hidden identities?” Wickham queried.

“Let me tell you the whole of it. Lizzy is to marry Mr. Darcy, and Jane is to marry Mr. Bingley.”

“Darcy and Miss Elizabeth? Impossible.”

“No, it is true, and you will never guess why,” she said. His sceptical look did not subdue her. “You knew that Bennet is only their guardian, but I have found out who their real parents are! They are really the daughters of the late Lord and Lady Shelton, and they will have £70,000! Darcy is after her money!”

“Seventy thousand pounds each and daughters of an earl?”

“No, £70,000 plus properties divided between Jane and Lizzy. And that is not all.”

“They are now Lady Jane and Lady Elizabeth.”

“Yes, and Jane’s son would be the Earl of Shelton.”

“If I were to compromise Miss . . . er, Lady Elizabeth, then she would have to marry me, and my son would be the Earl of Shelton,” Wickham said thoughtfully. His spiteful mind was dwelling on all the pleasant prospects of the idea. He enjoyed the thought of ravishing Elizabeth Bennet, satisfying his long-established lust for her, and in the process, he would be successful in his goal of revenge against both Bennet and Darcy.

But Maria objected. “I thought you were to marry
me
,” she said sulkily.

“I could not marry you with my debts and your pittance. We need to get money from somewhere,” he grumbled. Wickham was frustrated. He never intended to marry the chit and now she was trying to box him into a corner.

Maria was rightfully upset at his response, but she was not so naïve as to believe that Wickham was only interested in the Earldom. She always suspected he was fixated with Elizabeth and decided to test him to confirm it.

“What if Jane had a son? He would be the earl. Perhaps you would rather compromise her.”

“You ninny! I would compromise Miss Elizabeth to obtain her fortune. The scandal would stop anyone from marrying her sisters, and with the family disgraced, Miss Elizabeth would bear the son and heir.”

“I do not like this idea of you bedding Elizabeth. What if there was a way to get the money and still marry me? Can we not kidnap Jane?” Maria said tersely.

“I would rather kidnap Miss Elizabeth. Then my revenge on Darcy will be complete, and I will have what I should have had if he hadn’t stopped me from marrying his sister.” Wickham was again the tactician, using his unhinged mind to expand on the suggestion. “You must convince Miss Elizabeth to come to me, and then I will seduce her. We will insist upon the value of her fortune for her return and our silence on the matter. I will have all the money I ever dreamed of. If they refuse to pay us, we reveal that she is compromised, and the entire Bennet family is disgraced. Darcy will never marry her.”

Maria’s suspicions were now confirmed—Wickham’s ambitions included betrayal. She was certain she would be left behind whatever the circumstances. She fumed with resentment and glared at him.

“I think you don’t want to marry me or Miss Elizabeth. I think you want to have your way with both of us. You will probably leave rather than share the ransom with me.”

Wickham recognized that look and realized he needed to take care because there was a lot at stake if he crossed Maria. He reached out and touched her arm, and she flinched.

“Of course not, my love!” He used the endearment in hope of softening her anger. He was well practised in appeasing her by lying about his feelings and intentions to marry her.

“Remember how Miss Elizabeth disparaged my character? How Bennet accused me of all sorts of misdeeds? And Darcy took the living away from me? They had no good reason to do so other than malice. Surely, you understand that I deserve this revenge. Surely, you love me enough to know that I will find a way for us to be together.” He was grasping at the hope of maintaining his advantage by keeping her as a traitor to the Bennets and not as an enemy to him.