Darcy's Temptation (37 page)

Not realizing he was there, Elizabeth removed her bonnet and loosened the simple knot in which she wore her hair, allowing her auburn waves to cascade over her shoulders and down her back. Darcy found her innocent choice enticing. Elizabeth leaned back on her elbows, closed her eyes, and let the early spring breeze blow her hair about.

At first, Darcy held back, not wishing to disturb her, but finally he said,“May I join you?”

His presence obviously troubled Elizabeth, but Darcy tried to take no note of the shift in her deportment. “Certainly, Sir.” She sat up and began to twist her hair in a close style.

“Why do you not leave it alone?” He gestured toward her efforts.

She asked tentatively,“Are you sure, Sir?”

He forced himself to smile at her as he sat next to her on the ground.“You have beautiful hair.”

Unsure how to react to Darcy's soft expression, Elizabeth hesitated before shaking out her hair and letting it fall casually along her neck and shoulders.

“I have seen very little of you since my return to Pemberley,” Darcy began after an awkward silence.

“I apologize if I offended you, Fitzwilliam.” Her use of his name seemed natural; the way the word rolled off Elizabeth's tongue made Darcy feel as if she caressed him. “I thought it best to give you time to determine what you want of me.”

“And I sought you out today to determine whether you wish to leave Pemberley—to establish yourself elsewhere.”

Tears welled in her eyes, and he noted Elizabeth struggled to find her voice.“If it is your wish for me to do so.” Elizabeth's voice trembled, and a tear cascaded down her cheek before she could brush it away.

“What is
your
wish, Madam?” Darcy tried to control the intonation in his words.

Elizabeth looked away, afraid to meet his eyes or to allow his words to undo her. “I am not sure I can learn to live without your love, Fitzwilliam, but if you have no objections, for some time, I considered Pemberley to be my home.” She brought her eyes to rest on his countenance and to await his decision.

For a brief, fleeting moment, Darcy saw the same look in Elizabeth's eyes he saw in his dreams. “I would prefer to allow us a chance to create a home for our family; beyond that, I can offer you no promises. Obviously, though, we cannot find a
balance in our lives if we avoid each other.”

His words hurt Elizabeth deeply, but she tried to control the unevenness in her voice before speaking.“Do you suppose you could begin by calling me by my name? It hurts to be only Mrs. Darcy to you.”

Darcy gave her half a smile and reached out to hook a strand of hair behind her ear. Elizabeth fought the urge to kiss the palm of his hand. In the past, she would not deny her impulsive nature and would enjoy the pleasure of his touch, but this was a Darcy she did not know. “You noted my reluctance to speak as such?”

Elizabeth allowed herself the simple pleasure of leaning her head into the touch of Darcy's hand before saying,“I am afraid, Sir, there is very little about you of which I take no note.” She automatically gave him a teasing smile.

About that time, the dog returned from the water's edge, bounding up and sniffing at Darcy's legs. “May I?” He indicated the stick, and she nodded in affirmation. Darcy picked up the stick, teased the animal with it, and then tossed it out for the spaniel to retrieve.

“Go, Hero,” she instructed the animal before it took off to capture the “prey.”

Darcy's voice rose in inflection,“Hero?”

“From Shakespeare's
Much Ado about Nothing
,” Elizabeth stammered.“During our courtship, we once exchanged the lines between Benedick and Beatrice. It seemed only appropriate,” she bantered, and Darcy felt himself warm to her expression.

“Obviously, like its Greek name, the animal loves the water.” He returned Elizabeth's teasing tone.

“As long as she does not find a Leander and choose to drown herself while chasing the waterfowl.” Elizabeth tried to continue her light repartee with him; she remembered she originally won Darcy by engaging him.“Of course, you warned me as such when you talked Mr. Harvey into selling Hero.”

He asked innocently,“I gave you Hero?”

“One of my wedding gifts.” She offered Darcy a winsome smile.

“I understand from Georgiana I also gave you a gun. It seems I need to find more personal ways to celebrate our marriage.” He looked at Elizabeth closely.

Elizabeth laughed spontaneously. “Actually, along with my horse, the gifts were of what I asked. I never wanted the jewels or the fancy gowns. Hero is a good companion on my walks. I wanted the horse to be able to ride out across the estate with you.”

Darcy wanted to see what else she knew so he asked, “Do you believe Mr. Shakespeare chose Ariosto's
Orlando Furioso
as the basis for Hero's and Claudio's characters?”

“It seems to me Spenser's
The Faerie Queene
is more likely the source.”

Darcy smiled with her response. “Delineating Claudio and Don Pedro could come from Bandello's
La Prima Parte de le Novelle
.”

“I am afraid I am not familiar with that particular piece.” Not wishing to demonstrate her lack of a formal education, Elizabeth dropped her eyes. Then she recovered her voice, afraid to let the moment pass. “
Nothing
and
noting
—so much convergence on these words. Shakespeare recognized and reveled in the possibilities.”

“Noting—observing—understanding and misreporting.” Darcy moved in a bit closer where he could see only Elizabeth's face as he spoke. “I noted her not, but I looked on her,” (1.1.158) he quoted Benedick's line about Hero.

Elizabeth feigned innocence. “The sweetest lady that ever I looked on.” (1.1.181)

“She is too low for a high praise, too brown for a fair praise, and too little for a great praise.” (1.1.165) Darcy enjoyed the recitation.

Elizabeth, on the other hand, wondered about his choice of quotes. Could it mean Darcy thought her below him? “It is the perfect play to teach how some people trust what they see rather than what they believe in their hearts or know in their minds. I once foolishly judged you on visual proof—my tendency to see in others whatever character and experience I am predisposed to see.” Elizabeth hoped her words struck a chord with Darcy.

“Neither Claudio nor Benedick really see Hero, do they? Are your words a warning to see beyond what others offer?”

“Society often leads one to think subjectivity of perception as acceptable, while, in reality, adhering to convention can distort a person's views.” Elizabeth resisted the urge to caress Darcy's face as she spoke.

“I suppose there is some peril in noting incorrectly,” he offered as he searched Elizabeth's face for some familiarity besides the images of her found in his dreams.“Are you well—I mean, with the child?” he finally asked. Slowly, he placed his hand on the swell of her abdomen.

“The changes are becoming more evident.” Elizabeth rested her hand on top of Darcy's; the corners of her lips turned up briefly. If her Darcy made this gesture, it would be a very intimate one, but with this Darcy, there was an oddity. Uncomfortable with the intensity of his look, Elizabeth raised his fingertips to her mouth and kissed them lightly. “It will be several more months,” she laughed lightly.“Can you wait that long?”

He sounded a bit petulant when he said, “I do not like to wait; patience is not one of my virtues.”

“Well, it is one of mine,” she giggled lightly. “I have many things to do before the arrival of our child.” She held his hand in hers.

“I do also.” He looked away.“There is something of which I would like to speak. I was thinking of taking Georgiana to London for an abbreviated season before your lying in. That
would mean your being here alone.” Darcy waited to see Elizabeth's reaction.

“Fitzwilliam,” she gushed,“has Georgiana agreed to this?”

“My sister knows her duty to her family.” Elizabeth watched the warmth he displayed a few moments ago retreat; Darcy now offered her a lecture on familial duty. “My sister and I understand each other. Georgiana will do what is expected of her. My sister's world is different from what others may surmise.”

Without thinking about her response, Elizabeth said, “Disdain and scorn ride sparkling in her eyes, misprising what they look on.” (3.1.51)

Darcy asked incredulously, “Then you believe my sister will refuse?”

Elizabeth blushed.“Georgiana will do her duty; however, as your wife, I hope you will not force her to do so.”

“You may say such things; our match brought you the security you did not have before.”

Immediately, Elizabeth was on her feet. “Please tell me you do not believe that is why I married you.”

“I have been told otherwise.” Darcy moved quickly to dominate over her stance.

“That is not what I asked.”

“I have no waking memory of our relationship. I must base my opinions on what I know.” He forced Elizabeth to turn and look at him. “I must give Georgiana a chance at securing a suitable match. I hoped as my wife you would support me on this matter.”

“If the
suitable match
is a man my sister can also affect, I will be happy to support you.” Elizabeth squared her shoulders to let him know she would not relent. “However, if Georgiana is not happy, I will be less inclined to see things your way, Sir.” Elizabeth turned quickly and strode away, not bothering to fix her
hair or to replace her bonnet. Hero darted past Darcy's legs, nearly knocking him off balance, scrambling after her mistress.

“No waking memories,” he mumbled to her retreating form, “none, whatsoever.” Despite feeling agitated because of the confrontation, Darcy smiled from looking at her. Elizabeth's auburn curls bounced as she walked away, and Darcy tried to suppress an urge to touch her hair and to revisit the feel of their entangled hands.

Jane Austen,
Pride and Prejudice
, 1813

“I have come to abduct you, my Husband.” Elizabeth appeared before Darcy's desk.They maintained a level of civility the last two days, although strained by their heated discussion that fateful afternoon.

“I am quite busy, Mrs. Darcy.” His voice held a sense of frustration.

Elizabeth folded her arms across her chest and gave him a look of like interception. “First, I know my spontaneity drives your need to control your universe crazy, Fitzwilliam, but you did express a desire to get to know me better. I wish to show you some of the things I value in our life together. Please come with me; the curricle awaits.”

Darcy leaned back in the chair to examine this woman who was his wife. A smile betrayed his amusement when he looked at her.“You said
first.
Am I to assume you have more than one demand of me today?”

A laugh escaped her lips. “
Second
, you promised to call me
Elizabeth.
”

“So I did,
Elizabeth,
” he emphasized the last word. “Is this really necessary?” Darcy leaned forward and looked at the
papers on his desk. “I have many things to address here.” He picked up a stack of papers to highlight his point.

Elizabeth splayed her fingers and leaned down on his desk. “Fitzwilliam, our life together—the one in which we raise our child—should supersede any of these issues.” She gestured to the papers. “These will wait for a few hours; people's feelings cannot be placed on hold.What is it to be, my Husband?”

Darcy knew she tossed down the gauntlet. Elizabeth asked him what he valued most: the estate or their marriage. Darcy's natural instinct told him to choose the estate; it was an area within his control—his wife was a different story. In the short time since his return to Pemberley, Darcy's emotional bond to Elizabeth Bennet Darcy ran the gamut of highs and lows. A smile began to creep into the corners of his mouth. He enjoyed how Elizabeth refused to back down when she believed strongly in something—how her eyes locked in on his and told him stories he never heard. “I will get my beaver and coat,” he said at last.

A like smile erupted from Elizabeth as she said, “Thank you, Fitzwilliam.” She rushed from the room before he could change his mind.

 

Outside, Darcy handed her into the curricle. Elizabeth adjusted a blanket across both of their laps before he took up the reins. “The weather in Derbyshire is more temperamental than it is in Hertfordshire; it changes as often as I change my mind.” She tucked the blanket in on the far side of Darcy's lap, forcing her to lean across his body to do so. With her mouth only inches from his, Darcy fought the impulse to kiss her, but Elizabeth's presence sent a rush through him.“Is that better, my Love?” she asked as she again looked deeply into Darcy's eyes.