Fault or Virtue: An Imaginative Retelling of Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice' (20 page)
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Authors: April Karber
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“I have misjudged you so abominably in the past, I dare not venture to guess your
feelings at this moment,” he whispered, “but I can express what I wish them to be. I value
your friendship above all others, but that is not all I want from you. I will confess that I
have harbored a strong attraction to you since the moment we met, but that is not all you
are to me and that is not the sole reason I am drawn to your side. I love you, Miss
Elizabeth Bennet. And now you must decide how you will silence me.”
Elizabeth took his face in her hands, marveling at its warmth. He closed his eyes
and savored her touch and she ran her fingers across the stubble that ran along his jaw.
He kissed her thumb quickly and opened his eyes.
“On the subject of your love for me, I will never wish you silent. However, I must
silence you briefly in order to give you my answer.” She drew her face slowly down to
meet his, her lips shyly grazing his before pulling away.
“I beg you to grant me a longer silence so that I display my feelings instead,” he
replied, standing up.
He wasted no time in hearing her answer, and bent down to press his lips firmly
against hers. With one hand, he gently caressed the back of her neck, the other, her
shoulder. When that was not enough, he again returned to his knees, parting her legs to
kneel in between them. He put his arms gently around her waist and pulled her close,
nestling his head on her chest before resuming more impassioned kisses. He stroked her
back, making her relax against his chest as he gently slid his tongue into her mouth. Deft
hands moved down to hold her waist, moving his thumbs gently over her stomach. When
his hands moved to caress her thighs, she let out a surprised gasp and he moved away,
returning to reality. Her haggard breathing made him want to resume, but the sight of her
roughed hair and crumpled dress made him think otherwise. Things had nearly gotten out
of hand.
“Before I can think of returning to such a pleasant occupation, I would like to
state more formally what I am asking of you.” He took her hands again and placed light
kisses on her forehead, her jaw line, and her neck before placing one solitary and
lingering kiss over her heart. “Miss Elizabeth Bennet, will you do me the honor of
becoming my wife?”
“Yes, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth said, squeezing his hands.
“It will do to call me William now,” he said, smiling broadly.
“Then I am Elizabeth to you,” she said, heart pounding at his boyish grin.
“I confess I have been rather jealous of those who have been able to call you
Lizzy,” his dimples deepened and she blushed. “Lizzy,” he started, “though I am hesitant
to leave you, I do not wish to rob you of time to recover from this morning’s incident. We
can discuss everything later, if that is satisfactory to you.”
“It is, thank you. But you will not tell anyone, will you?” She asked, unsure of
how the announcements would proceed.
“I will tell no one, but I cannot promise to hide my elation.” He kissed her
tenderly on the cheek and left her.
)*!
Elizabeth woke hours later. Darkness had already fallen and she worried that the
entire events of the day had been a lucid dream. She dressed quickly, made up her hair,
and hurried downstairs.
She found everyone in the middle of supper.
“Oh, Elizabeth!” cried Georgiana excitedly.
“I did not intend to sleep so late,” she could look only at Darcy, whose eyes had
brightened when he saw her; or so she hoped.
She sat between the Darcys and took the opportunity of glancing at Jane and
Bingley while Darcy made her plate. She found the couple more amorous than usual,
quieter as well. Jane’s eyes met hers across the table and Jane smiled brightly at her, her
eyes aglow with happiness.
Darcy sat her plate in front of her, loaded with generous portions of her favorites.
She thanked him and began eating, famished after her day of sleep.
“I trust you slept well, Miss Elizabeth?” Darcy asked.
“I did, though I was plagued with the most curious dreams.” She played with her
food while she waited for an answer.
“Nightmares?”
“Fortunately not.”
“I will not inquire further, I am aware that they cannot come true if you’re forced
to disclose it.”
“I hope your sleep is not affected tonight, Elizabeth, from your long rest today,”
Georgiana chimed in.
“We will know in the morning, if all our books have been disturbed,” quipped her
brother.
“Perhaps only the tedious anthologies, as sleep aids,” Elizabeth added.
The rest of the meal was passed pleasantly enough, without any contributions
from either Jane or Bingley. When they retired to the music room for the rest of the
evening, they were made aware of the reason for the couple’s silence.
“Jane and I have an announcement,” Bingley said, ears as red as his hair.
Elizabeth realized at once; Jane was pregnant!
When Elizabeth noiselessly pulled the door to the library closed behind her later
that night, she was unsurprised by Darcy’s presence.
He moved towards her silently, drinking in the sight of her in her sheer robe. He
escorted her to the armchair and sat beside her, taking her hands in his.
“I became slightly jealous at hearing about these dreams of yours,” he kissed
down her neck, nipping tenderly on her shoulder once he reached it, causing Elizabeth to
emit a small whimper. “And I will seek to outdo them if I can.”
“You misunderstand me,” it took all Elizabeth’s efforts to form words, “I feared
the events of this morning were merely a dream.”
“Then I will seek to prove otherwise,” Darcy pushed her down and climbed atop
her, covering her mouth with his and running his hands along every inch of her. She
could not protest and only small gasps of pleasure escaped her lips.
*+!
“I have an idea,” he said, reluctant to part from her mouth. He nuzzled her neck,
“would you like to hear it?”
“Any ideas prompted by our current entanglement are sure to be improper, and I
cannot say I would like to hear it.”
“At least for now, it is nothing to do with our present occupation. It seems that our
company has two important announcements that your parents will need to be made aware
of, but a letter will not do for what needs to be said
.
Nor do I look favorably upon a return
to Hertfordshire, for it would mean we would be in different households.”
Elizabeth felt a flutter in her stomach when he looked at her, his look could melt
gold, she was sure.
“So with your permission, along with the Bingley’s, I will extend an invitation to
your family to come to Pemberley.” She kissed him hard, elated with the notion of her
family coming to Pemberley.
“By the time Jane’s news, our news, and news of my family’s arrival reaches the
ears of Caroline Bingley, she will never set foot here again.”
“There is much to rejoice over,” he kissed the top of her head and shifted his
weight to lie beside her. “But while my head is clear, I would also suggest that we go to
bed; otherwise, I cannot guarantee you’ll get any sleep.”
“I would not protest.” She kissed down his neck causing him to moan loudly
before pushing her gently away.
“I would not wish to ask your father for your hand and inform him of the need for
a hasty marriage in the same exchange.”
Elizabeth colored as she realized the implication.
“As much as I would like to further our…bond, Elizabeth, I cannot give society a
reason to treat you as my aunt already has. I would have married you the moment you
consented, but for the blessing of your father, and I would have been happy to marry you
as soon as I had his word, but for the scorn of others. The ton is a grueling bunch without
substantial reason, my aunt and Caroline are proof enough.”
“I understand,” she said, disappointed but touched by his concern.
“But it does not make retiring to separate bedrooms any easier.”
“Mr. Darcy is a changed man, Elizabeth,” Mr. Bennet said days into their visit.
“But I wonder as to the cause of it. I might be forced to call him pleasant before our time
here is over.”
“He and his sister have been very kind, Papa,” she answered.
“To be sure. As pleased as I am with Jane’s news, I had expected more.” Her
father shot her a curious expression that made her feel uneasy. As much as she would
have liked to apprise him of her engagement, it was Darcy’s place to broach the subject,
and he had resolved to wait an appropriate amount of time before usurping the Bingleys’
news. “Or at least that was before I had become better acquainted with Mr. Darcy. I
suppose I had presumed news that would elicit an invitation to Pemberley would be
more…relevant to the master himself.”
*"!
“I guess it is a testament to the man himself, and his friendship with Charles. As
to the news itself, what is more significant than an addition to the family?”
“An addition to the family, indeed.” Her father answered, with a knowing sparkle
in his eyes.
“Elizabeth,” Darcy whispered one morning in the parlor, avoiding the notice of
the rest of her family. “Your father requests your company. He is waiting for you in the
library. I will escort you if you wish.”
Her father had given his blessing, this she learned along the way, but he still
wished to hear her opinions on the matter. Darcy waited outside for her.
“I hope you are at no loss as to why I have asked to speak with you, Elizabeth,”
Mr. Bennet started, “but I must voice my concerns before passing the news on to your
mama.”
“I realize it is sudden, Papa.”
“I would say it has been a rather lengthy process, on the contrary. Mr. Darcy, as
far as I was allowed to observe, has been smitten with you since the Meryton assembly. I
was neither surprised nor concerned when no proposal was voiced because I knew you
did not like him. I have seen you at Pemberley, I have seen him at Pemberley, and I am
anxious to know what could have brought about the change.”
“An attachment would have formed sooner had misunderstandings not been in the
way. I was blind, as was he, but I have come to know him much better. We are much
alike, Papa. I am sorry to have not seen it earlier.”
“You have passed much time here unaccompanied by an attentive chaperone,
Elizabeth. Has anything untoward happened?”
Her mind immediately returned to their night in the library. Darcy’s kisses, the
comfort of his arms around her.
“Papa, Mr. Darcy is a perfect gentleman.”
“Well it is true that you will have a larger house than Jane, more carriages, more
jewels, a kinder sister-in-law, but is that enough to make you happy?”
“I could do without any of it but Mr. Darcy.”
“I am grateful that a lengthy engagement will mean I have the chance to make
sure that is true. I trust you, Elizabeth, but I find it hard to believe that anyone is
deserving of you.” She hugged him and kissed him on the cheek.
“Thank you, Papa.”
“And you may tell that fiancé of yours to come in, I will be glad to spend more
time with the two of you together.”
“Well, Mr. Darcy,” her father said when Darcy had reentered the library, “I am
afraid that even the expanse of Pemberley won’t save you from the raptures of my wife
once she learns of your engagement.”
Darcy laughed warmly and positioned himself near Elizabeth.
“But do I not stand the best chance here?”
Mr. Bennet laughed in surprise.
“You’ve chosen well. Time, place, and choice of wife.” He got up and patted
He started to leave and stopped at the door, looking back. “It is late, I think. I will be able
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to hold off the congratulations until the morning. Goodnight, Elizabeth. Mr. Darcy.” He
raised one eyebrow and left them.
“I hope you have a hiding place in mind for me when my mother finds out,” she
said when their lips parted.
“If you don’t mind sharing it with me, I believe my bedroom will suffice.” When
she gasped, he took the opportunity to pull her onto his lap. She put her arms around his
neck instinctively and rested her forehead against his.
“I’m afraid that is the second place they’ll think to look for me.”
“Then,” he whispered in her ear, “they’ll find you in my arms, where you
belong.” He pushed her down and resumed his work of kissing her neck from on top of
her.
“Mr. Darcy!”
“William,” he managed between kisses.
“William, anyone could walk in!” He allowed her to push him aside, and he
resumed kissing her from a sitting position.
“They could only force us to marry sooner,” he said, smiling at her, “and I am
beginning to favor a short engagement.”
“My mother would never consent, though she’s had our weddings planned from
birth, she would insist on time to properly execute one, especially amongst the grandeur
of Pemberley.”
“I can never thank you enough for agreeing to have our wedding here, sweetest.”
The conversation dissolved into passionate kissing. Then, suddenly, Elizabeth was
swept up in Darcy’s arms and being carried out of the room.
“Wha..” she began, but he covered her mouth gently with one finger, silencing
her.
Moments later, she was gently placed on a large four-poster bed.
“Your room?” she asked unnecessarily.
After locking the door, Darcy joined her on the bed and tucked her hair behind her
ear.
“I am determined to have uninterrupted time with my fiancé before she is
overwhelmed by wedding plans, so tonight is my only chance.”
When her eyes adjusted to the dark, Elizabeth took the opportunity to examine her
surroundings. The room was large, masculine, and cozy, all dark wood and soft fabrics.
“Do you like it?” he asked, hopeful.
“I do,” she answered, admiring the large chairs by the fireplace.
“I plan to spend a lot of time with you here, Elizabeth.” She quivered under his
gaze and they said nothing for a long time. Darcy finally broke the silence and climbed
softly on top of her, straddling her.
“I’m not crushing you, am I?” He asked.
“No,” she laughed nervously, “it feels good.”
He ran his hands softly along her stomach and she arched her back in response.
When he could no longer hold back, he bent down and captured her mouth in his, rolling
to lie beside her as he thrust his tongue inside her mouth. When his hands found her
breasts, she started and pulled away from him.