Imperative: Volume 2, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (107 page)

His eyes closed with the sound of her satisfied purr in his ear as he rocked into her.  “You make it so hard for me to go, you feel so . . .” His eyes flew open.  “What are you doing to me?”

“Massaging you.”   She whispered, gripping and releasing him rhythmically while her hands moved over his body. 

“Good God.”  He moaned and rested his cheek on her head.

Elizabeth nestled against his shoulder. “I love holding all of you.  It is like a craving being fulfilled.”  Self-consciously she blushed and tangled her fingertips in the dark curly hair on his chest.  “I am nonsensical.”

Darcy’s palm slid over her soft, inviting breast.  “No dearest, I understand you perfectly.”  Elizabeth looked up and their lips met in a slow, exploring kiss.  Darcy licked his lips, “Shall we spend the day like this?”

She closed her eyes as he began gliding into her again, “That sounds so inviting, but I think that our absence would be noted.”

Nibbling his way along her jaw, he reached her ear.  “They are welcome to note anything they like, as long as they do not knock on our door.” 

“I can imagine them listening at it, though.”  She laughed softly.

Darcy’s lips barely traced her shoulder and he felt the frisson of anticipation shooting through her.  His nostrils flared and he drank in the scent of her increasing desire.  “Then we should be more vigorous in our exercise and give them reason to gasp and moan.”  His teeth nibbled her throat and he began to suckle. 

“I think that you are speaking . . .  of . . . of yourself.”  Her hands travelled into his hair while she arched her body against him.  “Ohhh Willlll.” 

“No, I am speaking of you.”  Darcy nipped her tender skin and when she gasped, he soothed the mark with his tongue before beginning again, savouring her throat while thrusting deeply into her.  The sounds of her nearly unbearable bliss grew louder.  Still moving, he released her throat and admired the small red mark.  Tracing his fingers over it, he smiled triumphantly.  “Ohhh, I think that I have found a very vulnerable spot.  Such sounds of pleasure you make, my love.  Such wanton cries!  You will have your wish; the whole house will soon be at our door.”  Instantly shy, she pinched his bottom in retaliation.  Laughing and drawing further away he was greeted with a flushed woman looking at his throat with intent.  He touched his finger to her lips and did not draw away quick enough when he saw her eyes flash.  “Ow!”  His eyes widened and he looked at his finger.  “You bit me!” 

“
You
bit
me
!” 

“And
you
loved it!”  Darcy’s brow rose and he nodded as she blushed.  His voice took on a commanding tone.  “So, you are out for my blood now, love?  Shall we strip down and duel?”  Sending an assessing look over their bodies, he found her eyes again and witnessed the return of his playful lover. “Forgive me, shall we dress and duel?” 

“But you are the only one wielding a sword.”  Innocently, she slipped her hand between his thighs.  It was Darcy’s turn to groan while she fondled him.  “I would be defenceless . . .”

“Hardly.”  He growled.  She squealed as he rolled them over and began thrusting vigorously.  “Oh no, love.   I believe that your tongue is as sharp as a sabre.  And I would love to see your weapon battle mine.”  Satisfaction spread over his face as he listened to her incoherent moans return.  “Would you make me suffer?”  He demanded.   “Or would you end my misery with a wicked thrust?”  Elizabeth gasped and wrapping her arms and legs around him began avidly suckling the hollow of his throat, Darcy’s entire body shuddered.  “Lizzzzy . . .  Oh Lord, Lizzy . . . please . . .”

Elizabeth nipped him and licking the bruise, kissed over his jaw until she met his dark eyes.  He was still trembling, and so close to letting go.  “Two can play this game.”  She smiled and gently pressed her fingers to his lips as he started to speak.  “Hush.  It is my turn.”  Shaking his head, he held her hand and drew the fingers into his mouth, one by one.  Fascinated, she watched his swirling tongue, “ohhhh Will.”  Dipping his head, he traced his lips down her chest and feasted upon each tender, sensitive nipple.  “Will . . . please . . .” 

“Please?”  His eyes nearly closed, Darcy curled around her flushed body and whispered before retaking possession of her mouth.  “Perhaps we are evenly matched, after all.” 

ELIZABETH STARTED.  “I am sorry, I was miles away.”

Sophie looked at her curiously and then at the portrait of two men facing each other with swords drawn.  “What were you thinking about?  Your face is flushed.

“Is it?”  She touched her warm cheeks while staring at the duel.   “Fitzwilliam was speaking earnestly of swords and battles this morning.  It was rather exciting.”

“Oh no, do you have to hear battle schemes as well?  Richard had one all worked out for our arrival.  He thought that it would be more amusing to come in from Kympton.  He said that nobody would be expecting it and we could sneak up on you from your rear flank.”  Sophie laughed as they walked.  “Of course, Lady Catherine refused to play along, so, his scheme was foiled.”

“Aunt Catherine had her own agenda.”  Elizabeth murmured and seeing Sophie’s cocked head, smiled.  “Poor Richard, he must have been terribly disappointed.”

“Yes, he was.”  She smiled.  “He is still a soldier.  Poor man, he could not crow his triumph, and you know he wanted to, such a proud male he is.”

“Well, neither could Aunt Catherine, her grand entrance was ruined, what does that make her?”

“I could see her leading an army.” 

“So could I.  An army of harridans, all carrying walking sticks!”  Elizabeth laughed and watched Sophie admiring the decoration.  “It is nice to have some companionship on my walk this morning.  Fitzwilliam and I usually exercise before breakfast, but this morning . . .” She shrugged.  “I am used to him riding out onto the estate all day long, but for some reason, having him so far away just . . . it just does not feel the same.  He will be gone the same amount of time, more or less, but . . .”  She smiled at Sophie’s amusement.  “I know, you think I am foolish.”

“You are simply protective, Elizabeth.  Richard has survived war without knowing I exist.  And how many times were we separated when we were courting?  I have no fears of him not returning to me.”  Sophie gave her arm a squeeze. 

“I do not either, I just . . .”  Unconsciously her hand passed over her belly.  “I just prefer him nearby.” 

“I do not blame you.”  Sophie returned her attention to the house.  “Matlock does not compare to Pemberley.  Richard was describing so many things before we departed, and I had convinced myself that he was just telling one of his tales, but he did not do it justice.  It is richly decorated, but one does not feel crushed by it, if that makes sense at all?  Matlock is overwhelming, while this is so warm.  There are no weapons displayed either.”  Hearing Elizabeth’s burst of laughter, she studied her furiously blushing hostess.  “What has come over you?” 

“Forgive me . . . This ball has made me a bundle of nerves.  No wonder I miss my husband.”  She drew a calming breath and managed to regain some control of the images galloping through her mind.  “You were saying?”

Sophie studied her and spoke slowly, “I have only been in one other great house.  Maybe Pemberley is typical?”

 “You are definitely asking the wrong person, I am as naive as you, I am afraid.  I am still becoming acquainted with all of the rooms.  We simply have not had time to renew our tour, but we will.  I am fortunate that I have very little to redecorate.”

“And I have a whole house!” 

“A challenge indeed.”

“I hope that you do not mind if I steal some ideas during my stay?” 

“Not at all.”  Elizabeth opened her arms.  “Take what you will.”

“Richard is so attached to Pemberley.  I do not understand why, though?   It has nothing to do with his family, besides his aunt being mistress once.”

Elizabeth smiled fondly, “He and Fitzwilliam consider each other to be brothers.  And in many ways, I think that Richard felt more at home here or at Darcy House than with his own family.  My husband told me how he would avoid them as much as possible until very recently.   With good reason it seems.”

“It is improved, although if Albert were not at Matlock I am not sure if Richard would want to visit as often as he must.”

“How is Albert faring?  He seemed fit enough the last few nights.”  Elizabeth heard another sigh.  “He is still tempted?  Is Anne doing better with him?  I have been so busy entertaining that I have not had much opportunity to observe them together since they arrived.”

Sophie considered the question thoughtfully, “Yes, they are closer . . . They care for each other.  That I can certainly confirm.  I do not know, Elizabeth.  Sometimes Albert seems fine and sometimes . . . he just looks like he is ready to leave this earth.  It seems to be a daily struggle.” 

“It will be good for him to see the judge again today.  He seemed to have a positive influence upon him.”

“Yes, Lady Matlock remarked something of the sort recently.” 

They approached the drawing room where the ladies were gathered making decorations for the ball, and hearing their voices, Elizabeth stopped.  “I am glad that Richard told you about Georgiana, for more reasons than I can say.” 

“You mean; that he trusts me?” She said softly when Elizabeth smiled and nodded.  “Mother did write to me about what was said at Matlock, and I wrote back about how disappointed I was that she had spread such terrible gossip.  Richard was very unhappy with her, and I had to tell her that as well.”

“Is Richard still unsympathetic towards Georgiana?”  Their eyes met and Sophie nodded.  “Fitzwilliam took a long time to accept that she was far more at fault than himself.”  Sophie rolled her eyes and Elizabeth nodded with a sigh.  “But he loves her dearly.”

“Obviously.  Look at all you both have done for her.  As well as the judge and Mrs. Darcy.” 

“At least it seems that we have avoided her exposure and things can settle for a few years.”  Sophie squeezed her arm and Elizabeth smiled.

“It is so nice to see Fitzwilliam relaxing with the family.  When we met, he felt utterly alone, except for Richard and Uncle Harding.  He was so terribly hurt by all of this, and I know that he has not told me everything.  I wish that he would not spare me.”

“He reminds me of Richard in that.  He loves Georgiana and wants her and the baby to be well, but he will not accept any sign of weakness on her part.  He feels that she has been given a king’s ransom in return for a curtsey.  Not that he questions your husband’s determination to save her.”

“Richard was equally complicit in saving her, so he would only be questioning himself if he did.  She is truly repentant and much improved, but I would not like to see either of them if she ever steps a toe out of line again.” 

Sophie smiled at the glint in Elizabeth’s eye.  “I imagine that you and I share similar feelings on the matter, and that we also can empathize with the plight of a ruined girl better than they.”  Seeing the women in the room looking to them, Elizabeth nodded.  They paused at the door and Sophie looked down.  “I also suspect that Richard knows much more than he has told me.  He seems to have things tucked away that he thinks about when he is alone.”  Sophie looked back up and saw that Elizabeth was listening closely.   “Do not read too much into it, please.  Richard says a great many things when his guard is down.  Sometimes he forgets . . .  When we . . . lie together, he . . . tells me . . .”

Elizabeth shook her head.  “Do not betray his trust to me, you are his most intimate and devoted confidante, be glad that he speaks to you.  I can only imagine some of the experiences he has had.  I know that he speaks of them to Fitzwilliam but he will never tell me anything of it.”

“He does not tell me the details, only the emotion he has suppressed because a man is not to feel such things.”  She glared at a portrait of a soldier.  “Fools.”

“I am so happy that he married you.”  Elizabeth smiled and hugged her.  “He is not what you expected at all, is he?” 

“No.”  Sophie laughed.  “But then, I am not what I appear to be, either.”

“Is anyone?” 

SAMUEL WATCHED the impressive display of the Pemberley men disappearing down Lambton’s main road on his cousin’s finest horseflesh until they had been gone for some time.  Mr. Mayfield cleared his throat at least a half dozen times until he started and looked up.  “I am sorry, sir.  I did not hear you.”

“That much is obvious, Darcy.”  Settling into a chair opposite the desk in the small office Samuel occupied, he folded his hands over his ample belly.  “Feeling left out?  I saw the party passing through.  Your cousin attracts attention at any visit to the village, but with eight other men along . . .” He chuckled.  “What are they up to?”

“One of the men is searching for an estate to purchase, his father was in trade.”

“Was he?  Good for him leaping the social boundaries, he will do well with Mr. Darcy as his guide.”  Mayfield nodded.  “I have never had any interest in that life myself.  Corn and cattle,” He wrinkled his nose.  “I would rather leave the Mr. Darcys of the world to it and send my good wife to do the shopping.”  He winked.  “Like your wife will do.”

“My wife?”  Samuel shook his head with a smile.

“I was not thinking of next week, now.”  He chuckled.  “Although, there is that ball coming up at Pemberley.  And a great many harvest fetes and assemblies to attend in the coming weeks.  A young handsome fellow like you will have the maids falling all over themselves to catch your eye.  Good prospects, good teeth . . .” 

“You make me sound like a thoroughbred at Tattersall’s.” Mayfield laughed.  Samuel smiled and looked back out at the town.  “I know what I am searching for.  I pray that I find a bright-eyed country girl for me.” 

Mayfield tried, but he could not read the young man.  “Are you certain that you want to move off the estate?  My offer for you to stay with us stands if you would rather not live at the inn.  Lambton is just too small to have many rooms to let.  My wife would be glad to have you.”

“I appreciate that sir, but . . . My parents are disappointed enough with me for leaving home.  If I were to move into your house . . .”