Longbourn to London (38 page)

“But now, you are here, allowing my dreams to come true.” His fingers explored her while his lips stroked her shoulders, punctuating his speech. He knelt, lowering her with him. “May I comfort you again, dearest Lizzy?”

“Silly man, you may ravish me at your will,” she murmured.

“It is not ravishment, Lizzy, if you do not resist.”

“What
was
I thinking?”

“I
hope
you were thinking of me…” Her legs embraced his waist as she held onto his shoulders. He sat on his heels and bounced her on his thighs, holding her tight.

The warm water splashed onto her toes, and lapped at his thighs and her derriere. Alternating hands, Darcy scooped water onto her breasts and stroked them reverently.

Elizabeth moaned repeatedly, unaware she was calling him “Mr. Darcy” and impelling him more deeply inside her. Their mouths met in a slippery kiss, and Darcy spent himself as her tongue invaded his lips. Elizabeth reached more than one blissful peak.

They slid apart, laughing, into the water. Both ends of the tub were slanted, and after Darcy added more hot water, they lolled with legs entwined, looking fondly at one another through the steam.

“Lizzy…” Darcy drawled in a speculative manner.

“Yes, my husband?”

“It occurs to me that we have been united in three rooms of the house already, and we have not yet been here a full day.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes and turned her head to give him a flirtatious glance. “I reckon what you are about to propose will make a tour of Darcy House take much longer than one afternoon, sir.”

“Although I admire your initiative, I was going to suggest, as we tour the house
fully clothed
, we might note the other rooms that we want to
explore
at night.” Elizabeth had no doubt of her husband’s intentions.

They separated to dress. Elizabeth was keen to take a turn in the courtyard, the day remaining crisp and clear. She chose her pale green gown of fine wool with a heavy petticoat beneath and a chemise, but no corset.

“We must have pity on my poor husband, Sarah.” Elizabeth smiled dreamily.

***

In archaic times, the bedclothes from the marriage bed of an elevated bridegroom such as Fitzwilliam Darcy would have been displayed, but he thought the custom disgusting. Nevertheless, in the privacy of her workroom, Mrs. Chawton examined the linens in front of Sarah that the women could act as witnesses and vouch for the consummation of the marriage should that need ever arise. Who would doubt such obvious lovers had completed their marriage, Mrs. Chawton could not imagine, but she felt it her duty to verify Mrs. Darcy had come to be mistress of the house with her virginity intact. She and Sarah were both significantly alarmed by the ample nature of the evidence.

“Poor Mrs. Darcy…” Mrs. Chawton tut-tutted.

“She seems in good spirits, ma’am, I must say,” Sarah said with wonder. “She told me she thought all went well. I would have never guessed at
this
.” She grimaced at the bedclothes.

“We are uncommonly lucky in Mr. Darcy’s choice of wife. She makes the best of things, I think. It is in her nature to be pleased and easy with servants, and to make no upset. This morning she joined Mr. Darcy in his coffee, but I believe she would have preferred tea. Tomorrow, no matter what, I shall send both. There was special tea in the hamper her father sent. It must be a family blend.”

Mrs. Chawton began bundling the linens to burn when a short-stay corset dropped to the floor. “How did this get here?” She looked surprised, and Sarah blushed. “Please explain, Sarah.”

“When the chamber maid and me was tidying the bed, the thing dropped from the canopy. I snatched it up quick before she saw it, and tucked it in last night’s bedclothes. Then Mrs. Darcy came in, and we had to store her pearls, and find her fresh nightclothes. I forgot it was there.”

Both Sarah and Mrs. Chawton stared at the garment for a moment.

“What were they thinking to put it on the canopy?” Sarah asked.

Mrs. Chawton burst into laughter. “
They
were not thinking at all! I would assume this is the master’s doing!”

“We must never tell Mrs. Darcy, ma’am. She would be embarrassed.”

Mrs. Chawton pondered the statement before shaking her head. “I am not so sure, Sarah. It is just possible our new mistress would be entertained. I have overheard her tease Mr. Darcy. She may have provoked him!”

Sarah considered what she had heard between the master and mistress, and decided the housekeeper was, as ever, probably right.

“The mistress seems to want to confide in me, Mrs. Chawton.” Sarah looked at her warily. “Should I discourage it? She is open in her ways, and it seems to comfort her to speak her worries.”

“Mrs. Darcy comes from a large family of women and is, I think, accustomed to confiding much to her sisters. Do not discourage her, Sarah, but also do not take it too much to heart. You may only be serving her for this one week. She may impose upon you as ever she wishes, but
you
must not presume too much.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Sarah left to tend to the velvet robe.

Chapter 23

Exploring Darcy House

“For a man is a giddy thing, and this is my conclusion.”
William Shakespeare
Much Ado about Nothing

Darcy was surprised to meet Elizabeth at the top of the stairs dressed for the outdoors. Murray quickly fetched a hat, gloves, and greatcoat for his master.

“I should have surmised you would need a breath of fresh air, Mrs. Darcy.” Darcy extended his arm, and they descended to the ground floor. He showed her the formal entrance and the courtyard, and Elizabeth thought it all delightful.

When the cold finally penetrated, they returned inside. Darcy was keen to acquaint her with the ballroom, which adjoined the formal dining room.

Elizabeth expressed an interest in seeing the kitchen, so they briefly visited below stairs and Elizabeth complimented the cook.

They wandered upstairs to the drawing rooms, one large and formal, another smaller and intimate. “For family,” Darcy said.

They proceeded to the study. “Would you disapprove, Fitzwilliam, if we had a small desk brought in for my use?”

“No, certainly not, but would you not prefer a private study of your own? There is room for one, across the hall from the master’s…
our
bedchamber.”

“I would rather be with you. After the past day, I foresee very little about myself that will survive your scrutiny. That is, unless I would be a distraction to you. There is
that
to be hoped.”

He returned her devilish smile. “If you wish to be in my company whilst writing your letters and arranging our social engagements in London, I suppose I can endure the risk. Please notice I have had a rather capacious settee moved in front of the fireplace, and a fur rug.”

“My goodness!” Elizabeth could not resist teasing. “What a hopeful man you are! You have presumed a great deal.”

“I am not sure I can allow your use of the word
presume
, Elizabeth. I made quite a study of you, you know. I presume little.”

“Yes, sir. Your dedicated and constant observation of me in company was remarked upon no end in Meryton society. What were you hoping to gain by it?”

“Evidence of an affectionate nature, willingness to express affection. Perhaps that you might let slip the tendency to sensual appreciation in an unguarded moment.”

“Mr. Darcy!” Her expression of shock was not entirely feigned for his benefit. “And I but a maiden! What conclusions did you reach?”

“Oh, I think you know. I need not say, unless you wish me to later when we are back in our bed. Then I might be most particular.”

“But we may assume the conclusions impressed you? You do not regret proposing again?”

Darcy was charmed to see her evince a coquettish expression.

They had been wandering around the study separately, but Elizabeth perceived, as their talk of Darcy’s observations proceeded, that he was following her, and she moved away, initiating a slow, unspoken chase.

“No, indeed, madam. Quite contrariwise. I was confident enough of you to rearrange the furniture in this house less than a fortnight ago. Let me recommend the jaguar-skin rug in front of the fireplace. It is from America, and quite thick and soft.”

“Ah…” She scampered away from his reach, putting his desk between them. “Perhaps it was admirable foresight rather than presumption.”

Elizabeth rushed for the study door, but he caught the ties of her dress as they fluttered behind. He pulled her to him as she giggled. He abruptly brought her backside into contact with his eager erection. “Caught you!” he chuckled with tense desire.

“Oh, yes, I am well and truly caught,” she chortled.

“Shall I lock the door?”

“I would like to see where the library is, Fitzwilliam, and after my curiosity is satisfied, we can return to our rooms and satisfy you.”

“You ask a great deal of me, Mrs. Darcy. You should know, there are a new chaise lounge and another fur rug in the library. There is also a fire laid; we have but to strike a match.”

“I think the match has already been struck.” She gave him a look meant to enflame.

Elizabeth reached for the door, but Darcy stilled her hand. “We can enter the library from this room.” He led her to a side door.

Once inside the library, Elizabeth was anxious to explore for the sake of the books therein and no other reason. But Darcy would not be denied. She heard him shoot the bolt of the lock to the study door. A moment later, another lock clicked on the door to the hall. Elizabeth continued to drift amongst the bookshelves.

As she stood leafing through a book of essays on classical art, in which a rendering of a statue recalled the buttocks and legs of her husband, he again embraced her. This time she knew he would not be dissuaded. If she had hoped to win a respite of a few hours by an exploration of the house, she betrayed no disappointment. She was enthralled with the novelty of being the object of such intense passion, and felt she was in danger of becoming obsessed with the summits of sensation first awakened at the carriage inn between Longbourn and London. With her dress already untied, Darcy easily loosened the lacings, and slid it down her shoulders. “Are you in there somewhere?” he asked, feeling a petticoat barring easy access to her coveted bosom.

“There is no corset, Fitzwilliam, and you are clever enough to conquer what garments I wear. I daresay you will find a way to work around what you choose not to remove.” Elizabeth leaned back against him as he cradled her breasts through the layers of fabric. He kissed her neck and shoulders and she sighed.

“I find I do not have the patience I had last night,” he confessed. He breathed into her ear as he unbuttoned his trousers.

She knew his tolerance for her teasing had reached its limit. “You know full well how I may be persuaded,” she said with a throaty chuckle.

Darcy rested his forehead between her shoulders. “I
am
a savage,” he said with a ragged voice. “It seems I cannot get enough of this, of you…”

“I am your compliant and dutiful wife in all things, Mr. Darcy,” she replied in a soft voice, facing him with a sly smile.

The fire was lit, and they lay on the fur rug. They did not leave the library for several active hours.

***

When they did finally exit, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy returned to the master’s bedroom and slept in each other’s arms without further congress. It was shortly after nine o’clock in the evening when they awoke. Elizabeth arose, making vague excuses to escape to her dressing room. Darcy found it diverting given the many ways she had allowed him to enjoy her. She still shied from any nearness of his mouth to the territory between her legs, but given all she was willing to do for his pleasure, and how demanding she was in achieving her own, he had no complaints. In fact, when she was not watching him in an almost feral manner, he was lost in admiration of her and found himself grinning stupidly.

“I shall order some food. What will you have?”

“Happy thought. I shall eat whatever is presented to me.”

Darcy rang the bell for Mrs. Chawton and put on a robe before hearing the knock on the door.

“I am afraid we have slept through the excellent dinner I had ordered, Mrs. Chawton. First, I pray you, send our apologies to Cook.”

Mrs. Chawton shook her head. “Poor Cook, sir. She has had nothing but apologies since you arrived. And I suppose
now
you want something to eat?”

“Yes, we do. Please bring whatever can be managed on a tray, another bottle of champagne, and fresh drinking water. That should see us through the night.”

“You are not, either of you, eating enough, sir,” Mrs. Chawton said rather sternly.