Memory: Volume 1, Lasting Impressions, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (Memory: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice) (65 page)

“Not if I go immediately.”

Not really listening to the conversation, Darcy strode off to the window.  “I must have the carriage prepared, I only need to pack enough for the journey . . .I must arrange for the inns and changing the horses . . .”

Lord Matlock interrupted.  “I will take care of all those details, Darcy.  Just notify your coachman of the journey.  I will send my people ahead to prepare for the changes.  You will stay at the usual places?”

“Yes, yes, of course, thank you.”  He said distractedly.  “I . . . I am unsure what to do when . . .” He turned to see Elizabeth’s and Georgiana’s frightened expressions and walked over to take their hands.  “I am sorry, but I must go, there is no choice.  I will not know the extent of the situation until I arrive, and then I do not know how long I will be away.  I will write to you as soon as I arrive, but you will not hear from me for at least six days.”

“Six days?  Fitzwilliam what is wrong?  Please tell me!”  Elizabeth cried and threw her arms around his waist.  Lady Matlock came over to hold Georgiana.

“There was a fire at Pemberley.”  Both girls gasped.  Georgiana rested against her aunt and began to cry, and Darcy held Elizabeth tightly.  “The letter says that it was contained to the kitchens but there is a great deal of damage . . . I do not know if I am being spared the truth, Mrs. Reynolds would not wish me to panic.”  He drew a deep breath and buried his face in her hair, completely disregarding the roomful of people staring at them, particularly her father.  “I do not wish to leave you, but I must.”  He whispered.

“I understand; this is your duty.”  She looked up and he wiped her teary eyes.  “Now what can I do to make this easier for you?”

“Do?”

“May I write letters and cancel all of your appointments for you?  Would that save you some time?”

“You would do that for me?”  He smiled in wonder.

“Of course!”  She touched his face.  “Just leave them on your desk, I will find them.” 

Lady Matlock approached and placed her hand on Elizabeth’s shoulder.  “I will help her, Darcy.”

“Thank you.  I . . .” He looked down at Elizabeth and back up to spot Mr. Gardiner.  “May I have some time to say goodbye?” 

Mr. Gardiner glanced at Mr. Bennet who was staring at the scene in a state of amazement and nodded.  “Go ahead.”  Darcy took Elizabeth’s hand and led her from the room, pausing only to speak to Layton.  “I hope to leave by seven.  I will have my coach pick you up here.”

“I will be ready.”  Layton nodded, and went to inform his valet to begin packing.  Lord Matlock quickly wrote a note to be sent to Darcy House to begin the preparations there, then turned to address his guests.  “In light of the circumstances, I suggest that we do away with the formalities and eat.  We seem to have many assignments tonight.”

Harwick held up his hand.  “Sir, I will remove myself from this family crisis, although I would still be willing to accompany Darcy and Layton to Pemberley.  I have dealt with fire at my estate.” 

Singleton walked over to join them.  “I . . . I have no experience, but I would also like to be of assistance if I can.”

“No, you stay here; if Darcy needs anything taken care of in town he can send us a message and that can be your duty.”  Lord Matlock noticed Mr. Gardiner standing by his side. “Yes, sir?”

“I think that we will depart, you should not be hosting company when there is a crisis to address.”  He turned to Harwick.  “If you would be so kind as to lend us your coach?”

“Oh, yes of course, I can walk home from here.  Come, I will tell the coachman to take you all home, without me inside there will be room enough for everyone.”

“We must wait for Lizzy.”  Jane said softly.  “Please do not rush her with Mr. Darcy.  They may not see each other again for an extended time.”

Mr. Gardiner looked at Mr. Bennet, who remained silent.  “Bennet, do you anticipate any problem allowing Elizabeth to return separately?  Perhaps Mr. Darcy could see her home before returning to his townhouse?”

“Without a chaperone?”  Mrs. Gardiner asked, then seeing the raised brows of the entire Matlock household she smiled.  “I suppose they are already flaunting that under our noses.” 

“I will volunteer to accompany them . . .” Audrey began.

“I will, too.”  Alicia smiled.  “But I am certain we will be declined.” 

Mr. Gardiner smiled.  “Well, I am certain she will find her way back to Gracechurch Street before long.”  He nodded at the family and they moved to the door.  “I am sorry this has happened, sir.  I can only hope that it is not as terrible as it sounds.”

“Thank you; Gardiner.  No doubt Elizabeth will be kept informed as much as we.”  Lord Matlock turned to Mr. Bennet.  “I am sorry that we did not have the opportunity to speak.”

“No sir, your family has left me speechless.”  Mr. Bennet bowed.  “Good luck.”  He nodded to Lady Matlock and went to take Mrs. Bennet’s arm. 

“But, but what of dinner?”  She exclaimed.  “We are to have dinner with an Earl!”

“Quiet, Mrs. Bennet.”  He said as he moved her from the room.  Lady Matlock rolled her eyes and followed them downstairs to see them out, and the rest of the family took a collective breath before diving into their preparations for the journey.

“OH.”  ELIZABETH SWALLOWED and rested her boneless body heavily on Darcy’s chest.  Darcy kept his arms tightly around her, placing his cheek on her hair, and closing his eyes as they both tried to regain their composure after finding their way into a darkened sitting room.  “I am dying for you Elizabeth.  I have been reliving your words to me constantly since yesterday.  You want to touch me.  Please, tell me where.”  Lifting his head he looked to her eyes and kissed her warm swollen lips.  “Please.”

“I . . . I am too embarrassed to say.”  She whispered.  He responded with another rapturous kiss, and she answered by slipping her hands beneath his topcoat and up over his chest.  Darcy groaned.

“More, darling.”

She swept her palms across his body to stroke his back; the waistcoat barely masked the heat that her touch generated.  “More; please . . .” He begged, releasing her mouth for a moment.  Her hands moved lower, to run over his buttocks, feeling the tight muscle through his well-fitted breeches and after another searing kiss, she brought them over his stomach and, “Oh please, please . . .”  down to at last touch the hard shaft that pushed prominently forward.  Darcy let go of her shoulders, but still kissing her, placed both of his hands over hers, moving them up and down, forming her fingers so that they stroked and cupped him.  He let go and lifted her up in his arms, carried her to a sofa and sat her in his lap, then barely stopping to breathe, delivered without hesitation endless kisses. 

“Fitzwill . . .”

“hush.”  He whispered and finding the edge of her gown, slid one warm hand up her silky leg to her hip, then down between her thighs.  Elizabeth jumped when his fingers found the moist warm folds, and moaned in his mouth when at last he began to rub the ache she had felt for years, and grew every time he was near.  “Ohhh, please. . .”

“More?”  He whispered heatedly.

“More . . .more . . .” His fingers, so long, so clever, knew just what to do.  She jumped and arched her back, and then her writhing hips fell into a steady motion over his hardened muscle.  “Yes, darling, yes.”  He whispered, and slowly slid one finger inside of her, while still circling her swollen, sensitive pearl with his thumb.  The kisses became scorching, and he profoundly wished to tear off her clothes and devour her breasts, but satisfied himself with touching that precious secret place he had dreamed of for so long.  Elizabeth’s panting took on a desperate hitch, and she began to keen, unsure what she was feeling.

 “Let go, dearest, let go.” 

“oh oh . . . Fitzwilliam.”  She gasped as his stroking hand at last came to a rest in her soft furred mound.  He kissed her, then lifting her relaxed body, deftly unbuttoned his breeches.  Elizabeth opened her eyes as he freed his rigid member, and watched his hand stroke over it.  Their eyes met and she saw him silently encouraging her to touch.  Her trembling fingers grazed him and drew away.  “Oh, it is so hot.” 

“Please . . .” he begged and her hand again rested over the tight silky skin, and naturally shaped around him to stroke slowly.  Darcy placed his hand over hers, watching as they glided together, then let go and lay his head back as she continued.  It would not be long.  He moaned softly and whispered her name.

Elizabeth gazed upon him, his mouth was slightly open and his bottom lip caught between his teeth.  She could feel his chest as it rose and fell in unsteady pants, and most of all, she felt his hands caressing her body, still stimulating her desire even as he sought his own release.  She needed him to know that the same pleasure was spreading over her, exhilarating her senses.  The surprise of her mouth suckling his lips abruptly moved him to rapture, he barely remembered to draw out his handkerchief in time before he pressed his mouth into her shoulder to muffle his cry.  Elizabeth watched his face transform when his eyes squeezed shut and as he clutched her, his body shaking far harder than hers had.  She knew exactly the glorious miracle he was feeling, and thrilled with the knowledge that he had found it by her hand.  At last he relaxed, and they stayed embraced until Darcy looked down to the face resting on his shoulder.  “I love you.”

“I love you.”

“This is just the beginning of all we have to experience together Elizabeth.”  He kissed her, and then held her face in his hands.  “I have never felt anything so powerful before.”

“Never?” 

Her shy question was answered with another deep kiss.  “This . . . this is love dearest.  Do you know how few people in the world will ever experience what we just did?  And we have not even become one body yet.”  Darcy clasped her to him.  “I am eternally grateful that you love me.”

“I feel the same for you, Fitzwilliam.”  They silently held each other, impressing the details of this moment in their memories.  

 Darcy’s lips caressed her ear before whispering, “I could not have left you without this, Elizabeth. I am facing something that I do not feel at all able to address.  I know that this experience together was wrong, but I could not possibly . . .”

His apology was silenced with her mouth over his, and again they were lost in their kiss.  Finally pulling away, she held his face in her hands and kissed his temple, his eyes, and once again his lips.  “You go and do what you must. No matter what you find, it is still our home, and I want you to bring me there.”

He absorbed the strength that flowed through her touch.  “I will. As soon as I am able, my love, I will.”

Chapter 24

“A
licia?”  Layton opened the door between their bedchambers and looked inside.  The room was dark except for the hint of sunlight through the window as the breeze moved the draperies.  He advanced inside to see her in the bed, and stood for a few moments gazing down at her sleeping form.  Drawing a long breath he sat on the edge, and brushed her hair back from her face.  “I do not wish to wake you, but I do want to say goodbye.  I . . . I want to apologize to you.  Our marriage did not begin with love but we did have a good friendship, and I . . . I have squandered that.  I am ashamed of my behaviour, not just towards you, but towards my future responsibilities.  Seeing Darcy’s struggles has made me aware of how lazy I have been, and how neglectful.  I have separated myself from you for months, and never told you why.  It is because I feared I might be carrying disease from my loathsome habits.  I have ended them but I wanted to be sure of my health before coming to you.  I do not hold with the belief that a cure is had by lying with one who is not ill, and I believe that all is well now, and I was thankfully never infected.”   He touched her hand, and said softly, “I hope that when I return from helping Darcy, you and I might begin again.”  He sighed and leaned down to lightly brush her lips.  “Please forgive me.”  He started to move away and was stopped when Alicia’s hands came up to embrace his face and drew him back down for a heartfelt kiss.  “Alicia.”  She sat up and they embraced.  “Why did you not say what kept you from me?”

“Why would I confess to visiting courtesans?”

“I knew that you did.  I always knew.”

“And you said nothing?”  He said as he leaned his forehead onto hers.  “Why?”

“I had no choice but to accept it, that is what I was taught.  You are my master.”

He laughed softly.  “Have you not lived with my parents long enough to know who is really the master of this home?”  Layton drew away and held her hands.  “I was very set in my ways when we married.  I have been given a great many lessons recently about how to be a husband and a man.  May we start anew when I return?”

“Yes.”  She met his eye.  “No more courtesans?”

“Never again.  Only you.”  The clock chimed the half-hour.  “I should go and eat before Darcy arrives.  He said seven so it will surely be in ten minutes.”  He smiled to see her agree.  “How was Elizabeth when you took her home?”

“Audrey and I left them alone in the carriage for a few moments.  If Darcy had his way I think that he would have ordered it to leave for Pemberley that moment and kidnapped her.”  Alicia smiled wistfully.  “It is sweet to see how they need each other.  It seems to be growing stronger each time they meet.”

“I am happy for him.”  Layton said with a slight smile.  “I thought he was a fool for a long time, but I cannot discount the riches he reaps from his feelings for her.”  He kissed Alicia and stood.  “I will write to you when we arrive.  Perhaps I will stop at Matlock while I am near before we return.”

“Safe journey, Husband.  Care for our cousin.”  She smiled when he kissed her hand and left the room, then settled back to think about all that he said.

HARWICK ENTERED THE BREAKFAST ROOM and was pleased to see his sister had already arrived.  Catching her eye, he smiled slightly and sank down onto his chair.  “It is good to have you with me, Eva.  I was growing tired of my own company.”