Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge (39 page)

As they ambled back to the house, gloved hand in gloved hand, the gentlemen stopped just shy of the entrance and spoke softly. "Mrs. Darcy, I just want to reiterate that to have and to hold you from this day forward shall be my greatest pleasure; and I will do everything within my power to keep the promises I made today before our family and friends."

"Fitzwilliam, I promised to love, honour, keep you in sickness and in health, forsake all others, and keep only unto you so long as we both shall live; and I absolutely have no qualms as regards those pledges. I must caution you, however, that I may struggle mightily with the obey aspect."

Less than an hour afterward, Darcy, barefoot and clad only in trousers and open-necked shirt, tentatively tapped on the door to his wife's chambers. Elizabeth had previously dismissed Ann Cillary and, therefore, opened the portal herself. "Come in, Fitzwilliam."

The spacious room, decorated in ivory and gold with burgundy accents, glowed. A radiant fire blazed in the grate, beeswax candles softly illuminated the shadows, a subtle lavender aroma permeated throughout, and chilled champagne awaited. Darcy, nonetheless, noticed not any of those niceties. He only had eyes for the glorious vision standing alluringly before him. Elizabeth's rich, vibrant hair was unbound, her magnificent dark eyes glittered, and her voluptuous curves were clad in the single most becoming, bewitching, and beguiling gossamer piece of clothing he had ever witnessed.

"Oh, my love! This chamber has just been elevated from being worthy of a duchess, for at this moment it is surely occupied by a goddess. My God, Elizabeth, but you are beautiful!" He rushed forward to embrace his bride and met with no resistance. Their kiss advanced from tentatively tender to heatedly intense and deeply passionate within mere moments. Darcy had intended to take his time and be extremely gentle, but Lizzy was wreaking havoc with his control. When he pulled away to search her face for censure or encouragement, he was surprised to see instead her sassy, saucy smile.

"Mr. Darcy, I do believe you have another dill-emma."

"I assure you my only dilemma at this moment is one of willpower," he panted. To what do you refer, Mrs. Darcy?"

"The dill-emma, sir, is the enormous pickle in your pocket."

"Madam! I have no pockets, as you are very well aware. Your teasing is frustrating my self-restraint, you little minx." He rather roughly pulled her close, plunged his hands into Elizabeth's hair and his tongue into her mouth, startling her. "Oh God! Forgive me, Lizzy. Be assured I will not rush you, even though I grow impatient to make you my wife."

"I believe the Reverend Mr. Godfrey has already performed that service, sir."

Darcy gazed at his naive bride with equally immense affection and amusement. "I most certainly trust not, at least in the manner to which I refer, Mrs. Darcy."

Elizabeth become conscious of her blunder and blushed furiously. "You must consider me the most green girl in the kingdom, Fitzwilliam."

"You are my beautiful blushing bride, Elizabeth ... a true English rose; and you are expected to be an innocent. As for being green, you must remember the day we first met ... I was green, literally. But, Lizzy, I do trust your mother explained ... ah ... in relation to ... relations."

"She did, and she also gave me some reading to do by Fordyce and Gregory to guide me in our marriage."

"Good God. Elizabeth, I attempted to read those books but could not stomach such hogwash, such claptrap, such balderdash. Ah. I see by that certain twinkle you are teasing me. You must allow me the pleasure of putting another kind of passion in those fine eyes of yours tonight." Darcy reached for her left hand, raised it to his lips, and kissed the band of gold on her fourth finger. "I have already wed thee with this ring and endowed thee with all my worldly goods. May I worship you with my body now, Lizzy?"

A
fterward

Lizzy's New Home ~ a Moving Experience

The week at Pemberley passed very rapidly for the newlyweds; and before they knew it, the carriage containing George Darcy, Lady Anne, Anna, and Miss Mary Bennet returned to the estate. Kitty, Lydia, and Robert had already returned to Longbourn with their parents and a pony; and Mary brought letters for Lizzy from each member of the family, wishing her well and expressing unending love for their daughter and sister.

Fitzwilliam Darcy had been concerned his bride, who was raised in a rather lively family, might be lonely during the twelve days of Christmas. So, with her consent, Anna and Mary had been invited to travel with them to Northumberland and remain as long as they desired. Invitations had also been dispatched to their northern neighbours in Erethistle asking them to visit on New Year's Eve to meet Mrs. Darcy.

The journey north had been quite a lengthy one, necessitating several stopovers. Fortunately there had been no snowfall, and the roads were in passably good condition. Elizabeth, as they neared their destination, was thrilled to see Hadrian's Wall; and Darcy was delighted to explain the remaining segment in Erethistle's vicinity was one of the region's best. He gladly provided his wife and sister-in-law with information about their surroundings.

"Erethistle has been in existence since Roman times, circa 122 AD; and, in fact, the stone road, Stanegate, is within easy walking distance of Northumbrella. Lizzy, I am sure you will take great pleasure in rambling about; and I shall be more than happy to accompany you on hikes but can assure you the area is quite safe from marauders. As you are aware, Hadrian's Wall was erected to keep out
barbarians
."

Anna found great amusement in her brother's unexpected banter; and she added, "The barrier worked remarkably well up until a few months ago when a barbaric horde arrived at Pemberley. I always thought the Picts painted themselves blue, yet the barbarians that day were most definitely green-tinged."

The surroundings contained a great diversity of scenery, including several yawning ravines with rivers rushing through them; and Elizabeth cried, "Oh, look! Some of these river valleys are absolutely gorges!"

Anna had, of course, been at her family's Northumberland estate many times; but Mary was completely fascinated by her journey and had never traveled much farther than London. Her nose was pressed against the window as they bypassed the town; and she said, "Please tell me more about the district, sir."

"There are mills and mining in the region; and many of the dwellings are constructed from local stone, as is our own Northumbrella. Ladies, you will be pleased to learn Erethistle is a market town with artisans, shopkeepers, and tradesmen; and our weekly market is held on Mondays. Miss Bennet, before you leave we must make an attempt to visit some of the nearby castles ... Stonetrippe, Blinkenought, Hiddenwall, Phelanwell, as well as Quillhill Hall. Ah, Mrs. Darcy, may I direct your attention to the right-hand side, for we are currently approaching our estate."

Lizzy watched for the first appearance of her new residence with great anticipation. The park was very large; and although she saw and admired every remarkable spot and point of view, her mind was too full for praise and conversation. When at last Northumbrella Hall was sighted, her spirits were in a high flutter.
And of this immense northern estate I am now mistress. I hope the strong, stone walls withstand such ineptitude. Please God, let them still be standing this time next year.
The house was a large, handsome building on a prominence that was surrounded by woods and overlooked a vast lawn that led down to a small ice-covered lake.

"Tell me, Fitzwilliam, do you happen to swim in that pond during summer?"

Had Mary Bennet and Anna Darcy not been in the carriage, the young master of Northumbrella might have kissed the puckish smirk from his beloved wife's mouth. Instead he merely grinned and replied, "I have yet to take the plunge, my dear. Perhaps I shall in August; but it deep-ends on whether I might, out of the blue, stumble upon a strikingly beautiful brunette woman with sparkling, intelligent eyes once I emerge. Are you aware one's form appears to the greatest advantage while walking in wet, clinging clothing?"

"Oh! Shocking!" cried Elizabeth. "I never heard anything so abominable. How shall we punish him for such a speech, Anna?"

"Nothing so easy, Lizzy, if you have but the inclination. You must punish him severely; and as intimate as you are, you must know how it is to be done."

Elizabeth arched her brow and gave her husband an impertinent smile. "Perhaps my intimacy with your brother
has
taught me a thing or two, Anna. Beware, Mr. Darcy," she purred. The gentleman shifted uncomfortably, considered himself forewarned, and eagerly anticipated time alone with his sassy wife.

They were soon thereafter at the front entrance of Northumbrella Hall. Darcy was thrilled by the expression of joy and excitement that suffused Lizzy's lovely face, and he unexpectedly swept his bride off her feet and carried her over the threshold. The introduction to staff and the brief tour were both conducted quickly, as Darcy suspected the three ladies would prefer to rest and refresh themselves after their journey. As Lizzy became acquainted with the grand house, she was pleased to see the rooms were lofty and handsomely fitted up with elegant, well proportioned furnishings. "It reminds me very much of Pemberley, Fitzwilliam; and I shall, indeed, be very happy to reside here. But may I visit the stable now? I wish to check on Gloriana."

Darcy was amused his wife's first priority was her horse; and he led Elizabeth outside, not to the stable, but to the pasture, where Gloriana was out standing in a field. A groom had braided the animal's mane and tail so she would look pretty for her owner's arrival; and Lizzy summed up her impression of her contented mare's appearance and her own new home in two words, "Nice plaits!"

Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy and their sisters had arrived at Northumbrella in time to deck the halls in preparation for the beauty and Christian significance of Christmas. Their steward, Mr. Cringlewood, and the housekeeper, Mrs. Pye, had both the manor and grounds in readiness for the newlyweds and their guests. Nevertheless, there were still a few decisions Northumbrella's new mistress had to make, and Darcy was exceedingly proud of the way Lizzy took charge in an amiable yet efficient manner. Under the direction of its new mistress, the residence was spruced up with evergreens, mistletoe, and a Yule log; and Mrs. Darcy and Mrs. Pye decided on a mouth-watering menu of special festive foods, including roast goose and Christmas pudding, to be served at the family feast on December 25th.

On Christmas Eve, Lizzy put a few finishing touches on the gifts she had brought along to her new home, wrapped the items in handkerchiefs she had painstakingly embroidered, tied them with colourful ribbons, and hid the presents away in her dressing room. Anna and Mary had already retired for the night; even so, the girls, who insisted on sharing a room, could still be heard talking and giggling behind closed doors. Elizabeth found her husband at ease in his sitting room, and they were both surprised when a bemused footman informed them a very special delivery had just been received from Mr. Thomas Bennet of Hertfordshire. The servant then handed a letter to Mrs. Darcy, and she excitedly read her father's words. "Oh my! Fitzwilliam, you must follow me outside to receive Papa's Christmas gift." She instructed the footman to bring their coats, hats, and gloves and requested an extra scarf.

As they exited the house, Elizabeth said, "Now wrap this muffler over your eyes in order to not spoil Papa's surprise. I will guide you along the way." Lizzy led him in the direction of the stable while she explained, "As you may know, my father breeds hounds for hunting; but even the best bird dog is only good to a certain point. Apparently Papa has successfully crossed a Gordon Castle setter and an English pointer; and, just in time for Christmas, you are now the proud owner of ... " Elizabeth unwrapped the scarf from around Darcy's face and beckoned a servant to bring the gift closer, " ... ta-da, a point-setter!"

When the wool was pulled from his eyes, Darcy found himself face to face with an adorable male puppy, about ten weeks old. He reached for the little dog and was so totally enraptured he did not notice Elizabeth had left his side until she spoke behind him. "Fitzwilliam, here are the second and third parts of our gift from Papa. This handsome colt is Majeed, which means noble and glorious; he is yours. My filly here is named Sharifa, meaning honest and noble. These sweet-goers are yearling Arabians - twins out of Yasmina, sired by Khaldun Kahleil. Are they not prime bits of blood?"

"They are magnificent! The point-setter pup is magnificent! Your father is magnificent! You are magnificent! My life is magnificent!" He did not care a few servants witnessed his unrestrained enthusiasm. Darcy gently put the point-setter in an unoccupied straw-filled stall, lifted Lizzy off her feet, and spun her around several times.

"You seem to be in extremely high spirits this blessed eve, husband. Merry Christmas, Fitzwilliam." The newlyweds kissed, oblivious to their smirking audience.

"How can I not be joyful, Elizabeth? Your father already bestowed upon me his most precious gift ... your hand in marriage. His generosity is boundless, and I am immeasurably thankful." He settled his wife back down on the ground and ran his hand down Majeed's soft grey neck. "Just wait until Fitz sees this beautiful stepper. I am sure he will be positively green with envy over this fine piece of horseflesh."

"Perhaps not. Papa has also sent another of Kahleil's progeny, a slightly older colt, to Rosings Park for your cousin. On his instruction, the three horses were dispatched from Hertfordshire and began their travels just after the wedding. Longbourn's steward despaired his newest worker, Barnaby Colton, would ever earn his keep; however, the young hand has recently proven to be a top-sawyer. Mr. Whitelaw says he has rarely seen anyone handle horses so superbly. I am sure Mr. Colton is quite fagged to death and knocked-up, so I must ensure he is given comfortable quarters and fed well after his journey." Elizabeth stroked her filly's soft muzzle and said, "You know, Fitzwilliam, there is a Bedouin legend that goes, ' ... and Allah took a handful of southerly wind, blew His breath over it, and created the horse. Thou shall fly without wings, and conquer without any sword. Oh, horse!'"

"I had not heard that fable before; but someone once said, 'To ride a horse is to ride the sky.' My own personal favourite equestrian quote is from William Shakespeare's
Henry V
: 'When I bestride him, I soar, I am a hawk: he trots the air; the earth sings when he touches it; the basest horn of his hoof is more musical than the pipe of Hermes.'"

"I do admit I oft' feel that way when cantering across an open field at Longbourn. There are two Arabian proverbs Papa told me. 'The horse is God's gift to mankind' and 'The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears.'"

Darcy was busy thoroughly inspecting the newest additions to his estate's stable. He expertly ran his hand over each shiny coat; observed posture, muscular development, and spine; checked limbs; and looked into their trusting eyes. Lizzy laughed when he pried Majeed's lips apart to inspect the colt's teeth. "Upon my word, Mr. Darcy! Do you not know one must never look a gift horse in the mouth?"

Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, Miss Darcy, and Miss Bennet ventured out on a crisp Christmas morning to attend the parish church on the sacred holiday. The new mistress of Northumbrella was of great interest to the congregation and was introduced to many of those who would be visiting her home on New Year's Eve.

Mr. and Mrs. Roman Candel and their twins, dark-haired Randall and Miranda, who were only slightly older than Mary and Anna, were invited for an afternoon of ice-skating on Northumbrella's frozen pond. The Darcys' bordering neighbours cheerfully accepted.

When the Candel family arrived, skate blades were distributed to one and all; and the party of eight walked the short distance down the lawn to the lake. Darcy fetched the point-setter puppy, which he and Elizabeth had decided to call 'Balthasar'. They chose the Magi name because the little dog had been one of three gifts from a wise man on Christmas Eve.