Elizabeth Darcy had set the servants of Darcy House into a round of cleaning and preparing for a celebration now that Dr. Brixton had lifted the quarantine.
Her maid left her side after finishing her hair and Elizabeth chose several pieces of jewelry Mr. Darcy had given her on their wedding day. The pieces had belonged to his mother.
She could scarcely contain her excitement as Richard would be home within the hour, along with the Gardiners. Mrs. Bennet, her sisters, and Georgiana would arrive a few hours later.
The Earl of Matlock had been sent an invitation and Elizabeth hoped he might come. Lady Matlock would have been welcome had she been able to put aside her desires to take Richard from Elizabeth.
The woman had been banished from London by her husband only a month ago and the gossip had been building since. The servants of Darcy House had kept Elizabeth informed and even Mr. Darcy knew of the attempts his aunt had made to bring Richard to Matlock House.
As she smoothed her skirts a final time and gave a glance in her mirror, Elizabeth stood and found her husband watching her from the door.
He was still as handsome as ever though his face still held hollows from the ravages of his illness. He held out his arm and the hot tears she had held at bay burst forth.
Mr. Darcy rushed to her side and pulled her as close as her growing middle would allow. The presence of their child between them reminded him they must leave for Pemberley soon, perhaps only days after Elizabeth’s celebratory dinner.
“I am wracked with guilt for all you have endured while I was ill, my dearest. You have made me so proud, though, and you must know it. I promise from this day forward, you shall not have to worry so over Richard or myself.”
His words were a balm to her heart. Being the mistress of Pemberley had been quite difficult but it would not always be so. There was the happiness of Georgiana’s coming nuptials and the birth of her first child with Mr. Darcy. The holidays would be full of love and happiness.
Elizabeth looked up into her husband’s eyes and he wiped the tears from her face. “Have I admitted how deeply I adore you Mr. Darcy? I do. I would not trade away all the pain in the world and lose you in the bargain. Being Mrs. Darcy is all I want, now and forever.”
A shout went up from downstairs in the foyer and Elizabeth broke from Mr. Darcy’s arms. “They’ve come early! Richard is here!”
Mr. Darcy took her shaking hand and laid it gently on his arm. “Let us go welcome our son home.”
Elizabeth’s countenance was more joyful than Darcy had seen it since their wedding day, which seemed so long ago to him now. He fought back his own tears at seeing his wife’s demeanor improve. She deserved the happiness of this day.
Before they might reach the stairs, Richard’s voice sounded very near. He appeared at the top step and raced into Elizabeth’s arms as she knelt with Darcy’s support.
“Oh my dearest boy, I have missed you so. I am so happy you are home at last.” Elizabeth’s voice trembled as she wrapped her son in her arms.
It was not the way of the upper classes to show their emotions so easily, but Darcy would not have it any other way. Elizabeth simply displayed her great love for her child. It was how a mother should respond to her sons and daughters. His own had done no less for him. He was pleased to know his children would enjoy such affection.
When Elizabeth released the boy, he looked up to Mr. Darcy. “Oh, I am so relieved to see you well, sir. I worried so while you were ill.”
Mr. Darcy helped his wife to stand and then knelt before the boy himself. “You helped your mother very much by behaving well for the Gardiners and Mr. Harley. I know you only just arrived, but I have waited so long to read to you in the library. Shall we revisit our old friends the pirates?”
Richard looked to his mother and she nodded her approval. She reassured him she would be near. “When you are done with pirates, I shall be in the salon with Aunt and Uncle Gardiner. Perhaps your cousins would enjoy a pirate tale too?”
Mr. Darcy echoed the sentiment. “Indeed! The more the merrier when it comes to swordplay.”
Later, in Mr. Darcy’s rooms when their guests had gone and the house had grown silent, Elizabeth melted into her beloved’s arms. For so long they had slept apart, but tonight the Darcys would find comfort in their marital bed.
The fireplace crackled wildly and shadows danced along the walls up to the ceiling. Elizabeth leaned against Mr. Darcy as they sat up in bed quietly contemplating the joys of their evening with family gathered around.
When her husband began undoing the braid she had carefully plaited, Elizabeth sighed. The burdens she had carried for so long lifted and she wished this perfect moment might be theirs forever.
“William, was not tonight the most wonderful evening? I wanted to welcome Richard home but also to celebrate your return to good health. This time in London has been most trying. I am ready to return to Pemberley as soon as we might.”
Mr. Darcy pulled her closer and ran a hand through her now loosened tresses. “It is the most wonderful evening since our wedding night, my dear. I could not have asked for more. The love was evident throughout dinner and later in the salon as our sisters entertained us all.”
He caressed her middle, which was visible now, and was surprised to feel a strong kick answering his ministrations. “Someone agrees with me, it seems.”
Elizabeth laughed and placed her hand on his. A second kick came and she gazed into her husband’s eyes. His ardor was plain, he wished to love her most desperately.
Being of the same mind, she drew him down into the pillows and whispered the sweetest and most daring things to him until his control flew away like the sparks up the chimney.
When Mr. Darcy kissed her sweetly an hour later, Elizabeth clung to him. His arms were warm and strong around her and their child kicked again in her womb.
“I must call for a pitcher of warm milk for it is the only thing that will settle this little Darcy into sleep,” she yawned as she said it and Mr. Darcy rose and pulled on his nightshirt again.
“I will send for it, my dear. Have you any other wishes I might fulfill this night?”
Elizabeth snuggled further into the bed, enjoying the sight of her husband. “Say we shall leave for Pemberley in but a few day’s time and I shall think you the most wonderful man ever.”
Mr. Darcy smiled and a satisfied chuckle escaped his throat. “You have always thought me the most wonderful man ever.”
Elizabeth laughed aloud at this and threw a pillow at him. “Perhaps the proudest man ever, that would be true. But I came to find your more endearing qualities almost as soon as Richard and I arrived in London. You cannot know how much your support meant that day I first walked into Matlock House.”
Mr. Darcy sat on his side of the bed and Elizabeth moved closer. Again he ran a hand through her hair. He groaned with desire and Elizabeth knew when she had drunk her fill of warm milk to settle their child, he would love her again.
“You cannot know how your presence moved me, my love. The moment you walked into Matlock House with Bingley, my heart was yours. I still regret leaving Hertfordshire before knowing you better.”
Elizabeth sat up and stroked his cheek. “There are no regrets, William, for we are so very blessed. I would not change the path I have walked to arrive where I am today. We are together now.”