Elizabeth felt unaccountably shy as she went down to breakfast the next morning. It was not so much a matter of regretting the previous night as being embarrassed to now know herself capable of such wild and wanton behaviour, and to have it known as well by Mr. Darcy. He had not been exaggerating when he had warned her that he had even more improper designs on her. She flushed as she recalled the previous night’s activity, the agonizing pleasure of his mouth at her most secret places, and how he had encouraged her to set her own demands by taking her place atop him as they joined together. While she did not believe he was truly disturbed by her conduct, she worried a little that his calmer and more controlled side would disapprove.
She greeted the others as she entered. Darcy appeared sedate, but she was unable to gauge his mood. He was at the side table helping himself to breakfast, and she walked over to join him.
After the conversation at the table resumed, he leaned toward her and said quietly, “So, are you still willing to speak to me, my love?”
Although his words were spoken jestingly, she could hear his very real concern, and she realized that he was even more worried what she was thinking of the previous night than she was. “Well, our days would be very long indeed if I were not,” she said, looking up at him with a smile, then adding in a much softer voice, “though I do not expect it would have so much impact on our nights.”
His eyes flared. “I can recommend these rolls, Elizabeth; they are delicious,” he said, indicating a plate of pastries before her. As she took one, he whispered in her ear, “Though nothing is as delicious as you when you are taking your pleasure.”
Her cheeks covered instantly with the deepest blush. She could not believe he had said such an intimate thing to her in front of others, even if they were quite unable to hear. When she finally looked up at him with amused reproach in her eyes, she saw a look of distinct satisfaction on his face, and realized he had thoroughly enjoyed discomfiting her.
She debated making a retort, but instead murmured, “William, a remark like that will not go unrevenged.” She gave him a bright smile and turned toward the table.
She seated herself next to Georgiana, having noted that the girl appeared about as embarrassed as she herself had been earlier, and surmised she was worrying about having confided so much in her the previous night. Feeling for her discomfort, Elizabeth forcibly tore her thoughts away from Darcy and set herself to the task of easing Georgiana’s worries. It was as good a distraction for her as it was for Georgiana, and by the time she looked up at Darcy again, she could meet his eyes without her earlier discomfiture.
After breakfast, Jane asked Elizabeth for her assistance with some matters of the household. Elizabeth tossed a saucy glance in Darcy’s direction before going with her sister, knowing full well he would have preferred to have her company himself.
Darcy, finding himself at loose ends while Elizabeth was with Jane, decided to play billiards, only to discover his cousin had already had the same thought. On finding him at the billiards table, he challenged him to a match, to which Colonel Fitzwilliam readily agreed. He seemed quieter than was his wont during the game, causing Darcy to wonder if he might not have recovered from their recent quarrel. It disturbed him to think such a thing could come between them after their lifetime of friendship.
In an attempt to broach the subject, he said, “I understand that I am in your debt for speaking to Miss Bennet on my behalf. She has told me your arguments had quite an influence on her in making her decision.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam glanced up at him sharply, then returned his attention to the table where he neatly sank another ball. “If it helped to persuade her, I am glad; though it was not on your behalf that I spoke to her, but in her own interest. I would not want to see her suffering a lifetime of poverty and spinsterhood because she was too considerate to risk causing you a little discomfort. God knows it is unlikely she would receive any other offers; certainly not from anyone who has as much to offer her as you do.” He eyed the table closely, apparently pondering his next shot.
Darcy was somewhat taken aback by this summation, which seemed to make no room for tender sentiments. Recovering, he said, “Well, whatever your reason, I appreciate the result.”
“Yes, I imagine you do,” his cousin said dryly. He cursed as his carefully placed shot missed the mark.
Darcy fell silent. It was a novel and disagreeable sensation to find himself so ill at ease with his cousin, and without a clear understanding of the reason. He was all too aware that the previous night he had committed the very sin of which he had been falsely accused during their argument, and although he recognized Colonel Fitzwilliam could not possibly be aware of what had transpired, his guilty conscience had difficulty believing it.
They took their turns at the table in an uncomfortable silence until finally Colonel Fitzwilliam asked, “What are your plans for after the wedding? Pemberley?”
Grateful for the opening, Darcy said, “Yes, I think so, although I have not discussed it with Miss Bennet as yet. I would like to show her Pemberley.”
“It is one of your more attractive assets,” said Colonel Fitzwilliam coolly. “It will no doubt make an impression upon her.”
Darcy paused and, without moving from his position over the cue, looked up at his cousin. “What is it, Richard?” he asked mildly. “You are not yourself—I have never seen you so.”
The door opened to reveal Bingley. “Darcy, Fitzwilliam, is this where you have been hiding yourselves?” he asked cheerfully, oblivious to the long, serious look between the two men.
Darcy returned his attention to the table and made a successful shot. Straightening, he said, “Yes, Elizabeth is off somewhere with your wife, talking about whatever it is women talk about.” He wondered with a little embarrassment just what she might be confiding in her sister.
Bingley’s face broke into a wide smile. “Dearest Jane,” he said fondly. “She is dreading losing Lizzy’s company, I must say, and I imagine she will want to steal all the time with her she can before then.”
A flash of humour showed in Darcy’s eyes. “She may find some competition from me—I am not so ready as that to spare Elizabeth from my side.”
“Is it not amazing, Darcy, how very necessary those lovely ladies have become to us?” said Bingley.
Colonel Fitzwilliam made a noise of disgust and rolled his eyes, clearly impatient with this fulsome talk.
Darcy looked at him with amusement. “Just wait, Richard; some day it will be your turn to be enslaved by a pair of bright eyes.”
A look of sharp anger, usually foreign to the colonel, flashed across his face. “Don’t be insufferable,” he snapped. As Darcy and Bingley looked at him in surprise, he racked his cue and abruptly departed the room.
“He has been in an odd mood of late,” said Darcy finally. “I would not worry about it too much; I am sure he will be back to himself soon.”
“I hope so,” said Bingley, his voice expressing confusion and doubt.
***
Elizabeth’s thoughts had not travelled far from the events of the previous night, and when she saw the opportunity while she was alone with her sister, she said carefully, “Jane, do you remember a time, some years ago, when you and I were at Aunt Phillips’s, and she had tasted a little too much of the wine?”
“I remember several occasions of the sort, in fact, Lizzy,” replied her sister with an affectionate smile.
Elizabeth’s expression became mischievous. “I refer to one particular time, when she took it upon herself to enlighten us as to the mysteries of the marriage bed.” She had a vivid recollection of her own carefully hidden fascination as her aunt had described the fumbling under nightclothes leading directly to a then improbable-sounding event in which a wife’s duty primarily consisted of lying still.
Jane flushed delicately. “Oh, yes, that time.” She looked at Elizabeth with some concern. “You need not worry, dearest Lizzy—there truly is nothing to fear. I am sure Mr. Darcy will be gentle with you, and I daresay it is a happy thing to be able to give your husband such pleasure.”
Elizabeth, finding it somewhat difficult to reconcile this description with the events of the previous night, asked, “But for you, Jane—is it pleasant for you?”
A slight frown line appeared between Jane’s eyebrows. “I do not think it is meant to be pleasant precisely, but it is not unpleasant, and perhaps there are even moments when… but in any case, it is over quickly, and afterwards it is enjoyable to lie together.” She blushed slightly at this admission.
“I see,” said Elizabeth, who could not have described her time with Darcy as either “not unpleasant” nor “over quickly.” With amusement she thought, Well, if we are to spend half the night in such activity, I should be grateful it is pleasurable to me, at least! It did not seem, however, that her dearest sister was likely to prove a confidante in these matters.
***
The following morning Elizabeth found herself wondering if she was doomed to forever meet Darcy over the breakfast table with the deepest of blushes. No, she quickly amended her thought with amusement, once we are married, I will have the opportunity to blush as soon as I see him on awakening! The idea caused her to feel even greater embarrassment, and she turned her attention to her breakfast in an attempt to avoid Darcy’s gaze. His eyes reminded her far too much of the last time she had seen him, when he had once again came to her room late in the night.
She had been uncertain as to whether he would take the risk of coming to her again so soon, and after the loss of sleep the previous night, had fallen asleep. She awoke some time later to find him sitting on her bed, shirtless, with one of her feet lying in his lap, the other cradled gently in his hand. His lips were tracing their way up the inside of her leg, pushing aside her nightdress as he went. He was partway up her calf when she awoke, and the intimacy of his appearance took her breath away.
On seeing him, she awkwardly struggled to raise herself to a sitting position, but he silently pressed her back with one hand, his dark eyes glittering at her as he moved his mouth upwards to delicately caress the soft skin of her inner thigh. Taking his time, he watched her arousal build, his lips approaching close to her secret places, then dancing away to explore the lines of her hips. By the time he was making himself free with the taut skin of her torso, her breath had been coming rapidly and she tangled her hand in his hair, moaning his name and seeking to bring his face up to hers. He would have no part of it, though, pausing only long enough to murmur, “Not yet, my love,” as he extricated her from her nightdress, leaving her exposed to his appreciative eyes. She waited for him to touch her with his hands, but he did not, only letting her feel the sensation of his lips and his tongue against her as he continued to move upward to place kisses on the tender flesh of her breasts.
Elizabeth, afloat upon a sea of need for him, wriggled, trying to bring his mouth to her nipple, but a low laugh from Darcy told her she was not likely to succeed. “You are trying to torment me!” she accused, her voice trembling with desire.
He moved on to her shoulder, not failing to dust her neck with kisses along the way. “You are quite correct, my best beloved,” he whispered between kisses. “I want to torment you, to tempt you, and to tantalize you, until you are as hopelessly desirous of me as I am of you.” His mouth continued on its journey down her arm, pausing in the hollow of her elbow, then again in the palm of her hand until he took her fingers one at time into his mouth, nibbling and sucking at them as his tongue danced against her fingertip.
The ache in her body was building to an almost intolerable level, and her desire to touch him and to bring him to touch her where she needed him most had gone beyond the rule of reason. “William,” she pleaded, again trying to bring his face to hers. He was clearly unready to hurry his enjoyment of her, though, and he set a leisurely pace, moving his lips back up her arm to her shoulder, the little hollows at the base of her neck, and finally up to her face. He paused with their faces just inches apart, delaying allowing her the satisfaction of their lips meeting at last as he whispered, “Do you want me?”
“How can you doubt it?” she had gasped as she finally pulled him to her, her hands insistently exploring the warm muscles of his back as she kissed him with all the desperate need he had awoken in her. He met her with an equal hunger, drinking deep of her desire for him and trying to sate himself momentarily with her kisses, because he was not yet ready to give up the pleasure of tormenting Elizabeth into wanting ever more of him, despite becoming increasingly distracted by the feeling of her hands upon him.
The ache Elizabeth felt in those sensitive parts of herself he had so deliberately ignored took on new power as his mouth returned to her breast, only to circle her nipple again and again. She involuntarily arched against him, arousing him by her insistence, until finally he barely skimmed her nipple with the tip of his tongue. She took in a sobbing gasp at this, and he looked at her for a moment in deep satisfaction before at last taking her into his mouth and suckling her. She could not help crying out at the sudden, intense pleasure of it, and his fingers travelled to her lips to quiet her as he continued to stimulate her, the movements of her body against his filling the deep need he felt for her desire and pleasure.
She caught his fingers between her lips, attempting to maintain some last trace of self-control, and rapidly discovered the impact she could have on him by teasing his fingertips with her tongue. Before she could enjoy her discovery for long, though, he withdrew his fingers and released her breast from his mouth. Their eyes locked as he spread her legs wide and settled himself between them.
This was the one thing which had shocked Elizabeth the previous night; she had been otherwise quite willing to follow his lead, but had been taken aback by the prospect of his mouth on her. It had taken a certain amount of persuasion and reassurance on his part to convince her to lie back and close her eyes, but it had been quite worth the effort. He had been extremely gratified by the intensity of her response when she finally was able to relax and allow herself to enjoy the pleasure he was giving her. Now he just looked at her and whispered, “May I?” as his fingers opened her to discover her deepest secrets.
Elizabeth hesitated a moment. She had not quite got past the shock of that first time, and was quite sure that in this they had crossed over the boundary into deeply improper behaviour. She could not forget either the exquisite and intense delight he had sent coursing through her body, and struggled with the even greater impropriety of not only having allowed it, but finding herself wanting him to do it again, and to transport her into the realm of pure pleasure and satisfaction. Without giving herself time to reconsider, she nodded quickly, then gasped as his tongue discovered and made free with the spot where all her pleasure began. She lost all compunction, all awareness of anything but him as he stimulated her into higher and higher levels of pleasure, until she was overtaken by pulse after pulse of deep satisfaction, drawn out and intensified by the continued gentle probing of his tongue.
He wasted no time in taking possession of her, his deep thrusts wringing further pleasure from her. She clung to him with her arms and legs, enjoying the feeling of him moving inside her, until he found his own oblivion and collapsed in her arms.
And now she faced him at the breakfast table. She could tell from the look in his dark eyes that he knew just what she had been thinking, and that the knowledge of the secret between them pleased and aroused him. She smiled at him sweetly, suspecting it would provoke him, and indeed his eyes flared at her. She found it quite difficult to concentrate on her breakfast.
During breakfast, the housekeeper came and asked to speak to Mr. Bingley privately, and shortly thereafter, Bingley returned and rather brusquely requested his wife to join him in his study, where they were closeted for some time. This unusual event did not pass unnoticed by either Elizabeth or Darcy, but neither commented on it owing to the presence of Georgiana and Colonel Fitzwilliam. Still, they exchanged a questioning glance when Mrs. Bingley returned, her usually peaceful countenance showing some signs of distress. Darcy, who was already feeling a certain amount of guilt about how much he had deprived Elizabeth of sleep in the previous three nights, made his excuses and went to seek out Bingley in hopes of gaining some insight to alleviate the concern he saw on Elizabeth’s face when she looked at her sister.
He found his friend still in his study, looking uncharacteristically gloomy. He hesitated slightly to interrupt him; he knew he had little of Elizabeth’s ability to elicit confidences, nor the capacity for appearing cheerfully oblivious when he was not. Still, he felt an obligation to Elizabeth, so he entered and asked Bingley if he could join him.
Bingley appeared startled at his appearance, but recovered and welcomed him. Without transition, he abruptly asked if Darcy had obtained the marriage license yet.
“Not as of yet,” said Darcy easily, feeling secure on this subject. “Elizabeth is awaiting her mother’s final decision between two dates, but I hope to secure it later this week.”
Bingley seemed to ponder this more than it perhaps deserved, then said in something of a rush, “I think tomorrow would be an excellent time for you to marry Lizzy.”
Puzzled, Darcy said, “Why? Is this a jest? I cannot think Mr. and Mrs. Bennet would be pleased by such a hurried wedding, nor to bid their daughter farewell so quickly.”
“Damn it, Darcy!” Bingley exclaimed plaintively, clearly uncomfortable with his situation. He hesitated, then added, “You have put me in a very difficult position. Until you place that ring upon her finger, I am responsible for Elizabeth’s well-being. God knows I have turned a blind eye often enough in hopes the two of you would come to an understanding, but there is only so far I can go!”
Darcy flushed as he looked at Bingley in sudden comprehension. He was silent a moment as he attempted to collect himself, finding to his surprise that, faced with this moment, he had no regrets whatsoever apart from having placed Elizabeth in an embarrassing position by having the misfortune to be caught out. He had become accustomed to the idea that they made their own rules to suit themselves, yet he understood Bingley’s point quite well. “There seems to be little I can say, then,” he said, his voice controlled, “beyond that I am far from having any objection to an immediate marriage; but I must warn you, Elizabeth may not be in accord with this.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Darcy, do not hide behind that one!” exclaimed Bingley in some annoyance. “She placed herself under my care when she came to live with us, and if she has some objection, I am sorry for it, but I was not planning to offer her a choice.”
It did not come as a surprise that his friend looked for a traditional response from the women of his household, but Darcy had spent sufficient time with Elizabeth for his own expectations to have altered somewhat from necessity. He considered his words carefully, with concern for the conflict already present between Bingley and himself. “I will speak to her, and will certainly make the strongest case possible for it, but I am not prepared to insist if she refuses.”
“You do not seem to have been so loath to impose your will upon her last night!” said Bingley resentfully.
Darcy was sufficiently angered by this implication that he came close to retorting without thought, but he stopped himself just in time. The passion he appreciated in Elizabeth could cause her irreparable harm in her brother-in-law’s eyes; and if the only alternative was for Bingley to believe he would have used Elizabeth to that degree, he would not argue the point. Still, he felt the keenness of the cut that his dear friend would jump to such a conclusion about him, and he said stiffly, “I do not believe Elizabeth holds anything against me; she is very generous.”
“Well, I hope for your sake that she is,” said Bingley. “I am sorry, Darcy; I do not want to quarrel with you—but you must see my position.” He looked at Darcy in a silent appeal for his understanding.
“Yes, of course,” said Darcy, feeling once more in control of himself and the situation. “I bear you no ill will; and I will speak to Elizabeth directly.”
Bingley looked enormously relieved to turn over the responsibility of facing his spirited sister-in-law. “Thank you, Darcy,” he said. “Do let me know if there is anything I can do to help.”
“I will,” said Darcy, irony heavy in his voice.
***
He found Elizabeth in the garden with her sister, and indicated his need to speak privately to her. It was clear Jane was not prepared to leave them alone together—plainly the need for constant chaperonage had been discussed. Darcy was less than pleased with the idea of having this conversation under her watchful eye, but tried to make the best of it by taking Elizabeth off to a far corner of the garden where at least their words could be not be overheard.
Despite his forebodings, Darcy lost no time in acquainting her with the results of his conversation with their host. “I seem to have created a great deal of trouble for you by my own impetuosity. Bingley is insisting we marry immediately,” he said quietly, hoping she would not be too angry.
She looked at him in confusion for a moment, then her brow cleared and she laughed. “Poor Bingley!” she exclaimed. “The embarrassment he must be suffering! He does try so hard not to offend anyone, and I imagine he has not the least understanding of our predicament. I do not think he shares your nature, and I know Jane does not share mine.”
He was relieved she was taking this intelligence so lightly. “I am glad to see your only concern is for his embarrassment,” he said dryly, “but I certainly did not want to put you in this position.”
“Well, it is somewhat embarrassing for me as well,” she allowed, “but I have become rather accustomed to being embarrassed, and at least in this case it is for a sin I did commit, rather than one I did not! No, my dearest, I am not upset—except perhaps that it will make our nights more difficult,” she added in a teasing whisper.
He felt a surge of desire at her words. “Elizabeth—if you are attempting to distract me, you are doing an admirable job,” he said, allowing his eyes to drift down her form. “Our nights together are one of my very favourite subjects, but I do not believe your sister would be happy about the direction my thoughts are tending. Perhaps we should return to the subject at hand.”
She gave him an arch look, amused at the degree to which he could arouse her simply with a look and a few words. “Very well, I will attempt to behave, if that will make you happy. What is it you would like to discuss, then?”
He drew a deep breath. “You have not yet told me what you think of Bingley’s request. I am aware you would prefer to wait a little longer before marrying, and I do not know if you are willing to do so this soon,” he said carefully.
She looked at him, seeing his concern for her, and thought of what revising their plans would mean—the rushed packing, the abbreviated farewells to her family—and then she thought of how it would feel to formalize their marriage, and experienced a rush of warmth at the idea of being his wife. It would give us freedom to be together again, she thought, glancing at Jane. In sudden decision, she smiled up at him brilliantly. “Although it may not be the most practical approach, I would be well pleased to be married to you as soon as may be.”
His expression evinced not only relief but a heartfelt delight. “My best beloved,” he breathed, with a look in his eye which told her that he would like to be expressing his feelings in a much more direct manner. “I can think of nothing that would make me happier than to tell the world you are my own, and I am yours.” Unconsciously he shifted his body closer to hers.
She took the pleasure of losing herself in his dark gaze for a moment, but before the connection could become unbearably close, she said lightly, “Then it would seem we have a great deal to accomplish rather quickly.”
A smile grew on his face as he traced her beloved features with his eyes. “Yes, it would seem so,” he agreed.