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LUCK MUST’VE BEEN WITH them, because the wind whipped up that day and pushed them closer to the island. Lizzy was hopeful they would reach it before nightfall, but it wasn’t to be. The wind stopped, and they seemed to be at a standstill again for a time, though they were gently bobbing along.
She was worried they were getting out of range of the island, and Mr. Darcy seemed equally tense. Without a light source, they could only rely on the stars and the moonlight above them, and though there was a little more moon this evening, it was still inadequate for their needs.
Lizzy shivered, cold all over again. She had the dress she’d grabbed from her trunk, using it to protect the book, but there was no way she could change. Her clothes had at least dried in the hot sunlight, but now they felt stiff and itchy, and she kept scratching discreetly.
“Whatever is the matter?” asked Mr. Darcy after a long moment, sounding impatient.
Lizzy’s scratching must be rocking the boat. “I apologize, but I itch. My clothes did not dry well.”
His tone was softer when he replied, though the darkness made it impossible to read his expression. “I can relate to that. Wool is dreadfully uncomfortable after it has gotten wet and dried in such a fashion.”
She winced in sympathy, imagining how much warmer he had been than her during the day with his wool breeches. On the other hand, they provided more warmth for him now. She shivered again, shocked when he reached out for her hand. He tugged her forward, and she said, “Whatever are you doing?”
“It seems prudent to share body heat.”
Lizzy knew she should protest, but she was dreadfully cold now that the sun had set, so she allowed him to pull her toward him, carefully navigating around the young woman who had still not regained consciousness, though she hadn’t passed away either. The poor dear was stuck in some state of limbo, and Lizzy sympathized. She and Darcy were alert, but they were also stuck in limbo. If they could reach the island, they stood a chance of survival, but if not, they would die out here.
Her throat was also scratchy, terribly so, and she longed for water. “It is terribly unfair, Mr. Darcy.” She scooched a little, leaning back against him to get more comfortable. She fit against him with odd perfection, as though his arms had been made to cradle her. She was disquieted by the thought and tried to reject it.
“Our circumstances, Miss Bennet?”
She nodded. “Those too, but I was referring to being surrounded by water, being dreadfully thirsty, and yet unable to drink.”
“I concur.” His voice sounded as hoarse as hers. “It is most unfair. Perhaps there will be fresh water on the island. If not, maybe we can figure out a way to remove some of the salinity. I read a fascinating article in a travel journal recently about a man who managed to do just that while he was on expedition.”
“You read such things?” Lizzy’s eyes widened in the darkness, finding it a difficult prospect to believe. Mr. Darcy seemed so staid and proper that she could not imagine him being the type to read about others’ adventures, let alone have one of his own.
“My sister has a fondness for such things. She is also a fan of the penny dreadfuls and the penny dramas. We often read together.”
“Oh. Then it is hardly surprising.”
He stiffened. “I feel like I am being insulted in some fashion, Miss Bennet.”
She grimaced. “I did not mean it that way, Mr. Darcy. I simply meant I am unsurprised to learn you are reading such material for your sister and not for your sake.”
“Indeed?” He sounded cool. “Who do you think introduced Miss Georgiana to the topic to start with, Miss Bennet?” His words were terse.
She squirmed slightly, which only reminded her of how tightly she was pressed against Mr. Darcy, his delicious body warmth suffusing her own to take off the chill she’d experienced for the last hour. “I apologize. I suppose I made certain assumptions. You do not seem like a man who craves adventure.”
He gave a dark chuckle. “I was quite a bit more adventurous as a young man, but I confess, I could do well without this adventure. If I did not allow Charles to persuade me into this foolishness, I would not be here.”
Lizzy relaxed further against him. “Perhaps, but I am rather glad you are, Mr. Darcy.” The darkness must have given her courage to make the admission. “I would not like to be alone in this, and I am not confident I would have reached a lifeboat without your assistance.”
“In that case, allow me to amend my statement. I find it wretched that we are in such circumstances, but I am happy I was able to be of any assistance whatsoever.” His lips brushed against her ear when he said the words, making her shiver. “You are still cold?”
She nodded quickly, too embarrassed to admit the shiver had come from an entirely different reason. She no longer felt cold. Instead, she was burning up with a different kind of fever, one she’d never had before. Her body felt more sensitive, and there was an ache between her thighs she couldn’t explain as he shifted enough to pull her closer, turning her to face him so she was straddling his lap.
She was abruptly aware of the bulge there, and she quickly slammed her eyes shut and leaned against his chest, pretending she was desperate for sleep. Instead, she was desperate to pretend the situation wasn’t occurring. Mr. Darcy seemed to be aroused for her, and though she told herself that was likely just a normal physical response, and any man would react the same to any young woman on his lap, there was a part of her thrilled with the idea.
The reality of her situation soon washed away any excitement from the illicit embrace. Lizzy was daring and curious, but realizing she might die at any moment, or that the ocean could sweep them away from the island before they got close enough to swim for it, had a dampening effect on even the most ardent libido.
She clung to him, trembling this time from fear rather than anything else as his arms held her securely. As afraid as she was, she was certain she would’ve been ten times more terrified if Mr. Darcy hadn’t been there to offer comfort in the moment.