Elizabeth heard her aunt calling to her to pick up the phone. Glancing at the clock, she smiled in anticipation. “Hello?” she sang happily into the phone.
“Lizzy!”
It was not Jane as she expected. Quickly shifting mental gears, Elizabeth replied to her best friend.
“Char! How are you?”
“I’m good, how are you? Have those little monsters made you crazy yet?”
Elizabeth laughed and spent a few minutes talking about the Gardiners.
“So, I was wondering how’s Jane doing? She seemed pretty upset last time I saw her.”
Pleased to have good news for once, Elizabeth announced excitedly, “Oh Char! She made up with Charles!”
“She did?” Charlotte replied in a shocked voice. “Wow! I’m so happy for them. I thought it was over.”
Elizabeth laughed. “I know. I did too.” Elizabeth went on to tell a quick version of the story. “As a matter of fact, I thought that it was her when you called.”
“Wow,” Charlotte said, a bit thoughtfully. “I’m really happy for them.”
“What’s wrong, Char?”
“Nothing’s wrong; it’s just, well, Richard’s been calling me.”
“No.”
“Yeah.”
“Tell me what happened.”
Charlotte giggled at the excitement in Elizabeth’s voice. “Well, nothing really happened. He’s just been calling me. We talk.”
Elizabeth could hear Charlotte shrugging. “And what do you talk about?”
“Oh, just stuff. It’s nice, you know?”
Elizabeth felt a pang, because she didn’t know. “Yeah,” she agreed. “So, are you two getting back together?”
“I’m not sure, really. It’s not like we ever really had a clear definition of our relationship, so I don’t think you can say we are getting ‘back’ together. But we talk, and it’s good. You know, no pressure.”
Elizabeth had the clear feeling that there was more to it. “How often does he call?” she asked simply, scouting around for details.
“Every night.”
“What?”
“Yeah.” She laughed.
“Char,” Elizabeth’s voice held a note of significance. “Is this serious?”
“Um, yeah. I think it might be,” Charlotte answered, her confidence suddenly gone.
“How do you feel about it?”
“I’m not sure. We talk a lot, but we haven’t talked about us. It’s like he’s purposefully avoiding that topic. So I’m not sure what to think.” She paused. “Lizzy?”
“Yeah?”
“He really wants us to go back on the tour with them.”
“Oh.”
“But I don’t want to do it if you and Jane aren’t fully behind the idea,” she added quickly. “It has to be all of us.”
“Well,” said Elizabeth pragmatically, “I don’t think you have to worry about Jane.”
“True, but what about you, Lizzy? I saw Darcy at the VMAs. What’s going on with you two?”
“I don’t know,” Elizabeth said dumbly. “I haven’t spoken to him at all. I even went to his loft, and the doorman told me he would be gone for a few weeks, so I’m stuck waiting.”
“Do you even want to see him again after all that?” Charlotte was skeptical.
“I do,” Elizabeth said softly. “I really do, Char. I can’t explain it, but I want to talk to him at least.”
“Okay, I get that.” Charlotte understood better than anyone what it was like to have feelings for someone you couldn’t rationally explain. “So, what are we going to do about the tour?”
“Well, I have to talk to Jane, but I say we go for it. It’s only four more months, and if things don’t work out with Darcy, I can just ignore him again.” She was struck by how pathetic her own joke was.
“Are you sure, Lizzy?” Charlotte asked.
“I’m sure,” Elizabeth said quickly and decisively. “So will I see you on Monday for the video shoot?”
“Yep. Have a good time at Tanglewood.”
“Thanks, I will.”
They both said good-bye and hung up. A minute later the phone rang again. This time it was Jane.
“Oh Lizzy! I have wonderful news!”
Elizabeth smiled at Jane’s infectious joy. “Tell me.”
“We’re going to California tomorrow!”
“Really?”
“Charles wants me to see his house and meet his father,” she said somewhat shyly.
“That’s great! I’m so happy for you,” Elizabeth cooed. “Oh! I just got off the phone with Charlotte and you’ll never guess who she’s been talking to!”
“Richard?”
“How did you guess?”
Jane laughed. “So how are they doing?”
“Charlotte says it’s good. They have just been talking, friendly like, but she seems pretty happy about it. Jane?”
“What?”
“Char wants to go back on tour with them. She wanted to know what we think.”
Jane smiled. “Oh Lizzy! That’s great news. Yes, I want to go back on tour.” She slowed down a bit. “Charles and I are very worried about this all. It’s one thing for us to be back together as a couple, but it’s not good if the two bands are still having trouble.”
Once again, Elizabeth found herself in the uncomfortable situation of being the one without a relationship. “I think for now we should plan on going back.”
“Are you going to be okay, Lizzy?” Jane asked, her concern apparent.
“I’m not sure, but I’m going to try. That’s all I can do.”
“It’ll work out for you. I know it will.”
Elizabeth smiled wanly. “Now, you are going to be back in time for Tuesday, right?”
“Yes, we’re coming back Sunday night. Are you going to be okay working with George again?”
Elizabeth sighed. Again, she wasn’t sure. Knowing what she knew now, the last thing she wanted to do was make that second video with him, but she couldn’t suddenly refuse to do it. Not without revealing Georgiana’s secret, something she could never do. And if she did back out, she would be liable for all that money. There was nothing to do but grit her teeth and make the video with him, hopefully as quickly as possible.
“I’ll be okay, Jane,” she told her sister.
“Oh, Charles is back. I got to go. Take care, Lizzy. Say hi to Mary for me.”
Elizabeth said good-bye and hung up the phone. She sat down with a sigh on her bed. It had been six days since she sent the email, and still she had no response. After biting her lip and thinking for a long moment, she found herself looking a number up and dialing.
“Hello,” a crisp male voice answered.
“Oh, um, Faust, hi, it’s Lizzy Bennet.” Elizabeth found herself blushing furiously.
“Hello, Lizzy, how are you? Are you enjoying your holiday?” Faust seemed perfectly relaxed, and his ease helped Elizabeth.
“I am, thank you. And you?”
“Very nice, thanks. Caro is,” he paused, as if he was looking around himself, “um, not available right now. Can I take a message?”
Elizabeth heard Caroline’s voice calling out from a distance, “Who is it?”
“Hang on,” Faust told her. A half minute later, he returned to the phone. “Lizzy? Caro said that she did forward your email to Darcy. Is that what you called about?”
Elizabeth smiled. “Yes, it is. Thanks.”
“Oh good. Glad to be of service, Lizzy. See you soon.”
Elizabeth sighed. She had her answer now, but she wasn’t at all sure if she liked it. Darcy had her song, but he hadn’t replied to it. That meant either he had rejected it and her or… or what? She tried to come up with a reason, other than he wanted nothing to do with her, and failed utterly.
But despite the fairly damning evidence, Elizabeth still couldn’t give up hope. Maybe it was the way he had looked at her when he sang “Feel Me,” or maybe it was Caro’s advice to not give up. Or maybe it was just plain stubbornness. But Elizabeth was not ready to quit yet. She had been too blind in this relationship before, and she had made too many wrong assumptions. She wasn’t going to do that again. She was going to go back on tour, and she was going to tell him what she felt. At least she could do that much.
It was with a heavy heart she tucked herself into bed. She might tell Darcy she loved him, and he might laugh in her face. After what happened in the loft and at the rehearsal, it wouldn’t be impossible.
She wished she could just see him. Every day of waiting just became longer and longer. She closed her eyes and again imagined herself back in his arms. It might be nothing more than a fantasy at this point, but it was the most comforting one she had.
Elizabeth enjoyed the two-hour drive to Tanglewood. She loved looking out the window at the beautiful scenery. The Berkshire Mountains rose up tall and green on either side of the highway. The summer sunlight was fading, but Elizabeth was still struck by the natural wonder of the place.
She exited the Mass Pike at Lee and quickly made her way to the hotel. Elizabeth had hoped to stay someplace nicer, but at this late date, the Day’s Inn was the only place with rooms available.
It didn’t matter; it was close to Tanglewood and it was clean, Elizabeth told herself. She couldn’t help but smile as she realized that the hotels they generally stayed in while on tour were nicer than this. From the tour, her mind made the short hop to Darcy, a subject her mind spent so much of its time on lately.
Elizabeth allowed herself a quick fantasy that she was actually checking in with Darcy, rather than by herself. She knew it was foolish. Darcy would never stay in such a humble establishment. But it amused her briefly and made her feel less uncomfortable about being alone.
Tanglewood was the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Nestled in the Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts, the large campus hosted performances daily in the two concert halls, and provided educational experiences for young musicians.
As Fitzwilliam Darcy walked along the path with his sister on the warm July morning, he found himself imagining a third member of their party. She was there again, his Shadow Elizabeth, who went with him everywhere and with whom he shared his favorite moments. Darcy could see in his mind’s eye her smile as she took in the beautiful campus. He knew it was a hopeless fantasy, but he found comfort in it, imagining what she might say and listening to her laugh.
He paused in his steps. For a second he could have sworn he had actually heard her laugh. He worried that he was spending too much time in his fantasy when he heard her voice.
“Darcy?” she called. “Will?”
Darcy spun around and found himself looking at the surprised face of his love.
“Elizabeth?”
He took three steps closer to her without knowing he did so. She was there. She was real. She was wearing a summer dress in a soft melon color and her hair was arranged in a graceful cascade.
A similar look of shocked surprise had graced Elizabeth’s face. She moved closer to him, and it was only when she stopped that Darcy was able to control himself and stop himself from embracing her. His awareness of where he was returned with a flash, and with it came the memories of their last parting.
Darcy smiled nervously. “What are you doing here?”
Elizabeth smiled with equal trepidation. “Mary,” she indicated her sister, “is here for the summer on a conducting fellowship.”
Darcy’s eyes flicked to the younger woman. “Mary, it’s nice to see you again,” he said warmly.
“It’s nice to see you, Darcy,” she said easily.
“Um, call me Will, please,” he replied awkwardly as he took a quick look at Elizabeth and then shook Mary’s hand.
Mary nodded politely in response, not quite able to keep an amused smile off her face.
“Elizabeth?” Darcy said, turning back to her. “This is my sister, Georgiana.” He indicated the girl who was waiting quietly for her turn. Georgiana was a little taller than Elizabeth, with Darcy’s dark coloring and features. But where those features were extremely attractive on Darcy, they were merely pleasant on Georgiana.
Elizabeth shook the girl’s hand and smiled warmly. Georgiana looked extremely nervous and ducked her head as she was introduced to the party.
When the introductions were finished, Elizabeth found herself facing Darcy again. She looked into his dark eyes and paused, and then touching her tongue to her upper lip, she found her voice again. “So, what are you doing here?” she asked warmly.
“We have a long connection with Tanglewood from when my mother played as a guest artist. My summer home is nearby and we try to get here at least once every summer.”
Darcy stared at her, smiling for a long moment. Then he caught himself. “We were just about to go to lunch. Would you like to join us?”
Elizabeth looked at her sister and then to Darcy. “Certainly,” she smiled.
Darcy beamed as he directed the party along the path, falling into step with Elizabeth. He was no further than asking how Elizabeth’s parents were when Mary asked in a loud voice, “Where are we going?”
Darcy pointed in the direction of what looked like a large older house. “The Manor House,” he replied. “We’re expected at a luncheon there.”
Elizabeth’s face grew troubled. “Wait a minute. What kind of luncheon is this?”
Darcy stopped. “It’s a reception for supporters of the festival. We have an endowment, um,” he drifted off uneasily.
Elizabeth smiled embarrassedly. “We can’t go to that. It sounds very formal and we’re not invited,” she stammered.
“Lizzy,” he said softly. “It’s not a problem. They’re expecting me to bring guests. I was actually a little nervous before because it was just Georgie and me.” He smiled appealingly. “Please come.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind?” she asked.
Darcy shook his head, looking as stunned as she by the situation they found themselves in. “Not at all. Please, I would like to have you there,” he said carefully.
She smiled and nodded. As they continued to walk, Darcy asked her about her health and that of her family and of the band. The warmth in her face astonished him. All his plans for what he was going to say to her when they saw each other again had completely fled from his mind. He was running on instinct now, but at least he had the comfort of knowing she was just as surprised. If nothing else, that put them on equal ground.
Elizabeth found it hard to believe he was here. And even more amazing was that he was talking to her. He was making it clear that he wanted to be with her, something she was hardly expecting. She ached to ask what was going on and why he hadn’t replied to her song, but at the same time, she knew this wasn’t the place, and more importantly, she just wanted to be with him, without fighting, and see what happened.
As Elizabeth answered his questions, she studied him out of the corner of her eye. He looked good. He was wearing a white polo and stone-colored twill pants. He still had his goatee, and his hair had been brushed back.
“So you have an endowment?” Elizabeth asked when he had run out of family and friends to ask about.
He looked at her and nodded. “My mother used to play here pretty regularly when I was growing up. I even played a duet with her once,” he grinned. “When she died, my father set up an endowment in her name.” He looked down at her and smiled as if he was reminding himself that this was real. “I’m really glad that you are here. It’s…” Words seemed to fail him.
Elizabeth seemed to understand and could see his apprehension. She recognized that he was hesitating because he feared her response, remembering their terrible fight. She smiled gently at him and reached out her hand to him.
Darcy looked at her hand then her face. Wordlessly, he grasped her hand in his, never breaking his stride but moving minutely closer to her.
Elizabeth looked up to him, her eyes full of emotions, and she said softly, “I’m very glad to be here too.” She smiled shyly at him and was delighted by his response.
They reached the Manor House, where an elegant buffet was laid out. Mary led Elizabeth and the Darcys around, introducing them to the other musicians and staff.
Upon entering the room, Darcy had released Elizabeth’s hand. However, he found himself drawn to her, like a magnet to iron. He lightly rested his hand on the small of her back as the waiters served them. Elizabeth turned and looked at him, indicating her approval of his touch. When he had to remove his hand to shake hands with an acquaintance, the electric shock of Elizabeth’s hand lightly resting on his arm distracted him. Her eyes caught his and the wicked look he saw there told him she knew exactly what she was doing to him.
They sat down together to eat on a pair of seats against the wall, still in plain sight of the rest of the room. As Darcy chatted politely with the conductor for the night’s performance, he nonchalantly crossed his leg, pressing his foot against Elizabeth’s. Elizabeth smiled, making the briefest eye contact, before she returned to her conversation with the concertmistress. The game continued, each one seeing how long they could maintain physical contact with the other. It was blatantly obvious to both of them, yet they didn’t speak of it, only continued to play, coming up with more creative and interesting excuses to touch each other. Darcy’s hand grazed Elizabeth’s calf when he picked up the napkin she dropped; Elizabeth caressed the back of Darcy’s neck while brushing away a piece of lint from his collar. After each of these contacts, their eyes would meet, and a silent communication encouraged them to go on.
In that hour, Elizabeth felt happier than she had in the past two weeks. She was beyond understanding how they had met; it was fate at her most generous. But she was not at all interested in questioning it. Instead, she delighted in each touch and in the glorious knowledge that he had not rejected her.
The luncheon was, in fact, simple for her. She had been to functions like this with her father all through her childhood. The familiarity of the setting helped her feel more at ease with Darcy. They were not yet at liberty to speak freely with each other, but perhaps that was for the best. Instead they allowed their eyes and hands to speak for them while they were in this safe environment. They knew that neither could speak harshly or hurtfully here, and that encouraged them to be closer than they would have otherwise.
They played their discreet game throughout the whole meal, believing themselves to be completely unnoticed, although Georgiana followed it easily. As soon as she saw her brother’s reaction to Elizabeth, even before he had introduced them, she realized who Elizabeth was. Georgiana was as surprised by the chance meeting as anyone else, but she quickly took advantage of it to study the woman Darcy had chosen in her “natural state.”
Georgiana liked what she found in Elizabeth Bennet. Elizabeth had clearly been just as nervous as her brother, and considering what she knew of their relationship, Georgiana could completely understand that. But it was also clear that they had a great interest in each other, and more than anything, she wanted her brother to be happy. So she was willing to play along and act completely oblivious to their little touching game, all the while smiling politely to the strangers she didn’t dare speak to.
All too quickly the luncheon was over. Darcy frowned slightly as he walked with Elizabeth out of the Manor House and into the bright sunshine. She smiled for an instant as he put his sunglasses on.
“Lizzy,” he said slowly. “I have to meet with someone from the foundation for an hour.” He frowned again, clearly not wishing to leave.
Elizabeth understood his frown and found it matched her feelings perfectly. “I see,” she said politely.
“Will?” Georgiana said softly. “I don’t really feel like going to the class. Perhaps I could stay with Elizabeth and Mary?” She looked pointedly at the Bennet girls.
Darcy looked from his sister to Elizabeth. “That would be great. You don’t mind?”
“Not at all,” Elizabeth nodded agreeably. Georgiana had symbolically offered herself up as a hostage to ensure they would meet again. “I’ll see you later?”
“Yes,” he grinned. He planted a quick kiss on his sister’s cheek and was off. Elizabeth watched him move away, smiling to herself as she admired the strength of his frame.
Elizabeth let Mary direct them to a cool spot to enjoy the beautiful afternoon, and then she turned to Georgiana. “So, I heard you just graduated from high school,” Elizabeth said, trying to open up a conversation with the girl.
Georgiana nodded and mumbled, “Yes.”
“Where are you going to college?”
Georgiana squeaked something that Elizabeth thought was “Stanford,” but she couldn’t be sure.
This was turning out to be more difficult than Elizabeth expected. With a final effort, she said, “Did I hear you were in Europe with Will recently?”
Georgiana finally made eye contact with Elizabeth and with a tiny smile she nodded.
“Could you tell me about it?”
Slowly Georgiana told her about being in Paris with her brother. Elizabeth soon found that she got the best response when her questions involved Darcy, so she kept to that. Soon the girl was speaking more freely and even told her a funny story about her brother and his passport.
Elizabeth smiled warmly. “He seems very fond of you,” she observed.
Georgiana blushed. “He is very good to me. He was so young when our father died, and he has never complained about taking care of me.”
“He sounds like the perfect big brother.” She wrinkled her nose. “But he can’t be all perfect. Tell me, what does he do when he’s bad?”
“Plays U2,” she said simply, with great solemnity.
Elizabeth laughed until she fell back on the grass. When her chuckles subsided, she asked, “Anything else? Does he tease you or something?”
“No, he would never do that.”
“Wow,” said Elizabeth. “He is perfect.”
Elizabeth was impressed at how much she enjoyed talking to the younger woman. She was startled when Darcy rejoined them to find how quickly the time had passed.
“How did it go?” she asked.
“It was fine,” he assured her. Then he added, with a playful glint, “When you’re giving them money, they’re generally very accommodating.”
Elizabeth matched his smile. “I honestly wouldn’t know, but I can see your point.”
“Can we walk a bit?” Darcy asked.
The ladies stood, and Mary and Georgiana took the lead, giving their siblings some needed privacy.
“Elizabeth,” he waited until her attractive eyes meet his. “I need to apologize. I’m very sorry about what happened before. I’m appalled at my own behavior, and I hope you can forgive me.”
Elizabeth looked at him with undisguised surprise. Her mouth worked for a few seconds before she was able to speak. “I’m sorry,” she whispered earnestly. “I’m so sorry, Will. I shouldn’t have walked out like that.”
Darcy focused on walking and remaining calm in this public setting, when all he wanted to do was snatch her up in his arms and cover her face with kisses.
“You were right, Elizabeth, I was pushing too hard and I wasn’t thinking about your feelings.”
“I don’t think,” she interrupted, “either of us can say we were thinking about the other’s feelings that morning.” Her hand slipped into his.
“You may be right, but you have to admit I really screwed things up at the VMAs.” He looked away and his mouth puckered in disgust, “When I think about what I did, Elizabeth, I’m so ashamed.”
“Don’t think about that,” she admonished gently. “I’d much rather you remembered the good things about me,” she smiled very slightly, “and us.”
He squeezed her hand tightly in a show of what he wanted to do in a less public setting. Elizabeth squeezed back and smiled. “You can call me Lizzy, you know,” she said playfully.
Darcy’s lips curled. “I think I like calling you Elizabeth. It’s something no one else does.”
Elizabeth nodded. “Except my mother, when she’s mad.”
Darcy lost the battle against his self-control and leaned over and kissed her smiling lips. “Perhaps you could call me Fitzwilliam, since no one else does,” he said conversationally, the tone of his voice was greatly relaxed.
She replied in the same easy tone, “Not even your sister, when she’s mad?”
Darcy shook his head. “No, she hits me when she’s mad.”
“That’s because you’re a moron,” Georgiana grumbled from ahead of them.
Elizabeth laughed, her buoyant joy warming Darcy as he watched her, completely bewitched. He was delightfully surprised by Elizabeth’s reaction to him and was forced to conclude that his sister had been correct. Elizabeth had only needed time, and he had been a fool to not talk to her again. He was grateful that he had been given another chance, especially in a setting such as this, which was so different from the tense, tight, rushed experience of touring.
Here, in this open and sunny place, there was no need to hurry. Darcy’s time was not his own, and his chances of being alone with Elizabeth were null. He was resigned to this and in fact, he was somewhat glad of it. He felt safer moving slowly right now, building the comfortable rapport with her that had always eluded him in the past.
Mary was performing in the concert at six o’clock, so the group decided to have an early dinner. Mary had arranged for a large picnic dinner and wouldn’t hear of the Darcys not joining them.
Darcy and Georgiana shared a look but happily agreed. The meal was a lively affair, with everyone taking turns telling family stories. Soon it became apparent that the Darcys and the Bennets had more in common than they thought.
Darcy told the group about his childhood and how he spent many summers there at Tanglewood. “It’s like coming home, being back here.”
“So you said you have a house nearby?” Elizabeth asked.
“My father had it built for my mother as a wedding present, and it was her retreat. We spent all our summers there. It’s called Pemberley.”
“That sounds lovely,” Elizabeth said and laughed softly. “It must hold a lot of special memories for you.”
Darcy was touched by her perceptiveness. “It does.”
“We always spent our summers sweating at home while Dad traveled around doing his research,” Mary interjected.
Elizabeth nodded. “Yeah, and at the community pool. No cottages for us.”
“Would you like to see it?” Darcy offered. “I would love to have you come over after the concert. We could have a late supper.” He was careful to include the whole party in his invitation, but his heart was directed at Elizabeth.
Mary declined, but Elizabeth was all too happy to accept.
They attended Mary’s concert in the Ozawa Concert Hall. Elizabeth and Darcy sat next to each other but were prohibited from talking, so Elizabeth took the time to put her thoughts in order.
She questioned if this was all a dream. During their time apart, Elizabeth had contemplated Darcy and realized that she had misjudged him. But the reality she was finding in him now shook her to the core. Had he always been this wonderful? Had she really been that blind?
It didn’t seem possible. She knew she was at fault for being harshly judgmental of him, but this was a different man than the one she left that night so long ago. She realized that she was a different woman as well.
Remembering the events of the day, Elizabeth was once again surprised by Darcy’s openness. She had never seen him so warm or friendly. She couldn’t help but wonder if this was for her. Could she possibly have affected him so?
She felt the need for comfort and instinctively reached out her hand to him. Without hesitation he took it, lifting it to his lips and kissing it lightly before setting it, still firmly grasped in his, on his lap.
Elizabeth forced herself to be calm. In this setting, she couldn’t do more than what she was doing; she needed to accept that. She longed to talk to him though. She wanted to talk to him and tell him her feelings and hear his reply in kind.
She wanted to know why he hadn’t responded to her email, her song. Despite all the obvious signs of his affection, she was still troubled by it. She struggled to find meaning for his behavior. He clearly wasn’t rejecting her, and in that she found great comfort. She wondered if perhaps he had wanted to see her face-to-face before he reacted to it. But he still had said nothing about it. Maybe he was so startled by her sudden appearance that he didn’t know how to respond to it. But when she looked at him, he didn’t show any signs of hesitancy or questioning.
Elizabeth felt like a dog chasing its own tail. She didn’t know what was going on, and she hated that, but clearly she wasn’t going to divine the answer on her own.
She was surprised to find the concert was over. With amused embarrassment, she realized she hadn’t heard any of the last half of it, she was so lost in her thoughts.
“Elizabeth?” he said as they rose from their seats. “Are you okay? You seem a little distracted.”
Elizabeth blushed slightly. “Sorry,” she mumbled. Together they went outside to wait for Mary. “Do you have tickets for the main concert?” Elizabeth struggled to find something to talk about when all she wanted was to be alone with him.
“Yes, do you?”
“Yes, Mary got us some.”
Just then Georgiana’s cell phone rang and she stepped away to talk, as Darcy and Elizabeth compared their tickets.
“How did Mary get you better seats than us?” Darcy asked, puzzled.
Elizabeth laughed. “You don’t know Mary.”
“Will,” Georgiana said, her phone pressed to her chest. “Kimberley is here for just this weekend. Do you think we could skip the concert so I could visit her?”
Mary tilted her head, “You know, this evening is the all-Sibelius program. I would not mind missing it at all.”
“Oh,” Elizabeth looked to Darcy, surprised to find her wish so quickly granted. “Well, then I’m fine with going to your place.”
Darcy nodded, his confusion quickly turning to pleasure.
Neither of the lovers noticed Mary and Georgiana exchanging a silent high-five.
It was quickly decided that Georgiana would ride with Elizabeth to direct her to Pemberley. “I’m glad you and Will are such good friends,” the girl said. “He gets so lonely, especially when he’s on tour.”
“He does?”
Georgiana nodded. “I know it seems strange, because he’s with his best friends, but he puts himself under so much responsibility, he has trouble getting close to anyone, even his friends.”
Elizabeth had seen that side of his personality. But Mr. Control Freak seemed like a completely different person from the man she had spent the day with. Elizabeth was so puzzled by this that she almost missed Georgiana’s next comment.
“I almost wish music wasn’t his profession,” she said feelingly.
“Why is that?” Elizabeth asked, astonished.
“Because Will’s music is the only place where he can fully express himself, and now his music is tied to his work.” She sighed. “He is so afraid of making mistakes that he drives himself too hard. I worry about him.”
Elizabeth smiled distractedly as her head swam. Knowing what she did about Georgiana’s past, she understood now why Darcy was so careful to never screw up, but she could also see that his manic drive was powered by fear. He had lost so many people who were dear to him that he was terrified of making a mistake and losing another, as he almost had with Georgiana.
No wonder he’s strung up tighter than a bank vault, Elizabeth thought as she drove. Suddenly everything about Darcy made much more sense. She cast her mind back to that morning in the loft and realized that he was simply trying to not lose her as well. If Georgiana was correct, and Darcy didn’t open up to anyone easily, then she could suddenly understand his emphatic attempts to hold on to her. She had seen for herself that he never let anyone close to him on the tour.
But why her? She found herself pondering. What made her so special that Darcy, who could have almost any woman on the planet, should want her, who had been at best polite and at worst flat-out bitchy to him?
“Will told me he really admires you as a musician.”
Elizabeth was slightly surprised that he would talk about her to Georgiana, not by her news. Darcy had told her before that she was talented, almost from the start. “Really?” she replied, somewhat indifferently.
“Yes, I was surprised because I almost never hear him say that, and especially not about another guitarist.”
Elizabeth looked over with wonder then. She examined Georgiana’s face but found nothing other than complete sincerity. “Really?” she said in a much different tone.
“It’s true,” Georgiana assured her. “I think he feels like you are a peer to him. Someone who isn’t always looking up to him, but an equal.”
“Oh,” Elizabeth had breathed, before sinking into her thoughts. She never even noticed the tiny smile curling the corners of Georgiana’s lips.
Suddenly Georgiana pointed. “Look.”
Elizabeth looked and gasped. Before her was a beautiful building made of glass and stone. It was well lit and Elizabeth could see through the huge windows, which made up most of the front walls, to a great room that glowed with the softness of light-colored wood.
Elizabeth was stunned. She had expected it would be nice and rich, but nothing like this. This was a house out of her dreams. It was large and clean looking, with no wasted space or false ornamentation. The gardens around the front porch were lit and Elizabeth was struck by the beautiful display of flowers, which seemed perfectly balanced for the house. In her mind, Elizabeth could see the house in all the seasons, and she was pleased by how well suited it seemed for its surroundings.
As she parked, she saw Darcy waiting for her. He opened her door and offered his hand to help her out of the truck. “Welcome to Pemberley,” he told her, his eyes full of warmth.
She turned to him and said with complete sincerity, “This is the most beautiful house I’ve ever seen.”
Darcy smiled blindingly at her. “I’m very pleased you like it.” He led her through the entrance and into the great room. The room lived up to its name in every way. It was large, with a vaulted ceiling and a massive stone fireplace along one wall. Fine art mixed liberally with photographs on the walls in a way that was both random and pleasing. A pair of leather sofas sat facing each other in one part of the room, but the rest of it was left mostly empty to enhance the feeling of open spaciousness.
“Will,” Georgiana said softly, “I’m going to grab my stuff and go to Kimberley’s. I’ll see you tomorrow. Bye, Lizzy,” she waved as she left the room.
Once they were alone, Darcy took her into his arms. She opened herself to his hungry kisses. The privacy of an empty room was something she had been longing for all day. Her fingers tangled in his hair as she felt his hands pulling her closer to his hard body.
His mouth broke away from her only long enough to plead, “Please stay here tonight,” before he fell back down to hers. Elizabeth kissed him back, trying to get as close to him as she could.
“Yes,” she gulped, in between kisses, as he lightly sucked her lower lip between his. “I missed you,” she cried. “Missed you so much.”
“Lizzy,” he moaned as he buried his face in her soft hair. “Lizzy, I haven’t been able to think of anything but you. I’m so sorry.”
“No sorries,” she insisted, “just kiss me again.”
He took her softly parted lips and brushed them with his thumb, caressing them gently. “Lizzy, listen, please, I have to tell you.” Her eyes drifted shut with an expression of exquisite pleasure. “Oh God,” he cried distractedly before kissing her again.
The pained tone in his voice pulled Lizzy out of her haze. Gently she turned her face away and buried it in his shoulder, as he caressed her hair, their chests rising and falling together. Elizabeth felt the pressure of her desire fade slightly. “What did you want to say?” she asked.
Darcy led them out of the great room and up a short flight of stairs to a door. Behind it was a huge, lavish bedroom. As Elizabeth stared, Darcy wrapped his arms around her waist and started kissing her neck. “I hope you don’t mind. It’s just that last time, we had a little bit of trouble reaching the bedroom.”
Elizabeth spun in his arms and determinedly kissed his self-satisfied grin away.
After a few moments, he pulled back and studied her face thoughtfully. “Can we talk now?”
Elizabeth bit her lip. “We can try.”
He guided her to the bed and they lay down together. Elizabeth was burning for him, but she was afraid enough of a repeat of last time that she was willing to go slowly.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about what happened that morning,” he began. Elizabeth snuggled close to him and rested her head against his. “And I realized something. I realized that it’s not that I want you to be mine, Elizabeth; it’s that I want to be yours.”
Elizabeth heard the plaintive loneliness in his voice and she wrapped him up as close as she could. “You are mine,” she assured him. “Didn’t you hear that in the song?”
Darcy stared at her with a look of utter confusion. “What song?”
“The song I emailed you.”
“What?”
“I sent you a song,” Elizabeth exclaimed. Then she slowed down and tried to explain. “I’ve been thinking too, all the time,” she smiled ruefully, “and I tried to reach you. I went to the loft the morning after the VMAs and you were gone, so I went home and I wrote a song.”
Darcy’s eyes got progressively larger as he listened to her story. “You came to the loft?” he asked, his expression incredulous.
Elizabeth nodded as she sat up. “I tried to send you the song, but I didn’t have your email address, so I had Caro forward it to you.”
“Oh my God,” Darcy breathed as he sprang out of bed to the computer sitting on a desk beside the window. Elizabeth joined him. “When was it sent?” Darcy asked as he brought up his mail file. Elizabeth was shocked to find a dozen unread messages, all from Caroline.
“A week ago Thursday. That’s it, the forward,” she said, pointing. “Here, let me,” she told him as she sat down and took the mouse from him.
“I never read emails from Caro,” Darcy explained haltingly.
Elizabeth was stopped from asking why as she heard her song coming from the speakers. Her lips moved along with the words as she looked up nervously at him.
Slowly, he sat beside her, his eyes bright with wonder. He trembled with her song. “This is for me?” he whispered.
Elizabeth nodded, her arms reaching out to caress him. “You were right, Fitzwilliam, I couldn’t make love like that without being in love.”
The sound of his name on her voice tore through him and he grasped her close, covering her in kisses as he rubbed his face in her hair, letting her sweet fragrance wash over him.
Her lips quivered, her heart swelling with the love she needed to express to him. “You are so bright, so powerful, so sexy, and you terrified me because you were so sure of your feelings. But I know now, I knew within ten minutes of walking out of that loft, that I needed to go back to you. And that scared me too.” Her voice shook with the deep emotion running through her.
Darcy was kissing her, his lips pressing against her neck and moving up to her jaw. “I love you,” she cried before his lips found hers once more. They kissed hungrily, as all their yearnings were released.
“Lizzy,” he moaned between kisses, “I love you, my dearest.”
Elizabeth let out a sharp cry of relief. “I worried I would never hear you say that again,” she whispered happily through her tears.
Darcy merely pressed her close, so their two hearts were beating against each other, and held her until Elizabeth recovered and started placing featherlight kisses along his neck. Then he released her and sat back on his heels, his eyes dark. “You’re feeling better?”
Elizabeth nodded uncertainly.
Darcy’s mouth curled into a wicked smile. “Good, because we have some unfinished business, my love.” He returned to kissing her while slowly working her sundress up. When he stopped kissing her to pull it over her head, Elizabeth cooperated by extending her arms. She didn’t know what he was up to, but she recognized that expression on his face and knew whatever it was, she would enjoy it.
Darcy tossed the dress aside and returned his gaze to Elizabeth. Slowly his eyes traveled up her form, observing every inch of her body. Elizabeth assisted by sitting up in the chair, pushing her breasts forward and spreading her legs. She felt very sexy as she watched him examine her with his eyes, still fully dressed.
She hoped he was excited by what he found: Elizabeth was wearing under the dress a strapless hot pink bra and matching satin panties. He reached out to touch the soft satin and compare it to the smoothness of her skin. “You’re beautiful, Elizabeth,” he murmured as he returned to her lips.
Elizabeth closed her eyes and let his mouth devour hers, delighting in the feel of his suit fabric against her bare skin. She sighed softly as Darcy’s hands cupped her breasts, squeezing and massaging them until she whimpered with need, then she gasped in relief as his hand slipped into her bra to touch her skin. “Better?” he whispered, his warm breath in her ear.
Elizabeth nodded and reached behind her and quickly unfastened the bra, eager to be free of it. Darcy wasted no time in grasping both breasts in his hands, as he kissed her deeply.
“Lizzy, I’ve been wanting to touch you like this all day. Your breasts are so soft and full. You’re so beautiful.”
Elizabeth whimpered slightly.
“Stand up, Lizzy.”
Elizabeth didn’t want the pleasure to stop, but he repeated his request, so she stood, leaning a hand on his shoulder for support. As she stood, Darcy’s hands slid down her sides to the full curve of her hips and he hooked the panties with his thumbs. Smoothly he drew them down until she was completely naked before him. He worshiped her with his eyes, overflowing with admiration and desire. Gently he eased her back into the chair and moved forward, placing himself between her legs.
“Dearest?” he asked. Elizabeth watched him, her eyes locked on his, like she was mesmerized. “Do you remember what I told you before?” Gently he placed his hands on her thighs and pushed her legs apart.
Elizabeth felt her breath coming in short gasps. She watched his eyes as he lowered his face to her core. When she felt his lips brush her, her eyes shut and her head slowly tipped back. Darcy’s hand continued to push her legs apart and she was more than willing to cooperate, opening herself wide to him. She shuddered as his tongue lapped at her, tasting her sweetness.
“Lizzy,” his deep voice called to her. Raggedly Elizabeth opened her eyes and looked up at him. “My love, you taste delicious.” Her gut tightened at his words. “I want to watch you. Look at me.”
Elizabeth watched him as he returned to her. She saw him watching her reaction to his every touch. She felt particularly excited by the experience and experimented by letting more of her enjoyment show in her actions and expressions. She was pleased to see him respond with greater excitement. On and on it went, with her giving and receiving more of his pleasure. She could feel the tension building and knew she was getting close. Her hand slipped down and her fingers tangled in his hair as she held him tightly against her and let her pleasure show in her eyes. Then she was in the white place, as her excitement crested and it happened, waves of pleasure rocked her body as her hips bucked against him.
Her nails bit into her palms as she struggled against her screams. Then the waves faded away and she slumped in the chair.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice rough, as he rose to his feet.
Elizabeth nodded, not having breath enough to speak.
He smiled hungrily, bent down, and scooped her up into his arms. Her head lolled like a rag doll as he carried her the few steps to his bed. “Rest now,” he told her as he laid her down on her bed.
Elizabeth watched through her lashes as he quickly stripped off his clothes. She was fascinated as the refined philanthropist was ripped away and the earthy rock god emerged. Standing before her, she gasped at his pure beauty, his pale skin glowing in the soft moonlight.
“Do you like what you see?” he asked, his voice a deep growl.
Elizabeth smiled guiltily. “Very much so,” she whispered lustfully.
“What would you like?”
“I want you on top of me, inside of me. I want to feel you.”
Moving with catlike grace, he crawled onto the bed until he was directly over her. Elizabeth reached out and touched his flesh, firm and warm beneath her fingertips.
“Lie on me, love. Let me feel you.”
His lips brushed hers as he lowered himself on top of her.
“Oh yes, yes,” she cried happily. “You feel so good.” Elizabeth relished the feeling of his weight pressing her down. She had longed for this feeling for so long. She opened herself to him, and with agonizing slowness he entered her.
“Lizzy, I don’t know how long—”
“Yes, yes, don’t stop.”
He kissed her, his mouth sealing hers as he thrust deeper into her. She crooned low in her throat as every thrust brought him deeper inside, increasing her pleasure. Once fully inside, he reached down, cupping her ass in his hands. Elizabeth’s eyes popped open with the astonishing feelings, and her cries increased in pitch and volume. Over and over he pulled her to him as he buried himself as deep as he could go.
Elizabeth was helpless, going along with the ride as he drove himself to his release, and it was the wildest ride she could imagine. She reveled in the sensations of him, surrounding, filling, dominating her. She was his, body and soul. Soon cries she couldn’t control were pouring from her lips and her body was wracked by the pleasure that engulfed her.
Somewhere in her awareness, she felt him growing larger inside of her and she knew his climax was near. She squeezed him as tightly as she could and with the next thrust the orgasm that had been building inside of her exploded. Darcy’s own climax added to her pleasure and their frantic movements gradually slowed and stopped. Darcy wrapped his long arm around her shoulders and gently rolled them to their sides as Elizabeth snuggled her head against him and caught her breath.
Once again, their hearts were beating against each other, and Elizabeth felt whole for the first time since she could remember. His bare skin touched hers all over, and she felt loved and happy.
Eventually, Darcy heaved a huge sigh and kissed her sweaty forehead. “Why is sex with you so amazing?” he asked, his voice warm, loving, and exhausted.
Elizabeth lifted her head and chuckled at him. “I thought it was you that was making it amazing.”
Darcy grinned back at her and they pressed their foreheads together. “Are you okay?” he asked.
Elizabeth nodded and then answered, “Tired.” She relaxed in the warm circle of his arms, resting her head on his shoulder, and found herself crying.
“Love?” Darcy gasped.
“I’m sorry.” She smiled brokenly through her tears. “I’ve just been longing for this and trying to duplicate the feeling of sleeping in your arms for the last two weeks, and now I’m here—” She broke off as the sobs overwhelmed her.
Darcy pulled her close and let her cry out her pain as he gently stroked her back, kissing her hair and murmuring soft words of love in her ear. “It’s okay, Lizzy, it’s okay,” he soothed her. His words were slow, as if unwilling to admit them. “I understand. The pain you suffered is too strong to face alone. But you can face it now, because we’re together. We can both face it now.”
Elizabeth looked up at him and touched his cheek tenderly, sharing the pain they both felt, even as it ebbed away. When she stopped crying, he gently kissed her flushed hot cheeks, then her full, sweet lips, and told her, “This is our space, right here. It’s where we both belong, and we’re not going anywhere. Either of us, all right?” his eyes gently questioned hers, while promising himself.
“I’m staying. This is where I want to be more than anyplace else in the world.” Elizabeth smiled sleepily. “You do give me the most gorgeous sleep, Fitzwilliam.”
“And you me, Elizabeth,” he whispered in her ear. By the time her head reached the pillow, she was asleep and he immediately followed her.