Mrs. Bennet’s voice had increased to at least ten times her usual volume as she eagerly informed Jane and Elizabeth of her plans for the day. Much to his consternation, Darcy heard her even before he reached the bottom of the staircase in the main hall. Slowing his pace, he struggled against an inclination to seek refuge in his study. Perhaps, I could say I have a pressing matter of business to attend to? Then he thought of Elizabeth and sighed.
They had parted not five hours earlier, after passing some of the most tender moments of his life in front of the fire in his study. As he recalled those blissful hours with fondness, the need to gaze once more upon her face became overwhelming. Drawing himself up to his full height, Darcy steeled himself against his future mother-in-law’s boisterous effusions and forced his legs to continue toward his original destination. After crossing the main hall and taking several deep breaths to subdue his annoyance, he nodded to the servant to open the door to the dining room. In the next moment, he entered and took his place at the head of the table. Another servant approached and began serving his breakfast.
“Do not be ridiculous, Lizzy,” Mrs. Bennet proclaimed. “Of course, you will need new gowns. Six at the very least, and most likely more. Since you have been clever enough to catch yourself such a rich husband, I am sure your father will not mind the expense one bit, for he must realize that your marrying Mr. Darcy will certainly throw your sisters into the paths of other rich men.”
Darcy took several swallows of tea in order to dislodge the toast he had choked on, then glanced sharply at Mrs. Bennet before allowing his gaze to dart toward Elizabeth. It was precisely as he had suspected—she appeared to be in misery.
Her cheeks blazing with mortification, Elizabeth muttered, “Mama, please,” as she wished for the floor beneath her to open up and swallow her whole. Though she did not dare look at Darcy, she could feel the intensity of his penetrating eyes upon her. He must be disgusted by my mother’s lack of decorum! she thought, feeling no small amount of shame. For her to say such a thing in front of him—and while she is a guest in his own home, no less! Without a doubt, Fitzwilliam must be questioning the soundness of his decision to marry me, for how could he possibly believe the daughter of such a silly and vulgar woman could ever make a suitable mistress for Pemberley or a proper wife for him? I would not blame him in the least if he is, even at this very minute, regretting his rash decision!
Seeing Elizabeth in distress pained Darcy, and he found himself wanting to do nothing more than offer her comfort, to go to her and wrap her in his embrace, but he knew he could not. He looked instead to Mr. Bennet, who, Darcy noted with a touch of irritation, was observing them all with an expression of repressed amusement. Seeing he was to have no ally in his future father-in-law, Darcy cleared his throat and said as amiably as he could, “I take it then, ladies, that a visit to the modiste is the order of the day?”
Georgiana was quick to answer. “Oh, yes, Fitzwilliam. I thought to take Miss Elizabeth to Mrs. Duval’s in Bond Street.” Then, turning to Elizabeth, she said, “Mrs. Duval has always been very accommodating whenever I have had the need for a special gown to be made in very little time. I am sure she will be delighted to design your trousseau, Miss Elizabeth. Her work is truly excellent and she currently has the most beautiful pale yellow silk in the window. I do believe the color would look lovely on you.”
Elizabeth gave her future sister a warm, appreciative smile. “Thank you, Miss Darcy. I am looking forward to seeing it. Indeed, I am quite certain Mrs. Duval will have many beautiful things in her shoppe.”
“Lizzy, have you not always said you longed to own a yellow ball gown?” chimed Kitty. “I daresay now that you are to become Mrs. Darcy, you shall most likely have twenty!”
“Kitty, I would hardly need twenty ball gowns,” Elizabeth said. “Indeed, I have very little need even for one.”
But her mother agreed with Kitty, proclaiming that Elizabeth would surely have twenty if she wanted them, for Mr. Darcy, as rich as he was, could certainly afford to buy her as many as forty such gowns and very likely more. Elizabeth felt her mortification increase.
All the ladies departed for Bond Street shortly after breakfast, the number of gowns Mrs. Bennet insisted they must purchase multiplying with the passing of every ten minutes. Jane and Elizabeth did all in their power to discourage their mother’s thinking—and speaking—quietly stressing the impropriety of spending so much of their father’s money on so many gowns, but to little avail. Georgiana, equally as uncomfortable with such talk, attended them in relative silence.
Before they had departed, Darcy had taken Georgiana aside. Knowing Elizabeth would certainly not be of the same mind as her mother, who had appeared more than eager to overspend her father’s limited funds, he had given his sister strict instructions to make certain she paid very close attention to each additional item Elizabeth favored and to secretly charge them all to her own account. This included the designs of certain gowns Elizabeth would not have the resources to purchase while she retained her maiden name. He was adamant that, as his wife, she would want for nothing, but, most especially, the pale yellow ball gown her sister had spoken of at breakfast. In fact, after learning that Elizabeth had always desired to own just such a gown, Darcy had become quite determined to see to it that her father would not absorb the cost of that particular item. He wanted to see her eyes light up with pleasure when he presented it to her after their marriage, just as her beauty and vivacity caused his heart to swell each and every time he so much as thought of her.
As soon as the ladies set foot in the modiste shoppe, their party was met by a young assistant who made her way to Georgiana.
“Good morning, Miss Darcy,” she said. “How can I be of service to you today?”
Georgiana smiled. “Though there are several items I may wish to acquire, Miss Granby, we are here today to shop for a trousseau for my future sister.” She linked her arm with Elizabeth’s.
Miss Granby quickly—and rather openly—surveyed the Bennets, who were by no means dressed so fashionably nor so expensively as Miss Darcy, before offering Elizabeth a somewhat restrained smile. “Of course,” she said. “Allow me to offer my congratulations, Miss…”
Elizabeth raised her brow. “Bennet. Thank you,” she returned with equal coolness.
Miss Granby gave her another haughty look and said, “Well, Miss Bennet, please follow me, and we shall get you started.”
Though Georgiana thought she had made it clear to Miss Granby they were there primarily to shop for Elizabeth’s trousseau, she could not but notice with some distress it was she who received the solicitous attention of Mrs. Duval’s staff, and not her future sister. The lengths to which the staff went to be of service to her while almost pointedly ignoring Elizabeth bordered on shocking to the privileged girl, who was quite accustomed to receiving the very best of service. Indeed, she could not comprehend how Miss Granby and the other assistants attending them could behave in such a cool, condescending manner to the Bennets and, especially, to the future Mrs. Darcy. She turned to Elizabeth several times with an expression of real concern and no small degree of embarrassment, only to see her respond to Miss Granby’s rudeness by raising a brow and addressing the woman in an arch manner that appeared to express her total lack of intimidation. If Elizabeth was truly bothered by the staff’s indifferent attitude toward her and their lack of basic courtesy, Georgiana was forced to concede she did a convincing job of hiding it.
Indeed, Elizabeth hid her distress very well. Though she could not admit to being surprised by Miss Granby’s initial haughty attitude toward her, she was both startled and pained to see the contrasting deference so pointedly paid to Georgiana in her presence. No doubt her future sister was used to receiving preferential treatment wherever she went, but given the circumstances, Elizabeth had expected at least some form of conciliatory acceptance and civility toward herself, if not toward the members of her family.
Whether it was the elegance of the establishment or the elegance of the wealthy patrons in it who cast many not-so-surreptitious glances in the direction of their party, Elizabeth found her mother uncharacteristically reserved for such an occasion. Not even the vast array of lace, of which Mrs. Bennet had long held very decided opinions, could rouse her to her usual overzealous effusions. As a matter of fact, considering her two youngest sisters were also surrounded by the finest muslin and silk money could buy, they, too, seemed surprisingly subdued, exhibiting far better behavior than Elizabeth had ever imagined possible.
After sitting for so many hours in one attitude, examining patterns and selecting fabric and trim while being ignored by the staff, Elizabeth was in desperate need of a change of venue. Making her excuses, she rose and made her way to the other side of the shoppe. She was in the midst of admiring a beautifully embroidered pair of silk gloves when she happened to overhear two assistants engrossed in a rather animated conversation. Though they spoke in hushed tones, their voices carried easily to Elizabeth.
“But you must admit she gives every appearance of being a gentleman’s daughter, even if the gown she wears is not of the finest muslin.”
“She is the daughter of a gentleman, I hear, but he owns a rather meager estate—nothing to Mr. Darcy’s—and she is rumored to have several relations in trade.”
“In trade? My word! Are you certain?”
“Yes, and I cannot imagine why Fitzwilliam Darcy would lower himself to offer for a woman who is apparently so unconnected and penniless. She has a dowry of only fifty pounds per annum, I hear!”
“Fifty pounds! When, for years, he has had his pick of far more refined women with fifty thousand?”
“Precisely. It makes one wonder.”
“Can there be any real affection on his part, do you think? You never know. Perhaps he lost his heart to this little country beauty.”
The other assistant snorted. “His heart? You mean his head, more like! I overheard Caroline Bingley, whose brother is Mr. Darcy’s oldest and dearest friend, tell her own very great friend, Cecelia Hayward, that Mr. Darcy was drawn in while he was a guest in her brother’s house. It was all so shameful to watch, she said. And shocking! Why, whenever the two of them were in company together, he could not tear his eyes from Miss Bennet’s well-featured charms, so to speak. Perhaps they were caught in a compromising position, and he is being forced to marry her. In any case, he certainly cannot go through with this marriage to such an unconnected woman.”
“No, certainly not. Can you just imagine what his titled relations will say when they hear about the match? No doubt the earl will put an end to the engagement straight away!”
They tittered loudly. “Oh, yes. Knowing Lord Matlock, he will be outraged over the disgrace his nephew will bring upon their entire family. You mark my words, there is no chance we shall ever see poor little Miss Bennet return as Mrs. Darcy. She will be sent back to the country in shame, and he will be married within a fortnight to his well-dowered cousin or another woman of the ton, who is far more suitable.”
Elizabeth had heard enough, and, shaking, she turned and walked out of the shoppe. Georgiana joined her only moments later, an expression of concern etched upon her face.
“Miss Elizabeth, are you well?” she asked.
Elizabeth swallowed down the hot lump that had lodged in her throat, and looked away.
“Pay them no mind,” she continued as she placed her hand on Elizabeth’s arm. “Anyone who has had the pleasure of seeing you and Fitzwilliam together can be left in no doubt of your love for each other. What those two women said inside was horrible, but it was nothing more than gossip, maliciously purported by Caroline Bingley, no less. She has always aspired to catch my brother, and now she is angered that all her scheming has come to nothing. And as for my uncle, I know he will love you. He is not so concerned with birth and connections as he would have the rest of London believe. The most important thing to him, and to my aunt, is that Fitzwilliam is happy, and they will be reassured of that the moment they see the way he looks at you.”
Though Elizabeth was touched by the words her future sister offered, she could not soon forget the rude treatment she received, the unkind remarks and the hurtful gossip she overheard, nor the resulting pain associated with it all. That morning, the happy prospect of ordering new gowns for her trousseau had greatly appealed to Elizabeth, but considering the emotional cost she was required to pay, she no longer felt equal to the task. She was eager to be away from Mrs. Duval’s shoppe as soon as possible and not at all looking forward to having to return.
While Mrs. Bennet, Jane, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia were eager to continue their shopping excursion in another part of London, Elizabeth and Georgiana chose to return to Darcy House. When they entered the foyer, it was nearly teatime, and Georgiana was informed that her brother was entertaining none other than Lord and Lady Matlock in the music room. Elizabeth, at Georgiana’s urging, accompanied her future sister, and when they entered the room, she saw an elegant older lady and two finely dressed gentlemen engaged in easy conversation with Darcy.
Georgiana’s eyes lit up with pleasure. “Aunt Rebecca, Uncle Henry. How wonderful to find you here.” She kissed them both before turning to the other gentleman. He appeared to be no more than several years older than Darcy. “Hello, Cousin. Have you come to meet Miss Elizabeth, or are you here only to tease me mercilessly, just as you always do?”
He laughed and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I am always eager to tease you, dearest, but I confess to being quite curious about the young lady who has finally managed to captivate my infamously imperturbable cousin.”
Smiling wide enough to show his dimples, Darcy hastened to Elizabeth’s side. “Elizabeth, please allow me to present my uncle and aunt, Lord and Lady Matlock, and my cousin, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam. Aunt Rebecca, Uncle Henry, Richard, it is my very great pleasure to introduce Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn in Hertfordshire.”
Lady Matlock smiled kindly. Her husband addressed Elizabeth stiffly. “Miss Bennet, allow me to offer my congratulations to you. My nephew has been rather negligent in his duty, I am afraid, and saw fit to inform us of his engagement to you only the other day. If you are truly all he claims, I daresay you will find much happiness in your union.”
Elizabeth understood him. The earl did not yet know her, and despite whatever Darcy had told his family, his uncle would reserve judgment on her. She chose her reply carefully. “Thank you, Your Lordship. Your nephew and I have already shared much happiness. He is one of the most intelligent men I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, to say nothing of his kind and generous heart. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have earned the affection and esteem of such an excellent man.” She exchanged a look of affection with Darcy, who moved even closer to her and brushed her hand with his own.
The affectionate action was not lost on Colonel Fitzwilliam, who grinned at having caught his reserved cousin performing such an impropriety in front of his parents. Never before had he seen his cousin so besotted with a woman. Now that he thought of it, he could not remember ever having seen Darcy besotted with a woman. He observed Elizabeth with interest while his mother engaged her in conversation.
Though his cousin’s fiancée had seemed somewhat reserved at first, she was now listening with rapt attention to Lady Matlock as she related some story about her own courtship with the earl. Elizabeth leaned in then and, smiling archly, said something that caused the older woman to laugh. The earl merely harrumphed, but his twitching lips indicated his amusement.
By the end of the visit, it was obvious to Darcy his relations were impressed by Elizabeth’s wit, candor, and keen intelligence. It pleased him beyond measure to see that even the earl did not remain unaffected by her charms. The older gentleman had become more animated as the hour wore on; his eyes turned often upon Elizabeth with interest and, perhaps, even a touch of admiration.
Darcy saw them all to the door with regret. He kissed his aunt and slapped Richard on the shoulder. Before Lord Matlock quitted the house, he took his nephew aside and muttered, however grudgingly, “She’ll do, she’ll do.” A small, satisfied grin played upon the earl’s face as Darcy bid him a good evening.
Dinner that evening passed in much the same manner as breakfast. Mrs. Bennet and her youngest daughters talked of the success of their shopping trip and of the vast number of new gowns they had ordered, while Elizabeth sat in mortification, and Mr. Bennet silently laughed at their silliness. Darcy, as could be expected, could find nothing so humorous in the scenario at his table, especially given how Georgiana and Jane seemed to glance repeatedly at Elizabeth throughout the meal, with expressions of concern. It was not until the very last course was taken away that he discovered, through Mrs. Bennet’s loud ranting, their trip to Mrs. Duval’s shoppe had not gone at all as they had anticipated.
After the meal, while the Bennets retired to the music room, Darcy summoned Georgiana to his study under the pretense of discussing a minor household matter. In actuality, he was anxious to hear her own account of the visit to the modiste. It infuriated him to no end to learn of such an affront to his beloved Elizabeth, and it had, in fact, taken all of Georgiana’s powers of persuasion to convince Darcy not to leave the house at that very moment for Mrs. Duval’s residence in order to personally reprimand her for the outrage that had been perpetrated at the hands of her staff. Instead, he paced in his study for a full quarter of an hour, attempting to regulate his temper before rejoining his guests. By the time Darcy entered the music room, Georgiana was immersed in her playing on the pianoforte, entertaining the Bennets with a lovely piece by Handel.
Darcy searched the room for Elizabeth. He discovered her standing apart from her family at one of the large windows overlooking the street; her distress was obvious by the manner in which her hands twisted the material of her gown. Greatly affected, Darcy joined her. “You have been very quiet tonight, my love.”
Elizabeth turned to him and gave him a half-hearted smile. “I am fine, Fitzwilliam. I am only a little tired. I was thinking of retiring soon. I am afraid I will not be suitable company tonight.”
Darcy’s brow furrowed. “I was hoping to have a moment alone with you, Elizabeth. We have not yet had any time to ourselves today, and I find myself desirous of your presence.”
Elizabeth lowered her eyes. “And I am very much in need of yours,” she murmured as she took his hand between both her own.
Darcy glanced about the room. All her family appeared to be well entertained for the moment. “Will you come to me tonight?” he whispered as he moved a curl from her face. “I have some matters of business I must see to in my study. I will be there until very late. Please say you will come.”
His eyes beseeched her to agree, and without so much as a second thought, Elizabeth nodded.
It was just past one o’clock in the morning when Elizabeth finally joined Darcy in his study. She found him seated behind his mahogany desk, going over pages of documents. When his gaze lit on her, he laid them aside and smiled. She ran to him, and in the very next instant, Darcy pulled Elizabeth onto his lap and enveloped her in his arms, cradling her in his embrace. She sighed as some of the tension from her unpleasant day melted away.
“Fitzwilliam,” she murmured as she circled her arms around his shoulders and buried her face in the fabric of his cravat. “I have missed you.” She could not help but inhale his distinct, masculine scent. He smelled wonderful, like sandalwood and black pepper. How she loved the smell of him and the feel of his comforting presence!
“And I, you,” he murmured as he placed a lingering kiss upon the curve of her neck. “May I take your hair down?”
She inclined her head, and Darcy removed the decorative pins from her dark locks. As he pulled out the last pin, Elizabeth’s hair fell like a rich veil to well below the middle of her back. His breath caught, and he buried his fingers deep within the silken depths of her curls.
Elizabeth snuggled against him, breathing deeply as she enjoyed the feel of his fingers moving through her hair. She found it soothed her, just as it had when her maid would brush her hair many years before, when she was still but a girl. Before Elizabeth could stop herself, she almost shyly asked Darcy whether he would mind performing that same task for her now.
He was pleasantly surprised by her request and most eager to comply. He hastened to retrieve a beautiful silver-plated brush he had only recently purchased, engraved with an elegant, flowing E.D., from a locked drawer in his desk. He took a seat closer to the fire and settled Elizabeth upon his lap, this time with her back to him, as he ran the brush through her curls with care.
Elizabeth relaxed under his tender ministrations, and her gaze began to roam over the many objects in Darcy’s study. It occurred to her then that this was his inner sanctum, his refuge, much the same as her father’s small library was to him. She could not help but admire the understated elegance of her future husband’s good taste.
“You have a wonderful home, Fitzwilliam. It is tasteful and refined while being comfortable, and not the least bit ostentatious. I know I am going to enjoy living here very much, but only because you and Georgiana will be here, as well, and I shall be able to awake every morning in your arms. Apart from the theatre and the opera, I confess London society holds very little allure for me. I believe I will need to seek refuge in your excellent library quite often, sir, preferably with you to keep me company.”
Darcy placed a lingering kiss upon her hair and said, “Our library, Elizabeth. It is now your home, as well, and you can change anything you wish in order to make yourself more comfortable.”
She shook her head. “I have no wish to change anything, and until we are happily married, I shall be perfectly content with being no more than a guest in your home.”
Darcy placed the brush upon an end table and shifted so he could look deeply into Elizabeth’s eyes. He caressed the softness of her cheek, his voice tinged with emotion as he whispered, “In my heart, Elizabeth, you are already my wife. Surely, you know that?”
Her breath caught in her throat as tears pricked the corners of her eyes. Cradling his face in her hands, she drew his mouth slowly toward her own, stopping just short of their lips touching. “Thank you, Fitzwilliam,” she whispered. “You can have no idea how very much I was in need of hearing you speak such words to me tonight.”
Their lips met with a tenderness that soon threatened to overwhelm them both, and as Elizabeth felt her body begin to tremble from the strength of her emotions, Darcy lifted her in his arms and carried her toward the fire. He laid her with care upon the carpet, where he joined her after removing his waistcoat and his riding boots. Then he began to work the buttons on her gown free, his gaze never leaving her eyes, not even for a moment.
Once Elizabeth was fully unclothed, her curls framing her face as she lay before him upon the carpet, Darcy took his time to tease her body with his lips, his tongue, and his hands, lingering along those areas of her flesh he knew to be most receptive to his caresses. Not until after Darcy heard her soft cries and felt her body begin to writhe under his touch did he dare permit himself to give any thought to his own ardor.
Darcy traced her nipple with his tongue as he massaged the small, sensitive pearl between her thighs with his finger. She was slippery and wet, indicating her readiness just as much as the muffled sounds Elizabeth moaned against his lips. Darcy pulled his head back and stared at her, mesmerized, unable to tear his gaze from her beauty, longing to bring her over the edge and into the abyss of ultimate release. Suddenly, Elizabeth’s back began to arch, and her lovely body shuddered violently as he brought her to her completion. When she stilled, Darcy returned his mouth to hers as she assisted him with the buttons on his shirt and breeches.
He entered her slowly and began to move with smooth, long strokes he knew would encourage Elizabeth’s desire to build again quickly. As he increased his rhythm and felt the delicious heat begin to supplant every other awareness, Elizabeth matched his frenzied movements with her own, drawing small grunts of satisfaction from Darcy every time they met.
They pushed their passion for each other ever faster, ever deeper until, with one final thrust, they spiraled into a pulsating oblivion of insurmountable pleasure.
They lay spent, languid and content in each other’s arms, their limbs entwined as they basked in the afterglow of their lovemaking. Elizabeth ran her fingertips over his bare chest as Darcy’s hand played with her hair. She gazed up at him and noticed a distant look in his eyes. “Fitzwilliam?” she asked softly.
“Mmm?”
“You seem far away. Is everything well?”
Darcy placed a lingering kiss upon her swollen lips and stroked her arm. “Yes. I am very well, my love. There is nowhere else I would rather be.” He tightened his hold on her and settled into silence once more.
Though Elizabeth did not doubt the sincerity of his words, she was still not convinced his mind was completely free from anxiety. They remained silent for a while. Finally, Elizabeth said, “Your family seemed very nice. I especially liked your aunt. She is a very clever woman, and I enjoyed talking with her very much.”
“Yes, she is. I believe she liked you, as well, as did my uncle, though I doubt he is ready to admit as much.” Darcy laughed. “I believe you impressed him far more than he ever anticipated. I was very proud of the way you handled yourself with him. He can sometimes be difficult.”
Elizabeth smiled somewhat sadly. “I gathered as much by his speech today, but I can hardly blame him. It is obvious he loves you a great deal and is only trying to protect you. For all he knows, I could be a fortune hunter interested only in Pemberley, your annual income, and your position in society. He is right to be cautious. You know you would do no less for your sister.”
Darcy’s brow furrowed. After several minutes, he asked, somewhat hesitantly, “Did you enjoy your shopping excursion with your family and Georgiana today?”
Elizabeth grew pensive. “It was fine, Fitzwilliam. I very much enjoyed spending time with your sister. She is a remarkable young woman.”
Though Darcy was pleased to hear she liked spending time with his sister, he was not convinced Elizabeth had enjoyed herself otherwise. In fact, he knew it to be quite the opposite, and he longed to speak to her of what had really taken place at Mrs. Duval’s shoppe. Darcy had thought Elizabeth had seemed rather subdued when she and Georgiana had arrived back at Darcy House that afternoon, though she did appear to recover quickly enough, enchanting his relations with her wit, her vivacity, and her natural grace. After speaking with Georgiana after dinner, however, he had a much better understanding as to why she seemed out of sorts.
Throughout the rest of the evening, Darcy had watched her closely, looking for any further signs of distress or melancholy, but, if there were any, Elizabeth—whom he had never known to dwell upon the negative—endeavored, however unsuccessfully, to hide them. If given a moment alone, he had hoped she might open up to him, confide her feelings and her hurt, but, even now, she appeared to have little inclination to do so. If anything, she seemed to be taking comfort from his presence and his love, and for that, Darcy found himself ever grateful.