Chapter 24
The engagement of the eldest Bennet sisters to the gentlemen of their hearts lasted long enough for people to overcome the surprise of the news and for their families to become accustomed to it, but not long enough to test the impatience and eagerness of the betrothed couples.
If Mr Bingley’s admiration for Jane had been obvious from the first day, and that announcement was expected, Mr Darcy’s proposal to Elizabeth came as a shock to everyone — except the two of them.
Mr Collins proposed to Miss Charlotte Lucas and was unexpectedly accepted, then he left Hertfordshire.
Mrs Bennet could not care less and declared he was annoying and that she never would have allowed one of her daughters to marry him.
Two days after his return to Kent, an enraged letter expressing strong objections and even stronger opposition and resentment arrived from Lady Catherine de Bourgh for Mr Darcy; he read it with surprising composure in Mr Bennet’s library, with Elizabeth by his side.
She jested that, if it depended on Mr Collins and Lady Catherine, their fate would surely be even worse than that of the Dashwood sisters from the book she had just finished.
“Except Jane and I found our true loves before such dreadful circumstances occurred,” she said, as he turned towards her and claimed another kiss, one of the many stolen from the day of their engagement till their wedding day.
After that, there was no stealing of kisses any longer, only those lawfully and happily shared.
Mr Wickham survived his wounds with the help of Mr Jones, the army doctor, and one of Dr Gardiner’s partners, who came from London.
However, two months later, he was still unable to leave his bed by himself, nor to properly use his arm or leg.
In a move that surprised even Elizabeth, Mr Darcy rented him a small house in London, where he placed two male servants to assist him, under strict supervision.
He was still undecided how to proceed further with the unworthy companion of his childhood when and if he fully recovered.
Lieutenant Denny left the regiment, sold his commission, and returned to his family in Sussex.
The circumstances of the shooting were declared uncertain, and no further charges were filed.
Slowly, peace returned to Meryton, and the only disturbance before Christmas was Miss Lucas’s wedding to Mr Collins and her departure to Kent.
At Christmas, Miss Georgiana Darcy, together with her companion, Mrs Annesley, as well as Colonel Fitzwilliam and his brother, the viscount, came to Netherfield, while Mr Bingley’s sisters remained in town.
The Gardiners joined the party, staying in Hertfordshire until after the New Year.
As Elizabeth anticipated, the Gardiners were still in disbelief at her becoming the future Mrs Darcy, and Mrs Gardiner begged for the favour of a ride around Pemberley in a small phaeton.
Elizabeth gladly accepted becoming the recipient of her father and uncle’s teasing; they kept asking her whether she would not rather cancel her engagement and become a nurse instead, as she had proclaimed years ago.
Another trying moment of utter mortification for Elizabeth was caused by her mother, who secretly confessed to her that she had actually had a good look at Mr Darcy when she had seen him almost naked and that he was very handsome and impressive in the way a gentleman should be.
Miss Darcy became a favourite at Longbourn; she immediately approved of Elizabeth, and she befriended the other Bennet sisters more easily than her brother anticipated.
In his decision to marry Elizabeth, Mr Darcy was supported by his sister and his two cousins, but his uncle and aunt still raised strong opposition, which lasted till the wedding day.
From Lady Catherine de Bourgh, he received a few more letters filled with offensive accusations, which he only glanced at before burning them.
The double wedding that united the eldest Miss Bennets to Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy became the most important event Meryton Church had hosted in many years.
At the end of the service, most of the guests, including Mr Darcy’s family and friends, were invited to Netherfield.
However, Mr and Mrs Darcy chose to leave immediately so they could reach London before nightfall.
∞∞∞
In the privacy of her spectacular apartment, Elizabeth could not temper her heart; joy, nervousness, eagerness, and pure happiness all gathered and built a storm inside her.
They had arrived late in the afternoon, and she had been formally introduced to the servants, then attended the dinner carefully prepared to welcome them. Neither she nor Darcy was hungry, but they had treated the cook’s efforts with due consideration.
Afterwards, her husband had accompanied her to her chambers and allowed her the privacy to prepare, assisted by her personal maid.
She had taken a hot bath and changed into the nightgown purchased by her aunt, all with nervous hands and thrilling eagerness.
Her maid excused herself and left, while Elizabeth watched the door that separated her apartment from that of her husband.
She wondered whether she should knock, but she did not dare; for the first time in her life, Elizabeth Bennet felt shy.
She smiled at her reflection in the mirror, whispering, “Elizabeth Darcy.”
“Indeed, my beloved Elizabeth Darcy,” she heard the voice she longed to hear say. He stepped forwards, wearing his trousers, a shirt, and an untied robe.
“I trust you like your apartment?” he asked, wrapping his arms around her.
“How could I not?” she replied, breathless.
“You are so beautiful,” he said hoarsely, his lips tantalising her ear. “Would you like something to drink?”
“I want nothing but you, my dear husband.”
He laid her on the bed, then removed his robe, leaning over her, his eyes locked with hers.
“I have long wanted to see that,” she said, and he seemed puzzled. Gently, she pushed aside his shirt and revealed his shoulder. The scar was still visible, and her fingers brushed over it; then she placed her lips upon it.
“Does it still hurt?” she asked.
He gently pushed her back against the pillows and whispered, “My passion and desire for you are so powerful at this moment that my entire body hurts.”
She laughed, but only for an instant, as he silenced her with a kiss that began tenderly, gently. Her lips parted for him to capture, while his hands gently untied her robe and removed it. She shivered from the touch of his burning fingers on her skin.
His caresses covered her with an insatiable thirst, and only the need for air urged them to separate. Darcy withdrew from her, allowing his eyes to meet hers, his fingers gently brushing over her red, swollen lips; she caressed his face, and then she ran her fingers through his hair.
He moved even closer to her, and this time his mouth travelled from her chin along her throat, while his hands carefully lowered her gown from her shoulders, then tentatively touched her breasts.
She moaned loudly as her back arched towards his touch.
His caresses became more daring, more passionate, tracing torturous circles until his palms possessively cupped their roundness.
“You are so beautiful,” he whispered.
He moved his hands so that his mouth could take their place; his lips traced a burning line over her skin, exploring and tasting with passionate urgency.
His hand was now free to explore the last unrevealed parts of her body; strong yet gentle, it stroked her legs and then glided between them.
Her thighs locked together, but with tender care, his strokes tantalised and parted them daringly.
Soon, no opposition remained, and Elizabeth could not suppress a cry as she sensed his touch upon the warmest part of her body.
Her every sense was divided between the sweet torture of his lips on her skin and that most intimate place, where his fingers began an intoxicating exploration.
She cried out his name, then, a few moments later, she heard nothing as waves of pleasure overcame her.
He covered her face with small kisses, but it was some time before she could — and dared to — open her eyes.
“I have dreamt about you so many times, but you are more beautiful than I have ever imagined, Elizabeth,” he whispered.
“As I dreamt of you. But my dreams were poor compared to this… I never imagined…that…”
“There is much more for me to show you and for you to learn, my dearest Elizabeth.”
“More?” she whispered, closing her eyes, which were heavy with desire.
He overwhelmed her with renewed passion, and Elizabeth surrendered completely, as this time she knew what to expect.
When his hand intimately stroked her thighs again, they parted with welcoming desire.
Yet, she did not anticipate what followed.
In disbelief, she felt his lips travel down to her flat stomach and continue until his mouth nipped lightly at her inner thigh.
Amazed, her head spinning, she felt her legs part, and his burning lips traced a line of fire along her thighs as his voice, hoarse with passion, said, “I want to taste every inch of you, Elizabeth.”
She stopped breathing, and the world collapsed around her; there was nothing except him and the storm of pleasure into which he threw her once more.
“My beautiful wife… Please look at me.”
She obeyed, though her eyelashes felt heavy.
He entered her with tender passion; the sharp pain that cut through her soon was forgotten. He was inside her body as he had been inside her heart for so many months; her soul was full of love and her body full of passion — all because of him.
Waves of fulfilled desire shattered their bodies, her hands holding him tight, his lips covering her face with kisses, until there was no other sound but their wildly racing hearts. Silence, ardent love, and blissful happiness.