Chapter 6 Capital Exploration #6
Immediately beyond the door stretched a grassy expanse in the shape of a rough triangle, with the stone street called Broad Sanctuary to the left, and Saint Margaret’s Church to the right. Darcy identified the avenues after one massive inhale and cleansing exhale. leaving his solemnity behind.
Walking briskly toward the intersection of Broad Sanctuary and King's Street, the others skipping to keep up with his long-legged gait. As they crossed, Darcy gestured at the visible spires of Westminster Hall, the Parliament buildings, and Saint Stephen’s Chapel in the near distance.
“I wish we had time to tour the plethora of buildings in the area or to view the cloisters, monastery, Jewel Tower, and Chapter House located on the south side of the abbey. Another time, I suppose.”
“Another appointment, Mr. Darcy? Should we try guessing?”
Darcy grinned and pressed the hand resting on his forearm.
“You already have guessed, Miss Elizabeth, and scored the point. A leisurely sojourn in Saint James’s Park as the sun sets will be our final destination for today.
Then back to Darcy House for dinner and whatever entertainments we desire to engage in. ”
Lizzy peered upward, trying to decipher if a hidden meaning lay behind his last words.
He was smiling softly, a definite glint in his eye, but he turned his head to check for traffic before leading across the street.
A minute later they reached the carriage, which was waiting on the corner as close to the abbey as possible.
Still wondering over his words, she did not immediately notice his subtle shift to the right and shortened steps until Bingley pulled into the lead, with Jane and Georgiana at his side.
The purposeful maneuver became clearer when Darcy took advantage of the distraction of Bingley assisting Jane and Georgiana into their seats.
Leaning until his lips touched her right ear, he whispered huskily, “I have not forgotten the kisses to deliver and receive, my sweet Elizabeth. I will find a way to collect. Tonight. So be prepared.”
Lizzy gasped, her heartbeat instantly accelerating, and if not for his arm slipping around her waist and hand holding hers, she surely would have stumbled on the carriage steps!
The guessing game had been ongoing all day, with kisses the stated prize.
Still, amid the endless wonders and lighthearted teasing, the reality of collecting six kisses all in one sitting hadn’t fully penetrated her brain.
She wondered if it had occurred to Jane, or if Mr. Bingley had found a way to whisper a similar promise into her sister’s ear.
If either were true, they were doing a fabulous job at pretending to be unmoved.
Lizzy was the complete opposite of unmoved.
All she could think about was William’s whispered promise.
She found it exceedingly difficult to focus on the natural beauty and fascinating history of Saint James’s Park, a distraction Miss Darcy noticed and questioned.
Cheeks flaming, Lizzy stammered something lame about being tired, unsure whether Georgiana bought the excuse or not.
It didn’t help that Darcy spent most of the time at the park shooting her suggestive glances and touching her covertly. Strolling down the tree-lined avenue next to the Canal, he intermittently offered details of the park’s stages of development and use by the successive monarchs.
Speaking did not stop him from sneakily using the spreading shadows created by the sun creeping closer and closer to the horizon.
Few pedestrians were on the trail, and it was quite easy to lag behind or fabricate an excuse to pause next to a fortuitously placed tree or statue.
He was, of course, always the gentleman, and Lizzy suspected he wasn’t seriously trying to isolate her to deliver his kisses.
Rather, the mild liberties taken were to heighten the anticipation.
Oh! How well it worked! The skin he managed to caress with brushing fingertips tingled and burned.
The delirious three minutes he drew her back against his chest and spanned her waist with his hands left her lightheaded for a good fifteen minutes.
The kiss he pressed onto her inner wrist—after murmuring, “This does not count. I shall claim my kisses on your lips.”—left her knees so weak she thought sure she would be unable to make it back to the carriage.
It was a relief to once again settle into the cushioned carriage bench and no longer worry about tripping over her own feet.
The landau’s hood was unfolded and secured to protect from the fast cooling air of twilight, so she could hide her flushed face in the dim shadows.
Plus, she could no longer see his penetrating gaze.
Not that this prevented her feeling the intensity of his stare—or maybe this was merely her overactive imagination, because when they entered the brightly lit foyer of the townhouse, Mr. Darcy appeared perfectly serene.
* * *
Guest bedchambers had been assigned for each Bennet to rest in while the kitchen prepared dinner and they awaited the arrival of Mr. Bennet.
Mounting the stairs behind Georgiana and Jane, Lizzy looked back at Mr. Darcy where he stood talking to Mr. Bingley.
He smiled at her, his blue eyes warm and peaceful.
Then, just as she reached the upper landing, he mouthed I love you.
Giddy, she returned the sentiment, his grin widening as he marched toward the corridor leading to his chambers.
Neither Lizzy nor Jane had thought ahead to the evening dinner plans, a belated realization causing some embarrassment.
Georgiana, bless her sweet heart, waved her hand dismissively as she assured, “We are enjoying setting a casual table, to be honest. No need to dress fancy for dinner tonight. But, the servants will brush the dust from your gowns while you rest, and if you do not mind sharing, I have plenty of garments, jewelry, and accessories to fit for evening attire.”
They could certainly not refuse such generosity. With swift efficiency, the maid helping Lizzy had her undressed down to her shift and comfortably settled in a beautifully decorated bedchamber in no time at all. Once left alone, Lizzy stood in the middle of the room and examined her surroundings.
The huge bed beckoned, so she climbed onto the incredibly plush mattress covered with a fluffy, down-stuffed duvet.
Five minutes later, she bounded up from the bed.
There was no possible way she could lay upon a bed without thinking of William.
Vividly! Napping, or even relaxing, was utterly out of the question.
Giving up on that idea altogether, she explored the bedchamber, the tiny sitting room attached, and the small water closet hidden behind a folding screen in the far corner.
Every item was of the finest material and exquisitely crafted.
Ordinarily, her curiosity would have taken hold, but she simply could not stop thinking of him.
What was he doing, right now? Sleeping? Changing his clothes? Bathing?
Any of those possibilities involved some degree of nakedness and were a bit too intimate for her to imagine without worsening her jitters.
The speculation did lead her to ponder the location of his bedchamber relative to the one assigned to her. Rapidly analyzing the townhouse layout in her head, she concluded his suite might be almost directly below.
Dashing to the rear, alcove window, she jerked the curtains aside.
It turned out her calculations were only partially accurate.
Indeed, the master suite was below her, but farther to the right than she figured.
In fact, if not for the light shining outward through what she assumed was a glass door, the low-walled stone patio would not have been visible at all in the darkness.
Sighing rather pathetically, Lizzy leaned her forehead against the glass.
The cold was soothing to her skin. She closed her eyes and ever so slowly forced the coiled energy to ease out of her muscles.
Relaxation took hold, and the prospect of falling asleep for the hour that remained until she needed to dress for dinner finally felt possible.
Opening her eyes, she released a second sigh before lifting her head from the glass and starting to turn away.
Just then, the light down below flickered, and a tall shadow waved over the stones. Instantly she was alert, eyes wide and face pressed into the cold glass.
Please, let it be him!
Seconds later, William walked out the door. The distance, shadows, and thick vines twining over a trellis obstructed her view, but she noted a tumbler in his right hand, and that he wore only his shirt and trousers.
This time her sigh was closer to a whine of longing.
Grasping onto the window latch, a crazed vision of throwing the window wide and shouting his name, as if a whimsical Juliet to his Romeo, whipped through her mind.
Next came the insane notion of scaling the wall, climbing down the conveniently located trellis, and dropping half-dressed onto his patio.
Covering her mouth to stay the giggles threatening to burst forth at such ridiculousness, Lizzy removed her hand from the latch as rationality slowly reasserted.
No. It is much preferable to enjoy this small gift of an intimate peek at the man I love.
For some minutes, she unashamedly watched from her cozy vantage point.
William stood in the middle of the patio with one hand on his hip, gazing into the sky as he sipped from the tumbler.
Twice he glanced in the direction of her window, and each time her hand was halfway to the latch before she stayed the unconscious movement.
The light inside his chambers illuminated him, whereas she was hidden in the window alcove behind thick curtains shielding the lone candle she had left by the bed.
Knowing that he was thinking of her was enough for now.