Chapter 10 Dramatic Interruption #2
Attempting a jest, her voice came out as a susurrant mumble. “If you want to know the truth, William, I shall confess my severe weakness, with the warning that it may result in uncontrollable laughter or possibly another round of improper kisses.”
Darcy agreed to take his chances, so Lizzy recounted her morning of staring out the window, eyes drawn as if magnetized to the gap in the trees.
He did chuckle and bestowed a kiss. Attempting to keep the kiss light and under control failed spectacularly, Darcy once again calling upon some internal reservoir of fortitude that Lizzy appeared to lack.
“We are quite the pair of hopeless romantics, are we not?”
His gruffly spoken, rhetorical question, echoing her thought just seconds before, brought on a case of giggles.
Tension momentarily eased, Darcy roughly cleared his throat and continued in a regulated tone, “I did have another purpose in stopping by, not that kissing your lips isn’t a justifiable reason.
This trip to Town was an abrupt decision, and I worried I had not explained the necessity as fully as I ought to have done. ”
“You are an important man, my love. I may not yet comprehend the intricacies of your myriad business affairs, and probably never will, but I know it consumes large portions of your time and is necessary. You need never fear I shall be demanding or jealous in this.”
A row of small creases marred his perfect brow, and he squeezed her hands.
“I see I was wise to take the time to talk to you, Elizabeth, as there are misconceptions in your kindly meant speech. For one, I have no intention, ever, of placing my business affairs over you, and the family I pray we shall one day have. I am grateful for your willingness to be undemanding. However, if I ever slip into a pattern of ignoring my duties as a husband and father, I insist you bring it to my awareness. Those roles will always be of principal importance to me.”
Her answer was a firm nod and a smile. Pleased with that, Darcy went on.
“Secondly, the fact is, my various business concerns, both in London and at Pemberley, consume my time because I have wanted them to. I derive tremendous pleasure from engaging in financial ventures and estate management. I doubt this desire and satisfaction will change, to be honest, only the quantity of time I spend doing it. To be frank, until I met you, I had little else to enjoy in life. Work is a far better alternative to boredom and loneliness than what most men of my station do with their time, trust me.”
The fleeting expression of distaste spoke volumes about his meaning. Lizzy chose to let that topic alone, but she did silently thank God for bringing her a man like Mr. Darcy rather than one of those others he alluded to!
“Once we are married, I will have other activities to bring me pleasure.” The salacious grin now on his face, while raising a blush to her cheeks, was preferable to the grimly pressed lips of a moment ago.
“And that brings me to the reason I am making all these annoying journeys. I want our beginning months as husband and wife to be as carefree as possible, Elizabeth. Not that I have tended to travel to London often in the winter, but I am looking even beyond that. With Mr. Daniels’ assistance, I am arranging my various affairs so he will not have to bother me unduly.
Unfortunately, just about everything in this era of complicated legalities requires piles of documents to be drafted, signed, notarized, distributed, registered, and on and on.
My solicitor and his team are working overtime. ”
“And being paid well, I presume.”
“Oh yes.” He laughed, leaning back into the sofa for the first time.
Relief and happiness shone in his countenance.
He dropped his hand to her knee and caressed it lazily.
“Every penny is being earned and willingly paid so I can be alone with you and unfettered from all pressing matters. To state it another way, my love, as terrible as it is to separate during this special period of betrothal, the sacrifice will benefit us later.”
“I cannot argue on any point. And perhaps it will ease your terrible feelings about our separation if I remind that you shall fortuitously miss out on the grand ball the Lucases are holding next Saturday.”
“I realized this morning and did send a note of explanation to Sir William. I promised to try to complete my business in time to drive back, although it is unlikely.” Pausing for a moment, the eyes resting on her face penetrating, he then asked, “You will attend the ball, then?”
She was startled at the question and the odd discord in his voice.
“I planned to, with my family and you and Mr. Bingley. Indeed, I was only teasing. I know you like Sir William. We will miss your presence tremendously, of course. Worst of all, I shall be losing my favorite dancing partner. You never miss a step or trample upon my toes. Imagine how mangled I may be when you next see me!”
“So, you shall dance. I see.”
Her efforts to jest had clearly failed. Holding in her giggles, she smiled serenely.
“Only with decrepit old gentlemen, like my father, if I can drag him onto the floor. And Mr. Bingley, if I can tear him away from Jane for one dance.” She held up her left hand, wiggling her fingers so that the sunlight sparkled off her engagement ring.
“I am an engaged woman. No unattached male dances with a lady he cannot flirt with.”
Her attempt to placate with truth spoken humorously was ineffective.
Darcy narrowed his eyes farther, and the muscles in his jaw visibly tightened.
Still more amused than concerned, she softened her tone.
“You have been to enough Meryton assemblies by now to surely know that none of the men can compete with you. Not a one stirred my interest before meeting you, so how could they now? Rest easy, my love, as you have no cause for jealousy.”
“I believe we establish several weeks ago that I am a possessive man, Elizabeth. Jealousy is a natural reaction and I shan’t apologize.
Nor do I see it as a weakness, but as a trait any sane man should have when he loves passionately.
Additionally, when the woman he loves is beautiful, witty, physically desirable, and near perfection, a sensible man will anticipate jealousy arising frequently. ”
She vividly remembered their heated argument in the garden after he observed her playful antics with Matty Beller. That incident recalled her raging jealousy over Caroline Bingley, a woman Lizzy had done her best for the time being to pretend didn’t exist.
Closing her eyes at the uncomfortable memories, she rested her head on his shoulder and curled against his body. Momentarily mystified by the unexpected action, Darcy stiffened slightly but quickly recovered and wrapped his arms around her.
“Forgive me,” she whispered. “I know better than to tease about that. You have nothing to fear, my love. You are the only man I want, now and forever. However, if it distresses you to think of it, I shall not attend the ball. I would miss you too much to enjoy it anyway.”
After a brief silence, he relaxed fully and kissed the top of her head.
“It distresses me that I shall miss an opportunity to be at your side, proudly escorting the most beautiful woman in Hertfordshire. My peevishness is from that more than actual jealousy. I want you to go and enjoy yourself, Elizabeth. Just not too much, how about that?”
Answering with a hushed chuckle, she snaked her arms around his waist and nestled deeper into his warm embrace.
The feelings of peace and harmony drifted over and through her.
Desire, never far away when in the same room with William, simmered under her skin.
For the moment, she was content to bask in the love between them.
In contented quiet they held each other, the marvelous lulling interlude abruptly shattered when the mantel clock loudly struck the eleven o’clock hour.
Darcy jolted into a half rise, which might have toppled Lizzy onto the floor if she hadn’t jumped out of his arms and briskly scooted to the other end of the sofa.
“Good God! For a moment I thought sure it was your father barging in with a primed musket!”
Giggling a tad shakily from being startled as much as his exclamation, Lizzy assured, “You are safe. Papa is off on some sort of estate business, or so that was the claim for escaping the house today.”
This belated news seemed to cheer Darcy considerably. “Now you tell me! Alas, another missed opportunity for inappropriate behavior as I must be on my way.”
Pausing, his eyes drifted from her mouth down to the tops of her breasts, which were, she just then realized, exposed to barely an inch above her nipples, thanks to her loose morning dress slipping lower while slumped against his body.
Moreover, the recent fright had caused her to breathe hard.
With each deep inhale the pale mounds rose, an effect not likely to stop anytime soon with his darkening gaze staring directly at them.
“Of course, arriving at my destination later than planned is not an unpardonable transgression.”
Those huskily whispered words trailed off when he closed the gap between their bodies.
At the bumping contact with her knees, he clasped onto her legs and, almost absently, draped them over his.
The movement was smooth and slow, yet it shifted her balance so that she ended in a moderate recline, the tall, padded sofa arm behind her back.
Whether this was his plan or not, her determined lover leaned closer without the tiniest hesitation.
Lifting his right hand, he touched his fingertips lightly to the nape of her neck. Delicately, he glided across the slim contour of her collarbone until meeting the edge of her garments, which already teetered precariously on the extreme curve of her shoulder.