Chapter Twenty
“We neither of us perform to strangers.”
THEY SPENT TWENTY MINUTES IN COMPLETE SILENCE.
ELIZABETH OBVIously missed the security of her family, and Darcy searched for a way to allay her fears.
Eventually, she gave her body a good shake—that characteristic shift of her shoulders, the one that spoke of her meeting the challenge of being his wife and the mistress of Pemberley.
She turned to him and met his eyes. “William, how large is Pemberley?”
Not expecting her to evaluate his land, the question stunned him. He moved to sit beside her on the coach’s bench. “Do you want an estimate or do you require the surveyor’s specifics?”
She gestured away his question. “Ignore my poor wording. What I wish to know is how often you ride out over Pemberley and whether I might learn to ride so I may accompany you. I do not want to be without you.”
More vulnerable than he had ever seen her, Darcy recognized how the horse symbolized her fear of being Pemberley’s mistress; yet, he kept his suspicions to himself.
“It would give me pleasure to choose a horse for you. We have many already in the stables at Pemberley, but we may choose another if you find nothing you like. We will purchase you appropriate riding clothes while in London. Do you know anything about how to ride?”
“I have ridden Papa’s horse, but not well, not like I want to ride. I want to be free to see all of Pemberley.”
“We will find you the right horse, Elizabeth.” He tapped her chin with his index finger, and she weakly smiled up at him.
“Elizabeth, we will do well together.” The tears slipped from the corner of her eyes, and he knew not what to do. “Please, I cannot bear to see you sad.”
After several loud sobs, she said, “I am not sad, William. I am the happiest I have ever been in my life.”
“Then why are you crying?”
She snuggled into his chest. “I do not know why I am crying. You married a foolish woman.”
“Elizabeth, foolish or not, I adore you.”
“Oh, William. I really love you.”
His mouth smothered hers with a kiss long, hard, and passionate. They melted into each other. An astonishing amount of everything they had ever known disappeared in the new knowledge of each other.
Reluctantly, he stopped the kiss, but he did not release her. “Elizabeth,” he could barely breathe, “I do not wish our first time to be in this coach, but I swear if you kiss me as such again, I will not guarantee my ability to resist you.”
“You cannot resist my arts and allurements.” She traced his chin with her fingers. Then she giggled. “Lady Catherine warned you of my ability to trap you, Mr. Darcy, but you would not listen to her advice.” She nibbled on his lips.
Darcy joined her tease. It was a means to still enjoy her closeness without abandoning social norms. “Although she is quite obstinate, my aunt is a wise woman.” Darcy pulled Elizabeth closer and kissed the side of her neck, rubbing his lips against her skin.
At length, she said, “Maybe we should … talk for a while.”
Darcy breathed deeply and resettled himself in the carriage, but he never released her hand. His fingertips massaged the lifeline leading along the palm.
“There is something I did wish to discuss with you, Elizabeth.” She caught a glimmer of seriousness in his tone and turned to receive his address.
“I planned to initiate this conversation later, but it will give you time to ask questions. Your father agreed to a jointure, a means so Pemberley will remain with you if something should happen to me.”
“William, please do not talk as such!”
“It must be addressed. If nothing less, I am a practical man. I wish to teach you all the aspects of the running of Pemberley. Many critics will not understand my doing so. It is not characteristic for a woman to assume such responsibilities. Other than you and Georgiana, there is nothing I love more than Pemberley. It must survive. If Pemberley lives, so does my family’s name.
You must promise me you will assist me in saving Pemberley. ”
“William, could we lose the estate?”
“No, not financially, but the times change. Every day, men leave the land for the city. I require a person who shares my dream for my family’s legacy. That is one of the reasons I never chose to marry before now. I required a mate whom I could trust with Pemberley’s future.”
“I will do what is required, William. People must simply discover another reason to offer up censure on our behalf, but that will not change what we do for our family. You teach me, and I will share the knowledge with our children. Pemberley and you are my home now.”
He cupped her face in his hands. “I trust you with my heart, my soul, and my name.” His kiss this time held hope.
When she opened her eyes, he still cupped her face, and his forehead rested against hers.
“You have my heart,” she kissed his fingertips, “my soul.” Elizabeth pulled his hands around her waist and moved in closer, “And I bear your name.” Elizabeth returned his kiss with one full of strength and determination.
Afterwards, she rested her head on his shoulder while he stroked her cheek.
There they remained for the next hour, wrapped in daydreams of the future.
At length, the coach stopped before his Town house.
He alighted and then dismissed the footman with a wave of his hand.
No one would assist his wife but him. Elizabeth took his arm and looked up lovingly into his eyes.
“Are you prepared?” he whispered, and she nodded her head in affirmation.
They entered the house knowing their lives would never be the same after this evening.
The butler met them at the door. “Good evening, Mr. Darcy. It is good to have you safely at home, sir.”
Handing the man his greatcoat, hat, and walking stick, he turned to his servant. “Thank you, Mr. Thacker. It is good to be at Darcy House.”
“Mrs. Darcy, the staff extends its congratulations. Yours and Mr. Darcy’s happiness brings joy to us all. We wait on your desires.”
“Thank you, Mr. Thacker.” Elizabeth blushed with what he assumed was the realization the staff knew this was her wedding night.
“Your rooms are prepared, sir. I will have the trunks brought up.”
“We will have supper in an hour. I wish to show Mrs. Darcy the house first.”
“Yes, sir.” Thacker bowed his exit.
“Allow me to show you some of the downstairs rooms, Elizabeth, then we will freshen our clothes before supper.”
As they strolled along the hall, her hand on his forearm, Elizabeth stopped to speak to each of his servants, committing the person’s name to her memory. “William, do you know all their names?” she whispered.
“Naturally, most of the staff have served my parents or are relatives of staff members.”
Darcy proudly showed her several of the rooms. In each, he brought her to the center and then stepped away to observe her reaction.
Repeatedly, Elizabeth performed as a small child moving away from a parent to experience something new and then running back to the security of her parent’s arms. She would often gently touch the statues and figurines or rub her fingertips across the tables.
Then she would laugh lightly and move quickly back into his embrace.
“William, it is magnificent; I never imagined such a home.” Her eyes sparkled with merriment.
“Then you approve of your London house, Mrs. Darcy?” he teased her innocence.
“Am I your source of entertainment, Mr. Darcy?” She stuck her lip out in a pretend pout.
Darcy lifted her chin and nibbled on the protruding lip. “Mrs. Darcy, you claim to love to laugh.”
“At other people’s expense, sir,” she pretended to be offended. “Not my own.”
Darcy laughed. “Let us view some of the upstairs and then change for supper.”
Outside her chambers, he said, “I arranged for Margaret to attend you while we are at Darcy House, but you may choose your own lady’s maid once we return to Pemberley.
I took the liberty of ordering additional items to be placed in your dressing room.
I hope they meet your approval. You may have fittings for new clothes while in London if you like or I can have the modiste come to you. ”
“William, I did not marry you for your wealth.” Elizabeth slid her arms around his waist. “In fact, your money has not been on my mind today.”
Darcy’s passion rose quickly whenever she was near him. “If not for my wealth, then why did you marry me, Elizabeth?” His voice was husky.
“For your great wit, Mr. Darcy. I would not tolerate children of lesser intelligence.” Elizabeth turned from him to enter the dressing room door. “I will await your return, sir.”
“You bring me great happiness, Elizabeth,” he whispered.
“As you do me, William.” Then she was gone.
Darcy entered his own dressing room with images of Elizabeth playing with his senses. Nothing he had ever executed previously had felt so right.
The meal was delicious, but neither of them showed any true interest in the food.
They both picked at the offerings, and their eyes never strayed from each other.
Eventually, ignoring the usual niceties spent in conversation in the drawing room, he took her hand and led her to her dressing room a second time.
Darcy lifted her chin and kissed her lips tenderly. Then they parted without speaking.