Chapter 26
“Elizabeth? We are home,” he whispered.
She woke up, slightly confused, looking around.
Through the window, she saw an impressive building, lit by several torches.
The coachman had already opened the carriage door, so the noise from London’s busy streets broke the silence.
She felt she had slept but could not believe it had been for long.
“How do I look?” she asked, unsettled and slightly worried again. He smiled and arranged her bonnet, his fingers touching a rebellious lock of hair that had escaped from it.
“You look lovely, Mrs Darcy,” he said. Stepping down, she took his arm. After sleeping in his arms, his nearness was soothing her nervousness, which increased with each step.
The door opened, and her eyes fell on a large hall. The first thing she noticed was a beautiful young woman, with an older one by her side, and she knew it must be Georgiana Darcy.
Steps behind, the butler, the housekeeper, and the rest of the servants were waiting in line. Mr Darcy greeted them and made the introductions: Georgiana, Mrs Annesley, Stevens, Mrs Clifford.
The housekeeper greeted Elizabeth ceremoniously and asked for the favour of introducing the servants to her.
She thanked and took a step forwards, finally releasing her husband’s arm.
One by one, the servants were presented, as well as their roles.
Elizabeth nodded and smiled, trying to remember their names.
“I thank you all for the warm reception,” Mr Darcy said. “It is very much appreciated. We are a little tired from the road, but in the next few days, Mrs Darcy and I shall speak to each of you. Please return to your duties now.”
The servants slowly withdrew, including the butler; only Mrs Clifford remained.
“Will you have dinner now?” she asked.
“Yes. In half an hour would be perfect. I shall just show Mrs Darcy her apartment.”
When all the servants were gone, Darcy turned to his sister again, and she hurried to embrace him.
“Oh Brother, I am so happy you are home! And you too, Mrs Darcy!”
“I am delighted to finally meet you, Miss Darcy. I have heard so many wonderful things about you!”
“And I about you, Miss Bennet. I looked forward to meeting you. Oh, forgive me, Mrs Darcy,” the girl said, turning crimson, then pale.
“Please do not worry. I still think of myself as Miss Bennet.” Elizabeth smiled. “And I still call my husband sir and Mr Darcy.”
“We all need a little time to adjust to each other,” Darcy interjected. “Let us start with dinner and a little bit of conversation, and that will do for tonight.”
∞∞∞
Two hours later, Elizabeth was alone in her apartment, marvelling at the beauty around her.
Mr Darcy had introduced her to the mistress’s suite, but she had barely looked at it, so anxious she felt. After changing her clothes, having a lovely dinner and coming to know her new sister a little better, she felt more composed and could enjoy herself a little more.
She admired the walls, the furniture and the carpets, and all the elegant and harmonious arrangements.
She knew Mr Darcy was only steps away, behind the door that kept drawing her attention.
He had been warm, friendly, and considerate during dinner, helping her and Georgiana to become accustomed to each other.
By the second course, Mr Darcy was smiling more than usual, Georgiana was trying to overcome her shyness, and Mrs Annesley displayed perfect manners and a gift for conversation.
Elizabeth felt almost her usual self until the dinner ended and he escorted her back to her apartment for the night.
A young maid, Janey, likely younger than her, was assigned to serve her that evening, Mrs Clifford mentioning that next morning she would wait for the mistress’s instructions in regard to her personal maid.
In truth, Elizabeth felt even more nervous than the maid looked, but she tried to put the girl at ease, while Janey helped her bathe and change for the night.
She dismissed the maid, and then she sat on a chair, staring at her image.
She was now Mrs Darcy. Not his wife but Mrs Darcy.
His promise sounded clear in her mind, but since then, many things had happened.
And the intimacy they had shared in the carriage, opening their hearts and minds to each other, sharing distress and comforting each other, had melted her heart.
She did not examine her feelings carefully enough to determine and voice the nature of her feelings for him, but she knew that she would not oppose him coming to her that night if he proposed it.
“Elizabeth?”
She had not heard him entering, so she was startled and stood up when she saw him at the door.
“Forgive me. I do not wish to intrude. I have just come to see how you feel. I shall leave you now.”
She suddenly became aware of her revealing nightgown, seeing him dressed in trousers, an unbuttoned shirt, and a robe.
“No, please do not leave!” she said, and her voice embarrassed her. He seemed surprised too but stepped in.
“Were you pleased with Janey’s service?”
“Oh yes, very much so! She seems kind and respectful. I was very pleased.”
“And do you like your apartment?”
“Who would not like it? It is perfect,” she whispered, glancing around the room. “Just perfect…”
“I am glad you approve of it. Would you like to see my apartment?”
She blushed, but his voice was calm and friendly, and she found herself nodding.
He opened the adjoining door widely, and she looked inside. At first glance, the apartment seemed similar to hers, only the furniture was of a darker colour and with more sharp, manly lines.
“Would you like a glass of wine?” he asked, still tentative. “It will help you sleep.”
“Oh…if you say so…please.”
He smiled, returned to his room, and came back with a bottle and two glasses. They sat around a small table by the window. The curtains were drawn, but the noise from the street could still be heard.
“If you need anything, just ring for a maid,” he said.
“I do not need anything else for now,” she said, sipping from her glass. She licked her lips and felt his gaze upon them.
“The wine is very good, but I might become dizzy from it.”
“If you do, you will sleep and rest till tomorrow.”
“I slept all the way to London. It must have been uncomfortable for you,” she said, blushing at the recollection.
“Quite the contrary,” he answered. “It was the most pleasant journey I ever had,” he added, and she only sipped more wine so she could blame it for her red cheeks.
“Elizabeth, if you are not too tired, may I give you something? I wished to offer it to you two days ago before my aunt’s unfortunate visit changed my plans.”
“Of course…but you do not need to give me—”
“Yes, I do.”
He hurried to his room again and brought back a black velvet box, which he placed on the table before her eyes. Under her amazed gaze, he opened the box, and Elizabeth gasped, covering her mouth with her hand.
It was a set of jewellery in gold and rubies — necklace, earrings, and bracelet — so beautiful that she did not dare breathe, much less touch them.
“It was meant for Mrs Darcy, but my mother never wore it. She used to say she did not feel strong or bold enough for these stones.”
Elizabeth was silenced in awe, and he continued, emotions altering his voice.
“She gave me the box when she was already in her sick bed. I must have been fifteen or sixteen years old, and Georgiana was only an infant. She told me to choose my wife with my mind and my heart and to find a woman with so much heart and spirit that these jewels would suit her.”
Elizabeth looked at him, unable to speak or move.
“That is how I knew my mother never wanted me to marry my cousin Anne. I remember her bits of advice, her words of comfort…” he said, then he stopped and turned his back to her, overcome by sorrow.
“Forgive me. It is hard for me to speak of her, especially now, after…”
“Please do not apologise,” she said, taking his hands in hers. Then daringly, she released one of her hands to gently touch his face. He turned his head and placed a kiss in her palm.
“The moment I began to fall in love with you, Elizabeth, my heart knew you were the woman suited for these stones and for me, only my mind needed more time to accept it.”
“Fitzwilliam…” she whispered tearfully.
“No, please, do not cry, and do not feel the pressure of my confession. I am well aware that your feelings were different from mine and still are. If fate had not forced us, I would have probably needed more time to propose. Perhaps months. But I would have taken this step eventually. I wonder if you would have still rejected me,” he ended teasingly.
“I might have if my feelings would not allow me to accept. But they did, even if the timing of the proposal was forced. I believe the admiral played a small role too. He spoke to me after my rejection, and then we met in the woods… I kept wondering why he insisted on my marrying you when such a marriage was surely only to my benefit.”
“He likely insisted because somehow he knew what my mother wanted for me,” Darcy responded. He then took her hand, and with their entwined fingers, he caressed the glowing jewels.
“Elizabeth, do you like the jewels? Do you like rubies?”
“I have never worn rubies before, only garnet,” she confessed. “These are beautiful.”
“Would you allow me?” he asked, taking the necklace.
She nodded, and he gently wrapped it around her neck. His hand lingered on her skin, and she shivered at the touch of the gold and of his fingers.
“I barely dare breathe,” Elizabeth admitted. “How can I ever dare to wear them?”
“Because you have the heart, the boldness, the strength, and the spirit to wear them, Elizabeth. They belong to you.”
She truly held her breath, gazing at him from only inches away. The necklace was cold, but it was not the reason why she shivered. She touched it on her neck, while he was still watching her.
Then she raised herself up on her toes, and with shy daring, she pulled his head down a little and touched her lips to his.
The gentle touch was as soft as a barely felt breeze, but it made her dizzy and weak in the knees. She put her hands around his waist, waiting for something that did not come. She opened her eyes and met his gaze, darkened by repressed feelings.
Slowly, his lips returned to hers, and she sighed, leaning closer to him.
His arms closed around her, and as his tender kiss turned more passionate, her lips opened for him.
The savouring of each other’s taste made them both gasp, and Elizabeth felt herself lifted and carried to the bed.
Lying against the pillows, her arms encircled his neck, she felt his weight on her, and his lips started a sweet assault over hers.
She felt lost, dizzy, and frightened by the sudden waves of warmth inside her.
“Fitzwilliam, please,” she managed to whisper, and he suddenly stopped, immediately standing up. She still struggled to catch her breath, and apparently so did he.
“I am very sorry…so very sorry, Elizabeth…I did not mean… Please forgive me. I shall leave you now. You may lock the door.”
He turned to leave, his embarrassment apparent, but she called to him while trying to arrange her gown.
“Please, do not leave! I do not want you to leave! I just wanted to…I could not breathe,” she said, lowering her eyes in shame. She heard him walking back but spoke further, still avoiding his eyes.
“I have never…you know…and never imagined a kiss could be so…”
She finally lifted her eyes to him to say, “You may stay if you want. I know you promised, but…I would not oppose it.”
Her embarrassment was too strong for her to continue, and she lowered her eyes again. He sat next to her, taking her hands in his.
“Elizabeth, please look at me. There is nothing I want more than to stay. And I know you would not oppose it. I would do everything I could for you to…enjoy it…”
His hoarse voice, as well as the words he did not say but implied, made her quiver again.
“But I shall leave now and let you rest. You are tired, exhausted by the torment of the last few days, by the journey, by my confession, by the wine, by the kiss. That is why I shall leave.”
She nodded, and he gently kissed her hands.
“You know, Elizabeth, the moment when your lips touched mine…I have never felt so much pleasure, so much joy before. It made me dizzy too.”
She smiled, slowly regaining some composure, her hands still in his.
“This necklace,” he said, gently touching it again. “It looks even brighter than usual on your skin. And so do your eyes. Good-night, dearest, loveliest Elizabeth.”
He left, and she gazed at the closed door for a few moments, then she blew out the candles, took off the necklace, and lay down on the bed, pulling the blankets over her.
The blankets were many, thick, and soft, and the fire was burning, but she still did not feel as warm and comfortable as she had felt in the carriage, in his arms.