Chapter 9
“If you are feeling tempted to excess romanticism, take some calves’ foot jelly. Be sure to boil the calves’ feet thoroughly first or you may find it has the opposite effect.”
-Lady Catherine de Bourgh
After we had decorated Rosings with the ivy and evergreen branches, Mr. Collins and I headed home in the growing twilight.
It had been an exhausting day and I was surprised when my husband headed back outside. I had been looking forward to working on his Sunday sermon together.
But he was not gone long when I was startled by a tremendous scuffling at the door, and great thumps that almost shook the snug parsonage.
I put my work down and ran to the door, only barely getting it open before my husband burst through, hauling a big sawed-off fir tree behind him.
“What is that, my dear William?” I cried.
Great clumps of snow had settled on his shaggy dark head.
“It’s a Christmas tree,” he said, grinning ear to ear, his smile infectious. “We could do no better than to follow our dear Queen Charlotte’s example and put one up this Christmas! I feel like I have so much to be thankful for.”
He paused to set the tree down. It was big. It was snowy. It would leave little needles all over the house.
But then he said, “Merry Christmas Eve, best of wives. Pearl beyond price! Jewel of my heart! I love you, Charlotte.”
And I couldn’t resist him.
“I love you too,” I said, and I felt the stars shining out of my eyes.
“Did that seem healthful, my dear?” my husband asked me later, as he always did.
I hesitated.
But then I gathered my bravery together, and suddenly I did not feel as nervous. William loved me.
“No,” I said.
He turned his head to me, startled. “No?” he asked.
I met his eyes. He really had the most beautiful gray eyes.
“I don’t see why we have to rush through it,” I said, putting a tentative hand on his broad chest. “I think I’d like to do it more slowly.”
I saw one eyebrow raised up. “But, Lady Catherine—” he started, but he stopped. “It is possible,” he continued, with a rueful smile at me, “that she is not infallible on all points.”
I waited as he looked at me.
“Do you want to go so fast?” I asked.
He flicked his eyes down my body.
“No,” he said. “I enjoy this particular activity and I would like if I could lengthen the delightful sensations.”
“Well,” I smiled. “Let’s try it that way then.”
“All right,” Mr. Collins said.
I saw him hesitate. “Should we try that next Friday night?” he said.
I felt shy suddenly, looking down and brushing an invisible speck off of the bed.
“Or we could try it now,” I offered diffidently.
Since he was already on his back, I rolled over, settling myself a bit awkwardly on top of him.
He let out a shaky breath and tightened his hands on my hips. I started to lower myself onto his already-hard length.
He was a big man everywhere: towered over everyone he met, big, ear-splitting smile, big arms, thick, wide body, big hands, and his thick length was no exception.
I gasped a bit as I lowered myself carefully onto him, making sure to go slowly so my body could stretch to accommodate him.
“What mode of locomotion would you prefer next?” he asked, but I saw him start to breathe faster.
I said nothing, but started to move, experimenting carefully to see which angle was most enjoyable.
I felt his arms lightly stroking my back and sides, and I felt suddenly adored.
He did mean what he said about me!
I began to feel the same familiar pressure in my core, heat running across my chest and down my spine.
But this time he didn’t rush, and I set my own pace as I moved my hips over his, slowly at first, and then with speed.
Then, when I felt the pressure tighten painfully inside me, instead of it biting and tearing at me until I went to sleep, I felt the knot of pressure uncoil and burst with waves of pleasure so intense I gasped with relief.
William tightened his hands on me and I felt his release too.
I felt my body start to shake, and my arms suddenly felt as trembly as the calves’ foot jelly Lady Catherine was always recommending.
For once Mr. Collins said nothing at all, just pulled me gently down by the chin and kissed me.