Chapter 24
During their first week of marriage, the master and mistress rarely left the house, partly because of rain during the first days but also because Mrs Darcy needed time to visit Pemberley’s rooms—all of them, one by one, in the company of the master, who had postponed all his other business.
A great amount of time was spent in the library, for which Mrs Darcy seemed to have the same passion and fondness as the master; also, a fact that raised some rumours downstairs, Mrs Darcy showed an unexpected interest in the billiard room, which was uncommon for a lady.
After much speculation, whispered carefully in order not to be heard by the severe Mrs Reynolds, it was decided among the staff that surely Mrs Darcy learned to play billiards in order to keep her husband company—yet another proof of her worthiness.
By the second week, however, the newly wedded couple spent a few hours outdoors every day—taking long strolls around the gardens, visiting Lambton or one of the tenant families, and conducting Mrs Darcy’s riding’s lessons.
The information that the new Mrs Darcy did not excel in riding was somehow disconcerting to the Pemberley staff, as everyone had been certain that Mr Darcy’s wife should be the most accomplished lady in every respect.
However, Mr Colton reported that Mrs Darcy’s improvement in riding was the fastest and most impressive he had seen in years, which, he admitted, was to Mr Darcy’s merit entirely as the master did not allow anyone but himself to tutor Mrs Darcy.
One aspect puzzled Mr Colton, though, and he did not dare discuss it with anyone else: From the first days of their arrival, Mr Darcy and his wife rode together on Thunder, which was only natural since she could not mount her own horse.
But why they would continue that habit even after Mrs Darcy became proficient at riding by herself, Mr Colton could not understand.
A month after Mr Darcy wedded Miss Elizabeth Bennet, everybody who saw them together could testify that he could not possibly have made a better choice.
The new Mrs Darcy brought the only things the master of Pemberley lacked: liveliness, joy, and laughter to warm Pemberley.
The master himself was seen smiling more than he had in years, and to everyone’s shock, he even danced several times at the small party he held for his tenants.
Even more, the way Mr and Mrs Darcy gazed at each other all the time left no room for doubt regarding the feelings they shared.
A new, shiny day dawned beautifully at Pemberley, and the entire household was in an agitated state.
In two days’ time, a large party of houseguests was expected, and everything must be more than perfect as Mrs Reynolds repeated countless times.
In truth, Mrs Reynolds seemed to be the one most concerned about the event—unlike Mrs Darcy, who assured the staff that she trusted their efficiency implicitly and there was no need for them to do anything different from what they usually did.
No matter how much she came to appreciate her new mistress, Mrs Reynolds could not possibly approve such a leisurely approach; surely, everybody must and would do much more than usual as it was the first large party hosted by her master since he married!
Elizabeth knocked at the study door, and her husband invited her in, a well-known, tender smile on his face. They had spent the morning riding, and afterward, while she went to change her gown, he had an appointment with his steward, which had just ended.
Since they married, they were separated only when he had some fixed appointments, and she usually employed that time discussing with Mrs Reynolds matters related to the household.
The rest of the time, even if he had to take care of business or study a report, she took a chair close to him, reading in silence.
He gladly remembered his promise from the first day and did not hesitate to inform her about the most important aspects of his business.
He was pleased and eager to answer any of her questions, and he always encouraged her to disagree and argue with him.
He took her hand and closed then locked the door behind him.
She smiled and blushed; he always locked the door when they were in a room, which proved a very wise gesture as, most of the time, what started as an innocent, enjoyable activity—reading, playing the piano, or playing billiards—quite often became an intimate interlude.
“Was your meeting successful, I hope?” she inquired.
“Yes, everything is settled. I hope nothing urgent will appear in the next days as I plan to focus my attention on our guests.”
“I can hardly wait for their arrival; I have missed them all so dearly.”
“Yes, I imagine it must have been difficult for you to have no other company than mine.”
She raised her eyebrow in harsh reproach. “Such an unfair statement does not even deserve a reply. I believe you are only craving more compliments to flatter your pride. So fortunate that Miss Bingley will be here in no time,” she replied impertinently.
He unceremoniously sat in his chair by the desk and pulled her onto his lap. “You are quite disrespectful, Mrs Darcy,” he said as he claimed her lips. “I think I shall complain to my mother-in-law about your wild behaviour.”
“Forgive me, sir, I was not aware that you were displeased with my behaviour. Had I known before, I surely would endeavour to make amends.”
She laughed against his mouth, and he silenced her with another kiss, deeper and more demanding as she encircled her hands around his neck, her mouth as eager as his.
He suddenly pulled up her dress and turned her to face him, astride on his lap.
She was neither surprised nor reluctant; their kiss grew wilder as well as their caresses.
He lowered the dress from her shoulders while she untied his cravat.
She could feel his hands gliding between her thighs, and she laughed within the kiss at how expert he had became at removing their clothes in every possible situation.
However, her laughter soon became moans of torturous pleasure when he entered her slowly, deep inside.
He slowly put her back against the desk to expose her soft, heavy roundness to his hungry mouth, eager to enjoy her sweetness.
Their rhythm increased, and they struggled to quiet their moans within the kiss, biting each other’s lips.
When pleasure vanquished her strength and she could move no longer, he rose from the chair and laid her along the desk, her legs entwined on his back, and he continued to love her there on the wooden desk—where he had spent so many lonely hours—until she took her pleasure again and again.
Only then did he allow his own body to feel its long-restrained relief.
Their clothes in great disorder, they rested together on the sofa, breathing heavily. “It has been eight hours since we made love; it is no wonder I missed you so much…”
She smiled at him, flustered. “I cannot believe how little shame we have…to make love on your desk; it is preposterous.”
“No, it is not; this is passion, my love. However, I remember how reluctant and embarrassed you were when it happened the first time.” He laughed.
“Oh, you should not laugh. I still remember that stormy night—with rain and thunder and lightning. I could not believe that you wished to do such a thing, and I only agreed because you caused me to lose my mind and my good sense. And I am still embarrassed…”
“But you must admit that the embarrassment means little compared to the final reward,” he answered, a mischievous smile on his face.
He then kissed her hand and her forehead.
“My passion for you knows no restraint, and I know sometimes I embarrass you with my insistence, but I hope I never forced my will on you. I would never want you to do anything against your wishes.”
“You know very well that I always welcome your attention and that my passion is no more restrained than yours. I love to feel your gazes, your touches, your caresses, your kisses; I love to know your passion overcomes your well-known self-restraint. But that does not eliminate the fact that sometimes I am embarrassed and uneasy with the things we do…and the places we do them. As it happened with the billiard room—you placed a settee there, and I am certain the entire staff guessed your reason for doing so.”
He laughed and kissed her hair again. “Forgive me, my love. Should I ask for the settee to be removed? I can do so immediately.”
She stared at him and hesitated briefly before replying with complete seriousness. “Well, the damage has already been done, so you might just as well leave it where it is.”
“Yes, I thought the same.” He laughed, covering her face with small kisses. “Now, Mrs Darcy, you should try to fix your clothes as I am tempted to embarrass you again.”
A sudden, strong knock at the door interrupted their teasing conversation, but Darcy did not hurry to reply. She glanced at him inquiringly with amusement.
“Mr Darcy!” Miles’s voice startled Elizabeth, and she looked at Darcy with worry. Since they married, Miles had never knocked on a locked door, let alone called his master.
“Go away, Miles.”
“Mr Darcy, please sir—you are wanted in the drawing room,” Miles repeated, and Darcy finally rose from Elizabeth’s side.
“Someone had better have died, or else I will kill Miles,” he mumbled as he walked to the door, glancing at the mirror briefly to button his vest. He opened the door only enough to talk to Miles for a few moments then closed the door again and returned to Elizabeth, who was looking at him, half amused and half puzzled; he took her hands gently.
“You should go and change, my love. Lord Matlock is here; he seems to have some urgent news for us.”
∞∞∞