Chapter 1.22 #4
She did not protest, as she did not remember any feelings of guilt she had declared a few minutes earlier.
This unexpected form of embrace aroused new and mixed feelings within her.
Her mind and body reacted strongly and allowed him to conquer her.
She felt dominated and protected at the same time, not capable of deciding whether she enjoyed the sensation of his power or felt frightened by it.
At that moment, nothing seemed as important as the happiness of being overwhelmed by his love, his closeness, his touch, and the novelty of the increasing intimacy they shared.
She knew they again were going dangerously beyond the limits of acceptable behaviour for an engaged couple. Yet, she banished her shame and guilt. She knew that their love—and passion—were also far beyond what most engaged couples shared.
His body seemed stronger and heavier than she would imagine, almost crushing her, and she tried to move beneath him.
She heard him groan again and whisper her name, and she understood that her movements caused a strange and powerful reaction in him, though she did not know enough to understand what it was.
She did not have time to wonder though, as her mind registered little except his lips, which had begun a moist, warm journey down to her throat and lower, tantalising her with a sweet torture.
Her whole body arched from the thrilling waves travelling inside her, and she gasped loudly when his tongue tasted her, tracing a line of fire along her throat until he met the edge of her gown.
He stopped there without any attempt to go further, but his kisses covered every bare inch of her soft skin, caressing and tasting, his hunger for her becoming more intense with each passing moment.
In the middle of their ardent interlude, a strange noise from her drew Darcy’s attention and made him stop in an instant. He gazed at her wonderingly as her face coloured with embarrassment.
“Elizabeth…was that your stomach groaning with hunger?”
She nodded, half amused and half mortified that such a thing could happen at such a romantic and passionate time. He put his open palm on her stomach and then lowered his head to bestow small kisses on her lips, cheeks, and forehead.
He reluctantly broke their embrace, rising to his feet. “Miss Elizabeth, this cannot be. After forcing you to suffer offences today, it now seems we have decided to starve you as well.”
She began to laugh heartily, rising to a sitting position.
“Do not even think that you will go anywhere outside this room, madam. I shall summon nourishment and have someone assist you in preparing yourself for the night. You have to start paying attention to yourself for a change. Or better, you must allow me to give you all the attention you deserve…”
He paused and met her questioning glance, her eyebrow raised in such a sweet challenge that he could not help laughing and placing a tender kiss upon it.
“Yes, I understand your silent reproach. Allow me to make amends. What I have in mind is a different kind of attention—more proper and useful for your present state of fatigue.”
“Why, thank you for clarifying, sir. I wondered whether you were by any chance flirting with me?”
“No, I am not flirting. I am very worried about you, Elizabeth. Please forgive me for not being more attentive to your needs until now.” He stretched out his hand to grasp her palm and kissed it gently.
“Shall I send someone to help you undress and ready yourself for the night?”
“No, indeed, there is no need to awaken anyone for me; everyone is tired after this difficult day. I can manage. And you must not disturb yourself either. I shall just go to sleep and eat in the morning.”
He did not listen to her; instead, he went to the door and looked over his shoulder.
“I shall return shortly. I want to find you in your night robe, and you will eat as much as I deem necessary.”
∞∞∞
Darcy returned a quarter of an hour later, carrying a plate with more food than she could eat in days.
She was nestled in the middle of the bed, already dressed in her nightgown, her unpretentious night robe covering her properly.
Her hair was flowing freely down her shoulders in a cascade of dark silky curls, and Darcy remained at the door, simply staring at her.
Her appearance—so simple in its beauty—took his breath away.
“William, why on earth did you bring so much food? Who do you think will eat all of it?”
“You will, and if you can bear my company a little longer, I should like to join you. I did not have a proper dinner either.”
“Of course, Mr Darcy! I would love to dine at this late hour in your company. However, if you stay a little longer, we could have breakfast as well. Do you know it is already three hours past midnight?”
“Yes, I know. We shall have to enjoy a hasty, late supper. And I absolutely insist that you tell me one thing: the first time you met Georgiana, I found you eating with her and laughing at something. I must have my share in it, for I have the impression it was important.”
A new cascade of laughter followed, and it took more pleading before she finally agreed to tell him the little story.
An hour later, they finished the meal. That dreadful day remained somewhere behind them, all the pain and suffering it brought vanishing slowly, swept away by a new sunrise.
They sat in the middle of the bed, their legs curled under them, the tray of food between them.
They ate with their bare hands, sharing things they both favoured and exchanging bits of food with each other.
The simple pleasure of another intimate moment often mixed with little proofs of their restrained passion.
His lips tasted food from hers countless times, made her blush constantly, and caused him to long for the moment when they would have the right to share everything forever.
“Elizabeth, this is the only time in my life I have had dinner with someone in a private room. Not to mention in bed…”
She lifted her eyes to him, trying to understand the meaning of his words.
“You mean…with a lady?” She blushed slightly at her daring question.
He laughed at this new attempt to receive an answer without asking the question.
“No, I mean with anyone, including my family. Even when Georgiana was ill, I used to stay with her and supervise her meals, but I never actually ate with her, only having some coffee or tea. Moreover, I do not remember having dinner anywhere but in the dining room, not even as a child.”
She seemed content with his answer but looked as though she wanted to ask more. She returned her attention to the food, however, without further inquiries until they finally declared themselves satisfied. Darcy took the plate off the bed and then returned to sit next to her.
“My love, you should sleep now as it is almost morning. But I simply have to steal another moment of your time to do something I have desperately wanted to do since that day in the cottage.”
Her eyes opened widely at him, a little darkened by fatigue, but sparkling with mirth at the memory of that day.
“What have you so desperately wanted to do since that day?”
He leaned slowly towards her, whispering near her ear.
“This…among many other things…”
Then he thrust his fingers into her hair and buried his face in her curls, allowing them to caress his face.
His desire for her suddenly became so strong that he was afraid he would not be able to fight it.
He withdrew gently, his hands cupping her face while his long fingers were still entwined in her hair.
He gazed at her adoringly and smiled with tenderness.
“I shall go now, my love. Come, I want to see you settled in bed, and you must promise you will try to sleep.” She only nodded and leaned back slowly until she rested against the pillow.
He could feel her shiver, and it was clear that she shared his feelings.
Her passion might have been more innocent than his, but it was no less strong.
Pleased at each new discovery of his beloved, he gently stroked her forehead and bestowed a lingering kiss on it, followed by a light one on the tip of her nose.
Carefully, he wrapped her in the counterpane. “Sleep well, my love.”
“William?”
“Yes?”
“Could you please stay with me a few more minutes?”
“Of course, if you wish. I shall leave after you fall asleep.”
“Thank you.”
He lay beside her, his arms embracing her closely, and she nestled her head on his chest as she had done earlier.
The steady beating of his heart was like soothing music, which brought her long-needed rest. His hand stroking her hair made her feel as if she were dreaming, long before sleep enveloped her.
“Thank you, my love.”
“What are you thanking me for, William?” Her hand encircled his waist while the other slid to the junction of his neck and shoulder.
“For everything. For your generous heart…for your care towards me and my family…for allowing me to love you…and for loving me so much…”
She lifted her face to stare into his eyes a moment; then she gently touched his lips with hers, answering simply, “You are very welcome, sir,” making him chuckle.
“Now, try to sleep. I shall put more wood on the fire when I leave, and in the morning, a servant will come to take care of it so you will awake to a warm room. I am afraid this bedchamber might be a little cold since nobody has slept in it for the past few years.”
She could not resist asking, “Whose room was this? Mrs Hamilton told me it was one of the family rooms.”
“It was mine before I took the master suite. Nobody has lived here for the last five years.”
“I see…I am happy you decided to offer it to me.”
His lips lowered to whisper against her ear.
“Well…I thought it might be helpful for you to get accustomed to sleeping in my room.” Though he could not see her face, he felt her stiffen in his arms, relaxing a few moments later. He chuckled again.