Chapter 2.2 #2
Through the small window, she spotted a beautiful image: large snowflakes fell quickly, gently blown by the wind, so dense that it seemed like a thick, white curtain.
When the carriage entered the main street, Darcy unexpectedly ordered the footman to stop.
“Would you like to walk from here, my love?”
“Yes, very much! I was just about to suggest it. Please do not deny that you can read my mind, Mr Darcy.”
She held his arm tightly, and he put his hand on hers while taking short steps.
The snow was fresh and soft, dancing on their shoes and clothes.
From time to time, Elizabeth lifted her face, and snowflakes caressed her cheeks and her closed eyelashes and rested in the dark locks escaping from her bonnet.
Darcy admired her playfulness, completely bewitched by her joy, which only brightened her beauty. Just as they reached the main gate of their house, he leant and tasted her lips, washing away a few drops of melted snow. Fortunately, nobody observed Mr Darcy’s shocking behaviour.
Attentive to each other and their own steps, neither noticed a carriage stop in front of them until its owner called to them.
“Darcy! Miss Bennet!”
They turned in surprise, and Darcy frowned.
“Lord Felton!”
“Good evening—what a lovely surprise. Miss Bennet, are you well, I hope? You look wonderful.”
“Thank you, sir. Your lordship is kind. I am quite well.” She felt distressed as she noticed Darcy’s growing displeasure.
“I am being completely honest! Darcy, I thought you had left London since I have not seen you at any gatherings lately.”
“I hope you were not affected by my absence. I can scarcely remember more than three events we attended together in the last ten years,” Darcy replied coldly. “And even more, we never shared the same interests.”
“True. I know you are not fond of balls and parties although there were times you were a regular presence at the opera and theatre.”
Elizabeth sensed the tension in Darcy’s arm.
“Felton, I have no time for your foolishness, and I must restrain myself from saying what I would like to at this moment. By the way, as I am sure you know but rudely chose to ignore, there is no ‘Miss Bennet’ any longer but Mrs Darcy. I expect you to address my wife properly from now on.”
“Oh, yes, of course, silly me—it must have slipped my mind. I remember reading something in the newspaper a few days ago. Congratulations—it was not my intention to offend anyone.”
“Very well then—we must leave. Good evening.”
Lord Felton bowed to Elizabeth with perfect politeness then turned to Darcy. “I hope to see you often in the future. As well as the Hothfields. Good evening.”
“Felton!” Darcy called in a low, sharp voice, but the man entered his carriage and departed in haste.
Darcy’s frown and his reaction were impossible to miss. Elizabeth took tighter hold of his arm.
“William, please—do not allow him to torment you! You know very well that he would do anything to start a quarrel with you. Do you remember when you told me about the duel with Lord Hothfield? And you admitted that Lady Ellen demanded that both you and the colonel avoid a scandal with him.”
Darcy breathed deeply several times to regain his composure then smiled.
“You are right of course. Forgive me for losing my patience, my dear. What a cur! He made those shameless references to the theatre and to the Hothfields. He is a slick bastard! I am sorry for the trouble he caused. I do not want our walk to end like this.”
Elizabeth answered with a large smile. “My love, I noticed that he tried to suggest a connection between you and Mary Ann Alton, the present Lady Hothfield. Please do not worry about me. I was silly enough to allow myself to be affected by Wickham’s mischievous words a few weeks ago, and I even quarrelled with you about it.
If I ever fell into the same trap again, I would be a completely ridiculous fool, unworthy of your love. Let us hope this is not the case.”
Darcy gazed at her with heartfelt admiration, closing his arms around her in the middle of the street.
“Your beauty matches your wisdom perfectly, Mrs Darcy, and I could not be more grateful for it. Please allow me to show you into our home. Our walk has ended, but our evening has just begun.”
∞∞∞
They were welcomed by the staff, and Mrs Hamilton informed them dinner would be ready whenever they wished. However, they hurried to their apartments, their faces red and their clothes wet.
Immediately, Miles helped Darcy remove his coat while Molly offered her services to Elizabeth, whose clothes and shoes—thinner than Darcy’s—left her chilled.
The two servants closed the doors between their apartments, and Elizabeth only had time to glimpse Darcy’s intense gaze and his hidden smile.
“Ma’am, I took the liberty of preparing hot water for your bath. The tub is placed in the adjoined room. I hope you approve.”
“Thank you, Molly, it is a perfect arrangement. I really need a hot bath. Mr Darcy and I walked only a few minutes, but it is quite cold outside.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the maid said, glancing at the wet gown. “When should dinner be ready?”
“I am not certain…please have Miles ask Mr Darcy. We had many refreshments during our visits, and I am not hungry.”
“Very well…”
Elizabeth wrapped herself in a thick robe while the servants brought the hot water.
She wondered what her husband was doing and was tempted to enter his room, but there were several servants about, and she felt uncomfortable walking around so improperly attired. Was he taking a bath too?
They were finally home, and they soon would be alone. He had told her all day how much he missed her and how much he wanted to love her. Her skin shivered in anticipation of what would follow. Yes, now she truly knew what to expect, and her eagerness matched his.
He said he knew that she was in some discomfort and that he must be more patient during the first days of their marriage.
But from the previous night, she remembered nothing unpleasant, only the delight, the passion, the tenderness, the overwhelming joy of being united with him, and the happiness—full, deep, and complete.
“It is ready, Mrs Darcy.”
The maid’s voice startled her as though Molly had guessed her thoughts. Of course not—only her husband could. She smiled to herself as she entered the tub and allowed herself to be spoiled by the warmth.
Elizabeth closed her eyes and leant her head back. The small room—with only a table and a couple of chairs—was lit by several candles. There was no fireplace, and it was rather cold, but the hot water made a perfect and most enjoyable combination.
At Longbourn, she rarely had the chance to take a long bath in the tub. With six ladies in the house and only a few servants, it would be impossible to indulge in such delightful activity.
Now she could do whatever she wanted, and all she wanted was to be in the company of her husband as soon as possible. No other delight was as sweet as his presence.
She called for Molly, and no answer came for a few minutes. She thought the maid did not hear, but the door finally opened.
She paled then blushed when she met her husband’s gaze and watched him stepping closer to her.
He was only wearing trousers and a shirt, open at his neck. His eyes darkened while his lips twisted in a smile; his gaze never left hers. She crossed her arms to cover her chest, and he knelt by her tub then gently removed a lock of hair from her brow.
“Did I alarm you?”
She smiled, but her voice was trembling slightly. “No…a little…I expected Molly.”
“I dismissed Molly and Miles for tonight. Dinner is already arranged in my room. Are you hungry?” His thumb brushed over her lips.
“No…are you?” she struggled to reply.
“Yes, very hungry…but not for food…” he whispered close to her ear, and she shivered then turned her head to meet his eyes. Her lips were hastily captured by his.
His hand slid into the hot water and met her hands, still crossed, then stroked them gently. After a brief hesitation, she uncrossed them, and his tender fingers found their way to her soft breasts, claiming their beauty.
Both moaned at the same time, their lips still engaged.
As he knelt by her tub, his left arm encircled her shoulders while his right hand abandoned the sweet capture and travelled lower along her belly, her hips, and then glided along her thighs and slowly between them.
Her body shivered even before she felt the caress inside her, and her mouth fought for air.
His lips allowed her to breathe and moan in delight while spreading soft kisses along her throat and shoulder.
Then he suddenly trapped her mouth again, just as the maddening pleasure from his strokes made her entire body tremble.
His kisses returned to her face, allowing her to resume breathing. His hand still rested on the warm softness and started caressing her legs.
“Oh, William…” she whispered, allowing her eyes to tell him what she wished.
“Come, my love,” he said, gently pulling her out and wrapping her in two large towels.
She briefly thought she should be ashamed to be fully exposed in the full light of so many candles, yet her mind was as weak as were her knees, which refused to support her. But she did not need to either think or walk as his arms carried her into the bedchamber and placed her on the bed.
This room was much darker than the other one although brighter than the previous night. Two candles at each side of the bed and two others, together with the firelight, allowed clear sight of their bodies.
He leant over her, supporting himself on his elbows, then smiled as he caressed her face.