Chapter 2.9
The sun shone through the windows, tickling his face, and Darcy woke, observing that the rain had finally stopped after falling savagely the entire night.
The cottage was warmed by the strong fire that he struggled to keep alive through the night.
The bed was rather small and not very comfortable, but he would gladly sleep anywhere if she were by his side.
He breathed deeply, intoxicated by the scent of the woman who was sleeping soundly in his arms. His heart was so full of love for her that it became heavy.
He took a moment to admire her although he knew too well the feeling and the taste of every inch of her silky skin.
Her beauty seemed to grow every day, as did his love for her.
She belonged to him just as he belonged to her.
Her place was within his arms, in his mind, and in his soul as he had told her the day he proposed.
As with other mornings, he was tempted to awaken her only to meet her eyes, enjoy her smiles, and hear her voice teasing him.
And, just like other mornings—he did not do it.
No matter how much he wished one thing, her wants and needs were more important to him.
And if he had to admire her peaceful sleep in silence for another few hours—so be it.
There was no rush to leave unlike the first time they were there.
Darcy was pleased with the idea of arranging the cottage and returning to spend a night remembering sweet yesterdays and the passionate present. His reward had been even more delightful than he hoped—like every moment he had spent with her since falling in love with her fine eyes.
He gazed steadily at her, marvelling once again at the happiness she had brought to his life. With a smile, he noticed goose bumps on her arms, and he knew it was because of his intense stare. Her body was so accustomed to his adoration that he did not even have to touch her to arouse a response.
Her head rested on his torso, her hair caressing their bare skin. With a shiver, he felt her lips upon his heart and her warm fingers travelling along his arm. He tightened his arms around her then stroked her dark, loose locks. Her eyes lifted to meet his.
“Good morning, my love.”
“Good morning, my beautiful wife.”
“The rain has stopped, hasn’t it? It seems a lovely day,” she said, placing another kiss on his chest. Then she suddenly rose, and her eyes widened in surprise. “Oh William, look—a rainbow! It looks so close that I feel I could touch it!”
She abandoned his protective embrace, and pulling the blanket around her naked body, she hurried to the window. He followed and closed his arms around her again.
Indeed, a stunning rainbow fell upon the creek through the blooming trees.
She stretched her hand along the window, and said merrily, teasing him while her eyes sparkled with tears of happiness, “Look—it is as if the rainbow is my bracelet. Is this another gift for me? Did you buy this rainbow, Mr Darcy? Is this another part of your surprise?”
“I would gladly give you the rainbow, the sun, the rain, and the entire world, my beloved Elizabeth,” he answered, cupping her face with tender hands.
“I know you would, my darling husband. But I need nothing except your love…and your entire being, and I know I already have it. I shall leave this rainbow where it is, but you must promise me another one—at Pemberley. Soon.”
“I promise. Very soon!”
He sealed his promise with another passionate kiss, which turned into many more and delayed their stay in the cottage until late afternoon.
It was almost dinnertime when Elizabeth and Darcy finally returned to Netherfield after a long and nostalgic walk.
They departed from the place so dear to their hearts with sadness mixed with joy and with the hope of returning someday.
They knew, though, that in the next months—and probably the next years—they would likely spend little time if any in Hertfordshire.
It was perhaps time to say a tender goodbye to the past and step trustingly toward the future.
∞∞∞
The next two days flew with the expected agitation. Even Becky declared she had had “enough of this marriage business” and preferred to play outside or seek the company of Darcy, who was usually in the most peaceful parts of the house.
The day before the wedding, it was impossible to carry on a normal conversation at Longbourn. Therefore, Bingley did not call on them—for the first time in more than six weeks. He remained at Netherfield to prepare for the next day’s event.
Mr Bennet took the opportunity to tease his wife, suggesting that the gentleman might have changed his mind and run away while he still had time to do so.
Mrs Bennet was about to faint, but she postponed it since she was too busy supervising the food for the wedding breakfast. However, she did complain for more than an hour about Mr Bennet having no compassion for her poor nerves.
Jane Bennet forced herself to take a distressing farewell from her old room in which she was about to sleep for the last time.
She carefully arranged her luggage, brushing with shy fingers the exquisite nightgown she planned to wear on her wedding night.
She turned to her sister with a restrained smile.
“Lizzy, this is so beautiful…”
“I am glad you like it, dearest. May I help you with anything?”
“No…I was only thinking that…can you stay with me a little longer?”
“Of course, I would love to. Is anything troubling you?”
“Nothing especially…I just wish to talk to you, as we used to…away from the others. I am ashamed to admit it, but I am a little tired. I am glad everything will calm down starting tomorrow.”
“I imagine, my dear. But it was worth it, was it not? Just imagine how happy you will be with the man you love.”
“Oh, I know, Lizzy. Sometimes I wonder how I will be able to bear such bliss.”
Elizabeth laughed and kissed her cheeks. “I ask myself the same thing every single day! And my felicity will now be completed by yours. It is so fortunate that you decided to wed earlier. It would be much worse if you had to wait another six weeks.”
“It is Charles’s merit entirely; he convinced me.
He anticipated all the bustle and restlessness that would precede the wedding day, and he believed it would be easier for me to shorten it.
Besides, he made the point that you and Mr Darcy fell in love much later than we did and married much sooner. ”
Elizabeth laughed again. “He is right, but do not believe he did so out of generosity. He surely is eager to have you as his wife as soon as possible and to spend every day and every night with you.”
“I know…and so am I.”
“Do you remember when we used to talk about marrying someone we could respect and care for? And here we are—having much more than that. I always hoped to marry for love, but I confess I completely understood what love truly meant only after I wedded William. You will see for yourself, dearest.”
“I am so grateful, Lizzy, that I cannot stop praising the Lord for everything that happened to us. I only hope that I will be the wife Charles deserves. And that he will not be disappointed—”
“Jane, that is silly. How could he be disappointed?”
“It is just that…I am thinking of tomorrow…you know what I mean…”
“Oh, I see. Your wedding day—or rather your wedding night—worries you.”
“It does. It is not that I do not know. Aunt Gardiner spoke with both of us a long time ago. But I still wonder how things will truly be. I know Charles is so anxious, and I am afraid I will not be as he expects. You must think I am silly…”
“I was nervous too. But there is nothing to worry about, believe me. You must trust your husband and be honest with him. You should let him know what you wish, what you desire.”
Elizabeth paused a moment, felt her cheeks burning, but continued daringly.
“Jane, I cannot find the words to describe how wonderful love can be. How much joy and delight and pleasure you will feel in your husband’s arms. More than you imagine.
And you have nothing else to do but allow him to prove his affection.
His eagerness will soon be matched by yours, I am sure. ”
“Lizzy, you are teasing me.” Jane smiled tearfully, her cheeks crimson. “Please do not make fun of me.”
“I am not. Pray tell me, have you and Mr Bingley—I mean Charles—shared any affection? I would imagine so, considering what I saw when he proposed to you.”
“Lizzy!” Jane cried, shocked and embarrassed, which only made Elizabeth laugh.
“Do not answer if you do not wish to, but keep in mind that everything you feel when you are in his intimate company will be ten times better.”
“Lizzy!” Elizabeth saw her beloved sister staring at her, eyes wide open, incredulous and distressed. Then Jane lowered her eyes, breathed deeply, and looked at her sister again.
“What do you mean ‘ten times better’? Surely, you are exaggerating.”
Elizabeth laughed harder.
“Not at all. You may consider me the most wanton woman alive, but I admit that I look forward to every evening when I can be alone with my husband. And when we are at our home alone, we do not even need to wait for the evening to come. It is more difficult while we are at Netherfield.”
“Lizzy! Surely, this is not—you mean that you and Mr Darcy…William… share a bed every night? Are you not teasing me?”
“I am telling the truth. Let us speak again in a few days. You will not be equally surprised by then.”
“Oh, Lizzy…” Jane remained silent and puzzled, glancing at her sister then at the fireplace.
“We did break propriety several times. We kissed while we walked in the garden but nothing more. It would not have been possible with so many people around us. But it was so pleasant! I dreamt of it many times, and I wondered…and now that you tell me…”