Chapter 14
Netherfield and Longbourn were two houses in chaotic disorder. With each day that brought the ball closer, agitation grew and brought Darcy to the edge of his tolerance—and beyond it.
Repeatedly he marvelled—with enormous gratitude—at Elizabeth’s wisdom in keeping their engagement secret a little longer. However, his state did not go unnoticed, so Elizabeth, Lady Cassandra, Mr Bennet, and even his own sister found great enjoyment in teasing him.
The families spent a good deal of time together. The Longbourn inhabitants were invited to dine at Netherfield, or Darcy, Bingley, Lady Cassandra, and Georgiana had dinner at Longbourn.
Georgiana’s reaction toward the Bennets had been a revelation to Darcy.
They were introduced to her the same day Mr Bennet gave his consent, and she was clearly overwhelmed by Mrs Bennet and Miss Catherine’s loud exuberance.
However, in the three days that passed since then, Georgiana became increasingly comfortable with them and seemed to enjoy and even seek their company.
She appeared at ease with both Miss Catherine and Miss Mary and found something to talk about with each of them.
She also appeared to bear Mrs Bennet’s attention quite well.
Mr Bennet complimented Darcy more than once on his sister’s impeccable manners and then teased him saying that the girl had taken all the sweetness in the family and left the aloofness to Darcy.
Lady Cassandra also appeared to have a wonderful time in the midst of the commotion.
She was the only one who managed to temper Mrs Bennet, and she also spent time in conversation with Mr Bennet; the gentleman declared to Darcy, “Since you have stolen all Lizzy’s attention for yourself, thank God you brought Lady Cassandra so I have somebody with sense to talk to. ”
Yes, Mr Bennet was right; he had indeed stolen all of Elizabeth’s attention.
Four days had passed since he had asked for her hand, and they had been four days of complete and utter bliss, despite the annoying agitation around him.
He knew he was selfish and should have been happy for Bingley—and he was—but he wanted nothing but peace and tranquillity in which to enjoy every moment in Elizabeth’s company.
Yes, he was selfish. He was so selfish that he was increasingly tempted to elope with her to Gretna Green and return two days later satisfyingly married.
Perfect plan, he thought, leaning against the chair’s back with his eyes closed.
Of course, eloping was not an option; upon their return, Mr Bennet, Georgiana and Cassandra in all likelihood would kill him. But the idea was sorely tempting!
“You seem pleased with yourself, sir!” His recollections were happily disturbed by the sound of a well-known voice, and his gaze rested with utter delight on Elizabeth’s smiling eyes.
“Have I interrupted you? You seem to be covered by a mountain of letters.” Elizabeth appeared in the doorway and moved toward him. He reached his hand to her and she took it gently as they sat together on the sofa. Their fingers entwined together, caressing one another.
“No indeed, I have done little but think of you.” His free hand caressed a lock of hair near her ear.
“You are a most considerate betrothed, sir. You always say the most pleasant things to flatter me.”
“I only speak the truth, Elizabeth.” His head lowered, and she was not surprised to feel his lips on hers.
The kiss started gently, both of them attentive to any noise that might indicate an intrusion, but after a few moments, everything but their closeness seemed to vanish around them.
When his tongue, soft, warm and daring, slid between her lips, she gasped with more delight than surprise as her mouth opened to admit him.
One of her hands encircled his neck and the other his waist as she leaned against him.
His hands travelled along her arms, down to her spine and up to her nape in a torturous exploration.
His touch was a pleasant, unbearable torment, assaulting all rational thought, which kept reminding her that her entire family was around and anyone might discover their shockingly improper interlude.
A moment later, he stopped and withdrew his lips enough to stare into her eyes.
She tried to swallow and regain her breathing; his breath was no calmer then hers. “Elizabeth?”
“Yes?” Their voices sounded so strange that they both chuckled, struggling to regain their calm.
“Would you like some water?”
She withdrew her head a few inches to look at him in disbelief. His countenance seemed quite disturbed as he forced himself to smile.
“Yes. Thank you.” She returned his smile.
He came back with two glasses of water, handed one to her, and then sat beside her again. “So—you abandoned the others? You needed exceptional skills to escape from them, I imagine.”
“Not at all,” she laughed. “Nobody noticed my leaving; they are all too busy with…something.”
“You came to see me?” he asked.
“No,” she teased him, “I simply lost myself in the house and entered the library by mistake.”
“I see,” he answered, a mischievous smile on his lips. “As you did last year on your first day at Netherfield when you happened upon me in the billiard room?”
“Yes, quite the same,” she answered with laughing eyes at the remembrance of those days.
“I have missed you, Elizabeth,” Before she had time to reply, he hurried to his feet.
“Could you wait for me here a few minutes? I will speak to my man; I want to be sure we will have a little privacy.” She only nodded in surprise, wondering how his servant would assure their privacy.
However, she did not worry about that. She trusted him to do the right thing, as always.
Elizabeth rose, began pacing the room and then stopped in front of the window.
Recollections of the days she had spent at Netherfield the previous autumn were vivid, and once more, she frowned at the notion that she could have misapprehended him so profoundly.
Now that she had the chance to know him better—to appreciate his character and enjoy his love—she suffered to think how easily she could have lost her chance of happiness forever.
Now she was certain she never would have been able to love another man the way she loved him, to give herself completely and to be eager to share everything.
She did not notice Darcy’s return and startled, feeling his warm breath on her nape.
“Elizabeth, is everything well?”
“Yes…I was just thinking of you…”
“Any particular thoughts?” He encircled her with his arms, and she leaned back against him.
“I was thinking about last year. Do you remember the day we spent an entire half an hour in the library and you did not speak a word to me?”
“Of course I remember. I remember every moment I spent in your company, Elizabeth. And yes, that occasion is quite fresh in my memory—for I did nothing but stare at you.”
“You did? I was certain you purposely ignored me completely. Your only interest seemed to be your book.”
“Well, it appears I was quite proficient in deceiving you about the nature of my interest. Such a fool I have been…”
He held her tighter, and she entwined her hands with his; they remained that way for a long time, and she only murmured, “We have been a couple of fools…
“So,” she changed the topic, not allowing such emotions to change their disposition, “may I be of some help with all these letters? You looked quite overwhelmed.”
He smiled and brought her hand to his lips. “You are right; I am a little overwhelmed. I have many things unsolved from the past few months and others remained unsettled when I unexpectedly left Derbyshire a month ago.”
The tone of his voice was carefree, but instantly he felt her tensing in his embrace and silently condemned himself for his unfortunate statement. She turned to face him, and her hands slowly lifted to cup his face.
“I am sorry that I caused you so many problems…”
“Lizzy…I am sorry to have mentioned those events again. I would not have you apologising for the past ever again. You most promise me that—
“You called me Lizzy.” Her voice was soft as she looked at him with wide eyes.
Yes, I did…Lizzy,” he whispered again, and she leaned forward to steal her name gently from his mouth with her lips.
“William, I do have a question…and I would be grateful if you would tell me the truth.”
He nodded in agreement, and she continued, obviously embarrassed.
“I have wondered about your involvement in the arrangement that ended with Lydia’s marriage.
Mr Wickham had many debts, I am certain.
I also know he would not have married Lydia without compensation; he is no fool when it comes to his own benefit.
But suddenly everything was solved: his financial situation improved miraculously, and he was offered a new assignment. Are you the one who paid for all this?”
He looked at her for a few moments, and the change in his countenance was obvious. Then he averted his eyes and answered briefly: “Yes.”
“Yes?” Her breathing stopped at the confirmation of her suspicions. “So you…you left your home and your friends to search for Lydia…then you had to convince him…to offer him money to marry her. Dear God, what a shame…”
“Elizabeth, look at me please.” She did not obey, so he lifted her pale, tearful face toward him.
“My love, you asked me a question, and my answer only pained you. That is precisely why I did not want you to be told about—
“It was not fair for you to bear so many expenses, so much distress, so much trouble…”
“No, it was not fair to have so much trouble because of Wickham, but that must not be your concern. I cannot blame your sister for what happened; she was but a silly, young girl ensnared by a scoundrel with nice manners. Unfortunately, she will have to pay for her imprudence as she must share her life with him.”