Chapter 22 #2
“Yes, I noticed you are not speaking to us, which is quite strange considering you are in my room,” she replied, and Georgiana covered her mouth with her palm to prevent a peal of laughter.
Facing each other mere inches apart, one of her hands still in his, Elizabeth and Darcy continued to look at each other.
Her cheeks coloured; she was embarrassed by the impropriety of her own behaviour, her eyes sparkling with emotion.
Elizabeth daringly rose on her toes and placed a soft kiss on Darcy’s cheek.
“You do not look like Lady Catherine at all,” she whispered to him tenderly, and Georgiana chuckled while Cassandra burst out laughing.
“Yes he does, but love makes people blind, so you cannot see it,” Cassandra concluded.
Darcy ignored her, and taking Elizabeth’s hand, he lifted it to his lips, his eyes never leaving hers. “Cassandra?”
“Yes, Darcy?”
“You are very annoying.”
“Thank you, Darcy; you are very kind…just like Lady Catherine.” This time Georgiana could not hold back her laughter, and a moment later, both Darcy and Elizabeth had no choice but to return their attention to their companions and join them in their gaiety.
“Darcy?”
“Yes, Cassandra?”
“May I ask you one last question regarding Lady Catherine’s visit?”
“Can I prevent your asking?”
“No, indeed.”
“Then please do.”
“In precisely what kind of conversation were the two of you engaged when Lady Catherine happened upon you in the library?”
∞∞∞
Three days before the wedding, a disaster happened at Longbourn.
Just an hour before dinner, an accident took place in the kitchen and ruined two of the main dishes.
Nobody knew exactly what occurred because Mrs Bennet almost fainted from distress while she blamed first Hill and John, and then the entire staff and, finally, the whole world.
With great effort, Elizabeth and Jane persuaded their mother to rest in her chamber while Hill—tearful and apologising continuously—hurried to prepare a new meal.
“Oh Lizzy, I knew something would happen! What will Mr Darcy say now? He will certainly believe I am not able to manage my own household and that I taught you nothing about these duties.”
“Mama, I am certain Mr Darcy has a good opinion of how well you are managing Longbourn; he has told me so many times. You have absolutely no reason to be distressed for such a small incident.”
“Small incident? We have dinner guests and nothing for dinner!”
“Please calm yourself, Mama. Hill will surely prepare something for us shortly, and to tell you the truth, this delay is quite welcome as I was not hungry at all.”
“Nor am I, Mama.” Jane also attempted to console her mother.
“Oh, I am not worried about you, girls! I am concerned about Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley. They are hungry; I am sure of it.”
“Well, I am certain they will survive another hour or so,” laughed Elizabeth.
“Oh, vexing child, you like to torture me with your inconsiderate jokes! You would do better to find a way to keep your betrothed’s attention before they leave!”
“Do not worry, Mama; I have serious doubts they will consider leaving for that reason.”
“You should take them for a turn in the garden, Lizzy! I noticed Mr Darcy is always willing to take a stroll with you—which is very strange if you ask me! But then again, Mr Darcy has some unusual habits—very similar to yours, Lizzy.”
“Thank you, Mama; I shall follow your advice immediately. I would very much like a walk in the garden. Jane, will you and Mr Bingley accompany us?”
“Yes, I believe so…if mama does not need me any longer.”
“Oh, of course I do not need you, silly child. Go and take care of your betrothed at once.”
Elizabeth grabbed Jane’s hand and hurried from the room. Mrs Bennet continued complaining of her nerves and the lack of understanding from her family.
∞∞∞
“Well, well—you are back. Is Mrs Bennet well?” asked Mr Bennet with obvious amusement.
“She is resting, Papa; I dare say all is well.”
“What extraordinarily good news, Lizzy. So, gentlemen, should we retire to the library for another hour or so? My port is waiting for us.”
Darcy cast a quick glance at Elizabeth while considering how to reply, and she blushed slightly but did not hesitate to intervene. “Papa, Jane and I were thinking that maybe a short walk in the garden would be beneficial…I mean, if Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley would agree to join us.”
For a moment, Mr Bennet was tempted to insist the gentlemen keep him company, but he quickly decided that having fun at the expense of his dearest daughters would have been too cruel.
“Of course you are right, Lizzy. A quick stroll before dinner would be more beneficial than an hour indoors—more beneficial indeed. And I have a book I intend to finish this evening.”
Less than five minutes later, the couples were outside, each lady taking the arm of her betrothed.
“It is a very nice evening.” Bingley started the conversation.
“Yes, very nice, though quite cold,” Darcy agreed instantly, covering Elizabeth’s hand with his palm. Their gloved fingers entwined and Jane, who did not fail to notice the gesture, blushed violently.
“Miss Bennet, Bingley—would you please excuse us for a few minutes? There is something of great importance about which I would like to speak privately with Elizabeth.”
His request took the other couple by surprise, but Darcy did not wait for an answer before he directed Elizabeth to take an alternate path toward the back of the house.
Elizabeth started to laugh. “That was not very gentlemanlike of you, William—not to mention most improper. Poor Mr Bingley looked quite shocked, and Jane was equally distressed.”
“My dear, I finally have the chance to spend a few minutes alone with you and do not intend to waste them worrying about Bingley’s state of mind. As for Miss Bennet, I am truly sorry if I offended her, but I hope Bingley will succeed in alleviating her distress.”
Darcy took her hand and entwined his fingers with hers again while she leaned against him, and they continued to walk through the back garden. “Let us pause here.”
“We would be completely unchaperoned here, sir. Not to mention that it is already dark, so our situation is even more improper,” she said in mocking reproach.
“Yes, I am aware of that,” he said as he sat and gently pulled her near him.
She laughed. “You seem to give little consideration to my reputation, sir.”
“We are to be married in less than three days, madam. I dare say your reputation will be just fine.”
“Well, it depends,” she managed to reply before his lips captured hers in a tender, gentle kiss.
“You know,” Elizabeth said some time later when she was able to breathe normally again, “Mama insisted I should distract your attention before dinner is ready. She was afraid you would be upset and leave.”
“Well, I am prepared to report to Mrs Bennet that you performed your duty admirably.”
“Thank you sir,” she whispered against his lips and then daringly engaged his attention once more.
“Elizabeth, I confess I can scarcely wait to be married and leave all this behind.”
“I feel the same,” she admitted, suddenly shy. “Is it difficult for you to handle my noisy family?”
“No, no I am not speaking of your family; not at all! But I would be grateful to be able to move to our home, with nobody around except you; I have to say, I am forever indebted to Bingley for hosting us at Netherfield all this time, but living with his sisters is difficult to bear despite Bingley’s kindness. ”
“Oh, I am sorry.” Elizabeth spoke sympathetically, but she could not help laughing.
“However, I am confident that you may compensate any unpleasant moments with other more pleasant company. You have Georgiana and Cassandra—and the colonel—to keep you entertained.”
“Yes, very entertained, indeed. You should pity me, you know. I am grateful Cassandra is making a full recovery, but she has become more cruel than before. She finds the greatest enjoyment in having fun at my expense with David and my own sister joining her.”
“Why would they make fun of you?”
“Well, it appears there is nothing more humorous than a single man awaiting his wedding day.”
“I see,” she said tenderly. “But at least they are making fun of Mr Bingley, too, are they not?”
“No indeed—at least not as much. It seems I am the main beneficiary of their teasing. But the prospect of having you as my wife is worth any torture I have to endure,” he said as she laughed.
“I have to say I am amazed, sir, seeing how much you have changed since we met last autumn. You are even more handsome when you smile, and you have become a true expert at teasing.”
“Even more so in being teased,” he admitted with amusement. He removed the glove from her hand, and his lips gently kissed her fingers. “I have changed, Elizabeth, because you were worthy of a better man.”
“No, indeed! There is no better man than you are, and I am happy to say you did not change at all in essentials. You just smile more and are less proper and less restrained than I believed you to be.”
His lips were still caressing her fingers and her other hand gently stroked his face.
Their present position on the bench soon became uncomfortable and—to Elizabeth’s astonishment—Darcy put his arms around her and lifted her, placing her on his lap.
She withdrew from him briefly so their eyes could meet, and then her lips searched for his again, and her body pressed against him until she felt her breasts against the solid wall of his chest. Darcy pulled away a few inches, unbuttoned his coat, and embraced Elizabeth even more forcefully.
“I want to feel you as close to me as I can,” he said a moment before their lips joined once more.
“William,” she whispered breathlessly while his lips moved along her face. “Please unbutton my coat, too…”