Chapter 9 #2
“I am sorry, William,” she said, glancing down at her shoes on the carpet and thinking about what to do next. “This is a lovely room and very cosy. This may very well be my favourite room in the house.”
“Do not apologise, dearest,” he said, watching her for a moment longer.
Her foot peeked out from under her skirt, and the sight of it enthralled him.
He forced his attention back to her face and the conversation.
“I am glad you are comfortable in Darcy House, and I look forward to spending evenings with you in a similar attitude. Perhaps after we are married, you will allow me to glance at your lovely feet, even hold them in my lap while we both read.” Again, she blushed, but a glance revealed she was smiling at his words.
“Since we will be married tomorrow, might you help me now with putting my slippers back on?” she asked with a look that was somehow demur in its boldness. He knelt in front of her and picked up her slippers.
“Your feet are so small, love,” he said huskily.
She carefully unfolded her legs and placed her feet on the floor before her, lifting one at a time as he gently put the slippers on her feet.
Moving slowly and glancing around him, he leaned forward and captured her lips in a gentle kiss.
Drawing back for a moment, he watched her, eyes still closed.
She sighed softly, and he claimed her lips again, this time pouring more of his love into the kiss.
A few moments later, they both drew back, needing to breathe.
Darcy helped Elizabeth stand and then reseated them on a settee nearby. Sitting closer than was proper, he held her in his arms and whispered words of love punctuated by light kisses.
“Come now, you two,” Richard said when he entered the library. “We are all gathered in the drawing room, wondering what could keep the two of you.” He winked as he spoke.
Darcy glanced at the clock, arched his brow, and retorted, “Dinner is not for another thirty minutes, Richard. I would be surprised if anyone is in the drawing room now.”
Richard laughed. “You may be right, cousin, but my mother is looking for the pair of you, and I offered to find you. You best be glad it was me and not Georgiana who found the two of you cuddled up like that before you are married.” He looked sternly at his cousin, but it did not last long.
“You are besotted, cousin. I never thought I would see the day a mere slip of a girl felled the great Fitzwilliam Darcy.” He laughed heartily at the scowl his cousin directed his way.
Darcy stood and assisted Elizabeth to stand, placing her small hand on his arm and pressing it tightly to his side. Whispering a quick “I love you” into her ear, he smirked at his cousin, brushing past him to lead his intended to the drawing room.
Richard laughed at his cousin and followed them from the library.
“Look who I found, Mother!” he exclaimed as they entered the room.
Greetings were exchanged, and all four took a seat and discussed some final details related to tomorrow’s wedding ceremony.
When the Gardiners arrived and Georgiana and Jane came downstairs, the conversation shifted to different topics until dinner was announced.
Deciding to ignore protocol on the eve of his wedding, Darcy escorted his almost-bride into the dining room and seated Elizabeth beside himself, brushing a kiss on her hand as he sat and allowed the others to sit where they would.
The conversation flowed easily around the table, and no one commented on the couple’s occasional distraction or the hand-holding beneath the table.
When dinner was over, Darcy chose to forgo the separation of the sexes.
As most of the group went to the drawing room, he escorted Elizabeth and Mr Gardiner to his study to review the marriage settlement.
As they entered, Darcy offered drinks, and at Gardiner’s nod, he poured him a small glass of brandy.
“Mr Gardiner, Elizabeth, I would like you both to peruse the marriage settlement and ask any questions you have,” he said after a moment.
It was silent in his study for several minutes as both read the documents.
Darcy watched Elizabeth’s face as she read, and a look of astonishment spread over her face.
“Mr Darcy, William, you cannot possibly mean to settle so much on me,” she cried. “I have no dowry to speak of and do not need so much. Fifty thousand pounds is too much, sir.”
“You are worth more, my Elizabeth,” he said tenderly. “As Mrs Darcy, you will have different expectations placed on you, and your pin money will allow you to participate in charitable endeavours both in town and at Pemberley.”
She nodded but was clearly surprised by the amounts settled on her.
After a question or two, Gardiner finished reading and signed the three copies Darcy put in front of him.
Elizabeth signed, and the signatures were sanded and allowed to dry.
“Elizabeth, Gardiner is already aware of this, but you should know that in addition to Pemberley, which brings in ten thousand pounds per year, I own two smaller estates, bringing in an additional five thousand pounds yearly. With investments and other sources of income, my annual income is a little over twenty thousand pounds. So, you see, I can easily afford the amount I have settled on you, and I will likely add to it throughout our marriage.”
“I am not marrying you for your wealth or status, William,” she said forcefully.
He smiled at her gently. “I am well aware of that, my love. I would have done this for my wife, whoever she was, but I am more than pleased to do this for you. You are my other half, my dear, and when we wed, all I have will become yours. You will notice that if something happens to me before we have a son old enough to care for Pemberley, I leave everything to you to hold for our child or children. I fully intend you to be my equal in everything and will share with you the responsibility of caring for our estates and investments with all those entail.”
She looked at him with tears in her eyes, which concerned him until she flashed a brilliant smile. “Thank you, William,” she said softly, losing herself in his eyes. Mr Gardiner, recognising the couple needed a moment, stepped into the hallway, leaving the door slightly ajar.
In the study, Darcy took Elizabeth’s hand and knelt before her so they were eye to eye.
“Sweetheart, we have not spoken much about the letter you sent me, but your intelligence is one of the many things I love about you.
At Netherfield, I was drawn to you, and the more I listened to you, the more impressed I was.
Nearly everyone spoke well of you, and I realise now that they were taking me to task over my slighting you at that first assembly.
While riding in the mornings, I often saw you visiting tenants, including a few from Netherfield.
If I am not mistaken, you nearly ran Longbourn as the steward told me of decisions you made the few times I spoke to him.
I was very impressed by your ability to manage Longbourn, which is another thing I love about you.
“I have always wanted a wife who could be my partner in all things and not just a hostess or a … a trophy on my arm. Marriage is a partnership; I will help you carry your burdens, and you will do the same for me. We may have different roles in our marriage, but I want you to be a part of all I do.”
She leaned over to kiss his lips lightly.
“Thank you, William, for your faith in me. I, too, have imagined marriage as a partnership where our mutual purpose was to work together to improve the lives of those who rely on us. I would not be happy in a marriage where I was merely a trophy or a hostess. I want to walk beside you, share your burdens, and help you. I told you about my parent’s marriage and how I never wanted that for myself.
I am still slightly anxious–I have heard Pemberley is rather grand–but with you beside me, I have faith our marriage will be a happy partnership, and we will strive to better the estate for our children and grandchildren. ”
His large hand caressed her face. “We will make mistakes, Elizabeth. We are both strong-willed, and I do not doubt we will occasionally argue, but we must never allow that to come between us. I remember my parents arguing rarely, but they never let it separate them. Father told me before he died that he and Mother agreed to resolve any issues as soon as possible and, most importantly, never go to sleep angry.” He laughed briefly.
“In fact, he said that on two or three occasions early in their marriage, he told me they were up until the early morning hours because it took them that long to resolve an argument as neither was willing to concede to the other. Eventually, they would realise their argument was silly, and they made up, falling asleep in each other’s arms.” William coloured as he remembered the method by which his father said they made up.
Elizabeth noted his high colour. “What makes you blush so, William?”
His face burned. “My dear Elizabeth, I can only tell you he said they made up in a method common to husbands and wives. In the future, when we argue, I hope to employ the same method, but for now, my inquisitive bride, we should leave that subject for both our sakes.”
It occurred to Elizabeth his probable meaning, and she coloured as well, looking down briefly.
Suddenly realising they were alone, William pulled Elizabeth into his lap and kissed her deeply.
After a moment, he gentled the kiss before stopping and pulling away slightly, pressing his foreheads to hers.
“Tomorrow, Elizabeth,” he whispered. “Tomorrow, we will be able to kiss like that and not stop.” He suddenly laughed, remembering his conversation with Richard earlier in the day.
“What is so funny, William?” she enquired.