Chapter 6 #4
He watched her cheeks redden, and she trembled. But, raising her head, she cast a look of ineffable tenderness on him and whispered, “Yes.” She gave a delighted smile. “I am so glad we met here and I could be restored to your good opinion.”
The strong emotions of his delighted soul made him grasp her hands.
“Your agreement does not restore you to the empire over my heart, for you always had a claim over me whether you knew it or not, whether you loved me or not. And all I have wished for and aimed at is the possession of your heart in return—if I could ever endeavour to earn it,” he insisted.
“Your reproofs at Hunsford made a deep impression on me.”
She curled her fingers around his. “I was far from expecting them to make so strong an impression. I had not the smallest idea of their being ever felt in such a way.”
“You taught me a lesson, hard indeed at first, but most advantageous. By you, I was properly humbled. And whilst I hoped only to lessen your ill opinion of me once we met here, a part of me had other hopes within half an hour of dancing with you at the assembly.”
Elizabeth smiled. “I doubted you still cared for me after what I said. And then I wondered if our mutual liking and the delicacy of our new friendship would be enough to convince you that what I feel for you is not some fickle infatuation, but a sincere love.”
“You do love me?” Was her tender affection truly his?
She dropped one of his hands and rested her palm against his cheek. “Allow me to say with all sincerity and honour that you have, by the most persuasive power that you alone possess, inspired my heart with love. I love you dearly.”
Her touch was distracting, and his body was now at odds with his head. She was still speaking, but all he wanted to do was kiss her again. But after doubting what her feelings were, he could happily hear her talk of them for longer.
“I did not know how to show you that you have entirely captivated me. Sitting on your lap in the game was the manoeuvring of a desperate woman,” she added with a charming smile whilst leaning closer to him in emphasis.
She truly looked overjoyed, and he rested a hand on her hip.
“Your letter first made me think better of you, and then all you did for Jane and my friends improved my opinion, but since meeting you here, you have complete dominion over my heart, my dear Darcy.”
It thrilled him to know he had captivated her heart after all. “We are not playing a game with forfeits now,” he murmured, “and now that you are promised to me, I want to kiss you again.”
“Please, please kiss me again.”
He was powerless to resist her whispered plea.
Darcy lowered his head and gently swept his lips over hers.
Elizabeth’s hands moved around his waist as she gave a small sigh before kissing him back, her lips boldly exploring his mouth.
Pleasure rippled through him, and he gathered her face in his hands and kissed her deeply.
Every movement was careful and slow. His earlier kiss had been impulsive and driven by need.
Now his mouth moved against hers with all the purpose and passion that had been building for months.
She stared at him with dark eyes and a distracted, beautiful smile. He pressed another firm kiss to her lips. “I love you, Elizabeth. You have my complete devotion, and everything I have is yours.”
She hugged him close, laughing with joy, and he revelled in the feel of her against him, her breath tickling his skin and heating every inch of him.
He took her by the hand and he led her to the sofa, where they spent the next half an hour talking of their future happiness, interspersed with lingering kisses.
Eventually he sighed, taking her hand in his and kissing her fingers. “We ought to return to the drawing room. It does not appear right to be here all alone, with no one knowing that we are engaged.”
“Certainly not if I am wrapped in your arms, as I am now wont to do.”
“I don’t want to let you go.”
“I don’t want to be let go.”
He kissed her again, savouring the warm softness of her lips. “When do we tell the others?”
For the first time since they confessed their feelings, Elizabeth sounded hesitant. “Miss Metcalfe and her mother claim you, and will be infuriated to learn not only have they lost ‘the rich, dark-haired man,’ but that they lost him to the pretentious upstart foisted on them by Lady Catherine.”
“My dearest, I have been no one’s rightful property but yours since you came to Netherfield to tend to Jane.”
She warmly kissed him, her tongue entwining with his, and it was another few moments before they continued the subject.
“Lady Metcalfe may be my chaperon,” she said, catching her breath, “but she is only concerned in Julia’s interests, which seem to be marrying a rich man before her sisters come out.
Our engagement will make them both impossible to bear. ”
“Then our business is best kept private. Besides, it is right to speak to your parents before we make it a general concern. With your permission, I will write to your father, and you can include a letter of your own.”
“Oh, how I wish my former opinions had been more reasonable, my expressions more moderate.” She sighed and settled farther into his arms. “Yes, that is best to be done, but I do not anticipate the discussions that will follow. I am afraid no one in my family likes you, save for Jane.”
He thought, perhaps, as far as Mrs Bennet went, that his fortune and consequence might do away with all of her dislike, but it would be unkind to say so. Pressing a kiss into her hair, he asked, “Can you convince them I am the object of your choice?”
“Most assuredly.”
“And can you enumerate with energy all my good qualities and assure them of your attachment to me?”
She sat up to look him in the eye. “Of course, and I am determined to have you, no matter what they say.”
“Then I say we write to your family by tomorrow’s post. Tell them to expect us on Monday, and with their permission, I will steal you away from Lady Metcalfe and return you to Longbourn myself to speak to your father in person.
We will wait until we hear his consent before we say anything to the others at Woodcote. ”
“I agree, and in general I think we will agree on all points, but are you certain we must go back to the drawing room?”
He smiled. “You can claim to be too fatigued, but I will return.”
“I am surprised you would want to.”
“I can better face the strangers and the flirting and the vulgar talk and games knowing that in a month I will be married to you.”
She laughed, beaming all the while, and her happiness charmed him. “I am overcome with love and joy!” He smiled back, but her eyes searched his face. “You are happy, are you not?”
He felt the same, even if he did not show it the way she did. “Elizabeth,” he said in a tone of wonder, “I have no reason to feel the pain of an unreturned passion any longer, so I am extraordinarily happy even if I do not show it.”
Apparently, she had to kiss him for that, and soon their arms were back around one another and her body was pressed against his.
The clock struck the hour, and he pulled back, breathless.
It was far too late to be here with her alone, certainly if they were to keep their engagement private until her parents consented.
“Our plans will keep us apart during the day tomorrow. Will you meet me in the garden in the morning before we go to the races?”
Elizabeth hummed an agreeing sound. “I would like to walk before I sit in the carriage all day. I suppose you could join me, if you find my company tolerable.”
After a deep parting kiss to show her how tolerable he found her, Darcy left her in the library. He crossed over the entrance hall on his way to the drawing room and leant against the railing to settle his mind before joining the others.
Someone here could bend over and see where he and Elizabeth had stood. There was no smattering of pottery directly beneath the empty table that had held the heavy vase. The largest cluster of shards was about a yard to the right and a little forward, where he and Elizabeth had been standing.
It had not fallen, but was thrown.