Chapter 11 #2
“I saw how Mr. Butler gazed at you and how much you seemed to enjoy his company. I proposed because I could not abide the idea of you being with anyone but me. I dreaded you having second thoughts about marrying me so I kept my sentiments to myself. I feared you would be repulsed by my touch and reject a taciturn man with a scarred face and a bad leg. Then I began to wonder when you would realize you did not truly care for me. When I saw you in church yesterday, your beauty took my breath away, but my ridiculous pride would not allow me to show you how I felt.”
She turned her head and looked into Darcy’s eyes.
“I was too frightened to talk to you about us. We are both responsible for our misunderstandings—neither of us had the courage to speak honestly. I have loved you with all my heart for a very long time, but my greatest fear was that ours was to be a marriage of friends, of two lonely people who sought a compatible spouse. When we were alone together after the breakfast yesterday, I watched you and saw nothing but apathy in your eyes. Mrs. Hopkins told me the stronger your love is, the more painful is its loss. I had to get away from you so I came upstairs because my heart was broken. I was certain we had made a terrible mistake. All I could think about was how quickly I could leave here and spare you the pain of resenting me more and more every day. As soon as you came into this room everything changed. I cannot explain it. The room had a brilliant radiance, and although you had not yet spoken those words to me, I felt the power of your love.”
A profound sense of elation continued in Darcy’s breast with her expression of the similar sense of the magic they had experienced. “I had those same sensations before I took you in my arms. As long as our love continues to grow, it matters not how long this enchantment lasts.”
“Do you believe the change in our physical appearance will only be temporary?”
He leaned across the bed to kiss her. “Every day since our first meeting in the rose garden, I have admired your brilliant mind, your beauty, and the compassion you showed for my mother’s labour of love.
You are forever a part of me=, and I shall always regret I did not tell you what was in my heart months ago.
I allowed my arrogance to keep my love for you locked deep within me, but that all ended last night.
When we opened our hearts to each other, my life began.
Mr. Martin told me that true love must be within me and now I understand what he meant.
You have brought me out of a very dark place and captured my heart with bonds that will never break. ”
“We cannot change the mistakes we made in the past. I suppose I must learn to be content with being more joyful than I have ever been. Nothing, nothing will ever change the way I feel about you and I promise to love you more every day. Do you believe me?”
“Yes, I do. Our love will grow and deepen every day.” Darcy rose and placed the breakfast tray on a table.
“What are you doing? We just started to eat.”
“There are certain things more important than food. For now, I need to show my wife how much more I love her today than I did yesterday.”
“What a fine idea,” his wife murmured. He could not help himself and smothered her lips with a loving kiss.
* * *
Later that day
Elizabeth was wrapped in Darcy’s arms as they took a rest from celebrating their love. “What are you thinking about? You have the strangest expression on your face.”
“You are looking at a man who never dreamt love could feel like this. There are no words to describe how you have changed me. I have lived my life in strict regulation and adherence to family traditions. From the first time I met Lady Beatrice, I knew she was not someone I could ever love. I reconciled myself to the idea that she and I would have a disappointing marriage of convenience and that I would live a lonely life. Last year, if I had been told I would be married to a woman I love with all my heart, a woman not of the ton, I would have laughed at the absurdity. I have always enjoyed the material things my wealth brought me, but your heart, your mind, and your love are the greatest gifts I could ever ask for.”
“Your gift to me is the same if being married to me makes you happy.”
Darcy turned to face his wife. “You have no idea how much I love—” His words were stopped by the presence of her lips on his.
Time passed, and he eventually took a reprieve from their kisses.
“I almost lost you because I was so determined to fight what was in my heart. The day you came to the cottage in your new gown, you looked so beautiful. I wished to compliment your loveliness, but the words were stuck in my throat, so I left the room. Since our first talk about books, I have dreamt about your lavender scent every night. We have been married for one day and I know I can never spend another moment without you beside me. You are as much a part of me as my own heart.”
“No more regrets, my love. Last night our two hearts became one and nothing can ever change that.”
* * *
The room was lit by the low light of the fire. “Fitzwilliam?”
“Mm.” Darcy was gently running his fingers up and down his wife’s unclothed back.
“Fitzwilliam, I want to talk to you, and you are distracting me.”
“That, my dear, is my intention.”
She rolled away and persisted. “I have never been anywhere except Hertfordshire and London. Since I arrived in Derbyshire, I have only seen Lambton and Pemberley.” She paused before she asked, “Will you show me the Peak and take me to the Lake District? I have also dreamt of seeing some of the great houses I have read so much about. Oh, and I should like to see the sea one day; may we go?”
Giving her what she wished for was going to be easy for him.
He raised himself on one elbow. “My dear wife, have you not yet realized I would do everything in my power to make all your dreams come true? We can visit all the places you mentioned, and when it is safe to travel to the continent again, I shall take you to Europe. I was unable to go on a Grand Tour because of my father’s death and I shall enjoy it all the more with you beside me. ”
“You give me so much, and I can only give you my heart.” Her voice trembled ever so slightly.
“You cannot believe that! Elizabeth, you have given me the greatest gifts of life—love and joy and a kindness I could never have imagined. Now come over here so I can continue what I started.”
“Really, sir, you are so demanding.” Her voice was teasing, and as she turned towards him, her eyes sparkled.
“Madam, there can never be too much of a good thing.”
* * *
The bride and groom spent a week occupied in their chambers. Darcy could not be more elated. Everyone should enjoy this joy! One morning, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy walked down the stairs arm in arm to the dining room. Mrs. Reynolds and one of the maids served them breakfast before leaving the room.
Elizabeth leaned towards him. “I believe Mrs. Reynolds is aware of our change. She is not looking at us, but I believe she knows about the difference in our appearance. I hardly know what to think. Perhaps it is only you and I who see each other as we do. I am so afraid something will cause the enchantment to end.”
Darcy reached out and took his wife’s hand. “My love, we must not be afraid of an event we cannot control. Now that we have opened our hearts to each other; naught can ever change our love.”
“Yes, that is how we shall look at our future.”
Their curiosity got the best of them and later that day, the Darcys asked Mrs. Reynolds to join them in the drawing room.
“You have seen me every day since the fire. Do you see any change in my appearance?”
“Do you and Mrs. Darcy see each other as unmarked?” They both nodded.
“You love each other, and people in love are granted a special sight that others do not have. You no longer see each other with your eyes but with your hearts; that is the miracle of your love. For those who are lucky, their love leads to an enchantment; that is what makes the cottage so special. Keep loving each other the way you do now, and your love will continue your special sight.”
“Is that all there is to it?”
“Yes, that is the secret this cottage holds, and it is of your own making. Continue looking at each other through the eyes of love. Ignore the prying eyes of the outside world and always cherish each other as you do now.”
“Mrs. Darcy, you will be beautiful to me forever.”
“And nothing can ever change how I feel about you.”
Mrs. Reynolds smiled and excused herself, and by the time she had quit the room, Elizabeth was in his arms again.
* * *
Elizabeth sat close beside her husband, profound recollections filling her mind. “After my father was stricken, I told Jane I always believed our lives were enchanted. At that time, we had no idea what would happen to our family.”
“What did you mean by that?”
“We had the security of a loving family, proper clothing, and a warm fire in the winter. There was always enough food for us and to entertain our friends—all of that had its own kind of enchantment.”
“I never thought about it like that. According to your way of thinking, the life I lived before the fire was enchanted. But you cannot compare anything to the way the enchantment of the cottage has changed our lives.”
“Our love is blind to any unknown forces that might interfere.”
“I would challenge anyone who tried to come between us. You may not be aware that your husband is an excellent marksman and an accomplished swordsman.” He grinned, allaying any fears she might have that he could be serious about challenging someone.
“Let us hope it never comes to that!” They both laughed before she kissed him. “What do you think about the special cream Lady Matlock gave me? I put some of it on my face for the wedding but not since then.”