Lizzy gazed up at her husband, resplendent with his morning face flushed and hair tousled, half dressed with flowing coat perfectly accentuating his masculinity. He was stupendous, abundantly gratifying every dream she conjured.
Several nearby birds squawked and flapped away in fright at the shouts emerging from the rocks, but no other life forms were aware of the rapture attained on the sand. The Darcys would be mistaken to assume they were the only couple to ever watch the sunrise and take advantage of the isolation. Luckily they were the only ones to pick this particular day, but the resort staff had more than once needed to discreetly steer a tiptoeing couple in an opposite direction.
Sneaking back into their room without being noticed was a bit problematic as more staff members were about. Still, the servants skillfully glanced in the opposite direction or busied themselves at some task until the Darcys passed by. Their faces were rosy with embarrassment, but both agreed the outing was worth any humiliation. Once in their room they laughed giddily like children, randomly dropped their sandy coats and the blanket, and commenced kissing and embracing with joyful enthusiasm.
“Elizabeth, I am as foolhardy and nonsensical as a youth when around you! And as amorous. Lord, what you do to me!” He grasped her bottom and pulled her tight, fingers traveling to the buttons down her back as he assaulted her mouth.
The zealous embrace continued until Darcy laced one broad hand through the wildly tangled hair on the back of her head, whereupon Lizzy frantically reached to where his fingers were with a gasp.
“My hair clip! It's gone!”
“Which clip?”
“The one with the pink flowers on it. Oh, I love that clip!” She was searching around the floor at their feet, Darcy joining the visual exploration, but it was nowhere in the room. “It is an old one of mine and not that important really, but I have had it for years.”
“Shhh, relax, dearest. It is surely somewhere between here and the rocks. I will go look for it.”
“I am sorry, William.”
“For what? I have already had one of the best mornings in my life. I can wait to make love with you again for a few more hours,” he grinned cheekily and kissed her lightly, Lizzy laughing.
“Thank you. I love you.”
“I know,” he said with an airy wave from the door.
The lost clip was discovered on the last step before the second level landing, a servant bending to retrieve it as Darcy rounded the corner. Darcy maintained his dignity, exchanged vague pleasantries, and thanked the servant who calmly handed it over.
Smiling happily and whistling cheerily, Darcy absently fiddled with the clip as he turned toward the stairs for the third floor where his adorable wife was awaiting his return, hopefully unclothed on their bed. Lost in visions so delectable, he did not notice a door opening until Lady Underwood was standing five paces away blocking his path. He halted abruptly, the silly grin erased instantly for a deep scowl.
In the intervening days since her disgusting proposition, Lady Underwood had made one additional overture toward Darcy. On the afternoon after the Phantasmagoria he walked along the garden pathway toward the wooden stairs on the northern side of the pier that led to the beach where the men bathed. She leaned casually against the trunk of a birch that grew on the edge of the path, the location clearly deliberate to waylay a walker as there was nothing in the area of interest. Darcy was not overly surprised to see her boldly lurking on the path since he had caught her eyes on him frequently in the ensuing days. She would smile in a mildly seductive manner, her eyes brazenly running over his body in a way that made him want to retch. Thus far he had managed to avoid her, but he knew her kind and figured she would renew her advance if at all possible.
Darcy did not slow his pace and instantly turned his gaze away after the briefest of eye contact in hopes that she would leave him be. Alas, it was not her intention to be ignored.
Her sultry voice pierced the placid silence, “Mr. Darcy, I have been expecting you. You are a creature of habit, I have deduced, as well as one who appreciates vigorous exercise.” Her eyes dropped briefly below his waist although the double entendre was obvious nevertheless. “I can assist you in the latter and have been waiting patiently for your acceptance of my offer.”
She stepped into the path, her hand already extended toward him. Darcy veered to the side, extreme fury rising so abruptly that he honestly did not trust his control if she touched him or obstructed his passage. Fortunately the hazard was deflected.
“Darcy! I hope you are up for a vigorous swim and muscle exertion as the surf is rough today.” It was Mr. Henner, the older man suddenly visible through the thick bushes lining that portion of the curved path to the north. The irony of his innocent phrasing was not lost on either Darcy or Lady Underwood, her chuckle thankfully only audible to Darcy as she turned and smoothly hid behind the tree.
After that, convinced of her persistence and cunning, Darcy was extremely cautious. He angrily observed her false friendship with Elizabeth, who had no idea of her true nature or treachery as Darcy refused to allow her antics to invade their delightful holiday. He prayed that she would depart the inn, but each evening she was there in the salon, flirting and chatting. He strongly suspected that her claws had dug successfully into a couple of other gentlemen, noting oblique glances and touches, which sickened him, as one was a married man as well. Again, Darcy was not naïve, but the activity revolted him nonetheless.
Fortunately he and Elizabeth were almost always together and alone, neither desiring to socialize overly. But three times in the past two days Darcy was forced to change direction or abruptly engage one of the other guests in conversation to avoid Lady Underwood accosting him. He surrounded himself with other gentlemen on their walks to the beach or the few manly pursuits that separated him from Elizabeth. He was exceedingly careful, but now it appeared as if his luck had run out. With his mind on other matters his caution was forgotten, and the early hour meant that the corridor was devoid of anyone and likely to stay that way.
“Mr. Darcy, what a pleasant surprise.” She wore a dressing gown and robe, her hair braided and hanging over one shoulder. She was a beautiful lady, no doubt, but also quite aware of her beauty and equally aware of the effect of her attractiveness on men, an effect she utilized as a spider did its web.
“Lady Underwood,” he replied with a proper bow and eyes diverted, already taking a step to the left to pass her. “Good morning. Excuse me.”
She moved as well, Darcy again forced to halt or bowl her over. “Your color is high this morning with vigor radiating. You are well, I can see.”
“I am very well, but in a hurry. Good day, my lady.”
“Oh, it shall be a good day indeed. I am very well also, Mr. Darcy. Improving by the moment, in fact. I heard your voice but waited until the servant left. I was beginning to doubt you would come to me. So much pleasure has been missed, but we shall rectify that, won't we?”
Darcy was stunned. Bold propositions he had seen, yes, but this transcended them all. For several seconds he was honestly speechless, staring at her lewd expression in frank amazement.
“Lady Underwood…”
“Yes, Mr. Darcy,” she interrupted, her voice very low as she stepped nearer and lay one hand on his arm. “No need for discussion or further hesitancy. You should not stand about in the hallways. You would not want your sweet wife to know of our activities.”
He jerked his arm violently away, supreme anger overcoming his surprise. “Lady Underwood, you are horribly mistaken. I am retrieving an item for my wife and merely passing by.”