Elizabeth only smiled as Jane fastened the buttons on her gown.
Darcy slipped his arms around Elizabeth’s waist and pulled her into a sitting room just outside the breakfast parlor. “Forgive my boldness, Miss Bennet,” he whispered as he kissed her neck, “but it has been my observation that Caroline Bingley has never managed to look half so fetching while wearing this gown.”
“Well then, sir, I shall take that as a compliment, although I cannot say I am at all comfortable wearing it in company.” Indeed, her décolletage was extremely revealing.
He looked at her then with some degree of concern. “Are you…uncomfortable in any other way, Elizabeth? Last night… was I too rough with you, my love?”
Elizabeth gazed into his troubled eyes. She gave him a small, reassuring smile and shook her head, her curls bobbing. “Not at all, Fitzwilliam. I feel only some minor soreness from all the… exercise we engaged in last night. Aside from that, and being a little tired, I am fine; as for being too rough with me, I can assure you, sir, that was not the case, far from it. You were all that was gentle and considerate.”
Darcy sighed. “I am thankful to hear it.” He then looked away and, in a worried voice, said, “Are you… that is to say… do you at all…” He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before finally saying, “Elizabeth, my love, do you now regret that we have anticipated our vows? Does it trouble you that you will no longer come to my bed as an innocent on our wedding night?” His agitation was extreme.
Elizabeth reached out and, caressing his jaw, said, “Indeed, I have no regrets. I love you, Fitzwilliam, and I cannot but treasure this new-found intimacy between us just as I treasure you—with my whole heart. The only regret I have is that you may, very soon after we are married, in fact, find me shirking my duties as the mistress of Pemberley in favor of the far more pleasurable duties I now know I will have when I am your wife.”
“Elizabeth,” he whispered, his eyes flaring as his gaze drifted from her lips to settle upon her ample bosom.
Seeing as they were in a public room, however, Elizabeth felt it best to keep their physical interaction somewhat more chaste. In an attempt to divert his present musings, she laughed quietly and said, “May I dare to hope, sir, that there will be very little chance of my appearing in a gown such as this one once I become the mistress of your great estate? I doubt very much you would wish for your wife to appear in society wearing such a garish creation!” Her teasing, however, had precisely the opposite effect.
Pressing her body more firmly against his, Darcy muttered, “Certainly not. However, I should have imagined you to be filled with nothing but gratitude today for having been spared the necessity of donning one of those dreadful orange horrors Miss Bingley seems to favor. Heaven knows she must have dozens at her disposal… though, I must confess, you would, no doubt, lend even the most unappealing garment in her wardrobe an air of complete allurement.” With a rakish look, he lowered his head to allow his lips to graze the enticing swell of her breasts as his thumbs caressed her nipples through the fabric.
“Fitzwilliam, not here!” She pushed him away with an arch smile. Caroline Bingley’s disdainful voice could be heard with relative ease as she abused one of the servants over the sparse selection of fruit on the sideboard.
“If not here, then where?” he whispered. “Elizabeth, take pity on me. You cannot expect me to conduct myself as a gentleman when you appear to such… advantage in this insidious dress.” His lips claimed hers with a ferocity that caught her off guard while his hands roamed along her curves in the most intoxicating manner. When Darcy finally released her, he rested his forehead against hers and said, “Truly, I have no idea how I will ever survive this engagement after making love to you last night. I fear I will never be able to sleep again without you in my arms.”
“Mmm… nor I,” she murmured as she stroked his cheek. “When I awoke this morning, I was disappointed to find you gone, though I know I should not have been surprised. I realize the risk we took and how dangerous it would have been to be found together in such a compromising situation.”
“It is perhaps more dangerous than we have considered. It has occurred to me there could be consequences from last night, Elizabeth, and perhaps from tonight, as well, should this storm continue as it does.” He gave her a deep, penetrating look that caused her eyes to widen and her breath to quicken.
“I have been thinking that, perhaps, I should ride to London as soon as the weather clears to procure a special license, that is, if it is acceptable to you. I feel it would be for the best if we were to marry as soon as possible… for obvious reasons, though I cannot say I am anticipating the conversation I shall be forced to have with your father on this subject.”
A blush heated Elizabeth’s cheeks, and she looked away. “No, I would imagine not. He will not be pleased.”
“And I cannot say I would blame him. I would not be inclined to look favorably upon any man who came to me to suggest such a thing in Georgiana’s case.” Darcy could not stop himself from exploring the low neckline of her gown with the tips of his fingers.
Elizabeth made a fair attempt to ignore him as she felt herself moved to confess certain concerns that had been preying upon her conscience. “What about my cousin? Our marrying so soon after becoming engaged will, no doubt, be seen as nothing short of scandalous, and it can only serve to help him carry his point with your aunt, as well, not to mention any gossips who may happen to hear the tales of our prior indiscretions.” She found it difficult to conceal her bitter resentment toward the clergyman and his officious interference.
“And then there is the question of your sister. She will come out soon, and I would not wish to have society judge her unfairly based upon our sins any more than my own dear sisters. It pains me to think I may have brought such an injury upon her—I, whom she has never before so much as seen. Nor do I wish for the first report of me to reach her ears to be of my wanton behavior with her beloved brother. Whatever will she think of me, Fitzwilliam?”
“You underestimate Georgiana, Elizabeth; and me, for that matter. Do you imagine that I have never written of you to my sister, nor enumerated your merits and charms in nearly every letter I have addressed to her since my first entering Hertfordshire? Do you believe her ignorant of my initial struggles and my utter elation upon your acceptance of my suit? Dearest, she knows all—or she very soon will—most particularly that we are to be husband and wife and that I love you unreservedly. Though I confess I would far prefer to shield her from any rumors of our unrestrained behavior, I am certain Georgiana will take any idle talk at face value and be willing to overlook the fact that we may have been rather more expressive in our affections because I love you so very dearly and cannot do without you. Both she and I have been alone for so long, with only each other. Please trust me when I say Georgiana will feel nothing but joy for our union and very soon grow to love you as a sister.”
Darcy paused to kiss her and then sighed. “As for my aunt, if there is one thing we can rely on in that quarter, it is Lady Catherine’s absolute secrecy in this matter. As you may already have surmised, she is extremely concerned with appearances and familial duty. She would never wish to have my name or that of Pemberley linked with a scandal. It would only serve to taint my cousin Anne and, therefore, Rosings and her by association, since any rumor of a union between my cousin and me has long been purported exclusively by her own mouth for many years now. Believe me, no matter how much my choice may displease her, and no matter how vehemently she may vocalize her disapprobation to my face, Lady Catherine will remain the soul of discretion when in company.” He brushed a stray curl from Elizabeth’s cheek as she nestled against his coat.