Darcy shrugged and glanced at the floor. Elizabeth took a deep breath and said, “I spoke with Lydia today at some length. She told me in great detail about Mr. Wickham and his cruelty to her, as well as his determination to hurt you irrevocably through me. It sounded very much as though he intended to do me great harm. You must have known this, yet you never saw fit to tell me of it.”
“No,” he said, his voice hoarse as he released her and strode to the window, where he looked out over the darkened square. “I did not see the need of alarming you. It is of little consequence now, in any case. Lydia has been recovered, she is well, and Wickham is gone. He is no longer a threat to us… nor to anyone.”
Elizabeth rose and joined him. “Did you kill him?” she asked in a trembling voice.
Darcy shook his head. “I knew you would not want me to act in such a violent manner, even for the crimes he committed against your family,” he murmured. “I will never forget the horrified look on your beautiful face, nor my tortured thoughts that day in Meryton after I nearly strangled him to death with my bare hands. Though I was again tempted to do just that when I came face-to-face with him, I could not bear your disappointment in me.”
Elizabeth laid her hand upon his arm as she contemplated his words. It was not long before she inquired, “What happened to him, then, Fitzwilliam? Surely Mr. Wickham did not simply disappear into the night like an apparition. I am not so naïve as to believe some form of retribution was not exacted for his crimes.”
Darcy was silent for a long while. “There was a duel,” he finally admitted, “and eight angry officers—friends, or brothers, rather, of Richard’s—who demanded satisfaction for crimes Wickham had perpetrated against ladies of their acquaintance: sisters, wives, lovers. I understand he was made to face each man in turn until each had exacted punishment upon Wickham’s person, one wound at a time. Fitzwilliam informed me that, though there were no serious injuries to his officers, Wickham did not survive. It is not common knowledge. Duels are illegal. There is far too much at stake.”
“Oh,” she said, tightening her hand upon her husband’s arm.
“I did not wish to further distress you by burdening you with such particulars. It is why I never told you. A husband does not usually share such things with his wife.”
At this, a wry smile flickered across Elizabeth’s lips. “I believe, Fitzwilliam, much has already passed between us that does not usually pass between a husband and a wife in this proper society of ours. I would not wish for that to change in any way, even after hearing of the awful things you have just related. I value our honesty, our forthrightness, our intimacy far too much for that.”
Darcy turned his head and met her eyes. “As do I. Should I continue to worry over you, Elizabeth?” he asked as he slipped his arms around her waist. “It would pain me to know I may have upset you further by what I have just related.”
Elizabeth closed her eyes and shook her head. “No. Not anymore. I can hardly explain it, but I feel better now.”
Darcy breathed a sigh, and though he told himself he would have to wait to determine whether they would prove true, he was heartened to see, before even a full day had passed, several telling signs that indicated that the same teasing woman he had married would soon be restored to her former impertinent self.
Not a week later, Lord and Lady Matlock came to call. They were most anxious to discuss the ball they had determined to hold in Darcy’s and Elizabeth’s honor. Though Lady Matlock felt such a celebration was now long overdue, Darcy and Elizabeth could not bring themselves to echo her sentiments. It was decided, however, it would be held in two weeks’ time, and though Darcy wanted no part of a large assembly, his aunt insisted as she stressed the necessity of including many, if not all, of the most prominent families and notable personages of the ton for her new niece’s official introduction into London.
As Georgiana was not yet out, and considering the ordeal Lydia had recently overcome, Darcy was adamant that neither of his sisters would attend the ball. Georgiana was disappointed to have to miss Elizabeth’s debut, but to everyone’s surprise, Lydia did not appear distressed by the prospect of spending the evening quietly at home. Elizabeth and Darcy had discussed the merits of treating Lydia—who seemed to be earnest in her endeavor to improve herself—much as they would any young lady who was not yet out. Anticipating fierce resistance from Elizabeth’s youngest sister—especially after they had made it clear the unrestrained freedom she had enjoyed at Longbourn would not be permitted at Darcy House—the couple barely managed to contain their surprise when Lydia not only accepted, but adhered to, their restrictions.
And adhere to them she did, for the more Lydia heard Georgiana speak of her own coming out—which Darcy’s sister had never done before her newfound friendship with Lydia—the more Lydia gave thought to the possibility society might yet come to consider her to be a worthy young woman, much like her two eldest sisters. She was determined to learn to comport herself with dignity and grace, and make Darcy and Elizabeth proud of her efforts in the meantime.
Jane and Bingley returned the following week in order to attend the ball with the Gardiners, whom Lord and Lady Matlock had grown to like very much. As Elizabeth’s nearest and dearest relations, they would be given the distinction of standing with Darcy’s family in the receiving line. As Mr. Bennet did not care to make the trip from Hertfordshire—he had returned to Longbourn just two weeks earlier—neither he, his wife, or their two remaining daughters were expected to attend, much to Kitty’s consternation and Mrs. Bennet’s displeasure. Darcy, who had long dreaded his mother-in-law’s introduction to the illustrious London ton, breathed a sigh at the news. It did not go unnoticed by his wife. Elizabeth gave him a disapproving look and pinched his arm, though her false display of ire was belied by the teasing smile that quirked the corners of her mouth.
As could be expected, the ladies passed much time at the modiste and other such shoppes in preparation for the upcoming affair. Though Darcy could not confess to a fondness for shopping, he did accompany his wife and sisters to Bond Street, if for no reason other than to ensure Elizabeth received the proper deference and attention owed to her as his wife. Satisfied by her positive reception, he excused himself for an hour or so to peruse the nearby bookseller and, on impulse, a local jeweler, whose stunning variety of unique items happened to catch his eye.
Rather than waiting for the evening of the ball to present his recently acquired purchase to Elizabeth, Darcy chose to do it that very night after they had retired to their rooms. Elizabeth sat brushing her hair and, unable to resist the urge to perform the task himself, he offered to assist her.
Elizabeth sighed as she surrendered her brush to his hands. She watched him in the mirror, a soft smile of contentment upon her lips as she enjoyed his gentle ministrations. Afterward, as Darcy placed the brush upon the dressing table, he retrieved a prettily wrapped box from one of the drawers and laid it before her with a smile.
“And to what, my dearest, do I owe such a lovely surprise?” she asked with a grin, touched by his unexpected gesture.
“I did not think I needed a reason to present my wife with a token of my love,” he said, his eyes sparkling.
Elizabeth laughed. “I daresay you do not. It is, however, quite unnecessary. You know I have no need for trinkets, Fitzwilliam. You are enough. Mmm… more than enough,” she added as Darcy swept her hair aside and leaned in to nuzzle the curve of her neck.
“Do not question your good fortune, my love,” he murmured. “Open the box. I believe you will approve.” He moved his mouth to her pulse and sucked lightly, then trailed the tip of his tongue along her shoulders, moving the fabric of her nightshift aside as he went.