Elizabeth cringed.“It is only because you are a wealthy man.He thinks you are used to doing as you please whenever you wish and may not adjust well to having to consider another person.Though he did say the mark would likely impel you to treat me well,” she added with a hopeful expression.
Darcy’s eyes grew so large they looked like they would pop out of his head.His face was a bright red, and there was a vein in his forehead that throbbed with his pulse.
When he spoke, his voice was eerily calm.“This is what your father thinks of me?What he told you to expect of me?That I am a spoiled child who only knows how to demand his own way and cannot share his toys?”he spat.
She swallowed heavily.“Not in those exact words, but essentially, yes.”
He blew out a ragged breath and paced away, then back towards her.He repeated the circuit three times before coming to stand before her.“Do you agree with him?”
“What?”
“Do you think I am spoiled and will be impossible to live with?”
“No!I do not think you are spoiled.”
“But you think I am difficult?”
She opened her mouth, then closed it, not knowing what to say.
Darcy huffed and stomped off.
“Fitzwilliam, wait!”She grabbed his arm and tugged until he turned to face her.“I do not think you will be difficult or impossible to live with.”
He looked slightly relieved, but wary.
“I will admit to some trepidation”—his mouth grew tight again and she rushed through her next words—“not because of anything you have done but because I do not know you well yet.”She took a deep breath and reached for his hand.“You are a powerful man, with a noble family and a grand estate.I do not entirely know what to expect.So yes, I have some concerns about that.Understandably so.”She straightened her shoulders and spoke firmly.“But never, not once, did I consider not marrying you to be an option.”
He watched her, his expression slowly softening.He tugged her towards him by the hand that was holding his.“Did you truly not even contemplate leaving me?”
“I did not, though after your little display of temper here, I may consider it.”
He yanked her into his arms with a growl and peppered her face with kisses as she laughed.
“Elizabeth.”He breathed deeply, his face buried in her hair.“I am not a man who loses his temper.I do not stomp about and display my anger.I am sorry you saw me thus.”
“It is all right, Fitzwilliam.It has been an emotional day.”
He pulled back and held her face in his gloved hands, his breath making a cloud in the cold air between them.“It is not the day.It is you.I will never be sanguine at the thought of losing you, Elizabeth.You are more important to me than—my God, I cannot think of anything more important to me than you.I would sign over the deed to Pemberley for you.”She gasped and he swallowed hard, closing his eyes.“I cannot lose you.It would kill me.”He brought his forehead to rest on hers.“Do you understand?You are the most precious thing in the world to me.”
She sighed, melting into him.“Fitzwilliam, my heart.”
She reached up onto her toes and kissed his face.First his cheeks, then his jaw, then his impressive nose.She held his face in her hands, her nose pressed against his, and looked into his eyes.“I am yours, Fitzwilliam, and you are mine.You shall not lose me.We belong together.”
He sighed, his body sagging in relief.
“You undo me, Elizabeth.You have no idea of the power you wield over me.”
She smiled softly against his lips.“I promise to only use my power for good,” she whispered.
He pulled her closer to him then, opening his greatcoat and pulling her inside.Her hands stole around his back inside the coat, snuggling into his warmth.She rested her head on his chest and sighed happily.
“My father will grow to love you, Fitzwilliam.I know he will.All will be well.”
Chapter 12
Three Months Later
“Lizzy!Hurryupandcome down!Mr.Darcy’s family will be here any minute!”
