“Why did you not refute Mr. Lewis’s accusation?”
Darcy rubbed his eyes. “I was stunned. How he could believe such a monstrous thing, and then accuse me in such a reckless manner before my wife and our family, I do not understand. My mind was stunned, and I was mute, unable to think or speak. I came to myself after a moment, and I explained the truth. There is no doubt now. Lewis recalls the day she went off to roll in the grass with Wickham.”
“Why did she throw herself at you in church? Was she in the habit of doing that while you were courting?”
He inhaled slowly. “She has always been demonstrative, but I did not allow her to drape herself over me in those days. I learned to hold her away, but at Sunday services, she caught me unprepared. I expected she would not attend church, and if she did, that she would keep her distance. She did neither. She behaved as if we were husband and wife. I do not think she knew I was married. Perhaps she returned to see whether we might continue where we had ended. I do not know.”
“Why did you ride in together? I cannot believe she happened upon you by accident, for her father’s estate is several miles away. It was deliberately done.”
“You are correct. His estate is about seven or eight miles distant. I am afraid she came on purpose to find me. I cannot believe she would be satisfied with the life of a mistress, but perhaps that is all that remains open to her.”
Elizabeth gave a low groan. “So, she set her eyes on you.” She covered her face with her hands and began to cry again. Through wracking sobs, she said, “I can never compete with such a woman. Beautiful, seductive, mysterious.”
Darcy leaned back and looked up at the ceiling, uncertain what to do next. He moved closer to her on the bed.
“Darling, whatever she may intend does not signify. I harbor no such thoughts about her. I have my wife, and she is the one I think of.”
He had evidently said the right thing, for she ceased to weep. He saw that she was listening, and once again he took heart.
“Darling, you will remember that I did not leave you to Collins. It is because I wanted you in my life. I did not understand it at the time, but I had already fallen for you, and my heart was no longer my own. I knew you did not feel the same, but a married couple who desire their marriage to succeed can fall in love in time and be happy with one another. I hope we will be such a couple.
“I do not like her living so near to us, able to appear whenever she wishes. I cannot bear the thought of seeing her body draped over you as she was at Sunday services.”
He reached for her and drew her into his lap.
“I will speak with her father and ask him to send her back to his relations in Edinburgh. Too many people here in our neighborhood know about her fall from grace.”
Elizabeth pressed her face into his chest. “I do not want you to go to her home.”
“I will send him a letter by my footman and ask him to come here alone. Peter will be instructed to place the letter directly into his hands or return it to me.”
Elizabeth was angry and spoke in a petulant tone. “I should have known how it would be if I married a man of your position and wealth.” She fell silent for so long that he feared she would not speak again, but at last she added, “and beauty. Women will always throw themselves at you, and because you are so veryproper and so unwilling to injure feelings, you will not give them a sharp set down and send them away.”
Darcy felt a flash of anger. “Elizabeth, your opinion has no foundation. You do not know how I would respond in such a situation.”
She fell silent, and after some time had passed, she said, “I am sorry, sir. I apologize. I feel so disturbed. I am troubled and…and jealous. I hardly know what I am saying. I had better bite my tongue and perhaps get some sleep.”
He looked down at his wife as she rested against him. Her lovely mouth was an invitation. He bent his head and nuzzled her, and when she looked up at him, he kissed her. It was a gentle kiss. He waited to see if she would push him away. She did not. Instead, she lifted her hand to his jaw. He bent to kiss her again, this time with more feeling, though he kept himself restrained so that he would not alarm her. She raised both arms and placed them around his neck, then leaned into him and kissed him. He drew her closer and kissed her more urgently, then he traced a line of kisses along the curve of her jaw and down her beautiful neck.
She suddenly pushed him away and slipped from his lap. She stood beside the bed, her eyes were troubled.
“Sir, are you certain that you want me? That you could love me someday?”
He rose slowly and took her hands. “I do love you, Elizabeth. I have loved you for a long time. I cannot fix the hour or the place or the look that laid the foundation. It has been months now. I was in the middle before I knew I had begun.”
She studied his face for a long moment. Then she stepped close, lifted herself on her toes, and placed her arms over hisshoulders. She kissed him again. He drew her into his embrace and buried his face in her curls.
“Elizabeth, you do not know how I have longed to hold you in this way.”
He led her to the little couch, and they sat together. He kissed her again, and she leaned toward him. Before long, she had settled herself upon his lap. Soon, he lay back upon the cushions, and she leaned into him.
“Elizabeth,” his voice was low. “Will you let me make love to you?”
She whispered against his lips, “Yes. I wish to be your wife, Fitzwilliam. No more waiting and no more doubts. I wish to be yours, and I will leave no opportunity for another to claim what is mine.”
He kissed her again. Then he touched her hair. “May I?”
She nodded. He removed a hairpin, and a long curl fell free. He worked out the others until her hair hung loose past her shoulders. He ran his fingers through it and pressed his face into her hair.
