It was the hardest thing in the world to gently push his shoulders to gain some separation, until they returned to their original positions.
It was the most natural thing in the world to move her hands down from his shoulders and lightly grasp his lapels.
It was the most natural thing in the world to curl her arms down between their bodies, and pull herself closer to him, with nothing but her folded arms preventing them from descending back into the fire.
It was the most natural thing in the world for Fitzwilliam to move his arms up to surround her shoulders, and pull her close, tucking her head under his chin.
It was the most natural thing in the world for her to rest her ear against his chest, where she could occasionally hear his heartbeat, yet still speak and listen.
“Fitzwilliam?”
“Yes, Elizabeth.”
“That… that… that… that is something entirely new, just as I hoped. It satisfies one of my curiosities.”
“Which is?”
Elizabeth chuckled, and Fitzwilliam felt like he could feel her smile physically against his waistcoat.
“I wondered if we might have… passion.”
Fitzwilliam chuckled with her. “I believe that question has been answered definitively. It is a first for me, and hopefully the last, though in fairness—”
“Yes.”
“For me, it is just confirmation.”
Elizabeth chuckled. “Would I seem loose or wanton if I sheepishly admitted that, while my feelings are of much shorter duration than yours, and perhaps temporarily of less intensity… well, I also think of it as confirmation.”
He squeezed her tighter and whispered,‘My beautiful Elizabeth… My—’
“Shhhhh… Shhhhh… Shhhhh—”
He wondered what was coming next.
“Fitzwilliam, we still have much to discuss… privately. I imagine I should turn management of your household back to you as well.”
“What on earth makes you think I wish to mend that what is not broken?”
Elizabeth laughed, wondering if stubbornness in such matters was passed down from aunt to nephew.
“I need to limit your access to your aunt?”
“Do you plan to limit my access to Breton, Georgiana, or the villagers?” Fitzwilliam replied with a chuckle.
“All right, you win! Well then, I need to go spend a thousand pounds of your money. Might we go for a walk in, say, half an hour?”
“Hopefully, it will be a thousand pounds ofourmoney. May I accompany you on your rounds?”
Elizabeth smiled. “For part of them, but on the matter of the thousand pounds—well, to be honest, I think it will become two if you negotiate it.”
Fitzwilliam laughed. “Breton was right. I will have a mutiny if I do not manage to keep you here as mistress.”
The discussion made Elizabethmostuncomfortable, but she managed to separate herself and stand alone, ready to proceed. She even managed it with only one more quick kiss on the cheek and a Lydia-like giggle.
Fitzwilliam offered his arm, and she took it.
“When we get to the ballroom, you may observe but stay out of sight.”
