“Not today.” Elizabeth agreed with a sweet smile. Then she sighed, “I suppose we must get up soon. Your aunt shall be here by evening, and if I do not bathe, she will think me a vagrant.”
Darcy reluctantly concurred, although he refused to accept that she looked like anything less than Aphrodite incarnate. In return, Elizabeth compared him to a fool, a diplomat and a mighty oak, and they parted most amiably.
When she rang the bell in her own room, a wave of exhaustion rushed over Elizabeth. She had not slept; even lying still in her husband’s arms was more sensation than her sensitive body could abide. Admittedly, they had not attempted to lie still very often. Their passionate night had been so stimulating that Elizabeth felt as if she would never need to sleep again. It was only when she was in her own quiet room that she realised that she could barely keep her eyes open.
A hot bath was prepared for her, and Elizabeth sank into it with a sigh. Her maid softly told her that the rest of the house was quiet. Her sisters were all still abed after their late night and the staff were quietly taking down the ball decorations and trying to dry out those items which had been caught in the rain.
News from the dower house was just as reassuring: Mr. Collins was suffering from a monumental hangover and a sniffle from being caught out in the rain. Mrs. Bennet had refused to care for him, for she was overwhelmed with his constant insults towards Jane and Bingley. The rector had been unable to pursue them without a horse to ride and had fallen unconscious before he could think of another means of pursuit. When he recovered, Elizabeth knew, there would be a reckoning - but it soundedlike her cousin would be unable to even sit upright for at least another day.
Aside from Lady Catherine’s imminent arrival the house was more peaceful than it had been in weeks.
Lizzie smiled and nestled down into the tub. The hot water slid over her like a caress, taking away all of her lingering aches and making her whole body hum with peaceful sensation.
She had indeed been thoroughly debauched.
That was what her husband had promised, and she had laughed at the thought. Now, though, she understood. Shefeltdebauchery in every pore of her skin. She belatedly understood the monumental restraint which had brought iron into Darcy’s eyes from the moment she invented their delay. Her fear had prevented her from truly embracing her desire for him, despite Darcy’s determined efforts to teach her otherwise.
Now, the fear was gone. So, too, were the iron bars of her husband’s stubborn self-control.
Her own was hanging on by a thread. She had willingly… she had agreed to… she had not hesitated when…
It was exhilarating. It wasdangerous.It made her feel as if other things did not matter.
Selfish girl!
Her mind refused to settle. She groaned and sat up, shivering when icy water poured from her hair down her spine. When had the bath grown so cold? Rubbing her eyes fitfully, Elizabeth realised that she had fallen asleep in the water. Cursing under her breath, she hurried to her robe and rang for her maid.
The young lady smiled at her when she arrived and set out her clothes without making any of her usual small talk. Lizzie forcedherself not to be embarrassed. Of course, the servants knew exactly what their master and mistress had been doing. Still, her face turned brick red. She brushed her hair out with such distraction that she barely felt the snags.
Her maid who helped her dress tactfully suggested wearing a shawl to cover the marks on her neck. If Elizabeth’s face could burn any hotter then she would have been aflame. She clutched the fabric around herself like a woman dying of exposure. She could not suffer another moment of this, alone and horribly self-conscious. At least when she was with Darcy her shivers made sense. Bracing herself for the knowing eyes of even more servants, Lizzie ventured from her room.
She told herself that she was Mrs. Darcy, the esteemed mistress of Pemberley.
It did not help. She was Lizzie, creeping sheepishly down the stairs.
The only place which made sense was Darcy’s embrace. Everything else had faded into insignificance.
But he would surely tease her for this! Even when they were tangled together after the throes of passion, he had a rather knowing, smug look upon his face. Much of his superiority came from his extensive experience, of course - a fact which Elizabeth teased him about when he wastooself-satisfied. His inhibitions were a very pleasing revelation to her, but Lizzie knew that this version of Darcy belonged only to her. He had proven time and again his ability to be serene in company. She had no such skill, and was sure to be a flighty, twitchy creature beside his stoic stone wall.
Barely had she made it down the staircase when she heard her name being called. The study door was open, and Darcy hadspotted her at once. Hurrying through and shutting the door behind her, Elizabeth discovered her husband at his desk. From the ink stains on his hands and the untidy jumble of papers before him, she guessed that he was trying to distract himself.
“You were gone for hours.” Darcy said abruptly, “I missed you.”
“I fell asleep, sir. I did not intend to worry you.”
He pushed the papers into a messy pile at the side of the desk and gave her an arch look, “I am not so smitten that you must be always at my side, I suppose. Come here, Elizabeth.”
“What a contradiction!”
“I meant that I do not fault you for spending time alone. Now that youarehere, however, I intend to take full advantage. Come here, Mrs. Darcy, and stop pretending you are too innocent to understand what I want.”
Elizabeth shivered but shook her head. It felt utterly wicked - but no more wicked than her husband propositioning her before he even saidhello!She intended to punish him for such incivility. Or, at least, she would make the attempt. By the way her body coiled at his commanding tone, she suspected that she would not be able to deny either of them for long.
Darcy’s expression turned thunderous with disbelief as she walked away from him towards the door. Elizabeth snapped the lock closed and then smiled to herself. Not looking back, she slowly took off her slippers and unpinned her hair. It fell down her back in long curls, still damp from her bath.
“Come here, angel.” Darcy said for the third time. There was no mistaking the raw need in his voice.
Elizabeth obeyed. Darcy lifted her onto the desk as if she was as light as a feather. She breathed in the scent of him and ran herfingers through his hair as their lips met. How many times had they kissed each other? Yet, every time, it made her feel as if she was aflame.
