“I am bold enough to request your fair hand for the next dance.”
Her pretty eyes darkened. “I was hoping you had some other bold things in mind.”
That playfulness, that versatility of expression, and those touches of sensibility were as irresistibly attractive and fascinating now as they were when he first met Miss Bennet in 1811.
And now that they were married, Elizabeth flirted with him mercilessly, and she would with increasing boldness as the evening went on. He would never react the way she wanted in public, but that was likely the appeal to her. He would become more austere, more reserved as she grew charmingly, and alarmingly, more provocative. It would only culminate when they were truly alone, long after the end of the night, when he would pay back every tease in private.
He still did not want to kiss his wife in a crowded ballroom. But why could he not provoke her in return directly?
“What is that grin for, Mr Darcy?”
He lived here now, in this century. They could act any way they wished with each other so long as the other approved. He could be just as flirtatious without kissing his wife senseless in front of gawking strangers. “I think you owe me a penance for speaking so scandalously to me in public.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to lure Miss Bennet to an alcove and have your way with her?” Her eyes danced as she teased him. She was not taking him seriously.
“Never. But I do have designs on Mrs Darcy and a way for her to make amends for teasing me. Pemberley’s events director is behind you trying to catch my eye.” He nodded to her and held up a hand. “I promised to speak to this group again about the chalked floor, and as much as I know seeing me command a room moves you, I want you to go to the library and wait for me.”
“Why?” A wrinkle of confusion appeared between her brows. He only stared. “What am I going to do while I wait?”
It was so out of character for him that she could not even guess. She wanted an answer, and while he had no trouble speaking it aloud when they were alone, saying it in public was much too far for him. Instead, he whispered it into her ear.
Elizabeth blew out a breath and her gaze darted left to right, likely to see if anyone overheard. He met her eye, silently insisting that she reply. He had absolutely astonished her, but she did not look outraged. “Well,” she said breathlessly, “I could do that, but then what do I need you for?”
He should have known she would redouble her efforts to scandalise and entice him. She expected him to shake his head, amused, and walk away only to answer in the late hours when they were alone in their chamber.
“Because of what I’ll do with you after I watch you,” he murmured.
Her pupils blew open, and he admired the way her short, shallow breaths moved her chest in her high-waisted gown andstays. “Why don’t we,” she stammered, “why don’t we just go to bed after your talk?”
“Because I have to stay until the end of the night, and you can’t wait that long.”
He held her gaze, and if it wasn’t true before, he saw in her eyes it was true now. “I feel like you’re punishing me for flirting with you.”
Nothing in her looks or voice said she objected. “You can stay here to the end of the event, and we can go to bed after as we always do.” He spread one hand around her waist and held her firm, but not bringing her against his body. Leaning down slightly, he added in a lower voice, “If you agree you deserve it, go to the library and wait for me.”
He used a sterner tone than was typical. Not quite a demand, but the slight whimper that escaped her lips told him she didn’t mind it at all. Elizabeth took a slow, deep breath, and he wondered what she would do. Deny him now and make it up to him later, or surrender to his request. Either option warmed his blood, but she could choose.
He stepped away, and to his delight, Elizabeth threw him a saucy smile, curtseyed, and said, “I look forward to a thorough and lengthy discussion in the library, Mr Darcy.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
September 22, 2026
Autumnal Equinox
Although Georgiana had been here three months, it now felt like she was leaving too soon. When she first arrived, Darcy had seen her only as a painful reminder of a forgotten existence, but in the last few months they had become friends as they never could have been when he was her guardian. His sister’s departure would leave an emptiness in his heart he had been trying in vain to guard against.
But he would rather have the good memories along with the hurt than not have had this chance to see his sister at all.
Darcy drove himself and Elizabeth to Nine Ladies while Tom Roland drove Georgiana. Sheryl had agreed to stay behind at the house with Sandra so both he and Elizabeth could join Georgiana. Roland had insisted on going with them, saying anything stone circle-related was his responsibility.
Their meeting last night with Sheryl to break the news about Georgiana and time travelling had been unexpectedlyanticlimactic. She had doubted, questioned, and then turned to Roland and said, “You really believe this, Tommy?”
He nodded. “Hon, I saw her appear out of nowhere right there in the middle of the stones. And she didn’t know what a car was.”
Sheryl then blew out a breath and said, “Okay, then.”
It was the least dramatic response to learning the truth about a time travel portal in a ring of stones that Darcy had ever experienced. Darcy had accused his dying father of being addled by laudanum, Elizabeth had vehemently quarrelled with his housekeeper, and Mr Willers had gently humoured him as though he were mad. Georgiana had fled the room in tears, and Roland had needed whisky to stop his hands from shaking.
