Page 115 of Bitterness of Spirit & The Painting

Despite the busy schedule, Darcy was able to steal private time for them—or better said, for him to abduct Elizabeth every time he could. Either he brought her into the library and locked the door for a while, visited the mistress’s apartment connected to his, or took long walks and rides around the property; they found ways to be alone.

The better they knew each other, the more they realised how perfect a match they were. Even their strengths and faults were complementary, and although they often had different opinions and tastes, they always managed to agree to disagree.

Mr Darcy learned quickly to do two things once he became engaged. The first—easily observed by everyone and acknowledged loudly by Mr Wilson—was to laugh more. The second—carefully concealed from everyone and displayed only when they were in complete privacy—was to break with propriety at every opportunity.

Though gestures of tenderness, hand holding, quick kisses, and meaningful glances were often stolen during the day, Darcy sneaked into Elizabeth’s chamber every night, happily welcomed by her.

Their bodies learned to discover and become accustomed to each other, eagerly awaiting the completion of their union on their wedding night.

Darcy knew that Elizabeth would not oppose anticipating their vows. He could feel her love become restrained passion; he could sense her body yearning for his as much as he craved hers. She was ready and willing to offer herself to him in every way.

But he preferred to wait. He planned for everything to be perfect, just as their union would be. To him, Elizabeth was like the most exquisite book. He found great enjoyment in slowly discovering her, page by page, until the climactic ending—which would be the start of a new and lengthy book they would write together in the years to come.

Therefore, he was with her every night, teaching her about passion and desire then resting in each other’s arms for a few hours while she slept peacefully. He stayed awake, however, to watch her beautiful face glowing with happiness and to carefully retire to his room before dawn so nobody would discover their secret encounters. It was a torture to him in every sense that he gladly suffered as he counted the days until their wedding.

∞∞∞

Ten days after Mr Darcy proposed to Elizabeth Bennet, while they all relaxed inside at noon with refreshments and drinks, a visit interrupted them: Lord and Lady Matlock were announced.

Darcy and the colonel hurried to greet them, but when they entered, the large gathering obviously surprised them. Lady Matlock quickly recovered, greeted everybody, embraced Anne and Georgiana, then congratulated Jane and Bingley as well as Elizabeth and Darcy.

“Mr Wilson! What a pleasant surprise to see you here,” Lady Matlock said.

Wilson bowed to her. “I am honoured to see you again, your ladyship.”

“This is a good opportunity to apologize for leaving the ball in such haste and to thank you for the invitation to a very pleasant event.”

“Your ladyship is too kind. It is I who must thank you.”

The colonel helped his mother sit, but the earl remained standing. He appeared uneasy and disturbed, undecided whether he should stay or leave.

“I am… It is… Mr Wilson, I would like a private word with you, if I may,” the earl eventually said. “There are things that need to be discussed.”

Elizabeth and Darcy startled; Wilson looked at him with unconcealed surprise.

“Of course,” he responded after a short pause.

“I believe the library would be private,” Darcy offered. “Let me show you there.”

Except for Elizabeth and Mrs Gardiner, the others ignored the exchange; they were accustomed to gentlemen speaking privately, so no one remarked on it. Darcy turned and gave his betrothed a look that reassured her he would take care of the matter. She replied with a smile of gratitude.

∞∞∞

The library door closed heavily.

“I would like to stay,” Darcy declared with a tone that allowed no opposition. “Regardless of what you have to say, I shall be involved in a certain way. My future is forever bonded to Miss Bennet and her family, and I must know how to properly handle the conflict between my uncle and hers.”

Wilson shrugged, nodding his agreement.

“You may stay,” the earl reluctantly agreed. “The worst has been said anyway.”

Without asking, Darcy poured each a glass of wine. His companions took it in silence.

“I did not come here to crawl and beg your forgiveness; none of your threats frighten me,” the earl said.

“I imagined as much,” Wilson replied.

“And I shall certainly not discuss my private life; it is no one’s business what I do within the privacy of my residence. You must be aware, however, that such rumours spread in Town would hurt Lady Matlock most undeservedly.”