Chapter 23

Celebrations

N oticing Darcy’s reluctance to be away from his wife, Effington suggested the men forego their cigars and join the ladies in the parlor. Darcy was quick to offer his arm to Elizabeth. “Shall we, my love?”

After a few moments of conversation, Georgiana suggested a few songs. “Does anyone have a recommendation?”

“Play something for dancing, Georgiana. It is a celebration, after all.” Georgiana hid a smile at her cousin’s obvious ploy to dance with his lady.

Darcy squeezed Elizabeth’s hand, his eyes glinting with a playful energy that she once would not have believed possible. “What do you say, Mrs. Darcy? Shall we take to the floor and show them how it is done?”

Elizabeth’s heart fluttered at the way he said her new name. “If you think you can keep up with me, Mr. Darcy, I suppose I am willing.”

As the couples began to pair off, the room filled with the rustle of skirts and the sounds of furniture being pushed aside. Richard took Suzy’s hand, his eyes warm with affection as he led her to the center of the room. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner joined them.

With a shy smile, Georgiana took her place at the piano. The first notes of a lively tune filled the room, and the couples began to dance. Elizabeth found herself laughing as Darcy twirled her around the room, his steps confident and sure.

“You are quite good at this, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth teased as they moved together.

“Only because I have the best partner,” Darcy replied, his voice warm with affection.

As the dance came to an end, they all found themselves breathless and smiling, the joy of the moment shared among them. Georgiana’s fingers stilled on the piano keys, and for a moment, the room was filled with the comfortable silence of companionship.

It was Richard who broke the quiet, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “You know, all this talk of music reminds me of something. Darcy told me about a song he once heard. An ode to the new Mrs. Darcy. I wonder if my cousin here might give us a performance?”

Darcy raised an eyebrow, immediately understanding Richard’s intention. “Ah, yes. I believe I know exactly the song you are thinking of, Richard.” He turned to Elizabeth, a mischievous grin on his lips. “Shall I serenade you, my love?”

Elizabeth’s eyes widened, already guessing what he was about to do. “Oh no, Fitzwilliam, please do not—”

But it was too late. With exaggerated solemnity, Darcy began to sing in a deep, dramatic voice, doing his best to imitate Mr. Collins’ infamous ode to Elizabeth.

Elizabeth, my wife so dear,

You walk the fields to exercise.

“Enough, enough. We have not yet been married a day and already you treat me so.”

The room erupted in laughter, and Elizabeth could not help but join in. “I do commend you for choosing all the correct words, however.”

“Ah yes, perhaps I should have said ‘you walk the fields to alchemize’. I think that would have been a more authentic choice.”

Elizabeth and Darcy shared another laugh, as Richard joined in. “Oh, that horrid, imbecilic man!” Lady Susan harrumphed from beside Richard. “Lizzy told me all about his little songs. How dreadful! Though I did enjoy it when she included Collinsisms in her letters to me. I believe he once referred to your aunt as ‘The Venereal Lady Catherine de Bourgh.”

This caught the Earl of Matlock’s attention. He laughed heartily. “I shall never think of her differently now!”

Elizabeth, still laughing, shook her head. “Mr. Collins’ grasp of the English language was tenuous at best. And his little songs were truly abysmal, but,” she added with a soft smile, “they offered me a chance to first form a connection with my dear husband.”

Darcy cocked his head. “How so, my love.”

She placed her hand on his. “You offered me comfort and distraction during the worst of it. I was pleased by your gentlemanly manners. It is what first caused me to hope.”

Darcy, clearly pleased with her response, raised an eyebrow. “Then I have outdone you, my dear. My interest was piqued during our first dance, but my feelings have been engaged since I encountered you on Oakham Mount.”

Elizabeth looked up at him, her laughter fading into a soft smile. “So soon?”

Darcy’s eyes softened, and he nodded. “Yes, so soon. You captivated me from the very beginning.” Elizabeth wanted nothing more than to kiss him. Here, in front of everyone. But good manners prevailed.

∞∞∞

When the maid brought in the tea tray, Elizabeth found herself being gently pulled aside by her mother, who had a tender look in her eyes. “Lizzy, my dear,” Mrs. Gardiner began, her voice filled with emotion, “from the look in your husband’s eyes, I suspect you will not join us for much longer. Before you go, I must tell you how much I will miss having you so near.”

Elizabeth’s heart tightened with emotion, and she took her mother’s hands. “But perhaps you will soon have another son or daughter to occupy your attention?”

Mrs. Gardiner’s eyes softened with tears, and she smiled faintly. “I fear to wish for it, Elizabeth, but oh, how I hope.”

Elizabeth hugged her mother close. “It has been a privilege to be your daughter, Mama. You have taught me everything I need to know about love and family.”

Mrs. Gardiner pulled back slightly, a mixture of pride and love shining in her eyes for her daughter. She then moved her gaze to Mr. Darcy who was standing nearby. “And as I predicted, your husband is eager to steal you away,” she whispered. “Trust him, Lizzy. He will not hurt you. He loves you dearly.”

With her mother’s blessing, Elizabeth allowed herself to be secreted away by Mr. Darcy, their hands intertwined as they quietly left the room. The two said nothing as they walked up the stairs and down the hall to Elizabeth’s new suite. Suzy had arranged for the new Mrs. Darcy to have the room next door to her husband. Mr. Darcy turned to her, his eyes filled with longing. “How much time do you need, my love?”

Elizabeth swallowed, feeling a rush of warmth spread through her. “Half an hour. Possibly less,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

He nodded, his gaze never leaving hers. “Take your time, my darling. And leave the necklace on.” He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it, allowing his lips to linger. Elizabeth’s toes curled in anticipation.

Inside the room, Milly had laid out a new silk nightgown and wrapper, and a set of soft white slippers, trimmed in rabbit fur. “Mrs. Darcy,” she said in reverent tone as she offered a proper curtsy.

Elizabeth eyes danced. “I am the same as I have always been, Milly, though I do love hearing my new title. I shall never tire of it.”

Milly gave a wry laugh. “That is good, ma’am, as you are now stuck with it.”

Milly’s deft hands soon had Elizabeth out of her dress and into her nightgown. “This red looks mighty pretty on you. Mr. Darcy will be beside himself.” Elizabeth looked into the mirror as her maid brushed her hair.

“He asked me to wear the necklace, but it does not match.”

Milly smoothed Elizabeth’s hair into soft waves before putting the brush upon the table. “I doubt Mr. Darcy will care one jot for that. He will simply wish to see you wearing the jewels he bought for you. Men are like that.”

Elizabeth’s response was stalled by a light knock upon the door. Milly gave Elizabeth’s shoulder a reassuring pat before opening the door. “Good evening, sir.” She bobbed a curtsy before leaving.

Elizabeth’s pulse quickened at the sight of her husband standing in the door frame. His shoulders were so wide, she could hardly see around him. She had wondered about those shoulders many, many times. Elizabeth had run her hands over them during kisses, so she knew he did not pad his coat as so many gentlemen did. Perhaps he is built as the Greek statues are in the museums I have visited . A thrill of hope ran through her.

“Are you cold, Mrs. Darcy?” he asked softly, his voice sending another bout of shivers down her spine.

Elizabeth shook her head, her voice failing her as she stepped to him. He crossed the room in a few quick strides and gently cupped her face in his hands.

“My beautiful wife,” he murmured. “I will warm you.”

He leaned down, capturing her lips in a tender kiss. As the kiss deepened, Darcy pulled back slightly, his voice husky with desire.

“Let us get you to bed, Mrs. Darcy,” he said, his eyes darkening with a mixture of love and longing. Slowly, he walked her backwards until her legs hit the mattress. “So beautiful.” Darcy’s hands moved from her face to her shoulders, sliding over the silk of her nightgown and down her body with deliberate tenderness. The warmth of his touch caused goosebumps to rise on her flesh and made her heart race even faster.

“I have waited so long for this moment,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “To finally call you my wife, to touch you like this, to know that you are mine, now and forever.”

Elizabeth’s breath caught in her throat. “I am yours, Fitzwilliam. And you are mine.”

Darcy smiled, the dimple in his cheek deepening as he gazed at her with an affection that left her feeling cherished. He leaned down, pressing soft kisses along her jawline, trailing them down her neck, each touch sending a shiver of anticipation through her.

Elizabeth felt her hands move of their own accord, slipping beneath the fabric of his dressing gown to feel the solid warmth of his back. She reveled in the sensation of his muscles tensing beneath her fingers, the reality of him, so close, so strong, so undeniably hers.

He moved them toward the bed, his hands never leaving her, his kisses growing more insistent. When they reached the edge, he paused, lifting her slightly to remove the fur-trimmed slippers from her feet. His gaze flicked to her necklace, and he smiled. “Your lips grow brighter after kissing, my love. I must purchase another set of jewels to match this exact shade.” He ran his thumb along her swollen mouth. “The color will be beautiful against your skin, but not as lovely as my Elizabeth.”

In a breathy voice, she responded. “You flatter me, Fitzwilliam.”

“I speak only the truth,” he replied in low voice.

∞∞∞

Darcy lowered her onto the bed, careful to keep his body from fully touching hers. His intrepid Elizabeth did not appear fearful, but he wished to go slow for her sake. And, if he was truthful with himself, for his own. He wished to savor every second. Elizabeth’s hands moved to his lapels, pushing his robe open to expose his chest. Darcy assisted her, untying the sash and allowing the garment to fall carelessly to the floor.

Her eyes were hooded as she brought her hands to his shoulders. Her touch sent thrills through his body, and he reminded himself to be gentle. She was a treasure, and she was all his. “Elizabeth,” he whispered, his voice nearly breaking, “I will spend every day of my life making you happy.”

Tears welled in her eyes. “And I will spend every day loving you, Fitzwilliam.”

Darcy lowered himself to her, his lips capturing hers in a kiss that conveyed all the love and desire he held for her. The kiss deepened, and soon they were lost in each other, their hands exploring, their breaths mingling, until there was nothing left between them but the sheer intensity of their need for one another.

∞∞∞

Darcy pressed a tender kiss to Elizabeth’s forehead. Her hair was a riot of curls spread across the pillow, her skin glowing with the aftereffects of their joining. “I want you to always wear your hair down for me when we are in our chambers.”

She lifted her hand to her hair and attempted to smooth it. “It will become a tangled mess. Jane always chided my unruly locks.”

He stilled her hand with his own. “Your sister was wrong. Your hair has long captivated me. I have wished to run my fingers through it for months.”

She giggled. “For months? That would certainly have thwarted Jane’s plans.”

He leaned down and kissed her plump lips. “I believe we gave your sister exactly what she wished for.”

Elizabeth looked perplexed. “How so?”

“She wished you to marry a gentleman, did she not?”

He thought back to the months that had led them to this moment, the twists and turns of fate that had brought them together. He silently thanked his Aunt Matlock for her interference in his love life, for inviting him and Georgiana to that fateful tea where he had first seen Elizabeth again. Even if his aunt had intended to match him with Lady Susan, it had all worked out exactly as it should have. He now had his lovely Elizabeth by his side, until the end of their days.

Elizabeth stirred in his arms, and Darcy tightened his hold on her, feeling a swell of protectiveness. This was where she belonged, where she would always belong—in his arms. In his bed. In his life.

“Are you happy, Mrs. Darcy?” he whispered, his voice filled with tenderness.

Elizabeth looked up at him, her eyes shining with love. “Happier than I ever imagined, Mr. Darcy.”

Darcy smiled, the dimple in his cheek appearing once more as he pressed a lingering kiss to her lips. “As am I, my love. As am I.”

Somewhere in the house the distant tones of a grandfather clock struck twelve. Elizabeth lifted her head to listen. “Uncle Paul should just now be opening the front door to usher in the new year.”

“Are you sorry I forced you to leave the celebration early?” He ran his thumb across her cheek, stopping at her plump bottom lip.

She kissed the digit. “I believe this is exactly how we should usher in the new year, my love.”

He kissed her then before settling himself above her. “Happy New Year, Mrs. Darcy.”