Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

Eliza blinked several times. She was sure that her heart had stopped beating and that she greatly misunderstood the words coming out of Peregrine Fitzwilliam's mouth. That or she had died, somewhere between Mr. Philip Collins asking her for a private tour of the Pemberly gardens and her grandmother and cousin speaking to Earl Fitzwilliam.

"Please say something," his voice was pleading.

It was the only sign of weakness that Eliza had seen in his very carefully crafted fa?ade, but how could she believe his words? Every interaction, every sentence was harsh and filled with disdain, or so she had thought the past fourteen days in his presence.

Opening and closing her mouth several times, Eliza tried to find her voice, but she was finding it rather difficult. There was a large part of her that wanted to run into his arms and accept his meager attempt at a proposal.

Was that supposed to be a marriage proposal?

"What would you like to hear after such a declaration?" She tilted her head, glaring at the infuriatingly handsome earl. "Am I to rejoice that you want to spend the rest of your life with me despite our social differences? "

He took a step toward Eliza, his body heat threatening to crumble her resolve to not swoon at his words, no matter how preposterous they were to her.

I don't want Miss Bingley.

The words pierced her shielded heart, but her mind would not accept the possibility that he wanted her. It wasn't that she did not think herself worthy. Like the rest of the women in her family, Eliza was beautiful. She just could not believe that the one thing she had whispered to herself in the dark—when no one was listening could come true.

But truly, what a poor declaration of affection.

"Must you argue with me on every subject?" he asked, flinging the book in his hand onto the chaise lounge.

"Yes, I must." She ran her hands through her hair, wanting to shout in frustration. "Especially since every time you open your mouth, it is to insult me?—"

"No, that is not true. I have simply stated the facts." He pressed a strong hand to his chest.

"The facts?" she asked. "I would be beautiful if I wore my hair down." She listed off the offenses with her hands."

"Your hair is a thing of beauty and I wish to always view you with it unbound," he stated plainly, as if she had not spoken.

Ignoring the shiver that ran through her from his words, she continued on with her diatribe. "You insulted my gown, saying it was a hideous shade of green." Tilting her head, she waited patiently for a rebuttal.

He shrugged one large shoulder before he took a step closer to her. Eliza automatically took a step back. "I prefer you in blue. It brings out the color in your eyes. The way it shines against your skin color is enchanting and anytime you wear blue it just enhances your natural beauty," he said, his features softening in a way she had never seen before.

"Am I to believe that you feel all of this even with our differences in station, which you were so kind to make note of when you first confessed your admiration?" Her voice quivered; his looming presence seeped into her skin.

Eliza had ignored the overwhelming pull she had felt the moment she met Peregrine Fitzwilliam, but no more. She would no longer ignore her own feelings, regardless of how completely incapable he was of having a simple conversation.

Eliza gasped as his cool hands wrapped around the nape of her neck, dragging her body closer to his. "You are to know that I love you, most passionately, and I never want to part from you from this day forward." He pressed his forehead to hers, his crisp green eyes capturing her in place. "I am yours, Eliza, and I very much want you to be my wife. Will you marry me and teach me how to speak properly?" A rare smile graced his lips, and she could no longer resist him.

Running her fingers through his soft blonde hair, she looked up into his sparkling green eyes, so full of love. "Yes, though I believe it will take some time to teach you how to speak."

"Forever. It'll take forever," he said before he pressed his lips to hers.

Eliza melted against him, her fingers gripping his silky locks as she welcomed his tongue into her hungry mouth. A moan of pure pleasure escaped her as Peregrine pressed her against the bookshelf, his hard body completely encompassing hers.

Her body sang with desire as she felt the hard length of him press up against her abdomen. Eliza had never been intimate with a man before. She had always believed that her life would be filled with polite affection, but this fire, this passion, was something that only Peregrine could incite within her.

Her hands traveled down his firm chest to the buttons of his waistcoat, where she desperately tried to free him of its confines.

His hand traveled to her buttocks, squeezing and kneading the pliant flesh. Her head fell back against the bookcase as his lips traveled down to the swell of her breast.

Dear God, she could feel him everywhere and she wanted more .

"What do you think you're doing?" A deep voice broke through the lust-filled haze of Eliza's mind.

Peregrine froze before he took a step away from her, taking her by the hand.

Hastily, she straightened her clothing, running her fingers through the tight bun at the nape of her neck

"Eliza, what is going on?" her Aunt Elizabeth asked.

Swallowing, she tried to find her words, but the shock on her aunt and uncle's face was too much for her to bear. They looked as if Peregrine had forced himself on her, and that was the furthest thing from the truth.

"Darcy, I-I can explain," Peregrine said, stepping in front of Eliza, trying to protect her reputation.

That no longer mattered. She was well and truly ruined, and she quite enjoyed it. What did matter was that she was to be his bride.

His countess.

"You can explain?" Her uncle's voice was calm, but deadly. "You force yourself on my innocent niece in my home and you think that I care to hear your explanation?"

Her aunt placed a hand on her uncle's arm. "Darcy, try to stay calm?—"

"No, Elizabeth, I trusted him in our home around innocent young ladies, and this is how he betrays my trust." He waved a hand at Eliza and Peregrine.

Eliza had heard enough. "Uncle Darcy, that is not true. He didn't force me to do anything. Earl Fitwilliam asked me to marry him, and I said yes." She stood tall, waiting for her aunt and uncle's reaction.

They both stared from her to Peregrine, wide eyed and in shock. It wasn't the response she expected from the rest of her family, but words of congratulations would have been nice.

"Married? You're getting married to Lord Fitzwilliam?" her aunt asked.

"It is rather shocking, but despite my inability to converse freely, Miss Lockhart has agreed to be my wife." Peregrine placed his arm around her waist.

Her Uncle Darcy cleared his throat loudly, his eyes shifting to Peregrine's hand around Eliza's waist.

"That is wonderful that you are engaged. Indeed, however, that does not excuse your behavior, Fitzwilliam," Darcy said, folding his arms in front of his chest.

Eliza fought the urge to roll her eyes at her always serious uncle. In all her life she was not sure if she'd ever seen the man smile, but Jane insisted her father did smile occasionally but only around his immediate family.

"You are right, Cousin." Peregrine nodded, looking very much like a chastised boy. "I lost myself in the excitement of the moment."

Her aunt let out a girlish sigh, as Eliza herself molded into Peregrine's side. Perhaps it wouldn't take much at all to teach him how to properly give a compliment.

Her aunt smiled, looking much younger than her husband. "Of course, we understand. We were young once, were we not, husband?" Her aunt asked, a challenging tone in her voice as she pierced her husband with a single gaze.

"I never behaved in such a manner, nor would I have with your parents in the same vicinity." He shook his head, dark hair streaked in grey, falling in his eyes. "For God's sake man, anyone could have walked in on you."

Peregrine's arm tightened around Eliza's waist. She could not help to wish that they were still alone and his lips were pressed against hers. "You are correct. Now that she has agreed to be my wife, I shall vow to behave better," he said, looking down at her with heated eyes.

Eliza licked her dry lips, as they tingled in remembrance of him.

Please never behave again.

Hiding the smile that threatened to consume her at her wicked thoughts, Eliza turned away from him, catching the knowing gaze of her aunt.

"Well, I suppose congratulations are in order!" Her aunt clapped her hands together before she rushed forward, taking Eliza from Peregrine's side. "I wish you'll be as happy as I've been these past twenty years," she whispered in Eliza's ear, squeezing her.

Tears threatened to fall at her aunt's warm reception. Eliza was not sure that her own parents would be as happy as her aunt. Along with her grandmother, Eliza's mother had pushed for the match with Mr. Philip Collins.

Resigned, Eliza had wanted to please her family, but she knew in her heart that Mr. Collins could never make her happy.

"Thank you, Aunt Lizzy. I know we will be." Eliza looked to Peregrine, her heart so full of love and happiness that it threatened to burst inside of her chest.

She never imagined that a fortnight at her aunt and uncle's would lead to love.

"I think this is cause for celebration," her uncle said, walking to stand next to his wife.

"Indeed! Shall we go and inform the rest of the family?" her aunt asked with perfectly raised eyebrows.

"Now? You want us to tell them now?" Eliza asked, suddenly afraid of what her parents would say.

They weren't overly affectionate, both reserved in their own way. Informing them that their only daughter was to be married to an earl in front of a room full of people would not be pleasing to them.

"The sooner you get this over with, the sooner you can start your life together." Her aunt squeezed her hand before turning to her husband and walked out of the library.

"Are you ready?" Peregrine asked her, a finger teasing down her cheek.

She shook her head. "No, what if it's a disaster?" she whispered her fears as he led her out of the room behind her aunt and uncle.

Although she wasn't engaged to Philip Collins, Eliza didn't feel entirely comfortable announcing her engagement to another man in front of him. Surely, she should speak to him in private. And what about her cousin, Beth?

From the moment that Eliza had arrived, all her cousin could speak of was Peregrine. How handsome he was, how she hoped he liked her, but really, Eliza wasn't sure if that was Beth's or her grandmother's opinion.

"It won't be," he whispered, bending down as they turned down the hallway leading to where the guests were still gathered.

She tried to calm her frantic nerves, but there was no comfort to be had as the distance between them and the conservatory became shorter and shorter. "How can you be certain?

His eyes sparkled as they slowed before reaching where their friends and family were all assembled. "Because you said yes, and nothing else matters."

She looked up at him, wondering where her brooding earl had gone. "Have you been pretending not to know what to say this entire time?" She couldn't help but wonder, as he hadn't insulted her once since his proposal.

"No, I have not." He shrugged his shoulder. "It's easier now."

She peered back, amazed at how much more comfortable he seemed with her, as opposed to earlier that day. "Really? Why is that?"

His fingers teased the exposed skin right above her gloves, causing her body to heat in ways she never imagined. "Because I know you're mine."

They stopped in front of the doors to the conservatory as her aunt and uncle stood in front of them. Eliza squeezed Peregrine's arm, wanting to run away with him that instant.

"Eliza! I've been looking for you," her cousin Jane said, looking at Eliza and Peregrines joined arms. "What's going on?" she asked with a knowing smile.

"May I have your attention, please?" Her uncle's voice carried around the small room, and all eyes turned toward them. "My cousin, Earl Fitzwilliam, has an announcement." Her uncle moved aside and suddenly every gaze in the conservatory was on them.

Beside her Peregrine froze, before clearing his throat several times .

Eliza's mother and father stopped their conversation with Mr. Philip Collins, their gaze shifting from Eliza to each other in confusion.

Jane bounced on her heels, smiling at Eliza as every breath in the room was held waiting on Peregrine.

"Thank you, Darcy." He cleared his throat again, releasing Eliza's arm to take her by the hand. Audible gasps were heard around the room. "I've asked Miss Eliza Lockhart to be my wife, and she has graciously accepted."

Her eyes went to Peregrine. She didn't care what anyone else thought as she stared into the green gaze of her future. There would be time to speak to her parents, Mr. Philip Collins, and Beth later.

"What! I thought she didn't like him!" her grandmother's shrill voice rose over the quiet in the room.

Peregrine ignored the commotion that her grandmother was causing, bending closer to her, his eyes sparkling with mischief as he pressed his lips to hers.

She could feel all eyes on her, but none of it mattered.

The only person she cared about was him.

The Earl Fitzwilliam.