His Uncle's Favorite (73 page)

After dinner, the gentlemen retired to the library while the ladies were left to themselves. Miss Bingley lost no opportunity to ask Elizabeth how she bore the difference from the world in which she had been brought up and her new life. She also inquired whether Elizabeth kept to her old habit of walking. Though Miss Bingley’s malice was impossible to miss, Elizabeth tried to remain perfectly polite. She cared little about Miss Bingley but was content to see Jane happy. The very short time they spoke together was enough to understand that marriage suited her sister very well.

Mrs. Gardiner was as elegant and beautiful as ever, though a little more restrained. However, a significant improvement was easily observed in Miss Anne de Bourgh’s aspect and manners. She seemed livelier, often showed a charming smile, and was less fearful to take part in conversation. She seemed easy with all her cousins, as well as with Mrs. Gardiner, and her behaviour towards Elizabeth was friendlier than ever.

The gentlemen seemed to get along very well together, but the stressful journey and the overwhelming events exhausted the ladies, who expressed their wish to retire soon, and they did so after a short farewell from the gentlemen.

Alone in her room after a day as long as an age, Elizabeth bathed with some haste then fell into a deep sleep for the first time in three days. She finally allowed her mind and her body to rest while, through the opened window, the summer breeze blew gently.

Close to midnight, Darcy entered the apartment, opening the door carefully; Elizabeth was sleeping in her bed her breathing calm and steady. He gently caressed her hair and wrapped the covers around her. Then he briefly washed and changed to his nightshirt then lay near her. Her back was to him, so he spooned her, wrapping her in his arms; she sighed and cuddled closer. He breathed deeply and moaned as her closeness aroused his desire. They had slept like that—her body spooned within his arms—many times, though sleep was not precisely the fair word. He smelled her silky hair and fondled her ear for a moment. She moaned and pressed her back against him. For a short while, as he saw her sleeping peacefully, enjoying the warmth of his closeness, he felt content that she was finally resting after such trying days.

However, his generous concern vanished in a moment when her bottom pressed against his thighs. He nuzzled her ear and her neck as he lowered her nightgown and cupped her breasts, caressing her roundness with impatient desire. She moaned and pushed against him harder. “Are you tired, my love? Should I allow you to sleep?”

“I am very tired, but I miss you more,” she whispered, turning her head as she begged a kiss. His lips captured hers while his hands adoringly explored every inch of the body he so dearly missed. Her skin craved his touch; he pulled up the nightgown to her waist and one of his hands slid between her thighs, caressing her, as he well knew she liked most; then he entered her slowly, deeply, throbbing inside her. Their moans joined in a passionate kiss.

“This is so good,” she whispered, and he bit her ear, thrusting deeper inside her while his hands travelled from her breasts—tortured by the pleasures of his touch—down between her thighs, tantalising the burning spot between her legs. He never freed her lips from the passionate kiss; his hands became less gentle and more possessive, more conquering, more demanding, giving pleasure and taking pleasure from her while his thrusts grew stronger, deeper, and faster until pleasure overwhelmed their senses.

They fell asleep afterwards, but their passion and yearning for each other awoke them once again during the night. Luckily, the next day none of the guests left their rooms until very late, so nobody could complain that Mr. and Mrs. Darcy neglected their visitors by oversleeping.

***

Two weeks had passed since the guests arrived at Pemberley, and the subject of Mr. Wickham’s tragic end was mentioned less frequently. The newly wedded couples were rarely aware of anything else around them, whilst the other guests found ways to amuse themselves and enjoy the beauties of Pemberley. Mr. Bennet rarely left the library; however, from the window, he had a full view of everyone who wandered outdoors, especially his most beloved daughter; he had never seen his Lizzy more beautiful, glowing in her happiness. She and her husband seemed to complete each other perfectly, and the change—the improvement—was visible on both of them as was their mutual support and passion. Mr. Bennet smiled to himself as he spotted Elizabeth and Darcy escape the crowd whenever possible, riding at a gallop through the fields and returning with grass-stained clothing. He had never imagined his Lizzy riding so well, just as he had never imagined Darcy laughing so much. This match was truly perfect, and he could not have prayed for more.

As a father, he was worried for his youngest daughter, but as he bitterly estimated, Lydia’s attachment for her husband—and, consequently, her sorrow at losing him—was not strong enough to really pain her, so two weeks later, she was rarely heard to mention her dear Wickham’s name.

The only person who visited Wickham’s grave daily was Lord Matlock. Though he struggled to return to his usual self, his countenance was still darkened by sadness, and his spirit never rose to what it had been when Elizabeth first met him.

From time to time, Lord Matlock spent time on the lawn, watching the children playing and talking to Mrs. Gardiner and his daughter. One day, Elizabeth saw her aunt riding with Lord Matlock through the small grove behind the house then other times walking together in the garden.

A few days later, Lord Matlock asked Darcy and Elizabeth for a short meeting. They were surprised when Lady Selina and her brothers joined them; then Lord Matlock finally appeared with Mrs. Gardiner on his arm and Mr. Bennet beside them. They all sat, staring at each other in an awkward silence until Lord Matlock, distressed and agitated, spoke.

“There is something of importance that I wish to share with you, and I prefer you all be here as this news affects each of you…” He paused, all eyes fixed upon him, except Mrs. Gardiner’s who seemed determined to look at the fireplace.

“I wish to announce to you all that I am courting Mrs. Gardiner,” he said, looking from one to the other, waiting for their response. Elizabeth glanced at her husband, who smiled at her, and then at her aunt, who searched their faces with worried eyes.

“Do you have nothing to say?” the earl inquired when the silence became difficult to bear.

“What is to be said? We await your news,” the colonel answered.

“What do you mean?” the earl replied harshly. “
That
is the news.”

“The news is that you are courting Mrs. Gardiner? Surely you are joking—forgive me for being disrespectful, Mrs. Gardiner—but, Father, I was certain you had been courting Mrs. Gardiner since last year,” the viscount said, politely puzzled.

“I was not!” the earl interrupted him severely, pacing the room. He suddenly stopped, gazing at Mrs. Gardiner, whose face turned from pale to red, then at his children. “It is true I had always admired Mrs. Gardiner, and in the last year, I had the chance of spending more time in her company and… But I did not court her…properly. I just now asked her permission, and I want you to know I will start courting her.”

“Oh, that is wonderful,” Lady Selina said to break the silence. “My dearest Madeleine, I have long considered you part of my family, so you must know how happy I would be if one day… This is wonderful news, indeed,” she concluded, and her brothers agreed.

When they left the library, the colonel grabbed his father’s arm tightly while he asked his brother and Darcy to stay a little longer. He closed the door and filled his glass again.

“It is I who have news that might shock you. I thought it would be better to inform you before the ladies. I asked Anne to marry me, and she accepted,” he said sternly.

Darcy stared at him in silence while the earl threw his glass into the fireplace.

“Son, why on earth did you do that? Did you learn nothing from what I told you? This cannot bring any good, and it is not fair, neither to Anne nor to you. You might think it is the easiest, most convenient and comfortable way, but—”

“Father, please listen to me! I understand your worry, but there is no need for it. I am not doing it for convenience only. I might not be passionately in love with Anne—not like Darcy is with Elizabeth—but we have spent enjoyable time together in the last two months, and we have come to know each other very well. I…I confess I miss her when I do not see her every day and…I have known many women before, but I never missed anyone. I think we will have a good marriage—better than many others.”

While he spoke, he became increasingly animated, and the earl’s countenance softened as he listened to his son. He glanced at Darcy and saw the same worry on his nephew’s face. Yes, Lord Matlock would want nothing more than to see his sons marry for the deepest love—as Darcy did or even Selina. He wished to protect them from a loveless marriage and a lifetime of regrets. But true love was not easy to find and did not always manifest itself in the same way. And he could not possibly forbid his son from marrying Anne. He could only hope, pray, and give them his blessing, which he did, his heart still heavy. The colonel, nervous as a schoolboy, hurried to speak to Anne and then to his sister while Lord Matlock, somehow dizzy after all the events and the generous glasses of brandy, began to write the startling news to his formidable sister.

A week later—under a special licence and in the presence of his entire family—Colonel Fitzwilliam wedded Anne de Bourgh in Pemberley’s small chapel. Lady Catherine did not attend the wedding, but she sent a letter declaring she disapproved such a hasty marriage, decided without the approval of the mother of the bride, and mentioning she was not well enough to bear the long journey. However, during the next month, after the earl and Anne’s third letter, Lady Catherine officially invited her daughter and son-in-law to visit Rosings whenever it was convenient for them. But she did not forgive so easily either her brother or her formerly favourite nephew and his new wife.

***

The warm, green summer days turned windy and cold, but the beauty of the grounds did not diminish; they only changed their colours.

Pemberley Manor was more silent than in the summer, but the sound of the piano and joyful laughter could still be heard all day long. At Miss Darcy’s special invitation, Mary and Kitty remained at Pemberley after their parents and Lydia returned to Hertfordshire The long stay in such superior company brought a remarkable improvement in both Bennet sisters, making one less voluble and the other more so.

To the newlyweds, the presence of Mary and Kitty was fortunate and beneficial as it helped them feel less guilty for all the time they spent alone together, almost neglecting their beloved Georgiana.

After planning things carefully for several months, Mr. Bingley left Netherfield and, with Darcy’s help, purchased a property in the neighbourhood, and Elizabeth and Jane, in addition to other sources of happiness, were within thirty miles of each other.

The first days of December increased the fever of preparations, as the entire party that visited Pemberley in the summer was expected to return for at least six weeks during Christmas time, then to return all together to town for the Season.

Mrs. Gardiner frequently wrote Elizabeth long, detailed letters. In one letter, she informed Elizabeth that, by a strange coincidence, she and Lady Selina happened upon Lady Sinclair at the modiste, and so received the information that Lady Sinclair was expecting a child sometime at the end of January. When she shared this news with Darcy and speculated that the happy event might have occurred during the hunting party at Matlock, Elizabeth was surprised to see Darcy more preoccupied than amused, but she presumed it was because of some other business on his mind.

Mrs. Gardiner sent detailed reports of everything except the progress of her courtship with Lord Matlock and a certain date that everyone expected. Elizabeth, who loved her aunt dearly, did not dare insist on more information about such a delicate subject. She knew how strong the bond was between her aunt and uncle and how difficult it must be for her aunt to decide to start a new life with another man, no matter how exceptional that man might be. She discussed the matter with Darcy more than once, and both agreed that it was the best decision for both not to hurry such an important step as they had difficult, painful pasts to overcome, despite their strong, mutual affection and respect.

One cold night, as Elizabeth was sleeping deeply and peacefully in her husband’s arms, covered in warm blankets, she found herself abruptly awakened. She opened her eyes, disconcerted, looking at the fire burning warmly and listening to the wind blowing.

“Lizzy, wake up my love,” he said hastily, and she moaned and smiled. She adored hearing him call her Lizzy. She glanced at him, wondering why he hurried to the window and pulled open the curtains.

“Look Lizzy—this is our first snow at Pemberley,” he said, and she immediately rose from the warmth of the bed, the cold of the room shivering her skin. She stepped in front of the window, and he immediately wrapped his arms around her, kissing her neck.

“Oh, William, this is so beautiful,” she whispered.

“We should return to bed; it is cold,” he said caringly, but she begged him to stay a little longer. He could not possibly refuse her, so he hurried to push the settee close to the window, throwing a few pillows and a blanket on it. Then he took her in his arms, and they lay together on the couch, wrapped in each other’s arms and covered with the blanket, warming their bodies and hearts as they admired their first Pemberley snowfall.