Loving Mr. Darcy: Journeys Beyond Pemberley (15 page)

"Mr. Darcy," she asked abruptly, hoping to dispel the visions and halt the shivers, "the book you are reading, is it an interesting one?"

Darcy jumped slightly when she spoke. He looked up into her amazing eyes and time stopped. He had no idea what she had said. "I beg your pardon, Miss Elizabeth. What did you say?"

She smiled. "I asked if the book you are reading is interesting."

"Oh! Yes. Quite interesting," he answered lamely.

"Do you think it would be of interest to me? You know how I enjoy reading. Improves the mind, you understand."

Darcy laughed softly. "Yes, it does."

"So, then you believe I may glean value from reading your book? When you are finished, naturally."

"If you wish, Miss Elizabeth. I would be delighted to lend it to you."

"I assume it must be a particularly fascinating story. Or possibly it may be too deep for my young mind to comprehend."

He was puzzled. "I am positive your mind is adept enough to comprehend any topic, Miss Elizabeth."

"I was concerned, you see, Mr. Darcy, as it has taken you more than an hour to study this one page. In point of fact, you have been reading this book for the past two weeks and are only on page fifteen. I can only speculate, but considering how intelligent you are, the only feasible conclusion is that the story is so extraordinary that you are rereading each paragraph several times for sheer pleasure, or it is necessary to do so in order to decipher the author's intent." She was smiling impishly and he could not resist laughing.

"You have caught me, my dear." He glanced quickly around the room, relieved to note that no one was paying them any attention. "The truth is, if you must know, I find myself terribly unfocused whenever I am near you and cannot concentrate. I may be on page fifteen; however, I would be unable to render an accounting of the content thus far." He blushed faintly but met her dancing eyes. "Does this shock you, Miss Elizabeth?"

"You see this sampler?" She held up her embroidery.

"Yes, of course," he answered in confusion.

"I have been working on this for a month and should have completed it in a week. These stitches here are all wrong, and I have had to rip this section out three times! And I cannot tell you how many times I have stabbed my fingers. I judge you and I are suffering from the same disease." She, too, was blushing, but she held his penetrating gaze.

He reached down and squeezed her hand, then brought her fingers to his lips for a tender kiss. His eyes captivated her, crystalline blue orbs darkening slightly in what she now recognized was ardor. "I am very pleased to hear you say that, Elizabeth. You have no idea how pleased." His voice was muted and husky, imbued with emotion, and her breath caught in her throat.
Look away from his eyes, Lizzy!
she thought desperately, but could not comply.

In a desperate attempt at levity, she teased, "Pleased, Mr. Darcy, that I have pricked my fingers?"

Darcy, however, was wholly absorbed in her fine chocolate eyes and only smiled. "I am William to you, and my mother used to kiss my wounds to make them better. Should I kiss your aching fingers? Will that relieve your pain?" He proceeded to give the tips of each finger a tiny kiss with full lips soft and warm. Lizzy released a shaky laugh and managed to pull her hand from his grasp, resuming her embroidery with rosy cheeks.

Darcy seemed immeasurably pleased with himself.

"I received a letter from Georgiana today," she said, needing to change the subject.

"Did you? My sister seems to have forgone writing to me these past weeks in favor of writing to you."

Lizzy looked quickly at his face. "I am sorry, William! I have no wish to keep her from writing to you."

Darcy laughed. "I am joking Elizabeth. You know how pleased I am that you and Georgiana are friends." And it was true. Two days after their engagement, Lizzy had asked him for permission to write to Georgiana. He had lightly scolded, reminding her that Georgiana would soon be her sister. Therefore, he stated emphatically, it was important that they establish a relationship and he, frankly, no longer had any authority over the situation. She had been deeply moved by his assurances, well aware of how dear his sister was to him. It was another of the dozens of ways he daily showed his love for her.

Now he asked, "So what did my sister have to say?"

"Nothing of consequence. Just girl talk." There it was: the two most effective words in the English language to render any man mute. In actuality, Georgiana had imparted information of extreme significance. It was revealed that Mr. Darcy's twenty-ninth birthday was on November the tenth, less than a month away. Elizabeth was unclear on what she would do with this knowledge, but it assuredly was too important to ignore.

Later that night, as she and Jane were readying for bed, Lizzy told her about Mr. Darcy's approaching birthday. "You must help me think of something special, Jane. This is our first celebration together so it must be memorable."

"Of course! We have time to plan, and I am sure Mr. Bingley will assist us. Fret not, Lizzy, we shall make it memorable."

November the tenth, Darcy's birthday and precisely eighteen days before their nuptials, dawned clear but extremely cold with a dusting of snow having fallen in the night. Aware that the weather was unpredictable this time of the year, Lizzy and her cohorts had planned the birthday festivities to take place inside Netherfield. Mr. Bingley had been as giddy as a child at the idea of surprising his friend. In fact, his enthusiasm was so infectious that Lizzy was afraid that he would be unable to keep the secret. Luckily for her, Darcy was so engrossed in his own happiness that he hardly noticed anything Bingley said or did.

Darcy had uttered not a word about his birthday. Although Lizzy was relieved to be able to carry out her plans for surprising him, she did think it odd that he kept silent. She feared that perhaps his normally reticent and shy nature would not welcome being taken unawares. Bingley assured her that he would love it. She worried that he may be wounded as she had not shown interest in establishing when his birthday was. To her chagrin, he had discovered her birthday by boldly asking her mother one evening while at dinner, so maybe he was injured that she had not returned the gesture. She abhorred the very idea of causing him pain, no matter how slight. Thankfully, the day was finally here and soon he would know how special he was to her.

He had returned to Netherfield the previous afternoon, after a short trip of three days to London on business. It was his second such trip since their engagement, and Lizzy missed him terribly when he was gone. His first separation from her had occurred two weeks after their engagement and had only lasted five days. At the time, Lizzy had mentally shrugged, waving adieu with mild sadness but not anticipating how deeply her grief would be by that evening when, for the first time, they did not dine together. It had struck her suddenly and forcibly how utterly his presence had wrapped around her heart. The loneliness she had felt while sitting at the Longbourn dining table with her boisterous family chattering all about was as a knife in her soul. That night she had cried herself to sleep, mortified at her silliness but unable to halt the tears. For the first time in her entire life, she had known what it was to truly mourn and suffer depression. His letters, arriving each day, eased her wretchedness to a degree. Still, her joy upon seeing his staid but oh-so-handsome face had flowed through her in a piercing wave, stunning her in its intensity.

This separation was equally as horrible; however, on this occasion his absence had been fortuitous, as it made carrying out the final plans easier.

It had not been difficult to get Darcy out of Netherfield that morning, since he daily went to Longbourn with Mr. Bingley to meet their fiancees. After the obligatory greetings to Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Kitty, and Mary, the couples left. Jane had "innocently" suggested that a morning carriage ride to see the freshly fallen snow would be enjoyable. So Mr. Bingley and Jane set out ahead in one phaeton, Darcy and Lizzy following in the other.

It had been almost six weeks since their engagement, and in that time, Lizzy and her betrothed had grown unbelievably close and so very comfortable with each other. They conversed about everything now with an ease that was extraordinarily intimate. The agony of waiting for their wedding day was acutely felt by them both. At times like these, sitting side by side in the carriage with fingers intertwined under the blanket, talking and laughing joyously, their mutual communion and love were overwhelming. Lizzy was hard pressed to remember that they were not already married, such was the level of their unity.

They arrived at Netherfield in time for luncheon. Once they had been relieved of their coats, gloves, and hats, Mr. Bingley took the lead. He offered his arm to Jane and walked toward the dining room. However, he passed by the double doors and continued on down a hall toward a far parlor rarely used. Darcy, who was absorbed in the enchanting appearance of Elizabeth's rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes, did not even notice the detour until they were almost to the door.

"Bingley," Darcy asked, "where in blazes are you leading us?"

"Thought a change of view would be welcome, Darcy. Come along!"

Mr. Bingley swept the door open and nimbly stepped aside so that Darcy was the first to enter the room. He stopped on the threshold thunderstruck. The normally sober room of muted creams and gold was a riot of bright colors. Yards of ribbons in every color of the rainbow were arranged across the windows and along the ceiling, twisted and tied together with some dangling like branches of a bizarre willow tree. A huge banner was draped over one wall with the words
Joyous Birth Day
painted on it. The furnishings were pushed against the walls and in the middle of the room sat two tables. One was set for dining with four chairs. The other was laden with wrapped gifts and a cake. The cake was round, white frosting decorated with tiny flowers and leaves, with one tall lit candle in the middle. Darcy had never seen anything like it.

He came to his senses when Lizzy wrapped her arms around his waist and whispered into his ear, "Are you surprised, my love?" Jane and Bingley were smiling at him.

"I am... speechless," he stammered. He looked at Elizabeth. "Did you plan this? How did you know?"

"Yes I did, with some help obviously, and it was Georgiana who told me," she replied. "Are you pleased?"

"Yes! Yes, I am!" He enfolded her with sturdy arms and kissed tenderly. Jane and Bingley swiftly turned into the room, letting them have a moment without prying eyes.

"I was afraid you were hurt, thinking I did not care when your birthday was," Lizzy whispered with a hint of anxiety in her voice.

Darcy kissed her again, stroking over one cheek with feathering fingertips. "Not at all, dearest Elizabeth. My birthday has passed mostly unnoticed for years now. Georgiana always remembers, as does Mrs. Reynolds. Some years I have completely forgotten it myself until they remind me! I will receive a small gift from my sister and my favorite meal for dinner, but that is all. I have not had a celebration of any significance since I was a child. This is so unexpected!"

Lizzy glowed with pleasure. "Well, then, let the festivities begin! After you, Mr. Darcy."

Luncheon was served first. They were all in high spirits so laughter abounded. After the meal was finished and the servants had cleared the table, a tea service was brought in, but the aroma was definitely not that of tea. It was warm cocoa, a favorite treat of Darcy's. Snow had begun to fall outside, but the room was cozy and the occupants were relaxed.

"So, explain the cake," Darcy asked. "I have never heard of a candle on a cake before."

Bingley spoke up, "Lizzy read of a German tradition of placing a single candle, a 'Light of Life' was it, Lizzy?"

"Yes. The idea is that the candle symbolizes the life of the person being celebrated. It must stay lit all day and be blown out, by you, at dusk. You can make a wish before you blow it out and it will be granted."

Darcy smiled. "I am not one to lend credence to silly superstitions, but this seems harmless fun, so I shall play along. It certainly is pretty."

They spent the afternoon playing several parlor games, charades first. Lizzy and Darcy paired up against Jane and Bingley. They were all astounded to discover that Darcy had a flair for the dramatic and was an exceptional player. Lizzy read his expressions readily now so could guess what he was acting out in short order, and they easily won the most rounds. Next they played Twenty Questions. Lizzy had asked Mr. Bennet, a neutral party, to come up with topics for both games, and he had thoroughly enjoyed conjuring up the oddest things. More than once they were stumped. In the end, Jane and Bingley proved the victors. Lastly, they played blind man's bluff. Darcy always seemed to know exactly where Lizzy was, but she was agile and quick so could easily elude him. Bingley actually proved to be the best player. He had an uncanny ability to outthink another's movements and would catch them every time. Needless to say, whenever a fiancee was caught, a pause would be necessary for a brief interlude of nuzzling and kisses, but no one minded.