Miss Darcy Falls in Love (29 page)

“Yes, you should return home, my dear. You need to bathe and dress properly, and I know Lady Matlock must be beside herself with worry. Oh, do not frown. We have an afternoon date already arranged, if you recall. So you shall be back in no time at all. I am quite sure I can persuade my grandson to dine with the women.”

The butler then turned to Sebastian. “Pardon me, sir, but Hendricks was requesting instructions as to what to do with your packed bags?”

“Return them to my room, but tell him not to bother unpacking since we will be leaving soon enough.”

Georgiana gasped and jerked, ice crushing her heart to a stuttering stop. Tears stung the wide eyes fixated upon his startled face, and her voice rose to a hysterical pitch. “You are leaving after all? Why? I thought we…?”

She stuttered to a halt, bit her lower lip, and closed her eyes against the sudden panic. Unreasonably, she felt a horrible cloud of doom descend. Maybe the whole morning was a dream? The alarm grew, her heart pounding, even as a rational voice told her she had no right to upset his education.

The agony lasted a mere half dozen racing heartbeats before he was there with hands firm under her elbows. He drew her to her feet.

Neither heard Lady Warrow exit the room.

“Georgiana—” he began.

“Forgive me,” she interrupted, voice anguished and face grief-stricken. “I should not expect you to stop… Your studies are very important, I know, and a chance to study Palestrina in Vienna is incredible. You were planning to spend the summer there as it is, I remember, so…”

He lifted her chin, halting her declarations with a brief, firm kiss. He pulled away infinitesimally, cupping one cheek in his hand and drawing her closer with the other about her waist. He smiled, infusing the gesture with the full force of his love. “You are a silly girl, Miss Darcy, if you think for one second I would leave you now. As appealing as Vienna and Palestrina may be, neither is as appealing as you! I was only going to escape and now I have no reason to escape, to my everlasting joy.”

He engaged her lips for another long kiss, saying more in the following minutes than in hours of conversation. Finally, though, he did release her to explain. “My reference to leaving soon relates to my accompanying you to England when you depart. After all, I believe I have a vital appointment with your brother, do I not?”

“I do not wish to encroach upon your purpose.”

“My purpose was radically arrogated the moment I laid eyes upon you, Georgiana, even if I was unaware at the time. Our fates are entangled now. The specifics can be discussed later, but I am not worried as long as you are by my side.”

Her relief was audible, a long sigh followed by a droop against his body. Sebastian did not argue, taking advantage and embracing her gently against his chest, his face embedded in her fire-warmed hair. He whispered into the disheveled tresses covering her crown, “You are my purpose now, Georgiana. You have accepted my proposal and I do not intend to allow you to renege!” Georgiana tightened her grip about his waist and shook her head against his shoulder. “And to further clarify, nothing is more important than you, and you have every right to expect my loyalty and devotion. Not that you have anything to worry about, as I aim to smother you with love until you beg me to desist in order to preserve your sanity.”

Georgiana mumbled into his chest, “No chance of that.”

“How happy am I to hear it.”

She looked upward into his face. “I apologize for my reaction. It is silly of me, but I think I am having some difficulty believing I am no longer caught up in a fever dream.”

“Does this feel like a dream?” He bent his head for a kiss, a firm but short one that nevertheless left her smiling and flushed.

“Yes, it does feel like a dream, but real at the same time. Like yesterday when everything became clear.” Sebastian smiled at her words and brushed light fingertips over her lips. “I was anguished at your misconceptions regarding my sentiments,” she whispered against his fingers. “I empathized and was distraught. I wanted to rush over instantly but Lady Matlock cautioned waiting until today. I had it planned. I would hunt you down, in your own house if necessary, and force you to listen to me. I practiced being brave and bold. I wanted to wear the blue dress from the ball now that I knew your reaction to seeing me in it was not a dream.”

“It was not the dress,” he told her huskily.

“Be that as it may, I planned to be stunning and irresistible, not windblown and mismatched.”

“You are beyond stunning and wildly irresistible.” He scanned slowly over her body. His pale-gray eyes had darkened to stormy slate when they returned to her face.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “Sebastian, I practiced boldness and honesty. Part of that is telling you that I spoke with Lord Caxton days ago and informed him finally and firmly that I did not love him and could not in good faith or decency continue on with our acquaintance or accept his advances.”

“I can imagine he did not accept this news with ease.” Sebastian was unconscious of how he reflexively squeezed her waist, but Georgiana bore it. “It cannot be easy to have the person you plan to… marry”—he swallowed, his grip tightening more—“tell you that she has changed her mind.”

“I do not… What do you…?”

“Georgiana, I need to know. Forgive me, but I must hear that your heart is completely mine and not partially, even in the smallest particle, still belonging to him.”

“No! Not at all!”

“Understand that I am not going to let you go, Miss Darcy. I will fight for you to my dying breath, but I will wait and woo you as I should have in the first place, if that is necessary to erase any residual feelings you have for him.” His voice had risen and he was now grasping her elbows in each hand and staring into her startled eyes with a return expression bordering on frantic.

“My feelings for the baron were never more than infatuation and respect and fondness, Sebastian. My heart has belonged to you since Lyon, I now know. You must believe me!”

“But he told me… Did you or did you not have an understanding with him?”

She watched his eyes change from frantic to surprised to confused to angry in the space of three sentences. Her own emotions underwent a similar flow. “I never had an understanding of any kind with Lord Caxton. He wished for one and asked to court me, and presumed more than was granted I came to realize, but I never said more than that I would consider the idea.”

“He lied to me.” Sebastian released her, walking away a few steps before turning back to face her. “I thought… well, he convinced me that you and he were… He lied to me.”

Silence fell. It was Georgiana who broke into their thoughts, speaking calmly. “I see we have much yet to clarify. Our mutual misconceptions run deep, apparently. Are you disappointed with me or angry?”

“I am angry with myself for being such a blind fool, dearest Georgiana. And I am quite angry with Caxton! But I am not angry with you, or disappointed.” He crossed back to her, cupping her face between his hands. “You said you loved me since Lyon?” She nodded. “I have loved you since the moment you knew who Moscheles is. We are a pair of like souls, Miss Georgiana Darcy. Passion for music binds us.”

“I feared your passion for music too great to allot space for me and that your gift would suffer if distracted by romantic entanglements. I never wanted to disrupt your education.”

“Yet during your plotting to hunt me down and force me to listen, you no longer held any consideration about disrupting my education?” He laughed lowly and gently tweaked her nose.

“I confess I did not.”

“Because you trusted that my choice would be you. That we are fated, yes?”

“Yes,” she whispered. “I knew that you loved me, which I did not know before. Furthermore, after last night I thought only of being in your arms and tasting your kiss again. Does that shock you?”

“Not in the least.” His voice was nearly inaudible, rough and clipped, his lips hovering a hairbreadth from her mouth. “I am happy to oblige, but before I do, I am required to remind you that you, Miss Darcy, have already been granted a place in the Conservatoire. My education will not be disrupted in the least but will, in fact, be enhanced with my personal muse learning along with me as Viscountess Nell. And before you recover your voice, I am going to grant your wish and kiss you.”

This he did for a good long while. The repossession of sanity and decorum was sluggish. Even as the frenzied kiss subsided, they remained glued to each other, breathing erratic and hearts palpitating.

“Georgiana, my beautiful Georgiana. I hate the very idea, but I must send you home. As desirable as you are in your current state, and perhaps in part due to how fervidly I desire you right now, you need to change out of this inappropriate garment. We shall have plenty of time, all of our lives, to discuss these past weeks, if we even choose to. I abhor leaving the sanctuary of your arms, but you need to get home to a hot bath and fresh clothes. I need to prepare myself for an appeal to Lord Matlock and Colonel Fitzwilliam.”

Sebastian bundled her in his thick overcoat. “Another reason for you to return in a few hours,” he offered with a crooked grin. He guided her to the waiting carriage, halting first in the foyer so she could express her thanks to a clearly euphoric Lady Warrow.

He stood on the step and settled her on the seat, tucking quilt edges about her legs. Georgiana leaned forward, clasping his hand.

“I will see you for tea. Two o’clock precisely, no later.”

“Yes, madam. As you wish.” His voice dropped lower, eyes penetrating. “Say it again, Georgiana.”

She ruffled the hair by his ears, eyes equally penetrating. “I love you, Sebastian Butler.”

His smile was brilliant. He kissed each palm and then the wrists, squeezing firmly. “And I love you, Georgiana. Forever.”

Codetta

June 1820

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor and privilege to formally present to the assembly, for the first time of a multitude to come, Viscount and Viscountess Nell!”

The Earl of Essenton swept his arm high in the air and stepped aside as the double doors were simultaneously pulled open by two livery garbed footmen. Nearly two hundred people bowed and curtsied in unison, those proper genuflections quickly followed by cheers and applause. Sebastian and Georgiana Butler walked through the gaping doors attempting to maintain a pose of stately decorum but failing miserably.

How could they not smile ridiculously and walk with jaunty steps?

This was their wedding day!

Of course, Sebastian and Georgiana had been beaming and treading on air ever since that rainy April day in Paris. They glowed and laughed during the journey back to England, ceasing their perpetual giddiness only because they were forced to separate. Georgiana diverted to Hertfordshire to meet her family and attend the wedding of Kitty Bennet to Major General Randall Artois. Sebastian parted from the woman he loved reluctantly and would not have delayed the required formalities with Mr. Darcy except that he deemed it wise to speak with his father first.

Lord Essenton, to put it mildly, was less than pleased with his son. The earl had fumed and lectured for hours over the Lady Cassandra incident; she was already married to Lord Everest. Sebastian wisely opted to remain mum while his father released his pent up anger. Once that was out of his system—Sebastian granting him two days to punish with silent scowls directed at his son—Sebastian requested an audience with his father and delivered his prepared speech culminating with his betrothal to Miss Darcy.

He tried to gloss over the fact that, at least to his way of thinking, the engagement was not official until Mr. Darcy agreed. Colonel Fitzwilliam and Lord Matlock had given their approval and this was technically adequate since the former was Miss Darcy’s legal guardian equally with Mr. Darcy and the latter was granted guardian status when Miss Darcy was left in his care while in Europe. Sebastian was respectful to the rules enough so as to need Mr. Darcy’s blessing, but not so old fashioned as to claim certain rights of the betrothed, that primarily being the honor of stealing the occasional kiss. Ships provide excellent dark cubbies to hide in for lengthy kisses, the voyage across the Channel exhilarating for the young couple!

Lord Essenton, however, latched on to the minor point as a major loophole in the agreement, tossed every available titled lady into Sebastian’s face, and recited dowry amounts as if reading from a ledger. Eventually, sheer willpower and the figurative beating down of the earl’s stamina when Sebastian refused to budge won the day. At least Sebastian liked to think his strength of conviction and backbone in the face of a vigorous assault swayed his father and that it was not the size of Miss Darcy’s dowry—that having increased dramatically with additions from Lord Matlock, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and Dr. George Darcy.

Whatever the case, by the time the entire family met at Pemberley in June, Lord Essenton was as polite and warm as he could manage. Miss Darcy was accepted, and although Sebastian knew his father would never admit that he was charmed by her and impressed by Mr. Darcy and Pemberley, it was obvious to Sebastian.

Confronting the reputedly formidable Mr. Darcy was a walk in the park after Lord Essenton, but Sebastian was a nervous wreck nonetheless. His greatest concern was not whether Mr. Darcy would permit Sebastian’s request to marry Miss Darcy, but rather how he would receive the news that his sister was accepted as a student at the Conservatoire in Paris. To his surprise and relief, Mr. Darcy was overjoyed and swollen with pride at the idea. On top of that, Mr. Darcy was pleased with Sebastian as Georgiana’s chosen man. In fact, he was ecstatic! Everyone on Georgiana’s side of the family was ecstatic and with the exception of his father—who was rarely ecstatic about anything—Sebastian’s family felt the same way.

With the final formality attended to, all that was left was to plan the wedding!

The combined forces of Lady Essenton, Lady Warrow, Lady Matlock, Lady Simone Fitzwilliam, and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy set to the task with vigor. At times, Georgiana felt superfluous, and in the face of such extreme enthusiasm, she struggled to exert her wishes or thoughts. All in all, however, the wedding plans proceeded as Georgiana and Sebastian desired.

The noontime ceremony was held at St. Giles-in-the-Fields in the London Borough of Camden, an elegant yet modest church that fit Sebastian and Georgiana’s preference for an intimate wedding. The Essenton family worshiped at St. Giles-in-the-Fields upon occasion, but Sebastian especially loved the church’s pipe organ and the moment Georgiana laid eyes on the instrument and heard the organist play, she agreed this was the sanctuary for them to be joined in holy matrimony.

Due to the numerous close, personal friends of the Marchioness of Warrow the choices for where to hold the wedding dinner and soiree were myriad. Yet as soon as the estate of the Earl of Mansfield was mentioned, Sebastian and Georgiana gasped, no other options then considered.

Perched on a high ridge overlooking the lake and lush grounds of Hampstead Heath, Kenwood House, the white brick, Ionic columned neoclassic villa belonging to Lord Mansfield of Scotland boasted a sloping garden of extraordinary beauty. It was onto the cultivated lawn that the newly married Viscount and Viscountess stepped, arm in arm exiting the flower-encircled, glass-paned doors of the orangery to greet their friends and family.

The celebrating continued long after Sebastian and Georgiana waved adieu from the white-ribbon- and flower-adorned carriage; their departure, timed as the setting sun cast a ruddy glow across the landscape, was lavished with high fanfare and well wishes shouted until they disappeared from view. For several minutes, the newlyweds dreamily stared at each other while relishing the quiet, serene atmosphere of the enclosed coach. Neither could say they were exhausted, but it had been an eventful day with constant bustling since dawn, so it did feel wonderful to relax and breathe.

Sebastian moved first by lifting Georgiana’s hand to tenderly plant an abundance of kisses starting with the finger adorned with three gold rings. With his other arm he encircled her shoulders and drew her body closer to his side.

“Was your day everything you have ever dreamed of, my lady?”

“More, my lord. I do not believe my imagination is vivid enough to dream a day as perfect as today was.”

“And it is not over,” he whispered into her ear, his lips gently caressing the sensitive region.

Georgiana instantly reacted with a gasping sigh and limp droop into his arms, her brain buzzing pleasantly and vocal cords only able to emit a weak murmur. “The song you played was… indescribable. I am not sure I thanked you adequately or conveyed how deeply it touched me. I will treasure the memory and composition forever, Sebastian.”

“As I will your song to me.” He pulled away from her neck, smiling into her eyes. “You realize, do you not, that our surprise gifts to each other was our first performance together?”

“No, I actually had not thought of it that way! And we received our first encore request!”

“Indeed we did. Your choice of Psalm sixty-three was excellent other than the fact that I grew misty-eyed and struggled to contain my professional composure. That psalm will forever belong to you, dearest wife.”

“I think we should have all three printed and framed for posterity sake.”

“Marvelous idea! Ah, Georgiana, I love you so! I am the happiest man in the world and this day has been the finest in my life.”

“And it is not over,” she repeated his previous phrase, blushing at the implications of that sentence even while her heart began to pound.

“No, it is not over by a long shot,” he replied, the hand stroking over her jaw and cheek holding her fast as he bent to deliver a searing kiss.

It was not the first intense kiss they had shared, not even the tenth or twentieth for that matter. This particular kiss would end when they reached the palatial townhouse of Lady Warrow, where they were to spend their wedding night, but the promise of greater fulfillment of the surging desire that they had carefully bottled for months would soon be attained, adding a dimension to this kiss that was breathtakingly beautiful while also slightly overwhelming.

Georgiana broke the kiss, Sebastian simply traveling on to other parts of her face before resuming his oral investigation of her neck and shoulders. His boldness and tactics were new, rendering Georgiana breathless and dazed. She felt an uncontrollable urge to rip into the clothes keeping her from his body, an urge dizzying in how it exhilarated and frightened her.

“What were you and Lord de Marcov in deep discussion about that had you flushed?” she blurted, not even sure where the question came from but needing to say something to restore her scattered wits.

He chuckled against the skin at her collarbone and shook his head. “I am positive I cannot repeat most of it to a lady. Let’s just say he was offering me wedding night advice.”

“Oh.”

“Adrien has only been married a short while, but his knowledge of what constitutes a successful wedding night is vast.”

“He was telling you… specifics?”

Sebastian looked at her shocked expression, his face amused. “Some specifics, yes. Being French means de Marcov is not as inhibited as I. He loves to harass me, if you have not noticed. Good-naturedly, of course, but since his experience does trump mine when it comes to this topic, I figure it is good to listen. Within reason.”

“What did he say?”

“Mostly things designed to fluster me rather than assist, hence why I was flushed. But he did remind me that a new bride is to be handled with tenderness and selfless focus to her needs, but that in the morning she is to look ‘properly ravished’ as he puts it. I rather like that term and shall do my utmost to ensure the reality.”

Georgiana had no response, other than to blush to her toes. The images such a phrase conjured increased her palpitations and shortness of breath.

“Trust me, dearest wife,” he spoke softly, “my urgency to make love with you will not overrule my senses. You have nothing to fear or be nervous about. I promise tonight will be as wonderful as today and as fulfilling to whatever dreams you may have.”

She remained rosy and trembling, but smiled at the sincerity on his face. “I trust you and never could fear what we have together,” she assured, both of them remembering every kiss and embrace they had enjoyed since the combustible exchange when he proposed before the fire in Paris.

“Indeed, I believe we have proven the ardent nature of our connection.” He stroked the back of his hand down the slope of her neck and brushed across her décolletage, Georgiana sighing and pushing her chest against his hand without conscious thought. Sebastian grinned and chuckled with satisfaction. “Yes, we shall be marvelous together, Georgiana. Nevertheless, I did choose to spend tonight at my grandmother’s house rather than the Essenton townhouse in Kensington so we would be alone. Since I was young, I tended to stay there when in London without the rest of my family for a reason I am sure you will appreciate.”

After that cryptic remark he bent to kiss her, within seconds Georgiana weak and heated so that she welcomed the carriage stopping at Lady Warrow’s house so she could breathe the fresh air of the evening.

Other than the butler, who greeted them with minimal fuss, they saw no other servants. Lady Warrow planned to stay at Kenwood House for the next several days, allowing the “young lovers to have their way without interference” as she told Sebastian. She went on to covertly hint of the best places within the house for secret trysts! When she reached the point of describing one bedroom with a cushioned chaise possessing a nice springiness and situated in the room so as to view the sky while “engaged in the act of love,” Sebastian choked and with a strangled
thanks, Grandmother
dashed from the room! Of course, later he had sought out the chamber and chaise she mentioned, just in case.

Arm in arm, Sebastian led up the stairs and down the passageway, his voice light and relaxed, putting Georgiana at ease. Pausing at the end of the corridor, he turned toward her and clasped her hands between his, placing them against his heart.

“This door leads to your dressing room where your maid is waiting to assist you. I shall be in the room beyond, probably pacing anxiously for you to return to me,” he said as he laughed, kissing her hands. “Seriously, take as much time as you need, my love. I only have one request.”

“That is?”

“I have a fantasy. Well, I have several fantasies, but one is to release your hair myself. Will you leave it up for me?”

“Here I thought you were going to ask something difficult,” she teased.

“Thank you. Now I will let you go, as painful as it is, the sooner to have you back with me. Take your time but hurry.”

A half hour later Georgiana heard music. Piano music. Her fingers stilled at her neck, the rose-scented perfume soaking into her skin and smile spreading over her face. Suddenly, she was in a rush to complete her toilette and join her husband, excitement warming her belly and driving away the jitters.

“Just pin it loosely,” she instructed her maid, “so it will be easy to let down. Use these clips here.” She handed a trio of combs prettily decorated with an array of colorful flowers and gems, the wide accessories adequate to hold her thick tresses temporarily. Satisfied with that, she excused her maid, waiting until alone to examine herself one last time in the mirror.