The Houseguest A Pride and Prejudice Vagary (31 page)

~

Elizabeth was still unsettled about Sir Malcolm. A week had come and gone since
their last conversation, and she had yet to have an opportunity to speak with
him alone, and she was beginning to fret about it.
He had called twice at Matlock House; once when the drawing room was full of
other callers, and the second time Elizabeth herself had been out, so there had
yet to be a chance for private conversation. She had seen him at a concert,
where he sat across the room with his aunt, at two dinners, where he sat at the
other end of the table, and finally at the theatre, where they spoke
pleasantries amongst their parties during intermission. 
Elizabeth waited eagerly for a chance to speak with him privately, but it
seemed as if fate were conspiring against her. Before, when she did not care
two figs whether she saw Sir Malcolm, he had been everywhere; sitting beside
her, turning pages for her, and always finding his way to her in a crowd. Now,
when she wanted to speak to him, he was nigh on impossible to reach! She
lamented the fact that a woman could not make a simple call on a man, and felt
all the perverseness of his never being where she wanted him to be, when she
wanted him to be there.
The next day, Elizabeth was walking in the park with Jane when she saw Sir
Malcolm striding towards them. They greeted each other politely, and Jane
graciously fell back to walk with the maid who was accompanying them, while
Elizabeth stepped up to walk with Sir Malcolm.
After a fortifying breath, she began.
“Sir, you have always been honest with me, a trait I appreciate more than you
can know, and now I feel I must be honest with you.”
“This sounds serious, Miss Elizabeth,” he responded.
“A week ago, you asked me a question about my heart.”
“Yes?”
“At the time I was unsure of my own feelings, but I feel I must tell you now
that my heart is engaged. I'm sorry Sir, but I thought it was best to tell you
the truth.”
“I guess it is not engaged in favor of me then?” he asked with a wry smile.
Elizabeth looked down. “No, Sir. I am sorry,” she said quietly.
He tipped her chin up with a finger and smiled softly. “Do not worry, Miss
Elizabeth. We shall always be good friends, shall we not?”
She smiled with relief and nodded. “Yes, I would like that very much.”
“And with any luck, you'll change your mind and I'll be first in line.”
Elizabeth gasped slightly in surprise until she saw his mischievous grin. She
glared playfully and then said, “As your friend, I will forgive your
impertinence.” 
Sir Malcolm laughed and took her hand in his. “You will be missed in London,
Miss Elizabeth.” He placed a soft kiss on the back of her hand.
“I shall miss you as well, Sir Malcolm,” she said softly, giving him a gentle
smile.

Chapter
29

“Lizzy, you have been gone too long. I haven’t heard two sensible words
together since you left,” Mr. Bennet grumbled as he made his play on the chess
board in his library.
“Papa, you know Mary can be sensible some of the time.” She made her move and
looked innocently at her father.
“Ha! That is the funniest thing you’ve said all day, my dear! I grant you she
isn’t as silly as the other two, but she is far from sensible.”
A few minutes elapsed in silence as they played, Mr. Bennet gaining a clear
lead over his distracted daughter.
“Papa, there is something I have been meaning to talk to you about.”
“What is that, my girl?” he moved his rook and looked up from the board.
“You know I have been invited to spend the summer at Pemberley.”
“Yes, you wrote me of it, as did your uncle. Though you may not enjoy yourself
with such an unpleasant man about. Are you sure you want to go?”
“He’s not so unpleasant really, not once you get to know him. He is perfectly
amiable.” She moved a pawn as her father scrutinized her. 
“Have you actually come to like the man, Lizzy? After what he said about you?”
“He did not mean it, not really, and he has apologized for it. We have become
quite friendly.”
“I see. Has his behavior toward you changed so much?”
“Not so much. I have simply come to know and understand him better. I fear my
earlier judgment of him was not sound.”
“I gather you are referring to the story told you by the nefarious Mr. Wickham.
I’ve had a visit from your Uncle Phillips. He informs me that the man is a
blackguard and a gambler. You seem to have had a lucky escape, my dear.”
“Yes, Father.”
They played silently for a while longer and Elizabeth decided to again broach
the subject of Pemberley.
“Papa?”
“Yes, Lizzy?”
“About going to Pemberley this summer,” he looked at her shrewdly, “the Darcys’
plans have changed.”
“Have they?” he said with mock surprise.
“Instead of leaving in June, they will go to Derbyshire shortly after Jane’s
wedding. Mr. Bingley’s cousin is getting married in Scarborough and wishes him
and Jane to be there, so they want to go to Pemberley earlier than planned.
Obviously the Darcys need to be there to greet them.”
“I see. And what does this have to do with me?” he asked plainly, focusing his
attention on the game. “Check.”
Elizabeth looked at the board ruefully and back to her father. “They wish for
me to travel with them – in May. It would be more convenient and comfortable,
and much less expensive.” She watched the board carefully, not meeting his
gaze.
“Do you wish to go with them?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Why should I allow my daughter to travel over a hundred miles with a man I
hardly know and his sister whom I have never met? That does not sound quite
right, now does it?”
“You will meet Miss Darcy when they arrive for the wedding. And her companion
Mrs. Annesley will be with us. And there will be a driver and a footman. I will
be quite safe. I daresay safer than when I have taken the post.”
He looked at her from under his bushy gray brows. “You will let me know if Mr.
Darcy does anything improper, Lizzy?”
“Mr. Darcy will not do anything improper.” She repressed an eye roll.
“Just because you like him now does not mean he is not a man.”
“Very well, Papa. I will let you know if anything untoward occurs, though I am
sure it will not. Mr. Darcy is a gentleman.”
Mr. Bennet sniffed and moved his piece.
“There will be no sense at all in this house, with Jane married and gone and
you spending the summer in Derbyshire.”
“I may go?” she asked hopefully.
He released a long sigh. “Yes, you may go.”
She smiled brilliantly. “Thank you Papa!” 

~

27 April, 1812
Darcy House 
London
Dear Elizabeth, 
I am so pleased that you will be
accompanying us to Pemberley! The trip will be so much more exciting with you
there! I have much to tell you, but Brother suggests I save some conversation
for the journey since we will have endless amounts of time and no real
diversions, so I will refrain for the moment.
As for the particulars of our journey, we
wish to leave two days after the wedding, as early as possible if that is
amenable to you. Fitzwilliam has included an itinerary of all the places we
will stop so your family will know where you are. Please let me know your
favorite foods and I will ask Cook to include them in the basket for the
carriage. Remember to bring a cloak. Even though it is summer, it can be chilly
in the carriage if there is a strong wind or much rain, and we occasionally
travel into the night. I will bring a few extra books from the library so there
will be plenty to go around. There are always blankets and a pillow or two if
you wish to sleep. 
The journey is long, but Pemberley is worth
the trouble. I cannot wait for you to see it! We shall arrive in Hertfordshire
on the 1 of May and will call the following afternoon. Until then, I remain,

Your friend,
Georgiana Darcy
Elizabeth refolded the letter and turned her attention to the missive that had
been tucked inside it.
Miss Bennet,
Please find enclosed the names and locations
of the various inns we will be stopping at during our journey north. My sister
and I could not be more pleased at your joining us. I am greatly looking
forward to your visit to Pemberley and furthering our friendship.
F.D.
She tucked the missive into the drawer of her small desk, but not before
noticing the strong, neat handwriting and the evenness of his lines. Hers
always tilted up slightly. 
Ever the
fastidious master,
 she thought with a grin. She grabbed the
list of inns and went downstairs to give it to her father.
The next few days passed swiftly and soon the Gardiners arrived. Three days
later, Mr. Bingley, his sisters and Mr. Hurst descended on Netherfield. The
women of the party kept their distance, attending only those functions which
they were bound to out of obligation to their brother. 
Bingley hosted a family dinner four days before the wedding. Caroline refused
to acknowledge the Gardiners with anything but a small nod, but was otherwise
polite, though clearly not enjoying herself. Oddly, she placed Elizabeth next
to her at dinner. 
“Miss Elizabeth, did you enjoy the season in town?” 
“Yes, Miss Bingley, I did.”
“I believe Lady Matlock took you to several functions. Did you enjoy the
society?” she tried to hide it, but the disdain in her voice was thinly veiled.
“Yes, she did. I met a great many people.”
“Was Sir Malcolm a frequent guest at Matlock House?”
“He called and attended dinners, yes.”
Caroline faltered slightly, knowing she had never been invited to any of Lady
Matlock’s functions, but pressed on. “Lady Matlock is an incomparable hostess.”
Elizabeth smiled slightly. “Does she encourage Sir Malcolm’s attentions towards
you?”
“That is a private matter, Miss Bingley,” Elizabeth said in a firm voice.
“Pardon me, Miss Elizabeth. I meant no offense.” Caroline finished her dinner
without speaking again to Elizabeth, a small smirk on her face, believing she
had her answer from the blush on the lady’s cheeks.

~

Two days later, Elizabeth snuck out of the house early in an attempt to escape
her mother and her mad wedding preparations. If she was forced to tie one more
bow, she would not be responsible for her actions.
A mile and a half later, Elizabeth stopped under her favorite tree. She spread
her cloak on the ground to protect her from the dew and sat down, her legs
stretched out in front of her, reclining on her elbows. She reached into the
small bag she had brought with her and grabbed an apple, taking a large bite as
she enjoyed the early morning sun. When she finished it, she threw the core
into the brush and laid back, closing her eyes as she rested her hands on her
stomach. She drifted to sleep listening to the scurry and rustle of the
creatures in the surrounding fields.
Darcy had escaped the house early, or rather escaped Caroline early. Since he’d
arrived the night before, he had heard nothing but complaints about the
Bennets, and what a trial it would be to be connected to such a family. He had
heard enough and retired early, along with Georgiana and Bingley. 
He secretly hoped he would see Elizabeth out walking. He hadn’t seen her in a
week and was desperate for a glimpse of her. As he rode in the fields bordering
Longbourn, he slowed his pace, looking for a bonnet moving through the
landscape. He saw nothing but a bright yellow patch under a tree in the
distance. He scanned again, and when he came across the yellow patch of what he
thought were daffodils, he saw something move. He rode closer and realized it
was a young woman, lying under the tree. Smiling to himself, he dismounted and
tied the horse to the post, quickly climbing over the dividing fence. 
He approached quietly, not wanting to startle her. When he was only a few feet
away, he stopped and looked at her sleeping form. Her bonnet was on the ground
next to her, its ribbons flapping in the breeze. Her hair was up, but a few
strands had escaped their pins and a dark curl lay across her cheek. Her yellow
dress glowed in the sunshine, the skirts billowing up slightly when the wind
blew. He saw a narrow ankle where her skirt had come up a few inches and
couldn’t keep from staring, though he knew he should look away. 
He stood watching her for some time, reveling in the peace that filled him at
the sight of her and the sense of intimacy watching her sleep gave him.
Finally, he advanced toward her, not knowing the best way to wake her. He could
not leave without speaking to her. And what if someone else was to happen by?
She was not safe there alone. At least that was how he justified his presence
to himself.
He knelt near her head and gently whispered her name, “Elizabeth.”
She made a small sound and shifted, but did not wake. He slowly reached his
hand out and removed the stray curl from her face. Then, ever so gently, he
stroked her cheek with his hand.
“Elizabeth,” he said a little louder. She released a contented sigh and smiled
lazily, turning her head so her nose nuzzled gently into his palm. Darcy
watched her, mesmerized, until quite unexpectedly, she kissed his palm and
mumbled, “Stay.” She smiled and settled back into sleep. 
Darcy lost all ability to think properly and could focus on nothing but the way
her lips had felt on his skin. He briefly wondered if she knew it was him who
had touched her and called her name, then decided he did not care – he had been
the recipient of her affection and he would enjoy it, whether it had been deliberate
or not. 
Realizing she was not going to wake, he put his riding coat on the ground next
to the tree trunk and sat down, his legs stretched out in front of him, his
back against the tree, and reached into his pocket for the small book of
sonnets Georgiana had given him for his birthday. He sat next to her, silently
keeping watch, for another half hour before Elizabeth began to stir.
She opened her eyes slowly and blinked into the bright sun. She propped herself
on her elbows and looked around, wondering what time it was and how long she
had slept. When she looked over to her right, she jumped when she saw a pair of
black riding boots. Alarmed, she followed the boots up until she met the
smiling face of Mr. Darcy.
“Good Morning, Elizabeth. I trust you slept well?”
“Mr. Darcy! What are you doing here?” she asked, sitting up and straightening
her dress.
“I was out for a ride and I saw you lying here. I could hardly allow you to
sleep unprotected, so I waited for you to awaken,” he said simply. 
Elizabeth automatically reached to her hair and sighed inwardly when she
realized several pins had come undone. She quickly began re-pinning her hair
and asked Mr. Darcy, “Why did you not awaken me, sir?”
“You seemed too peaceful to upset. I have not waited overlong. And I must
confess I was hoping to run into you when I rode out this morning.”
“Were you?” she asked with a bright smile.
He looked into her beaming face, relishing that her smile was finally for him,
and answered, “Yes, I did not want to wait until this afternoon to call with
Georgiana. Then I would have to share you with a room full of people.” He set
his book down and rested his hands on his lap, unabashedly watching her fix her
hair.
“You may have a point there, Mr. Darcy. I’m afraid nothing is being discussed
at Longbourn but the upcoming wedding. I must confess it is why I escaped out
here this morning. I cannot talk any more about lace!”
He laughed with her. “Do you nap as a rule on your morning walks, Elizabeth?”
he asked with a raised brow.
“No sir, this is something I do rarely. I did not even intend to fall asleep
today, but I am afraid I was up rather late talking with Jane last night, and I
did not get much rest.”
“You must be trying to squeeze in as much time as possible together before she
leaves with Bingley.” 
He looked so kind and understanding, as if he really cared about her feelings
for her sister. “Yes, we are spending as much time together as we can. I will
miss her terribly when she is married and gone.” She thought for a moment and
said, “I am glad you found me this morning, Mr. Darcy.”
“You are?”
“Yes.” She looked at her hands where she was twirling a piece of grass. “May I
make a confession?” she asked softly.
“Please do.” He resettled his seat and straightened his shoulders, eager to
hear what she had to say.
“I was hoping I would run into you today. I knew you had arrived yesterday, and
I also did not wish to wait until this afternoon to see you.” Her cheeks flamed
red as she told him, and Darcy’s face lit up, thrilled at her desire to see him
and endeared by her innocence.
“Then I am glad we found each other. Elizabeth,” he hesitated, “I fear I must
make a confession of my own.”
“Oh?” she raised her eyes to look at him.
“When I came upon you earlier, I did try to wake you. I called your name. You
did not stir and that is when I decided to wait.” She flushed slightly, but did
not appear upset as she looked at him. 
“That is not much of a confession, William.”
“No, it is not. My confession is that when I saw you lying here, I wanted to
waken you – with a kiss.”
“Oh.” She looked into his eyes timidly, then grew bold from what she saw there.
“Why didn't you?”
“I did not wish to frighten you when you woke to such a strange sensation.”
“I am awake now.”
“So you are.” He moved toward her slowly, his eyes fixed on her mouth, his
steady approach making her alive with anticipation.
He raised one hand and touched her cheek softly, then brought his lips toward
hers until they were only a breath apart. He looked into her eyes and watched
them close slowly, preparing to savor her first kiss. He gently pressed his
lips to hers, taking his time and drawing out each sensation as it coursed
through him.
Elizabeth felt heat. Hot and tingling in her lips, a burning feeling that only
seemed to get hotter just as she thought it had reached its peak. She felt a
hand on her cheek, holding her to him, and slowly his other hand slipped round
her waist to press her closer. Tentatively, she moved her lips against his,
attempting to mimic the motion he was using. She felt a sort of grumbling sound
in his chest where her torso touched his and she instinctively pressed against
him, wanting to be close but not able to get close enough.
She felt something warm and wet pushing against her lips and opened them in
response. She felt his tongue trace her upper lip and then her lower, feeling
the tickling sensation it produced but not wanting to laugh. His hand on her
back was moving up and down, daring a little lower with each stroke.
She had risen to her knees and before she knew what she was about, she had
pressed herself completely to him and wrapped her arms around his back. Her
left went up into his hair to grasp the soft waves there while her right
clutched desperately to his jacket.
Darcy broke from her lips and kissed her jaw lightly, moving down her neck
where he planted soft, lingering kisses.
“Elizabeth. My own Elizabeth.” She smiled at the love-drunk sound of his voice
and the heat of his breath on her neck. “Be mine. Be mine, Elizabeth, no one
else's. I cannot live without you.”
She froze at his question and stiffened slightly as she ran his words through
her mind. Was this a proposal? Or was he requesting further liberties? Before
she could decide or reply, he was speaking again.
“My darling, marry me. Marry me and be my wife and my lover and the mother of
my children. Be the mistress of Pemberley, as you are already the mistress of
me. Be mine, Elizabeth. Say yes.”
He resumed kissing her neck as a thousand images whirled in her mind at once.
She, Elizabeth Bennet, wife of the most powerful man in Derbyshire. Intimate
confidant and (gulp) lover to the heavenly, handsome, maddening man humbling
himself before her. In an instant she saw long trips in summer to the seaside
and breakfast under a mountain of feathers and white linen sheets. She saw them
surrounded by dark haired children, a son with her eyes and his strong jaw, a
daughter with her smile and his blue gaze. She felt a warm sense of contentment
come over her, an unquestionable feeling of right-ness, and knew this was where
she belonged.
“Yes, Fitzwilliam. I will be yours.”
Instantly she felt his mouth crashing against hers with none of the gentleness
of before, but with a hunger, a fierceness she had not known existed. She opened
her lips to him and let him delve deep inside her, returning his fervor as best
she could. She felt a stirring in her bosom where he was pressed hard against
her and a warm, sinking sensation in her lower belly. His arms were around her
back, crushing her to him so tightly she could hardly breathe, but she did not
want him to let go. She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist and held him
as close to her as she could, feeling the hardness of his chest and the
firmness of his hips against her softer body.
They remained locked together longer than either was aware of, but eventually
released each other and began a slow walk back to Longbourn.
“I should speak to your father,” he said as they moved along the path.
“Must you? I do not want to take away from Jane's day at all. She has waited so
long for this.”
He smiled down at her. “I see no harm in waiting until after the wedding.”
“William, will you think me terribly indecent if I asked you not to mention
anything just yet?” His brows rose. “It's just that if my family knows we are
engaged,” she couldn't help smiling at him as she said it, “I'm afraid Mama
will not allow me to accompany you to Pemberley, for she will need me here. We
would be forced apart, possibly until the wedding, and my mother will be
relentless.”
He thought silently for a moment. “I see your point. I do not wish to leave you
in your mother's clutches without my protection. Ow!” He rubbed where she had
pinched his arm and smiled at her mischievously. “But mostly, I would miss you
terribly. We have only just been reunited. I do not know if I could leave you
again.” He stopped on the path and turned toward her, caressing her cheek
softly and leaning down to give her a light kiss.
She sighed as he pulled away. “I would miss you, too. Would it be so terrible
to send my father a letter once we are at Pemberely? You could tell him you
proposed there.”
“I do not like lying, Elizabeth, especially to your father,” he said seriously.
“Very well. I shall simply have to retract my acceptance. I have decided that I
will need some time to think over your proposal, Mr. Darcy, before I can give
you an answer. A fortnight should be enough time,” she said with her chin in
the air as she marched away from him.
“You teasing little minx.” He quickly caught up and pulled her off the path
behind a tree, kissing her determinedly while he pinned her against the trunk.
“Do you still need to think about my proposal?” he asked as she clung to his
shoulders breathlessly.
“Hmm, maybe just a little.” She giggled as he growled and kissed her again,
this time running his tongue in circles around her own and suckling her bottom
lip.
“And now?”
“Maybe a week's time will suffice.”
He kissed her again, firmly, and clutched her so close to him she could hardly
breathe.
“And now?”
“Not fair, Mr. Darcy. You must remember that if you speak to my father
immediately, it will be weeks, perhaps months before we can do this
again.” 
Boldly, she ran her hand lightly up the front of his waistcoat, then skimmed
her fingers across the skin at his neck where his cravat ended. She traced the
lines of his face with her fingers, all the while looking into his blue eyes
with her brown. She saw the desire, the inner conflict, and the surprise he was
feeling at her actions. Slowly, tenderness and awe blossomed in his eyes and he
grabbed her hand with his own, placing a kiss in her palm.
“Alright my love, if that is what you want. But I must speak with him at least
regarding the 
possibility
 of
a proposal. My honor demands it.”
She smiled and stretched to kiss him delicately on his chin. “Alright,
Fitzwilliam. I accept your compromise.”