Page 75

D arcy stirred. It was well before dawn, but the lightening sky showed him Elizabeth’s sleeping form in his close embrace.

The small smile on her face reassured him, and he gazed at her, where her long lashes fanned out over her cheek, and that wayward tendril of hair as it curled over her shoulder.

How had he been so fortunate as to win her love, after their inauspicious start at Longbourn?

Not only that; finding she still welcomed his approach, even after he knew whose daughter she was, and she had been instrumental in ensuring her father relented and allowed him to pay his addresses to her.

He was fortunate beyond measure.

Her eyes opened, and she looked up at him, hazy with sleep.

“Can’t you sleep, William? Am I making your arm uncomfortable?”

“Never,” he whispered. “I am enjoying watching you sleep in my arms.” He sighed. “I had never imagined that I would have the honour of taking you as my wife or the joy of having you beside me for the rest of our lives. Let me watch over you, my love.”

She lifted her hand and moved her fingers down the side of his face. “And what am I to do while you are watching me?” Her mischievous whisper lit up the glint in her eyes, and his skin felt her touch as if it burned.

He chuckled. “If you do that, my dear, then I cannot answer for my actions.”

“Good.” She repeated her action, but her hand continued down his shoulder and arm, and the warmth within him increased.

He claimed her mouth with his own, murmuring, “You were happy last night? I did not hurt you?”

“You did not.” The sound was merely a breath of air across his lips. “I am yours, and now know what joy is to come.”

It had been such a month as Darcy could not have imagined.

He and Elizabeth had travelled in a leisurely fashion to Scotland after taking a full week at the Shuttleworth estate.

He longed to take her to Italy, but they had both agreed that her father would worry unduly and postponed that trip for the next year.

But Scotland had been wonderful, too. Elizabeth had such joy in life, such exuberance, that it lifted his own quieter nature, and together they climbed the moors and mountains, walked alongside the lochs and through the tiny hamlets and crofts, staying in even tinier inns, having dispensed with the extra security.

“After all,” Elizabeth had said, “I am now quite unmarriageable, at Gretna, or anywhere.”

He looked across at her, curled in the chair opposite in the tiny parlour, a book open in her lap. After a few minutes, he smiled.

“Is some thought taking all your attention, my dear? You have not turned a page for some time.”

She glanced at him through her lashes. “So you are watching me rather than reading, then? In that case, I shall not feel diffident about disturbing you.”

“I hope you never feel disinclined to speak to me, Elizabeth.”

Mischief danced in her eyes. “That is an excessive risk you take, sir! You’ve had the opportunity to see what my mama would make of such an invitation, and I might turn out the same.”

Darcy carefully placed his book down and crossed the room to her — it took only two paces. He reached down and drew her to her feet and into his embrace. “You are far too insightful to take advantage of such an invitation,” he murmured. “But tell me what it was you wished to say.”

She pressed herself more closely into his arms, and his heart pounded. “Oh, William, how am I supposed to think coherently or remember anything when I am this close to you?”

He chuckled, and she murmured with pleasure. “Elizabeth, we are leaving tomorrow to go south to Pemberley. I believe you were going to ask me if we could have at least the morning walking out before starting our journey.”

Her startled gaze rose to his. “How did you know that?”

He lifted one hand and curled the stray tendril of hair around his finger before tucking it behind her ear. “I was watching you think instead of reading.”

She leaned her head against his chest, and he pulled her even closer.

“So may we do that, William? I have never dreamed of such wild places where we are free to walk where we choose.”

He rested his chin on the top of her head. “You know I can refuse you nothing, dearest. Just remember the peaks of Derbyshire are close to Pemberley, and I am keenly anticipating the joy of showing you our home.”

He was proud of Pemberley, proud of the history of the Darcy family of many generations. He watched Elizabeth as she delighted in the passing landscape, and wondered what she would think of her new home.

If they had come from Longbourn, if she had been Elizabeth Bennet, she might be intimidated at the size of the house and the park, but as Lady Elizabeth, from Lancaster Castle, she might not be particularly impressed.

Darcy didn’t know how he’d feel if she did not approve of the house, although he knew of course that she would say nothing against it.

As they approached through the drive and came to the section where trees hid the view, he lifted his cane and rapped on the roof of the carriage, which instantly slowed, and drew to a stop at his prearranged point, where Elizabeth’s attention was immediately taken by the view of the house, standing before a sweeping lawn and reflected in the still lake.

Her gasp of pleasure gratified him, and he took her hand. “Welcome to Pemberley, Elizabeth. I am prouder than I can say that you will be mistress here.”

There were tears in her eyes. “Oh, William!” She leaned against him, all the time staring at the house. “It is the most beautiful house I have ever seen, and so graciously situated in the park.”

The scent of lavender rose around him, fogging his senses. “I know you will wish to explore both the park and the house. I will be content beside you, even should it take many days.”

She twisted round to look up at him. “I hope we can make a good start today, or I might not sleep with the anticipation.”

He laughed and rapped on the roof again. “I will show you the drawing room where I expect refreshments will be served the moment we arrive.”

She sighed happily. “I will stay right here for this moment. I know when we arrive, you will have a great deal of correspondence waiting for you.”

He smiled down at the top of her head. “You, too, will have some post, I have no doubt. I expect your father will have been gratified that you wrote to him several times, even though he enjoined you from doing so. And Mrs. Bingley will have written, as well as many of your other relations.”

“Of course. And Georgiana will be joining us for the month we will be here, won’t she? I hope she will not mind returning to Lady Matlock’s care when we depart for Netherfield.”