Page 41 of Fitzwilliam Darcy An Honourable Man

Barnwell’s Boarding House

Hand in hand, William and Elizabeth made their way down a torch-lit gravel path that wound its way through the pleasant gardens behind the boarding house and beyond the stables, finally coming to a stop in front of a picturesque masonry cottage. Mrs. Barnwell had taken them aside after the wedding to tell them of her plans for them to spend their wedding night in this special place.

“ It was my mother’s home during her last few years. She was tired of all the noise from the boarding house, so we sold the last of her jewels and built this especially for her. I allow only certain guests use of it, as it is very dear to me—all these furnishings were hers from before ...” Her voice caught and then she laughed self-consciously. “Well, never mind all that!” The handkerchief used to staunch the tears that had begun at the wedding was put to good use once more. “There are only a few rooms, but they are excellently appointed, and you are welcome to stay as long as you like.” She reached to take a hand of each of them. “You will remember tonight for as long as you live and cherish the memories. Do not be in a rush to leave in the morning.”

Before Elizabeth could utter a word in praise of the beautiful structure, William swept her off her feet, and she giggled as he carried her up the steps. At the door, he managed to turn the knob without putting her down and, once over the threshold, kicked the door shut with his foot.

Kissing her lightly, though not willing to put her down, he asked, “Would you care for a glass of wine?” As he spoke, he tilted his head towards a bottle chilling in a bucket on a nearby table, next to a plate of refreshments just like the ones at their reception.

Her gaze never leaving his, Elizabeth shook her head vigorously. “I had wine enough during the toasts.”

“Something to eat?”

More determined shaking of her head was his only answer.

“Then do you wish to have the bedchamber to yourself for a short while to change?”

“No.”

William’s brows rose and he could not suppress a slight smile at his determined wife. “No?” he asked expectantly.

“No,” she said firmly. “I have waited so long William ... dreamed of this so many nights ... I do not intend to wait a second more—no conversation, no wine, no food. In spite of what dear Mrs. Barnwell said, we leave early in the morning, so let us not waste a moment of our wedding night in a misguided attempt to be proper.”

With this daring pronouncement, William was lost. He captured her mouth with such intensity that she could barely breathe, and not quitting the kiss, he began to make his way through the open door to the bedchamber, almost stumbling in his haste. Once inside, he set her down on the thick Oriental carpet, and both of their heads turned as they gaped at the large, ornate bed that took up the greater part of the room. A roaring fire glowed in the hearth, revealing an upholstered chair, an elegant bedside table and a lamp that completed the furnishings.

As each turned back to the other, smiling a little nervously, it was only a moment until they were engaged in another sensuous kiss, hands freely exploring previously forbidden places and before long, both were engaged in frantic attempts to remove what clothing separated them. William, however, found his fingers quite ineffective as he fumbled with the small buttons on the back of Elizabeth’s dress, while Elizabeth’s delicate fingers were almost as useless on the heavier buttons that held William’s waistcoat.

With subdued laughter, Elizabeth broke their kiss, her eyes crinkling and her lips lifting in a crooked smile as she looked up at William. “I do believe, Husband, that we shall accomplish our tasks much more quickly if we each undress ourselves.”

“Indeed!” William replied smiling broadly, dimples flashing. “I knew I married a very wise and accomplished woman!”

William continued to coax her lips with his as they simultaneously shed layers of clothing, thrilling at the feelings created and at her responses. Once down to her thin chemise and his breeches, they broke apart, both taking great gasps of air. Quickly William lifted her, setting her on the side of the bed, where he immediately dispatched her shoes, tossing first one then the other over his shoulder to her lilting laughter. Then he methodically began rolling one silky stocking after the other down her slender legs—all the while willing himself to control his ardour, even as he devoured her with his eyes.

Satisfied with his progress, William promptly pulled her to her feet and tight against his body. Mesmerized, she felt one large hand begin a slow journey down her body, the heat of it burning through the thin fabric of the chemise as it moved over her breast, down her toned stomach, still further to her thigh where he grasped the hem of the garment. In one fluid motion, he lifted it up and over her head, leaving her completely exposed. Entranced, he took a step back to drink in the magnificence that was his wife, her body bathed in the soft glow of the fire. She heard his slow, deep intake of breath as his eyes travelled from her generous breasts to her slim waist, flat stomach and still further. She found herself blushing in spite of her resolve not to do so.

However, emboldened by his continued inspection, Elizabeth slowly removed the flowerlike pins from her hair and shook her head, allowing untamed dark curls to fall down around her shoulders, her breasts now peeking through the silky curtain. William stood spellbound, so she stepped forward to take his hands and pull him back to her. As their bodies met, his hands slid from her waist to her breasts, where he began to slowly palm and then cup each soft mound. She sighed, closing her eyes and leaning into him as he ran a thumb over the dark centres until they hardened, causing his arousal to harden in response.

Driven from his spell by her soft sighs and his growing need, William picked her up and moved to the bed where the dark blue and gold counterpane and the silk sheets were already turned back, awaiting them. Laying her down gently, he placed one tender kiss on her lips before turning to perch on the end of the bed to remove his boots. Once accomplished, he hastily shucked off his breeches and lay down beside her.

Murmuring words of adoration, he placed wet kisses over every trace of her softly scented skin, the evidence of his passion leaving red marks on her fair complexion. “My love, my only love, you taste so sweet.” He gently nipped, then kissed the place at the curve of her neck causing her to writhe and pleased by her response, spread more kisses across her collarbone before continuing down the valley between her breasts. “I have longed for you so long,” he whispered, his voice rough.

Elizabeth moaned as a fire rushed through her, and she entwined her fingers in his hair. “I have loved you so long, my darling. Make me yours. Love me.”

Without another word, William rolled atop her—a groan of pleasure escaping his throat as their bodies melded one into the other. He had felt her flinch the moment they became one, however, and opening his eyes in concern for her comfort, he found her dark eyes swimming with unshed tears, as well as unfathomable love.

“I love you so,” she whispered, cupping his face and bringing his lips back to hers. Breathlessly, they continued their kiss as he made her his own.

Though he was determined to be gentle, William found it progressively difficult to concentrate on anything but the pleasure of being inside the woman he loved—to know that, from this moment on, every part of her was his to touch, to love. As he began to feel as though he had left his body, Elizabeth’s responses brought him back to the present as a quivering deep inside her assured him that she had reached fulfilment. All else was forgotten then as he pursued his own release and found himself falling off a precipice into an ocean of exquisite waves of bliss, and from somewhere afar, he called her name.

For some time afterward, they lay joined together, neither willing to sever the connection as their breathing returned to normal and they floated slowly down from the pinnacle of their lovemaking.

At length, he bestowed a soft kiss on her swollen lips, very tenderly whispering, “You are everything to me, Elizabeth—my friend, my wife, my lover, the very air that I breathe. And from this day forward, we are one—husband and wife. Come what may, we shall face the future together.”

Elizabeth wept, too overcome by his words and what they had just shared to form an answer. He understood the depth of her emotions as, without saying a word, her fingers dug into his back, straining to pull him closer still while she clung to him as though she would never let him go. He felt exactly the same.

Being fatigued from the events of the last few days, they were in the arms of Morpheus in a short while, despite both their wishes to remain awake. Each was soon lost in dreams of the other.

In a Coach on the road to Derbyshire

“What do you think Darce will do when he finds we have left them to come home alone?” Richard asked, leaning across to address Evan while trying not to awaken a now sleeping Mr. Williamson who sat next to him.

Evan smiled. “I think he will be delighted. After all, what man wants to spend the first day of his marriage in the company of a coach full of people—especially other men?”

Glancing out the window to make sure the coach he hired for his servants was still following along behind, Evan relaxed and trained his eyes on his cousin. “I think your idea to hire another coach and for you and Williamson to ride back with me was a splendid wedding present. They may have to travel back to Pemberley on their wedding trip, but they can certainly have the coach to themselves. I hope that we are able to have the inn hold their best rooms for them tonight.”

Richard chuckled to himself. “The only thing I dislike is that I missed my chance to tease Darce this morning. I suppose I shall be forced to wait until he gets home. What a shame! I have waited almost ten years for this day to come, and I was not there to confront him after his wedding night! I would dearly love to have made him blush!”

“William blush? I do not know that I have even seen him do that. Scowl perhaps, but not blush.”

“Oh, he has many times, believe me. Once I stood nearby at a ball when a young woman, newly widowed, made my poor cousin one of the most obscene offers I have ever overheard. And I am used to hearing all manner of talk in the army! It embarrassed even me!”

“And he blushed?”

“As red as my regimentals! Naturally, he had to leave the ballroom, and of course, he was angry, which always makes him even redder. But I have seen him blush on many occasions.”

“My word! I would never have believed it.”

“Believe it! In spite of his facade of worldliness, William has lived a very sheltered life. He has not taken full advantage of what his wealth and position could have afforded.” Richard wagged his brows mischievously. “You know what I mean—loose ladies, widows and such. He is still, in essence, very much an innocent when it comes to women, so he can be embarrassed quite easily. I would have loved to have teased him about his enjoyment of last night.”

“I can only imagine!” Evan grinned. “Ana has often mentioned the many times, before we married, of course, that she followed him around at various balls and dinners to keep the ladies at bay. I just assumed he was immune to it by now.”

“Never!” Richard crowed. “Your dear brother will never be used to being the object of the fantasies of the female masses!”

Evan laughed aloud, covering his mouth as he glanced over at the now stirring vicar. “I suppose Elizabeth shall now be in charge of protecting her husband’s virtue.”

Richard guffawed, causing Mr. Williamson to open one eye. He went on to declare. “Why do I have the feeling that Elizabeth can handle with aplomb anyone who tries to dally with her husband?”

“Perhaps, because it is true!” Williamson retorted, striving to sit up straight as he stretched to relieve his aching back. “My Lizzybet is a strong woman, and she will suffer no fools! Anyone, man or woman, who tries to come between them, or heaven forbid, harm Fitzwilliam, will find that out straightaway! Why, I remember her giving Martin Long a black eye once for pulling Jane’s pigtails! She was fearless!”

“I do not think I would want to be in Lady Leighton’s shoes if she ever tries a trick again like the last one she attempted with my cousin!”

Williamson nodded. “Lizzybet may be small, but she can be lethal with a weapon, and she is not above using one to even the odds. Once she hit John Lucas in the back of the head with a stone using only a slingshot. She must have been all of six years at the time, and she hit him from at least fifty feet away.”

Richard guffawed, “And the poor boy’s crime?”

“Trying to give her cat an unwanted swim in the pond.”

As the vicar continued to spin tales of Elizabeth’s prowess as a champion of the oppressed, whether man or beast, the coach erupted often with copious amounts of laughter, drawing the attention of the three footmen and the driver on the outside of the conveyance more than once.

Unknown to the Master of Rosewood, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Williamson, the servants raised their brows and smiled at one another with every loud outburst, though none were impertinent enough to remark on the merriment inside the coach. They were just pleased that the men were in good spirits, the weather was fair, the roads were passable, and they were sure to make their next stop, an inn within three hours of Lambton, before nightfall. They were going home!

Barnwell’s Boarding House

The cottage

A feeling of numbness in his right arm brought William out of his sleep while the room was yet shrouded in darkness. As he tried to move, he realised that some type of weight lay on his arm and opened his eyes to find that he was clutching a soft, lavender-scented body tightly to his chest. Underneath a silk sheet, a naked torso lay half-way across his chest—while an arm and a leg stretched to his other side, as if trying to assure he could not escape. In the crook of his neck, hidden inside a halo of unruly, ebony curls, a face was buried. Elizabeth!

His heart swelled with love at the realisation that he would wake in a similarly pleasant manner for the rest of his days. A contented sigh escaped him then at the remembrance of the night’s lovemaking. Loneliness was now a thing of the past! She was his forevermore!

Suddenly, reality invaded his euphoria. Shortly others would expect them to board a coach to transport them home to Pemberley. The thought of having to spend the entire day sitting next to her in a coach full of men, but not being able to touch her, made him begin to ache. Perhaps if they could make love just once more this morning, he would be able to survive until they reached the inn in the evening.

William’s first thought was that he wanted their next joining to be slower and gentler than the last. Last night they were both lost in long suppressed desires and their lovemaking was fervent—impassioned. Today he intended to take his time while loving her. Placing a kiss atop the mass of curls he whispered, “My love?”

Elizabeth mumbled something unintelligible and tried to burrow deeper into him, her arm and leg gripping him even tighter. William smiled, profoundly content with her show of possessiveness. With one quick motion, he rolled to his right side taking her with him, so that she was lying on her back. Her eyes barely opened to observe him. The sight of her uncovered breasts instantly made him harden in desire, and as he captured one soft mound in his mouth, his tongue began a slow circle around the tip, causing it to harden as well.

As his attentions continued, her hands slid up to capture his unruly hair and she moaned, fanning the flames of his desires. In mere moments, they were joined again, only this time William made sure to keep himself under rigid control. Slowly moving in and out, he took Elizabeth to the heights of passion until she cried out for release, and only then did he allow himself to plummet into that same pleasure. Afterward they lay tangled, breathless.

“Oh, William, making love with you is so wonderful! I never dreamed it could be like this!” Elizabeth murmured, pulling his mouth down to hers for another passionate kiss. When she released him, he was grinning from ear to ear, and she laughed aloud at the look on his face. “Proud as a peacock, I see! And rightfully so, I might add!”

“Proud that you are my wife and that we are so well-matched. I want nothing more than to satisfy your every desire—whether it be in our bed or any other area of our lives. I truly want us to become one, Elizabeth.”

“That is my desire as well,” she answered contentedly before her dark eyes became sombre and began searching his earnestly. “This means there can be no secrets between us. Do you want to know what I wish for most at this very moment?”

“I will always want to know your heart’s desire.”

She touched his face tenderly. “My heart desires a child—your child, William.” He could not conceal the love shining suspiciously like tears in his eyes. “I have waited years for you, my darling, and I want to proceed with the business of living—of filling Pemberley with our children. I need the sounds of laugher of family all about me—happy and content. And you, sweet William? What do you wish for at this moment?”

“We are no longer starry-eyed youths, and I am more than ready to be a father, Elizabeth,” he said earnestly. “As long as you are their mother, I long for children, too.”

She leaned in to place a soft kiss on his mouth, teasing, “Then, I believe, Husband, that all that is left for us to do is to practice. As Lady Catherine once told me, no one can be a proficient if they do not practice! And you would not want her to think us remiss in our commitment to excellence.”

William could not help but chuckle. “I believe this is the only time that you shall hear me agree with anything my aunt has ever said. But I beg you, for the sake of our felicity, do not mention her name again on our honeymoon!”

He punctuated his request by tickling her, and their horseplay quickly became serious as they settled in to practice diligently what they had learned once more. It was long past the hour for them to meet the others at the coach when they finally were dressed for the trip.

The Barnwell’s Boarding House

“Should I take a tray of food and drink to the cottage? The Darcys have not appeared to break their fast.”

Maddie’s question brought Abby Barnwell out of her daydream, and she turned to see the maid holding a platter of sweet rolls that was destined for the dining room.

Maddie continued with a sly grin. “They have not appeared in the dining room, and most of the guests have eaten, except a few stragglers. There may be nothing left by the time they remember to eat.” Her slight teasing was not lost on the proprietor.

“What? Oh, heavens, no! Leave the newly wedded couple alone! It would be most improper to interrupt them. They will appear when they are good and ready. Our duty is to have plenty of food and drink available for them whenever that may be.”

Maddie curtsied and left, a bright blush filling her cheeks at the thought of what occupied the couple instead of finding the time to eat. As she moved into the dining room, Margaret passed her on the way back to the kitchen as she returned with some dirty dishes.

“Have the Darcys come out of the cottage yet?” Margaret enquired, a big grin on her face. She knew full well that they had not, as she and Maddie had been going on about their absence all morning.

“You had better wipe that smile off your face before the Mistress sees it. She has just chastised me for asking if I should take them a tray of food. She says we should just let them be, as we might be interrupting them.” They both giggled.

“ Interrupting ? What might we interrupt in the broad daylight?”

Maddie, who was nearly seven years older than eighteen-year-old Margaret, smiled knowingly. “You have much to learn about men and women. I have been here six years, and I could tell you many stories about what goes on in the broad daylight, newlyweds or not!”

Now it was Margaret’s time to blush. “I ... I had better get these dishes to the kitchen.”

As she hurried to finish her job, Margaret pondered the implications of Maddie’s comments. Many times she had heard strange noises as she made her way down the halls of the boarding house. Once she had even summoned Mrs. Barnwell to the hall outside the last bedroom on the first floor, sure that the moans and groans coming from behind the closed door indicated that the guests inside were sick. The proprietress had promptly sent her to do another chore, insisting that she would handle the situation.

Her face now burned. Perhaps they were not in any distress at all. Perhaps they were ...

By the time she had placed the dirty dishes on the counter, she felt sure she would faint without a breath of fresh air. Heading into the garden through the back entrance of the boarding house, she almost ran directly into a tall gentleman and his lady. The Darcys!

“Good Morning!” William ventured to the obviously flustered maid.

If it were possible, Margaret blushed even redder, bobbed a curtsy and mumbled a slight greeting before running past them down the gravel path they had just come up.

Elizabeth chuckled. “My goodness! She was in a hurry. If I did not know better, I would think she was embarrassed to see us this morning.”

“Indeed,” William replied, his puzzled brow following the path the maid had taken before turning to find Elizabeth watching him. “Come, Mrs. Darcy, let us find the others and see if Mrs. Barnwell will be good enough to pack us a box of food and drink so we may be on our way.”

“Mrs. Darcy will be happy to oblige, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth jested, bringing a smile to her husband’s face. He held out his arm, and she wrapped hers around it as they entered the door.

Inside, Maddie pointed them in the direction of her Mistress, who was overseeing the dining room staff as they cleared the room. As William and Elizabeth headed in the direction that the maid had indicated, they could hear Abby Barnwell instructing the help on the proper way to clear a table, when suddenly she appeared before them.

“Oh, Mr. Darcy, Mrs. Darcy, I am so pleased to see you this morning. I trust you found the cottage adequate?” She beamed as she looked from one to the other, awaiting their approbation.

“It was enchanting!” Elizabeth answered. “You will never know how much we appreciate your letting us stay there. It was as if we were the only two people in the world—so peaceful and quiet. We heard only the sounds of the birds this morning. I can assure you that we will wish to stay there again sometime in the future,” she smiled lovingly up at William, “to remind us of our wedding and our honeymoon.”

William raised the hand he was holding to his lips, and Elizabeth leaned into him affectionately. Abby Barnwell smiled at their devotion. “Of course! I make it available only to a select few but, rest assured, you will always be welcome to have the cottage whenever you visit Liverpool.”

“And we cannot thank you enough for making our wedding day so lovely. You will always have a special place in our hearts for the many acts of kindness that you performed for us!” Elizabeth continued taking Mrs. Barnwell’s hands as William nodded his agreement.

Changing the subject, William asked, “Could I trouble you to prepare a box of food and drink for Elizabeth and me to take on the coach? I fear our travelling companions have already eaten and are most likely tired of waiting for us. We were supposed to have left an hour ago.”

“Do not worry about your companions, sir,” the proprietress declared, a secretive look crossing her face as she reached into a pocket of her skirt to retrieve a piece of paper. “This note should explain everything.” As she handed William the paper with his name on the front, he recognised Richard’s handwriting.

“I believe you shall have plenty of time to eat, and I have a private room prepared just for you.” She began to walk away. “If you will follow me, please.”

As the older woman went in an entirely different direction, William raised his brows at Elizabeth’s questioning look, took her hand, and began to follow their proprietress with his wife. Once they were inside the room, Mrs. Barnwell quickly left them saying she would send a maid with a tray shortly. Not bothering to be seated, he opened the note simply addressed to Darce, and read it aloud to Elizabeth.

“ Finally! The lovebirds are prepared to break their fast and join us!

Well, it is too late. We have already departed, having decided last night that you deserve to spend the journey home alone with your lovely bride.

Though I had no doubt that you would miss my witty repartee and excellent company, I was unable to convince Evan and Mr. Williamson of that. Thus, I have joined the vicar in Evan’s coach. We have hired a coach to take all the servants home as well.

We shall secure a suite of rooms for you at the inn if they have any available, assuming you intend to catch up with us sometime later today.

We wish you joy!

Richard

Tears filled William’s eyes, and Elizabeth grasped his hand, squeezing it in solidarity. “Your family is all that is good and kind,” she whispered as she slid an arm around him.

He chuckled quietly, thinking of Lady Catherine and Gladys Fitzwilliam. “Not all of my family, but the ones I care most for certainly are.”

“I really have only Jane and her family and my aunt and uncle in Cheapside, but they are all that is good and kind, too, and I love them.”

“And they shall be a part of my family—our family. You shall spend all the time you want with them, and they will be welcome at Pemberley or Darcy House whenever they desire to visit.”

Elizabeth’s brow knit. “Will I only be allowed to see them at Pemberley or Darcy House?”

“Of course not, sweetheart! But I intend to be very careful with you, my dear wife, and with where you visit. Those members of your family that are neither good nor kind may still mean you harm. I am determined that they shall never be near you again—or our children.”

She smiled at the mention of children and nodded in understanding. “I never want to see them again, either.”

William pulled her into his chest, and placed a kiss atop her head. “Then it is settled. We shall welcome the ones we love and those who love us into our lives and our children’s lives. They shall be our family.”

Elizabeth nodded as big tears rolled down her cheeks. “ Our family . It sounds so wonderful.”

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