Page 30 of Lord Lonbourn’s Daughter
“It is in everything I commend, everything I declare!” Darcy spoke with exasperation in his voice.
“Common decency and politeness do not much of a lover make, Mr Darcy. I would have expected nothing less, despite the fact that we were forced to marry. I cannot imagine you treating your wife with anything but the respect she is due to her station. Even if you value her company but little.”
“How can you even say that?” Darcy failed to keep his voice level.
“You never inform me about anything of importance, be it resolving difficulties or decisions needing to be made. You rattle along with nary a thought that I might have an opinion in the matter. I am just your wife whom you wave away or dismiss from your company but for one short spell in the dead of night. I shall bear your heirs and arrange your dinners, and if you are fortunate, make your household run smoothly. What other purposes have I, Mr Darcy?”
“Did I importune you too much on our wedding night?” he worried, sinking into a chair. His knee was throbbing in pain.
“How, out of all that I have said, did you draw that conclusion? If a man has a deep attachment to a lady, one would think he would importune her more often than one night.” Elizabeth blushed deeply. “I thought you would need me, crave my presence, even.”
“I am protecting you, trying to make your life pleasant, smooth, and uneventful,” he defended himself.
“I do not need protection! I do not crave smooth and uneventful.
A life can never be fully lived if one is protected from reality.
If I had known you were to challenge Lord Hazard, I would have tried to prevent it, but I would have understood why you needed to do it, regardless.
I would have made sure the physician was at the ready at the match and along your ride.
“I want passion, to yearn for someone at the briefest of separations.
You may deem me wanton, but that is not my point.
I want that bond with someone, that special connection you share with the one who is your intimate partner, privy to the aspects of your person hidden from the world at large.
I want to cuddle up to you at night, safe in the warmth of your embrace.
“I want to be a part of the daily struggles alongside the pleasures. I want my opinions to be heard and to earn your respect as a rational human being.
“I want to be your partner, although I do not know everything there is to know about estate matters. I would like to support you through your responsibilities and aid in any way I can.
“Above all, I want to be loved. Ridiculous, insensible love that endures, tolerates, prevails, and conquers! I am not practical, I never was! I did not immediately realise why I felt no objections towards marrying you. I have long since discovered that you are the man who, in essentials, suits me the most. I may bring levity into your life, while you could be my grounding. Together in all matters against villains and well-wishers, I do not care as long as we are united.”
Elizabeth collapsed back on her stool after her long rant about her wants and needs. Darcy was at her side in a few long strides. He sank to his knees in front of her, disregarded the shooting pain, and gathered her hands in his.
“Will you not look at me?”
Elizabeth raised her eyes from the floor. It was to be hoped she could see the warmth of his gaze, but most of all that she saw the joy in his smile.
“My wife, you know I am not an eloquent man—as you have said so yourself. But I can solemnly promise that never will my love burn out, nor will my joy in being yours wither. I carry you with me, day and night, in everything I do, in everything that occurs. I love you. I love you too.”
The ire in Elizabeth’s eyes was replaced by something much more sinister—yearning. After such an ardent declaration of love, he wanted to kiss her but kept himself stock still, afraid to scare her or miss what she would say next. A day in his wife’s company was certainly eventful.
Her gaze dropped from his eyes to his lips as she slowly closed the gap between them.
Darcy dared barely breathe in anticipation.
Their mouths had barely touched before he wound his arms around her waist and pulled her flush against the hard plains of his body—deepening the kiss to a toe-curling intensity.
With a firm grip round his wife he managed to rise without breaking contact with her mouth and fully intended to carry her off.
Elizabeth wrenched away from his lips. “Put me down! Your knee!”
“I cannot even feel it at the moment. It must have fully healed,” he lied but put her down on her own feet. His ruse would be discovered if he crumpled on the stairs.
He captured her lips for a brief moment before grabbing her hand and continuing towards the staircase with no concern for his health. Neither the footmen lining the walls nor a maid scurrying past deterred him from his course towards the master’s chamber when he suddenly drew to an abrupt halt.
“I do not consider you wanton, Elizabeth. Especially not when you kiss me or long for my touch. Quite the opposite. I regard you as the most sensible and rational creature that has ever lived.”
Elizabeth’s chuckles were swallowed as Darcy alternated between ardent kisses and long strides. He flung the door shut, and Elizabeth tore herself away from his lips.
“I quite enjoy feeling protected, especially when you hold me close to stave off the morning chill.”
“You want to stay with me, in my chamber?”
“Yes!”
“Thank God! I loathe leaving you at night. In fact, I do not relish leaving you at any time. If I could have had you sewn into my attire, I would have.”
“That sounds rather impracticable.”
“I would have managed,” he pronounced with such sincerity that Elizabeth laughed. “I can picture your face sticking out of my shirt with the cravat adorning your hair.”
“Silly man!” She laughed until his hands chased every thought of levity away.