Page 58 of Sketching Mr. Darcy

D arcy directed her to his apartment. A round table near the window showed a generous display of inviting dishes. He helped her to sit and took the place opposite. For a while, they were preoccupied with their plates, but the tension was easily felt.

It was a day that seemed as long as a month and as hard to bear as a year. She watched her husband with growing attention and interest. So many new traits had been disclosed that even his features seemed somehow different in the light of the candles.

“Elizabeth, is something wrong? You seem preoccupied.”

“I was thinking of you… Most of us believe that a great fortune is the guarantee of an easy and carefree life. We rarely consider the duties and responsibilities attached to these. But perhaps that happens because we mostly see wealthy people enjoying their benefits rather than accomplishing any work at all—more like your cousin James than like yourself.”

“I am sure many other gentlemen are accountable to their obligations. I fear James is a painful exception—and I cannot understand why he became that way.”

“Do you think he was aware of Mr Wickham’s plan to elope with Georgiana?”

“I asked Wickham, and he denied it. I did not inquire of James directly, but I know he was in London then, so he might have been innocent. ”

“Do you not think that Georgiana would be safer if she knew the degree of Mr Wickham’s deception? I am speaking for myself: although I began to doubt his words some time ago, I was reluctant to admit my error in judging him before you told me the entire truth.”

“Elizabeth, are you pained to find out these things? I know you and Wickham were close friends, and I imagine you had some tender feelings for him…”

“Please, rest assured that I had no tender feelings for Mr Wickham at all. I am only pained by my hurt pride in realising how easily I had been deceived.”

“I am glad to hear it,” he said, and she noticed he emptied his glass in one gulp. She smiled and felt herself blushing. Was it possible that he was jealous?

“You are probably correct about Georgiana. But I see no possibility of opening the subject now, after so many months. I am afraid it would only pain her more.”

“If the subject does arise someday, would you mind if I speak to her about it? You may trust that I shall be careful not to hurt her.”

He stretched to touch her hand and gently caressed it.

“Thank you, I would be very grateful to you for doing it…and I do trust in your care for her.”

“And speaking of Georgiana—is there anything you can do to avoid future unpleasant encounters with Lady Stafford? I know Georgiana was quite distressed today too.”

“I am still considering the best approach with Annabelle. It seems that ignoring her will not provide the desired result. Perhaps you should change your modiste. And I imagine she will be at the opera tomorrow too…”

“I have no intention of changing anything for the named lady. And I am no longer distressed about meeting her tomorrow at the opera. But it is all so strange. I cannot claim much experience is gaining a man’s favour”—she blushed, lowering her eyes—“but does such behaviour ever meet with success? Could she imagine that you still have some regard for her? Does she imagine you would allow yourself to be seduced by her acting like a fool? Would any man allow himself to be captivated by such a shocking display of impropriety?”

“I am not certain about other men, but I had ceased having any interest in her when I left Ramsgate eight years ago.”

“Could she hope that, if not for your marriage, there was a chance to renew your relationship? After all, it would not be a surprise for a man of your age to…”

He could discern her discomfort and looked straight into her eyes.

“Even if I had never seen you again after I left Hertfordshire, my feelings for Annabelle would be the same. Were I not married now and interested in a close relationship with a woman and somehow every other woman in London had suddenly disappeared, Annabelle would still not be a choice. I am sorry if I disturb you with my exaggeration. I only wish to make myself very clear.”

“Well, you succeeded—everything is perfectly clear. But now, I am thinking of James. Does he know the extent of Annabelle’s irrational behaviour? What if he becomes another oblivious victim? Are they…? Is it possible that she would become with child?”

“I cannot believe we are speaking of such things. I am not certain of the nature of James and Annabelle’s relationship.

I have avoided such an inquiry as I was afraid he would tell Annabelle and she would take it as a sign of my interest in her.

Besides, I doubt he would listen to me. For the time being, she seems to be the one who supports his weaknesses. ”

“Perhaps you should speak to him anyway. He is your only relative from your father’s side, and he is so different from you.”

“He is… We shall see. Perhaps, I will speak to him.”

“Did he ever travel with you for business?”

“No, never. He showed no interest in the management of his properties.”

“How often do you visit the estates? Is your personal involvement there necessary? Would you take me with you on your next trip?”

“I would be very pleased if you could join me in my travels as soon as the weather is warmer and the roads are improved. I am delighted at your interest in this, Elizabeth. Most ladies are not concerned with that part of their husbands’ lives.”

“Surely, you cannot pretend to know what most ladies are concerned with,” she teased him.

“True. I barely know what one lady is concerned with.” He watched her closely, and she wondered whether he meant her or Annabelle. She had the answer a moment later.

“But it pleases me that tonight I begin to learn.

Regarding the estates—I usually travel to each of them every three months.

I struggled to hire a very proficient steward for each, and they keep me updated every fortnight.

I also have my London solicitor, Mr Aldridge, who is excellent in his profession and has been loyal to our family for more than fifteen years.

He works with two sons—both attorneys—who sometimes visit the estates for me. “

“So when you came to Hertfordshire, you had recently dealt with Georgiana’s elopement.

And I imagine you were between your business journeys…

How different things appear on closer examination!

And how different you appear, Mr Darcy. I am glad I listened to your advice and did not complete my sketch of your character back then. ”

She stepped close to him, rose on her toes and gently caressed his face. He captured her hand, then placed a lingering kiss inside her palm.

“Have you finished sketching my character?” he asked, his lips still caressing her hand.

“Not yet…” Her face was lifted to him, He embraced her while her hands shyly encircled his waist. Her head rested on his chest, and she could hear his heartbeat. One hand ca ressed her hair, rested on her nape a moment, then lowered along her spine. She shivered.

“Elizabeth, we should sleep now. It is long past midnight. Tomorrow we have a long day.”

“Yes…” she whispered. “We should go to sleep. It is very late indeed.”

He opened the door for her. At their entrance, Lucky rose from his place and sniffed them. He was rewarded with brief petting before he resumed his sleep. In the middle of the room, Darcy’s arms captured her once again.

“I thank you again, Mrs Darcy.”

His close warmth ignited something inside while every inch of her skin became chilled. She prayed for the embrace to last longer, and he seemed reluctant to release her too.

“Will you call for Molly?”

“No…it is too late to disturb her. I will manage by myself.”

“May I help you?” he asked, and she stared at him in shock. What could he possibly mean?

“I could just untie the back of your clothes, so you can remove them more easily.”

She blinked repeatedly, licked her lips, and then bit them.

“Oh, I thank you but I do not know whether…” He smiled, and her anxiety increased. Her eyes followed him as he walked to her bed, took her night robe, then he slowly turned her back to him and put the robe in front of her, so she could cover herself.

“May I?” he inquired, and she silently nodded in agreement.

She spotted their image in the mirror, and she shivered again, covering herself in the robe.

At her back, he gently brushed against her nape, then his hands rested on her shoulders.

Cold shivers spread from his touch inside her body, and she closed her eyes as she felt his fingers unfastening the two laces of her dress.

He gently pulled the dress down from her shoulders, and his fingers untied her corset.

Through the thin fabric, his fingers burned her, and she could sense his stare caressing her back.

The undergarment loosened around her. She tightened the grip of the robe at her chest as the dress fell from her shoulders, and she wondered how long her knees would support her.

She knew she should be embarrassed by being almost undressed in front of him, but she felt nothing of the sort.

His movements then stopped, and her eyes still closed, she felt his lips come to rest near her ear.

“Do you want me to help you with your hair pins, too?”

“No, thank you—I can manage,” she replied in some haste, her voice slightly trembling.

“Then I shall leave you to rest and will see you in the morning. Good night…and thank you.”

He briefly kissed her on the corner of her lips then closed the door behind him.

She leant down on the chair near the mirror.

For some time she just stared at her reflection, her mind filled with the storm of emotions aroused inside her by the stories she had learnt, by the distress they shared, by his closeness—both in spirit and in body.

And while the fire burned strongly, cold shivers tormented her skin and her heart.