Page 79 of Sketching Mr. Darcy
Elizabeth gasped when, through her sleep, she observed a shadow near the window and then smiled when she recognised it. She sat, wrapping the bedclothes around her.
“William, why are you sitting there?”
“I did not want to disturb you. You were sleeping so soundly.”
“Please come here. It is very late, and we both must sleep.”
He hesitated a moment, but her voice, although soft, was too determined to argue. He sat on the free side, removed his robe and lay down, careful to keep a distance between them. They were facing each other, sharing a nervous, awkward smile.
“Cover yourself. It will be cold during the night,” she told him with genuine care.
“Do not worry. I will take care of the fire. Sleep well,” he whispered and gently touched her hair, which was even softer then he recollected.
She wished him a good night, and then closed her eyes.
Her steady breathing proved that she had fallen asleep again.
He pulled the blankets closely around her, and inhaled the dizzying scent of her hair, which was now touching him.
His senses were more alert than ever before, and he had to struggle to keep his eyes from her curves clearly revealed by the bedclothes.
She turned again, and her hand reached his nightshirt.
A smile appeared on her face as she slept peacefully, and he gently removed a lock of hair that was tickling her face.
Darcy breathed deeply and wrapped the bedclothes around himself. It would be a very, very long night!
***
Elizabeth woke in the middle of the night being warm and cold at the same time. She searched for the blankets, but she was trapped by a weight that first panicked her. Then she realised she was held by her husband’s arms, tightly wrapped around her.
She was lying with her back to him, so she could not see him—nor could he see her face, and for that, she felt relieved. Her mind and body became aware of every inch of their closeness. One hand was near her waist, and she could feel his fingers through the thin fabric of her gown.
With despair, she noticed that her nightgown had shifted to expose her feet and her shoulders—most likely, as she had moved in her sleep. She shivered when she sensed his legs entwined with hers. He was wearing a thin pair of trousers but no stockings, and his feet touched hers.
She slowly pulled her feet away a little, but his feet moved closer. She smiled to herself and, for a moment, lay still—then very gently brushed her feet against his. She heard a slight moan and froze, worried that her gesture woke him. Suppose he notices what I have done!
He did not wake, but he moved even closer to her, and his face rested near her shoulder. His warm breath heated her ear, and her heart began to race so fiercely that she was certain he would hear it. Her back was almost crushed against his torso, and the sensation was frighteningly pleasant.
Apparently still asleep, his hands moved from her waist along her body, briefly caressed her thighs, then up again, and she barely suppressed a cry when his fingers brushed over her breasts.
Such a strong shiver shattered her body that she bit her lips.
Then his fingers lingered a little over her neck, touched her bare shoulder, and finally stopped to caress her face and hair.
His steady, hot breathing tickled her ear and she abandoned herself to the wondrous sensations.
Those shivers, travelling along her body and turning her stomach into an icy hole, were caused by only a few tentative caresses. Then how would it be if he… She did not dare think further, her head spinning at the mere thought.
The room was dark and silent, only the fire burning and the wind blowing outside so powerfully that the windows shook—and so did Elizabeth!
What was happening to her? Was she losing her mind?
Her father was ill, they still had reason to be worried for him, and her husband was so generous, kind, patient, and gentlemanlike—and she suddenly had turned into a shameless, wanton simpleton.
She withdrew a few inches to put some distance between them, but his arms pulled her back.
She lay still. His hand slowly glided up and down her thin, silky nightgown and this time stopped on her thigh.
She bit her lips while a wave of warmth shattered her inner body.
All her senses seemed to gather on that spot where his fingers were touching her.
Without thinking, her hand caught his, stopping its exploration, and his fingers immediately entwined with hers.
Then he lifted their joined hands to the level of their hearts.
Her body was still warm and shivering, inside and out, but she regained some peace, and her heart beat steadily again for a little while until his lips touched her ear and he whispered her name.
***
“Elizabeth? Forgive me for awakening you. I am sorry. I was very tired, and I slept too soundly. I hope I did not trouble you…by staying so close to you…”
She freed her hand from his and attempted to turn. Both of them moved away from each other, allowing a safe distance between them.
“No, not at all,” she whispered back, feeling her cheeks colouring. “I slept very soundly, too. All is well.”
They were now facing each other as they lay on the pillows.
“I am glad.” He smiled. “Would you like to drink something?”
“Yes, please…”
He rose, first tended the fire, and then filled two glasses of water and returned to her.
Elizabeth watched him as he moved around the room, unable to take her eyes away.
His neck was completely uncovered, and he walked barefoot on the cold floor.
Through the thin fabric of his trousers and shirt, lit from behind by the light of the fire, she could see the shape of his legs and his torso and…
She covered her face with the blanket to hide her embarrassment and her improper curiosity.
When she heard him calling her name again, she rose to sit in the middle of the bed, taking the glass of water from him.
She was thirsty too—so very thirsty. She took the glass, avoiding his gaze.
He finished his water then went to pour a glass of wine.
“Would you like some?” he asked, and she shook her head in an energetic refusal. Surely, wine was not what she needed in this enormously confusing circumstance.
They glanced at each other in awkward silence for some time. She could see his eyes lowering from her face and suddenly felt cold.
As if guessing her thoughts, he said, “You should put your robe on or move down to cover yourself in the blankets. It is getting cold despite the fire. It seems a freezing night.”
“So should you,” she replied and blushed. “You walked around barefoot. Your feet must have frozen already.” She averted her eyes and put aside the glass.
“You are right. We should sleep.”
He decidedly resumed his position against the pillows, covered her tightly with one blanket, and put another around himself.
The separate blankets seemed a safe shield to keep them apart, Elizabeth thought, and briefly wondered whether she was pleased by his idea.
They were both lying on their backs a few inches apart, staring at the ceiling.
He leant slowly towards her, and when his face was only a breath away from hers, he gently removed a lock of hair from over her eyebrow. His fingers lingered on her temple a moment, and he smiled while she felt her cheeks burning.
“You were very gracious in bearing my family,” she said, hoping to dissipate her emotions.
“Not at all…except, perhaps, your father’s sharp teasing and severe censuring. In that, I feel I was gracious indeed.”
“I am happy that you and Papa seemed to get along so well. He admires you very much.”
“I hope not more than Mr Collins. I fear I could not bear that!”
They laughed again, and Elizabeth suddenly pressed her fingers over his mouth.
“We should keep silent. My sisters are sleeping in the next room, and the walls are very thin,” she whispered, barely able to control her own peals of laughter.
She felt her fingers trapped by his, and his head slowly moved towards hers. She closed her eyes, shivers thrilling her skin, and waited. His lips brushed her cheeks and moved further, resting near her ear lobe and touching it at each whisper as in a soft, tentative kiss.
“It is good to know about the walls being very thin…” He gently kissed her fingers, then the inside of her palm, then her wrist.
“Have you made any plans regarding the length of our stay? ”
“I want to be sure Papa is truly recovered. Jane said she would rather not come to London now as she feels her presence is needed here.”
“Miss Bennet is very wise. When she decides to come to Town, I will send a carriage for her. And if she agrees, she might stay in our house. I am sure Georgiana would be delighted.”
He placed soft kisses along her temple, her cheeks, her eyelashes, and then went down to the corner of her mouth.
“That is perfect… Jane staying with us would be perfect,” she murmured.
His lips entrapped hers, gentle and tentative at first, then growing impatient as he felt her willing response—testing, conquering her moist, shy, half opened lips which soon learnt to share his eager passion.
Her hands were still resting between them as a shield that soon fell when she encircled his waist.
His fingers entwined in her hair, and his thumb fondled her earlobe until the sensation made her tremble and moan, but the sound was suppressed as the kiss deepened.
His caresses travelled down her neck, stopped on her bare shoulder for a few torturous moments, then brushed over her throat and lowered along the neckline of her gown as though attempting to invade it.
She frowned and moaned again, her body quivering when his lips followed his fingers, kissing and tasting her skin until they reached the line of the gown—then stopped and returned to her face for a short while. He finally rested with his forehead pressed against hers.