Page 97 of Sketching Mr. Darcy

The introduction of the Gardiners to Miss Georgiana Darcy was filled with emotion on both sides.

Mrs Annesley greeted the guests then chose to return to her room and not intrude on the family’s first dinner together.

Her absence increased Georgiana’s reticence, but it only needed a few minutes before Mrs Gardiner’s gentleness and her genuine admiration of Lady Anne Darcy conquered Miss Darcy’s shyness.

Darcy offered to give the guests a tour of the house before the others arrived.

A long and heartfelt moment was spent in the large gallery in front of the beautiful paintings of the family, and Mrs Gardiner recollected in great detail the day they had encountered Lady Anne and Georgiana on the beach in Brighton.

Soon enough, the Fitzwilliam family arrived. Elizabeth did not fail to notice her aunt’s uneasiness before the illustrious company, and she was grateful for Lady Matlock and Lady Maryanne’s warm politeness as well as for the gentlemen’s amiability.

The dinner progressed much to Elizabeth’s hopes and expectations. She gracefully received their compliments for the selection of courses and for the arrangements.

They discussed the next evening’s ball, which the younger members of the family planned to attend, while Lord and Lady Matlock had declined the invitation.

It was also agreed that the ladies would go together to the modiste the day after the ball.

Mrs Gardiner secretly confessed to Elizabeth that she had long wished to order a dress from Madame Claudette but had never been able to secure an appointment at that prestigious establishment.

Elizabeth was pleased to be able to help her aunt with just another small thing.

The evening ended very late with admirable performances at the piano by Miss Darcy, Elizabeth, and Lady Maryanne.

While Miss Darcy returned to her room, Elizabeth and Darcy stood outside, taking a warm farewell and waiting for the carriages to depart. Even then, they remained a moment longer, admiring the frozen, white streets.

“Would you like to take a short walk? I would enjoy some fresh air,” Elizabeth said. He looked puzzled and not without reason: it was the middle of an icy night.

“I would rather go upstairs and open the window wide instead of walking in the park at this hour. It would be strange and rather dangerous.”

He was right, of course. London was not Longbourn, and she was still thoughtless about such details. She attempted to laugh.

“Well, at least I am not the only one with reckless ideas. Look, there is a carriage just across the street. I imagine it is expecting someone who enjoys a late night stroll.”

Darcy glanced at the carriage strangely waiting on the deserted street, but it was unfamiliar to him, so he escorted his wife inside and closed the door behind them.

Molly and Stevens helped them prepare for the night then were quickly dismissed.

While Elizabeth brushed her hair, Darcy entered, placed a chair behind her stool, and tenderly encircled her with his arms. She glanced at their image in the mirror and planned to talk to him about the evening, but she shivered as his lips whispered near her ear.

“I opened the windows in my room.”

He gently freed her neck from their heavy curls and tasted her skin.

She moaned and attempted to turn to him, but he trapped her body in his arms, tantalising her neck, ears, and shoulders with warm kisses.

Her back was pressed against his chest, and his hand slowly pulled the gown down from her shoulders then glided lower, caressing her thighs through the soft fabric and pressing until her skin began to burn.

With eager passion, his caresses overspread her body until his palms closed possessively on her breasts and his lips captured hers with a hunger that seemed to grow.

Then he abandoned the sweet roundness and glided between her warm legs.

Her hands attempted to touch him, but her movements only made her gown reveal more of her soft skin.

Her eyes caught their scandalous reflection in the mirror, and she briefly remembered her aunt’s words—that she should not be ashamed of anything when she was with her husband.

She was not, as the feelings that built inside her were stronger than any shame.

Chills shattered her, and she cried against their joined lips when his finger slowly glided inside her, stroking and caressing until she lost her senses and found the delight so well known and desired.

***

Darcy stared at their image in the mirror.

They were both sitting—he on a chair, she on a stool in front of him, her back pressing against his chest and his hands still resting on the warmest parts of her beautiful body.

Her face was flushed and her eyes closed while she had abandoned herself against him.

This time he had not even asked if she wished him to stop, as he had come to know her body so well as to feel what she enjoyed most. His body could sense her pleasure, and he was aroused just from sharing hers.

She was soft, warm, and ready for him. For a moment, he thought the bed was too far away, but he abandoned his little mischievous plan for a later night.

He carried her to his chamber and gently set her on the bed then hurried to close the windows. He noticed the carriage was in the same spot, but he ignored it.

The room was very cold, but he felt a burning inside, so he quickly removed his clothes and lay beside her.

As her arms encircled his neck, he hastily removed her rumpled gown then pulled a cover over their united bodies.

Her body opened for him, and he easily glided inside her warmth with a deep moan of contentment.

His fingers cradled her head, sliding into her rich hair. Their eyes met, and there were no words needed until he started to move slowly in her—with her.

Elizabeth’s astonishment was aroused when her husband joined with her, and she felt only a little pain, which she barely noticed. Her relief was soon combined with the most delightful sense of being united with him, and soon a different sort of pleasure built and expanded inside her.

“William…” she whispered, breathless.

“Yes, my love. Is something wrong?” His movements ceased, and he looked at her with concern.

“No…it is wonderful…” Her legs wrapped around his waist, and his thrusts deepened, growing faster and stronger. Her body moved tentatively beneath his, against his, together with his until waves of delight spread inside her and her moans of fulfilment matched his.

Their kisses and caresses lasted long after their bodies rested in exhaustion as his hunger for her face, her eyes, her hair, and her soft lips was impossible to satiate.

Elizabeth struggled to breathe, but not for a moment did she attempt to withdraw from him.

He suddenly turned over on his back and moved her perfectly atop him.

While he kissed her, his hands rested on her hips, caressing her buttocks and pressing her against him.

She gasped in surprise to realise that this sudden change of position did not separate them.

He was still warm, strong and hard inside her.

She withdrew from him slightly, and her hair as well as her beautiful breasts brushed his chest.

“Oh, God, Elizabeth…this is so good,” he said hoarsely.

She leant a little lower, puzzled as to what precisely he meant.

She felt the hair of his chest tantalising her skin, and she sighed.

She now understood and slowly started to move against him, their bodies still joined.

Her heavy locks tickled her skin and his, and her nipples became harder while stroking his torso.

His hands tightly gripped her hips and pushed them against his.

She called his name again, and he pulled her lower to capture her dry lips.

“Slowly, my love,” he whispered, testing her mouth. “Search for your pleasure… It is your turn to do whatever you like…”

“You must guide me… I do not know…” she barely answered.

“Your desire and your pleasure will be enough guidance…”

He smiled, his dark gaze locked with her clouded eyes, and his lips held hers captive a few moments longer. Then he slowly pushed her back until she was sitting astride him.

Her hair fell loose on her shoulders, sheltering her breasts from his greedy eyes.

His hands found their way towards the heavy roundness that fit perfectly in his palms. She supported her hands on his chest and started to move shyly, her face showing her surprise and delight at the newly discovered sensations.

Her movements increased more daringly—hastier and more eager until she fell on his chest, exhausted and breathless.

Then he turned over, leaning her against the pillows as he lay atop her, and finally reached his long awaited completion.

“I missed you so much, my beautiful wife,” he whispered when he finally caught his breath.

Their faces almost touched, and Elizabeth caressed his face, watching him in long silence.

“I completely lost myself to you in every sense, my husband, and nothing could make me happier.”

Nothing but silence was needed to seal another day of their marriage. They fell asleep, tightly embracing as the night met the dawn.

And only then did the carriage across the street finally depart.