Page 44 of Why I Kissed You (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

Elizabeth and Darcy spent a blissful five days together at Darcy House with only the servants for company—and naturally, the latter were very little seen, leaving their master and new mistress every bit as alone as they could wish for.

Elizabeth was more than a little surprised—and very much delighted—to discover that there were different ways and different places in the home that a couple would, or could, make love.

Darcy’s desire for her seemed almost insatiable—he had taken her on the sofa in the drawing room, the sofa in the library, on the desk in his study…

he had even taken her over the billiard table!

They made love in the morning, the afternoon, the evening—whenever he wanted her… and sometimes because she wanted him.

Then, of course, there were the nights—when he came to her room, or she went to his.

Elizabeth learned very quickly what her aunt had meant when she’d said that humans mated for pleasure as well as procreation, for nothing in her life had ever made her feel the way that Darcy did when they were intimate.

If he kept paying her so much attention, she was in a sure way of being both in love with him and full with his child.

Only once were they at risk of being disturbed. The day after their wedding, Elizabeth and Darcy were in the breakfast parlor enjoying their first morning as husband and wife when a very loud noise startled them both. “It sounds as though someone is banging on the front door,” Elizabeth murmured.

Darcy groaned and pushed his chair back. “I have an unfortunate idea of who it may be,” he said, then quit the room. He was back in only a few minutes.

“Lady Catherine, I take it?” she asked him.

Darcy nodded as he returned to his seat.

“I did not speak to her myself, as I might not have been civil, but then I did not need to. Mr. Tolliver is a most excellent butler—he made it clear to my aunt in no uncertain terms that Mr. and Mrs. Darcy were not receiving visitors, and that whatever her grievance, she had best take it up with Lord Disley.”

Elizabeth’s eyes widened. “Did he really?”

“You may also be gratified to hear that he told her if she did not wish him to physically remove her from the stoop and carry her down to her carriage, she had best take her leave,” said Darcy with a twinkle of amusement in his eye.

“Oh, I think I adore Mr. Tolliver now,” Elizabeth replied with a giggle.

Later that afternoon, they received a note from the earl detailing Lady Catherine’s “extreme outrage” at the decisions they had made on Anne’s behalf, and that she would be speaking to another attorney to see what could be done to prevent her daughter having to “marry a man whose character was no better than the dung piles dropped by the sheep in the pastures at Rosings.”

She said not one word of remorse or regret for what Anne tried to do, though she did deny having any part in the scheme , his uncle had written.

If indeed your cousin acted of her own volition, I would be much surprised.

We certainly know from where she learned her proclivity for paltering, in any case .

Lord Disley then went on to say that he did not believe there was anything that Lady Catherine could do to prevent the unfortunate marriage of Anne and Wickham, and for the time being, Darcy should spare her no further thought, as she had declared he was “no nephew of mine.” He expressed his hope that God would forgive him, but he did not feel any deep regret—or any at all, really—that he and the most troublesome members of his family were no longer on speaking terms.

Much as Darcy would have preferred it, they did not stay indoors the whole of the five days.

Elizabeth was required to visit Madame le Blanc’s shop for more dress fittings, as well as the cobbler to pick up the many pairs of shoes she’d ordered.

She had also seen an advertisement in the paper for an opera at Drury Lane on Friday and begged that they attend the performance.

Darcy tried to dissuade her at first, then found he could not hold out against her baleful looks of disappointment.

Elizabeth grinned in satisfaction at her victory and felt it only a little lessened when her new husband revealed that he had already been thinking of taking her.

Notes were dispatched to Gracechurch Street and Mivart’s Hotel, inviting Jane and Bingley to join them at the theatre.

Upon arrival, they were approached by more than one acquaintance of Darcy’s asking if the “lovely lady” on his arm was the very Miss Elizabeth Bennet whom the newspapers had said he was to wed the next day.

Elizabeth saw plainly that her husband took delight in telling his friends that the announcement in the paper was a ruse meant to dissuade last-ditch efforts to disrupt his wedding, and that he and his wife had been happily married since Tuesday.

More than one of the gentlemen, after sparing her an appreciative glance, ribbed Darcy for being a “sly dog”, but agreed with his subterfuge, given the number of ladies in the ton who were like to be disappointed he was no longer available.

The opera that night was The Devil to Pay , and while they waited for the performance to begin, Mr. Bingley informed them all of a most astonishing turn of events: His sister Caroline had been introduced to a “most charming” viscount the very evening of his telling her about the proposed house party.

This fellow had apparently taken a shine to her as well, therefore she was “very much dismayed that she would not be free to accept his gracious invitation” to join the party at Winfield.

“Well, Theo will be happy to know that he is free of her,” Darcy said.

During the intermission, the party of four received unexpected visitors.

Lord Rowarth and Colonel Fitzwilliam came into their box, each with a handsome young lady on his arm, followed by another finely dressed gentleman who escorted a third beautiful woman.

Quick to note that the two young ladies on the arms of the Fitzwilliam brothers were sisters and related to the third gentleman, Elizabeth smiled; her suspicion was confirmed when Lord Rowarth introduced his companions as Lord and Lady Winterbourne, and the other two ladies as the earl’s sisters, Lady Honoria and Lady Sarah Beckwith.

“Mrs. Darcy,” said Lady Winterbourne when the introductions were over, “I am so very delighted to make your acquaintance!”

Elizabeth’s eyebrows rose. “Are you indeed, my lady?”

“Why certainly!” the countess cried. “There is hardly a young lady in the ton who is not eager for a glimpse of the woman who finally managed to catch Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley in the parson’s mousetrap.”

“You mean to say they wish to see who they will forever be envious of,” said Lady Honoria with a grin. “I’m afraid you’ve disappointed many a society daughter, Mrs. Darcy—not to mention their mothers.”

Elizabeth looked up at Darcy and smiled. “I would apologize for doing so, my ladies, but I’m afraid I am not sorry. I have secured myself a most excellent husband.”

Darcy returned her smile. “And I am pleased to hear you say so,” said he.

Elizabeth looked again to their visitors. “May I ask if you all are looking forward to the house party? I understand from my new cousins that Winfield is a fine estate.”

“Oh, quite so, Mrs. Darcy,” said Lord Winterbourne.

“Some relaxation in the country is precisely what my lady and I need after the hustle and bustle of getting married, and of course the headache of Parliament. I really ought to remain as we are still in session, but I need a break from the overlong speeches and the politicking—I am not as fond of it as my father is.”

Bingley snapped his fingers. “That reminds me, my lords and ladies… We will be at least three short. I was just telling the Darcys earlier that my sister Caroline has recently met a gentleman she’s already becoming fond of…

Viscount Malford, I believe he is. She won’t be joining us when we depart for Hampshire on Monday, therefore neither will my sister Mrs. Hurst and her husband. ”

The looks exchanged between Rowarth and Winterbourne were telling; Elizabeth got the distinct impression that Lord Malford was a gentleman in name only, but a box at the theatre was hardly the place to discuss the matter.

On the other hand, Colonel Fitzwilliam looked inordinately relieved, leaving Elizabeth in no doubt of his feelings on the matter.

Secretly, she was pleased as well that they would not have to put up with Miss Bingley or the Hursts during their stay at Winfield.

After the visitors returned to their box and the opera resumed, Bingley looked to Darcy and said, “Tell me I am not the only one to have noted your cousin and his friend the earl did not seem too keen on this Lord Malford fellow.”

“You were not,” Darcy conceded. “I’ve never met the man myself—never even heard of him, to own the truth. I advise you to call at Bolton Street tomorrow to speak to Rowarth about it if you are concerned.”

Bingley nodded. “I shall,” said he, and then their attention was taken up by the happenings on the stage.

As it turned out, Bingley did not have to wait until the next day. Lord Rowarth and his friend approached him in the lobby as they awaited their carriages and took him off to the side. Elizabeth’s heart went out to Bingley when he returned a few minutes later wearing an expression of consternation.

Jane put a hand on his arm. “Charles? Are you well?”

He looked at her and his expression softened a fraction. “I am, truly, I just… I have just been presented with a quandary.”

“Whatever do you mean, Charles?” Darcy asked.

“Your cousin and his friend have just acquainted me with Lord Malford’s real character,” Bingley said. “He is, as Lord Rowarth put it, ‘a titled Wickham’.”

“So, he’s a rake,” said Elizabeth.