Page 35 of Winter of Passion (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

T he following morning, the weather improved even more.

It was still a freezing cold day but a bright one, so the Darcys decided to leave for London immediately.

The road — covered with ice under the snow — was still slippery and unsafe, so the carriage moved at a very slow pace, and they needed more than three hours to complete their journey.

Finally, they reached their destination on the afternoon of the third day after their wedding, having faced dangerous situations for which both assumed the blame.

The journey into their new life had been as difficult, unexpected, and full of obstacles as the beginning of their acquaintance.

However, they had overcome everything together, side by side.

They were happy and grateful when they stepped out of the carriage in front of their townhouse and entered arm in arm.

Fate and nature’s intervention had caused some significant changes in their lives — and in that of others — for which they were thankful.

“We are finally home, Mrs Darcy,” he said.

“Home,” she repeated, her heart racing as she eyed the impressive building.

She had seen Pemberley, so she knew she should expect something similar, but the realisation that it was her home, that she was the mistress, caused her different emotions and stirred her nervousness.

The door opened, and they were met with exclamations of surprise and joy.

“Oh, dear Lord! Mr Darcy, you are finally here, sir! Thank God! You said you would come on your wedding day, and we were so worried when we saw the bad weather. I hope you are well. Oh, forgive me, Mrs Darcy, we are honoured to receive you. Welcome! Oh, I am such a fool — I am standing in the way! Please enter. I heartily apologise—”

“Mrs Norman, please calm yourself,” Darcy interrupted her.

“We are happy to be home as we have had a dreadful and eventful journey. But all is well now. Mrs Darcy, this is Mrs Norman, our housekeeper, who has been a part of our family for almost twenty years. In all that time, I have never seen her so nervous,” he ended with a smile.

“Oh, I am sorry, I did not mean—”

“Mrs Norman,” Elizabeth interjected gently, “I confess I am nervous too. I am very happy to be home and to make your acquaintance, but also a bit nervous.”

Elizabeth’s reply eased some of the good woman’s distress, and she curtseyed.

“Welcome, Mrs Darcy.”

“Thank you.”

“Mrs Norman, we shall need hot water for bathing, then a brief dinner and rest. We are very tired. I shall tell you more about our journey tomorrow.”

“Of course, sir. May I ask, is Miss Darcy not with you?”

“No, she should arrive in a few days. She and Colonel Fitzwilliam wisely decided to stay at Netherfield until the weather improves.”

“Oh, how fortunate! Sir, the servants are eager to meet Mrs Darcy — shall I bring them into the entrance hall? Or is Mrs Darcy too tired?”

Darcy looked at Elizabeth, and she replied with a genuine smile and a light voice, “I would very much like to meet the servants now. Mr Darcy has spoken so highly and with such pride of you and the entire household that I am eager to make everyone’s acquaintance.”

“How kind of you to say so,” the woman replied, her voice heavy with emotions.

“But I hope they will forgive my appearance after the long journey,” she jested.

“Oh, you look wonderful Mrs Darcy!” the housekeeper said, then apologised again, hurrying to gather the servants.

“I do agree with her — you look wonderful,” Darcy repeated, helping her to remove her coat, bonnet, and gloves.

“Mrs Norman seems very kind — and very fond of you. I think we shall work together well.”

“I am sure you will. I thank you for being so considerate as to meet the servants now. I believe it will mean a lot to them. I must warn you they are fifteen in all.”

“So many?”

“Yes. Would you like a tour of the house too?”

“Oh no. I would rather you showed me everything tomorrow, if you do not mind.”

“I certainly do not mind,” he whispered. “I wish for nothing else but to show you our apartments and remain there for at least a whole day and night.”

She blushed at the sensation of his lips near her skin and tried to keep her composure as she heard many hurried steps.

Nervous but delighted, Elizabeth observed the servants as they stepped into line and Mrs Norman introduced them one by one. They were of different ages with different responsibilities, but they looked equally nervous and concerned at meeting the new mistress.

Elizabeth greeted each of them with a smile, repeating their names so she could remember them, then thanked them for the warm reception. At the end, the housekeeper introduced Elizabeth’s new maid, Sarah — a girl close to her own age who seemed unable to breathe in front of her new mistress.

Then the household finally returned to their duties, and Darcy invited Elizabeth to see her apartment.

“Mrs Norman, please send dinner to my chambers. Mrs Darcy will need Sarah to help her, and that will be all. We shall not need your services until tomorrow, when I shall ring for you.”

“Of course, sir. Does Mrs Darcy have any favourite dishes? We have prepared what we knew you would enjoy, but we were not sure about her preferences.”

“I am sure anything you have prepared will be tasty, Mrs Norman,” Elizabeth said. “I do not have any particular favourite.”

Finally, Elizabeth climbed the stairs, holding her husband’s arm. Her heart began beating harder, and her nervousness increased with each step.

Finally, he stopped, looked at her, and opened a door widely.

“This is your bedchamber, Mrs Darcy.”

She glanced around, entering shyly, and remained near the door. He placed his hands on her shoulders in a gesture of comfort.

“It is beautiful…exquisite,” she whispered.

“I am glad you like it. And here is mine,” he said, opening the adjoining door. She looked inside, still from the doorway.

“They are a perfect match,” she said. “Just as we are…”

He leant his head down to claim a kiss and embraced her.

“I dare say we are a better match than any expensive furniture…”

They were interrupted by a knock on the far door, and Sarah entered, then attempted to leave immediately.

“Sarah, come in,” Darcy called to her. “I shall retire to my room now,” he addressed Elizabeth. “When you are ready, we shall have dinner.”

She nodded, he closed the adjoining door, then she turned her attention to the timid maid, who kept asking how she might assist her.

Elizabeth took a warm bath, allowing the water to soothe her exhausted body, but she had no patience to lie there long. Her senses were all stirred in anticipation of the long-awaited moment when she would finally become Darcy’s wife.

She asked Sarah to help her change into her night clothes and brush her hair — which she could have done by herself, but she allowed the maid to serve her — then thanked and dismissed her.

Finally alone in her bedchamber, flustered and slightly uneasy, Elizabeth glanced in the mirror.

She looked well enough — he had seen her in her night gown before, and she knew he was delighted with her appearance.

There was only one thing missing. She opened her reticule and took out the necklace — the small ruby heart — he had given her on the second day of their secret engagement at Netherfield.

She put it on, brushing her fingers over it.

Just a little over a month had passed since then, but it felt like a year ago.

When their engagement had become public and Darcy had gone to London for the licence, he had returned with two boxes of jewels for her, sets with earrings, necklaces and bracelets — one also ruby, but a truly stunning spectacular set, the other one diamonds and pearls.

Her mother and her aunts had all been lost in awe of the exquisite pieces, trying to guess how many others she would have as Mrs Darcy.

On her wedding day, at her mother and aunt Gardiner’s insistence, Elizabeth had worn the pearl set, but she had taken it off when their journey had begun.

Now, on their wedding night, she would wear the jewel she loved the most, the one purchased when he had been heartbroken after her cruel rejection but still thought of her.

Finally, she knocked on Darcy’s door. He opened it with a large smile and an adoring gaze, which travelled along her body and gave her shivers. “Come in, Mrs Darcy. Dinner is ready,” he said ceremoniously.

She took the offered chair, looking at the food on the table.

“You are wearing my heart,” he said, with apparent surprise and delight.

“How could I not wear your heart, since I have given you mine?” she replied with loving teasing.

They ate — just as they had done during the two nights spent at the inn. They had been as close to each other as could be so many times that she should be accustomed to him. But she felt more nervous than ever before, and his gaze — dark and heavy — seemed to deepen into her soul.

“Are you not hungry?” she asked, attempting a smile.

“I am,” he answered hoarsely, his hand touching hers over the table, “but not for food…”

Her entire being quivered at his words, his gaze, his touch.

She put her hand over his and whispered, “We may eat more later…”

Darcy immediately stood up, went to her, and gently pulled her from the chair, then lifted her into his arms. With his sweet burden, he moved to blow out each candle, allowing only the light from the fireplace.

He then placed her in his bed and lay next to her. His eyes never leaving hers, he untied her robe and removed it, then took off his shirt too. She only looked at him, captivated, abandoning herself to him.

Darcy covered them both with the bed sheets, then he took off his trousers, as well as her nightgown.

He touched the ruby heart on her throat, then placed a soft kiss on it and tantalised it — and her skin — with his tongue.

And then, slowly, gently, he leant his body over hers, supporting himself on his elbows so she could breathe.