A Most Civil Proposal (31 page)

“But Aunt Gardiner, what will Mr. Darcy think if he sees me wearing such a gown?” she asked in confusion, trying to balance her aunt’s advice against the strict mores of her society.

“And Mr. Bingley!” said Jane, holding up another nightgown over her dress. The front of it plunged dramatically, and the back even further. Her face was red all the way to her ears.

“Girls, are you afraid your husbands will think you wanton?” her aunt asked with a smile. Jane said nothing, but Elizabeth managed a small nod. Mrs. Gardiner laughed softly. “Have you considered that he will think of the compliment that you bestow by wearing such a nightgown for him and him only?” Elizabeth had to confess that she had not considered that.

Her aunt smiled again, “And Jane, have you considered what you will do if, or rather when, he removes that gown completely? Have you, Elizabeth?” Elizabeth gasped at the very thought, and Jane could only look at her aunt in shock. A sudden vision came to Elizabeth of William sliding this filmy nightgown up her leg, placing his hand on her bare skin that the nightgown had formerly concealed, and of that same hand continuing to slide even higher . . .

The very thought made her shiver, and she was grateful for the long sleeves of her dress, for she knew that she had just broken out in goose flesh all down her arms.

“The intimacies of marriage are far more precious and endearing than what your mother has likely informed you,” their aunt continued, and both Jane and Elizabeth had to blush at this, for their mother had spoken more of enduring and closing their eyes than of anything precious and endearing. Elizabeth had believed that her mother could not be completely correct, but she had not been able to contradict one who had borne five daughters. “You and your husbands will know intimacies that only a husband and wife should know, and those intimacies are not only for the procreation of children but are also intended to strengthen and enhance the love you will share.”

Elizabeth blushed again at this, for she had only to close her eyes to see William’s eyes darken into that penetrating gaze meant only for her. She could hardly imagine with what intensity he might look at her if she wore the gown she now held before her, but the thought was oddly pleasurable. While she was still not completely comfortable with her aunt’s advice, she was much more comforted than after the previous conversation with her mother, and she agreed to the purchases suggested by Mrs. Gardiner. Jane was equally anxious, but she was also agreeable to her aunt’s suggestions though she remained unsure she could ever wear what she was buying.

* * * * *

The rest of the day passed rapidly. Two new trunks had been delivered in the morning for Elizabeth’s clothing purchases, though only a portion had yet been delivered. The purchases already at hand were packed by the two sisters, each item being carefully folded and placed in the trunks in such a way as to minimize creasing. Her wedding gown was delivered after noon, tried on, and carefully hung up along with her gloves, shoes, and bonnet in preparation for the next day. Elizabeth spent part of the afternoon visiting with Georgiana and Darcy at the Gardiner’s home, and she could not complain about his attentiveness or courtesy. Nevertheless, the way in which he sometimes looked at her proved extremely disquieting, especially after the morning’s conversation. She could only wonder at those times whether he was repressing an eagerness to take her to his home and his bed, and she had all the nervous anxiety of an innocent virgin — wanting to flee yet, at the same time, wishing that he could quickly succeed in his purpose. Meanwhile, Darcy was the soul of discretion, limiting his intimacies to holding her hand when they were occasionally alone and a discreet kiss to her forehead when he departed.

Elizabeth had grown to enjoy their time together over the past days and found that she missed his company when they were apart. She had examined and re-examined her feelings, believing that she ought to be developing a more tender regard for him as her enjoyment of his company increased, but she had no past measurement against which to compare her feelings. Therefore, she could not boast of stronger emotions than contentment for herself, concern for his well-being, and a distinct anxiety that she would not live up to his expectations as his wife. In this last, she was determined to do her best, and she little knew that Darcy himself was delighted at the pleasant and happy manner in which she conversed and jested with him.

Mrs. Bennet, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia arrived that evening, and it grieved Elizabeth anew that her father was not with them though by this time she no longer really expected his presence. She very much missed his wry smile and dry wit at this time, especially since she still had no convincing explanation for his distaste for her future husband, nor could she forgive his harsh response when she accepted him.

Darcy called again that evening after dinner while Elizabeth was upstairs reading to the children in the nursery. He apologized to the surprised Gardiners for the lack of warning and lateness of the hour, but Mrs. Bennet was instantly aware of the reason for his arrival by the box he held. Any doubt was erased in the next instant when he asked if he might borrow Mr. Gardiner’s study again for a few moments alone with Elizabeth.

Elizabeth was sent for, and she could see that he was both excited and agitated as he ushered her into the study and closed the door. “I apologize for calling so unexpectedly, Elizabeth,” he said as he handed her the box, “but I was beginning to worry that these would not be completed in time.”

Elizabeth was as happy to receive a gift as any young lady, and she had been charmed by the way Darcy often called with flowers for her or small gifts for the Gardiner children. However, this was obviously something special, given the expression on his face. She seated herself and carefully untied the ribbon, gasping in surprise when she opened the box, for inside was a string of the most lustrous pearls that she had ever seen. All were carefully sized, with the largest in the middle gradually diminishing in size to the smallest. This was a gift that dwarfed in value everything that she had spent on wedding clothes.

“They are so beautiful,” she whispered.

“They were only delivered tonight, and I wanted you to have them in case you wish to wear them with your wedding gown. Please do try them. Georgiana helped with the measurement to make sure they fit, but it is best to be sure.”

Elizabeth carefully lifted them, unable to see a flaw in any of the gleaming orbs, then looked up at Darcy. “I am most appreciative, sir,” she said with a warm smile, “but these are much too extravagant for a simple country lass.”

Darcy laughed easily, for they had both come to grips with the many misjudgements and errors they had both made in their earlier association and were now able to view those events as a source of amusement rather than of mortification. He had even learned not to wince whenever she referred to something as “only tolerable,” and she equally could laugh when he asked if he might read her some poetry.

“You were meant to wear these, Elizabeth, simple country lass or no,” he commented softly after he fastened the pearls around her neck. Mr. Gardiner’s study had no mirror, so she could not verify his compliment, but the look on his face told her all she needed to know.

“Thank you,” she told him tenderly. “I am very, very fortunate. I shall certainly wear them tomorrow.”

“Then let us show them to the rest of your family immediately, for it is later than I would have wished.”

As he turned to lead the way out of the study, he was halted by the touch of Elizabeth’s hand on his arm. When he turned around, she surprised him by putting her arm around his neck and pulling his face down to hers. When their lips touched, she raised up on her toes, tightening her arm around his neck while her other arm slipped around his waist under his coat. She shivered in delight at the exquisite sensation of his lips pressing into hers, her mouth opening slightly as his own kiss deepened. His arms went around her, and she had a sudden realization of his true strength and power as she felt his muscles tense as he fought against the urge to crush her fiercely to him. She was more prepared this time when his tongue probed at her lips, and she shivered again, then she felt him react as she tentatively reached her own tongue to touch his.

Instinctively, she pressed her body closer to him as their tongues darted and touched in a dance of exploration and discovery, arching herself upward while he pulled her even more firmly against him. His hands moved to the side of her waist, measuring its narrowness, and Elizabeth felt the heat from his touch, even through her clothes. His fingers moved, explored, and she sucked in a breath as she felt one hand slide to her hip and then to her bottom, but she did not pull away. She trembled. No one had ever touched her in such a way, and while some might think her behaviour shameless, she cared not. She kissed her future husband fiercely and nibbled at his lower lip with her small teeth while she moved her hips under the urging of his hand on her bottom.

Darcy opened his eyes to find hers open also, dark and dancing in delight under her half-closed lids. He lowered his lips to her throat, trailing soft kisses down to her shoulders while her hands moved up his back, exploring how his torso widened towards his shoulders. She dropped her head backward, opening the way for his lips to move to the hollow of her throat. A small moan escaped from her lips, and he felt her shiver again as he moved up her neck and nibbled at her delectable ear lobe. She thrust her hips forward into him as he slipped his tongue into her ear, then planted small kisses across her cheeks, her nose, her chin, and returning to her moist lips, kissing her deeply as his tongue danced and slid over her own.

When he lifted his mouth from hers, she was gasping for breath; her body almost limp in his grasp. His feelings as he held her close were conflicted. Certainly, he was pleased at the passion she had shown, but he also felt ashamed when he remembered his previous determination to control his urges. He should have simply kissed her back quickly, but instead he had taken advantage of her honest reaction to his gift to take liberties that . . .

Elizabeth, through half-closed eyes, saw the sudden look of self-disgust on Darcy’s face, felt his hands leave her waist and her bottom, felt him start to pull away from her. She instinctively pulled him back against her, unwilling to be separated from the closeness of his embrace. As he started to speak, preparatory, she knew, to issuing the expected apologies for his unforgivable behaviour, she put one hand up to cover his mouth.

“No, William. I will not have it,” she said softly but firmly. His eyes widened in surprise and confusion. “We are to be married on the morrow, sir,” she continued softly, putting both arms back around his waist and clasping him to her, “and you did nothing that I did not want you to do. If you are going to castigate yourself for taking liberties, then I shall have to castigate myself for allowing you to take those liberties — for being wanton.”

“You could never be wanton, Elizabeth,” he groaned in despair.

“And you could never be less than a gentleman, Fitzwilliam Darcy,” she told him firmly. “But even a gentleman cannot treat his wife like a Vestal Virgin, nor would she want it so. Especially not,” her eyes sparkled with delight as she hugged him tightly, “when it felt so very lovely to me. Now, sir, I repeat: I will not have it.”

Gradually, Darcy brought his emotions under control, and he could not help but be amused at the manner in which Elizabeth had completely reversed their roles, refusing to let him play the part of shamed and disgraced rascal.

“Well, perhaps you will at least admit that I was a little premature,” he said with a smile.

“By less than a day, and I repeat, you did nothing that I did not want you to do. And I started it, and you
did
warn me!” He had to chuckle at that, and she joined him with her soft, delightful laugh. “Now,” she continued, “I suggest that we join the others before they come looking for us. We do have a wedding to accomplish in less than twelve hours, after which we can resume this . . .
conversation
. . . in the privacy of our chambers!” Darcy had to laugh at the mischievousness dancing in her eyes and agreed to her proposal, contenting himself with a chaste kiss to her forehead and one last, quick embrace.

Quickly, Elizabeth tugged her clothes straight, and her hands went to her hair to capture a few errant curls and pin them back into place.

“My uncle does not seem to have a mirror in here. Does everything look correct?”

Darcy cocked his head in thought. “You look fine from this side, but please turn around.” She turned around at his request, and then she jumped as he planted a kiss on the back of her neck.

“William!” she admonished him sternly, though the scolding might have carried more weight if she had been better able to suppress her smile.

“All correct, dearest,” he told her. “The pearls are lovely, of course, but you are even lovelier.”

“William!” she repeated, her cheeks colouring.

“I believe that you shall have to work harder at learning to receive a compliment, Elizabeth,” he told her, “for you shall be receiving many of them.” His face wore a look of innocence as he repeated her own admonition to Georgiana back to her, and she laughed lightly as she quickly rose to her toes to kiss his cheek.

“Thank you,” she told him softly. “I shall indeed attempt to improve.”

As they left the room to join the others, Elizabeth had no further doubts as to whether she could wear one of the daring nightgowns that her aunt had induced her to buy.