A Most Civil Proposal (35 page)

“I will not break,” she said firmly, but then she relented. “But now that you mention food, I do believe that I might be interested in at least a nibble.”

“Then let us ring for breakfast,” Darcy said cheerfully, “or whatever meal is closest, since I have not the slightest idea of the time.” He started to reach for the pull beside the bed, but Elizabeth put her arm on his.

“Perhaps I might put on a robe before we have a servant respond to your call?” she said sweetly but with a significant lift to her eyebrow.

“Yes, dearest,” Darcy said with an embarrassed grin. “Perhaps you might pull the covers up, and I can close the bed curtains to provide the necessary privacy.”

“And it might be advisable to collect some of the clothing that went goodness knows where in the night time,” she suggested helpfully. “I believe that I should have asked my Aunt Gardiner many more questions before last night,” she continued thoughtfully as Darcy swung out of bed.

“Your Aunt Gardiner has already become one of the most sensible women of my acquaintance,” Darcy said cheerfully as he gathered up the various clothing items and threw them onto the bed before he went to his dressing room to retrieve a long robe. “You should talk to her often,” he said over his shoulder.

Elizabeth watched his bare body move across the room, interested and intrigued by the way the muscles in his legs and buttocks moved beneath his skin.
So different from my own body
, she thought with interest.
This has been a most memorable day and night
—
so many new things that I had never before imagined.
She sighed as she thought what her mother’s honeymoon must have been like to have caused her to give the advice that she had given; she was swept by a feeling of sorrow and loss to know that her mother had never experienced the warmth and delights that had marked her own wedding night.

Poor Mama,
she thought for the thousandth time.

* * * * *

Elizabeth lay back in the bed with a sigh. “That was delicious,” she said, as Darcy continued working on his own plate beside her. “Did you ever find out the time?”

“It was past one when I first got out of bed,” Darcy said as he cut another large bite of ham. “It must be past two now.”

“Much of the day is already gone, then,” Elizabeth said thoughtfully. “Whatever can we do for the rest of it?”

Though she had put on her nightgown and tied her dressing gown around her, she saw the familiar expression come into Darcy’s eyes as he looked at her.

“Besides that, sir,” she said gaily, patting him on the arm. “Perhaps we might at least manage a trip down your stairs before returning to your bed.”

Darcy reached over and clasped her small hand, raising her fingers to his lips to kiss them gently. “I am the most fortunate of men.”

Elizabeth felt her cheeks colour slightly as she struggled to contain the embarrassment at receiving such a heartfelt compliment as she remembered all her mistakes during their acquaintance, mistakes due to her own pride and misjudgements.

“I do not deserve to be put on that lofty a pedestal,” she said uncomfortably. “I have many defects to rectify, and I will be content if I can simply be a good wife to the most honourable man I know.”

After some thought, he decided that he could no longer avoid the subject that still concerned him. “Elizabeth,” he said carefully, “you must know how wonderful the past day has been. You have fulfilled and surpassed every desire and expectation that I ever could have entertained as my wife. But there is still . . . that is, I could not help but wonder . . . well, I was thinking . . .”

Elizabeth smiled and laid her hand along the stark curve of his jaw, feeling the stubble of his beard.

“You are wondering how I could behave so wantonly when I cannot say I love you as you love me.”

“I did not mean . . .”

She laid her fingers again over his mouth. “William, you do not need to worry about my feelings. I
did
behave wantonly, and I would do so again and again to please my husband, for you deserve no less. I said that you are the most honourable man I know, and I know how much you would like to hear me say the words, ‘I love you,’ but I am quite confused as I wonder whether I really know what it is to love a man. Remember that less than two weeks ago I was totally ignorant of your regard for me. Already, my feelings for you have changed dramatically, and they are still changing. Is it love? I am too confused to answer; it is too soon. But this I know. In future years, I do not want our memories of this special time to be tainted because I withheld my affections in any way as a result of the rapidity of our courtship.” She paused as the most delightful smile appeared on her face. “You do understand, William, that Richard will rise to new heights when he tells
our
courtship story to our children? Your comment about my being ‘only tolerable’ will be nothing compared to what your cousin will tell them!”

Darcy groaned as he considered it. “It was bad enough when he only had the story of my mother and father to tell. He will be simply insufferable now.”

“Perhaps.” Elizabeth smiled. “But one day the good colonel will provide some amusement for the rest of the family himself.”

“Richard?” Darcy laughed. “Marry? Never! He will be a bachelor forever!”

“Perhaps,” Elizabeth said with a slight smile.

Darcy looked at her quizzically, but she only looked back at him with a smile that hinted of secrecy. Dismissing the thought, he pulled Elizabeth more firmly to him. “Thank you, dearest. You have made me happier than I had any right to dream.”

“For what,” Elizabeth teased. “For being a dutiful wife?”

Darcy pulled her to him in sudden emotion, his throat choking and an unfamiliar burning in his eyes. “I do not deserve you, dearest, loveliest Elizabeth,” he said huskily, and Elizabeth could not doubt the earnestness of the compliment, even though she was still uncomfortable at being described in such flattering terms. Not being able to put her discomposure into words, she reverted to a wife’s most effective options in such a situation as she turned toward him and raised her lips to his own. Naturally, such a display of affection led to the inevitable consequence, and shortly afterward Elizabeth’s gay laughter sounded from behind the bed curtains.

“It is just as my aunt said!” she chortled, as her nightgown again sailed out through the gap in the bed curtains.

* * * * *

Friday, May 1, 1812

The remainder of the week passed in a similar fashion for the newly wedded couple. They rose when they pleased, ate when they were hungry, irrespective of the time, and made love when the urge struck them. Darcy ventured to the library and brought up several books in which Elizabeth had expressed an interest. Often, he would read to her while she nestled comfortably against him, her head on his shoulder, but much of their time, they simply talked, lying in his bed under the covers. They did go downstairs for supper on Wednesday evening but otherwise took all their meals in their rooms. The household staff had few duties other than to provide meals for the couple, and thus they were well aware that their master and mistress were enjoying a most successful honeymoon. All concerned were certain that this boded well for the future happiness of the family though Mrs. Taylor was forced to quell a considerable degree of good-natured speculation as to how soon a Darcy heir might be expected. To be sure, her attempts in that matter would have been more effective if she had been better able to suppress her own smile, for she was well pleased at the way her master and mistress got on together on the rare occasions during the week when she had seen them.

Georgiana returned to Darcy House late in the afternoon on Friday along with her Aunt and Uncle Matlock, accompanied by Colonel Fitzwilliam. She had quite enjoyed her visit, having entertained Jane several times, as well as accompanying her friend on several shopping expeditions and to the theatre for a performance of Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” along with Mr. Bingley and the colonel. She was not as fond of the Bard’s histories as she was his comedies, but it was still a pleasant diversion. It was made more pleasant by Colonel Fitzwilliam’s whispered asides during the play that had kept all three of them in a constant struggle to contain their laughter. She particularly remembered one comment as Mark Antony alluded to Caesar’s many victories when Richard had muttered to her, “Now I
know
old Will was making this stuff up. Could anything be more unlikely than an Italian general who not only
fought
a battle but
won
it? And more than once?”

Elizabeth and Darcy were just coming down the stairs as the family party entered the house. Georgiana was immediately struck by the changed aspect of her brother. She had known and been comfortable with his solemnity and seriousness for so long that she was quite taken aback by his cheerful expression and warm smile as he greeted them with Elizabeth on his arm. He was clearly filled with good cheer, and the look of pride as he showed off his new bride was a large part of his changed aspect.

As greetings were exchanged, Georgiana could see that her aunt and uncle were as amazed as she was. Richard, however, had a grin as large as Darcy’s, and the light of mischief danced in his eyes. He was not, however, the first to comment on Darcy’s demeanour. This was a Darcy whom none of his family had ever before seen, and Lord Matlock was even quicker than his son to weigh in on the subject.

“Marriage
does
seem to agree with you, Darcy,” he said as they shook hands. “As well as looking like you have been sampling a new delivery of port to excess. You look incredibly self-satisfied, almost smug.”

“I believe the word ‘besotted’ would be appropriate,” offered Colonel Fitzwilliam, clasping hands with his cousin in turn.

“Like a cat that swallowed the canary,” added Lady Matlock, as she embraced Elizabeth and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Darcy’s smile only grew bigger if that were indeed possible. “You seem to have worked wonders on our nephew, dear,” she told Elizabeth as Georgiana embraced her new sister. Then, taking Elizabeth’s arm, she started down the hall. “We have decided to invite ourselves for supper, Darcy,” she said over her shoulder as the others followed her toward the parlour. “We sent a note over earlier to enquire about it, but Mrs. Taylor replied that the master was ‘indisposed’ and was not to be disturbed.” Darcy suddenly broke into a fit of coughing as he tried to choke back his laughter.

Colonel Fitzwilliam solicitously pounded his cousin on the back, inquiring blandly, “Did the canary go down the wrong branch, Cousin?”

“Have no fear, Mrs. Darcy,” Colonel Fitzwilliam turned his attention to Elizabeth. “Tweaking my favourite cousin is a sport that is always in season, and this time Darcy has provided a wealth of material for years to come!”

“Richard!” Georgiana chided. “Have some sympathy for William, for someday he will have the chance to turn the tables on you!”

“Darcy?” Fitzwilliam laughed. “It could never happen, Georgie! All the impulsiveness lies on the Darcy side of the family. We Fitzwilliams are models of boring and staid behaviour. No material for him there!”

Georgiana made no reply, but Elizabeth noticed the look she gave her buoyant cousin and filed it away in her memory for later consideration.

“My dear niece, have you heard the story of how Darcy’s father courted my sister?” asked Lord Matlock jovially. “It has become almost an epic tale in the family.”

Elizabeth dimpled over her shoulder. “I did hear a version of it earlier from William, but if you think that you might be able to add more detail, I feel certain that I would be fascinated!”

Chapter 25

Saturday, May 2, 1812

Elizabeth was sitting with Darcy in his study the next morning, reviewing the multitude of cards that had been left by callers during the past week while her husband attended to his neglected correspondence. When the sound of the door knocker was heard, he looked up in mild irritation and pulled out his watch.

“It is too early for callers,” he told Elizabeth, but in less than a minute, Stevens tapped on the door to his study and announced his aunt. Lady Matlock smiled at the confusion on Darcy’s face as he and Elizabeth rose to greet her.

“I suspect that today will see any number of the curious come to call,” she said, eyes sparkling with humour, “and I wanted to be the first.”

“I believe you are correct, Lady Matlock.” Elizabeth gestured to the silver tray mounded with cards on Darcy’s desk. “If all of these friends and acquaintances of William come to call today, I am afraid we will be overwhelmed.”

“Not all will call today,” said Lady Matlock, speaking with the voice of experience. “But there will still be an impressive number. Are all of these people known to you, Darcy?”

“I have met most but not all,” he growled, “and several of those whom I
do
know are persons I would much prefer to avoid.”

“That is the way it is,” Lady Matlock told him. “Ours is a prominent family, and there are many who wish to be acquainted with you and your new wife. There are also,” she continued, her expression changing to one of distaste, “others who desire to see whether certain rumours can be stirred into something more entertaining. It is for this reason that you find me on your doorstep at such an early hour.”