The Ashes of Longbourn (31 page)

              “Enter.” Elizabeth called out, smiling as Betsy quickly made her exit.  Darcy walked up behind his wife, wrapping his arms around her from behind.  He liked when she sat on the bench in front of the vanity, it allowed him free access to her back and neck.  He began to place feather light kisses along the side of her face, trailing them down to her jaw, and further down her neck. 

             
“You are delicious, my love.” He exclaimed.  “Shall I carry you to bed?”

             
“Would you be kind enough to place me in the chair and move me into our bedchamber?”

             
Disappointment was clearly written on Darcy’s face.  But Elizabeth knew that it would be short lived.  Once they were inside the bedchamber. Elizabeth asked her husband to sit down on the side of the bed.  This caused Darcy confusion.

             
“I have a Christmas gift for you that I worked hard to make.  I want you to remain still; do not move from the bed until I tell you.”

             
“If that is your wish, I will do as you ask.” Darcy said, one eyebrow arched as he was attempting to figure out what she was up to.

             
Elizabeth took the coverlet from her lap and let it drop to the floor beside the chair.   The look on her husband’s face told her of his finding her night gown to be very tantalizing.  Smiling, Elizabeth attempted to contain a giggle.

             
Slowly, carefully, she moved her right foot, sliding it from the foot rest of the chair. She could hear her husband’s quick intake of breath.  Elizabeth then moved her left foot, placing it on the floor beside the right one.  Holding tightly to the arm rests of the chair, Elizabeth pushed herself upwards, until she was finally able to stand straight up.  Only then, did she look at her husband.

             
Tears had over flowed from his eyes and were streaming down his cheeks, dripping to his lap. The desire to take her in his arms was overwhelming, though he kept his promise to remain where he was until she told him otherwise.  Elizabeth bit her lower lip lightly as she gazed at Darcy, praying that he would not be disappointed with her gift.

             
Finally, after what seemed to be a lifetime, Elizabeth nodded her head towards her husband.  “What do you think?” She asked.

             
“My dearest love, I find that I am unable to find the words I need to express how proud I am of you and how very much I love you.  May I please hold you?”

             
“Yes, William. I cannot wait to be in your arms.”

             
He needed no further encouragement. Darcy swept her in his embrace, twirling around in circles around the room.  “Oh, Lizzy, my dearest, how long have you been able to do this? How did you keep this secret from me?”

             
“Mrs Bogs has been working hard with me. We have been putting in extra work, while you have been taking care of work in the library.  One day, I felt the tingling.  I kept it secret until you had left the room.  Mrs Bogs said that it was a wonderful sign and we wished to strengthen the muscles.  I knew it would be a wonderful Christmas gift for you.”

             
“This is indeed the most wonderful Christmas I have ever known. I have you, here, in my arms. You are my wife, and now you are recovering the use of your legs. Oh, Lizzy, Lizzy, Lizzy.  This is a miracle.”

             
“The miracle is that, after everything that has happened, we were given a chance to put our life together.  The heavens have been watching over us, protecting us, allowing us to begin anew and build a life together.  And I cannot imagine life being better than it is at this very moment.”

             
“I look forward to each and every moment of the rest of our lives.  My Lizzy, oh, my love, you are an amazing woman.”

             
The rest of the night was celebrated as the couple made passionate love, several times, as Darcy explored the sensations that his wife could now experience.  Though cautious, Darcy fully delighted himself with his wife’s body.

             
                            ~~~~~~~ ** ~~~~~~~

Chapter 24

             
Christmas morning found the family waking to a white skim of snow on the ground.  Elizabeth wished there had been more, as she would have loved to be able to have a snowball fight with her husband.  When she told him, Darcy laughed. “Have no fear, Lizzy, once we are at Pemberley, you will most likely wish for less snow, after weeks of being snowed in.”

             
“But I would be snowed in with you.  That would make me love it.”

             
“Shall we join the others, to inform them of the gift you gave me?” Darcy said as he lay beside his wife, twirling a chocolate curl around his fingers.

             
“I know we should, I just wish we could remain here, just the two of us, for a month.  Feeling your arms around me brings so much comfort; the rest of the world does not matter.”

             
“If that is what you desire, that is what we will do.  Perhaps it is time that we made our way to Pemberley. Georgiana could stay in Town at Matlock House, our aunt will be thrilled to have a chance to take her shopping and to the museum.  We could be alone at our home for as long as you wish.”

             
“I think that it would be wonderful, though could we wait until after the New Year? It will be difficult leaving here, after all that has happened.”

             
“We are flexible to do as we please, dearest.  Take what time you need, I am not needed by a specific date, though I would like to see to the planting season.  I believe it is one of the most beautiful wonderful times of the year to see Pemberley, as it comes back to life after the cold, harsh winter.”

             
Elizabeth looked into the eyes of the man she loved above all others.  This was her husband, and it was time to think of his needs and concerns.  He had been away from his home for a long time, due to her. It was time for her to do what she could for him.  That meant, it was time for her to move to her home.  For a moment, the thought of never seeing Jane again, that the last of her family might die nearly caused her to panic.  She took several deep breaths to calm herself.

             
“Lizzy, we do not have to decide this moment.  We can take our time in deciding when to move.”

             
“No, William, it is time.  Forgive me, I am being silly.  After losing Papa, Mamma, and our sisters, the thought of never seeing Jane again frightens me.  But I know that she will be fine, that I will see her again.  I believe that it would be appropriate for us to move, perhaps in a fortnight or so.”

             
“Very well, though I believe that we should learn Richard’s and Charlotte’s plans for a wedding.  I know you will wish to be here for that.  If I know my cousin, he will wish for a very short engagement.”

             
“I am so pleased for them.  Papa would have approved, I am certain.  I wonder what Papa would have done had he lived, how he would have handled Mr Storm.  From what we know, he had learned the truth just before the fire.  That is the reason Wickham killed him.”

             
“Your father would most likely have had him arrested, though he may have consulted with Sir William first.  I doubt very much that he would have wished harm to come to the Lucas family.”

             
“That is true, as Sir William was one of Papa’s dearest friends.  William, there is something I wish to do before we go to our home.”

             
“What is that, my love?” Darcy looked at his wife carefully, praying that she was not slipping back into melancholy.

             
“I wish to gather some ashes from the rubble that remains of Longbourn.  I would like to take them with us to Pemberley.”

             
Confusion took hold of Darcy.  “Whatever for?”

             
“It may seem silly, but it would be a way to always feel close to my family.  One day, many years from now, after we have been married for one hundred years; when I die, I would like the ashes scattered over my casket.  So that I have some of my childhood home with me, when I am laid to rest in the ground of Pemberley.”

             
Darcy watched his wife carefully.  “I will allow it on one condition.  You must keep your promise that we will be married for one hundred years.  One day less and I send the ashes straight to Longbourn and you will suffer eternity without the knowledge they were with you.” He kissed the tip of her nose teasingly.

             
Elizabeth smiled.  “I will do everything in my power to keep that promise, though I do not think that it will be long enough.  We should make it an eternity.”

             
Kissing Elizabeth’s lips, Darcy agreed with her decision.  He deepened the kiss, delighting in the taste of his wife.  Finally, breathlessly, they broke apart.  “Well, my love, if we do not dress immediately, we will not see any of the rest of our family until tomorrow, for I will keep you my prisoner all day.”

             
“Would you ask Betsy to come and assist me?” Elizabeth asked.

             
“I will carry you to your dressing chamber, if you would like.  Or I can assist you in walking.”

             
“Very well, I would like to walk a little.  Betsy has two canes for me to use as well.”

             
“So long as I am nearby, there is no need for canes.  But we will take them downstairs with us.  Do you wish to surprise everyone with the news, rising from the chair like you did last night, or would you wish to forget the wheeled chair?”

             
“I believe that if I were to walk into the breakfast room on my own two feet, it will be a big enough surprise.  What do you think of my plan?”

             
A smile grew across Darcy’s lips.  “I believe they will all forget breakfast.”

             
                                          ~~ ** ~~

             
Mrs Gardiner had been nervously awaiting Elizabeth and Darcy’s arrival at breakfast.  She knew that Elizabeth had planned to surprise her husband Christmas Eve, and she was anxious to not have to keep the secret any longer.  Most of all, Helen Gardiner wished to see the look on Darcy’s face after learning of his wife’s recovery.  She was not forced to wait long, as she had just sat her plate on the table when the voices of Darcy and Elizabeth were heard approaching.

             
Darcy carried Elizabeth down from their rooms, setting her on her feet just outside the door to the breakfast room. The couple entered the door of the breakfast room to a moment of silence.  Just as sudden as the room had become silent, sounds of delight and of silverware and dishes being dropped followed.  Everyone in the room was thrilled, seeing Elizabeth standing, with her husband supporting her.  His arm wrapped around her and pulled her close to his body, giving her the support she needed. 

             
Jane was the first to reach her sister.  “Lizzy, when did this happen? Why did you not tell me?”

             
“I knew that you would be too excited to keep my secret, so I decided to surprise you as well.  It was my Christmas gift to my husband, being able to walk a few steps to him last night.”

             
Mr Gardiner placed a kiss on his niece’s cheek.  “It has been nearly impossible for your aunt to keep the secret, and it was even difficult for me, after she told me.”

             
“I am so pleased that you were both here for this moment, Uncle.  You helped to restore my health when you accidently crossed paths with William, when you were in Ireland.  If it had not been for his return, and his love, I am sure that I would have died long before now.”

             
“I will be forever grateful that we were able to play even the small role that we did in reuniting the two of you.  I do not know if I could have survived losing you as well as the rest of the family.” Mr Gardiner said as tears filled his eyes.  “And now look at you, a married lady and able to use your legs again.  Miracles have happened here at Netherfield.”

             
“Here, here, and I pray that we have plenty more in the future.” Bingley said as he stepped to his sister.  “Lizzy, it does my heart good to see you so.  This is truly a day to celebrate.”

             
Georgiana and Mrs Gardiner each took their turn in embracing Elizabeth, before allowing Richard a chance.  “Elizabeth, may I tell you from myself and my betrothed, how wonderful it is to see you recovering so well.  This is indeed a sight for sore eyes.  Charlotte will be thrilled as well.”

             
“Now I will be able to walk in the church for your wedding.” Elizabeth said.  “If you all do not mind, I would like very much to sit down.”

             
“Of course, Lizzy.” Darcy stated as he guided her to her seat.  “Let me get a plate for you.”  It did not take long before her husband was next to her with a plate of food.  “You will need more energy now that you are able to move more.  So I expect you to eat all of the food I have brought you.”