The Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy (41 page)

***

“Well, Lizzy, you have outlived all my expectations for you,” Mrs.
Bennet
said lightly as she sat with Jane, Bingley, Mr.
Bennet
, and Elizabeth in the cathedral for Georgiana’s wedding. Mrs.
Bennet
looked striking in her large brim organza hat and blue dress. Jane was in green, with a pillbox perched atop her head. Elizabeth was in yellow with a feathered fascinator in her upswept hair. Darcy had helped them out of the car and to their seats then disappeared.

“Really?” Elizabeth laughed. “I must say I’ve outlived my own expectations,” she agreed.

“Will is a very fine man. He certainly comes from a good family. Such a pity about his parents, I would
have
liked to have met them,” Mrs.
Bennet
said slightly wistfully. Elizabeth said nothing but squeezed her mother’s hand and studied the wedding program.

Georgiana’s wedding was a sumptuous affair. Her cathedral-length train trailed elegantly behind her and she looked as composed as royalty. Her six flower girls were charming, as were the little boys dressed in knickers. Her bridesmaids were elegant girls; Elizabeth knew none of them. Darcy gave her away again, this time with much more dignified composure. He seemed, in fact, almost relaxed.

Georgiana had prevailed upon Fletcher not to cut off all his hair and instead he had trimmed it and wore it in a discreet ponytail tucked into his collar. Elizabeth was glad to see that Georgiana would not have to wait for him to grow it back out.

After the ceremony, they returned to the Ritz for the reception. Kitty, Lydia, and Mary, who had by now been joined by Lou and Denny, snuck down and crashed the reception
,
well, not exactly; they called Elizabeth at the door and
she sent Darcy to let them in.

Mrs.
Bennet
was delighted that Elizabeth’s relationship with Darcy was throwing her younger girls into the paths of other rich men. But she was well content with the matches that Jane and Elizabeth had made. She was on her best behavior and did Elizabeth proud.

Elizabeth and Darcy tiredly drove back to Pemberley with Mr. and Mrs.
Bennet
and they retired almost immediately. Elizabeth was soundly asleep when Darcy entered her room and lay on the bed beside her. He put his arm around her and sniffed her hair. She did not wake but turned into his chest and put her arm around him. He was gone in the morning.

***

“Are you going to live here?” Lou asked as he lay on Elizabeth’s bed.

She shook her head. Elizabeth knew that Darcy’s connection to Pemberley was deep and while he was content in California, Pemberley would always be his true home. He had seemed morose lately and finally he had confessed that he felt as if he were abandoning his heritage by committing to live in California. Elizabeth had suggested that they spend every summer at Pemberley, to which he had agreed happily. She had a notion that once they had school-aged children, they could move to Pemberley permanently. It would pain her to leave her family, but she would cross that bridge when she came to it. Until then, they were to stay in Meryton.

Lou gave her a sly grin.

“So you’re getting married tomorrow. Has your mama told you what to expect on your wedding night?” he asked.

Elizabeth laughed and shook her head. “Young ladies are not supposed to know such things. Could you tell me, Auntie Lou?”

“Well, it is your duty as a wife, but it will be a terrible experience. He will take out his lollydoodle and insult you with it. You must just close your eyes and lie still, it will be over soon.” Lou demonstrated by flopping onto his back beside her, stiff as a board, eyes closed, fists clenched and jaw set in grim determination. “Just remember, if you are lucky, you will bear him ten sons within the first two years. Then you won’t ever have to do it again.” He opened one eye and looked at her.

“That’s exactly what I did the first time I ever did it!” she laughed, reminding him that he had been her first.

“Hey!” he exclaimed indignantly.

Elizabeth laughed and lay down beside him. “I wish you could have been my bridesmaid,” she said.

“Don’t be ridiculous, you know I look dreadful in green,” he replied, propping his head up with her pillows.

She slipped an arm around his waist. They lay together in silence for a few moments.

“Promise me this will never change,” she said quietly.

“I rather think Darcy would object to my sleeping over,” he laughed quietly, wrapping a lock of her hair around his forefinger.

“You know what I mean,” she said, pinching him gently.

Lou was silent for a moment. Then he said,
“I can’t promise that it won’t ever change, Lizzy. People grow and change, and take different paths in life. We have always been best friends but now Darcy is your best friend and that’s the way it
should
be. But I can promise you that I’ll always be there for you and I’ll always love you. And that’s the way it should be, too.”

She laid her head on Lou’s chest and listened to his steady heartbeat. He had been her rock for fifteen years; had he not been gay
,
and had she not met Darcy, they would likely have married. Her parents loved Lou and he fought with her sisters as often as she did. He was a brother to her, the brother her parents had never given her.

But this chapter was ending; another would begin tomorrow. She could not imagine any ending to the story that did not include growing old with Darcy.

“Of all this you’re going to be mistress,” Lou said pensively. “You’ll have a lot of money, great cars, fabulous clothes
...”
he trailed off.

“You don’t really think any of that matters to me, do you?” she said.

“No. But I couldn’t have parted with you for anyone less worthy,” he said quietly.

***

On the morning of their wedding, Elizabeth
Bennet
was not a wreck. She was not nervous. She ate a hearty breakfast and did not feel queasy. In fact, so content was she that she felt as if she were fulfilling her destiny.

Jane buttoned her into her Monique Lhuillier Chantilly lace halter sheath. She shrugged into the dress coat that was to be worn within the chapel and fitted the floor-length veil on her head. She held a bouquet of wildflowers casually in her hand.

“Oh, Elizabeth, you look so lovely,” Jane breathed. Elizabeth smiled in the mirror at Jane. “How can you be so relaxed?”

“What could possibly go wrong? All that matters is that we’re married at the end of it all,” Elizabeth laughed. Jane laughed and Mrs.
Bennet
entered.

“Will has already gone to the chapel, so it’s safe to come out,” she said. She stopped short when she saw Elizabeth and smiled.

“Oh, Lizzy,” was all she said. She dabbed a corner of her eye with a handkerchief. Elizabeth laughed.
Really, all this fuss is ridiculous
, she thought.
It’s just a dress
! But what a lovely dress it was.

She made her way to the chapel and shared a quiet moment with her father before they went in.

“My little Lizzy,” he said quietly. He blinked back tears and hugged her gingerly so as not to crush her dress. For the first time all day, she felt a little lump in her throat.

“Don’t you dare cry, your mother will kill me if you ruin your makeup,” Mr.
Bennet
said, wagging his finger at her. At that, she laughed.

Darcy stood patiently at the front of the church. She was late but he didn’t care. She would get there. He felt as if his entire life had been leading up to this one single event; he had never been so sure of anything before. He would be making it up as he went along for everything after, but this
-
this was
meant
to be.

Bingley shifted slightly uncomfortably next to him, then there was the signal. It began. Georgiana and Mrs.
Bennet
were escorted in. Jane served as the sole bridesmaid and Bingley as best man. Darcy saw the doors at the end of the aisle open and light filtered around the two figures in the doorway. They stepped in and the door closed and his heart stopped.

Never before had she been so lovely. It wasn’t the dress or the veil or her makeup. It was the happiness that showed on her face, that crackled from her fingertips.

She smiled at him and held his gaze until she met him.

He took her hand gently from her father’s.

“You’re late,” he whispered.

She smiled her mischievous smile and whispered,
“Get used to it.”

They turned their attention to the brief ceremony and recited their vows. They had not written their own vows, preferring the simple traditional words of the Anglican Church over anything else they could express more eloquently.

“With this Ring I thee wed, with my Body I thee worship, and with all my worldly Goods I thee endow; In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."

The ceremony was over quickly and they were proclaimed man and wife; he took her in his arms and kissed her ardently to the applause of the guests. They held hands as they left the chapel, stopping outside for another kiss.

They were ushered back to the main house by the coordinator but they had eyes only for each other. Once inside, they were to wait until she fetched them to be announced in the ballroom. At once Elizabeth put her arms around Darcy’s neck and kissed him for a third time.

“At last,” he sighed into her neck. He closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath, pressing his forehead to hers.

“I love you, Mrs. Darcy,” he whispered. She grinned and kissed him again. They parted and she shed her coat, hanging it in the closet. She took off her veil, revealing her hair loosely bound in jeweled strands, mimicking a Greek hairstyle. He fingered her hair gently so as not to disturb it but she didn’t care.

“Husband, I’d like another kiss,” she smiled quietly. He put his arms around her and obliged willingly. They were thus engaged when the coordinator returned for them. She heartlessly parted them and with cruel laughter demanded they tend to their guests. Holding hands tightly, they entered the ballroom to an eruption of camera flashes and cheers.

After their assaulted pupils had a moment to recover, they shared a kiss (more flashes) and then took their seats. Dinner was served and toasts were made. Elizabeth and Darcy ignored protocol and started mingling with their close friends and family immediately. Elizabeth was re-introduced to those cousins and aunts and uncles who she met briefly at Georgiana’s wedding.

Their fi
rst dance was to John Denver’s ‘Annie’s Song
,
’
which Darcy sang quietly to her w
hile they danced a simple waltz.

Elizabeth danced with her father, who seemed to have a perpetual tear in his eye. Darcy danced with Georgiana, Mrs. Reynolds, and Mrs.
Bennet
, to her delight. They cut the cake and fed each other morsels without doing anything embarrassing except that Darcy kissed away a bit of icing
,
which was not really embarrassing at all
,
from her mouth. She tossed Jane’s bouquet, preferring to keep her own. Darcy obliged the many requests and removed her garter in a rather chaste manner
,
except that his hand did give her knee a secret,
sensual touch as it drifted by
.

He held her hand, ran his thumb over her wedding band and twisted his own on his finger. He kissed her when the guests demanded it and again when they did not. At exactly nine o’clock, the coordinator advised them that they could retire if they wished; the party itself was not expected to end for several more hours, especially in light of the fact that many of the guests were actually staying in the house.

As soon as they were permitted by the coordinator, they took their leave. But rather than being allowed the dignified exit of a limousine, they were followed by many of the guests to the hallway and the other wing, where their bedroom was. The guests laughed and sent off noisemakers and made ribald jokes. Darcy laughed and when he reached the staircase, he swept Elizabeth up into his arms and carried her upstairs. The crowd followed, cheering and laughing.

Darcy opened the bedroom door and carried her in, kicking it closed behind him. He kissed her and set her on her feet. She returned his kisses and a moment later broke off. The laughter and cheers outside the door had not diminished.

“How long will they stay out there?” she asked.

“Until we give them something,” he replied. He pulled off his jacket and she loosened his tie. She opened the door, put her arm out and dropped the tie on the floor. That was met by a raft of cheers and hoots and she closed the door. He shook his head at her.

“That won’t do at all,” he smirked. He kissed her again and let his hands roam over her body, pulling the delicate fabric of her dress up to her hips. He knelt and rolled down one of her stockings, then shook it out. He opened the door and tossed it out to the anxious crowd. There was a burst of cheers and laughter and the crowd triumphantly carried their trophies back to the ballroom. He smiled at her.

“British tradition?” she asked, one eyebrow raised.

“I have no idea,” he answered, laughing. “It’s done in my family, though.”

He looked at her and felt his chest tighten. He remembered the first time he made love with her, in this very room. He felt that eagerness again, the anticipation of the beginning of something
wonderful
. With a little laugh, he caught her up in his arms and kissed her.

With some relish, she disposed of his waistcoat and shirt. Then she stepped away from him with a mischievous glint in her eye. She walked to the dresser and removed her earrings, watching him behind her in the mirror. He followed her with a small smile on his lips.

“Mrs. Darcy, are you teasing me?” he asked as he placed his hands on her shoulders. Their eyes met in the mirror and she laughed.

“I seem to recall that anticipation was part of the reward, Mr. Darcy,” she replied pertly.

“That assumes that one will at some point actually receive the reward,” he laughed softly into her neck. “Otherwise it’s quite frustrating.” She answered with her own soft laugh and let her cheek brush against his head. He let his hands slide down her arms and then put his arms around her waist.

“Rest assured, Mr. Darcy, you shall have your reward for all your efforts,” she murmured.

“Mrs. Darcy,” he whispered into her ear. He looked up and grinned at her in the mirror. “I quite like the sound of that,” he said. He assumed a serious look and said, “Mr. So-and-so, may I introduce you to my wife Elizabeth Darcy.”

“That sounds lovely,” she sighed contentedly, rubbing her cheek to his. He kissed her cheek and then let his lips linger in the hollow beneath her ear. She closed her eyes and savored the smell of him so close to her.
Moss. Leather
. They were strong, dependable, masculine smells that brought her both excitement and contentment.

He moved his fingertips from her hands up to her shoulders and brushed along the straps of her gown. He swept her hair aside and kissed one bare shoulder. He trailed lingering kisses from her shoulder to the curve of her neck and he smiled at the memory of the seductive power of those curls at the nape of her neck. Now and forever he could pay them the attention they deserved. He kissed her skin, letting his tongue slide lightly over the warm, smooth area of her neck.

With shaking fingers, he unzipped her dress. He watched her in the mirror as she let one strap fall from her shoulder, exposing the smooth flesh just below her collarbones. How he wanted to kiss the hollow there. His fingers slipped the other strap over her shoulder and, with just a slight push, the dress puddled about her feet. She stood before him wearing lacy white panties and just one stocking. He ran his fingers over her collarbones, pressed the warm skin with his palms and then cupped her breasts in his hands. He studied their form in the mirror, each round orb perfectly matched to his hands. He gently ran his palm under the curve beneath, then put his hands over her breasts, allowing her nipples to peek between his fingers.

Elizabeth watched as he undressed her, as he explored her skin with his lips and hands. She felt the prickly hair of his chest scratching lightly against her back and shoulders as his arms were around her. She smiled when he caught her breasts in his hands and leaned her head back into his neck.

She turned in his arms to face him, winding her arms around his neck and pulling his head down to meet her lips. They kissed tenderly at first but Darcy could not resist the temptation of opening his eyes and looking in the mirror. He saw his hands on her bare back, her pale skin contrasted against his tanned arms. His pulse quickened as he watched his fingers trace the curve of her bottom, his fingertips pressing into that soft flesh.

“Lizzy,” he whispered hoarsely, trembling with love, anticipation, and satisfaction all at once. She tucked her fingers into the waistband of his pants, unfastened them, and pushed them down. She sneaked her hands around his waist and let her fingers explore his firm rear. Each then removed the underpants of the other.

At last they stood naked (but for her one stocking) before each other for the first time as husband and wife. She picked up her bouquet and began to pull flowers from it and place them in her hair. He took over and released her hair from its loose binding. When he was satisfied, he took the remainder of the bouquet and pulled off petals, sprinkling them on the bed sheets.

Elizabeth began to remove her stocking when Darcy stopped her.

“No, leave it. It’s sexy,” he said, smiling. She returned his grin and pulled the stocking back in place.

They knelt on the bed facing each other. She held up her hands and he pressed his palms against hers, lacing their fingers together. He kissed her, parting her lips with his, plumbing her mouth with his tongue, an exploration which never lost its pleasure in repetition. He leaned over her, easing her backward. With a little laugh she caught herself on her hands and, looking behind her, scooted back. She pressed her back against the post of the 4-poster bed. She caught her lower lip between her teeth and lifted her arms, grasping the post over her head. Then she looked at him invitingly. Darcy leaned back and enjoyed the view of his wife stretched and displayed before him. Why had they never used the post before?

While she was displayed thus, he indulged in an exploration of her body. He suckled her breasts, kissed and nipped her thighs, explored her folds with his fingers and tongue, while she braced herself against the post. He returned to kiss her, putting his arms around her and the post. She settled herself on his lap and, with great enjoyment, he pushed himself into her.

“My god, Lizzy, you’re so beautiful,” he half-laughed, half murmured in her ear as he pushed into her, pulling against the post as he did. They moved in synchronized rhythm for a few moments, before he pulled away from her. While the post was intriguing, their upright position was not allowing him the closeness he wanted. He wrapped his arms around her and fell backwards, pulling her on top of him with a laugh. When he looked up at her, his laughter was cut short by his complete loss of breath.