Page 70 of Until My Last Breath

Jane got out of bed and went to check if her sister needed anything, but Elizabeth was still sleeping — a talking, sleeping girl. Nothing new there. It usually happened when Elizabeth was anxious, too sad, or too happy. In any case, it was not worth waking her up.

Giving up going back to sleep, Jane found herself heading towards the library. Perhaps a book would help pass the time.

As she entered the room, she was surprised to find the fireplace stillburning and the place warm and cosy. She looked around but did not see anyone. Closer to the fire, the large armchair had been turned from its usual position. She looked beneath it and saw a pair of male bare feet on the carpet.

She blushed and turned to leave the room, but a familiar noise caught her attention. Her heart beat faster. Moved by a sweet curiosity, Jane quietly approached the front of the chair, careful not to wake its occupant.

Colonel Fitzwilliam, in all his glorious being, was peacefully sleeping on it.

She knew she should not, but she could not help but observe his handsome features. As Jane looked at his hand, she saw he was holding something, and smiled. It was the cross she had given him before he left.

“Oh, Colonel,” she whispered.

She turned to leave, but as she walked away the wooden floor creaked beneath her and Richard woke up.

“Anybody there?” came his sleepy question.

She froze on the spot, embarrassed for having been caught in the library with him at such a time. She heard him standing up and stopping behind her. But she could not turn; she was too mortified to look at him. How was she going to explain her presence there?

“Miss Bennet,” Richard called gently.

Slowly, Jane turned and raised her gaze to him, just to find a lovely smile on his face.

The sight took her breath away. “I… I…” But when those two vowels finally left her mouth, she could not stop anymore. “I… was having trouble sleeping because Elizabeth is having dreams. And when she dreams, she talks, and I cannot sleep. How could I possibly think about waking her up? My poor sister has been through so much. She is sleeping… but I… I could not.”

Richard had now a large, open grin on his face. “Do not worry, Miss Bennet. I know exactly what you mean. I should not say it, but Darcy suffers from the same problem. Well, it is a problem for us who stay awake anyway,” he said chuckling.

Richard’s expression became serious as he lowered his eyes and noticed that Jane was in her nightclothes. He was an honourable man, but a man, nonetheless. He could not trust himself to stay with her under such dangerous circumstances.

Raising his eyes, he found her gaze — her flushed, beautiful and enticing gaze — on him. He knew that what he had been nurturing for Miss Bennet was more than physical attraction. It was love. And, like mist in the sunlight, all the previous doubts he had that night — doubts that had prevented him from sleeping, of his suitability, her feelings and acceptance, a future together — simply vanished.

He smiled again, and as if it had an independent will, he found his hand gently caressing her cheek. Jane closed her eyes at his touch. Reluctantly, he lowered his hand before his hungry lips could follow it. “Would you give me a moment of your time tomorrow morning? There is something I would like to ask you.”

Jane’s green eyes widened, her surprised face slowly melting adoringly. “I will look forward to it, Colonel. Good night.”

~ ♥ ~

Early the following morning, Richard reached for two objects in his chest of drawers. He put both of them in his coat pocket and went downstairs. He was delighted to notice the breakfast room was empty, hoping that Miss Bennet would join him there at any moment.

Serving himself a cup of coffee, he closed his eyes, savouring the fragrant beverage with such pleasure that he did not notice when Jane finally entered the room.

Seeing the dreaming expression on the Colonel’s face, so content with such a simple thing as a cup of hot coffee, made her smile.

He opened his eyes and saw her. The smile on his face made her heart beat faster. And she felt lightheaded remembering his request.

He invited her to sit beside him, serving her a plate.

As they ate, they exchanged smiling glances which conveyed more than mere words.

Darcy entered the room and felt like intruding something. He was about to excuse himself and leave when Elizabeth also arrived.

“Morning Jane,” Elizabeth said slowly after greeting the Colonel and had her hand kissed by Darcy.

The two sisters glanced at each other with mischief in their eyes, pursing their lips. The memory of their mutual confession in the intimacy of their bedroom last night was still too fresh for them to ignore. Elizabeth had awoken when Jane returned to their bedroom after her impromptu meeting with the colonel in the library, and they had spent the next couple of hours opening their hearts.

Seeing that Miss Bennet had already finished eating, and not being able to endure any more delays, Richard invited her for a walk in the gardens, which she gladly accepted. They excused themselves and left the room.

Darcy and Elizabeth exchanged glances and smiles.

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