Page 93 of Compromise & Consequence
“I do. I have a wedding to attend and must show up wearing a proper dress.”
“Elizabeth, you could show up in sackcloth and ashes and I would find you utterly desirable.”
She melted. She absolutely melted. Any morning frost that dared cling to the foundation of Longbourn would have melted away from the heat generated in his gaze. Oh, how she wished they could stay in bed all day, but this was not Darcy House, it was Longbourn and they were not here for carnal pleasure but for Charlotte’s wedding.
“Turn around please, Mr. Darcy,” she said in a brisk voice.
“Are we back to Mr. Darcy again?”
If she didn’t know better, she was sure he was behaving like achild who had their favorite toy taken from them.
“We are until I am dressed.”
“Then,” he stood and her eyes widened when he let his robe fall to the floor, “I shall have to keep you undressed all day.”
He slid back into bed and proceeded gently – because she was a little tender – to show her how much he loved her. It was only when Danvers knocked and called through the closed door her bathwater was ready, that they both reluctantly removed themselves from the bed.
All too soon, she was waving goodbye with the rest of the guests as Charlotte and Mr. Collins left immediately from the steps of Meryton’s church. Even though the bride and groom had to leave to make good time, Sir William and Lady Lucas invited everyone to return to Lucas Lodge for the wedding breakfast.
No one, other than Uncle Thomas, herself, Mr. Darcy, and Richard knew they had given Mr. Collins a pouch full of money and advised him to take a month-long wedding trip to the Lake District and cautioned him to stop by Darcy House before he returned to Kent. They did not want him accidentally disclosing anything to their aunt about how well-protected Elizabeth was. Mr. Collins, to his credit, kept his thanks to a minimum and said repeatedly he had such a high regard for his cousin Elizabeth, that he would do anything to protect her reputation as well as her physical being.
Her husband came alongside and stood near as friends and neighbors came to congratulate her on her marriage and give them both good wishes for a happy life.
“Thank you, Mrs. Goulding,” Darcy said, surprising Elizabeth with the fact he had remembered the lady’s name. “Elizabeth and I are very glad to be here for her good friend’s wedding.”
And later on, at Lucas Lodge, she heard him say to Sir William, “You are correct. I am a lucky man indeed to have captured the jewel of Hertfordshire, although I believe I have the better end of that deal. She must live with me.”
The hearty laugh of Sir William was heard by everyone and she continued to be amazed at how light and friendly her husband was. If he had behaved in this manner when he first arrived in Meryton, she would have fallen in love with him back in October. She stopped with a cup of tea halfway to her mouth.
She loved him.
Astonished by this personal epiphany, she dared glance in the direction of her husband and at that same moment he looked at her. Their eyes locked and she wondered if her discovery was lit upon her face because a slight frown creased his forehead before it smoothed and his face was wreathed in a smile so wide, that both dimples appeared on his cheeks.
Mercy. How had she never realized how handsome he truly was? Afraid she would spill her tea; she placed her teacup and saucer on the table and pressed suddenly clammy hands against the sides of her dress.
“Elizabeth, are you well?”
She looked up to find that her husband had crossed the room and now stood by her side, his achingly handsome face showing concern.
“Yes, I am, thank you.”
“You went so pale; I worried you were thinking about our trip home tomorrow.”
“It has been much on my mind,” she said, thankful to grasp any line of conversation that would not entail her blurting out her discovery. It was too new. Too raw for words. “I meant to ask earlier, but we had much on our mind,” – here she blushedbecause her husband gave her a provocative look – “how is it that your cousin was here so early in the morning? I thought he had gone to London.”
“Firstly, we did not rise early from our bed, as you well know, and secondly, Richard left London before dawn. He reasoned he should be here for the wedding in case Lady Catherine has someone in town who reports the coming and going of guests and such. It is known he came with us and if he suddenly disappeared, she would know the game was afoot.”
“I cannot think of who would write your aunt.”
“No? Do you not think Sir William, in all of his jovial goodness, would not send a note thanking her for giving his new son time off to marry and in the process tell her of their more illustrious guests? He would not do it out of spite, but out of happiness and a little bit of pride.”
“That is true. He would never knowingly hurt a soul.”
“Besides, Richard cannot bear to be parted from your cousin for longer than a day.”
“That is also true. His regard is returned ten-fold, I assure you.”
“I could not ask for Richard to find happiness with a more deserving woman.”
