Alone with Mr. Darcy: A Pride & Prejudice Variation (23 page)

“But what could be their purpose?”

“It makes no sense. The only reason a man
and a woman are forced to be alone together is to compromise the lady, but
Richard is well aware I intend to marry you, so that would be pointless.”

“Charlotte thought as I did, that you
would be forced to marry Miss de Bourgh. Perhaps it was her idea.”

“No, I am certain Richard is involved
somehow. First he insisted we had to make this trip now, despite being in
mourning, and then, after consulting a book of tide charts, he said we had to
leave earlier than planned.” Perhaps Richard knew how badly he wished to be
alone with Elizabeth, but surely there would be easier – and warmer -
ways to accomplish that. But at least they were alone, and he intended to make
the most of it. There might not be another opportunity for this much time alone
again before their wedding. He held out his hand to her. “Come with me.”

Darcy led Elizabeth back to the small cave
in the cliff. Her face felt warmer now that she was out of the wind, but it was
still chilly, so she was surprised to see Darcy removing his greatcoat. It made
her smile, though, remembering how he had wrapped it around her during the
blizzard. “Will you not be cold?”

He turned a devastating smile on her. “Not
with you keeping me warm.” He perched on a narrow ledge of chalk toward the
back of the hollow, then held his hands out to her.

She ought to have refused, or at least to
have hesitated, but she did neither. The brief time he had held her above the
waves had only made her long even more to be in his arms. After all, they were
to be married, were they not? She took his hands and let him draw her onto his
lap.

He spread his greatcoat across both of
them, just as he had in the cottage. She breathed in deeply, the remembered
scent of spice and musk surrounding her once more. With a deep sigh, she leaned
against his chest.

He chuckled. “It seems familiar, does it
not?”

“It seems lovely.” She tilted her head
back to look up into his dark eyes.

Then his lips brushed hers, first gently,
then with increasing hunger, filling her with heat and unspeakable longing to
be even closer to him, to wipe out the memories of the lonely weeks when she
had thought him lost to her. She linked her hands around his neck and gave
herself over to his passion.

She was only half-aware of his tugging at
the buttons of her pelisse until his hand slipped inside, molding against the
side of her waist. Even through her dress, the warmth of his hand felt almost
unbearably intimate, sending a wave of desire through her. It only intensified
as his hand rose to her bodice and cupped her curves.

He released her lips, but did not move
away. “Am I shocking you?” he breathed.

“A little.”

He gave a throaty laugh. “That first
morning in the cottage, I woke up to find my hand in that exact position.
Fortunately I was able to remove it without waking you – not that I
wished
to remove it, mind you.”

“I might have been rather shocked if you
had not!”

“Or you might have decided you liked it,
and we could have been married much sooner.” He kissed her deeply, running his
thumb across the top of her bodice, and a shock of pure pleasure followed his
touch.

Elizabeth felt as if she were melting as a
throbbing seemed to grow between her legs. Involuntarily she arched into his
hand. She could not bear it if he stopped. “No.”

“My sweetest, loveliest Elizabeth,” he
murmured.

Finally he pulled away. “We must stop,
while I still can.”

“Well, I no longer question whether you
find me tempting!”

He groaned. “Far too tempting!”

Perhaps that would be enough; his desire
and apparent enjoyment of her company. She could not credit Charlotte’s claim
that he was violently in love with her, but Charlotte did not understand how
deep his sense of honor ran. She hoped it was deep enough for her to retain his
affection once his passion was satisfied.

That was something she still needed to
say. “I do appreciate your willingness to marry me under the circumstances. I
know many men would have tried to avoid it.”

He stiffened, then took her face between
both his hands and looked deep into her eyes. “Do you truly believe I am
marrying you only because it is the right thing to do?”

Embarrassed, she tried to shift her gaze,
but there was nowhere else to look. “Well, I do gather you will receive some
pleasure out of it as well.”

“
Some pleasure
? Elizabeth, there is
nothing I want more than to marry you!”

She bit her lip. “That is very kind of you
to say, but…”

“It is not
kind.
It is
true
!”
He released her for a moment and rummaged in his pocket, finally producing what
appeared to be a somewhat worn violet ribbon. “Do you recognize this?”

Should she recognize it? Then it came to
her. “Is that one of the ribbons I was wearing during the blizzard?”

“I have carried it with me ever since,
because I could not bear to let go of the last bit of you I had. I was longing
for an excuse to contact you.”

“Truly?”

“Truly. I know you have less choice than I
in the matter of our marriage, but I hope to make you the happiest woman in the
world.”

“That is unfortunately beyond your power,
for I am already the happiest woman alive!”

His face grew serious. “Are you? It seems
like all you have done is to try to avoid marrying me.”

She buried her face in his chest,
clutching his waistcoat. “Yes,” she said into the fabric. “I missed you terribly
after the blizzard, and I was heartbroken when I thought you had abandoned me.”

She felt him press kisses on her hair, her
ear, her forehead, anywhere he could reach until she finally dared to lift her
head. The gentle expression on his face was one she had never seen before.

“Thank you,” he breathed. “I cannot tell
you what a gift you have given me.” His kiss was heartbreakingly tender.

Some time later, he said, “But I still
fail to understand why your father does not seem favorably inclined towards the
match, especially if he is aware you wished for it. The benefits are obvious.”

Elizabeth exhaled heavily. “I suppose you
will have to hear this story at some point, so I might as well tell you now.”

“You need not tell me if you do not wish
to.”

“No, this is something you should know.
When my father first met my mother, she was the beautiful and vivacious
daughter of a local tradesman. I expect he intended it only as a flirtation,
but they were caught together. My mother’s family was not the equal of his, but
was too prominent to ignore. Since he did enjoy her company, he proposed. It
led to a rift in his family and to years of unhappiness on both their parts. He
discovered unrestrained behavior is not the same thing as an adventurous
spirit, vivaciousness does not imply wit, and beauty fades. He was, I gather,
angry to discover how dearly he paid for a wife he could not respect and who
embarrassed him regularly. He began to make cutting remarks, making fun of her,
and she became more nervous and silly under the barrage.”

“I would not behave that way, nor is there
anything faulty in your behavior.”

“How could my father admit you would
handle an unequal marriage forced by circumstances any better than he has?”

“But the circumstances are not the same.”

“I fail to see the difference.”

“Well, I wanted to marry you even before
the snowstorm. It simply gave me the excuse I needed to disregard my family’s
expectations.”

She looked at him through her lashes. “You
did? I had no idea.”

“But I told you as much!”

“No, you said marrying me would not be a
chore, not that it was something you actively wished for. I believed you were
making the best of a bad situation, and would be relieved by my refusal.

“No,” he said with a tender kiss. “I was
not relieved. In fact, I was quite displeased, and considered telling your
father the entire story so he could bring the issue to an end. But I still
cared enough about society’s approval, or thought I
ought
to care, that
I did not. Instead, I returned to London and spent the next weeks fingering
your ribbon and regretting that we had not been caught.”

Elizabeth nuzzled into his shoulder. “I
wish I had known that. It might have eased my fears.”

“Your fears?”

“Of ending up like my mother. That was
what prevented me from accepting you.”

“But I never would have treated you so. It
is not my way.”

“I did not know you well enough to be
certain of that. But that is, I imagine, the basis of my father’s dislike of
the idea – that you would end up with as little respect for me as he has
for my mother.”

“I wonder that he could not see the
difference! When I came to him, nothing was motivating me beyond concern for
you. The scandal in Meryton did not touch me in any way.”

“How well I know it! When my father said
you would not marry me, I thought that was why.”

He stopped himself just in time from
telling her she should have tried again to contact him. Her theory would have
been true of all too many gentlemen, so he should not criticize. “Well, we are
together now, despite my family and yours.” And for that he would be eternally
grateful.

It was nearing dusk when Elizabeth and
Darcy climbed the last steps to the top of the cliff. The carriage waited in
the same place, but there was no sign of the rest of the party.

“Guilty consciences?” murmured Darcy.

The coachman jumped down from perch.
“Begging your pardon, sir, Colonel Fitzwilliam and the ladies went to the inn,
and instructed me to come back to wait for you.”

“Perhaps they tired of the sea breezes,”
said Elizabeth brightly. “How fortunate for us we did not.”

Darcy opened the carriage door and handed
Elizabeth in. “I hope there is enough light for us to reach the inn as well.
Otherwise we might be stranded, and we could not have that, could we?”

Elizabeth giggled.

“I took the precaution, sir, of bringing
lanterns,” said the coachman stoutly. “But the moon is bright, and my guess is
we will do well enough without them.”

Darcy said in Elizabeth’s ear, “I have no
objection to darkness; do you?”

She blushed fiercely.

***

“Oh, how delightfully warm it is here,”
said Elizabeth as they entered the inn, immediately holding her hands in front
of the blazing hearth.

“There you are!” cried the colonel. “We
were beginning to fear we would not see you until morning. Were you stranded by
the tide, then?”

“Stranded, yes, but whether by the tide or
treachery I cannot say,” said Darcy deliberately.

Charlotte hurried to Elizabeth’s side.
“Poor Lizzy! You must be half frozen.”

“I managed to find ways to stay warm.”
Elizabeth exchanged an amused look with Darcy. “But I am looking forward to hot
food.”

Colonel Fitzwilliam shifted from one foot
to the other. “Dinner will be served at eight. I will tell them there will be
two more for our party.”

Darcy raised an eyebrow. “I hope there
will be enough for us as well. All that fresh air has given me a remarkable
appetite.”

“I do hope they have onion soup,” said
Elizabeth. “I have been thinking of it all day.” She handed her pelisse to a
barmaid. Darcy’s greatcoat and hat joined the pile in the barmaid’s arms as she
staggered up the stairs.

The colonel exchanged a glance with
Charlotte as Darcy and Elizabeth joined them at a large oaken table. So
apparently there
was
a conspiracy! “Well, Darcy, it seems you and Miss
Elizabeth were alone together for some hours.”

“Yes. It was quite enjoyable, I must say.”
Apparently Darcy was not above teasing his cousin.

Colonel Fitzwilliam cleared his throat. “I
took Miss Elizabeth under my protection for the duration of this trip, and
promised Mr. Collins I would guard her reputation as if she were my sister.”

Darcy chuckled. “I suppose he has never
met your sisters.”

“Be serious, Darcy. This is a problem.”

Good Lord! Was it possible the colonel and
Charlotte had schemed to strand her with Darcy in order to force him to propose
to her? This was irresistible. “Colonel, how very kind of you to be concerned
about my reputation. I assure you, though, it is of very little importance
since I was already compromised by Mr. Darcy several months ago, and much more
thoroughly than this.”

Colonel Fitzwilliam’s jaw dropped, but he
recovered quickly. “You were not under my protection then. Darcy, I know you
feel bound to offer for Anne, but a matter of honor like this must take
precedence over one of mere money and property.”

Darcy’s smirk faded. “Where did you get
the idea I would offer for Anne now, after having refused to for so many
years?”

“You are
not
offering for her? But
she will lose Rosings!”

“I feel sorry for her loss, but it was
Lady Catherine’s choice, not mine. Because she is my cousin, I have a certain
responsibility to her, and I plan to offer her a cottage at Pemberley and a
small allowance. But I
never
considered marrying her out of pity.”

“But everyone assumes…even my father
thought…you said nothing when the will was read!”

Charlotte added soothingly, “It was a very
general assumption. I certainly believed it.”

Elizabeth elbowed Darcy. “See, it was
not
such a ridiculous thing to think.”

The colonel shook his head. “I thought you
felt obliged to offer for her, while your heart was set elsewhere.”

“Is that why you staged this little drama?
To give me a way out?”

Colonel Fitzwilliam coughed. “Well, yes,
that was the general idea.”

Charlotte covered her face in an attempt
to stifle her laughter. “The best laid plans…”

Elizabeth shook her head at her friend. “I
am developing a new appreciation for your ability for plotting, Charlotte!”

Colonel Fitzwilliam said, “Well, it shall
be quite a celebration tonight. Say, Darcy, why did you never mention Georgiana
would be joining us? What a surprise it was to discover her here!”

Darcy started. “
Georgiana
is here?”

Richard and Mrs. Collins exchanged
glances. “She said you told her to come.”

“I did nothing of the sort! It is much too
far for her to travel for just a night. I never even told her of my travel
plans. You must have said something.”

Richard shook his head. “Not I. I have not
written her in over a fortnight. Who else knew our plans? Mrs. Collins had
never met her before today. Perhaps Anne wrote her. That must be it. But why
would Georgiana not say so?”

“What did I not say?” Georgiana appeared
beside the table, her brow furled.

Darcy embraced her. “I am delighted to see
you, of course, but puzzled by your appearance here. Did Anne tell you our
plans?”

She gave him an odd look. “Of course not.”

“Then why are you here?” This was becoming
worrisome. It was not like Georgiana to take initiative like this.

She dropped her eyes and wrung her hands.
“You wanted me to come,” she said in a bare whisper. “Crewe said so.” 

Darcy narrowed his eyes. “
Crewe
said
so?”

“Was he not supposed to do so?” Georgiana
peeked up at him through her lashes.

“No, he was not; or rather he was not
under any instruction to tell you anything of the sort.”

Georgiana bit her lip. “I am sorry. I will
return to London first thing in the morning.” She turned away, clearly ready to
make an escape.

Darcy caught her hand before she could
flee. “You are not in trouble, sweetheart. I am always glad to see you. I just
did not expect you.”

Richard’s hand was over his mouth, but it
did little to disguise his laughter. “Crewe! I should have known. But why in
blazes did he want Georgiana here?”

Mrs. Collins said, “I fear I do not
understand. Who is Crewe?”

“He is Darcy’s valet, at least on the
surface. Except when he thinks Darcy is making a mistake, in which case he
fixes it without telling him. I wonder what he is up to now.”

“As do I,” Darcy said darkly. Crewe could
not possibly disapprove of Elizabeth, could he? Darcy could not imagine it, and
if it were true, Crewe would be looking for a new position. Even an old trusted
family servant could not go that far.

Richard caught at the sleeve of a passing
serving maid. “Would you be so kind as to go up to Mr. Darcy’s room and tell
his valet he is needed immediately?”

Darcy glanced at Elizabeth. “No, I will
speak to him privately.” If it was about her, he did not wish her to hear it.

“Whatever it may be, it is nothing
negative about Miss Bennet. This whole jaunt was Crewe’s idea.” Once again,
Richard seemed able to read his mind.

A weight lifted from Darcy’s shoulders. He
would hate to lose Crewe. “Very well then, bring him here. In the meantime,
Georgiana, I have some exciting news. May I present your future sister, Miss
Elizabeth Bennet?”

Georgiana’s eyes grew wide and she clapped
her hands together. “Truly? You are to be wed?”

“Quite truly.” Darcy could still hardly
believe it himself. 

Elizabeth curtsied. “It is a pleasure to
make your acquaintance, Miss Darcy. Your brother has told me so much about you,
and I have longed to meet you.” Trust Elizabeth to know Georgiana would need
encouragement to overcome her shyness!

“He has told me all about
you
as
well. I am so happy for both of you!”

He watched fondly as the two women he
loved spoke, Elizabeth asking questions to draw Georgiana out. She would be
good for his sister.

Finally he noticed a shadow standing
beside him. “You wished to speak to me, sir?” said Crewe.

Darcy crossed his arms. “Yes, Crewe, I
did. Perhaps you would be so kind as to inform me why you took it upon yourself
to bring my sister here?”

“Of course. Is it your wish I tell you now
or later?”

Richard guffawed. “Oh, no. No waiting
until you are in private. I want to hear this!”

Darcy sent him a poisonous look. “You may
tell me now.”

Crewe, as always, looked completely
unperturbed. “Very well, sir. May I first take the liberty of offering my best
wishes to Miss Bennet?”

Of course, Crewe just assumed everything
had gone according to his plans! “Later, Crewe. I am waiting.”

Was that actually a slight look of
satisfaction in Crewe’s eyes? “Indeed. You will, of course, have already
realized the great disadvantages to announcing your engagement, so I assumed
you would be planning an immediate wedding. When I was in London to collect
your special license, it occurred to me it would have much less of the
appearance of an elopement if Miss Darcy was present on the occasion of your
wedding.”

Ignoring Richard’s snickers, Darcy said
dryly, “Pray remind me, Crewe, how it is I reached this realization?” If Crewe
had a convincing reason why they should marry immediately, he wanted to know
it. What he would not give for an excuse to marry Elizabeth right away!

“Lady Matlock has strong feelings about
proper mourning etiquette.” Crewe’s eyes flickered to his absent black cravat.
“She would be most distressed if you announced your engagement during the three
months of mourning, and the wedding could not occur for a full six months. She
would point out that starting your marriage with a scandal would create many
difficulties for Miss Darcy in her come-out this Season, and that her marital
prospects would be better if you did not announce your engagement at all until
the season is over, a year from now. Naturally, you need not abide by her
wishes, but she will share her opinion with you.”

Devil take it. He had not thought about
the mourning question and Georgiana’s presentation in January. He would have to
wait the three months, but that was all. “I have no intention of waiting that
long. Lady Matlock does not make the rules.”

Richard snorted at that. “Oh yes, she
does.”

“Of course, sir, you would make your own
decision on it; but you will have taken into consideration that Lord Matlock
will express his opinion on your engagement in the strongest terms and quite
frequently. Those opinions would be likely to cause a rift between you and your
uncle, but more importantly, it might be distressing to Miss Bennet to be the
source of such conflict. By the time you marry, the damage might be
irreparable. If, on the other hand, you present them with a fait accompli, they
may be displeased, but they will make the best of it. There would be not be
months of unpleasantness overshadowing your wedding.”

“He has a point,” said Richard. “My father
will lecture you mercilessly on the disadvantages of the match – I beg
your pardon, Miss Bennet; it is only because he has not had the opportunity to
appreciate your sterling qualities – and it could be a nasty few months.
Or year.”

“While I respect my aunt and uncle, I will
not marry precipitously to avoid their wrath.”

“Of course not, sir. My apologies for my
error.” Crewe’s lips curved up infinitesimally, and Darcy knew he was about to
deliver the coup de grace. “No doubt Miss Bennet’s family will quite understand
the need to allow the scandal and gossip about her to continue for the three
months until your engagement can be announced.”

It took a moment for that to sink in. How
had he missed that? He felt a smile growing on his face. A quick marriage was
just the thing! He forced the smile back, and said sternly, “I suppose I have
also considered how I could present the news of a secret wedding in such a way
as not to cause even more scandal.”

Crewe looked puzzled – and he never
showed an expression without a purpose. “How could it be a secret wedding if
your sister, your cousin, and Miss Bennet’s closest friend and cousin’s wife
are all present? It would be only appropriate to have a quiet, very private
service in deference to Lady Catherine’s recent demise.”

Richard was shaking his head. “Crewe,
Crewe, Crewe. You never cease to astonish me. Tell me, has Darcy already made
arrangements for the wedding?”