Imperative: Volume 2, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (87 page)

“Of course I do.”  He continued his intense examination of her face. 

“Apparently not if you greet me with a glare and treat me like a . . . like one of Richard’s tavern maids!” 

He felt the virtual slap.  “Lizzy!  I never did such a thing!”

“Grabbing me by the hand to force a kiss?” 

“I was not forcing, I
had
to kiss you.”  He said seriously.

“Because I am your possession.  And you must control . . .”

Darcy put his fingers over her lips.  “I know that you are hurt, and that I spoiled something you wished for.”  He searched her eyes and slowly let his hand fall.  “I have been thinking of nothing else since breakfast but your plans for me.”

She gasped and put her hand to her mouth, “Who told you?” 

“You did.”  Smiling a little, he caressed her cheek with the back of his hand.  “It is all in your eyes.”

Her cheeks coloured further and she looked down.  “Then why did you react so angrily?  You could have just told me no.” 

“I told you I was frightened.”

“Of what?”  She whispered.  “You are the solid reasonable one.  It is
my
job to say and do foolish things when I am frightened.  Look at me now!  Storming away like a . . . little girl.”  She looked down. “What is wrong with me?”

Darcy was struck with the memory of the last time she left him in anger.  It was at Sommerwald, the day that they learned her father had died and when he suspected she was with child.  He felt his heart swell as he looked upon her and spoke softly, “And that is why I stopped you; I have no doubt that something you would regret saying was forming on your lips.”  He smiled when she looked up to him.  “Yes, I should have said no in more civil way.  You see, I am not just going to watch the harvest, I have to speak with my tenants and . . . I have work to do. As much as I would love to share your company, I cannot.  I am so sorry, Lizzy.  So many others are expecting . . .”

“No, stop.”  Elizabeth spoke quietly.  “It is my fault, I . . . I should know better by now.  When you go to work, it is not a whim of the moment.  You are truly going to work.  I was wrong to inject myself into your plans.  I am so ashamed of myself.  You were just so . . . I cannot explain how hearing you talk makes me . . . so foolish.”

“You
like
hearing me?”  He stared, “Foolish?  No, Lizzy, I want your company.  I regret deeply . . .” 

She silenced him when she stood on her toes to kiss him.  Her mouth opened and she suckled his lower lip and kissed him again.  Darcy groaned with the touch of her tongue and grunting, pushed her back against a tree.  Elizabeth’s arms wrapped around his shoulders and fumbling for a few seconds, he opened the fall of his breeches and crouching down, lifted her leg and thrust up into her.  Elizabeth’s eyes widened and she gasped.  “Will!” 

Darcy was not gentle, he was not tender or slow, he braced one hand on the tree and the other clutched her rear.  His mouth hung open as he stared into her eyes, panting, and drove into her.  “I need to feel all of you, Lizzy.”  He growled and kissed her roughly.  Elizabeth clung to him and moaned his name.  “Do you feel me, sweetheart?”  He grunted hotly against her ear.  “Do you want more?”  His hips thudded as his balls swung and he moved faster and faster. Elizabeth clutched him, moaning his name  as every stroke seemed to rub unerringly the spot that drove her insane. 

“Kiss me!”  She begged against his ear.

Instantly his mouth engulfed hers and he felt the power of her intense grip clenching him rhythmically as she writhed in his arms.  “Oh, Lord, yes!”  He gasped and tore his mouth away, burying his face against her throat and pumping harder as his body tensed in exquisite anticipation.   Lifting her  completely off the ground he pinned her to the tree.  Still moaning, Elizabeth wrapped her entire body around him.  Darcy drew breath and ground his hips into her, and suddenly shuddered violently with the force of his release. 

“Oh . . .”  Elizabeth held him tightly as a series of gradually lessening quakes travelled over him.

“You have all of me, Lizzy.”  He whispered when he calmed enough to speak.  She nodded and her entire body shivered.  His eyes closed, he smiled and felt her pulse pounding against his lips, and then laughed as she shivered again.  Looking up at last, he was face to face with a beautiful, blushing, beaming woman. 

“You enjoyed yourself.”  Elizabeth nodded and he grinned.  “You cannot speak?”  Shaking her head his laugh became deeper and happier.  “I love feeling you find heaven, and I love looking upon you when you do.”  She shuddered again and managed to giggle against his shoulder.  “Oh, love.”  Laughing, he kissed her.  “We needed this release desperately.” 

“I . . .” She giggled again.   “I . . . that was . . .” She hugged him tightly, then finding his ear to nibble she whispered, “Have you grown bigger?” 

“You tell me?”  He whispered.  “Maybe it is because I just . . .”

“Drove home?” 

“The position demanded it.”  Biting his lip, he drew back, and was so happy to see her still smiling.  “I have always wanted to do this.” 

“I think that I might have the impression of tree bark permanently etched upon my backside.”  Her eyes sparkled as he snorted and blushed. 

“Let’s have a look, then.”  Gently lowering her down, they both groaned as they straightened.  He turned her around and lifted her skirt.  Lovingly he rubbed her bottom.  “Beautiful.  A touch of brush burn, though.”  He winked when she turned to face him and wrapped her arms around his waist.  They kissed and held each other.  “I love you.”

“I love you.”

“I am so sorry . . . you had plans and . . .” He could not help but smile and laugh, “Well, you planned for
this
.  I suppose that it worked out in the end.”

“hmm,
my
end.” 

“I will kiss the hurt away, dearest when I come home.”  He promised and watched as she took his softening penis in her hands. 

“And shall I kiss this?”  She looked up at him.

“Would you?”  He whispered.

Tucking him back up and fastening the fall, she patted his breeches and smiled.  “Tell me something, Mr. Darcy . . .”

“Here it comes . . .”

“How is it that you come over with a case of nerves that could rival my mother on her worst day when you see me on horseback, and yet you feel perfectly fine taking me up against a tree and . . .”

“Shhhhhhhhhh.”  He darted a look around.

“Do not try to distract me.  Anyone who was passing heard us.”  They both blushed and holding hands, they walked out of the copse and into the sunshine.  Their horses were not far away, calmly grazing on the tall grass along the side of the drive.  Happily nobody else was near.     

Relieved, he turned to her and nodded to Daisy.  “Your falling is what I fear.  I think you will agree that once I had you speared against that tree, you were not going anywhere.”  He lips lifted in his little smile.

“Not with that stout stick you tote around in your drawers firmly in place.”  Elizabeth’s hand passed over his breeches and he growled. She smiled and caressed his warm cheeks,  “Now go.  You have work to do.  I know, you told me and I did not listen.”

“No, you were listening, and I found it . . .” He sighed and held her eyes.  “Lizzy . . .”

“Hush.”  She put her fingers over his lips and he kissed them. 

“How do you feel?”  He asked gently.  “Did I hurt . . .?” 

“I am a great deal stronger than you think, Will.  Just remember that.”  Smiling, she slipped her hand behind his head and drew his face down to kiss.  “Now, are you free tomorrow?  May I have your company?”

“Yes, love.  Where shall we go?”

“I will let you decide . . . Somewhere private?  I would like to give that stick of yours a thorough airing.”  Her eyes danced and he laughed.

“Odd, I was just thinking how I would like to keep it rather wet.”  His eyes twinkled and taking her hand in his, they walked to the horses.  Darcy lifted her up to her saddle.  “Please know that I would like you with me.  I am flattered that you want to know so much.  Your interest and questions this morning were . . .” He looked down and back up.  “Most gratifying.”

“When you think that I will not be in the way, I would like to see everything.”

“Do you know how proud that makes me?  How fortunate I feel?” 

Elizabeth leaned down and caressed his cheek, “Will you tell me what is wrong?”  He started and she saw worry flicker across his face and then disappear.  “There
is
something.  It was not tension from lack of intimacy that has been worrying you, and it was not my riding because you know I would not take any risks.”

“Both concern me greatly . . .” He said quickly.

Continuing to caress him, she shook her head.  “Very well, but that is not all of it.  Yes, Will.  I
was
listening to you, and I heard what you were reluctant to tell me.”

“
This
is why you planned to come with me?  You were worried?” 

“I was worried, yes, and all of the other reasons, too.  No wonder the men at the stable were not keen for me to ride too far ahead of you, they must know something.  I have never seen the boys fumble over a saddle so much when time was of the essence.” Darcy’s mouth opened and closed.  “What is it?” 

He drew himself up and smiled, “Nothing to fret over, sweetheart.  You know me, how I overanalyze and anticipate disaster.  You have gone a long way to wiping my worries away, and I thank you.”  He paused and before she could say anything, he moved on, “Dearest . . . did not this exact scenario play out between us before?  You were worried for me, and became angry with my unyielding response?”

She studied him and accepted his request for trust, “I was hoping to be more successful this time.”

Taking her hand, he squeezed.  “I will not be long.” 

She spoke seriously.  “Take all of the time that you need.  I will be waiting.”  She turned Daisy and they walked off. 

Darcy mounted Bruin and watched the pony amble along towards the stables.  Elizabeth turned and waved at him. 
You were concerned and wanted to support me.
   Smiling, he touched his heart kissed his hand, and waving, set off for the farm. 

“MISS DARCY, ARE YOU WELL?  You have been a bundle of nerves since you returned from the wedding.  If I had known that your family was so difficult I would have asked Mrs. Darcy to accompany you again.”  Mrs. Annesley looked at her worriedly.  “You are not becoming ill, are you?” 

“No, Mrs. Annesley.”  Georgiana stared down at the pianoforte and studied the keys.  “It is nothing.”

“I believe that like I believe the sky is green.”  She sighed.  “Miss Darcy, I am your companion, and I am of the opinion that my position is meant to be more than that of a silent partner at the dinner table or watchdog in the parlour.  Mrs. Darcy explained to me that she hoped sincerely we would be friends, because when we go to London, it will just be we two.  She will not be there for you to talk with and she said that she expects that you will need to talk one day.”

“I do not know that I belong in London.”  Georgiana said quietly.  “What is the point?  At any moment, all of the hard work Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam have done on my behalf could be for naught because of a careless comment by a stranger.  I should just remain here, and . . . make this place my home.  And stop pretending that . . . their hopes and dreams for me can be mine.”  She wiped her eyes as tears began to roll down her cheeks. 

“Miss Darcy!  You are only sixteen!  How can you be saying such terribly pessimistic things?”  Mrs. Annesley brushed back her hair and tried to see her face.  “You have such a wonderful future stretching out before you!  And I am delighted with the prospect of helping you to reach your potential.  You have so many exciting events to anticipate, and they will be upon you before you know it.  A year from now you will follow Mrs. Darcy’s footsteps for this coming spring and we will be preparing you to curtsy before the queen, and then after that, oh the balls and dinners, the young men coming to call . . . and then you will marry and become a mother . . .”  Georgiana sobbed and standing, ran from the room.  Mrs. Annesley stood and made to follow her when she heard Elizabeth’s voice in the hallway. She stopped when the mistress entered the music room. 

“Just let her go.  I will speak to her later.”  

“I am at a loss as to what is wrong.  She talks of never leaving here, as if her life is over.  Has she suffered some sort of heartbreak?  She acts as if she was in love and the man either did not return her feelings or never even knew.  Did she meet someone at the wedding who she admired and has moved on?  Young girls have such fragile hearts.” 

Smiling, Elizabeth took a seat on one of the sofas arranged to face the instrument and indicated that Mrs. Annesley join her.  “I knew that I liked you.” 

Flustered, the woman sat beside her.  “Why is that?”

“You are perceptive, and you take your position seriously.  You actually care for her success.”

“Mrs. Darcy, admittedly this has been an adjustment to my life that I neither wanted nor expected when I married, but I am very grateful for your kindness.  I made mistakes in my marriage that put me in this position.  While it was my husband’s fault for destroying our savings and lying to me, it was my fault for not paying attention, even if it was not my place to question him.  I was terrified about where I would find myself in September, and look at where I am.”  She waved her hand and looked back at Elizabeth.  “You and Mr. Darcy have been kindness itself to give me this opportunity.”

Elizabeth smiled, but moved on, “I am sorry that you were not invited along to the wedding. I am sure that you missed seeing Mrs. Kelly.” 

“I was disappointed at first, I admit.”  She smiled and shrugged.  “She is my friend and a good one, and I would have loved to see Miss Kelly . . . Mrs. Fitzwilliam, marry.  But as the days wore on and I was here on my own, I came to the conclusion that you were correct to leave me behind.  You are quite perceptive, yourself, Mrs. Darcy.”

“I thought that it would be uncomfortable for you.  Your place has changed.”