Mr. Darcy's Refuge (40 page)

When she looked at him with that teasing light, there was only one response Darcy could make. He drew her soft form into his arms, reveling in the sensation of her breasts pressed against his chest, and kissed her with all the passionate need he had been repressing since their interlude at Pemberley. Since she had arrived in London, he had only been able to kiss her that one time, and he had been aching for her touch.

“Oh, my,” said Elizabeth breathlessly, her lips so near his that he could feel her warm breath tickling his cheek. “I do not think that was what my uncle had in mind.”

“He did say you should consent to whatever I wished, did he not?” His hands still locked behind her waist, he stole a quick kiss for the sheer joy of being allowed to do so.

To his delight, she responded by deepening the kiss, one hand tangling in his hair, the other clutching his cravat. For a few minutes that was all that existed – her mouth for his exploration, her body pressed against his, his hands roaming the delicious curves of her back, and the only thing on his wayward mind was the overwhelming desire to make her his. But reason nagged at the back of his head, reminding him that this was neither the time nor the place, and he reluctantly lifted his lips from hers.

The only thing more delightful than Elizabeth’s arch smile was when she wore it while her eyes were dark with desire for him. “So, what am I
supposed
to be consenting to?” she asked.

He could not bear to release her, so instead he drew her down until she sat on his lap, where he could hold her close enough that he could breathe in the warm scent of roses rising from her body. As long as he avoided looking down at her décolletage, he could brush his lips against the exposed skin of her neck. If he gave in to the temptation of looking down, he would lose any vestige of rational thought. He made a valiant attempt to force his mind away from Elizabeth’s tempting body. “Your father made a very surprising request of me today.”

“Oh, dear. That does not sound promising.”

“Actually, although it came as something of a shock, I would have to say his idea is a good one.” In fact, a quick marriage seemed an inspired idea at the moment. The very thought made his body throb with desire. Why did Doctors Common have to close so damned early anyway? “He wants us to marry as soon as possible.”

Elizabeth looked away. “I know you mean well, but this is not a matter I can joke about.”

“I am quite serious, my love, as was your father. It seems that he has accepted that I intend to marry you in any case, and given that he cannot prevent the match, he has decided it would serve his purposes best for it to take place now. He said it was because his declining health made him fear he would be unable to keep Wickham in line, but I think it is more that he realizes that, should anything happen to him, your mother and sisters would be unprotected. He wants us married so that I can protect your family should he be unable to do so.”

Elizabeth paled. “The doctor told us he would recover and be with us for many years. Why is my father so worried?”

He tightened his arms around her, wishing he could make this easier for her. “Whether there is something he knows that we do not, I cannot say, but he does seem to fear a relapse. Your uncle had told me that under no circumstances was I to say anything that would distress your father, so I did not inquire. He seemed happier after I had agreed to his request.”

“If it will relieve his anxiety, then of course we must do it,” she said with her old determination. “We can have the banns called on Sunday if he wishes.”

It was so close to what his own response had been that he almost laughed. With her in his arms and her consent obtained, he was happy to explain her father’s instructions in further detail.

***

“This is a surprise, Darcy,” said Colonel Fitzwilliam. “Can’t remember the last time you were here. Is Wickham creating more problems?”

It was indeed a rare occurrence for Darcy to call at Colonel Fitzwilliam’s austere bachelor lodgings, but the mention of it made Darcy wonder for the first time how his cousin felt about that fact. “Not that I am aware of. There are some new developments on another front, though.” He briefly explained Mr. Bennet’s change of heart, watching his cousin’s face closely. “So, after all his opposition, now we are to be married in two days’ time.”

If Richard was troubled by the news, he showed no sign of it. “In two days? That is fast work.”

“He would have preferred it even sooner, but I requested the delay to have time to make everything ready – the settlement, preparing her rooms at Darcy House, and whatnot. I doubt we will be staying in London long, though, since Mr. Bennet should be able to travel soon, and we will accompany him home.”

“You will be staying at Longbourn? I wish you joy of it! It is a little too crowded for my taste.”

“Mine as well, believe me. Elizabeth and I will stay at Netherfield, the house Bingley has leased. Bingley himself plans to return there soon.” It would be like those days when Jane had lain ill at Netherfield, except this time he would not have to settle for a phantom Elizabeth in his bed.

Richard gave him a startled look. “I thought he planned to give up the place.”

Darcy shrugged. “He changed his mind, both about the house and about marrying Elizabeth’s sister.”

Richard turned his back on Darcy to fetch the decanter from the sideboard. By the time he had poured out a glass, his expression was neutral. “Some port? Not up to your usual standards, of course, but decent enough. So Bingley is engaged to Miss Bennet?”

“No, but I believe he plans to make her an offer. She knows nothing of it yet.”

Richard held up his glass. “To the lovely Miss Bennet, then.”

“She is my next order of business. Since the wedding will be held at Mr. Gardiner’s house so that Mr. Bennet can be in attendance, it will be quite small, but Elizabeth would very much like Jane to stand up with her. I offered to send a carriage to Longbourn for her.”

“Good of you, but if you feel up to trusting me with your curricle, I can save you the trouble. A drive out into the Hertfordshire countryside would be just the thing to escape from the heat of London.”

Darcy supposed this offer was Richard’s way of telling him he had come to terms with Elizabeth’s choice of husband. “I would not wish to put you to any trouble.”

“Since when is it trouble for me to take advantage of your fine horseflesh while enjoying the company of a beautiful woman?”

“In that case, I accept your offer. Naturally, you are welcome at the ceremony as well, but I will understand if you prefer not to attend.” Darcy avoided his cousin’s eyes.

“How very kind of you,” Richard drawled. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Chapter 20

At first Jane had been nervous, perched on the narrow seat of the curricle. She had never ridden in such a stylish vehicle before, nor so far from the ground in an open carriage. But Colonel Fitzwilliam had noticed her discomfort and made a joke about how he felt tiny when he stood beside one of the fashionable high-perch phaetons, and shifted to make more room for her so that she did not have to sit at the edge of the seat. She noticed his skill at handling the team; she was not accustomed to seeing a driver so responsive to his horses.

As always, she found him remarkably easy to converse with. She still could not understand why Lizzy had chosen Darcy over his much more amiable cousin, and wondered, not without guilt, if her sister had made her choice based not on her heart but on the need for one of them to marry well. If Bingley had lived up to her expectations of him, Lizzy would not have had to consider their family’s future when making her decision. At least Lizzy did seem genuinely attached to Mr. Darcy, but that could be an act. She would need to see the two of them together to know for certain.

“Since you are aware that Lizzy is in London, I assume Mr. Darcy must be as well. Have they been able to meet?”

“Several times. In fact, there is a confession on that subject I must make to you.”

Jane’s stomach lurched, and it had nothing to do with the motion of the curricle. She did not want to hear about Colonel Fitzwilliam’s heartbreak at Lizzy’s hands. She could accept that her own romantic fantasies about him were hopeless since he could not afford a woman with her poor prospects, but it was harder to face that he cared for Lizzy more than for her. “I am eager to hear it,” she said politely.

“I am taking you to London under false pretences. While my mother did in fact invite you and Miss Elizabeth to tea, it was only after she discovered that you would be coming anyway. I chose to tell your mother of the invitation as the reason you should be allowed to come with me because my instructions were to fetch you without telling your mother the true cause.”

Jane’s heart began to flutter. “What is the matter? Is Lizzy ill? Or my father?”

“Miss Elizabeth gave me a letter for you which explains the situation.” He withdrew a folded paper from his pocket and handed it to her.

Darting a glance at him, Jane opened the letter and began to read. She gasped when she reached the part about her father’s heart seizure, and she must have turned pale since the colonel placed his hand lightly on her arm and said, “He is better now.”

Not for the first time, she wondered how he could tell so easily what she was thinking. Her eyes hurried through the rest of the letter. “They are to be married
tomorrow
?”

“Yes, and Miss Elizabeth very much desires your presence.”

Her first thought, oddly enough, was for the colonel. How this sudden marriage must pain him, yet he had gone out of his way to fetch her and had even been reassuring
her
when he himself must be in need of comfort! Her earlier envious thoughts were banished now, replaced by a desire to protect him from pain. “Thank you for bringing me,” she said slowly. “I appreciate the efforts you have taken so that I may attend.”

“It is a pleasure and an honor to be of service.” He sounded as if he actually meant it. In a lighter tone he added, “Even if it did require me to indulge in a bit of prevarication with your mother just as she was proclaiming how she knew she could trust me to bring you safely to your uncle’s house.”

She turned a grateful smile on him. “You gave her such delight by making her believe that the Countess of Matlock wished for my presence enough to send her son for me. You may be certain she will be sharing that story with everyone of her acquaintance!”

“I hope the change of plans does not cause you any distress.”

“Not at all!”

“I am glad. You seemed a little subdued, and I supposed you might be disappointed.”

How could she tell him she felt pain on his behalf? “I was taken aback to hear of my father’s heart seizure.”

“Of course.” He looked at her with such sympathy that she felt almost guilty for misleading him.

“I am also a selfish creature, and I find myself sad to be losing my sister’s companionship sooner than I had expected.”

“That is a worry I can help allay. Darcy and your sister plan to spend a month or more at Netherfield so that she can be near your father during his recovery.” He seemed to be watching her very carefully.