Page 102 of The Scarred Duchess
Elizabeth laughed, shaking her head. “It seems the books themselves are jealous of our attention, Mr. Darcy.”
He raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Well then, perhaps I should show them who truly holds my attention.”
And with that, he pulled her into his lap and captured her lips in a passionate kiss. Elizabeth melted into him, her fingers tangling in his hair as their kiss deepened. A pleasant eternity later, they broke apart, both breathless and flushed. Darcy rested his forehead against hers, his hand caressing her cheek.
His lips made the lightest contact with hers. “I love you, Elizabeth,” he whispered, his breath a sensual feather upon her mouth. She pressed her lips against his neck and purred like a cat.
She drifted off in her husband’s loving embrace.
Having attended Sunday services, Darcy escorted Elizabeth to the music room then went to review some letters of business. Elizabeth was practising scales from memory when Georgiana stepped into the room.
“Georgiana! Welcome home.” Elizabeth stepped away from the pianoforte and opened her arms.
Georgiana rushed into her embrace. “I have missed you, Lizzy.”
A voice from the doorway intruded upon their reunion. “I see marriage makes a beloved brother second seat in the family orchestra.”
“Only when the first pianist is as wonderful as Mrs Darcy,” replied Georgiana. As Elizabeth laughed, Georgiana rushed to Darcy and fiercely embraced him. “Forgive me, as the knocker is still down…”
“Never you mind, sweetling. This is your home. We, too, have missed you.”
Servants efficiently delivered tea and departed. Elizabeth did the honours.
“What are your plans? When shall you be off?” asked Georgiana.
Elizabeth smiled at Darcy; he too wore his amusement openly.Happy is a family with younger sisters. “We plan to remain in town for the foreseeable future,” she replied.
Georgiana’s brow crinkled and she turned to her brother. “When shall you introduce Lizzy to Pemberley?”
“We shall remove to Derbyshire a few weeks before Season’s end,” he replied.
“Why so long?” Georgiana asked.
Elizabeth looked at Darcy, who nodded. “We have yet to hire trustworthy protection.” At Georgiana’s gasp, Elizabeth continued on. “Once we have qualified men in place, we shall move to Pemberley.”
“You sound like Brother.” It sounded more like a concession than an accusation.
“Your brother takes the protection of his family seriously.” Georgiana opened her mouth but Elizabeth raised a finger. “As do I.”
Mrs Goulding took stock of the Meryton matrons assembled in her drawing room on this fine February morning. All were in her good graces, except for Mrs Harrington and Mrs Long. Well, she had a surprise for them.
“You all know about the glorious to-do in London last week for the wedding of Miss Elizabeth to Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy, nephew to the earl of Matlock and heir to one of the country’s largest estates?”
The group nodded, and murmurs about the lavish ball and banquet celebrating the nuptials consumed nearly a quarter of an hour. Finally, Mrs Goulding was ready to continue and make her point. “Well,” she said loudly enough to quell any other conversation, “I owe Mrs Harrington and Mrs Long a much overdue apology. It was exactly one and twenty years ago today that I errantly offered my assertion regarding the future of Miss Jane Bennet.”
“I recall something of a boast you made of her over my Penny, but for the life of me, I cannot recall it,” replied Mrs Harrington. “But we shall all be able to greet Lady Snodgrass in a month, as she has condescended to visit our fair county.”
Her daughter had married an impoverished knight. Mrs Goulding pressed her lips to keep from laughing.
Then Mrs Long boasted of her niece’s match. “It must be difficult to have a Season and find few suitors. My niece’s husband expects a call to St James. When she visits Meryton next, we may soon address her as Lady Sallow.”
Mrs Goulding coughed into her hand. “Yes, yes, that is fine, my dears. As I was saying, I owe you all a long-overdue apology. I had asserted that Miss Bennet would one day earn the distinction of being named Lady Someone.”
She pulled a broadsheet from her reticule; her husband had put it into her hand that morning. She held it up for her audience to see. “Our Miss Bennet shall never be Lady Someone. Rather,shouldshe ever find it in her schedule to visit, we shall all curtsey to Her Grace, the Duchess of Somerset.”
The gathering ended not long after.
CHAPTER FIFTY
