Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Read online

  With a slight smile, Richard responded sincerely: “We have always been as close as brothers, so I will give you the only answer that I find suitable. Do not rush, proceed slowly, and most of all make sure that Amanda has her pleasure before you ever begin to take your own. If you do not, it may be a more painful experience for her and that will certainly affect your future intimacy.” To break the tension, he then proceeded to splash some brandy into two glasses, and, as he passed one glass to Darcy, their eyes met and each man laughed at the embarrassment of the other.

  After the evening meal, Darcy walked Amanda to the door of her bedchamber and told her that he would come to her in about an hour. He then proceeded to his own bedchamber within their suite, where he bathed and shaved with the assistance of his valet. An hour later, barefoot and dressed in a deep blue silk robe, he knocked on her adjoining door. In one hand he carried a bottle of wine, and in the other, two glasses. He was not at all sure what he would see when he heard her quiet, “Please enter.” Still, he had imagined Amanda already in bed, with the bedcover pulled up tightly to her neck. Instead she rose from where she had been seated at the vanity before a large mirror to stand before him. As he bowed and she curtsied, they both chuckled at the absurdity of their formality.

  He realized that during the years he had known her, and even throughout their courtship and engagement, he had never truly looked at her. She was beautiful, not in the classic sense, but with those exquisite emerald eyes (which at least he had remarked on), fresh and clear skin, and abundant though not overly endowed womanly curves. Her hair was dark blond. With her maid’s help, she had bathed and washed her hair. It now hung in one long braid halfway down her back and smelt of roses and a hint of vanilla.

  Saying, “Please sit with me,” Darcy took her hand and gently pulled her next to him on the small couch by the fireplace opposite the bed. He poured a small amount of wine into each of their glasses. She sipped from hers, and he softly asked, “Do you know what to expect tonight?”

  Since he had been so forthcoming with his inquiry, she determined not to be reticent. “My mother talked with me during the engagement.” She had listened to her mother very carefully and asked many questions, although afterward both of their faces had assuredly betrayed their embarrassment. Amanda felt comfortable with the knowledge her mother had given her. Her mother and father were fortunate enough to have fallen in love with one another, although their marriage had been arranged, as was true for the majority of families that she knew and as was her marriage to Darcy.

  As the wine slowly warmed her, she wondered how Darcy would proceed. He had only held her hand during their courtship, never asking for more, but she knew that there was more, much, much more. Having consumed the contents of his glass, he set it on the small side table, took hers, now also empty, and placed it beside his. Then with studied gentleness, he took her hands in his, brought them level with his lips and kissed them. He looked into her eyes. “Do not be afraid. Please trust me. I will never do anything to purposefully hurt you, but tonight both you and I know there will be pain.”

  Darcy slowly stroked the back of her hands with his thumbs. He turned one hand and then the other over, kissing each palm. As he slowly pulled her into an embrace, his lips found hers. She was surprised to feel herself responding to his gentle pressure and did not resist as she felt his tongue lightly press the seam of her lips, much to their mutual delight.

  Darcy withdrew from the kiss and looked at her with amusement. A bit startled, she exclaimed, “I did not expect that to happen.”

  “Neither did I,” he replied, “but it is a pleasant surprise, is it not?” Then he stood and gently pulled her up to stand before him as he again kissed her.

  Slowly he caressed her shoulders and down her back to her waist and then back up to the top of her head. When Amanda raised her hands to loosen her braid, her husband ran his fingers through her hair until it flowed down her back and shoulders and draped appealingly over the front of her robe. As he looked into her eyes, he gently opened her robe, pulled it from her shoulders and let it drop to the floor. She steadily returned his gaze and never wavered as he gently slid her silk gown from one shoulder and then the other, until finally the gown gathered at her wrists, which she held closely to her waist.

  The nipples of her breasts began to pucker as the cool air of the room reached them. Darcy bent his head to softly lick and then suckle the pulse at her throat. As he took one of her breasts into his hand, her body suddenly stiffened. He did not remove his hand, but waited for her to relax before he continued. As he began to caress her breast and gently squeeze, he ran his thumb over her nipple, and it immediately hardened, causing her to swiftly catch her breath. A feeling almost like liquid heat coursed through her body, her breath caught in a gasp, and she gave a soft moan.

  Darcy removed his robe and stood before her naked as God had made him. His arousal, which had moments before tented his robe, now became very evident. But he did not hurry her. Amanda let her gown fall to the floor to puddle over the robe that was already lying there and innocently approached him. He stood still as a statue as she came closer, and with her breasts almost touching his chest, she slowly ran her fingers up through his dark hair, disheveling it into uncontrolled curls. Not stepping away from him, she ran her fingers down from his hair to move over his shoulders with the slightest of touches. She put her arms around him and ran her fingers up over his back and then down to his waist. She stood on tiptoe to suckle the pulse at his throat; then, backing away ever so slightly, she let her hands begin to glide up and over his chest as she began to trace her fingers over his nipples in a manner similar to what he had done to her. He shuddered and gave his own soft moan.

  Darcy quickly picked her up in his arms and held her tightly, before he slowly carried her to their bed and laid her on the coverlet. As he sat beside her, he again took her breasts in his hands and started to fondle them softly, running his thumbs over the rosebud nipples until they became puckered and even harder than before. A faint blush began to cover her body. Darcy replaced his hand with his mouth, and drew in first one nipple and then moved to the other. Amanda’s breath began to quicken and she again moaned softly. Darcy gently kissed her, deepening the kiss as he once again explored her mouth, while one hand began to caress her flat stomach. When he began to move his hand lower, she quickly broke the kiss and looked directly into his eyes. His eyes never turned from hers as he implored, “Trust me.”

  For more than a full minute, they held each other’s gaze, and then she lowered her eyelids giving silent consent. When Darcy kissed her again, he felt her tongue meet his as she began her own exploration. With one hand cupping her breast, he lowered the other to that most private of places.

  She stiffened slightly as he used his hand to spread her legs to allow him access. As he ran his fingers through the curls at her apex and gently spread her folds, she shuddered. His fingers searched for that special place, that tiny little nub, and as he found it and began to stroke her there, she arched her back, pushing up to him. He felt her slick moisture and withdrew his hand. She opened her eyes again as he lay down beside her and stroked his tongue over her lips and then moved lower and again suckled her breast.

  This time his mouth followed his hands in their journey down her body. When his lips replaced his hand in the curls between her legs, she groaned aloud as her body convulsed. A wild sound tore from her throat as she clutched at the sheet to keep herself from flying from the bed. She was not sure what had happened, but the residual waves of pleasure continued to flow over and over her body as Darcy nipped her there.

  He worked his way back up her body, slowly covering it with his own, and gently kissed her again. His mouth completely encompassed hers, his tongue almost plundering her mouth. Amanda could taste her own essence on Darcy’s lips.

  She was not sure if this was what she was supposed to do or not, but she gently nudged him from over her to lie beside her again. She followed Darcy’s lead and
ran her fingers over his body, touching and tasting him in turn, and gently stroking her fingers over the hardness of his arousal. It was his turn to gasp and tremble.

  Again he lowered his weight over her and used his knee to nudge her legs open wider. She reached down to run a thumb and two fingers along the length of him and felt the silky smoothness as he seemed to become even harder and bigger within her grasp. “How was he ever to fit this into her?” she thought.

  As she relinquished her exploration of his manhood, she lay back and again lost herself in the glittering pools of his eyes. She spread her legs further to accommodate him more as he slowly pressed into her. She thought she would split in two from the pressure, as he filled her completely, and the pain as he broke through her barrier was acute. Darcy caught her cry with his mouth, as he again kissed her, but stilled his motion to allow her time to calm and adjust to more fully accept him.

  “I will go no further nor make any movement until you feel comfortable enough to continue. I will be as careful as I can,” he said in a husky voice.

  After a few moments, Darcy felt her start to relax. She shifted her body slightly under him to allow him greater access and then surprised him as she brought her legs up and wrapped them around his hips. Very slowly, he again began to push forward and did not stop until he was completely sheathed within her. As he withdrew almost completely before pushing in again, he spoke in the same low voice, “The pain should lessen soon and what you feel become more comfortable and pleasurable.”

  He pushed in again and withdrew until he was almost completely out of her and then pushed in again and again. Amanda began to quiver and clutch along the length of him when he was buried deep inside her. Suddenly, wave after wave of pleasure flowed over her, and spontaneously she in return pushed upward to receive each of his thrusts. The sound of their bodies slapping together filled the room as he quickened his pace. Then she felt him jerk, pumping his seed deep within her, and he dropped exhausted on top of her. His weight began to become uncomfortable, almost smothering, but he seemed to realize that, because he quickly rolled over, carrying her with him until she was lying draped over his body, still joined to him.

  When they regained their breath, Amanda spoke first. “I thought I knew what was to happen but . . . OH, what you must think of me. I am most embarrassed and ask your forgiveness. I do not know what came over me.”

  Darcy chuckled at her and explained, “I do, and there is nothing to be embarrassed about or forgiven. This was so much more than I had ever dared hope. It was simply your body responding to mine while we each gave pleasure to the other.”

  Soon, they gave each other pleasure again, then finally fell into an exhausted sleep. They overslept the next morning, having awakened during the night to once more engage in their shared surprise. This threw Darcy’s plans for the next day’s travel behind schedule, but neither was terribly concerned.

  ∞∞∞

  Finally, in the early afternoon of their fourth day of travel, the cottage in Cumbria came into view. The small stone structure situated on a towering cliff overlooking the Irish Sea was only about a quarter the size of Darcy House in London. Throughout the years, both he and Georgiana had always looked forward to visiting here, where a long trail wound from the cottage to a wide expanse of beach below. When they had come here during his breaks from school, the brother and sister would trek to the beach, and he would watch while Georgiana followed the waves as they receded into the ocean and then raced to outrun them on their return back upon the shore. Through the years, he must have carried a cartload of shells up the trail from the beach to the cottage for her.

  After Darcy and Amanda took only the briefest of time to refresh themselves, they walked around the grounds, took the path leading to the beach, and strolled there along the seashore until almost sunset. Amanda had immediately fallen in love with the little cottage. It was much smaller than she had anticipated, but was elegant in its furnishings and felt warm and comforting. Supported by only the bare minimum of staff, it was also quite cozy.

  The newlyweds often took a small phaeton as they visited the tiny nearby village and carried a picnic lunch as they toured the local countryside. But most often they trod the path to the beach, where they strolled almost every day. And, every night the couple enjoyed the pleasures of their marital bed.

  When they had been at Cumbria for a week, Amanda was embarrassed to tell Darcy that she was indisposed with her monthly menses. He was most understanding, since he had been made aware of the situation through his care of Georgiana. They remained at the cottage for two months, but Amanda did not have her monthly indisposition again. Before, her menses had always been precise and exactingly predictable. She did not mention her growing suspicion to Darcy until one morning he asked her about the monthly event not having occurred. She admitted, “I have not had my monthly indisposition but the one time since our arrival. Still, I did not want to mention anything should my supposition prove to be incorrect.”

  Darcy placed his hands on her shoulders and pulled her into a gentle embrace. He kissed her softly on the forehead and then the cheek, smiled, and said, “Please let me know as soon as you are sure.”

  Once they returned to Pemberley, their life together progressed much as had their time during their courtship and engagement, with the exception of their rides on horseback. Darcy feared for the safety of the child. He had told Amanda that she should redecorate any parts of Pemberley that she wished to, but was grateful when she told him that Pemberley suited her tastes exactly as it was.

  The two took long walks through the gardens and parks during the day and early evening, and read in the library after dinner, discussing their views and encouraging Georgiana to discuss hers. Often all three of them took turns reading to one another. Amanda and Georgiana also sometimes played duets at the piano and sang for him before they retired.

  It was not long before Amanda realized that changes were indeed beginning to take place in her body, and she soon felt the slight flutter that her mother had told her would mark the quickening of the child. She was increasing, and Darcy and Georgiana were overjoyed.

  Darcy and Amanda traveled with Georgiana to Darcy House in London to have clothes made at Madame Claudine’s for her to wear during her confinement. Together they went to the theatre, visited the bookstores and other shops, and bought confections to please Amanda’s desire for sweets. Often they either visited with the Fitzwilliam family at Matlock House or the Fitzwilliams visited at Darcy House, but the Darcys did not participate in any other activities of the “ton.” They returned to Pemberley soon after the new dresses and gowns were completed, so that they would be at home before the weather turned poor, since the unseasonably cool temperatures suggested winter would begin its approach earlier that year than it usually did.

  Georgiana was so happy to have a sister. She had known of Amanda for most of her life, although they had not previously been close, mainly because of their difference in age. And now she was not only a sister, but was to be an aunt as well. She and her brother had begun to take meticulous care of Amanda and the unborn baby.

  Suddenly, in the seventh month, Amanda began to suffer terrible pains low in her back. The local midwife suggested more time in bed and very limited activity. Dr. Crawford was called from London and, after examining Amanda, he agreed with the local midwife. Darcy became worried, and Georgiana almost painfully fearful. Georgiana knew the story of her own birth and had heard her Father mention it once when he had been talking with her brother. She had not meant to eavesdrop, but when she had heard her name mentioned along with her mother’s name, she could not pry herself away. They had not wanted her to ever feel that she had caused her mother’s death, for indeed she had not. Nonetheless, Georgiana had always thought that she had. Even from the very beginning.

  ∞∞∞

  Darcy and Amanda had a very warm regard and great concern for each other, but they still were not “in love.” Though their passionate lovemaking could
almost have belied that notion, they truly did not love one another in the regular sense of the word, but they did care deeply each for the other. As Amanda continued to suffer through her pregnancy, Darcy’s worry for her increased to the point that he became almost as fearful as was Georgiana.

  Darcy wanted the doctor to be as close as possible until Amanda was delivered, so he had moved both the doctor and the local midwife into Pemberley House when Amanda’s eighth month began. Amanda’s mother had arrived two days after the doctor and had proven to be a great help with soothing not only her daughter, but both Darcy and Georgiana.

  Unfortunately, Darcy’s precaution proved to be providential. Four days after her mother’s arrival, Amanda began to have tremendous pain much lower in her back than before, and almost immediately went into labor. She labored for six and thirty hours. Darcy and Georgiana took turns holding her hand and caressing her brow, as she cried out in pain.

  After the first twelve hours, Darcy had refused to leave her side and eventually nestled his body behind her to make himself a human cradle for her. He pushed the memory of providing himself as a human cradle for his father in the woods many years ago as far back in his mind as possible.