Mr. Darcy's Promise (41 page)

“I told you the chickens relax me. Come and see the chicks. I think it is about time that we name the rest of them. I was thinking along the lines of naming them after everyone that has had a part in building our relationship. Like Serafina.”

“What has Serafina done?” He was bewildered.

“She was the one who helped me see your love for me before you admitted it to me. She also told me to be direct with you if I wanted you to kiss me.” She looked up at him and grinned. “It worked most of the time.”

“Most of the time?
When did you ask me to kiss you and I did not?” Darcy said, looking down at her, knowing their lips were inches away.

“It happened twice. Once in the stream and once last night at dinner when you finally agreed that we could sleep in each other’s arms.”

Darcy couldn’t help but correct her. After all, he had made a promise to kiss her anytime she asked, and he was not going to be proven untrustworthy again. “Now, if I remember correctly, you never got as far as asking me to kiss you in the stream, and I still kissed you last night, I just kept it in check. But Serafina it is.”

“No! It has to be a nickname! See, we named the other two Lizzy, and Fitz, so we have to name it
Rafina.” Elizabeth said.

“That is a terrible name! How about Sara? It is much more flattering.”

“All right,” she agreed, “so then the second brown one is Sara, and the last brown one should be named after Jane. She had faith that I would learn to love you. But I cannot think of a way to shorten her name so we will just have to leave it as Jane.”

“Very well, but that leaves three black ones.
We have to name one after Georgiana because without her surprise visit to Netherfield and pointing out my admiration for you I may not have ever realized how happy I could be with you.” He felt thoughtful remembering her tearful face sayin
g“
but if you love her . . .”
He continued, “And I must name one after my horse Calypso, for there were many rides that cleared my thinking enough to do the right thing. It was on her that I finally realized the depth of my love for you.”

“Well then,
Caly it is. That leaves only one other. It is my turn to pick this time. I would have to say it is a tie between Richard and Sparks. Richard because he makes your eyes smile, and I found I am a sucker for your handsome smiling eyes.” She reached up and touched those very smiling eyes. She drew his face down and kissed each corner of the eyes, right where they closed.

He leaned in and kissed her fervently, his lips taking their time exploring hers. “I agree with Richard, but I have my own reasons for that. May I ask why Sparks?”

She leaned in and kissed his lips, something she was becoming quite dependent on, even though it made it hard to think straight. “When I first came to Pemberley he and I would talk about what it was like working for you. He would tell me stories of the things you did for the servants and it made me look at you in a different light. He just respected you so much it was like I could not help but see the generous and kind man that you are. I began to see you differently then.” Elizabeth had to admit that Sparks occupied a tender place in her heart.

Darcy grinned. “But since he was going to poke my innards with the pitchfork and feed me to the chickens I would have to say we had better name the last one after Richard. Should it be Rick or Rich?”

“Ricky. So we have a Lizzy, a Fitz, a Sara, a Jane, a Caly, a Ricky, and what should we name the one after Georgiana?”

“I already call Georgiana Georgie, so that would not work.
How about Georgette?”

“Yes, Georgette.
I suppose that is all of them!” She leaned in and kissed him once again. She felt the warm sun caressing her face while his arms wrapped around her and caressed her back.

Darcy had a surprise for her and it seemed like the right time. “Can I show you something? I think you will truly enjoy it.”

Elizabeth didn’t want to let go but she did and she looked up at his face. His eyes were smiling back at her. He took her hands from around his chest and kissed the inside of her wrists. It made her heart flutter just like it was the first time. “I should have never told you that was one of my favorite kisses, because now you will do it all the time and I will have to endure its effect on my body. But show me what you wish.”

“First let us stop by the house. You never ate luncheon and I need to collect something while you eat. I will meet you by the front door in thirty minutes. Oh, and you might need your pelisse.” She looked at him suspiciously.

“It is two o’clock in the afternoon, and plenty warm outside. Will we be gone long?”

“Perhaps, but a gentleman cannot tell all his secrets!” He laughed quite naturally considering all that occurred in the last few hours.

*****

“I believe we have a date, Mr. Darcy.” Elizabeth said, tying her pelisse as she met him at the door. He had a satchel draped across his shoulder with a large rectangular object, wrapped in
paper, that was sticking out of the bag. The satchel was full of something bulky as well, but she couldn’t tell what it was.

“Indeed we do, Mrs. Darcy. Shall we?” He offered his arm and she took it. He led her north, past the gardens towards the river. He continued walking and they talked the whole time, reminiscing about how they met, how they had each changed, and how they had grown over the last few months. “So when
were you first physically attracted to me?” he asked.

“I would have to say it was watching your graceful form when we danced at Netherfield. It was the first time I imagined being held by you and the thought shocked me so much I could not trust my feet
to make the movements correctly.” She smiled to herself as she remembered it.

“You cannot have it both ways, either I am graceful or clumsy . . . which one?” he teased. It bothered him that she thought him clumsy.

“When you are on the dance floor you are quite graceful. It is the same when I see you ride your horse. But in situations where you feel awkward, like feeding the chickens, you become quite inept. Why do you think the chickens still frighten you?” She looked up at him curiously.

“A simple three kilogram farm animal does not scare the master of Pemberley.” he said jokingly, but then turned serious. “Only one thing scares me, Elizabeth, and that is losing you.” He stopped and she turned towards him. He leaned down and kissed her, pulling her waist close and feeling her warmth against him. His heart was racing and he felt short of breath. He slowly released her and said, “Do you need more convincing of that fact?” She smiled and nodded. He kissed her a few more times, then once more on her forehead before he took her hand to continue walking. They were making good progress and had reached the trees by the river. He motioned with his free arm up above them. “So? What do you think? Do you see one you like?”

Elizabeth looked up and realized they were under an enormous cedar tree canopy. “We are looking for a tree for our swing?” He grinned back at her. She threw her arms around his neck and embraced him. His strong arms lifted her off the ground and he twirled her in circles. “Oh, William! This is exactly what I want to be doing with you after a day like today! Is that what is in the satchel?”

He had never held her so close and his body was on fire. Her excitement and joy was catching. “Yes, but I was hoping you might need a little convincing.”

              She pulled away and smiled, and then in a very serious voice said, “I do, I must demand you change my mind in any way you can think of.”

“You should not have said that.” He reached for her hair and started unpinning it. Lock by lock her curls fell around her face and
neck. He looked into her beautiful brown eyes and caressed her cheek. Her hair blew into her face and he brushed the tresses away, making sure to let his fingers comb through them all the way to the ends. He repeated this gesture, tucking the shorter curls behind her ear. “I love running my fingers through your hair; I think it is one of my greatest weaknesses; that and your fine eyes.” He leaned in and gently pulled her hips towards him, and then captured her lips with his. His hands continued running through her hair as he kissed her. He was overcome with her lavender and clean linen scent. Her sweet lips parted momentarily and he felt complete bliss for a moment. He whispered, quite out of breath, “Are you convinced yet? Are you sure you want to find the perfect place for a swing?” She still had her eyes closed and he kissed them.

Something like an affirmative moan came out of her throat. She opened her eyes and tried to regain her composure. “I might warn you, however, that distracting me might just take longer to find the perfect place for a swing.”

“Distracting? I thought I was convincing you!” They both laughed out loud.

Elizabeth slipped out of his arms to begin evaluating the trees. They were big enough, and there was a river nearby, but it wasn’t quite right. She closed her eyes and tried to remember her dreams. “The river was on the left.”

“Was? What do you mean?”

She blushed, realizing that she let it slip that she had seen the place for the swing before. “I have . . . well, I have dreamed about the swing a few times.
Perhaps more than a few times. Ever since our wedding night I have had dreams of you pushing me on the swing under a cedar tree by a river.” She blushed deeper than she ever had before, the color reaching all the way to her ears.

Darcy noticed the deep scarlet blush and he closed the distance between them, “You have been dreaming of us since our wedding night? I thought I was the only one afflicted with that disorder.” He put his arms around her and kissed the top of her head again. “And were they good dreams?”

“Oh yes, it was basically the same dream over and over again but it just kept getting better. That is all.” She wasn’t quite ready to tell the details of the dream.

He sensed that she didn’t want to tell him about it at the moment but was grateful to know it was more than some silly plaything they were looking for. He was very pleased she had been dreaming of him for so long. He was content to simply gaze at her. “Then there is another spot that might work better, but we will have to cross the river back at the bridge.” He took her hand and led her back the way they came. They reached the bridge and crossed it, making their way towards the next grove of cedar trees. They walked hand in hand for about ten minutes when she let out a delighted cry.

“Yes, William! That is it! That big one right there! It is perfect!” She let go of his hands and started twirling as she looked up at the branches.

He took the satchel off his shoulder. He had never imagined seeing her so happy; his heart felt like it would burst with joy to see her so delighted. His voice cracked a little as he said, “Are you sure? I could try to convince you . . .” She had been so free with her kisses and embraces that he was hungry for more. He let his mind wander and evaluate her spinning body as she looked up at the branches. She was tiny, but strong. Her hips were curvy and feminine. Her waist was small enough that he could nearly wrap his hands around it. She was perfectly made for his arms. And tonight, yes tonight, he would know far more than he did.

“William? Are you well?”

His mind snapped back to the voice he loved so much. “What did you say?”

“I asked you how we were going to hang it, but you were just looking at me with a funny look on your face.” She walked over to him and rested her hand on his cheek. “Are you well?”

It was his turn to flush a deep red at the realization that he had let his imagination run free again. He would have to wait just a little longer before he could explore her world without restraint. And he would. He would show her everything he felt for her. “I am beyond
well. I am as happy as I can be, but I think you might need to convince me of that fact one more time.”

Elizabeth grinned, “Well, I am not sure I know how . . .
will you show me?” She flirted with the sway of her hips before she tilted her head up and closed her eyes.

“Come here, you minx!” He took her firmly by the waist and wrapped his arms around her before he smothered her face with kisses. His lips finally made it to her lips, and there they stayed for quite some time. He let out a sigh, and brought her head to his chest. If he wasn’t careful he might just go exploring right there under the tree for more than a place for a swing.

Elizabeth had never been so happy. The simple act of holding him was invigorating and captivated every sense of her body. When he pulled her closer, it wasn’t close enough, when he kissed her gently it wasn’t enough. When she held his arms around his back they were eager to feel the shape and tone of his muscles. She wanted to be closer to him than ever before. She took a deep breath and the scent of the cedar trees was overwhelming. He had been thoughtful enough to realize how important the swing was to her, and in spite of all that had happened, had moved quickly to ensure that she had it. She didn’t even have to tell him why she wanted a swing. She knew he would give her anything her heart desired, but this simple combination of rope and a piece of wood meant more than any jewels, carriage, or fancy gown.

He loved her enough to value what she valued. He loved her enough that in the middle of
all of the Wickham ordeal, he would have his staff make a swing just for her, without knowing why it was so important. Likewise with the chickens; he didn’t know why they were so important to her until yesterday, but he was faithful in feeding them and caring for them. He was just as concerned as she was, simply because he knew they were important to her. She had once thought him kind and generous; now she knew he was deeply thoughtful and observant as well. She never had to say that the chickens were important to her. He instinctively knew. She also now knew him to be very passionate, and it was a side of him that he was just starting to show her, a side she was eager to fully see tonight. She now understood that beneath his proud surface, he was tender and emotional, and this knowledge helped her understand all those times his voice would crack and get deep. She now knew him to be sensitive to those around her. She once thought him quiet and reserved but he was playful and jovial with the right group of people— especially with her, and that pleased her. Yes, her Mr. Darcy was everything she needed and wanted in a husband.