Page 30 of Midnight at Pemberley

Elizabeth speculated, “He spoke of a desire to go to the front. He has no fear of dying, and he would have access to the bodies.”

Darcy considered her words. “As bizarre as it sounds your theory holds merit.”

Her jaw clenched as she studied him carefully. “Must you leave?”

“The preference I have shown you places you in danger. We said our flirtation would be for the memories.”

“For the memories,” she repeated softly.

Darcy leaned over her, lightly kissing her eyelids, which fluttered open like the wings of a hummingbird. “Ah, there you are,” she mumbled. “I attempted to stay awake until you arrived.”

“I am happy to just watch you sleep.” He kissed her temple before brushing a curl from her face.

Elizabeth rolled on her side and turned the coverlet back. “Come join me,” she invited.

Darcy slipped off his boots and crawled under the bed linens. He settled her into his arms. “Rest,” he said. “I am with you.”

Elizabeth wrapped her arms around him. She mumbled as she drifted back to sleep, “I adore our own cocoon while the rest of the world is suspended in sleep.”

“As do I, my Love.” Darcy kissed the top of her head. As she reclaimed sleep, he prayed the night would last forever, but when the first rays of daylight broke through the draped window, he gently rolled Elizabeth from him. “Wake, Vixen,” he whispered close to her ear. “It is nearly light, and I must leave you.”

Elizabeth wrapped her arms around his neck, but she did not open her eyes. “It is so warm here under the blankets.” She kissed his cheek as she pulled him down to her. Darcy nuzzled her neckline playfully, and Elizabeth giggled.

Then he kissed her with all the passion he felt. Darcy’s lips traveled from her face to her jaw and down her neck. Her pulse hammered there, and an ancient hunger drew him to the spot. His tongue circled it, teasing her. Elizabeth’s skin was pale in the light of the new dawn, and Darcy audibly groaned in an acknowledgment of what he most desired. He could barely tear his gaze from where her blood beat under the skin. He burned to possess her. At length, he snarled, “Sweetling, you are tempting, but I cannot maintain the spell forever.” Brushing his lips across hers, he whispered, “Before someone finds us together, we must part.” Then he rolled away from her, sitting on the edge of the bed to put on his boots.

Elizabeth crawled up on her knees behind him and slid her arms over his shoulders, her breath warm upon the side of his neck. “When will I see you again?”

“Unless danger is evident, you will not.” It hurt him to say the words, but Darcy knew she was in peril. “A servant from Netherfield will bring the ornaments we spoke of as a gift from the Bingley household later. Among them will be something special for you—a crucifix. It will be like the one I presented to Georgiana. It is made of iron, something to which Wickham’s sect is most susceptible. Promise me you will always wear it.”

“I promise.” She withdrew to sit cross-legged behind him on the bed, but Darcy did not turn. Even without touching, he felt her.

“You have given me a taste of the life I could never know otherwise,” he confessed.

“I did nothing.”

He continued, “Do what you must do to protect yourself from Wickham.You must convince everyone you despise me.”

Elizabeth fought back tears. “Everyone but me,” she whispered softly to his back.

As Mr. Darcy predicted, George Wickham, along with Mr. Denny, made a late afternoon call on the Bennet household. Stepping into the room with her eldest sister, Elizabeth experienced nausea at Wickham’s bravado, but for Darcy’s sake, she hid her contempt behind the semblance of a smile.

“Mr. Wickham.” She offered her hand, and he kissed the back of it.

“Miss Elizabeth, we came at once to know of your well-being,” Wickham began. “It grieves me that I did not personally see you home. The horror of such a discovery!”

Elizabeth said through tight lips, “It was incomprehensible, but I am recovering.”

Mr. Denny took the seat to which Jane gestured. “Colonel Forster, Miss, is conducting a thorough investigation.”

“I hope the woman finds peace in that.” Elizabeth and Jane settled together on a settee.

“You were missed at Mrs. Philips’s gathering,” Denny continued.

“It was not appropriate,” Jane declared, “under the circumstances.”

Wickham wasted no time in mentioning the reason for his visit. “I understand, Miss Elizabeth, that Mr. Darcy served as your rescuer.”

“Mr. Darcy was a gentleman in aiding my sister,” Jane asserted.