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Emma sat up, rubbing her eyes with both hands as Elizabeth knelt before the rocker. “My goodness, how you have grown,” she cooed. She held out her hands to see if Emma would come to her and was dismayed when the child turned her head to bury it in Kitty’s bosom.

“I fear she is very grumpy when she is awakened,” Lydia remarked. “Do not let it bother you. As soon as she gets used to you, she will fall into your arms and refuse to let you put her down.”

Though disappointed, Elizabeth tried not to let it show. Running her hand over Emma’s soft, dark brown curls, she said, “I cannot wait to have a little girl.”

“I am surprised you are not with child already,” Lydia remarked off-handedly. As it happened, her back was to Elizabeth, and she had no idea of the sad expression that crossed her sister’s face—one that was quickly replaced by a faux smile.

“Perhaps God will bless me with one ere long,” Elizabeth replied.

Not willing to tell her sisters that she and William had not truly become man and wife yet, she changed the subject. “When may I tell William to expect you at Pemberley? Say the word and I shall have Cook prepare a sumptuous dinner and have Mrs. Reynolds arrange guest rooms for all of you.”

“As I said before, I feel obligated to keep the bakery on the same schedule as Mrs. Potter. Therefore, I can only visit after the shop closes on Saturdays or all day on Sundays. Of course, Kitty is welcome to stay with you as much as she wishes.”

Kitty immediately interjected, “I would love to stay longer, but Lydia needs my help with Emma.”

“Goodness!” Elizabeth declared, chuckling. “You both sound so businesslike that I do not recognise either of you.” Her quip made both her sisters blush. “In any case, if you can come Saturday evening and stay until Sunday evening, that would be wonderful.”

“I accept your invitation for the both of us,” Lydia replied. “I shall try to close early on Saturday, but I can make no promises, as it depends on the number of customers coming in then.”

“I completely understand,” Elizabeth replied, placing a hand on Lydia’s shoulder. “Though I fear it may take some time before I adjust to having a sister clever enough to run a bakery.”

“No more so than we must acclimate to having a sister who is the mistress of Pemberley,” Kitty replied with a wry grin.

All three of them began to laugh, which spurred Emma to begin laughing, too.

It had taken hours for William and his steward to walk the property lines that were in dispute between two tenants and for said tenants to agree to a plan that satisfied both. Now covered in dust and mud from head to toe, he and Mr. Sturgis mounted their horses and turned them towards the manor house.

William had not been out of Elizabeth’s company this long since before she was injured, and he was astonished at how much he ached to see her. Praying she had already returned from Lambton he kicked Zeus into a gallop to get home as quickly as possible. If Mr. Sturgis was not used to riding hard, he said nothing, but valiantly strove to keep up with his employer. Once at the front steps, they both dismounted and headed up whilst the stable boys came to take their horses.

In the foyer, William watched Mr. Walker quickly descend the grand staircase towards them. “Is Mrs. Darcy at home?” he asked the old butler.

“No, sir. She has not yet returned from Lambton.”

“I see. Please have hot water sent to my dressing room and allow Sturgis the use of a room to wash up, too. I feel as though I walked across every ploughed field in Derbyshire today and accumulated enough dust to form another farm. I am certain that Sturgis does as well.” Sturgis said nothing but nodded his agreement.

“Of course, sir,” Walker replied.

Suddenly, recalling that if he let his beard go unshaven for long, it would scratch Elizabeth’s delicate skin, he added, “Also, please inform Mr. Adams that I would like a shave after I bathe.”

“Right away,” Walker replied, turning to do as asked.

William then addressed Sturgis. “I have changed my mind about tomorrow. I had rather spend it entirely with my wife. Just assume your regular schedule until I send for you again.”

“Yes, sir.” With a curt bow, the steward waked away and William bounded up the stairs two at a time.

After bathing and being shaved by Adams, William dismissed his valet, telling him there was no reason to return unless he was summoned. Determined to spend the rest of the day alone with Elizabeth, he intended to tell Mollie the same thing when he encountered her. Wearing only his breeches, an untucked shirt and the slippers he donned indoors, he splashed himself with a bit of the sandalwood cologne that Elizabeth loved and peered at himself in the mirror. His hair was tousled, something his wife decreed that she adored, so he did not bother with a brush. Instead, he crossed his bedroom to the door leading into the sitting room they shared.

The moment William opened the door, his breath caught. Elizabeth, her silky, dark hair falling over her shoulders, was sitting in the window seat, and she stood at his entrance. No longer wearing the gown she had donned that morning, she appeared to be wearing very little beneath a peach-coloured silk robe. Instantly his body responded, and he knew he must quickly overrule its objective.

As these thoughts were flying through his head, Elizabeth stepped towards him, placed both hands on his chest and slid them up until they locked behind his head. Just as quickly, her fingers entwined with the curls at the nape of his neck.

“I love it when your hair is left natural,” she whispered, tugging at his curls. “Have I told you that these curls captivate me?”

William wished to reply that she had, but his mouth was so dry he could not form words. Rising on the tips of her toes, Elizabeth captured his lips with hers. A kiss that started gently quickly escalated into a very passionate one.

Suddenly recalling he must control his desires, William broke off the kiss. Burying his face in Elizabeth’s hair, he pulled her closer to murmur, “Oh, sweetheart. If only we could finish what we start … what we both desire.”

Elizabeth nuzzled his ear, whispering, “We can, my darling. I am almost completely restored to health, so there is no reason to put off our desires any longer.”