Free Darcy Saga 01 Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy by Sharon Lathan Page B

and... frankly, I did not anticipate... our... joining being so wonderful!"
    In a rush of emotions, Lizzy conquered her shyness and embarrassment. She lifted up and actually glared at her husband, as if challenging him to give an explanation.
    Darcy experienced a profound wave of relief and, truth be told, no minute amount of egotistical satisfaction at her confession, so he laughed.
    Her eyes opened wide and then narrowed dangerously. "Fitzwilliam Darcy! Do not laugh at me. This is serious."
    He hugged her tight to his chest and kissed her cheek and, still chuckling, captured her face in his hands and held her eyes intently with his shining blue ones. "Elizabeth, you delight me so. I honestly divulged my virginity to you, and I am abundantly thankful the situation arose for me to do so. I entered our marriage inexperienced, beloved, with no practical knowledge. However, I never claimed to be uneducated. I told you how precocious I was and how adamantly my father assured my education. There are many ways to learn, and Pemberley has a very extensive library."
    Lizzy's eyes widened and then she laughed. She kissed him lightly. "Will you show me these books, Fitzwilliam?" she asked, smiling wickedly.

    It was nearing ten o'clock before they finally arose from their tousled bed. Darcy was quite famished again and needed coffee. He rang for breakfast while Elizabeth retired to her dressing room to freshen up. Darcy also took the time to clean himself up, pulling on a shirt and breeches at random.
    The breakfast tray arrived just as Elizabeth reentered the room. She had clad herself in a lovely burgundy gown that Darcy had never seen before. Her face was pink from washing, and she had hastily pulled her hair back with a white ribbon, so it hung as a tail down her back. Darcy was struck anew by how beautiful she was and how marvelous it was to be married so he could view her in such casual attire. Elizabeth was thinking the very same thought. She adored how handsome her husband looked with his shirt loosely tucked and open at his neck, feet bare. He was handsome in his complete dress, but here was a picture of him that only she would be privy to.
    After a quick kiss, they sat down. Elizabeth curled up in the chair, tucking her feet under her. She poured coffee for Darcy and tea for herself. The simple task of serving her husband sent a surge of happiness through her heart. For his part, Darcy could not cease staring at her. After all that had transpired yesterday and last night and this morning, it still seemed dreamlike that they had finally arrived at this place when, for so long, he had despaired of ever being with her.
    "You are staring, Mr. Darcy. Do I have a distracting blemish on my face?" she teased.
    He laughed, "Sorry, my dear. No, you do not have any blemishes. I am entranced by your beauty, that is all."
    "Quite the flatterer you have become, sir. So charming. Who would believe it of you?"
    "Well, as I intend to save my best flattery for when we are alone, no one would believe you even if you were to inform them."
    "So, am I to infer that you will be devising and practicing said flattery beforehand? If so, you must remember to give as unstudied an air as possible."
    Darcy grinned at her reference. "Perhaps I shall occasionally plan my flattery; however, as you are well aware of how uncreative I am, my dear, I would imagine that the pleasing compliments will usually proceed from the impulse of the moment."
    They both laughed and she threw a grape at him. "Ridiculous man! Read your newspaper and let me eat in peace!"
    He did his best to comply with her request, discovering that it was quite challenging to focus on world events with her across the table. As the meal proceeded, they both relaxed. Neither of them knew it at the time, but they were innocently setting the stage for what was to become a morning ritual for the rest of their lives. Except for those occasions when guests were present or business separated them, they