Page 97 of The Widower of Pemberley

Without dressing up further, the whole group went to the drawing room, and Elizabeth sat at a desk and wrote steadily for the next hour while Darcy and Georgiana distracted Emily.

After this, Elizabeth stood and shook out her hand. “I am somewhat less behind in my correspondence now.”

“Your family and friends are most important to you,” Darcy said. “You must find the time to write your letters to them.”

“Is that an order?” she asked, her eyes bright.

“If that will make it easier to attend to a task that I know will bring you joy.”

Elizabeth pressed her hand against her lips. She nodded furiously. “Thank you—I might write another letter later, then. Before church.”

That night they retired early as Darcy wanted to give Elizabeth every chance to catch up on her sleep.

As soon as the two of them entered their private sitting room, to Darcy’s surprise, Elizabeth kissed him passionately.

The next half an hour went by in a happy glow that would frequently recur in Darcy’s memories and thoughts over the years.

But when he went to leave her bed that night, Elizabeth clutched at him and said, “Please stay tonight.”

“You must prefer to be alone.”

“I feel happier when you are with me,” she replied.

Her response shot through Darcy like a lightning bolt.

Surely she could not really mean it?

He lay down with her and held her close. She fell asleep within a few minutes with her head on his chest. Darcy concentrated hismind on the tickle of her hair over his bare chest, the sound of her slight snore, and the way that his whole side felt warm from her body heat.

He slowly fell asleep next to Elizabeth.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Elizabeth was woken by Emily giggling and shouting, “Papa! You aren’t supposed to sleep in Mama Lizzy’s bed! It is so droll.”

Elizabeth sat up, clutching the sheets around her. The line of her husband’s delightful leg was pressed against hers.

Poor Rose had immediately turned round as soon as she had understood the situation, but the redness from her blush had gone to the back of her neck.

Emily pouted and pointed. “Mama Lizzy! Tell Papa not to sleep in your bed. He’s not supposed to be there.”

“But I like him here,” Elizabeth replied.

“He’s supposed to be inhisbed.”

Darcy sat up, also with the sheet wrapped around himself. He said in a voice that was admirably unembarrassed, “Emily, go with Rose for breakfast.”

“You are supposed to sleep inyourbed.”

“I am playing ‘husband and wife’ with Mama Lizzy,” Darcy replied in a lightly amused tone. “And sleeping in the same bed is part of the game.”

“Oh.” Emily thought about it. “In that case it is permitted.”

“Go and have breakfast with Rose,” Darcy repeated, “and we shall follow you out and take a walk. But I must play husband and wife with Mama Lizzy a little more.”

It was awfully difficult for Elizabeth not to giggle at the wholly serious manner with which Darcy spoke, but she managed.

“But I want to play too!”