A Baby at Pemberley Read online

  "Good heavens, Mr. Darcy. You noticed little details like that?"

  "I sure did."

  "But you hardly looked at me all night."

  "Don't you believe it."

  She sat in silence for twenty seconds or so, obviously thinking about his comments, and her mouth curved in an enigmatic smile as she stared dreamily out the window. Then her voice turned silky as she murmured, "So what did you see? What did I take off first?"

  He ran his palms along his thighs. "Elizabeth, we are nearly home..."

  "Come on," she urged. "Don't be a spoilsport. Tell me."

  He took a deep breath. "The dress."

  "Did I lower it very, very slowly and then step out of it?"

  Darcy gulped. "Yes. And then you just stood there looking incredibly sexy in slippers with no stockings—just your long, slinky legs all bare."

  "And a silk chemise."

  Darcy groaned. "If you don't stop, I am going to start undressing you right here, right now."

  "Actually," Elizabeth murmured, "my undergarments were more see-through lace than silk."

  "Elizabeth!"

  "Stop tormenting me."

  "I'm sorry."

  She didn't sound sorry in the slightest, but as the carriage swung off the main road and onto the track leading into Pemberley she lapsed into silence again.

  "Nearly home," he said, thinking of bed...and Elizabeth in there with him...and wanting her to know how very, very happy he felt tonight.

  "You know," he said, with his eyes on the bumpy track ahead, "I'm still madly in love with you, Elizabeth. It's not a settled, comfortably married feeling at all. I—" How could he explain the vital and urgent need he felt for her? "It's like I'm burning—do you understand?"

  She didn't answer.

  "Elizabeth?"

  Turning to look at her, he discovered she had fallen asleep. Even as he watched her head lolled sideways until it came to rest on his shoulder.

  "Sleeping Beauty," he whispered with a wry grin as the driver negotiated the vehicle through the black night. Actually, when he thought about the way she'd been teasing him, Sleeping Wicked Fairy was more appropriate.

  But he was content for now to enjoy the gentle pressure of her head on his shoulder and the silky feel of her soft curls brushing his neck.

  She was still asleep when they pulled to a halt at the foot of Pemberley's front steps.

  "Elizabeth," he said softly, giving her a gentle nudge. "We're home."

  She didn't move.

  Smiling ruefully, Darcy looked at her. Her dark lashes didn't flicker as they lay in thick half-moons against her pale cheeks. Her breathing was deep and slow. He gave her one more little shake. Time for bed, Elizabeth."

  Again there was no sign that she heard him. He told himself that it was hardly surprising that she was exhausted. She hadn't had a decent night's sleep since Finn had arrived and then there had been all the work for the ball, plus the emotional ordeal of handing the baby back to Lydia.

  She probably needed to sleep for a week.

  Lifting her out of the carriage, he carried her up the front steps. The butler held the door open, and Darcy carried her up the grand staircase to their bedchamber. When he laid her gently on the bed, she still didn't stir.

  A chuckle bubbled low in his throat. He'd left Colonel Fitzwilliam's place earlier this afternoon, full of plans to come home to an emotional reunion and a night of passionate love making.

  Now, when he brushed his lips across Elizabeth's relaxed mouth, there wasn't a glimmer of a response. She lay like a rag doll, dead to the world.

  Not a chance of passion.

  He pulled off her slippers and stockings. "You're a wicked little temptress," he whispered. "But I love you."

  He longed to touch her. Wanted her so badly! Remembering again the conversation in the carriage, he groaned. It was hard to see the funny side of this—the ironic contrast between Elizabeth's teasing fantasy and this frustrating reality.

  However, there was nothing to do but to draw the sheet up to her chin, undress and take a cold bath and prepare for a night of torture. After a week of painful separation, he had to lie next to his exquisitely tempting wife while he let her sleep the deep sleep she justly deserved.

  ***

  Elizabeth woke, out of habit, at first light and lay for a few puzzled minutes, trying to remember what had happened the night before. The last thing she remembered was driving home from town. They'd waved happy farewells to Lydia and Colonel Fitzwilliam as the couple stood with blissful arms wrapped around each other.

  But she couldn't remember anything about arriving back at Pemberley. How had she got into bed? Why was she still in her chemise?

  She rolled sideways...and smiled softly as she discovered the man in her bed. A dark-haired, sleeping man, as beautiful as a Greek god.

  Wow! This was her favorite fantasy. She nestled into her pillow as she lay on her side and gazed at him. He really was something. She'd always fancied guys with those cute dimples in their chins. Should she dare to lift the sheet and take a peek at the rest of him?

  Of course she should.

  Kneeling, she pulled away the fine white sheet and gasped as she uncovered the startling beauty of this naked man. From his broad shoulders and deeply muscled chest, feathered with dark hair, to his slim waist, narrow hips and strong, long legs, he was every inch a god.

  Every inch!

  What would he do if he woke up and found her naked beside him? The very thought made her limp with longing. But it was an irresistible thought. Still in her kneeling position, she slowly pulled her chemise over her head.

  And as she tossed it aside the god's eyes opened. She was staring into the deepest depths. She was diving into them...drowning in them... He was bone-melting gorgeous!

  She wanted to touch him. Needed him to touch her.

  "Good morning," he said, smiling.

  "Good morning."

  He reached towards her and sent delicious shivers over her skin as he traced the line of her collar-bone. "Do you always look this beautiful in the mornings?"

  She felt her cheeks and several other parts of her body burst into flame. "I look even better at night."

  His hand massaged her shoulder, slowly, slowly. "That's impossible."

  Breathless now, she only just managed to reply, "Hang around, Adonis, and you can find out."

  "The name's Darcy," he said as his other hand reached for her opposite shoulder and he drew her down on top of his long, hard body. "And I'll hang around just as long as you like. I can promise you that." Then his hand slid up to her nape and he pulled her head down to his.

  "Any other promises?" she whispered as their lips brushed.

  With a soft growl, he drew her even closer till his mouth was at her ear and he whispered a drawn-out list of sensational, dazzling promises.

  "Oh, Mr. Darcy," she whispered huskily.

  And he proceeded to carry out each promise.

  One by one.

  They took rather a long time. The sun had risen well and truly and was streaming in through the deep bay window and spilling across the floor to their bed by the time the final promise was fulfilled and Elizabeth and Darcy lay quiet and happy, in no hurry to get on with the working day.

  Resting on one elbow, Darcy propped his head on his hand as he smiled at Elizabeth.

  "I still haven't given up, you know."

  He lifted his head to look into her eyes. "Given up? What do you mean?"

  "I mean I still haven't given up hoping we'll have a baby of our own one day."

  "Really?"

  "I feel more confident than ever that we'll have our own baby." It was ridiculous the way her heart leapt. "I don't want to think too much into it now, but I did miss my monthly. But more time is needed to officially know if I am with child."

  Darcy sank back against the pillow at the news. "Wow!" He couldn't help grinning.

  She smiled back at her husband. "It's only a feeling, William. I'm afra
id feelings don't run to details." Reaching out, he traced the surface of her tummy.

  "William," she said quickly, feeling suddenly anxious. She closed her hand over his, stopping its movements. "You know we can't afford to be carried away by vague feelings. I've had more than my fair share of them in the past."

  But even though she spoke cautiously, she couldn't suppress a little leap of excitement in her chest. Darcy was so in tune with the land, with nature. What if he was right about this, too?

  She released his hand again and watched his face soften as he rested his palm with fingers spread wide on her pale, flat stomach. It was as if he were feeling something beyond words.

  "Maybe I am being foolish," he said. "Or maybe our baby is being conceived right at this minute."

  Elizabeth's breath caught. She couldn't help wondering... hoping...

  But no. She knew the pitfalls of that particular track. "What will be will be," she said.

  Dropping a warm kiss on her forehead, he lifted his hand from her stomach. Gently he stroked her cheek. "You're so right."

  "For the time being," Elizabeth told him, "I'm just going to concentrate on you."

  "That sounds so good," Darcy murmured as he dipped his head and pressed his mouth to the inside of her elbow. "While you're concentrating on me, would you like me to give you some hints?"

  "Sure."

  "It'll take a while."

  "You have a list?" she asked with a delicious shiver as he kissed and nibbled his way up her arm.

  "Oh, yes, a very, very long list."

  Elizabeth smiled. "That's fine." She snuggled closer. "I have plenty of time and an excellent memory."