Part II
As the sun peaked out, the Darcy carriage pulled up to the parsonage. Darcy and the colonel emerged and found Elizabeth waiting on the steps, trunk at the ready.
"Good morning, good sirs."
They both bowed as Elizabeth courtseyed.
Darcy looked about.
"Is not Mr or Mrs Collins about, for us to take our leave?"
"It is very early, sir, and is not the idea of a quick start not to your liking?"
Darcy espied her dubiously and headed for the door. Elizabeth stepped into his path.
"Mr Darcy, if you knock on that door, I have no doubt you will beat, the sniveling poor excuse of a man, senseless. Would you not rather be merrily on our way?"
Darcy looked to the colonel then back to her.
"Will you promise to tell me why I should not knock?"
"I will be most delighted to, when we are too far away for you to turn back."
Darcy looked her over, she seemed well enough. Reluctantly he agreed and they set off.
Once inside Elizabeth was introduced to a young maid named Anna in Darcy's employ.
Darcy smiled at how at ease Elizabeth was with Anna, soon the two were giggling together and seemed like old friends.
After they had stopped to change horses Darcy asked the question most on his mind
"Will you tell me now why the Collins's did not see you off?"
Elizabeth looked towards Anna who was busy sewing.
"You can speak in front of Anna. Almost her entire family is employed with us. They are like an extended family and can be trusted."
Anna looked up and smiled.
"Very well, sir, as I did promise and might I be allowed to say how proud I am of you for waiting this long."
She turned to the colonel.
"Are you not shocked, colonel?"
The colonel chuckled, "I am indeed, I thought he would be chomping at the bit long before now."
"Mr Collins and I had a terrible row last night, once he found out of our courtship. Apparently some dunderhead informed Lady Catherine."
Anna looked up in shock and the colonel tried to cover his laugh.
"I was honorbound to inform her."
"My apologies, sir, I did not know you were said dunderhead."
"You very well knew who it was."
"I may have suspected, sir, but I, in fact, did not know for certain, so you cannot accuse me of a prevarication."
"Is all this simply a diversion to delay the telling of the pertinent parts of the story?"
"You are far too keen, sir. How will I ever get away with my schemes?"
Elizabeth could see Mr Darcy's patience was wearing thin. She took a deep breath.
"I was thrown from the house last evening, sir."
Darcy sat forward.
"Where did you sleep?"
"Under the stars, sir. It was a beautiful sky last night, do you not think?"
Mr Darcy became eeriely silent, Elizabeth thought.
"Before you begin blustering about, sir, let remind you that I currently sit before you relatively unharmed."
"You should have sent for me." Darcy said barely containing himself.
"I considered it, William, but then I thought there would be a commotion and Lady Catherine would be alerted. It seemed more prudent to bare it. Charlotte did come to my aid in the very early morning so I could wash and dress for today."
"If I ever see him again!"
Eventually Darcy calmed and they had a pleasant rest of day, until pulling into the inn they had intended to stay for the night, the carriage jolted unexpectedly and flung Elizabeth into the carriage wall. She cried out in pain.
"Elizabeth, what is wrong?"
Elizabeth took a moment for the pain to subside.
"It is just my shoulder, William, I should've been more careful."
"Whst is wrong with your shoulder?"
"It is just very sore from last night."
"I do not understand you, when was your shoulder injured?"
"When Mr Collins threw me from the house."
The carriage went silent. Darcy, the colonel and Anna all looked to Elizabeth in absolute shock. Elizabeth saw their expressions.
"I did say he threw me from the house."
When the carriage stopped Darcy leapt down calling for his horse to be untied. The colonel followed him endeavoring to talk some reason into him, eventually convincing him he shouldn't leave his Elizabeth unattended.
They had a private parlor for dinner. Everyone was very quiet as not to set Darcy off, he was talked out of returning to Rosings but only barely. Darcy rented the entire floor so each had their own room. Elizabeth hoped that meant she would be visited later by her very surly beau, considering her room was far from the others, she felt confident.
She was thinking of the possibility and gave him her most endearing smile. He grinned knowingly and smiled slightly. Elizabeth chuckled, 'it was progress', she thought.
After dinner Elizabeth feigned being tired and went to her room to prepare herself for him.
When Darcy entered her room she was waiting for him naked on top of the bed. Her body glowed in the candlelight, she took his breath away.
"Very scandalous, Mr Darcy," she whispered.
"It is scandalous how I find you. What if it was someone else?" He whispered back.
"Since you rented the entire floor, I felt safe in guessing who might sneak through my door like a thief in the night. Will you not come and warm me, it is a bit cold waiting like this."
"Why did you not wait under the covers?"
"Because I wanted you to have a pleasant sight when you entered. Did you not enjoy it?"
"I enjoyed it very much, as you very shortly will feel against you."
"Oh no, sir! Not that monstrous appendage again. What am I to do with it."
"I suspect we will think of something, miss."
Darcy got into bed and they cradled each other. He kissed her tenderly.
Elizabeth pressed her breasts into his chest, the sensation was intense but managable. She wanted him to ravage her but they needed to remain quiet.
Darcy could feel her breathing increase.
"Are you well, my love?"
"Yes, I am getting excited but it is manageable thus far."
"When we get to London I will procure a muzzle of some kind to suppress your screams."
"Would that be enough, do you think?"
