At breakfast Darcy and Elizabeth agreed to not include Jane for the time being after the previous night seemed to upset her.
"Was she better this morning,? Darcy asked.
"She was calm. I think she is simply ashamed," Elizabeth replied.
"I wonder at you not feeling similar after your recent behavior, my dear."
Elizabeth laughed, "I am sorry to disappoint, sir, but you will get no such reaction from me and if we are talking shocking behavior I think you only need to find a looking glass to find a culprit."
"I will admit to my own culpability but what can one do when they fall madly in love with the country's most seductive flirt!"
"My apologies, sir, when you are near I cannot help myself. My body yearns for your attention. In truth I never imagined I could feel such, nor wish to please as much as I do. I could deny you nothing. It is very disconcerting to be completely in another's power, the risk is very great."
"I know precisely what you mean, my dear."
Jane walked in and Darcy stood and bowed while Elizabeth embraced her and spoke, "how are you dearest?"
Jane walked to the sideboard trying to order her thoughts. They all took their seats and then Jane spoke.
"I am not sure how I am. I can see the concern on your faces and I am grateful. I am ashamed of myself."
Elizabeth was the one to respond, "My dear Jane this is all our fault, we are the ones who are ashamed."
Darcy seconded that opinion.
"You both misunderstand me, I am not ashamed of what we did. I enjoyed the experience and feel completely comfortable with the two of you. I am, however, quite ashamed of my feelings when Mr Darcy was whispering those things to me, it wasn't my body's reaction as much as it was my mind's.
Jane could see their confused faces and tried to think of a way to explain why she felt like she did and continued. "I not only got excited by being called those names, in that moment I wanted to be those names. I wonder if I would have objected if Mr Darcy had dragged me in the street and let every man who walked by have a turn."
Darcy and Elizabeth gave each other a worried look. It was Elizabeth that asked hesitantly, "Do you feel that way now or was it just in the moment?
Jane laughed, "just in the moment, I assure you. I said I am ashamed of my thoughts but the more I think on it the more I realize I am more scared than ashamed, a thousand times more scared, I dare say. I trust your Mr Darcy but could you imagine if it was an unscrupulous man who discovered this about me? I shudder to think."
"You are under my protection," Darcy assured her.
"You have my most profound thanks, sir. I admit I prayed to hear those words come from your lips. I admit I do not trust myself but perhaps now I may rest a little easier."
Elizabeth added, "and we have agreed to leave you out of our escapades, for the time being at least."
Jane disagreed. "Oh no, I cannot agree to that! Unless I am unwanted, you mustn't."
Elizabeth assured her. "Of course you are wanted but we are concerned for you."
"Well, I have been given the assurances I require to feel safe so there is no longer any need for concern."
Elizabeth and Darcy were reluctant but acquiesced. They all seemed lost in their own thoughts and it was Darcy who asked the question they had all been thinking.
"And what of calling you names? Should we continue or stop?
Jane blushed, "I am not entirely sure I can live without it now. Not every time, I should say, and I hope you will not think ill of me but I would like to feel that over powering sensation again. It is a transforming experience."
Elizabeth chuckled, "well now I am a little jealous."
Darcy asked, "do you think it would work on you, my love?"
She responded, "no, I dare say, I do not. But I did feel something akin when you took me over your knee."
Jane gasped and looked to Darcy who put up his hands in front of him and responded.
"I got lost in the moment. I am surprised you didn't know why she had such a hard time riding to London."
Realization came to Jane. "That is why you needed to lay down in the carriage?" she giggled and pointed at her sister.
It was Elizabeth's turn to blush. "I wasn't sure if the authoritative proclivities of my betrothed would frighten you."
"Not in the least, do they frighten you?" asked Jane.
"On the contrary, I find them disconcertingly alluring."
"Disconcertingly?" Jane questioned
"Yes, quite disconcertingly. I was under the very mistaken impression that when it came to this part of our relationship that I would hold all the power. What a fool I was!"
Elizabeth looked to Darcy. "And now I must endure that very smug look on my beloved's face every time I am forced to admit such either vocally or when my body betrays me to him!"
They all had a good laugh and soon after Mrs Bennett walked in talking of nothing but gowns, lace and whatnot. They all listened with amusement rather enjoying a respite from the worries of the more serious previous discussion.
The ladies set off for more shopping. It would not end until Mrs Bennett was completely satisfied which to Jane and Elizabeth's minds would be never.
Darcy went to his study with a lighter step than usual. Elizabeth's admissions making him feel quite content, quite content indeed.
Dinner was a lively affair now that all the worry and tension was gone. Elizabeth and Jane complained of being dragged to every shop in London and Mrs Bennet criticized her two most ungrateful daughters.
Mr Darcy smiled and laughed wondering how he ever survived without the liveliness he now enjoyed. Even Mrs Bennet who he could scarcely tolerate in the beginning of their acquaintance brought such joy to his life by her eccentric antics.
He looked to Elizabeth who was looking at him with a raised eyebrow and gave her a resigned nod that suggested his acknowledgement of what she knew all along. Now that he embraced her family he could not countenance the thought of living without them in his life. He has never been so happy.
When dinner was over Mr Darcy held the door open, Mrs Bennet scurried out of the room first followed by Jane who gave him her thanks and a smile and finally Elizabeth who stopped before him and offered her cheek which he kissed and as she turned to leave his hand came crashing down on her ass.
Elizabeth startled. "And what was that for may I ask, sir?"
Darcy smiled, "for always being right and for daring to leave the world's most alluring bottom before me unprotected."
"Oh, I will be more careful with it in the future, sir, I assure you."
"Will you? I wonder my dear, it seems to me your bottom very much likes the attention it gets. I imagine that is the reason it sways so seductively when it knows my eyes are upon it."