Mr. Darcy's Christmas Wedding, page 6
Elizabeth touched his cheek and shook her head. “I have no doubt, William.”
He was touched by her use of his Christian name for it was the first she had made use of it. Groaning with the frustration of a man who wishes to make violent love to his beloved, Mr. Darcy placed Elizabeth on the bench beside him and opened the carriage door. He rushed out and stood waiting for her allowing the cold air of the night to temper his passion.
She appeared in the doorway and he took hold of her before she might take one step out of the carriage. He lifted her easily from the conveyance and placed her feet on the ground.
“Let us hurry and marry my Elizabeth before I put you back inside my carriage and ravish you on the way home.”
Her cheeks flamed a bright pink at his words, but she took his hand and led him into the blacksmith’s shop.
There was another couple before them and Elizabeth watched as they were wed. The blacksmith brought the hammer down on the anvil and the ringing hurt her ears but she stepped forward with Mr. Darcy when the other couple rushed into the night hand in hand now husband and wife.
When at last Mr. Darcy promised to love and cherish her, Elizabeth repeated the vows back to him and the blacksmith waited while Mr. Darcy reached into his pocket and pulled out a smaller ring to place on the finger that held her simple ruby ring. It was a band of gold that was burnished with time. She knew it must be a family heirloom and she swallowed her emotion at being honored in such a way by the man she had come to love so dearly.
She thought again of how she had nothing to give to him and her heart squeezed. Mr. Darcy took her hand and dropped something in the palm, a smile upon his face.
Elizabeth looked down to find a matching golden band that would fit him and she eagerly placed it upon his finger. Bringing his hand to her lips, she kissed it as he had kissed the clasp of her necklace.
The blacksmith struck the anvil again with the hammer and Mr. Darcy swept her off her feet again and thanked the man. He carried her to the carriage and kissed her until she was breathless.
“Home as quickly as you may, driver!” he called as he helped her into the carriage.
Elizabeth sat and waited as he climbed quickly in beside her. He pulled her into his lap again and kissed the rings upon her finger and moved to her neck pushing the rubies aside. His mouth was hungry for her and Elizabeth hoped they might make it home before he consummated their vows.
“William,” she whispered, her voice brimming with joy, “you must regain your composure, dearest. I would not wish this carriage to be as our marriage suite.”
Mr. Darcy stopped and looked into her eyes. “Mrs. Darcy, surely you must think me a brute! I only wish to kiss every inch of your perfect skin and declare you mine. Would you deny your husband that thrill?”
Elizabeth cradled his face. “I would not for your kisses are my due and I will have them in full measure.”
He left all propriety aside and seared Elizabeth’s skin wherever it was exposed with the brand of his tongue. Mrs. Darcy truly melted before this onslaught and the short miles from Gretna Green back to Carlisle passed far too soon for her taste.
When they arrived at last to Fitzwilliam Manor, he helped her arrange her hair again and replaced her fur stole. She straightened his cravat and smoothed his jacket as he shrugged his shoulders to hurry and put it back on.
The servants were gathered in front with Mr. Bennet. Lydia and Captain Denny had not come out and Elizabeth was grateful for she did not wish to have her joy displayed before her sister.
Mr. Darcy carried her over the threshold and declared to all present she was their new mistress. Cheers went up and soon the crowd was inside filling the ballroom of Fitzwilliam Manor. It was decorated for their second wedding in a weeks’ time and Elizabeth danced until the wee hours of morning with her new husband.
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THE END
Also by April Floyd
Austen Inspired
The Parson of Pemberley
No Promise of the Kind
Mr. Darcy’s Brides
Spells Spoken Lightly
Darcy & Lizzy
Mr. Darcy’s Good Opinion
Mr. Darcy’s Debt
Properly Humbled
Clever Compromises
Miss Bennet and the Beast
A Match Made in Mayfair
Mr. Darcy’s Christmas Wedding
The Lost Heir Series:
Mrs. Fitzwilliam
The Colonel’s Son
Mrs. Darcy
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Christian Fiction/Romance
Cassidy Jane
Courting Cassidy Jane
Wedding Cassidy Jane
About the Author
April Floyd is a wanderer of the world and lover of great stories who now resides in the Last Frontier with her husband and youngest child. Days are spent doing the mom thing, managing the house, and dreaming up new variations for Elizabeth and Darcy.
www.authoraprilfloyd.com
authoraprilfloyd@gmail.com
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APRIL FLOYD, Mr. Darcy's Christmas Wedding
