Yearning For You: A Pride and Prejudice Novella (A Blissful Mariage, Book 1 - Hot Mush Series) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Dedication

  Author’s Note

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Also by Lory Lilian

  Rainy Days

  Remembrance of the Past

  His Uncle’s Favorite

  The Perfect Match

  Sketching Mr. Darcy

  The Rainbow Promise

  A Man with Faults

  Ardently Loved

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Yearning for You

  Copyright © 2018 by Lory Lilian

  Cover design and layout by Ellen Pickels

  Dedication

  To my friend Joanita, who encouraged me to start this project and supported me in times of great distress during a rocky year. Love you, girl!

  Author’s Note

  About thirteen years ago, someone in the JAFF community called me the “Queen of Hot Mush.” I confess that, back then, I had no clue what “MUSH” meant. But I was deeply flattered nevertheless. I enjoy reading and writing hot romance involving Darcy and his Elizabeth.

  Therefore, this month, after talking with several JAFF friends, I decided to start a small “Hot Mush” project that I could work on at the same time as my regular, long books. This is the first in that series.

  Enjoy!

  Chapter 1

  Rain fell with stubborn insistence the entire morning, but the crowd gathered at Longbourn Church was more extensive than ever before—and rightfully so since it was the first double wedding the small town had ever seen. Furthermore, one of the two marriages still had people dumbfounded. Miss Elizabeth Bennet—one of the loveliest young ladies in the neighbourhood—married a man who refused to dance with her when they first met.

  The church could barely accommodate such a large party, and due to the adverse weather, nobody could step outside while they waited for their carriages. The curious glances were difficult to ignore, but Fitzwilliam Darcy succeeded. To him, nothing mattered except the realisation that Elizabeth was finally his wife and he had the right to be with her as much as he wished with little concern about propriety or other people’s opinions. She was his, just as he was hers, with all his thoughts, feelings, desires, and hopes—with all his mind and soul.

  Elizabeth stood by Darcy’s side, holding his arm tightly, and the touch of her fingers excited his skin through the thick fabric of his autumn clothes. She was talking gaily with his sister, Georgiana, and his aunt Lady Matlock. A little distance away, Lord Matlock and his son Colonel Fitzwilliam were conversing with Mr. Bennet and his brother-in-law Mr. Gardiner. Charles Bingley and his new wife, the former Jane Bennet, were in the midst of a discussion with the other Bennet ladies, their relatives, and their neighbours.

  Mr. Bennet’s cousin and heir, Mr. Collins, annoyingly bowed to him for the twentieth time that day, and Darcy generously returned the greeting—eventually. He could afford to be patient and generous; the din and agitation would soon end. He only had to bear the wedding breakfast, and then they would depart for London.

  They would be alone, although not at Pemberley as they wished and planned during their engagement. They were forced to stay in Town for the next two months at least—perhaps even more. There were events they must attend, and Lady Matlock insisted Elizabeth must be introduced to society. The Royal Theatre was about to open, and apparently, it was a significant event that no one of consequence could afford to miss. Darcy could not be less interested any of these events. Since he was a toddler, Darcy had been in the midst of such things, and he always obeyed the rules and did his duty for the benefit of his family and his name. Except—he did not choose the wife society expected of him. In that, his desires overcame his sense of duty, and his heart defeated his reason. He prayed and thanked the Lord every day for that choice.

  Georgiana and Elizabeth’s relationship was as affectionate as he hoped, and their sisterly bond was growing stronger. Georgiana lived only minutes away at her own house in Town with her companion, Mrs Annesley. Elizabeth suggested several times that they all live together, and he would be happy to do that—eventually. But for the next several months, he selfishly decided to keep Elizabeth to himself—at least most of the time. He knew they could not be alone as much as they—and especially he—would like. They would be involved in many and various events, and their time must be shared with London society as propriety demanded. He could not ignore the rules as he understood how important it was for the new Mrs. Darcy to have her proper place within a world that did not know her and likely would not readily accept her. Fortunately, all his relatives—except his aunt Lady Catherine—although shocked by the news of his marriage and first opposed to his choice, were now supportive. Their presence at the wedding on a cold, rainy, and windy October day proved their acceptance and reliance on his marriage. They had arrived two days before and stayed at Netherfield Park, generously expressing their good opinion of Bingley and the Bennets.

  Mrs. Bennet began to organize everyone. “We should leave now. The wedding breakfast is prepared at Longbourn House. How should we split up among the carriages? Upon my word, I doubt there were ever so many carriages in the neighborhood.”

  The din increased while the travel arrangements were made.

  Darcy struggled to be patient. It mattered little to him which carriage they would use to return to Longbourn, the number of people who might join them in the carriage, or whether he would have to listen to useless conversation. His patience would soon be repaid.

  Their engagement—although only a month long—had seemed endless, and the wedding ceremony, as lovely as it might have been, appeared to last for hours. But it would all end eventually, and he would be alone with Elizabeth. The moment their carriage began moving towards London, he would put his arms around her, and his lips would taste the sweet flavour of her mouth. He would remove her bonnet, and his fingers would play in her hair then caress her nape, her throat, her shoulders…

  “How are you, my love?’ Elizabeth suddenly whispered to him. Her eyes, full of tenderness and care, melted his heart.

  “Eager to finish all our duties and finally be away. Alone with you,” he whispered back.

  Her cheeks were already pinked by the cold air, so her pleased embarrassment went unnoticed. They moved a few steps away from the others, and he briefly took her gloved hand to his lips.

  “I share your eagerness, Mr. Darcy, but I am afraid you will have to use your well-known self-control a little longer. You will have to endure a long meal—with several courses my mother prepared most diligently—and more conversation and congratulations; only then can we depart and have everything to your liking,” she teased him.

  “You must know by now, Mrs. Darcy, that I desire to have everything to your liking,” he said with a husky voice and a dark gaze of silent promise. The colour in her cheeks increased, and her lips became dry. She licked them, and his eyes immediately moved to her mouth.

  From a little distance, Mr. Bennet watched the couple with a contented smile.
If anyone doubted the reason for Elizabeth’s acceptance of Mr. Darcy’s marriage proposal, every small gesture, word, or glance was proof of their devotion. That his Lizzy managed to fall in love with a man who loved her in return—and had enough wealth to buy half of Hertfordshire—Mr. Bennet could understand no more than the others. But as long as his favourite daughter was happy and her husband possessed a vast library that he was welcome to visit, his satisfaction was complete.

  The party finally returned to Longbourn, and the din moved inside to the elegantly arranged table filled with tasteful-looking dishes.

  While Elizabeth, Jane, and Bingley mingled with the guests, Darcy never moved towards the table. He was hungry and thirsty—but not for food. And every passing moment made him more so.

  Shortly, Lord Matlock approached him. “Darcy, we should leave soon. The weather seems to worsen. I hope your new relatives will not be upset at our short stay.”

  “Not at all, Uncle. We are all grateful for your presence. And I think it is wise to avoid any unnecessary delay. I would be more at peace knowing that you and Georgiana arrived in Town sooner and safely.”

  “Will you and Mrs. Darcy not join us?” the earl continued.

  “No…we must stay longer…there are still things we must do before our departure.”

  Darcy ended his reply abruptly, embarrassed by his own lie. He purposely planned their journey late in the afternoon. He knew, if they travelled with his relatives, even in separate carriages, that he could not have the privacy he desired. There would surely be delays, stops for tea, and who knows what else. Even when they reached London, their solitude would not be secure; there was still the danger of an invitation to visit. He carefully avoided any interruptions in the new life he had started with Elizabeth. They would travel with only the servants—to ensure their safety—and no one else.

  “As you wish,” the earl concluded. “We shall see each other in Town tomorrow then.”

  “Yes…yes…tomorrow…” Darcy mumbled.

  Bingley approached with a glass of wine and a broad smil. “Darcy, I cannot understand why you insist on leaving in such bad weather. You and Elizabeth can stay in an apartment at Netherfield.”

  Darcy patted his shoulder. “Do not speak nonsense, Bingley. I need to be with my wife in our own home—alone. As do you. Stop inviting everyone to spend the night at Netherfield. Tomorrow, after the first night with your wife, the last thing you want to see are enquiring glances from others at breakfast.”

  Bingley’s jaw dropped, and he gulped repeatedly. “Upon my word, you are right. I am such an idiot. My sisters will be there…this is terrible. How did I not think of that?”

  Darcy laughed. “Do not worry; it is not a complete tragedy. It is your house, and you may do as you please. Just let everyone know that you and Mrs. Bingley will spend the day privately—and ask that all your meals be served in your apartment.”

  “But Louisa and Caroline will be angry! They will not like to be ignored!”

  “Bingley, my friend, of all the women in your life, one must be most important, and her desires should be your main concern. It is time to decide who that woman is. Now I must leave you. I have already decided, so I shall join my wife.”

  ***

  For Elizabeth, the minutes passed painfully slowly. She loved her family and knew she would miss them dearly, but now she wished to be with her husband—alone.

  Their one-month engagement was a time of knowing each other, of shared love, of discovery and learning. Mostly, he was the teacher, and she tried to be a diligent pupil. She was happy and surprised to discover how little she truly knew about literature, theatre, politics, and many other things—compared to him—especially about passion. His professions of loving and admiring her ardently revealed new meanings to her, and she knew there was more to come—much more. Their first kiss was still vividly burned into her mind and soul. Since then, she felt herself wanting more and dreaming of everything they would share. She longed for their walks because she knew they meant stolen touches, caresses, and kisses and brought her closer to the completion of their love.

  She also felt a sharp grip of jealousy from time to time. His knowledge of such matters was obvious, and although she did not bring up the subject openly, she did allude to it several times, and he did not deny it.

  “My dearest Elizabeth, I beg you to believe me that I never in my life dreamed of having such love, passion, and desire for someone. Everything that occurred before the age of eight and twenty was only meant to help me become a man worthy of you—to make all your wishes come true and make you happy in every possible way.”

  That was what he had told her only two evenings before when they took a stroll in the garden before dinner, and she did not doubt a single word. But the slight jealousy was still there, just as was her continuous wonder at her incredible luck in winning the heart of such a man. She often feared she might wake up one morning and discover it was all a dream. And she was equally astonished to find that his fear was similar to hers.

  They were merely a couple of fools deeply in love who could not believe fate had been so kind to them. To dissipate such thoughts, they needed a little time. Alone. Just the two of them, as would inevitably happen before long. Only hours away.

  She walked among the guests, glancing at her husband. They needed few words to understand each other, as opposed to a year ago when all the words in the world could not save them from terrible misunderstandings, dissensions, and quarrels. Now, complete silence was enough to understand the other’s wishes.

  ***

  Before noon, the Matlocks departed, together with the colonel and Georgiana. They made a warm farewell with the promise to meet again the next day.

  “I am afraid the meeting will have to wait a while longer,” Darcy whispered to his wife as the carriage slowly moved away. “You will be forced to settle for my company alone for a few days. I plan to keep you locked in our apartments once we arrive in Town.”

  Her cheeks coloured, and her eyes lifted to meet his dark gaze. “You should know by now that you do not have to lock me in, Mr. Darcy, and that your company is everything I long for.”

  He brought her fingers to his lips briefly one more time, oblivious to the guests’ surprised looks. “I hope I know, but since I have misunderstood you in the past, I shall often need reassurances, Mrs. Darcy.”

  “Everything you need from me, I shall gladly offer you, husband.”

  He made no reply as they were again surrounded by their friends. But his gaze, which followed her around the room, was his thrilling answer and promise.

  It was two more hours before Darcy’s carriages—one for them and one for the servants and luggage—finally began their journey.

  A large basket of food and drink, as well as several thick, warm blankets and a pair of pillows, were brought at Mrs. Bennet’s command. The trip would last only a few hours, but the weather had worsened, and Mrs. Bennet dreaded the prospect that either her dear daughter or her favourite son-in-law might catch a cold.

  The separation from her parents and sisters was more painful than expected. Elizabeth found herself with opposing feelings: sorrow at leaving her old life and excitement about her new one.

  And then, her husband gently put his arm around her shoulder, and his warmth made all her worries vanish.

  Darcy addressed her family. “We shall meet again very soon. Please consider coming to London for Christmas.”“Yes, yes, we have already discussed that. Now go—it will be dark soon,” said Mr. Bennet, struggling to hide his emotions. “The rain is growing heavier; you should have left earlier with the others.”

  “We shall be fine, sir. I promise I shall take good care of Elizabeth,” Darcy answered.

  “Of that, I have no doubt,” Elizabeth’s father concluded as her husband helped her into the carriage and the footman clos
ed the door. The horses began to move through a curtain of rain until Longbourn was lost from sight.

  Elizabeth glanced at Darcy; his eyes had long been resting on her beautiful face, and they met hers with tenderness.

  “I am taking you home, Mrs. Darcy!”

  Chapter 2

  As the carriage travelled through the surrroundings of her childhood, Elizabeth sighed, removed her bonnet, and leaned her head on her husband’s shoulder. Her fingers entwined with his while he kissed the top of her head.

  “Netherfield looks lovely, even in bad weather,” she said, glancing outside “It is about a year now since Jane fell ill and we had to stay with the Bingleys for a few days. And with you.”

  “Yes. What a year this has been—seems like a lifetime,” he admitted. “I remember when you arrived that morning after walking three miles through muddy fields.”

  “I remember that too. The way you looked at me when we met made me equally ashamed and angry. You seemed horrified, and your gaze judged my appearance harshly. I dare not ask what was in your mind at that moment.”

  He laughed. “You could not be farther from the truth, my love. But yes, you are wise not to ask what was in my mind then. It would give you reason to be embarrassed.”

  “What do you mean?”

  He kissed her hair and smiled mischievously. “Your cheeks were red, and your eyes were sparkling from the exercise. Your gown was so dirty that I could think of nothing else but to take it off and to warm you in my arms…and perhaps kiss you senseless.”

  “Surely, you are teasing me. I am certain you thought of no such thing that day. During that time, you looked at me only to find a blemish.”

  “Again, you could not be farther from the truth or more wrong, my dear Elizabeth.”

  “If I were to believe your words, it would appear you had nothing but improper thoughts about me,” she said, one eyebrow rising in disbelief.