Chapter 46
"Hi, love." William walked into the apartment and found Elizabeth sitting crossed legged on the couch, reading some papers.
" Mmmmm." She offered her cheek for him to kiss without raising her eyes.
"Aren't you ready?" He observed that she was wearing only the Mickey mouse T-shirt and doubted that she had anything beneath it.
"You said at eight." She continued to read.
He looked at his watch. It was only 7.15. William chuckled. When she focused her attention on something he could be dancing tap naked around her that she would not notice it.
"What's that?" He looked over he shoulder. He read 'British Society of Plant Pathology'.
"How do I go to Cambridge?"
"In the limo."
"I can't go to the university in a limo, William, that would be ridiculous." She looked at him as if he had two heads.
"Why?"
"Students don't ride limos."
"You are not a student."
"But I might be." Her face lit up. "Look," she stood beside him and showed him some papers, almost jumping with enthusiasm, "they have a PhD in Molecular Biology. I want to talk to them and see if my diploma is valid in the UK. If not, they have some very good seminars that I can attend this year. Cambridge's Botany department is excellent."
William smiled. He didn't have an idea of what that meant but it sounded very distinctive. "Foster will drive you."
"I'll go by train." She turned to the papers.
"No."
"I found a map and here is the train schedule." She showed him and jumped again.
"No."
"I can't go everywhere in a limo, William."
William looked steadily at her, processing her words. "You are right. You need your own car. We'll go car shopping tomorrow."
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "You can't buy me a car just because I want to go and see the university."
"Yes I can." He smiled and tried to embrace her.
She stepped back. "William, please, be reasonable, I can't drive here. I don't have a license, you drive on the wrong side of the road and this city has a crazy traffic!"
William gestured her to come closer with his forefinger. When she was close enough he put her arms around his waist and he encircled hers. "Japanese of German?"
She grinned. "Anything small."
"I'm glad you understand." His hand slid to her rear.
Elizabeth removed herself from his embrace and returned to her papers. "What is this place we are going tonight?"
"Earl's Court, the launch of the new Mercedes."
"I'm going to get changed." She kissed his cheek and scampered away.
William caught sight of her bare bottom as she walked away. He grinned and ran after her, reaching her halfway and lifting her in his arms. Elizabeth's scream of surprise was immediately silenced by William's hungry mouth and their departure to the launch was somehow delayed by the performing of some very satisfying activities.
"I don't like it." Elizabeth tilted her head while looking at the huge car. "It might be good for Prince Charles but I doubt that normal people would like to drive something this size."
"It's big, but I like it." William he smiled and took her hand. "Come, let's find something to drink."
This first night out on a business engagement was very positive for the couple. William introduced his future wife to his acquaintances and Elizabeth fit instantly in this new world despite of her lack of experience in events of this magnitude. Once again, her vivacity and beauty captivated more than one heart, and though William wasn't fond of this kind of events, attending in her company made the evening very agreeable.
"Will, I must say that your fiancée is an adorable creature," commented Simon Smythe, Chief executive of Young & Rubicam.
"Yes, she is." William smiled proudly.
"It seems that this last project was worth the effort of living abroad. You …" He was interrupted by the appearance of a slim woman by his side.
"William, I didn't expect to see you here." The woman smiled brightly and nodded at Simon.
"Natasha." William nodded indifferently. At that moment he saw Elizabeth coming from the restrooms.
"I've been calling you for almost three weeks and couldn't reach you. Your secretary is frankly impossible." Natasha commented with exasperation and eyed Elizabeth as she stood beside William.
"I've been out of the country." He placed his hand on the small of Elizabeth's back. "She only informed me the important messages."
Natasha forced a smile as the arrow met its target. "The reason why I called you is because we have some things to discuss."
"I'm sorry, I'm being rude. Natasha, this is Elizabeth Bennet, my fiancée. Liz, this is Natasha Glenville, my ex wife's attorney."
Both women smiled at each other and exchanged a polite 'How do you do'.
"Is there a way in which we could arrange an appointment and talk about a few things?"
"No. Discuss them with Frank. He'll tell me whatever I need to know."
"All right," she smiled falsely. "By the way, Caroline is around. She might come to see you." After that, she walked away.
William followed her with an unfriendly look as Elizabeth stroked his back. Then he looked at her and smiled.
"There's no way to get rid of a insistent ex wife, is there William?" Simon asked.
"Yes, there is one way." William smiled mischievously and sipped his champagne.
"Murder!" both men said at unison.
"William!" Elizabeth laughed. "I can't believe you said that!"
"Oh, oh, speaking of the devil …" Simon looked at his shoes.
Elizabeth sensed William tense up beside her and turned to see a tall woman approaching them. On her heels she was as tall as William, and impeccable in her Chanel outfit.
"William, dahling." Caroline walked to them with the air of a movie star. "What a surprise, I thought you were out of the country." She stood by him ignoring the rest of the party.
"I was."
"Natasha has been trying to reach you. You seem to be rather difficult lately. I really need to talk to you." She smiled. "Why don't we have lunch together this week?"
"No."
Her smile fell for a fraction of a second. "Tell me about Charles, how is that thoughtless brother of mine?" She changed the subject.
"Fine." William could be exasperating when in monosyllabic mode.
"I'm dying to meet his South American fiancée." This was said in an ironic tone. "I can't believe he decided to marry in that place, I sincerely hope that we won't be attacked with bows and arrows during the wedding."
"Caroline," William cut her off. "Allow me to introduce you to Elizabeth Bennet, Jane's sister and my future wife."
Now Caroline's face fell completely but she managed to recover in record time. Her eyes dropped to the rock on Elizabeth's finger. "Oh, how nice. Another lovely immigrant."
Elizabeth smiled brightly. "So you are Caroline. Charles told me so much about you, and I can assure you that anything I heard had been exaggerated."
Simon chuckled at Caroline's expression.
"How nice of you to accompany dear William to this kind of event, this must be very unusual for you, coming from such a distant place," Caroline continued.
"Quite, I had the opportunity to meet some very interesting people."
Caroline turned to William. "NPD seems to be absorbing very much of your time, as always. You have been outside of the country for quite a long time."
"Long enough to meet the love of my life. I will be forever grateful for that." He smiled.
"William!" A tall man approached him. "I have to congratulate you about the good news, you deserve this and more, son, I sincerely wish you all the best."
"Thank you Arthur." William shook his hand. "Did I introduce Elizabeth to you? We are marrying in a month."
"Oh, I heard that too! Delighted to meet you, young lady." He kissed her hand. "I must say that James is totally bewitched by you."
"I'm pleased to meet you, sir."
"Elizabeth, this is Arthur Sinclair, Financial Director of DID and one of my father's associates. Arthur, you know Simon from Young and … Caroline."
Arthur shook Simon's hand and nodded to Caroline. "I couldn't wait to the press release to spread the news! Investments is a wonderful division, one of the big ones! You really worked hard for this."
"You, in charge of Investments?" Simon grinned broadly and shook William's hand. "DID holding! That is a major one. Congratulations, Will."
"It will not happen until September, anyway. But I'm very happy, we are very happy." William pulled Elizabeth closer and they looked at each other with blissful smiles.
Caroline stayed one step behind, swallowing her bitterness.
"Well, I have to go." Arthur smiled at the couple. "It will be great to see you at the board, it is time that we had some young blood," he finished before leaving.
"I'm going too." Simon waved to them. "Congratulations, again, to both of you. Caroline."
Now that they were alone with Caroline, William began to feel impatient and with the unpleasant task of continuing the conversation with his ex. He was a gentleman and the last thing he wanted was to begin an argument in front of Elizabeth, but Caroline didn't seem to have the intention of leaving. Fortunately, she picked a subject, but her choice wasn't a wise one, as William's limit was too close.
Caroline lit up a cigarette. "Many changes, Will. Marriage, the board ... who would have known that you would get there so fast."
"You were the only one who doubted it, Caroline. Right things always come at the right time, and this could not come at a better one. Now if you will excuse us." He walked away with Elizabeth by his side.
"Will?" Elizabeth rubbed her eyes sleepily as she walked into the living room. "Can't you sleep?"
"Go to bed, my love, it's three in the morning," William said from the couch.
She sat by his side, lifted his arm and curled beside him. "Are you still upset because of her?"
"I'm not upset." He stroked her arm.
"Yes you are." She knew he hadn't slept one second.
"No, I am not," he said slowly as he smiled at her.
"Yes, you are." She mimicked his tone of voice and accent.
William chuckled. "You are adorable, I love you." He kissed her nose.
"But you are allowing her to trouble you again." She caressed his hair.
"It's not that." He sighed. "When I saw her today, I realized how stupid I can be. I can't believe I married her, that I thought I felt something for her and most of all, that I allowed her to affect my life for so long. I was in love with you from the beginning, and I permitted her to govern my feelings even after our relationship had been over for months."
"William, I haven't known you for too long but I feel I know you pretty well. In these weeks we have been together I realized that you are the most sensible and sweetest person I have ever met. Your behavior at the time was very reasonable. You give yourself so openly and fully that you can be exposed to much suffering. That wasn't your fault, you were just afraid of being hurt."
"Elizabeth," he looked at her seriously, "don't defend me, I am guilty as charged."
"William." She mimicked him again. "I am the judge. You are innocent." Then she reviewed the sentence. "No. You are guilty with extenuating circumstances."
He laughed and leaned his head back on the couch. "And what would be the punishment?"
Elizabeth whispered something into his ear.
"Three?" William raised his eyebrows. "I don't think I'm capable."
"Oh, yes, you are."
For the first ice-cream they shared the spoon, the second they fed each other and the third was licked from Elizabeth's navel and ended in the sweetest and stickiest lovemaking that the couple had been engaged in.
Chapter 47
William was fighting with the knot of his tie when he heard the sound of Elizabeth's heels approaching him. He looked at her reflection in the mirror, and remained still, unable to move or speak. He turned around and swallowed. His eyes traveled along her body and tie, cocktail party and every rational thought left him as he observed the beauty in front of him.
She was smiling at him, seductively, womanly. Her hair was imprisoned in a tight chignon, her soft curves embraced by the black satin dress that fit her like a glove and her lips as red as a forbidden fruit. She was looking so different, so classical, so God damn sexy that he would have loved her then and there if it weren't for their social engagement.
With a half smile he walked to her. He leaned down to kiss her but she pulled back slightly, avoiding his lips with an arch smile that warned him not to ruin her makeup. That same smile played on his lips when he grazed her throat, when he nibbled her ear and when he whispered his warning for the night ahead.
The cocktail party was elegant but too long for William's taste. Always by her side, he introduced his future wife to business acquaintances and friends with a great amount of pride and observed how her spontaneity and charm seduced men and women and proved him that she was more than capable of moving in any kind of environment.
William's hand was always touching her, sometimes around her waist or on the small of her back, taking her hand to his lips, or slightly brushing her rear. On occasions he would slide it up and down her sides, discreetly caressing her ribs with his fingertips, draw circles with his thumb on her spine, or an almost imperceptible touch of the side of her breast. He was torturing himself and he knew it. The sexual tension he was building was becoming unbearable and Elizabeth only stimulated it with her alluring looks under her lashes and her delightful interaction with him and the others.
When the appropriate time came, a serious and ready to combust William led the way to the limo. The ride was silent, just knowing glances and seductive smiles, sitting at a chaste distance in an erotic game designed to ignite passions. William's hand went to her knee and caressed the silk stocking, boldly moving up her thigh under the dress until it reached the laced end. He ventured up to her skin and she allowed his advance with an enigmatic smile. Checking on the driver every now and then, he moved it forward and brushed her underwear a couple of times. The look in her eyes when he reached it was pure lust and invitation for more. He couldn't believe what he was doing, he was having an erection in the limo!
The walk to the door was agony itself. She was so close, walking slightly ahead, her fragrance intoxicating him, some impertinent strands of hair alluringly brushing her neck and the zipper of her dress begging to be opened. Could he survive without touching her? He stopped at the door and couldn't resist it, as he introduced the key in the lock he pulled her closer and burned her neck with voracious kisses.
He opened the door for her and watched her walk by him with intense eyes. As soon as they were in the privacy of the apartment he pinned her against the wall and pressed his whole body over hers. Oh, how he wanted her. He wanted her and she knew it.
The first round was a passionate exchange of kisses, moans and hands roaming savagely over undulating bodies. After a few minutes of overheated caresses, William pulled back to look at her. Her chest was heaving inside the tight neckline and her eyes were dark with desire and anticipation. She could feel his erection against her, the tension on his muscles add comma and his eyes consuming her. With their mouths inches apart, he pressed his hips into hers once, and then twice, until a surprised gasp escaped her throat.
"What do you want, Elizabeth?" he asked breathlessly.
She didn't answer. She just kissed him fiercely.
William pulled back again to observe her swollen lips and wide opened eyes. "Tell me, what do you want?" He pushed once again.
"You," she said in hoarse voice.
"I want to hear it Elizabeth, what do you want me to do?" He was rocking her against the wall.
"Fuck me, Will," she said between her teeth.
He was dumbfounded, he had never expected that answer from her and it made him wild. His mouth descended violently over hers, and the skirt of her black dress almost ripped off when he lifted her, and she wrapped her legs around his hips, purring and gasping as he pressed her hard against the wall.
This was going too fast so William forced himself to cool down or everything would finish before getting started. He carried her across the room towards the dining table with her limbs curled around him and her lips possessing his throat. He was hoping that it would be able to support them because if not, God dammit, he was going the break it into pieces.
Standing between her legs while she lay over the table, he struggled with his tie and ripped his shirt open before burying his mouth in her neck. The pressure she felt against her was unbearable, William was holding her so tight to him that she had climaxed once against the wall and was on her way to the second one without even being undressed.
The skirt of black dress was around her waist now. William sat her up, opened the zipper and pulled the dress over her shoulders in a frantic movement while pressing her inner thighs against himself. No bra. Could he expect anything different? Her provocative smile told him that she had prepared this just for him, to arouse him, to turn him wild, and that she was pleased that she achieved her goal so efficiently.
This was too much for him to bear. He pushed her flat on the table with his body and his mouth descended to hungrily suck her breasts. She was so excited. She moaned and arched against him, her hips on the edge of the table, legs surrounding him in open invitation for more. William pulled back only to remove her underwear, leaving her almost naked, wearing only those alluring silk stockings that tempted him so much in the limo.
He paused to admire her once more. Beauty, pure and natural beauty. He ran his fingertips all the way down from her forehead to her stomach and up again until she caught one finger in her mouth. Her pert tongue appeared and invited it in. William never thought he could be so aroused with that simple action. He had to have her, now, and he did. He removed his remaining clothes and stood in front of her completely naked. Elizabeth could only look at him and licked her lips in anticipation.
Once again the appearance of her tongue excited him to a new level. Unable to hold back any longer he penetrated her in one decided thrust and she gasped in pleasure as he pushed in. He was being rough and she loved it. She loved how he wanted her, she enjoyed making him wild, she adored freeing him from his restricted self.
The ride on the table was intense and hard. William thrusting erect into a lying Elizabeth, watching entranced how her body moved back and forth with his powerful rhythm. Elizabeth arched her back and spread her arms over her head as she climaxed again. Was this her third orgasm? She didn't know, she had stopped counting.
William looked at her in wonder and lust. Again, Elizabeth? He was coming closer but he didn't want to end this, not in this way. He was going to need support when this was over, the support and comfort that only resting within her arms could bring so he lifted her and in a skillful move managed to lower them both to the carpet without breaking their necks.
Their mouths glued the instant they were lying on the floor in a voracious battle that both were about to win. His hips continued to move against hers, reaching so deep that he was cutting her breath off, stimulating so precisely that she almost cried. But all good things must end and as he entered the road of no return, tightly secured by her legs, he begged her to come with him.
A groan, explosion, convulsion and ecstasy. He spent himself completely and collapsed over her as their hearts pounded with the same mad rhythm.
William rolled off of her, panting and wet with perspiration. When he was capable of rational thought he looked at her, wondering if what just happened had really occurred. It did. She was lying there, eyes closed, trying to catch her breath, with the traces of their wild act still imprinted on her skin.
This woman, his woman would never cease to amaze him. She had the ability to make him reach places where he had never been, to arouse him beyond limit, to comfort him, love him, support him and take care of him in a way he had never imagined he could be. His Elizabeth, his lovely, caring, sweet, wild, sensual, natural and incredible Elizabeth had changed the way he lived his own life, a life that wouldn't exist without her by his side.
"This could be dangerous for my health." He smiled, exhausted.
Elizabeth rolled to her side and looked at him seductively. "I doubt it."
Chapter 48
"Hello Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy is finishing his meeting in a few minutes and he asked if you could wait for him." Meg Reynolds greeted her with a bright smile.
"Thank you, Meg."
Elizabeth was growing very fond of James' secretary. She was a delightful woman around 45 years old, with an enviable figure for someone her age, red hair and gray eyes, that had performed the role of her secretary too -she suspected that under James's orders- and helped her with everything she needed to know about the city.
"So, how are your plans for the wedding?"
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "I fear that I will have to rush like a maniac when I arrive home. I made a few inquiries from here and Jane faxed me the details add comma but it's not the same."
Meg laughed. "I'm sure everything will go fine. It will be pure chaos for some time but you'll be able to work it out. You two look like the perfect couple."
"Have you known William for long?"
"Ten years now, when I began to work with Mr. Darcy. William was an account assistant at NPD."
"He was already working? He might have been ..."
"Twenty three. Yes, his father put him into work part time when he was still studying. I remember he was so tired that he slept on the desk." She laughed. "Poor darling."
Elizabeth smiled. "He is so committed with everything."
"He is. Not five years later he took the lead of NPD, and I can assure you that his father was very proud of him. William became the youngest division president of the corporation and he had to fight with the stigma of being the son of the boss. But he did very well, that division grew to a new dimension under his leadership. He made some enormous sacrifices in his personal life at the time."
"He was so young, with so many responsibilities."
"Yes, I fear that that's why he was so unprepared when Caroline popped into his life. He had so many expectations about that marriage. It was very painful for him when they broke up."
Elizabeth bit her lip. "I met her the other day, what a witch. Now I understand how difficult it must have been for him."
"It was. He turned to his work and kept everyone away. Just the family and Charles were able to be around." She sighed. "But you changed all that. I've never seen him so happy, he is the same adorable William of ten years ago."
At that moment, Arthur Sinclair and three other men came out of James's office.
"But look what is that we have here. The future Mrs. Darcy!" Arthur walked to her and kissed her cheek effusively.
"Mr. Sinclair, what lovely coincidence." Elizabeth grinned. <;br>
"Hello, darling." James came too and kissed her cheek. "Forgive me for having you waiting, but we had some matters to discuss. Are you ready to have lunch with your father in law?"
"Of course."
"Meg, call William and tell him we are ready. We'll wait for him in my office."
"Elizabeth, your aunt and uncle are charming people." James smiled as he sat down and recalled the lunch they had with Elizabeth's relatives last Saturday. "And I must say that Georgiana was not a little captivated with your cousin Christian."
Elizabeth laughed. "I must say that Christian was quite shocked with Georgiana's hair. My aunt called me on the following day and told me that he babbled about her all the way back to the house."
"I think that the appropriate young man will make her come back to her senses. Do you know that she asked me at least eight times if I thought that Christian would mind going out with a girl with purple hair?"
"I can well believe it. She could not pick a more sober guy. I fear that Chris is the most conservative boy I ever met, even more than William."
"If we push matters a little she might even change her hair color to go out with him," James laughed, "perhaps she might change it back to orange!"
"We must fix a few more meetings to see what happens." Elizabeth smiled.
"Liz, now that we have some time to ourselves I would like to tell you something." James leaned back on his chair. "I have a friend at the Board of Kew Gardens. I told him about your expertise with trees and flowers and the work you have done for us at Celulosa. He is very interested in knowing you. It's nothing definitive, just a first interview."
"Kew Gardens?" Elizabeth was astonished. "Those are the most incredible gardens I ever seen in my life!"
"They are indeed. Would you consider in having an interview with him after the wedding?"
"Consider? I'm dying to meet him as soon as possible!"
James grinned at her contagious enthusiasm. "He can wait. You are going back home in a couple of days. Why don't you bring back all your material and ready yourself to knock him out?"
Elizabeth jumped out of her seat and embraced her future father in law. "Oh, James, you are so wonderful!"
"You deserve it, child." He was surprised with her spontaneity.
"What's going on here?" William walked into the office.
"Will!" Elizabeth walked to him and hanged herself around his neck. "I have an interview at Kew Gardens!"
"That's wonderful, my love." He smiled at his father over her shoulder.
"Well, young people, The restaurant is waiting for us." James urged them out of the office. "We'll talk about this in the limo."
Elizabeth released him and they walked together to the elevator.
"Can I have one of those?" Elizabeth looked into William's box.
"No." He pulled it away when she tried to take if from his hand. They were sitting on the floor of the living room, crossed legged, surrounded by Chinese take out food boxes.
"Fitzwilliam!" She was offended. "How can you be so selfish! I gave you some of mine."
"So?" He continued to eat.
"So you should share yours too." She tried again to steal it away.
"Why?" He evaded her.
"Because we should share everything and I'm hungry."
"I told you not to order that disgusting violet thing, but you insisted, so now you'll learn to pay attention to what I say."
"I never thought you could be so mean." She pouted.
William laughed at her expression. "Come, open your mouth." He fed her some chop suey.
"How is that you can use those sticks? I spilled all my food around."
"That's because I'm skillful and you are clumsy."
She arched an eyebrow. "What a lovely attitude we have today."
He kissed her pout away. "You just need some practice, you'll learn, as you learned some other things too." He smiled smugly.
"Arrogant." She chuckled.
"Beautiful." He winked.
"Will, how is that your father never remarried?" She asked as she rummaged inside William's box.
William was now used to these sudden changes of subject. "I don't know. I think you should ask him."
"I would never ask him that. It's a pity, he is still young and in good shape."
He smirked as he tried to find something else to eat. "He is."
"Would you be upset if he marries again?" Elizabeth asked carefully.
"Of course not. Why do you think I would?"
"Just checking."
William found a pork stick and grinned.
"I think he should find a nice girlfriend." Elizabeth searched for another pork stick but she found a noodle. She held it from one end and lowered hanging down into her opened mouth.
He observed her acrobatic ingest. "He already has one."
Elizabeth's eyes opened wide.
"He's been having an affair with Meg for at least three years."
Elizabeth looked at him and William pushed her chin up with his forefinger, closing her mouth. "He told you?"
"Of course not." His eyes were scanning around for food.
"Then, how do you know?"
"I just know." He shrugged.
"Does he knows that you know?"
"Nope."
"And what are you going to do about that?"
"Nothing."
"William! He is your father!"
"I know, I read it on my birth certificate."
"His future happiness might depend on it!"
"If he didn't make anything about it, perhaps it's because he doesn't want to."
"What if he is scared of upsetting you and Georgiana?"
"My father, scared?" William chuckled.
Elizabeth pondered his reasoning. "Anyway, you should talk to him."
William released an exasperated sigh when he realized there was no food left. "I'm still hungry."
"Too much sex." She said flatly.
"Your fault." He pointed his forefinger at her.
"Mine?" She said, offended. "You ..."
"See? You can't argue with that." His eyes swept her up and down. The fact that they were still naked after their pre-dinner lovemaking proved his point that she was too alluring to be ignored.
"I think I have a frozen pizza." She rose from the floor.
William caught her hand and pulled her to him. "Later."
"You are not serious." She laughed.
"Of course I am." He sat her on his lap.
"You are sick." She grinned and embraced his neck.
"And you are my remedy."
Their stay in England was coming to an end. After two weeks full of love, discovery and dreaming of their future they were ready to return to Elizabeth's home to formalize their union and return as husband and wife.
Elizabeth's meeting at Cambridge proved to be fruitful. Though she still had to send them her career plan and many other documents to see if her diploma was valid in the UK, they were very interested in her research and experience in forestation and cloning and they asked her to make an appointment after her return.
This last Friday in London she was destined to meet William's family. Elizabeth couldn't deny she was very nervous about meeting them. Though William insisted that they were normal people and it was just a family event, but she knew it wasn't that simple. The Darcys were a very rich and powerful family and she heard that the Fitzwilliams were not only rich but influential and connected with the nobility. She dressed carefully in an elegant dark blue dress with a low neckline that Georgiana insisted that she should buy in one of their 'designer escapades' and checked herself on the mirror for the fifth time.
She saw William coming behind her on the mirror with that slow and seductive smile of his. She was about to turn when he stopped her and without saying a word, unfastened the chain of the gold pendant he gave her for her birthday.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm removing this from your neck." He always stated the obvious.
"I know that. Why?"
"Because I'm changing it for this one."
Elizabeth's jaw fell when the stone resting on her chest. It was a pendant matching her engagement ring. Just a perfect and huge diamond that shone with such intensity that could blind anyone who looked at it directly.
"Close your mouth, Elizabeth, or you will swallow a fly."
"Stop fidgeting, Elizabeth, everything will be all right." He kissed her hand as they walked into the Holland Park mansion.
"Oh, Will, I'm so nervous. What if they don't like me?"
"Then I will have to kill them one by one."
Elizabeth froze when they entered the living room. There were more than 30 people there.
"You said your family was small."
"It is, the rest are extras that my father hired for the occasion."
She was about to smack him when Georgiana appeared. Her hair had a strange blond coloring. Strange, but blond.
"Here you are! Look at that!" Her eyes focused on Elizabeth's pendant. "Elizabeth, that's the Rock of Gibraltar!"
"Hello, Georgiana." William grabbed her chin and kissed her cheek. "So you decided to return to normality."
She rolled her eyes and kissed Elizabeth's cheek. "I spent 4 hours trying to change the color into blond and ended with this one. Is it bad?"
Elizabeth looked up at her. "Weird, but I like it better than purple."
"My father invited your aunt and uncle, and Christian." She grinned.
"I knew there was a reason for such change." William laughed.
"Do you think he will like it?" Georgiana asked hopefully.
"No." William loved to annoy his sister.
"William! Now that she changed it you should support her. Do you want her to change it back to purple?" Elizabeth slapped his arm when he made a panicking face.
"Go, Elizabeth, take him away from me. When he turns into his stupid self I feel like killing him. I liked him better when he was depressed." She turned on her heels.
"Come, love, lets leave the hair monster to fend by herself." He pulled her away.
"William that was very bad from you."
"I know." He grinned down at her.
"You are quite spirited today, aren't you?" She smiled up at his dimples.
"I am happy, Elizabeth, I am the happiest man in the world."
"Well! The lovely couple is here." James greeted them and placed Elizabeth's hand on the crook of his arm. "You are looking beautiful, Elizabeth."
"I must thank Georgiana for this dress. She took me to some wonderful stores."
"Come, dear, let's meet the family, everyone is anxious to know you."
One by one, and under William's protective wing, Elizabeth met his closest family. The Fitzwilliam clan was there, Richard with his girlfriend Victoria, his brother Edward with his wife Sylvia, a few Darcy cousins and their spouses, and aunts uncles and cousins in 2nd degree from either side of the family.
"William, I'm charmed by your lovely fiancée." Eloise Fitzwilliam patted his arm. "She is a delightful girl."
"Yes, we were anxious to meet her. Your father told us so much about her," Edmund Fitzwilliam commented. "So you met her in one of your projects."
"Yes, she was our lab operator and designed the forestation scheme to supply the cellulose plant." William looked at the other end of the room, where Elizabeth was conversing with Victoria, Georgiana and Cynthia Darcy. She caught his eyes, excused herself from the others and walked in his direction.
"We were talking about you, my dear." Eloise smiled as she approached them. "William was telling us how he met you."
"He told you that I showed him the wilderness of South America?"
"Whatever you showed him, I'm sure that he was quite bewitched by it." Edmund laughed.
William smiled and placed his hand on the small of her back. "She tried to poison me with a snake."
"I didn't! You were going to step on it." She laughed.
"Fitzwilliam, there you are." A very imposing woman's voice came from behind them. "I want to meet this foreign girl you are marrying."
"Aunt Catherine, I'm glad you could come," William said with a smile, though Elizabeth could swear he was mocking her.
"Of course, my dear, how could I not? I wouldn't miss your second engagement party for anything in the world." She offered her cheek for him to kiss.
"Thank you Aunt." He kissed her.
"When your father told me you were marrying again I was about to call you and try to put some sense in that empty head of yours, but what would be the point? You never listen to what this old and wise Lady has to say." She kissed the others cheeks and stopped when she reached Elizabeth.
"Aunt, allow me to introduce you my fiancée, Elizabeth Bennet. Liz, this is my Aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh."
Lady Catherine. Elizabeth didn't know if she had to bow, or courtesy, or shake her hand or whatever the protocol required when greeting someone of the nobility so she just smiled. "I'm pleased to meet you."
"Tell me, young lady, how did you meet my dear Fitzwilliam?"
"Catherine ..." Edmund decided to interfere. "Don't scare her off."
"Nonsense Edmund. I'm not scaring anyone here, I'm just asking a few questions to see if she is appropriate for my dear nephew."
Elizabeth raised her eyebrow but calmed down when she felt William's hand on her back.
James joined them at that moment. "Catherine, dear, it's been a long time, you are looking radiant this evening."
"James, how are you? What a lovely occasion for a family gathering." She looked pointedly at William. "I'm trying to become acquainted with Fitzwilliam's fiancée."
"I never seen a more perfectly suited couple." James smiled. "Elizabeth is a lovely and brilliant young woman."
"I'm sure you like her, but let us see for ourselves." She turned to Elizabeth. "Bennet is an English name; where are you from?"
"Though I was born in Santo Domingo as was my father, my grandfather Bennet was from Hertfordshire." Elizabeth smiled.
"Hertfordshire, what a lovely county. And your mother's family is from …?"
"The Giardinos are from Parma, Italy."
"Florence is the most beautiful city I've ever seen." She said with a dreamy smile. "You did not tell me how you met my nephew." She looked back at Elizabeth with narrowed eyes.
He cornered me against the kitchen's counter and shagged me like an animal in heat after I decapitated a snake in front of him. "We worked together." She looked up at William. He was sporting an impertinent smile and she suspected that he was thinking something along the same lines.
"So you work? Pray tell me, what's your line of work?
"Botany."
Lady Catherine was waiting expectantly for her to expand on the information but she didn't.
"Elizabeth is a Biologist specializing in plant pathology and genetics and an expert in cloning and developing trees for forestation," William added.
Elizabeth looked at him. He made it sound so important.
"That is a very unusual career for a woman," Lady Catherine said, surprised.
"I don't know if it's unusual, but sounds very difficult," Eloise commented. "Will you continue to work after the wedding, Elizabeth?"
"I intend to look for a job once we are settled in England."
"A job?" Lady Catherine raised her eyebrows. "The wife of such an important business man doesn't have to work, she will be very busy attending her husbands affairs."
"I don't see the reason why I should stop my research just because I'm married." Elizabeth was becoming annoyed.
"You express your opinions very decidedly, young lady."
"She will work if that is what she wants." William stroked Elizabeth's back before she exploded. "It would be a shame if so much talent is wasted."
"Of course, dear." Eloise commented. "I am of the idea that wives should have a life of their own and not be a shadow of their husbands."
"Then why did you leave your job when you married me, Eloise?" Edmund chuckled.
"You know perfectly well, Ed. I was a kindergarten teacher and you forced me to leave it because you thought that all those young and handsome fathers were going to accost me." She patted his arm and everyone laughed.
"Anyway, Catherine," James put an end to the discussion, "I think this is not our decision to make. As William said, it would be a shame to waste so much talent. Elizabeth is an excellent professional and I'm sure she can have an outstanding career here in England."
"Yes, of course." She would never argue with James. "She seems to be a very sensible and clever girl, though her foreign background still unsettles me."
"Thank you, aunt." William said in a resigned tone.
Much to Elizabeth's relief, Eloise dragged Lady C away before she or William would lose their patience with her comments. Though she was a little extravagant as William had previously described her, it was obvious that she loved him well and her interrogation was designed to know more about his future wife. As William told her later, Lady C was the most fervent opponent to his previous marriage and, he being her favorite nephew, she considered herself in the position of to trying to rule -unsuccessfully- over his life.
Elizabeth felt very at ease with his family, despite Lady C. They received her cordially as they were all delighted that William was rebuilding his life with such an agreeable person. She couldn't deny that some of them were a little formal, if not stiff, but very nice people anyway.
The Fitzwilliams were charming. She especially liked Edmund and Eloise, who showed a very dry sense of humor that resembled her father's; she also noticed the camaraderie that existed between Richard and William that she wasn't able to see when she met him because of William's condition.
The Bennets assisted too, in company if Christian, much to Georgiana's delight. They fit easily in that circle too and Eloise, Maddy and Marge Darcy, James' sister, discovered that they shared a love for gardening, and as all of their children were already grownups, the idea of producing flowers and bushes in a large scale with Elizabeth's advice appeared during dinner.
It was almost three in the morning when they went home. As everyone left, the couple remained for a special toast with James, Georgiana, the Fitzwilliams, Richard, and the Bennets, in which James made a very emotional speech welcoming Elizabeth to the family.
"Life isn't always an easy path. Sometimes we must face difficulties and grief but it teaches us that good things always come when we fight for them. But this path is much easier when walked with someone. This is a night for celebration. My son has found his partner in life, a wonderful woman to share his life and build a future that I'm sure will be full of love and happiness. William, I couldn't be more proud of your choice." He raised his glass. "Welcome to our family, Elizabeth."
Kisses and hugs mingled with emotional tears as every one there congratulated the couple and expressed their best wishes for the future to come. Life was wonderful, and now they were two to share it.
Chapter 49
Sunday found the couple back in Santo Domingo. Charles and Jane went to the airport to pick them up and they all had lunch with Alicia in a restaurant before parting to Encarnación. It was already night when they arrived and they ordered pizzas and beers before William and Elizabeth left to the gentlemen's former house.
The following days were dedicated to organizing the wedding and finishing all pending matters at work. They went to Misiones to reserve the hotel for William's family, they convinced the Justice of Peace to marry them at the farm on Friday of the following week, ordered the catering service, the gazebo for the garden, the music and every new detail that appeared daily. William was working part time in the plant, as was Elizabeth, instructing Carlotta with techniques and methodology, so Alicia traveled to help her daughter with the wedding organization.
Elizabeth realized now that her life was really changing. She was in a strange house, almost all her stuff was packed to go to England, problems with the organization of the wedding occurred every day and her mother -though she was staying with Jane and Charles- was driving her crazy. William was under pressure too, closing some important deals, helping in what he could with the wedding and sensing that his beloved was becoming altered with the whole situation. To sum up, the first week in Encarnación could be described in one word: stressful.
"Love, leave that, Elsa is coming tomorrow morning to do the cleaning and she can wash the dishes." William walked into the kitchen and saw that she was still there.
"You know I don't like to leave them dirty." She did not look up. "Go and watch some TV. I'm almost done."
William stood behind her, put his hands on her waist and kissed her cheek. "Elizabeth, leave that and come to the living room."
"No, when I'm finished."
She could be so stubborn when she wanted. William released her after an exasperated sigh and went to watch TV.
When Elizabeth appeared, William was on the couch watching an old movie with Attila lying by his side. Her eyes went from one to the other. William looked absolutely bored, with his elbow on the armrest and his chin resting on his fist and the dog was spread out with his head on William's leg. They didn't even blink when she came in. Blowing in annoyance, she sat on the floor between William's legs and soon her generous gesture of not disturbing the males of the house was rewarded with a relaxing massage that William applied on her shoulders.
Half an hour later Attila scratched the door asking to go out. As he did every day, the dog remained with them until bedtime and then trotted his way back to the farm, much to Elizabeth's grief. This night she remained on the porch for a long time after he left.
"Elizabeth, will you come in? It's cold outside." William wrapped her shoulders with his jacket.
"We'll have frost tomorrow," she answered, looking at the sky.
"It's freezing, come in."
"How is it when it snows?
"Cold, come in."
"Colder than now?"
"Yes, come." This time he tried to pull her inside.
"I've never seen the snow."
"I know, you told me. Will you come in?" Patience, William.
Elizabeth looked at him with her big eyes illuminated by the moon. She was about to cry. "Yes."
William rolled to his side and searched for Elizabeth's warm body in the darkness. She wasn't there. He ran his hand down his face and went for her.
"Liz, what are you doing here?" he asked when he found her curled on the couch, covered by a blanket.
"I can't sleep."
"My love, what's wrong?" He walked in her direction. "You are so nervous."
"Go to bed, it's cold." She noticed he was wearing only his boxers.
"Can we share the blanket?" He smiled and raised his eyebrow in that irresistible manner of his.
She smiled back. "Yes."
William sat beside her and pulled her closer, enveloping both of them with the thick blanket. "Will you not tell me what is troubling you?"
"Nothing is troubling me."
"Yes it is."
"No, it's not," she answered stubbornly.
"It is, and end of the discussion. Say it."
She remained silent for a couple of minutes. William waited patiently until he heard her sniffing soundly. He was relieved, at least he was releasing some of the tension by crying.
"I'm sorry." She began to cry in earnest. "It's that everything is so different to what I expected." Her voice sounded very piercing and funny. "I argued with the caterer today, and he said that he couldn't prepare the petit fours I wanted so my mother took the call and I don't know how but she convinced him and I felt so stupid ..." her eyes were flooding and her nose was running. "... I had to go to the plantation in the morning, you know, and I ... and I ... and I searched for my boots and couldn't find them, so I had to go with a pair of shoes and it was cold and damp so I arrived with my feet wet and muddy and I ruined them and ...."
"They are on the back seat of the pick-up," William said very gently.
"How do you know?" She hiccuped.
"I saw them today."
That made things even worse.
"See? I'm so stupid! I looked in there and didn't see them!"
She was crying against his shoulder in absolute despair and William just held her against him and stroked her back as her tears ran down his chest like the Niagara Falls.
" ... I burned dinner, you know. Of course you don't know, I ... (hiccup) ... I threw it away so you wouldn't notice and cooked it again."
"There's no need for you to cook every night, we can dine out." He smoothed her hair.
"And Attila left again, I hoped that he would stay tonight with me but he went away anyway and he doesn't love me any more and ..." She cried and hiccuped before continuing. "Did you know that Carlotta was dating Colina from sales?"
"No, I didn't." This was the catharsis he was expecting and the only thing he could do was to hold her and let her cry.
"Well, she is." She looked at him as William dried her eyes and nose with her Mickey Mouse T-shirt. "And I tried to explain to her the cloning procedure for the poplars and all the time she was drooling on that slimy, fat and toady idiot and didn't hear a word of what I said."
William smiled tenderly and tucked her hair behind her ear. "That's awful of her."
"Yes, it is." She was calming down under William's soothing caresses. "You must think I'm crazy, I don't know what's wrong with me, it must be PMS."
"You are tired, and under great pressure, you are leaving your life in a few days and is very logical that you feel this way." He said in a very soft and calming voice. "Everything will be alright, Elizabeth. I'll always be here to take care of you." He stroked her hair and rocked her gently.
"Will you? Everything will be gone, nothing will be the same." She sniffed softly against his shoulder.
"Always, with you, loving you." He kissed her forehead and adjusted the blanket around them.
"I love you, William," she whispered drowsily.
"I love you, Elizabeth."
Elizabeth woke up when a sunbeam that came through the living room's window targeted her face. As she stirred slowly, she became aware of their position. William was laying on the couch, one leg touching the floor, head resting on the armrest, hands holding her firmly over his chest, with her legs curled between his. She looked at him and smiled. How was it that he managed to sleep in that way? She was sure she was suffocating him. She adjusted her body so he could be more comfortable and caressed his hair gently, delighting herself with the way he frowned and moved his mouth when she touched him. It was not long until he stirred too. Without opening his eyes, he smiled and moaned softly and his hands stroked her back up and down.
He opened his eyes and smiled at the picture in front of him. She was there, smiling too, with her eyes red and swollen from the previous night's crisis, looking so vulnerable and small that his heart burst out in the need to love her.
His hand went to her cheek and pulled her face to his, capturing her mouth in a long and salty kiss. Her lips parted as he demanded entrance, moaning softly as his tongue moved around gently, inviting hers to a delicate sensual game. Soon their breathing became labored and hands became bolder as bodies undulated in evidence of increasing desire.
William removed the blanket from over them as the heat that radiated from their bodies was enough to keep them warm. It was not long until the T-shirt followed it and, still reclined, William aligned her to his now evident arousal. Elizabeth chuckled on feeling him, but remained at a certain distance as she rubbed her chest against his in open provocation.
How he loved her breasts, so perfect and full. He licked his lips and moved her slightly up his body until they were leveled with his mouth.
Elizabeth looked down at him with a tender smile. It was amazing how he took pleasure in her, how he loved to touch her, how he amused himself with her body. He released her breasts and looked at them again, and it seemed that he couldn't resist them because he pulled her closer and resumed his previous activities, this time nibbling softly and then hungrily as he made his intentions clear.
William rolled to his side and lowered them both to the carpet. Now in dominant position, he smiled down at her as his hips pressed hers announcing what would become imminent. Her hands ran up and down his chest urgently, excited by the firmness of his muscles, holding his waist and then removing his boxers to lead the way to her. He knelt between her legs and allowed her to play with him as her hand guided him to tease herself in a sexual game she knew it would drive him crazy.
"Will you come once this way?" he asked huskily.
She smiled slowly and nodded. He always knew what she wanted. William remained above her, leaning on his extended arms, looking at her as she pleasured herself with him. It was so erotic. Her eyes never left his, she bit her lip and arched her back as she came closer, holding him firmly as he became more aroused, moving him faster until she exploded with a faint cry.
William smiled in satisfaction as she relaxed and eased her hold on him. He lowered himself to his elbows and searched for her lips, softly and sweetly kissing her as his body joined hers. There was no need to run, no reason to rush. He loved her slowly, kissing, caressing her, filling her body and soul with loving thrusts until she showed him she was on her way again and with the same tenderness that he began, he finished his lovemaking in full release.
"I love you, Fitzwilliam James." She smiled.
"I love you, Elizabeth Victoria."
"William, what happened to Elizabeth?" Jane asked him when she saw him on the corridor of the main office.
"Panic attack." He smiled.
"Poor thing, her eyes look like two smashed tomatoes."
"I know, I told her not to come to work today but she insisted. It is her last day so she wanted to leave everything ready in the lab."
"I was expecting a crisis, but not so soon-there is still a week until the wedding." Jane smiled reassuringly. "And how are you coping with all this?"
"Fine." He smiled and shook his head. "I've been through this before and I can assure you that things are so much simpler this time. My only concern is to see Elizabeth well. She is always worrying about everything, and all has to come out so perfect that she stresses herself until exhaustion. That's why she exploded so badly last night."
Jane laughed. "I know what you mean. She can be a little obsessive sometimes. Just tell her when she is crossing the line and she will listen."
William chuckled, "Believe me, I tried. But I think it was for the best."
"Yes. I have to go now, bye Will."
"Bye."
"Hello love."
"William! What a surprise!" Elizabeth's eyes lit up. She was looking much better now.
He was on his way to embrace her when he stopped. "Is Carlotta in here?"
She grinned. "No, she went to the bathroom. At the main office, so she can see toady Colina."
"Great." William moved closer and kissed her.
"I scared you last night, didn't I?"
"No, no, you just made me a little nervous."
"William, you were calm embodied last night."
He laughed. "No, I knew this would happen at some time and I prepared myself for the outburst."
"Did I tell how incredibly sweet, charming, delicious, sexy, handsome, wonderful, smart and sexy you are?" She grinned up at him.
"No, but you can repeat it anytime you wish." He released her as he heard someone coming in. "I have to go now. Come to my office when you are finished and we'll dine out." He acknowledged Carlotta's presence with a nod and walked out.
"All right." Elizabeth smiled and her eyes followed him until he closed the door of the lab.
"Elizabeth, that man is gorgeous, how can you keep your hands off his butt?"
"Carla!"
As promised, William took her out for dinner that night. Being Friday and dancing night at La Asamblea, he drove to Misiones and they dined with candlelight at Carmelitas, the restaurant in the old convent. After a romantic evening and a stroll by the riverbank, they returned home happy and relaxed.
William waited for Elizabeth to come out of the bathroom until he fell asleep. In his slumber, he heard her slipping inside the bed and turned to embrace her as his body began to stir with her closeness. His hand roamed up and down but when he touched her bottom, she took his hand and placed it on her waist. Realizing that the monthly impediment had arrived, he kissed her shoulder and fell asleep.
This last weekend prior to the wedding was spent mostly at the farm with Elizabeth's family. Alicia cooked for them and they conversed enthusiastically about the final plans for the wedding.
William's family was arriving on Wednesday: James, Georgiana, Richard and his parents and Elizabeth's aunt and uncle, were coming in a regular flight. With the exception of William's father, they would stay at La Mision hotel in Misiones.
It was agreed also that Elizabeth would move on that day to the farm and the couple would remain separated until the wedding on Friday at noon. William wasn't pleased with that decision in any way. After all, they had been inseparable for the last month and couldn't see the reason for this, but he had to agree that this would raise his expectations for their wedding night, planned in an exclusive hotel and spa in San Agustín. They would stay there for the weekend before parting for their honeymoon on the Caribbean Beaches.
Elizabeth finally chose the site for the orange trees that weekend and William and Charles -in an unusual display of physical work- helped Anselmo and two of his sons to make the holes to plant the trees. Though it wasn't the ideal weather to do it and she had been reluctant to work with them since the 'incident', Elizabeth decided it was time for them to fend for themselves on the field. Fifty trees were planted on the far end of the farm, away from any protection from the weather inclemency and for some unknown reason, the rest of them remained unplanted behind the lab.
"Let me see that." Elizabeth inspected the blisters on William's hand. "You are not made for rough work," she teased him.
"I know, but I needed to burn out my energy. This sexual abstinence is driving me crazy," he said cheekily in her ear.
"William!" she pushed him away. "I can't believe it! Just a couple of days and you are whining about it as if you were condemned to a lifetime of celibacy."
"Oh, the agony," he sighed dramatically as she struggled to wash his hand while he nibbled her neck.
"Stop it!" She laughed.
"How long must I wait?"
"A couple of days." She pushed him away again.
"What? It will be Wednesday and you'll move to the farm and I will have to wait until ..."
"The wedding." She smiled and squeezed his cheek.
"That's not fair."
"Who said it would be?"
"Elizabeth, I'm not waiting until the wedding," he said seriously.
Elizabeth turned him around and shoved him out of the bathroom, and he complained and she ignored him all the way to the living room.