She looked toward the window and saw that it had started to rain, making sitting in front of an open window impractical. The fire hadn’t been lit when she’d left her room, but if the rain brought colder temperatures, it might be lit now. She didn’t want to wake Fitzwilliam by ordering one done, however. Who would have thought such a simple thing as drying one’s hair could be so complicated? Marriage was already requiring adjustments and suddenly she wished he had slept in his own room to spare her this ridiculous decision making.

“Shall you sit in front of the fire to dry your hair, madam?” asked Sanders.

“Is there one lit?”

“The one is your chamber is bright as can be,” said the maid cheerfully.

“Then yes, I will. Do you know if my husband is awake yet?” It sounded strange to say the words. My husband.

“Yes, madam. The master is in his dressing room.”

“Thank you, Sanders. It usually takes about half an hour to dry, and then I shall need your help dressing. I believe I’ll wear the new pink gown today.”

“Yes, madam. I’ll have it pressed and ready.”

Sanders opened the wardrobe and removed the dress while Elizabeth tightened the belt on her soft blue dressing gown and went into the bedroom to dry her hair. She sat by the fire, absently running a comb through her hair, turning her head from side to side while her thoughts wandered.

~

Darcy awoke slowly and wondered where he was. The crown above this bed did not match the one in his chamber and then he remembered yesterday had been his wedding and he was in his wife’s chamber. My wife. Just thinking it gave him a deep feeling of satisfaction. He reached out to his side, searching for her, but met only a cold sheet. There was a brief moment of panic when he wondered if it had all been a dream. He sat up and looked around the room, then heard Elizabeth’s laughter coming from behind the dressing room door.

A smile he wasn’t aware of slowly worked its way across his face. He was married. To Elizabeth. To a woman he loved in a marriage of genuine affection, not a calculated union of convenience. His relief was immeasurable, his joy boundless. He rose and went to the dressing room door, his intention to see his wife, but he heard her maid’s voice and what sounded like water being poured into a tub and decided to follow his wife’s example and bathe. He would give her privacy for now; he could suggest bathing together at a later time when she was more accustomed to his presence in her intimate life.