Give my love to my sisters and parents and scratch the ears of the marmalade cat in the garden for me. I must close and check my trunks for the journey. Here is the direction of where we shall be. I will write you when we have arrived safely.

Your sister,

Elizabeth Darcy

P.S. If you want Mr. Darcy to speak with Mr. Bingley, all you need do is ask. I’m sure he would be happy to oblige.

Elizabeth pressed her seal into the wax and was just placing it on the salver when she felt strong arms encircle her waist. She smiled and leaned into him.

“To whom are you writing, my love?” Darcy asked.

“My sister Jane. May I ask why you are sneaking up on me in such a way?” she responded, closing her hands over his arms.

“I wanted to see if you’d like to take one last walk in the park before our journey. I imagine you will not like the confinement.”

“You are beginning to understand me, Mr. Darcy.”

“As I should, Mrs. Darcy. What kind of husband does not endeavor to please his wife? And is not understanding her needs the first step in meeting them?”

“While that may be very sound indeed, I do not think it the usual way, though I am happy to be the recipient of your efforts.” She smiled happily and he kissed her neck, reveling in the freedom to do so.

“You make me very happy, Elizabeth,” he said.

“How long do you suppose it will last?”

“What? My happiness? Decades, I should hope,” he said, somewhat surprised at the question.

“No, I didn’t mean that. Of course I want you to be happy always. I meant this joy you feel in kissing me, especially in public rooms of the house.”

He shrugged. “I cannot explain it, but kissing you like this pleases me tremendously.”

“Perhaps it is the novelty of being able to do what was forbidden only a week ago?” she asked.

“Perhaps,” he answered as he continued to kiss her neck, seemingly unperturbed by her words.

“It is all so very new and exciting. Surely I will become commonplace soon enough.”

“Never!” he said vehemently. “There is nothing common about you, my sweet.”

“You say that today. Mayhap after nearly a week in a carriage, you will feel very differently.”

~

The first day in the carriage was easy enough. They played a simple word game Elizabeth had learned with her sisters, slept a bit, and read from their individual books. Darcy told her that they would travel the longest distance in the first days while they still had the stamina for travel. Once they had been on the road three days, they would slow their pace and see a few sights before arriving at The Lakes in a week’s time.