& Moira Bianchi: novembro 2015

segunda-feira, 30 de novembro de 2015

Regency love story - part 8 - Epilogue

hello,
And finally I have arrived at the last moments of my first Regency story. Not with some fretting, I have to say.

I have to thank with all my heart the nice friends who reached out to give their opinion. Many, many thanks. I will take all your views into consideration when revising everything and will try my best to give my lines a Regency like vibe.

Anyway, here is the Epilogue - rewritten four times, the closing of this journey from effusive happiness, to the abyss of jealousy and arriving at... You'll see. ;) 

Enjoy!



Love in acts

1st act

LOVE HURTS

angst, rated M, short, sequel to P&P
previously


Epilogue -



‘My nymph, I am come to pay you my respects.’ She heard her adored husband’s strong voice and surreptitiously stored a letter behind her one second before he arrived close, bowed low and placed a laurel wreath on the top of her head. Heart speeding, she gasped. ‘Tonight-’ He glued lips with her. ‘– I want you do dress as a Greek goddess. Aphrodite.’


‘Will you be Apollo?’ Comfortably stretched in the big chaise, she asked caressing his naked neck in long strokes that dipped inside his opened shirt. ‘I love our new balcony shaded by these tall potted trees, my love.’

‘The doors are locked; you can love me here again if that’s what you mean.’ He offered and she chuckled. ‘Rise so I can lay under you.’

‘I ate normally at breakfast, do you really think?...’

‘I’m sure!’ Proud of his secret ability to plan their lives, he smiled when she scooted to the side and her negligée opened revealing her milky skin and engorged nipples. He half lay beside her and leaned forward to place a small kiss on each. ‘This one is better be a boy or we’ll have to call her Catherine!’ Darcy grinned enchanted by the idea of an heir; Elizabeth smiled although her eyes were troubled. ‘Maybe a boy will allow you a more agreeable confinement.’

For a moment she thought her stomach was already rebelling against the child inside her. ‘According to you, there’ll be another two girls before a boy comes.’ She kissed his ear hiding her face in his neck.

‘Two years since Eliza, it’s about time we have another babe in the house.’

‘After their stroll in the park with the nannies; our daughters will need a long nap. Georgiana is at cousin Margaret’s for the modiste’s visit. Are you finished with your business?’

He nodded combing a loose lock of hair behind her ear. ‘You didn’t want a new dress?’

She shook her head and wrinkled her nose as the wreath balanced awkwardly over her left eye. ‘I have new ones for the next balls. Margaret is too… bossy when it comes to fashion. She is now intent on peacock feathers, I want far from her.’ He chuckled. ‘Another ball in a few hours and we’re officially in the middle of Georgiana’s third shopping season. Half is done, only half more to come.’

‘I hope this will be our last.’ He groaned for her amusement and she kissed his eyelids.

‘Your aunt has a Duke and a future Earl at prise de fer.’

‘I suspect that even if she had a Prince you’d still block his coming to me and it would still cause drama between you and aunt Daphne.’

‘I still hope for a love match, she insists on a fine arranged marriage.’ Elizabeth huffed.

He held her face to look directly into her eyes. ‘Thank you for conducting everything with so much care. For managing with my aunt what it was best for Georgiana after that problem at Ramsgate.’

‘I accept your gratitude.’ She smiled with a twinkle in her eyes. ‘By conducting you mean keeping my family very far from most of the events, is it not?’ She smiled sideways, he pressed his lips. ‘At least Aunt Eliza has made peace with you… and you seem to be fond of Uncle Gardiner again.’

‘I am. Just…’ He trailed off. ‘Never mind.’

Elizabeth bit her lip and silently stared at his shirt for a moment. ‘My love?’
‘Mmm?’

‘I don’t want to upset you but I hate secrets.’ Her delicate fingers combed his chest’s hair and something in her voice made his heart instantly change from the comfortable warm rhythm of love to uneasiness.  ‘I got a letter today.’

‘Yes?’

‘A letter from the New World.’ She twisted and took it from under her, Darcy waited. ‘My solicitor is making a fine life there and-‘

‘You solicitor?’ His face and voice hardened. ‘You keep an attorney?’ She nodded, fine eyes slightly widened. 'After I told you to quit relations with those bastards who consider you a fool?’

Elizabeth huffed. ‘It certainly is not how he sees me!’ He closed his eyes to contain his annoyance. ‘Don’t distract me; I have to tell you something important, Fitzwilliam.’ She waited until he looked at her again. ‘There was a big fever, it got out of hand.’

Darcy frowned considering why that would be important for them and maybe because he was slightly upset for having his plans for an erotic afternoon frustrated, he had trouble understanding. Soon his beautiful wife would change and he wanted to appreciate her figure and bed before their child growing in her womb took possession of her. Then it hit him, he swallowed with difficulty afraid his inferno was about to erupt again disturbing his perfect life and frowned deeply.

‘The mother survived the illness.’ She said measuring his reaction carefully; he was intent on her eyes trying to do the same. ‘But not the children, I’m very sorry.’ Elizabeth closed her eyes and her shoulders sagged. ‘Grieved.’ He nodded. ‘I feel guilty.’

‘Why?’ He asked horrified.

‘If not for me, you would never have sent them away and-’

‘I didn’t.’ He held her by the arms. ‘I gave them means to live far from us, wherever they chose. Merely that.’

She bit her lip, eyes troubled. ‘What shall we do?’

‘Nothing.’

‘The other one-’

‘Nothing. It’s taken care of, my love.’

Tense silence engulfed them and even though each dwelled on a distinct perspective of the situation, in essence their hearts relapsed. It was the same pain deemed long forgotten returning.

‘May I ask why do you keep an attorney, Elizabeth?’ He asked at last, eyes in slits, already en garde for a fight.

She shrugged. ‘It seemed practical to have the assistance of a gentleman who knew the law and-‘

‘I demand you quit any business you have with that bastard or any other solicitor.’

‘Fitzwilliam!’ She gasped for he never used that tone of voice with her.

‘You once minced my heart with your jealousy and insecurities-’ He accused and she stood hugging her gown around her chest, then adjusted the wreath on top of her loosely braided hair as if physically holding their love in place. ‘You cannot deny that was what you did.’

‘I can and I do, sir.’ Elizabeth considered to be happily married, assured of her stance in life, proud of the family she had been creating beside the man she had had three chances to accept; but she hadn’t changed enough to be intimidated easily. ‘Four and a half years ago I took a blow much fiercer than I could handle.’

‘You cannot bring those misinterpretations to light again, Elizabeth.’

‘Misinterpretations, sir?’ She defied him.

Darcy loved his wife with all his heart, with his own life, more even than he loved his sister and those two angels Heaven had sent for him to baptize as Daphne and Eliza Darcy. But, oh, how his lady had the power to control his emotions like the sea played with boats, throwing him from a moment of paradise-like peace to the most violent storm in a matter of seconds. ‘Listen, madam-’ He also rose to impose the power of his height and strong voice over her. Barefoot and half naked she needed to toss her head back to look at his face, those fine eyes glowing with courage and… love – of course he realized how much she loved him. ‘Listen to me, my love.’ He tried again controlling his voice and emotions. ‘It is in the past, those women, those children, everything was buried long ago. It pains me to discover almost five years past you still plan to leave me.’ Her eyes widened. ‘I can’t think another reason for you to keep an attorney.’

‘For…’ Surprised, she blinked. ‘Merely because…’

‘You expected I would break my promise and resume the habit of paying visits.’ He felt all the weight of the world in his heart. ‘All along you have been suspicious.’ She bit her lip, he wanted to shake her and utter a guttural scream but ran a hand on his hair because she was with child again and with it the fear of losing her returned with monumental force to his chest.

‘I never again considered leaving you.’ She said in an uncertain low voice that robbed her of any conviction. ‘I trust you.’

‘Do you?’

‘Completely.’

‘Why, then?’

She shook her head. ‘It seemed appropriate. I… well, I…’ Elizabeth blinked nervously. ‘You are a landed gentleman of consequence and I simply a gentleman’s daughter; your family never hid how they considered me below you.’ She walked to the tall planters and fingered the trees with disinterest. ‘My papa is never around to aid me, after those horrible months my uncle was estranged from us for a while, I felt vulnerable.’

‘You considered me a menace. Is that it?’

‘No!’ His violent reaction fueled her courage and she squared her shoulder before turning back to him. ‘And not only that, you must know, sir.’ She pressed her eyes and he rose to the challenge. ‘Being your wife has responsibilities. Those children came from you; it is my duty to see to their wellbeing. I sent money-’

‘What?’ He roared.

She shuddered and her head spun, she had to press her eyes close to regain her balance. Yes, he was right, she was with child again. ‘I tried to forget the whole affair but after Daphne was born and I saw you taking her up a horse when she was but a babe I realized those other children…’ She groaned with the effort of controlling her body.

He walked towards her, bent by the waist and kissed her still thin stomach. ‘My love, let’s not dwell on unnecessary problems when you need to worry about this child here.’

‘How can you be sure I’m with child before me?’

‘Your cheeks.’ He ran his hooked finger on her face. ‘They are constantly rosy when you’re carrying.’ He gently kissed her nose and hugged her close to his chest feeling his whole body tense. ‘Elizabeth, it is now time for you to put my heart in peace. I need to ask again why would you nurture plans to leave me.’

She opened her eyes with care to evaluate her balance. ‘You need not, husband. It never crossed my thoughts again, especially after I felt our first daughter stir inside me.’

‘Convince me, my lady.’ He begged, his lips against her forehead. ‘Once you demanded I convince you of my fidelity, now you convince me of yours.’ She blinked looking up at him. ‘Cut all relations with any attorney or solicitor; abdicate the notion that you are vulnerable with me, Mrs. Darcy.’

‘It had been long since there was any correspondence from the New World, sir, it was merely-‘

‘Severe all business. I demand.’

She nodded with a deep sigh.

‘I’ll pen a nope, you add one of yours and my solicitor will take care of the rest.’ He returned to the chaise and once seated, brought her to his lap again. ‘I’ll ask him for a meeting so he can care for anything you might think necessary to calm your heart, he’ll tend to you.’

‘Thank you.’ She smiled sadly. ‘And he certainly will discuss with you before or after he answers to my needs.’

He locked her in his stare. ‘Can’t you trust me completely?’

Vanquished, she forced a ghost of a smile. ‘I do.’

In his torment, he only considered one option: solve the matter with haste for there was no chance his heart could take that much suffering again. ‘I want to believe you.’

‘I’ll prove it to you.’ She leaned forward and touched her lips to his fleetingly.

A delicate feather like caress such as that did nothing to calm him; it only made him more insecure. In a whim, he held her neck with both hands and deepened the kiss to rob her soul. ‘Kiss me again.’ He demanded and still a little breathless, she complied. When he released her, her face was flushed and there was a lazy smile on her swollen lips. ‘I love how my heirs render your cheeks rosy.’ He whispered caressing her with a hooked finger once more.

‘It’s the sun, sir. I’m here in this shaded balcony enjoying the warmth of the sun since you went downstairs to attend to your business…’

Darcy had faith in his calculations; planned their life carefully and was intent on her body’s functioning. ‘I’m positive you are with child. Your nipples get fatty and rosier.’ He caressed her left nipple with the same hooked finger. ‘And here…’ He lowered more to place a kiss on her inner thigh, so close to her delicates that his nose touched the curls and she trembled. ‘The perfume is slightly different.’ He sniffed again. ‘Stronger somehow.‘

‘Fitzwilliam, this is – Oh!’ His caress on her breast changed from a fleeting touch to a full claw and she arched her back. ‘It’s indecent for a husband to say those things-’ He shut her with his mouth.

‘Indecent, yes. You wanted everything.’ He moved so she laid over him on the stuffed chaise she had been napping on and off for the best part of the morning. ‘This is all of me.’

‘Only I know how much of a cad you are.’

‘Only you can give me everything in return, that’s what I need.’

She raised his shirt and expertly opened his breeches’ flap. ‘Only me.’ He nodded sighing as she guided his member inside her with practice. ‘Move, cad.’ She whispered in a sassy smile. ‘Treat your wife with all the impropriety you can- oh!’ She gasped as he gave her what she asked.

‘Exactly the lady I deserve…’

Wings – Darcy house


‘You took too long to return, Mrs. Darcy has already asked twice.’ Ashton complained angrily. ‘Look at you, little darling. Rosy cheeks…’ The young girl giggled. ‘And this hair…’

Little Daphne Elizabeth Darcy frowned and ducked to escape her mama’s maid who was always tugging on her hair to fill it with pins that itched her scalp.

‘Good luck, Ashton!’ Susanna, the nanny, chuckled. ‘Mrs. Darcy has to call her husband to post guard in the nursery so I can comb these curls.’

‘And what about you, Miss?’ Ashton pinched the toddler’s chubby cheeks and Eliza Jane Darcy started a torrent of jumbled words explaining about a fish she saw in the Serpentine. ‘Good Lord, that big?’ The girl’s curls bounced as she nodded vigorously. ‘Go bathe and have tea, my dear. Then hurry to tell your mama before she has to get ready for tonight.

‘Any news of Evans, Ashton?’

‘Sorry, Susanna.’ Rodgers answered from the door as he entered the hall. ‘He is still away dealing with Mr. Darcy’s secret task.’

Susanna sighed. It was too much to hope anyway that he would arrive without notice in the middle of the season. Before she could waste any more of her time and tears on the absent secretary or the spite of her former lover, the children’s preceptor arrived and there would be hell to pay for letting the two Darcy angels run free at the park as their mama had ordered.


By the end of the season, as everyone was already tired of preparing gowns and head pieces and bonnets and trousers the master was adamant of in sympathy with his cousin but unfortunately needed careful ironings, it was with great joy that they started to prepare the return to Pemberley.

There, not only Ashton had her own chambers she didn’t have to share with the severe preceptor, she could find distance from Susanna and her drama. Why would it be interesting to anyone where the thin man had been sent by the master or why she had refused the valet who got her the job?

What did matter to Ashton was how happy her mistress was when the silly man returned to London after months in a secret mission for the master. That same day, after the last grand ball of the season, while Elizabeth grinned telling Ashton about the several sets Miss Georgiana danced with the same future Earl for whom she had a splitting smile, Mr. Darcy entered his wife’s chambers to presented her with a detailed map of warehouses and milliners’ shops in Venice. She gasped and gasped as he explained the ones marked with stars were available for lease, the ones with a star and a red heart had ‘secret parlors for unnamables such as women’s delicacies, fur negligées, masks and ladylike liqueurs’. The mistress’ fine eyes widened and glowed as she perused the sketches beautifully handmade, the master’s pressed smile and infatuated gaze never left her.

Although Ashton heard many conversations over the years, she didn’t understand what the master meant by: ‘My lady, I now fulfill my last promise. It is time you reciprocate.’ Or why he was so moved with her answer but, when the mistress said ‘Complete trust needs balance, Fitzwilliam.’ he sent the maid away with orders to return only the next morning.

As for the map, it took Mrs. Darcy a long time to confirm its accuracy. The lady had just felt the first stirrings, her bump was then almost impossible to conceal and from that to the breeding, one could count at least four months.

---

The laurel wreath did confirm there was another Darcy child on the way.  When, all those years before, his wife had first told him she had left her courses in Scotland, he had trouble finding laurel but of course she would need it beautifully entwined to adorn her pretty hair: it was either a ‘Daphne’ or an ‘Apollo’ coming for without his Aunt Matlock’s aid, there would be no such wondrous joy. By the birth of his second daughter, there was a laurel tree growing in the garden he saw from his den’s window.

Darcy was gladly proved wrong in his predictions for their family with the birth of a boy instead of his third girl. He couldn’t be named Apollo after all for ‘Apollo Darcy’ was a name too unusual to be had without the parents having to explain a good deal of their indecent intimacy and meddling of dear aunts. Nor ‘Napoleon Darcy’ as his eldest sister couldn’t receive ‘Josephine’ as their uncle-cousin thought fitting. He was named Bennett Richard Darcy as was expected.

Time slowly healed most wounds, including Colonel Fitzwilliam’s leg (perpetually protected by stockings, even when visiting expensive boudoirs), Elizabeth’s bruised heart and Darcy’s fear of losing his beloved wife - be it by her own design or by the birth of his heirs. Although her mother assured him ‘every lady from my family can beget several children without trouble’, he saw how much she suffered with each confinement and at the birth of a healthy male heir he declared the job done.

Unfortunately, time did not care to move with enough haste.

Elizabeth had to wait for the promised trip to Italy to see how her daydream from tormented days would look like in real life. Although warmed to know his wife felt pleased with him for keeping his promises, her enthusiasm during their sojourn in Venice killed Darcy.

Behind his mask of aloofness he watched her happily chat with owners or patronesses afraid she would decide this was the life that indeed brought her pleasure. He had intended on showing her how hard a life as a shopkeeper was but incapable of waiting her enthusiasm ebb away or her heart request nearness to her children, Darcy despaired.

When Elizabeth realized Darcy spent hours intent on the patronesses moving around the shops instead of evaluating the business possibilities with her, she felt Earth open under her feet. Their eyes met and held for the space it took their hearts to move in different directions again, her fine eyes misted with bitter tears of betrayal, his with the pain of misunderstanding.

‘We shall leave for Paris on the morrow.’ He announced over dinner that same night breaking their silent torment.

She frowned. ‘A week prior to what was arranged, sir?’

‘Order Ashton to prepare your trunks.’

Hearts bleeding, that night neither of them slept. He returned to their chambers several hours after she retired and found her on her side almost at the edge of the bed. He didn’t see but her eyes were wide opened, intent on the wondrous spectacle the first sunrays played on the canal outside the window of the Venetian apartment they occupied.

Time actually had funny ways of repeating itself and once again they were caught in a long, saddened and hastened trip aboard a luxurious coach – first from Scot to London, now from Venice to Paris. But there were mistakes one couldn’t commit twice.

‘You are not leaving me ever again.’ He muttered as soon as the carriage put distance between them and Venice, a place he had grown to detest.

‘Me?’ Surprised out of her silent sadness, she turned her eyes from the window and winced as the carriage bounced.

‘I saw the idea of living far from me cross your mind while we visited the shops.’

‘I am all astonishment, sir, to know that such an idea occurred to you.’ Her eyes sparkled. ‘Or any idea related to me. Didn’t you spend time ogling the women we met on our tours?’

‘Ogling women?’ He repeated offended.

‘Yes, cad!’

‘You still doubt my fidelity?’

She shrugged. ‘You doubt mine.’ She snorted and returned her eyes to the window. ‘Prove me wrong, Fitzwilliam.’ She defied.

‘You, madam, you should convince my heart you are mine and will never want anything over me.’ He spat seating on the edge of his seat and inching his body closer to her.

Feeling trapped and challenged, she pressed her eyes into slits to look at him. ‘You were ogling other women.’

He did the same. ‘You consider life here is more exciting than at Pemberley.’

‘I can keep you blindfolded, eternally.’

He opened his eyes to retort with a cruel menace but her sparkling eyes were a perpetual trigger for his lust. He could threaten to chain her to his bed or to forbid even her long walks. But he could also change his meticulous plans allowing a grand denouement… That seemed an excellent choice in his hazed mind.

Unlike their ride from Scot to London expecting to find Colonel Fitzwilliam dead while holding the shreds of their marriage, this time he took action and grabbed her wrists to bring his wife to his lap. Luckily the roads were in pitiable state or else the coachmen and scouts could have noticed the lovers’ enthusiastic patching of old bruises.

Almost a year later, after a very exasperating confinement, their family grew significantly. The Darcy twin boys received their grandpapas’ names and Elizabeth prayed for a way to prevent her husband’s seeds to grow inside her again, because the sowing never stopped.

The end
rebloggy

I have a few plans for Jane Austen's birthday - aside from the release of BOOK 2 of Prince of Pemberley.

My second Regency story... It's here: ECLIPSE OF THE HEART.

Thanks for reading.
M.

update: 

a revised & extended version of this story will be available on Kindle Unlimited from Jan 25th, 17.

domingo, 22 de novembro de 2015

Regency love story - part 7

hello,
This last week have been, errr..., rather intriguing. Not in a bad sense, though.

I was invited to join a great giveaway celebrating Ms Austen's day - her 240th birthday and it's been quite a surprise to notice so many great gifts aligned. Mr. Darcy's Diary , Longbourn , Becoming Jane , P&P BBC , as well as several  copies of Austen's masterpieces. Among these treasures is my 45 days in Europe with Mr. Darcy Portuguese edition. Wow, what an honor!

Yeah, and there's still the Berkeley online P&P course I'm taking part and loving. Plus, I've had the nice surprise of noticing Darcy friends from a beloved site visiting me. I was delighted, would love to know what they think about my adventure in petticoats. ;)

Anyway, here, as Elizabeth has found an ally (or was it friendly fire) in someone she could never have guessed, can you guess her next move?  It's a short lovely chapter and after this, there's only the Epilogue I'll try to post in a few days' time. But as life is relentless and my Christmas short stories project's deadline is close, I can't yet say when I'll manage. 

For now, enjoy what people do best: love and gossip!



Love in acts

1st act

LOVE HURTS

angst, rated M, short, sequel to P&P
previously

PART 6-

‘Tell me everything, please.’ She asked, eyes wide and expectant. He sighed. ‘I promise I’ll deal with it all.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Yes.’ She answered without a second thought and noticed her husband eyeing her maid calmly removing each of the thousand pins from her hair. Very dashing he was in his waistcoat and cravat, the tailcoat discarded before he entered her chambers.

He waited until her hair fell down her back and the delicate jewelry was safe inside its boxes to send her maid away. From then on he could help his wife undress; in fact he would take pleasure doing so.


‘Please, Fitzwilliam?’
He nodded. ‘Ashton probably already knows as much, but I didn’t want to have an audience.’ She nodded, fine eyes still expectantly directed at him. ‘Come to the setee, my love. Bring your Limoncello.’

‘Oh, no…’ She mumbled miserably and sat beside him with a single tumbler from which she sipped delicately before passing it to him.

‘He will live.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Yes. It was a leg injurie. Quite bad.’

‘Did you see it?’ She asked in a whisper. He shut his yes and pressed his lips in a thin line. ‘Is that why they wouldn’t let me in?’

‘I almost wavered on my feet, Lizzy. And the smell…’ He pursed his lips. ‘Ladies would surely faint at the sight of that.’ He drained the tumbler and winced as the tart alcohol hit his throat.

She huffed indignantly. ‘He has a lady nurse! And if he were from a modest family, his mama and sisters and cousins would be the ones to help.’

‘If he were from a modest family, his leg would have been cut before he was sent home.’ She gasped. ‘The surgeons cleaned the wound to the bone as best as they could and sent him home. He said the crossing was almost unbearable, he was mostly unconscious. Once in London, he was better treated.’

‘Will he be able to have a normal life?’

‘I suppose. Aside from this leg, he only has nasty cuts on the other. His good mood is unscathed, he has general good health but there is no telling if the infection will clear.’ Darcy rose to refill the glass. ‘He will always have a hollow that hopefully will heal and skin will cover, but I don’t think he’ll grow flesh there anymore. No breeches, only trousers from now on. Maybe he won’t ride anymore, but I don’t see any problems for him to use curricles.’ Darcy drained the tumbler and refilled it to the middle to extend it to her.

To his surprise, she drained it instead of sipping. ‘I like trousers…’ She mused, eyes lost, face in a pained expression. ‘You look very handsome in trousers.’

He took the tumbler from her and rested on the mantle. ‘Let’s hope his only problem is of the fashion nature.’

‘May God provide.’ She sighed.

‘You, my love, has been causing quite an impression on the ladies here with your fashion.’ He pressed a smile.

‘Yes.’ She smiled weakly at him. ‘They loved my last purchases.’ She bit her lip.

‘What? Didn’t you love all you chose in London? You can choose other items if -’

‘No.’ She cut him. ‘You were already very generous. It’s that… I couldn’t fool your aunt, she saw through me and we… I mean, she explained about what would be expected of the wife of a man of your consequence.’ Elizabeth paused. ‘Family duties too.’

‘I wondered why you were so intent on Anne.’ He made a huge effort to contain his mirth. ‘Is that related somehow?’

‘Somehow.’

‘How in God’s name is Pemberley’s mistress’ distress related to cousin Anne?’

She groaned at his choice of words and he had to press his fist to his lips. She squinted and caged him in her suspicious stare. He fell in love with her all over again. ‘I’ll never remarry, silly love. You will never leave me; I’ll never have another woman.’ He held her face in both hands and kissed her.

When he released her, she was breathless. ‘You considered this option?’

‘My aunt told me about your conversation.’ He grinned. ‘I’m to repay her help with that monstrous muff you thankfully didn’t choose.’

‘The white one?’

‘Yes.’ He kissed her cheek and sat beside her again.

‘What else did she tell you?’ Elizabeth asked terrified his aunt had given him ideas to picture Anne in bed, one more woman to haunt her.

‘That I have to keep her Limoncello a secret.’ She giggled as he kissed her jaw. ‘And most importantly that you are so special, money and social positions can’t persuade you to accept what is abhorrent in your eyes.’

‘She is a very wise woman.’

‘I say…’ His big hand found her breast and she covered it with hers.

His other hand, she directed from her neck to the junction of her legs and he sighed. ‘Maybe you should send for the matching cape to gift aunt Daphne.’ She whispered in his ear, his lips busy on her perfumed cleavage. ‘I should pay with my pin money…’ A tremble. ‘I almost lost this.’ She brazenly opened her legs for him to caress her over her dress.

‘You may gift her with whatever you want.’ He bit her earlobe and she trembled again before raising the hem of her gown for him. He grinned and bit her lower lip. ‘But because you’re fond of her. There was never any danger of you losing anything.’

Gasping and sighing in turn as he melted her with his hands, she laboriously freed his neck from the tie and held to catch his attention. ‘I have your heart.’

‘Completely.’

‘And your desire.’

‘Ardently.’

‘Will I always have it?’

‘Of course.’

‘But that woman who looked like me-’

‘Stop.’ He leaned away from her.

She held his wrist to keep his hand inside her dress. ‘We’re not in bed yet. I need to know.’ Her heart thumped violently, it was the information she needed to move on with her life, to break free from the strings holding her. ‘Did you search for her after I refused you?’

His big hand clawed her inner thigh. ‘I didn’t have to search for her. Or any of them. It’s easy enough to hire such services when a gentleman has the inclination. The one similar to you was a sad coincidence that actually didn’t instigate me as much as I first thought.’

‘Why?’

‘You still need to ask, Lizzy?’

‘Please.’ She begged, her hand on his neck trembled.

‘Because she is not you.’

They were caught in each other’s eyes for long moments.

‘I love you.’ She whispered, her fine eyes filling with tears. ‘But I can’t bear the thought of you with anyone else.’

‘It was never like what we have.’ He turned his head and kissed her wrist. ‘It is impossible to ever be.’

‘Can you be exclusively mine?’ She begged in a question, her eyes on his lips touching her wrist.

‘I am.’

‘I want to believe you.’

‘I’ll prove it to you, one day after the other.’ He leaned his head to kiss her, her tongue licked his lips and he sighed. ‘I’m putty in your arms, and lips, and-’ He let go of her thigh to maneuver under garments and invade her with two fingers as she liked, her back arched, one stockinged leg lifted. ‘And here. I’m putty here. Helpless. Captive.’ He pumped lovingly. ‘Enslaved.’

After the kiss that almost robbed his soul, he had to withdraw his fingers because she stood, held her skirts around her waist and with an impatient look commanded him to open his breeches’ flap as she got rid of drawers.

‘Come, my lady.’ He held her by her naked hips guiding her astride him.

She tried but the setee was narrow. Impatient she was, but not in the mood for an unfulfilling liaison. ‘Bed.’ She ordered in an imperative whisper. ‘Now.’

She rose; he went after her instinctively taking off the waistcoat, unable to make any coherent thought aside from her bared bottom in front of him as she walked to the bed with her skirts lifted. ‘Lay down.’ She ordered again. He complied, his member eagerly pointing to the bed canopy, and tried to take off his boots. ‘Never mind those!’ She admonished and he stretched his arms inviting her to climb on top of him. Once dovetailed, he finally did what promised to her maid and undressed her as her body trembled and sweat covered her delicate skin. When she was gloriously naked, the flickering light coming from the fireplace coloring her skin as if using it as a live canvas, she raised to seat erect over him and with her head tossed back, convulsed.

On his back, he watched her barely being able to breathe, moving by instinct, watching his lady naked and fitted snugly around him, moving and moaning, her long chestnut curls around her shoulders, her small pinkish nipples pointy, the red canopy above her – if he ever dreamt of having physical pleasure in his marriage, it had been like this: an expensive boudoir with an exquisite female who tasted of fine alcohol, the decadent smell of sex mixed with candles, an overwhelming atmosphere of raw lust and ardent love.

She lowered her exhausted body and her hair closed his face in a secluded shrine. ‘Seed me, Fitzwilliam, it’s about time.’

He did.

Wings – The Bet


‘Here you go.’ Rodgers handed Hamlet almost half his very precious salary.

‘Thank you very much, my friend.’

Rodgers sighed. ‘For a man with this silly name, you can be insufferable.’

‘Not silly, it comes from one of the Bard’s plays. It means my papa was well educated, a fine valet he was. I say.’

‘A dynasty of valets.’ Rodgers sniggered.

Hamlet laughed. ‘I still don’t know why you accepted this bet.’

‘He could spend himself right before meeting a lady, that’s what most of us do.’ Rodgers’ eyes were downcast mourning the lost money. ‘But I don’t think Mr. Darcy does that or make use of those oils, I’d notice in his drawers. I know for a fact he dislikes riding coats…’

Hamlet cringed. ‘Ugh, I hate to clean those. My previous master was intent on French letters. I was pleased when Colonel was assiduous at the rich widow’s chambers.’ He sipped his ale and both men were silent thinking about the differences between a working man and rich one when it came to the ingenious art of lovemaking without problematic aftermath. ‘Anyway, I told you I knew Colonel Fitzwilliam taught Mr. Darcy how to avoid seeding a woman when she was prone to get a child.’

‘He seemed too eager to do that with his bride. And we have to agree that he is not the best pupil in this matter.’ Rodgers shook his head and drained his ale.

‘The wrenches he maintained?’ Hamlet asked and the other valet nodded. ‘That’s why they talked about it when- I don’t know, long ago. It’s been years, before you even, and not another mishap came to him. Am I mistaken?’

‘You’re right.’

‘Colonel thinks one is not even Mr. Darcy’s. Maybe two, actually. But he would never deny assistance, he is too noble to allow a situation such as that take dire directions.’

‘Did Colonel send word to any of his paramours after he arrived?’

‘Don’t think he’ll bother.’ Hamlet shrugged and sipped his ale.

‘Not even the one married to that old Duke?’

‘Would you want a handsome titled wrench like that to know you’re marred? Or see your leg missed a chunk?’

‘Not at all.’

‘So.’

‘Indeed.’

‘She’s bound to know, though. This season, no one from the family will be of much socializing, but Miss Georgiana will have her come out sooner or later.’

‘By then he will have found a way to disguise his leg.’

‘Will he wait that long?’

 ‘For her? Yes. For action in general, don’t think so.’ Hamlet snorted. ‘So, your master still hasn’t a child coming. No nannies for Pemberley yet.’

‘No.’ Rodgers mumbled. ‘Suzanna will find somewhere else to work.’

‘Maybe you could explain to Mr. Darcy that his lady should get acquainted to a nanny even before their children-’

‘He would never fall for that.’

‘Right.’

‘What about that one from… Meryton. Right?’

‘I was there a few weeks ago. With child. Not mine, though.’

‘Yes, my friend. You are in difficulty indeed. Poor and loveless.’ Hamlet sniggered.

‘At least I can drink tonight. Mr. Darcy won’t be calling me-’ He sat up straighter and the butler appeared on the back door to search for him.

‘Your master has rung his bell, Rodgers.’

‘Yes, sir.’ He stood immediately. ‘Deuce. Why hadn’t the mistress learned to take off boots by now?’ He muttered under his breath and Hamlet laughed.

---
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Epilogue

update: 

a revised & extended version of this story will be available on Kindle Unlimited from Jan 25th, 17.


terça-feira, 17 de novembro de 2015

SUPER SORTEIO comemorando o Jane Austen Day 2015

Quem é Jane Austen ? Quem, quem quem?


Fui convidada a participar de um mega sorteio comemorando os 240 anos de Jane Austen. Como não aceitar?
São 19 prêmios em uma coincidência feliz com o meu aniversário!
Jane Austen comemora em 16-12 e eu em 19-12, só 3 dias depois (e algumas centenas de anos a menos!)

Seguem as diretrizes e no final do post o rafflecopter.
BOA SORTE!


 Jane Austen nasceu no dia 16 de dezembro de 1775. Tornou - se uma escritora proeminente e figura entre os escritores ingleses famosos, tais como: Shakespeare , Dickens ,Virginia Woolf , Lewis Carroll , etc.
escritores ingleses famosos jane austen

Entre os seus trabalhos estão 6 obras prontas: Orgulho e Preconceito , Razão e Sensibilidade , Persuasão , A Abadia de Northanger , Mansfield Park e Emma ,Lady Susan , entre outras obras incompletas.

Em 24/07/2013 ela foi a 3º mulher a ser escolhida para ser representada no papel moeda britânico, estampará a nota de dez libras, as primeiras sairão em 2017.
ten pounds, 10 libras, jane austen
Imagem da nova nota foi fornecida pelo Banco da Inglaterra

O que é o Jane Austen DAY?

E em 2014 no último aniversário de Austen, o The Jane Austen Centre instituiu o Dia de Jane Austen. Página no Facebook.
Fãs de Austen no mundo todo já estão fazendo planos. Em Canberra - Austrália, haverá uma Brunch; em Nova Scotia um almoço; e os fãs na Ucrânia e em  Idaho estarão reunidos para um chá. Em Colorado, eles estarão tentando um baile à fantasia Era da Regência.

AQUI NO BLOG, teremos novas fics gratuitas, lançamento do segundo volume do 'PRINCE OF PEMBERLEY' e do livrinho de contos de FINAL DE ANO em Português.
ÊTA Dezembro animado!


E nós como não podemos fazer um belo de um encontro, Um dia faremos, estaremos reunidos aqui e no Grupo com várias parcerias exclusivas NUM MEGA SORTEIO.

Este é o Primeiro (de muitos esperamos hehe) JANE AUSTEN DAY, organizado pela pelo blog Amantes de Jane Austen.

Como participar?


Para Participar deve seguir todas as regras abaixo e preencher o formulário do Rafflecopter onde será feito o Sorteio:
    Regulamento
      • - A promoção é válida de 16/11/2015 à 16/12/2015.
      • - Residir em território nacional (Brasil).
      • - O resultado será divulgado nas redes sociais das páginas e blogues, após o término da promoção.
      • - Após o anúncio do resultado, o sorteado será informado por e-mail e terá até 24 horas para entrar em contato com o Blog ou página, informando seu nome completo e endereço.
      • - Caso algum item obrigatório não seja cumprido, um novo sorteio será realizado. Todos os itens serão conferidos.
      • - Os prêmios serão enviados pelos blogs participantes em até 30 dias úteis, após o termino da promoção.
      • - Os blogs participantes não se responsabilizam pelo atraso ou extravio dos correios, ou ainda pelo fornecimento do endereço errado por parte do sorteado.
      • - Caso o livro retorne ao remetente, não será feito um segundo envio.
      • - Em caso de greve dos correios o prazo de entrega poderá sofrer alterações.
      • - Perfis falsos ou promocionais serão desclassificados.


      Sobre os mimos e brindes.

      Os Blogs e Páginas e Editoras serão responsáveis pelo envio de cada mimo ou livro, com Exceção das Editoras Pedrazul e Martin Claret, que enviaram seus livros para a Residencia da +Angélica Damasceno - Amantes de Jane Austen, que por sua vez será responsável pelo envio (ela informa que por serem 5 fretes independentes talvez demore um pouco a enviá-los.)


      A Página e o Blog Amantes de Jane Austen e a A Página Classic Books
      Uma bolsa forrada personalizada com tema Jane Austen, cor sortida disponível na data do sorteio.

      bolsa personalizada, sorteio Jane Austen day


      A Autora Moira Bianchi do Hot Rio Chick
      Um Exemplar do Livro 45 dias na Europa com Sr Darcy

      Sorteio comemorativo JANE AUSTEN DAY, 45 dias com Mr. Darcy na europa

      liiindo!


      A responsável pelo Casinha de Livro blog e página Patricia Dias - 
      Um kit de marcadores de livros exclusivo diversos inspirados em Jane Austen.


      Sorteio comemorativo JANE AUSTEN DAY, o diario de Mr. Darcy


      Um Exemplar de Razão e Sensibilidade,  e um de A Abadia de Northanger, e um de Persuasão,  e um do Livro 3 em 1 - Lançamento

      Sorteio comemorativo JANE AUSTEN DAY, razão e sensibilidadeSorteio comemorativo JANE AUSTEN DAY, livro 3 em 1Sorteio comemorativo JANE AUSTEN DAY, a abadia de northangerSorteio comemorativo JANE AUSTEN DAY, persuasão


       2 Exemplares de Emma lançamento saídos da gráfica

      Sorteio comemorativo JANE AUSTEN DAY Emma LePM

      A Editora Companhia das Letras -
       Um Exemplar de As Sombras de Longbourn Um Exemplar de Juvenília

      Sorteio comemorativo JANE AUSTEN DAY as sombras de longbournSorteio comemorativo JANE AUSTEN DAY juvenília


      A Página do Facebook Adaptações de Jane Austen - 
      Um DVD Amor e Inocência

      Sorteio comemorativo JANE AUSTEN DAY dvd amor e inocencia

      O blog e a página do Facebook  Brainstorm do Leonardo Junior -
      UM exemplar de Lady Susan

      Sorteio comemorativo JANE AUSTEN DAY lady Susan

      Adoooro!!!


      O blog e página do Facebook Escritoras Inglesas - 
      Um Exemplar de Emma lançamento L&PM Pocket



      O blog e a Página As Garotas de Pemberley - 
      Um DVD da série Orgulho e Preconceito versão de 1995 da BBC



      A Página Lovely Store da Mara Hoffman -  Uma Capa de Livro feita de tecido Personalizada cor sortida disponível na data do sorteio.




      Sorteio comemorativo JANE AUSTEN DAY northanger abbey

      A Agência de Viagens Fine Destinations - 
      Dará um desconto exclusivo para quem contratar uma viagem relacionada a Jane Austen e fechar pacote no dia do Jane Austen Day



      Será enviado um livro, brinde ou mimo por sorteado.

      SORTE A TODOS!!!