Darcy and Elizabeth: The Wedding Night (past and future), by Jack Caldwell

Greetings, everyone. Jack Caldwell here.

The theme for this month is After the Wedding. The idea is for different Austen Variation authors showing the day or night after the wedding of Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. Today, it’s the Cajun Cheesehead’s turn.

Oh boy.

You see, in keeping with our general audience, nothing should be graphic or R-rated. Just sweetly romantic stories.  Only problem with that is my stuff tends to be a bit more…graphic. I’m a guy, what can I say?

So, Caroline and Buford’s wedding night from THE THREE COLONELS is right out. You never see the nights from MR. DARCY CAME TO DINNER or THE LAST ADVENTURE OF THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL. And I’ve posted the cut scene from PEMBERLEY RANCH here.

That leaves THE COMPANION OF HIS FUTURE LIFE and CRESCENT CITY. I’ve checked them out and they should pass muster. So, away we go!

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From THE COMPANION OF HIS FUTURE LIFE:

London, 1812

The breakfast finally over, the Darcys made their escape to the townhouse in London. The pair could hardly restrain their passions, but as the carriage carried two coachmen and two footmen, it would not do to begin their married life by scandalizing the help. Within a few hours, they were safely delivered, and they found themselves in their private apartments as soon as propriety allowed.

“My love, my love,” Darcy murmured as he undressed his bride, “how I have longed for this moment, to make you mine in all ways.”

Elizabeth shuddered in delight as she trailed kisses along the line of his jaw down his strong neck. Who knew gentlemen were so agreeable without cravats? “Husband, I must ask a favor of you.”

“Anything, my heart.”

“Oh, Fitzwilliam, I adore the pet names you have for me.”

He chuckled. “Then it shall be my agreeable task to dream up a hundred for you, my own.” He began trailing kisses over her rapidly revealing flesh.

“But…oh, that is nice! But you must—Fitzwilliam! Stop, or I shall grow distracted!”

“I thought that was the point of all this.”

“Teasing, teasing man! I have something important to say!”

“Very well, Elizabeth, what do you wish of me?”

“You must promise me, most firmly, that you will NEVER, EVER call me Lizzy-kins!”

Darcy looked at his half-dressed wife. “Lizzy-kins?”

“Swear! Or I shall leave you forever!”

“Doubtful.”

“Fitzwilliam, please—I beg you!”

Darcy shook his head. “It is easily done, as I would never call the queen of my soul such a name as—”

“DO NOT SAY IT!”

“My lips are sealed, Mrs.—”

Elizabeth found a way of quieting him.

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Aren’t you glad it wasn’t Collins and Mary? Now, I use my Author’s Powers and move one hundred three years and 4,600 miles through Time and Space. From RUIN AND RENEWAL: Volume Three of CRESCENT CITY:

Chackbay, Louisiana, 2005

The two couples adjourned to separate rooms in the back of the hall and changed into their going-away clothes. William and Elizabeth were quick and intercepted Bubba and Mary before they reentered the hall.

William offered an envelope. “Lizzy and I want you to have this. It’s our wedding gift to you.”

“What?” cried Mary. “You already gave us those lovely crystal candleholders.”

Elizabeth smiled. “This is a thank you for today. Open it.”

Bubba was confused as he handed the paper from the envelope to Mary. “What is this?”

William and Elizabeth grinned as Mary stared at the paper. A bit quicker on the uptake, she cried out, “This is a credit notice from the resort in Gatlinburg! They’ve refunded our deposit!”

“What? Did they cancel our reservation?” Bubba took the paper back as Mary stared at the other couple. “Paid in full? What do they mean by paid in full?”

Mary stared at her sister. “You didn’t!”

Elizabeth laughed. “We did.”

William put an arm around Elizabeth’s shoulders. “Your honeymoon trip to Gatlinburg is all paid for—room, meals, everything. You just go and have a great time.”

Bubba spurted, “This is too much! We can’t accept this!”

Elizabeth took Mary’s hand in hers. “Please let us do this. We can never thank you enough for sharing today with us.”

William nodded. “Use your money towards the down payment on your first house.”

Realization struck Mary and Bubba. They had decided to put off starting a family until they could afford a house. This gift just moved that dream a lot closer.

“You make it impossible to say no,” Mary said.

“Good, then you won’t.” William’s laughter turned into a grunt as Bubba pulled him into a bear hug. Mary and Elizabeth were tearing up in each other’s arms.

“Look what you two did to my make-up.” Mary giggled as she wiped the tears from her face after she kissed William. “Lizzy, help me repair this damage.”

~~~

St. Charles Parish

Back at Dansereau Plantation that evening, Elizabeth and William lay intertwined, their bedroom lit by a dozen candles, their skin glistening from the delightful labor of consummating their vows.

“So long,” William murmured, propped on one arm. “So long we’ve been on this journey. Seven years. Over seven years since I first saw you at that smoker at the Alpha Iota House. Seven years since I fell in love with you.”

Elizabeth’s eyes went wide. “You fell in love with me at first sight?”

He gently brushed back the hair from her face. “I didn’t know it at the time. Heck,” he chuckled,” I fell in lust with you at Fat Harry’s a few weeks before, watching you eat those cheese fries.”

She gently slapped his chest. She had heard this part before. “You and cheese fries. Besides, I thought it was my great rack.”

He laughed. “I forgot about that remark! And, yes, you do have a magnificent rack.” He showed his appreciation by kissing each nipple.

Elizabeth grew thoughtful, her eyes falling to the plain platinum band next to her engagement ring. “I had no idea. I was so hateful to you at school.”

“Shush. We’ve already gone over that. Besides, how were you to know? I fought my attraction to you all semester, thinking you were too young for me. I was a moron.” He caressed her face. “You are everything I have ever wanted.”

She took his hand and kissed the palm. “It’s terrifying in a way, isn’t it? This needing, this requirement of another person’s presence to assure your own happiness? William, never leave me. Never.”

“Don’t worry, Mrs. Darcy. Riptide and I will always be watching out for you. You’ll never get rid of us.”

She followed his eyes to the Beanie Baby of the Tulane mascot, the first gift she received from William so many years ago. As usual, it stood sentinel over her jewelry box. “Well then, if Riptide’s here, I’ve got nothing to worry about!” She drew a fingertip provocatively down his chest. “Though he does a lousy job of protecting me from being ravished by a certain insatiable beast.”

“You’ve any complaints?”

She gave him a slow, sexy smile. “Not if he does it right—and right now!”

William’s grin widened. “I think I can handle that.” He took his beloved bride into his arms, and the two of them made love again.

As they lost themselves in a tempest of feelings and desire, a completely different sort of tempest was brewing in the Caribbean Sea south of Cuba.

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Oh, yeah, there was a hurricane a’coming. Hey, it’s Louisiana, what did you expect?

Oh, what the heck! Wentworth and Anne deserve a little love! Let’s jump to 1815 and my latest novel, PERSUADED TO SAIL:

Bath, 1815

It took no little time for all the farewells to be accomplished, and the couple was safely enclosed in the carriage. Finally, the coach was on its way. They had only gone a short distance before Anne pulled the curtains closed. At her husband’s questioning look, she asked, “Have I told you how much I hate Bath? I wish never to see this place again.”

“I am afraid we shall argue on our wedding day, for I must disagree with you. Bath will always be dear to me.”

It took Anne a moment to understand Frederick’s comment, after which she smiled. “Well, I can forgive you that,” she said as she kissed him. She then snuggled into his arms and rode for a time in silence.

Is she nervous? thought Frederick. Of course, she is an innocent. What can I say to relieve her anxiety?

“My dear, I just wanted you to know…I understand that you may harbor some…uh…apprehensions about tonight. Let me assure you that I hold you in the greatest—”

Anne looked at her husband with a curious expression.

“What is so amusing?”

Anne chuckled softly and kissed him sweetly. “Oh, Frederick, you are too good. I may be a maiden, but I am no child. I know what to expect, and I look forward to it as much as you.” She kissed him again.

Frederick grinned. “I am glad to hear it, but I doubt you are as—anxious—as I am.” I have been dreaming of this night for more than eight years!

She leaned back into his shoulder. “You are not the only one who dreams, my love.”

“How…how did you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Read my mind! That was my very thought!”

She giggled again. “It was not so very hard. It was written on your face.”

“I see I shall have to be careful around you!” They laughed and kissed again. “But why are you so quiet?”

“This last year has been very trying, Frederick. Finally, I am at peace—and with you—and I am enjoying the sensation.”

“Far be it from me to disturb your contentment.”

They rode on in silence, Anne in Frederick’s arms, enjoying an occasional caress. They may have closed their eyes, but they did not sleep.

~~~

Wiltshire

Two hours later, they stopped at a country inn outside Trowbridge. The place was neat and clean, and the innkeeper and his wife could not have been more accommodating or discreet. The meal was hot and flavorful and the wine drinkable. All was pleasant.

Finally, the two sat in adjoining chairs, holding hands and staring into the fire.

“What are you thinking, Frederick?”

He sighed. “What a fool I have been. Had I written you a year earlier—”

“We must put all that behind us, or we shall have no chance at happiness.”

“I shall try, Anne.”

She kissed his hand and got to her feet. “I am going upstairs.”

Frederick hoped he did not jump up too quickly. “Yes, of course. I suppose you would want a little time—”

Anne smiled and stroked her husband’s face. “Come with me, Frederick.”

He was taken aback. This was not what Sophy had told him to expect. “Now? I thought—”

She silenced him with a touch of her lips. “Come, Frederick.”

Leading him by the hand, she ascended the stairs with him and was soon in their room. Once the door was closed, Anne turned to Frederick and kissed him again, this time with more passion. He reached out to embrace her, but the lady stepped back.

“As I am now a captain’s wife and shall soon be sharing your quarters, do you not think land-based propriety a bit foolish?” At his puzzled look, she continued. “As much as you love the Laconia, you must admit that she is not the largest ship in His Majesty’s fleet.”

Frederick would never call a 36-gun frigate small, and he said so.

“That is true, but she is no Victory either.” Anne referred to Nelson’s famous 100-gun first-rate line-of-battle ship. “Privacy will be limited, and I shall have no maid, so we should begin our married life with no false modesty between us.” With that she began to unbutton her gown.

No one could say that Frederick Wentworth was slow to seize an advantage. “May I help you, my dear?”

~~~

Much later…

“Are you well, my love?”

“I am, Frederick,” Anne murmured into his bare chest. “You must stop worrying.”

“I shall try, but I was told very firmly that you might—well, I have no wish to inconvenience you.”

“I shall be eternally grateful to Sophy for being so thorough in her advice to you. But pray, you have been very gentle, and I am well.”

Frederick was relieved. It was heaven to be lying in Anne’s arms, and he planned to spend as much time there as possible. “Perhaps later we could—”

She giggled. “Yes, of course, but a bit of sleep first, you beast. It has been a long day.”

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You can find all titles at Amazon. Or leave a comment below for a chance to win one of three audiobook sets of COMPANION and RUIN. (We’re still working on PERSUADED.) Winners will be picked on August 20, 2020. Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time, this has been the Cajun Cheesehead Chronicles.

It takes a real man to write historical romance, so let me tell you a story…