and tried to keep her expression calm. She focused on simply walking, knowing the last thing she wanted to do was trip and fall on the courthouse steps.
On the street, the long black limousine was waiting. Tommy opened the door and Elizabeth slid in, followed by Rebecca and one of the bodyguards.
Elizabeth was surprised to find the limo wasn’t empty. Sitting silently in the far corner, dressed in dark clothing, was the tall figure of a man. “
As soon as the door was shut, there was a quick rearranging of seats and Elizabeth found herself ensconced in his arms. “Will? Will?” she repeated, touching him to be certain he was real.
Darcy’s face held an expression of heartfelt relief as he held her close. “It’s okay, it’s all right,” he murmured softly to her. “How are you?” he asked as the car moved forward, his eyes carefully examining her.
Elizabeth felt all her hard-won control dissolve, and tears slipped from her eyes. “I’m okay,” she choked out before her face bunched up and she began sobbing in his arms.
Darcy held her tight, stroking her hair and back and hating himself. Every tear, sob, and gasp was his fault. Elizabeth’s sobs subsided by the time they reached Manhattan, and she sat in a daze for the rest of the ride to the Village, her head pillowed by his chest, his heartbeat reassuring in her ear.
The limo drove past the reporters and straight into the garage. Rebecca and the bodyguards exited first and then gave the signal for Darcy and Elizabeth to exit. They walked smartly as a group to the elevator and when the door shut, Elizabeth felt as if she was going to drop to the floor. Darcy squeezed her hand tightly, his eyes never leaving hers, giving her his strength.
They entered the loft to find everyone waiting for them. Jane quickly snatched Elizabeth up into a hug, and she was passed like a hot potato to everyone there, receiving hugs and words of encouragement.
“Thank you,” Elizabeth said, smiling through teary eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m just really tired.” A soft murmur of understanding passed through the group.
“Elizabeth needs to rest,” Darcy announced. “I think it would be best if everyone went home now, and we’ll meet later. Caro, when do we need to be at the Garden?”
“Well, we,” she indicated Faust and herself, “have to be there around noon, but you artists,” she smiled at the word, “can lounge about until four or five.”
Darcy nodded. “Rebecca, help everyone get out. Rachel, I’d like you to stick around in case I need you.”
With that, everyone began to depart, each giving Elizabeth at least one more hug. Elizabeth fled as quickly as she could to Darcy’s bedroom, and she wasn’t surprised to see him enter a minute later.
“I thought you would be in the shower already,” he said lightly.
Elizabeth smiled weakly and then her expression drooped. “Will, I have to tell you something.”
Darcy felt himself go numb. He was certain that this was it. The experience had been too much and Elizabeth was going to break up with him now. He sat carefully on the bed, close, but not touching her. “What?”
Elizabeth sighed. “The charges against me have been dropped.”
Darcy eyes widened. “Already? Lizzy, that’s great news!”
Elizabeth held up her hand. “Wait, there’s more.” Slowly she told him the whole story, her hands moving restlessly in her lap the whole time.
Darcy listened without interrupting until she was finished. “You were never in jail?” he asked weakly, trying to understand.
“No,” Elizabeth shook her head and smiled sadly. “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you, Will. I wanted to. I wanted to so badly.” She drew up her knees and wrapped her arms around them, resting her head there.
Darcy struggled to understand what had happened. He laced his fingers together and touched his index fingers to his lips. “I didn’t sleep at all last night, I was so worried about you.”
“That makes two of us,” Elizabeth replied gently. “I know you blame yourself for what has happened, but I need you to know that I don’t. Wickham’s actions are his own, and I don’t feel anything but love for you. I’m sorry you were so scared last night, and believe me, if there had been another way, I would have taken it, but I had to do it. I love you too much to not do everything I can to get that bastard out of your life.”
Darcy roughly pulled her to him and held her as tightly as he could. “Elizabeth, you’re so brave. I can’t believe you did that for me,” he whispered.
“Well, I did it for me too,” she added. “I can’t believe he tried to frame me like that.”
They rocked together, comforting and soothing each other, until Darcy pulled back and gently cupping her face in his hands, he kissed her lips with soft, loving kisses. “Are you ready to get cleaned up?”
Elizabeth nodded tiredly and let him help her off the bed and lead her to the bathroom.
There he gently undressed her, then himself, and turned on the shower. Elizabeth stood numbly still, letting him care for her.
“Will,” she whispered when he brought her under the hot water.
“Shhh, it’s all over now, Elizabeth,” he told her firmly as he gently began washing her body. “Just try to forget about it for now.”
Elizabeth let him wash her all over. By the time he was finished, she was trembling. He drew her close and let her weep, giving her the primal comfort of skin against skin. Finally she lifted her drained eyes to him.
“I’ve got you now; you’re safe.”
Elizabeth lifted her trembling lips to his and kissed him deeply, desperate for the succor she found in his mouth. They kissed until their exhausted bodies could take no more, then Darcy gently dried her off and led her to the darkened bedroom. There they snuggled together under the coverlet, the sheets cool against their tired skin.
Elizabeth was uniquely comforted by finally being in the place that she had needed for so long. Her mind wandered freely as her body sank heavily into the soft mattress. She realized something and giggled softly. “So, Char and Richard?”
Darcy’s voice was warmed with relief. His heart was lightened to hear her sounding something like her old self again. “I don’t know exactly what happened, but they talked.”
Elizabeth laughed. “Knowing them, I can guess what happened.” Darcy laughed softly with her, and they relaxed in the comfort and familiarity of the moment. Elizabeth wanted to ask him about playing her song, but she drifted to sleep before she could, exhaustion finally overcoming her.
Elizabeth awoke disoriented. The cause was immediately clear: she was alone. If Darcy had been there, she would have known exactly where she was, but he was missing, so it took a minute for her brain to piece her location together. She sat up and saw by the clock on the bedside table (the same one that had awoken her for that flight a lifetime ago) that it was 7:19 p.m. She puzzled at Darcy’s absence until she saw a note and a cell phone on his pillow.
Opening the note, she read:
My dearest, loveliest Elizabeth,
Your Fitzwilliam
Elizabeth hit the button that was programmed with Darcy’s number and waited for him to answer, her lips curling into a smile.
“Lizzy?”
“Hi.”
“Hang on a moment.” She could hear him moving. His voice was relaxed, warm, and touchable. “I had to get away from the meet-and-greet. How are you, Sleeping Beauty?”
Elizabeth smiled. “Missing my prince.”
“Well, I tried kissing you back to life, but you just rolled over.”
Elizabeth laughed.
“I’d like for you to come down for the show. I understand if you are too wiped out to perform, but I want you here.”
Elizabeth was touched by the earnestness in his voice. “Then I’ll be there.”
She could hear him smile. “Great. Rachel is there and I’ll send Tommy up with the limo. They have instructions.”
