and I wouldn’t selfishly demand that he choose between the woman who sacrificed everything for him and me.” Mrs. Joseph nervously giggled. “What if I were not my husband’s first choice, Mrs. Darcy? Can you imagine the wedge driven between us if that were so?”
“I have no doubt that Mr. Joseph would realize his duty rested with you, as would the elder Mrs. Joseph,” Elizabeth assured.
The woman shot a fleeting look toward her husband. “I wouldn’t wish for Mr. Joseph to choose me out of duty, Mrs. Darcy. I’m vain enough to seek the man’s love.”
Elizabeth observed, “Few of us of any station have the luxury of knowing true love in marriage, Mrs. Joseph. If you are so fortunate, I commend your joining.”
The young woman sipped her creamed soup. “Do you count yourself among those fortunate ones, Mrs. Darcy? I know it’s truly none of my concern, but as we are, apparently, the only female guests here, I suspect we’ll become intimate friends thanks to our circumstance.”
Elizabeth didn’t turn her head, but she knew Darcy watched her. The thought of his constant attention brought a smile to her lips. “I know Mr. Darcy’s affections,” she said softly.
“Good,” Mrs. Joseph pronounced. “Then you’ll understand the necessity of my accompanying Mr. Joseph on this journey.” She sighed deeply. “Of course, I had an ulterior motive. My father and I parted with bitter words. I had hoped that if I delivered his first grandchild where he might meet the babe that he would forget what he saw as betrayal.”
“A child can resolve many ills. Our Lord sent his son to offer us forgiveness.”
“I don’t wish to portray my father in a poor light. He placed everything aside to raise a daughter alone after my mother’s passing. He worked countless hours to create a successful business, but he provided me both sympathy and encouragement. Through all his trials, he demanded only one thing from me — my loyalty. He had chosen a man who would follow my father’s every order, but I had other ideas. Unfortunately, my father couldn’t fathom how I could love another more than I loved him. To complicate the matter, Mr. Joseph accepted a living outside of Stoke-upon-Trent. My father took what he saw as my complete abandonment of him quite hard.”
Elizabeth thought of her own father. “I’m one of five daughters, but I suspect that my father feels abandoned by each of us.”
“However, he misses you the most, Mrs. Darcy,” Mrs. Joseph said with some amusement.
Elizabeth blushed from the obvious. “I flatter myself that Mr. Bennet prefers me over my sisters. I’m terribly vain, you see, Mrs. Joseph. Perhaps you may not wish my acquaintance, after all.”
“I wouldn’t criticize your pride, Mrs. Darcy,” the lady teased.
“My sister Mary once observed that pride is a very common failing. That human nature is particularly prone to it, and that there are very few of us who do not cherish a feeling of self-complacency on the score of some quality or other, real or imaginary. Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves; vanity to what we would have others think of us.”
“Your sister is quite wise, Mrs. Darcy.”
Elizabeth smiled happily. Having a lady’s company created a relaxed atmosphere. She quite enjoyed the pert Mrs. Joseph’s easy-going wit. “Mary has been called several things, but ‘wise’ isn’t among them. She’s my most serious sister and the most talented. Mary spends countless hours at her studies and at practicing her music.”
“Tell me of your other sisters, Mrs. Darcy.”
“Then what would you have me do?” Mr. Joseph asked through gritted teeth.
Mr. Horvak asked, “Could Mr. and Mrs. Joseph stay in the common room?” As a group, they had determined that it would be impossible to move people’s rooms. Each occupant was a minor son of the aristocracy or a titled gentleman, except for Mr. Betts and Mr. Dylan. Although they lacked status, the two remained as Mr. Washington had refused to ask them to relinquish their shared chamber. With their hard work about the inn, the men had earned a right to a room.
“I cannot see it,” Mr. Washington insisted. “A woman sleeping where men play cards and drink is not appropriate. Mrs. Washington and I have taken pallets before the kitchen hearth and Nan in the storeroom. Every space within the inn is full. If I had a private parlor…”
“We cannot ask Mr. and Mrs. Joseph to resume their journey,” Darcy insisted. He had watched his wife’s animation with pleasure. She had needed another lady’s company, and besides advocating the solution to the Josephs’ predicament because it was the charitable thing to do, Darcy wanted Mrs. Joseph’s presence to ease Elizabeth’s unrest.
“Of course not,” Mr. Washington declared. “However, the best I can do is a mattress in the stables. I have drivers and footmen and valets to house in addition to each of your rooms. We would be sorely pressed if some of you gentlemen hadn’t pitched in with the chores and hadn’t brought us some ready meat to feed everyone. People are sharing the attic and the storage areas. You and Mrs. Joseph might spend your days in the common room and your nights in one of the stalls. We can put your Tilbury coach and maybe a couple of ours under the lean-to. That will free up more space.”
“But are there not others sleeping in the barns?” Padget asked.
“Several of yer men have bedded in the loft.”
“It doesn’t seem proper,” Padget continued. “To place a woman in such a position.”
Washington sighed heavily. “It be all I can see as proper. Mr. Joseph will see to his wife’s safety.”
Resigned to the solution offered, Mr. Joseph gathered his gloves. “I cannot place Mary and my child in danger by returning to the roads. We had two close calls today — too close for my mind’s peace.” He stood reluctantly. “I should speak to Mrs. Joseph. I hope, Washington, that there are additional blankets available.”
“I’ll see to it, Sir.”
Darcy moved ahead of Joseph. Reaching Elizabeth, he extended his hand. “Come, Mrs. Darcy.We’ll retire for the evening.”
Elizabeth accepted his hand. “May I first give you the acquaintance of Mrs. Joseph?” she asked tentatively.
“Of course, my dear.”
“Mrs. Joseph, may I present my husband, Mr. Darcy?”
The lady inclined her head. “I’m pleased for the introduction, Sir. Mrs. Darcy and I have become fast friends.”
“That’s a most fortunate situation. Mrs. Darcy has had only my poor companionship on this journey,” Darcy said teasingly.
Mrs. Joseph smiled knowingly. “Your wife, Sir, would beg to differ. Mrs. Darcy has extolled your fine qualities.”
He chuckled lightly. “My wife has the kindest heart.” Darcy bowed to the woman. “We’ll see you in the morning, Ma’am.” He escorted Elizabeth to their shared room.
Inside their quarters, Darcy quickly took Elizabeth into his arms and kissed her hungrily. He smiled with anticipation. His wife’s body warmed under his fingers’ firm strokes along her collarbone. A loving blush shivered through her, and Darcy deepened the kiss. Elizabeth locked her arms behind his neck and lifted her body to his. Her breasts, hips, and thighs pressed along his front, and Darcy groaned audibly as his manhood hardened.
Her tongue touched his in desire’s erotic dance, and Darcy shuddered on a breathy intake. His arms tightened about her, and he bent to lift his wife to carry her to the bed. The fire leapt between them: Desire and need kindled and sparked. His thoughts scattered as delight filled his lungs with her scent. “I love you,” he whispered — his breath’s heat caressing Elizabeth’s neck.
Nearly an hour later, they lay with arms and legs entangled. “I suppose I should see to my ablutions,” Elizabeth said sleepily. She stretched lazily against him before burying her nose in Darcy’s chest. Then she trailed a light line of kisses along his jaw. “Thank you, Fitzwilliam.” Elizabeth paused to nibble behind his ear. “For assisting the Josephs with lodgings. Whose room were they given?”
Darcy shifted her in his embrace. Without looking at her, he said, “No one’s room.” He knew she wouldn’t appreciate the solution taken by Mr. Washington.
She pushed up on one elbow. “Explain, Mr. Darcy.” Her voice held her suspicion.
